Frank Nelson in the Forecastle

is it now

What do you suppose

nd large enough to take care of themselves, but I

nd to go ashore a

if they should happen to come aboard while you were gone, we should hav

ob 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

n-ladder, and the officer of the watch hurried into the cabin and

," said the officer, "and he's ha

g what?" ask

got somebody on his back and is lugging

r one of the men, is it?"

is a landsman a

. 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 t

se to his person; his hat was gone, and his[86] 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

went straight on board the schooner and threw off his burden, at the same time seizing his man by th

gth into his arm and giving the bogus captain-for it was he-such a shaking that hi

boys, who had followed close

8

replied Dick, drawing his hand across his forehead and looking abo

hold 'em on, but I'm 'most afeard, 'cause she's

us when they saw the expression that settled on his f

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

en 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 lo

citement 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 dan

r 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 towa

e!" cried a

shouted Dick

9

the fishing boat, peering out into the darkne

eller-man a helpin' hand?" asked Dick, who after his r

e skipper did not quite understand it. He held a c

this way. I've got no bo

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 ap

9

ul 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[93] quotation); but finally the wind came in such furious gusts that it took the masts right out b

is story altogether, and declared that he had jumped overboard on purpose, and that[94] 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 h

ed 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. H

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 tha

he 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[96] garments, his tall figure drawn up to it

id he, thrusting out his hand. "Come in! c

e man seemed determined to shake hands with him whether he wished it or not. "You can't shut u

s fingers into his head, at the same time backing away from the enraged giant. "I s

ery extensive[97] circle of acquaintances, and he couldn't make up a name "all out of his own head," as he made up the story

effort to take the trapper by the hand. "You're the chap I found a

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

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 compani

e trapper seized him with both hands, and swinging him upon his shoulder started for the schooner at a rapid