"What makes you keep company with that boy, Mr. Vane?" asked Montgomery Clinton, who would have liked more of Harry"s society himself.
"Why shouldn"t I?"
"Because he is a common sailor, don"t you know."
"I think he is rather an uncommon sailor. He is very well educated."
"Oh, yes; I suppose he can read and write; but, of course, he can never be admitted into society, don"t you know?"
"No, I don"t, Mr. Clinton. He may be a captain some day."
"But he isn"t now. I give you my word, I noticed this morning, when you were speaking with him, that his fingers were all soiled with tar.
That"s horrid, don"t you know."
"Don"t you think he"s a good-looking boy, Mr. Clinton?"
"Well, yes; I suppose, for one of the lower order, Mr. Vane."
"You forget we don"t have any distinction of cla.s.ses in America."
"Don"t we though? By Jove! Mr. Vane, you don"t put yourself on a level with those creatures that dig ditches and climb masts, and such things?"
"Your sentiments are very undemocratic, Mr. Clinton. You ought to have been born in England."
"I wish I had been. I like their inst.i.tutions a good deal better than ours, don"t you know?"
"When I first spoke with you, Mr. Clinton, I thought you might be an Englishman."
"Did you, really?" inquired Clinton, with evident pleasure. "I"m often taken for an Englishman, on my honor. I don"t know why it is, but positively, I"m often asked when I came from the other side."
"Would you rather be taken for an Englishman than an American?"
"Well, you see, there are some Americans that are so vulgar, don"t you know--talk through their noses, and all that."
"Where were you born, Mr. Clinton?"
"In Ma.s.sachusetts, not far from Boston."
"By the way, Mr. Vane, are you descended from Sir Henry Vane, one of the royal governors of Ma.s.sachusetts? I have been meaning to ask you."
"I can"t tell you, Mr. Clinton; but my name happens to be the same--Harry."
"Really, that is very interesting. I should think you would look up the matter."
"Perhaps I will when I return home!" said Harry, who cared very little about the matter. From this time, however, Clinton regarded him with increased respect, and manifested an increased liking for his society, from his supposed aristocratic lineage. Our hero treated him with good-natured toleration, but much preferred the company of Jack Pendleton, sailor as he was, though his fingers were not infrequently smeared with tar. Harry did not mind this; but was attracted by the frank, good-humored face of young Jack, and was always glad to have a chat with him. He had a chance, though at considerable personal risk, to do him a signal service before long.
The captain"s habits, it must be said, did not improve. His stock of liquor was ample, and he continued to indulge himself. Generally he kept within safe bounds, but at times he allowed his appet.i.te to get the better of him. Whenever that happened, it was fortunate if he drank himself into a state of stupefaction, and remained in his cabin, leaving the management of the ship to the mate, Mr. Holdfast, who was thoroughly temperate. Unfortunately, he was not always content to remain in the cabin. He would stagger upstairs and give orders which might or might not, be judicious.
One day--it was about a month after they left port--Captain Hill came up on deck in one of his worst fits of intoxication. All the pa.s.sengers were on deck, it being a fair day. They regarded the captain with alarm, for in his hand he held a pistol, which he carried in such careless style that it might be discharged at any time.
Jack Pendleton had been sent up to the masthead on some duty by the mate. The captain"s roving eyes fell upon him, and the dislike he felt for the boy found vent.
"What are you doing up there, you young lubber?" he shouted.
"Mr. Holdfast sent me," answered Jack.
"You lie!" roared the captain. "I"ll teach you to lie to me!"
"I"ll come down, sir," said Jack, "if you say so."
"I"ll bring you down!" shouted the captain, furiously, as he deliberately pointed the pistol at the cabin boy, and prepared to pull the trigger.
There was a cry of horror on the part of the pa.s.sengers as they saw the insane act of the captain, and realized the peril of poor Jack.
But, in spite of all, the boy would probably have fallen a victim to the drunken fury of Captain Hill. Jack himself fully understood his danger, and his ruddy face turned pale. His life hung in the balance, and was saved only by the courage of his boy friend, Harry.
Of all the pa.s.sengers, Harry stood nearest to the captain. When he saw the pistol pointed at Jack, he did not stop to think, but made a bound, and dashed the weapon from the captain"s hand. It was discharged but the bullet sped over the rail and dropped into the ocean. Nor did Harry stop here. He seized the fallen pistol, and hurled it over the side of the vessel.
The captain was for the moment stupefied by the suddenness of the act.
Then, in a voice of fury, he exclaimed, pointing to Harry: "Put that boy in irons!"
CHAPTER XI
A SENSATIONAL SCENE
"Put that boy in irons!" repeated Captain Hill, his eyes blazing with anger.
Not a sailor stirred. There was not one that did not admire Harry"s promptness, which had saved Jack"s life, and prevented the captain from becoming a murderer.
"Here, you two men, seize the boy, and carry him below!" exclaimed the captain, addressing Brown and Higgins, the two sailors nearest.
The two men looked at each other, moved a step forward, and then stopped.
"Is this mutiny?" roared the captain, with a bloodcurdling oath. "Am I master in my own ship or not?"
What might have been the issue is hard to tell, had not the Yankee pa.s.senger already referred to, Jonathan Stubbs, come forward and taken up the gauntlet.
"Look here, cap"n," he commenced, in a drawling tone, "what"s all this fuss you"re kickin" up? You"re kinder riled, ain"t you?"
"Who are you that dare to bandy words with me? Men, do you hear me?
Put that boy in irons, or must I do it myself?"
"Look here, cap"n, let"s argy that matter a little," said Stubbs.
"What"s the boy to be put in irons for?"
"For grossly insulting me, and defying my authority."