Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Next came Professor Hemenway.
“Put me down as the third,” he said. “Harry, we sailed together, and we will remain together to the end.”
“I go in the boat,” said John Appleton. “I have a great respect for Mr. Holdfast, but I defer to the captain’s judgment as superior.”
He went over and ranged himself beside the captain.
“You are a sensible man, sir,” said Captain Hill, with a scornful glance at the mate and the passengers who sided with him. “Mr. Holdfast can go down with the ship, if he desires. I prefer to cut loose from a doomed vessel.” ”

“ He thought of the president of the railroad, to whom he was principally indebted for the money.
“If I could only see him,” he thought, “I would ask him to take care of it for me.”
What was his surprise, when, on reaching the depot, the first person on whom his eyes fell was the very gentleman of whom he was thinking.
“How do you do, sir?” said Harry, politely.
“Ah, my young friend that saved the train!” said the president cordially. “I hope you haven’t spent the money you received on riotous living.” ”

“ Entering, he saw the dude stretched out in his berth, with an expression of helpless terror in his weak face.
“Oh! Mr. Vane,” he said; “do you think we are going to the bottom?”
“I hope not, Mr. Clinton. Our officers are skillful men. They will do all they can for us.”
It was a terrible night. None of the passengers ventured upon deck. Indeed, such was the motion that it would have been dangerous, as even the sailors found it difficult to keep their footing. Harry was pale and quiet, unlike his friend from Brooklyn, whose moans were heard mingled with the noise of the tempest. ”

“ Harry was afraid he would be expected to occupy the same room with Joel, in which case he could hope for no privacy, and would be unable to conceal his money, which he had little doubt his guardian intended to secure, either by fair means or foul. It chanced, however, that Joel slept in a small bedroom opening out of his parents’ chamber. So Harry was assigned an attic room, in the end of the house, the sides sloping down to the eaves. It was inferior to the chambers on the second floor, but our hero was not disposed to complain. He valued solitude more than superior finish. ”

“ He got out of his berth, but only to be pitched helpless to the other end of the cabin.
“This is terrible!” he said, as he picked himself up.
“I will try my luck, professor,” said Harry.
He scrambled out of his berth, and, with great difficulty, made his way upstairs.
One glance told him what had occurred. The crippled ship was laboring through the sea. It seemed like a very unequal combat, and Harry might be excused for deciding that the ship was doomed. All about the sea wore its fiercest aspect. Harry returned cautiously to his cabin. ”

“ The ill-fated Nantucket was driven with such force against the reef that the strength of its hull was overtaxed. When the mate went to the bluff in the morning to take an observation, he was startled to find in place of the wreck a confused debris of timbers and fragments of the wreck.
As the mate was surveying the scene of ruin, Jack and Harry joined him.
“Look there, my lads!” said Holdfast. “That’s the last of the poor old Nantucket. She will never float again.” ”

“ Both turned quickly, and exchanged a significant glance when they recognized the captain.
“Yes,” answered Professor Hemenway, “it is indeed a fine morning.”
“I am sorry to see this, Harry,” said the professor.
“Yes, sir; it is a pity any gentleman should drink too much.”
“Yes, but that isn’t all,” said the professor, earnestly; “it is a pity, of course, that Captain Hill should so sin against his own health, but we must consider furthermore, that he has our lives under his control. Our safety depends on his prudent management.”
“He seems to understand his business,” said Harry. ”

“ By this time the passengers, whose curiosity had been roused by the sudden halt, began to pour out of the cars.
When they saw the washout, strong men turned pale, and ladies grew faint, while many a fervent ejaculation of gratitude was heard at the wonderful escape.
“We owe our lives to this boy!” said the engineer. “It was he who stood on the fence and signaled me. We owe our deliverance to this—tablecloth.”
A small man, somewhat portly, pushed his way up to Harry. ”

“ Harry inquired.
“Of course I have,” said Jack, promptly. “I always go to see her as soon as I get home from a voyage. Poor mother! She was looking pale and thin when I saw her three weeks ago. I am sure she has repented marrying, but she won’t own up. When I’m a man——”
“Well, Jack; when you’re a man?” ”

“ Marmaduke sadly shook his head as he walked away.
“That man’s a walking drug store,” said the mate, looking after him. “I’d rather go to Davy’s locker, and be done with it, than to fill myself up with pills and potions.”
“You’re looking chipper, my boy,” said a newcomer, in a nasal voice. “Haven’t been seasick, I guess.”
Harry recognized the voice of the Yankee inventor, Jonathan Stubbs.
“No, sir; I have had very little trouble.”
“I’m goin’ to get up a cure for seasickness when I have time—a kind of a self-acting, automatic belt—I guess there’d be plenty of money in it.” ”

“ Still, I don’t quite like going to the bottom in the Nantucket. I was looking forward to at least twenty years or so more of life.”
“We must submit to the will of God,” said Harry.
“You are quite right, my boy! It is easy to see that you have been well trained. Mr. Holdfast”—for they had reached the place where the mate was standing—“shall we outlive the storm?”
“It is hard to say, Mr. Stubbs. It depends on the stanchness of the ship. We’ll do all we can.” ”

“ He came forward as Harry jumped to the ground after descending from the elevated perch, and said: “I reckon this is Harry Vane?”
“That is my name, sir.”
“Glad to see you. Just take your traps, and come along with me. Mrs. Fox will have supper ready by the time we come.”
Harry was not, on the whole, attracted by the appearance of his guardian. There was a crafty look about the eyes of Mr. Fox which seemed to make his name appropriate. He surveyed his young ward critically.
“You’re pretty well grown,” he said. ”

“ Clinton also is willing to stand by me, though he says he don’t want to get into a fight with the captain.”
“Clinton! That spindle-legged dude!” said Stubbs, exploding with laughter. “My! he couldn’t scare a fly.”
Harry laughed, too. He could not help doing so.
“He seems a good fellow, though not exactly a hero,” he said. “I am glad to have his good will.”
“He is more of a tailor’s dummy than a man,” said Stubbs. “I always want to laugh when I look at him. Hist! there’s the captain.”
Harry turned quickly toward the companionway, and saw Captain Hill set foot on the deck. ”

“ There had been some heavy rains, which had washed out the road for a considerable distance, causing the track to give way.
“Good heavens!” thought Harry, “if a train comes over the road before this is mended, there’ll be a wreck and loss of life. What can I do?”
Just across the field stood a small house. In the yard the week’s washing was hung out. Among the articles was a red tablecloth.
“May I borrow that tablecloth?” asked Harry, in excitement, of a woman in the doorway.
“Land sakes! what for?” she asked.
“To signal the train. The road’s washed away.” ”

“ Under his direction the remaining boat—for Captain Hill and his companions had only taken away one—was lowered. Steering clear of the reef, they found themselves in a cove, bordered on three sides by land. By the light, now rapidly increasing, they saw grass and trees, and the sight gladdened them in spite of the grave peril that menaced them.
They put in the boat as large a supply of stores as they dared, and then rowed ashore. Landing the passengers, Holdfast selected Jack and Harry, and went back to the ship for a further supply. ”

“ He and Jack clambered up the ship’s sides, and chased each other in boyish fun. Jack had no fear of a stern rebuke from Mr. Holdfast, who had a sympathy with the young. He would not have dared to take such liberties with Captain Hill.
“How long do you think the ship will hold together, Mr. Holdfast?” asked Stubbs.
“For a week, perhaps, unless the sea becomes rough, and dashes her against the reef with violence.”
“At present she seems motionless.”
“Yes, she is not at present receiving any damage. It will be a sad day when she goes to pieces,” continued the mate, gravely. ”

“ How do you like the idea?”
“I like it,” answered Harry; “but there is one objection.”
“What is that?”
“I don’t come from Madagascar,” responded Harry, slyly.
Professor Hemenway laughed.
“You’ve been as near there as I have,” he said. “Did you really think I came from Madagascar?”
“You look more as if you came from Maine, sir.”
“You’ve hit it! There’s where I did come from. I was raised twenty-five miles from Portland on a farm. But it would never do to put that on the bills. People are ready to pay more for imported than for native curiosities. However, to come to business. ”

“ There are few boys who do not like change of scene, and the chance of seeing new places is attractive to all. Harry was decidedly of the opinion that he had a streak of luck. It would be much better in all ways than living with his late guardian, and working for partial board.
As they approached the village of Conway, Harry’s attention was drawn to a variety of posters setting forth, in mammoth letters, that the world-renowned Magician of Madagascar would give a magical soiree at the Town Hall in the evening. ”

“ I never ate an onion in my life.”
“Then I don’t think you know what’s good,” said Mr. Stubbs. “An onion, let me tell you, is mighty good eatin’, and healthy, too.”
At the close of the magical entertainment, Harry sang by request, and no part of the performance was more popular. He received many warm congratulations.
“Really, Mr. Vane, you sing like a nightingale, don’t you know,” was the tribute of Clinton.
“Bless me!” said Mr. Timmins; “I was so absorbed in your song that I have forgotten to take my catarrh medicine.” ”

“ You are a practical man, professor.”
“We shall all have to think for the general benefit. I am sorry I can’t do more work, but I never was handy with tools.”
“I am,” said Stubbs. “In fact, most Yankees are, and I am a Yankee. You can command my services, Mr. Holdfast, in any way that you see fit.”
Mr. Holdfast made another trip to the vessel, and brought back quite an expanse of sailcloth. All hands, with the exception of Mr. Clinton, went to work at once, and by sunset a considerable space was roofed over, which the little company regarded with complacency. ”

“ There is no chance of our making any use of her, I take it.”
“You don’t quite understand me,” said Holdfast. “A sailor gets to feel an attachment for the craft he sails on, and she seems to him something like a living creature. This is my first voyage on the old Nantucket, but it will grieve me to see her disappear.”
It was not easy to decide of what the boat’s load should consist. In the main, provisions were taken as an article of first necessity. Some clothing, also, was selected, and among the rest, at Harry’s instance, an extra pair of Mr. Clinton’s trousers. ”

“ All were called on deck.
“It is my duty to tell you,” said Captain Hill, “that the ship is so damaged by the recent storm that it is liable to sink at any time. Those who choose to run the risk may remain, however. I propose, with such as choose to join me, to take to the boats. I will give you fifteen minutes to decide.”
Excitement and dismay were painted on the faces of all. The ship might be insecure, but to launch out upon the great ocean in a frail boat seemed to involve still greater danger. ”

“ Mrs. Fox will be glad to see you, and my boy, Joel, will be glad to have someone to keep him company. He is about sixteen years old. You don’t say how old you are, but from your letter I surmise that you are as much as that. You will find a happy united famerly, consistin’ of me and my wife, Joel and his sister, Sally. Sally is fourteen, just two years younger than Joel. We live in a comfortable way, but we don’t gorge ourselves on rich, unhelthy food. No more at present. Yours to command,
“JOHN FOX.”
Harry smiled more than once as he read this letter. ”

“ Holdfast.
“We must work—I know that,” said Mr. Stubbs. “Captain Holdfast, I salute you as my commander. Give us your orders.”
“Are you all agreed, gentlemen?” asked Holdfast.
“We are,” answered all except Montgomery Clinton, who was clinging to the side with a greenish pallor on his face.
“Then I shall set you to work at the pumps. Jack I assign you and the professor to duty first. You will work an hour; then Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Vane will relieve you. I will look out for the vessel’s course.” ”

“ When a man gets as full as he does, he’s apt to be dangerous.”
“Thank you, sir; I will.”
Among the spectators of the scene just described, the most panic-stricken, probably was Montgomery Clinton, the Brooklyn dude.
After the captain had gone below, he walked up to Harry, whom he regarded with evident admiration.
“I say, you’re quite a hero. I was awfully frightened, don’t you know, when that big bully aimed at the sailor boy.”
“You looked a little nervous, Mr. Clinton,” said Harry, smiling.
“You were awfully brave, to knock the pistol out of his hand. ”