Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

20 FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. talk, loaded for bear. You catchee on, eh??? | Yes, Frank and the doctor caught on, but the Chinese did not shoot, neither did he make them dance. He had hardly uttered his last remark when there was a sharp report behind him and he fell over on his face, danger- ous no longer. First Officer Murray appeared in the| little cloud of smoke beyond the Chinese, and behind him came a dozen or more grimy stokers with coal shovels and iron bars ready for use as weapons. nee eee. Segeererd CHAPTER V. OFF FOR AUSTRALIA AGAIN. ‘Thank Heaven! you’re safe, Merri- well, and you, too, Doc,’’ exclaimed Murray. ‘‘I had no idea that the young- ster had an assistant in his expedition.”? ‘“Doc and I make a dandy team,’’ re- sponded Frank, smiling. ‘“We wouldn’t either of us be worth much if you hadn’t come just in time,’’ ‘added the doctor. “Tt beats me to see how you got here,”’ said Frank; ‘‘I left you on the bridge.” ‘ST followed almost immediately and came down through the stoke hole.”’ Tt thought that must be the case,’ re- ~ marked the doctor. And I wasn’t familiar enough with the construction of a steamship,’’? Frank said, ‘‘to know anything about it.”’ “You see,’’ continued Murray as he - went to the signaling apparatus and pulled a lever, ‘‘I presumed that the engineer’s gangway would be guarded—hello! What’s this?” . The Chinese who had been hurled downstairs by the doctor, having been stunned by the fall, was now recovering. He turned over on his side and one of the stokers raised a heavy shovel to give him a death blow. . ‘‘Hold on!’’ cried Frank, grabbing the shovel and preventing the blow from do- ing any damage, ‘‘let’s not do any mur- dering here.’ ‘It’s orders,’’ responded the stoker, in- dignantly. ‘Whose orders ?”? “Mr. Murray’s.”’ Frank glanced inquiringly at the first officer. ‘Phe old man’s instructions were to give no quarter,’’ he said. “In fight, no,’’ retorted Frank, ‘‘but there’s no fight left in this fellow.”’ ‘There will be in half a minute,” said the doctor, eying the Chinese critically. ‘Then bind him. A prisoner is worth two dead men. Come, men, you’re not going to kill even a Chinese scoundrel in cold blood, are you? That’s not like Eng- lishmen.”? ‘“‘No more it ain’t,’’ growled the stoker, ‘‘but wot would this ’ere -yeller cove done to hus, Hi’d like to know?” ‘‘Fre’d have stuck us like so many pigs,’’ answered Murray, ‘‘but the boy is right. . The old man’s orders were given in the excitement of fighting. If he’s all tight you'll find that he’ll be more anx- . ious for live prisoners than dead pirates. Tie up the Chink, Doc, and look around for any others. Hello! There’s a signal.” During this talk Murray had been wait- ing anxiously fora reply to his signal to the bridge. It came now, and after a moment ‘the first officer cried joyfully: “Hurrah! We've done ’em! The Chinks have been beaten, foot, horse, and dragoons! And the old man says he’s all right, except that he thinks a part of his left ear may have been shot away.”’ ‘‘Glad it’s no worse,’’ said Frank. “See Vere!’ exclaimed a stoker. He pointed to adark corner where an assistant engineer was found almost dead. from strangulation. The poor fellow was taken in hand by the doctor, while some. COnGaoOo Co APL