Jack Harkaway"s Boy Tinker Among The Turks.
by Bracebridge Hemyng.
JACK GETS INTO HOT WATER--A MORAL LESSON, AND HOW HE PROFITED BY IT--ALL"S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
The matter was not ended here, however.
When they got on board, there was a very serious reception awaiting them.
Their project had been discovered and betrayed to the skipper by some officious noodle, and Captain Willis was not a little alarmed.
The consequences might be very serious.
So the captain had Jack and Harry Girdwood up, and gave them a word or two of a sort.
"We wish to preserve the most friendly relations with the people here, Mr. Harkaway," said he, severely; "and this sort of adventure is not calculated to achieve our object."
Jack did not attempt to deny what had occurred.
"We have done no harm," he said; "we were simply cruising about when we saw murder done. We arrived too late to prevent it, but Tinker was pleased to take it upon himself to avenge the murdered woman, for a woman it was, as we could tell from her shrieks as the sack went under and stifled them for ever."
The captain was somewhat startled at this.
"Is this true?"
"I would have you know, captain, that I am not in the habit of saying what is not true."
The captain bowed stiffly at young Jack"s rebuke.
"I don"t wish to imply anything else," he said; "but before you get too high up in the stirrups, young gentleman, remember that I command here.
Remember that in your own thirst for excitement, you act in a way likely to compromise me as well as everybody on board. You are not wanting in a proper appreciation of right and wrong. Before you add anything worse to the present discussion, reflect. The injured air which you are pleased to a.s.sume is out of place. I leave you to your own reflections, young gentleman."
And so saying, the captain turned away and left him.
Jack"s first impulse was to walk after the captain, and fire a parting shot.
But Harry Girdwood"s hand arrested him.
"Don"t be foolish, Jack," said he.
"Let go, I----"
"Don"t be foolish, I say, Jack," persisted Harry Girdwood. "Do you know what you are saying?"
"Are you siding against me?" exclaimed Jack.
"In a general sense I am not against you, but I can"t approve of your replies. You had no right to retort, and I shouldn"t be a true pal, Jack, if I spoke to your face against my convictions."
Jack sulked for a little time.
And then he did as the captain had advised.
He reflected.
He was very soon led back to the correct train of thought, and being a lad of high moral courage, as well as physically brave, he was not afraid to acknowledge when he was in the wrong.
Harry Girdwood walked a little way off.
Young Jack--dare-devil Jack--coloured up as he walked to Harry and held out his hand.
"Tip us your fin, messmate," he said, with forced gaiety. "You are right, I was wrong, of course."
He turned off.
"Where are you going?" demanded Harry.
"To the captain."
"What for?"
"To apologise for being insolent."
Off he went.
"Captain Willis."
"Do you want me, Mr. Harkaway?" asked the captain.
"The chief mate was standing by, and Jack did not feel that he had so far offended as to have to expiate his fault in public.
"When you are disengaged, Captain Willis, I would beg the favour of half a word with you."
"Is it urgent, Mr. Harkaway?" he asked.
"I have been refractory, Captain Willis."
A faint smile stole over the captain"s face in spite of his endeavour to repress it.
"I will see you below presently," he said to the mate. "Come down to me in a quarter of an hour or so."
"Yes, sir," said the mate.
"Now, Mr. Harkaway, I"m at your service," said Captain Willis, walking forward.
Jack grew rather red in the face at this.