Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

2 FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. Halting by the signaling apparatus, the first officer gazed earnestly through a glass in the direction indicated by the lookouts. ‘““Humph!? he muttered ; “those men forward have sharp eyes. tt s land, sure enough, but I can hardly make certain of it by the glass.” The Glasgow was steered by machinery from the bridge. One of the sailors stood with his hands on the brass-bound wheel. The first officer handed the glass to him, say Ing: “Take a squint, Jackson. You've mete these se the waters by name. Whatdo vou think? wanted. Well! Is that Ajax Island ?"’ The sailor gave the wheel to his su- perior, and after using the glass for a ino- ment, handed it back with a quiet simile. “YY don’t lay claim to hanswer for the naines of the waves, Mr. Murray,’’ he said, resuming his grip of the wheel, “but I can’t make nothing of that streak of rock yonder but the hisland of Hayjax. That’s what it his, sir, you depend upon hit, sir.” | “I thought my dead reckoning couldn’t be far from fight, Jackson,’’ responded the first officer in a self-satished tone. ‘*Nothink could be righter, sir,’’ Jack- son began with a shrewd intent of com- plimenting the officer, when the forward lookout interrupted them. ‘*Boated ahead, sir!’ _ The lookout on the fo’c’sle bridge ran from one end of his platform to the other, trying in vain to distinguish the object that had attracted the attention of his comrade. At last he turned around and bawled to the first officer: ‘‘Boat ahead, sir!’ ‘“Where away?” demanded Mr. Mur- ray. “*Y don’t know, sir; I can’t make no- think of it.’? ‘Ask forward, then, you blockhead!” Without waiting to be asked the for- ward lookout, who had plainly heard the words of the first officer, shouted: “Right in our course, sir! But half a mile away. ”’ ‘Starboard your wheel two points, Jackson,’? said Mr. Murray as he turned his glass forward. A glance was sufficient, “Ves, it’s a boat,’’ he said, half aloud, “manned by a score of men, I should say. Whiat’s she doing out here? Looks like the long boat of a merchantman. Ah! there’s a signal being hoisted on an oar! Humph! Distress, wreck, | nelp well!” He laid his hand on a lever and imme- diately there was the clang of a bell from below. The next instant the lever was turned back by an unseen hand. . That showed that the engineer at his post below the water line had heard the officer’s signal and understood it. Then the throbbing of the steamer sud- denly ceased. The engines had been stopped. ‘All aboard for Liverpool!’ called a cheery young voice, almost underneath the bridge. , The first officer looked down and grinned. He saw a boy there whose sun- burned face told of much travel in the open air, and whose sparkling eyes sug- gested a jolly disposition and strong. char acter. “Go back to your bunk, youngster,’’ commanded the first officer, with a pre- tense at gruffness; ‘‘it’s not time for kids to wake up yet.”’ ‘Go on with you!’ retorted the boy; ‘‘vou’ll be abed before I am, and glad you'll be to get there.’ ‘“That’s so, but I’ve been up the best part of the night.”’ “You ought to keep better hours. GOnMGOOOKS (CO