CHAPTER IV
GETTING A JOB
"Now, why in the world didn't he tell me what he wanted of me, insteadof keeping me guessing?" thought Nat, as he made his way back to thedock where Mr. Miller was working. "I wonder what it can be? If hewanted to thank me he could just as well have done it now asto-morrow.
"Maybe he wants to give me a reward," the boy went on musingly. "Idon't believe I'd take it. Accepting money for rescuing a boat is allwell enough, but not for saving life. Besides, if I hadn't done itsomebody else would. No; if he offers me money I don't believe I'lltake it. Still, I do need some new clothes," and he glanced down atthe rather ragged garments he was wearing.
"I've been waiting for you some time," Mr. Miller said when Nat gotback. "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 betweentwo 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 couldget me a place on some boat. That's what I'd like. I could earn goodmoney then."
"I wouldn't like to see you go away from us, Nat. My wife and I havebecome quite attached to you."
"I would not like to go, Mr. Miller, for I have been very happy inyour home. So I'm not going to think about it."
"Still, I would like to see you prosper in this world," went on theman who had befriended Nat. "If you have a chance to get a place on aboat, 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 shipall unloaded?"
"Yes, the holds are emptied, and I have a job to-morrow helping loadher. 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 tobe home all day."
"That will be all right, then. Now let's hurry home. I think it'sgoing to rain harder soon, and my wife will probably be worrying aboutme."
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 whenMr. 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. Millerand Nat worked was a covered one, they did not mind the storm. Atnoon-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 youfeeling to-day?"
"Very well, sir. How are you?"
"Not so good as I might be. I'm lame and stiff from pulling on thatrope, but I think I'll be able to sail to-morrow. I believe you toldme 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 asmile, for he saw that Mr. Weatherby was joking.
"Perhaps that would be best. Well, as it happens, I have a chance toget a young lad a position on the steamer of which I am pilot. Yousee, I have a steady job piloting. My vessel, the _Jessie Drew_, makestrips all over the lakes, and Captain Wilson Marshall, who is a partowner, is not so familiar with all the harbors and the various routesas 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 positionthan 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 meyesterday 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 inmind then, but after our meeting last night, when you were of suchservice to me, and I heard you say you wanted a job, I at once thoughtof this place. I saw the captain this morning, and he has practicallyengaged you--that is, if you want the berth, and he is satisfied withyou when he sees you. The last item I know will be all right. And nowit 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 amto you for this! I----"
"Now--now--don't get excited over it," cautioned Mr. Weatherby. "Ifyou're going to be a pilot you must learn to keep cool. Shall I tellCaptain 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 howlong you'll have to work?"
"That's so. I didn't think of that. But I don't mind how long I haveto work. It can't be much longer than I have to work now, and I getvery little for it."
"Then I guess you will be satisfied with the hours and the wages paidaboard 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 willsail early to-morrow. Bring along a change of clothes, for it oftenhappens 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 overhis face.
"Why not?"
"Well--er--that is--you see, I haven't any other clothes. These areall I've got. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are very poor. Her husband doesn'tearn much, and I don't, either. It takes all we both get to buy foodand pay the rent. I don't have any left for clothes. They're not goodenough 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," admittedMr. Weatherby gravely. "Not that I care anything about what garments aman or boy wears, so long as they are clean, and yours are that.Still, I think it would make a better impression on Captain Marshallif 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 someunderwear, and whatever else you need."
"I can't take your money--I haven't earned it," objected Nat, who wasquite independent.
"Nonsense, boy. Take it as a loan, then, to be paid back whenever youfeel like it. It's a pity if I can't do a good turn to the lad whopulled me up from between those vessels. You will offend me if youdon't take it. Besides, I want you to have this job. I may need you tosave my life again, and, to be frank with you, I shouldn't likeCaptain 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 borrowthis money."
"That's the way to talk. Now you'd better go, buy what you need, andthen come back to me this evening," went on Mr. Weatherby, handing Natsome bankbills. "I will then take you down to the ship and introduceyou to Captain Marshall. You'll probably stay aboard all night, so youhad 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 tounload or take on cargo. Now you'd better go, and be back here aboutseven o'clock."
Nat hurried back to the wharf to tell Mr. Miller the good news. Hisfriend rejoiced with him, though he was sorry to see the boy leave.When Nat reached the tenement and told Mrs. Miller, that lady cried alittle, for she had grown to love the boy almost as a son. She wentout shopping with him, and in a few hours Nat was ready to step aboardthe _Jessie Drew_ and take a long voyage.
It was not easy to part from his kind friends, but he was consoled bythe thought that he would soon see them again.
At the appointed hour he was at Mr. Weatherby's boarding-house, and alittle later the two were going
aboard the big lake steamer.
"Ah, Mr. Weatherby!" exclaimed a man as Nat and the pilot stepped onthe deck, "you're aboard early, I see."
"Yes; I didn't want to get left. Mr. Bumstead, let me introduce afriend 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 kindlylooking person. He had red hair, and he seemed surly, even when hesmiled, 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 thejob."
"You did!" exclaimed the mate.
"Yes. What of it? You seem quite surprised, Mr. Bumstead. Irecommended Nat for the place because he saved my life."
"Has Captain Marshall given him the place?" asked the mate in a surlytone.
"Yes. Why?"
"Because I had recommended my nephew for the place, and he would havegot it, too, if you hadn't interfered. I'm going to see the captainabout it later. It's not fair, giving a landlubber a good job aboardthis ship. I'll have him put ashore. I told my nephew he could havethe 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'tknow he had any one for the place. Nat, I'm afraid he'll make troublefor you. You'll have to be on your guard, but I'll do all I can foryou."
"I guess I can look out for myself," replied the boy. "I haven't livedaround the docks all my life for nothing."
But Nat did not know the perils that were in store for him, nor towhat lengths the vindictive mate would go to be revenged.
Boy Pilot of the Lakes; Or, Nat Morton's Perils Page 4