TIP TOP WEEKLY

"An ideal publication for the American Youth"

FRANK MERRIWELL'S NOBILITY

OR

THE TRAGEDY OF THE OCEAN TRAMP

By BURT L. STANDISH. 

NEW YORK, April 22, 1899. 

CHAPTER I. 

OFF FOR EUROPE. 

"Off------"

"At last!"

"Hurrah!"

The tramp steamer "Eagle" swung out from the pier and was fairly starteden her journey from New York to Liverpool. 

On the deck of the steamer stood a group of five persons, three of whomhad given utterance to the exclamations recorded above. 

On the pier swarmed a group of Yale students, waving hands, hats, handkerchiefs, bidding farewell to their five friends and acquaintanceson the steamer. Over the water came the familiar Yale cheer. From thesteamer it was answered. 

In the midst of the group on deck was Frank Merriwell. Those around himwere Bruce Browning, Jack Diamond, Harry Rattleton and Tutor WellingtonMaybe. 

It was Frank's scheme to spend the summer months abroad, while studyingin the attempt to catch up with his class and pass examinations onre-entering college in the fall. And he had brought along his threefriends, Browning, Diamond and Rattleton. They were on their way toEngland. 

Frank was happy. Fortune had dealt him a heavy blow when he wascompelled by poverty to leave dear old Yale, but he had faced the worldbravely, and he had struggled like a man. Hard work, long hours and poorpay had not daunted him. 

At the very start he had shown that he possessed something more thanordinary ability, and while working on the railroad he had forced hisway upward step by step till it seemed that he was in a fair way toreach the top of the ladder. 

Then came disaster again. He had lost his position on the railroad, andonce more he was forced to face the world and begin over. 

Some lads would have been discouraged. Frank Merriwell was not. He sethis teeth firmly and struck out once more. He kept his mouth shut andhis eyes open. The first honorable thing that came to his hand to do hedid. Thus it happened that he found himself on the stage. 

Frank's success as an actor had been phenomenal. Of course, to beginwith, he had natural ability, but that was not the only thing that wonsuccess for him. He had courage, push, determination, stick-to-it-iveness. When he started to do a thing he keptat it till he did it. 

Frank united observation and study. He learned everything he could aboutthe stage and about acting by talking with the members of the companyand by watching to see how things were done. 

He had a good head and plenty of sense. He knew better than to copyafter the ordinary actors in the road company to which he belonged. Hehad seen good acting enough to be able to distinguish between the goodand bad. Thus it came about that the bad models about him did not exerta pernicious influence upon him. 

Frank believed there were books that would aid him. He found them. Hefound one on "Acting and Actors, " and from it he learned that no actorever becomes really and truly great that does not have a clear anddistinct enunciation and a correct pronunciation. That is the beginning. Then comes the study of the meaning of the words to be spoken and theeffect produced by the manner in which they are spoken. 

He studied all this, and he went further. He read up on "Traditions ofthe Stage, " and he came to know all about its limitations and itsopportunities. 

From this it was a natural step to the study of the construction ofplays. He found books of criticism on plays and playwriting, and hemastered them. He found books that told how to construct plays, and hemastered them. 

Frank Merriwell was a person with a vivid imagination and greatmechanical and constructive ability. Had this not been so, he might havestudied forever and still never been able to write a successful play. Inhim there was something study could not give, but study and effortbrought it out. He wrote a play. 

"John Smith of Montana" was a success. Frank played the leading part, and he made a hit. 

Then fate rose up and again dealt him a body blow. A scene in the playwas almost exactly like a scene in another play, written previously. Theauthor and owner of the other play called on the law to "protect" him. An injunction was served on Merry to restrain him from playing "JohnSmith. " He stood face to face with a lawsuit. 

Frank investigated, and his investigation convinced him that it wasalmost certain he would be defeated if the case was carried into thecourts. 

He withdrew "John Smith. "

Frank had confidence in himself. He had written a play that wassuccessful, and he believed he could write another. Already he had oneskeletonized. The frame work was constructed, the plot was elaborated, the characters were ready for his use. 

He wrote a play of something with which he was thoroughlyfamiliar---college life. The author or play-maker of ability who writesof that with which he is familiar stands a good chance of making asuccess. Young and inexperienced writers love to write of those thingswith which they are unfamiliar, and they wonder why it is that theyfail. 

They go too far away from home for their subject. 

At first Frank's play was not a success. The moment he discovered thishe set himself down to find out why it was not a success. He did notlook at it as the author, but as a critical manager to whom it had beenoffered might have done. 

He found the weak spots. One was its name. People in general did notunderstand the title, "For Old Eli. " There was nothing "catchy" ordrawing about it. 

He gave it another name. He called it, "True Blue: A Drama of CollegeLife. "

The name proved effective. 

He rewrote much of the play. He strengthened the climax of the thirdact, and introduced a mechanical effect that was very ingenious. Andwhen the piece next went on the road it met with wonderful successeverywhere. 

Thus Frank snatched success from defeat. 

It is a strange thing that when a person fights against fate andconquers, when fortune begins to smile, when the tide fairly turns hisway, then everything seems to come to him. The things which seemed sofar away and so impossible of attainment suddenly appear within easyreach or come tumbling into his lap of their own accord. 

It was much this way with Frank. He had dreamed of going back to collegesome time, but that time had seemed far, far away. Success brought itnearer. 

But then it came tumbling into his lap. No one had been found to claimthe fortune he discovered in the Utah Desert. Investigation had shownthat there were no living relatives of the man who had guarded thetreasure till his death. That treasure had been turned over to Frank. 

Frank had brought his play to New Haven, and his old college friends hadgiven him a rousing welcome. And now he had made plans to return tocollege in the fall, while his play was to be carried on the road by awell-known and experienced theatrical manager. 

The friends who had been with Frank when he discovered the treasure, with the exception of Toots, the colored boy, had refused to acceptshares of the fortune. Then Merry had insisted on taking them abroadwith him, and here they were on the steamer "Eagle, " bound forLiverpool. 

Toots, dressed like a "swell, " was on the pier. He shouted with theothers, waving his silk hat. 

The crowd was cheering now:

 "Beka Co ax Co ax Co ax! Breka Co ax Co ax Co ax! O-----up! O-----up! Parabolou! Yale! Yale! Yale! 'Rah! 'rah! 'rah! Yale!"

CHAPTER II. 

SURPRISING THE FRENCHMAN. 

"Bah! Ze American boy, he make me--what you call eet?--vera tired!"

Frank turned quickly and saw the speaker standing near the rail not faraway. He was a man between thirty-five and forty years of age, dressedin a traveling suit, and having a pointed black beard. He was smoking. 

An instant feeling of aversion swept over Merry. He saw the person was asupercilious Frenchman, critical, sneering, insolent, a man intolerantwith everything not of France and the French. 

This man was speaking to another person, who seemed to be a servant orvalet, and who was very polite and fawning in all his retorts. 

"Ah! look at ze collectshung on ze pier, " continued the sneeringspeaker. "Someone say zey belong to ze great American college. Zey actlike zey belong to ze--ze--what you call eet?--ze menageray. Zey yell, shout, jump--act like ze lunatic. "

"It is possible, monsieur, " said Frank, with a grim smile, "that theyare copying their manners after Frenchmen at a Dreyfus demonstration. "

The foreigner turned haughtily and stared at Frank. Then he shrugged hisshoulders, turned away and observed to his companion:

"Jes' like all ze Americans--ah!--what eez ze word?--fresh. "

The other man bowed and rubbed his hands together. 

"Haw!" grunted Browning, lazily. "How do you like that, Frank?"

"Oh, I don't mind it, " murmured Merry. "I consider the source from whichit came, and regard it as of no consequence. "

Diamond was glaring at the Frenchman, for it made his hot Southern bloodboil to hear a foreigner criticize anything American. Like all youthfulAmericans, his great admiration and love for his own country made himintolerant of criticism. 

Frank had a cooler head, and he was not so easily ruffled. 

Rattleton was unable to express his feelings. 

Tutor Maybe looked somewhat perturbed, for he was an exceedingly mildand peaceable man, and the slightest suggestion of trouble was enough toagitate him. 

But the Frenchman did not deign to look toward Frank again, and itseemed that all danger of trouble was past. 

The "Eagle" sailed slowly down the harbor, signaling now and then toother boats. 

Frank, Jack, Bruce and Harry formed a fine quartette, and they sang:

 "Soon we'll be in London town; Sing, my lads, yo! heave, my lads, ho! And see the queen, with her golden crown; Heave, my lads, yo-ho!"

The Frenchman made an impatient gesture, and showed annoyance, whichcaused Frank to laugh. 

Behind them Brooklyn Bridge spanned the river, looking slender andgraceful, like a thing hung in the air by delicate threads. 

Close at hand were Governor's Island and the Statue of Liberty. TheFrenchman was pointing it out. 

"Ze greatest work of art in all America, "' he declared, enthusiastically; "an' France give zat to America. Ze Americans nevarethink to put eet zere themselves. France do more for America zan anyozare nation, but ze Americans forget. Zey forget Lafayette. Zey forgetFrance make it possibul for zem to conquaire Engalande an' get zefreedom zey ware aftaire. An' now zey--zey--what you call eet?--toady toEngalande. Zey pretende to love ze Engaleesh. Bah! Uncale Sam an' JohnBull both need to have some of ze conaceit taken out away from zem. "

"It would take more than France, Spain, Italy and all the rest of thedago nations to do the job!" spluttered Harry Rattleton, who could notkeep still longer. 

"Maurel, " said the Frenchman, speaking to his companion, "t'row zeinsolent dog ovareboard!"

"Oui, monsieur!"

Quick as thought the man sprang toward Harry, as if determined toexecute the command of his master. 

He did not put his hands on Rattleton, for Frank was equally swift inhis movements, and blocked the fellows' way, coolly saying:

"I wouldn't try it if I were you. "

"Out of ze way!" snarled the man, who was an athlete in build. "If youdon't, I put you ovare, too!"

"I don't think you will. "

"Put him ovare, Maurel, " ordered the Frenchman, with deadly coolness. 

The athletic servant clutched Frank, but, with a twist and a turn, Merrybroke the hold instantly, kicked the fellow's feet from beneath him, anddropped him heavily to the deck. 

Bruce Browning stooped and picked the man up as if he were an infant. Every year seemed to add something to the big collegian's wonderfulstrength, and now the astounded Frenchman found himself unable towiggle. 

Browning held the man over the rail turning to Frank to ask:

"Shall I give him a bath, Merriwell?"

"I think you hadn't better, " laughed Frank. "Perhaps he can't swim, and--"

"He can swim or sink, " drawled Bruce. "It won't make any difference ifhe sinks. Only another insolent Frenchman out of the way. "

The master was astounded. Up to that moment he had regarded the youngAmericans as scarcely more than boys and he had fancied his athleticservant could easily frighten them. Instead of that, something quiteunexpected by him had happened. 

The astounded servant showed signs of terror, but in vain he struggled. He was helpless in the clutch of the giant collegian. 

The master seemed about to interfere, but Frank Merriwell confronted himin a manner that spoke as plainly as words. 

"Out of ze way!" snarled the man. 

"Speaking to me?" inquired Merry, lifting his eyebrows. 

"Oui! oui!"

"I am sorry, but I can't accommodate you till my friend gets throughwith your servant, who was extremely fresh, like most Frenchmen. "

"Zis to me!"

"Yes. "

"Sare, I am M. Rouen Montfort, an' I--"

"It makes no difference to me if you are the high mogul of France. Youare on the deck of an English vessel, and you are dealing withAmericans. "

The Frenchman flung his cigar aside and seemed to feel for a weapon. 

Frank stood there quietly, his eyes watching every movement. 

"If you have what you are seeking about your person, " he said, withperfect calmness, "I advise you not to draw it. If you do, as sure asyou are sailing down New York harbor, I'll fling you over the rail, weapon and all!"

That was business, and it was not boasting. Frank actually meant tothrow the man into the water if he drew a weapon. 

M. Rouen Montfort paused and stared at Frank Merriwell, beginning tounderstand that he was not dealing with an ordinary youth. 

"Fool!" he panted. "You geeve me ze eensult I will haf your life!"

"You have already insulted me, my friends and everything American. It'syour turn to take a little of the medicine. "

"Eef we were een France--"

"Which we are not. We are still in America, the land of the free. But Idon't care to have a quarrel with you. Bruce put the fellow down. If heminds his business in the future, don't throw him overboard. "

"All right, " grunted the big fellow; "but I was just going to drop himin the wet. "

He put the man down, and the fellow seemed undecided what to do. 

Harry Rattleton laughed. 

"Now wake a talk--no, I mean take a walk, " he cried. "It will be a goodthing for your health. "

"Come, Maurel, " said the master, with an attempt at dignity; "come awayfrom ze fellows!"

Maurel was glad enough to do so. He had thought to frighten the youthswithout the least trouble, but had been handled with such ease that evenafter it was all over he wondered how it could have happened. 

M. Montfort walked away with great dignity, and Maurel followed, talkingsavagely and swiftly in French. 

"Well, it wasn't very hard to settle them, " grinned Browning. 

"But we have not settled them, " declared Frank. "There will be furthertrouble with M. Rouen Montfort and his man Maurel. "

CHAPTER III. 

A FRESH YOUNG MAN. 

Frank and his three friends bad a stateroom together. The tutor wasgiven a room with other parties. 

The weather for the first two days was fine, and the young collegiansenjoyed every minute, not one of them having a touch of sea-sicknesstill the third day. 

Then Rattleton was seized, and he lay in his bunk, groaning and dismal, even though he tried to be cheerful at times. 

Browning enjoyed everything, even Rattleton's misery, for he could belazy to his heart's content. 

They had enlivened the times by singing songs, those of a nauticalflavor, such as "Larboard Watch" and "A Life on the Ocean Wave, " havingthe preference. 

Now it happened that the Frenchman occupied a room adjoining, and he wasvery much annoyed by their singing. He pounded on the partition, andexpressed his feelings in very lurid language, but that amused them, andthey sang the louder. 

"M. Montfort seems to get very agitated, " said Frank, laughing. 

"But I hardly think there is any danger that he will do more than hammeron the partition, " grunted Bruce. "He's kept away from us since he foundhe could not frighten anybody. "

"He's a bluffer, " was Diamond's opinion. 

"He's a great fellow to play cards, " said Merry. "But he seems to plyfor something more than amusement. "

"How's that?" asked Jack, interested. 

"I've noticed that he never cares for whist or any game where there areno stakes. He gets into a game only when there's something to be won. "

"Well, it seems to me that he's struck a poor crowd on this boat if he'slooking for suckers. He should have shipped on an ocean liner. What doeshe play?"

"He seems to have taken a great fancy to draw poker. 'Pocaire' is whathe calls it. He pretended at first that he didn't know much of anythingabout the game, but, if I am not mistaken, he's an old stager at it. Iwatched the party playing in the smoking-room last night. "

"Who played?" asked Bruce. 

"The Frenchman, a rather sporty young fellow named Bloodgood, a small, bespectacled man, well fitted with the name of Slush, and an Englishmanby the name of Hazleton. "

"That's the crowd that played in the Frenchman's stateroom to-day, "groaned Rattleton from his berth. 

"Played in the stateroom?" exclaimed Frank. "I wonder why they didn'tplay in the smoking-room?"

"Don't know, " said Harry; "but I fancy there was a rather big game on, and you know the Frenchman has the biggest stateroom on the boat, sothere was plenty of room for them. They could play there withoutinterruption. "

"There seems to be something mysterious about that Frenchman, " saidFrank. 

"I think there's something mysterious about several passengers on thisboat, " grunted Browning. "I haven't seen much of this young fellowBloodgood, but he strikes me as a mystery. "

"Why?"

"Well he seems to have money to burn, and I don't understand why such afellow did not take passage on a regular liner. "

"As far as that goes, " smiled Merry, "I presume some people might thinkit rather singular that we did not cross the pond in a regular liner;but then they might suppose it was a case of economy with us. "

While they were talking there came a rap on their door which Frank threwopen. 

Just outside stood a young man with a flushed face and distressedappearance. He was dressed in a plaid suit, and wore a red four-in-handnecktie, in which blazed a huge diamond. There were two large solitairerings on his left hand, and he wore a heavy gold chain strung across hisvest. 

"Beg your pardon, dear boys, " he drawled. "Hope I'm not intruding. "

Then he walked in and closed the door. 

"My name's Bloodgood, " he said--"Raymond Bloodgood. I've seen youfellows together, and you seem like a jolly lot. Heard you singing, youknow. Great voices--good singing. "

Then he stopped speaking, and they stared at him, wondering what he wasdriving at. For a moment there was an awkward pause, and then Bloodgoodwent on:

"I was up pretty late last night, you know. Had a little game in thesmoking-room. Plenty of booze, and all that, and I'm awfully rockyto-day. Got a splitting headache. Didn't know but some of you had abromo seltzer, or something of the sort. You look like a crowd thatfinds such things handy occasionally. "

At this Frank laughed quietly, but Diamond looked angry and indignant. 

"What do you take us for?" exclaimed the Virginian, warmly. "Do youthink we are a lot of boozers?"

Bloodgood turned on Jack, lifting his eyebrows. 

"My dear fellow--" he began. 

But Frank put in:

"We have no use for bromo seltzer, as none of us are drinkers. "

"Oh, of course not, " said the intruder, with something like a sneer. "None of us are drinkers, but then we're all liable to get a little toomuch sometimes, especially when we sit up late and play poker. "

Frank saw that Diamond had taken an instant dislike to the youth withthe diamonds and the red necktie, and he felt like averting a storm, even though he did not fancy the manner of the intruder. 

"We do not sit up late and play poker, " he said. 

"Eh? Oh, come off! You're a jolly lot of fellows, and you must have afling sometimes. "

"We can be jolly without drinking or gambling. "

"Why, I'm hanged if you don't talk as if you considered it a crime totake a drink or have a little social game!"

Frank felt his blood warm up a bit, but he held himself in hand, as hequietly retorted:

"Intemperance is a crime. I presume there are men who take a drink, asyou call it, without being intemperate; but I prefer to let the stuffalone entirely, and then there is no danger of going over the limit. "

"And I took you for a sport! That shows how a fellow can be fooled. Butyou do play poker occasionally. I know that. "

"How do you know it, Mr. Bloodgood?"

"By your language. You just spoke of going over the limit. That is apoker term. "

"And one used by many people who never played a game of cards in theirlives. "

"But you have played cards? You have played poker? Can you deny it?"

"If I could, I wouldn't take the trouble, Mr. Bloodgood. I think youhave made a mistake in sizing up this crowd. "

"Guess I have, " sneered the fellow. "You must be members of theY. M. C. A. "

"Say, Frank!" panted Jack; "open the door and let me----"

But Frank checked the hot-headed youth again. 

"Steady, Jack! It is not necessary. He will go directly. Mr. Bloodgood, you speak as if it were a disgrace to belong to the Y. M. C. A. That showsyour ignorance and narrowness. The Y. M. C. A. Is a splendid organization, and it has proved the anchor that has kept many a young man from dashingonto the rocks of destruction. Those who sneer at it should be ashamedof themselves, but, as a rule, they are too bigoted, prejudiced, ornarrow-minded to recognize the fact that some of the most manly youngmen to be found belong to the Y. M. C. A. "

Bloodgood laughed. 

"And I took you for a sport!" he cried. "By Jove! Never made such ablunder before in all my life! Studying for the ministry, I'll wager!Ha! ha! ha!"

Frank saw that Diamond could not be held in check much longer. 

"One last word to you, Mr. Bloodgood, " he spoke. "I am not studying forthe ministry, and I do not even belong to the Y. M. C. A. If I were doingthe one or belonged to the other, I should not be ashamed of it. I don'tlike you. I can stand a little freshness; in fact, it rather pleases me;but you are altogether too fresh. You are offensive. "

Merry flung open the door. 

"Good-day, sir. "

Bloodgood stepped out, turned round, laughed, and then walked away. 

"Hang it, Merriwell!" grated Diamond, as Frank closed the door; "whydidn't you let me kick him out onto his neck!"

CHAPTER IV. 

WHO IS BLOODGOOD?

Diamond was thoroughly angry. So was Rattleton. In his excitement, Harrysaid something that caused Frank to turn quickly, and observe:

"Don't use that kind of language, old man, no matter what theprovocation. Vulgarity is even lower than profanity. "

Harry's face flushed, and he looked intensely ashamed of himself. 

"I peg your bardon--I mean I beg your pardon!" he spluttered. "Itslipped out. You know I don't say anything like that often. "

"I know it, " nodded Frank, "and that's why it sounded all the worse. Idon't know that I ever heard you use such a word before. "

Harry did not resent Frank's reproof, for he knew Frank was right, andhe was ashamed. 

Every young man who stoops to vulgarity should be ashamed. Profanity iscoarse and degrading; vulgarity is positively low and filthy. The youthwho is careful to keep his clothes and his body clean should be carefulto keep his mouth clean. Let nothing go into it or come out of it thatis in any way lowering. 

Did you ever hear a loafer on a corner using profane and obscenelanguage? I'll warrant most of you have, and I'll warrant that you werethoroughly disgusted. You looked on the fellow as low, coarse, cheap, unfit to associate with respectable persons. The next time you use aword that you should be ashamed to have your mother or sister hear justthink that you are following the example of that loafer. You arelowering yourself in the eyes of somebody, even though you may not thinkso at the time. Perhaps one of your companions may be a person who usessuch language freely, and yet he has never before heard it from you. Helaughs, he calls you a jolly good fellow to your face; but he thinks tohimself that you are no better than anybody else, and behind your backhe tells somebody what he thinks. He is glad of the opportunity to showthat you are no better than he is. Never tell a vulgar story. Betternever listen to one, unless your position is such that you cannot escapewithout making yourself appear a positive cad. If you have to listen tosuch a story, forget it as soon as possible. Above all things, do nottry to remember it. 

Some young men boast of the stories they know. And all their stories areof the "shady" sort. It is better to know no stories than to know thatkind. It is better not to be called a good fellow than to win areputation by always having a new story of the low sort ready on yourtongue. 

There are other and better ways of winning a reputation as a goodfellow. There are stories which are genuinely humorous and funny whichare also clean. No matter how much of a laugh he may raise, anyself-respecting person feels that he has lowered himself by telling avulgar story. It is not so if he has told a clean story. He issatisfied with the laughter he has caused and with himself. 

Frank Merriwell was called a good fellow. It was not often that he tolda story, but when he did, it was a good one, and it was clean. He had aninimitable way of telling anything, and his stories were all the moreeffective because they came at rare intervals. He did not cheapen themby making them common. 

And never had anybody heard him tell a story that could prove offensiveto the ears of a lady. 

Not that he had not been tempted to do so. Not that he had not heardsuch stories. He had been placed in positions where he could not helphearing them without making himself appear like a thorough cad. 

Frank's first attempt to tell a vulgar story had been the lesson that heneeded. He was with a rather gay crowd of boys at the time, and severalhad told "shady" yarns, and then they had called for one from Frank. Hestarted to tell one, working up to the point with all the skill of whichhe was capable. He had them breathless, ready to shout with laughterwhen the point was reached. He drew them on and on with all the skill ofwhich he was capable. And then, just as the climax was reached, hesuddenly realized just what he was about to say. A thought came to himthat made his heart give a great jump. 

"What if my mother were listening?"

That was the thought. His mother was dead, but her influence was overhim. A second thought followed. Many times he had seemed to feel herhovering near. Perhaps she was listening! Perhaps she was hearing allthat he was saying!

Frank Merriwell stopped and stood quite still. At first he was verypale, and then came a rush of blood to his face. He turned crimson withshame and hung his head. 

His companions looked at him in astonishment. They could not understandwhat had happened. Some of them cried, "Go on! go on!"

After some seconds he tried to speak. At first he choked and could saynothing articulate. After a little, he muttered:

"I can't go on--I can't finish the story! You'll have to excuse me, fellows! I'm not feeling well!"

And he withdrew from the jolly party as soon as possible. 

From that day Frank Merriwell never attempted to tell a story that wasin the slightest degree vulgar. He had learned his lesson, and he neverforgot it. 

Some boys swagger, chew tobacco, talk vulgar, and swear because they donot wish to be called "sissies. " They fancy such actions and languagemake them manly, but nothing could be a greater mistake. 

Frank did nothing of the sort, and all who knew him regarded him asthoroughly manly. Better to be called a "sissy" than to win reputedmanliness at the cost of self-respect. 

Frank had forced those who would have regarded him with scorn to respecthim. He could play baseball or football with the best of them; he couldrun, jump, swim, ride, and he excelled by sheer determination in almosteverything he undertook. He would not be beaten. If defeated once, hedid not rest, but prepared himself for another trial and went in to winor die. In this way he showed himself manly, and he commanded therespect of enemies as well as friends. 

Rattleton was ashamed of the language he had used after the departure ofBloodgood, and he did not attempt to excuse himself further. He lay backin his berth, looking sicker than ever. 

"I'd give ten dollars for the privilege of helping Mr. Bloodgood outwith my foot!" hissed Jack Diamond. "Never saw anybody so fresh!"

"Oh, I've seen lots of people just like him, " grunted Browning, gettingout a pipe and lighting it. 

"Don't smoke, Bruce!" groaned Rattleton, as the steamer gave anunusually heavy roll. "I'm sick enough now. That will make me worse. "

"Oh, we'll open the port. "

"Open the port!" laughed Frank. "And we just told Bloodgood we did notdrink. "

"Port-hole, not port wine, " said the big fellow, with a yawn. "We'll letin some fresh air. "

"We can't let in anything fresher than just went out, " declared theVirginian, as he flung open the round window that served to admit lightand air. 

"There's something mighty queer about that fellow, " said Frank. "Did younotice the diamonds he was wearing, fellows?"

"Yes, " said Bruce, beginning to puff away at his new briarwood. "Regulareye-hitters they were. "

"Who knows they were genuine?" asked Jack. 

"Nobody here, " admitted Frank. "It is impossible to distinguish somefake stones from real diamonds, unless you examine them closely. But, somehow, I have a fancy that those were genuine diamonds. "

"What makes you think so?"

"I don't know just why I think so, but I do. Something tells me that forall of his swagger Bloodgood is a fellow who would scorn to wear pastediamonds. "

"What do you make out of the fellow, anyway?" asked Bruce. 

"I'm not able to size him up yet, " admitted Frank. "I'm not certainwhether he came of a good family or a bad one, but I'm inclined to fancyit was the former. "

"I'd like to know why you think so?" from Jack. "He did not show verygood breeding. "

"But there is a certain something about his face that makes me believehe comes from a high-grade family. I think he has become lowered byassociating with bad companions. "

"Well, I don't care who or what he is, " declared Jack; "if he gets fresharound me again, I'll crack him one for luck. I can't stand him for acent!"

"Better turn him over to me, " murmured Bruce, dozily. "I'll sit on him. "

"And he'll think he's under an elephant, " laughed Merry. "Bruce cookedM. Montfort, and I reckon he'd have less trouble to cook Mr. Bloodgood. "

At this moment there was a hesitating, uncertain knock on the door. 

"Another visitor, I wonder?" muttered Frank. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE SUPERSTITIOUS MAN. 

A little man hesitated outside the door when it was opened. He had asad, uncertain, mournful drab face, puckered into a peculiar expressionabout the mouth. He was dressed in black, but his clothes were not avery good fit or in the latest style. He fingered his hat nervously. Hisvoice was faltering when he spoke. 

"I--I beg your pardon, gentlemen. I--I hope I am not--intruding?"

He had not crossed the threshold. He seemed in doubt about theadvisability of venturing in. 

There was something amusing in the appearance of the little man. Frankrecognized a "character" in him, and Merry was interested immediately. He invited the little man in, and closed the door when that person hadentered. 

"I--I know it's rather--rather--er--bold of me, " said the stranger, apologetically. "But you know people on shipboard--er--takemany--liberties. "

"Oh, yes, we know it!" muttered Diamond. 

Browning grunted and looked the little man over. He was a curiosity toBruce. 

"What can we do for you, sir?" asked Frank. 

The little man hesitated and looked around. He sidled over and put hishand on the partition. 

"The--ah--next room is occupied by the--er--the French gentleman, is itnot?" he asked. 

"Yes, sir. "

"I--I presume--presume, you know--that you are able to hearany--ah--conversation that may take place in that room, unless--er--theconversation is--guarded. "

"Not unless we take particular pains to listen, " said Merry. "Even then, it is doubtful if we can hear anything plainly. "

"And we are not eavesdroppers, " cut in Diamond. "We do not take pains tolisten. "

"Oh, no--er--no, of course not!" exclaimed the singular stranger. "I--Ididn't insinuate such a thing! Ha! ha! ha! The idea! But youknow--sometimes--occasionally--persons hear things when they--er--do nottry to hear. "

"Well, what in the world are you driving at?" asked Frank, not a littlepuzzled by the man's singular manner. 

"Well, you see, it's--this way: I--I don't care to be--overheard. Idon't want anybody to--to think I'm prying into their--private business. You understand?"

"I can't say that I do. "

"Perhaps I can make myself--er--clearer. "

"Perhaps you can. "

"My name is--er--Slush--Peddington Slush. "

"Holy cats! what a name!" muttered Browning, while Rattleton grinneddespite his sickness. 

"I--I'm taking a sea voyage--for--for my health, " explained Mr. Slush. "That's why I didn't go over on a--a regular liner. This way I shall belonger at--at sea. See?"

"And you are keeping us at sea by your lingering way in coming to apoint, " smiled Merry. 

"Eh?" said the little man. Then he seemed to comprehend, and he brokeinto a sudden cackle of laughter, which he shut off with startlingsuddenness, looking frightened. 

"Beg your pardon!" he exclaimed. "Quite--ah--rude of me. I don't doit--often. "

"You look as if it wouldn't hurt you to do it oftener, " said Merry, frankly. "Laughter never hurt anyone. "

"I--I can't quite agree with--you, sir. I beg your pardon! No offense!I--I don't wish to be offensive--you understand. I once knew a man whodied from--er--laughing. It is a fact, sir. He laughed so long--and sohard---that he--he lost his breath--entirely. Never got it back again. Since then I've been very--cautious. It's a bad sign to laugh--toohard. "

Merry felt like shouting, but Jack was looking puzzled and dazed. Diamond could not comprehend the little man, and he failed to catch thehumor of the character. 

"Now, " said Mr. Slush, "I will come directly to the--point. "

"Do, " nodded Frank. 

"I just saw a--er--person leave this room. I wish to know if--Goodgracious, sir! Do you know that is a bad sign!"

He pointed a wavering finger at Frank. 

"What is a bad sign?" asked Merry, surprised. 

"To wear a--a dagger pin thrust through a--a tie in which there is theleast bit of--red. It is a sign of--of bloodshed. I--I beg you to removethat--that pin from that scarf!"

The little man seemed greatly agitated. 

After a moment of hesitation, Frank laughed lightly and took the pinfrom the scarf. 

Immediately the visitor seemed to breathe more freely. 

"Ah--er--thank you!" he said. "I--I've seen omens enough. Everythingseems to point to--to a--tragedy. I regret exceedingly that I eversailed--on this steamer. I--I shall be thankful when I put my feet ondry land--if I ever do again. "

"You must be rather superstitious, " suggested Frank. 

"Not at all--that is, not to any extent, " Mr. Slush hastened to aver. "There are a few signs--and omens--which I know--will come true. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes, sir!" asserted the little man, with surprising positiveness. "Iknow something will happen--to this boat. I--I am positive of it. "

"Why are you so positive?"

"Everything foretells it. At the very start it was--foretold. I wasfoolish then that I did not demand--demand, sir--to be set ashore, evenafter the steamer had left--her pier. "

"How was that?"

"There was a cat, sir--a poor, stray cat--that came aboard this steamer. They did not let her stay--understand me? They--they drove her off!"

"And that was a bad omen?"

"Bad! It was--ah--er--frightful! Old sailors will tell you that. Always--er--let a cat remain on board a vessel--if--she--comes on board. If you--if you do not--you will regret it. "

"And you think something must happen to this steamer?"

"I'm afraid so--I feel it. There is--something mysterious about thevessel, gentlemen. I don't know--just what it is--but it's something. The--the captain looks worried. I--I've noticed it. I've talked withhim. Couldn't get any satisfaction--out of him. But I--I know!"

"I'm afraid you are a croaker, " said Diamond, unable to keep stilllonger. 

"You may think so--now; but wait and see--wait. Keep your eyes--open. I--I think you will see something. I think you will find thereare--mysterious things going on. "

"Well, you have not told us what you want of us, Mr. Slush, " said Frank. 

"That's so--forgot it. " Then, of a sudden, to Bruce: "Don't twirl yourthumbs--that way. Do it backward--backward! It--it's a sure signof--disaster to twirl your thumbs--forward. "

"All right, " grunted the big fellow; "backward it is. " And he reversedthe motion. 

"Thank you, " breathed Mr. Slush, with a show of relief. "Now, I'll tellyou--why I called. I--er--saw a young man--leaving this room--a fewminutes ago. "

"Yes. "

"Mr. Bloodgood. "

"Yes. "

"I--I have taken an interest in--Mr. Bloodgood. I--I think he is--arather nice young man. "

"I don't admire your taste, " came from Jack. 

"Eh? I don't know him--very well. You understand. Met him--in thesmoking-room. Sometimes I--er--play cards--for amusement. Met him thatway. "

"Does he play for amusement?" asked Frank. 

"Oh, yes--ah--of course. That is--he--he likes--a little stake. "

"I thought so. "

"I--I don't mind that. "

"Great Scott!" thought Merry. "I don't see how he ever gets round toplay cards for money. I shouldn't think he'd know what to do. It wouldtake him so long to make up his mind. "

"But I--I don't care to make a--a companion of anybody about whom Iknow--nothing. That's why I--came to you. I--I thought it might be youcould give me--some information--about Mr. Bloodgood. "

"You've come to the wrong place. "

"Really? Don't you know--anything about him? You are--er--wellacquainted with him?"

"On the contrary, to-day is the first time we have ever spoken to him. "

"Is that so?" said Mr. Slush, in evident disappointment. "Youare--er--young men about--about his age, and--and--"

"Not in his class, " put in Diamond. 

"No?" said Mr. Slush, looking at Jack queerly. "I didn't know--Ithought--"

There the queer little man stopped, seeming quite unable to proceed. Then, in his hesitating, uncertain way, he tried to make it clear thathe did not care to play cards for money with anybody about whom he knewnothing. He was not very effective in his explanation, and seemedhimself rather uncertain concerning his real reason for wishing to makeinquiries concerning Bloodgood. 

Frank studied Mr. Slush closely, but could not take the measure of theman. Somehow, Merry seemed to feel that there was more to the queerlittle fellow than appeared on the surface. 

"Well, you have come to the wrong parties to get information about Mr. Bloodgood, " said Frank. "But, if you are so particular about yourcompany, it might be well to learn something concerning the othermembers of your party. "

"Oh--er--I know all about them, " asserted Mr. Slush. 

"Indeed?"

"Yes. Hugh Hazleton is the younger son of an English nobleman, and heis--is all--right. "

"Who told you this?"

"He did. "

"Then it must be true, " grunted Browning, with a grin on his broad face. 

"Yes, " nodded the little man, innocently, "that is--ah--settled. M. Rouen Montfort is a--a great French journalist and--er--writer ofbooks. "

"Is that so?" smiled Merry. "Queer, I never heard of him. I suppose hetold you this?"

"Oh, yes. He is a very fine--gentleman. Ah--did Mr. Bloodgoodinvite--er--any of you to come into the--ah--game?"

Frank fancied he saw a sudden light. Was it possible Mr. Slush waslooking for "suckers?"

Was it possible he had been sent there to inveigle them into the party, so that some sharp might "skin" them? It did not seem improbable. 

Harry seemed to catch onto the same idea, for he popped up in his bunksuddenly, but a sudden roll of the steamer caused him to sink down againwith a groan. 

Diamond's eyes began to glitter. He, too, fancied he saw the littlegame. 

"No, " said Merry, slowly, "he did not invite any of us to come in. "

The little man seemed relieved. 

"I--I didn't know, " he faltered. "If he had--I--I was going to saysomething. Perhaps it is not--necessary. "

"Perhaps not, " said Frank; "but it may not do any hurt to say it. "

"And it may do some hurt--to you, " muttered Diamond under his breath. "Iwill kick this fellow!"

But, to the surprise of all, the superstitious man cackled out a short, broken laugh, and said:

"Oh, I was going to--to warn you--that's all. It--it's liable to be apretty--stiff game. I thought it would be a--good thing for you to--keepout of it. It started--light, but it's working--up--right along. Almostany time somebody is liable to--to propose throwing off the--the limit, and then somebody is going to get--hurt. If you are--not in it, why youwon't be in any--danger. "

There was a silence. The four youths looked at the visitor and then ateach other. 

What did it mean?

If he was playing them for "suckers, " surely he was doing it in a queermanner. 

"Thank you, " said Frank, stiffly. "You are kind!"

"More than kind!" muttered Diamond. 

"Don't mention it, " said the little man, trying to look pleasant, butmaking a dismal failure. "I--I dont' like to see respectable young mencaught in a--trap. That's all. Thought I'd tell you. Didn't know thatyou would--thank me. Took my chances on that. Well, I think I'll--begoing. "

He turned, falteringly, seemed about to say something more, opened thedoor part way, hesitated, then said "good-day, " and went out. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE CARGO OF THE "EAGLE. "

"Well?"

"Well!"

"Well!"

The same word, but from three different persons, and spoken in threedifferent inflections. 

"Will somebody please hit me with something hard!" murmured Jack. 

"What does it mean, Merry?" asked Rattleton. 

"You may search me!" exclaimed Frank, in rather expressive slang, something in which he seldom indulged, unless under great provocation. 

Browning had said nothing. He was pulling steadily at his pipe, quiteunaware that it had gone out. 

"What do you make of Mr. Peddington Slush?" asked Jack. 

"I don't know what to make of him, " confessed Frank. "About the onlything of which I am sure is that he has a corker for a name. That nameis enough to make any man look sad and dejected. "

"What did he come here for, anyhow?" asked Rattleton. 

"To find out about Raymond Bloodgood--he said. "

"I know he said so, but I don't stake any talk--I mean take any stock inthat. What difference does it make to him who Bloodgood is?"

"That was something he did not make clear. "

"He didn't seem to make anything clear, " declared Jack. "I thought forsure that he was going to throw out some hooks to drag us into that gameof poker. If he had, I should have known he was sent here, and I'dkicked him out, whether you had been willing or not, Merry!"

"I'd opened the door and held it wide for you, " smiled Frank. 

"What do you think of him, Browning?" asked Harry. 

"His way of talking made me very tired, " yawned the big fellow. "Heseemed to work so hard to get anything out. "

"I'll allow that we have had two rather queer visitors, " said theVirginian. 

"And I shall take an interest in them both after this, " declared Frank. 

"Talk about superstitious persons, I believe he heads the list, " fromJack. 

"He said he was not superstitious, " laughed Merry. 

"But the cat worried him. "

"And my twiddling my thumbs, " put in Bruce. 

"And this dagger pin in my scarf, " said Frank. 

"It's a wonder he didn't prophecy shipwreck, or something of that sort, "groaned Rattleton, who had settled at full length in his berth. "If thisrolling motion keeps up, I shall get so I won't care if we are wrecked. "

"He must be a dandy in a good swift game of poker!" laughed Frank. "Ishouldn't think he'd be able to make up his mind how to discard. He'd bea drawback to the game, or I'm much mistaken. "

"It strikes me that he'd be easy fruit, " said Rattleton. 

"He looks like a 'sucker' himself, but sometimes it is impossible totell about a man till after you see him play. Anyhow, these two visitswere something to break the monotony of the voyage. It promised to bepretty lively at the start, but it has settled down to be rather quiet. "

Bloodgood and Slush proved good food for conversation, but the boystired of that after a while. 

Diamond went out by himself, and Frank went to Tutor Maybe's room, wherehe spent the time till the gong sounded for supper. 

"Come, Harry, " said Frank, appearing in the stateroom, "aren't you readyfor supper?"

Rattleton gave a groan. 

"Don't talk to me about eating!" he exclaimed. "It makes me sick tothink about it. Leave me--let me die in peace!"

Jack was not there, so Frank and Bruce washed up and went out together. They were nearly through eating when the Virginian came in and took hisplace near them at the table. 

Usually the captain sat at the head of that table, but he was not therenow. 

"Where have you been?" asked Frank. 

"Getting onto a few things, " said Jack, in a peculiar way. 

"Why, what's the matter with you?" asked Bruce, pausing to stare at theSoutherner. "You are pale as a ghost!"

"Am I?" said Diamond, his voice sounding rather strained and unnatural. 

"Sure thing. I wouldn't advise you to eat any more, and perhaps youhadn't better look at the chandeliers while they are swinging. You'll bekeeping Rattleton company. "

"Oh, I'm not sick--at least, not seasick, " averred Jack. 

"Then what ails you? I was going to prescribe ginger ale if it was thefirst stage of seasickness. Sometimes that will brace a person up andstraighten out his stomach. "

"Oh, don't talk remedies to me. I took medicine three days before Istarted on this voyage, and everybody I saw told me something to do tokeep from being sick. I'm wearing a sheet of writing paper across mychest now. "

When supper was over Jack motioned for his friends to follow him. Thethree went on deck and walked aft till they were quite alone. 

The "Eagle" was plowing along over a deserted sea. The waves wererunning heavily, and night was shutting down grimly over the ocean. 

"What's the matter with you, Diamond?" asked Browning. "Why have youdragged us out here? It's cold, and I'd rather go into our stateroom andtake a loaf after eating so heartily. By Jove! if this keeps up, theywon't have provisions enough on this boat to feed me before we getacross. "

"I wanted to have a little talk without, " said Jack; "and I didn't careabout talking in the stateroom, where I might be overheard. "

"What's up, anyway?" demanded Frank, warned by the manner of theVirginian that Jack fancied he had something of importance to tellthem. 

"I've been investigating, " said Jack. 

"What?"

"Well, I found out that there is something the matter on this boat. "

"Did you learn what it was?"

"I don't know that I have, but I've discovered one thing. I've learnedthe kind of cargo we carry. "

"What is it?"

"Petroleum and powder!"

CHAPTER VII. 

PREMONITIONS OF PERIL. 

"Well, that's hot stuff when it's burning, " said Merriwell, grimly. 

"Rather!" grunted Browning. 

"If I'd known what the old boat carried, I think I'd hesitated someabout shipping on her, " declared Jack. "What if she did get on fire?"

"We'd all go up in smoke, " said Merriwell, with absolute coolness. "Thatis about the size of it. "

"Well, " said Jack, "I heard two of the sailors talking in a verymysterious manner. They say the 'Eagle' is hoodooed and the captainknows it. They say he has not slept any to speak of since we left NewYork. "

"Sailors are always superstitious. They are ignorant, as a rule, andignorance breeds superstition. "

"Do you consider Mr. Slush ignorant?" asked Bruce. 

"Didn't have time to size him up, but he's queer. "

"I shall feel that I am over a volcano during the rest of the voyage, "said Jack. "What if there was somebody on board who wished to destroythe ship?"

"It wouldn't be much of a job, " grunted Browning. "A match touched to apowder keg would do the trick in a hurry. "

"But he'd go up with the rest of us, " said Frank. 

"Unless he used a slow match, " put in Jack. "These captains always havetheir enemies, who are desperate fellows and ready to do almost anythingto injure them. The steamer might be set afire by means of a slow match, which would give the villain time enough to get away. "

"I hardly think there's anybody desperate enough to do that kind of atrick, for it would be a case of suicide. "

"Perhaps not. The chap who did the trick might have some plan ofescaping. Then I have known men desperate enough to commit suicide ifthey could destroy an enemy at the same time. "

"Well, it's likely all this worry about this vessel and cargo isentirely needless and foolish. "

"I don't believe it, " said the Virginian. "I know now that the captainhas been worried. I have noticed it in his manner. He is pale andrestless. "

"Well, it's likely he may be rather anxious, for it's certain he cannotcarry any insurance on such a cargo. "

"He was not at the table to-night. "

"No. "

"I'd give something to be on solid ground and away from this powdermill. You know that sometimes there is such a thing as an unaccountableexplosion. A heavy sea must cause motion or friction in the cargo, andfriction often starts a fire on shipboard. Fire on this vessel means aquick road to glory. "

"Huah!" grunted Bruce. "I'm not in the habit of worrying about thingsthat may happen. It's cold out here. Let's go back to the stateroom. "

"It will be well enough to keep still about the nature of the cargo, Diamond, " said Frank. 

"Oh, I shall keep still about that all right!" assured Jack. 

As they moved back along the deck they discovered somebody who wasleaning over the rail and making all sorts of dismal sounds and groans. 

"The next time I go to Europe I'll stay at home!" moaned thisindividual. "Oh, my! oh, my! How bad I feel! Next that comes will be theshaps of my twos--I mean the taps of my shoes!"

"It's Rattles!" laughed Frank, softly; "and he is sicker than ever. He'stried to crawl out to get some air. "

At this moment a man opened the door near Rattleton, and asked:

"Is the--ah--er--moon up yet?"

"I don't know, " moaned Harry. "But it is if I swallowed it. Everythingelse is up, anyhow. "

"If the--ah--moon comes up red tonight, it will mean----"

"I don't give a rap what it means!" snorted Rattleton. "Don't talk tome! Let me die without torturing me! I'm sick enough without having youmake me worse!"

Mr. Slush, for he was the anxious inquirer about the moon, dodged backinto the cabin, closing the door hesitatingly. 

Then Rattleton, unaware of the proximity of his amused friends, hungover the rail and groaned again. 

Frank walked up and spoke:

"I see, my dear boy, that you are heeding the Bible admonition. "

"Hey?" groaned Harry. "What is it?"

"'Cast thy bread upon the waters!' You are doing it all right, allright. "

"Now, don't carry this thing too far!" Rattleton tried to say in afierce manner, but his fierceness was laughable. "The worm will turnwhen trodden upon. "

"But the banana peel knows a trick worth two of that. Did you ever hearthat touching little poem about the man who stepped on a banana peel?Never did? Why, that is too bad! You don't know what you've missed. Listen, and you shall hear it. "

Then Frank solemnly declaimed:

 "He walked along one summer day, As stately as a prince; He stepped upon a banana peel, And he hasn't 'banana' where since. "

Rattleton gave a still more dismal groan. 

"You are conspiring with the elements to hasten my death!" he said. "Ican't stand many more like that. "

"You should wear a sheet of writing paper across your breast, same as Ido, " said Diamond. "Then you won't be sick. "

"I've got two sheets of writing paper across mine, " declared Harry. 

"You should drink a bottle of ginger ale to settle your stomach, " put inFrank. 

"Just drank three bottles of ginger ale, and they've turned my stomachwrong side out, " gurgled the sick youth. 

"You should allow yourself perfect relaxation, and not try to fightagainst it, " from Browning. 

"Oh, I haven't allowed myself anything else but perfect relaxation, "came from Harry. "You all make me tired!"

Then he staggered into the cabin and disappeared on his way back to thestateroom. 

Diamond and Browning followed, but Frank lingered behind. 

Although he had kept the fact concealed, Merry was troubled with astrange foreboding of coming disaster. In every way he tried to overcomeanything like superstition, but he remembered that, on many otheroccasions, he had been warned of coming trouble by just such feelings. 

"I'd like to know just what is going on upon this steamer, " he muttered, as he walked forward. "I feel as if something was wrong, and I shall notbe satisfied till I investigate. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

IN THE STOKE-HOLE. 

Frank found the chief engineer taking some air. Merry fell intoconversation with the man, who was smoking and seemed quite willing totalk. 

Having a pleasant and agreeable way, Frank easily led the engineer on, and it was not long before the man was quite taken with the chattypassenger. 

Frank was careful not to seem inquisitive or prying, for he knew itwould be easy to arouse the engineer's suspicions if there should beanything wrong on the steamer. 

However, Merry was working for a privilege, and he obtained it. When heexpressed a desire to go below and have a look at the engines andfurnaces, the engineer invited him to come along. 

They passed through a door, and then began a descent by means of ironladders. The clanking roar of the machinery came up to them. Frank couldhear and feel the throbbing heart beats of the great boat. 

The engine room was quickly reached, and there the engineer showed himthe massive machinery that moved with the regularity of clockwork andthe grace and ease that came from great power and perfect adjustment. 

All this was interesting, but Frank was anxious to go still deeper. 

"Go ahead, " said the engineer, showing him the way. "Down that ladderthere. You'll be able to see the furnaces and the stokers at work. Idon't believe you'll care to go into the stoke-hole. "

Frank descended. Great heat came up to him, accompanied by a glow thatshifted and changed, dying down suddenly at one moment and glaring outat the next. He could hear the ring of shovels and the clank of irondoors. 

He reached an iron grating, where a fierce heat rolled up and seemed toscorch him. From that position he could look down into the stoke-holeand see the black, grimy, sweating, half-clad men at work there. 

Above him, at the head of the ladder he had just descended, a pair ofshining eyes glared down, but he saw them not. He had not observed acleaner who was at work on the machinery in the engine-room, and whokept his hat pulled over his eyes till Frank departed. 

The blackened stokers looked like grim demons of the fiery pit as theylabored at the coal, which they were shoveling into the mouths of thegreedy furnaces. 

The shifting glow was caused by the opening and closing of the furnacedoors, which clanged and rang. 

For a moment the pit below would seem shrouded in almost Stygiandarkness, save for some bar of light that gleamed out from a crack ordraft, and then there would be a rattle of iron and a flare of blood-redlight that came with the flinging open of a furnace door. 

In the glare of light the bare-armed, dirt-grimed stokers would shovel, shovel, shovel, till it seemed a wonder that the fire was not completelydeadened by so much coal. 

Sometimes the doors of all the furnaces would seem open at once, and theglare and heat that came up from the place was something awful. 

Merry wondered how human beings could live down there in that terribleplace. 

Some of the men were raking out ashes and hoisting it by means of amechanism provided for the purpose. 

Frank pitied the poor creatures who were forced to work down in thatplace. Yet he remembered it was not so many months since he had appliedfor the position of wiper in an engine round-house, obtained the job, and worked there with the grimiest and lowest employees of the railroad. 

There was something fascinating in the black pit and the grimy men wholabored down there in the glare and heat. Frank was so absorbed that heheard no sound, received no warning of danger. 

Merry leaned out over the edge of the iron grating. Something struck onhis back, he was clutched, thrust out, hurled from the grating!

It was done in a twinkling. He could not defend himself, but he made aclutch to save himself, caught something, swung in, struck against theiron ladder, and went tumbling and sliding downward. 

At the moment when Frank was attacked, a glare of light had filled thepit. One of the stokers had turned his back to the gleaming mouths ofthe furnaces and looked upward, as if to relieve his aching eyes. 

He saw everything that occurred on the grating. He saw a man slip downthe ladder behind Frank and spring on his back. He saw that man hurlFrank from the grating. 

The stoker uttered a shout and ran toward the foot of the ladder, expecting to find Frank laying there, severely injured or killed. He wasastounded when he saw the ready-witted youth grasp the grating, swingin, strike the ladder, cling and slide. 

Down Frank came with a rush, but he did not fall. He landed in thestoke-hole without being severely injured. He was on his feet in atwinkling, and up that ladder he went like a cat. 

His assailant had darted up the ladder above and disappeared. Merryreached the grating from which he had been hurled, and then he ran upthe other ladder. 

He was soon in the engine-room. 

In that room there was no excitement. The machinery was sliding andswinging in a regular manner, while the engineer sat watching itsmovements, talking to an assistant. Oilers and cleaners were at work. 

"Where is he?" cried Frank, his voice sounding clear and distinct. 

They looked at him in amazement. 

"What's the matter?" asked the engineer, coming forward. 

"I was attacked from behind and thrown into the stoke-hole, " Merryexplained. "The fellow who did it came in here. "

"Thrown into the stoke-hole?"

"Yes. "

"From where?"

"The grating at the foot of the first ladder. "

The engineer looked doubtful. 

"My dear fellow, " he said, "you would have been maimed or killed. You donot seem to be harmed. "

Frank realized that the engineer actually doubted his word. 

"He might have fallen, " said the assistant; "but it would have brokenhis neck. "

"I tell you I was attacked from behind and thrown down!" exclaimedFrank. "I managed to get hold of the ladder and slide, so I was notkilled. "

The engineer looked annoyed. 

"This is what comes of letting a passenger in here, " he said. "It's thelast time I'll do it on my own responsibility. Now if you go out andtell you were thrown into the stoke-hole, there'll be any amount of fussover it. "

"I am telling it right here, " said Frank, grimly, "and I want to knowwho did the trick. Somebody who came from this room must have done it. "

"Impossible!"

"Then where did he come from?"

The engineer and his assistant looked at each other, and the formerbegan to swear. 

"What do you think of it, Joe?" he asked. 

"Think you made a mistake, Bill; but his story won't go. Nobody'll takeany stock in it. "

Frank was angry. It was something unusual for his word to be doubted, and he felt like expressing his feelings decidedly. 

He was saved the trouble. The grimy stoker who had witnessed thestruggle and the fall appeared in the door of the engine-room. He sawFrank and cried:

"Hello, you! So you're all right? Wonder you wasn't killed. You camedown with a rush, young feller, but you went back just as quick. "

Frank understood instantly. 

"Here is a man who saw it!" he cried. "He will tell you that I am notlying. "

The engineer turned to the stoker. 

"How did he happen to fall?" he asked. 

"He didn't fall, " declared the begrimed coal heaver. 

"No? What then--"

"'Nother chap jumped on his back and flung him down. It's wonderful hewasn't killed. "

Frank was triumphant. He regarded the engineer and his assistant with agrim smile on his face. 

"This is incredible!" exclaimed the engineer. "Who could have done sucha thing?"

"Somebody who came from this room!" rang out Merry's clear voice. 

"This shall be investigated!" declared the engineer. "Look around! Seeif you can find the man who attacked you. The only ones here are myself, Mr. Gregory, and the wipers. "

"I want a look at those wipers, " said Frank. 

"You shall have it. Mr. Gregory and I were talking together over hereall the time you were gone. "

"Oh, I do not suspect you, " said Merry; "but I want a good look at thosewipers. "

"Did you see the man who threw you into the stoke-hole?"

"No, but--"

"Then how will you know who it was if you see him?"

"Whoever did so had a reason for the act--a motive. He must have knownme before. I may know him. "

"Come, " invited the engineer. 

He called one of the wipers down from amid the sliding shafts and movingmachinery. The man came unhesitatingly. 

Frank took a square look at this man, who did not seek to avoidinspection. 

"Never saw him before, " confessed Merry. 

The wiper was dismissed. 

"Hackett, " called the engineer. 

The other wiper did not seem to hear. He pretended to be very busy, andkept at work. 

"Hackett!"

He could not fail to hear that. He kept his face turned away, butanswered:

"Yes, sir. "

"Come here. I want you. "

The wiper hesitated. Then he turned and slowly approached. His face wasbesmeared till scarcely a bit of natural color showed, and his hat waspulled low over his eyes. He shambled forward awkwardly, and stood in anawkward position, with his eyes cast down. 

Frank looked at him closely and started. Then, in a perfectly calmmanner, but with a trace of triumph in his voice, he declared:

"This is the fellow who did the job!"

CHAPTER IX. 

IN IRONS. 

"What?" cried the engineer, in astonishment. 

"How do you know?" asked the engineer's assistant, incredulously. 

"That's it--how do you know?" demanded the engineer. "You said you didnot see the person who attacked you. "

"I did not. "

"Yet you say this is the man. "

"Yes. "

"How do you know?"

"I know him. "

"You do?"

"Yes. "

"You have seen him before?"

"I should say so, on several occasions. He is one of my bitterestenemies. This is not the first time he has tried to kill or injure me. He has made the attempt many times before. He is the only person herewho would do such a thing. "

"If this is true, " said the engineer, grimly, "he shall pay dearly forhis work!"

The assistant nodded. 

"What have you to say, Hackett?" demanded the engineer. 

"I say it's a lie!" growled the fellow. "I never saw this chap before hecame into the engine-room. He doesn't know me, and I don't know him. "

"You hear what Hackett has to say, " said the engineer, turning to Frank. 

"I hear what this fellow has to say, but his name is not Hackett. "

"Is not?"

"No, no more than mine is Hackett. "

"Then what is his name?"

"His name is Harris!" asserted Merry, "and he is a gambler and a crook. I'll guarantee that he has not been long on the 'Eagle. '"

"No; we took him on in New York scarcely two hours before we sailed. Weneeded a man, and he applied for any kind of a job. Found he had workedround machinery, and we took him as wiper and general assistant. "

"It was not so many weeks ago that he attacked me at New Haven, " saidFrank. "He failed to do me harm. When he found I was going abroad hedeclared he would go along on the same steamer. At the time he must havethought I was going by one of the regular liners; but it is plain hefollowed me up pretty close and found I was going over this way. Asthere is no second-class passage on this boat, he decided he could nottravel in the same class with me without being discovered, and heresolved to go as one of the crew, if he could get on that way. That'show he happens to be here. "

"If what you say is true, it will go pretty hard with Mr. Harris. We'llhave him ironed and--"

A cry of rage broke from the lips of the accused. 

"There is no proof!" he snarled. "No one can swear I attacked thisfellow and threw him into the stoke-hole!"

"Oh, yes!" said the stoker who had come up from below. "I saw the wholebusiness. By the light from the furnaces, I plainly saw the man who didit, and you are the man!"

"That settles it!" declared the engineer. "You'll make the rest of thevoyage in irons, Mr. Harris!"

"Then I'll give you something to iron me for!" shouted the furious youngvillain. 

He leaped on Frank Merriwell with the fierceness of a wounded tiger. 

Frank was not expecting the assault, and, for the moment, he was takenoff his guard. 

They were close to the moving machinery. Within four feet of them a hugeplunging rod was playing up and down, moved by a steel bar that weighedmany tons. Harris attempted to fling Frank beneath this bar, where hewould be struck and crushed. 

The villain nearly succeeded, so swift and savage was his attack. 

Frank realized that the purpose of the wretch was to fling him into themachinery, and he braced himself to resist as quickly as possible. 

Shouts of consternation broke from the engineer and his assistant. Theysprang forward to seize Harris and help Frank. 

But, before they could interfere, Frank broke the hold of his enemy, forced him back and struck him a terrible blow between the eyes fellinghim instantly. 

Merriwell stood over Harris, his hands clenched his eyes gleaming. 

"Get up!" he cried. "Get up you dog! I can't strike you when you aredown, and I'd give a hundred dollars to hit you just once more!"

But Harris did not get up. He realized that his second attempt hadfailed, and he stood in awe of Frank's terrible fists. He looked up atthose gleaming eyes, and turned away quickly, feeling a sudden greatfear. 

Did Frank Merriwell bear a charmed life?

Surely it seemed that way to Harris just then. For the first time, perhaps, the young rascal began to believe that it was not possible toharm the lad he hated with all the intensity of his nature. 

The engineer and his assistants grabbed Harris and held him, the formerswearing savagely. They dragged the fellow to his feet, but warned himto stand still. 

Harris did so. For the moment, at least, he was completely cowed. 

A man was sent for the captain, with instructions to tell him just whatoccurred. Of course the captain of the steamer was the only person whocould order one of the men placed in irons. 

The captain came in in a little while, and he listened in greatamazement to the story of what had taken place. His face was hard andgrim. He asked Frank a few questions, and then he ordered that Harris beironed and confined in the hold. 

"Mr. Merriwell, " said the captain, "I am very sorry that this happenedon my ship. "

"It's all right, captain, " said Frank. "You are in no way to blame. Thefellow shipped with the intention of doing just what he did, if he foundan opportunity. "

"It will go hard-with him, " declared the master. "He'll not get out ofthis without suffering the penalty. "

Harris was sullen and silent. Frank spoke to him before he was led away. 

"Harris, " he said, "you have brought destruction on yourself. I can'tsay that I arm sorry for you, for, by your persistent attacks on me, youhave destroyed any sympathy I might have felt. You have ruined your ownlife. "

"No!" snarled Sport. "You are the one! You ruined me! If I go to prisonfor this, I'll get free again sometime, and I'll not forget you, FrankMerriwell! All the years I am behind the bars will but add to the debt Iowe you. When I come forth to freedom, I'll find you if you are alive, and I'll have your life!"

Then he was marched away between two stout men, his irons clanking andrattling. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE GAME IN THE NEXT ROOM. 

When Merry appeared in his stateroom he was greeted with a storm ofquestions. 

"Well, what does this mean?"

"Trying to dodge us?"

"Running away?"

"Muts the whatter with you--I mean what's the matter?"

"Where have you been?"

"Stand and give an account of yourself!"

Then he told them a little story that astounded them beyond measure. Heexplained how he had taken a fancy to look the steamer over and hadfallen in with the engineer. Then he related how he had visited theengine room and been thrown into the stoke-hole. 

But when he told the name of his assailant the climax was capped. 

"Harris?" gasped Rattleton, incredulously. 

"Harris?" palpitated Diamond, astounded. 

"Harris?" roared Browning, aroused from his lazy languidness. 

"On this steamer?" they shouted in unison. 

"On this steamer, " nodded Frank, really enjoying the sensation he hadcreated. 

"He--he attacked you?" gurgled Rattleton, seeming to forget his recentsickness. 

"He did. "

"And you escaped after being thrown into the stoke-hole?" flutteredDiamond. 

"I am here. "

"And you didn't kill the cur on sight?" roared Browning. 

"He is in the hold in irons. "

"Serves him right!" was the verdict of Frank's three friends. 

"Well, this is what I call a real sensation!" said the Virginian. "Youcertainly found something, Frank!"

"Well, that fellow has reached the end of his rope at last, " said Harry, with intense satisfaction, once more stretching himself in his bunk. 

"That's pretty sure, " nodded Jack. "Attempted murder on the high seas isa pretty serious thing. "

"He'll get pushed for it all right this time, " grunted Browning, beginning to recover from his astonishment. 

Then they talked the affair over, and Frank gave them his theory ofSport's presence on the steamer, which seemed plausible. 

"This is something rather more interesting than the superstitious man orthe Frenchman, " said Diamond. 

"The superstitious man was interesting at first, " observed Merry; "butI've a fancy that he might prove a bore. "

Then Bruce grunted:

 "Say, does Fact and Reason err, And, if they both err, which the more? The man of the smallest calibre Is sure to be the greatest bore. "

While they were talking, the sound of voices came from the stateroomoccupied by the Frenchman. Soon it became evident that quite a littleparty had gathered in that room. 

The boys paid no attention to the party till it came time to turn in forthe night. Then they became aware that something was taking place in theadjoining room, and it was not long before they made out that it was agame of poker. 

As they became quiet, they could hear the murmur of voices, and, occasionally, some person would speak distinctly, "seeing, " "raising" or"calling. "

Diamond began to get nervous. 

"Say, " he observed, "that makes me think of old times. Many a nightI've spent at that. "

"What's the matter with you?" said Frank. "Do you want to go in thereand take a hand?"

"Well, " Jack confessed, "I do feel an itching. "

"I feel like getting some sleep, " grunted Bruce, "and they are keepingme awake. "

"Why are they playing in a stateroom, anyhow?" exclaimed Frank. "It's noplace for a game of cards at night. "

"That's so, " agreed Rattleton, dreamily. "But you are keeping me awakeby your chatter a good deal more than they are. Shut up, the whole lotof you!"

There was silence for a time, and then, with a savage exclamation, Diamond sprang out of his berth and thumped on the partition, crying:

"Come, gentlemen, it's time to go to bed! You are keeping us awake. "

There was no response. 

Jack went back to bed, but the murmuring continued in the nextstateroom, and the rattle of chips could be heard occasionally. 

"What are we going to do about it, Merriwell?" asked Jack, savagely. 

"We can complain. "

But making a complaint was repellent to a college youth, who wasinclined to regard as a cheap fellow anybody who would do such a thing, and Diamond did not agree to that. 

"Well, " said Frank, "I suppose I can go in there and clean them allout. "

"How?"

"At their own game, " laughed Merry, muffledly. 

"If anybody in this crowd tackles them that way I'll be the one, "asserted the Virginian. 

"Then nobody here will tackle them that way, " said Frank, rememberinghow he had once saved Diamond from sharpers in New Haven. 

Frank was a person who believed that knowledge of almost any sort waslikely to prove of value to a man at some stage of his career, and hehad made a practice of learning everything possible. He had studied upon the tricks of gamblers, so that he knew all about their methods ofrobbing their victims. Being a first-class amateur magician, hisknowledge of card tricks had become of value to him in more than oneinstance. He felt that he would be able to hold his own against prettyclever card-sharps, but he did not care or propose to have any dealingswith such men, unless forced to do so. 

The boys kept still for a while. Their light was extinguished, but, upnear the ceiling, a shaft of light came through the partition from theother room. 

Diamond saw it. He jumped up and dragged a trunk into position by thatpartition. Mounted on the trunk, he applied his eye to the orifice anddiscovered that he could see into the Frenchman's room very nicely. 

"What can you see?" grunted Browning. 

"I can see everyone in there, " answered Jack. 

"Name them. "

"The Frenchman, the Englishman, the superstitious man, and our freshfriend, Bloodgood. "

"Same old crowd, " murmured Frank. 

"Yes, and a hot old game!" came from the youth on the trunk. "My! my!but they are whooping her up! They've got plenty to drink, and they areplaying for big dust. "

"Tell them to saw up till to-morrow, " mumbled Bruce. 

Jack did not do so, however. He remained on the trunk, watching thegame, seeming greatly interested. 

A big game of poker interested him any time. It was through theinfluence of Frank that he had been led to renounce the game, but thethirst for its excitements and delights remained with him, for he hadcome from a family of card-players and sportsmen. 

"Come, come!" laughed Frank, after a while; "I can hear your teethchattering, old man. Get off that trunk and turn in. "

"Wait!" fluttered Jack--"wait till I see this hand played out. "

In less than half a minute he cried:

"It's a skin game! I knew it was!"

"What's the lay?" asked Merry. 

"That infernal Frenchman is a card-sharp!"

"I suspected as much. "

"His pal is the Englishman. They are standing in together. "

"Yes?"

"Sure thing. They are bleeding Bloodgood and Slush. Bloodgood thinkshe's pretty sharp, and I have not much sympathy for him; but I am sorryfor poor little Slush. He should have paid attention to some of hissigns and omens. He knew something disastrous would happen during thisvoyage, and I rather think it will happen to him. "

Then Diamond thumped the wall again, crying:

"Stop that business in there! Mr. Slush, you are playing cards withcrooks--you are being robbed! Get out of that game as soon as you can!"

There was a sudden silence in the adjoining room, and then M. RouenMontfort was heard to utter an exclamation in French, following which hecried:

"I see you to-morrow, saire! I make you swallow ze lie!"

"You may see me any time you like!" Diamond flung back. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE HORRORS OF THE HOLD. 

To the surprise of the four youths, M. Montfort utterly ignored them onthe following day, instead of seeking "trouble, " as had beenanticipated. 

"Well, " said Jack, in disgust, "he has less courage than I thought. Heis just a common boasting Frenchman. "

"He is not a common Frenchman. " declared Frank. "I believe he is arascal of more than common calibre. "

"But he lacks nerve, and I have nothing but contempt for him, " said theVirginian. "I didn't know but he would challenge me to a duel. "

"What if he had?"

"What if he had?" hissed the hot-blooded Southern youth. "I'd fought himat the drop of the hat!"

"That's all right, but you know most Frenchmen fight well in a duel. "

"I don't know anything of the kind. They are expert fencers, but Inotice it is mighty seldom one of them is killed in a duel. Theysometimes draw a drop of blood, and then they consider that 'honor issatisfied, ' and that ends it. "

It was midway in the forenoon that Frank met Mr. Slush on deck. Thelittle man was looking more doleful and dejected than ever, if possible. 

"The--ah--the moon showed rather yellow last night, " he said. "That isa--a sure sign of disaster. "

"Well, " said Merry, with a smile, "I think the disaster will befall you, sir, if you do not steer clear of the crowd you were in last night. "

Mr. Slush looked surprised. 

"Might I--ah--inquire your meaning?" he faltered. 

"I mean that you are playing poker with card-sharps, and they mean torob you, " answered Frank, plainly. 

"I--I wonder how you--er--know so much, " said the little man, withsomething like faint sarcasm, as Frank fancied. 

"It makes little difference how I know it, but I am telling you thetruth. I am warning you for your good, sir. "

"Er--ahem! Thank you--very much. "

Mr. Slush walked away. 

"Well, I'm hanged if he doesn't take it coolly enough!" muttered Frank, perplexed. 

Frank felt an interest to know how Sport Harris was getting along. Hewalked forward and found the captain near the steps that led to thebridge. 

In reply to Merry's inquiry, the captain said:

"Oh, don't worry about him. There are rats down there in the hold, but Iguess he'll be able to fight them off. He'll have bread and water therest of the voyage. "

After that Merry could not help thinking of Harris all alone in thedarkness of the hold, with swarms of rats around him, eating dry bread, washed down with water. 

Frank felt that the youthful villain did not deserve any sympathy, but, despite himself, he could not help feeling a pang of pity for him. 

When he expressed himself thus to his friends, however, they scoffed athim. 

"Serves the dog right!" flashed Diamond. "He is getting just what hedeserves, and I'm glad of it!"

"He will get what he deserves when we reach the other side, " gruntedBrowning. 

"No, " said Merry; "he is an American, and he'll have to be taken backto the United States for punishment. "

"Well, he'll get it all right. "

"Well, I don't care to think that he may be driven mad shut up in thedark hold with the rats. "

This feeling grew on Frank. At last he went to the captain and askedliberty to see Harris. 

The request was granted, and, accompanied by two men, Frank descendedinto the hold. 

Down there, amid barrels and casks, they came upon Harris. Frank heardthe irons rattle, and then a gaunt-looking, wild-eyed creature rose upbefore them, shown by the yellow light of the lanterns. 

Frank Merriwell had steady nerves, but, despite himself, he started. 

The appearance of the fellow had changed in a most remarkable manner. Harris looked as if he was overcome with terror. 

"There he is, " said one of the men, holding up his lantern so the lightfell more plainly on the wretched prisoner. 

"Have you come to take me out of here?" cried Harris, in a tone of voicethat gave Frank a chill. "For God's sake, take me out of this place!I'll go mad if I stay here much longer! It is full of rats! I could notsleep last night--I dare not close my eyes for a minute! Please--pleasetake me out of here!"

Then he saw and recognized Frank. 

"You?" he screamed. "Have you come here to gloat over me, FrankMerriwell?"

"No, " said Frank; "I have come to see if I can do anything for you. "

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Harris, in a manner that made Frank believemadness could not be far away. "You wouldn't do that! I know why you arehere! You have triumphed over me! You wish to see me in all my misery!Well, look at me! Here I have been thrown into this hellish hole, amidrats and vermin, ironed like a nigger! Look till you are satisfied! Itwill fill your heart with satisfaction! Mock me! Sneer at me! Derideme!"

"I have no desire to do anything of the sort, " declared Frank. "I amsorry for you, Harris. "

"Sorry! Bah! You lie! Why do you tell me that?"

"It is the truth. You brought this on yourself, and so----"

"Don't tell me that again! You have told it enough! If I'd never seenyou, I'd not be here now. You brought it on me, Frank Merriwell. If Idie here in this cursed hole, you'll have something pleasant to thinkabout! You can laugh over it!"

"You shall not die here, Harris, if I can help it. I'll speak to thecaptain about you. "

The wretch stared at Merry, his eyes looking sunken and glittering. Then, all at once, he crouched down there, his chains clanking, coveredhis face with his hands and began to cry. 

No matter what Harris had done, Frank was deeply pitiful then. 

"I shall go directly to the captain, " he promised, "and I'll ask him tohave you taken out of this place. I will urge him to have it done. "

Harris said nothing. 

Frank had seen enough, and he turned away. As they were moving off, Harris began to scream and call to them, begging them not to leave himthere in the darkness. 

Those cries cut through and through Frank Merriwell. He knew he was inno way responsible for the fate that had befallen the fellow, and yet hefelt that he must do something for Harris. 

He kept his word, going directly to the captain. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE FINISH OF A THRILLING GAME. 

The captain listened to what Frank had to say, but his sternness did notseem to relax in the least, as Merry described the sufferings theprisoner was enduring. But Frank would not be satisfied till the captainhad made a promise to visit Harris himself and see that the fellow wastaken out and cared for if he needed it. 

Needless to say that the captain forgot to make the visit right away. 

Frank did not tell his friends where he had been and what he had seen. He did not feel like talking about it, and they noticed that he lookedstrangely grim and thoughtful. 

Tutor Maybe tried to talk to him about studies, but Merry was in nomood for that, as his instructor soon discovered. 

Despite the fact that the sea was running high, Rattleton seemed to haverecovered in a great measure from his sickness, so he was able to get ondeck with the others. At noon, he even went to the table and atelightly, drinking ginger ale with his food. 

An hour after dinner Frank found a game of poker going on in thesmoking-room. Mr. Slush was in the game. So were the Frenchman, theEnglishman, and Bloodgood. 

No money was in sight, but it was plain enough from the manner in whichthe game was played that the chips each man held had been purchased forgenuine money, and the game was one for "blood. "

M. Montfort looked up for a moment as Frank stopped to watch the game. Their eyes met. The Frenchman permitted a sneer to steal across hisface, while Frank looked at him steadily till his eyes dropped. 

At a glance, Merry saw that Bloodgood was "shakey. " The fellow had beengrowing worse and worse as the voyage progressed, and now he seemed onthe verge of a break-down. 

A few minutes after entering the room Frank heard one of the spectatorswhisper to another that Bloodgood was "bulling the game, " and had lostheavily. 

Bloodgood was drinking deeply. Mr. Slush seemed to be indulging ratherfreely. The Frenchman sipped a little wine now and then, and theEnglishman drank at regular intervals. 

The Frenchman was perfectly cool. The Englishman was phlegmatic. Slushhesitated sometimes, but, to the surprise of the boys, seemed rathercollected. Bloodgood was hot and excited. 

Frank took a position where he could look on. He watched every move. After a time he discerned that the Englishman and the Frenchman wereplaying to each other, although the trick was done so skillfully that itdid not seem apparent. 

Bloodgood lost all his chips. The game was held up for a few moments. Hestepped into the next room and returned with a fresh supply. 

"This is the bottom, " he declared. "You people may have them as soon asyou like. To blazes with them! Let's lift the limit. "

"Ah--er--let's throw it off--entirely, " suggested Mr. Slush. 

Bloodgood glared at the little man in astonishment. 

"What?" he cried. "You propose that? Why, you didn't want to play abigger game than a quarter limit at the start!"

"Perhaps you are--er--right, " admitted Mr. Slush. "I--er--don't deny it. But I have grown more--more interested, you understand. I--I don't mindplaying a good game--now. "

"Well, then, if the other gentlemen say so, by the gods, we'll make itno limit!" Bloodgood almost shouted. 

The Frenchman bowed suavely, a slight smile curling the ends of hispointed mustache upward. 

"I haf not ze least--what you call eet?--ze least objectshong, " hepurred. 

"I don't mind, " said the Englishman. 

Now there was great interest. Somehow, Frank felt that a climax wascoming. He watched everything with deep interest. 

Luck continued to run against Bloodgood. To Frank's surprise, it wasplain Mr. Slush was winning. This seemed to surprise and puzzle both theEnglishman and the Frenchman. 

It was hard work to draw the little man in when Hazleton or Montfortdealt. On his own deal or that of Bloodgood, he seemed ready foranything. 

"By Jove!" whispered Frank, in Diamond's ear. "That man is not such afool as I thought! I haven't been able to understand him at all, and Idon't understand him now. "

At length there came a big jack-pot. It was passed round several times. Then Hazleton opened it on three nines. 

Bloodgood sat next. He had two pairs, aces up, and he raised instantly. 

Montfort was the next man. He held a pair of deuces, but he saw all thathad been bet, and doubled the amount!

Mr. Slush hesitated a little. He seemed ready to lay down, but finallybraced up and came in, calling. 

Hazleton did not accept the call. He raised again. 

Bloodgood looked at his hand and cursed under his breath. It was justgood enough to make him feel that he ought to make another raise, buthe began to think there were other good hands out, and it was notpossible to tell where continued raising would land him, so he "madegood. "

With nothing but a pair of deuces in his hand, Montfort "cracked her up"again for a good round sum. 

The hair on the head of Mr. Slush seemed to stand. He swallowed andlooked pale. Then he "made good. "

Hazleton had his turn again, and he improved it. For the next fewminutes, Montfort and Hazleton had a merry time raising, but neitherSlush nor Bloodgood threw up. 

"This is where they are sinking the knife in the suckers!" muttered JackDiamond. 

Frank Merriwell said not a word. His eyes were watching every move. 

At last the betting stopped, and Slush picked up the pack to give outthe cards. 

Hazleton called for two. He received them, and remained imperturbable. 

He had caught nothing with his three nines. 

Bloodgood had tumbled to the fact that he was "up against" threes, andhe had discarded his pair of low cards, holding only the two aces. Tothese he drew a seven and two more aces!

Bloodgood turned pale and then flushed. He held onto himself with allhis strength. Here was his chance to get back his losings. Everythingwas in his favor. He was confident there were some good hands out, andit was very likely some of them might be improved on the draw, but hefelt the pot was the same as his. 

The Frenchman drew two cards. 

Slush took one. 

Then hot work began. Within three minutes Hazleton, with his threenines, had been driven out. Bloodgood, Montfort and Slush remained, raising steadily. 

There was intense excitement in that room. The captain of the steamerhad come in, and he was looking on. Some of the spectators wereliterally shaking with excitement. 

Bloodgood's chips were used up. He flung money on the table. 

All that he had went into the pot, and still he would not call. Heoffered his I. O. U. 's, but Mr. Slush declined to agree. 

"Money or its equivalent, " said the little man, with such decisivenessthat all were astonished. 

"I haven't any money, " protested Bloodgood. 

"Then you are out, " said Slush. 

"It's robbery!" cried Bloodgood. 

"Why, you can't kick; you haven't even called once. "

"Not even once, saire, " purred the Frenchman. 

"By blazes! I have the equivalent!" shouted Bloodgood. 

Into an inner pocket he plunged. He brought out a velvet jewel box. Whenthis was opened, there was a cry of wonder, for a magnificent diamondnecklace was revealed. 

"That is worth ten thousand dollars!" declared Bloodgood, "and I'll betas long as it lasts!"

Mr. Slush held out his hand. 

"Please let me examine it, " he said. 

He took a good look at it. 

"Ees it all right, sair?" asked the Frenchman, eagerly. 

"It is, " said Mr. Slush, "and I will take charge of it!"

He thrust the case into his pocket, rose quickly, stepped past Montfortand clapped a hand on Bloodgood's shoulder. 

"I arrest you, Benton Hammersley, for the Clayton diamond robbery!" hesaid. "It is useless for you to resist, for you are on shipboard, andyou cannot escape. "

Bloodgood uttered a fierce curse, "Who in the fiend's name are you?" he snarled, turning pale. 

And "Mr. Slush" answered:

"Dan Badger, of the New York detective force! Permit me to present youwith a pair of handsome bracelets, Mr. Hammersley. "

Click--the trapped diamond thief was ironed!

CHAPTER XIII. 

FIRE IN THE HOLD. 

Everyone except the detective himself seemed astounded. The cleverofficer, who had played his part so well, was as cool as ice. 

The Frenchman cried:

"But zis pot--eet ees not settailed to whom eet belong yet!"

The detective stepped back to his chair. 

"The easiest way to settle that is by a show-down, " he said. "Under thecircumstances, further bettering is out of the question. "

"And I rather think I am in the showdown, " choked out the prisoner. "I'll need this money to defend myself when I come to trial. "

"You shall have it, " assured Dan Badger--"if you win it. "

"Well, I think I'll win it, " said the ironed man, spreading out hishand. "I have four aces, and you can't beat that. "

"Oh, my dear saire!" cried the Frenchman. "Zat ees pretty gude, but Ibelief zis ees battaire. How you like zat for a straight flush?"

He lay his cards on the table, and he had the two, three, four, five andsix of hearts. 

There was a shout of astonishment. 

"Ze pot ees mine!" exultantly cried the Frenchman. 

"Stop!" rang out Frank Merriwell's clear voice. "That pot is not yours!"

Everyone looked at Merry. 

"He is using a table 'hold-out!'" accused Frank, pointing straight atMontfort. "I saw him make the shift. The five cards that really belongin his hands will be found in the hold-out under the table!"

There was dead silence. The Frenchman turned sallow. 

"It makes no difference, " said the quiet voice of the detective, breaking the silence. "I have a higher straight flush of clubs here. Mine runs up to the eight spot, and so I win the pot. "

He showed his cards and raked in the pot. 

With a savage cry, M. Montfort flung his hand aside, leaped to his feet, sprang at Frank, and struck for Merry's face. 

The blow was parried, and he was knocked down instantly. 

A sailor, pale and shaking, came dashing into the room and whispered aword in the captain's ear. 

An oath broke from the captain's lips, and he whirled about and rushedfrom the room. 

Slowly Montfort picked himself up. There was a livid mark on his cheek. He glared at Frank with deadly hatred. 

"Cursed meddlaire!" he grated. "You shall pay for this. "

There was consternation outside. On the deck was heard the sound ofrunning feet. 

"Something has happened!" said Diamond, hurrying to the door. "I wonderwhat it is. "

The "Eagle" was plunging along through a heavy sea. On the deck some menwere running to and fro. Everyone seemed in the greatest consternation. 

Jack sprang out and stopped a man. 

"What is the matter?" he demanded. 

"The ship is on fire!" was the shaking answer. "There is a fire in thehold!"

Diamond staggered. He whirled about and sprang into the smoking-room. Ina moment he was at Frank's side. 

"Merry, " he said, "what I feared has come! The steamer is on fire!"

"Where?"

"In the hold. "

Frank remembered the barrels and casks he had seen there. 

"Then we are liable to go scooting skyward in a hurry!" he said. "Itcan't take the fire long to reach the petroleum and powder!"

CHAPTER XIV. 

SAVING AN ENEMY. 

In truth, there was a fire in the "Eagle's" hold. The captain and thecrew seemed perfectly panic-stricken. The thought of the explosion thatmight come any moment seemed to rob them of all reason. 

Frank Merriwell and his friends rushed out of the smoking-room. 

The hold had been opened in an attempt to get water onto the flames. Smoke was rolling up from the opening. 

"Close down the hatch!" shouted somebody. "It is producing a draft, andthat helps the fire along!"

Then faint cries came from the hold--cries of a human being in dangerand distress!

"It's Harris!" exclaimed Diamond. "He is down there, and his time hascome at last!"

"A rope!" shouted Frank Merriwell, flinging off his coat. 

"What are you going to do?" demanded Bruce Browning. 

"By heavens! I am going down there and try to bring Harris out!"

"You're a fool!" chattered Harry Rattleton. "Think of the oil and powderdown there! The stuff is liable to explode any moment! You shall notgo!"

Frank saw a coil of rope at a distance. He rushed for it, brought it tothe hold, let an end drop and dangle into the darkness from whence thesmoke rolled up. 

"You are crazy!" roared Bruce Browning, attempting to get hold of Frank. "I refuse to let you go down there!"

"Don't put your hands on me, Browning!" cried Frank. "If you do, I shallknock you down!"

They saw that he meant just what he said. He would not be stopped then. Bruce Browning, giant that he was, felt that he would be no match forFrank then. 

The rope was made fast, and down into the smoke and darkness slid Frank, disappearing from view. 

Barely had he done so when some sailors came rushing forward andattempted to close the hatch. 

"Hold on!" thundered Browning. "You can't do that now!"

"Get out of the way!" commanded one of them, who seemed to be anofficer. "We must close this hatch to hold the fire in check long enoughfor the boats to be lowered. "

"A friend of mine has gone down there. You can't close it till he comesout!"

"To blazes with your friend!" snarled the man. "What business had he togo down there? If he's gone, he will have to stay there. His life doesnot count against all the others. "

Then, under his directions the men started to close the hatch. 

Browning sailed into them. He was aroused to his full extent by thethought of what would happen if the hatch was closed and Frank was shutdown there with the fire and smoke. He knocked them aside, he hurledthem away as if they were children. They could not stand before him foran instant. 

There was a cry from below. 

"Pull away, up there!"

It was Frank's voice. 

Willing hands seized the rope. There was a heavy weight at the end ofit. They dragged the weight up, with the smoke rolling into their facesin a cloud that grew denser and denser. 

And up through the smoke came Sport Harris, irons and all, with the endsof the rope tied about his waist!

Frank had found Harris, and here the fellow was. 

They untied the rope from Sport's waist in a hurry. Then they lowered itagain. 

"Pull away!"

Frank Merriwell was dragged up through the smoke. 

"Now, " said Browning, "down goes the hatch!"

And it was slammed into place in a hurry, holding the smoke back. 

CHAPTER XV. 

THE SEA GIVES UP. 

The pumps were going, in an attempt to flood the hold, but the men didnot attempt to fight the fire in anything like a reasonable manner. 

The knowledge of the cargo down there in the hold turned them to cowardsand unreasoning beings. They were expecting to be blown skyward at anymoment. 

Of a sudden the engines stopped and the "Eagle" began to lose headway. Men were making preparations to lower the boats. 

"Well, I'll be hanged if they are not going to abandon the ship!"exclaimed Frank. "The case must be pretty bad. I wonder how the firestarted?"

"I set it!"

At his feet was Harris, whom he had just rescued from the hell below, and the fellow had declared that he set the fire!

"You?"

"Yes, " said the wretch. "I was crazy. I found a match in my pocket, andI thought I was willing to roast if I could destroy you, so I set thefire. Pretty soon I realized what I had done, but then I found it toolate when I tried to beat it out. The old steamer will go into the airin a few minutes, and we'll all go with it, unless we can get off inthe boats right away. "

"It would have served you right had I left you to your fate!" gratedFrank, as he turned away. 

He ran down to his stateroom to gather up some of the few littlevaluables he hoped to save. He was not gone long, but when he returned, he found two boats had been launched and were pulling away, the personsin them being in great haste to get as far from the steamer as theycould before the explosion. 

Three or four women were in the first boat. 

It was rather difficult to lower the boats in the heavy sea that wasrunning, but the men were working swiftly, pushed by the terror of thecoming disaster. 

A little smoke curled up from the battened-down hatches. 

As Frank reached the deck, he nearly ran against M. Rouen Montfort, whowas carrying a pair of swords in scabbards, which seemed to be treasureshe wished to save. 

The Frenchman stopped and glared at Merry. 

"Cursed Yankee!" he grated. "I would like to put one of zese gude bladest'rough your heart!"

"Haven't a doubt of it, " said Merriwell, coolly. "That's about the kindof a man I took you to be. "

Another boat got away, and the last boat was swung from the davits. 

A sailor counted the men who remained and spoke to the captain. Thelatter said:

"At best, the boat will not hold them all. There is one too many, atleast. Let the fellow in irons stay behind. "

Harris heard this, and fancied his doom was sealed. He began to beg tobe taken along, but one of the men gave him a kick. 

The Frenchman turned on Frank. 

"Do you hear?" he cried. "One cannot go. Do you make eet ze poor devalin ze iron? or do you dare fight me to see wheech one of us eet ees? Eefyou make eet ze poor devval, eet show you are ze cowarde. Ha! I theenkyou do not dare to fight!"

He spat toward Merry to express his contempt. 

"Let me fight him!" panted Diamond at Frank's elbow. 

"See that Harris is put into the boat!" ordered Merriwell. "I fancy Ican take care of this Frenchman. If you do not get Harris into the boatI swear I will not enter it if I conquer Montfort!"

Then he whirled on the Frenchman. 

"I accept your challenge!" he cried in clear tones. 

Montfort uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. He flung off his coat, saying:

"Choose ze weapon, saire. "

Frank did not pause to look them over in making a selection. He caughtup one of them and drew it from the scabbard. 

Montfort took the other. 

"Ready?" cried the American youth. 

"Ready!" answered the Frenchman. 

Clash!--the swords came together and there on the deck of the burningsteamer the strange duel began. 

Frank fought with all the coolness and skill he could command. He foughtas if he had been standing on solid ground instead of the deck of a shipthat might be blown into a thousand fragments at any moment. 

The Frenchman had fancied that the Yankee would prove easy to conquer, but he soon discovered Frank possessed no little skill, and he saw thathe must do his best. 

More than once Montfort thrust to run Frank through the body, and oncehis sword passed between the youth's left arm and his side. 

Merry saw that the Frenchman really meant to kill him if possible. 

Then men were getting into the boat. There were but few seconds left inwhich to finish the duel. Rattleton called to him from the, boat, shouting above the roar of the wind:

"Finish him, Frank! Come on, now! Lively!"

The tip of Montfort's sword slit Frank's sleeve and touched his arm. 

"Next time I get you!" hissed the vindictive Frenchman. 

But right then Frank saw his opportunity. He made a lunge and drove hissword into the Frenchman's side. 

Montfort uttered a cry, dropped his sword, flung up his hands, and sunkbleeding to the deck. 

Merry flung his blood-stained weapon aside and bent over the man, saying sincerely:

"I hope your wound is not fatal, M. Montfort. "

"It makes no difference!" gasped the man. "You are ze victor, so I muststay here an' die jus' ze same. "

But Frank Merriwell was seized by a feeling of horror at the thought ofleaving this man whom he had wounded. In a moment he realized he wouldbe haunted all his life by the memory if he did so. 

Quickly he caught M. Montfort up in his arms. He sprang to the side ofthe steamer. The boat was holding in for him. His friends shouted tohim. The captain ordered him to jump at once. 

"Catch this man!"

He lifted M. Montfort, swung him over the rail, and dropped him fairlyinto the boat!

"He has chosen, " said the captain. "The boat will hold no more. Pullaway!"

It was useless for Frank's friends to beg and plead. Away went the boat, leaving the noble youth to his doom. 

Forty minutes later there was a terrible flare of fire and smoke, athunderous explosion, and the ill-fated steamer had blown up. 

Harry Rattleton was crying like a baby. 

"Poor Frank!" he sobbed. "Noblest fellow in all the world--good-by! I'llnever see you again!"

Tears rolled down Bruce Browning's face, and Jack Diamond, grim andspeechless, looked as if the light of the world had gone out forever. 

 * * * * *

Some days later the passengers and crew from the lost "Eagle" werelanded at Liverpool by the steamer "Seneca, " which had picked them up atsea. The "Seneca" was a slow old craft, but she got there all right. 

A little grimy tender carried Bruce, Jack, Harry and the tutor from the"Seneca" to the floating dock. It was a sad and wretched-looking party. 

On the dock stood a young man who shouted to them and waved his hand. 

Jack Diamond started, gasped, clutched Browning and whispered:

"Look--look there, Bruce! Tell me if I am going crazy, or do you seesomebody who looks like--"

Harry Rattleton clutched the big fellow by the other side, spluttering:

"Am I doing gaffy--I mean going daffy? Look there! Who is that wavinghis hand to us?"

"It's the ghost of Frank Merriwell, as true as there are such things asghosts!" muttered Browning. 

But it was no ghost. It was Frank Merriwell in the flesh, alive andwell! He greeted them as they came off the tender. He caught them in hisarms, laughing, shouting, overjoyed. And they, realizing it really washim, hugged him and wept like a lot of big-hearted, manly young men. 

Frank explained in a few words. He told how, after they had left him, he had belted himself well with life-preservers and left the "Eagle" intime to get away before the explosion. Then he was picked up by anAtlantic liner, which brought him to Liverpool in advance of hisfriends. 

Thus he was there to receive them, and it seemed that the sea had givenup its dead. 

[THE END. ]