GETTING A JOB
"Now, why in the world didn't he tell me what he wanted of me, instead
of keeping me guessing?" thought Nat, as he made his way back to the
dock where Mr. Miller was working. "I wonder what it can be? If he
wanted to thank me he could just as well have done it now as
to-morrow.
"Maybe he wants to give me a reward," the boy went on musingly. "I
don't believe I'd take it. Accepting money for rescuing a boat is all
well enough, but not for saving life. Besides, if I hadn't done it
somebody else would. No; if he offers me money I don't believe I'll
take it. Still, I do need some new clothes," and he glanced down at
the rather ragged garments he was wearing.
"I've been waiting for you some time," Mr. Miller said when Nat got
back. "I thought you said you wouldn't be gone long on that errand."
"Neither I was."
"What kept you, then?"
"Well, I had to rescue a man."
"Rescue a man? Are you joking?"
"Not a bit of it. I pulled Mr. Weatherby, the pilot, out from between
two barges." And Nat proceeded to relate his adventure.
"Well, things are certainly coming your way," remarked Mr. Miller.
"Maybe he'll give you a big reward."
"I'd rather he'd give me a good job," returned Nat. "Maybe he could
get me a place on some boat. That's what I'd like. I could earn good
money then."
"I wouldn't like to see you go away from us, Nat. My wife and I have
become quite attached to you."
"I would not like to go, Mr. Miller, for I have been very happy in
your home. So I'm not going to think about it."
"Still, I would like to see you prosper in this world," went on the
man who had befriended Nat. "If you have a chance to get a place on a
boat, take it. You may be able to come and see us once in a while,
between trips."
"I will always consider my home at your house."
"I hope you will, Nat."
"Still, nothing may happen," went on the boy. "Did you get the ship
all unloaded?"
"Yes, the holds are emptied, and I have a job to-morrow helping load
her. I guess you could get something to do if you came down."
"Then I shall."
"But I thought you were going to call on Mr. Weatherby?"
"I am, but he told me to come when I was not working. He is going to
be home all day."
"That will be all right, then. Now let's hurry home. I think it's
going to rain harder soon, and my wife will probably be worrying about
me."
The storm, which had been a fitful one all day and part of the night,
showed signs of becoming worse. The wind was more violent, and when
Mr. Miller and Nat were nearly home it began to rain in torrents.
The rain continued all the next day, but as the wharf where Mr. Miller
and Nat worked was a covered one, they did not mind the storm. At
noon-time the boy found a chance to go to the boarding-house of Mr.
Weatherby.
"Well, here comes my life-saver!" greeted the old pilot. "How are you
feeling to-day?"
"Very well, sir. How are you?"
"Not so good as I might be. I'm lame and stiff from pulling on that
rope, but I think I'll be able to sail to-morrow. I believe you told
me last night that you would like a job on a ship," the pilot went on.
"Yes, sir," replied Nat, his heart beating high with hope.
"Hum! Well, what kind of a job would you like--pilot or captain?"
"I think I'd rather begin a little lower down," replied Nat with a
smile, for he saw that Mr. Weatherby was joking.
"Perhaps that would be best. Well, as it happens, I have a chance to
get a young lad a position on the steamer of which I am pilot. You
see, I have a steady job piloting. My vessel, the _Jessie Drew_, makes
trips all over the lakes, and Captain Wilson Marshall, who is a part
owner, is not so familiar with all the harbors and the various routes
as I am. So he engages me steadily. In fact, he and I are old friends,
as well as distantly related; so I have a somewhat different position
than do most pilots."
"And can you get me a job on a boat--your boat?" asked Nat eagerly.
"I think I can. I may say I am sure I can. The captain asked me
yesterday to look out for a bright youth to help with the cargo,
assist the purser, and be a sort of cabin assistant. I had no one in
mind then, but after our meeting last night, when you were of such
service to me, and I heard you say you wanted a job, I at once thought
of this place. I saw the captain this morning, and he has practically
engaged you--that is, if you want the berth, and he is satisfied with
you when he sees you. The last item I know will be all right. And now
it is for you to say whether you want the place."
"Want it? Of course I want it! I can't tell you how much obliged I am
to you for this! I----"
"Now--now--don't get excited over it," cautioned Mr. Weatherby. "If
you're going to be a pilot you must learn to keep cool. Shall I tell
Captain Marshall you'll take the place?"
"Yes, and be glad to."
"Not quite so fast. Why don't you ask me what the wages are, and how
long you'll have to work?"
"That's so. I didn't think of that. But I don't mind how long I have
to work. It can't be much longer than I have to work now, and I get
very little for it."
"Then I guess you will be satisfied with the hours and the wages paid
aboard the _Jessie Drew_. When can you come?"
"Any time. I am not regularly hired at the dock."
"Then perhaps you had better stop now, go home and get ready. We will
sail early to-morrow. Bring along a change of clothes, for it often
happens you'll get wet through in a storm, or when the lake is rough."
"I'm afraid I can't do that," said Nat slowly, as a change came over
his face.
"Why not?"
"Well--er--that is--you see, I haven't any other clothes. These are
all I've got. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are very poor. Her husband doesn't
earn much, and I don't, either. It takes all we both get to buy food
and pay the rent. I don't have any left for clothes. They're not good
enough to go on board the boat with. I'm afraid I can't take the job."
"There is no use denying that the clothes might be better," admitted
Mr. Weatherby gravely. "Not that I care anything about what garments a
man or boy wears, so long as they are clean, and yours are that.
Still, I think it would make a better impression on Captain Marshall
if you were to have a newer suit. I'll tell you what I'll do. Here,
you take this money and go and get yourself a good suit and some
underwear, and whatever else you need."
"I can't take your money--I haven't earned it," objected Nat, who was
quite independent.
"Nonsense, boy. Take it as a loan, then, to be paid back whenever you
feel like it. It's a pity if I can't do a good turn to the lad who
pulled me up from between those vessels. You will offend me if you
don't take it. Besides, I want you to have this job. I may need you to
save my life again, and, to be frank with you, I shouldn't like
Captain Marshall to see the boy I recommended in such clothes,
though, as I said, personally I don't care a rap about them."
"All right," replied Nat quietly. "If you put it that way I'll borrow
this money."
"That's the way to talk. Now you'd better go, buy what you need, and
then come back to me this evening," went on Mr. Weatherby, handing Nat
some bankbills. "I will then take you down to the ship and introduce
you to Captain Marshall. You'll probably stay aboard all night, so you
had better tell your friends good-by."
"Where is the ship going to?"
"I don't know exactly. We'll probably call at several lake ports to
unload or take on cargo. Now you'd better go, and be back here about
seven o'clock."
Nat hurried back to the wharf to tell Mr. Miller the good news. His
friend rejoiced with him, though he was sorry to see the boy leave.
When Nat reached the tenement and told Mrs. Miller, that lady cried a
little, for she had grown to love the boy almost as a son. She went
out shopping with him, and in a few hours Nat was ready to step aboard
the _Jessie Drew_ and take a long voyage.
It was not easy to part from his kind friends, but he was consoled by
the thought that he would soon see them again.
At the appointed hour he was at Mr. Weatherby's boarding-house, and a
little later the two were going aboard the big lake steamer.
"Ah, Mr. Weatherby!" exclaimed a man as Nat and the pilot stepped on
the deck, "you're aboard early, I see."
"Yes; I didn't want to get left. Mr. Bumstead, let me introduce a
friend of mine to you. He did me a great service. This is Nat Morton.
Nat, this is Mr. Bumstead, the first mate."
Nat shook hands with the mate. That official was not a very kindly
looking person. He had red hair, and he seemed surly, even when he
smiled, which was not often.
"Is he going to take a voyage with you?" asked the mate of the pilot.
"Yes. He's going to help out in the purser's office. I got him the
job."
"You did!" exclaimed the mate.
"Yes. What of it? You seem quite surprised, Mr. Bumstead. I
recommended Nat for the place because he saved my life."
"Has Captain Marshall given him the place?" asked the mate in a surly
tone.
"Yes. Why?"
"Because I had recommended my nephew for the place, and he would have
got it, too, if you hadn't interfered. I'm going to see the captain
about it later. It's not fair, giving a landlubber a good job aboard
this ship. I'll have him put ashore. I told my nephew he could have
the job, and he's going to get it!"
With that the mate strode off, muttering to himself.
"I'm sorry about that," said Mr. Weatherby in a low voice. "I didn't
know he had any one for the place. Nat, I'm afraid he'll make trouble
for you. You'll have to be on your guard, but I'll do all I can for
you."
"I guess I can look out for myself," replied the boy. "I haven't lived
around the docks all my life for nothing."
But Nat did not know the perils that were in store for him, nor to
what lengths the vindictive mate would go to be revenged.