Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. tinued the passenger, ‘‘that Iam a news-! temper and they say he writes with liquid paper man. I shall write a letter fully de-| pepper instead of ink.” scribing this occurrence to the China Maz, an English paper published in Canton ’ ‘*Mr. Murray,’’ exclaimed the captain, wheeling about suddenly, ‘‘drive those passengers aft! Don’t let one of them come forward:of the saloon companion. If any man resists or opens his head, put Itim in irons! I'll see whether 1 can man- age my ship without interference.” ‘fAy, ay, sit,’’ said First Officer Mur- ray, beginning to descend the ladder. His face was very grave. The captain had ordered him to an extremely dis- agreeable duty, but it had to he done. Frank stepped quickly to the bottom of the ladder. ‘“‘Captain,’’ he said, pleasantly, ‘‘may I come up just for a half minute ?”’ Murray reached the deck just as Frank finished speaking. 7 _ The passengers were beginning to with- draw without waiting to be driven. Captain Dunbar looked down. His face was dark with anger, and for an instant it seemed as if he would send Frank away with the others, but the sight of the boy’s manly countenance turned con- fidently toward him evidently made him change his mind. 7 Ves, shortly.. Almost immediately Frank was on the bridge. Perhaps it occurred to the captain that | re ‘*Humph!’ The captain looked as if he scorned anything that might be done to make ‘public his action, but Frank could see, nevertheless, that he was 111 at ease. ‘“What did you want up here?’ he asked. ““To get a better look at the Chinks.”’ ‘‘Handsome chaps, aren’t they, eh?” ‘“They’re human beings, Cap.”’ ‘‘Huh!so they are. I suppose, young man, you’re like the rest of ’em down there. I thought I could see in your eyes a ininute ago that you thought me the worst brute alive.” ‘ST didn’t think that, Cap——” ‘‘No, but you thought I ought to haul those rufhans aboard and give ’em first- class cabins and feed "em in the saloon, eh ?”? ‘*You go too far, Cap. Ithought asa matter of course that you would have them on board and stow them forward in the sailors’ quarters. ”’ “You did, eh?’ “Ves, and I still think that you ought to. 3 Frank looked the captain frankly and fearlessly in the eyes. There was nothing impudent or even bold in his manner. It lwas simply the expression of an honest 73 come wp, he answered, | >| CONV iction, and even in his anger there is no doubt that Captain Dunbar admired the | boy. For the moment, however, the com- i mander of the Glasgow merely grunted, and gave his attention to the work going the boy’s popularity might be useful in jon below. persuading the passengers to take a differ- | ent view of the matter. He must have) had something of this kind in his mind, | for he remarked at once: ‘“There’s no denying two things, Cap,” Frank added quietly. ‘Hh? What are they?” ‘First, that you are the one whose ‘*See here, my lad, can’t vou bring that; word decides the matter.”’ fellow Parker to his senses?’ ‘The newspaper man, you mean ?”’ (Vag )? | “‘t’m afraid not, Cap. He’s got a nasty “You're right there, boy.”’ “‘Second, that it isn’t humane to turn those poor fellows adrift.” ‘‘’m not so sure of that!”’ (COLU 9 ElOO® (CO