The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico / or, On a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers

sponging fleet sails in two days. Of course we don't have to go with the fleet, but, bein' as it's our first trip an' we're green at the business, I reckon, we had better keep with the cro

hris is mate. You, Charley, are captain of t

furriners. A mate ain't no manner ob count on board a little ship. De captain's always blamin' him for somethin' or udder an' de crew always hates him. He's always in trubble wid one or the udder. Now de cook's always his o

n dishes, lad," the captain explained. "They ain't

sly. "I spect dey doan know much 'bout cookin'. Reckon dey

mate. Why, I was at sea ten years before I got a mate's berth. I reckon your folks on Cat Island would be mighty proud to

ing hastily from the table. "I'se goin' to buy dem clothes right now an' hab m

insist upon being cook. He thinks no one else can do it so well. But, seriously, don't you think we are

ill be mate only in name. But you boys are already smart sailors an' I expect you to be real officers on your boats. If you weren't on the papers proper you might ha

Walter. "What do you want C

to hire a crew. I want to pick them out myself. As soon as we get them there will be plenty to do stockin' up with

inspection, they were delighted with their new commands. The little vessel was quite new and its model promised great seaworthiness. Besides the huge square sail it carried, it was equipped with

y give us a little trouble at first, but we will soon get on to it and it's likely there will be severa

'Flora'," Walter said, wi

naming it 'Ola'," dec

by agreeing to call their little ship "The Two Sisters". This decided, they rummaged around in the lockers un

f the shops purchasing clothing for their trip, pricing provisions, and learning a

e hailed them from inside. It was hard for them to refra

a coat of vivid scarlet hue, and a cap of deepest purple. But in spite of his brilliant attire, his little ebony face expressed deepest satisfaction. On a chair b

, Chris?" Walter exclaimed. "You've got enou

ittle darkey, mournfully, "I 'spec

spised tintypes. "Why, they lo

protested the little negro. "D

heir heads aside t

an't expect it to take American colors. I tell you what to do. Just write

little darkey, brightening. "But it hain't lik

when their progress was arrested by piercing screa

ated and looke

our business. We are likely to get ourselves into trouble if we meddle with things in this section," but as h

h, but here goes,"

the building and down it has haste

ught them to the sc

ere covered with angry welts. Above him towered a dark, scowling Greek, who was swinging a heavy cowhide whip, while at each descent of th

," he cried, trembling with anger. "You have no right to beat a little fellow like th

and you, Charley,

e plucky lad. For a second he seemed in the act of striking him with the

gely, but in perfect English. "He is mine, I pay his fare all the way from Greece.

t you again, you come to us; you will find us on board the schooner 'Beauty'. If she is not in the harbor you go to Mr. D

he little lad replied proudly. "He

. His frown disappeared and he wore a s

moothly, "I love the boy and already regret having whi

y, as he turned away. "Come on, Walt, I am

nd he is a very bad character. He was arrested once for the murder of another Greek, but they could not prove the charge against him although everyone bel

d the very Greek we need to make our orders plain to the crew. He talks English as good as you or I. I did not lose any

ng their table, bowing, smiling, and as suave as thou