Bob the Castaway Part 15

"I hope so. This lying at dock doesn't suit me. By the way, let me introduce a friend of mine. This is Bob Henderson. His mother is a relative of mine, and Bob is taking a voyage for his health. Bob, this is my first mate, Mr. Carr."

"He looks healthy enough," remarked the first mate as he cordially shook hands with Bob.

"Things are not always what they look like," replied the captain with a smile. "Bob found matters rather too lively for him ash.o.r.e, and his folks think it will quiet him down to go with me."

"I see," replied Mr. Carr in answer to his commander's sly wink. He now understood something of the situation.

"I'll leave you here a while," went on the commander to the boy.

"You can look about a bit while I go below and work on my manifest.

Mr. Carr will tell you anything you want to know."

But Bob was so interested in watching the sailors at work stowing away the cargo, while others were cleaning various parts of the s.h.i.+p, that he did not ask many questions.

All the rest of that day the loading went on. Bob and the captain went ash.o.r.e for their meals, as the commander had some business to attend to in the port, but Bob spent that night in his bunk. It was the first time he had ever slept in a s.h.i.+p's berth, and he rather liked the novelty.

The next day the loading was rapidly proceeded with, and by noon all the cargo was stowed away.

Captain Spark was below in his cabin, making out the final papers and waiting for his clearance doc.u.ments from the harbor master. Mr.

Carr and his a.s.sistants were busy getting the _Eagle_ ready to sail, while Bob stood near the rail, watching with curious eyes everything that was going on.

While he stood there he saw a short, stout, pale-faced man coming up the gangplank. The man carried a valise in each hand, while behind him walked a 'longsh.o.r.eman with a trunk on his shoulder.

"Now, my man, be very careful of that trunk," urged the short, stout, pale man. "Don't drop it for the world."

"I'm not going to, sir," and the 'longsh.o.r.eman attempted to touch his hat as a mark of respect.

"Don't do that!" exclaimed the nervous man. "You might drop it, and something would break."

"All right, sir. Very well, sir," and once more the 'longsh.o.r.eman made as if to touch his hat. It was a habit of his to do this whenever spoken to by those who employed him.

"There you go again!" cried the man in rather whining tones. "Don't do it, I say! There! Keep your hands on the trunk!"

Seeing that this last order was obeyed, the nervous man advanced up the gangplank. He came on deck, set his two valises very carefully down, watched the 'longsh.o.r.eman place the trunk on end, as if it contained eggs, and then he asked of Bob:

"Is this s.h.i.+p the _Eagle_?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are you sure now? I don't want any mistake made. I don't see the name on it anywhere."

"It is on the bows and under the stern."

Bob rather prided himself on this nautical knowledge.

"Hum! Well, perhaps it may be. You are positive it is the _Eagle_?"

"Yes, sir. Positive. A distant relative of my mother is the captain."

"Is it Captain Spark?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are you sure? I don't want to be on the wrong s.h.i.+p."

"Yes, sir, I am very sure, I came on board with him. Are you going to sail on the s.h.i.+p?" asked Bob politely.

"I expect to, if this is the right vessel. I wish I was sure.

Perhaps you might be mistaken," and he glanced nervously around.

"No, I am positive. There is Captain Spark now," he added as the commander came up a companionway.

"Oh, yes. I shall speak to him."

The nervous man started off. Just then Captain Spark, having received his clearance papers by messenger, gave orders to cast off.

The _Eagle_ was about to sail.

"All ash.o.r.e that's going ash.o.r.e!" called the first mate.

The 'longsh.o.r.eman started down the gangplank which was about to be hauled in.

"Wait, I must pay you!" called the nervous pa.s.senger, turning back toward the man who had brought his trunk aboard.

The 'longsh.o.r.eman waited.

"Cast off that stern line!" shouted the captain.

"Oh, dear! I wish I was sure this was the _Eagle_!" spoke the nervous pa.s.senger.

"It is," Bob a.s.sured him, smiling at the man's manner. First he would advance a little way toward the captain, intending to ask him the momentous question; then he would turn toward the 'longsh.o.r.eman, who was waiting for his money.

"Lively with that gangplank now!" ordered the commander.

"Oh, if I have made a mistake and gotten on the wrong s.h.i.+p it will be terrible," murmured the man.

"Why don't you throw off that stern line?" again shouted the captain.

"What shall I do?" exclaimed the nervous man.

"If you're goin' t' pay me, your honor, you'll have t' hustle,"

advised the 'longsh.o.r.eman.

"I will, my man. Never mind touching your hat. Oh, you are not carrying my trunk now; I forgot. Here's a dollar. Never mind the change."

"All ash.o.r.e that's going ash.o.r.e!" yelled Mr. Carr again.

Up came the gangplank. The 'longsh.o.r.eman leaped over the side of the s.h.i.+p and landed on the dock. There was a puffing from the tug that had been engaged to pull the _Eagle_ out into the channel.

"Are you sure this is the right s.h.i.+p?" appealed the man to Bob once more.