BOB THE CASTAWAY

Or, The Wreck of the Eagle

By

FRANK V. WEBSTER

AUTHOR OF "ONLY A FARM BOY, " "THE BOY FROM THE RANCH, ""THE NEWSBOY PARTNERS, " "THE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER, " ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED

1909

Books for Boys by FRANK V. WEBSTER

12mo. Illustrated. Bound in cloth. 

ONLY A FARM BOY, Or Dan Hardy's Rise in LifeTOM THE TELEPHONE BOY, Or The Mystery of a MessageTHE BOY FROM THE RANCH, Or Roy Bradner's City ExperiencesTHE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER, Or Fred Stanley's Trip to AlaskaBOB THE CASTAWAY, Or The Wreck of the EagleTHE YOUNG FIREMEN OF LAKEVILLE, Or Herbert Dare's PluckTHE NEWSBOY PARTNERS, Or Who Was Dick Box?THE BOY PILOT OF THE LAKES, Or Nat Morton's PerilsTWO BOY GOLD MINERS, Or Lost in the MountainsJACK THE RUNAWAY, Or On the Road with a Circus

Cupples & Leon Co. , Publishers, New York

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I BOB MAKES TROUBLE II ANOTHER PRANK III A STRANGE PROPOSITION IV TALKING IT OVER V A JOKE THAT WENT WRONG VI MRS. HENDERSON'S DECISION VII BOB IS DELIGHTED VIII GETTING READY IX BOB'S LAST LAND JOKE X OFF ON THE TRIP XI THE "EAGLE" SAILS XII SOME JOKES ON BOB XIII BOB TRIES A PRANK XIV MR. TARBILL GETS A SHOCK XV THE STORM XVI WRECK OP THE SHIP XVII ADRIFT IN SMALL BOATS XVIII BOB ON AN ISLAND XIX FINDING MR. TARBILL XX MAKING THE BEST OF IT XXI MORE ARRIVALS XXII AFLOAT ONCE MORE XXIII A SERIOUS LOSS XXIV DAYS OF HOPELESSNESS XXV HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION

CHAPTER I

BOB MAKES TROUBLE

"Bob! Bob!" called a woman in loud tones, as she came to thekitchen door, her arms, with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, covered with flour. "Bob, I want you to go to the store for me. Ineed some more lard for this pie-crust. "

There was no answer, and the woman looked across the big yard atone side of the cottage. 

"Where can that boy be?" Mrs. Henderson murmured. "I saw him herea little while ago. He's never around when I want him. Ishouldn't be surprised but what he was planning some joke. Oh, dear! I wish he was more steady, and wasn't always up to somemischief. Still, he's a good boy at heart, and perhaps he'll growbetter when he gets older. "

She rubbed her left cheek with the back of her hand, leaving a bigpatch of flour under one eye. Then she called once more. 

"Bob! Bob Henderson! Where are you? I want you to go to thestore. "

"Here I am, mother. Were you calling me?" asked a boy, emergingfrom behind a big apple tree. 

He was not a bad-looking lad, even if his nose did turn up a bit, though his hair was tinged with red, and his face covered withfreckles. His blue eyes, however, seemed to sparkle with mischief. 

"Did I call you?" repeated Mrs. Henderson. "I'm hoarse after theway I had to shout--and you within hearing distance all the while!Why didn't you answer me?"

"I guess I was so busy thinking, mom, that I didn't hear you. "

"Thinking? More likely thinking of some trick! What's that you'vegot?"

"Nothing, " and Bob tried to stuff pieces of paper into a basketthat was already filled to overflowing. 

"Yes, 'tis too something. You're making some more of those papersnappers that the teacher kept you in after school for the othernight. Bob, can't you settle down and not be always up to sometrick?"

"I wasn't making these for myself, mom, honest I wasn't, "expostulated Bob, with an innocent look that did not seem in accordwith the mischief in his blue eyes. "I was making 'em for JimmySmith. "

"Yes, and Jimmy Smith would pop 'em off in school, and when he gotcaught he'd say you gave 'em to him, and you'd both be kept in. Oh, Bob, I don't know what will happen to you next!"

"Why, I wasn't doing anything, honest I wasn't, mom. Oh, how funnyyou look with that patch of flour on your cheek! Just like a clownin a circus, only he has white stuff all over his face. "

"Well, I must say, Bob Henderson, you're not very complimentary toyour mother, telling her she looks like a circus clown. "

"I didn't say you did, mom. You only look like half a clown. "

"That's just as bad. "

Bob took advantage of this little diversion to hide the papersnappers behind the tree while his mother was wiping the flour offher face. The snappers were oblong pieces of stout wrapping paper, folded in such a way that when swung through the air they went offlike a bag blown up and crushed between the hands. Bob was anexpert in their manufacture. 

"Come, " went on Mrs. Henderson, when she was satisfied that herface was no longer adorned with flour, "I want you to go to thestore for some lard. Tell Mr. Hodge you want the best. Here's themoney. "

"All right, mom, I'll go right away. Do you want anything else?"

Now Bob usually made more of a protest than this when asked to goto the store, which was at the other end of the village ofMoreville, where he lived. He generally wanted to stay at hisplay, or was on the point of going off with some boy of hisacquaintance. 

But this time he prepared to go without making any complaint, andhad his mother not been so preoccupied thinking of her housework, she might have suspected that the lad had some mischief afoot--somescheme that he wanted to carry out, and which going to the storewould further. 

"No, I guess the lard is all I need now, " she said. "Now do hurry, Bob. Don't stop on the way, for I want to get these pies bakedbefore supper. "

"I'll hurry, mom. "

There was a curious smile on Bob's face, and as he got his hat fromthe ground before setting off on the errand he looked in his pocketto see if he had a certain long, stout piece of cord. 

"I guess that will do the trick, " murmured the boy to himself. "Oh, yes, I'll hurry back all right! Guess I'll have to if I don'twant Bill Hodge to catch me. "

There was a cunning look on Bob's face, and the twinkle in his eyesincreased as he set off down the village street. 

"I hope he doesn't get into mischief, " murmured Mrs. Henderson, asshe went back to her work in the kitchen. "If he wasn't such anhonest boy, I would be more worried than I am about him. But Iguess he will outgrow it, " she added hopefully. 

Bob Henderson, who is to be the hero of our Story, was the only sonof Mr. And Mrs. Enos Henderson. They lived in Moreville, athriving New England town, and Bob's father was employed in a largewoolen mill in the place. 

Bob attended the local school, and he was a sort of leader among acertain class of boys. They were all manly chaps, but perhaps wereinclined more to mischief than they should be. And none of themwas any more inclined that way than Bob. He was rather wild, andsome of the things he did were unkind and harmful to those on whomhe played jokes. 

Bob was always the first to acknowledge he had been in the wrong, and when it was pointed out to him that he had not done what wasright he always apologized. Only this was always after themischief had been done, and he was just as ready half an hour laterto indulge in another prank. 

Nearly every one In Moreville knew Bob, some to their sorrow. Butin spite of his tricks he was well liked, even though some nervouswomen predicted that he would land in jail before he got to be mucholder. 

It was a pleasant afternoon In June, and Bob had not been home fromschool long when his mother sent him after the lard. As ithappened, this just suited the youth's purpose, for he contemplatedputting into operation a trick he had long planned against WilliamHodge, the proprietor of the village grocery store. 

So Bob trudged along, whistling a merry tune and jingling in hispocket the money his mother had given him. 

"He'll be as mad as hops, " he murmured, "but it can't do much harm. He'll turn it off before much runs out. "

This may seem rather a puzzle to my young readers, but if you havepatience you will soon understand what Bob meant, though I hopenone of you will follow his example. 

As Bob walked along he met another lad about his own age. 

"Hello, Bob, " greeted Ted Neefus. "Where you goin'?"

"Store. "

"What store?"

"Bill Hodge's. "

"What fer?"

"Lard. "

"Want me t' go 'long?"

"If you want to, " and there was a half smile on Bob's face. Tedknew the meaning of that smile. He had more than once beenassociated with Bob in his tricks. 

"Kin I watch ye?" he asked eagerly. 

"What for?" asked Bob with an air of assumed indignation. "What doyou think I'm going to do?"

"Oh, that's all right, " returned Ted. "I won't say anythin'. Letme watch, will yer?"

"I don't s'pose I can stop you, " replied Bob, with an appearance oflofty virtue. "The street's public property. I haven't any rightto say you shan't stand in front of Bill's store until I come out. You can if you want to. "

"Maybe I won't then!" exclaimed Ted. 

"Better not walk along with me, " advised Bob. "Folks might thinkwe were up to something. "

"That's so. Like when we burned some feathers under the churchwhen they were having prayer meeting. "

"Don't speak so loud, " cautioned Bob. "You'll give things away. "

Thus admonished, Ted took a position well to his chum's rear. Meanwhile Bob continued on and was soon at the grocery store. 

"Good-afternoon, Mr. Hodge, " he said politely. 

"Arternoon, " replied Mr. Hodge, for he was not fond of boys, leastof all Bob Henderson. "What d' you want?"

He had an air as if he was saying:

"Now none of your tricks, you young rapscallion! If you play anyjokes on me you'll smart for it!"

"Mother wants a pound of lard--the best lard, Mr. Hodge, " said Bob. 

"I don't keep any but the best. "

"Then I want a pound. It's a fine day, isn't it?"

"I don't see nothin' the matter with it. 'Tain't rainin' anyhow. Now don't you upset anything while I go fer the lard. I have t'keep it down cellar, it's so hot up here. "

Bob knew this. In fact, he counted on it for what he was about todo. No sooner had the storekeeper started down the cellar stairsthan Bob pulled from his pocket a long, stout piece of cord. Hequickly fastened one end of it to the spigot of a molasses barrel, which stood about half way back in the store. Then he ran the cordforward and across the doorway, about six inches from the floor, and fastened the other end to a barrel of flour as a sort of anchor. 

By this time Mr. Hodge was coming upstairs with the lard in a thinwooden dish, a piece of paper being over the top. Bob stood nearthe counter piling the scale weights up in a regular pyramid. 

"Here, let them alone, " growled the storekeeper. "Fust thing youknow they'll fall an' mebby crack. "

"I wouldn't have that happen, " said Bob earnestly, but with alurking smile on his lips. "How much is the lard, Mr. Hodge?"

"Fourteen cents. It's gone up. "

"Something else will be going down soon, " murmured Bob. 

He paid over the money, took the lard and started out. As soon ashe reached the front stoop of the store he gave a hasty lookaround. He saw Ted dodging behind a tree across the street. Suddenly Bob opened his mouth and let out a yell like that which anIndian might have given when on the warpath. It was a shriek as ifsome one had been hurt. Then he jumped off the porch and hidunderneath it, one end being open. 

An instant later Mr. Hodge, thinking some accident had happened, rushed to the front door of his store. But just as he reached ithe went down in a heap, tripped by the string Bob had stretchedacross the opening. 

The storekeeper was more surprised than hurt, for he was quitestout and his fat protected him. As he got up, muttering vengeanceon whatever had upset him, he went to the door to look out. Therewas not a person in sight. 

"It must have been that pesky Bob Henderson!" he exclaimed. "He'salways yellin' an' shoutin'. "

He turned back into the store, rubbing his shins. As he did so heuttered an exclamation of dismay. And well he might, for thespigot of the molasses barrel was wide open, and the sticky brownfluid was running all over the floor. 

CHAPTER II

ANOTHER PRANK

"Drat that boy!" cried Mr. Hodge. "I'll make him suffer fer this. I'll have him arrested fer malicious mischief, an' I'll sue hisfather. I'll see if I can't put a stop to sech nonsense. "

He did not waste time in words, however, but hastened to shut thespigot of the molasses barrel to stop the wasteful flow. However, two gallons or more had run all over, the floor, making a stickypool. 

Meanwhile Bob had crawled out from under the stoop and had crossedthe street to Join Ted. 

"Did you see anything?" he asked. 

"Did I?" asked Ted. "Well, I should say I did. It was great. How'd ye think of it?"

"Did I do anything?" asked Bob innocently. "I thought Bill Hodgestubbed his toe and fell. Probably he slipped in some molasses. "

"Did you pull the spigot open?"

"Me? No, I didn't, but maybe the string did. I guess I've got tohurry home with this lard. Mom wants to make some pies. "

Bob got home much sooner than his mother expected he would. Hegave her the lard, and then went out under the apple tree where hehad left the paper snappers. 

"He's back quick, " mused Mrs. Henderson. "I don't see how he hadtime to do any mischief. Perhaps he didn't play any tricks on anyone this time, " for Bob seldom went through the village but what hedid so. However, Mrs. Henderson was mistaken, as we know. 

During this time Mr. Hodge was busy wiping as much of the molassesoff the floor as he could with old cloths and pieces of newspaper. While he was doing this a customer came in and inquired:

"What's the matter? Molasses barrel spring a leak, Bill?"

"Leak? No, it was that pesky Bob Henderson. Wait till I git holdof him! I'll make him smart. An' I'm goin' to sue his father. "

"What did he do? Why, Bill, you walk lame. What's the matter, gotrheumatiz?"

"It's all on account of Bob. "

"What did he do?"

"Came here for some lard. When I was down cellar gittin' it he tieda string to the molasses barrel spigot and stretched it across thedoorway. "

"What, the spigot?"

"No, the string. Ye know what I mean. Then he went out on thestoop an' yelled like sin. I thought somebody was killed an' I runout. I tripped over the string an' it pulled the spigot open. Ibarked my shins, an' when I looked in the store, after seein'nobody was hurt, the molasses was runnin' all over. Oh, wait tillI git hold of that pesky boy!"

"I s'pose if you hadn't been so curious to see who was killed itwouldn't have happened, " observed Adiran Meelik. 

"Curious! Ain't I got a right to run an' see who's killed in frontof my store?"

"I s'pose so. But there wasn't anybody killed; only you came nearbeing. "

"That's so. I'll bring an action against Bob Henderson's fatherfor damages for personal injuries, that's what I'll do. Thenthere's the wasted molasses. "

"That boy plays too many tricks, " observed Mr. Meelik as he tookthe brown sugar he had come in to purchase and walked out. "Altogether too many tricks. Still, " he added with a smile, "Iwould like to have seen Bill stumble and watched his face when heseen that molasses runnin' to waste. "

The storekeeper lost no time in putting his plan into action. Butas he was a cautious man, and did not want to waste money hiring alawyer to bring suit if he could collect damages without doing so, he decided to call on Mr. Henderson himself. 

A short time after Mr. Hodge had succeeded in cleaning up as muchof the molasses as possible his wife came in to relieve him oftending the store, as was her custom. She had had an early supper, and was to remain in the place until Mr. Hodge had also satisfiedhis appetite. By this arrangement there was no need of hiring aclerk. They lived in some rooms over the store. 

"Your supper's ready, William, " she said. 

"I guess supper'll have to wait to-night. "

"Why?"

"'Cause I'm goin' to see if I can't collect damages from EnosHenderson fer what his son done. "

"What's that?"

Mr. Hodge explained, and his wife agreed with him that it would bewise first to try what a personal demand would do. 

It was about six o'clock when Mr. Hodge reached the Henderson home. Mr. Henderson stopped work at five, and he was at supper when thestorekeeper entered. Bob knew the object of the visit, and, makingan excuse that he wanted to see one of his boy chums, was about toleave the table. 

"My business is with him, too, " said Mr. Hodge in rather surlytones. 

"With Bob?" asked Mr. Henderson, and his heart sank. He realizedthat his son must have been up to some prank in which thestorekeeper was involved, for Mr. Hodge was not a person to payfriendly calls. 

"Yes. I've come t' see if ye'll settle my claim fer damageswithout a lawsuit. "

"A lawsuit?" inquired Mr. Henderson, now becoming quite alarmed, while Bob's mother grew pale. Bob himself, not a little frightenedas the result of his joke, sank down in a chair, "I want damages fer personal injuries, as well as fer five gallonsof molasses that run to waste. "

"It couldn't have been more than three gallons, " interrupted Bob. "Molasses runs awful slow, and the spigot wasn't open more thanthree minutes. "

"It runs fast in hot weather, " observed the storekeeper. 

"What is it all about?" asked Mr. Henderson. 

Then Mr. Hodge explained, dwelling on the pain he had suffered as aresult of the fall from the string that tripped him and on the lossof the molasses. 

"I want ten dollars damage, " he concluded. "A dollar fer themolasses an' the rest fer personal injuries. "

"I am afraid I cannot afford to pay so much, " said Mr. Henderson, who, while he made good wages, was trying to save up enough to payfor his home. 

"Then I'll sue ye. "

"I would not like you to do that, but I cannot afford to pay tendollars--at least not now. I have some interest to meet this week. "

"Well, maybe I might take a little less, " said Mr. Hodge, as he sawa prospect of Bob's father coming to a settlement. "I'll make iteight dollars, an' ye can pay me in installments. "

"I suppose that will be fair, " admitted Mr. Henderson. He spokevery quietly, but he was much exercised over what had happened. 

"Can ye pay me anythin' now?" asked Mr. Hodge eagerly, rubbing hisshins, which, to tell the truth, were only slightly bruised and didnot hurt him in the least now. 

"I could give you two dollars. But first I want to ask Bob if heis responsible for this. "

To his sorrow Mr. Henderson did not have much doubt of it. 

"Oh, I guess he won't deny it, " said the storekeeper. 

"Did you do this, Bob?" inquired his father. 

"I--I guess so, but I didn't mean anything. "

Bob was not so happy over his prank as he had been at first. 

Mr. Henderson said nothing. He took two dollars from his wallet--awallet that did not have any too much money in it--and handed thebills to the storekeeper, who eagerly pocketed them. 

"When kin ye give me some more?" he asked. 

"Next week. I am sorry, Mr. Hodge, that my son did this. "

"So am I. But I s'pose boys will be boys. "

Mr. Hodge seemed in better mood. The truth was, he had notexpected to receive any money, and as he was a sort of miser, itmade him feel better to think he was going to get damages withouthaving to pay a lawyer. In reality, not more than fifty cents'worth of molasses had run to waste. 

When the storekeeper had left Mr. Henderson further questioned Bob, getting all the particulars of the trick. 

"I'm sorry, dad, " said Bob when he had finished his recital. 

"That is what you say every time, my son. You said it after youfrightened Mrs. Anderson's cow and they had to have theveterinarian for the animal, but that did not pay his bill. I hadto settle for it, "

"I know, dad. I'll not do it again. "

"And that's another thing you always say, Bob. Now this is gettingserious. You must mend your ways. This will be quite a heavyexpense to me. I was going to spend that two dollars for a newpair of shoes. Now I will have to wait. "

"I'm sorry, dad. "

"But that doesn't give me my shoes, "

Mr. Henderson spoke gravely, and Bob felt quite badly over what hehad done, for he loved his father and mother very much, and wouldnot intentionally pain them. The trouble was he was, like manyother boys, thoughtless. He did not count the consequences whenindulging in pranks. 

A little later, after giving his son quite a severe lecture, andobtaining his promise to be better in the future, Mr. Hendersonprepared to go to bed. Bob also retired to his room, for he feltin no mood to go out with the village boys that night. 

"I'm sure I don't know what to do with Bob, " said Mrs. Henderson toher husband when she was locking up the house. "I'm afraid he'llget into serious trouble. "

"I hope not. I think I must punish him severely the next time heplays any tricks. "

"He is too big to whip. "

"I know it. I must think of some other method. "

Bob fell asleep, resolving to mend his ways, or at least to play inthe future only harmless tricks to which no one would object. Butin the morning his good resolutions had lost some of their power, like many others made during the night. 

That day in school Bob snapped several of the paper crackers, andin consequence was kept in. However, his mother was visiting aneighbor, and when he came home late that afternoon she did not seehim. 

That evening Ted Neefus called for Bob. They were chums of longstanding. 

"Let's take a walk, " suggested Ted. 

"Aw, that's no fun. "

"What'll we do then?"

Bob thought a few seconds. 

"I'll tell you, " he said. "We'll put a tic-tac on Mrs. Mooney'swindow. She lives all alone, and she'll think it's a ghostrapping. "

"Good! Come on. Have you got some string?"

"Sure. "

So you see how poorly Bob remembered his promise of the nightbefore, and with what thoughtlessness he again started to indulgein a prank--a prank which might throw a nervous woman intohysterics. Yet in this Bob was just like thousands of otherboys--he "didn't mean anything. " The trouble was he did not think. 

So the two boys, their heads full of the project of making atic-tac, stole quietly through the village streets toward thecottage of the Widow Mooney. 

CHAPTER III

A STRANGE PROPOSITION

Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance knownas a "tic-tac" is like. Those of you who have made them, ofcourse, do not need to be told. If you ever put them on anyperson's window, I hope you selected a house where there were onlyboys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac. Itis no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an oldperson with the affair. So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tacafter the description given here, I trust he or she will be carefulon whom the prank is played. 

To make a tic-tac a long string, a pin and a small nail are allthat is required. A short piece of string is broken from thelarger piece, and to one end of this latter the pin is fastened bybeing thrust through a knot. 

To the other end or the short cord is attached the nail. Then thelong string is tied to the short string a little distance above thenail. 

With this contrivance all made ready Bob and Ted sneaked up underthe front window of the widow's house. It was the work of but amoment for Bob to stick the point of the pin in the wooden part ofthe window-frame so that the nail dangled against the glass. Then, holding the free end of the long string, he and Ted withdrew to theshadow of some lilac bushes. 

"All ready?" asked Ted. 

"Sure. Here she goes!"

Bob then gently jerked the string. This swung the nail to and fro, and it tapped on the window-pane as if some one was throwingpebbles against the glass. This was kept up for several seconds. 

The widow, who was reading in the dining-room, heard the tapping atthe glass. It startled her at first, and then, thinking some onemight be at the door, she conquered her nervousness and opened theportal. Of course she saw no one, and the string was not observed. Neither were the boys, hidden in the bushes. 

"We fooled her, " chuckled Ted, for they could see all that happened. 

"Sure we did, " added Bob. "Wait till she goes in and we'll do itsome more. "

Somewhat puzzled, the Widow Mooney closed the door. No sooner wasshe back in the dining-room than the tapping at the pane wasresumed. This time it was louder. The widow, who was quite timidand nervous, felt frightened. She had years before believed inspirits, and she had not altogether gotten over this. 

Once more she went to the door, the boys observing her from theirhiding-place. They were so delighted with their prank, which theythought a fine "joke, " that they laughed heartily, having to holdtheir hands over their mouths so as not to betray themselves. 

"She don't know what it is, " whispered Ted. 

"Maybe she thinks it's night-hawks pecking at the window, "suggested Bob. 

"Go ahead. Tap some more. She's going in. "

Much puzzled by the queer noises, for no one had ever before put atic-tac on her window, Mrs. Mooney went back to her dining-room. But she could not read. 

"I must find out what that is, " she said to herself. "If it'sburglars, I'm going to call for help. Suppose it should be thievestrying to cut one of the window-panes? I've read of such doings. "

Now, the widow was less afraid of something bodily, like burglars, than she was of "spirits, " so she resolved the next time she heardthe queer tapping to run out and call for help. 

In a little while Bob pulled the string again, and the danglingnail went tap! tap! tap! against the pane. 

"Here she comes!" exclaimed Ted in a whisper as the door opened. 

And this time, instead of contenting herself by merely lookingabout, Mrs. Mooney came out on the porch. Then she started downthe front walk toward the lilac bushes, though she did not know theboys were there. 

"She's comin' after us, " whispered Ted. "Come on, Bob. "

Bob was aware of the danger of getting caught. He prepared to run. 

Now there is this advantage to a tic-tac. Once you want to escapeyou can take it with you by the simple process of pulling on thelong string, when the pin is jerked from the window-frame, and youcan drag the nail and all with you, thus leaving no evidencebehind. This was what Bob did. 

Quickly winding up die string as he pulled the pin and nail towardhim, he and Ted started to run, crouching down low so as not to beseen. But Ted, unfortunately for the success of their plan, stumbled and fell, making so much noise that Mrs. Mooney heard t. 

"Thieves! Burglars! Police!" she screamed. 

"Come on!" cried Bob desperately. "We'll be caught!"

Mrs. Mooney ran back into the house, slammed the front door, shutand locked it. She believed she had surprised thieves at work, forshe saw two dim forms running toward the street. 

"Leg it!" whispered Bob. 

"I am, " replied Ted. 

They reached the gate together, but that was as far as they got, for just as they arrived at it they collided with a large man whowas running toward the house. He was so large that the combinedimpact of Bob and Ted against him never staggered him, but italmost threw them off their feet. They were running, head down, and had not seen him. 

"Hold hard there, my hearties!" exclaimed the man in a gruff butnot unpleasant voice. "What are you trying to cross my bows for inthis fashion? That's no way to run, not showing a masthead lightor even blowing a whistle. Avast and belay! You might have sunkme if I didn't happen to be a heavier craft than you. "

As the man spoke he instinctively grasped the two boys, preventingthem from continuing their flight. 

"What's the trouble?" he went on. "I heard a femalecrying--sounding a distress signal like. Where are the burglars?Are you going for the police?"

"No, sir. It was us, playing tic-tac, " explained Bob, thinking itbest to make a clean breast of the affair. 

"Tic-tac, eh? I haven't heard that since I was a boy. On whosewindow?"

"The Widow Mooney's, sir. "

"And it was the widow, I presume, who was signaling for aid. Well, I'll stand by and see what's wanted. You'd better come back also. "

"Aw, we don't want to, " spoke Ted. 

"No, I suppose not. Still you're coming. "

The man had both boys firmly by their arms, and he turned in thegateway with them. As he did so, Mrs. Mooney, hearing voices, ventured to open her door. The light streamed out and showed theface of the man. At the sight of it Bob uttered an exclamation. 

"Why, it's Captain Spark!" he cried. 

"That's what. You read my signals right, my lad, and if I'm notmistaken, you're Bob Henderson. "

"Yes, sir. "

Captain Jeremiah Spark was an old seafaring man. He was a distantrelative of Bob's mother, and, in fact, he was on his way to callon her, having just returned from a long voyage, when he ran intothe boys, or, rather, they collided with him. 

"So you're playing tricks on a poor, lone widow woman, are you?"asked the captain in no very pleasant tones. 

"We--we didn't mean any harm, " said Bob. 

"No, I suppose not. Boys never do, but the harm comes. Now I'mgoing to march you two lads right up before the mast; and you'regoing to apologize to the widow. If you don't, why, I reckon acat-o'-nine-tails will fit the case pretty well. "

Mrs. Mooney was standing in her door as the captain led the twoboys up to her. 

"Here's the burglars you were shouting about, ma'am, " he said. "One of 'em a relative of mine, I'm sorry to say. They've cometo beg your pardon. Go ahead, boys. "

"I'm sorry about the tic-tac, " said Bob in a low voice. 

"We didn't mean nothin', " added Ted. 

"Was it you boys?" asked the widow. "I was so frightened. Ithought burglars were trying to cut out a pane of glass. "

"I don't believe they'll do it again, " remarked Captain Spark. "Will you, boys?"

"No, sir, " they chorused. 

"That's right. Now come on, Bob. I'm going to your house. "

The captain was warmly welcomed by Mr. And Mrs. Henderson a littlelater. Bob was wondering whether the captain would say anythingabout the recent prank, but the old seaman said nothing, though hiseyes twinkled when, in response to a question from Mr. Henderson asto where the captain had met Bob, the former replied that there hadbeen a collision in the dark. 

That night, after Bob had gone to bed, Mrs. Henderson had a talkwith her relative. 

"I don't know what to do with Bob, " she said. "He is alwaysgetting into mischief. He is not a bad boy at heart, but he isthoughtless. "

"Yes, that he is, " agreed Captain Spark. 

"I am almost sure he was up to some prank tonight, " went on Bob'smother. "I shall probably hear about it in the morning, when someof the neighbors call to make a complaint. Oh, dear, I wish I knewwhat to do!"

"I'll tell you what, " suddenly exclaimed the captain, banging hisfist down on the table with emphasis. "Let me take him to sea withme aboard the Eagle. "

"Take him to sea? Take Bob on a voyage?" asked Mrs. Henderson. 

"That's it! You let me take him, and I'll guarantee I'll make aman of him. The land is no place for a boy, anyhow. He needs abit of ocean travel to broaden his views. "

"That is a strange proposition, " said Mr. Henderson. "We mustthink it over. "

CHAPTER IV

TALKING IT OVER

Captain Spark was invited to spend a week or more at the Hendersonhome. He was up bright and early the next morning--in fact, beforeany one else, and Bob, hearing some one moving around downstairs, and knowing his father and mother were not in the habit of havingsuch an early breakfast, descended to see who it was. 

"Good-morning, my lad, " greeted the mariner. "I suppose you aregoing to take the morning watch and holystone the decks. Nothinglike being active when you're young. It will keep you from gettingold. "

"Yes, sir, " replied Bob, for he did not know what else to say. 

"Haven't got any more tic-tacs, have you?" and there was a twinklein the captain's eyes. 

"No, sir. "

"That's right. If you've got to play tricks, do it on somebody yoursize. Then it's fair. Don't scare lone widows. "

"I won't do it again, " promised Bob, who felt a little ashamed ofhis prank of the previous night. 

Soon Mrs. Henderson came downstairs to get breakfast, and when themeal was over Bob got ready for school, Mr. Henderson leaving forhis work in the woolen mill. 

When Bob was safely out of the way Captain Spark once more broughtup before Mrs. Henderson the proposition he had made the nightbefore. 

"Well, Lucy, " he said, for he called Mrs. Henderson by her firstname, "have you thought over what I said about taking Bob to sea?"

"Yes, I have. "

"And what do you think of it?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, I don't like the idea. "

"Why not? I'm sure it would be good for him. "

"It might. I'm sure you mean it well, but I couldn't bear to havehim go. "

"It will make a man of him--cure him of some of his foolish ways, I'm sure. "

"Perhaps it would. Bob is very wild, I know, but I think I havemore influence over him than any one else. He will do anything forme, or for his father, either, for that matter. I am afraid if Bobgot away from our influence he would be worse than he is now. "

"Oh, we have a few good influences aboard the Eagle" said thecaptain with a grim smile. "Only we don't call 'em influences. Wecall 'em ropes' ends, or cat-o'-nine-tails, or a belaying-pin. I'veknown a limber rope's end, applied in the right place, do more goodto a boy than lots of medicine. "

"Oh, but, captain, I couldn't have Bob beaten!"

"No, of course not, I was only joking. Not that it doesn't do a boygood, though, once in a while, to have a good tanning. But I don'trecommend it for a steady diet. "

"Bob's father has never whipped him since he was a small lad, " wenton Mrs. Henderson. "Not that he doesn't seem to deserve itsometimes even now, but Mr. Henderson believes in talking to him andshowing him how wrong he has acted. "

"Yes, talk is good, " admitted the mariner, "but if there's a rope'send handy, it sometimes makes the talk a little more effective--justa little bit. "

"I suppose life aboard a sailing ship is very hard now-a-days, "ventured Mrs. Henderson. Somehow she dwelt on the plan of havingthe captain take Bob, though she felt she could not consent to it. 

"No harder than it ever was. In fact, it's easier than when I was aboy and ran away to sea. Those were hard days, and I've neverforgot 'em. That's why I try to treat all my sailors and cabin boysas if they were human beings. Now you'd better think my plan over. It would do Bob a world of good to go to sea. You'd hardly know himwhen he got back. "

"Oh, I don't know what to do, " said Bob's mother. "No, I don'tthink I can consent. He might be drowned, and I would never forgivemyself. I don't believe his father would consent either. "

"Well, think it over, " advised the captain. "I'm going to be inthis port for some time. We're loading for a trip around Cape Horn, and it will take two weeks or more to get in shape. There's timeenough to decide between now and then. "

"I don't believe I could ever consent, " declared Mrs. Henderson. "Ithink Bob will settle down pretty soon and give up playing pranks. "

"I don't, " said the captain to himself. "That boy is too full ofmischief. He needs a sea voyage to soak some of it out of him. Butthat's the way with mothers. Well, I'll wait a while. I thinksomething may happen to make her change her mind before I sail. "

The captain did not know what a good prophet he was. 

When Bob came home from school that noon-time he was surprised tosee his mother and Captain Spark in earnest conversation. At firstBob thought the mariner might be telling of the escapade of thetic-tac, but when his mother made a warning gesture of silence toCaptain Spark on beholding Bob the boy was puzzled. 

"They must have been talking about me, " he decided; "but what couldit be? I don't think he would tell about the tic-tac, but there'scertainly something queer afoot. "

The truth was that the captain was renewing his plan of taking Bobto sea. Had the boy known of it he would have been much surprised, for he never dreamed of such a thing. 

"How did you get along at school to-day?" asked Captain Spark, asMrs. Henderson went out to get dinner. 

"Pretty well. "

"Didn't put any bent pins in the teacher's chair, did you?"

"No, sir. "

The boy hoped the captain would not ask him what other prank he hadbeen up to, for the truth was that Bob had that morning taken a livemouse to the classroom, releasing it during a study period, andnearly sending the woman teacher and the girl pupils into hysterics. His part had not been discovered, but the teacher had threatened tokeep the whole class of boys in that night until the guilty oneconfessed, and Bob knew he would have to tell sooner or later, ifsome of his companions did not "squeal" on him, in order that theymight be released from suspicion. 

"That's right, " went on the mariner. "Never put bent pins in theteacher's chair. "

As Bob feared, some one during the afternoon session told of hispart in the mouse episode, and he was the only one kept in. Theteacher made him stay while she corrected a lot of examinationpapers, and in the silent schoolroom the boy began to wish he hadnot been so fond of a "joke. "

The teacher, who was a kind-hearted woman, talked seriously to herrather wild pupil, pointing out that it was a cowardly thing for aboy to frighten girls. Bob had never looked at it in just thatlight, and he was pretty well ashamed of himself when he was allowedto go home, with an admonition that he must mend his ways or beliable to expulsion. 

"I'll bet he's been up to some mischief, Lucy, " said Captain Sparkwhen Bob came home quite late that afternoon. 

"Perhaps he has. I hope it was nothing serious. "

"Shall I ask him what it was?"

"No, we'll find it out sooner or later, and I don't want his fatherto worry more than he has to. He has hard work at the mill, and Ilike his evenings to be as free from care as possible. "

"That's just like a woman, " growled the mariner to himself. "Theytake more than their share of the burdens that the men and boysought to bear. But never mind. I'll get Bob yet, and when I doI'll make a man of him or know the reason why. He'll find it muchdifferent on board ship from what he has it here in this quietlittle village. "

Bob was all unconscious of what fate had in store for him. 

CHAPTER V

A JOKE THAT WENT WRONG

For several days after the prank with the mouse Bob did not play anyjokes. The teacher ascribed that fact to the lecture she had givenhim. Bob's mother, who also noticed that he was much more quietthan usual, feared he was going to be sick. 

"I never knew him to be so subdued, " she thought. "I think I mustgive him some sulphur and molasses. Perhaps he is getting somedisease. "

She mentioned it to the captain. 

"Nonsense, " said the mariner. "He's hatching up some trick, that'swhat he's doing. You want to look out. "

"Oh, captain, I don't think so!"

"Well, I do. Now you mark my words. It's down on the chart thatBob is up to some mischief. He's hauled down his colors for awhile, but that's only to fool the enemy. First thing you knowhe'll hoist the Jolly Roger, and then there'll be some queer doingsin these waters. "

"Hoist the Jolly Roger?"

"I mean turn pirate, so to speak. You keep your eye on that boy, Lucy. Something's going to break loose or I'm a Dutchman. "

Bob's father thought his son's subdued behavior on the few daysfollowing the captain's arrival was due to a hint Bob had obtained, that, unless he mended his ways, he might be sent on a long voyageto work his passage. 

Now the truth was that Bob was merely waiting for a good chance toplay a trick. He was not particular what sort of a trick it was solong as it created a laugh. The consequences never gave him athought or worry. 

So, as he could think of nothing sufficiently "funny" to do, heremained quiet. But all the while he was looking about to see if heand his boon companion, Ted Neefus, could not perpetrate some prankthat would be "worth while. "

"Things are awful slow, " complained Ted one afternoon as he and Bobwalked home from school. 

"That's right, " agreed Bob. "But wait. I've got a plan. "

"What is it?"

Bob looked carefully up and down the street. Then he glanced behindhim. Next he drew Ted into some bushes that lined the thoroughfareon which they were walking. 

"You know what's going to happen Friday night, don't you?" Bob asked. 

"No; what?"

"The annual donation party for the minister. "

"Well, what of it?"

"I'm going. "

"That's nothing. Don't you generally go? So do I, though I don'tsee much fun in it. Ma makes me. She says it saves gittin' a mealat home, but I don't like the stuff they have there. "

"I don't either--not much--but I'm going this time and so are you. Because, listen, something's going to happen. "

"Honest?"

Bob nodded vigorously several times. There was a bright twinkle inhis eyes. 

"Don't say a word to anybody, " he cautioned Ted, "but just you be onhand. This is going to be the best joke yet. "

"Maybe he'll get mad. "

"What if he does? He won't know who did it. You and I will be upin the gallery, or somewhere, and no one will see us. I'll betthere'll be some fun. "

The chief trouble was, as I have pointed out before, that Bob'sideas of fun and those of other persons did not always agree. Boysand older folks seldom think the same on any subject, and so how canthey be expected to about "jokes"?

The minister's donation party was an annual affair in Moreville. Rev. Daniel Blackton, who had charge of the only church in thevillage, did not receive a very large salary, and it was the customto give him a "donation party" once a year to help pay him. 

This usually took the form of a supper, held in the church parlors. The women of the congregation provided the food, and a small pricewas charged for the meal. Nearly every one, including the "menfolks" and the children, attended, and sometimes quite a fair sumwas realized in this way. 

In addition, every one who could afford to was expected to bringsome "donation" for the minister. The women would knit him mittens, or slippers, or socks, they would crochet articles for theminister's wife, or bring jars of preserves, which were very welcomeat the parsonage. 

The men would donate wood, garden products, or whatever they couldbest afford. In this way, while the reverend gentleman's salary wasnot large, he managed to obtain a comfortable living. 

It was to this donation party, or supper, that Bob and Ted weregoing, and as they crouched in the shadow of the bushes theyperfected Bob's plan for some fun. 

Mrs. Henderson was usually on the committee of arrangements for thesupper, and this occasion was no exception. For a week before shewas busy making pies and cakes and getting great pans of baked beansready, for the supper victuals were of a plain but very wholesomesort. 

As Captain Spark was a guest at the Henderson home at the time thesupper was to be held, he, of course, was invited to attend, aninvitation he quickly accepted, for he was fond of hearty eating, and he was not ashore often enough so that such affairs as donationsuppers were distasteful to him, as they are to some persons. 

At last the eventful evening came. Bob, dressed in his best suit, prepared to accompany his parents and Captain Spark to the church. 

Such a thing as their son attempting a joke at the donation suppernever occurred to Mr. Or Mrs. Henderson. It is true that at theaffair there was more or less jollity and good-natured fun after theformal function of supper was over and the minister had asked theblessing. But no one had ever dared play such a joke as Bobcontemplated. If his mother had in the least suspected him of evendreaming of it she would have made him stay at home. 

There was a good-sized throng in the church when the Henderson partyarrived. Long tables had been set in the parlors, which were backof the church proper. Women in long white aprons were hurrying toand fro, getting ready to serve the meal. Bob followed his parentsand the captain into the edifice. 

"Is everything all ready?" asked Ted Neefus in a whisper as heapproached Bob. 

"Don't come near me, " was the cautious answer. "Folks'll suspect ifthey see us together. "

So Ted quickly glided away and was lost in the crowd. 

The tables were all set, the victuals put on, and nearly every onehad arrived. 

"I guess we'd better get the chairs up now, " proposed Mrs. Olney, who with Mrs. Henderson was superintending things. "Some of theboys can do it. "

"I will, mom, " volunteered Bob, who stood near his mother. "I'llget some of the fellows to help me. "

"That's good, " said Mrs. Henderson. 

Bob hurried away, and soon he, Ted Neefus, Will Merton, Sam Shoopand some other chums were placing the chairs at the long tables. 

"Is it all ready?" asked Ted in a hoarse whisper. 

"Hush, can't you!" cautioned Bob. "Do you want to give it away?"

All was in readiness for the grown folks to sit down. They wouldeat first, then the tables would be set anew and the young peoplewould have their turn. There was always more fun at the secondtable, and Bob and his chums would take their meals there. 

Some one told Rev. Daniel Blackton that supper was ready, and hemoved up to the head of the table, prepared to say grace. In honorof Mrs. Henderson, who was one of the chief workers in the church, her relative, Captain Spark, had been accorded a place next to theminister, "Come on up in the gallery now, " said Bob to Ted. "We can see thefun from there. " Bob had been busy straightening the chairs nearthe head of the table. 

Just as the boys reached the gallery, the assembled diners tooktheir seats. The reverend gentleman stood up to say grace, and thensat down. 

"How long before it works ?" asked Ted. 

"It's working now, " replied Bob, "but you won't see the full effectuntil he gets up. "

"Think he'll make much of a fuss?"

"Naw. He's too good-natured. He'll only laugh. "

The meal progressed. To and fro went the women with big plates offood. Every one seemed to have a good appetite, and some youngpeople, who were hungry, began to think the grown folks would neverget done. 

But at last there was a general scraping of chairs as they werepushed back. 

"Watch now!" called Bob to several of his cronies who were with himin the gallery that overlooked the room where supper was beingserved. "He's getting up. "

In fact nearly every one was leaving the table. The tall form ofRev. Daniel Blackton was seen to rise. Something else arose also. It was the minister's chair. He felt that something was wrong, andhalf turned around. What he saw caused a deep flush to spread overhis pale face. 

His chair was glued fast to him, and wherever he moved the chairwent too!

"Oh!" exclaimed Bob in a hoarse and horrified whisper. "I put thestuff on the wrong chair! I wanted Captain Spark to stick fast, andI put it on the minister's chair by mistake!"

By this time the dominie was endeavoring to pull the chair loosefrom the seat of his trousers. But the glue Bob had spread was verysticky. Pull and tug as he did, the minister could not free himself. 

First there was a murmur, then some one laughed. In a moment thewhole room was in an uproar. 

"You'll catch it!" prophesied Ted, in an awestruck whisper. 

"I won't unless some of you squeal on me, " declared Bob. 

He looked over the balcony railing at the struggling minister, whowas trying in vain to get free from the chair. 

"Nobody'll squeal, " declared Will Merton. 

"Of course not, " added Sam Shoop. 

CHAPTER VI

MRS. HENDERSON'S DECISION

The minister, very much embarrassed, was doing his best to get ridof the chair. It was hard work, for if he turned around to one sideto grasp it, the chair, naturally, swung away from him. It wasseveral seconds before any one thought to aid him. Then CaptainSpark came to his relief. 

"Guess I'll have to give you a hand, dominie, " he said. "You'reanchored pretty hard and fast on a shoal, and you'll need help tobreak loose. How did it happen? Did you sit down on an egg?"

"Some one put glue in the chair. I did not notice it until I triedto get up. "

"Glue, eh?"

The captain's eyes had a queer look in them. 

"Yes. I suppose some of the boys did it for a joke. "

"Pretty poor sort of a joke, " remarked Mrs. Olney. "I could almostput my hand on the boy that did it, too. "

She looked to see if Mrs. Henderson had heard her, but Bob's motherwas on the other side of the room and was not fully aware of whathad happened. 

Captain Spark tried to pull the chair loose from the minister, butthe glue had taken a firm hold, and the only result of his effortswas to drag the reverend gentleman about the room. 

[Illustration: "Captain Spark tried to pull the chair loose. "]

All this while the people were trying hard not to laugh. But it wasimpossible. Men were chuckling and endeavoring to suppress theirmirth, and nearly all the women were red in the face from holding intheir laughter. 

"Guess you'd better sit down, dominie, " advised the captain. 

"If I do, I'll stick faster than before. "

"Well, if you do I'll put my feet on the rounds of the chair andhold it down while you get up. Maybe you can pull loose. "

"I'm afraid, " said Rev. Mr. Blackton. 

"Afraid of what?"

"I might tear my trousers, and, " he added in a whisper to thecaptain, "they're the best pair I have. "

"Might as well be killed for a sheep as a goat, " replied themariner. "They're spoiled anyhow, by this glue. Better try to pullloose. Go on. I'll hold your chair down. "

Thus advised, the minister sat down. The crowd watched withanxiety, not unmixed with mirth. Even the clergyman himself couldnot help smiling, though it was quite an embarrassing position for adignified gentleman. 

"Would you mind putting your feet on the rounds on the other side?"asked the captain of Mr. Henderson. "Between us both I guess we canhold him down. "

The two men bore heavily on the chair-rounds, and Mr. Blacktonstrained to rise. There was a pulling, ripping sound, and hehesitated. Then, feeling that he must get loose no matter whathappened, he gave a mighty tug and was free. But his trousers, though only slightly torn, were covered with glue. 

Now that it was over, and the excitement was beginning to cool down, the minister began to feel a little natural anger at the perpetratorof the "Joke. " His best trousers were spoiled, and the donationsupper had been thrown into confusion. 

"Who did it?" was the question asked on every side. 

The boys came slowly down from the gallery and mingled unnoticedwith the throng. Bob was a little worried. He had not meant tohumiliate the minister, but had counted on Captain Spark gettingstuck to the chair. The captain, he knew, would make light of theprank. But it was no small matter to have done this thing to theclergyman. 

"Going to supper?" asked Ted of Bob. 

"No. I don't feel like eating. Guess I'll go home. "

But Bob's plan was frustrated. His mother, who had been looking forher son, caught sight of him. 

"Oh, Bob!" she exclaimed. "I hope none of the boys that you go withplayed that horrid trick on the minister! It was a very mean thingto do! But you had better have your supper. The table will soon beready again. "

Bob did not have much appetite. He was afraid of being discovered. 

The chair, with the glue on it, had been taken to the cellar, andthe minister had gone home to change his trousers. Captain Spark, who had begun to turn certain things over in his mind, approachedBob. He had a sharp eye, had the mariner, and, in looking closelyat his relative's son, he saw a bit of evidence that Bob had notcounted on. This was nothing more nor less than a big spot of glueon the lad's coat sleeve. 

"What's this?" asked the seaman, pointing to the sticky place. 

"I don't know. Glue--I guess, " replied Bob, turning pale. 

"Glue, eh? Seems to be about as sticky as that on the minister'schair. "

At the mention of glue several persons about Bob and the captainlooked curiously at them. Mrs. Henderson, who was just thenpassing, carrying a big platter of baked beans, stopped to listen towhat the seaman was saying. 

"Yes, it's glue, " remarked the mariner. "Just like that on thechair. Bob, " he asked suddenly, "did you put that glue there?"

Now, with all his faults, Bob would never tell a lie. He regardedthat as cowardly, and he was always willing to take whateverpunishment was coming to him for his "jokes. "

"Yes, captain, " he said in a low voice. "I did it. "

"Ha! I thought so. "

"Bob Henderson!" exclaimed his mother, her face flushing red withmortification. "Did you play that horrid joke on the minister?"

"Yes, but I didn't mean to. "

"You didn't mean to?"

"No. I thought some one else was going to sit on that chair. "

"You thought some one else was? Why, that's just as bad--almost. Who did you think would sit there?"

"Captain Spark!"

"You young rascal!" exclaimed the commander of the _Eagle_, but hedid not seem very angry. "So that was intended to anchor me down, eh? Well, I must look into this. "

"I thought you'd sit there, " went on Bob. 

"So I was going to, but the minister made me change, as he's alittle deaf on one side, and he wanted to ask me some questionsabout the Fiji Islanders. "

There was now quite a crowd around Bob, his mother, and the captain. Mrs. Henderson did not know what to do. Up to now Bob's pranks hadbeen bad enough, but to play this trick on the minister, and at theannual donation supper, where nearly every person in the village waspresent, was the climax. She felt that she had been much humiliated. 

Bob's father heard what had happened, and came up to his son. 

"Bob, " he said, in a curiously quiet voice, "you must go home atonce. I shall have to punish you severely for this. "

Bob knew what that meant. He wished, most heartily, that he had notplayed this last prank. But it was too late now. 

"I told you I thought he was up to something, " whispered the captainto Mrs. Henderson. 

"Yes, you were right, " she admitted. "Now my mind is made up. Captain, I wish you would take him to sea with you at once! I canstand his foolishness no longer!"

Bob was out of the room by this time and did not hear his mother'sdecision. 

"Do you mean that, Lucy?" asked Captain Spark eagerly. 

"Yes, I do. I am determined. Bob shall go to sea. Perhaps it willteach him a lesson, and he will mend his ways. "

"It will be the making of him, " declared the captain heartily. "I'mglad you decided this. I'll make arrangements at once. "

CHAPTER VII

BOB IS DELIGHTED

The excitement caused by Bob's prank had somewhat quieted down, andthe preparations went on for giving the young people their supper. Several of Bob's chums, however, fearful that they might besuspected of having taken part in the trick, left the church. 

As a matter of fact, though, Bob alone was concerned. He hadthought of the trick, procured a bottle of liquid glue from the drugstore, and, watching his chance, had poured it on the chair. Thenhe had told his chums of it, and they had withdrawn with him to thegallery to watch events, which came quickly enough. 

At the supper-table of the young people, little was talked of butBob's prank, and opinion was pretty evenly divided as to what wouldhappen. 

"Maybe the minister will have him arrested, " suggested one girl. 

"Oh, I don't think so, " was the opinion of another. "Mr. Blacktonis a kind-hearted man, and he likes Bob. "

"But I don't believe he'll like him after tonight. "

"Maybe not. It was a mean thing to do, but I couldn't help laughingwhen the minister stood up and the chair went with him, swingingaround every time he moved, the legs hitting everybody. "

"Yes, it was odd. I had to laugh, too. "

The girls and several of their companions indulged in merriment atthe recollection. The minister soon returned to the church parlors, wearing a different pair of trousers, and he seemed to have regainedhis good humor. 

"Who was the boy who wanted me to remain seated all the evening, andperhaps longer?" he asked. 

"It was Bob Henderson, " volunteered several. 

"Yes, Mr. Blackton, " said Mrs. Henderson. "I am sorry to have toadmit that it was my son who played that prank. But he is going tobe punished for it. His father has sent him home and has followedafter him. "

"I hope he will not punish Bob too severely. It was a boyish prank, due more to thoughtlessness than to malice. "

"I suppose it was, but Bob plays altogether too many such pranks. Ithink this will be the last. "

"Well, tell Bob I forgive him, though my trousers are ruined. "

"Mr. Henderson will arrange with you about that. "

"What--er--what chastisement does he contemplate administering toBob?" asked the minister. He and Mrs. Henderson were conversing offto one side, in a corner of the room. "I hope he will not whip him. Bob is too big a boy to be whipped. "

"Still, parson, you know what the Good Book says: 'Spare the rod andspoil the child. '"

"Yes, Mrs. Henderson, I know. Chastisement is all right in manycases, but there are other means. "

"And it is my plan to take them, " went on Bob's mother. "I havejust made arrangements with Captain Spark to take Bob with him on along sea voyage. "

"A sea voyage? That ought to be fine. Yes, I think that will bebetter than whipping Bob. Tell your husband I said so. "

"I shall. Now, if you will excuse me, I must see that these youngpeople have plenty to eat. They are a hungry lot. "

"Indeed they are. Don't forget to tell Bob I forgive him. I don'twant him to worry. Tell him, also, that he must be a little morethoughtful. "

"I will. "

When Captain Spark and Mrs. Henderson went home from the donationsupper that night they discussed on the way the further plans ofsending Bob to sea. 

"We must consult Mr. Henderson about it, " said the captain. 

"I shall, this very night. I will put up with Bob's nonsense nolonger. "

Mr. Henderson was found sitting in the dining-room, reading a paper. He had sent Bob to bed on arriving at the house, for Mr. Hendersonwas a man who did not believe in inflicting punishment in the heatof passion. He wanted to calm down before he decided how his sonought to be made to realize the wrong he had done. To tell thetruth, he was quite at a loss just what punishment to inflict. 

He had thought of a sound whipping, but he realized, as had theminister, that Bob was too old for this. Nothing so breaks theproud spirit of a boy as personal chastisement, after he has reacheda certain age. 

And, as yet, Mr. Henderson was not aware of the proposition CaptainSpark had made to Bob's mother, and her practical acceptance of it. Of course, Mr. Henderson had heard the first talk of sending Bob tosea, but after his wife's refusal to consider it he had thought nomore about it. 

"Well, Enos, " asked Mrs. Henderson, as she and the captain entered, "have you considered what to do with Bob?"

"I have, Lucy, but I have reached no conclusion. "

"I have. "

"You have? What is it?"

"I am going to send him on a voyage with Captain Spark. That is, ifyou consent. "

"I will agree to anything you think best. But I think you will findit hard work to get Bob to go. I fear he will dislike the idea verymuch. "

"Why so?" inquired the captain. 

"Well, Bob has many friends in the village--many boy-chums--and Ithink he would object very strongly to leaving them, and going offamong a lot of strange men in a ship. "

"I wouldn't be a stranger to him. "

"No, you would not, but the others would be. And I think he wouldbe somewhat afraid. "

"Afraid? What's there to be afraid of on the ocean, with a stoutdeck beneath your feet? The ocean is the safest place in the world. I'm frightened half out of my wits every time I come on land. Thereare so many chances of accidents. The train may run off the track, steam-boilers may blow up, there may be an earthquake, a wild bullmay chase you, you may fall down a coal-hole and break your neck, ora building may topple over on you while you're walking peacefullyalong the street. No such things as those can happen to you on theocean. "

"No, perhaps not, but there are others as bad, or worse, captain. "

"Nonsense! It may blow a bit, now and then, but all you've got todo is mind your helm and you'll come out all right. "

"I am glad you think so. I should be very glad to have Bob make atrip with you. I think it would do him good, but I fear he willobject to it. "

"I don't think so. We'll propose it to him in the morning. "

Bob came down to breakfast feeling rather sheepish. He had beenwondering, during the time he was not sleeping, what form ofpunishment his father would inflict. 

The lad had an uneasy feeling that he might have to make a publicapology before the whole church congregation. This he felt would bevery embarrassing. He also had an idea that his father might takehim from school and put him to work in the mill. Mr. Henderson hadonce threatened this when Bob had played some particularly annoyingprank. And Bob liked his school very much, in spite of the trickshe played, "Well, my son, " said Mr. Henderson, more solemnly than he usuallyspoke, "I trust you have a proper feeling of regret for what you didlast night. "

"Yes. I wish I hadn't done it, " said Bob. "I didn't think it wouldmake so much trouble. I didn't mean to use so much glue. "

"Well, there is no use in discussing that now. The thing is done. You remember I told you I would have to punish you?"

"Yes, sir. "

"I have talked it over with your mother and Captain Spark, and wehave made up our minds what to do. You are going to be sent on along sea voyage with Captain Spark, in the _Eagle_. You will beaway from home a long time, and, when you return, I trust you willhave mended your ways. "

For a few seconds Bob did not speak. The proposition was so suddento him that he did not exactly comprehend it. 

"I'm to go to sea with Captain Spark?" he asked slowly. 

"That is the punishment we have decided on, my son. "

"Where are you going, captain?" asked Bob. 

"I'm bound for 'round Cape Horn this trip. Oh, you'll get all theocean you want, but it will make a man of you. "

"When are you going to sail?" asked Bob in a quiet voice. 

"Next week. "

"Good!" exclaimed the youth suddenly. "I'll be ready. Oh, I alwayswanted to make a sea voyage, and now I have the chance. This is thebest ever! Hurrah! That's the stuff! 'A life on, the ocean wave, a home on the bounding deep!' Avast and belay, my hearties! Shivermy timbers! All hands on deck to take in sail! There she blows!"

Bob had not read sea stories for nothing. 

"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed the captain. "I knew he'd likethe idea!"

Mr. Henderson seemed somewhat amazed. He had expected Bob to makestrong objections. Instead the boy was delighted. 

"I am sorry to see you leave home, Bob, " said his mother, with justthe hint of tears in her eyes, "but I think it will be the bestthing for you. "

"So do I, mom. Hurrah! This is the best ever!"

Then Bob began to dance a sailor's hornpipe. 

"It seems to me, " said Mr. Henderson to himself, as he started forthe mill, "that Bob's punishment is more of a pleasure than anythingelse. Still, if it does him good, I'll not regret it. "

CHAPTER VIII

GETTING READY

Captain Spark's ship, the _Eagle_, was a large craft, and in her hehad made many voyages. At present the vessel was docked at aseaport town not many miles from Moreville. 

The day it was announced to Bob that he was to make a sea voyage, the captain left the village to visit the _Eagle_ at the dock andsee how the loading of the cargo was progressing. 

"I want to sail as soon as possible, " he said, "and though I left agood mate in charge, still I like to look after certain mattersmyself. I'll be back in a few days and let you know, Bob, the exactdate for sailing. In the meanwhile you can be getting ready. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " answered the boy, trying, as he had read of sailorsdoing, to pull a lock of his reddish hair, but finding it too short. He had decided to adopt all the sea practices he had ever read about. 

"Get your bag ready, " went on the captain, "have your mother putsome needles and thread in, for you'll have to mend your own clothesat sea, and I'll look it over when I get back. "

"Aye, aye, sir. "

The captain laughed at Bob's sudden enthusiasm for the sea and shipterms, but he was not displeased. 

As for Bob, he thought the time would never pass until he would findhimself aboard the _Eagle_. That very day he began to sort over hisclothes, trying to decide which he should take, and he had such amiscellaneous collection of garments that, when his mother saw them, she laughed. 

"Bob!" she exclaimed. "It would take three trunks to hold them, andI don't believe sailors are ever allowed more than one. At least, in all the pictures I ever saw of sailors going on board a ship theyonly had a small box or bag on their shoulder, and, of course, thatmust have contained all their clothes. "

"I guess you're right, mother. I'll have to sort out some of these. "

"Never mind. I'll do that. But what in the world are you doingwith those rubber boots?"

"I was going to take them along. "

"Sailors seldom wear rubber boots. They go barefoot when it's weton deck. " For Mrs. Henderson knew something about seafaring men, from her long acquaintance with Captain Spark. 

"Another mistake, " admitted Bob, good-naturedly. "Guess I've gotlots to learn about the ocean and ships. "

"Yes indeed, Bob. And I hope you will profit by it. It is no placeto play pranks, either, on board a ship. "

"But I've read that when the ship crosses the equator the sailorscut up all kinds of high jinks. "

"Yes, I suppose they do, but that is not very often. I have nodoubt Captain Spark will permit fun on that occasion. "

"If we go down around Cape Horn and up the west coast of North andSouth America we'll cross the equator twice, " went on Bob. "We canhave fun both times. "

"I'm afraid you're thinking more of the fun you are going to havethan the real reason for this voyage, Bob. It is a punishment foryour prank on the minister. "

"I know it, but, mom, I can't seem to feel that way about it. "

"And I don't know as I blame you, Bob, though of course it was verywrong to put glue on the reverend gentleman's chair. "

Bob felt he must tell the news of his prospective voyage to hischums. Leaving his mother to sort out his clothes, he went out inthe street. It was Saturday and there was no school. In fact, theterm would close in another week, so Bob would miss littleinstruction by taking the cruise. 

The first lad Bob met was Ted Neefus. His chum hurried up to himand Inquired:

"Did he hurt you very much?"

"Who?"

"Your father. "

"My father? What do you mean?"

"Didn't he give you a good walloping for that joke?"

"No. Not a bit of it. I'm going on a sea voyage with CaptainSpark. "

"Honest?"

"Cross my heart, " and Bob went through a rapid motion with his handssomewhere over the region of his stomach. 

"Where to?"

"Around Cape Horn. "

"No jokin'?"

"Of course not. But that's nothing. Captain Spark has been allover the world. "

Bob spoke as though doubling the Horn was the easiest thing amariner meets with. 

"I wonder if he doesn't want another boy, " mused Ted wistfully. 

"Don't believe so. "

"Wish he did. We could have jolly times together. "

"I'm going out to learn how to sail a ship, not to have fun, "replied Bob, with an air of lofty virtue. He had said nothing aboutthis voyage being a sort of discipline as punishment for his prank. He did not think that necessary. 

"When are you goin'?"

"Next week. " And then the two boys fell to discussing the trip inall its aspects. Soon other boys joined Bob and Ted, but theperpetrator of the glue-joke was the center of attraction. 

In fact, Bob was regarded as a sort of village hero. There was moreinterest manifested in geography at school the following week thanever before. Everybody knew, without telling, where Cape Horn was, and as for the Straits of Magellan, they could have pointed them outin the dark. 

The prospect of the trip, too, had a certain effect on Bob. Hismind was so filled with the thought of it, that he actually forgotabout planning any jokes. Nor would he take part in any with theother village boys. 

"Let's go down past old Mary Bounder's house and throw stones at thedoor. Then she'll come out and chase us and one of us can go in andget her pet cat and tie a can to its tail, " proposed Ted thefollowing Monday. Mary Bounder was a curious old woman, who livedall alone in a cabin near the woods, and was the mark for many ajoke on the part of the boys. 

"Nope, " said Bob firmly. 

"What's the matter? Sick?" asked Ted in surprise. 

"No, but I've got to do some studying. "

"Studying? Why, there's only a little more school. "

"I don't mean that kind of studying. I'm learning the differentparts of a ship, so I'll know 'em when I get to sea. "

Ted had momentarily forgotten about Bob's voyage. 

"That's so, " he said. "You'll be going away soon. Say, we ought tohave some fun before you go. "

"Guess I've played enough jokes for a while. "

"But we ought to have one more. Come down to Mary Bounder's. SamShoop will go. He'll catch the cat. "

"Nope. I'm going home. I got a new book on sea terms, and I wantto look at it. "

"All right. Then Sam and I'll go. You'll wish you'd come. We'llhave some fun. "

But Bob could not be persuaded. His mother and father noticed thechange in him, and they were delighted. 

"I believe we made no mistake when we consented to the captain'splan, " said Mr. Henderson. 

"If it will only last, " added his wife. 

That day a letter came from Captain Spark saying he would bedetained a few days longer and would not reach Moreville untilWednesday. 

"The ship will sail the following Saturday, " he stated in his note. "I could sail Friday, but I don't want to take any chances. Some ofmy sailors are superstitious, and I want them all to be in goodhumor. I trust Bob has not changed his mind about going. "

"No indeed, " said the boy, when the letter was shown to him. 

That afternoon as Bob was coming back from the store, he met, on themain street of the village, an old man who lived on the outskirts ofthe town. His name was Captain Obediah Hickson and he had once beena sailor, though he told so many different versions of his life atsea, that it was hard to say where truth began and fiction left off. Still he might not have meant to deceive any one, for he was rathersimple-minded. 

"What's this I hear about you going to take a long sea voyage?" heasked of Bob. 

"It's true, Captain Obed, " which was what every one called the agedman. "I'm going around Cape Horn with Captain Spark. We startsoon. "

"Around Cape Horn, eh? Then you'll strike the Southern Pacific. "

"I expect so. "

A curious change seemed to come over the old man. He lookedcarefully up and down the street to see that no one was in sight, and then, approaching quite closely to Bob, he whispered:

"Bob, come to my house to-night. "

"What for?"

"Hush! Not so loud. I've a great secret to disclose. "

"What about?" asked Bob with a smile, thinking to humor the oldcaptain. 

"About buried treasure. It's on a lonely island in the SouthernPacific Ocean. I'm the only living man who knows where it is. If Iwasn't so old I'd go along and help find it. But I'm too old. Itneeds some one young and strong. You'll dig it up for me, won'tyou?"

"If I could find it, " replied Bob, believing the aged man wasspeaking of some delusion. 

"Oh, you can find it. I have the secret map. I'll give it to you. Come to my house to-night, but after dark--after dark, mind. " And, once more looking around to see that no one had observed him, Captain Obed shuffled on down the street. Bob did not know what tothink. 

CHAPTER IX

BOB'S LAST LAND JOKE

Returning home, Bob said nothing to his mother about what CaptainObed had said. The boy wanted to think more about it. If he couldcombine a treasure hunt with his sea voyage it would be a finething. Besides, why should not the old man know something of hiddentreasure? He had sailed in many waters and been on many ships. Bobdecided he would visit him that night. 

Accordingly, when it grew dusk, he set off for the lonely housewhere the old sailor lived. It was quite a walk, but in hiseagerness Bob covered the ground in short time. As he was passing aclump of bushes, not far from his destination, he was surprised tohear a voice calling sharply from the darkness:

"Avast there!"

"Who is it?" asked Bob. 

"It's me, " replied Captain Obed in his husky voice. "I hid out hereto signal you so's you wouldn't be followed. "

"Followed? Who by?"

"By persons anxious to get hold of the secret map that tells of thetreasure buried on the island. Are you all alone, Bob?"

"Of course. "

"Then go ahead into my house. I'll follow as soon as I've taken anobservation. "

The boy thought the old man must be rather queer to imagine any onewould try to steal his secret, if secret he had. Bob was halfinclined to give the whole thing up. But he walked on, and was sooninside the rather humble home of the retired mariner. PresentlyCaptain Obed entered and quickly closed the door. 

"Have to be very careful--very careful, " he said in a whisper. "Ifany one knowed I had this map they'd rob me of it. "

He pulled down the shades of the windows, and then carefully lockingthe door he went to another room. Bob heard him fumbling about, andsoon the old man came out with a yellowish piece of paper in hishand. 

"Feel of it, " he said to Bob. 

Bob did so. It was stiff and crackly. 

"Parchment--parchment, " whispered Captain Obed. "The map is drawedon parchment--that's sheepskin instead of paper. He wanted it tolast for years and years. "

"Who did?"

Once more Captain Obed looked around to see if by chance any one hadstolen into the room. He made Bob rather nervous. 

"Captain Kidd, " he answered in a lower whisper than he had yet used. "Captain Kidd drawed that map. It gives the real secret of hisburied treasure. I'm the only one that knows where it is. There'slots of maps of Captain Kidd's treasure, but I've got the only realone. All them others was jest drawed so as to fool folks. An' theydid fool 'em. 'Cause why? 'Cause nobody ain't never yet found thecaptain's treasure. But you'll find it, an' you'll bring it home toCaptain Obed, won't you, Bob? Of course you will. You're a goodboy, and if you bring it home safe, why, I'll give you"--he pausedand seemed to make a great effort--"yes, I'll give you a hundreddollars, or maybe a hundred and fifty. There! What do you say tothat?"

"How much treasure is there?" asked Bob, hardly knowing whether tolaugh at the old man or take him seriously. 

"How much? It must be near a million dollars. O h, there's lots oftreasure!"

It struck Bob that if there was that amount he would not be gettingmuch for his share. 

"Now you take that map, " went on Captain Obed. "It gives the exactlocation or the island, and shows where the treasure is buried onit, right in the center of a place where four trees grow. Theisland is about eighty-two degrees west longitude and twenty-onedegrees south latitude. It'll be easy to locate. Just cruise aboutin that locality for a few days and you'll find it. Then dig up thetreasure. "

"But suppose Captain Spark doesn't want to cruise around there?It's his ship. "

"Oh, you give him twenty-five dollars or so--out of your share, mindyou--and he'll be glad enough to do it. Now, Bob, I rely on you. You're the only one I ever told my secret to, and I want you to keepit close. Don't let 'em get that map away from you. They'lltry--oh, they'll try dreadful hard. I got it from my grandfather, who had it direct from Captain Kidd himself, so I know it's correct. Now, Bob, you'd better go. Take good care of the map and bring methe treasure. "

He thrust the yellow, crackling piece of parchment into Bob's handsand opened the door. 

"Put it in your pocket, " he cautioned as Bob went out. "Some onemight see you. "

Now Bob was quite a level-headed youth, and though he knew thatsometimes treasure might be found on islands in the ocean, where ithad been hidden by modern pirates or illegal pearl fishers, he didnot take much stock in what Captain Obed had told him. 

Still he thought it would be no harm to take the parchment and showit to Captain Spark. That seasoned mariner would soon be able totell if it was worth anything. At any rate, Bob was not going tolie awake at night over the possibility--the very smallpossibility--of securing the treasure. 

"Guess I'll have to make a better bargain for my share of it beforeI do much searching, " he decided. 

The boy said nothing to his parents about the parchment map. Hepreferred letting Captain Spark know of it first, as that seemedfairer to the old sailor who had given it to him. Then, as the timewas drawing nearer to the date of sailing, Bob's thoughts dwelt moreand more on his prospective trip. 

"Don't you notice quite a change in Bob?" asked Mrs. Henderson ofher husband the next day. "He seems to have settled down, and hehasn't played a joke in a long time. "

"No, he hasn't. But you know the proverb about a new broom sweepingclean. Just now Bob's mind is so full of the sea that he thinks ofnothing else. Wait a while. If he gets away with Captain Sparkwithout playing some sort of a trick before he goes I'll beagreeably disappointed. "

"I think he will. I'm so glad the captain came to pay us a visitwhen he did. It was a lucky thing for Bob. "

"I think it was. He was getting quite reckless in his pranks. "

The subject of this conversation was, of course, not aware of it. The truth was that Bob was fairly holding himself in. He saw manyopportunities to play jokes--more, in fact, than he had ever seenbefore. It was a great temptation to indulge in pranks, but hereflected that if he got into any more trouble he might not beallowed to take the sea voyage. 

"And I wouldn't want that to happen for the world, " he said tohimself. "Still I know a couple of dandy jokes I could play beforeI go. Maybe I might get Ted Neefus to do 'em, but I don't believehe could do 'em as good as I can. "

Bob was pondering over the rather queer fact to him that old folksdon't care half as much for jokes as boys do, when his mother askedhim to go on an errand for her. This was to take a message to Mrs. Dodson, who lived in a large house on a hill just outside thevillage. She was quite wealthy, and Mrs. Henderson used to do somefine embroidering for her. 

Bob, who was always ready to oblige his mother, took the package ofsewing and the note which went with it and started off. On the wayhe passed the wagon of a certain old crusty farmer he knew. Thevehicle was in front of a house where the farmer had gone to sellsome butter and eggs. Dangling from the back of the wagon was along rope, and it was a great temptation to Bob to take the rope andtie one of the rear wheels so that It would not revolve. Thefarmer, coming out in a hurry, would not notice it, and would wonderwhat was the matter when he started to drive off. 

"But I guess I'd better not, " thought Bob with a sigh. "He'd be sureto tell dad, and then I'd be in more trouble. I've got a prettygood reputation since the donation supper, and I don't want to spoilit. "

Bob delivered the embroidery and note to Mrs. Dodson, and was on hisway back home when he saw Susan Skipper, Mrs. Dodson's hired girl, and Dent Freeman, the hired man of the place, washing the big frontwindows of the house--that is, Dent was washing them, perched upon astep-ladder, for Susan was quite heavy and was afraid to trustherself very high in the air. However, she was doing her share byhanding up pails of warm water to Dent. 

Now Dent and Susan, as Bob well knew, were what the country peoplecall "sweet" on one another. Susan was very fond of the hired man, and as for Dent, he thought there never had been a better cook thanSusan. They lost no chance of talking to each other, and as thewindow-cleaning operations afforded them a good opportunity, theywere taking advantage of it. 

All at once a daring plan came into Bob's mind. It seemed as if hecould not resist it, for he thought of what he considered a fine"joke. "

As he was well acquainted with the hired man and cook he walkedtoward them. Perhaps he would not have been flattered if he hadheard what they said as he approached. 

"Here comes that Henderson lad, " remarked Dent. "He's allers up tosome trick. Look out for him, Susan. "

"Oh, I can look out for myself. It's you that wants to be cautious. He'd just like to spill your pail of water. "

So they did not look with much favor on Bob's appearance. However, Bob, once he had set his mind on a bit of mischief, knew how tocarry it through. 

"Hello, Dent, " he said good-naturedly. "Dad wants to know if youhave any more of that rheumatic medicine you made. It fixed him upin great shape. "

This was true enough, though Mr. Henderson had not given the messageto Bob that day, having some time previously requested him todeliver it the first chance he got. 

"Sure I have some more, " replied the hired man. If he was open toflattery on any point, it was on his skill as a maker of rheumatismcures. He had tried several, and had at last decided that he hadhit on one that was infallible. He had a notion of setting up inthe drug business. "I'll get you a bottle if you wait a while, Bob, " he said. 

"I'll wait. "

This was not very welcome news to Susan. She wanted to have aprivate conversation with Dent, and she could not while Bob waspresent. But the boy's plan was not completed. 

As he stood idly by the step-ladder, on the top of which was Dentwashing away at the windows, with the pail of warm water beside him, Bob appeared to be toying with a bit of string. 

"I don't s'pose you have any doughnuts left, Susan?" he venturedrather wistfully. 

Now Susan bad not forgiven Bob for a little joke he had played onher some time before, so at his hint, to show her displeasure, sheturned her back and did not answer. This was Just what Bob wanted. 

Looking up to see that Dent was not observing him, he passed one endof the string about the step-ladder. Tying it securely, he fastenedthe other end to Susan's apron strings in such a manner that itwould not pull off. 

"I'll wait for you out in the barn, " he said to Dent when it becameevident that Susan was not going to take the hint and get thedoughnuts. In fact, Bob, much as he liked them, would have beendisappointed if she had gone in for some. He wanted to get out ofthe way before a certain thing happened. 

He strolled off, but instead of going to the barn he hid around thecorner of the house. Susan and Dent conversed for several minuteslonger, the man meanwhile busy at the windows. Then the cook, hearing her mistress calling her, started for the house in a hurry. 

The result was disastrous. As she started off the string tied tothe ladder and her apron tightened. As Susan was a woman of heavyweight, it did not take much effort on her part to pull over theladder, together with Dent and the pail of water. 

Dent came down to the ground, fortunately landing on his feet like acat. The pail of water described a graceful curve and splashed onboth Susan and the man. The cook, whose feet became tangled up inthe falling ladder, slipped and fell, knocking Dent down, and therethey were in a heap, both soaking wet. 

And that was Bob's "joke. " Hidden around the corner of the house, he laughed so he almost betrayed his position. 

"Oh, that's too funny!" he whispered. "It was like clowns in acircus!"

CHAPTER X

OFF ON THE TRIP

For a few seconds both the cook and the hired man, whose feet Susanhad knocked from under him, did not move. The suddenness of it allwas too much for them. Then Dent arose after a struggle. 

"Did you do that on purpose?" he asked Susan, an angry look comingover his face. 

"Do what on purpose? What do you mean?"

"Did you upset my ladder?"

"Upset your ladder? Well, I guess not! But I'd like to know whyyou tried to throw that pail of water over me. If it was meant fora joke, I think it was a pretty poor one. "

The woman started to arise, but found herself somewhat tangled upin the cord and ladder. 

"Throw water on you?" repeated Dent with a puzzled look. "I didn'tthrow any water. It got on me as much as it did on you. "

This was as near to a quarrel as these two had ever approached. Bob, listening around the corner of the house, was holding hissides to keep from bursting into laughter, though my own opinion isthat he should have felt sorry for his "joke. " It might haveresulted disastrously, for either Susan or the hired man might havebroken a leg or an arm. But Bob never thought of that. His soleidea was to create a laugh for himself. 

Dent and Susan, dripping wet, looked at each other. Then the cook, wiping some of the water from her face, got up. As she did so thecord tied to her apron strings became tightened, and as Dent waspartly standing on the step-ladder, Susan's progress was suddenlystopped. 

"There!" she exclaimed, "That's what did it. My apron string gottangled in the ladder. "

Dent examined the cord. 

"No, it didn't get tangled, " he announced. "It was tied there bysome one, and I know who did it. "

"Who?"

"Bob Henderson. Wait till I catch him! He did this for a joke. The young rascal! pretending he wanted some rheumatism medicine forhis father! I'll fix him!"

Bob thought it was time to be moving on. He did not like the toneof Dent's voice. 

But if the boy hoped to get off unseen he was disappointed. As hestarted to run he slipped and fell. Dent heard the noise the ladmade, and while Susan was loosening the cord from her apron the manran forward. 

Bob, however, was up like a flash and ran off, but not before Denthad nearly caught him. Then the hired man knew it would be of nouse to chase the mischievous lad, as Bob was very fleet of foot. 

"You wait!" cried Dent, shaking his fist at Bob. "I'll fix you!"

"You can't!" was the answer. "I'm going on a voyage!"

"I hope you never come back here!" said Dent angrily. "I hope youget lost on a desert island where there's nothing to eat butseaweed!"

"That would serve him right, " added the cook "The idea of hintingfor some of my doughnuts! I'll tell his mother on him. "

"And I'll tell his father, " added Dent. 

Bob was a little afraid lest Mrs. Dodson might come out, and seeingthe state her employees were in, would know the lad had had a handin it. The effects might be more unpleasant than they now promisedto be. So Bob hastened his pace, and was soon out of sight of thebig house on the hill. He left behind him two very angry persons, yet when they glanced at each other neither Susan nor Dent couldhelp laughing. They looked as if they had been through a cycloneand cloud-burst, both at the same time, as the hired man expressedit. 

Bob's father did hear of the trick, but not in the way the ladexpected he would. On cooling down neither the hired man nor thecook felt like going and making a complaint about what Bob haddone. The trick, however, had been witnessed by the coachman, andhe told some friends in the village. In this way it became knownto several persons, and Mr. Henderson heard of it. 

"Bob, " he said to his son very sternly that night, "I thought youhad given up such foolishness as playing those tricks. "

"I thought I had, too, dad, but I couldn't help doing this. Herapron strings came just in the right place. "

"Do you think it was a nice thing to do?"

"No, sir. I s'pose not. "

Mr. Henderson sighed. Bob was so frank to acknowledge a fault thatit was hard to punish him. 

"I don't know what's going to become of you, " he said. 

"Well, that was my last land joke, dad. "

"Your last land joke? What do you mean?"

"I'm going to sail with Captain Spark soon, and I'll not have timefor any more. "

"That's so, and I'm glad of it. If you try any jokes on thesailors you may find they know a trick or two themselves. "

"Oh, I'm going to turn over a new leaf. "

"It's about time. "

Bob really intended to mend his ways. This, perhaps, was due asmuch to a fear of what the sailors on the ship might do to him ifhe played any pranks on them as it was to a desire to reform. 

That same night Captain Spark arrived at the Henderson home alittle ahead of time. He announced that his ship was ready tosail, and that he and Bob would depart the next morning for theseaport town. 

"All ready, Bob?" he asked. 

"Aye, aye, sir. "

"That's the way to talk. We may have to lay at the dock for acouple of days longer than I calculated on, but that will give youa chance to get acquainted with the ship before we strike bluewater. "

"That will be good. "

With the return of the captain, Bob's visions of a life on theocean wave were redoubled. 

Mrs. Henderson cried a little when it came time to part the nextmorning, and there was a suspicious dampness in the eyes of Mr. Henderson. Bob also, in spite of the happy life he thought laybefore him, was not altogether devoid of emotion. He felt theseparation more than he thought he would. 

"Now be a good boy, Bob, " counseled his mother. 

"I will. " "It's your first long trip, and it certainly is a bigone, " spoke his father. "Prove yourself a man, Bob. "

"I'll try, sir. "

Bob felt new responsibilities now, and made any number of goodresolutions. 

"Ahoy, my hearties!" called the bluff, cheerful voice of CaptainSpark. "Heave up the anchor, brace around the yards, for we've gota good wind, a free course and a fair sky!"

And with a chorus of good-bys the two started off toward the depot. The trip was begun. 

CHAPTER XI

THE "EAGLE" SAILS

Bob had often been on railroad journeys, so there was nothingespecially interesting about the first part of his trip. But hismind was so taken up with what was to follow that even the familiarscenes as the train sped on out of the village seemed full ofdelight to him. 

"Well, I s'pose you've been pretty steady since I've been gone, haven't you, Bob?" asked the captain, following a rather long pause. 

"Well, pretty good, I guess. I only played one joke. "

"What was It?"

Bob related the circumstances of the step-ladder, the cook and thehired man. 

"Hum, " remarked the commander of the _Eagle_ reflectively. "So theycame down in a heap, eh, and the water splashed all over 'em?"

"Yes, " replied Bob, trying not to chuckle at the recollection. 

"Hum, " remarked the captain again, and he seemed to be having somedifficulty with his breathing. Bob wondered if his friend waschoking, he was so very red in the face, but he did not know thatthe mariner was trying hard not to laugh. The thought of the sightof the pair tangled up in the step-ladder was too much for him, though he did not want to encourage Bob in his reckless ways byshowing enough interest to laugh. 

"By the way, " went on the captain suddenly, becoming rather solemn, "I s'pose you've learned the principal parts of the ship by now?"

"By names, yes, sir. But I'm afraid I've got lots yet to learn. "

"I should say you had. You know about as much how to sail a ship asI would how to run a steam-engine from seeing a tea-kettle boil. "

Captain Spark believed in making boys know their place, and he madeup his mind he had a hard subject in Bob. Still, he was determinedto reform him if it was possible. 

"When do you expect to get into the Southern Pacific?" asked Bob, ashe thought of the secret map Captain Obed had given him. 

"It all depends on what weather we have. Why?"

"Here's something a friend of mine gave me, " said Bob, pulling outthe wrinkled piece of parchment. "He says there is treasure buriedon an island in the Southern Pacific. "

"Treasure? Let me see. "

Captain Spark looked critically at the rather faint tracing of lineson the yellow sheet. 

"I'm afraid somebody has been playing a joke on you, or on CaptainObed, " he remarked, handing the parchment back, after Bob had toldhim how he became possessed of it. 

"A joke?"

"Yes. That's a map, sure enough, but no sailor could ever find theisland by those directions. "

"Why not?"

"I said he never could. Perhaps I should have said he might byaccident. Why, look, Bob. Whoever made this map only marked thelocation of the Island by degrees; that is the degree of longitudeand that of latitude. Every circle is divided into three hundredand sixty degrees, and as the earth is round, It follows that acircle drawn around it would be the same. Each degree thereforemeans a distance at the equator of about seventy miles. So unlesswhoever drew this map is positive that the island is exactly at theintersection of the degrees of latitude and longitude which you havegiven me, it might be seventy miles one way or the other off fromthe location given here. And seventy miles is a good distance onthe water. Besides, the map only states that the location is'about' right. I guess we'll never find that treasure, Bob. Idon't believe it's there. "

"Would you think it worth trying for?"

"I don't believe I would. I might have to sail around for a weekmerely to locate the island, and the chances would be I'd miss it. Then if I did find it, it would be very unlikely that anything wouldbe buried there. I don't take any stock in those Captain Kiddyarns. There's too many of 'em being spun by retired sailors. IfCaptain Kidd had any money, he took good care of it, you can wager. Besides, I haven't any time to fool around looking for an island. Ihave to get my cargo to port on time. "

Bob was a little disappointed that he could not take part in asearch for Captain Obed's treasure, but he reflected that whatCaptain Spark said was probably right, resides, no one ever believedthe stories Captain Obed told. The aged man's mind was not to bedepended on. 

During the remainder of the journey by rail Captain Spark gave Bobsome good advice as to how to conduct himself while aboard the ship. He imparted some useful information concerning navigation, andpromised to show Bob more about it after they had sailed. 

"I'm anxious to get out on deep water, " said the mariner. "I don'tlike this city life. There are too many risks in it. "

In due time they arrived at the seaport town, and, having seen thatBob's baggage would be transported to the dock, Captain Spark ledthe way to where the _Eagle_ was waiting the hoisting of her whitesails to catch the ocean breezes. 

The ship was a large one, square-rigged, and had three masts, itbeing of good tonnage. As the voyage was a long one great care hadto be taken in loading the cargo, and this had caused a littledelay. Not all the freight was aboard yet. 

"Well, Mr. Carr, how are things moving?" asked the captain of atall, thin man who stood near the gangway as he and Bob went up theplank. 

"Very well, sir. I think we shall be loaded by to-morrow. "

"I hope so. This lying at dock doesn't suit me. By the way, let meintroduce a friend of mine. This is Bob Henderson. His mother is arelative of mine, and Bob is taking a voyage for his health. Bob, this is my first mate, Mr. Carr. "

"He looks healthy enough, " remarked the first mate as he cordiallyshook hands with Bob. 

"Things are not always what they look like, " replied the captainwith a smile. "Bob found matters rather too lively for him ashore, and his folks think it will quiet him down to go with me. "

"I see, " replied Mr. Carr in answer to his commander's sly wink. Henow understood something of the situation. 

"I'll leave you here a while, " went on the commander to the boy. "You can look about a bit while I go below and work on my manifest. Mr. Carr will tell you anything you want to know. "

But Bob was so interested in watching the sailors at work stowingaway the cargo, while others were cleaning various parts of theship, that he did not ask many questions. 

All the rest of that day the loading went on. Bob and the captainwent ashore for their meals, as the commander had some business toattend to in the port, but Bob spent that night in his bunk. It wasthe first time he had ever slept in a ship's berth, and he ratherliked the novelty. 

The next day the loading was rapidly proceeded with, and by noon allthe cargo was stowed away. 

Captain Spark was below in his cabin, making out the final papersand waiting for his clearance documents from the harbor master. Mr. Carr and his assistants were busy getting the _Eagle_ ready to sail, while Bob stood near the rail, watching with curious eyes everythingthat was going on. 

While he stood there he saw a short, stout, pale-faced man coming upthe gangplank. The man carried a valise in each hand, while behindhim walked a 'longshoreman with a trunk on his shoulder. 

"Now, my man, be very careful of that trunk, " urged the short, stout, pale man. "Don't drop it for the world. "

"I'm not going to, sir, " and the 'longshoreman attempted to touchhis hat as a mark of respect. 

"Don't do that!" exclaimed the nervous man. "You might drop it, andsomething would break. "

"All right, sir. Very well, sir, " and once more the 'longshoremanmade as if to touch his hat. It was a habit of his to do thiswhenever spoken to by those who employed him. 

"There you go again!" cried the man in rather whining tones. "Don'tdo it, I say! There! Keep your hands on the trunk!"

Seeing that this last order was obeyed, the nervous man advanced upthe gangplank. He came on deck, set his two valises very carefullydown, watched the 'longshoreman place the trunk on end, as if itcontained eggs, and then he asked of Bob:

"Is this ship the _Eagle_?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Are you sure now? I don't want any mistake made. I don't see thename on it anywhere. "

"It is on the bows and under the stern. "

Bob rather prided himself on this nautical knowledge. 

"Hum! Well, perhaps it may be. You are positive it is the _Eagle_?"

"Yes, sir. Positive. A distant relative of my mother is thecaptain. "

"Is it Captain Spark?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Are you sure? I don't want to be on the wrong ship. "

"Yes, sir, I am very sure, I came on board with him. Are you goingto sail on the ship?" asked Bob politely. 

"I expect to, if this is the right vessel. I wish I was sure. Perhaps you might be mistaken, " and he glanced nervously around. 

"No, I am positive. There is Captain Spark now, " he added as thecommander came up a companionway. 

"Oh, yes. I shall speak to him. "

The nervous man started off. Just then Captain Spark, havingreceived his clearance papers by messenger, gave orders to cast off. The _Eagle_ was about to sail. 

"All ashore that's going ashore!" called the first mate. 

The 'longshoreman started down the gangplank which was about to behauled in. 

"Wait, I must pay you!" called the nervous passenger, turning backtoward the man who had brought his trunk aboard. 

The 'longshoreman waited. 

"Cast off that stern line!" shouted the captain. 

"Oh, dear! I wish I was sure this was the _Eagle_!" spoke thenervous passenger. 

"It is, " Bob assured him, smiling at the man's manner. First hewould advance a little way toward the captain, intending to ask himthe momentous question; then he would turn toward the 'longshoreman, who was waiting for his money. 

"Lively with that gangplank now!" ordered the commander. 

"Oh, if I have made a mistake and gotten on the wrong ship it willbe terrible, " murmured the man. 

"Why don't you throw off that stern line?" again shouted the captain. 

"What shall I do?" exclaimed the nervous man. 

"If you're goin' t' pay me, your honor, you'll have t' hustle, "advised the 'longshoreman. 

"I will, my man. Never mind touching your hat. Oh, you are notcarrying my trunk now; I forgot. Here's a dollar. Never mind thechange. "

"All ashore that's going ashore!" yelled Mr. Carr again. 

Up came the gangplank. The 'longshoreman leaped over the side ofthe ship and landed on the dock. There was a puffing from the tugthat had been engaged to pull the _Eagle_ out into the channel. 

"Are you sure this is the right ship?" appealed the man to Bob oncemore. 

"Positively yes, sir. Anyhow, it's too late now. "

"Too late? How? What do you mean?"

"I mean that we're under way now. "

The nervous passenger ran to the side and looked over. True enough, the _Eagle_ was some distance from the wharf. The tug was strainingon the big hawser. The ship had begun her long voyage around CapeHorn. 

CHAPTER XII

SOME JOKES ON BOB

Seeing that he was now indeed afloat, and that the ship was somedistance from land, the man became more nervous than ever. Hepaced up and down the deck, looking anxiously at the fast-recedingshore. 

Suddenly he ran toward the bow of the ship and leaned far over therail. 

"Hey there!" yelled Bob, thinking the man was going to Jumpoverboard and swim ashore. "What are you doing?"

"I was trying to see the name of the vessel, " answered the man, whose face was now red instead of pale, caused by his exertion inbending over the rail. 

"You can't see it by leaning over, " replied Bob. "It's paintedaway up by the figurehead. "

"I know I can't see it, " answered the nervous passenger. "Oh, Iwish I was sure. "

"I tell you you're on the _Eagle_, " declared Bob. "Can't you takemy word?"

"When you get as old as I am, and have been through as muchtrouble, you'll never take anybody's word for anything, " was theanswer. "I must be sure. I'm off for a long voyage, and I don'twant to make a mistake. "

"You're not making any mistake if you want to be aboard the_Eagle_. Here comes Captain Spark now. You can ask him. "

At that moment the commander, having seen his vessel well underway, came to where Bob and the nervous passenger were standing. 

"Is this Mr. Hiram Tarbill?" asked the mariner, holding out hishand. 

"Yes, sir. Are you Captain Jeremiah Spark?"

"That's who I am. "

"Is this the schooner _Eagle_, bound around Cape Horn?"

"Yes, sir, with a mixed cargo consigned to various firms in Lima, Peru. Would you like to look at my papers?"

"No, I guess it's all right, " and Mr. Tarbill seemed much relieved. "You see, my train was late, " he went on, "and I came aboard insuch a hurry that I was not sure I was on the right ship. Idislike to make mistakes, especially as my health is not very good. "

"Yes, you're on the right ship, " Captain Spark assured Mr. Tarbill. "Now if you'll come with me I'll show you to your stateroom. Butfirst let me introduce to you a relative of mine, " and he presentedBob. 

"Yes, I have been talking with him, " said Mr. Tarbill. "He assuredme I was on the right vessel, but I did not know whether he knew ornot. "

"Oh, yes, Bob knows that much about the ship. But he's going tolearn more soon. "

The captain conducted the nervous passenger to the stateroom setapart for him and then came back on deck. 

"What do you think of him?" he asked Bob. 

"He seems all right, but very nervous. "

"That's the trouble. He's too nervous. His doctor recommended himto take a long sea voyage to see if it would cure him. I think itwill. I never knew a sailor who was nervous, and it's all becauseof the salt water. Now, Bob, amuse yourself as best you can untilthe tug drops us. I have several matters to attend to. After abit I'll give you some regular duties to perform every day. Theywill not be hard, but I shall expect you to perform them as well asyou are able. While in the main this is a pleasure trip for you, undertaken for a purpose with which you are familiar, I want you toderive some benefit from it. Don't you think that wise?"

"Yes, sir, " answered Bob, who had formed several good resolutionsregarding his future conduct. 

"Very well, then. You can roam about the ship at your pleasureuntil I am ready for you. "

Now a ship is one of the best places in the world for thecirculation of news. It is a little village in itself, and whathappens in the captain's cabin, though there may be a desire tokeep it secret, is soon known in the forecastle, or "fo'kesel, " asthe sailors pronounce it. Consequently it was not long before itwas known that Bob was being sent on the voyage to reform him forcertain roguish tricks to which he was addicted. This was known tothe majority of the crew before the ship sailed. 

Consequently they were not only on their guard against any prankswhich the boy might try to perpetrate, but several of the youngermen resolved to give Bob a taste of his own medicine. 

There was some whispering among members of the crew as theyobserved Bob strolling about the deck, and one of the men saidsomething to Mr. Carr. The first mate nodded and smiled. A littlelater, as Bob was watching the men coil up the big hawser which thetug had cast off, the _Eagle_ now proceeding along under her ownsails, one of the sailors stepped up to him. 

"Would you mind doing us a favor?" he asked respectfully. 

"Of course not. I'll do anything I can for you, " answered Bob, glad to make the closer acquaintance of the men. 

"Then would you kindly go to Captain Spark and ask him for aleft-handed marlinspike? We need it to splice this hawser with. He keeps it in his cabin because there's only one on board and it'squite a valuable instrument. "

The man spoke as gravely as a judge. 

"A left-handed marlinspike?" repeated Bob. "I suppose one of thesailors must be left-handed, " he thought. 

He knew what a marlinspike was from having seen the men use thesharp-pointed irons to pick apart the strands of rope preparatoryto splicing, so, anxious to be of service, he hurried to CaptainSpark's cabin. 

"The men sent me for a left-handed marlinspike, " he said, interrupting the commander, who was busy over his accounts. 

"A left-handed marlinspike, " repeated the commander, at onceunderstanding the joke. 

"Yes, sir. "

"I'm sorry, " was the answer, gravely given, "but I lost itoverboard a while ago. You'd better go to Mr. Carr and ask him forthe scuttle-butt. That will do as well. "

"Yes, sir, " replied Bob, who, not suspecting anything, hunted upthe first mate and made his request. 

"You'll find it right over there, " said Mr. Carr, pointing to a bigwater barrel on deck. It was one from which the sailors drank. "If it's too heavy for you, you'd better get help, " said Mr. Carr, trying not to smile. But Bob was aware now that he had been madethe butt of a joke, and though he felt a little embarrassed, he hadto laugh in spite of himself. 

"That's pretty good, " he said. "A left-handed marlinspike turnsinto a scuttle-butt, and that turns into a water barrel. I've gotlots to learn yet. "

He could hear the sailors laughing at the trick they had played, with the consent of the first mate, and with a grim smile Bobresolved to get even. 

CHAPTER XIII

BOB TRIES A PRANK

The _Eagle_ was sailing along under a spanking breeze, and alreadythe motion of Old Briny was beginning to make itself felt. Thevessel rolled to a considerable degree, and as she passed fartherand farther out to sea this became more pronounced. 

Bob, who had been active in visiting different parts of the ship, watching the sailors at their duties, and picking up bits ofinformation here and there, soon got over his little indignationagainst those who had played the joke on him. But he soon becameconscious of another feeling. 

This was a decidedly uneasy one, and for the first time since hehad begun to think of the voyage Bob began to fear he was going tobe seasick. 

"I certainly do feel queer, " said our hero to himself as he leanedagainst the railing amidships. "I wonder what I'd better do?Perhaps I'm moving around too much. I'll keep quiet. "

He sat down on a hatch cover and tried to think of other things. The sea was beginning to turn blue--the blue of deep water--and thesun was shining brightly. There was a strong wind and a healthfulsmell of salt in the air. 

Still Bob did not appear to care for any of those things. His ownfeelings seemed to increase. 

"Sitting still is worse than moving around, " he began to think. 

Just then Mr. Carr passed the boy. 

"What's the matter?" he asked. "You look rather white about thegills, messmate. "

"I--I don't feel very well, " replied Bob. 

"Better go and lie down then. I guess you're in for a spell ofseasickness. Mr. Tarbill has already got his. "

Bob thought it would be best to follow the advice. He went to hisberth, and soon he was a very sick boy. He would have given up allhis chances of rounding the Horn--yes, he would even havesacrificed his share in the rather mythical treasure of CaptainObed--if he could only have found some place that was not heaving, pitching and tossing. But the ship rolled on, and the motionseemed to increase rather than diminish. 

It was a week before Bob was entirely well. During that time hestayed in his bunk, but Captain Spark saw to it that the boy waswell looked after and doctored with such simple remedies as areused in that common form of illness, which attacks nearly all whofirst venture upon the sea. 

At the end of the week Bob found that he could stand up withoutfeeling his head go buzzing around. He ventured out on deck, andthe salt breeze brought some color into his pale cheeks. 

"You sort of look as if you had been drawn through a knothole, "remarked Tom Manton, one of the sailors. 

"Yes, old Father Neptune has been playing tricks on him, I reckon, "added Sam Bender, the second mate. 

"I feel as if I had been drawn through two knot-holes, one rightafter the other, " spoke Bob, with an attempt at a smile. 

"You'll soon be all right again now, " comforted Tom. "Get a littlesalt horse and sea biscuit down for a foundation, and you can buildup on that the finest thing in the way of a meal you ever saw. "

For the first time since his illness Bob could think of foodwithout a shudder. He really began to feel hungry. The old sailorproved a good prophet. Bob began to mend steadily, and in a fewdays he was as active as ever--more so, in fact. 

"Now's the time to look for trouble, " remarked Captain Spark to hismate one day. 

"Trouble? How?"

"Bob is himself again. He'll be up to some tricks or I'm aDutchman. But we must meet him half way. Give him back some ofhis own coin. He's on this voyage to be cured, and I'm going to doit If I have to keelhaul him. "

"I guess the men will be only too anxious to do their share. Theylike Bob, but he mustn't play too many pranks on them. "

"No. Well, I guess they can look out for themselves. "

"I guess so, " answered the mate with a smile. Later that dayCaptain Spark instructed Bob in some simple duties which would behis to perform during the voyage. He was to act in the capacity ofcabin boy. 

Now that Bob was in his usual spirits he began to feel aninclination to be at some of his pranks. He thought, with a sigh, that he had not played a good joke since the affair of thestep-ladder, the cook and the hired man. So he began to look aboutand consider the possibilities of indulging in some pranks, But Bob had about made up his mind not to bother the sailors. Hewas a little afraid of them, as they were big, strong men, and hehad a suspicion that they were only waiting for him to beginoperations before they would do something on their own account. Bob had an idea they might tie him to a rope, throw him overboardand duck him. 

That, he thought, would be pretty harsh treatment. 

"I wish Mr. Tarbill would come from his stateroom, " Bob mused. "Iguess it would be safe to play a little joke on him. I've simplygot to have some fun. "

Mr. Tarbill had suffered very much from seasickness, though he wasnow recovered. He came on deck the next day, but he was morenervous than ever. 

"Oh, my!" he exclaimed as a big wave struck the _Eagle_, heelingher over considerably. "Are we going down?"

"Oh, I guess not, " replied Bob confidently. He and Mr. Tarbillwere together on the quarterdeck. The nervous passenger's fearsgave Bob an idea. 

"I'll give him a real scare, " thought the boy. "Maybe it will curehim of being nervous. "

My reader can easily understand that Bob had one thought for Mr. Tarbill and two for himself. 

The boy considered matters a few minutes, during which time thenervous passenger seemed to grow more and more frightened of thebig waves, which had been piled up by quite a heavy blow theprevious night. 

Presently Bob went to the after-rail and looked intently into thewater. Then he uttered an exclamation. 

"Oh! Oh!" he cried. "It's coming right after us! Have you arevolver, Mr. Tarbill?"

"A revolver? What for? What is coming after us, my dear youngfriend?"

"A big whale! He's just under the surface of the water! He'strying to break off the rudder! Quick, give me your revolver!"

"I haven't any! Oh, dear! I'm so nervous! Do you think he willdamage the ship, my dear young friend?"

"I'm afraid so! Look out! Hold on! Here he comes!"

Bob pretended to grasp the rail to prevent being tossed overboardby the expected shock. Mr. Tarbill did the same, and with anxiousfears waited for what would happen next. Then the ship seemed togive a great shiver as a big wave struck under the port bow. 

"He's hit us!" cried Bob, trying not to laugh. 

"Quick! Get me a life-preserver!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill. "Alife-preserver! The ship is sinking!"

[Illustration: "A life-preserver! The ship is sinking!"]

"What's all the excitement about?" suddenly asked Captain Spark, appearing at the head of the ladder that led to the quarterdeck. 

"The ship has been struck by a monster whale!" exclaimed thenervous passenger, "He's rammed us, captain, and I'm going to get alife-preserver! Then I must save my valuables in my cabin!"

He rushed from the deck, while the captain, with a grim look on hisface, glanced at Bob, who burst into laughter. 

CHAPTER XIV

MR. TARBILL GETS A SHOCK

"This is one of your 'jokes, ' I suppose, " remarked the captain. 

"Yes. It was too funny, " answered Bob. "He really believed awhale was after us. "

"Do you think it was a good thing to do, alarm him so?"

"I--er--well, I thought it might do his nerves good, " stammered Bob. 

"Hum!" murmured the captain. "I must say, Bob, you have a queeridea of what is good for the nerves. Now I can't allow this. Mr. Tarbill is a guest of mine, and I will not have his comfortinterfered with. He is taking a voyage for his health, and I don'twant him annoyed. "

"I'm sorry, " began Bob, always ready to repent, though usually itdid not last long. 

"Then don't do it again. "

"I'll not, sir. I didn't think he'd believe me. "

"He knows very little about the ocean. In fact, there are somethings you don't know, and, if they wanted to, some of the oldsailors could spin you yarns that would make your hair stand up. "

"I wish they would then, " said Bob. "I like sea stories, captain. "

"I guess I'll have to take stronger measures with him, " thought thecommander as he walked forward. 

A few minutes later Mr. Tarbill rushed up on deck. He had alife-preserver strapped about him, and in either hand was a valise, while over his shoulder was some spare clothing he had not had timeto pack in the satchels. 

"Are the lifeboats ready?" he asked of Mr. Carr, who was the firstperson he met on deck. 

"The lifeboats? What for?"

"Why, the ship has been rammed by a whale and is sinking. "

"Who told you so?"

"That boy, Bob Henderson. "

"I thought so!" exclaimed the mate. "That's one of his so-called'jokes. ' There's no danger, Mr. Tarbill. That was only a big wavethat hit us. You are perfectly safe. "

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure. "

"Don't you think I had better see the captain and ask him about itbefore I take off my life-preserver?"

"Oh, no; there is no need of that. The ship is in no danger, " andthe mate tried not to smile at the nervous passenger's fears. 

"Then if you say so I'll go and take this life-preserver off. Itis quite heavy. "

"Do so by all means. The young rascal, " added the mate under hisbreath as he thought of Bob. "I'll have to teach him a lesson. "

Bob was not a little alarmed at the result of his thoughtlessprank. He did not know what the captain might do to punish him, and in the future he resolved to restrain his impulses. 

"Maybe he'll send me home by some passing ship, " the boy thought, "and I wouldn't like that a bit. "

The weather was fine for the next few days. The _Eagle_ continuedon her way south, the climate getting warmer and warmer as theyapproached the equator. Bob meanwhile had learned much about theship and the manner of sailing it. He got the names of the variousropes and sails by heart, and it would have taken a prettyingenious sailor to have sent him on a foolish errand now aftersome part of the ship's gear. Captain Spark was encouraged byBob's behavior, and began to think the voyage was doing the ladgood. So it was, but the cure was not complete, as you shall see. 

Mr. Tarbill resented Bob's joke, and had not spoken to the boysince the "whale" incident. But Bob did not mind this. There wasplenty to keep him occupied, with his duties to perform andsailors' stories to listen to. 

When they were out about two weeks there came a day when there wasonly the lightest breeze, The _Eagle_ barely had steerageway overthe sea, which was as quiet and still as a small lake. The bluewaters sparkled in the bright sun, and as Bob lounged about on deckhe felt a lazy contentment which was probably caused by the nearapproach to the tropical zone. 

He looked up at the towering masts, and an idea came to him. 

"If I could climb up there, " he said, "I could have a fine view. Iought to be able to see a vessel from that height. Guess I'll doit. I never tried it, but it looks easy, and there's not enoughmotion to pitch me off. "

With Bob, usually, to think was to act. Looking around to see thatneither the captain nor the mates were in sight to forbid him, hestepped to the rail, mounted Into the shrouds, or ladders, that areformed by the wire ropes supporting the mast, and was soonascending toward the maintop, the highest point of the largest mast. 

It was rather difficult work, but Bob kept on and soon was a greatdistance above the deck. He looked around him, noted several shipswhich were not visible from below and then glanced down. He sawMr. Tarbill come out on deck, and then, more in good spirits thanbecause he wanted, to cause the nervous passenger a scare, Bob gavea great shout. Mr. Tarbill looked up, saw the boy far in the air, clinging to what, at that distance, Seemed but a slender stick, andthen he cried:

"Quick! Somebody come quick!"

"What is it?" shouted Mr. Carr, thinking from the tones of Mr. Tarbill's voice some one had fallen overboard. 

"That boy! That awful boy!" replied the nervous man. 

"What about him? Is he overboard? Which side? I'll throw him alife-preserver!"

"No, he isn't overboard! He's up there! On the mast! Oh!Suppose he falls! My nerves are in such a state! This is an awfulshock! What a dreadful boy! I wish he had never come aboard thisship, or else that I hadn't!"

"Come on up!" cried Bob, all unconscious of the excitement he hadcreated. "It's fine up here!"

"Oh! I feel as if I was going to faint!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill, growing paler than usual. 

"Come down, Bob!" ordered Mr. Carr, making a trumpet of his hands. "If it isn't one thing it's another, " thought the mate. "I'll beglad when this voyage is over. "

CHAPTER XV

THE STORM

Bob came down, wondering why he was not allowed to stay at themaintop for a while longer. 

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill when the boy reached the deck. "You've given me such a fright!"

"I didn't mean to, " replied Bob honestly enough. 

"Oh, but you did! I think I'll have to go to my cabin and take somenerve medicine. "

The passenger left the deck, and Mr. Carr said:

"Don't do that again, Bob. "

"No, sir; not if you don't want me to. "

"It's too dangerous, " added the first mate. 

Bob was not very sharply reprimanded by Captain Spark for thisescapade, as the commander realized that the boy meant no harm. But it was several days before Mr. Tarbill got over the shock. 

Urged on by brisk winds the _Eagle_ made excellent speed, andseveral days before he calculated he would reach it Captain Sparkfound his vessel "crossing the line"; that is, passing over theimaginary circle which marks the equator. Bob enjoyed his life onboard the ship more than ever, now that the tropics were reached. The usual pranks were indulged in by the sailors when FatherNeptune came aboard the day the line was crossed, and Bob came infor not a little horse-play. But he did not mind it, and in turnhe played several jokes on the sailors and was not rebuked. It wasa time of freedom from restraint. 

Continuing on south, the _Eagle_ passed from the hot region, andonce more was in the temperate zone. But now the weather, whichhad been fine for several weeks, began to show signs of a change. 

"We'll soon be in for a troublesome time, " said the captain as hesat in the main cabin one night, looking over some charts. 

"How?" asked Bob. 

"We're approaching the Horn. To navigate the Straits of Magellanis no small matter. There are always more or less storms in thatregion, and I wish I was well through it. "

"Then we're liable to have a hard passage?" "More than likely. "

The captain's fears were verified. A few days later, when theywere within a hundred miles of the dreaded Straits, it began toblow. There was a steady increase to the wind, and Captain Sparkwore an anxious look as he paced the quarterdeck. 

Still there seemed to be nothing more than a heavy blow, and Bobwas beginning to hope they might get through with less trouble thanthe commander anticipated. The captain had decided to try thepassage of the Straits rather than to actually go around Cape Horn. 

But it was not to be. The next day, toward evening, when they werepreparing to navigate the difficult passage, there came a veritablehurricane. 

Fortunately Captain Spark had in a measure anticipated it, and hadtaken in sail, bending on some heavy storm canvas which, small asit was, sent the ship ahead at a terrific pace. 

As night came on the _Eagle_ was seen to be in a mass of swirling, tumbling waves which seemed anxious to overpower the stanch craft. 

Mr. Tarbill was in a great fright. He tried to stay in his cabin, but when the ship began to pitch and toss he could not stand it. So donning a life-preserver, he came on deck. Here he was much inthe way, for the sailors had to be constantly rushing here andthere, making ropes fast and attending to their duties. To add tothe discomforts of the situation, it began to rain in torrents. 

"Oh, I know we're going to sink!" cried the nervous passenger. "Doyou think it will be soon, captain?"

"What soon?" asked the commander, who was too busy to pay muchattention to Mr. Tarbill. "Will we sink soon?"

"Sink? We're not going to sink at all if I can help it! This is noworse than lots of storms. You had better go to your cabin and liedown. "

"Oh, I wouldn't dare to! The ship might sink while I was there. Iknow we'll get caught in a whirlpool, or in a waterspout, or someother dreadful thing! This is terrible! Awful! Fearful!"

The wind was increasing, and great waves dashed over the _Eagle's_bow. 

"It's bad luck to have such a storm-croaker as that aboard, "murmured one of the sailors. "He's a regular Jonah!"

"I wish he'd go below, " muttered the captain, and Bob overheardhim. "He's frightening every one up here, and we're going to havea hard enough time as it is without a nervous man on deck. "

Bob, though he was frightened at the storm, which was constantlygrowing worse, determined to stick it out. He wanted to see whatwould happen. But he saw a chance to do a service to the captain, though it would involve playing an innocent trick on Mr. Tarbill. 

Accordingly, when there came a little lull in the wind, Bob madehis way to where the nervous passenger stood with his back bracedagainst a deckhouse. 

"It'll be here pretty soon now, " said Bob, shouting to make himselfheard above the noise of the storm. 

"What will, my dear young friend?" asked Mr. Tarbill, forgettinghis former anger at Bob under the stress of the circumstances. "Doyou mean to tell us anything else is going to happen?"

"Something surely is, Mr. Tarbill, " said Bob, with an air of greatearnestness, moving closer to the man, so as to get away from thedriving rain, as Mr. Tarbill stood under shelter. 

"What is coming? Do tell me. I am so very nervous. "

"The Jilla-Jilly wind! We'll be in the midst of it soon. You'dbetter look out!"

"The Jilla-Jilly wind? For mercy sakes, what's that?"

"It's a kind of a hurricane, " said Bob, inventing something on thespur of the moment. "Only, instead of blowing straight ahead oraround in a circle it blows up and down. It's liable to snatch youright up to the clouds, or suck you down into the ocean!"

"That is terrible, my dear young friend!"

"Terrible! I should say it was!"

"What had I better do?"

"You'll surely be blown overboard if you stay on deck. ThatJilla-Jilly wind is the most terrible wind you ever heard of!We'll soon strike it! There, that sounds like it now! Don't youfeel as if you were being lifted up?"

The nervous fears of Mr. Tarbill made him anticipate almost anysensation that was vividly described to him. He was in such astate of mind that he would have believed almost anything he heard. 

"Yes! Yes!" he exclaimed. "I feel it coming! Oh, dear! Whatshall I do?"

"Go below quickly!" yelled Bob, for that was the object he had inmind in inventing the Jilla-Jilly wind for the occasion. 

"I will! I'll go at once!" And, holding on to hand-lines whichhad been stretched about the deck for safety, the nervous passengermade his way to his cabin, while the ship tossed more than ever. 

CHAPTER XVI

WRECK OF THE SHIP

Though the vessel was in great danger Bob could not help smiling atthe success of his prank. When Mr. Tar-bill, with every evidenceof terror, had left the deck, Bob crept cautiously forward to peerahead into the wild waste of waves that threatened to overwhelm the_Eagle_. 

"If it isn't a Jilla-Jilly wind, it's almost as bad, " thought ourhero. If he had known more about the ocean and its terrors hewould have been more frightened than he was. If it was not exactlyan instance of "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise, "it was, in Bob's case, the next thing to it. 

"Wow! That was a bad one!" exclaimed the boy, as anextraordinarily large wave made the ship tremble. 

At the same instant a frightened shriek rang out through thedarkness. It was one full of terror. 

"It's got me! It's got me!" yelled the voice. "What in the worldis that?" shouted Captain Spark above the din of the storm. "Issome one overboard?"

"Sounds like Mr. Tarbill, " replied the mate, putting his lips closeto the captain's ear, so as to be heard. 

"Maybe something has happened to him, " suggested the commander. "Better look after him, Mr. Carr. We shall do very well for thetime being. We've got her before the gale now, and she's scuddingalong very nicely. "

Once the first fury of the storm was past, and it settled down to asteady blow, Captain Spark knew how to handle his vessel. Mr. Carrwent below. He found Mr. Tarbill in the main cabin, pacing to andfro and starting nervously at every unexpected lurch of the ship. 

"Is it blowing? Is the ship going up or down?" asked the nervouspassenger. 

"Is what blowing?"

"The Jilla-Jilly wind!"

"The Jilla-Jilly wind?" repeated the mate in wonder, thinking Mr. Tarbill might be out of his head. 

"Yes, Bob told me about it. It blows up and down and is liable totake one up Into the clouds or down into the ocean. "

"What nonsense! Look here, Mr. Tarbill, that was one of Bob'sjokes. I'll scold him for this. "

Yet, secretly, the mate was not sorry that Bob's trick had beeneffective in getting the frightened man off the deck. 

"Then there isn't any such wind?"

"Of course not. Don't be frightened. "

"Is the ship in any danger?"

"Well, to be honest, I can't say that she is not. There is alwaysdanger in a storm such as this is, particularly near Cape Horn. But we're doing our best. "

"Oh! I knew something was going to happen!"

"What's going to happen?" asked the mate. "You must not be sonervous. "

"Oh! I wish I had never come on this dreadful voyage!"

Mr. Carr wished the same on behalf of the nervous man, but he saidnothing. The mate soon went back on deck, where he found plenty todo, as one of the storm sails had blown off the bolt ropes andanother canvas had to be bent on. Captain Spark had sent Bobbelow, as it was risky for any one but an experienced sailor tomove about the constantly sloping deck. 

That night was one of terror. First the storm seemed to abate, andthen it began again with redoubled violence. Once the _Eagle_ wasalmost on her beam ends, but skilful handling brought her once moreup into the teeth of the wind and she rode the waves lightly, likethe gallant craft she was. 

The nervousness of Mr. Tarbill increased. He would not stay alonein his cabin, and finally begged for Bob to keep him company. Bobwas a little diffident about going in, after the trick he hadplayed, but the nervous passenger seemed to forget all about that. The two sat up and talked instead of going to their berths, forsleep was out of the question amid the howling of the gale. 

It was nearly morning when Captain Spark, wearing an anxious look, came into the cabin. 

"Has the ship foundered? Has it sprung a leak?" asked Mr. Tarbill, for he saw that something was troubling the commander. 

"No, we are safe yet, " replied Mr. Spark gravely. "But I think youhad better put on life-preservers. "

"Why?" asked Bob, beginning to feel a nameless fear. 

"We are approaching a dangerous reef. If this wind holds we canbarely wear off enough to pass it. If we strike it that will bethe last of the _Eagle_. We are going to do our best to wear theship off, but we may not succeed. It is best to be prepared. "

At this ominous warning Mr. Tarbill seemed to collapse. However, with Bob's help he donned one of the cork jackets, and the boy didlikewise. Captain Spark would not allow them on deck, but promisedto give them timely warning if the ship struck. 

Then came an hour of anxious waiting. Outside there sounded thedash of rain, the screaming of the wind, and the rush of sailorsabout the deck as they hastened to obey the captain's commands. 

Then, very gradually, there seemed to come a slack in the storm. The ship rode more easily, and Bob began to take heart. A littlelater Mr. Carr came down into the cabin. He breathed a sigh ofrelief as he said:

"We're all right. We've passed the reef and we have nothing moreto fear for the present. The gale is going down. "

"That's the best news I've heard in a year!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill. "Never again will I take a sea voyage for my health. I've lostseven pounds to-night, I know I have. "

Mr. Carr's words were soon verified. When morning broke the windand rain had ceased, though there was still a heavy sea on, whichmade the _Eagle_ toss and pitch in a dangerous way. 

Bob managed to get out on deck, however, and, through the clearatmosphere that followed the storm, he saw the dim outlines ofTerra del Fuego--"The Land of Fire"--as part of the end of theSouth American continent is called. 

They finished the passage of the Straits of Magellan withoutfurther incident. After that it seemed as if their troubles wouldbe at an end. The sea went down, and, as they made the turn aroundthe South American coast and once more began to approach theequator, the _Eagle_ skimmed along like the bird whose name it bore. 

"If this weather and the fair breezes keep up, " said Captain Sparkone day, "we'll arrive ahead of time. "

"I guess you didn't think so during the storm, did you?" inquiredBob. 

"No indeed! It seemed as if it was going to be touch and go withus one spell. But how do you like your trip--so far?"

"Very much. "

"I'm glad of it. I promised your mother it would do you good, andI think it will. "

Captain Spark was secretly delighted with the success of hisexperiment. He thought Bob had given up all his tricks, but thatsame day showed how much mistaken he was. The boy, seeing a chanceto have some sport with one of the sailors--a German--sewed up thesleeves of the man's Jersey. When the man tumbled out of his bunk, in a hurry to take his watch on deck, he could not understand thereason why he could not put on his garment. 

"Vot's der madder?" he exclaimed, struggling with the sleeves. "Der vitches haf been at vork! I am bevitched!"

"More like that onery critter of a boy done it, " suggested hismessmate, a practical Yankee. 

"So? I plays a joke on him, alretty yet. Vatch. "

And the German was as good as his word. The next afternoon Bobsuddenly felt himself being pitched over the rail toward the sea. He yelled and made a grab for the mizzen shroud near which he wasstanding, but he suddenly found himself brought up with a roundturn, for the German had caught the boy's feet in a bight of cable, so that he would not go overboard. 

"So!" he exclaimed. "You sews up my sleeves, eh? I t'inks youdon't do so no more! Eh?"

"More tricks!" exclaimed the captain, when matters had beenexplained to him, "I wonder if he'll ever be cured?"

But Bob's cure was nearer at hand than either he or the captainexpected. 

The fine weather continued for a week, during which time the_Eagle_ made good progress. Then came several days of dead calm, when they were near the Tropic of Capricorn, and they suffered muchfrom the heat of the sun. 

"I don't like this, " remarked Captain Spark one day, as he lookedup at the brassy sky. 

"Why not?" asked Bob, with the familiarity of a relative. 

"I think this means a storm, and we're in a poor location for a badblow. I don't like it. "

As the day wore on it became evident that the captain's prophecywas about to be verified. The wind sprang up suddenly, almostbefore sail could be shortened, and the _Eagle_ heeled over untilif seemed as if she would not right. That was the beginning of astorm that was worse than the other. 

Scudding along under mere rags of canvas, the ship headed rightinto the swirl of waters agitated by the wind. As night settleddown the captain prepared for the worst. It was evident that hefeared something, and every man was on the alert. 

The wind increased, but there was no rain. On and on rushed theship, all through the night. The captain seemed to grow moreanxious and would not leave his place at the wheel. 

Suddenly, just as the darkness was giving place to the gray lightof morning, the _Eagle_ hit something. A shiver seemed to runthrough the whole length of the ship. 

"Breakers ahead!" yelled the lookout. "Breakers all around us!"

"I feared as much!" cried the captain. "We've struck on a reef!"

The _Eagle_ seemed to back off, probably the recoil from the blow. The wind swirled around, and then, once more, the good ship wasdriven on the rocks. 

Once more she crashed upon the low-lying barrier, and this time anominous splintering sound followed. There was a terrific crash, and the foremast went by the board. At the same time there was apounding beneath the bows of the vessel. 

"There's a big hole stove in the bows, sir!" cried a sailor, running to Captain Spark. "The water's coming in fast!"

"I'm afraid we're foundering!" added Mr. Carr. 

"Stand by to lower the lifeboats!" yelled the captain. "Every manto his place!"

With a great crash the mizzen mast went over the side, crushing oneof the lifeboats that hung on davits there. 

"What has happened?" yelled Mr. Tarbill, rushing up on deck. 

"The _Eagle_ is wrecked, " replied the captain, speaking calmly, though only a sailor could know what anguish the words cost him. 

CHAPTER XVII

ADRIFT IN SMALL BOATS

The scene was now one of wild excitement. The sailors were workinglike Trojans to launch the boats, as it could not be told when the_Eagle_ would founder. Already she was settling in the water. 

For once Mr. Tarbill seemed too stunned to know what to do. Bobmade up his mind to save a few of his own possessions if he could, and he hurried to his berth. 

"Put on a life-preserver, Bob, " called the captain to him. The boythought of the time when this order had been given before, but notneeded. Now there was real cause for it. 

"Oh, Bob! Help me!" pleaded Mr. Tarbill, who was trembling withterror. 

"I will. If there's anything valuable in your cabin, you'd betterget it out. "

"Everything I have is valuable. "

"Well, you can't take it all. The boat won't hold it. "

"Have we got to go in small boats out on this dreadful ocean?"

"It's the only way to save our lives. "

Mr. Tarbill selected some of his possessions, as did Bob, and thenthe only two passengers on the ship, having donned the corkjackets, went on deck again. 

The sailors were busy putting provisions and water into the smallboats, of which, fortunately, there were enough to hold all, evenwith the loss of the one the mast had smashed. 

"Is there no way of saving the ship?" asked Bob of the captain ashe stood, calm, yet stern, on the quarter-deck. 

"No. Her bows are stove in and the foremast has pounded a big holein her quarter. The _Eagle_ is doomed. There must be an unchartedreef about here, or else we were blown off our course. "

"Boats are all ready, sir, " reported a sailor, running up. 

"Very well, tell the men to get in. Mr. Carr will be in command ofone boat, Mr. Bender the other, and I will go in my gig. Bob, youand Mr. Tarbill will go with me. Pull well away from the wreck, men, and lay to until we are all together. Then we'll try to getour bearings. "

It was getting lighter now, but the storm showed no signs ofabating. The _Eagle_ was fairly impaled on a sharp point of thesunken reef and was immovable, but the waves were dashing high overthe bows. 

Suddenly the ship gave a shudder and seemed as if about to tearherself loose, ready to sink beneath the billows. 

"Lively, men!" exclaimed the captain. "She'll not last muchlonger!"

The orders were given to lower the boats. Bob went forward towatch the work, holding on by stray cables that dangled from thewrecked masts. 

As the boat of which Mr. Bender was to take charge was beinglowered, one of the ropes in the davit pulley, that at the bow, fouled, and, as the sailors at the other davit were letting theirline run free, the boat tilted. There was imminent risk of theoars, sail, and mast, besides the supplies, being spilled out. Bobsaw the danger and sprang forward with a shout, intending to lend ahand. 

As he did so a big piece of one of the yards of the broken mizzenmast which had been hanging by splinters was whipped loose by agust of wind and fell almost at his feet, missing him by a smallmargin. Had it struck him squarely it would have killed him. 

Bob only hesitated an instant, though the narrow escape gave him afaint feeling in his stomach. Then, before he could make thesailors understand what the trouble was, he grabbed the rope thatwas running free and, taking a turn about a cleat, prevented thefurther lowering of the boat. 

"Good!" shouted Second-Mate Bender, who had seen what had takenplace. "You saved the boat, Bob. In another second all the stuffwould have been afloat. Lively now, men. Straighten out that lineand lower away. She's settling fast. "

In the meanwhile Mr. Carr had succeeded in lowering his boat, andhe and his men were in it. The crew of the captain's gig were busywith that craft, and it was all ready to lower. 

"Get in, Bob, " said the commander of the _Eagle_. "And you too, Mr. Tarbill. "

"Aren't you coming?" asked Bob. 

"I'm the last one in, " was the sad answer, and then the boyunderstood that the captain is always the last to leave a sinkingship. 

"Shall we get in before you lower it?" asked Bob of the sailors whostood at the davit ropes. 

"Yes. We can lower it with you two in. The captain and we canslide down the ropes. We're used to it, but it's ticklish businessfor land-lubbers. " And the man grinned even in that time of terror. 

Captain Spark had gone to his cabin for his log book, the ship'spapers, and his nautical instruments. As he came out the red sunshowed for an instant above the horizon. 

"If we had seen that a few hours sooner we wouldn't be here now, "remarked the commander sadly. "But it's too late now. "

The other boats had pulled away from the wreck. Bob and Mr. Tarbill got into the gig and were lowered to the surface of theheaving ocean. 

"Take an oar and fend her away from the ship's side a bit, " thecaptain advised Bob. "Else a wave may smash the gig. "

Bob did so. Mr. Tarbill was shivering too much with fear to be ofany help. A few seconds later the two sailors who had lowered theboat at the captain's orders leaped into the gig as a wave liftedit close to the _Eagle's_ rail. Then the commander, carrying a fewof his possessions and with a last look around his beloved ship, made the same jump and was in his gig. 

"Pull away, " he commanded sorrowfully, and the sailors rowed outfrom the foundered ship. 

When they were a little way off they rested on their oars. Allaround them was a waste of heaving waters. The two other boatscame up, and the occupants looked at the _Eagle_ settling lower andlower as the water filled her. The wrecked ship, now sunk almostto her deck level, seemed, save for the three boats, to be the onlyobject in sight on the bosom of the tumultuous ocean. 

"Well, men, give way!" at length called the captain, with a sigh. "We may be sighted by some vessel, or we may land on an island. There are several islands hereabouts, if we are not too far awayfrom them. "

Then, bending to the oars, the sailors sent the boats away from thewreck. Bob and his friends were afloat on the big ocean in smallboats that, at any moment, might be swamped by a mighty wave, forthe wind was still blowing hard, though the sun shone brightly inthe eastern sky. 

CHAPTER XVIII

BOB ON AN ISLAND

"Keep together, men!" called the captain, as they pulled away. "Wedon't want to lose one another. "

"Which way shall we pull, sir?" asked the first mate. 

"I'll tell you presently. I'll look at my charts and see if Ican't locate an island somewhere here-abouts. Keep up yourcourage. Luckily this didn't happen down in the Straits. At leastwe have warm weather here. "

For the first time Bob noticed that it was very warm. It had beenso, of course, for several days preceding the wreck, but thethought that they were in a tropical climate had been forgotten inthe excitement of the foundering of the ship. Now it was a thingfor which to be thankful. 

"Oh! Isn't this the most terrible thing that could occur!"exclaimed Mr. Tarbill, from a seat where he was huddled up. "It isawful!"

"It's not half so awful as if we were drowned and in Davy Jones'slocker, " remarked the captain. "I've lost my ship and the cargo, but, fortunately, both were insured. We are lucky to have had timeto get off in the boats, well provisioned as they are. As soon asthis wind goes down a bit we'll hoist the small sails and head forthe nearest land. "

The captain was soon busy over his charts. He made somecalculations and announced his belief that there was a group ofislands about a hundred miles off. He could not be sure, for whilethey showed on the chart, he could not exactly determine theposition of the ship when she struck, as no observation had beentaken since the previous noon, and the rate of sailing under theforce of the gale was mere guesswork. 

So the men rowed on. The _Eagle_ was now a mere blot on thesurface of the ocean--a speck of blackness amid a swirl of foam, caused by the waves breaking over the ship and the reef. The windcontinued too high to risk raising the sail with which each boatwas provided, and it was slow progress with the oars. 

The day was one of terror, for many times waves would break overthe small craft, forcing the men to bail for their lives. Onlycold provisions could be eaten, but in spite of this the littleband of shipwrecked men maintained a cheerful demeanor. As for Bobhe did not deny that he was frightened. He thought with sorrow ofhis father and mother and wondered if he would ever see them again. He and the others had removed their life-preservers, as they didnot need them in the gig. 

"That was a plucky thing you did, saving that boat from going downstern first, " complimented the captain, a little later that daywhen they were talking over the events of the wreck. "You showedgood judgment, Bob. "

"Oh, I guess anybody would have done the same. "

"No, they wouldn't. You deserve great credit. Bravery in the faceof danger is bravery indeed. Your father and mother can be proudof you. "

There came to Bob's mind a memory of certain times when these wordsof the captain would not have been true. He resolved, if his lifewas spared, to be a more manly boy in the future--to live up to thecaptain's new estimate of him. 

Wearily the men labored at the oars. It was hard work to keep theboats' heads to the waves, which, to those in the small craft, looked like great green mountains of water. Now the boats would bedown in a vast hollow, with towering walls on either side. Thenthe stanch craft would be lifted up and, poising on the crests, would slide down a watery hill with a sickening feeling, present atleast in the hearts of Bob and Mr. Tarbill, that they were goingstraight for the bottom. The nervous passenger sat huddled up in aheap, scarcely speaking. 

The wind seemed to increase as night drew on. The motion of thecaptain's gig was such that he could not take an observation, and, when the blackness settled down, they had no idea where they were, nor in which direction the nearest land lay. 

"I'm afraid we'll be separated in the darkness, " said the captain, "but there is no help for it. "

The day of terror was succeeded by a night of peril. The sea andwind seemed combining to wreck the small boats. The one commandedby Mr. Carr managed to remain within hailing distance of thecaptain's gig, but the other seemed to have disappeared. Afeeling of gloom settled down over the castaways. 

It must have been about the middle of the night that Bob, workinghis way aft to get a drink of water from one of the casks, stumbledover part of the sail that was folded in the bottom of the gig. Heput out his hands, instinctively, to save himself, but, as therewas nothing to cling to, he only grasped the air. 

Then, with a cry of terror which he could not suppress, he plungedoverboard and was soon struggling in the water. 

He went down, but, being a good swimmer, he at once began to strikeout, and as he got his head above the surface and shook the waterfrom his ears, he heard one of the sailors cry:

"Bob's overboard!"

"Bob! Bob! Where are you?" shouted the captain. "Here's alife-preserver!"

The boy heard a splash in the water near him and struck out for it. 

"Back water!" he heard the captain cry. 

"Aye, aye, sir!" replied the sailors heartily. 

At the same time the captain shouted to Mr. Carr's boat word ofwhat had happened. Bob was weighted down by his wet clothes and hefelt he could not long keep up, but he was swimming strongly, hoping every moment one of the boats would pick him up. 

"Here I am!" he shouted, but his voice did not carry far above thewind. He began to have a hopeless feeling, as if he was doomed todrown there all alone on the vast ocean. A nameless terror seizedhim. Then, to his joy, his fingers touched something. It was thefloating cork life-preserver, and he knew he could keep himself upwith it for a long time. 

Once more he shouted, but there came no answering hail. 

"Have they rowed away and left me?" thought the boy. 

He held this idea but for an instant. Then he guessed the truth ofwhat had happened. The boats had been swept on by wind and wave, and, in the darkness, it was impossible to see so small an objectas the boy's head in the water. 

The sailors in the two boats rowed about, frantically urged on byCaptain Spark. 

"His mother will never forgive me!" he whispered to himself. "I'drather have lost a dozen ships than have Bob drown!"

But, though they rowed about the spot where he had disappeared, neither the captain nor Mr. Carr nor any of the sailors could finda trace of the boy. 

"We'll stand by until morning, " decided the commander, and theybegan their weary vigil. 

Meanwhile Bob was swimming right away from the boats, for he couldnot get the right direction in the darkness. He managed to fastenthe life-preserver to him, and with the buoyancy of the cork to aidhim he swam easily, though he did not make very fast progress. 

After the first shock of terror was over Bob became calm. He had amomentary fear of sharks, but he resolved not to think about thesemonsters or the sea, as it sent a cold chill over him and he foundhe could not swim so well. 

"I'll just paddle on until morning, " he decided, "and by that timemaybe the men In the boats will pick me up. "

So, through the remainder of the night, he swam leisurely. Inspite of the storm it was very warm and the water felt pleasant. If he had only had an idea of where he was, Bob would not haveminded his position so very much. 

It was just getting light when, happening to let his legs down foran instant to rest them, he felt his feet touch something. Atfirst he had an unreasoning terror that it might be a big fish--awhale or a shark--that had come up under him. Then he feltwhatever it was under his feet to be firm and hard. A dim shapeloomed up before him. 

"It's land!" exclaimed Bob. "I've struck land! It must be one ofthose islands the captain told about and that is the sandy beach myfeet arc touching. "

He swam on a little further, and again let down his feet. To hisdelight he could stand upright, the water coming to his chest. Then, as it grew lighter, he could make out a low, sandy shorelying stretched out before him. 

"Land! Land!" exclaimed the boy. "I'm on land! But where are theothers?"

CHAPTER XIX

FINDING MR. TARBILL

Bob hurried forward as fast as he could through the water, nolonger swimming, but wading. Soon he reached the beach and saw, beyond it, that the land was covered with green grass, while trees, which he easily recognized as the kind found in warm countries, grew to a great height. 

"I'm on a tropical island, " thought the castaway. "Just likeRobinson Crusoe, only I haven't any of the things he had and thewreck of the _Eagle_ isn't near enough for me to get anything fromthe ship. Still I ought to be thankful I'm not drowned or eaten bya shark. "

Bob was tired after his long swim and stretched out under the treeson the grass to rest. It was already beginning to get much warmer, though the sun was only just peeping up, seemingly from beneath theocean. 

"Wonder if I'm going to find anything to eat here, " the boythought. "Doesn't look as if any one lived here. I'll have totake a look around. It's going to be very lonesome here. I wonderif any ships ever pass this place?"

There were so many questions that needed answering he did not knowwhere to stop asking them of himself. But he decided the first andbest thing to do would be to get off his wet clothes. Not that hewas afraid of taking cold, but he knew he would be more comfortablein dry garments. 

So, taking everything out of his pockets, which was no smalloperation by the way, as Bob was a typical boy, he stripped himselfof his heavier garments and hung them on tree limbs to dry. 

"Now if I could find something to eat I'd be right in it--at leastfor a while, " thought the castaway as he walked around on the warmgrass. "And I need a drink, for I swallowed a lot of salt waterand I'm as dry as a powder horn. " He looked out on the ocean, butnot a trace of a boat was visible. 

Bob walked some distance from where he had landed, keeping a sharplookout for a spring of water. Ail the while he was getting moreand more thirsty, and he began to think he would have to dig alittle well near shore with clam shells, as he had read ofshipwrecked sailors doing. But, fortunately, he was not forced tothis. As he penetrated a little way into the wood, he heard thegurgle of water. 

"That sounds good, " he remarked. 

Stepping cautiously, because of his bare feet, he went on a littlefarther and presently saw a small waterfall, caused by a streamtumbling over a little ledge of rocks and splashing into a poolbelow. 

"That looks better than it sounds, " thought Bob. And a momentlater he was drinking his fill. "Seems as if there might be fishin there, " he went on, glancing at the pool. "Guess I'll try it. "

Bob was fond of hunting and fishing and knew considerable aboutwood-lore. Searching under the stones he soon found some worms, and, tossing one into the middle of the pool, he saw a hungry fishrise to it. 

"Now if I had a pole, hook, and line I'd soon have a breakfast, " hewent on to himself. "I have the line, all right, and I ought tohave a hook in one of my pockets. I generally do. As for a pole Ican easily cut one. "

Bob hurried back to where he had piled the things he took from hispockets. It did not take him long to discover that he had a stoutcord that would answer for a line, while he also had several hooks. With his knife he cut a pole, and baiting the hook with a worm, hecast in. 

Probably no one, unless it might have been some unfortunatecastaway in years gone by, had ever angled in that pool. The fishat once rose to the bait, and soon Bob had several beauties on thegrass beside him. 

"Now to cook them, " he said to himself. "Lucky I bought awater-proof match box before I started on this voyage. I can nowmake a fire. "

Bob went back to the place he called "home"--where he had firstlanded--and looked in the water-tight match box which he always hadcarried since he had come aboard the _Eagle_. To his delight thelittle fire-sticks were not harmed by his bath. He only wished hehad more of them. 

Finding his clothes were now nearly dry, he put part of them on andproceeded to kindle a fire. Then he cleaned the fish and set themto broil by the simple process of hanging them in front of the fireon a pointed stick, one end of which was thrust into the ground. 

"That smells good!" exclaimed Bob, as the fish began to brown. "But, I almost forgot. There's plenty of fruit to be had. " For hehad noticed several trees well laden as he passed through thewoods. "I'll not starve here as long as I have fruit and fish. "

He gathered some things that looked a cross between an orange and atangerine and ate several, finding them delicious. By the time thefish were well done Bob, preparing to eat his odd breakfast, wassuddenly startled by a groan. It seemed to come from behind a pileof rocks off to the left. 

"I wonder what that was?" thought Bob. "An animal or a humanbeing? I wonder if there are any South Sea natives on this island?"

He put down his fish on some big green leaves he had plucked forplates and went toward the rocks. As he approached, the groansbecame louder. Peering cautiously over the stones, Bob saw thefigure of a man lying on the sand, as if he had managed to crawlout of the water. 

[Illustration: "Bob saw the figure of a man lying on the sand. "]

For an instant the boy could scarcely believe his eyesight. Then, with a cry, he rushed forward. 

"It's Mr. Tarbill!" he exclaimed. "He, too, must have fallenoverboard and been washed ashore. But he seems to be hurt. "

The man's eyes were closed and he was scarcely breathing. 

"He's dying!" thought Bob, his heart beating hard. 

Then, thinking perhaps the man might be partly drowned, the youngcastaway began to put into operation as much of the directions ashe remembered for restoring partially drowned persons to life. Hehad not worked long before he saw Mr. Tarbill's eyes open. Thenthe nervous passenger began to breathe better. 

"Where--where am I?" he asked faintly. 

"You're safe, " replied Bob. "On an island with me. But where isthe captain--and the others?"

"Boat foundered. Wave washed over it--soon after you felloverboard. No chance to get life-preservers. It was every one forhimself. "

"Are they drowned?"

"I don't know! Oh, it is terrible! I swam as long as I could, then I seemed to be sinking. "

"You're all right now, " said Bob cheerfully. "You're just in timeto have some breakfast. "

He helped Mr. Tarbill to his feet. The nervous man seemed torecover rapidly, and when, at Bob's suggestion, he had taken offmost of his wet clothes and was drying out near the fire, his facetook on a more cheerful look. 

"Those fish smell fine, " he said. "I'm very fond of fish. Are yousure those are not poisonous?"

"I'm not sure, " replied Bob, "and I'm too hungry to care much. They're a sort of big sun-fish, such as I used to catch at home. The meat looks nice and white. Better have some. I'll warm themagain. "

He put them once more on the pointed sticks near the fire, and whenthey were sizzling he laid them on the green leaves. Then, withsticks for knives and forks, the two castaways made a fairly goodmeal. 

"I thought I never would see land again, " said the nervous man, ashe began to dress in his dry clothes after the breakfast. "Thishas been a terrible experience for me. "

"I guess it has, " admitted Bob. "And for all of us. I wish I knewwhat has happened to the captain and the others. "

"Our boat was swamped by a big wave, " said Mr. Tarbill, "andsuddenly we were all thrown into the water. That is the last Iremember. Perhaps the captain and some of the crew may have swumashore on another part of this island. "

"I hope so. We'll search for them. I guess we're in for a longstay. "

"Have we got to remain here?" demanded Mr. Tarbill. 

"I don't see what else there is to do, " replied Bob. "We haven'tany boat, we can't walk on the water, and we'll have to stay untila ship comes and takes us off. "

"Oh, dear!" exclaimed the nervous man. "I wish I had stayed athome!"

Bob thought he might at least be thankful that his life was sparedand that he was not where he would starve, but the lad concluded itwould be wise to say nothing. 

"If you like we'll take a walk around the island, see how large itis and if there's a place where we can make a sort of shelter, "proposed Bob. 

"I guess that will be the best thing to do. I leave it all to you. My nerves are in such shape that I can do nothing. "

Bob felt not a little proud of the responsibility thus thrust uponhim. He resolved to act wisely and cautiously, for there was notelling how long they would have to live on the island. 

With the boy in the lead the two started off. The sun was now hotand strong, and they found it advisable to keep in the shade of thewoods as much as possible. 

Bob saw a big turtle crawling down the beach toward the water, and, knowing the flesh was good for food, he ran forward to catch it. He was too late, however, and when he turned, with a feeling ofdisappointment, to catch up with Mr. Tarbill, who had continued on, Bob was surprised to hear the man utter an exclamation. He hadcome to a halt near a pile of rocks and was looking over the tops. 

"What's the matter?" asked the boy. 

"There are two men down there on the beach! Perhaps they arecannibals! We had better go back!"

"Let me take a look, " proposed Bob. 

Cautiously he went forward, gave one glance at the figures to whichMr. Tarbill pointed, and then he uttered a cry. 

"Hurrah!" he shouted. "They are Captain Spark and Tim Flynn, oneof the sailors! They've managed to get to shore! Ahoy, captain!Ahoy! Here we are!" and he ran down the beach toward them. 

CHAPTER XX

MAKING THE BEST OF IT

Captain Spark and the sailor turned at the sound of Bob's voice. The captain gave a joyful cry and started forward. But Tim Flynn, the sailor, with a yell of fear, ran off down the beach in adifferent direction. 

"Here! Come back!" cried the captain, pausing. "What's the matterwith you, Tim?"

"Sure I don't want to meet no ghost!" exclaimed the man. 

"Ghost? What do you mean?"

"Him, " replied Tim, pointing a shaking finger at Bob. "Didn't wesee him drown, an' now ain't he here ahead of us to haunt us? Letme go, cap'n. "

He was about to run off again, but Bob, who began to understand thesuperstitious rears of the man, called out:

"It's me, Tim! I'm alive, all right!"

The sailor paused, turned, and, after a long and rather doubtinglook at the boy, came slowly bade. 

"Well, maybe it's all right, " he said, "but it's mighty queer. How'd ye git here?"

"Swam until I struck land. But how did you get here, captain?" andBob clasped his relative warmly by the hand. 

"Our boat must have been close to the island when it capsized, "replied the former commander of the _Eagle_. "A big wave did thebusiness for us, and then it was every man for himself. PoorTarbill, he's lost, and so is Pete Bascom. We'll never see eitherof 'em again. And I'm afraid the rest of the crew are gone, too. No boat could live long in that sea. "

"Mr. Tarbill is alive, " said Bob. 

"How do you know?"

"He's right behind those rocks. He didn't come on because hefeared you were cannibals. I'll call him. "

Bob set up a shout, and in a few seconds the nervous passenger camecautiously over the top of a pile of stones. When he saw CaptainSpark he was reassured and advanced boldly. There was a generalshaking of hands, and then the captain remarked:

"Well, now we're here we'll have to sec what we can find in the wayof food and shelter. I don't believe this island is inhabited. Ididn't know we were so near one. It isn't down on the charts. "

"There is plenty of fish and fruit, " said Bob, telling how he hadused his hook and line to advantage. 

"Good!" exclaimed the captain. "I could eat a fish raw, I believe, and my mouth is dry for need of some fresh water. "

"Then come on to my camp, " said Bob, proudly leading the way, The captain could not but note the change in the boy. He had aconfident air about him now, as if he could take charge of matters. The experience of the shipwreck, terrible as it had been, hadtaught Bob some needed lessons. But he had yet more to learn. 

While Captain Spark and Tim Flynn were wringing the water out oftheir heavier garments Bob replenished the fire and soon had somefish broiling, for he had caught more than he needed. It did nottake long to finish the simple meal, and then the captain spoke. 

"We'd better take a survey of the island, " he said, "to see whatsort of a place we've landed on. If there are any natives here wewant to know it. We also want to know what we can expect in theway of things to eat and if there are animals on it. I don'tbelieve there are, however, as the place is too small. "

"Let's start right away, " proposed Bob. "Perhaps we can find somedriftwood, or something to make a hut of, though it's warm enoughto sleep out of doors without shelter. "

"But not exactly safe in tropical countries, " objected the captain. "I hope we can construct some kind of a house. If we can't we'llhave to make the best of it, though, for we haven't any tools towork with, except knives. "

They started to make a circuit of the island. It was not verylarge, being about two miles across. The center was thickly woodedwith tropical growth, and the captain was glad to note that therewere several varieties of good fruit, including a number ofcocoanut trees. 

"If worst comes to worst we can make a hut of cocoanut leaves, " hesaid. "The natives often do that. "

"Oh, dear! I hope there are no cannibals here, " said Mr. Tarbillat the mention of the word natives. "Suppose they should eat usup?"

"They'd have to fight first, " observed the captain grimly. "I'llnot be eaten without a struggle. "

"But I never fought a cannibal in my life, " objected the nervouscastaway. "I shouldn't know how to go about it. "

"No more would I, but I'd soon learn. But don't think about suchthings, Mr. Tarbill. "

"I can't help it. I wonder how long it will be before we arerescued?"

"That is a grave question, " said the captain slowly. "I fear thisisland is too far out of the regular course of ships to hope thatwe will be picked up soon. We must make some kind of a distresssignal and hoist it where it will be seen. We'll do that as soonas we have completed the circuit of the island. "

It was long past noon, to judge by the position of the sun, whenthey had circled the island and again reached the place where Bobhad built the fire. They had seen no signs of natives, nor any ofanimals, though there might be small beasts. 

"Well, we know what to expect now, " said the Captain, as they satdown under the trees to talk matters over. "We'll have to dependfor a living on fish, turtles, and fruit. We have no natives tofear, and our situation is not so bad as it might be. Now we hadbetter set about matters in a shipshape and orderly fashion. Inthe first place we will name our island. There's nothing likehaving an address where your friends can write to you, " he added, with grim humor. 

"Let's call it 'Lonely Land, '" suggested Bob. 

"I have a better name, " said the commander. "It is the custom tocall islands and mountains after the person who discovers them. Ipropose that we name this 'Bob's Island, ' for he discovered itfirst. "

"Aye, aye, sir!" cried Tim Flynn heartily. 

Bob blushed and was about to protest, but, to his surprise, Mr. Tarbill joined in and favored the proposition. 

"That's settled, then, " spoke the captain. "Now you needn't sayanything, Bob, we're three to one, and we're going to have our way. So far so good. The next thing is to rig up our distress signal. I'll leave that to Flynn. Tim, climb the highest tree you can findand run up a signal. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " replied the sailor, saluting and starting off. 

"Now then, we'd better catch some more fish for dinner, " thecaptain continued. "I'll leave that to you, Bob, and I'll buildanother fire, for this one is out. Mr. Tarbill can go and see ifhe can't catch a couple of turtles. "

"Turtles! I never caught a turtle in my life!" exclaimed thenervous man. "I'd be afraid to!"

"Not the least danger, " the captain assured him. "All you have todo is to get between them and the water as they're on the beachsunning themselves and turn them on their backs. They'll staythere until I can come and get them. It's time you learned tocatch turtles. "

"Oh, dear!" sighed Mr. Tarbill. "I wish I was safe home!"

But the captain paid no attention to his protest. 

"It'll do him good, " he murmured, as the nervous one walkeddejectedly off. "He'll not have any nerves left when we getthrough with him. "

Bob had good luck with his hook and line and soon returned with adozen fine fish. In the meanwhile the captain had built a big fireand had a bed of red coals ready to broil the fish over, for heknew just how to do it. 

When the dinner was in process of cooking Tim returned. 

"Did you hoist the signal?" asked the captain. 

"Aye, aye, sir. "

"What did you use for a flag?"

"My shirt, sir. "

"Your shirt?"

"Aye, aye, sir. You see I had two on, an outer shirt and an innershirt. I didn't need the outer shirt as it's so hot here, so Ihoisted that on top of a tall tree. It's flying in the breeze now, sir. You can see it from here. "

He led the way down to the edge of the water and pointed inland. Sure enough, flying from a tall cocoanut tree was a white shirt. It could be seen for a long distance. 

"That's a fine idea, " complimented the captain. "I forgot when Isent you off that you hadn't any signal flag. But here comes Mr. Tarbill. I wonder if he turned any turtles? Any luck?" he calledas the nervous man approached. 

"No, sir. The turtles all ran when they heard me coming. Some ofthem left a lot of eggs behind. "

"Did you bring any?"

"No. I didn't think they were good. "

"Good? Of course they're good! We'll gather some later. But comeon. It's long past dinner time and I guess we're all hungry. "

Every one proved it by the manner in which he ate. The meal was aprimitive one, with sticks for forks, though they all hadpocket-knives, which answered very well to cut the fish. Forplates Captain Spark substituted large clam shells, in place of theleaves Bob had used. 

"Now I think we had better rig up some kind of a hut for shelteragainst the night dews, " proposed the captain, when they were doneeating. "Gather all the cocoanut leaves you can and I'll make asort of framework. "

Bob started up, ready to go off into the forest after leaves, withthe sailor and Mr. Tarbill. As he gazed out to sea, where the bigwaves were still rolling, he saw something that caused him to uttera cry of astonishment. 

"What is it?" asked Captain Spark, hurrying to Bob's side. 

"There, " replied the boy, pointing to some dark object that wasrising and falling on the swell. 

"It's a boat! A boat capsized!" exclaimed Captain Spark. "We mustsecure it. It's one from the _Eagle_. Probably the one we werein. "

"Shall I swim out to it?" asked Bob. "Perhaps I can tow it in. "

"No, the current is setting toward the beach. It will drift inpresently. "

CHAPTER XXI

MORE ARRIVALS

All interest in building a hut was temporarily forgotten as thefour castaways watched the slow approach of the boat. As it camenearer it was seen to be the captain's gig, in which Bob and hisfriends had left the ill-fated _Eagle_. 

"Do you think there'll be anything left in her?" asked Bob. 

"There will, unless she is smashed, " replied Mr. Spark. "Thelockers, in which most of the supplies were packed, are water-tightand securely fastened. This is a piece of good luck, if the boatis not stove in. She has turned bottom up, but she may still besound. She'll soon be here. "

When the gig was close enough so that they could wade out to it, Bob and Tim Flynn rolled up their trousers and went through theshallow surf. The beach gradually shelved at this point and theycould wade out nearly a quarter of a mile at low tide. 

"She's all right, cap'n!" called the sailor, when he and Bobreached the small craft. "Sound as a dollar, and the lockers areclosed, " he added as the boat rolled partly over. 

"Good!" cried the commander. "Pull her in as close as you can andwe'll unload her. Then we'll get her above high-water mark. Thisboat may save our lives. "

"How?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"Why, when the sea goes down we can leave the island in her. "

"Leave the island? Never! I'm on dry land now, and I'm nevergoing to trust myself in a boat again. "

"Maybe you'll think differently after a bit, " said the captain. 

By this time Bob and Tim had the boat in very shallow water. Theymanaged to turn it on the keel, and the first thing they saw wasthe sail in the bottom. Ropes, fastened to various projections, had prevented the canvas from floating away. 

"There!" cried the captain, when he saw it. "That solves ourshelter problem for us. We'll make a tent. Oh, we're in luck, allright. 'Bob's Island' isn't such a bad place after all. "

Bob blushed with pleasure. Then and there he made up his mind thathis foolishness should be a thing of the past. He was of someimportance in the world now, and it would not do to be playingchildish pranks. 

But if the captain was delighted at finding the sail, he was muchmore so when, on opening the lockers, which fastened with patentcatches, everything was found to be as "dry as a bone, " as TimFlynn expressed it. 

"Now we can have a change from the fish and fruit diet, " said thecaptain, as he showed where the canned food had been stowed away. There were tins of ship's biscuits, some jars of jam and marmalade, plenty of canned beef, tongue and other meats, rice, flour--inshort, a bountiful supply for the small party of castaways. 

Captain Spark had ordered the boats to be well provisioned when heknew the _Eagle_ was doomed, and his forethought now stood them ingood stead. 

In another locker was a kit of carpenter's tools, which would comein very handy if they were to remain long on the island, and inanother water-tight compartment the captain had stowed hischronometer, his instruments for finding the position of the ship, and some charts. 

Owing to the fact that the lockers remained tightly closed when theboat capsized, nothing had been lost out of them, and they had alsoserved to make the gig more buoyant. Practically nothing wasmissing from the boat save the personal belongings of Bob and theothers--their clothing in the valises, the mast which had floatedaway, and some of the captain's papers relating to the ship. Butthis did not worry them, as they were now in good shape to live onthe island, at least for several weeks. 

"All hands to lighten ship!" called the captain, when he had lookedover what the boat contained. They made short work of carrying thethings from the lockers well up on the beach. With the boat thusmade lighter, it was pulled out of reach of the waves. 

"Now for a shelter!" the commander called, when the gig had beensafely moored. "This sail will make a fine tent. "

So it proved when it was set up on some poles which Tim Flynn cutwith a light hatchet found among the tools. Mr. Tarbill could notbe depended on to do anything, and he was so mournful, standingaround and lamenting the fact that he had ever undertaken the trip, that, to get rid of him, Captain Spark sent him off once more tocatch turtles, or, if he could not do that, to gather some of theeggs. This last Mr. Tarbill was able to do, but he was notsuccessful in turning any of the crawling creatures over on theirbacks. 

The tent was erected before dark, and, with a cheerful fire burningin front of it, supper was prepared. This time they had tin dishesto eat from, as a supply was found in the gig's lockers. 

Tired out with their day's work, and by the struggle with the sea, the castaways all slept soundly. Nor was there any need to standguard during the night. On beds of palm leaves, under the tent, they slumbered undisturbed until the sun, shining in on them, awokeall four. 

"Well, I'm beginning to feel quite to home, " remarked the captain, who could be cheerful under misfortune. His good spirits shouldhave been a lesson to Mr. Tarbill. That gentleman had lost nothingbut what could be easily replaced, but the captain had lost hisfine ship. Still he did not complain, and Bob, seeing his demeanorunder trying circumstances, resolved to try and be like the stanchmariner. 

After breakfast Captain Spark looked carefully over the gig to seeif the craft was seaworthy. He decided that it was, and he sentTim to look about for a suitable small tree to be cut down as amast for the sail. 

"Are you going to sail away?" asked Mr. Tarbill nervously. 

"I don't know. I want to be all ready to do so in case we find itnecessary. This noon I will work out our position and locate thisisland on the chart. Then I can determine how far it is to thenearest mainland, or to a larger island. "

"I'll never go in a small boat on this big ocean, " declared Mr. Tarbill. 

Captain Spark, who had completed his examination of the gig, wasstanding near it, idly gazing off across the waste of water, whichhad greatly subsided since the storm, when he caught sight of somesmall object about two miles off shore. 

"Bob!" he called, "bring me the binoculars, " for a pair of marineglasses had been found in one of the lockers. 

The captain gazed through the glasses for several seconds. Then hecried out:

"More arrivals! Prepare for company, Bob!"

"Who, captain?"

"There's a boat off there and in it are Mr. Carr, the first mate, and Ned Scudd! But they seem to be in trouble, for they arebailing fast. Their boat must have a hole in it. We'd better goto their rescue!"

CHAPTER XXII

AFLOAT ONCE MORE

Captain Spark laid aside his binoculars and began shoving the gigdown toward the line of surf. The tide was about half in. 

"Lend a hand!" cried the commander to Mr. Tarbill. There was noneed to urge Bob, who had already grasped one side of the gunwaleand was helping to push the boat down the beach. 

It was almost too much for the captain and Bob, as Mr. Tarbill, however willing he was, could not bring much strength to the work. Fortunately, however, Tim Flynn came from the woods at that moment, dragging after him a long thin pole to serve as a mast. He sawwhat the captain wanted and ran up to help. Between the three theymanaged to get the gig afloat. 

"Now then! Lively!" cried the commander. "Their boat is settlingfast!"

Tim did not need to be told what the object was in launching thegig. Fortunately there had been a spare pair of oars in the craftwhen she came ashore, the big blades being fastened so they couldnot float away. With these the captain and Tim began to propel theboat toward the sinking craft in which were Mr. Carr and Ned Scudd. The two latter were bailing so fast that they had no chance to row. Bob also went in the gig, but Mr. Tarbill remained on shore, nervously running up and down, wringing his hands and uttering vainwishes that he had never undertaken a sea voyage for his health. 

It was not long before the gig was close to the other boat, andCaptain Spark called out a glad greeting to his first mate and thesailor. 

"What happened?" he asked. 

"We hit some floating wreckage last night, " explained Mr. Carr. "Stove quite a hole, but I managed to stuff part of a sail in it, and we did very well until early this morning. Then some of theseams began to open, and we're filling fast. "

"I'll take you aboard, " said the commander. "We've got a nicelittle island waiting for you. Where are the other men?"

"Drowned, " replied Mr. Carr solemnly. "That is, those who werewith me. When we got the hole in us they became frightened andleaped overboard--that is, all but Ned here. I tried to make 'emstay in, but they wouldn't. That is the last I saw of them. Theother boat, with Sam Bender and his crew, we lost sight of. "

"Poor fellows, " murmured the captain. 

The first mate and Ned were soon in the captain's gig, and shortlyafterward the boat with the hole in her filled and sank. 

"Never mind, " consoled the captain. "It's shallow here and at lowtide we may be able to get her. Anything left in her, Mr. Carr?"

"Considerable provisions in the water-tight compartments. Alsosome supplies. "

"Very good. We'll need 'em all. We're quite a party of castawaysnow. "

"How did you find Bob?" asked the first mate, for his boat had beennear when the boy fell overboard. 

"Oh, Bob discovered the island for us, " replied the commander, andhe explained the various happenings. 

Shore was soon reached, and then Mr. Carr and Ned, neither of whomhad been able to eat much because of the necessity of bailing tokeep from sinking, were given a good meal. 

The two latest arrivals looked with interest on what had alreadybeen done to form a camp. When their wet trousers were hung up todry in the hot sun, they rested in the shade of the tent and Bobexplained his adventures on first reaching the island. 

"Have you any idea where we are, captain?" asked Mr. Carr, after amutual exchange of experiences. 

"Only a slight one. I'm going to take an observation this noon. Fortunately, my chronometer did not stop and I can get the correctreckoning. "

But the captain was disappointed. At noon the sun was hidden undera dense bank of clouds, and, as "dead reckoning" would have been ofno avail, since they had no previous record to go by, he had topostpone matters. 

However, there was plenty to do. When the tide went out late thatafternoon they saw that it would he possible to get most of thethings from the wrecked boat. This kept them busy until dark. Then a big campfire was lighted, and, though the tent was rathercrowded with six in it, they managed to sleep fairly comfortably. 

The next day it rained, and the castaways put in rather a miserableexistence. Fortunately, they had carried the food into the tent, where it was protected from the terrific tropical downpour. Therain kept up for three days, and during all that time Mr. Tarbillnever ceased complaining. 

As for Bob and the others, they did not mind getting wet through, for the weather was very warm. Under the captain's directions theyhad built a sort of screen for the fire at the first sign of astorm, making it of green cocoanut tree leaves on slanting poleslike a "lean-to, " and this kept the blaze going in spite of thewetness, as plenty of dry wood had been gathered before the rainbegan. 

On the fourth day the sun shone brightly, the downpour had ceased, and they rejoiced in the beautiful scenery around them, even thoughthey were shipwrecked and on a strange island. 

"We must build a more substantial shelter than the tent, " CaptainSpark decided that morning. "We may have to stay here for severalmonths, and the tent is not large enough. Besides, we must keepour supplies dry. "

They decided to make a small log cabin, and, with this end in view, Bob, the two sailors, and Mr. Carr set off into the woods to hewdown trees for this purpose. 

Captain Spark and Mr. Tarbill remained behind to get the camp inbetter shape after the storm. The commander also wished to take asun observation that noon and work out the position of the island, As Bob and his three companions were going through the wood, theywere surprised to see several birds of brilliant plumage. Some ofthem sang sweetly. 

"That's a good sign!" exclaimed Mr. Carr. 

"Why?" asked Bob. 

"Because if there are birds on this small island, it shows thatthere must be a larger island not far away. Birds of this kindlive in large forests, and as there are none here, on account ofthe size of this island, that shows they must come from some otherone, or from the mainland. "

"I hope you're right, " said Bob. "We might be able to get to someother island in the gig, and then we would stand a better chance ofbeing rescued. "

When the little party got back to camp, carrying a number of polesfor the beginning of the hut, they found Captain Spark preparing totake an observation, as it was nearly noon. He asked Mr. Carr toassist him. 

In a few minutes, after taking the altitude of the sun through thesextant and working out a calculation from his table of figures, the captain was able to announce the result, giving the latitudeand longitude of the island. 

"Why, " exclaimed Bob, "that is about the location of the islandshown on the parchment map that Captain Obed gave me. "

"So it is!" cried the captain. "Where is the map, Bob?"

"Lost overboard with the rest of my things, I suppose, when theboat capsized, " was the rueful answer. 

"That's so. Now we'll never know whether there was any treasure ornot. However, there's no use worrying about that. The best newsis that we are not far off from a very large island, at which shipsfrequently touch for water and provisions. "

"Good!" cried Mr. Carr. "About how far off, captain?"

"Not more than two hundred miles. "

"But how can we go two hundred miles?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"In the small boat--my gig--to be sure. We have sufficientprovisions for twice that journey, and the boat is large enough, "

"I'll never venture to sea in a small boat!" declared the nervouspassenger. 

The others paid little attention to him, being too much interestedin what the captain had to say about the other island. He hadnever been there, but he had heard of it. It was inhabited by atribe of friendly natives. 

"Shall we start soon?" asked Mr. Carr. 

"I think we'll wait a week or two and see what turns up here. Weare very comfortable, and I don't want to undertake the voyage inthe small boat if there is any chance of a ship taking us off fromhere. "

The thought that they were not so very far from an island, wherethe chances of rescue were most excellent, put every one in goodhumor, save Mr. Tarbill. He remained gloomy and nervous. 

It was decided to proceed with the building of the hut, and in afew days it was finished and thatched with thick green leaves, thatwere almost as good as shingles. 

"There, now let it rain if it wants to, " said Mr. Carr. "We'll begood and dry. The tent can be used as a storehouse for what thehut won't hold. "

It seemed as if the rain was going to take them at their word, forthere came a steady downpour the next day, and it lasted a weekwith but few intermissions. They were very weary of it. 

Yet through it all Bob kept up his good spirits. He was a changedboy, and though, once or twice, the spirit of mischief seemed aboutto break out in him, he restrained it, to the secret delight ofCaptain Spark. 

"I was right, after all, " he said to Mr. Carr, one day when therain had ceased. "It needed a sea voyage to straighten Bob out, but I didn't figure on a shipwreck doing it. "

The boy was very helpful about camp. No task was too hard for him, no labor too much, and he never grumbled. He had grown almost usedto life on the island, as had the other castaways. But CaptainSpark had not given up the plan of sailing for the large island. He waited until he thought the weather had settled down and then, one fine morning, he gave the word to load the small boat with alltheir supplies. 

"Do you think we can make it?" asked Mr. Carr. 

"I think so. We can try, at any rate. We'll have this island andthe log cabin to return to in case we have to turn back. "

"Are you really going to put to sea in that small boat?" asked Mr. Tarbill nervously, when the time for departure came. 

"That's what we are, " replied the captain. 

"Then I'm not going. "

"Very well. If you want to stay we'll leave you some provisions, and perhaps, in six months, a ship may pass here and see the shirtsignal. "

"Six months?"

"Well, maybe longer; maybe a shorter time. "

"And I'll have to stay here all alone?"

"That's what you will, " answered Captain Spark shortly, for he wasbeginning to tire of Mr. Tarbill's cowardice. 

"Oh, dear! What shall I do?" exclaimed the nervous man. 

"Come along with us, " suggested Bob. 

"I'm afraid. "

"Then stay on the island. That won't sink, " said the captain. 

"I'm afraid of that, too. "

"Well, we're going, " announced the commander, preparing to aid inshoving the boat down to the water's edge. 

"Oh! Don't leave me behind! I'll go! I'll go! But I know I'llbe drowned! I'm sure of it!"

"You're a cheerful passenger, " murmured the captain, as Mr. Tarbillgot into the boat. "Let her go, boys!"

A few minutes later they were afloat once more, leaving "Bob'sIsland" behind. Would they be able to reach the other one! Thatwas the question in every heart. 

CHAPTER XXIII

A SERIOUS LOSS

Under a bright blue sky, with the sun shining down almost a littletoo warm for comfort, and with the sea very calm, the voyage thatmeant so much to all of them was begun. They looked back with alittle regret at the small island they were leaving. There, atleast, they knew they would be safe, but unless they desired torisk the chance of staying there many months, they must make thisventure. 

"Well, it was a fine little camp, " murmured Bob, with a tone ofsorrow in his voice. 

"Indeed it was, " declared Mr. Tarbill. "I wish I was back therenow. "

"Perhaps we all will be, " said Captain Spark gravely, "but there isno use discovering a leak in your boat until it's actually there, "which was his way of saying that it was bad luck to cross a bridgeuntil you came to it. 

"Now we've got to have some system about this voyage, " went on thecommander. "We've got enough provisions and water to last us forthe trip if we are careful of them. We'll not be able to have anybanquets, and I depend upon every one--in which I includemyself--to be sparing of the food and drink. There is no tellingwhat may happen. "

"I have a very good appetite since taking this sea voyage, "murmured Mr. Tarbill. "I can't bear to think of being hungry. "

"Well, perhaps there'll be no need for it. I only wanted to warnyou. Now I propose to take command of this gig, for it is myproperty, and I'm going to be obeyed, just as if we were on the_Eagle_. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " replied the sailors promptly. 

"I'll do my best to bring the craft to the larger island as soon aspossible. We'll have to depend somewhat on the wind, for we can'trow all that distance in time to make our provisions last. Fortunately, I have a reliable pocket compass, so I can lay ourcourse fairly accurately. Now, Ned Scudd and Tim Flynn, step themast and hoist the sail and we'll see how our craft behaves undercanvas. "

The two sailors soon had the sail hoisted, and under the influenceof a stiff breeze the gig shot rapidly ahead, the oars beingshipped. They had two pairs now, one the spare lot from the gigand the other from the boat Mr. Carr had commanded. 

Captain Spark arranged his pocket compass on the stern seat nearthe tiller, and sitting there he directed the course of the smallboat as nearly as he could toward the large island. He and Mr. Carr were to divide the watches of the day and night. There wouldbe four, of six hours each. That is, Captain Spark would be incharge of the boat for six hours, and then Mr. Carr would go onwatch for the same length of time, until it became the captain'sturn again. In this way each one could get sufficient rest. 

The two sailors, Bob and Mr. Tarbill were divided between the twoheads of the watch, Bob and Tim Flynn being chosen by the captain. 

The food had been carefully stowed away in the lockers, thecaptain's charts, chronometer and sextant were put where he couldeasily get at them, and as they had breakfasted before they set offon their voyage, there was nothing to do for several hours but tomake themselves as comfortable as possible in the boat. 

Had it not been for the worry over what might be the outcome, andhad not the dreadful memory of the shipwreck been in all theirminds, they might have enjoyed the sail. As it was, no one feltvery jolly. Mr. Tarbill was particularly miserable, and wascontinually finding fault. 

"Oh, dear! It's dreadfully hot!" he exclaimed when they had beensailing for several hours and Bob's Island was out of sight. "I'mafraid I shall be sunstruck. "

"Get in the shadow of the sail. Go forward, " advised Captain Spark. 

"I'm afraid to move for fear I'll slip overboard as Bob did. "

"Well, if you do we can see to fish you out. It's daylight now. "

"Oh, I'm miserable! I wish I had never come on this trip! I knowI shall never live to see home again!"

"I, too, wish you hadn't come, " thought the captain, but he reallyfelt sorry for the nervous man. 

Finally it grew so hot that Mr. Tarbill could stand it no longer. He decided he would make his way forward, where he could be in theshade of the sail. The others were very warm also, but they didnot complain. Even Bob, who was not used to roughing it as werethe sailors, stood it bravely, though the hot sun made his headache. 

Mr. Tarbill, who was in the stern, near Captain Spark, arose andstarted forward. As he did so a wave, larger than any that theboat had previously encountered, careened the craft a bit. 

"Oh, I'm going overboard!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill. 

He made a frantic clutch at the air, and really did almost go overthe side, but it was due more to his own awkwardness than toanything else. Then he slipped down into the bottom of the gig, but as he did so his arm shot out and something bright and shiningwas knocked from the after locker over the gunwale into the sea, where it fell with a little splash. 

"Now you have done it!" cried the captain, standing up and making avain grab. 

"Done it? Done what?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"You've knocked overboard the only compass we had! How we're goingto find the island now is more than I can tell! This is a seriousloss. "

CHAPTER XXIV

DAYS OF HOPELESSNESS

The captain's announcement struck terror to every heart. Even Bob, with the little knowledge of the sea he possessed, realized whatthat meant. They would have to "go it blind" now, and the chancesof finding a comparatively small island in that vast ocean werelittle indeed. 

"Did I knock the compass overboard?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"You certainly did, " spoke the captain grimly. 

"I--I didn't mean to. "

"No, I don't suppose you did. Still, it's on the bottom of theocean by this time. "

"Oh, dear! What shall we do?"

"The best we can. Fortunately, I have a general idea of thedirection of our course, and at night I can make a shift to steerby the stars, but it's going to be pretty much guesswork. "

"If we can't find the big island, can't we go back to the small onewhere we were?" asked Bob hopefully. 

"It would be about as hard to find that as it's going to be tolocate the other now. Still, we'll have to do the best we can. It's your watch, Mr. Carr. Keep her as near as you can about asshe is while this wind holds. We'll have a bit to eat now. "

The captain dealt out the food and the supply of water. The amountof the latter was very small, as they did not have many casks inwhich to store a supply for their voyage. Still, no onecomplained, even Mr. Tarbill being too stunned by what he had doneto find any fault. 

The day passed slowly, and the breeze kept up. But whether theywere being urged on toward the island, or whether the wind hadshifted and was bearing them in another direction, was something noone could tell. A deeper gloom than any that had prevailed sincethe shipwreck fell upon them all. 

When it got dark and the stars came out Captain Spark was able todirect the boat to a little better advantage, but when morningcame, after the long darkness, during which no one had slept well, they found themselves on a vast, heaving expanse of water. 

"Where are we?" asked Mr. Tarbill. "Is the island in sight?"

Captain Spark swept the horizon with his glasses. 

"There's not a sail to be seen, " he said, "and no sign of land. Ithought we would raise the island by this morning. "

"Then don't you know where we are?" asked the nervous man. 

"I haven't the least idea, except that we are somewhere on thePacific Ocean. "

The captain spoke rather hopelessly. 

"Never mind, " said Bob cheerfully. "We've got food enough for aweek, and by that time something may happen. "

"Yes, something may, " said Mr. Carr, with a gloomy look. 

"That's the way to talk, Bob, " exclaimed the captain. "Never saydie. We'll cheat old Davy Jones and his locker yet. "

Indeed, Bob's cheerfulness under trying circumstances was somethingthat the captain had marked with satisfaction. The very characterof the boy had undergone a change because of what he had beenthrough. He seemed to have grown older and to have a fitting ideaof responsibility. Bob was beginning to realize that life was notall play. 

It was rather hopeless sailing now, not knowing whether they wereheaded right or not. Still they kept on. They ate all theywanted, for the food was more plentiful than water, and they knewif worst came to worst they could live for several days withoutvictuals, but not without water. 

Slowly the time dragged on. Nobody aboard the craft knew what todo. Once Bob tried to cheer up and hum a ditty, but the effort wasa dismal failure. 

"Bob, I reckon you are sorry now that you left home and came withme, " observed the captain soberly. 

"I'm not sorry that I left home, " answered the lad promptly. "ButI must confess I am sorry that all of us are in such a pickle asthis. "

"If I had known my ship was going to be wrecked I'd not have takenyou on this voyage. "

"It is an awful loss. "

"Yes--but I sha'n't mind it so much, if only we reach a place ofsafety. "

"Oh, if only I was home!" sighed Mr. Tarbill. "If only I was home!"

"Wouldn't just dry land suit you?" queried Bob, with a bit of hisold-time humor. 

"I--I suppose so, but I'd like home best. "

"Any land would suit me just now, " put in the captain. 

"Supposing we should land among cannibals!" murmured the nervouspassenger. 

"I don't believe there are any around here, " answered Captain Spark. 

"But are you sure?"

"No, I am not sure. "

"I knew it! Oh, if the savages got us it would be terrible!" AndMr. Tarbill shuddered. 

"Well, he's a wet blanket, if ever there was one!" declared Mr. Carr, in deep disgust. 

"I am--er--a wet blanket?" demanded the nervous passenger. 

"Yes, you are!" declared the other. "And I, for one, am tired ofhearing you croak. "

"Hum!" murmured Mr. Tarbill, and then, for the time being, he saidno more. The constant rocking of the boat made him somewhat sickat the stomach, and he was anything but happy. 

Bob could not help but think of home, and of his dear mother andfather. If he was lost, what would they say and what would they do?

"Dear folks at home!" he murmured. "If I ever get back you'll findme a different boy, yes, indeed, you will! No more silly tricksfor Bob!" And he shut his lips with a firmness that meant a greatdeal. 

The boy had just closed his eyes to take a nap when a loud cry fromTim Flynn awoke him. 

"What's the matter?" he questioned. 

"What do you see, Tim?" asked the captain. 

The sailor was at the bow, standing up on the seat and gazing faracross the rising and falling waters. He did not answer until thecraft was on the crest of a high wave. 

"A ship!" he exclaimed. 

"Where?" came from all of the others in concert. 

"Dead ahead!"

Both the captain and Mr. Carr looked and saw that the report wastrue. Far, far away could be seen a low-lying dark object, with atrail of smoke behind it. 

"It's a steamer, " said Captain Spark. 

"Is it headed this way?" asked Bob, eagerly. 

"I believe so. "

"Are you sure, sir?" came from Mr. Tarbill. "Please don't make anymistake. "

"No, I am not sure. Tim, what do you think?" went on the captain. 

The sailor shrugged his shoulders. He was too anxious to evenventure an opinion. 

How eagerly all on board the little craft watched that dark objectso far away! One minute they felt certain the steamer was headedtoward them, the next they were afraid it was moving off to thenorthward. 

"Let's sail after the steamer, " suggested Bob. 

"It won't help us much, " answered Mr. Carr. 

"Never mind, it will help some, " came from Captain Spark, and theysailed and rowed with all the skill and strength they possessed. 

"Are we closer?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"Not yet!" answered the captain. 

"Can't we call to them?"

"No--but we can fire a shot, " answered Captain Spark, and not oneshot but half a dozen were discharged. 

"If only the lookout sees us, " said Bob. "I wish we could hoistsome big signal. "

But they had nothing larger than the sail and a shirt. Mr. Carrfurnished the garment and it was tied to the masthead. But ifthose on the steamer saw the signal they gave no sign. 

"She's goin' away!" wailed Tim Flynn at last. "Bad luck to her ferlavin' us!"

"Going away!" ejaculated Bob, and his heart sank like a lump oflead in his bosom. 

"Don't say that!" wailed Mr. Tarbill. "Shout--fire agun--anything! They must come and rescue us!" And in hisnervousness the man began to caper about wildly. 

"Look out, or you'll go overboard!" shouted Captain Spark. 

Scarcely had he spoken when the boat was caught by a big wave andstood up almost on end. With a yell Mr. Tarbill slid to the stern, clutched at the gunwale, and disappeared with a splash. 

"Man overboard!"

"Of all the fools!" muttered Mr. Carr. "Why couldn't he sit stilland behave himself?" His patience, so far as the nervous passengerwas concerned, was completely exhausted. 

Bob reached for the boathook, and as soon as Mr. Tarbill came up, he caught the iron in the man's coat and hauled him to the side. Then the captain and Tim Flynn hauled him back on board. 

"Help! I am drowning! Save me!" spluttered the nervous passenger. "I'll go to the bottom of the Pacific!"

"No, you won't, " answered Captain Spark. "But after this you hadbetter sit still. "

"Oh, what a trying experience!" wailed the unfortunate one. Hecleared his mouth of water. "Why did you let me go overboard?" hedemanded. "Why didn't you stop me when you saw me slipping?"

"Didn't have time, " answered the captain. "You ought to thank Bobfor hooking you. "

"He tore my coat sleeve, " said Mr. Tarbill, examining the garment. "And it's the only coat I have now, " he added mournfully. 

"Never mind, maybe you won't need a coat soon, " put in Mr. Carr, who was more disgusted than ever. 

"How's that?"

"If we go down the fish won't care if we have coats on ornot--guess they'd rather eat us without coats. "

"Oh dear! Oh dear!" gasped the nervous passenger, and then he allbut collapsed. 

"The steamer is turning!" cried Tim Flynn, who had climbed up themast to obtain a better view. "Good luck to her if she comes thisway!"

"If only we could send her a wireless message!" said Bob. 

"Yes, here is where that newfangled telegraphing would come inhandy, " returned Captain Spark. "But we ain't got no apparatus, sowe can't do it. "

With anxious eyes all watched the big steamer, which looked to besteering almost for them. The craft was a long way off, so theycould make out nothing distinctly. 

"It's clouding down--we are going to have a squall!" cried CaptainSpark suddenly. 

He pointed to the eastward and the others saw that he was right. As if by magic dark clouds were rolling up from the horizon. Thewind died out, and then came in uncertain puffs. 

"The steamer is leaving us!" cried Mr. Carr. 

"Oh, don't say that, please don't!" wailed Mr. Tarbill. 

"Here comes the squall!" cried Captain Spark, and he was right. 

Soon a sudden gust of wind struck the sailboat, almost keeling herover. As quickly as it could be done, the sail was lowered andstowed away. 

The squall was of short duration, lasting all told not more thanten minutes. Only a few drops of rain fell. Then the cloudsrolled off to the westward and it became as clear as before. 

"The steamer! It's gone!" shouted Mr. Carr. 

"What!" cried Captain Spark. 

"Gone, I tell you!"

With great anxiety all strained their eyes to catch some sight ofthe large craft. At last Tim Flynn pointed with his finger. 

"There she is--sailin' right away from us!" he said bitterly. 

The words of the Irish tar proved true--the steamer had againaltered her course. In a few minutes her dark form was swallowedup in the distant haze. 

It must be admitted that all were much cast down by this happening. When the steamer had headed directly for them they had thought surethey would be rescued. 

"They must have done it deliberately, " said Mr. Tarbill. "Oh, thevillains! the scoundrels!"

"I don't believe that, " answered Captain Spark. "More'n likelythey didn't see us. No captain would be so inhuman as to pass usby. "

Two hours dragged by slowly. Tim Flynn was tired out with muchwatching and had lain down and Ned Scudd had taken his place. 

"I see something, " said Ned, presently. "Don't know what it is. "

He pointed to the southward. There was some low-lying object, withthe waves dashing against it. 

"Perhaps it's a ship with the masts gone, " said Mr. Carr. 

"Or a dead whale, " suggested Bob. 

"It's too big for either a ship or a whale, " said the captain. "Let us sail toward it and make an inspection. "

"Don't--don't run into any new danger!" pleaded Mr. Tarbill. 

"Anything is better than to remain out on this dreary waste ofwaters, " answered Mr. Carr. 

The castaways turned their boat in the direction of the distantobject. It was further off than they had anticipated, and as theyslowly approached they made out a long, low-lying island, coveredwith bushes and grass. Over the island hovered myriads of birds. 

"An island!" cried Bob. "Now we can go ashore anyhow!"

"Not much of a place, I am afraid, " answered Captain Spark, slowlytaking in the spot from end to end with his sharp eyes. 

"Well, it's better nor nuthin, " came from Tim Flynn. "Sure, an'some av thim burds will make good eatin', so they will!"

"We want to be careful how we go ashore, " cautioned the captain. "We don't want to damage our boat. "

They approached the new land cautiously. The water all around itseemed to be deep, so there was no danger of striking a hidden reef. 

Presently the captain espied a sandy beach, and straight for thisthe craft was headed. As the boat struck, Bob, Tim and Ned leapedout, followed by Mr. Carr, and, aided by the swells, pulled herwell up. 

"Am I--er--to get out?" asked Mr. Tarbill timidly. 

"As you please, " answered Captain Spark, grimly. "I am goingashore. "

"Then I'll go, too--I don't want to be left alone, " said thenervous passenger. 

Soon all were on the beach, and then the boat was dragged higher upstill, and tied to several of the low trees near by. 

"Let me shoot some birds--they will make fine eating, " said Bob tothe captain, and permission being given, the young castaway went ona brief hunt. The birds were so thick that he had littledifficulty in bringing down several dozen. 

"Now we can have a bird pot-pie for supper, " declared Mr. Carr, andhe looked greatly pleased, and so did the others. 

All realized that the island upon which they had landed was not tobe compared to that upon which they had previously been cast. Thetrees were of small account, none of them bearing fruit fit to eat. Some of the bushes contained berries, and Ned began to gather acupful. 

"Go slow there, Ned, " said the captain. "They may be poisonous. "

"They can't be--for I saw the birds feeding on, them, " said Bob. 

"Oh, well, then it is all right. "

But the berries proved rather bitter to the taste and nobody feltlike eating many of them. Tim started a fire, and over this theybroiled and roasted the birds, each fixing the evening meal in theway that best suited him. 

"Are there any cannibals here?" asked Mr. Tarbill. 

"I don't believe there is a soul on the island besides ourselves, "answered the captain. 

"I can't go to sleep if there are cannibals, " groaned the nervouspassenger. 

As late as it was, Bob, Ned and the captain took a tramp around theisland. It was not over a quarter of a mile long and an eighth ofa mile wide. There was fairly good walking close to the shore, butthe interior was a mass of stunted trees, thorny bushes and longtrailing vines, to get through which was impossible. 

"I haven't seen what I'd like most to see, " said the captain, afterthe walk was ended. 

"What is that?" questioned Bob. 

"A spring of good, fresh water. "

"That's so--we didn't see any spring at all!" exclaimed Ned Scudd. "Too bad! We need water. "

The castaways were thoroughly tired out, and that night all went tobed and slept soundly. Nothing came to disturb them, although atdaybreak Mr. Tarbill leaped up in alarm. 

"Hark!" he cried. "Somebody is coming! It must be the cannibals!"

"What!" exclaimed Captain Spark, and he jumped up, followed by theothers. 

Then all listened. From the interior of the little island came amost unearthly screaming. 

"Somebody is being murdered!" gasped Mr. Tarbill, and sank on hisknees. "Oh, oh, why did I leave home!"

They listened intently, and then Mr. Carr set up a laugh. 

"What is it?" asked Bob, curiously. 

"Parrots, my boy, nothing but parrots. "

"To be sure--I should have knowed it, " came from the captain. "They allers screech like that in the morning. "

"Are you sure they are parrots?" asked the nervous passenger. 

"Dead certain, " answered Mr. Carr. "If you don't believe it, justgo over to yonder trees and shoo them up into the air. "

"I--I don't think I care to do that--they might fly at me and peckme. "

"Well, they are parrots--and they won't hurt you if you leave 'emalone. "

During the morning the search for a spring of water was resumed. At last they found several pools, the water coming up in them fromunderground. But the birds used the pools for drinking places andthey were consequently far from clean. 

"How long are we to stay on this island?" asked Mr. Tarbill, whilethey were eating a breakfast of broiled birds, fish, and crackers. 

"Not very long, I'm thinking, " answered the captain. "In a stormit wouldn't be a very safe place. The water must sweep the landpretty well, and our boat would be stove to pieces. "

"But where are you going?"

"We'll try to make that big island I spoke about, " went on thecaptain. Then of a sudden, he bent closer to the nervous man. "What's that on your watch chain?" he demanded, "My watch chain?"

"Yes. It looks like a tiny compass to me. "

"Why--er--it is a compass, " stammered Mr. Tarbill. 

"And you never told us that you had it!" roared the captain. 

"I--I forgot it!" stammered the passenger. "I--I was so upset, youknow. "

"Let me see it. "

Captain Spark took the compass and examined it with care. It wassmall, but of good manufacture, and looked as if it might pointtrue. 

"Not near as good as the one we lost, " he said to Mr. Carr. "Butit is better than nothing. "

"Indeed it is, " was the reply. 

"I thought that was a locket, " said Bob. "I noticed it on thewatch chain several times. "

"It was given to me by my uncle, years ago, " said Mr. Tarbill. "Please don't lose it. "

"I'll keep it safe, don't fear, " answered the captain. "Reckon itis safer in my keepin' than yours, " he added. 

With the discovery of the tiny compass the hopes of the castawaysrevived. All felt that it would be a waste of time to remain onthe small island, and accordingly preparations were made to leaveon the following morning. To add to their stock of provisions themen and Bob brought down a large quantity of birds and also caughta lot of fish, and these were broiled and cooked, to keep them fromspoiling. They also got what water they could and stored it in acask, and Bob picked a capful of berries. 

"Some of the parrots are beautiful, " said the boy to the captain. "If I was sure of getting home again I'd like to take some of thefeathers along, for my mother's hat. "

"Better not bother, Bob. "

"I'll not. I was only thinking, sir. "

"I have great hopes of reaching that large island, " went on CaptainSpark. "But, when we embark again, we'll have to take what comes. That little compass will help us some, but it may not be asaccurate as is necessary. "

"Why not stay on this island till a ship comes along?"

"I don't consider this as safe as the other island was. "

That night Bob went to bed early. He awoke in the middle of thenight to feel somebody or something pulling at his foot. 

"Hi! who is there?" he shouted, sitting up. At the same momentcame a wild yell from Mr. Tarbill. 

"The cannibals have come!" yelled the nervous man. "One of 'em hasme by the throat!"

"Stop that row!" came from Captain Spark. "There are no savageshere!"

"Maybe he's got the nightmare, " suggested Mr. Carr. 

"No, no, I am attacked!" bawled Mr. Tarbill. 

"I know what they are!" shouted Bob. "Get out of here, you imp!"And he struck something with a stick that was handy. There was awild chattering and off into the darkness stole several impishfigures. 

"What were they?" asked Ned, who was still sleepy. 

"Monkeys, " answered the youth, "Pretty big ones, too. "

"Are you sure they weren't cannibals?" queried Mr. Tarbill. "Someof the wild men are very small, you know. In Africa they are notover three feet high. "

"Monkeys, true enough, " said the captain. "I saw some of 'emwatching our camp when we had supper. They were afraid to comeclose when we were stirring, but I suppose when we were quiet theircuriosity got the best of them, and they had to come and feel ofus. "

"Ugh! I don't want any more of them to come near me, " said Mr. Tarbill, with a shudder. 

The weather was all that could be desired, and the captaindetermined to make the most of it. An early breakfast was had, andthen the things were taken back to the boat. 

"All aboard!" shouted Captain Spark. "And may we now locate thatlarge island without further trouble. "

"Oh, I wish I was home!" groaned Mr. Tarbill. 

The boat was floated without difficulty, and the castaways gotaboard. They rowed for some distance and then the sail washoisted. Inside of an hour the little, island faded from theirview and once more they found themselves alone on the bosom of thebroad Pacific. 

The captain had great hopes of the small compass, but he and theothers were doomed to disappointment. The compass provedunreliable, as they discovered that night, when the stars came out. 

"It's no use, " said Captain Spark. "We have got to sail by ourwits, if we ever expect to reach a place of safety. " And all thatday they kept on, not knowing if they were heading in the properdirection or not. 

It was just getting dusk of the second day of their voyage, whenTim Flynn, opening a forward locker to set out some things for theevening meal, made a startling discovery. 

"The gig has sprung a leak!" he exclaimed. 

"A leak!" cried the captain. 

"Yes, this locker is half full of water, and all the stuff in it issoaked. "

It was true enough. The salt water had come in through someopening of the seams of the previously tight compartment and haddone much damage. The victuals were only fit to throw overboard. 

"Half rations from now on, " said the captain sternly. 

"Half rations!" repeated Mr. Tarbill. "Why, I'm awful hungry!"

"And you're liable to be for some days to come, " answered thecommander. "We'll share and share alike, but every one will haveto curb his appetite. "

"Oh, this dreadful shipwreck! I wish I had stayed home!"

The others wished the same thing. 

It was a night without hope, and the morning broke dull and gray, with the promise of a storm. The wind shifted from point to pointuntil the castaways did not know in which direction they weregoing, for there was no sun to guide them. The leaky locker wastightly closed, so that there was no danger of the boat fillingfrom it. 

The amount of breakfast seemed woefully small to Bob, and herecalled with a start the wish Dent Freeman, the hired man, hadexpressed, that the boy who tormented him would have to eat seaweed. 

"Perhaps I shall before we're through with this, " said the lad tohimself. "There isn't much more food left. "

Still he did not complain, setting a good example in this respectto Mr. Tarbill, who did nothing but find fault, until Captain Sparkordered him to take an oar and with one of the sailors aid inpropelling the boat, for the wind had suddenly died out. 

For two days more they sailed or rowed on. 

The weather continued unsettled, but fortunately not breaking intoa storm. Sometimes there was a breeze, and again there was a deadcalm, when they took turns at the oars. It was all guesswork as towhether or not they were headed for the island. 

The food became less and less, until finally they were living onthree dry biscuits a day each. The water, too, was getting lowerand lower in the one cask that remained, and it had a warm, brackish taste. Still it was the most precious thing theypossessed. 

More and more worried became the look on Captain Spark's face. Howanxiously each morning and a dozen times a day did he scan thehorizon with his glasses for a sight of the island or a ship! Butnothing was to be seen save the heaving billows. 

Mr. Tarbill became weak-minded, and babbled of cooling streams ofwater and delicious food until Ned Scudd, losing all patience, threatened to throw the nervous man overboard if he did not cease. This had the effect of quieting him for a while. 

The faces of all were haggard and thin. Their eyes wereunnaturally bright. Poor Bob bore up bravely, though tears cameinto his eyes as he thought of his father and mother, and thepleasant and happy home now so far away. 

"Bob's as good as a man, " whispered the captain to Mr. Carr, andthe first mate nodded an assent. 

It was the third day of absolute hopelessness. The water wasreduced to so little that only a small cupful could be served toeach one as the day's supply. Enough biscuits for two daysremained. They had lost all sense of direction, for a fog obscuredthe sun. 

On the morning of the fourth day Bob awoke from a troubled sleep tofind Mr. Carr dozing at the helm. There was no need to steer, forthere had been a dead calm for many hours, and they did not rowduring the night. 

Bob's tongue felt like a piece of rubber in his mouth. His throatwas parched and dry, and his stomach craved woefully for food. Hestood up on a forward locker, and, taking the captain's glasses, slowly swept them around the sky-line. 

Was it imagination, or did he really see some small black objectoff to the left? His heart beat fast, and his nerves werethrobbing so he could not hold the glasses steady. 

Captain Spark roused himself from a brief nap. He saw what Bob wasdoing. 

"See anything?" he asked listlessly. 

"I don't know--I'm not sure--there's something off there that lookslike----"

"Let me take the glasses!" cried the commander. 

He fairly snatched them from the boy. With his trained vision helooked long where Bob pointed. Then he cried:

"Thank God! There's a boat coming toward us. I think we're saved!There are natives in it, but they don't seem to have any weapons!I believe they're from the big island. Row, men, row as hard asyou can and we'll meet them the sooner!"

Tim and Ned caught up the oars and sent the gig over the calm waterat a fast rate of speed. 

CHAPTER XXV

HOMEWARD BOUND----CONCLUSION

Before an hour had passed the oncoming boat was in plain sight. Then the castaways could see it contained four brown-skinnednatives. But, though they were savages, they were not warlike. Infact, they waved their hands in welcome, and called encouraginglyto those in the gig. 

"I hope they have some water aboard, " said Mr. Tarbill. "I'd giveanything for some right off the ice. "

"I'd be glad of some out of a tea-kettle, " said the captain, forthe last in the cask had been dealt out some time before. 

A little later the commander was exchanging a few words with thenatives, as he found he could speak a little of their language. 

"We're within a few miles of the big island, " he told his anxiouscompanions. "This is a fishing party in one of their big nativecanoes. They'll show us the way back, and they have plenty ofwater. "

The parched throats and swelling tongues of the castaways were soonrelieved by a fairly cool drink from the filled skins in the nativeboat. Then the brown men passed over some cocoanuts and otherfruit that were grateful to the palates of the half-starved ones. 

Captain Spark conversed a little longer with the friendly savages, and some news they gave him seemed to give him great satisfaction. 

"There's an American ship in port at the island, " he said, "andshe's homeward bound around the Horn. We can take passage in her. Hurrah, men, our troubles seem to be over!"

"Thank God!" said Mr. Carr fervently, and so great was the strainon Mr. Tarbill that when it was relieved by the good news he criedlike a child. Nor were Bob's eyes altogether dry. 

A little breeze had sprung up, and, guided by the natives, thecastaways were soon at the island. It was a large one, and thefirst sight they had of it showed them a big ship in the harbor. At this they set up a cheer. 

It did not take Captain Spark long to arrange matters with theAmerican skipper. He agreed to let the sailors, Bob and Mr. Tarbill work their passage home, and Captain Spark was to give hisservices as assistant navigator in lieu of passage money. 

As the ship was taking on part of a cargo of native produce fromthe island she was not quite ready to sail, and in the meanwhileBob and the captain went about the island a bit, Bob collecting anumber of curiosities. The natives treated them kindly, and thefour who had saved the lives of the castaways by appearing in thenick of time felt well repaid by the present of a few trinketswhich Bob and the sailors had in their pockets. 

Finally the time came for them to take passage on the _Walrus_, which was the name of the American ship. They sailed one brightmorning, and under a spanking breeze the big island was presentlylow down on the horizon. 

Bob was soon a favorite with every one on the ship, he was soanxious to learn and so ready and obliging. He never grumbled, even when the work was hard. But Mr. Tarbill never ceasedlamenting the fact that he had ever left home. 

As for our hero, he seemed to have settled down in life and wasfast learning to become a good sailor. The pranks he used to playwere now a thing of the past, and he fully justified the goodopinion Captain Spark had of him. 

It was a six months' trip home, for they were delayed two weeks ormore by contrary winds, and several days longer in making thepassage of Magellan Straits. 

As the Walrus was to put in at Charleston, South Carolina, it wasnecessary for Captain Spark, Bob and Mr. Tarbill to make the restof the journey home by rail. Mr. Carr and the two sailors securedberths in the _Walrus_. Though Captain Spark had lost all hismoney in the shipwreck, he was able to borrow enough for the faresof himself, Bob and Mr. Tarbill. 

Bob reached home a little short of a year from the time he hadleft. He was a much better boy than when he went away. His fatherand mother did not need to be told of the change in him. Theycould see it for themselves. 

"What did I tell you?" asked Captain Spark triumphantly of Mrs. Henderson. "I said the voyage would make a man of Bob, and it did. "

"The voyage or the shipwreck?" asked Mrs. Henderson. 

"I guess it needed both, " ventured Bob's father. 

Of course Bob was the hero, of all his associates, and they nevertired of hearing his stories of what had happened. Later it waslearned that Second-Mate Bender and his men had been picked up by apassing vessel and saved. As for Captain Obediah Hickson, when heheard that Bob had returned, he hastened to see him, took him offinto a corner and whispered:

"Did ye git th' treasure, Bob?"

"No, captain. I don't believe there was any. We didn't have achance to look for the island before the shipwreck, and after itthe map got lost. "

"Well, maybe it's jest as well, Bob, " said the old man with aphilosophical air. "I'm gittin' too old to need so much moneyanyhow, an' you're young enough to earn what you need. I reckonit's jest as well, " and with a chuckle he shuffled off. 

As for Bob, he had such a liking for the sea, in spite of theterrors of the deep, that when he completed his education he becamemate on a vessel, and finally captain, and now is in a fair way tobecome part owner of a big ship trading between New York and SouthAmerican ports. And here we will say good-by to Bob Henderson, theformer castaway.