Frank Nelson in the Forecastle

e, 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

ssed, were scattered all over the city. Fred, Archie and Eugene[62] hired a carriage and went for a ride, taking old Bob with them, while Dick Le

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 unti

rd 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

plied Frank-"it was to be done at half-past seven-and

you see them, and be sure th

led him in the direction he wanted to go, looking everywhere for the missing[64] sailors, but without finding them. The actions of himself and his companion attracted the attention of two men, who were wa

flashily-dressed person, with a sneaking, hang-dog cast of countenance, and the grimy hand he placed

familiar, if you

up his battered plug hat which he had thus far worn cocked

if I do?"

6

you were looking

two

reast pocket of his shirt. The other is tall and slender, wears some kind of a badge

No doubt they had got into trouble and found their way into some station-house; and thi

ntinued the man, as he turned to go away; "but

" said Frank. "Where

aboard

eye over the man, who looked[66] about as much like a sailor as

and she is at anchor

ur men aboa

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

nce; "that is, if he can bear removal. But whatever we d

[67] might come aboard and see-you and yo

g 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 pullin

plied the man

6

ght 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 whe

ked rapidly in a low tone to some one who hurried aft

help he needs to remove that man. This one," he added, point

ied a voice. "Step

6

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 de

the man, in a

r with the broken l

to come on?"

r from that man of ours first. If y

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

tones very different from those he

's work with the least possible delay. Call away tha

7

g 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

k!" shouted Frank. "I'l

s 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.[72] Almost before he realized the fact he was powerless, a pair of irons being

g his attentions principally upon their arms and shoulders, as if trying to judge of the amount of muscle they might contain. "They

" was t

to me? I am mate of this vessel

d[73] Frank, "and neither am I aware that I am un

shall be my first hard work to teach you m

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, coul

knots an[74] 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 w

ne of the sailors, in reply.

rank. "What ship is this

d I expect she's off

supposed. He recalled the story of the man he had seen desert that same ship on

5] Frank?" asked the trapper, leaning against a bu

anghaied-that is, kidn

not understand the matter at all. "

here 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 hi

now 'bout a ship

er. You[76] have good strong arms, and

r-wh

on he was most anxious to have answe

man says we are bound for Japan, and that

r, had made an impression on him so deep and lasting that even Frank, in whom the trapper had every confidence, could not remove[77] 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 thos

Dick, after he had exhausted himself

7

ge 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

been listening to this conversation, "and that is, you take rank

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 Gr

left in the[80] 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 tr

t 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 h

ooked all around for the trapper; but he was not to be seen anywhere on deck