Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 27: 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. “‘'m glad to hear it. Any time you tire of the trip, say so frankly, and we’ll 25 about you, but in spite of that she has been anxious to get away and has fretted put you off at the nearest civilized port.’’}a good deal about the delay in Canton.”’ “You needn’t fear that I shall back out, Mr. Gillette.’’ OT don’t. Can you start at once??? ‘“’To-day ?? (oVes 3} ‘“Is she aware of your new clew?”’ ‘‘She knows that I expect to find a trace of her father on Walloa.”? ‘“No wonder she’s anxious to start.’ “True, but I dread the meeting for _ “Well, it will take a little time to get| her if we find him.’’ my baggage in order and write two or three letters——’’ ‘You can manage all that by evening, can’t you?”’ ‘“‘Oh, yes! In half that time.’? _ “Then if it’s agreeable to you Pil send for your traps at three o’clock and call about the same hour to conduct you to the Princess, my yacht, that is lying in the harbor.” ‘‘T think Isaw her when we came in this morning. Is she a single-funnel boat, painted black, with brownish deck house, and flying the royal ensign ? “Ves. She’s a member of the Royal Yacht Club. Will you be ready at three ?’’ ‘*Without fail.’ . “‘Good-day till then. If you write your tutor, tell him I shall try to take care of you.”’ Frank bowed, but he said to himself after Mr. Gillette had departed: “Guess tutor thinks I can take care of myself, and if things go as usual I'll be takirig care of the Gillette family before I’m through with ’em.’’ CHAPTER VII. THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE FIRE WOR- SHIPERS. Promptly at three o’clock Mr. Gillette’s card came. up again to ‘“‘his lordship.” Frank was ready, and without delay they set out for the water front. They were carried most of the distance in a double- seated palanquin supportedon the shoul- ders of four men. On the way Mr. Gillette said: ‘Vou will find Maud impatient to see you.”? “That is very kind of her.’” ‘(Perhaps you wouldn’t think so 1f you knew all.’ “Oh! I took it as a compliment.’ “Well, she has great enough ideas! Islands. ‘Why ?? ‘Bepause of my fear that Harry has be- come a‘barbarian. Maud knows nothing of that.” } : “Oh! ‘““As I may be mistaken, I think it would be well to say nothing of our fears. ’’ ‘“Very well.”? ‘We ought not. to alarm her need lessly, and if we find our fears justified, perhaps we can manage to keep the worst of the truth from her.”’ ‘1711 remember to be careful.”’ Maud Gillette was waiting for them on deck when they were rowed out to the Przxcess in one of the small boats that belonged to the yacht. She proved to be a full-grown girl, rather serious in. her manner, as was to be expected under the circumstances, but very pleasant and altogether an agreeable companion She greeted Frank warmly, and before they had been long together they were exchanging anecdotes of travel freely. Mr. Gillette joined in the conversation, seeking always to get Frank to relate his adventures, but without much success, for the boy, with manly modesty, always made himself out a pretty commonplace sort of hero. | Nevertheless the time passed quickly. The yacht was put under way almost as soon as Mr. Gillette and Frank came aboard, and by the next morning they were upon the open sea. Then for many days the Przxcess held her course steadily to the eastward, oc- casionally sighting land on either side, but pausing only two or three times just long enough to take in coal. There was variety of weather and inci-_ dent, but nothing occurred to delay the journey. After about three weeks of al- most steady sailing they hove in sight of Papeete, the capital town of the Tahite eCOnnr ElOO® (CO