by Roy Rockwood
After this, nearly a week passed without special incident. Link wascalled home on account of the death of a relative, and Mont and Carlbecame closer chums than ever.
One day Hoke Ummer was caught abusing one of the small boys so greatlythat the boy had to be placed under a doctor's care.
The boy's father had Hoke arrested. The case, however, never came totrial.
The consequence of the arrest was that the bully was dismissed from theschool; and that was the last Mont saw of him.
"We are well rid of him," he said, and Carl and the others agreed withhim.
One day Mont and Carl went out for an all-day cruise on the bay, takingJohn Stumpton with them.
When the two schoolboys started out with the hired lad they did notintend to remain away longer than sunset, and not one of them dreamed ofthe marvelous adventures in store for each ere he should be permitted tosee his native land again.
The start was made in a fair breeze, and it looked so nice overhead thatMont proposed they take a short run directly into the ocean.
"All right--I'll go you," answered Carl slangily, and away they skimmed.
By noon they were almost out of sight of land, and while they wereeating the repast Stump had prepared Carl proposed that they turn back.
This was hardly accomplished when it suddenly grew dark, and they foundthemselves caught in a squall.
"By gracious! I didn't bargain for this!" cried Carl. "If we don't takecare, we'll go to the bottom!"
"Don't worry--yet," answered Mont. "I guess we'll get back all right."
Blacker and blacker grew the sky, until absolutely nothing could beseen. Every sail was closely reefed, and the boys strained their eyes topierce the gloom which hung over them.
Suddenly Stump set up a yell.
"Look out; there is a ship!"
He got no further. A large form loomed up in the darkness. There was onegrinding, smashing crash, and then came a shock that split thelight-built sloop from stem to stern.
All of the boys were hurled into the boiling sea. But none was hurt;and, coming to the surface, all struggled to cling to the wreckagefloating about, meanwhile crying loudly for help.
When they were picked up they were thoroughly exhausted, and Carl losthis senses completely.
The ship that had run them down was the _Golden Cross_. The captain'sname was Savage, and he was bound for the Bermudas.
He refused to stop anywhere to put the boys off, saying he had not thetime to do so.
In reality he was afraid he would be brought to account for wrecking thesloop.
He would not believe that Mont and Carl were rich, and that theirparents would willingly pay him for any trouble he might take on theirbehalf.
"I'll keep 'em on board and make 'em work their passage," he said to hismate, a mean chap by the name of Slog. "We are rather short of hands."
A night's rest did wonders for the boys.
By morning the storm cleared off, and the _Golden Cross_ proceededswiftly on her way, favored by a good breeze.
Mont found himself in the ill-smelling forecastle. He was awfullyhungry, and the first thing he did was to make his way to the cook'sgalley. The cook smiled as Mont appeared. "Got around, eh?" he said."Good for you. I thought you would be sick for the rest of the tripafter such an adventure."
"I am pretty tough," answered Mont.
"You look a bit like a sailor."
"Oh, I know a thing or two about the water," replied Mont modestly."But tell me," he went on, "what sort of a captain have you?"
"Oh, he's a caution, and so is Slog, the first mate," laughed the cook."The captain is the toughest man this line of ships ever had."
"Humph! That's not encouraging," mused our hero. "Why do the owners keephim?"
"Because he's clever. He may be out in all weather, but he's never losta ship."
"This seems like an old tub," observed Mont, looking around him.
"Yes, she isn't worth much. She pitches and tosses in a gale awful. It'sthe oldest ship the firm's got."
"Is it insured?"
"Yes. I know the insurance is very heavy, and it wouldn't be a bad jobfor the owners if she went down," replied the cook.
"Bad job for us, though," remarked Mont. "I don't want to be drowned."
"Have you had any breakfast?" asked the cook good-naturedly.
"Not a bit."
"I don't expect the regular hands will give you a chance of gettingmuch. There's Sam Holly and Jerry Dabble. One's a bully and the other'sa sneak."
"I haven't seen them yet."
"Fight shy of both of them. They're no good. They'll make you and yourchums do all the work, now you've come on board."
"I'll bet a dollar they won't get a stroke of work out of me," returnedMont decidedly.
"You will?"
"Yes."
"Well, you're a plucky lad," exclaimed the cook admiringly, "and fromyour size and looks I should think you could box."
"Just a little bit," answered Mont smilingly.
"The captain favors Jerry Dabble, and listens to all he says. He's aregular sneak. You look out for him."
"I will."
"Will you have a bit of breakfast along with me? I can give you a nicebit I've cut off the skipper's ham and a couple of eggs."
"I'm with you," said Mont readily, "and I'll return your kindness on thefirst opportunity."
In a moment our hero was supplied with a good breakfast, which waswashed down with a cup of coffee.
The sea was rather high, although the wind had gone down.
It was not difficult to perceive, when Mont came to examine her, thatthe ship was a very old one and had seen her best days.
Mont thought a trip to the Bermudas would be very nice, but at the sametime he did not mean to be the captain's slave, or the first mate'seither.
He had not shipped with them, and they could not legally make him work,though he did not mind lending a hand if he was asked in a friendlymanner.
His mother would pay for his passage if she was asked.
The officers evidently took him, Carl, and Stump to be three sons offishermen, and had made up their minds to treat them accordingly.
When he left the galley, Mont went to where the regular hands slept andmessed, and where he and his companions had slept.
There was a great outcry as he came in.
"Leave off, I say," Carl was exclaiming; "I won't have it. Two of youonto me at once isn't fair."
In a moment Mont was there. He found the two young men, Sam Holly andJerry Dabble, standing over his chum with two ropes' ends, with whichthey were hitting him.
"What are you licking him for?" asked Mont, his eyes flashing.
"Because he won't get the breakfast," said Holly.
"He's not your servant--why should he?"
"He'll have to do it, or you will," said Sam the bully, setting his armsakimbo and staring impudently at Mont.
"My good fellow," said the latter, "don't you make any error. Neither myfriend nor myself means to do anything on board this ship unless we'reasked civilly."
Jerry Dabble laughed. "You're a fool to talk that way!" he roared.
Mont immediately gave him a cuff on the ears which sent him rolling overa bunk.
CHAPTER VII.
A LIVELY ENCOUNTER.
The two sailors were astonished beyond measure at Mont's quick action.
"Good for you, Mont!" cried Carl Barnaby, while Stump grinned withintense delight.
"I'll go and tell the captain," growled Jerry, as he got up slowly.
Sam Holly, who was a thick-set, heavy-looking fellow, turned to Mont. "Ihave had enough of this nonsense. Do you mean to do your work or not?"
"Certainly not; do it yourself."
"Do you want a good hiding?"
"You can't give it to me."
"I can try, can't I?" said Holly.
"So can any other fool; but it doesn't follow he will do it."
"Look here, I've been two voyages before thi
s. You're a green handcompared to me, and I'm boss here. We are short-handed. Do the work,and I'll make things easy for you; if not, it will be worse for you."
"I'll chance that," said Mont.
"Do you mean to risk a sound thrashing?"
"Oh, yes, I'm game for a rough-and-tumble. It's sure to come sooner orlater, and we may as well get it over at once."
"Mind your eye, then," yelled Holly.
His ugly face glowed with passion, and his great, stupid-looking earsseemed to stick out like cabbage leaves.
"Come on," he said.
"I'm ready," returned Mont.
The fight commenced in the little cabin, and it was evident that thecombatants were in earnest.
Our hero found his opponent as strong as a young bull, but he had notvery much skill.
Parrying his blows and hitting hard when he had a good chance, Montpunished him severely.
But he was knocked down first.
"Will that do for you," said Holly, "or do you want any more?"
"More, please," exclaimed Mont, getting up. And then he clipped Hollytwo heavy ones that knocked him nearly down a ladder.
Holly foamed with rage. "Come on!" he exclaimed, in a husky voice.
The fight continued for ten minutes, with varying success. At last Montsaw a good chance, and, pretending to strike Holly's face, he droppedhis hand and hit him in the stomach.
As the bully fell back, gasping for breath, Mont exclaimed:
"How do you like it now, you bully? Do you want any more?"
"Not this voyage," rejoined Holly dismally; "you're best man."
"It's a pity you didn't find that out before," remarked Mont. "However,it's never too late to learn. Perhaps you will get our breakfast ready.I'm master now. Do you understand that, Mr. Bully?"
"Don't crow. I'm licked this time, but my turn may come. Sit down andhave your grub."
Mont was quite satisfied with his victory.
He shook hands with Holly, and they all sat down together, making acomfortable breakfast, though the fare was not luxurious.
Carl and our hero went on deck afterward, and, hearing an altercationforward, ran in that direction.
Captain Savage was beating a sailor with a marlinspike for some breachof discipline.
The crew looked on without interfering.
The sailor was a fine, handsome fellow, and in vain begged the tyrant todesist. The poor fellow's face was streaming with blood, and Mont'sanger arose instantly.
Rushing forward, he seized the captain's arm, and exclaimed:
"Stop that--I won't have it!"
The next moment he was alarmed at his rashness.
Turning upon him with incredible fury, the captain exclaimed:
"How dare you speak to me, youngster! I'll break every bone in yourbody!"
At a sign from the first mate, on whose face sat a smile of malicioussatisfaction, four men fell upon Mont, whose arms were pinioned, and hewas thrown on his back, where he lay perfectly helpless.
"Take him away," continued Captain Savage. "I will deal with himpresently. It's a pity I took the young whelp on board; he should havedrowned if I'd have known what he was made of."
Strong arms lifted Mont up, and he was forced into a dark hole, near thecook's galley, where he was half stifled with the heat and smell of tar.
Mont felt he was now in for it, and no mistake.
CHAPTER VIII.
MONT IS PUNISHED.
"Hang the luck, anyway!"
In a miserable state of mind, but still very angry, Mont sat down in hisgloomy prison, and wondered what would happen next.
An hour later the captain called up the first mate.
"Let the prisoner be brought forward, and call the hands to witnesspunishment; muster them all. I mean to make an example."
The mate summoned the crew, all of whom trooped forward with a sullenand discontented air.
The first mate went to Mont, and personally conducted him on deck.
"Now, my lad," said the captain, with a brutal air, "I'm going to letyou know what discipline is. Strip!"
Looking around him defiantly, Mont did not move.
"Do you hear me?" thundered the captain. "Strip!"
"Captain Savage," said Mont quietly, "I protest against this treatment.You saved my life and the lives of my companions, for which I thank you.We would leave your ship at once if we could. As it is, we are unwillingpassengers."
"You are a part of the crew, and must work out your passage."
"Not at all. We have not signed articles, and you have no power over usso long as we conduct ourselves properly."
"Why did you interfere between me and one of my crew? But I'll waste nowords with you," replied the captain. "Tie him to the foremast."
He caught up the rope's end and hit Mont a single blow.
He was about to go on, when the sailors advanced in a body, and formed aline between him and Mont.
"Back, you scoundrels! Back, mutinous dogs!" exclaimed the captain in agreater rage than ever.
The solid line remained immovable, and Mont was set free.
Both mates put themselves by the captain's side, as they feared a crisiswas approaching, and they determined to side with the skipper.
"Look'ee here, cappen," said an old, grizzled sailor. "I've shippedaboard o' many vessels, and I've seen a few skippers, but never thelikes o' you. We don't want to do you no harm, but we aint a-goin' tostan' by and see that poor lad flogged half to death because heinterfered for one o' us."
"I'll have you all tried at the first port I come to!" exclaimed thecaptain.
Slog, the mate, caught the captain's arm.
"For Heaven's sake, go below, and leave them to me!" he said.
"Not I. Where are my pistols? I'll shoot some of the dogs."
"Be guided by me, sir. Let them alone this time, and tackle them one byone. If you don't, they'll do something desperate."
The captain mumbled something which was inaudible. He was almostspeechless with rage.
Suddenly the voice of the lookout man rang out clearly:
"A strange sail."
"Where away?" asked the captain.
"On the larboard bow, sir."
The captain took his telescope, and began to examine the strange sail.
Everyone crowded to the side to have a look, and every eye was soonsearching the horizon.
Even Mont shared the excitement.
He had a pocket glass, and brought it into use.
"Perhaps we'll be taken off," he said to Carl.
"I sincerely hope so," replied his chum. "I've had enough of thisship."
CHAPTER IX.
DOCTOR HOMER WODDLE.
It was soon discovered that the sail was nothing more or less than a manclinging to a chicken coop, who had taken off his shirt and hoisted iton high to attract attention.
When he was neared, a boat was lowered, and the unfortunate man pickedup and brought on board.
He was a little, wiry man, about forty-five years of age, with sharp,intelligent face, and an expression of anything but good temper.
"Which is the captain of this vessel?" he asked on coming aboard.
"I am," replied Captain Savage.
"You've been a long time picking me up. What do you mean by it?" saidthe little man.
"That's a cool remark," said the captain, "considering we have, in allprobability, saved your life."
"And if you have, you only did your duty. Where is your cabin? Give mesome fresh clothes immediately, and something to eat and drink."
"You've got a nerve," said the captain, inclined to be angry. "I've agood mind never to save anyone again."
"That will not matter much to me. You are not likely to save me twice."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Homer Woddle, sir."
"You speak loud enough," replied the captain.
"Bah! it's evident you are not a man of science, or you would have heardof me. I have written books, sir--books!"
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"What then?"
"I am a famous man. My position in life is that of Secretary to theSociety for the Exploration of the Unknown Parts of the World, sir, andI am making my third voyage."
"How were you wrecked?"
"That is the strangest thing. But give me to eat and drink, clothe me,and you shall hear."
"Speak first, and then I'll think of it, Mr. Woddle," said the captain.
The conversation was audible enough to be heard by all on board, whocrowded round the speakers in a way that showed how severely disciplineon board the ship had been interfered with by the late occurrence.
"Well, well, well," cried the little man, irritably, "what a boy youare! I left Boston last week on board the _Comet_. Well, sir, that shipwas fitted up at a great expense in order that we might makediscoveries. Do you see?"
"Not clearly as yet," answered the captain.
"Tush, be quiet," exclaimed the irritable little man; "don't interruptme. This morning about eight o'clock we were struck amidships, but belowthe water line, by a wonderful sea monster, which nearly cut us in two."
"Did the ship sink?"
"She did almost directly afterward. I seized a chicken coop, and here Iam."
"A monster cut you in two!" exclaimed the captain, opening his eyes."What sort of a monster? Did you see it?"
"We did for a few minutes. It was black and long, like a gigantic eel,and threw out phosphorescent light."