MAKING A CHANGE
Such a startling announcement as the pilot made could not fail to
surprise those in the cabin. Nat wondered whether his friend meant it,
and as for Captain Marshall, he believed the pilot was not aware of
what had taken place at the investigation.
"Do you mean that you will leave the ship without a pilot?" asked the
commander.
"No; at least, not until we get to the next port, where you can hire
one. In fact, after we get over this part of the trip you'll not need
one, for the lake is well charted, and you can steer as well as I can.
But I repeat, if Nat goes, I go too."
"But he broke one of the most stringent rules of the ship," retorted
the captain, who did not at all like the idea of losing his pilot.
"I can't agree with you. I know something of this case, and I believe
Nat is innocent of the charge."
"Do you mean to say that my nephew is guilty?" asked the mate.
"I don't know that I care to express an opinion," was Mr. Weatherby's
answer. "From what I know of him I should say I think your nephew
might be guilty. I know he smokes cigarettes."
"I used to," interrupted Sam, "but I've stopped."
"Your hands don't bear out that assertion," said the pilot quietly, as
he pointed to the tell-tale yellow stains on Sam's fingers. "I am
inclined to think you smoke pretty steadily yet."
The red-haired youth had no answer to make to this.
"Do you dare to accuse my nephew?" demanded Mr. Bumstead.
"I said I didn't care to accuse any one," replied Mr. Weatherby. "I
only said I believe Nat innocent, and if he is discharged I leave
also."
"I think you are taking an unfair advantage of me," said Captain
Marshall. "You know I need your services for some time yet."
"Well, you know how to retain them."
"How?"
"By not unjustly discharging Nat."
"I don't think I was acting unjustly."
"I do."
The captain was plainly disturbed. He knew he could not well get along
without the pilot, yet he did not like to have to give in to Nat's
claim of innocence. To do Captain Marshall justice, though he was
quick-tempered, he really believed Nat at fault, chiefly on account of
Mr. Dunn's failure to give the proper testimony at the investigation.
So with no very good humor he had to change his orders.
"Very well," he said rather sourly. "I'll not discharge Nat, though I
believe him guilty."
"That will not do," insisted Mr. Weatherby. "If you believe him guilty
you must discharge him."
"But if I do, you'll go, and I will be without a pilot."
"That is true, but there is another alternative."
"What is it?"
"You can say that at least there is a chance Nat is not guilty. He
should, I think, be given the benefit of the doubt."
"Very well. I'll admit that," replied the captain stiffly, for he did
not like to be dictated to.
"I believe that is all, then," went on Mr. Weatherby. "I suppose Nat
may go back to the purser's office?"
The captain nodded. He was in an exceedingly bad humor. He felt that
his position as captain of the ship was at stake. He had incurred the
enmity of the mate, who was a part owner, and he felt that Mr.
Weatherby, who was a member of the company owning the vessel, had no
very friendly feelings toward him. Still, there was nothing else the
commander could do.
"I'll get square with you yet," muttered Sam as Nat passed him on his
way out of the captain's cabin. "I'll have your place, too, before a
great while."
"Maybe you will--when I'm through with it," replied Nat, quite pleased
with the way things had turned out, yet wishing he could completely
vindicate himself. "But I tell you one thing, Sam Shaw, if you try any
more of your tricks on me I'll give you the worst licking you ever
had."
The boys were outside of the cabin now, and on the deck.
"You will, eh?"
"Yes, I will, and don't you forget it! You put those cigarettes in my
pocket, and you know it."
"Oh, I did, eh? Then why didn't you prove it?" sneered Sam.
"I will, some day, and when I do--well, look out--that's all," and Nat
turned away and went back to his work.
Though the incident seemed closed, there was not the best of feeling
between Captain Marshall and the pilot. As for the mate, he was so
angry at Mr. Weatherby that he would not speak to him.
The _Jessie Drew_ continued on her voyage. Stops were made at several
ports in Saginaw Bay, where cargo was either discharged or taken on.
Sam kept himself out of Nat's way, but this was not difficult, for
Nat found plenty to do, as, since he grasped matters rapidly, the
purser turned more and more work over to him.
Nat was glad of this, since he wanted to learn all he could, and he
was rapidly advancing. Mr. Dunn complimented him on his aptitude for
the work, and said it would not be long before he could qualify for
the position of assistant purser.
"Then I suppose you'll be after my place," he said.
"No, indeed," answered Nat with a smile. "You've been too kind to me."
"I wish I could have done more for you at that investigation. It's too
bad my memory is so faulty. I have to make a note of everything the
minute it happens, or I'd forget it. I get so used to relying on books
and memoranda in this position that I'm lost without them."
"Don't worry about it," said Nat. "It's all right. Some time I'll
prove what a mean trick Sam played on me, and then I'll be satisfied."
Mr. Weatherby did not forget his promise to teach Nat all he could
about piloting, and many a day the lad spent in learning the different
points and studying the lake, its various headlands, lighthouses,
buoys and other marks on which navigators have to depend.
"You're coming on well, Nat," said the old pilot one day. "It won't
be long before you can qualify for an assistant pilot, and then it
will be only a matter of a few years when you will be a full-fledged
one."
"I'll be glad when that time comes. I want to earn some money to pay
back Mr. and Mrs. Miller for what they did for me."
"Yes, they were very kind to you, and they felt it more than a family
would that had more money. Never forget your friends, Nat. By the way,
have you seen or heard anything more about that pocketbook which the
mate had?"
"No; I've watched him closely, but I haven't had a sight of it.
Probably I was mistaken."
"I think not, yet he may have come by it honestly, even if it was your
father's. Sailors often make each other gifts, or your father may have
sold it to Mr. Bumstead."
"I don't believe he'd do that. He thought too much of it. But if the
mate came by it honestly, I don't see why he acted so queerly. I can't
help thinking there is some mystery about it. In fact, father's death
was so sudden that little was known concerning it."
"I have a plan in mind, which I am going to put into operation as soon
as possible," said the pilot. "It may result in some information."
"What is it?"
"I know a man who was on the lumber barge on which your father was. I
am going to write to him, and have him tell me all the circumstances
connected with your parent's death."
"I wish you would. It would relieve my mind to know all the facts."
"That is what I thought. I will write in a few days, but now I have
another matter I want to speak to you about."
The pilot's manner was serious, and Nat wondered what his friend was
about to say. Mr. Weatherby went to the door of the pilot-house and
looked out.
"I just wanted to see that Sam Shaw, or his uncle, were not about," he
said in explanation. "They've been hanging around here of late, and
I'm suspicious of them."
He closed the door, and coming over to where Nat stood at the wheel
said:
"How would you like to come with me on a big passenger steamer?"
"Are you going?" asked Nat in surprise.
"Well, I have the chance. I got a letter the other day from a big
firm, that wants another pilot. They made me a very good offer, and
I'm inclined to take it. I thought I would ask you if you'd like to
go."
"Would I have a chance to learn to be a pilot?"
"Yes, a better chance than you have here."
"Then I'd like to go first-rate. I'm ever so much obliged to you. Do
you think you will accept the offer?"
"I believe I will. I'll tell Captain Marshall that we are going to
leave him at Detroit. He can easily get another pilot there, and we'll
change to a ship where conditions are more pleasant. I'm glad you want
to come with me."
"I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for you."
"Well, I still feel that I'm in your debt," replied Mr. Weatherby. "I
think----"
He stopped suddenly and went to the door. He listened a moment, then
quickly opened it. Sam Shaw was hurrying away down the deck.
"I believe he was listening, the young rascal!" exclaimed the pilot.
"Do you think he heard anything?"
"He must have. The windows were open."
"What will you do?"
"Well, it doesn't matter much. I'll inform Captain Marshall at once of
my intentions, and so spoil any trick which the mate's nephew thinks
he can play on us."