A SCAMP ON HIS DIGNITY.
"THIS yere is the mean chap that done it all," continued the trapper.
"Thar's none of us that'll ever see Frank ag'in. He's gone round on
t'other side of the 'arth, an' some dark night, when he's sailin' along
thinkin' of nothing, one of them big quids (the sailors had called the
cuttle-fish 'squids') will rise outen the water all on a sudden, wrap
his arms, two hundred feet long, all about the ship, an' that'll be the
last of Frank. When be you goin' to hang this feller, cap'n?"
Dick had an interested and anxious crowd of listeners. The officers of
the schooner and the boys stood ranged in a circle in front of him, and
behind were the sailors, who at first invaded the sacred precincts
of the quarter-deck with much hesitation, holding their caps in their
hands and momentarily expecting an order to retire; but growing bolder
by degrees, when they found that the captain, although he looked their
way now and then, had nothing to say to them, they crowded up close
behind the trapper, so that they could hear every word. There were also
two other listeners--the men with the bludgeons, who had followed Dick
Lewis in the hope of rescuing his prisoner. When these two worthies
first came up, they acted as if they were about to board the vessel
without ceremony; but changed their minds when they saw half a dozen
broad-shouldered seamen, in obedience to a sign from the officer of the
deck, move up into the waist to receive them. The sailors, who had a
pretty good idea of what had been going on, even before they had heard
the trapper's story, would have been delighted to have the opportunity
to toss these men ashore neck and heels; and the latter must have seen
it in their countenances, for they backed away from the edge of the
wharf and took up a position from which they could hear and see all
that passed on the Stranger's deck.
Had Frank been as safe out of his troubles as Dick Lewis was, the boys
would have been highly amused by the latter's description of the scenes
through which he had passed; but it was far from being a laughing
matter now. Frank had been kidnapped ("shanghaied" the sailors called
it) by the captain of the Tycoon or his agent, and there was no knowing
what might become of him. Perhaps the hard fare and harder treatment
he was certain to receive, might drive him to do something desperate.
Uncle Dick Gaylord, however, was not troubled by any such misgivings.
He knew that Frank possessed courage and prudence in no ordinary
degree, and besides there were Lucas and Barton, the coxswain, on the
same vessel. The former was an old whaleman, and the assistance he
could render Frank in the way of teaching him his duties, might enable
the boy to keep out of any very serious difficulties. But could he help
him in any way? That was the momentous question, and Uncle Dick walked
up and down his quarter-deck with his hands behind his back while he
pondered upon it.
"Every word this man has uttered, as far as it concerns me and my
doings, is false from head to tail," declared the bogus captain.
This was the first time he had spoken since he was brought on board
the vessel. At first he was badly frightened, but while the trapper
was telling his story, he had time to think over his situation and
determine upon his line of defence.
"I don't know anything about this man and the other fellow he speaks
of," he continued; "I never seen him before this morning, and I never
tried to pass myself off as the captain of any ship."
Dick Lewis eyed him savagely while he was speaking, and when he ceased
drew back his clenched hand. In a moment more the man would have
measured his length on the deck, had not the captain interposed.
"Get ashore!" said he, shortly.
"O no, cap'n," replied the man, with an impudent smile. "This is a
nice way you have of doing business, I do think! One of your friends
commits an assault on me and drags me away from my peaceful home, and
then you wash your hands of the matter by telling me to go ashore. That
won't go down, by no means. Twenty dollars for damages will get rid of
me, but not a cent less!"
"I can bring a dozen witnesses to prove that that man wasn't once
outside of his house last night," said one of the ruffians on the dock.
"I'm one of 'em, for I was with him all the evening and know everything
he done."
"Rodgers!" exclaimed Uncle Dick.
"Here, sir," came the prompt response.
A stalwart sailor stepped quickly out from among his companions, and
dashing his cap upon the deck stood behind the bogus captain pushing
back his sleeves. A simple look from Uncle Dick would have sent the
man flying over the schooner's side as if he had been thrown from a
catapult.
"This is the last time I shall speak to you," continued Uncle Dick.
"Get ashore!"
The bogus captain thought it best to obey, and that too without a
moment's hesitation. Once on the dock he was safe, and there he stopped
long enough to say a parting word to Uncle Dick. "This matter will be
settled in the court-room," said he, with a threatening shake of his
head. "That man shall be arrested before he is an hour older."
With these words he walked off, followed by his companions. The boys
looked first at him, then at the captain and finally at Dick Lewis, who
stood the very picture of astonishment. "Why didn't you set the law
a-goin'?" the trapper managed to ask at last.
"It would have been of no use," answered the master of the schooner.
"Didn't you hear what that man on the dock said? That indicated the
defence they would bring up. We would find a court-room full of
witnesses to prove an alibi--that is, that this man was somewhere else
when the kidnapping was done."
"But it wouldn't be true, Uncle Dick," said Archie, who, like all
the rest of the Club, invariably addressed the old sailor by this
affectionate title. "If they swore to that, they would be guilty of
perjury, and that is a state prison offence. Dick has told the truth."
"I know it. I am just as certain that everything he has described to us
really happened, as I would be had I seen it all with my own eyes; but
a justice would not take his unsupported word against that of a dozen
men. And as for perjury, how would you fasten the crime upon these
false witnesses that would be produced? If Frank, Lucas and Barton were
here, we would have the game in our own hands; but they are miles away.
This man knows we can prove nothing, and that is what makes him so
impudent."
"I wish you had told Rodgers to throw him overboard, or else let Dick
knock him down," said Eugene.
"And afterward had the satisfaction of paying a fine and costs," said
the old sailor, with a laugh. "By the time your hair is as white as
mine, Eugene, perhaps you will have learned something. I've got one
fine to pay now."
"Why, how is that?" asked all the boys at once.
"Didn't you hear what that man said just as he went away? There'll be a
policeman down here directly."
The boys looked toward the trapper. The expression of alarm which they
had so often seen of late, had settled on his face again. He backed up
against the rail for support, and looked wildly about as if he had half
a mind to take to his heels. He stood more in fear of the law than he
did of a grizzly bear. He had always thought that there was something
wrong about it, and now he was firmly convinced of the fact. The law,
as he understood it, was to restrain bad people, who were disposed to
take advantage of their neighbors whenever an opportunity was offered;
but he found that it was likely to prove a means of punishment to the
innocent. It would have been just as impossible to give him a clear
idea of its workings, as it would to make him understand the causes of
the trade-winds or the theory of the ocean-currents.
"I've said a million times, an' Frank says that more'n a thousand,
that I'd never put my old moccasins inside a city again, an' now I
say it onct more an' I'll stick to it," said the trapper, solemnly,
raising his hand toward the mast-head to give emphasis to his words.
"I get skeared to death by cars an' steamboats, an' something's allers
happenin'."
"Shoulder your rifle an' kit, Dick, an' let's be off," said old
Bob, who up to this time had been a silent and amazed spectator and
listener. "I'm afeared."
"So am I, Bob, but I dasen't. I dasen't go; the law will ketch me.
I wish I was to the ole Bar's Hole, so't I could crawl in an' hide
myself."
Dick leaned back against the rail again, rubbing his hands together and
groaning as men sometimes do when they are sadly troubled in spirit.
The boys tried hard to set his mind at rest. They assured him that no
harm should come to him, for they and Uncle Dick were not only able but
ready and willing to stand between him and all difficulties; but the
trapper said he didn't want them to do it. If anybody was to go to jail
(thrusting people into jail and hanging them Dick thought were the only
punishments in vogue in civilized communities) it should be himself
and nobody else. Furthermore, he did not see why it was necessary that
any one should be called upon to stand between him and difficulty. He
had only been following out his natural impulses in trying to bring
the bogus captain to justice, and now he must suffer for it. He shook
his head, refusing to be comforted, and showed a desire to be alone
with his own thoughts; so the boys left him and turned to Uncle Dick,
who was once more pacing his quarter-deck, after holding a short
consultation with his officers.
"I know what you want," said the old sailor, as the boys approached him
in a body. "You are anxious to know what I am going to do for Frank. I
can only guess at the best plan, and follow it out to the best of my
judgment. What do you think ought to be done?"
The boys had no suggestions to offer. One thing was certain, and that
was that Frank would not long submit to harsh treatment. A young man
who had commanded a fine vessel in Uncle Sam's navy would not consent
to take rank next below the captain's dog, as the sailors in the
Tycoon's forecastle had assured him he would do as long as he remained
in that ship. If the opportunity were ever offered, he would lay his
case before the consul of the first port at which the vessel touched;
and failing that he would probably be driven to desert. In either case
the boys did not expect to see him again. If the consul protected him,
he would be sent to the nearest port in the United States free of
expense, and he had money enough in his pocket--about twenty dollars,
Archie thought--to support him until he could receive a remittance from
home. If he was compelled to desert he would probably ship on the first
vessel he could find, just as Chase had done, and she might take him to
the remotest corner of the earth. All this would sadly interfere with
the Club's arrangements. They thought as much of Frank as his cousin
did--so much that they one and all declared that they did not care to
continue their voyage without him. They couldn't enjoy themselves,
for they would worry about him all the while, and if they were to be
separated from him they would rather go home and stay there. If their
pleasant party and their cruise were to be broken up, they had the
boarding-house keeper to thank for it, and Walter declared that there
was no punishment known to the law half severe enough for him.
Uncle Dick listened while the boys were talking, and said he fully
agreed with them. "Even if Frank should succeed in escaping from the
Tycoon, and had a vessel at his command or money enough to take him
just where he wanted to go, he would not know which way to steer to
find us," said he, "for you boys will remember that you did not decide
upon anything definite, and Frank doesn't know whether we are going to
Alaska or Japan."
"And all through my foolishness," said Eugene, bitterly. "I wish I had
given up, and gone where the others wanted to go."
"So do I," said Bab.
"Don't reproach yourselves," replied Uncle Dick. "You had plenty of
sport during your debates, and you were not supposed to know that
such an emergency as this was about to arise. But perhaps we can do
something by following the Tycoon."
"Yes, if we only knew where she is going."
"I have an idea that I do know. She is bound for the Japan station,
so the sailors in her forecastle told Dick Lewis. Well, now, she is
short-handed. She must be, for her mate released Dick from his irons
and brought him on deck to help make sail. She'll never go on her
station without a full crew, and the nearest place at which she can get
it is the Sandwich Islands. There she will undoubtedly ship Kanakas
enough to make up her complement. Then she'll go out for a three or
four months' cruise, and come back and fit out for the Japan station.
Now, if we can reach Honolulu before she leaves, we shall probably be
able to effect the release of our men. If it were not for this incident
that has just happened I would sail at once."
"Why can't you do it any way?" asked Walter, who did not like to waste
even a moment.
"Because we must see Lewis out of his trouble. If he goes ashore
without some one to protect him, he will be sure to fall into the
hands of those sharpers, who will frighten him out of the last article
of value he's got."
"Cap'n," said Dick, suddenly, "will you take us with you--me and Bob?"
The old sailor looked in astonishment, and so did the boys.
"I'm afeared to go ashore," continued the trapper, who had been holding
a council of war with his chum, "an' so is Bob. 'Sides it's a thing we
never done yet--run off an' leave Frank in trouble, an' we've knowed
him too long to do it now!"
"My good fellow," said Uncle Dick, with a smile, "if Frank were lost
in the woods, you and Bob would be just the men to assist him; but you
can't help him in any way now."
"Mebbe we can, cap'n. An' even if we can't, we don't want to go back
hum without knowing what's come on him. We shouldn't see no peace of
mind."
Uncle Dick did not speak for several minutes. He knew just how much
these rude men thought of Frank, and told himself that their desire to
see him safe among friends again before they took leave of him for
ever, was perfectly natural; but there were the dangers they expected
to meet on the "under side of the earth"--the Flying Dutchman, the
whales, the monstrous "quids"--could they stand all these? "Lewis,"
said he, suddenly, "have you and your companion fully made up your
minds on this point?"
"Yes, an' we won't never change 'em nuther. We allers stand to what we
say."
"That settles the matter. Mr. Baldwin, while I am gone to the custom
house, hail the first tug you see and stand by to get under way."
The boys would have been delighted by this arrangement a few hours
before, but their feelings were different now. They had something to
think of besides the amusement they expected the trappers to furnish
them.
Uncle Dick went ashore and walked rapidly away, leaving the boys to
themselves. Although they were impatient to be off, the time did not
hang heavily on their hands, for they had much to talk about. They
fully expected the trappers to change their minds when they saw the
preparations that were being made for getting under way, but Dick
and Bob were not that sort. There was a dogged expression on their
faces, such as might have been seen there had the backwoodsmen been
in the power of savage foes who were making ready to torture them at
the stake. It said that they fully realized the dangers before them,
and were prepared to meet them like men who had never shown the white
feather.
"Now, if Frank were only here, and if Dick and Bob would get rid of
some of their foolish notions, we could look forward to some fun,
couldn't we?" said Eugene.
"_If_ and _if_!" said Walter. "It is surprising how often that little
word stands in our way."
"I have been thinking that Dick's short sojourn on the Tycoon has made
matters worse for Frank than they would otherwise have been," said Bob,
anxiously. "The three principal officers have felt the weight of his
arm, and of course they'll have to take satisfaction out of somebody."
"Dick," said Archie, suddenly, "why don't you encourage us by saying
that Frank will be sure to come out all right? That's what you used to
tell us whenever he got into trouble."
"But he was on the prairie then, an' now he's among civilized folks,"
replied the trapper.
"Which means, I suppose, that this is the worst scrape he ever got
into."
Dick nodded his head.
"I don't know about that," said George Le Dell. "I think if he had
his choice, he would rather be where he is now than in the prison
at Shreveport, if he had to go through what he did when he made his
escape. Frank has been in some tight places, but somehow he has always
managed to squeeze through without much trouble."
"And he never was hurt that I remember, except when he burned that
house in which Colonel Harrison made his headquarters," said Archie.
"When _you_ burned it, you mean," said George. "_You_ did that, and
if you had been a line instead of a staff officer, you would have got
another stripe around your arm for it, too. I told the Colonel all
about it after you left our house."
"Why did you do that?" exclaimed Archie, hastily. "Now I shall never
dare to meet him again."
"Ha! ha!" laughed George. "Why, he is one of your warmest friends. I
told him because I wanted him to know that the boy who killed that bear
and beat Somers in a fair race through the woods, had something in him.
The Colonel scolded me for not telling him before. He said if he had
known it while you were in our neighborhood, you wouldn't have got away
from his house for one good long month at least. He would have kept you
if he'd had to put a guard over you."
"Well, I shouldn't have enjoyed the visit."
"You couldn't have helped yourself, if plenty of hunting, riding and
good company are aids to enjoyment."
From this subject the boys gradually got back to the one that occupied
the most of their minds and thoughts, and that was Frank's sudden
disappearance. They asked the trapper a multitude of questions, but
learned nothing new, for he had already told his story in detail. While
they were talking Uncle Dick returned, and the tug being alongside and
the pilot aboard, the lines were cast off and the Stranger swung slowly
around until her bow pointed toward the headlands at the entrance to
the bay. In the bustle and hurry that followed the boys found time to
turn an eye toward the trappers now and then, but they saw no signs
of regret or alarm on their faces; and when the lines that held the
tug were let go, and the steamer with a farewell shriek of her whistle
turned back toward the city, and the schooner unfolded her white
wings one after the other, and the Golden Gate was passed, and the
broad expanse of the Pacific was fairly spread out before them, there
were still no signs of backing out. But it was too late now. The die
was cast, and Dick and old Bob were bound for the "under side of the
earth!"