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diff --git a/old/53420-0.txt b/old/53420-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bbfc429..0000000 --- a/old/53420-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6742 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank Nelson in the Forecastle, by Harry -Castlemon - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Frank Nelson in the Forecastle - Or, The Sportman's Club Among the Whalers - - -Author: Harry Castlemon - - - -Release Date: October 31, 2016 [eBook #53420] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK NELSON IN THE FORECASTLE*** - - -E-text prepared by Giovanni Fini, David Edwards, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 53420-h.htm or 53420-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53420/53420-h/53420-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53420/53420-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/franknelsoninforcast - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). - - - - - -[Illustration: ARCHIE, FRED, AND EUGENE ON THE MAIN-CROSS-TREES -OF THE STRANGER.] - - -Frank Nelson Series. - -FRANK NELSON IN THE FORECASTLE; - -Or, The Sportsman's Club Among the Whalers. - -by - -HARRY CASTLEMON, - -Author of "The Sportsman's Club Series," "Gunboat Series," "Rolling -Stone Series," &c. - - - - - - - -Philadelphia: -Porter & Coates. - -Cincinnati: -R. W. Carroll & Co. - - - * * * * * * - - FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS. - - - =GUNBOAT SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 6 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - -FRANK THE YOUNG NATURALIST. FRANK ON A GUNBOAT. FRANK IN THE WOODS. -FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG. FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. FRANK ON THE -PRAIRIE. - - =ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. - 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - - FRANK AMONG THE RANCHEROS. - FRANK AT DON CARLOS' RANCHO. - FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS. - - =SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. - 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB IN THE SADDLE. - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AFLOAT. - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE TRAPPERS. - - =GO-AHEAD SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - -TOM NEWCOMBE. GO-AHEAD. NO MOSS. - - =FRANK NELSON SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - -SNOWED UP. FRANK IN THE FORECASTLE. BOY TRADERS. - - =BOY TRAPPER SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - - THE BURIED TREASURE; OR, OLD JORDAN'S HAUNT. - THE BOY TRAPPER; OR, HOW DAVE FILLED THE ORDER. - THE MAIL-CARRIER. - - =ROUGHING IT SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 16mo. Cloth, - extra, black and gold. - -GEORGE IN CAMP. - - _Other Volumes in Preparation._ - - * * * * * * - - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876 by -R. W. Carroll & Co., -in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - A Backwoodsman's Ideas Page 5 - - CHAPTER II. - - "Man Overboard" 24 - - CHAPTER III. - - A Sea Lawyer 41 - - CHAPTER IV. - - "Shanghaied" 61 - - CHAPTER V. - - The Trapper's Adventure 82 - - CHAPTER VI. - - A Scamp on his Dignity 99 - - CHAPTER VII. - - Too late 118 - - CHAPTER VIII. - - Gentleman Black 141 - - CHAPTER IX. - - "There she Blows" 159 - - CHAPTER X. - - Frank's first Whale 178 - - CHAPTER XI. - - Cutting In and Trying Out 198 - - CHAPTER XII. - - How Frank saw the Consul 218 - - CHAPTER XIII. - - Turned Adrift 241 - - CHAPTER XIV. - - Old Times Revived 262 - - CHAPTER XV. - - Frank on the Quarter-deck 285 - - CHAPTER XVI. - - Conclusion 310 - - - - - FRANK NELSON - - IN THE FORECASTLE; - - OR, THE - - SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE WHALERS. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -A BACKWOODSMAN'S IDEAS. - - -"I DECLARE this is almost like coming into another world, isn't it?" - -"Yes, and I, for one, am glad to get back. I like a good horse, and no -one enjoys a few days' shooting and fishing better than I do; but when -I get tired of the saddle and the woods, I like to see the blue water -and feel the solid planks of a yacht's deck under my feet once more. We -had a good time though, in spite of all our adventures and mishaps." - -"We certainly did. I am like Perk, who, after he had been down into the -Cave of the Winds, under Niagara Falls, said he would do it again for -no money, but seeing that he _had_ been down, he would not sell his -experience at any price. I couldn't be hired to make that same trip -to Fort Bolton again--being "snowed up" was the worst part of it to -me--but since it is all over and we are safely out of it, I am glad we -went." - -This was a portion of the conversation carried on by our friends -Archie, Fred and Eugene, as they sat in the main-cross-trees of the -Stranger, swinging their feet in the air and looking out over the -shipping anchored off North Point Dock, in the harbor of San Francisco. -They had only just arrived that day, their trip across the mountains -being happily ended. They had discarded the half-savage, half-civilized -costumes they had worn during their sojourn in the wilderness and -substituted pea-jackets for their hunting-shirts, light shoes for their -high-top boots, and natty tarpaulins for their slouch hats. They looked -as though they had just come out of some lady's band-box, and one and -all declared that it was most refreshing to find themselves dressed up -like white folks once more. - -The first thing these three uneasy youngsters did after they had donned -their "shore clothes," and put the suits they had worn in the mountains -carefully away in their trunks for safe-keeping, was to run all over -the vessel, looking into every locker and corner, just as they had done -when they first saw her on the stocks at New Orleans, and the next to -mount to the cross-trees to survey the harbor. Here they had sat for -half an hour, enjoying the prospect spread out before them, and talking -over their recent adventures and exploits. The other members of the -Club, Walter, Frank Nelson, George Le Dell and the rest, were seated -on the quarter-deck with Uncle Dick, talking to Dick Lewis and old Bob -Kelly. - -Dick and Bob were objects of great interest to the sailors who composed -the Stranger's crew. They stared at everything with wide-open eyes, and -were as much out of place on the schooner's deck as the jolly tars -would have been in the mountains from which the backwoodsmen had just -arrived. - -The Club had had a varied and eventful experience during the -comparatively short time that they had been absent from the Stranger, -and even now the hearts of some of them would beat a trifle faster -whenever they thought of what they had passed through. Walter drew a -long breath every time he recalled his experience in Potter's rancho; -Fred and Eugene shivered and drew their collars up around their ears -when they thought of the sight presented to their gaze on the day -they set out from their camp under the cliffs, to show the Pike and -his family the way to Fort Bolton, and imagined that they could see -the air filled with driving snow, and could hear the roaring of the -wind as it swept the prairie, just as they had seen it and heard it on -that long-to-be-remembered afternoon. Archie grew excited and elated -whenever he thought of the way he had captured the wild horse, and -then exasperated when he remembered how he had lost him before he had -had a chance to try even one race with his cousin. Frank shrugged his -shoulders when any of his companions called him "Chinny Billy," as they -often did, and thanked his lucky stars that he was well out of the -predicament which the genuine Chinny Billy had so nearly got him into, -when he denounced him as an impostor and spy in the presence of all the -members of Potter's gang; and even Uncle Dick Gaylord, hardened as he -was by a long life of adventure, did not like to recall the feelings of -anxiety and suspense that he had experienced on more than one occasion, -during the journey to Bolton and back. The two trappers were probably -the only ones in the party for whom the last few months had no especial -interest. Their lives were made up of just such scenes and incidents, -and they never thought of them again, unless something happened to -bring them vividly to their recollection. - -The last night that the friends passed at Fort Bolton was given up -to enjoyment. The colonel and major entertained Uncle Dick at their -quarters, and the younger officers took charge of the boys. After -supper it was noticed that some of the officers and their guests -distributed themselves in little groups about the room, that the -members of each group carried on a very earnest conversation in a low -tone of voice, and that various little keepsakes were passed from one -to the other, which each promised to preserve in remembrance of the -giver. The gifts that passed between Frank and Lieutenant Gaylord -were the most valuable of any. These two young fellows had been fast -friends and almost constant companions ever since the night on which -the lieutenant recaptured Dick Lewis after his flight from the guard -house, and arrested Frank for assisting him to make his escape. Frank -had something he knew the lieutenant wanted, and that was the splendid -horse which Potter had given him. Frank could not take the animal -around the world with him, and besides he was already the happy owner -of a steed which was just as handsome and swift, and which held a much -higher place in his affections. That was Roderick. It was Uncle Dick's -intention to travel on horseback until the party reached a point from -which they could continue their journey by stage or railroad, and then -sell off their stock--their wagon, which would have been an almost -useless encumbrance to them, now that the roads were blocked with snow, -having been exchanged for pack mules--Frank would then have no further -use for his horse, so he offered him to the lieutenant, who was glad to -accept him. - -The journey to San Francisco was made without the occurrence of any -exciting or noteworthy incidents. Among them all they managed to shoot -a few black-tails, and one grizzly bear, whose skin and claws were -preserved by the old members of the Club as trophies. They found the -snow fully as deep as they expected, the travelling difficult, and the -weather extremely cold; but their progress was steady, although slow, -until they reached the railroad, and then in a few hours they found -themselves in an almost tropical climate. - -When they reached the railroad, Dick and Old Bob would have taken leave -of them, but the boys would not listen to it. They were determined -that, if they could have their own way, the trappers should remain -with them for a long time to come. They owed much to these two men, and -as they could not repay them in any other way, they would take them -around the world, introducing them to scenes and people of which they -had never dreamed. Of course this idea originated with rattle-brained -Eugene Gaylord, and Uncle Dick, who could not find it in his heart -to refuse his nephews anything they asked for, consented to the -arrangement, though not without a good deal of grumbling. - -"They'll only be in the way, Eugene," said the old sailor. "They just -fit the mountains and the prairie--they were made for them; but how -will they look on the deck of the Stranger? There isn't room enough -aboard our little craft for that giant, Louis." - -"O, Uncle, there are two or three empty bunks in the forecastle, and -they can sleep there as well as not," replied Eugene. - -"But they will be so uneasy that they'll not enjoy themselves in the -least," continued Uncle Dick. "They will be frightened to death when -they find themselves out of sight of land, and the men will be playing -tricks on them all the while." - -"But the men mustn't play tricks on them. We won't let them; and -besides it would be dangerous. As for being out of sight of land, that -need not trouble them. They'll not be in half as much danger as they -were while they were with Potter's gang. Then think of the fun we'll -have, Uncle! Didn't you notice how they opened their eyes the other -night when Bab was telling them of the elephants we expect to see in -India?" - -"Well, well! do as you please," said the old sailor. "If they are -foolish enough to go, I shall have a fine time of it among you all; I -can see that plainly." And then he turned away to hunt up Frank Nelson, -to whom he always went when he had anything on his mind. - -Eugene having gained his point went straight to Archie and Fred, who -declared that it was the best thing they ever heard of. The matter was -laid before the trappers with as little delay as possible, and the -proposition almost took their breath away. They opened their mouths and -eyes and looked wonderingly at each other, but said nothing. Archie -thought that was enough for one day, and although his friends wanted an -immediate answer, he succeeded in inducing them to retire and leave the -trappers to themselves. He thought it best to give them leisure to turn -the matter over in their minds (it seemed to be more than they could -grasp at once) and go to them for an answer at some future time. - -Dick and old Bob seemed to grow timid as they approached the confines -of civilization, but they were coaxed on board the train, and when -the party reached San Francisco, they were taken off to the Stranger. -The matter of the voyage around the world had been brought for up -discussion a few times, but Dick had found his tongue at last, and -declared that it was not to be thought of. The boys knew better than to -press the subject, and hoped that time would accomplish what arguments -could never do. A few hours on board the Stranger in the harbor, -where vessels were constantly coming and going, might increase their -confidence, while it familiarized them in some slight degree with -life on ship-board, and perhaps they could then be induced to change -their minds. Archie had tried to persuade Dick to follow him and his -companions to the cross-trees; but the trapper, after glancing down at -his colossal proportions, and then up at the ratlines, which looked no -larger than so many threads, declared that the ropes wouldn't bear his -weight, and remained below. - -"Now, this feels natural!" exclaimed Featherweight swinging back -and forth on his dizzy perch with such apparent recklessness that -Dick Lewis, who now and then looked up at him, fairly shook in his -moccasins; "and I am ready for new adventures and new sights beyond the -seas. Our fellows can say, what the books tell us comparatively few -American travellers can say, and that is, we have seen the most of the -wonders of our own country. I never expect to see anything grander than -the Yo Semite Valley. I wonder how long it will be before Uncle Dick -will hoist the signal for sailing?" - -"Just as soon as the stores are aboard," said Eugene. "We may get off -to-morrow." - -"Will Dick and Bob go with us?" - -"No," said Archie. "We might as well give that up. And since I have -come to think of it, I don't want them to go unless they are perfectly -willing to do so." - -"Nor I," said Eugene. "If it frightens them so badly to travel on -a railroad train, what would be their feelings when they found the -schooner tossing about on such waves as we saw coming around the Horn? -I shall urge them no more." - -"They have been talking to Frank about it," continued Fred. "They -always go to him and believe every word he says--that is, almost every -word." - -"Ah! yes; I was going to put that in," said Archie. "They don't like to -believe that the world is round. They don't say so with their mouths, -but they do with their eyes." - -"And they don't know what to think about elephants as large as that -house of Potter's, and lions and tigers, and snakes twenty feet long," -said Fred. - -"And a whale bothers them," chimed in Eugene; "and Dick laughed the -other day when I told him about a flying-fish." - -"What's going on down there?" asked Archie, as the sound of voices in -animated conversation came up from the deck. - -The boys looked below and saw that the group, which they had last seen -scattered over the quarter-deck, were gathered about Dick Lewis, who -appeared to be making them a speech. Now and then he illustrated his -remarks by pointing to something he had placed at his feet; but the -boys could not see what it was, for the Club were crowded about it and -hid it from view. They were missing something, that was evident; but -they did not intend to miss any more of it, and it was but the work -of a few seconds to swing themselves out of the crosstrees on to the -ratlines, and descend to the deck. They ran up to the group, and found -that the object over which the trapper was holding forth was simply a -mess-pan filled with water. - -"Them stories you've been a tellin' seems wonderful to me an' ole Bob, -who never heard the like afore," Dick was saying as the boys came up. -"We don't conspute 'em, 'cause bein' unedicated men, we never had no -book larnin', an' don't know nothing outside the mountains an' the -prairy. Now, you tell me that thar's three times as much water on the -'arth as thar is ground; that you're goin' to start from Fr'isco an' -sail clean around it in this yere little boat, an' that if me an' ole -Bob'll go with you, we won't even know that we're sailing round the -world. Won't we know when we come to the edge?" - -"There isn't any edge to it," said Frank. - -"Sho! Thar can't help bein' an edge if the world is round, can thar? -This yere," said Dick, pointing to the pan of water, "is the sea; -an' this yere," he continued, fumbling in the pockets of his hunting -shirt, "is the 'arth." - -As he spoke he drew out a piece of hard tack, which he had rudely -shaped with his knife to represent his idea of the rotundity of the -earth. The corners were cut off, making the biscuit nearly round, and -there was a piece clipped out of the side of it, in shape something -like a bottle with a very short neck and wide body, to represent the -Golden Gate and the harbor of San Francisco. This miniature world Dick -placed in the middle of the pan of water, and then straightened up and -looked triumphantly at his audience. Eugene glanced at it, choked back -a laugh and then rushed off to find the steward, while the trapper went -on with his illustration. - -"Now, thar's the 'arth," said he, placing his finger on the biscuit, -"flat like a pan-cake, as anybody can see it is, that's ever been out -on the prairy, an' round like _you_ say it is. Here is the sea all -around it, an' here's Fr'isco. Now, after you go out of the Golden Gate -an' start to sail round the 'arth," said Dick, moving his long finger -through the water around the biscuit, "can't you see the edge all the -way round? I can understand that, which wasn't so very plain to me a -few days ago, but now comes something I can't see into. You say the -'arth turns over onct every day, but that don't by no means stand to -reason, 'cause jest see what would happen,"--he went on, placing his -finger under the biscuit and raising one edge of it out of the water. -"If it turned over, one side of it would keep gettin' higher an' higher -all the time, an' finally the houses, an' trees, an' mountains, an' -folks would get to slidin' an' slidin', an' when they come to the edge, -they'd all slip off into the water; an' when the 'arth turned _cl'ar_ -over"--here he flopped the biscuit up side down in the pan--"whar would -we all be?" - -None of his auditors had attempted to interrupt the trapper, and the -reason was because there was not one among them who could trust himself -to speak, not even Uncle Dick. Believing from their silence that he -had got the better of all of them, the trapper said he was more firmly -convinced than he had ever been before, that all the learning in the -world was not to be found in books, and was about to throw the contents -of his mess-pan over the side, when Eugene came elbowing his way into -the group, carrying an apple in one hand and a small magnet in the -other. - -"Now, Dick," said he, "let me talk a minute. You haven't quite got the -idea. In the first place, that piece of hard tack doesn't represent the -shape of the earth, but this apple does, pretty nearly. In the next -place, the globe doesn't revolve through water, for the water forms -part of the earth and turns with it." - -"Sho!" exclaimed the trapper. "It would all spill out." - -"Hold on a minute, and I'll show you that it can't spill out. The world -revolves through the air. Don't you fellows criticise now," continued -Eugene, turning to his companions. "If, when I get through, you want -to explain that the earth really revolves through space, and that the -air goes with it, except such portions as are left behind and form the -trade-winds, you are welcome to do it; but it is quite beyond me." - -Eugene handed the magnet to Archie to hold until he was ready to use -it, and with the point of his knife rudely traced upon the apple the -shape of the continents and the principal oceans. This done, he went -on with his explanation, which was simply a repetition of what every -boy learns when he first begins the study of geography. He described -the motions of the earth as well as he could, and used the magnet to -illustrate the attraction of gravitation. Dick listened attentively, -and when Eugene finished, took the apple from his hand and looked at -it with a great deal of interest. He turned it over several times, and -appeared to be meditating upon something. - -"They're goin' to sail round the 'arth this way," said he, moving -his finger slowly around the circumference of the apple, and talking -more to himself than to the boys standing about, "an' when they get -around here"--he stopped and thought a moment, holding the end of his -finger under the apple--"when they get around here, they'll be--Human -natur'!" he cried suddenly, as if frightened at the discovery he had -made. "When you get around here, on the under side of the 'arth, -you'll be walkin' with your heads downwards, won't you? Bob can do -as he likes, but _I_ won't go. Mebbe that little red hoss-shoe aint -strong enough to hold the boat fast to the 'arth--don't look as if it -was--an' some dark night she'll get to fallin' an' fallin'--Whew! I'm -as near that place now as I want to be, an' I'm off fur the mountains -to-morrow, bright an' 'arly." - -Dick turned away, fairly trembling with excitement, and the boys -scattered as if some one had suddenly sent a charge of bird-shot among -them. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -"MAN OVERBOARD." - - -THE trappers were badly frightened, there could be no doubt about -that, and it was a spectacle the Club had never expected to witness. -That these two men, who had time and again faced death in almost every -shape in which he presents himself on shore, who had lived in the very -midst of danger from their youth up, and who sought and delighted in -perilous exploits, should be so nearly overcome with terror by hearing -of things with which every schoolboy is familiar, was surprising; and -there was something so ludicrous in the manner in which they exhibited -their alarm, that the boys could scarcely restrain their laughter until -they could get out of sight. Old Bob glared wildly about him, seemingly -on the point of jumping overboard and swimming ashore, and Dick -Lewis leaned against the rail, drawing his breath in quick gasps and -looking altogether as if he did not yet fairly understand the startling -discovery he had made. Uncle Dick Gaylord took one glance at him and -then went to the stern and looked over into the water, while the boys -dived down into the cabin and threw themselves into chairs, or leaned -up in corners, holding their handkerchiefs over their mouths--all -except Archie, who never could control himself when he wanted to laugh. -He ran into his state-room, shut the door and buried his head in the -pillows. The funny part of it was, that Dick should suppose, that those -who attempted the reckless task of sailing around the world, should be -obliged to take a magnet with them, in order to keep themselves and -their vessel from falling off when they reached the "under side of the -earth." - -At the end of five minutes Archie made an attempt to come out into the -cabin, but he was still bubbling over with laughter, and the sight -of him created a fresh explosion, and set Archie himself to going -again at such a rate that he was obliged to go back. It is hard to -tell how long it would have been before the boys could have controlled -themselves sufficiently to talk the matter over, had it not been that a -commotion which suddenly arose on deck, drew their attention to other -affairs. - -"Fore rigging, there," exclaimed Uncle Dick. "What do you see?" - -"A man overboard, sir," replied the voice of the boatswain's mate. "He -jumped off that whaler, sir." - -"And he's swimming this way, sir," said another voice, "and making -signals of distress." - -"Have the cutter called away, Mr. Baldwin," said Uncle Dick, to his -first mate, "and send a crew out to pick him up." - -The boys waited to hear no more. They crowded up the companion ladder -with such haste that they ran some risk of sticking fast in the narrow -passageway, and reached the deck just as the crew of the cutter were -tumbling into their boat which lay along side moored to a swinging -boom, man-of-war fashion. - -"Where is Mr. Parker?" said Uncle Dick, looking around for his second -officer. - -"O, let me go in charge of the boat, Uncle," exclaimed Eugene, -snatching Fred's hat from his head, for he had left his own in the -cabin. - -"Away you go, then," said the old sailor. "Don't let him sink before -you reach him." - -"They're sending out a boat from the whaler, sir," said the foremast -hand, who was at work in the forward rigging, and who had been the -first to discover the man in the water. - -"Does he appear to be all right?" - -"O, yes, sir. He swims like a duck, but he's waving his hand to us." - -"Hold on a minute, Eugene." - -Uncle Dick sprang upon the rail and supporting himself by the shrouds -looked towards the man, and then toward the boat that was coming out -to pick him up, while the boys, all except Eugene, who stood ready -to take his place in the cutter at a moment's warning, swarmed up -the rigging and looked on with no little interest. They saw at once -that the man had no trouble in keeping afloat, for he swam over the -waves as buoyantly as a cork. They saw, too, that he did not want to -be overtaken by the whaler's boat, if he could help it, for he looked -back at her occasionally to see if she was gaining on him, and then -redoubled his efforts to reach the schooner. - -"He is trying to desert," said Uncle Dick, "and I think we had better -have nothing to do with him." - -"Quartermaster, pass up that spy-glass," said Frank. - -The petty officer handed the instrument to Featherweight, who happened -to be lowest in the shrouds, and he passed it to George Le Dell, -who handed it up to Frank. The latter mounted to the crosstrees and -levelled the glass at the swimmer. He held it to his eye for a few -minutes, and then passing it back to George, said: - -"That man has either met with a severe accident, or been roughly -handled. His face is bleeding." - -"Help! help!" cried a faint voice. - -"Go and pick him up," said Uncle Dick. - -"Shove off," commanded Eugene, before he was fairly seated in the -stern-sheets of the cutter. "Remember, men, that you are racing with a -whale-boat, and that you don't want to be beaten." - -The cutter swung around with her bow toward the swimmer, and propelled -by eight strong oarsmen, who seemed to lift her fairly out of the -water at every stroke, flew over the waves like a duck. A boat race -was something in which Eugene took especial delight, but the one that -came off that morning between the cutter and the whale-boat was not as -exciting or as closely contested as he had hoped it would be. In fact -it was no race at all; for when the officer, whoever he was, who had -charge of the deck of the whaler, saw that the cutter was likely to -reach the swimmer first, he hailed his boat, which turned around and -went back. - -"In bow," commanded the coxswain of the cutter, who was sitting just -behind Eugene. - -The two sailors who were seated in the bow raised their oars from the -water, placed them on the thwarts between them, and then one stood up -with the boat-hook in his hand, while the other threw himself flat on -his face and extended his arm out over the water. - -"Way enough! Toss, and stand by," said the coxswain. - -The other oars were all thrown up into the air at the same moment, -laid upon the thwarts, and every man leaned over the side to be ready -to seize the swimmer as the cutter moved past him. She retained -steerage-way enough to carry her within a few feet of him, and then the -coxswain, with one movement of the tiller, turned the bow aside, and -the boat-hook was thrust out within reach of his hands. It was a matter -of some difficulty to haul the rescued man aboard, for he was too -nearly exhausted to help himself, and his clothing, being thoroughly -saturated with water, was as heavy as so much lead. Besides, his -forehead was badly cut and bruised, and no doubt he was suffering from -the hurt. - -[Illustration: RESCUING THE DESERTER.] - -"Did you fall overboard?" asked Eugene, after the man had been pulled -into the boat and had taken his seat in the bow. - -"No, sir; I jumped overboard on purpose." - -"You hit your head against something, didn't you?" - -"The cap'n hit it for me, sir. It was a belaying pin that made that -mark." - -Eugene looked wonderingly at the coxswain, who nodded his head, as if -to say that he didn't doubt it at all. - -"Why, the officers aboard our vessel don't find it necessary to do such -things," said Eugene. - -"But all vessels ain't like the Stranger, sir, nor are all shipmasters -like Cap'n Gaylord," said the coxswain. "Do you s'pose there's a -sailorman aboard of us that would do what this chap has done--try to -desert? No, sir, you couldn't kick 'em off if you wanted to. When we -get back to Bellville we'll have every man we brought away with us, -unless some of 'em are in Davy's locker." - -The cutter was soon alongside the schooner, and the rescued man, by -dint of hauling from above and pushing from below, was got upon the -deck. He was a pitiable object when one came to look at him, and Uncle -Dick's first order was: "Take him below, some of you, and give him -something fit to put on. Be in a hurry about it." - -The sailors were only too glad to obey. They led the dripping man -into the forecastle, from which he emerged a few minutes later with a -clean face, a suit of dry clothes, and a handkerchief bound about his -forehead. In his appearance, which was very much improved, he would -have compared favorably with any of the seamen on board the Stranger, -and they were the very best that Uncle Dick could find in the port of -New Orleans. He had evidently had plenty of time to tell at least a -portion of his story, for the faces of the sailors were as black as so -many thunder clouds. - -The rescued man at once made his way aft, accompanied by the -boatswain's mate, who, presuming for this once upon his captain's -good-nature, and his own position as ranking petty officer on board the -Stranger, took the liberty to go where he knew he had no right except -he was in performance of his duties. The men saluted, removed their -caps and waited for Uncle Dick to speak to them. - -"Well, Lucas, what do you want here?" asked the old sailor. - -"I ax your pardon, cap'n, for coming on the quarter-deck at this time -without an invite," replied the boatswain's mate, "but I just wanted to -say to you, sir, that this man is black and blue from his head to his -feet, so he is." - -"How did he get that way?" asked Uncle Dick, while the boys ranged -themselves behind him so that they could hear all that passed, "and why -is he trying to desert?" - -The mate stepped back and moved his hand toward the rescued man, as if -to say that he would tell his own story, and the latter said: - -"I don't want to desert my ship, cap'n. I am an able seaman, know my -duty and am ready to do it, if I can only have plenty to eat and am -allowed a wink of sleep now and then. I am trying to get ashore for -protection ag'in' them tyrants aboard the Tycoon, and I hope you won't -send me back to them, sir." - -"Go on," said Uncle Dick. "What has happened aboard that ship?" - -"She is nearly two years out of Nantucket, on a whaling course, sir," -said the man, "and there isn't a foremast hand aboard of her that she -brought out with her. They've all deserted. She has to get a new crew -at every port, and when she can't get 'em honest, she kidnaps 'em, sir. -I shipped aboard of her, along with a lot of others, at Callao. We've -been out only four months, and two of the men jumped overboard rather -than stand the hard treatment they received. On the first day out the -officers began on us and never let up. They kept us at work till we -were ready to drop, brought us out of bed at night and made us walk the -deck, and if we fell asleep as we walked, they knocked us down with a -handspike or belaying-pin. They starved us almost to death, and then, -because my boat's crew were too weak to save a whale we made fast to, -they put us all in irons and pounded us with ropes' ends till we were -insensible." - -This was only the introduction to the long story the man had to tell, -and to which his auditors listened with breathless interest. According -to his account, the Tycoon was a horrible place, and the cruelties -that were practised by the officers upon the defenceless seamen, were -shocking. The man certainly bore unmistakable evidence of brutal -treatment, and added weight to his story by declaring that he was not -only willing but anxious to meet his persecutors in a court of justice. -Everybody who listened to him was indignant. - -"The men on board that vessel have a remedy in their own hands--two -of them, if they only knew it," said Frank. "Why didn't they demand -an interview with the American consul at the first port at which they -touched?" - -"It wouldn't have done no good, sir," said the sailor. "The cap'n -wouldn't never let 'em see him, sir." - -"He couldn't help himself," returned Frank. "The law compels him to -allow his men to go ashore at every port at which the ship may touch to -lay their complaints, if they have any, before our representative; or, -if there is any good reason why the men cannot go ashore, the captain -must bring the consul aboard to see them, if they demand it." - -If there was anything in which Frank was particularly well posted, -it was the law governing the duties of consuls, as some of our -representatives in foreign countries are called. The attorney with -whom he had been studying in Lawrence, had political aspirations, and -had at one time expected to be appointed consul for some port in the -Mediterranean. If he had succeeded in his object Frank would have -gone with him as assistant and clerk. He did not wish to accept any -situation with whose duties and responsibilities he was not familiar, -and in order to fit himself for it, he had obtained a copy of the -Consular Regulations, which he had thoroughly mastered. It is a part -of the consul's duty to care for destitute, discharged and deserting -seamen, to stand between foremast hands and tyrannical officers, to -protect officers from and punish mutinous sailors, and Frank knew the -law bearing upon every case that could possibly arise. - -"The consul is obliged to listen to any and all complaints," continued -Frank. "He measures them by the law bearing upon them, and he can -discharge the crew on complaint of the officers, or he can discharge -the officers themselves on a well-founded complaint from the crew." - -The sailors opened their eyes and looked at one another. They had never -dreamed that they had so many rights, or that there was a law enacted -on purpose to protect them. - -Just then the whale-boat came in sight again, rounding the stern of the -Tycoon. She turned her bow toward the Stranger, and the quartermaster, -after looking at her through his spy-glass, said there was a man in -the stern-sheets dressed in gray. "That's the cap'n," exclaimed the -deserter, in great alarm. "You won't let him take me back, sir?" he -added, in a pleading voice. - -"I can't prevent your lawful captain from taking you wherever he may -find you," answered Uncle Dick; "but hold on, now, till I get through," -he added, as the man began to back toward the rail as if he were about -to take to the water again. "I'll give you a chance to save yourself. -Call away the cutter, Mr. Baldwin, and send this man ashore." - -"Thank you, cap'n, thank you," said the sailor gratefully, and with -tears in his eyes. "A prosperous and pleasant voyage to you and your -mates, sir. What shall I do when I get ashore, sir?" he continued, -looking at Frank. - -"Go to the nearest justice and take out a warrant against those -officers for assault and battery," was the reply. - -The boatswain's mate and the rescued man looked as if they did not -quite understand. "You must know, sir," said the latter, doubtfully, -"that all this beating and pounding was done on the high seas." - -"Well, what of it? When one man, without any provocation, handles -another as roughly as you have been handled, he is answerable to the -law, no matter whether the offence was committed on the high seas or on -the land." - -"Come now, off you go, my man," said Uncle Dick. "The cutter is -ready, and you've no time to lose. Yes, go with him and take charge -of the boat, Lucas," he added, anticipating the request that the old -boatswain's mate was about to make. - -"And whatever you do, don't let those blubber-hunters catch you," said -Eugene, in a low voice. He wanted to say it aloud, so that the cutter's -crew could hear it; but knowing that Uncle Dick did not allow any -interference with his men, he checked himself just in time. - -The cutter's crew were all in their places, and there was a determined -look on each man's face which said as plainly as words that the -"blubber-hunters," even if they succeeded in overhauling them--which -was not at all unlikely, seeing that the whale-boat was built for -speed, and was pulled by a crew who were kept in excellent training by -almost daily practice at the oars--the deserter should never be taken -from them. Uncle Dick seemed to read the thoughts that were passing -through their minds, and as he looked at the sturdy fellows, who had -thrown off their caps and rolled up their sleeves in preparation for a -long, hard pull, he remarked to Frank that he would not care to be in -that whale-boat if she succeeded in coming up with the cutter. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -A SEA LAWYER. - - -THE cutter's bow swung away from the schooner as soon as the -boatswain's mate and the rescued man were fairly seated, the oars -dropped into the water, and then began a race that promised to be as -exciting as even Eugene could have wished it. The boys once more ran up -the rigging, so that they could watch both contestants. The whale-boat -certainly had the better crew, and, although she was propelled by only -five oars to the cutter's eight, she seemed to move two feet to the -other boat's one. Especially was this the case when the man in gray, -who was standing in the stern-sheets holding the steering-oar, became -aware of what was going on. As soon as he saw the cutter moving away -from the Stranger he comprehended the situation, and giving utterance -to some heavy adjectives, which by the time they came to the boys' ears -sounded a good deal like oaths, ordered his crew to "Pick her up and -run right along with her." They responded promptly, and sent their boat -through the water at such a rate that Uncle Dick became uneasy at the -prospect of a collision between her crew and the cutter's. - -"I shouldn't think there would be any danger," said Frank. "There are -eleven men in our boat, counting the deserter, and only six in his." - -"But there is no officer in our boat," said Uncle Dick, "and this man -being a captain, will expect our crew to obey his orders. I am really -afraid he will be disappointed." - -Frank, remembering the savage and determined expression he had seen on -the face of every one of the cutter's crew, was quite sure he would be. - -In a few minutes the whale-boat came close aboard the schooner, and -dashed by under her bows. Her captain was furious, his face showed -that. He ran his eye over the men on the Stranger's deck, and picking -out Uncle Dick at once as the commanding officer, said, as he nodded -his head to him-- - -"Fine business you're in, sir! helping men to desert. If there is a law -on shore I'll see you again, my good fellow!" - -Uncle Dick simply smiled and touched his hat, and the whale-boat passed -on. As she was going by, the sailors enacted a little pantomime of -their own. They had clambered out on the bowsprit to see the race, and -when the captain of the whaler was through threatening Uncle Dick, -they glanced toward the quarter-deck, to make sure that none of their -officers were observing them, and then leaned over and shook their -fists at the angry man. One of them hugged his cap under his arm and -beat it furiously with his clenched hand, nodding pleasantly to the -captain the while, as if to indicate that it would have afforded him -infinite satisfaction if the captain's head had been in the place of -the cap. The boys, from their lofty perch in the main rigging, saw all -that passed, and smiled at one another, but said nothing; for they -knew that if the performance came to the ears of Uncle Dick, who was a -very strict disciplinarian, every one of the sailors who took part in -it would be sent to the mast. - -[The "mast" is to a sailor on board ship, what the "library" is to -a refractory boy on shore. It is there that culprits are sent to be -reprimanded, if their offence be a slight one, or sentenced if they -have done something deserving of punishment.] - -Although he might laugh over it afterward in the privacy of his cabin, -he was not the one to pass lightly over an insult to a shipmaster when -in performance of his duty, no matter how great the provocation. - -All this while the cutter's crew had been exceedingly busy, and now -loud calls were heard from the boys on the cross-trees for their -field-glasses. They did not want to miss a single incident of the race. -Frank, who up to this time had remained below with Uncle Dick, went -into the cabin after the glasses, and mounting the rigging, joined the -group on the cross-trees. "Who's ahead?" he asked. - -"O, the cutter," replied George Le Dell. "There is more in that crew -than I thought. They'll land their man safe enough." - -And George was right. The cutter reached the wharf while the whale-boat -was yet twenty yards away, and no sooner did she swing broadside to -it than the deserter was lifted in the strong arms of the coxswain -and boatswain's mate and fairly thrown ashore. He jumped to his feet -and disappeared in less time than it takes to tell it. A few seconds -later the whale-boat landed and the captain sprang out and started in -pursuit, not, however, without saying a few words to the cutter's crew, -which he emphasized by shaking his fist at them. If any of the men -replied, our young friends at the cross-trees saw nothing to indicate -it. - -The sailors pulled back slowly, for their long, hard pull had wearied -them, and when they reached the schooner and clambered over the side, -the boys saw that their faces were flushed, and that some portions of -their clothes looked as though they had been dipped in the bay. The -boatswain's mate went aft demurely enough to report the safe return of -the boat, but when he made his way forward again, and glanced up at the -boys, with whom he was an especial favorite, they saw that his jolly -countenance was wreathed with smiles, and that his broad shoulders were -shaking with suppressed mirth. He and the cutter's crew were proud -of the exploit they had performed. The fun and excitement being all -over now, the boys seated themselves in a circle on the cross-trees to -discuss the incidents that had just transpired. - -"Now just listen to me a moment, Frank, and I'll ask you a question," -said Perk. "Can that brutal fellow do anything to Uncle Dick for -assisting his man to escape?" - -"If you should see me assaulted by ruffians who were getting the better -of me, and should rescue me from their clutches, could they do anything -to you in law?" asked Frank, in reply. - -"Certainly not." - -"The same law holds good on the sea. Some people have a very mistaken -idea of things. They insist on a landsman's right of self-defence, but -deny the same to a sailor. Even sailors themselves think that because -they follow the sea for a livelihood, they are debarred from exercising -the very first law of our nature." - -"Hear! hear!" cried Archie. - -"Silence in the court-room!" exclaimed Featherweight, assuming a -fierce frown. "Hurrah for free trade and sailors' rights, the motto -on--on--somebody's flag! Proceed, brother Nelson. State the case to the -jury." - -Frank laughed as heartily as the rest for a few minutes, and continued: - -"Sailors know that resistance to an officer, or even an attempt to -spread dissatisfaction among the crew of a vessel, is called mutiny; -and they know, too, that men have been hanged in the American navy for -that very offence." - -"See Cooper's Naval History for an account of the mutiny on board the -United States brig-of-war Somers, in 1842," said Bab. - -"That was the very circumstance I had in my mind," returned Frank. -"Sailors know all this, as I was saying, and consequently they are -afraid to call their souls their own. They suffer in silence, unless -they are driven to commit suicide during the voyage, and when they get -ashore forget it all, or make a feeble attempt to punish their tyrants -by process of law, but they soon give it up, for at the very outset -they find an insurmountable obstacle in their way. Before they can -convict they must prove three things--that the punishment they received -was cruel and unusual; that it was inflicted without any just cause; -and that the occasion of it was malice, hatred, or a desire for revenge -on the part of the officer who punished them. Now, no living being can -prove this last accusation against another, for in order to do it he -must be able to read his fellow-men as he would an open book, and see -what is passing in their minds; and even that would do him no good -unless he possessed the power to make the judge and jury who try the -case see the matter just as he does." - -"Suppose this deserter could prove his complaints against the master -of that whaler," said Walter; "what would be the penalty?" - -"One thousand dollars fine and five years in the state prison." - -"And I hope he will get it all," said Eugene. - -"Well, if it is so hard for a seaman to obtain satisfaction at law, -what ought he to do when he is abused at sea?" asked Bab. "I understood -you to say he had two remedies, and you have given only one." - -"Well, there is another," said Frank. "He and his companions ought -to club together, take the ship out of the hands of her officers, -confine them in the cabin, and make for the nearest port, if they are -navigators enough to find their way there." - -"Yes," exclaimed Archie, "and swing for it the moment they reach the -shore." - -"No, sir. The case has been tried in the courts more than once, and -would be tried oftener if sailors only knew their rights. As far as any -risk I might run is concerned, I would not be afraid to belong to such -a crew and take part in just such a proceeding." - -"Well, I don't want you to get into any such scrape," said Archie; "I -should never expect to see you again." - -"I have no desire to win notoriety as a mutineer, I assure you," -replied Frank, with a laugh. "As his Honor remarked"--here he waved his -hand towards Featherweight, who bowed gravely--"I was only discoursing -on sailors' rights." - -"There," said George, as the boatswain's whistle rang through the -schooner, followed by the order, given in a very hoarse voice, "Away, -you gigs, away!"--"the captain is going ashore. Hadn't we better go -down and keep Dick Lewis and Bob company? The old fellows will be -lonely." - -"That means business," said Eugene. "Uncle Dick is going ashore to -see about the stores. It will not be long now before we take leave of -Fr'isco." - -"And what will be our next port?" asked George. - -This was something that had not yet been decided, and if one might -judge by what the boys said while they were descending to the deck, -there was a prospect of a lively debate if the matter were left to -them. Eugene wanted to go straight to Alaska. Bab, who had lately -been reading "Reindeer, Dogs and Snow-shoes," was in favor of that, -provided they could afterward go across to some port in Siberia and -stay there long enough to see a little of the wild life in which he -had been so much interested. Perk would agree to all that, in case -they could stop on the way and give him a chance to try his hand at -salmon-fishing in the tributaries of the Columbia river. Fred had seen -quite enough of snow and ice, and thought he could have more sport in a -warm country. He wanted to go to Japan. Walter said he was strongly in -favor of that, for after they had seen all the sights in that country -they would probably go to India, and that was what he wanted. He was -impatient to ride on an elephant and see the famous Indian jugglers and -serpent-charmers. Every boy wanted to go somewhere, but the trouble was -that no two of them wanted to go to the same place; and Frank wondered -how the matter would be decided. How astonished he would have been to -know that the man in gray, who had just gone by in the whale-boat, was -destined to decide it for them! - -The boys spent the rest of the day in company with the trappers. -Nothing more was said on the subject which had for a long time been -uppermost in their minds, for the tone in which Dick's answer had been -given satisfied them that it was final. The boys were all sorry, for -they had become greatly attached to these two good-natured, ignorant -fellows. They had been of great service to them--beyond a doubt they -had saved Walter's life--and they could not but miss them when they -were gone. The cousins especially would have been glad to postpone the -parting moment had they possessed the power. It was not at all likely -that they would ever see the mountains or the prairie again, and even -if they did, the chances that they would find their old friends, the -trappers, were not one in a thousand. Their meeting with them had -been purely accidental this time, and it was not probable that such a -combination of circumstances would ever occur again. - -About supper-time Uncle Dick returned and reported that all -arrangements had been made. The schooner was to be hauled alongside the -dock in the morning, and they would go out with the turn of the tide. -Where were they going? He didn't care. The world was before them, and -when the boys had made up their minds what portion of it they wanted to -see first, they could come to him with their decision. He wasn't going -to bother his head about it, for he had other matters to think of. -Eight o'clock the next evening would see the Stranger under way, and if -the boys had any business ashore they had better attend to it the first -thing in the morning. - -Uncle Dick retired at an early hour, as he always did, and the boys -had the quarter-deck all to themselves until eleven o'clock--or rather -they had it in company with the second mate and the quartermaster on -watch. A few "primary meetings" had been held immediately after supper, -but they amounted to nothing. Each boy knew upon whom he could rely -to second any motion he might make, but he was not so certain of the -number of votes he could raise in support of it. During the two hours' -conversation that took place after Uncle Dick went to bed, Fred Craven -arose six times--that is, once every twenty minutes--and said gravely, - -"I move you, Mr. President, that the captain of this schooner be -requested to take her directly to some port in Japan." - -"I second the motion," said Frank, who was speaking for Walter. - -"Gentlemen, you have heard the motion," said Walter. "Are you ready for -the question?" - -"Mr. President," said Eugene, "I move to amend by striking out Japan -and substituting Alaska." - -"Second the motion," said Bab. - -"You have heard the amendment. Are you ready to take action upon it?" - -"Now just listen to me a minute, Mr. President, and I'll tell you -what's a fact," said Perk. "I move to amend by striking out Alaska and -substituting Astoria in Oregon." - -"I second the motion," said George, who, being a devoted disciple of -old Izaac Walton, was as fond of fishing as he was of sailing. - -"Mr. President," said Archie, "I move to amend----" - -"The gentleman is out of order. An amendment to an amendment is proper, -but not an amendment of an amendment to an amendment." - -When affairs reached this pass a hearty roar of laughter would come up -through the open cabin windows, showing that there was an interested -and amused listener in the person of Uncle Dick, who having gone to -bed, leaving his state-room door ajar, could hear all that was said. -Then speeches were made, some long and others witty, and all showing -the training the boys had received in their debating societies. Eugene -was particularly long-winded. According to Featherweight "he talked -all manner of what," and spouted away on subjects that had not the -slightest connection with the question under discussion. He talked -eloquently about the American eagle, the war of 1812, and the stars and -stripes, and dwelt long on the rights of sailors and other free-born -citizens. He said afterward that if he couldn't gain his point any -other way, he would tire his audience out, and compel them to vote for -his amendment just to get rid of him. But the boys listened patiently -and without once interrupting him, except by applause when he grew -particularly eloquent, and the young orator finally tired himself -out and took his seat in disgust. Everything was voted down; so they -were no nearer a decision than they were before. There was one point, -however, on which they were all agreed when the meeting broke up at -eleven o'clock, and that was, that they had enjoyed themselves, and -that their jaws and sides would be sure to ache for a week to come. - -During the afternoon the boys had held a consultation with the -boatswain's mate, who had promised to take the trappers under his -especial charge during the night, and to report the first man who -attempted to play any tricks upon them. After the meeting broke up the -boys went forward with their friends to see them safely stowed away in -the forecastle. The sailors were all up and waiting for them--not a -man had yet turned in. The best bunks in the forecastle had been given -up for their use, and the beds that were made up in them would have -looked very inviting to almost anybody except our two backwoodsmen. -Having been all their lives accustomed to sleeping on the hard ground, -with nothing but a blanket or the spreading branches of some friendly -tree for protection, they wanted plenty of air and elbow-room. They -hesitated when they looked into the little forecastle, and drew back -and shook their heads when invited to enter. Archie finally effected a -compromise by bringing up a couple of blankets and spreading them on -the deck near the windlass. This being perfectly satisfactory, the boys -bade the trappers good-night, and went away, leaving them to the tender -mercies of the sailors. - -There was not much sleeping done among those foremast hands that night. -They did not play any tricks upon their guests--indeed there were not -many among them who would have had the hardihood to attempt it, after -taking a good look at the stalwart fellows--but they crammed them -"chock-a-block" with such wild stories of the sea that the trappers -grew more alarmed than ever, and wondered greatly at the recklessness -of the men who would willingly encounter such dangers. They told about -mermaids, sea-dragons and serpents; of Vanderdecker's ghostly ship, -the Flying Dutchman, which was rushing about the ocean with the speed -of a railroad train, running down and sinking every craft that came in -her way; of monstrous cuttle-fish which would sometimes arise suddenly -out of the depths, and twining their long arms about a ship, sink with -it and all the crew to the bottom; and one of the men declared that he -had actually met and been swallowed by the same whale that took Jonah -in out of the wet, hundreds and thousands of years before, and to -prove it, exhibited the tobacco-box which had dropped out of Jonah's -pocket when the whale threw him ashore. This is a staple forecastle -yarn, and every one who has had an hour's conversation with a sailor, -has probably heard it; but it was new to the trappers, who listened -with all their ears and with unmistakable signs of terror on their -faces. The simple-hearted fellows believed every word, and when the -conversation lagged for a moment, spoke of the magnet Eugene had shown -them, and the use for which they supposed it was intended. - -This started the sailors on a new tack, and the stories that followed -were more wonderful than those which had just been told. There was not -a sailor on board the Stranger who had not seen some unlucky vessel -tumble off the under side of the earth, her magnet proving too weak to -sustain her weight; and there were two or three who had belonged to the -crews of those very vessels, and who had been saved by a miracle. - -The night was passed in this way, and it was daylight before the -trappers lay down on their blankets to rest, but not to sleep. They -could not sleep after hearing of such wonderful adventures and talking -face to face with the men who had taken part in them. If they had not -already made up their minds to lose no time in seeking safety among -their native mountains, they would have done so now. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -"SHANGHAIED." - - -THE morning broke bright and clear, and all hands were astir at an -early hour. The first thing was to hoist the anchor and haul the -schooner alongside the dock. This being done, breakfast was served, -and the boys having put on their shore-clothes, started out to take a -good look at the city which they might never see again, and to make -purchases of various articles they needed. Fred and Eugene each wanted -a rifle and a brace of revolvers, their own weapons having been stolen -from them by the hunters who robbed the Pike. Some of the others needed -a few articles of clothing, and Frank's Maynard required some repairs. -They set out together, but before an hour had passed, were scattered -all over the city. Fred, Archie and Eugene hired a carriage and went -for a ride, taking old Bob with them, while Dick Lewis stuck close -to Frank and Walter. Knowing that the time for parting was not far -distant, he did not seem willing to allow them out of his sight. - -A few years before men like Dick were often met with in the streets -of the city; but now a genuine trapper was not seen every day, and he -created something of a sensation wherever he went. Almost every one -he met stared at him and turned to look at him after he had passed; -and Dick, finally becoming nettled by the interest and curiosity his -appearance excited, begged the boys to take him back to the schooner -and leave him there. He would stay on board until she was ready to -sail, he said, and then he and Bob would bid a long farewell to -civilization, and make the best of their way back to Fort Bolton. He -hoped that neither of them would ever see a paved street or a brick -house again. - -At six o'clock in the evening the boys, and the few sailors who had -been allowed shore liberty, began to retrace their steps toward the -dock where the Stranger was lying. At seven they were all on board -except two--Lucas, the boatswain's mate, and Barton, the coxswain of -the cutter. These men had not been seen since noon, and they were to -have been back at three o'clock. Preparations were already being made -for getting under way, and Uncle Dick began to grow impatient. "I don't -see what keeps those fellows," said he to Frank. "I have always found -them trustworthy, and I hope they will not fail me now." - -"I must go ashore again after my rifle, you know," replied Frank--"it -was to be done at half-past seven--and I'll go along the dock and keep -an eye out for them." - -"All right. Hurry them up, if you see them, and be sure that you are in -time yourself." - -Frank went ashore accompanied by the trapper--Dick was not afraid of -attracting so much attention now that it was growing dark--and hurried -away toward the gunsmith's. He followed the wharves as long as they -led him in the direction he wanted to go, looking everywhere for the -missing sailors, but without finding them. The actions of himself and -his companion attracted the attention of two men, who were walking -along the dock behind them. They watched them for some time, and then, -after whispering together a few minutes, one of them came up and tapped -Frank on the shoulder. "Who are you looking for?" said he. - -Frank turned and fastening his eyes on the man took a good survey -of him before he answered. He was a flashily-dressed person, with a -sneaking, hang-dog cast of countenance, and the grimy hand he placed -upon Frank's shoulder, and which the latter promptly shook off, was -heavily loaded with bogus jewelry. - -"Don't be quite so familiar, if you please!" said Frank. - -"Beg pardon," said the man, stepping back and straightening up his -battered plug hat which he had thus far worn cocked over his left ear. -"I thought you belonged to the Stranger." - -"And what if I do?" asked Frank. - -"I thought maybe you were looking for them two men." - -"What two men?" - -"Why, one of 'em is a short, thick-set fellow, and carries a silver -whistle in the breast pocket of his shirt. The other is tall and -slender, wears some kind of a badge on his arm--a petty officer's badge -I took it to be--and has light hair and whiskers." - -The man gave an accurate description of the missing sailors of whom -Frank was in search. No doubt they had got into trouble and found -their way into some station-house; and this fellow was some little -pettifogger, who hoped to make a few dollars by helping them out. - -"I thought maybe you were looking for 'em," continued the man, as he -turned to go away; "but seeing you ain't, I am sorry I pestered you." - -"One moment, please," said Frank. "Where are these men now?" - -"They're aboard my ship." - -"O, you're a sailor, are you?" exclaimed Frank, again running his eye -over the man, who looked about as much like a sailor as Dick Lewis -did. "What is the name of your ship, and where is she?" - -"She's the Sunrise, and she is at anchor out here in the bay." - -"How came our men aboard of her?" - -"Well, you see, they've got some friends and acquaintances among my -crew, and when we were lying alongside the dock they came aboard to see -them. While they were skylarking about, one of them, the boatswain, -fell into the hold and broke his leg. We hauled out into the bay just -after that, and did it in such a hurry--you see there was another -ship waiting to take our berth at the dock as soon as we were out of -it--that we didn't have time to put him ashore. We've had a doctor to -see him, and maybe it would be a good plan to get an ambulance and take -him back where he belongs." - -"I think so too," said Frank, who became interested at once; "that is, -if he can bear removal. But whatever we do, must be done at once. Our -vessel is all ready to sail." - -"I guess he can stand it to be moved. You might come aboard and -see--you and your pardner here. I've got a boat close by." - -Frank assenting to this proposition, he and Dick Lewis followed the -man, who led the way along the wharf, and finally showed them a yawl -manned by two oarsmen. They climbed down into it, their companion took -his seat at the helm, and the boat was pushed off into the darkness. -The man talked incessantly, answering all Frank's questions, and going -so fully into the particulars of the accident that had befallen the -boatswain's mate, and telling so straight and reasonable a story, that -not a shadow of a doubt entered Frank's mind. He remarked that the ship -was a long way from the wharf, and that the two men who were pulling -the oars looked more like "dock rats" than sailors; but still he -scarcely bestowed a second thought upon these matters, for his mind was -fully occupied with the injured man to whose relief he was hastening. -At last the hull and rigging of a ship loomed up through the darkness, -and a hoarse voice hailed the yawl. - -"Sunrise!" replied the man at the helm. - -The answer was perfectly right and proper. It conveyed to them on board -the ship the information that their captain was in the approaching -boat; but it seemed to Frank that his presence brought very little show -of respect from the officer in charge of the deck, for he ordered no -lanterns to light him aboard. Indeed there were no lights to be seen on -the deck, as Frank found when he clambered over the side, the only ones -visible being those in the rigging, which were placed there to point -out the position of the ship, so that passing vessels might not run -into her. - -The captain, who was the first to board the ship, talked rapidly in a -low tone to some one who hurried aft to meet him, and when Frank came -up, he said aloud:-- - -"Take this gentleman into the forecastle and give him all the help he -needs to remove that man. This one," he added, pointing to Dick, "can -go with a couple of you to get a stretcher." - -"Ay! ay! sir," replied a voice. "Step right this way, sir." - -Frank followed the speaker toward the forecastle, and when he came -within sight of the ladder that led into it, was surprised to see that -it was as dark as a dungeon below. Then for the first time the thought -that things did not look just right began to creep through his mind. -His companion descended the ladder, but Frank halted at the top. "Look -here, my friend," said he; "if you want to get me below there you had -better light up first." - -"Come on," said the man, in a tone of command. - -"Where's that sailor with the broken leg?" demanded Frank. - -"Are you going to come on?" asked the man. - -"Well, that depends---- I want to hear from that man of ours first. If -you are down there, Lucas, sing out!" - -There was no response. In an instant it flashed upon Frank that he and -Dick had been led into a trap. The man in the battered plug hat was -no captain at all. Probably he was a shipping-agent. Having persuaded -Frank and the trapper to accompany him on board the ship, he made -a very plausible excuse for separating them for a moment, so that -they could not assist each other, and now they were to be overpowered -and confined until the vessel was well out to sea, when they would -be brought out and compelled to act with the crew. While Frank was -thinking about it, his conductor, who had gone half way down the -ladder, turned around and started to come back. Frank's ears told him -this and not his eyes, for they were of no use to him in that intense -darkness. "Avast, there!" he cried, with emphasis. "If you come a step -nearer to me I'll send you down that ladder quicker than you ever went -down before. You have picked up the wrong men this time. Where is that -scoundrel who called himself the master of this ship?" - -"Here I am," replied that worthy, in tones very different from those he -had thus far used in addressing Frank. - -"Well, if you are wise, you will undo this half-hour's work with the -least possible delay. Call away that boat and leave us a clear road to -get to it, or----" - -Frank was interrupted by the sounds of a fierce struggle which just -then arose from the quarter-deck. He heard the sound of stamping and -scraping feet, muttered oaths and blows, and then Dick's voice rang out -clear above the tumult. "Keep off, the hul on you," said he, "fur I'm a -leetle wusser nor a hul parsel of wild-cats!" And then followed a sound -such as might be made by somebody's head coming in violent contact with -the deck. - -"Stand your ground, Dick!" shouted Frank. "I'll be there in a minute!" - -With these words he sprang forward, intending to run to his friend's -assistance; but before he had made half a dozen steps his heels flew -up and he was sent at full length on the deck, which he no sooner -touched than two men, whom he had not yet seen, sprang up from behind -the windlass and threw themselves across his shoulders. He had been -entirely deceived as to the number of enemies with whom he had to deal. -He had seen but four men on deck and there proved to be a dozen of -them--more than enough to render resistance useless. Almost before -he realized the fact he was powerless, a pair of irons being slipped -over his wrists and another about his ankles. When he was helped to his -feet, he found that the struggle on the quarter-deck had ended in the -same way. Dick Lewis was led up, and by the light of a lantern which -one of the crew drew from under a tarpaulin, Frank saw that he was -ironed like himself. - -The man who carried the lantern held it up so that its rays fell full -on the prisoners, and gave them a good looking over, bestowing his -attentions principally upon their arms and shoulders, as if trying to -judge of the amount of muscle they might contain. "They'll do," said -he, at last, "and now we're all ready to be off. Can you pull an oar?" -he added, flashing his lantern in Frank's face. - -"I can," was the reply. - -"I can! Is that the way you talk to me? I am mate of this vessel and -there's a handle to my name." - -"I did not know that you were an officer," replied Frank, "and neither -am I aware that I am under any obligations to put a handle to your -name." - -"Well, you'll find it out pretty sudden. It shall be my first hard work -to teach you manners, my fine gentleman. Take 'em below." - -The mate handed the lantern to one of the crew, who moved toward the -forecastle, followed by the prisoners, who never uttered a word of -complaint or remonstrance. Frank knew it would do no good, and Dick -was so bewildered that he could not have spoken if he had tried. He -kept as close to his young companion as he could. He seemed to think -that Frank, powerless as he was, could in some way protect him. They -followed their conductor into the forecastle, and the latter, after -hanging the lantern to one of the carlens, went on deck again, closing -the hatch after him. - -Frank and the trapper looked about them before they spoke. The very -first objects their eyes rested on were the two missing seamen, the -coxswain and the boatswain's mate, who lay side by side in one of the -bunks, snoring at the rate of ten knots an hour. They were there, -sure enough--the bogus captain told the truth on that point--and -Frank was glad to see that they were all right, or would be as soon -as the effects of the drug they had swallowed had been slept off. -There were three other men in the forecastle, and they were in irons -like themselves. They lay in their bunks and looked sullenly at the -new-comers. "What's the matter with you?" asked Frank. "What have you -been doing to get yourselves in this fix?" - -"Trying to desert," growled one of the sailors, in reply. "What's the -matter with _you_?" - -"Shanghaied," answered Frank. "What ship is this, and where is she -bound?" - -"She's the Tycoon, and I expect she's off for the Japan station." - -Frank's heart seemed to stop beating. His situation was even worse than -he had supposed. He recalled the story of the man he had seen desert -that same ship on that very day, and shuddered when he thought of what -might be in store for him. - -"What did you say was the matter with us, Master Frank?" asked the -trapper, leaning against a bunk by his friend's side and speaking in a -low voice. - -"I say we have been shanghaied--that is, kidnapped," replied Frank. - -"But what fur?" said Dick, who did not understand the matter at all. -"We hain't been a doin' of nothing." - -"I know that; but you see--in the first place, Dick, there's no use -in denying that we are in serious trouble. You might as well know it -first as last and make up your mind to stand it, for there is no way -of escape. This is the same ship that that man we picked up to-day -deserted from, and that red-faced man in gray whom we saw in the -whale-boat is the captain of her. He and his officers treat their men -so harshly that they run away every chance they get. The captain must -have men to handle his vessel, and as he can't get them in the regular -way, he kidnaps them." - -"But what do I know 'bout a ship?" exclaimed Dick. - -"Nothing whatever; but that is no matter. You have good strong arms, -and it will not take long to break you in." - -"Whar--whar----" - -The trapper could not ask the question he was most anxious to have -answered. It seemed to stick in his throat. - -"I know what you mean," said Frank. "This man says we are bound for -Japan, and that is nearly three thousand miles from here." - -Dick was frightened almost out of his senses. His face grew as pale as -death, great drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, and he tugged -and pulled at his irons with the strength of desperation. But they -had been put on him to stay, and all his efforts to free himself were -unavailing. Frank knew what he stood in fear of, and he knew, too, that -anything he could say would not set the poor fellow's mind at rest. -The wrong ideas he had formed of things and the ridiculous stories he -had heard in the forecastle of the Stranger, had made an impression -on him so deep and lasting that even Frank, in whom the trapper had -every confidence, could not remove it. The real dangers he was -likely to encounter would be but small things comparatively; but the -imaginary evils which he would look for every day, would cause him much -suffering. Frank thought more of his friend than he did of himself. -How would Dick behave when he found himself dancing over the waves of -the Pacific in a small boat in pursuit of a whale? What would he think -if he saw one of those monsters of the deep--as Lucas, the boatswain's -mate, said he had often seen them--come up on a breach, shoot up forty -or fifty feet into the air, and then fall down into the water with -a noise like the roar of Niagara? No doubt he would refuse duty. No -doubt, too, when the captain or his officers attempted to punish him -for disobedience there would be a desperate fight--for Dick stood not -in fear of anything that walked on two feet--which would not end until -the trapper had been severely injured and perhaps permanently disabled. - -"Human natur'! What'll I do?" cried Dick, after he had exhausted -himself in his efforts to pull off his irons. - -"Watch, me and do as I do, as nearly as you can," replied Frank. "We -are completely in the power of these men, and there is no way to get -out of it. While on our voyage from Bellville, I took particular pains -to learn all I could of a seaman's duties, and perhaps I shall be able -to be of some assistance to you. What we don't know Lucas and Barton -will teach us. But, whatever you do, don't refuse duty or talk back, no -matter what is said or done to you. It will only be worse for you if -you do." - -"And bear another thing in mind," said one of the sailors, who had been -listening to this conversation, "and that is, you take rank next below -the cap'n's dog, and hain't got no rights of your own!" - -The trapper looked toward Frank, and while the latter was explaining -that, according to a sailor's creed, those who follow the sea take rank -in this way: first the captain, then the mates, then the captain's -dog, and lowest of all, the foremast hands--while Frank was explaining -this, there was the sound of a commotion on the deck over their heads, -and after listening a moment the sailors declared that the vessel was -about to be taken to sea. And so it proved. The anchor was hove up, the -sails spread one after the other, and finally the prisoners below began -to feel the increasing motion of the ship. Just then the hatch was -thrown open and the first mate came down the ladder. He walked straight -up to Dick, unlocked his irons and slapping him on the back ordered him -to go on deck and lend a hand. Even this simple order was Greek to the -honest trapper; but he understood the word "go," and he went, delighted -to find himself in possession of his liberty once more. Frank would -have been glad to go with him, for it was anything but agreeable to his -feelings to be confined below like a felon; but the officers wanted to -get a little farther away from shore before they allowed too many of -their unwilling crew the free use of their hands and feet. - -The first order Dick heard when he reached the deck was: "Let fall and -sheet home;" and the mate giving him a push by the shoulder and a kick -at the same time, commanded him to "Grab hold of that rope and pull as -if the sweetheart he left in the backwoods was at the other end of -it." Or, we ought rather say that that was the order the mate intended -to give, but he never finished it, for he was knocked down so promptly -that it seemed as if his foot and the trapper's right arm were both -put in motion at the same instant. Dick's hot blood, which was already -at fever heat, boiled over completely when he felt the weight of the -mate's boot, and he wiped out the insult as soon as it was given. - -Of course there was a tumult at once. The second mate caught up a -handspike and the captain descended from his quarter-deck, flourishing -a rope's end as he came. They advanced upon the trapper from opposite -sides, but he was ready and waiting, and they must have been astonished -at the rough reception they met at his hands. With one single twist, -which was so sudden and powerful that it almost dislocated the second -mate's shoulder, Dick wrenched the handspike out of his grasp and threw -it to the deck. Then his long arms swung in the air like the shafts -of a windmill, one huge clenched hand, as heavy as a sledgehammer, -fell full in the captain's face, the other alighted on the top of the -mate's head, and both these worthies sank to the deck on the instant. - -The first mate by this time recovered his feet, and picking up a -handspike looked all around for the trapper; but he was not to be seen -anywhere on deck. Nor indeed was he to be found about the ship. He was -gone. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE TRAPPER'S ADVENTURE. - - -"WHAT time is it now, Eugene?" - -"Just nine o'clock. What do you suppose is the matter, Uncle?" - -"I wish I knew. They are all of them old enough and large enough -to take care of themselves, but I can't help thinking that there's -something wrong." - -"I have half a mind to go ashore and look for them." - -"I don't know what good that would do. You don't know where to look, -and if they should happen to come aboard while you were gone, we should -have to send some one in search of you, and that would cause another -delay." - -The stores were all aboard, the Stranger was ready to sail, and had -been for more than an hour, but three of her company were missing, -and so was the trapper. Uncle Dick and the boys had been impatient -at first, but this gradually gave way to a feeling of uneasiness and -anxiety. Everybody had some explanation to offer for Frank's absence, -and the prevailing opinion seemed to be that the sailors, having got -themselves into trouble during the day, had been arrested, and that -Frank was trying to effect their release. Old Bob was more uneasy than -the rest, and couldn't make up his mind what to think about it, not -knowing the dangers which one might encounter while roaming about the -city after dark. His kit and Dick's were packed and lying at the head -of the companion-way, and the old fellow was in a hurry to be off. Had -they been in the mountains the trapper's absence would have caused -him no anxiety. There Dick knew all about things, and was abundantly -able to take care of number one; but in the settlements he was like a -child, and almost as incapable of looking out for himself. Old Bob was -afraid something had happened to him or Frank, and the others began to -think so too as the hours wore away and their missing friends did not -appear. Uncle Dick finally gave up all hopes of seeing them that night, -and ordering one watch below, went to bed himself, leaving instructions -with the officer of the deck to call him the moment Frank arrived. The -impatient boys remained on deck an hour or two longer; but at last they -also grew weary and turned in and went to sleep. - -Just at daylight they were awakened by hasty steps on the -companion-ladder, and the officer of the watch hurried into the cabin -and pounded loudly on the captain's door. "Ay! ay!" replied Uncle Dick. - -"That trapper is coming back, sir," said the officer, "and he's having -a fuss out there on the dock." - -"He is having what?" asked Uncle Dick. - -"He's in a rumpus of some kind, sir. He's got somebody on his back and -is lugging him along as if he were a bag of potatoes." - -"It isn't Captain Nelson or one of the men, is it?" asked Uncle Dick, -anxiously. - -"O no, sir. It is a landsman and a stranger." - -This conversation was carried on in a tone of voice loud enough to -be heard by all the boys, who were out on the floor in an instant. It -was but a few seconds' work to jump into their trowsers and boots, and -catch up their coats and hats, and they were on deck almost as soon as -the officer himself. A strange sight met their eyes. A short distance -up the dock was Dick Lewis, running at the top of his speed, and -carrying on his shoulder a man almost as large as himself, who kicked -and struggled in vain to escape from the strong grasp that held him. -The load was undoubtedly a heavy one, but the trapper moved with it -plenty fast enough to leave behind two ill-looking fellows, who carried -bludgeons in their hands, and who were trying to overtake him. About -two hundred yards farther up the dock were two more men, one supporting -the other, who was limping along half doubled up as if in great pain. - -The boys, wondering greatly, sprang ashore and ran up the wharf to meet -Dick. The latter, to quote from Featherweight, looked as though he had -been somewhere. His buckskin suit, soaked with water, clung close to -his person; his hat was gone, and his face wore an expression that the -old members of the club had never seen there before. Archie had seen -it, however, and that was on the day when, seated at the camp-fire near -the Old Bear's Hole, years before, Frank related to himself and Uncle -James the particulars of his meeting with Black Bill and his party, and -the manner in which he had been treated by them. - -Dick grinned the delight he felt at meeting the boys once more, but did -not stop to speak to them. He went straight on board the schooner and -threw off his burden, at the same time seizing his man by the collar -and jerking him upon his feet in front of Uncle Dick Gaylord, who -looked at him in amazement. - -"Here's the mean chap that done it all," said the trapper, throwing his -full strength into his arm and giving the bogus captain--for it was -he--such a shaking that his teeth fairly rattled. "Now if thar's any -law in the settlements set it a-going." - -"What did he do?" demanded the boys, who had followed close at his -heels. "Where's Frank?" - -"He's round on the other side of the 'arth by this time, I reckon," -replied Dick, drawing his hand across his forehead and looking about as -if he were overjoyed to find himself among friends once more. - -"I hope they've got a horse-shoe big enough to hold 'em on, but I'm -'most afeard, 'cause she's a heap bigger nor this little boat o' -your'n." - -"What is?" asked the captain, and the boys grew anxious when they saw -the expression that settled on his face. "Begin at the beginning and -tell us all about it." - -Thus adjured, the trapper launched at once into his story, without -wasting any time in explanatory remarks, and for ten minutes held his -auditors spellbound. He told how he and Frank had been enticed on board -the Tycoon, described the manner in which they had been overpowered and -confined, repeated the conversation that took place between Frank and -himself in the forecastle, and ended by relating the particulars of his -"scrimmage" with the officers of the ship, with all of which the reader -is already acquainted; but he does not know what happened afterward, -so from this point we will tell the story in our own words. - -The reason Dick could not be found on board the ship after his fight -with the officers was ended, was because he was not there--he had -jumped overboard; and what was rather singular, none of the crew on -deck had seen him when he did it. The last time they saw him he was -clambering into one of the bowboats, and that was the first place they -looked for him, his concealment being pointed out to the officers by -a man who was looked upon as the "black sheep" of the crew, and of -whom we shall probably hear more as our story progresses. But when the -officers came to search the boat, Dick was not there; he had dropped -unseen into the water. - -The trapper was a famous swimmer, and entertained no doubt of his -ability to reach the shore; but even had the vessel been twenty miles -at sea, he would have trusted himself to the waves rather than run the -risk of encountering the terrible dangers that awaited the ship and -her crew on the "under side of the earth." The worst thing he would -have to contend with in case he were recaptured, would be the tyranny -of the captain and his brutal officers; but the sturdy trapper gave -not one thought to that, for during a life of excitement and adventure -he had more than once demonstrated his ability to protect himself; -but he _did_ think of that ghostly ship, the Flying Dutchman, the big -cuttle-fish, the mermaids and sea-dragons, the whale that swallowed -Jonah, and which was still roaming about seeking whom he might devour, -and, worse than all, the awful danger of the ship falling off when she -came to the under side of the earth and was sailing along with her -masts pointing downward and the crew walking with their feet upward. -Dick thought of all these dangers and swam as if he saw them looming up -close behind him; but with all his exertions he could not make headway -fast enough to suit him. His wet clothing hung upon him like lead and -deadened his progress through the water; so the first thing he did when -the ship was out of sight, was to stop and relieve himself of this -encumbrance. He took off moccasins and all, and wrapping them up in -his hunting-shirt put the bundle on his back and tied it around his -neck with the sleeves of the shirt. After that he made better headway. - -It is hard to tell what would have been the result of the trapper's -adventure, had it not been for some assistance which fortunately came -in his way. Had there been light enough so that he could see to direct -his course, the swim would have been nothing; but there was danger of -moving in a circle in the darkness, and so tiring himself out without -making any headway at all. There were no lights in front to guide him, -but there were some behind, and after looking at them two or three -times the swimmer became convinced that they were coming toward him. -There was a vessel of some kind approaching, and Dick, changing his -course a little to intercept her, had the satisfaction of hearing his -hail answered, and of seeing the little fishing-smack which carried the -lights thrown up into the wind within a few yards of him. - -"Hello, there!" cried a gruff voice. - -"Hello, you!" shouted Dick. "Here I am." - -"Well, what do you want?" asked the captain of the fishing boat, -peering out into the darkness and trying to discover whence the hail -came. - -"Is civilized folks human enough to lend a sufferin' feller-man a -helpin' hand?" asked Dick, who after his recent experience had some -serious doubts on this point. - -This question was not immediately answered, for the skipper did not -quite understand it. He held a consultation with one of his men and -then called out-- - -"If you want help, pull this way. I've got no boat to send out after -you!" - -Dick was pulling that way with all his might, and guided by the -lanterns that were held over the side, at last reached the boat, -which sat so low in the water that he could lay hold of her rail. The -astonishment of her crew as they hauled aboard a man who carried all -his wearing apparel around his neck, was unbounded. They gave him time -to put on his clothes and then directed him to the captain who was -waiting to see him. - -The very first question that gentleman propounded to him aroused a -thousand fears in Dick's mind. The skipper wanted to know where he -came from, and how he happened to be out there in the water, five -miles from land; and the trapper, fearful that if he told the truth -and acknowledged himself to be a deserter, the captain might follow -the Tycoon and compel him to go aboard of her again, whether he wanted -to or not, did something he had never done before--he made up a story -all out of his own head, as he told Uncle Dick Gaylord, and queer work -he made of it. He entered into the particulars of a fearful shipwreck -that had just occurred. The waves were as high as the Rocky Mountains, -he said, the wind blew so hard that the sailors had to stop all work -and hold their hair on (this was a quotation from one of the stories -the trapper had heard in the forecastle of the Stranger); his ship -was capsized no less than three times, always coming right side up -again, and doing it so quickly that she did not even wet her sails -or her deck, and none of the crew had a chance to drop off into the -water (another quotation); but finally the wind came in such furious -gusts that it took the masts right out by the roots (still another -quotation), and the ship filled and went down like lead. The trapper -said that all this happened not five minutes before, and that set the -crew of the fishing-boat into a roar of laughter, for they had been -out all day, and knew there had scarcely been wind enough to raise any -white caps. The captain used some hard words, and called Dick anything -but a truthful man; but the latter affirmed so solemnly that it was all -so, that the skipper thought that perhaps something had happened after -all, and spent a long time in cruising about the place where Dick had -been picked up. - -This delay added to the trapper's fears. What if the Tycoon should -come back in search of him? Alarmed by the thought, he labored hard to -convince the captain that every soul on board the wrecked ship, except -himself, had gone down with her; but finding that the skipper paid no -attention to him, he changed his story altogether, and declared that he -had jumped overboard on purpose, and that he had done it because he -had taken passage on the wrong vessel. He wanted to go to Sacramento, -he said, but by mistake had boarded a craft bound for the "under side -of the earth;" and as she would not turn back and put him ashore, he -had no alternative but to take to the water and get back as best he -could. Then the skipper was angry in earnest. Ordering Dick to get as -far forward as the length of the little vessel would allow, and not to -open his head again as long as he remained on board of her, he filled -away for the city. - -The trapper was very glad to be let off so easily. He had induced the -captain to turn his vessel toward the shore, and that was all he cared -for. He crouched down in the bow and meekly submitted to the jokes and -tricks of the sailors, who never allowed him a moment's peace. He was -too completely cowed to take offence at anything. He had seen enough of -civilized life and people to take all the courage out of him. - -The moment the fishing boat touched the dock he was out and ashore. -Then he was himself again. When he felt something solid under his feet -his courage all returned, and he was in just the right mood to carry -out the exploit he afterward performed. Almost the first man he saw on -the dock was the bogus captain, who had enticed Frank and himself on -board the Tycoon. Dick's blood began to boil as soon as his eyes rested -on him. His first thought was to take summary vengeance on him, but he -was checked in time by the reflection that he was not in the mountains -now, and that there were laws in the settlements strong enough to -punish evil-doers of every description. He did not know how to set the -law in motion, but the captain of the Stranger did, and he would take -the culprit before him at once. - -The bogus captain, whose business was that of shipping-agent and -boarding-house keeper, was standing in the midst of a group of friends, -half a dozen of them perhaps, and all men like himself; but this did -not deter the trapper, who strode up and confronted him. The talking -and laughing were hushed at once, and all eyes were turned upon the -new-comer, who stood before them with dripping garments, his tall -figure drawn up to its full height, his eyes flashing and his bony -fingers working nervously. He looked dangerous. The bogus captain -stared at him a moment doubtfully and then a gleam of intelligence -crossed his face and he tried to smile. - -"Why, I thought I had seen you before," said he, thrusting out his -hand. "Come in! come right into the house. Where you been?" - -"Whar do you reckon you seed me last?" demanded Dick, holding his arms -behind his back, for the man seemed determined to shake hands with him -whether he wished it or not. "You can't shut up my eyes with none of -your palaverin', now. Whar do you reckon you seed me last, I axes you?" - -"Why, let me think a minute," said the man, pulling off his plug hat -and digging his fingers into his head, at the same time backing away -from the enraged giant. "I see so many of you fellows that I can't call -you all by name the minute I meet you." - -"My name's--my name's----" Dick stopped and looked all around, trying -to think what he should call himself. He did not have a very extensive -circle of acquaintances, and he couldn't make up a name "all out of -his own head," as he made up the story he told the captain of the -fishing-smack. "My name's Colonel Gaylord," said he, giving the first -one that came into his mind. - -"Ah! yes; I know you now," said the bogus captain, making another -effort to take the trapper by the hand. "You're the chap I found a good -berth for a few days ago, ain't you? Seems to me--you know----" - -"Yes," roared Dick, who could control himself no longer, "I know, an' -'tain't likely I'll ever forget, nuther. I'm the man you wanted to send -round to the other side of the 'arth, to be chawed up by whales an' -dropped off into the clouds, consarn you--that's who _I_ am, an' you'll -remember me afore you see the last of me, I tell you. Human natur'! I -wish I could tote you out to the mountains fur about ten minutes. But -I'll set the law a-goin' agin you afore you see another day; that's -what I'll do. Come along here, you meanest man the 'arth ever saw, not -even exceptin' Black Bill--come along! Stand out o' the way, the rest -on you, or I'll claw you all up like a painter!" - -With these words the trapper seized the bogus captain by the collar -and began pushing him toward the Stranger, which he could see still -lying in her berth where he had left her. The man remonstrated and -threatened, but all to no purpose. Then he resisted and called upon -his companions for help. One of them responded, but was disposed of so -quickly and effectually that the others thought it best to keep at a -safe distance. - -Finding that his man was possessed of more strength, activity and -determination than he had calculated on, the trapper seized him with -both hands, and swinging him upon his shoulder started for the schooner -at a rapid run. He brought his prisoner in triumph, and stood him up on -the deck where all could see him. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -A SCAMP ON HIS DIGNITY. - - -"THIS yere is the mean chap that done it all," continued the trapper. -"Thar's none of us that'll ever see Frank ag'in. He's gone round on -t'other side of the 'arth, an' some dark night, when he's sailin' along -thinkin' of nothing, one of them big quids (the sailors had called the -cuttle-fish 'squids') will rise outen the water all on a sudden, wrap -his arms, two hundred feet long, all about the ship, an' that'll be the -last of Frank. When be you goin' to hang this feller, cap'n?" - -Dick had an interested and anxious crowd of listeners. The officers of -the schooner and the boys stood ranged in a circle in front of him, and -behind were the sailors, who at first invaded the sacred precincts -of the quarter-deck with much hesitation, holding their caps in their -hands and momentarily expecting an order to retire; but growing bolder -by degrees, when they found that the captain, although he looked their -way now and then, had nothing to say to them, they crowded up close -behind the trapper, so that they could hear every word. There were also -two other listeners--the men with the bludgeons, who had followed Dick -Lewis in the hope of rescuing his prisoner. When these two worthies -first came up, they acted as if they were about to board the vessel -without ceremony; but changed their minds when they saw half a dozen -broad-shouldered seamen, in obedience to a sign from the officer of the -deck, move up into the waist to receive them. The sailors, who had a -pretty good idea of what had been going on, even before they had heard -the trapper's story, would have been delighted to have the opportunity -to toss these men ashore neck and heels; and the latter must have seen -it in their countenances, for they backed away from the edge of the -wharf and took up a position from which they could hear and see all -that passed on the Stranger's deck. - -Had Frank been as safe out of his troubles as Dick Lewis was, the boys -would have been highly amused by the latter's description of the scenes -through which he had passed; but it was far from being a laughing -matter now. Frank had been kidnapped ("shanghaied" the sailors called -it) by the captain of the Tycoon or his agent, and there was no knowing -what might become of him. Perhaps the hard fare and harder treatment -he was certain to receive, might drive him to do something desperate. -Uncle Dick Gaylord, however, was not troubled by any such misgivings. -He knew that Frank possessed courage and prudence in no ordinary -degree, and besides there were Lucas and Barton, the coxswain, on the -same vessel. The former was an old whaleman, and the assistance he -could render Frank in the way of teaching him his duties, might enable -the boy to keep out of any very serious difficulties. But could he help -him in any way? That was the momentous question, and Uncle Dick walked -up and down his quarter-deck with his hands behind his back while he -pondered upon it. - -"Every word this man has uttered, as far as it concerns me and my -doings, is false from head to tail," declared the bogus captain. - -This was the first time he had spoken since he was brought on board -the vessel. At first he was badly frightened, but while the trapper -was telling his story, he had time to think over his situation and -determine upon his line of defence. - -"I don't know anything about this man and the other fellow he speaks -of," he continued; "I never seen him before this morning, and I never -tried to pass myself off as the captain of any ship." - -Dick Lewis eyed him savagely while he was speaking, and when he ceased -drew back his clenched hand. In a moment more the man would have -measured his length on the deck, had not the captain interposed. - -"Get ashore!" said he, shortly. - -"O no, cap'n," replied the man, with an impudent smile. "This is a -nice way you have of doing business, I do think! One of your friends -commits an assault on me and drags me away from my peaceful home, and -then you wash your hands of the matter by telling me to go ashore. That -won't go down, by no means. Twenty dollars for damages will get rid of -me, but not a cent less!" - -"I can bring a dozen witnesses to prove that that man wasn't once -outside of his house last night," said one of the ruffians on the dock. -"I'm one of 'em, for I was with him all the evening and know everything -he done." - -"Rodgers!" exclaimed Uncle Dick. - -"Here, sir," came the prompt response. - -A stalwart sailor stepped quickly out from among his companions, and -dashing his cap upon the deck stood behind the bogus captain pushing -back his sleeves. A simple look from Uncle Dick would have sent the -man flying over the schooner's side as if he had been thrown from a -catapult. - -"This is the last time I shall speak to you," continued Uncle Dick. -"Get ashore!" - -The bogus captain thought it best to obey, and that too without a -moment's hesitation. Once on the dock he was safe, and there he stopped -long enough to say a parting word to Uncle Dick. "This matter will be -settled in the court-room," said he, with a threatening shake of his -head. "That man shall be arrested before he is an hour older." - -With these words he walked off, followed by his companions. The boys -looked first at him, then at the captain and finally at Dick Lewis, who -stood the very picture of astonishment. "Why didn't you set the law -a-goin'?" the trapper managed to ask at last. - -"It would have been of no use," answered the master of the schooner. -"Didn't you hear what that man on the dock said? That indicated the -defence they would bring up. We would find a court-room full of -witnesses to prove an alibi--that is, that this man was somewhere else -when the kidnapping was done." - -"But it wouldn't be true, Uncle Dick," said Archie, who, like all -the rest of the Club, invariably addressed the old sailor by this -affectionate title. "If they swore to that, they would be guilty of -perjury, and that is a state prison offence. Dick has told the truth." - -"I know it. I am just as certain that everything he has described to us -really happened, as I would be had I seen it all with my own eyes; but -a justice would not take his unsupported word against that of a dozen -men. And as for perjury, how would you fasten the crime upon these -false witnesses that would be produced? If Frank, Lucas and Barton were -here, we would have the game in our own hands; but they are miles away. -This man knows we can prove nothing, and that is what makes him so -impudent." - -"I wish you had told Rodgers to throw him overboard, or else let Dick -knock him down," said Eugene. - -"And afterward had the satisfaction of paying a fine and costs," said -the old sailor, with a laugh. "By the time your hair is as white as -mine, Eugene, perhaps you will have learned something. I've got one -fine to pay now." - -"Why, how is that?" asked all the boys at once. - -"Didn't you hear what that man said just as he went away? There'll be a -policeman down here directly." - -The boys looked toward the trapper. The expression of alarm which they -had so often seen of late, had settled on his face again. He backed up -against the rail for support, and looked wildly about as if he had half -a mind to take to his heels. He stood more in fear of the law than he -did of a grizzly bear. He had always thought that there was something -wrong about it, and now he was firmly convinced of the fact. The law, -as he understood it, was to restrain bad people, who were disposed to -take advantage of their neighbors whenever an opportunity was offered; -but he found that it was likely to prove a means of punishment to the -innocent. It would have been just as impossible to give him a clear -idea of its workings, as it would to make him understand the causes of -the trade-winds or the theory of the ocean-currents. - -"I've said a million times, an' Frank says that more'n a thousand, -that I'd never put my old moccasins inside a city again, an' now I -say it onct more an' I'll stick to it," said the trapper, solemnly, -raising his hand toward the mast-head to give emphasis to his words. -"I get skeared to death by cars an' steamboats, an' something's allers -happenin'." - -"Shoulder your rifle an' kit, Dick, an' let's be off," said old -Bob, who up to this time had been a silent and amazed spectator and -listener. "I'm afeared." - -"So am I, Bob, but I dasen't. I dasen't go; the law will ketch me. -I wish I was to the ole Bar's Hole, so't I could crawl in an' hide -myself." - -Dick leaned back against the rail again, rubbing his hands together and -groaning as men sometimes do when they are sadly troubled in spirit. -The boys tried hard to set his mind at rest. They assured him that no -harm should come to him, for they and Uncle Dick were not only able but -ready and willing to stand between him and all difficulties; but the -trapper said he didn't want them to do it. If anybody was to go to jail -(thrusting people into jail and hanging them Dick thought were the only -punishments in vogue in civilized communities) it should be himself -and nobody else. Furthermore, he did not see why it was necessary that -any one should be called upon to stand between him and difficulty. He -had only been following out his natural impulses in trying to bring -the bogus captain to justice, and now he must suffer for it. He shook -his head, refusing to be comforted, and showed a desire to be alone -with his own thoughts; so the boys left him and turned to Uncle Dick, -who was once more pacing his quarter-deck, after holding a short -consultation with his officers. - -"I know what you want," said the old sailor, as the boys approached him -in a body. "You are anxious to know what I am going to do for Frank. I -can only guess at the best plan, and follow it out to the best of my -judgment. What do you think ought to be done?" - -The boys had no suggestions to offer. One thing was certain, and that -was that Frank would not long submit to harsh treatment. A young man -who had commanded a fine vessel in Uncle Sam's navy would not consent -to take rank next below the captain's dog, as the sailors in the -Tycoon's forecastle had assured him he would do as long as he remained -in that ship. If the opportunity were ever offered, he would lay his -case before the consul of the first port at which the vessel touched; -and failing that he would probably be driven to desert. In either case -the boys did not expect to see him again. If the consul protected him, -he would be sent to the nearest port in the United States free of -expense, and he had money enough in his pocket--about twenty dollars, -Archie thought--to support him until he could receive a remittance from -home. If he was compelled to desert he would probably ship on the first -vessel he could find, just as Chase had done, and she might take him to -the remotest corner of the earth. All this would sadly interfere with -the Club's arrangements. They thought as much of Frank as his cousin -did--so much that they one and all declared that they did not care to -continue their voyage without him. They couldn't enjoy themselves, -for they would worry about him all the while, and if they were to be -separated from him they would rather go home and stay there. If their -pleasant party and their cruise were to be broken up, they had the -boarding-house keeper to thank for it, and Walter declared that there -was no punishment known to the law half severe enough for him. - -Uncle Dick listened while the boys were talking, and said he fully -agreed with them. "Even if Frank should succeed in escaping from the -Tycoon, and had a vessel at his command or money enough to take him -just where he wanted to go, he would not know which way to steer to -find us," said he, "for you boys will remember that you did not decide -upon anything definite, and Frank doesn't know whether we are going to -Alaska or Japan." - -"And all through my foolishness," said Eugene, bitterly. "I wish I had -given up, and gone where the others wanted to go." - -"So do I," said Bab. - -"Don't reproach yourselves," replied Uncle Dick. "You had plenty of -sport during your debates, and you were not supposed to know that -such an emergency as this was about to arise. But perhaps we can do -something by following the Tycoon." - -"Yes, if we only knew where she is going." - -"I have an idea that I do know. She is bound for the Japan station, -so the sailors in her forecastle told Dick Lewis. Well, now, she is -short-handed. She must be, for her mate released Dick from his irons -and brought him on deck to help make sail. She'll never go on her -station without a full crew, and the nearest place at which she can get -it is the Sandwich Islands. There she will undoubtedly ship Kanakas -enough to make up her complement. Then she'll go out for a three or -four months' cruise, and come back and fit out for the Japan station. -Now, if we can reach Honolulu before she leaves, we shall probably be -able to effect the release of our men. If it were not for this incident -that has just happened I would sail at once." - -"Why can't you do it any way?" asked Walter, who did not like to waste -even a moment. - -"Because we must see Lewis out of his trouble. If he goes ashore -without some one to protect him, he will be sure to fall into the -hands of those sharpers, who will frighten him out of the last article -of value he's got." - -"Cap'n," said Dick, suddenly, "will you take us with you--me and Bob?" - -The old sailor looked in astonishment, and so did the boys. - -"I'm afeared to go ashore," continued the trapper, who had been holding -a council of war with his chum, "an' so is Bob. 'Sides it's a thing we -never done yet--run off an' leave Frank in trouble, an' we've knowed -him too long to do it now!" - -"My good fellow," said Uncle Dick, with a smile, "if Frank were lost -in the woods, you and Bob would be just the men to assist him; but you -can't help him in any way now." - -"Mebbe we can, cap'n. An' even if we can't, we don't want to go back -hum without knowing what's come on him. We shouldn't see no peace of -mind." - -Uncle Dick did not speak for several minutes. He knew just how much -these rude men thought of Frank, and told himself that their desire to -see him safe among friends again before they took leave of him for -ever, was perfectly natural; but there were the dangers they expected -to meet on the "under side of the earth"--the Flying Dutchman, the -whales, the monstrous "quids"--could they stand all these? "Lewis," -said he, suddenly, "have you and your companion fully made up your -minds on this point?" - -"Yes, an' we won't never change 'em nuther. We allers stand to what we -say." - -"That settles the matter. Mr. Baldwin, while I am gone to the custom -house, hail the first tug you see and stand by to get under way." - -The boys would have been delighted by this arrangement a few hours -before, but their feelings were different now. They had something to -think of besides the amusement they expected the trappers to furnish -them. - -Uncle Dick went ashore and walked rapidly away, leaving the boys to -themselves. Although they were impatient to be off, the time did not -hang heavily on their hands, for they had much to talk about. They -fully expected the trappers to change their minds when they saw the -preparations that were being made for getting under way, but Dick -and Bob were not that sort. There was a dogged expression on their -faces, such as might have been seen there had the backwoodsmen been -in the power of savage foes who were making ready to torture them at -the stake. It said that they fully realized the dangers before them, -and were prepared to meet them like men who had never shown the white -feather. - -"Now, if Frank were only here, and if Dick and Bob would get rid of -some of their foolish notions, we could look forward to some fun, -couldn't we?" said Eugene. - -"_If_ and _if_!" said Walter. "It is surprising how often that little -word stands in our way." - -"I have been thinking that Dick's short sojourn on the Tycoon has made -matters worse for Frank than they would otherwise have been," said Bob, -anxiously. "The three principal officers have felt the weight of his -arm, and of course they'll have to take satisfaction out of somebody." - -"Dick," said Archie, suddenly, "why don't you encourage us by saying -that Frank will be sure to come out all right? That's what you used to -tell us whenever he got into trouble." - -"But he was on the prairie then, an' now he's among civilized folks," -replied the trapper. - -"Which means, I suppose, that this is the worst scrape he ever got -into." - -Dick nodded his head. - -"I don't know about that," said George Le Dell. "I think if he had -his choice, he would rather be where he is now than in the prison -at Shreveport, if he had to go through what he did when he made his -escape. Frank has been in some tight places, but somehow he has always -managed to squeeze through without much trouble." - -"And he never was hurt that I remember, except when he burned that -house in which Colonel Harrison made his headquarters," said Archie. - -"When _you_ burned it, you mean," said George. "_You_ did that, and -if you had been a line instead of a staff officer, you would have got -another stripe around your arm for it, too. I told the Colonel all -about it after you left our house." - -"Why did you do that?" exclaimed Archie, hastily. "Now I shall never -dare to meet him again." - -"Ha! ha!" laughed George. "Why, he is one of your warmest friends. I -told him because I wanted him to know that the boy who killed that bear -and beat Somers in a fair race through the woods, had something in him. -The Colonel scolded me for not telling him before. He said if he had -known it while you were in our neighborhood, you wouldn't have got away -from his house for one good long month at least. He would have kept you -if he'd had to put a guard over you." - -"Well, I shouldn't have enjoyed the visit." - -"You couldn't have helped yourself, if plenty of hunting, riding and -good company are aids to enjoyment." - -From this subject the boys gradually got back to the one that occupied -the most of their minds and thoughts, and that was Frank's sudden -disappearance. They asked the trapper a multitude of questions, but -learned nothing new, for he had already told his story in detail. While -they were talking Uncle Dick returned, and the tug being alongside and -the pilot aboard, the lines were cast off and the Stranger swung slowly -around until her bow pointed toward the headlands at the entrance to -the bay. In the bustle and hurry that followed the boys found time to -turn an eye toward the trappers now and then, but they saw no signs -of regret or alarm on their faces; and when the lines that held the -tug were let go, and the steamer with a farewell shriek of her whistle -turned back toward the city, and the schooner unfolded her white -wings one after the other, and the Golden Gate was passed, and the -broad expanse of the Pacific was fairly spread out before them, there -were still no signs of backing out. But it was too late now. The die -was cast, and Dick and old Bob were bound for the "under side of the -earth!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -TOO LATE. - - -THE very presence of Uncle Dick was enough to infuse new life and -comfort into the boys, who were disposed to make themselves miserable -over the absence of their genial companion. The old sailor believed in -looking on the bright side of things, and thought there was no use in -worrying over the matter that they could not just then better in any -way. His example made a great change in the feelings of the Club. - -"Now, Walter," said he, briskly, "we are fairly afloat again, and our -sailing-master having deserted us, we are compelled to call on you to -fill his place. Suppose you work out a course for us. We're bound for -the Sandwich Islands, Eugene; which way are they from here?" - -"Oh, you can't catch me on that," replied the boy, "for I posted myself -only a few days ago. The twentieth parallel runs through them. They're -in the same latitude as Vera Cruz, in Mexico." - -"Well, I want to make the run in as short a time as may be, so what -shall I do?" - -"Stand to the southwest to get the benefit of the northeast trades, -and the equatorial current. The same route would take you to China or -Japan." - -"Suppose, now, we were in China and wanted to come back to the States: -would I follow the same course?" - -"No, sir. You would steer in a northerly direction until you got -between the parallels of thirty-five and forty-five degrees north -latitude, and there you would find strong westerly winds to help you -along. Perhaps you'd get some assistance from the North Pacific drift -current, but on that point I am not sure." - -"Well, it is just as well you are not," shouted Walter from the cabin, -where he was busy with his chart. "The North Pacific drift current -might help you if you wanted to go to Alaska from China. When it -strikes the shores of our continent it divides, part of it flowing on -down the coast and forming the California coast current, and the rest -bending back across the Pacific again; so it would retard your progress -rather than help you." - -"Well, I am not the sailing-master of this craft, am I?" replied -Eugene. "If I was, I'd keep posted. Besides, almost anybody with a -chart before him, could clatter away as though his tongue was hung -in the middle. Wait till Frank gets back if you want to talk about -navigation." - -"He's a good one, that's a fact," said Uncle Dick. "He's as fit to -command a vessel as I am." - -Just then Walter came up, having worked out a course, which being -approved by the captain and given to the officer of the deck, the bow -of the Stranger was brought around a point or two, and the voyage -was fairly begun. There was nothing to be done now, but to await -developments with all the patience they possessed. - -But few incidents worthy of record happened during the voyage, -which, after they struck the trade winds became monotonous enough. -The schooner bowled along before a fine breeze, and as it was never -necessary to change the sails, there was no work to be done except -ordinary ship's duty. The Club passed the time mostly in reading and -conversation with the trappers, who, as soon as they fully recovered -from their sea-sickness, kept a constant lookout for some of those -terrible dangers which had been so graphically described to them. By -dint of much talking and argument the boys finally succeeded in making -them take a more sensible view of their situation, and as the days wore -away without bringing with them any of the perils they had expected to -encounter, the backwoodsmen began to act a little more like themselves. -But when an ignorant person once gets hold of an idea it is almost -impossible to make him let go of it, and the trappers' minds could not -be set wholly at rest. They steadily refused to go into the forecastle -at night, and always slept on deck. The boys found the reason for this -in a remark they heard Bob make to his companion. They wanted plenty -of elbow room when they reached the under side of the earth, the old -fellow said, so that when the schooner dropped off among the clouds, -they could take to the water. They saw sharks, dolphins and flying-fish -(the trappers began to put more faith in what the boys said after they -had seen one of the latter rise from the water and sail through the air -like a bird on the wing), and one day the sailors pointed out to them -an object which made them believe that their time had come. It first -showed itself while the boys were at dinner. They were summoned on deck -by the officers of the watch, and found themselves close alongside -the first whale they had ever seen. The monster was taking matters -very leisurely, moving along about a hundred yards from the schooner, -lifting his huge head out of the water now and then and spouting a -cloud of spray into the air, and although the vessel was running at a -rate of eight miles an hour, he kept pace with her without the least -exertion. The boys were all disappointed. - -"This must be a small one," said George. - -"Small!" echoed Uncle Dick. "How big do you think a whale is, any -how--as big as the Rocky Mountains?" - -"No, sir; but I have read that they have been found sixty and seventy -feet long," replied George. - -"Well, this fellow is every inch of eighty, and I shouldn't wonder if -he was ninety feet in length." - -"I wish some whaler would come along and pitch into him," said Eugene. -"I'd like to see the operation of catching a whale." - -"If fifty whalers should come along they would not trouble this -fellow," said Uncle Dick. - -"Why not?" - -"Because he is neither a sperm nor a right whale. He belongs to the -species known as finbacks. He would not yield oil or bone enough to pay -for the trouble of lowering the boats, and besides he is so swift and -strong that it would be dangerous to meddle with him." - -The finback kept alongside the schooner for nearly a mile, and during -that time the boys had ample opportunity to take a good view of him. -He sank and rose at regular intervals, executing the manoeuvre with -an ease and grace that was astonishing, and now and then he showed so -much of his huge bulk above the water that the boys opened their eyes -in amazement, and Featherweight declared that there was no end to him. -The longer they looked at him the larger he seemed to grow. At length -he began to edge away from the schooner, and finally disappeared. Then -each boy turned and looked at his neighbor to see what he thought about -it. - -"What makes you look so sober?" demanded Featherweight of Archie, who -stood by pulling his chin, and gazing fixedly at the spot where the -whale had last been seen. - -"I was just thinking," was the reply. - -"And I'll warrant we can all tell what you were thinking about," said -George. "I guess there is no one in this small party who would like to -be ordered into a small boat to attack a beast of that size, and you -were wondering what Frank's feelings will be the first time he tries -it. Well, I don't want to know them by experience." - -Archie walked to the side and looked over into the water, while George -turned to Dick and Bob, who just then came up. Their faces were very -white. - -"Well, Dick," said George, "you have seen your first whale, and it -isn't such a terrible looking object after all, is it?" - -"I dunno," replied the trapper. "If the babies look like that, what -must the ole ones be?" - -"The babies?" repeated George. - -"One of the fellows showed that thing to me when it fust come in sight, -and I showed it to Rodgers, but he couldn't see it. Rodgers, he called -another of the sailors, and he said he could see something, but it was -so small he couldn't tell whether it was a whale or not." - -"Now, Dick, don't you believe a word those men in the forecastle say -to you," said Eugene, indignantly. "Uncle Dick says that is one of the -largest whales he ever saw." - -"Wal, Rodgers he couldn't see it at fust 'cause it was so small, but -when he _did_ see it, he said mebbee it was a baby. He said the ole one -will be along purty soon lookin' fur it, an' then we'll see a whale. If -the ole one don't find the baby, she'll think we've done something to -it, an' she'll brush us off'n the 'arth like a feller would brush a fly -off his Sundy trowsers." - -The trappers were frightened again, and for the rest of the day kept -close company with their young friends, no doubt feeling safer in their -presence than anywhere else. The boys, one and all, exerted themselves -to correct the wrong impressions they had received, but the foremast -hands had had the first chance at them, as Fred remarked, and it was -a matter of impossibility to set their fears at rest. For a week -afterward Dick and his companion kept a sharp lookout, expecting every -minute to see the old whale coming in search of her young one; but -she did not appear, and the next thing that happened to relieve the -monotony of the voyage, was the discovery of land, dead ahead. Walter -had been anxiously looking for it for the last twenty-four hours. -Having taken Frank's place as sailing-master, he was eager to earn a -reputation as a navigator, and he was not a little elated to find that -he had made no mistake. - -The discovery of land set the sailors going again. Rodgers and a -few of his companions, who, when the trappers were in hearing, were -continually talking about mermaids and dragons and other sea monsters, -and the awful sights that would be presented when they came to the -under side of the earth, looked through their hands at the dim outline -in advance, and after comparing notes in a tone of voice loud enough -for Dick and Bob to hear, declared that it wasn't land after all--that -the man at the mast was mistaken. - -"That's no more land nor I be," declared Rodgers. "If my head is worth -a tar-bucket, it is the old whale. She can't find her baby, and so -she's coming down to ask the skipper what he's done with it. She's -coming like lightning too. Can't you see the water a boiling up under -her bows? I can." - -"Now, mate, I think it's a squid," said another, "and he's waiting -there to gobble up something. I can see his long arms resting on the -water, and ready to catch the first moving thing that comes within -reach. I hope the cap'n 'll keep away a few points." - -"Mebbe he don't know what it is," said a third, "and I think Lewis had -better go aft and tell him about it--I do indeed!" - -"'Taint a whale nor a squid neither," said an old gray-headed seaman, -who, using his hands for a spy-glass, had been looking at the island -ever since they first came in sight of it. "It's the equator. I can see -the waves rolling over it!" - -"Well, Jack, you've been to sea longer nor me and ought to know about -these things," said Rodgers. "I seen the waves, but I thought they was -the bone the whale was carrying in her teeth. When we get over it, if -we ever do, we're on the under side of the earth, ain't we?" - -"That's what's the matter," said the gray-headed sailor. - -Dick fairly jumped, as each one of these opinions was solemnly -advanced, and hurried off to speak to the boys. The latter, especially -Eugene and Archie, could hardly refrain from laughing outright at his -ludicrous display of terror, but they quieted his fears as well as -they could, and by giving him a solemn promise that they would see him -safely through any danger that might arise if he would remain close by -them, they succeeded in keeping him out of the company of the foremast -hands all the rest of the day. But it was not until nearly sunset that -the fears the sailors had conjured up were entirely banished. By that -time the object that had excited his alarm was so plainly visible that -Dick could see for himself that it was land and nothing else. - -The boys did not see many of the new and novel sights that were -presented to their gaze, as the Stranger made her way through the -strait that runs between the islands of Hawaii and Mani. They had eyes -for nothing but the whale ship they expected to find there. The huge -fishing canoes they saw the next day; the natives that came aboard -in swarms while they were running about in the light, baffling winds -they found under the lee of the land, the fruits they offered for -barter--none of these things possessed the interest for them that they -would under almost any other circumstances. They paid little attention -to anything but the vessels that now and then passed them. But the -Tycoon was not among them. - -Uncle Dick took time, as he passed along, to look into every bay and -inlet where the Tycoon was likely to be, and it was not until nearly a -week after they first sighted the Sandwich Islands that the Stranger -dropped anchor outside the coral reef that marks the entrance to the -harbor of Honolulu. As the wind came strong down the mountain gorges, -everything was made snug, and then the gig was called away and the -captain set out for the town, leaving the boys to enjoy themselves as -best they could during his absence. But it was dull business, this -trying to pass away the time when they were so impatient and anxious. -They kept up their spirits by telling one another that something would -surely happen to restore their friend Frank to them, but the face that -Uncle Dick brought back with him, when he returned six hours later, -dashed all their hopes to the ground. No sooner was the gig fairly -hoisted at the davits, than he gave the order to heave up the anchor -and go to sea. The boys stood around and looked at one another in -silence while these orders were being executed, and when Uncle Dick -went into the cabin, they followed him. - -"Too late, boys," said he. - -"Has the Tycoon been here?" asked Walter. - -"Yes; she has done just what I thought she would do. She shipped a crew -of natives and has gone out for a three months' cruise. When that is -ended she will come back and fit out for Japan." - -"And what about Frank?" - -"Haven't heard a word of him. The consul saw only the captain, and he -was here just long enough to ship his crew. We missed our object by -just three days." - -"I don't understand how we missed it at all," said Eugene. "We -certainly lost no time." - -"But you must remember that the Tycoon is a large ship, and that she -probably carries as much canvas in her courses and spanker as we can -spread on all our masts and yards. We can't expect to sail with her." - -"What are we going to do now?" asked Bab. - -"We are going to see if we can find her. It will be almost like -searching for a needle in a haystack, but we don't want to remain here -idle for three months." - -"Of course not," said Eugene, quickly. "That would never do. While we -are moving about we shall feel that we are doing something for Frank, -even if we don't find him." - -"Exactly," said Uncle Dick. - -"What will you do if we find the Tycoon?" inquired Walter. - -"I shall probably be able to present the matter to her captain in such -a way that he will be willing to release Frank and make him some amends -for what he has done--I _think_ I shall be able to do so," said the old -sailor, with a look in his eye that spoke volumes. "But if I should -fail, he will be arrested as soon as he comes back here." - -This was all Uncle Dick had to say, and it afforded the boys very -little satisfaction. They had confidently expected that Frank would be -restored to them when they reached the Sandwich Islands, and this was -a sore disappointment. Where was he now? Where was he while the Tycoon -was lying in the harbor of Honolulu? What was the reason he had not -done as he advised the deserter to do--insisted on seeing the American -consul? The boys could only speculate upon these points, and they had -ample leisure to do it--almost six weeks. During that time every ship -they could come up with was spoken, but the Tycoon was not among them, -and neither could they gain any information concerning her. The boys -were getting discouraged and very down-hearted, and had it not been -for Uncle Dick there is no telling how they would have lived through it. - -One night the officer of the deck reported that there was a whaler -a few miles distant "trying out"--that is, rendering out the oil of -a whale she had recently captured. The Stranger's bow was at once -pointed toward her, and at sunrise the two vessels were within speaking -distance. - -"Now just listen to me a minute and I'll tell you what's a fact," said -Perk, who with the rest of the Club stood in the waist, attentively -regarding the ship as she came toward them carrying a huge bone in her -teeth, "there's something about that craft that looks familiar." - -"I was just thinking so myself," said Eugene. - -He glanced toward Uncle Dick, who, during the last quarter of an hour -had kept his glass levelled at the ship, and edged away toward the -officer of the deck. "It can't be that that is the vessel we're looking -for, is it, Mr. Baldwin?" said he. - -"If it isn't her, it's her sister," replied the officer, with some -excitement. - -Before Eugene could carry this news to his companions the ship -backed her main topsail, and as Uncle Dick, with an exclamation of -astonishment that had a good deal of meaning in it, seized his trumpet, -her captain appeared upon her bulwarks. The boys, through their -glasses, had a plain view of him, and the general verdict was that he -was a rough-looking fellow--one who, judging by his appearance, was -capable of almost anything. - -"It is the same man we saw in the whale-boat," declared Eugene, his -voice rendered husky by excitement. "I know him, even if he hasn't got -his gray suit on." - -"I confess that I can't see any resemblance," said Bab, taking his -glass down from his eyes long enough to bring it to a better focus. - -It would have required a person with a very lively imagination to -recognise anybody at that distance, especially in such clothes as those -in which the captain was dressed. He wore a tarpaulin on his head, a -red shirt open at the throat, and a pair of coarse trowsers, which were -thrust into the tops of heavy sea boots; and as some of these articles -had been made for larger, and others for smaller men than himself, they -fitted him oddly enough. - -"Ship ahoy!" roared Uncle Dick. - -"Ay, ay, sir!" shouted the captain of the whaler. - -"What ship is that?" asked Uncle Dick. - -The answer was given in a loud tone of voice, but the words were -indistinct. The captain talked as if he had a mouthful of something. -The only part of the reply that the Stranger's crew understood was that -the ship was seventeen months out of Nantucket, and that she had nine -hundred barrels of oil in the hold. - -"What does he say is the name of his ship, Mr. Baldwin?" asked Uncle -Dick. - -"I understood him to say Eli Coon, sir," said the officer. - -"That sounds wonderfully like Tycoon, doesn't it?" whispered George. - -"And what does he call himself, Mr. Baldwin?" continued Uncle Dick. - -"Captain Hank Wilson, were the words I caught, sir." - -"What schooner is that?" shouted the captain of the whaler. - -"The Stranger, Captain Richard Gaylord, just out of Honolulu," answered -Uncle Dick; and the words were so plain and distinct that the master of -the whaler could have heard them if he had been twice as far away. - -"I'll send a boat aboard of you." - -"Very good, sir," replied Uncle Dick. "There is something strange about -this, Mr. Baldwin," he added. "That is the Tycoon if I ever saw her, -but that isn't the scoundrel who commanded her while she was in the -harbor of San Francisco. Stand by, now, and if any of our men come off -in his boat we'll see that they don't go back." - -There was no confusion on board the Stranger--there never was, for the -discipline was too perfect for that--but everybody was highly excited. -And the excitement was increased when the second mate went forward with -the order, which he gave in a low voice: "All hands stand by, and -be ready to jump when you hear the word." The sailors knew what that -meant, and while some pushed back their sleeves, others laid handspikes -where they could find them again at a moment's warning; and having -thus prepared for any emergency, they moved to the side in a body, and -awaited the coming of the whaler's boat with no little impatience. She -came in sight at length, rounding the stern of the ship. Presently one -of the men whispered something, which was passed along from one to -another, until it reached the ears of the boys in the waist: - -"I see Lucas in that boat, and Barton too!" - -"But where is Frank?" said Archie, anxiously. "If he is aboard that -ship now is his time to jump overboard and swim out to us." - -"Look at Dick Lewis," whispered Bab, suddenly. - -The boys with one accord turned their eyes toward the trapper. He stood -on the forecastle with his hands on the rail, over which he was leaning -as far as he could without losing his balance, and his eyes were -fastened upon the approaching boat with a gaze such as a hawk might -bestow upon the prey it was about to seize. As the boat approached -nearer and veered round to come alongside, Dick gradually drew back out -of sight and walked toward the stern to meet her. - -"If that is the captain of the Tycoon standing in the stern of that -boat," said Archie, "he will be a well-thumped man before he gets -fairly on deck, unless Uncle Dick interferes in time." - -"It isn't he," said Eugene. "I was mistaken. But he's a hard-looking -customer all the same." - -The boat came nearer with every stroke of its crew, but the boys could -not see any one in it whom they recognised. The backs of the oarsmen -were turned toward them, and the captain kept his tarpaulin drawn low -over his forehead, while the wind had turned the collar of his shirt up -about his ears, so that his face was most effectually concealed. - -With a few strokes more the boat was alongside, and the red-shirted -captain's head appeared above the Stranger's rail. Then Dick began -to bestir himself. With a bound like a tiger he sprang forward and -grasped the captain by the shoulders. - -"Avast there, Lewis!" roared Uncle Dick. "What are you about? If you -attempt any violence I'll throw you over to the whales!" - -"No, I reckon not," replied the trapper. "This feller can't fool ole -Dick Lewis, no matter what sort o' clothes he's got onto him!" - -As he said this he dragged the captain bodily over the rail, and -lifting him in his arms as he would an infant, carried him toward the -quarter-deck. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -GENTLEMAN BLACK. - - -"GO on deck now, and let me give you fair warning that if you don't -behave yourselves you'll go overboard before you can think twice!" - -It was the mate of the Tycoon who spoke, and who gave this order to -Frank and the three sailors in the forecastle, after he had released -them from their irons. The officer did not look much as he did the last -time Frank saw him. He wore a handkerchief about his head and over -his left eye, but it did not wholly conceal his face, which was badly -swollen and discolored. He was in a fair way to remember his meeting -with the trapper for some time to come. - -During the hour that Frank was confined in the forecastle his mind -was exceedingly busy. His companions in trouble civilly answered all -the questions he asked them, but did not seem inclined to talk, so -Frank had opportunity to think over his situation and try to determine -upon some course of action. The first thing he did was to congratulate -himself on the fact that none of his companions were with him on the -Tycoon. Had Walter, Bab, Archie or any of the rest gone ashore with -him when he went after his rifle, they would now have been in the same -predicament as himself; and according to Frank's way of thinking that -would have been a calamity indeed. He expected to suffer--his mind was -fully made up to that,--but he was strong and healthy and better able -to endure hardship than any of the young friends he had left on board -the Stranger. He had no fears for Dick Lewis. The trapper was as tough -as a pine knot--nothing seemed to make any impression on him--and if -he could only be induced to keep his temper under control, and pay no -attention to the blows and insults he was sure to receive, he would get -on well enough. Still he thought more of him than he did of Lucas and -Barton, who were sleeping soundly in their bunk. These two were old -sailors and could stand anything. They were not likely to have as easy -times as they had had on board the Stranger, but they were accustomed -to hard work and hard treatment, and when safe off the Tycoon they -would have another story to help while away the lonely hours of the mid -watch. - -Thus it will be seen that Frank was disposed to make the best of his -misfortunes, and to look on the bright side of things. But there was -one fact that troubled him not a little, and that was, his connection -with the Club was severed. He did not expect to see any of its members -again, not even Archie, for years to come. He would be released from -the Tycoon some day--just as soon as he could gain the ear of some -American consul for a moment--but he would not know which way to -turn to find the Stranger, and so would have nothing left him but -to make the best of his way back to Lawrence. That would be a great -disappointment to him. He had anticipated much pleasure from his -visit to foreign countries, and it was hard to abandon the voyage, -just as his expectations were about to be realized, and go back to -the monotonous, hum-drum routine of village life. But as there was no -help for it, it was useless to repine, Frank told himself. He would do -his duty as well as he could while he remained on board the Tycoon, -but he was under no obligations to stay with her any longer than he -was compelled to do so; and the first time she dropped anchor in port -there would be one of her crew missing, unless the officers took the -precaution to deprive him of his liberty. - -While Frank was meditating in this way the mate came into the -forecastle, and after taking off his irons, ordered him on deck. -Ascending the ladder he found a small crew engaged in setting things -to rights. The third mate, who met him as he came up, put him to work -with the rest, and for the next hour Frank was kept so busy that he did -not have time to see much of his surroundings. He took a look around -now and then for Dick Lewis, and wondered what sort of work the clumsy -trapper would make in doing sailor's duty. - -"Was you looking for your pardner, sir?" asked a seaman who was busy -at his side. (The "sir" came out almost involuntarily, as if the man -instinctively felt that Frank was in some way entitled to that show of -respect.) - -"Yes; I was looking for that tall, broad-shouldered man in buckskin who -came aboard with me." - -"Well, sir, he's gone!" - -"Gone! Where?" - -"I don't know, for he can't be found alow nor aloft. He must have -jumped overboard." - -"O, I hope not!" said Frank anxiously. - -"If he has, it is all right, sir, because he'd a done it sooner or -later. I'll not stay aboard here much longer, unless there's a great -change for the better. Things couldn't be worse." - -"Don't do anything desperate," said Frank. "It won't pay. But what made -this man of whom we were speaking jump overboard?" - -"I don't know, sir. I was busy when he came up. The first thing I knew -there was a rumpus; the cap'n and two of the mates were laid out as -flat as slap-jacks, and the man hasn't been seen since." - -"Were we far from shore?" - -"Only about three or four miles." - -"O, then it is all right. Dick is safe. He can swim double that -distance." - -"Well, I can't; but I wish I could have gone with him. I've seen two -men go overboard since I've been on this craft, and if I was with 'em -now among the sharks, my troubles would all be over." - -Here was direct confirmation of the story the deserter had told on -board the Stranger. Frank drew a long breath, and from that moment a -settled determination took possession of him. - -The work was all done at last, the watches told off and one of them -ordered below. The one to which Frank belonged remained on deck to -handle the ship, which was making long boards to gain an offing. Two -or three times every hour they were called upon to trim the sails as -the ship changed her course and stood off on another tack, and the rest -of the time the crew lounged about the windlass. But there was none -of that story-telling in which the crew of the Stranger engaged on -such occasions, to make the time hang less heavily on their hands. The -men sat sullen and silent, and as they were no company for Frank, he -strolled aft to make an inspection of the craft which was likely to be -his home for long weeks and perhaps months to come. She was different -from other ships he had seen only in the number of boats she carried -at her davits, and in her try-works, which were fitted up amidships. -These were built of masonry, contained three large kettles, and were -so constructed that a body of water could be kept under the furnace to -prevent the fire from burning the deck. - -Having seen all he cared to see, Frank went forward again, and leaning -over the windlass thought of the friends he was fast leaving behind -him and of the trapper. He hoped from the bottom of his heart that -Dick had jumped overboard. If such was the case he had saved himself -many an hour of suffering, and had placed himself in no danger. It was -but a short distance to the shore for such a swimmer as he knew the -trapper to be, and besides there were vessels constantly passing in -and out of the harbor, so that on a calm night like that he had only -to call for help to get it. The trapper had learned enough from the -three men in the forecastle, if he could only remember it, to put Uncle -Dick Gaylord on the track of the Tycoon, and perhaps matters might not -turn out so badly after all. If the Stranger followed the Tycoon to -Japan, his release would certainly be effected; but how would he fare -in the meantime? He wished that some discontented boy who had read -yellow-covered novels until he had become thoroughly disgusted with -home and all its surroundings, and sighed for the wild, free, romantic -life of a sailor, could be in his place just then. - -A short time before Frank's watch on deck was ended, he heard a -rustling in one of the bunks below, and looking into the forecastle -saw that the boatswain's mate, having come to his senses, was sitting -up and staring about him in great bewilderment. The old-sea dog did -not know where he was, but he quickly became aware that he was aboard -some craft that was in motion, and catching up his cap he sprang out -of his bunk and ran up the ladder. At the top he found Frank, whom he -recognised at once. - -"Where are we, cap'n?" he exclaimed; "and how long have we been under -way?" - -The sailors belonging to the Stranger's crew were pretty well -acquainted with the history of their captain and his passengers. They -conceived a great respect for Frank when they learned that he had been -all through the late war, and that he had, by his own unaided efforts, -worked his way from the forecastle to the quarter-deck, and falling -into Uncle Dick's habit, they invariably addressed him by his old naval -title, and were as careful to salute him whenever they passed him as -they were to salute their commander. - -Before Frank had time to reply, the boatswain's mate had glanced about -the deck of the whaler, and some faint suspicions seemed to creep into -his mind. "This ain't the Stranger, cap'n!" said he. - -"Who are you talking to?" demanded the first mate, who just then came -forward. - -"I was speaking to Cap'n Nelson, sir," was the reply. - -"Who is he? Where is he?" asked the mate, roughly. - -"There he stands, sir." - -"Well, you just drop all that," said the officer, who was plainly very -much surprised, "and hereafter bear in mind that there is only one -captain aboard this ship and only one first mate. Get on deck, here. -You belong to this watch!" - -"Ay, ay, sir," replied Lucas. "Now here's a lubberly go, cap'n," he -added in a low tone, as the mate went aft out of earshot. - -"Be careful," said Frank, quickly. "Remember the mate's order and drop -that title and all others when you speak to me. Just recollect that I -occupy a lower position aboard this craft than you do, for you are an -able seaman and I am not." - -"But what craft is this and what's happened us?" asked the boatswain's -mate, earnestly--"shanghaied?" - -"Yes, and this ship is the Tycoon." - -"I knew it," said the old sailor, striking his open palm with his -clenched hand. "Serves me right." - -"I don't know how you came here. Perhaps you can tell." - -"I took a drink, sir," said Lucas, hanging his head. - -"Ah! yes; and you didn't get it out of the scuttle-butt either, did -you? Pure water would not have robbed you of your senses." - -Then Frank went on to tell of his meeting with the bogus captain and -the manner in which he and the trapper had been enticed on board the -whaler. The old sailor was greatly distressed to know that it was -through him that Frank had been brought into trouble. He offered to -make amends by jumping overboard, and seemed to be hurt because Frank -would not consent to it. While he was trying to comfort the mate the -watch was called and Frank and the rest ordered below. - -Thus far things seemed to be working as well as could be expected under -the circumstances. Frank had heard a few hard words from the officers, -but he had seen no blows struck. This, however, was only the calm that -preceded the storm. The next morning the captain made his appearance on -deck, just as the crew were ordered to turn to, and then the trouble -began. Frank recognised him at once, for he wore the same clothes he -had on when he passed the Stranger in the whale-boat. He proved to be -quite as brutal as he looked, and a constitutional grumbler. He found -fault with everything. Nothing could be done to suit him. He swore at -the officers, and they in turn swore at the men, and struck right and -left with whatever came first to their hands--that is, the first and -second mates did. The third mate, whom Frank had heard addressed as -Mr. Gale, took no part in the swearing and striking. He did not speak -to the men as if they were dogs, but his orders were just as emphatic, -just as readily understood and quite as promptly obeyed. Frank took a -liking to the man at once. Like himself, he seemed very much out of -place on board the Tycoon. - -The captain was anxious to get his small crew into shape for work -before he reached the fishing-grounds, and almost the first thing he -did was to order out a "dummy whale," which was a spar towed over the -stern. Then the boats' crews were selected. There proved to be enough -to man two boats, leaving a sufficient number of the crew on board to -act as ship-keepers. Frank and Lucas were assigned to the captain's -boat, the former being seated at the bow oar. This was a position of -responsibility, as Frank very soon learned. A whale when struck by a -harpoon sometimes starts to run; and in such a case it is the duty of -the bow oar to seize the line, draw the boat up alongside the whale, -and hold it there while the captain uses his lance. - -Everything being in readiness, the boats were lowered, and for the -next three hours were manœuvred about the spar, until it seemed to -Frank that the inside of his hands was all in a blaze. To make matters -worse, the captain swore at him for his awkwardness, and took him to -task for answering "Very good, sir!" in response to an order, when he -should have said "Ay, ay, sir!" An officer in the navy is required to -answer "Very good, sir," when receiving a command from a superior, to -show that he understands it; but Frank was not in the navy now, and -neither was he an officer. He was a foremast hand on board a whaler, -occupying a position a good deal lower than the captain's dog, he began -to think. - -The boats were finally ordered back to the ship, and after they had -been hoisted at the davits, the falls laid down in Flemish coil on -deck, and the spar hauled aboard, Frank heard the order passed-- - -"Send that gentleman in the black suit aft here." - -Frank knew in a moment that he was the one designated. He claimed to be -a gentleman and he wore a suit of black clothes--he was the only one -on board who did--so he promptly answered to the summons. "Here, sir," -said he. - -When he reached the quarter-deck he removed his hat and waited for the -captain to speak to him. - -"So you know your name, do you?" exclaimed the skipper, gruffly. - -"My name is Nelson, sir." - -"But it suits me to call you Gentleman Black." - -"Very--ay, ay, sir," replied Frank, who knew that he was expected to -say something. - -"Shoulder that handspike," continued the captain, pointing out the -implement, "and march up and down the deck like a soger as you are. -Carry it until you learn not to say 'very good' to me. What business is -it of yours whether my orders are very good or very bad? I'll soon take -them airs out of you." - -Frank picked up the handspike, and placing it on his shoulder, began -walking up and down the deck like a sentry on his beat. A landsman -would have seen no significance in this punishment, but the sailors -did, and the boatswain's mate and the coxswain (the latter had -recovered his senses and gone to work with the rest) were highly -indignant. A seaman regards it as an insult to be called a soldier. It -implies that he is a "skulker"--that he shirks his duty. - -This was the second time that Frank had been punished on board ship. -His first offence, as we know, was committed while he was in the navy, -on board the receiving ship. He spilled some water on deck, and was -obliged to wipe it up and carry a swab about the vessel until he saw -some one else doing the same thing. He might have carried that swab -all day, had not Archie taken pity on him and effected his release. -His jolly little cousin was not at hand to help him now. Frank was -glad that he was far away, and in no danger of ever being placed in a -situation like his own. - -Frank found that even a handspike grows heavy after a while, and when -he had carried it four long hours, he would have been glad to put it -down and rest; but his release did not come until his watch was called -at twelve o'clock that night. From noon until midnight he paced the -deck without a moment's pause, a bite to eat or a drop to drink. He -was tired and sleepy, but was obliged to remain on deck four hours -longer, or until the watch to which he belonged was ordered below. -It was pretty hard, Frank told himself, and provoking, too, to find -somebody ready to make sport of him, as one of the sailors in his watch -did when he went forward. It was the "black sheep" of the crew--the -same one who pointed out the trapper's supposed hiding-place in the -bow-boat. His name was Gardener, but some one had christened him -Calamity, and that was what he was generally called. Some of the crew -had warned Lucas and Barton to be very careful what they said in this -man's presence. He was the captain's pet. He was never punished like -the rest, and the reason probably was because he made it his business -to keep the officers posted in everything that was said and done in the -forecastle. - -"Well, Gentleman Black," said Calamity, as Frank approached the -windlass around which the watch were gathered, "how do you like -the taste you have had of the Tycoon's discipline? You can't come -soldiering aboard here with your airs and your graces----" - -"Belay that!" cried the coxswain, jumping to his feet. "You're a -soldier yourself and a tale-bearer besides, Calamity, and any more such -language as that will breed a row that'll have to be settled by you and -me the very first time we get ashore. That's a word with a bark on it!" - -Calamity, like the coward he was, slunk back out of sight immediately, -and in a few minutes got up and walked away. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -"THERE SHE BLOWS." - - -IT soon became evident to all on board the Tycoon that Captain -Barclay--that was the name of the master of the ship--was in a great -hurry. Whaling captains, while on fishing-grounds, generally try to -get over as much space as they can while daylight lasts, and to remain -as nearly in one spot as possible during the night. By following this -plan they can hunt over every mile of the ground, and lose no chance -of finding the game of which they are in search. Captain Barclay, -however, carried all the sail he could crowd, both night and day. The -old sailors, Lucas and Barton among the rest, knew where he was going, -and when Frank heard them express their opinions he had new cause for -uneasiness. - -"He's bound for the Sandwich Islands," said Lucas, one day. "He hasn't -got men enough aboard here to do anything, and he's going after a crew." - -"Then we can make up our minds that we have seen the last of the -Stranger," said Frank. - -"Why, bless you," said Lucas, "I never did expect to see her again. I -never said so before because I saw that you kept hankering after her, -and I wanted you to keep your spirits up as long as you could." - -Frank's last hope was gone now, and it was only by a great effort of -will that he kept himself from giving away utterly to his despondent -feelings. "I have seen the last of my friends," thought he. "I have no -one to rely on except myself. I must drag out a miserable existence -here till I see a chance to escape, and then get home as best I can. I -might just as well make up my mind to it." - -And he did. He accepted what he believed to be the inevitable, as -gracefully as he could, and worked hard to keep his thoughts from -wandering back to the pleasant little cabin of the Stranger, in which -he had spent so many happy hours. He learned rapidly when once he made -up his mind to it, and won many a word of praise and encouragement from -Lucas and Barton, who declared that he was as handy as a pocket in a -shirt. His services speedily attracted the attention of the mate, who -one day addressed him something after this fashion, only using much -stronger language-- - -"I have half a mind to trice you up, Gentleman Black!" - -It happened just after a sudden squall, which struck the ship and -threw her over almost to her beam ends. The topsails were clewed up, -and when the crew were ordered aloft, Frank was the first to mount the -rigging. He made his way to the main royal, and stowed it as quickly -and neatly as if he had been accustomed to the business all his life. -He had learned this part of a seaman's duty more readily than the -rest, because he took the most interest in it. He felt excited and -exhilarated when he found himself clinging to the swaying yard, with -the wind whistling about his ears and the white-caps rolling beneath -him, while the ship lay over at such an angle that, had he lost his -hold, he would have fallen into the water thirty feet from her side. -He was always among the first to respond to an order to reef or furl -topsails, and perhaps he liked this duty best because there was danger -in it. - -Having performed the work of stowing the royal, Frank descended to the -deck, where he was met by the first officer, who had kept his eye on -him while he was aloft. "Yes, sir, I've the best notion in the world to -trice you up!" he repeated. - -"What for, sir?" asked Frank, opening his eyes in great surprise. - -The young sailor was well satisfied with the work he had just -performed, and wondered what he had done that was wrong. By strict -attention to his work he had thus far succeeded in keeping out of any -serious difficulty since the affair of the handspike. True, he had been -sworn at, had been sent aloft several times to slush down the masts, -and had worked industriously for three hours knocking the rust off the -anchor, and all because the mate thought he was a trifle too "airy" -sometimes; but these were light punishments compared with those which -some of the men received. He had seen a sailor knocked down with a -belaying pin as fast as he could get up, and another hauled up by the -wrists until he swung clear of the deck, and a fifty-pound snatch-block -made fast to his feet. - -"I am not conscious of having done anything out of the way," continued -Frank. - -"O, your conscience don't trouble you, then," angrily exclaimed the -officer, who did not understand Frank's fine language. "Well, your back -will trouble you in less than a minute if you use any jaw to me." - -"I meant, sir, that I didn't know I had done anything wrong," exclaimed -Frank. - -"Then why didn't you say so?" growled the mate. "You're a nice lad, I -do think, to come aboard here with your smooth, oily tongue, and talk -us all into believing that you are a landsman! You told me that you -didn't know anything about a ship." - -"Yes, sir, and I told you the truth. I have had time to learn something -since then." - -"So have I," said the mate. "Now listen to me, my hearty," he added, -shaking his finger at Frank. "You can't soldier any longer. You'll -stand your trick at the wheel and do an able seaman's duty from this -hour, or I'll haze you till you'll be glad to jump overboard. Go -forward, where you belong." - -"Ay, ay, sir! Now I have got myself into a scrape, sure enough," -thought Frank. "The very first time I receive an order I don't -understand, I shall catch it. I wish I had let that royal alone." - -Frank went forward and shortly afterward the first mate followed him, -holding in his hand two short pieces of rope. "Gentleman Black," said -he, "I need something to larrup these fellows with, when they don't -act like men, and I want you to put a long splice in these ropes and a -Turk's head at each end." - -"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Frank. "You can't catch me in this way, my -man," he added, as the mate went aft again. "If it should ever become -necessary to send down the topmasts, you will find out just how much -I know about a sailor's work. I expect I shall be the first one to be -'larruped' with this when it is done." - -Frank knew that such a rope as that he was at work upon, could not be -used anywhere about the ship, unless it was for the purpose of beating -the men. The mate gave him the task merely to try him; and he stationed -himself, too, where he could watch Frank in order to make sure that he -did the work himself. If he had been unable to do it, the officer would -have accused him of soldiering, and that would have furnished him with -an excuse for punishing Frank in some way. But he missed his object -that time. The work was neatly and quickly performed, and Frank carried -it to the mate, who, after closely examining it, grasped it with both -hands and raised it in the air. "Let me see how it will answer the -purpose for which it is intended," said he. - -If Frank had flinched or dodged, it is probable that he would have felt -the weight of the rope over his shoulders; and it is probable, too, -that the mate would have been flat on his back the very next instant. -The deck of the Tycoon was never so near being the scene of a mutiny as -it was that day; and just so surely as the rope fell, just so surely -would there have been trouble, and serious trouble, too--Frank did not -know how serious until afterward. He little dreamed that he had eight -good men to back him up. He thought he would have to depend entirely on -himself, but he stood his ground as if he had had the whole crew of his -old vessel, the Boxer, at his command. - -The mate eyed him savagely for a moment, and then lowering the rope and -telling Frank that he thought he was a very nice lad to come soldiering -aboard there, when he was as able to do seaman's duty as anybody, -called him some hard name and ordered him to go forward. The young -sailor obeyed, glad indeed to be let off so easily; but his heart beat -rapidly for a long time after that, and now and then he cast toward the -officer a glance that was full of meaning. - -That night all sail was made again, and while Frank was at work on the -topsail yard, Lucas, who was busy at his side, poked him with his elbow -and whispered hurriedly-- - -"Why didn't you knock him down, cap'n?" - -"Be careful," whispered Frank, in reply. - -"No harm done, sir," answered the boatswain's mate. "There's nobody -near us except good men and true, and I'd as soon they would hear me -as not. Why didn't you knock that mate down when he raised the rope on -you?" - -"I had no reason for doing it," replied Frank; "but I believe I should -have tried it if he had struck me. I don't think I could take a blow -without resenting it. I came pretty near going in the brig that time." - -"No, you didn't, not by a long sight, sir, begging your pardon for -speaking so plainly," said the old sailor, with a knowing shake of -his head. "If you'd a done it, you'd a been walking up and down the -quarter-deck now with your thumbs in the arm-holes of your vest. You'd -a been master of the Tycoon, sir!" - -Frank looked at Lucas in amazement. - -"Fact, sir," said the old boatswain's mate, earnestly. "Me and Barton -got you into this scrape, all unbeknown to us who did it, and we're -bound to bring you out with flying colors, I tell you!" - -"Look here, Lucas," said Frank. "Now don't you or anybody else -attempt----" - -"Belay what I have told you and listen to more," interrupted the -sailor, hastily; "and don't be breaking in on me in that way, if you -please, sir, because we hain't got much time to talk. You'll never be -struck, sir, I don't think, but if you are, you'll see a tidy row. The -officers know who you are--me and Barton told it to the other fellows -in Calamity's hearing, and he carried it back to the cabin, as we knew -he would--and the cap'n would give all his old boots and throw in a -pair of new ones into the bargain, if he was well rid of you. He don't -want you here; you know too much." - -"Well, he can easily be rid of me and you and Barton, too," said Frank. -"Let him put us ashore at the Sandwich Islands. We are willing to go." - -"He'll never do that, sir. You wouldn't go ashore with a stopper on -your jaw, would you?" - -"No, I would not," replied Frank, emphatically. "I'd tell the consul -all I know about this ship and the way men are treated here, and have -the captain and all his officers, except Mr. Gale, arrested. I could -not be hired to keep my mouth shut." - -"Ah, ha! I thought so. The cap'n knows it, too." - -"What is he going to do with us?" - -"None of us know. The men don't want you to leave if they've got to -stay, because they say that things ain't half as bad as they were -before you came aboard. We know what we're going to do, and I've been -waiting for a good chance to tell you. We're going to take the ship -out of the hands of these villains, and put you in command. Hold on a -bit, sir," he added, seeing that Frank was about to speak; "I know just -what I am saying, and it is too late to find fault, for everything is -fixed. Me and Barton spoke to some of the men about it, and there's -six good men besides us that you can depend on every time. We know that -you've got the brains and the book-learning to see us safe through the -consul's court, and we'll do just whatever you say, all except one -thing: when we get the ship, Calamity and the first mate have got to go -overboard. That we've struck hands on. Lay in from the yard now, sir. -Keep a stiff upper lip, and don't take no slack from nobody. When you -get a good ready, sing out; and while me and Barton makes a dash for -the cap'n's pistols--Calamity told us where he keeps 'em--the other six -will take care of the officers on deck. We've got everything fixed, as -I told you, and we're just aching to begin the work." - -The old boatswain's mate followed his remarks with sundry winks, nods -and contortions of his face which Frank could not understand, but which -no doubt meant a good deal. - -Frank descended to the deck and went through the rest of his duties -like one in a dream. He had told his friends on board the Stranger -that, had he been in the deserter's place, he would not have been -restrained, by any fear of falling into the clutches of the law, from -joining with his companions and taking the vessel out of the control of -her officers. Now he was placed in a similar situation, and had only to -"sing out" to make himself monarch of all he surveyed. Eight sturdy, -determined men stood ready to obey his orders--a sufficient number to -overpower the captain and his two tyrannical mates before they could -think twice. Lucas did not have time to tell him who his friends were, -but Frank believed that he could pick them all out. He had wondered -at the respect which the foremast hands had shown him ever since his -advent among them, and rightly attributed it to the influence of Lucas -and Barton. Frank wondered if the third mate, Mr. Gale, was one of -them. That officer always treated him with the utmost consideration, -and once, while he was serving Frank with some clothing from the -slop-chest, he so far forgot himself as to address him as "sir." He -noticed the mistake as soon as he made it, but he did not recall the -word. The old boatswain's mate and coxswain were indeed resolved to -bring him out of his troubles with flying colors. They meant to promote -him rapidly. Did anybody ever hear of a person creeping in at the -hawsehole, and working his way into the captain's berth in three weeks? -Frank laughed at the idea. - -"I'm a nice specimen to be put in command of a ship," he thought. "I -hardly know the topsail halliards from the jib downhaul. But I feel -better than I did an hour ago. If my presence here really acts as a -restraint upon the captain, I am glad of it. As long as that state of -affairs continues he and his officers are secure in their positions; -but now that I have the power to prevent it, no one shall be triced -up by the wrists with a fifty-pound weight at his feet, or beaten as -unmercifully as that man was beaten the other day." - -Frank carried a light heart from that day forward, and often wondered, -when he saw the captain in one of his angry, swearing moods, what that -gentleman would think if he knew that he was treading on a mine that -was liable to be exploded at any moment. He did not have a chance to -talk to Lucas again, but the sailor looked whole volumes at him every -time they met, and Frank thought the old fellow meant to reproach him -because he did not "sing out." - -Frank by this time began to feel and look like a sailor. He had -discarded his black suit and drawn a full seaman's rig from the -slop-chest--red shirts, coarse trowsers, woollen stockings, heavy boots -and tarpaulin. His hands were becoming hardened, so that he could -haul on the ropes or take a three hours' pull about the ship, without -setting his palms on fire as he had done at first. There was one thing -he could not bring himself to do, and that was to go barefooted, like -the rest of the crew. There was something too slovenly about that to -suit Frank, who, during his experience on ship-board, had always been -accustomed to see men neatly and completely dressed. - -Although Captain Barclay was in a great hurry, he did not neglect to -keep himself and crew in readiness to seize upon the first opportunity -that was presented for adding to his stock of oil in the hold. The -boats were always ready for lowering, the mast-head had been manned -for two weeks; and Frank took his turn with the rest. He did his -duty faithfully while acting as lookout, hoping to be the first to -discover a whale. He wanted to see one; but when it came to getting -into a small boat and pulling out to attack him--well, Frank wasn't -so anxious for that. He drew a long breath and his heart would beat a -little faster than usual whenever he thought of it. He had heard many -thrilling stories related during the night-watches, and had come to the -conclusion that a sperm whale was made to be looked at from a distance -and not to be approached in a small boat. - -One bright day Frank was sitting on the fore-royal yard, his back -braced against the shroud-stay, one hand grasping the halliards and his -feet swinging in the air a hundred feet above the deck. There was not -a sail in sight--nothing but the ocean beneath and the blue sky above. -The old boatswain's mate, who now held the position of boat-steerer, -was sitting on the main-royal yard behind him, and both were keeping a -bright lookout for whales. A prize of a pair of boots had been offered -to the first man who raised a whale, and that to a sailor who, out of -small wages, has to pay high prices for everything he draws from the -slop-chest, is an object worth working for. Frank did not care for the -boots--he hoped to be safely off the Tycoon long before the pair he -then had on was worn out--but he did care for the honor of discovering -the first spout, so he kept his eyes roaming everywhere. But half his -watch had expired and he had seen nothing yet. - -"Hem! hem!" said a voice behind and above him. - -Frank looked around, and saw the old boatswain's mate winking and -nodding at him as he always did both before and after making any -confidential communication. More than that, he was holding his clenched -hand against his breast, and pointing with his thumb out over the -water. His meaning flashed upon Frank in an instant. His eyes scanned -almost every inch of the watery waste that lay between him and the -horizon, but he could see nothing that he thought looked as a spout -ought to look. - -"Sing out, sir!" whispered the old sailor, excitedly. "There's grease!" - -"I don't see it," whispered Frank, in reply. - -"What's the odds? I do. Sing out, sir!" - -"There she blows!" shouted Frank, taking the old sea-dog at his word. - -The flapping of the sails below him showed that his wild yell -had reached the ears of at least one of the sailors on deck--the -wheelsman--and that it had excited him so that he forgot for a moment -to attend to his business. Then the captain's hoarse voice was heard. -"Keep her steady there, can't you? Where away?" - -"I am sure I don't know," said Frank, in a low tone, as he looked -impatiently around. - -"Three points off the weather bow!" shouted the boatswain's mate. -"Three miles off and coming this way. Sperm whale. Flukes! flukes!" he -added, as the whale went down with a farewell flourish of his tail. - -"Dear me, I wish I could see it," thought Frank. - -"Lay down from aloft!" commanded the captain. "See the boats all clear -and stand by to lower." - -When Frank descended to the deck in obedience to this order, he found -the captain and all his mates in the rigging, the former sweeping the -horizon with his glass. "There she blows!" he cried, gleefully. "Close -aboard! Back the main topsail and lower away!" - -Frank sprang to the falls of the boat to which he belonged, and by -the time it was fairly settled in the water, he was in his seat with -his oar in his hand. Much scrambling and confusion followed; but a -few oaths from the captain restored order, and almost before he knew -it Frank was flying over the waves in pursuit of his first whale--the -whale he had raised, but which he had not yet seen. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -FRANK'S FIRST WHALE. - - -ALL this happened in much less time than we have taken to describe it. -To Frank, whose brain was in a great whirl, it seemed that scarcely -half a minute had elapsed after the raising of the whale, before he was -in the boat and pulling for dear life. He afterwards recalled every -exciting incident of that hour, and wondered that he did not feel any -fear. Perhaps it was because he was too busy to think. He was not so -busy, however, but that he could take note of and marvel at one thing, -and that was the great change that had suddenly come over the captain. -He looked and acted like a different man. He even smiled, and that was -something Frank had never seen him do before. Holding the steering-oar -with one hand and assisting the stroke-oar with the other, he kept up -a running fire of small-talk to encourage his men. - -"Now, my good sons," said he, in a low voice and in much such a tone -as an affectionate father might use, "all my 'lay' in that whale will -go straight to your credit just as soon as we get back to the ship, if -you will only put me alongside of him so that I can get one chance at -him with the lance. I declare, it has been so long since I used a lance -that I don't know how it seems, and I shall get all out of practice if -you don't take pity on me. We must beat that other boat anyhow, and if -you pull this way, you are sure to do it. That's it; pick her right up -out of the water and walk along with her. She isn't a feather's weight -to such long-armed, broad-shouldered fellows as you are. That's the way -to do it; only raise her just an inch higher, my lads. She touched that -wave; I felt it, didn't you? There! she didn't touch that one and I -know it. Keep her there, my good lads. She's in the air now. Talk about -your balloons! Give me this boat and crew and I'll go anywhere they -can!" - -For the first time since he came on board the Tycoon, Frank felt like -laughing. The captain reminded him of Hans Breitman's velocipede, -which, even before it became frightened and started to run away with -its rider, went so fast that it - - "----didn't touch the dirt, by shinks, - Not once in half a mile." - -"Bless me, what muscles those two fellows in the bow have got!" -continued the captain, still working at the stroke-oar with all his -strength. "And how they do twist them oars about, just as if they were -feathers! I've got to have stronger and heavier oars made for them, I -can see that, for they're bound to break them they've got now. Ah! she -touched that wave. Lift her up in the air again, where she belongs, and -hold her there. You fellows in the bow needn't think you can pull your -end of the boat so fast that we in the stern can't keep up with you. By -the way, is that sharp-eyed, good-looking son of mine, who raised this -whale, in the boat?" - -"Yes, sir. It was Nelson," replied Lucas, promptly. - -Frank, who did not believe in sailing under false colors, was about -to protest that it wasn't he at all--that Lucas himself was the lucky -man--but knowing the captain's uncertain disposition, and fearing that -there might be some after-settlement that would prove unpleasant for -the old boatswain's mate if the truth were known, he kept silent and -heard himself praised for an act that he did not perform. - -"Ah! it is just like him," said the captain. "I knew there was lots in -him the first time I saw him. You can't fool me in a man. I can look -in his eye and read him like an open book. There's a boatsteerer's -berth ahead for you, Nelson," continued the captain, too excited and -impatient to think of the name he always applied to Frank in derision. -"Those boots belong to you, and when we get back to the ship you go -straight down to the slop-chest--I'll give you the key--and pick out -whatever you want. Take everything you find there--boots, breeches, -shirts and--no, no! Take the ship. She's yours! That's the way Daddy -Barclay treats his sons when they do their duty by him. Now, my lads," -he added, in a thrilling whisper, "he's right here somewhere below us. -Lay on your oars now; keep your eyes peeled and don't let me hear so -much as an eye-wink from any of you." - -Frank's heart fairly came up into his mouth. The captain's harangue -being ended (he had a suspicion that the skipper had kept it up on -purpose to divert the minds of his crew, one of whom was as green as -Frank himself), there was nothing to occupy his attention, and he had -leisure to ponder upon the dangers he was about to encounter. Of course -all the stories he had heard in the Tycoon's forecastle concerning the -perils to which whalemen are constantly exposed, came into his mind, -and to save his life he could think of nothing else. He felt as he had -often felt on going into action. After the crew are called to quarters -there is almost always a delay, sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, -before the first gun is fired, and to most men that is worse than the -battle itself. They are glad when it is over and the fight begins. The -interval of inactivity that came now gave the boat's crew a chance to -rest after their long, hard pull, but Frank could scarcely endure it. -He wanted the whale to show himself at once. If he was going to cut the -boat in two with his jaw or smash it into kindling wood with his tail, -Frank wished he would be about it and not keep him in suspense. - -The whale was down a long time--so long that even the captain became -impatient. He and the boat's crew, Frank among the rest, arose to their -feet one after the other to obtain a wider view, and holding their oars -in their hands, kept a bright lookout in every direction. The first -mate's boat was lying about half a mile to windward, and her crew were -also standing up. The Tycoon had come to directly in the path the whale -was pursuing, and the third officer was at the mast-head, ready to -signal to the boat's crews if the whale arose beyond the range of their -vision. Frank's eyes were everywhere, and at last something induced him -to turn them into the water close alongside the boat. He saw something -there--an immense dark-blue object, which contrasted plainly with the -paler blue of the water. He looked again, and then glanced into the -water on the opposite side of the boat to make sure that his eyes had -not deceived him. The sea on that side was all the same color, and -that proved that there was something under the boat. He nudged Lucas -with his elbow and pointed to it. The old sailor looked, and instantly -every particle of color fled from his face. But he had nerve, if he was -frightened, plenty of it, too, and it showed itself in the firm grasp -he laid upon his harpoon. The time for action had arrived. - -"He's coming," thought Frank, while the oar he held in his grasp seemed -to turn into lead, so heavy did it feel to his weakened arm. "I always -supposed a whale was black." - -The boat header's action attracted the attention of the captain, who, -following the direction of his gaze gave a sudden start and waved his -hand to the crew. The men quickly seated themselves and dropped their -oars softly in the row-locks. The temptation to look over his shoulder -was almost irresistible, but fearing that if he did, his courage, which -was rapidly oozing out at the ends of his fingers, would give away -altogether, Frank resolutely controlled himself and kept his eyes fixed -on the captain's face. - -"There he is," cried the skipper, a moment afterward. "Throw it at him -and go overboard if you miss him." - -The old sailor obeyed the order to the very letter. He threw his -harpoon, missed his object and went overboard. Whether it was for the -reason that the boat was unsteady, or because the seaman was too badly -frightened to stand firmly on his feet, or because his hand had lost -its skill during the years that had passed since he struck his last -whale, it is hard to tell. Perhaps all these things combined operated -to bring about the events that followed. At any rate the iron went wild -and the old boatswain's mate turned a complete back somersault and -disappeared over the side. He rose immediately, however, and Frank -catching sight of him as a wave carried him past the boat, promptly -thrust his oar out to him. - -The captain was almost beside himself with fury. He did not act or -talk quite so much like an affectionate father as he did a short time -before. He tore off his hat, trampled it under his feet and shook all -over with rage. "He missed him as sure as I'm a sinner," he sputtered, -hardly able to speak plainly. "If I had him aboard the ship I would -trice him up for a week. Let the fool go," he roared with a long string -of heavy adjectives, as Frank tried to place the blade of his oar in -the old sailor's grasp. "A man that'll get up on his legs and tumble -overboard while the boat is standing still, is of no use aboard a -vessel of mine; so let him go down among the sharks, where he belongs. -We're well rid of--Stern all! Stern for your lives! Well done, my son. -You've been in this business before, and you are my boat-header from -this day out." - -The change in the captain's tone was brought about by an action on -Frank's part that was unexpected, even to himself. He scarcely knew he -did it until after it was done. Lucas, having missed his first throw -and gone overboard, had no chance for a second attempt, and unless -somebody took his place on the instant, the game was likely, if he did -not escape altogether, to lead them a long, hard race before they could -come up with him again. It required an emergency to show what Frank was -made of. He never waited to take a second thought, but throwing his oar -to the boatswain's mate--he knew it would keep him afloat until the -boat could pick him up--he jumped to his feet, catching up the extra -harpoon as he arose. - -When his face was turned toward the bow of the boat, Frank saw a sight -that was well calculated to shake stronger nerves than his--a sperm -whale coming up on a breach almost within an oar's length of him. His -huge bulk was shooting up into the air, and he did not even make a -ripple in the water as he arose. But when he fell on his side, as he -did a moment later, he created something more than a ripple. He raised -waves that threatened to swamp the boat, and made a noise that would -have given Frank some idea of the immense weight of the monster, if he -had not been too highly excited and alarmed to have any ideas at all. - -As the whale fell into the water--fortunately he fell away from the -boat--Frank's harpoon was launched into the air, and being thrown -with all the force his sinewy arms could give it, and flying true to -its aim, was buried to the socket in the side of the whale. The next -instant the young harpooner was thrown flat among the thwarts by the -sudden start backward which the crew gave the boat in obedience to the -captain's order "Stern all!" He heard something whistling through the -air, and looked up just in time to see the whale's flukes disappearing -in a pile of foam. How he opened his eyes at the sight of them! They -would have measured more feet across than the boat measured in length. -The whale gave the water an angry slap, raising a sea that would have -filled the boat had not the bow been promptly brought around toward -it, and then started down into the depths at the rate of a mile in six -minutes, the line fairly smoking as it whizzed through the lead-lined -groove. Frank held his breath while he gazed at it. It looked like -a streak of blue flame, so swiftly did it run out. If it caught on -anything, the boat and all her crew would be a hundred feet under water -in an instant's time. - -The young harpooner did not hear any of the words of praise and -promises of reward which the delighted skipper shouted at him. He did -not hear anything but the hissing of the line as it ran through the -groove in the bow. He lay on the bottom perfectly stupefied, until he -was aroused by the touch of somebody's hand. - -When the captain gave the order to "Stern all," the crew sent the boat -within reach of Lucas, who laid hold of the gunwale, and worked his -way along to the bow, where he belonged. Attracting Frank's attention -by a pull at his trowsers, he was hauled into the boat, and took his -seat, looking not a little crestfallen. He caught up a hatchet lying -near, and held it in his hand in readiness to cut the line in case it -fouled while running out. Frank also seated himself, and then began to -think about what he had done. No one in the boat could have been more -surprised at it. - -"I don't want any more of this," said he, mentally. "It is just awful. -I can't stand it. While that fellow was shooting up toward the clouds -he looked like a church-steeple turned wrong end up. He must be a -hundred and fifty feet long--perhaps more. Who would have thought that -I had courage enough to send that harpoon at him?" - -Here Frank looked over his shoulder as if to satisfy himself that he -had really performed the feat. There could be no mistake about it. The -line was still running out, and Lucas was watching it while hauling in -the harpoon with which he had missed the whale. - -"I believe I did do it," thought Frank. "He is black after all. It was -the water that made him look so blue. I wouldn't do it again to be made -owner of the finest fleet of ships that ever floated!" - -"Nelson," said the captain, and now that Frank's mind was settled a -little he was able to pay attention to him, "whatever I've got that you -want, just ask for it and it is yours. Don't be bashful or stand on -ceremony with your Daddy Barclay. Take a big bite if you want to." - -"I have only one favor to ask, captain," replied Frank, suddenly -tempted to strike while the iron was hot, although he knew it would be -quite useless, "and that is----" - -"Well, slack away lively, and let it come out on the run," said the -captain, as Frank hesitated a moment, wondering how he could word the -request so that the skipper would not get angry at him. "Speak it out." - -"I should be greatly obliged if you would set me and the two men who -were shanghaied with me, ashore at the first port we make," said Frank. -"We shall use the right the law gives us, and ask to see the consul as -soon as we get there." - -Frank's only motive in saying this was to let the captain know that he -understood the law applying to the rights of seamen; and he said it -at that time because he did not know that he would ever have another -chance, this being the first opportunity he had ever had to exchange -a word with the master of the Tycoon. If there is anything an officer -thoroughly detests it is a "sea lawyer" among his crew. One of these -gentry will keep a ship's company in hot water from the time the voyage -begins until it is ended; and his presence acts as a restraint upon -the captain and his mates, who, if they are disposed to be tyrannical, -expect to escape the consequences through the sailor's ignorance of -their rights. Frank knew this, and he was in hopes that if he let the -captain see that he knew what his privileges were, and that he intended -to insist on having them, the skipper would be glad to get rid of him -with as little delay as possible. - -The master of the Tycoon had not a word to say in reply to this -request, but the look he gave Frank satisfied the latter that if he -had not spoken at the right time to further his own interests, he had -spoken at the right time to make the captain angry. He did not offer -Frank any more rewards after that. - -The line continued to run out with great rapidity for a few minutes, -then the speed gradually decreased until it remained motionless, and -the actions of the captain and his crew indicated that the whale was -soon expected to make his appearance at the surface again. He came very -speedily, and much too close to the boat for the comfort and safety of -its crew. Seen through Frank's frightened eyes, his head looked like -a small mountain rising out of the water. His mouth was wide open, -showing a milk-white cavity large enough to take in the boat and all -its crew, and Frank gathered from something Lucas said that he was -ugly and had made up his mind to do some mischief. The sequel proved -that the old sailor was right. The monster began operations at once -by striking out with his long, sword-like jaw, which to Frank's great -amazement he worked sideways, instead of up and down, and followed -it up with a tremendous sweep of his tail that, had he succeeded in -planting the blow where he wanted it, would have made an end of his -enemies in a hurry. But both these dangers were escaped. His jaw just -touched the bow of the boat, and the blow from his flukes was avoided -by the vigilance of the captain and the prompt obedience of the crew, -who quickly backed the boat out of his reach. Apparently satisfied with -the demonstrations he had made, the whale got under way and made off at -an astonishing rate of speed, the harpoon which Frank had planted still -fast in his side. - -The bow-oarsman now had a duty to perform, and he set about it without -waiting for orders. It was to overhaul the line and draw the boat up -alongside the whale, so that the captain, who stood ready to change -places with the harpooner, could use his lance. He rapidly drew in the -line, taking care to lay it down clear of everything, so that it would -not kink or get foul in case the whale sounded again, and soon had the -slack all in. Then he felt a strain upon it, and an instant afterward -the line was whipped out of the water with such force that it was -drawn as tight as a bow-string, and the spray flew from it in a perfect -shower. - -"Hold fast to it, my son," yelled the captain. "Keep every inch you -get, and get every inch you can. We'll have a sleigh-ride now, and such -a one as landsmen know nothing about." - -For a moment the strain was fearful, and Frank's power of muscle was -tested to the utmost. It seemed to him that if the harpoon did not -draw or the line break, his arms would be pulled off. Letting go was -something he did not think of; but he knew he could not retain his hold -much longer, so in spite of the old mate's warning gestures, he passed -a bight of the line around a thwart and held it there. By this time the -boat began to move, and the strain was somewhat lessened. - -Now began a novel ride, which Frank thought he could have enjoyed if he -had only had leisure to give his attention to it. A whale can move at -tremendous speed for a short distance, and this one went at such a rate -that the boat buried her bow in the waves, and rolled back great masses -of foam, which, spreading out over the surface of the water, gave it -the appearance of a bank of snow. Perhaps it was this that first caused -the sailors to call a ride of this kind a sleigh-ride. But Frank had no -time to see what was going on around him. He had work to perform; and -it _was_ work to haul a heavy boat containing six men through the waves -against such resistance as the whale created by the high rate of speed -he kept up. The line was wet and slippery, and Frank's hands, which he -had fondly hoped were pretty well hardened by this time, soon began to -feel the effects of it. - -In the first lesson he received while manœuvring about the "dummy -whale," Frank had been instructed how to adjust the line to make the -boat move side by side with a running whale and at a short distance -from it, and he struggled hard to bring the boat in that position; but -the line came in very slowly, and sometimes when he was almost on the -point of accomplishing his object, an unusually large wave striking the -bow or a sudden spurt on the part of the frantic beast in front, would -tear the line from his hands in spite of all he could do to prevent it. - -At length, after Frank had worked his best for nearly an hour without -once pausing for breath, and the line had been drawn through his hands -for the third time, the captain's small stock of patience was all -exhausted, and he began to relieve his mind by uttering heavy oaths. -"Coward!" he yelled, stamping his feet as if he were trying to knock -a hole through the bottom of the boat. "If you are afraid to put me -alongside that whale, jump overboard and give place to a better man. -You're fixing your back for a rope's end as soon as you get aboard the -ship!" - -Frank and the old boatswain's mate exchanged quick glances, one -elevating his eye-brows, and the other drawing his down. The first -meant: "If he tries it will you sing out?" and Frank by his answering -scowl meant: "I will." Not a word was passed, but each understood the -other perfectly. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -CUTTING IN AND TRYING OUT. - - -THE high-spirited Frank, smarting under a sense of injustice, and -hardly able to bear the pain occasioned by his lacerated hands, -suddenly became very reckless. The captain had no excuse for talking to -him in that style after what he had done. A coward would not have been -likely to take a defeated harpooner's place and plunge an iron into the -first whale he had ever seen, and neither would he have worked as hard -as Frank did to bring the boat into position; and that he _did_ work, -the crimson stains his hands left on the rope abundantly proved. - -"I have had this boat alongside that whale three times," said Frank, to -himself, "and if I get her there again she'll stay, unless something -breaks. I'll make all fast; and if the whale goes down and takes us to -the bottom with him, it can't be helped. I'll see who will be the first -to act like a coward, the captain or I." - -Had Frank carried this reckless resolve into execution, and had the -whale sounded as soon as the line was made fast, the boat would not -have been emptied of her crew more quickly than she was a moment later. -The whale threw his flukes about in the most spiteful manner, but -finding that he could not reach the boat with them, he gave signs of a -change of tactics which created a panic among all the crew except Frank -and the old boatswain's mate. Frank was not frightened because he did -not understand them--in his case ignorance was bliss--but the sailor -did, and he did not turn white this time either. He was about to be -given an opportunity to make amends for his previous defeat, and he was -ready to improve it. - -"He's going to 'mill,'" said he in a low tone as he picked up his -harpoon. "Don't slack an inch till I get a dart at him." - -Before Frank could ask an explanation the whale raised his huge head -from the water, dropped his jaw at right angles with his body and -turning as quickly as a flash, started off across the course he had -been pursuing. Frank, who was sitting with face forward so that he -had a fair view of the whale and could see every move he made, stared -at him in amazement; and while awaiting the issue of events with a -calmness that surprised himself, eagerly responded to the harpooner's -entreaty to haul in faster, although he believed that certain death -awaited him. It seemed as if the boat would run squarely into the -whale's mouth. - -"Slack that line!" roared the captain, suddenly stopping his swearing -and speaking in an imploring tone of voice. "Slack that line, and may -Heaven have mercy on us! Stern all, for life!" - -[Illustration: THE AIR SEEMED TO BE LITERALLY FILLED WITH PIECES OF -PLANKS, HARPOONS, ROPES, AND LANCES.] - -Frank dropped the line, which seemed like a coal of fire in his hands, -and the men laid out their strength on the oars till they fairly -snapped. The first stroke stopped the boat's headway and the second -started her on the back track, but not in time to escape the danger -that threatened her. Before Lucas could throw his harpoon the whale's -jaw swept around like a scythe, and striking the boat in the side -overturned her in an instant, smashing in the planks as if they had -been pasteboard, and tumbling those of the crew who did not jump out -into the water. - -From the crest of a wave on which he struck, Frank turned to look at -the whale and see what had become of his companions. The monster was -bringing his tail into play now. With one fierce upward sweep of his -huge flukes he lifted the battered boat out of the water, and the -captain, who had clung to the wreck, was going up with it. The air -seemed to be literally filled with pieces of planks, harpoons, ropes -and lances. The crew had all escaped without injury--at least they -were all able to swim, for Frank counted four frightened faces bobbing -about on the waves near him. He had some idea now of the strength and -ferocity a whale could display when he once set about it. He made -up his mind, too, that men must be simply foolhardy to willingly -follow any such business as whaling. Otherwise how could they bring -themselves to engage with such a monster as this, against whose -tremendous power, which he had just seen exerted with such telling -effect, their strength was as nothing? - -To say that Frank was frightened would not begin to tell how he felt. -How helpless he was! How completely the waves baffled his mad efforts -to get out of the reach of his dangerous foe, and how like straws they -seemed in the path of the whale which skimmed through them as easily as -a bird passes through the air! Then how frightened everybody else was, -if he might judge by the pale faces he saw about him, and the frantic -attempts the men made to swim away. If those who were accustomed to -such scenes and such dangers were so nearly overcome with terror, it -was time for a novice to show signs of fear. - -"Look out, Nelson!" cried Lucas, suddenly. "Look out! He's----" - -The old boatswain's mate no doubt meant to say something else, but he -did not stay on top of the water long enough to say it. He ducked -his head and went down like lead, making desperate struggles to go -faster. Frank cast one frightened glance over his shoulder and went -down too. The whale had turned again and was coming directly toward -him, rolling from side to side and slashing from right to left with his -jaw, describing at each stroke a circle thirty-two feet in diameter. -There was no time to swim out of his reach. His only chance for life -was to go below him. How Frank blessed his lucky stars at that moment -that deep diving and swimming long distances under water were two of -his accomplishments! He went as far down as he could, stayed under as -long as he could hold his breath, and came up almost strangled. He was -out of danger. The battered boat was twenty feet away and the whale a -hundred feet still farther off, and moving rapidly toward the ship. The -men were all clinging to the boat to keep themselves afloat, and Frank -swam up and joined them. - -All this while the men in the mate's boat had been doing their best -with sail and oars to get near enough to the whale to take part in -the fight, but without success. Now, however, they had an opportunity -offered them, for the whale had doubled on his course, and if he did -not take it into his head to turn again, he would pass their boat -at such a distance that they would have a chance at him with their -harpoons. The mate prepared for it by ordering one man to take down -the sail while the rest still tugged at the oars. He did not even look -toward the disabled boat or ask if the crew wanted assistance. - -"These whalemen are a heartless lot," thought Frank. "If I were in -command of that boat I think I should save my shipmates first; but I -suppose that officer thinks we are not worth as much as the whale. Men -can be had any day for the asking, and if a few of them lose their -lives what's the odds? Nobody misses them. But whales are not as plenty -as they used to be, and if one of them is lost it is something to be -sorry for." - -Frank's meditations were interrupted and his attention called from the -chase by the actions of one the men near him, who suddenly began to -make desperate efforts to climb into the boat. He persisted in spite of -the angry orders and oaths of the skipper, who stormed and threatened -to no purpose. The man was almost beside himself with fear. - -"What has come over him all at once?" asked Frank, of the man at his -side. "He was quiet enough a moment ago." - -"He had a narrow escape from a shark once," replied the sailor, "and I -guess he has just thought of it." - -"Well, I wish from the bottom of my heart that he hadn't thought of it -at all," said Frank, "or else that I had not asked you any questions, -for I have new cause for alarm now. I wonder if a sailor can turn in -any direction without finding himself confronted by some deadly peril?" - -"He might if he's a merchantman, but not if he is a whaler," was the -comforting reply. - -"If I had thought of sharks I never could have dived under that whale," -continued Frank. - -"O, 'tain't time for 'em to be on hand yet; but you'll see 'em coming -like a flock of sheep just as soon as that fellow begins to spout -blood." - -"Ay, that you will," said another. "I was hanging on to a stove boat -once, just as we are now, and the sharks, I never see the beat of 'em -in all my born days, come up----" - -"Well, if they got hold of anybody, I don't want to know it," -interrupted Frank, with a shudder. "Can't you talk about something -else?" - -"Take that!" shouted the captain, who was narrowly watching the chase. -"And that!" he added, a moment afterward. "He's fast again, and we are -sixty barrels of grease ahead." - -Frank looked up to see what had called forth these exclamations from -the captain, and was just in time to catch a glimpse of the mate's -harpooner as he threw his second iron into the whale. He had three -harpoons in him now, and Frank gathered from the remarks the men made -that his capture was considered certain. He lashed the water furiously -with his tail, raising an immense pile of spray and foam, and when it -disappeared he was out of sight. - -"Now look out for breakers," said Lucas, "for there's no knowing where -he will come up, and he's ugly if he is little. We know that, don't we?" - -"Little!" repeated Frank, who remembered that he had compared the beast -to a church-steeple, and estimated his length at one hundred and fifty -feet; "how big is he?" - -"The cap'n says sixty barrels." - -"I mean, how long is he?" - -"O, I don't know. I never took the measure of one. I ain't a tailor." - -"Did you ever know of one larger than this?" - -"Many a one. I heard of one once that ran a hundred and thirty-five -barrels, but I didn't see him. The biggest one I ever struck or saw -struck turned out a hundred and fifteen barrels." - -"Almost twice as large as this one," thought Frank, hardly able to -believe his ears. "Whew! I will never sail another foot in the Tycoon -after we reach the Sandwich Islands. If a youngster can kick up a row -like this, what could a full grown one do? What _wouldn't_ he do if he -got mad?" - -Frank was greatly relieved to hear one of the men say at that moment -that the ship was coming down to pick them up. It was anything but -pleasant to be placed in such a situation as that in which he and his -companions were placed just then, immersed to their necks in salt -water, every wave making a clean breach over them, nothing but a -battered boat to keep them afloat, an enraged and ugly whale in close -proximity, and a school of hungry sharks expected to arrive every -moment. On the contrary, it was a situation well calculated to inspire -terror. - -The good ship never seemed to move so slowly before, but she came up -with them at last, a boat pulled by two men came out to their relief, -and in ten minutes more the wrecked boat was on deck in possession of -the carpenter, and the exhausted men were in the forecastle, exchanging -their wet clothes for dry ones. When Frank went on deck again the whale -was in his "flurry," which, upon inquiry, he found to be a sailor's -way of saying "death struggle." The mate and his crew had made short -work of him, and Frank came up too late to see the lance used. The -whale was swimming in a circle at a surprising rate of speed, pounding -the sea with his flukes, spouting blood from his blow-hole, and rolling -from side to side as if trying to reach his enemies with his jaw. His -fury increased for a few seconds, then gradually lessened, and finally -the captured monster rolled over and lay motionless on the water. -"Fin out!" cried all the sailors on the Tycoon, which was equivalent -to saying, "he is dead." Then all joined in a yell of triumph, except -Frank. He could not help feeling sorry for the conquered leviathan, who -had battled so strongly for his life, and told himself that it was a -mean business altogether. - -"Men who can torture a beast like that to death and feel no remorse -over it, would serve their fellow creatures the same way if they had -a good chance," was what he said to himself. "I know now how it comes -that the captain and his two mates are so brutal. They have practiced -on whales so long that they have no feeling left." - -Now came the work of making fast to the whale, which was begun as soon -as the ship was brought alongside of it. Frank did not see how it was -done, for he was kept busy at something else. When he had leisure to -look over the side he found the game secured by a chain, one end of -which was fastened just above the tail, and the other led through a -hawsehole to the bitts. He could see the whole length of him now, and -had it not been for the three harpoons sticking in his back and side, -he could hardly have brought himself to believe that it was the same -whale that smashed his boat. He looked very much smaller, and the -reason was because he had something to compare him with. - -And now came the most disagreeable part of a whaleman's duties--the -cutting in and trying out. The first consists in removing the blubber -from the body of the whale, cutting off the head and bailing out the -spermaceti; and the next in rendering out the oil in the try-kettles. -Lucas said that, as the day was far spent, the work ought not to be -commenced until the next morning. The crew could then have a good -night's sleep after their hard work in the boats, and be fresh and -ready for the laborious duties before them; but Captain Barclay thought -differently. He never cared for the comfort of his men, so he ordered -them to begin at once. - -How long it took to do the work Frank never knew, for he was too busy -and too completely tired out to keep track of the days. The crew was -so small that every man was required to handle the blubber as it was -hauled aboard by the tackles; and when that was all stowed, and the -carcass cut adrift, the watches were lengthened into six (they were -often nearer eight) hours each, and the trying out began. Frank did -not wonder that the men grew quarrelsome, and that more than one of -them had to be driven to his work with a rope's end, being compelled, -as they were, to work almost twenty hours out of the twenty-four. He -thought often of what he had read concerning the fiendish ingenuity -displayed by the Chinese in inventing modes of torture for those who -disobey their laws, and told himself that some of them must have served -their time in a whale-ship, and there learned by experience the misery -to which a person is subjected when deprived of sleep. Frank would not -have resented a blow himself now, he was too weak and dispirited; but -he would have given all he ever hoped to possess, if he could have lain -down in all the oil and dirt of the blubber-room, and had a good sound -nap. The work was made harder by the captain's great desire to fill up -the hold as soon as possible. He kept the mast-head manned all day by -some of the crew who ought to have been allowed to go below to rest, -and swore at them roundly because they did not raise another whale; -although it is hard to tell what good it would have done if they had -discovered a school of them, for in their exhausted condition they -never could have endured a lengthened struggle with one. Frank often -thought, after it was all over, that the only thing that sustained him -during that week, was the sweet, sound sleep he had every time he -acted as lookout. Seated on the royal yard, a hundred and more feet -in the air, with his back against the stay and a rope passed about -his waist to keep him from falling off, he would slumber like a log, -leaving the whales, if there were any, to spout in peace. The rest of -the crew being equally sleepy and careless, no more whales were raised, -and Frank was glad of it. - -"I can't stand this, Mr. Gale," said Frank one day, when the third -officer came into the blubber-room where he was at work, "and I won't." - -"You won't?" - -"No, sir. I have never done any soldiering since I have been aboard -here, but I shall do it hereafter." - -"Do you know that you are talking to the third mate of this ship?" -demanded Mr. Gale, who seemed surprised at Frank's strong language. - -"I do, sir, and I am not afraid to speak to you more plainly still." - -"Why ain't you?" - -"Because I know that you will neither get angry at what I say nor -repeat it." - -"Well, I suppose I ought to give you a good blowing-up for your -impudence," said the mate, who had to smile in spite of himself, "but I -can't." - -"No, of course you can't. You know I have cause to be down on every -officer of this ship except you, and that I will some day be in a -position to make them smart for it. You know what they have done." - -"Well, we'll drop that. It ain't for me to talk about the doings of my -superiors. I came down here to tell you something that'll liven you up -a bit, may be. We shall sight the Islands in a few days, and the old -man is going to put you ashore." - -"Good for him," exclaimed Frank, who was wide awake in an instant. "How -about Lucas and Barton?" - -"Don't talk so loud. The masts, bulkheads and everything else have ears -in this ship. I don't know about them. He didn't say." - -"They must go if I go," said Frank. "I shall need them for witnesses." - -"But you mustn't call any witnesses. If you go ashore at Honolulu, you -must keep still and say nothing." - -"O, I must! Do you think that's the sort of fellow I am? Must I let a -man kidnap me, carry me away from my friends to some out-of-the-way -part of the world, and then, in order to gain the liberty of which -he has deprived me and which rightfully belongs to me, promise him -that he shall go scot free? Must he be allowed to run at large to try -the same game upon somebody else, and perhaps abuse and maltreat him -until he jumps overboard, as those two men did shortly before you -reached Fr'isco? No, sir! He be jerked as high as the strong arm of -the law can lift him, and that's pretty high. A thousand dollars fine -and a long term in the penitentiary are the rewards that surely await -him, and perhaps he can be tried for manslaughter. I am bound to have -my liberty, Mr. Gale, and I shall get it without entering into any -such agreement as that. If anybody makes promises, it will be Captain -Barclay." - -Frank, being thoroughly aroused, clattered away in spite of all the -officer's attempts to interrupt him. He could not have told why he said -what he did toward the last. Perhaps he had a prophetic vision, during -which the thrilling scenes that were so soon to be enacted were plainly -portrayed. At any rate the words came into his mind, and he uttered -them regardless of consequences. He was about to say something more, -but an emphatic and warning gesture from the mate stopped him. - -Frank looked up and saw Calamity's sinister face peering down the -hatchway. His first impulse was to knock him over with the handle of -the blubber-knife for playing eavesdropper; but the vacant expression -on the man's countenance induced the hope that perhaps he had only just -come there, and had heard nothing he could make use of. - -"Look here," exclaimed Mr. Gale suddenly, doubling up his huge fist -and shaking it at Frank, "I am an officer of this ship and you must -respect me, or I'll teach you manners. Put a 'sir' in when you speak -to me. As for Cap'n Barclay promising you them boots, I reckon you'll -get 'em when this work is done; and if I hand 'em to you you'll get 'em -over your head for your impudence!" - -"O, is that you down there, Mr. Gale?" exclaimed Calamity. "It is so -dark I couldn't see you. The captain wants you on deck." - -The officer lingered a moment to add a few words to what he had already -said, and then mounted the ladder leading to the deck, while Frank went -on separating the fleshy fibres from the blubber. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -HOW FRANK SAW THE CONSUL. - - -FRANK knew why it was that Mr. Gale changed his tone and manner so -suddenly. It was Calamity's presence that made him do it. The mate knew -that if this man had overheard any of the conversation between himself -and Frank he would go straight to the captain with it; and it would -never do to let the skipper know that one of his officers had been so -familiar with a foremast hand. It would not only make it unpleasant -for himself, but Frank would most likely be punished for daring to -express himself so plainly. Mr. Gale hoped that by speaking roughly and -flourishing his fists in the most approved quarter-deck style, he could -put Calamity on the wrong scent, and make him believe that he had been -taking Frank to task for something. But the eavesdropper understood -all that, and was much too smart to be deceived by any such artifice. - -"They can't shut up my eyes in no such way as that," said he, with -a knowing shake of his head. "I heard it all, and see through their -backing and filling as plainly as they do. I've got a chance to square -yards with both of them now, and I knew it would come if I only waited -long enough and kept my eyes and ears open. That Gentleman Black is so -stuck up that he won't notice a common fellow like me, and Mr. Gale -jawed me the other day and called me a soldier and a lubber. Won't -there be a healthy old row here directly? I guess yes." - -There certainly would be if this man was able to bring it about, for -he took great delight in such things, especially when he knew that he -was out of danger himself. He hunted up the captain without delay, and -the latter saw at a glance that he had something to tell him. "What is -it, Gardner?" said he. (Behind his back the captain always called him -Calamity, and in his heart despised him as cordially as any of the crew -did.) "Your face is full of news." - -"You said you would put Nelson ashore at the Sandwich Islands if he'd -keep still and say nothing, didn't you, cap'n?" began Calamity. - -"Yes, I did," replied the skipper, interested at once. "Have you been -pumping him?" - -"No, but Mr. Gale has, and he says he'll hang you as high as the strong -arm of the law can hist you. He can't be hired to keep his mouth shut. -He told Mr. Gale so, and him and Mr. Gale were talking mighty familiar -and friendly like--too much so, for it don't look well for an officer -to do such things." - -"What did Mr. Gale say?" - -"I didn't hear what he said at first, but I saw him winking and -nodding, and when he saw me looking down the hatchway, he began to jaw -Nelson about them boots you promised him for raising that whale. But he -did it just to fool me." - -"Then Nelson is going to hang me, is he?" - -"Yes, and he wants Barton and Lucas for witnesses. He says he'll tell -the consul everything that's been done aboard this ship, and you shan't -be let loose any longer to haze men till they jump overboard." - -"Go for'ard; go for'ard," said the captain, hastily. - -"Aha!" thought Calamity, as he returned to his duties, "that was a -home-thrust. I must say he took it easier than I thought he would. -I must say this too for Gentleman Black, that since he's been on -board, there haven't been so many men triced up or knocked down with -handspikes, and the grub has been better than it ever was before. Now -I'll tell you what's the truth," added Calamity, slapping his knee -as he leaned over and looked under the try-pots, "Gentleman Black is -master here, if he is nothing but a foremast hand, and that's what's -the matter. That's the reason the old man takes things so easy, and -don't go ripping and tearing around the way he used to. I wonder if I -hadn't better make friends with him!" - -Meanwhile the work of trying-out went slowly on, and contrary to -Calamity's expectations, though not much to his surprise, the captain -took no steps to punish Mr. Gale and Frank for the conversation they -had had in the blubber-room. Indeed he thought he could see a change -in the skipper and in the two mates. The former very rarely went off -into one of his fits of rage now, and the mates seemed to treat the -men a trifle more like human beings. Every one of the crew noticed it, -and Lucas, after sundry winks and nods, told Frank in confidence that -something was going to happen very shortly. And sure enough, something -did happen, but it was not just what the old sailor thought it would be. - -Finally the last barrel of oil was lowered into the hold, and the -captain, to the surprise of his men, who had never known him to be -guilty of an act of kindness before, sent all the crew except a -boatsteerer's watch below to sleep. And a glorious sleep they had too -after their days and nights of labor. Frank felt like another person -when he came on deck in the morning, and went to work with a light -heart to assist in cleaning up the ship. This required perseverance and -the outlay of a good deal of strength, but it was done in good time, -and when the deck was wiped down and the brightwork cleaned, the Tycoon -looked as though she had never been near a whale. By this time land was -in plain sight, and Frank and Lucas found opportunity to hold several -whispered consultations as to the course they ought to pursue to secure -their release. On two points Frank had made up his mind: If he went -ashore, Lucas and Barton must be permitted to go also; and he would not -purchase his freedom by entering into any agreement whatsoever with the -captain of the Tycoon. The last one of these consultations was broken -up by the sudden appearance of the third mate. - -"Nelson," said he, "the old man wants to see you in the cabin." - -"Ay, ay, sir!" replied Frank. - -"And you had better take a friend's advice," continued the officer, in -a low tone, as the young sailor was about to pass him, "and agree to -what he has to propose." - -Frank did not say whether he would or not. He wanted first to hear what -it was that the captain had to propose. He went into the cabin and -found the skipper and his two mates seated at a table there. The former -had some shipping articles before him, and the first mate was reading -a well-thumbed copy of Bowditch. This was encouraging. If the three -officers had been examining the law, they no doubt learned that they -were liable to some heavy penalties for what they had done. - -"Nelson," said the captain, as Frank came in, "you haven't signed -articles yet." - -"No, sir," said Frank. - -"Well, just put your name to them now," continued the captain, pushing -them across the table. "There's a chair and there's a pen." - -"I beg to be excused, sir," replied Frank. - -"Won't you do it?" - -"I'd rather not, sir." - -"Suit yourself," said the captain indifferently. "I am only advising -you as a friend. You will lose your work if you don't. You can't -collect a cent from the ship if you stay aboard of her ten years." - -"I am sorry to differ with you, sir, but I know better than that." - - -"Be careful how you speak," said the captain, starting up in his chair. -"I have stood a good deal from you, and you don't want to say too much. -You are not talking to Mr. Gale now." - -"You haven't stood more than I have, sir," returned Frank. "It is high -time I should speak plainly, as I never had the chance before and may -never have it again. I know that when seamen are shipped on American -whaling vessels without the rate of their pay being specified, they are -entitled on their discharge in a foreign port, to the sum of twenty -dollars a month as extra wages." - -"How do you happen to know so much about law, Nelson?" asked the first -mate. - -"The way I happen to know so much about these matters is because I read -up, expecting at one time to go as consul's clerk to some port in the -Mediterranean." - -The captain and his mates opened their eyes and looked at one another. -Here was a foremast hand who must hold a high social position when he -was ashore, else he would not number among his friends those who had -influence enough to secure government appointments. - -"Then you won't sign these articles?" continued the captain, after -thinking a moment. - -"By no means, sir. I don't want to go to sea for two or three years. I -want to go ashore." - -"I am willing you should go, if you will promise not to enter any -complaints." - -"If I should promise that, captain, I should tell a falsehood, and that -is something I'll not do." - -"Will a hundred dollars be any inducement to you?" - -"Not the slightest." - -"A hundred dollars besides your wages, I mean." - -"No, sir," repeated Frank. "You are liable for two hundred dollars for -every foremast hand aboard this vessel, except Calamity." - -"How do you make that out?" - -"You carried them to sea without making a contract with them." - -"That'll do. You can go on deck," said the captain. - -"But before I go, sir, I demand to see the American consul of the first -port at which we touch," said Frank. - -"Very well, you can see him, but you can't go ashore. If one goes all -must go, and the first thing I know the ship will be deserted. I'll -bring the consul aboard to see you." - -"That will be perfectly satisfactory, sir. Victory!" whispered Frank -to himself as he went up the ladder. "The people triumphant! The ring -broken all to smash! A captain cowed in his own cabin by a foremast -hand! Hurrah for sailors' rights! We're going to see the consul, Lucas!" - -"Aha!" exclaimed the old sailor, with an admiring glance at Frank. "I -knew you had the brains, sir. But I'm sorry we're going to get off so -easy. Me and the rest wanted to see you on that quarter-deck." - -"And a pretty figure I'd make up there, wouldn't I?" returned Frank. -"I'm glad you didn't have a chance to carry out your plans." - -"What do you think of him, any how?" asked the first mate, after Frank -had left the cabin. - -"I think I've got an elephant on my hands," answered the captain. "I -don't want to keep him, and I don't know how to get rid of him. I wish -Billings had been in Guinea before he brought him aboard here." - -"You don't intend to let him see the consul?" - -"Am I as green as that?" cried the skipper. "He's got too smooth a -tongue in his head and swings it about too loose and reckless. He and -them two men who were shipped with him must be kept close while I am -ashore after a crew." - -"And what will you do with them then? They can raise a row with one -consul as well as another." - -"I know it. Shall I turn them adrift in a boat or put them on some -vessel bound for the States, or set them ashore on some island, and let -them shift for themselves?" - -"You might transfer them to Gale's boat, and some day when they are off -after a whale, clear out and leave them," suggested the third mate. -"Gale is a milk-and-water fellow, and not the man at all to get along -with a hard crew." - -"Well, I must put one of those plans into execution," said the captain, -"and circumstances shall decide which it shall be. I am in as great a -hurry to see the last of Nelson as he is to see the last of me. I'd -knock him overboard if I had a good chance." - -"Don't do that, cap'n," said the mate, hastily. "The first one of us -who lays an ugly hand on him is booked for Davy's Locker, sure!" - -"That's what I am afraid of," said the captain, who being unable to -control himself any longer, began to relieve his mind by swearing. "I -know how things are going, and besides, Calamity has kept his eyes and -ears open." - -Two days after this conversation took place between the captain and -his mates, the Tycoon dropped her anchor near the spot where the -Stranger lay three days afterward. One of the boats was called away at -once, a crew selected for her, and the captain started for the shore. -Frank felt jubilant when he saw him go off, but Lucas looked rather -down-hearted. "He hasn't got a single one of our friends in that boat, -sir," said the sailor. - -"Of course not," replied Frank. "He wouldn't take them if he knew who -they were, for he wants the first chance at the consul himself." - -"Yes, and he'll have the last chance too, sir. We'll never see him." - -"Very well, if he doesn't bring him off as he promised, I'll jump -overboard and swim ashore. I can make the island very easily. You won't -pull a boat in pursuit of me." - -"No, sir, and nobody else shall. Neither shall the mudhook be hove up -till you've had a chance to say a word for us." - -"Nelson, the first mate wants to see you in the cabin," said Mr. Gale, -coming forward at this moment. "He is going to offer you something to -keep still, and you had better take it." - -"If that is all he wants it will be of no use for me to go," answered -Frank, "for my mind is made up." - -"Go and talk to him, anyhow," said the officer. "Perhaps you can strike -some sort of a bargain. I want to see you safe off this craft, and now -is your chance, if ever." - -"Nelson!" shouted the mate, from the top of the companion ladder. - -"Coming, sir," replied Frank. - -He went, and was not a little astonished at the reception he met as he -entered the cabin. The door was suddenly closed behind him, and before -he could think twice he was powerless, his ankles and wrists being -heavily ironed. "Not a word out of you," said the first mate, covering -Frank's head with a cocked revolver. "You'll find out now who controls -this ship--you or her proper officers." - -"You ain't as smart as some folks seem to think," said the second -mate, with a grin. "If you were bound to blab, why didn't you take the -hundred dollars the cap'n offered you, and wait till you got ashore -before you began to swing your chin?" - -Frank made no reply, and could offer no resistance, as the two mates -dragged him out of the cabin along a narrow passageway that led to -the hold. They stowed him away among the oil casks and left him to -his meditations. This was the way Frank saw the consul at the port of -Honolulu. - -Having disposed of Frank, the officers made their way back to the -cabin, and one of them mounting the companion ladder, called out: "Mr. -Gale, tell Lucas that Nelson has got his money, and ask him to come -down and get his!" - -Lucas came, wondering what arguments the mates had brought to bear -upon Frank to work so great a change in his feelings all at once, and -when he reached the foot of the ladder he found out what they were--a -revolver and a pair of handcuffs. The former held him passive while the -irons were slipped on, and then he also was carried to the hold and -stowed away, but at such a distance from Frank that the two could hold -no conversation. Barton was served in the same manner, and the officers -having secured the men of whom they stood the most in fear, breathed -freely once more, and told each other that they were still masters of -the Tycoon. - -The prisoners were kept in the hold almost twelve hours--long enough -for the captain to bring his crew of natives on board and get his -vessel well out to sea. Then they were released and ordered on deck. -Frank was disposed to make the best of his disappointment, knowing that -he could not help himself, but Lucas was inclined to smash things. He -hunted up his friends as soon as he could--those who had promised to -stand by him and Frank through thick and thin--and laid down the law -to them in stronger language than we care to quote. "Why, what's the -matter?" asked the sailors, as soon as their angry mate gave them a -chance to speak. "Where have you been so long?" - -"That's what's the matter," replied Lucas, showing his wrists. - -"That's where I've been so long," he added, tapping the marks the irons -had left. "Sailed the blue water, man and boy for thirty-five years, -I have, and never had the darbies on me before. Me and Cap'n Nelson's -both been there, and Barton too; and here you chaps stood around like -so many bumps on a log, and never lifted a hand to help us!" - -"What could we have done, even if we had known that you were in -trouble, while the mates were walking around with their pistols -strapped to their waists and holding us tight to our work?" asked one -of the sailors. - -Lucas opened his eyes at this. Did the mates know of the plans that had -so often been discussed in the forecastle? It looked like it. - -"Somebody's been talking while Calamity was about," said the -boatswain's-mate. "Never mind; we've missed one chance, but we'll have -better luck next time. The ship's going to Japan, and she'll have -another man on her quarter-deck when she comes back." - -And so she did, but Lucas did very little toward bringing about the -change. It was Captain Barclay himself; but of course he did not intend -to do it. - -Almost the first man Frank saw when he came on deck after his release -was the third mate. "Nelson," said he, earnestly, "I had no hand in -this business. If I had known what those men intended to do, I should -have warned you." - -"I believe you, sir," replied Frank. "I lay nothing to your charge, as -you will find when the day of settlement comes." - -Frank looked toward the Islands which the ship was fast leaving behind, -then at the dusky, muscular Kanakas who thronged the deck, and went -to work with a heavy heart. He had already had more than enough of -whaling. He did not mind the dangerous, laborious duties he had to -perform so much as he did the life he led in the forecastle. Of course -it was kept neat and clean, like the rest of the ship, but it smelled -horribly of tar and bilge water, and the men into whose company he -was thrown there, were not just the sort he would have selected for -associates had he been permitted to choose. It was bad enough before, -but now here were a score and more of heathen with whom he had to bunk. -Frank did not know how he could stand it. The only thing that had kept -him up thus far was the belief that all this would end very shortly; -but that hope was gone now, and time only would show what was in store -for him. - -Frank worked hard while on duty and talked a good deal when on watch, -to keep himself from thinking too much. He had the satisfaction of -seeing that the captain and his two mates did not treat the crew with -any more severity than they had always done, and some of the old -members of the ship's company were often heard to declare that they did -not act like the same men. As for the natives, Frank very soon found -reason to change the opinions he had formed of them. They had all seen -service in whalers, and proved to be the neatest and most peaceable -portion of the crew. More than that, they did not swear, and it was -some relief to work by the side of men who could talk without putting -an oath or two in every sentence they uttered. - -As soon as the ship was fairly under way the mast-head was manned, and -the sailors set about preparing themselves for the real business of the -voyage. A complete change was made in the boats' crews, and Frank, to -his delight, found himself with Lucas, Barton, and two other foremast -hands, assigned to the third mate's boat. Frank held his old position -as bow-oarsman, and Lucas was boat-steerer. He soon proved himself to -be a good one too. He did not fall overboard again, or give Frank any -more opportunities to take his place and strike a whale he had missed. -During the next three weeks nine whales were added to the stock already -in the hold, and of this number four were captured by Mr. Gale's boat. -Frank very soon got over his nervousness, and as a consequence went -just as far the other way, and was inclined to be a little too daring. -He had an uncomfortable habit of wrapping a line about a thwart when he -could not hold it, and Lucas, after repeatedly telling him never to do -it again, got out of patience, and Frank was moved toward the other end -of the boat--"promoted backward." He was seated at the stroke-oar, and -the bow-oar given into the hands of Barton, who knew too much of the -nature of the game they were hunting to run any risks. - -Meanwhile the Tycoon was rapidly approaching her cruising grounds, and -one morning the captain told his officers that the Mangrove Islands lay -directly in their course two hundred miles distant, and that it was -his intention to stop there for water and terrapins. That same day a -whale was raised, and the captain and the third mate set off to capture -it. The two boats pulled side by side for a mile or more, and then the -whale took the alarm and made off. "Never mind, Mr. Gale," shouted the -captain. "You keep on after him, and I'll follow you with the ship." - -Mr. Gale promptly hoisted his sail and went in pursuit. The whale led -them a long chase, but getting a little over his fright at last, he -allowed the boat to approach within striking distance, and gave Lucas -a chance to throw his harpoons into him. Then a most terrific fight -ensued, which was so long and so stubbornly contested that Frank began -to think he had never seen an ugly whale before. The monster seemed -determined to destroy his enemies; but the mate kept at him, and by his -excellent management succeeded in taking his boat through the struggle -without the loss of any of her crew, and with so little damage that an -hour's work by the ship's carpenter would make her fit for sea again. -When it was ended and the whale rolled over with his fin out, the mate -seized one of the flags, and turned to signal his triumph to the ship. - -"It's lucky you wasn't in the bow," said Lucas, drawing his hand across -his dripping forehead and nodding to Frank. "If you'd been here with -the line wrapped around a thwart when he sounded the last time, there -wouldn't have been one of us left to tell the story of this fight!" - -"Pass that bucket aft and I'll bail her out," said Frank, drawing a -long breath and glad that the danger was over. "He hit us a pretty -hard blow with his jaw, and the water is running in here like a small -Niagara. What's the matter, Mr. Gale?" - -This question was called forth by an exclamation of wonder from the -third mate. When he turned to signal the ship he stopped suddenly, -looked all around the horizon, and then the flag dropped from his -hands. The Tycoon was almost hull down--nothing but her topsails were -visible. During the five hours that the brave officer had been pursuing -and battling with the whale, the ship was standing away from him -instead of coming to his relief, and he had been too busy to see it -until this moment. - -"What's the matter, sir?" repeated Frank. - -Mr. Gale sat down, his face whiter now than it had been at any time -during the deadly fight he and his men had just passed through, and -pointed toward the Tycoon's receding topsails. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -TURNED ADRIFT. - - -FRANK looked, and was not a little surprised to find that the Tycoon, -which he had all the while supposed was following the boat, was almost -out of sight. He did not understand it at first, but a single glance at -the faces of his companions explained it all. Even Lucas, who had shown -so much courage a few minutes before, betrayed the utmost consternation -now. - -"Well, Nelson," said Mr. Gale, in a tone of resignation, "Captain -Barclay has got rid of you at last." - -"Why, you don't suppose that he intends to desert us!" cried Frank. - -The mate shrugged his shoulders and pointed with his thumb toward the -ship, as if to say that Frank could see what she was doing as well as -he could, and might interpret her actions to suit himself. - -"It can't be possible!" said Frank. "No man on earth could be guilty of -an act of treachery like this." - -"A captain who will allow his men to be abused until they jump -overboard to put themselves out of his way, will do anything," returned -Mr. Gale, quietly. "Hoist the sail, Lucas; you had better bail her out, -Nelson. We must keep her afloat until she carries us two hundred miles." - -"Is there any water, sir?" asked Barton. - -"Yes, the keg is full, and we need a taste of it after our hard work; -but we must touch it lightly, for there is no telling when we shall get -any more. The Mangrove Islands are the nearest land, and, as I said, -they are two hundred miles away. It is lucky that I know the course." - -The sail having been hoisted, the men took a refreshing drink all -around, and settled back on their seats to think over their situation. -Frank could not yet believe that Captain Barclay had sent them out -there alone, with no other object in view than to desert them. He kept -telling himself that the ship must have raised another whale and gone -in pursuit of it, and he watched her closely, expecting every moment -to see her shorten sail and come-to to wait for them; but she kept on, -with all her canvas spread, and very soon nothing but her royals were -visible above the horizon. Frank was obliged to believe it now, and -shuddered when he thought of what was yet to come. With a leaky boat -under them, not a mouthful of anything to eat, and with only a very -small supply of water to allay the raging thirst caused by their five -hours' work under a broiling sun, their situation was one calculated -to frighten anybody. But still it might have been worse, and in this -thought Frank found a little consolation. The mate knew which way -to steer to find land, and if they could only keep the boat afloat -twenty-four hours they would be safe. But suppose the boat had been -stove during the fight with the whale! Suppose he had cut it in two -with his jaw, or smashed it in pieces with his flukes, as he had tried -so hard to do, and left the crew struggling in the water: what then! -Captain Barclay would have deserted them all the same, and they would -have been left powerless. Surrounded by an army of hungry sharks (Frank -now and then caught a momentary glimpse of a sharp fin cutting the -water as one of these voracious monsters hurried toward the whale they -had just left, being attracted no doubt by the blood he had spouted -during his flurry), their sufferings would have been ended, and there -would have been none left to tell the story of the captain's treachery. - -"Come, come, boys! This will never do in the world," said Mr. Gale, -suddenly breaking the silence that had reigned for the last half hour. -"Wake up, there! What's the matter with you that you look so sober? If -we were eight or nine hundred miles out at sea, we'd have something to -worry over; but if the wind holds this way, we shall be all right by -to-morrow at this time. The Tycoon is going to the Mangrove Islands for -water, and maybe we shall be lucky enough to catch her there. If we -can't stand it to do without food for that length of time we had better -jump overboard at once, for we've no business to be sailors. Come, -Lucas, begin there in the bow, and sing a song or tell a story!" - -"I can't, sir!" replied the sailor. - -"All right. You shan't have any water the next time it is passed -around. Go on, Barton. Sing a song or tell a story--a lively one, mind." - -"Hold on a bit, sir!" exclaimed Lucas. "I'll do almost anything to get -another drink of that water." - -This order soon brought about a great change in the feelings of the -men. Their minds being diverted from the dangers of their situation, -something like merriment soon began to prevail. As it was understood -that each one must do his share toward entertaining his companions, -and that the first one who failed to tell a story or sing a song when -his turn came, should forfeit his next drink of water, this trial of -memory and ingenuity was kept up until far in the night. It would seem -as though men who had spent their lives amid scenes of danger and -excitement could never be at a loss for something to talk about, but -even the oldest among the sailors ran short of stories at last, and -when this happened they did not hesitate to make up one as they went -along; and some of those they told were as ridiculous as the story -Dick Lewis told the captain of the fishing boat. Frank drew on his -experience among the mountains and in the woods, and his stories must -have been worth listening to, for when his turn came the men were all -wide awake. - -At last when the crew began to show signs of drowsiness, Mr. Gale -ordered four of them to make themselves as comfortable as they could -and go to sleep, while he and Frank looked out for the boat. Mr. Gale -steered by a compass, the face being lighted up by a small lantern -with which whale-boats are always provided, and Frank talked to him -to keep him awake, and bailed out the water as fast as it ran in. He -did not learn anything encouraging during the four hours that he and -Mr. Gale kept watch. The mate said they were sure to reach the Islands -unless a storm blew them out of their course or swamped them, but he -did not like to think of the way they would fare after they got there. -The largest of the Islands was often visited by whalers, he continued, -but it was almost a land unknown. It was a good place to go to get -water and fresh meat in the shape of terrapins, but he had never yet -heard of a boat's crew, who, leaving the beach to explore the island, -had ever returned to tell what they saw there. Many a fine whale ship -which, when last spoken, had her hold nearly filled with oil and was -almost ready to set out on her return voyage, had suddenly disappeared, -leaving no trace behind. It was supposed that some of them had gone to -the Islands for water, and had either been wrecked on the treacherous -shoals and reefs with which they were surrounded, or been captured and -plundered by the natives. He had seen men who had been held captive -there for years, and had only escaped at last by smuggling themselves -on board some vessel whose crew was too strong to be successfully -attacked. But if they succeeded in getting there they would find an -abundance to eat and plenty of water to drink, and that was better -than being tossed about on the waves of the Pacific in an open boat. - -Frank now began to understand Captain Barclay's plans. There was more -in them than he had at first supposed. The skipper wanted to be rid -of Frank and his friends, and the whale they had killed and deserted, -furnished him with an excuse for sending the boat away from the ship. -When he arrived in port he could say that she had been smashed in -pieces by the whale, and all her crew sent to the bottom. He took his -chances on this. If the event really happened, so much the better; but -if they came through the fight in safety, and succeeded in reaching the -Islands, the natives would detain them as prisoners. In either case he -was clear of them, and they could never appear against him in a court -of justice. - -"I can understand all that," said Frank, after he had explained this to -the mate, "but there is one thing I can't quite see through: Why did he -send you off with us? You never said you would prosecute him, did you? -And there are two other men in the boat who never made any threats of -that kind. I am very sorry that the friendship you have exhibited for -me should have brought you into this trouble. I shall never be able to -repay you." - -"It wasn't that at all," said the mate, in reply. "The captain has -always been afraid of me, and he was just as anxious to get me off the -vessel as he was to get you off. I'm not the sort of officer that suits -him. I have been a foremast hand myself, and I can't see the beauty of -banging men about as if they had no more feeling than so many logs of -wood. As for sending these two other men with us, he had to give the -boat a full crew, you know, and he put in those against whom he had a -grudge." - -Frank and the mate talked in this way until almost daylight, and then -the former called Lucas and Barton, who steered the boat and kept her -bailed out, while Frank and Mr. Gale lay down on the thwarts and slept -until the sun grew too warm for them. It was then nine o'clock. As they -had no breakfast to serve up they took a drink of water all around, -which seemed to aggravate rather than relieve their thirst, the supply -the mate allowed them being so small; and at one o'clock by Mr. Gale's -watch, when the Mangrove Islands were in plain sight, they emptied the -keg. - -Propelled by a favorable breeze the boat rapidly approached the land, -and finally the outlines of the shore and the trees on the hill-sides -could be easily distinguished. Suddenly Mr. Gale arose, and standing -erect in the stern-sheets, gazed steadily into the little bay toward -which the boat was heading. "She's there!" said he, a moment later. - -"The Tycoon?" asked Frank, running his eye along the shore in the vain -effort to find the object that had attracted the officer's attention. - -"Yes, the Tycoon!" - -"Will we go aboard of her, Mr. Gale?" asked one of the crew. - -"Certainly, just as straight as we can go. We belong to her, don't we?" - -The men said nothing in reply, but their actions told what was passing -in their minds. Some seemed delighted, while others beat their open -palms with their clenched hands, and banged the oars violently down -on the thwarts. It was plain that Captain Barclay had some men in his -ship's company who would give him serious trouble if they ever found -the opportunity. - -"There's something wrong with her," continued the mate, still gazing -earnestly at the ship, which Frank had at last been able to discover. - -"So I was thinking," said the latter. "She's close in shore and has her -topsails aback. She can't be lying-to in there." - -"No, she's aground," replied the mate, "and they are trying to work her -off." - -All eyes were now turned toward the ship which came rapidly into view -as the boat approached the shore. It was plain that she was hard and -fast aground. The crew were running about the deck, pulling the yards -first one way and then the other, in the hope of getting the sails full -enough to work her off; but the breeze was not sufficiently strong, -and besides the tide was running out, so that the ship was every moment -sinking more firmly into her bed on the sand bar. Presently one of the -crew discovered the approaching boat. It was one of the Kanakas. He -gazed at it a moment, then jumped up and clapped his hands, calling -out "Galickhee!" or some such tongue-twisting name which he and his -people had bestowed upon the third officer. That brought all the crew -to the side, where they stood waving their hats and shouting out words -of welcome. Frank and the rest were astonished at this reception. Where -were Captain Barclay and his mates that they permitted the crew to act -in this way? - -"O, Mr. Gale, you're just in time," cried one of the men, who answered -to the name of Boson, "only I wish you had come a little sooner. We're -up to our necks in trouble." - -"Not an officer aboard--all gone--the ship a thousand miles from -water--or she might as well be, she's so hard a-ground, six men dead -and the niggers thicker than blackberries," chimed in Tully, another -of the crew, stamping about the deck and swinging his arms wildly in -the air. - -The men in the whale-boat were greatly amazed. They clambered over -the side with all possible haste, each one demanding to know what was -the matter. The crew shook each of them by the hand as if they were -overjoyed to meet them once more, and then silently directed their -attention to different parts of the deck, as if telling them to see -for themselves what was the matter. Frank stood speechless while he -looked. The deck was in the greatest confusion. Harpoons, spades, -lances and handspikes were scattered about, and with them were mingled -curious weapons and ornaments that he had never seen before, and -blubber-knives, cutlasses and muskets with the bayonets attached. These -last came from the ship's armory, and their presence on deck was enough -to prove that there had been a fight, even had other indications been -wanting. - -A feeble attempt had been made to clear up things a little, but the -traces that were left of the recent contest proclaimed that it had been -a severe and by no means a bloodless one. Frank ran his eye hastily -over the crew gathered about him, and saw that there were some familiar -faces missing--among them those of the captain, his two mates and his -old enemy, Calamity. What if he had been there when the fight came -off? Might not he also have been among the missing? Perhaps Captain -Barclay's attempt to get him off his vessel had been the means of -saving his life. - -"What's been going on here, any how?" demanded the mate, as soon as he -could speak. - -A chorus of hoarse voices arose in reply, each one trying to give his -version of the story, and to make himself heard above his companions; -but Mr. Gale, finding that there was nothing to be learned in that way, -commanded silence, and pointing to one of the crew ordered him to speak -for all. The man complied, telling his story in regular sailor lingo -which we put into English as follows:-- - -The Tycoon arrived at the island that morning about three o'clock, -and came to anchor two miles outside the bar. The captain, knowing -the treacherous character of the natives, kept one watch on deck -until morning, but nothing suspicious being seen, the ship stood close -in at daylight, and came to; after which the water-barrels were got -overboard, and the captain and first mate set out in their boats to tow -them ashore. No sooner had the crews touched the beach than they were -assailed by a swarm of natives, who had been lying in ambush waiting -for them. Almost at the same moment two large war canoes filled with -savages made their appearance, coming from one of the numerous little -inlets which set into the land from the bay. They headed straight for -the ship, their crews brandishing their lances and clubs, and yelling -at the top of their lungs. - -The sailors on board the Tycoon, who had witnessed the massacre of -their shipmates without the power to aid them, now found themselves -called upon to provide for their own safety. The second mate, who -was in command, made an effort to bring the ship about and run out -of the bay; but she struck the bar in going around, running on with -sufficient force to knock all the crew off their feet. They could not -run, and their only chance for life was to beat off their assailants, -who outnumbered them five to one. The weapons that were left in the -arm-chest were quickly brought up, muskets, pistols and cartridges to -put into them were distributed among the crew, lances, harpoons and -spades placed about the deck in convenient nooks, so that they could -be readily seized, and by the time these preparations were completed, -their foes were upon them. They made the attack at two different -points, one canoe running under the bow and the other coming alongside -at the starboard quarter. The sailors met them at both places, and -the first assault was repulsed. The seamen, having the advantage of -position, knocked their assailants over the side as fast as they could -climb to the top of the bulwarks, but the natives persevered, and -overwhelming numbers began to tell. They succeeded in gaining a footing -on deck, and drove the sailors before them toward the waist. - -Almost in the beginning of the fight the second mate had been struck -down by a lance, and as there was no one to direct the movements of the -sailors, each man fought on his own hook, and did just what he thought -best, without paying any attention to his neighbors. Boson probably -saved the day. While the sailors were retreating he caught up the -mate's revolver, which was lying on deck, and turning fiercely on his -foes fired all the barrels in quick succession, every shot striking a -native and bringing him dead or wounded to the deck. That was more than -the enemy could endure. Appalled by the havoc the six-shooter created, -they beat a hasty retreat, followed by the sailors, who thinned their -ranks very perceptibly before they could clamber over the side into -their boat. As they were about to push off, Boson and Tully added a -grand finale to the victory. The former threw a harpoon at one of the -natives, which, missing its object, passed through the bottom of the -boat, knocking a hole in her that would have caused her to sink long -before she could reach the shore, even had Tully not followed it up, -as he did, with the heavy snatch-block, which made a complete wreck of -her. - -The enemy being beaten at the quarter, the sailors who defended that -part of the ship ran to the assistance of their friends in the bow; but -the fight was over there, also. The natives, failing to gain the deck, -became discouraged, and dropping back into their boat, made all haste -to reach the shore. Some succeeded, others did not. The sailors rushed -for their muskets and pistols, which they had thrown to the deck after -firing their contents at the foe, and hastily ramming down cartridges, -opened fire on the natives. Those of their companions who were not -provided with these weapons, employed themselves in clearing the deck -of the dead and wounded the savages had left behind them, tumbling them -all unceremoniously over the side, and never looking to see what became -of them afterward. - -The battle being ended, the crew began to look about them and make -an estimate of their losses. They found that six of their number had -fallen beneath the war-clubs and lances of their assailants, which, -counting in the twelve that had gone ashore in the boats, made eighteen -men they had lost out of thirty-five. Greatly alarmed, disheartened by -the loss of all their officers, and afraid to risk another encounter -with their diminished numbers, they hastily committed the bodies of -their dead companions to the deep, and set to work to get the ship -afloat. They had kept hard at it for more than six hours. They had -moved her a little, but the tide began to fall just at the wrong time, -and there she was as fast as if she had been nailed to the ground. - -The new-comers listened to this story with breathless attention. If any -evidence was needed to convince them of its truthfulness, they found -it in the frightened faces of the men and the disordered state of the -deck, which bore unmistakable signs of the conflict. Their assailants -had left some of their property behind them in the shape of lances, -war-clubs and head-dresses, and close alongside the ship floated the -wreck of the canoe, which was slowly moving out to sea with the tide. A -moment later additional and most unexpected evidence was produced. A -warning exclamation uttered by Lucas, under his breath, drew all eyes -toward him. Frank saw him pick up a lance that happened to be lying -near, and following the direction of his gaze, saw that it was fastened -upon a head which was slowly rising above the combings of the fore -hatch--a head covered with a mass of shaggy hair. It was one of the -natives, who had no doubt been knocked into the hold during the fight, -and was now coming up to see if the coast was clear, so that he could -make his escape. Not a man moved. Every one held his breath as Lucas -raised the long, slender whale-lance in the air and held it poised in -both hands. - -The head was raised slowly, cautiously, inch by inch, above the -combings of the hatchway, and presently a dark-brown forehead and then -a pair of eyes appeared. At that instant the lance whistled through -the air. Thrown by a practised hand and flying true to its aim, its -keen point was buried in the combings exactly in range with the spot -where the head had been a second before. Its owner had seen the weapon -coming and dodged just in time, but his escape was a narrow one. - -"Avast, there!" cried a voice from the hold. "Ain't you Christians -enough to give a white man a chance for life and liberty?" - -The sailors stood and looked at one another without speaking. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -OLD TIMES REVIVED. - - -"I SAY! on deck, there!" continued the voice. "Don't throw any more of -them things at me, and I'll come up!" - -These words aroused the crew. They made a rush for the fore-hatch, -and when they reached it found the owner of the head crouching among -the oil barrels. Frank looked at him in astonishment, and could -scarcely believe that he was a white man. His only clothing was a pair -of tattered trowsers, and those portions of his person which were -unprotected were as brown as sole-leather, made so, no doubt, by long -exposure to the sun and weather. Moreover, his body was profusely -tattooed, so that at the distance Frank stood from him, he looked as -though he had on a tight-fitting under-shirt of some dark-colored -material, with light blue slashings. - -"Who are you, and where did you come from?" demanded the mate. - -"I'm Chips," replied the man. "I used to be carpenter of the whale-ship -Mary Starbuck, that was wrecked here long ago. It was so long ago," he -added, putting his hand to his forehead in a bewildered sort of way, -"that I have almost forgot how it happened." - -"Come on deck," said the mate, in a very different tone of voice, "and -tell us all about it." - -A dozen pairs of ready hands were stretched down to the prisoner--for -such Frank now knew him to be--and in a moment more he was hoisted out -of the hold to the deck. Frank had a good view of him then, and saw -that he really was a white man. His long, matted beard, which hung down -nearly to his waist, had afforded some protection to his breast, and -the skin beneath it was almost as white as his own. The man pulled his -forelock when he found himself standing in the presence of the mate, -and gave his trowsers a regular sailor hitch. - -"I remember hearing of the loss of the Starbuck," said Mr. Gale. "The -news reached Nantucket just before I sailed; but it wasn't so very long -ago--not quite two years." - -"Is that all, sir? It seems a longer time to me," said the man, whom we -will call by the name he had given. "You're the first white men I've -set eyes on since then, except those on the island, and you can't call -them white now. Some of them are blacker than I am." - -"Do you mean to say that there are men on that island held as -prisoners?" asked Frank. - -"Four more of 'em, sir, and one has been here, as near as he can -calculate, about ten years. I hope you won't sail without trying to do -something for 'em, sir. They lead a hard life here." - -"How do you happen to be aboard my ship?" asked the mate. - -"I came off in one of the canoes, sir, and watching my chance jumped -into the hold. I was willing to fight for my liberty, but I was afraid -that if I tried to join in with you, you would kill me, not knowing who -I was, and if you didn't the natives would, when they saw me trying to -desert 'em; and I was so anxious to see my home and family once more -that I didn't dare run any risks." - -Chips then went on to tell how he came to be a prisoner in the hands -of the islanders. His narrative would make an interesting chapter -by itself; but as it has no bearing on our story, and nothing to do -with the events that happened afterward, we condense it into a few -sentences. The ship to which he belonged was wrecked while lying at the -island to fill up with water. A furious storm first disabled her, so -that she could not make an offing, and then drove her high and dry upon -the bar. Only two of the crew succeeded in reaching the shore, Chips -and another, and they were immediately pounced upon by the natives, who -carried them in triumph to their principal village, which was hidden -away among the rocky gorges in the interior of the island. They found -four other prisoners there, and it was owing to their influence that -Chips was so well received. He was a carpenter, and just the man the -natives wanted. His companion, however, was nothing but a foremast -hand, and not being of any particular use, he was harshly treated, -and was often in danger of his life. Being driven desperate at last, -he seized the first opportunity for escape that presented itself, and -succeeded, at very great risk, in swimming off to a ship that came -there for water. He warned the captain off, most likely, for the vessel -went away at once, and it was probably through him that the news of the -loss of the Mary Starbuck was carried to Nantucket. The five prisoners -who were left were constantly on the alert to elude the vigilance of -their captors, but this was the first opportunity that Chips had ever -found. He and his companions were allowed the freedom of the island -until a vessel hove in sight, and then they were hurried to the village -and kept under guard as long as she remained. - -Being satisfied at last that there was but one way to accomplish his -object, Chips made himself perfectly at home on the island, acted -quite contented, and finally succeeded in making the natives believe -that he had no desire to leave them. He became a savage to all intents -and purposes. He took part in their dances and pow-wows, joined in -their debates, tried to teach them the use of the fire-arms they found -on the vessels that fell into their hands, and so won their confidence -that they permitted him to take part in the attack on the Tycoon. -Watching his chance, while the fight was in progress, he slipped into -the hold, and there he was among his own kind once more. - -"And now I hope you'll lend a hand to them poor fellows I left behind, -sir," said Chips, in conclusion. "It can be easy done now, but -to-morrow it'll be too late. There ain't more'n a hundred fighting men -on the island, but to-night they'll send off canoes after help, and in -the morning, if you're here, you will have an army of 'em howling about -you." - -"How far is it to the village?" asked Mr. Gale. - -"O, you'll not have to go back to the principal town, sir," answered -Chips. "There's a little fishing village right here on the beach, and -the natives will all be there to-night, holding a grand pow-wow and -waiting for the help that's coming to-morrow. If we can get close to -them and give them a volley before they know it, they'll run like deer!" - -"Why I thought you said they had fire-arms," exclaimed the mate. - -"So they have, sir, but it would make you laugh to see them use them," -said Chips. "They take the butt of a gun under their arms, shut their -eyes and turn away their heads before they pull the trigger. They -seem to think it is the noise that does the damage. All we want, you -understand, sir, is to drive 'em at the start. They won't run far -before they'll turn on us, and then they'll fight; but by the time -they do that, the prisoners will have had a chance to take care of -themselves, and we can be back to our boats. I know just where the -village is, and can lead you to it in ten minutes after we touch the -beach." - -"I suppose you don't know anything about those boats' crews that went -ashore?" said the mate. - -"No, sir. Those who were not killed are prisoners, and we'll find them -at the village." - -The man's proposition was well worth thinking over, the mate told -himself. He felt that he had a duty to perform toward the prisoners -in the hands of the savages, and he was not the one to shrink from -it. True, he had a small force to work with, but if he acted with -promptness and decision when the time for action arrived, much might be -done. "Boys, turn to and straighten up here," said he, after a moment's -reflection. "Let's make the old Tycoon look a little more like herself. -Nelson, come with me." - -The men went to work with a will--all except Lucas, Barton and Chips, -who disappeared in the forecastle for a few minutes. When they came on -deck again Chips could hardly have been told from the rest of the crew, -his tattooed body being clothed in a full sailor's rig, and his matted -hair covered with a new tarpaulin. He lent a hand with the rest, and -soon proved that he had not forgotten how to do a seaman's duty. - -Frank followed Mr. Gale to the quarter-deck. "What do you think of -this?" asked the mate. "Shall we risk it?" - -"By all means," answered Frank, quickly. "How would you and I feel if -we were held captives by these heathen, and some of our own countrymen -should come here, and, after learning our situation, go off without -making an effort to help us? We may be able to rescue the captain or -some of his men, if they are still alive." - -Mr. Gale looked at his companion a little doubtfully. - -"O, I mean it," said Frank, who knew what was passing in the officer's -mind. "I have no reason to like Captain Barclay, and if I could once -bring him before a court of justice he would suffer for what he has -done. But this is a different thing. If I get the chance, I'll try just -as hard to help him as I would to help you." - -"Well, I suppose that is the right sort of feeling," said the mate, -"but it isn't my style, I am free to say. A man who has the heart to -turn a boat's crew adrift on the ocean, doesn't deserve any help when -he's in difficulty. It's the others I want to work for, but here's the -trouble: I don't know anything about this fighting business." - -"I've had a little experience in it," said Frank, "and so have Lucas -and Barton. They are old men-of-war's men, and I know you can depend on -them. I'll give you all the help I can." - -"Won't you boss the job?" - -"No, I'd rather not. The men will yield you more prompt obedience." - -"I know a story worth two of that, sir. I ain't blind or deaf, either." - -After some more conversation it was decided that the Tycoon's crew -could not leave the island with clear consciences unless they made some -sort of a demonstration in favor of the captives, and Frank was finally -prevailed upon to take command of the expedition. This being settled, -the first thing the young sailor did was to call Chips aft. He and Mr. -Gale spent an hour in conversation with him, and when the man went -forward again Frank held in his hands a map of the island, on which -the position of the fishing village, the situation of every hut in it, -the shape of the jungle that surrounded it, and the location of all -the paths that led to it were plainly marked. Frank also had a short -consultation with Lucas, who, when it was over, made his way forward -again, winking and nodding as he always did when he had anything on his -mind. His companions tried hard to find out what had passed between him -and the captain, as everybody called Frank now; but Lucas, while he -seemed to grow in size under the pressure of the secret that had been -committed to his keeping, remained as dumb as a tar-bucket. - -Everything had now been done that could be done before dark--except -getting the boats and weapons in readiness--and Frank recollected -that he had been at sea for twenty-four hours in an open boat without -anything to eat, and that he was very hungry. Perhaps the savory odors -that now and then came from the galley recalled this fact to his mind. -At any rate they brought his appetite back to him, and he did ample -justice to the abundant meal that was soon served up. The captain was -not there now to superintend the drawing of the provisions, so the -doctor went into the store-room and helped himself. The consequence -was that some articles which rightfully belonged to the men, but which -they had never tasted since leaving port, such as beans, flour, dried -apples and molasses, found their way into the forecastle. Each man got -an extra cup of coffee--strong coffee, too--an extra tablespoonful of -sugar in it, and all he wanted to eat besides. Mr. Gale and Frank dined -in the cabin and the captain's steward waited on them. - -"That's all right," said Lucas, when the steward told him of it -afterward. "Cap'n Nelson's a cap'n just as much as Cap'n Barclay, and -just as good a one, too. Don't I know? He belongs in the cabin and at -the head of the table, and he's got to stay there now. He shan't never -come into this forecastle again!" - -After dinner two of the boats were overhauled and put in readiness for -the expedition, which was to leave the ship as soon as darkness settled -down to hide her from the watchful eyes of those on shore, the muskets -and pistols were loaded, and a dozen rounds of cartridges provided -for each man. Of course these preparations did not escape the notice -of the sailors, who knew by them that there was work to be done. It -soon got abroad that Frank was at the head of the affair, and that set -Lucas and Barton in ecstacies. This made them think of old times; and -so eager were they for the fight, that they almost got up a row with -Boson and Tully just to get their hands in. They did not neglect, too, -to make sundry little arrangements with their companions in regard to -the treatment the captain and first mate were to receive in case they -were found among the prisoners. They would do their best to rescue -the friends of Chips, but Captain Barclay should not come back to the -ship, no matter what happened. All this, however, was upset by a simple -order from their wide-awake leader, who seemed to see everything, know -everything and who neglected nothing. - -The boats and weapons being in readiness, all the crew were ordered -below to rest and sleep, except a boatsteerer's watch, who remained on -deck to look out for the ship. Even these were permitted to lie down on -deck, with the exception of one man, whose duty it was to keep an eye -on the shore, and report anything suspicious that he might see going on -there. - -The men were allowed to sleep until nine o'clock, when they were called -on deck to prepare for action. An abundant and well-cooked supper was -served up and eagerly devoured by the grateful foremast hands, who -told one another that if Captain Nelson and Mr. Gale were the officers -of the ship, they'd never have any trouble with their crew, but they -wouldn't catch much grease. They'd feed their men so high that they -would get too fat to see a spout or pull an oar. - -Supper over, the men were mustered on the quarter-deck to listen to -Frank's plan of the campaign. He had made up his mind what ought to be -done and assigned each man a particular duty, giving him his orders so -plainly that there was no possible chance for a misunderstanding. One -order was, that every hut in the village was to be set on fire--they -wanted a light to fight by--but it must first be searched to make -sure that it contained no prisoners. Some of the boats' crews might -be bound or severely wounded and unable to help themselves; and -such unfortunates needed especial care and must be looked after by -trustworthy men. If any wounded were discovered, they must be turned -over to Lucas and Barton, who would assist them back to the boats and -remain there to guard them. The men thus designated raised their hands -to their caps and said, "Ay, ay, sir!" but when Frank turned to another -sailor to give him his orders, they looked at each other and scowled -fiercely. - -"Now here's a go," muttered Barton. "Suppose we find the first mate -with a lance or something through his leg! Eh?" - -"Or the cap'n," whispered Lucas, in great disgust. - -"Must we bring him to the boat, carry him like he was a blessed little -baby, and then watch to see that the niggers don't slip around and send -him to Davy's Locker, where he belongs?" added Barton. - -"Them's the orders." - -"I don't care. I won't do it." - -"Avast, there! Better not go agin orders when they come from _him_," -whispered Lucas, jerking his thumb towards Frank. "Besides, didn't he -say we was men as could be trusted?" - -"Ay, so he did," answered Barton, after thinking a moment. "So he did. -We can't go back on him after that." - -Having given his instructions in the plainest language he was master -of, Frank went back to the head of the line and made each man repeat -what he had said to him, to make sure that he fully understood what -was required, and then he distributed the weapons and ammunition. The -Kanakas, although as eager for the fight as their white companions, -declined to accept the muskets that were offered them, preferring to -use the lances and war-clubs the natives had left behind them. It was a -motley-looking company altogether, Frank told himself, after they were -all armed and stood awaiting his orders--very unlike the well-provided -and well-disciplined bluejackets he had been accustomed to command on -expeditions similar to this. - -Everything being in readiness, Frank nodded to Mr. Gale, who ordered -the boats to be lowered away and the crews to tumble into them. Frank -took every man, knowing that the natives would not attack the ship -while their homes were in danger. When every one was in his place he -clambered down into one of the boats, Mr. Gale having charge of the -other, and led the way toward the beach. Arriving within a few rods -of it the boats were brought to a stand still, and Chips slipped -noiselessly into the water and struck out for the beach, accompanied by -Lucas, who carried a blubber-knife between his teeth. Chips might have -been astonished to know that Lucas had orders to use the blubber-knife -at the very first sign of treachery. This was the secret the old -boatswain's mate had been carrying all the afternoon. Frank believed -the story Chips had told him, but he was so wary that he neglected no -precautions to insure the success of the expedition and the safety of -the men composing it. - -At the end of half an hour the two men made their appearance again, -coming alongside so silently that Frank did not see them until they -laid hold of the gunwale. They reported the coast clear. The natives, -not dreaming of danger, were all at the village, going through some -sort of a ceremony intended to bring them success in the next attack -they made on the ship, and which Chips said would not be delayed longer -than daylight. Frank breathed easier now. Chips was not trying to lead -him into an ambush, and that was one thing off his mind. - -Slowly and noiselessly the boats approached the shore, and when their -bows touched the sand the crews disembarked. The two men selected -to guard them promptly took their positions, and the rest fell in -behind Chips, who led them along a narrow path through darkness so -intense that Frank, who followed close at his heels, was obliged to -take hold of his clothing in order to keep track of him. Ten minutes' -walk brought them within sight of a bright fire, which they could see -shining through the trees in front of them. There they stopped. Frank -whispered to the men as they came up one after another, showed them -the position of the village, and they lost no time in taking up the -positions he assigned them. When they had all moved off to the right -and left, Frank, Mr. Gale and Chips were left alone. They waited and -listened for a few minutes, and then moved down the path until they -obtained a view of the fire. It was a large one, and threw out so -much light that every hut in the village could be distinctly seen. -There were about two hundred of the natives in sight, men, women and -children, and some were seated in a circle about the fire, while others -stood erect, looking intently toward the jungle where Frank knew the -right of his line was taking up its position. Their quick ears warned -them of the approach of an enemy. - -At this moment Frank caught the gleam of a bayonet on the extreme left -of the line. That told him that some of his men were in position, and -he decided to begin operations at once. He nodded to his companions, -and instantly three muskets were levelled and belched forth their -contents in quick succession. This was the signal for the attack, and -it was promptly obeyed. Muskets and pistols roared all along the line, -and such a chorus of hoarse voices arose from the jungle that Frank, -had he not known just how many men he had at his command, would have -supposed that there was a small army hidden there. - -The natives behaved just as Chips said they would. The most of them -took to their heels at once, while the bravest among them lingered long -enough to fire their muskets. But they discharged them any how--just -as they happened to pick them up--and Frank saw that the muzzles of -the most of them were pointed into the air. No sooner were the weapons -emptied than the owners threw them down and ran for life. - -In two minutes' time the sailors were all in the now deserted village, -and two of the huts had been fired by Chips, who showed himself as -active as a cat. He ran about with a fire-brand in each hand, calling -loudly on the captives to make all haste to reach the beach, telling -them they would find boats there and men to protect them. - -Frank remained in the centre of the line, so that he could see all -that was going on and direct the movements of his men, and it was with -no little satisfaction that he noted the care with which each member -of his small company took to carry out the instructions given him. -Frank did not see that any of the natives were killed, but he did see -one prisoner rescued. He did not get a glimpse of his face or of his -clothing, but a remark Lucas made as he and Barton carried him by in -their arms, told him who it was. "This ain't such a nice piece of -business as it might be, sir," said the former, touching his cap. - -"It's the captain," thought Frank. "That was a lucky thought of mine, -appointing two of his worst enemies to take care of him, for they -wouldn't injure him now for the world. He's badly hurt, too. Will he -act more like a man now, or be a worse tyrant than ever?" - -In a very short space of time the whole village was in a blaze. The -huts being built of bamboo and their cone-shaped roofs thatched with -dry grass, they burned like so much tinder. There was nothing more to -be done now--nothing more they could do. They had rescued one prisoner, -given the others a chance to run if they were able to do it, and now -he must take care of his own men before the natives turned on them. -The signal to retreat, a long, shrill whistle, was as promptly obeyed -as the signal to attack. The men hurried toward him, and throwing -their weapons on their shoulders fell in behind Chips, who led the way -toward the beach at a dog trot. Frank ran his eye over the line as it -moved passed him to see if there was anybody missing, and found to his -delight that not only were the men all there, but also two more rescued -prisoners, the captain's harpooner and bow-oarsman, who saluted him -as they went by. When the last man was in the path, Frank and Mr. Gale -fell in and brought up the rear. A few minutes' rapid run brought them -to the beach, and after seeing the wounded captain stowed away as -comfortably as circumstances would permit, Frank ordered the crews into -the boats, which were pushed off toward the ship. There was no pursuit -attempted, the natives being too badly frightened to rally immediately. -By the time their expected reinforcements arrived, the Tycoon was safe -out of their reach. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -FRANK ON THE QUARTER-DECK. - - -THE expedition was ended and well ended too, Frank told himself. Three -men were rescued, and that was something to feel glad over. The attack -was so well planned, and all the details carried out so faithfully -and energetically, that it was entirely successful, and there was not -a man missing. All the ship's company could be accounted for except -Gardner--Frank could not bring himself now to think of him by the -name he generally bore--and he had doubtless been killed and thrown -overboard when the natives made their attack on the vessel. - -While on the way back to the Tycoon Frank had much to think about, the -principal object of his thoughts being the wounded captain. Frank was -sorry to see him in his present situation, and he reproached himself -when he reflected that he had so long cherished feelings of revenge -toward him. He had all the while told himself that his feelings were -not actuated by any desire for vengeance--that he wanted to have the -skipper shut up for a while, merely to prevent him from serving others -as he had served himself; but now he knew that behind all this was the -belief that the captain deserved punishment for the offences of which -he had been guilty, and that he would breathe a good deal easier if he -could assist in bringing it about. That was all past now, however. The -skipper needed assistance, and that was enough for the generous Frank, -who felt almost as tender toward him as he would have felt toward his -cousin Archie, had he been in the same situation. - -Meanwhile an animated conversation was going on between Mr. Gale and -Lucas, who were in the other boat with Barton, the coxswain. The third -mate had been silent and thoughtful for a long time, and Lucas asked -the reason for it. - -"I was just thinking of what's to come," replied Mr. Gale. "Here we -have been risking our lives to free these men, and what are we going to -do with them now that we have got them?" - -"Take them aboard the ship, sir," said Lucas. - -"And what's to be done with the ship? The cap'n is of no use now, the -first and second mates are gone, and so, of course, the ship falls to -my hands; but she's a bigger load than I can carry." - -"Don't worry about that, sir," returned Lucas, quickly. "Cap'n Nelson's -shoulders are broad, and he can carry her." - -"Was he ever master of a vessel?" asked Mr. Gale. - -"Of course he was, sir. Didn't you know it?" - -"I heard something about it, but I didn't believe it. He don't look -like a sailor." - -"No more'n he looks like a lawyer or a fighting man, sir; but he's -all three. When the war was going he commanded as fine a brig as ever -sailed in Farragut's fleet." - -"A brig!" echoed Barton. "A ship, you mean. Haven't I seen her often? -Didn't I see her and him too down there in Mobile Bay, the time we had -the fight with the forts and gunboats? You're right I did. The Admiral -was going to put him in command of a frigate, only the war closed and -Cap'n Nelson wouldn't stay in the navy." - -"I knew it was something of that kind," said Lucas, who knew just -nothing at all about it. He and Barton were working to put Frank on the -Tycoon's quarter-deck, and they did not care how many falsehoods they -told or what means they used to get him there. "He went into a fight -once and licked the rebels three to one," continued Lucas. - -"Five to one, you mean," corrected Barton, who did not think his friend -was saying quite as much as could be said in Frank's favor. - -"I knew it was big odds," returned Lucas, "and under them -circumstances, sir, you mustn't feel hard if we say that we won't serve -on the Tycoon under nobody but Cap'n Nelson." - -"I don't feel hard toward you," said the mate, "for I don't want to -command her. I am not fit." - -"No more you be, sir," said Barton, bluntly; "but Cap'n Nelson is. We -can call him cap'n now, and nobody can't say no to us without getting -his head broke." - -Frank, little dreaming of what was passing in the other boat, was being -carried rapidly ahead by the stalwart Kanakas who pulled him, and -reached the ship a long distance in advance of Mr. Gale. As he came -alongside he saw two men looking over the rail, both of whom Chips -recognised, dark as it was. They proved to be two wrecked sailors who -had been held prisoners by the natives, and who had taken advantage -of the attack on the village to run to the beach and swim off to -the vessel. They were overjoyed to find themselves among their own -countrymen once more, and almost overwhelmed Frank by their exhibition -of gratitude. But he had no time to listen to them. He simply shook -hands with them, and then turned his attention to the captain. - -The wounded man groaned whenever any one touched him; but a whip being -quickly rigged he was hoisted aboard as tenderly as possible, and in -obedience to Frank's directions was carried into the cabin and placed -in his bunk. When the steward lighted the lamp Frank had a good view of -him for the first time, and he could hardly bring himself to believe -that this wreck of humanity was the same man he had so often seen on -the quarter-deck. He was no surgeon, but knowing that something ought -to be done at once to relieve the captain and stop the flow of blood, -he set to work to do what he could. He cut off the sufferer's coat and -shirt with his knife, and found three gaping wounds, which were enough -to have left the life out of any but a man of iron, as the captain was. -While he was bathing them with warm water brought from the galley the -third mate came in, and Frank was surprised to see him remove his hat. - -"Is it necessary for me to apologize for coming in here under such -circumstances as these, without an invitation?" asked the amateur -doctor. - -"I guess not, sir," answered the officer, with a smile. "From all I can -learn you've got the best right here." - -"How is that? I don't understand you." - -"Why, the men have put you in as cap'n, and say they won't do duty -under anybody else." - -"Well, they have no right to do anything of the kind. They don't know -what they are talking about." - -"No, they don't. I'm master of this ship," murmured the wounded man, -looking about with the old savage glare in his eyes and trying to raise -his head. "Trice 'em all up, and hang the snatch-block to their--Mr. -Gale!" he ejaculated, recognising the third mate. - -"Yes, sir; it's Mr. Gale, come back safe and sound, and just as ready -to do duty as he was before you turned him adrift in that boat," -replied the officer. - -"Send the first mate here," said the captain, sinking back on his -pillow and closing his eyes. - -"I can't, sir. He went ashore with you and hasn't come back yet. The -natives made an end of him, most likely." - -"The second mate, then." - -"Can't send him either, sir, because he and the first are keeping -company now somewhere besides on board this ship. The natives harpooned -him. There's nobody left but me." - -"And you ain't worth nothing. You don't know how to flog a man." - -"If I did, I couldn't do it now, sir. The men have taken the ship and -put Cap'n Nelson in command. I looked for 'em to do it long ago." - -"Nelson!" groaned the captain, opening his eyes again. "I sent him----" - -He seemed to recognise the face bending over him, and stopped suddenly. - -"I know you did, sir," said Mr. Gale, "You sent him adrift with me; but -he's back again, and so are Lucas and Barton and all the rest of the -boat's crew. But I say, cap'n, if you are able to do duty, you'd best -be giving some orders, for the tide is about turning, and if the ship -is to be worked off the bar, now's the time." - -The captain made no reply, and neither could Mr. Gale induce him to -speak again. He lay with his eyes closed, and groaned every time -a question was asked him. The mate scratched his head in great -perplexity. "What shall I do, sir?" said he, looking at Frank. - -"Do just what you think best," was the reply. "This man is in no -condition to give orders. Go ahead on your own hook." - -The mate clapped his hat on his head and hurried up the ladder. He -found the crew gathered in the waist waiting, no doubt, to hear from -some one in the cabin. "Turn to, lads," said Mr. Gale, briskly. "Bear a -hand, and get up that small kedge for'ard." - -"Who give them orders, sir, begging your pardon for being curious?" -said Lucas. "Did Cap'n Barclay or Cap'n Nelson?" - -"Cap'n Nelson," replied the mate. "Cap'n Barclay ain't fit to command -now." - -"No more was he ever fit to command, sir!" said Lucas, who was speaking -for all of the men. "But, asking your pardon again, sir, I'd just like -to have a peep at Cap'n Nelson, and see why he don't come up and give -his own orders, like the master of a ship had ought to do. You know -that he went into that cabin once and didn't come out again very soon, -don't you? We don't think as much of you, by no means, as we did before -you had a hand in that business." - -The mate made no reply. He had set himself right with Frank, who was -perfectly satisfied that he was not to blame for anything that had -happened, and he would leave him to make the matter straight with the -men. He stepped aside to allow Lucas to pass, and the latter, running -down the companion-ladder, was amazed to find Frank acting the part of -Good Samaritan to one whom he had hitherto regarded as an enemy. He -opened his eyes wide at the sight, and Frank thought he was displeased. -"It's all time wasted, sir," said he. - -"Well, we must do the very best we can for him," was Frank's reply. -"If he can only hold out till we fall in with some ship carrying a -surgeon, he will perhaps pull through all right." - -"Did you give orders to have the ship worked off the bar, cap'n?" asked -the boatswain's mate. - -"We want to get her off, don't we?" answered Frank. "She musn't lie -here and be pounded to pieces, as she will be if the wind rises." - -Lucas went out of the cabin satisfied. He knew what ought to be done -as well as anybody, but he wanted to be sure that the orders came from -the right source. The men were satisfied too, and went to work to get -the ship out of her dangerous situation, while Frank kept busy with his -patient, although he believed, with Lucas, that his efforts to save the -captain's life would be useless. He had nothing to work with--no lint -or bandages, and no medicine to allay the fever. But the sequel proved -that Frank did not know what the old sailor meant by his remark. The -wounded skipper was threatened by another danger from which no one on -board the Tycoon but Frank could protect him--- the fury of the men he -had wronged. - -At the end of two hours the Tycoon was in deep water and standing away -from the inhospitable Islands with all her canvas spread. Frank had -been equally successful with the work to which he had devoted himself, -and now the captain was in a sound sleep. While Frank stood watching -him, wondering; what was to be done when he awoke, since there were no -medicines aboard except calomel and salts, nothing to eat except coarse -ship's fare, and nothing to drink but the miserable stuff called tea -and coffee which the cook served up twice each day--while Frank was -thinking about this, and wishing he could get inside the Stranger's -pantry long enough to secure some of the delicacies he knew to be -stowed away there, he was aroused by a great hubbub which suddenly -arose on deck. He heard the stamping of feet and loud yells of triumph, -mingled with cries of, "Here's one of 'em. Pitch him overboard!" A -moment later the mate's voice was heard in tones of remonstrance, to -which some one replied: "If you don't go aft where you belong and mind -your own business, you'll go over too!" - -Mr. Gale evidently thought that the man, whoever he was that said this, -was in earnest, for Frank heard him running along the deck, and saw his -pale face appear at the top of the companion ladder. "Come up, cap'n," -he cried, in great excitement; "the men are going to throw Calamity -overboard!" - -Frank lingered just long enough to slap his pockets, to make sure that -the pistols he had carried during the attack on the village were still -there, and then went up the stairs in three jumps. He saw a group of -men in the waist, who were pushing and crowding one another about, and -caught just one glimpse of the pale face of Gardner, who was in the -midst of them, and resisting to the utmost the efforts that were being -made to drag him to the side. He saw at a glance that Boson and Tully -were the ringleaders, and the ones who had seized the frightened man; -and he was sorry to see, too, that Lucas and Barton were there and -making no effort to restrain their companions, although they took no -part in the proceeding. The peaceable Kanakas were standing in a body -on the forecastle and looking on in great amazement. - -With three jumps more Frank was in the waist, standing between the men -and the rail, and Mr. Gale was at his side. "Lucas! Barton!" he cried, -"come over to this side the deck." - -"Why, cap'n?" began Lucas. - -"No words," interrupted Frank. "You and Barton come over to this side -of the deck, and be quick about it." - -The sailors obeyed, and the change in their positions seemed to make a -corresponding change in their feelings, for the next order Frank gave -was responded to without an instant's hesitation. "Lucas, take hold -of Boson. Barton, grab Tully and drag him away. Gardner, go into the -cabin!" - -It was wonderful how quickly and easily one calm, determined spirit -controlled those angry men. The trouble was ended at once. Boson let -go his hold and slunk away at the sight of Lucas's big fist, which was -brandished before his eyes, and Tully was equally active in giving -ground before the broad-shouldered Barton. Gardner, finding himself at -liberty, went down the companion-ladder like a flash, banging the door -behind him. - -"I am surprised at you, men," said Frank, sternly, and there was not -one among them who could look him in the eye. "If you had succeeded in -accomplishing your object, what would you have said for yourselves when -you got ashore? Boson, you are the largest and strongest man in the -crew. Take your stand at the top of that ladder and knock the first one -down who attempts to go into the cabin without Mr. Gale's permission." - -This stroke of policy on Frank's part won him a fast friend on the -spot--one who might otherwise have been an enemy, and kept the crew -in a constant uproar. He was a turbulent fellow, this Boson, and one -of the few sailors Frank had met who seemed to need a handspike or -belaying-pin over his head about once a day to keep him in order. His -appearance was enough to frighten some men, and was a good index of his -character. He had a most repulsive countenance, a small bullet-shaped -head, always kept closely cropped and set on a thick, muscular neck, -and a form betokening immense physical power. And indeed he possessed -it. He could handle an eighteen-foot oar as if it were a feather, and -when he laid out his strength, he fairly made things snap. His whole -body was seamed and scarred by wounds he had received in fights and -from the officers he had sailed under, and Frank had seen him knocked -flat with a handspike which seemed to make no more impression on his -thick skull than it would on the mast. This was the man of whom Frank -had been wise enough to make a friend. - -Boson looked at him in amazement, evidently at a loss to decide whether -Frank was in earnest or not; but making up his mind at last that he -was, he marched off, and taking the position assigned him, looked -defiantly at the crew, as if daring them to come on. - -Frank was surprised at the ease with which the disturbance had been -quelled, and so was Mr. Gale. It leaked out afterward that the -former's prompt action had prevented serious trouble. Lucas made no -idle threat when he said that the captain and Calamity were both to -go overboard. The latter had been hiding in the hold among the oil -barrels. He went there when he saw the natives approaching to make -their attack on the ship, and no one missed him until the fight was -over, and the sailors began to look around to see how many they had -lost. Not finding Calamity among the slain, they concluded that he had -either jumped overboard, or been wounded and thrown over; but he had -been safely concealed in the hold all the while. Finding at last that -the ship was in motion, he came out of his hiding-place to see what -was going on, and must have been astonished at the reception extended -to him. After he had been disposed of, the skipper's turn was to come -next. The desperate men counted on meeting with opposition and perhaps -resistance from Mr. Gale and Frank, but expected to overcome it very -easily. They knew Mr. Gale, but found they did not know Frank. Had the -latter been as easily cowed as the third mate was, something certainly -would have happened. - -Quiet being restored, Mr. Gale and Frank walked aft together, and the -crew seeing them in earnest conversation, leaned over the rail and -waited to learn what would come next. "I suppose the first business is -to decide who we want for officers," said Frank. - -"I suppose so, sir," replied Mr. Gale. - -"You are entitled to the captain's berth, of course. That's settled." - -"No it ain't, sir," returned the mate, quickly. "This is the first -voyage I ever made as an officer, and I know no more about navigation -than I do about the moon." - -"Then let me act as your sailing-master." - -"The men won't agree to it, sir. They said so." - -Then the mate went on to repeat the conversation that had taken place -between Lucas, Barton and himself, at which Frank laughed heartily. -"Why they are very much mistaken," said he. "The largest sailing -vessel I ever commanded was a pleasure yacht." - -"No odds, sir. They've got it in their heads that you must command them -now that the old man is done for, and there'll be a row if you don't. -You have seen what they are when they get started." - -"Then I'll tell you what we'll do," said Frank, after thinking a -moment. "We'll leave it to them; and after they have selected their -officers we'll draw up a paper containing a full history of everything -that has happened since leaving Honolulu, and ask them to sign it. -These matters must be looked into by the consul, and we want to be all -right in law, you know." - -In accordance with this suggestion, the mate mustered the men on the -quarter-deck and made them a little speech. He told them that there -must be somebody at the head of affairs, and that as the officers were -all gone except himself, others must be selected. In the first place -they must all agree to be bound by the decision of the majority, and -faithfully promise to obey those placed over them. - -"We'll all obey Cap'n Nelson," exclaimed Boson, before the mate was -fairly done speaking. - -"Yes, Cap'n Nelson! Cap'n Nelson!" cried a chorus of hoarse voices. -"Nobody else!" - -There was not a dissenting voice; so Frank could no longer refuse to -accept the responsibility. He was amused to see that Lucas and Barton, -while supporting Boson's nomination, looked savagely at him, as if they -would have been glad to knock him down for speaking in such a hurry. -They wanted to bring Frank forward themselves. - -"Cap'n Nelson, I give place to you, sir," said Mr. Gale. - -The men greeted the young commander with cheers as he stepped forward, -no doubt expecting him to make them a speech; but Frank did nothing of -the kind. He told them that the next business was to select a first -mate, and at his suggestion Mr. Gale was chosen by a unanimous vote. -Lucas was put in for second, and Boson, who was a fine sailor, if -he was a quarrelsome fellow, for third mate; and when the men were -dismissed every one of them seemed satisfied. - -[Illustration: FRANK CHOSEN CAPTAIN OF THE TYCOON.] - -Frank at once went below to look at his patient, leaving Mr. Gale in -charge of the deck. The captain lay with his eyes closed, rolling his -head from side to side, and Calamity was fanning him with his hat. The -latter started up in alarm as Frank entered. - -"It is no one who is going to harm you," said he. "I hope you see now -what you have brought upon yourself by your way of doing business. Let -it be a lesson to you." - -"I shall never dare to go into the forecastle again," whined Calamity. - -"You needn't go in there. You will stay here as the captain's nurse." - -This order seemed to relieve the frightened man. Through the open -skylights he had heard all that passed on deck, and he was afraid that -Frank, having the authority to do so, would order him to go forward -where he belonged. - -Frank slept but little that night. The responsibilities of his new -position weighed on his mind, and he came on deck every hour to see -that things were going straight. The first real duty he performed as -captain was to ascertain whereabouts in the wide world the ship was, -and this he did the next day by an observation. She was directly in -the track of vessels bound from Australia to the Pacific ports of the -United States, and he decided to cruise about for a few days in the -hope of meeting some ship that carried a surgeon. Without medical -assistance he was afraid that the captain might not live until the ship -reached Honolulu, which, according to his calculations, was more than -fifteen hundred miles distant. - -The observation made, dinner over and the table cleared away, Frank -busied himself for an hour or two in drawing up papers for the men -to sign; and when that was done, he took a few minutes to think over -the various incidents that had operated to place him in his present -position. The most exacting old sea-dog could hardly have found -fault with the way affairs were going now. The weather-side of the -quarter-deck was reserved for the captain, who for an hour paced up and -down there with his hands behind his back, and as free from intrusion -as a monarch on his throne. The officers were alert and watchful, the -crew seemed to have settled down to the new order of things as if they -had been accustomed to them all their lives, and never in her best days -under her old commander had the Tycoon looked more ship-shape. Frank -wished the crew had put Mr. Gale in his place, and left him to act -as sailing-master; but since they had seen fit to do differently, he -would perform his duty as best he could. He knew every rope and sail -in the ship, was possessed of excellent judgment, which was the one -great thing needed, and the captain's sextant came as handy to him as -a fishing-rod or double-barrel; so he was not so very unfit for the -position he held after all. How Archie and the rest of the friends he -had left on the Stranger would open their eyes if they could see him in -that dress and know that he was the master of that fine ship! For the -first time in a long while Frank allowed his thoughts to wander back to -them, and the consequence was he became homesick. Yes, homesick; for -the cabin of the Stranger had been his home for almost eight months, -and had he kept out of the way of the bogus captain, it might have been -his home yet. Where was the schooner now, and what were those aboard -of her doing? Perhaps she was sailing about over the Pacific in search -of the Tycoon! This thought aroused Frank from his reverie, and caused -him to straighten up and look about as if he expected to see something. -If the Stranger followed the Tycoon to the Sandwich Islands, would not -Uncle Dick ascertain when he got there that she had shipped a crew and -started for the Japan station? And would he not sail again immediately -and try to find her? - -"Sail ho!" shouted the man at the mast-head. "Where away?" demanded the -captain, greatly excited. - -"Two points off the lee bow, sir. Steamer." - -"Dear me! why did he say steamer?" thought Frank. "I'd rather he'd have -said topsail schooner." - -No doubt he would, especially if the schooner proved to be the -Stranger. Still he was glad to know that there was a steamer near, -for he would be relieved of one cause of anxiety if he could only -intercept her. He would bring her doctor aboard, and perhaps he could -do something for the captain. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -CONCLUSION. - - -Frank went aloft with his glass, and after watching the steamer for a -few minutes made up his mind that if he held on his way she would cross -his path at such a distance that he could not speak her; so he altered -the Tycoon's course a few points, and for several miles ran almost -parallel with the approaching craft. This manœuvre was successful, and -by sunset the two vessels were within hailing distance. After seeing -one of the boats cleared for lowering and the crew ready to tumble into -her, Frank came to while the steamer was yet a half a mile away; and -this attracting the attention of her captain, he ran under a slow bell -until within speaking distance, when he stopped his engines. His vessel -was a fine large mail steamer, and her promenade deck was crowded with -passengers. - -"Steamer ahoy!" yelled Frank, through his trumpet. "Will you wait for -me to send a boat aboard of you? We are in need of medical assistance." - -A reply in the affirmative promptly came back, and five minutes -afterward a whale-boat, manned by a sturdy crew steered by Frank, was -pulling toward the steamer. - -Up to this time Frank's mind was fully occupied with thoughts of the -wounded captain; but now it occurred to him that he was not in just -the right dress to present himself before a company of ladies and -gentlemen. Clothed in a red shirt, coarse trowsers, heavy boots, all -plentifully spattered with oil, a tarpaulin, which, although but a -short time out of the slop-chest, began to show signs of wear, and with -hands and face browned by exposure, he was not the most attractive -looking young man in the world, and he thought he looked worse when in -the presence of the dapper young officer who met him at the gangway. -The well-dressed people on deck gave him plenty of room as he walked -along, but the gray-headed captain came forward and greeted him -cordially. "What did you say you wanted, sir?" said he. "A doctor?" - -"Yes, sir. There's a man aboard that ship in a critical condition. We -had some trouble with the natives at the Mangrove Islands, and he's -badly wounded." - -A chorus of ejaculations and questions arose from the passengers who -crowded eagerly forward, and Frank could have told his story to a -most attentive and interested audience if he had only had time; but -the captain sent off at once for the surgeon, who made his appearance -before he was fairly begun. To him Frank described the nature of the -captain's injuries as well as he could, and when he had heard all Frank -could tell him, he provided himself with medicine and instruments, got -into the whale-boat and was taken on board the Tycoon. He remained -there nearly three hours--so long that some of the gentlemen among the -steamer's passengers became impatient at the delay, called on Frank -for a boat, and came off to see what the "blubber-hunter" looked like. -The young captain met them as they came over the side, and was amused -at the look of astonishment that settled on their faces when they found -themselves fairly on her deck. - -"Why, if I had known that you kept your craft as neat as this, I should -have brought my wife and daughter along," said one of the gentlemen, -running his finger over the rail and closely examining it to make sure -that there was no oil on it. "I expected to find myself knee-deep in -grease. I have seen whalers come into port before now, and they were -such horrible looking things outside, that I supposed, they could not -be very tidy on deck." - -"They are not always, sir," said Frank, "especially when they are -cutting in and trying out. They often spend eight months and more out -of sight of land, and the men are so busy with other work that they -can't find time to keep the ship as neat and trim as a merchantman or -man-of-war." - -The visitors having satisfied themselves that they were in no danger -of soiling their good clothes, began to exhibit a lively interest in -what they saw about them. Frank showed them over the ship, explained -the use of the try-works, harpoons, lances and all the other implements -connected with a whaler's calling, and related the particulars of -the fight they had had with the natives at the Mangrove Islands; and -so engrossed did his listeners become that they were sorry when the -doctor came out of the cabin and announced that he was ready to depart. -He told Frank what he had done for the wounded man, and said that, -although he was so badly used up that it might take him some months to -fully recover from the effects of his injuries, there were no bones -broken, and his life was in no danger, if the remedies he left for him -were faithfully administered according to the directions he had given -the captain's attendant. The doctor and the passengers were then taken -on board their vessel by one of the whale-boats, and when it returned -and was hoisted at the davits, the Tycoon filled away for the Sandwich -Islands. - -It was wonderful what a change the doctor's visit made in the wounded -man! He seemed to grow better immediately. Frank found him in earnest -conversation with Calamity. When it was ended the latter came out with -the request that Mr. Gale might be sent to the captain when he was off -duty, if Frank had no objection. Of course he had none. The first mate -was sent for at once, and remained in conversation with the captain for -more than an hour. When he came out he went straight to Frank, who was -pacing the quarter-deck. "How is he now?" asked the latter. - -"O, he's all right that is, his tongue is as lively as ever. He wants -me to act as mediator between you and him." - -"There is no occasion for it," answered Frank. "There are no hard -feelings on my part." - -"I was sure of it, sir. Calamity has told him everything, and he would -be perfectly satisfied with the way matters have been arranged, if it -wasn't for the fear that you helped rescue him from the natives, and -brought the doctor off to save his life, so that you might have the -chance to take him before the court at Honolulu." - -"Perhaps if he knew me better he would not have so poor an opinion of -me," returned Frank. "I don't deny that if I could have got him there -two days ago, I should have made trouble for him. Indeed I told him so -to his face. But that is all over now." - -"He has been punished enough, hasn't he, sir?" - -"I think he has. You may assure him for me, in the plainest language -you can command, that I shall not trouble him in any way. On the -contrary, I will do what I can to make him comfortable." - -"I'll tell him, sir. He wanted me to ask two favors of you: one is, -that you will put him on board the first ship you meet bound for the -States. He's afraid of the men, sir. Calamity told him that they were -going to throw him overboard." - -"He has nothing to fear from them, but I'll respect his wishes all the -same. What else does he want me to do?" - -"He hopes that while you are looking out for a sail, you will keep -an eye open for whales and lose no chance for filling up. We stow -twenty-five hundred barrels, and here we have been out nearly seventeen -months and haven't taken a quarter of that quantity. It looks now as -though we were not going to make a paying voyage." - -"I'll do the best I can," replied Frank. - -And he did. The ship lay-to that night with only a boatsteerer's watch -on deck, and the next morning business began in earnest. A whale was -discovered before breakfast, and three boats in command of Mr. Gale, -Lucas and Boson were sent out after him, Frank remaining in charge -of the ship. The prize was secured without much trouble, and while -it was lying alongside, and the men, having prepared themselves for -work by eating a good breakfast, were about to begin the cutting in, -another was raised, and by three o'clock that also was alongside, and -the carpenter was at work on a stove boat. This whale fought hard, but -there was nobody hurt. - -This was only the beginning. The blubber-room was never entirely -empty, and during the next three weeks four hundred barrels of oil were -added to those in the hold. Of course the labor was severe, the crew -being small, but the men had plenty to eat, were kindly treated and -the amount of work they turned off was surprising. Calamity kept the -captain posted in all that was going on, and he growled lustily--being -an old sailor he couldn't help it--and wondered why he had not been -blessed with such luck, and why the crew had not worked as well for him -as they did for the new captain. - -One bright morning, following a hard night's work at trying-out, while -Frank was leaning over a water-bucket, rubbing his hands and face with -a piece of hard soap, the man at the mast-head announced that there was -a sail in sight, and in response to the usual inquiry, added: "Broad -off the wheather beam. Topsail schooner. Sets low in the water and -spreads lots of canvas." - -"Do you hear that, Lucas?" cried Frank, gazing about through eyes that -were almost hidden in soap suds. "Jump up there, quick!" - -The latter cleared his eyes by the aid of a piece of canvas that served -him for a towel, and watched the movements of the old boatswain's mate -as he hurried aloft. He saw him level his glass, hold it to his eye for -a moment and then begin to scramble down again. That was enough for -Frank. "Mr. Gale," said he, so delighted and excited, that he could -hardly stand still, "my connection with the Tycoon is nearly ended now. -My friends are close by." - -"I am glad for your sake, sir, and sorry for my own," replied the mate. -"We've had a pleasant ship and the best of luck since you've been on -the quarter-deck." - -"And I have been very well contented," said Frank; "but I wasn't while -I was in the forecastle, I tell you. It isn't often that a shanghaied -man becomes master of the ship that runs away with him, is it?" - -"I never heard the like before, sir." - -"And probably you never will again. Well, Lucas!" - -"It's the Stranger, sir! I can tell her among a million!" replied the -second mate, no less delighted than his captain. - -"Breakfast is on, sir," announced the steward. - -Frank did not want any, but he made a show of eating nevertheless. He -drank a cup or two of a decoction of parched beans which the steward -called coffee, swallowed a few mouthfuls of salt horse and hard-tack, -and then hurried on deck to tell the officer on watch to see one of -the boats clear for lowering, and to have a crew, whom he mentioned by -name, ready to pull him off to the schooner. After that he gave his -black suit a good overhauling; but it had seen pretty hard service -before he drew any clothing from the slop-chest, and he decided that it -would not do to put on. Then he took a look at himself in the little -mirror that was screwed fast to one of the bulkheads in the cabin, and -told himself that Boson was a beauty compared to him. - -"Well, what's the difference?" thought Frank. "If any of those boys had -been in my boots they would look just as rough and weather-beaten as I -do." - -With this reflection to console him Frank hurried on deck again, and -taking the glass Lucas offered him, levelled it at the schooner, which -was now close aboard. Almost the first man he saw was Dick Lewis. -Frank's heart leaped at the sight of him. He had supposed that the two -trappers were safe in the mountains long before this time, but now he -would have a chance to shake them by the hand once more before he bade -them good-by for ever. He wondered how they had conquered their fears -sufficiently to venture out to sea. He saw Uncle Dick Gaylord and his -two officers on the quarter-deck, and the Club gathered in the waist, -every one of them with his field-glass in his hand. - -"Of course they will recognise the ship, but they will never know me in -this dress," thought Frank. "And I don't think they'll be able to make -much out of my hail either." - -Frank kept out of sight until the ship's main yard was backed and the -schooner thrown up into the wind; then he showed himself. - -"What ship is that?" yelled a stentorian voice, that Frank could have -recognised anywhere. - -"The whale ship Eli Coon, Hank Wilson master. Seventeen months out -of Nantucket and nine hundred barrels of oil in the hold. I think -that bothered them a little, Mr. Gale. I see they are talking very -earnestly. Is that crew ready? I'll send a boat aboard of you," he -added, hailing the schooner. - -"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Uncle Dick, in a tone of voice which indicated -that he did not understand the matter at all. - -Lucas, Barton, Boson and Tully, all good oarsmen, comprised the boat's -crew, and they were not long in taking their captain alongside the -schooner. Seeing that the Club and Uncle Dick kept their glasses -levelled at him, Frank drew his hat low over his forehead, and thanked -the wind for turning the collar of his shirt up around his ears. He -laughed to himself when he thought how amazed his friends would be -to see him in those clothes and learn that he was the captain of the -Tycoon--he who had been shanghaied and thrust into her forecastle to -do duty as a common sailor! He thought he could have some sport with -the schooner's company, and run no risk of being recognised. After -comparing his reckoning with Uncle Dick's, he would slap the boys on -the back and take all sorts of liberties with them, and see what they -would do about it. But Dick Lewis upset all these calculations in short -order. His sharp eyes penetrated Frank's disguise, and no sooner did -his head appear above the schooner's rail than he was hauled aboard, -lifted bodily from the deck and carried aft. He struggled hard to free -himself, but the trapper held him fast, and finally stood him on his -feet in front of Uncle Dick, just as he had done with the bogus captain. - -"What do you mean?" demanded Frank, in a gruff voice. "If this is the -way you treat your visitors, sir, I'll go back where I belong!" - -Uncle Dick stared at Frank, who tried to look angry, but his eyes -laughed in spite of himself. "Nelson!" he exclaimed, at a venture. - -"That's jest who he are, cap'n," cried the trapper, bringing his heavy -hand down on Frank's shoulder with such force that he shook all over. -"Whiskers and all, that's him." - -It was all out now, and Frank's little plan was exposed. Of course -a great hubbub arose at once, and Frank judged by the greeting he -received that his friends were just as glad to see him as he was to see -them. Lucas and Barton met with an equally cordial reception from their -friends in the forecastle, who were not a little surprised to find that -one of them had worked his way to the quarter-deck during his absence. - -Frank had a long story to tell, and it took him a long time to tell it. -When it was ended, Uncle Dick and the Club had a good many questions to -ask, and it took a long time to answer them; so that the two vessels -remained alongside the greater part of the day. During that time boat's -crews were exchanged, some of the schooner's company going off to -visit the ship, and some of her crew coming back to visit the Stranger. - -As soon as the conversation began to flag Frank spoke of the needs of -the wounded captain, asking for some of the good things with which the -Stranger was so amply provided; but Uncle Dick had something better -to propose. "Write an order to your mate to send him off here," said -he. "I have a medicine-chest, plenty of lint and bandages, and long -experience has made me a passable physician and surgeon. I can take -better care of him than you can, and perhaps he will feel easier when -he is out of reach of his men." - -Frank was only too glad to accept this kind offer, for he knew that the -wounded man would be benefited by the change. He sent off an order to -Mr. Gale, and half an hour afterward Captain Barclay was comfortably -settled in the Stranger's cabin. He was delighted with his elegant -quarters, and repeatedly declared that he did not deserve the treatment -he received. If he was ever able to take the quarter-deck again he -would be a different man. - -His story told and all questions asked and answered, the young captain -made ready to return to his ship. Of course all the boys went with -him. Frank warned them that he could not give them such food or such -quarters as they had on board the Stranger, but they didn't care for -that. They wanted to see the Tycoon, and they made Frank promise, over -and over again, that if the opportunity were offered, he would show -them the operation of catching a whale. The Club tried to induce the -trappers to go with them, but their entreaties and arguments fell on -deaf ears. Dick and Bob knew that the Stranger was a safe boat, but -they did not like to trust the Tycoon, and so thought it best to remain -where they were. - -"Brace for'ard main yard," said Frank, when all the whaler's boats had -been hoisted at the davits. "Eugene, you said you couldn't understand -how it came that you reached the Sandwich Islands three days after we -did. Now I'll show you. Set studding sails, Mr. Gale." - -Eugene very soon found out why it was. The Stranger was considered to -be remarkably swift for a small vessel, but the big Tycoon sailed two -miles to her one, and at daylight the next morning the schooner was out -of sight. - -Frank being impatient to reach Honolulu, did not go out of his way to -find whales. According to promise he kept the mast-head manned, but -to no purpose. The boys watched and waited in the hope of hearing the -welcome cry, "There she blows!" but not a whale was to be seen. Mr. -Gale told them that the reason was because they offered no inducement. -It was the practice of whalers under such circumstances as these, he -said, to put up a prize of some kind to go to the man who discovered -the first spout. He had known a whale to rise in less than two minutes -after a pair of trowsers had been hung up in the rigging. - -"O, if that's the trouble, we'll raise so many that you won't know -which to go after first," said Archie; "who's got any money?" - -All the boys happened to have a little in their pockets, and by -clubbing together they raised sufficient to purchase one of the best -suits of clothing in the slop-chest--hat, boots and all--which was hung -up in plain view of the crew. But the offer of a dozen suits would not -have enabled the men to see whales where there were none, and Frank -took the ship into Honolulu without having the opportunity to gratify -his friends, who were greatly disappointed. The Stranger was not in -port, but she came shortly afterward, and by that time the Tycoon's -business was settled. She passed through the consul's hands, the crew -were paid off and discharged and a new captain assumed command and made -ready to take her to the States. As soon as the Stranger came in, Uncle -Dick's charge was carried to the hospital, and Frank never heard of him -afterward. He never heard of Mr. Gale either after he took leave of -him. The last time he saw him he was second mate of the Tycoon. - -One incident happened on board the Stranger that is worth recording. It -was noticed that after Captain Barclay was brought on board, Dick Lewis -acted more like himself than he had done for many a day. - -It was observed, too, that he often went through a most expressive -pantomime, which was easily understood by those who witnessed it. One -morning the captain came out of his cabin and found him standing at the -top of the companion ladder, where he had been often seen of late. "Why -do you hang around here so much?" asked Uncle Dick. - -The trapper pushed his hat on the back of his head, shoved up his -sleeves until his brawny arms were bare to the elbow, spread out his -feet, placed his hands on his hips and looked at the captain. "When is -that mean varmint comin' up?" said he. "I owe him a leetle something, -an' I'm in an amazin' hurry to pay it!" - -"Now, Lewis, you needn't worry about him," said Uncle Dick. "He's -having as much punishment as he can stand. Frank heaped hot coals of -fire on his head every day for three weeks, and I am following up the -same treatment." - -"Sho!" exclaimed the trapper, looking doubtfully at Captain Gaylord. - -"It is as true as gospel." - -Dick could not refuse to believe it after so strong an affirmation as -this. He grinned all over with delight, and taking the sailor's sturdy -palm in his long, bony fingers, gave it a shake and a squeeze that made -the captain wince and lift one of his feet a little way from the deck. -Then Dick hurried off to find his chum. - -"It's all right, Bob," said he, gleefully. "I didn't know civilized -folks done sich things, but the cap'n's scalpin' that feller in a way -the Injuns never thought of. He's pilin' fire on his head every day." - -This piece of news, while it greatly surprised both the trappers, -afforded them the liveliest satisfaction. The kidnapper was being -fearfully punished for what he had done, and they told one another -that he deserved it. Dick did not hang around the cabin door any more, -but he kept his eyes open, and as he never saw any fire carried below, -he began to grow suspicious. - -When the Stranger arrived in the port of Honolulu and he saw -preparations being made to take the captain ashore, he resolved to -investigate things a little, just to satisfy himself. Watching his -chance, while the wounded man was being carried across the deck to be -lowered into the boat, he dashed forward and lifted the hat from his -head. To his intense surprise and chagrin the captain's scalp was all -there, and his hair did not look as if it had ever been near a fire. -Knowing nothing of the Christian principle of returning good for evil, -the trapper supposed that Captain Gaylord had been piling literal coals -on his patient's head every day. It took Uncle Dick a long time to -explain things, and the backwoodsman never had as much faith in him -after that. - -Having restored Frank to the society of his friends once more, we will -take leave of him for the present, promising to say more of him soon -in the concluding volume of this series, which will be entitled: "THE -BOY TRADERS; OR, THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE BOERS." - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -—Obvious errors were corrected. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK NELSON IN THE FORECASTLE*** - - -******* This file should be named 53420-0.txt or 53420-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/3/4/2/53420 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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