A Sailor Boy with Dewey. Stratemeyer Edward

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      CHAPTER II.

      THE COLLISION IN THE HURRICANE.

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       "Now, what is he going to do?" I murmured turning to my companion.

      "Something out of the ordinary, that's certain," answered Dan. "He has just enough in him to be thoroughly ugly."

      "I don't believe he'll let this matter drop, storm or no storm."

      "Not he, Oliver. I'm afraid we have got ourselves into a scrape. I wish we were in sight of Manila."

      "So do I. But I haven't done anything wrong. Somebody ought to tell the man that he is drinking too much, Dan."

      At that instant Dawson, the mate, came up. He had been standing behind the mainmast and had heard every word uttered. His face showed plainly that he was greatly troubled.

      "This is too bad," he observed. "The cap'n bad enough, but you have made him wuss, ten times over, lads."

      "He hasn't any right to drink, Dawson."

      "We won't talk about thet—seein' as how ​he's in command and I'm only the fust mate. I'm sorry you quarreled, with the end o' the voyage almost in sight."

      "What will he do?" put in Dan.

      "I dunno. Drink more, I reckon, an' then come up twict as ugly."

      "What about this storm that is coming up?" I questioned.

      "I notified him of that half an hour ago."

      "And he didn't pay any attention? It's a shame! I don't want to go to the bottom of the China Sea, whether the captain drinks or not."

      "None o' us want to go to the bottom, lad. But then——" Tom Dawson ended with a shrug of his shoulders. He realized more than I did what a responsibility would rest upon him did he dare to issue orders contrary to Captain Kenny's wishes.

      It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the day had been unusually oppressive, even for this latitude, which, as most of my readers must know, never boasts of cold weather, but can easily break the record for scorchers. During the morning, when the sun had shone, the seams of the deck had run with tar, and no one had exposed himself more than was absolutely necessary. But now the sun was hidden by clouds that kept growing darker and darker, and ​the wind was so strong it could not be otherwise than refreshing.

      Captain Kenny had left positive orders that the main and mizzen courses be left as they were, fully set, and both sheets were straining and tugging as though ready to lift the two masts out of their resting places. The forecourse had been taken in, also the jib, but so far this had had no effect on the riding of the Dart, and she dipped her nose into every fourth or fifth wave that came along.

      "If I was you I'd take in more sail," remarked Dan, after a pause. "Even if you don't lose a mast, you're running the risk of opening more than one seam. If we founder——"

      He did not finish, for at that moment Captain Kenny's head reappeared above the combing of the companion way. He came staggering toward us with his right hand in his jacket pocket and a sickly grin on his unshaven face.

      "Now we'll come to terms," he began, with a hiccough.

      "Captain Kenny, how about that mainsail?" interrupted the mate. "The wind is freshening rapidly, sir."

      "I'll take care o' the—hic—mainsail, when I'll through which these—hic—young rascals," was the answer. "Yarson! Carden!" he bawled out. "Come here, you're wanted."

      ​At once two of the sailors, a Swede and an American, came aft and touched their forelocks.

      "Do you know what I'm—hic—going to do?" went on the captain, closing one eye suggestively. "I'm going to place both of you under arrest until we arrive at Manila."

      "Arrest!" cried Dan and I simultaneously.

      "You shall not arrest me," I added, and my companion said something very similar.

      "I said—hic—arrest, and I mean it. Throw up your hands, both of you."

      "I refuse to obey the order."

      "Do you know that I am the—hic—commander of this ship?"

      "You are when you are sober," returned Dan.

      "I СКАЧАТЬ