Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 15: 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. ‘“Yes—nello, Dr. to see you.’? ‘If you can see me that’s more than I can say about you. Doosid dark night!’ ‘‘Y!m glad you’ve come across me, then. How about the Chinese? Are——’’ ‘Oh, the Chinks are all right enough. I say, Merriwell!’ ‘“What is it?” “Tm much obliged, don’t you Know, for your squaring me with the old man. Rayburn. I’m glad I felt rather nasty about it this morning, for nobody likes to get a tongue lashing from him. He’s told me that you spoke to him ” “Oh, that’s all right, Doc. Don’t men- tion it.’’ “But I must, don’tyou know. The old man actually apologized! Never knew him todo such a thing before in my life.”? ‘Well, that’s pretty good, seeing that I was. really breaking the rules of the ship.’? ‘*Hal ha! yes. He said he wouldn’t have minded it, but that at the moment he was worried by the sight of the Chinks.”? | “(Now that. interests me. Why should Captain Dunbar be worried by a handful of starved Chinese sailors?’ “‘On general principles, I suppose. Chinks are a bad lot. I’m going to turn in. Good-night.”’ ) “Good-night, Doc.’ ‘Frank would have liked to keep Dr. | Rayburn in conversation about the Chi- nese, but as he could give no good rea- son or, in fact, any reason at all for his own nervousness, he made no effort to detain the doctor. AQ little later, feeling exasperated with himself, he went to his room, but when he got there, instead of undressing, as usual, he lay down upon bis bunk with his clothes on and tried vainly to sleep. Six bells sounded. Except for the slight throbbing of the 13 engines, the steamer plowed across the sea as. steadily as if she were lying at dock In port. A tediously long interval, aris then seven bells rang out. A faint, musical cry came from far for- ward. Frank could not tell what words were used, but he knew that it was the lookout announcing that all was well. ‘And I’m lying awake,’ said Frank to himself, ‘‘asif the Glasgow were in danger and her fate Sepencen upon me! Why can’t I sleep ?”’ For several minutes he had a mental struggle to decide whether he should get up and take off his clothes. At last he de- cided to do so, and accordingly he rolled from his berth. When his fingers touched the buttons of his coat a thought struck him, and in- stead of carrying out his resolution he put on his hat and went on deck. | As he emerged from the saloon com- panion way he saw a dim figure moving rapidly along the deck. , It disappeared almost immediately. ‘‘'That sailor seems to be in a hurry,’ thought Frank. He strolled leisurely forward and paused near the bridge. It was very dark, but he could vaguely distinguish the forms of the men on duty there. At one end of the bridge was the mo- tionless figure of a sailor. | By crossing to the other side of the ves- sel Frank could see that asailor was simi- larly stationed there. Another sailor undoubtedly stood at the wheel. Almost directly over the hurricane promenade two men, officers, evidently, were leaning against the bridge rail, and a third was pacing back and forth be- tween the steering apparatus and the port end. ‘Queer!’ thought Frank. ‘‘With per- fect wind and weather and on the open EOMINCE DOS [ UN (CO