Captain Ponsberry

“ Captain Ponsberry had returned to the warship for just this talk, and now he lost no time in getting back to the Columbia, taking with him all his crew, including Cal Vincent, who was just about able to get around once more.
"Hurrah!" cried Larry, "this seems like home once more, doesn't it?"
"That's what it does," answered Luke. "But there is plenty of work ahead, I can tell you that, lad."
"I don't care—work will help to pass the time."
When Peterson and Shamhaven saw Captain Ponsberry they did not know what to say. The loss of their leader, Semmel, had humbled them greatly. ”

“ At first Larry was inclined to rebel at Captain Ponsberry's decision, especially as he had counted upon the captain's friendship. But when he cooled off and reviewed the situation carefully, he saw that the captain had done no more than what could be considered fair under the circumstances. "He is right; in the absence of other evidence, one man's word is as good as another's," thought the boy. "I may as well let the matter drop,—it was only six dollars, after all. But I shall keep my eyes open for Olan Oleson in the future!" ”

“ CHAPTER IV THE RUSSIAN SAILOR'S PLOT Captain Ponsberry's stern manner made Ostag Semmel wild with hatred, and when he went back to the forecastle after swabbing up the deck he was in a fit mental condition for almost any dark deed.
For a good half-hour he lay in his bunk in a corner, brooding over his ill-luck and wondering what he could do to revenge himself upon both the master of the schooner and Larry. Larry he especially disliked—the very open-heartedness of the young second mate made him long to do the lad harm. ”

“ As Semmel sauntered off, and while Larry was stamping the water from his shoe, Captain Ponsberry came up. He had seen the trick played from a distance.
"What did you tell Semmel?" he questioned, sharply.
"Told him to swab the deck up. I think he slopped the dirty water over me on purpose."
"Just my idea of it. I'll tell him what I think of it." And striding after the bearded sailor Captain Ponsberry gave him a lecture not to be readily forgotten.
"I won't have any of your dirty underhanded work aboard of my ship," he concluded. "Either you'll behave yourself, or I'll put you in irons." ”

“ But it was a good half-hour before Captain Ponsberry could sit up and do any rational thinking.
On deck all had become suddenly quiet. Occasionally those below could hear a footstep near the companionway, showing that one or more of the mutineers were on guard. The hatch shut off the view on deck, and the windows in the ceiling of the cabin were also boarded over from the outside.
"They have us like rats in a trap," said Larry, bitterly.
"And for all we know Vincent and Grandon are both dead," returned Luke Striker, soberly. "I must say, lad, we seem to be in a bad way and no mistake." ”

“ Larry passed the word to Cal Vincent, who was the boatswain of the Columbia, and soon the whistle piped up shrilly, and those who were below or in the forecastle, came on deck in a hurry. Already the wind was freshening, ruffling up the whitecaps in all directions. The sky, that had been so blue a short while before, became leaden, and the depths of the ocean took on a somber hue. The barometer indicated a great and immediate change.
"Lay aloft there, men!" cried Captain Ponsberry. "Our sails are mostly new and we don't want them ripped up if we can help it. Skip along there, Peterson!" ”

“ He continued to rave, saying that it was a plot against him, because he had been the first to complain about the vile food served to the hands; that he had not been near the galley and that the captain, Grandon, and Larry knew it. He even appealed to the other sailors to stand by him, and several came forward to argue with Captain Ponsberry. But the master of the schooner was obstinate and would not listen.
"I know what I am doing, men," he said, quickly but firmly. "He is a scoundrel and a spell in the brig will do him good. After this I reckon you'll find the grub all right." ”

“ Then the sails of the Columbia were hoisted and off she set to the eastward, and the warship moved in the same direction.
When placed aboard the Pocastra Captain Ponsberry was treated politely and given a small room of his own. But the mates and the ordinary seamen were not so fortunate. Grandon, Larry, and Luke Striker were hustled off to a prison pen on one deck of the auxiliary cruiser, and the others to another pen below, which was even worse. ”

“ They've got so much liquor aboard they can't do much to us!"
"Be careful, I don't want anybody shot if it can be avoided," responded Captain Ponsberry.
"I think it would be a good plan to dump them all into the hold," said Larry. "Then we could nail up that pantry door, put the hatch into place, and keep them at our mercy."
"If the plan will work, it's a good one," answered the captain.
One after another they came out on deck, leaving Wilbur and Groot in the hold. They found the mutineers equally divided between the galley and the forecastle. ”

“ When the Columbia arrived at Nagasaki, Captain Ponsberry learned that the war had begun and that to get to Port Arthur—a Russian stronghold in Manchuria—was out of the question. While he was awaiting orders Gilbert Pennington appeared on the scene. Gilbert had had great difficulties in getting away from Port Arthur, having been suspected by the Russian officials of being a spy. He wished to know at once if the ship's cargo was safe.
"As safe as when we left home," had been Captain Ponsberry's reply. ”

“ As was his usual habit, Larry read his Bible, and Captain Ponsberry held a short church service, which less than half the crew attended.
"It's plain to see that the men are sulky," said Tom Grandon, towards evening. "We are certain to hear something from them shortly."
Luke had been told to report anything unusual, but it was not until after dark that he sought out Captain Ponsberry.
"I ain't got much to say," said the old tar. "But to my mind Peterson, Groot, and Shamhaven are doin' a powerful lot of confabbin'. More'n that, I saw Peterson cleaning up a pistol he's got." ”

“ And the cook turned away in disgust.
"It looks to me as if Semmel was trying to make trouble all around," said Tom Grandon, when he and the captain and Larry talked the matter over.
"I never liked that man from the first time I clapped eyes on him," came from Larry. "He's a sneak—and worse."
"I shall watch him pretty closely after this," said Captain Ponsberry. "One discontented fellow like him can upset the whole ship if he sets out to do it."
"They can't complain of the grub," went on the first mate. "It's as good as on any merchantman, and better than the law requires." ”

“ In the end the stew was dumped overboard and Jeff prepared an entirely new dinner for all hands.
"You must keep close watch on all of the men," said the captain to Larry and Grandon, when quietness had been restored. "Semmel was the worst of the lot, but I do not like the way Peterson and one or two others are acting."
"I don't see what they can do," answered Larry.
"They might start a mutiny," came from the first mate.
"Would they dare go as far as that?"
"Sometimes sailors get strange notions, and the old Harry himself can't stop them," said Captain Ponsberry. ”

“ On the table rested several charts which Captain Ponsberry had been consulting before joining Tom Grandon on deck.
It was Larry's watch below and he was improving the time by taking a much-needed nap. He lay on the berth in his stateroom, with the door wide open to admit the fresh air.
"Make no noise!" whispered Shamhaven. "If we are discovered the jig is up with us."
"Russell is here, yes?" came from Peterson. ”

“ For two pins I'd make you black Russell's shoes."
"No black nobody's shoes," growled Semmel, but in such a low tone that Captain Ponsberry could not hear him. He cleaned the deck in his own ugly, independent manner, muttering imprecations against both Larry and the captain in the meantime.
As a matter of fact, even though he had denied it to Captain Ponsberry and others, Ostag Semmel was really a Russian by birth, having been born and raised in the seaport of Kolaska. ”

“ I shouldn't be surprised if she was the converted vessel the Lord Duffield sighted."
"Just what I think," put in Captain Ponsberry. "We've got to do our best to show her a clean pair of heels."
"The mist may help us to run away," suggested Grandon.
"Let us hope so."
Necessary orders were given, and soon the Columbia swung around on another tack, so that she had the large vessel on her starboard quarter. But this movement was evidently noted by the stranger, and the latter headed directly for the schooner once more.
"She is after us, that is positive," said Captain Ponsberry. ”

“ The glass was used in that direction, but nothing save a clear horizon could be located.
"We are clear of it at last," said Captain Ponsberry, and breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Waterspouts are mighty dangerous things," said Grandon, after the scare was over. "When I was on board of the brig Ben Franklin we ran into a spout off the coast of Brazil, and it knocked off the bow and the forward rail and nearly sank us."
"I met one once, off the coast of Cuba," said the captain. "That went ashore and tore up the trees like so many weeds for a hundred feet around. ”

“ As it now is, life in the navy ain't no more excitin' nor life on the old Columbia."
During that time Larry received a letter from Captain Ponsberry, similar in contents to that sent to Gilbert. The Japanese Government had released the cargo of the schooner and then bought the same at a good round price. The ship had also been released, Captain Ponsberry having to pay a nominal sum for this action.
"I think the captain is lucky to get off so easily," said Larry. "I suppose the Japanese Government might have scooped in everything." ”

“ So far Captain Ponsberry had allowed them their liberty, but through the talk of a couple of sailors they presently learned that they were to be cast into the ship's brig and placed under guard as soon as the schooner dropped anchor.
"This looks black for us," said Shamhaven, moodily. "I wish we were out of it."
"I haf a plan got, yes," answered Peterson.
"To get away?" ”

“ It was not a fierce fish to look at, neither was it a handsome creature.
"He goes pretty well armed," remarked the missionary, as he looked the fish over with much interest.
"You'd think so if you'd see him attack a whale, as I've seen," replied Captain Ponsberry. "He makes a dive and a swish! and the first thing the whale knows he's got that saw right through his belly, and then the chances are he'll lose all interest in living; for if the first strike don't kill, the sawfish will be off before the whale can strike back, and he'll come on again, and there will be another ripping time. ”

“ In the meantime, some of the Russians were made prisoners, and a prize crew was placed aboard of the Pocastra. Then the two Japanese warships moved away, with the captured cruiser between them.
"Those Russians must feel sick," was Larry's comment. "It's worse for them, in a way, than if their ship had gone down."
"Well, we all thought she was sinking," returned Captain Ponsberry. "If she had sunk I reckon some of us wouldn't be here to tell the tale."
When evening came, a guard who could speak a little English conducted Captain Ponsberry, Larry, and Tom Grandon to the commander's cabin. ”

“ They had come up to look over the precipice, but a good deal of their interest in sightseeing was now gone.
"I don't know as I care to drive those horses back to Honolulu," remarked Captain Ponsberry, after he had insisted upon rewarding Larry by literally jamming a five-dollar gold piece down in his trousers pocket. "Have you got a man around here as can do it for us?" ”

“ But scarcely had this movement been made when there was a puff of smoke from the warship, a report, and a shot flew in front of the schooner's bow.
"There's our order to lay-to!" ejaculated Larry. "Whoever she is, she means business."
As the Columbia did not stop, another shot was fired, this time just grazing the bow. Seeing there was no help for it, Captain Ponsberry gave the necessary orders, and down came one sail after another. ”

“ Larry was tired out by the swimming race and by the adventure with the sawfish, and he was glad enough, after examining the fish, to lie down in his berth and take a rest and, later on, a good night's sleep. Striker also slept soundly, and when early in the morning a breeze sprang up and the sails were hoisted. Captain Ponsberry gave orders not to disturb them, but to let the others do the necessary work.
"They've earned the rest, poor chaps," he said, "so let 'em have it." ”

“ The next few days were anxious ones for the two young Americans. In the meantime Larry decided to remain with Captain Ponsberry, who told the young sailor he was glad of it. Ben and Gilbert saw the Columbia sail, and each waved Larry, the [Pg 145] captain, and the others on board an affectionate adieu.
“He’s as fine a man as I ever sailed with,” declared Ben. “I trust they make the trip in safety.” ”

“ An earnest conversation was held between the two officers.
"We'll take a general look at the cargo," said the one who had just arrived. "It will not do to go too far—in case we find everything as it should be. We want no trouble with the Yankee government."
Captain Ponsberry was asked to have the mizzen hatch opened, and this work was done by Luke Striker and several others. Then two of the Russian sailors were sent below, and one of the officers went along.
In the meantime, Peterson, unknown to anybody on board, had slipped off to the brig. Here he found Ostag Semmel in solitary confinement. ”

“ We'll simply have to rely on our wits to keep us out of being gobbled up as a prize of war," responded the young second mate.
CHAPTER XI AN ORDER TO LAY-TO When taking on his cargo at Manila, Captain Ponsberry had considered the possibility of being captured by a Russian warship, and had talked the matter over with the agents of the Richmond Importing Company and with a Japanese official who was doing business on the sly in the Philippines. ”