Frank Nelson in the Forecastle

ld be no doubt about that, and it was a spect

l they could get out of sight. Old Bob glared wildly about him, seemingly on the point of jumping overboard and swimming[25] 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 u

osion, and set Archie himself to[26] 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

" exclaimed Uncle Dic

he voice of the boatswain's mate.

sir," said another voice, "an

in," said Uncle Dick, to his first mate

some risk of sticking fast in the narrow passageway, and reached the deck just as the crew of the cu

2

d Uncle Dick, looking arou

exclaimed Eugene, snatching Fred's hat from h

e old sailor. "Don't let him

e foremast hand, who was at work in the forward rigging, a

pear to be

like a duck, but he's

a minute,

ce in the cutter at a moment's warning, swarmed up the rigging and looked on with no little interest. They saw at once that[28] the man had no trouble in keeping afloat, for he swam over the waves as buoyantly as a cork.

cle Dick, "and I think we had bet

ass up that spy-g

passed it to George Le Dell, who handed it up to Frank. The latter mounted to the crosstrees and levelled t

severe accident, or been roughly

!" cried a

2

him up," sa

the stern-sheets of the cutter. "Remember, men, that you are r

omething 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 w

swain of the cutter, who wa

m on the[30] thwarts between them, and then one stood up with the boat-hook in his hand

, and stand by,"

er 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 aboar

g the D

3

after the man had been pulled into the

umped overboa

ad against somet

, sir. It was a belaying

swain, who nodded his head, as if to

essel don't find it necessary t

here'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

g from below, was got upon the deck. He was a pitiable object when one came to look at him, and Uncle Dick's

ound 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

od-nature, and his own position as ranking petty officer on board the Stranger, took the liberty to go where he knew he[33] had n

do you want here?"

t an invite," replied the boatswain's mate, "but I just wanted to say to you

boys ranged themselves behind him so that they could

ard the rescued man, as if to say that he wo

can only have plenty to eat and am allowed a wink of sleep now and then. I am trying to get ashore for

ick. "What has happen

ong 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 mad

rrible 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

hem, if they only knew it," said Frank. "Why didn't they demand an inte

r," said the sailor. "The cap'n wo

which the ship may touch to lay their complaints, if they have any, before our representative; or, if there is any

l 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

them by the law bearing upon them, and he can discharge the crew on complaint of the office

They had never dreamed that they had so many rights, or

the quartermaster, after looking at her through his spy-glass, said there was a man in the stern-sheets dressed in gray. "Th

3

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 w

in his eyes. "A prosperous and pleasant voyage to you and your mates, si

ut a warrant against those officers f

quite understand. "You must know, sir," said the latter, doubtful

as roughly as you[39] have been handled, he is answerable to the law, no

've no time to lose. Yes, go with him and take charge of the boat, Lucas," he

oice. He wanted to say it aloud, so that the cutter's crew could hear it; but knowing tha

as built for speed, and was pulled by a crew who were kept in excellent training by almost daily practice at the oars-the deserter[40] should never be taken from them. Uncle Dick seemed to read the thoughts that were passing through their minds, and as he