Edward Stratemeyer

“ The quicker every one left the Spitfire to her doom the better he would be suited.
But my attention was soon taken from the schooner and centered upon my own safety. At the start I had no thought but what somebody would come to release me, but, as the moments went by and no one came, the awful suspicion crossed my mind that the master of the Spitfire meant to leave me to my fate. ”

“ What can you say against me?"
"A good many things that you don't dream of. You are not treating me rightly, and you know it. You don't give me decent clothing to wear, and I have to work harder than any one in the office. I am sure my father never intended such a future for his son." "I don't care what you father intended!" he snarled.
"But I do, and what is more, I intend, sooner or later, to try to have matters mended. My father always told me he wished me to keep on going to school and then to enter Princeton."
"Never mind, I am your guardian now, and I know what is best for you." ”

“ My uncle and Mr. Banker were still in hot dispute, and for an instant neither of them noticed me.
"Good-bye, Mr. Banker, I'm off!" I cried out suddenly.
And the next moment I had torn myself loose from my uncle's grasp, and was dashing down Fulton Street at the top of my speed.
"Hi! come back!" called out Mr. Banker after me; but I paid no heed.
"Stop him! Stop him!" yelled my uncle. "Stop the thief!" ”

“ Stillwell's manner towards me, and I shoved the letter into my pocket, resolved to say nothing until I had thought the matter over.
I walked back to the office slowly, for I was in deep thought. For two years my uncle had been my guardian, and during that time my life had been little better than a continual hardship. The letter brought up the memory of the past, and I realized now more than ever how happy the days gone by had been. What had brought about the change?
Clearly, the way I was being treated. Mr. Stillwell cared nothing for me, body or soul. ”

“ My short nap had only made me more sleepy and it was not long before I dropped off into a sound slumber, which even the fitful motion of the raft did not disturb.
"Luke! Luke!"
It was Phil's voice again, louder than ever before.
"Now what's up?" I replied, not in the best of humor.
"We must be careful. We have struck——"
The cabin boy did not have time to finish the sentence for at that instant the Hasty received a terrific shock which nearly split her in two.
"Oh, Luke, what shall we do?" cried Phil, in alarm, as soon as he could catch his breath. ”

“ The cabin boy gave a sharp look about the deck and then hurried into the forecastle.
"I don't want Captain Hannock to see me down here," he explained. "If he did he'd thrash the life out of me."
"Is the captain such a hard man?"
"Is he? Just you wait until something goes wrong and you'll find out quick enough. See here," the cabin boy bared his arm and exhibited several bruises that made me shudder, "he gave me those day before yesterday, just because I wasn't spry enough to suit him." ”

“ Then Phil asked me about myself, and I told him much of my history. He was not very old, but the sharp knocks he had received had given him a wisdom beyond his years.
Talking made the time pass more swiftly, and before we knew it the sun was sinking in the west. It would not be long ere the night would be upon us.
"Let us lose no time, but sail along as far as we can," I said. ”

“ I heard Lowell shout.
"Where is the fire?" burst from half a dozen throats in chorus.
"In the hold it is one mass of flames!"
"Can't we put it out?" questioned one of the sailors.
"No, the fire has gained too much headway for that."
"But we might try."
"It won't do, I tell you. We must get out a boat and leave the schooner. Ten minutes more and it will be too late."
"What, as bad as that!" came back with a groan. "Can't we save her nohow?"
"No, I tell you, idiot! I've been on board a burning vessel before. Man the jolly-boat, and lose no time!"
"Yes, yes, the jolly-boat!" ”

“ I hopped out of my bunk and rubbed my eyes.
"Time to get on deck, unless you want Lowell after you with the rope's end again."
"I don't think Lowell will trouble me much again," I replied, as I began to dress. "If he does I'll do what I can to defend myself."
"I like your grit. It does my heart good to see a boy stand up to a man like him."
"At the bottom I think he is a coward," I said. "Most all brutes are."
When I came on deck the sun was shining brightly. Captain Hannock was up, and he appeared quite a different man from what he had been the day before. ”

“ As soon as they were gone I sprang to my feet, and passing out of the pantry, made my way after them to the deck. None of the men saw me, and I lost no time in going forward.
The storm was now upon us, and, as Tony Dibble had reported, it was a heavy one. The sky was one mass of black, angry clouds, and the wind blew a perfect gale. ”

“ Phil was fully as much dismayed as I was. Alone on the broad Atlantic and not a drop to drink!
"We can't live without water," he cried.
"I know that. It is worse than being without food."
"Ten times over. Where has the water gone?"
We examined the cask carefully. At the bottom was a bunghole in which a bung had been placed; but either the riding of the raft or the shock had loosened the bung, and it had dropped out and allowed the water to run away to the last drop.
"We are done for now!" groaned Phil. "We can't stand it twenty-four hours without something to drink." ”

“ The schooner pitched and tossed to such a degree that I had great difficulty in reaching the forward deck, where I presently saw my sailor friend hard at work clearing away the remains of the boom of the mainmast, which had swung around and snapped off.
"Hello, there you are," he sang out. "I was afraid you had gone overboard again."
"Not if I can help it," I replied. "That is, unless it becomes necessary."
"The old man's a fool," went on Dibble. "He has no business to sit in the cabin when there's a storm on. We might all go to the bottom." ”

“ I braced myself against the rail, and then Dibble gave me his hand; and a moment later the unfortunate was safe upon the deck.
"Thank God, I'm saved!" he murmured, and then he sank back unconscious.
By this time Captain Hannock had come forward to see what had taken place.
"Humph! only another mouth to feed!" he ejaculated. "Who saved him? Did you, Dibble?"
"I tried to, but Foster was the one to do it, brave lad that he is!" replied the old sailor.
"Foster seems to carry himself high!" sneered the captain. "Well, take him to the forecastle, some of you, and let him get over it. ”

“ Stillwell allowed me to enter. At first she was about to follow, but her husband motioned her away, and she was forced to withdraw.
My uncle lay on the bed. His face was deadly white and awfully haggard. He held out his hand.
"I'm glad you've come, Luke," he said, with something that sounded like a sigh. "The doctor tells me I cannot last long."
"Oh, Uncle Felix!"
"Never mind, it is for the best. I have done wrong, and death is better than public disgrace. Did you come alone?" ”

“ By the time the sun went down we were well out of sight of land. Here the breeze was even stronger; and at last several of the sailors prevailed upon the man at the wheel to send down word to the captain that sail must be shortened.
Lowell came on deck with the captain, and both had been drinking heavily.
"Shorten sail!" roared the captain. "Not a bit of it. If the mast goes, let her go."
Nevertheless, the wind soon freshened so much that several of the sails were reefed. I watched the performance from the bow.
"Here you, why don't you get to work?" ”

“ Captain Hannock sent him ashore on an errand, and set sail before either of us could return. I think he must have smelt a mouse."
"He'll smell a still bigger mouse when he reaches shore," said the government officer, with a broad laugh. "Burning a vessel and a bogus cargo that are heavily insured is no light offense."
"Where do you think he will land?"
"The first place he strikes. It isn't much fun sailing around in a jolly-boat." ”

“ Don't be alarmed, my lad. If you've done right all will go well with you."
"Thank you, Mr. Banker. I need a friend. Mr. Stillwell doesn't give me half a show."
"You shall have all the show you need after this, Luke."
My uncle was in a rage, but he did not know what to do. Now that I had some one to stand by me, I no longer felt the alarm I had when alone.
"For the last time, are you going to give up the money?" asked Mr. Stillwell.
"I've already answered that question," was my reply.
"Then you shall go to prison. Come along with me." ”

“ Then Captain Hannock again approached me.
"How did you get loose?" demanded the skipper of the Spitfire, as he hurried up, red with rage.
"That's my business," was my reply. "You have no right to keep me on board."
"I'll put you in irons. Crocker, get the irons, I'll show the cub who's boss here!"
In a minute the handcuffs had been placed upon my wrists.
"We've lost one man; I don't intend to lose two," said the captain. "Take him below."
I thought I was to be pitched again into the hold, but this time I was mistaken. Lowell led me to a small room situated in the extreme bow. ”

“ Henshaw quietly. "For the present you three may consider yourselves under arrest."
"It's an outrage," cried Captain Hannock; but evidently his heart was not in the words.
"I'll risk it."
"You'll be sorry for it," put in Lowell, who was white with rage.
Mr. Henshaw paid no attention to him.
"Where shall we place them?" he asked of Captain Flagg.
"There is no place but an empty coal locker or two."
"That is good enough."
"Put me into a coal locker!" foamed the boatswain.
"Yes, my man. And let me add that I think a coal locker plenty good enough for a man who tries to burn a boy up." ”

“ I went on, as stoutly as I could.
"You're going to obey orders, that's what you're going to do," he cried. "I take no back talk from any one."
"If you don't give up that money I'll have you arrested as a thief the first time I get the chance," was my reply; and I meant just what I said.
"You will, will you?" he roared. "Just wait till I get a rope's end and we'll see who is boss here."
I was somewhat startled at his words, but I stood my ground. Lowell ran to the starboard side of the schooner, and presently returned with a stout rope some three feet long. ”

“ I was headed for the East River, and it was not long before I came in sight of the docks and the ferry slips. At one of the slips stood a ferry-boat just preparing to leave for Brooklyn.
The sight of the boat gave me a sudden thought. I dashed into the ferry-house, paid the ferry fare, and in a moment was on board, just as the boat left the slip.
It had been a long and hard run, but at last I was safe from being followed. Once in Brooklyn there would be a hundred places for me to go in case of necessity. ”

“ It is wonderful what life the prospect of rain put into us. Eagerly we watched the approach of the dark clouds that were fast bearing down upon us.
"We must fix the cask to hold water," I said, "and also the canvas."
"And we can fix the sail, too," added Phil. "We must catch as much as possible."
I put the bung back into the cask, hammering it in well. Then by the aid of the mast, rudder and boom, we hung the canvas so that every drop that might fall upon it would be caught and poured into the cask. ”

“ If I could leave the vessel at that place I could easily find my way up to Boston, and a sojourn in that city would just suit me. All trace of my going there would be lost, and it was not likely that my uncle would look for me so far from New York.
"Here's your bunk, and here's some old clothes to put on," went on Lowell, as he pointed the things out. "You had better save your good clothes for shore. Knocking around the ship will wear them out in no time." ”

“ Had I gone on board the Spitfire of my own will I would not have considered the matter as bad. True, I had no great fancy for a life on the ocean wave, such as most boys are supposed to cherish. I knew that at best it was little better than a dog's existence. ”

“ I replied. "Captain Hannock is not a fit person for any one to have in charge. If we ever escape, depend upon it I will do all in my power to see that you are treated better in the future."
"Will you? Oh, thank you very much!"
The sun was now rising quite high in the eastern sky, sending broad sheets of light over the ocean. I climbed up on the top of the water cask and gazed eagerly around in all directions.
Not a boat was in sight.
"See anything?" asked Phil.
"Nothing but water and sky," was the reply. "We must shift for ourselves and no mistake." ”

“ Never mind what I've had. I am not going to run away, that's all."
"Seems to me you are getting mighty independent," he sneered.
"I have a right to be."
He looked at me sharply.
"What do you mean by that?"
"That is my affair."
"Why, you young rascal, I——"
"Hold up, Mr. Stillwell, I'm no rascal."
"Yes, you are! What have you done with that six thousand dollars you took from the safe?"
"I never took six thousand dollars from the safe, and you know it," I returned, with spirit.
As I spoke I noticed my uncle closely, and saw that he turned slightly pale. ”

“ I'll go if you want to use the boat."
"Oh, no, that's all right. I don't want the boat for a couple of hours yet. You may stay where you are."
"Thank you."
He was about to turn away, but a sudden thought seemed to come into his mind.
"You say you have walked a good bit to day? he asked curiously.
"That's it."
"You are not out of work and on the tramp, are you?"
"Something like that," I replied. "I'm out of work and as I can't pay to journey around, I'll have to walk."
"I see. Well, I hope you strike something before long. It's not pleasant to be out of work and money." ”

“ He said he had made a will, appointing his friend, John W. Banker of Locustville, New York State, to be your guardian, but was afraid you might not like the choice, or that this man might not treat you well.
"Never expecting that your father's end was near, I laughingly replied that I was sure he had done for the best. But he shook his head in doubt, and said men were strange, and often acted in a way least expected, which is certainly true. So I agreed, should anything happen to him, to keep an eye on you. ”

“ I was none too soon, for an instant later I heard Lowell's voice.
"I was almost certain I heard some one down here!" he exclaimed, as he came forward.
"Maybe it was rats," suggested another voice, which it was easy to recognize as belonging to Captain Hannock.
"I don't think so. We have nothing to attract them this trip.
"If I find any of the men down here I'll flog them," was the captain's savage comment; and it was easy to see that he meant what he said.
"It would go rough with us if any of them should discover what we were carrying," went on Lowell. "Paving stones and kindling wood!" ”