Read Ebook: Wrecked on Spider Island; Or How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure by Otis James Graves George E Illustrator

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Ebook has 1855 lines and 60976 words, and 38 pages

"Ten dollars a month and an advance of two months' wages out of the slop-chest."

Ned did not understand that by taking his outfit from the vessel's stores he might be forced to pay a great deal more than the same articles would cost ashore, and readily engaged on those terms.

"Here, Mr. Stout, see that this boy gets what he needs from the chest, and then set him to work cleaning up the cabin," the captain said to the first officer, and the latter motioned for Ned to follow him.

Leading the way below he brought out a pair of woolen trousers, two shirts and a reefing jacket, which he gave to Ned as he said:

"So you're goin' to sea, eh?"

"Yes, sir."

"First voyage?"

"Yes, sir."

"Run away from home, I reckon."

"No, sir; I've never had any since I can remember, an' if I knew of one you wouldn't see me here. I've only shipped because I can't help myself. This livin' on wind ain't what it's cracked up to be, an' I want to get under cover for the winter."

Mr. Stout looked at the boy almost pityingly, and said half to himself:

"It's kinder tough to strike this pertic'lar craft on the first cruise."

"Isn't she a sound vessel, sir?" Ned asked, fearful lest there might be good reason for him to remain ashore.

"Oh, yes," the mate replied quickly, looking like one who fancies he has been so indiscreet as to say too much. "There's nothin' wrong with the Evenin' Star. I was thinkin' of somethin' else when I spoke. Get inter them clothes so I can show you where to go to work. I reckon the duds you've taken off will be about fit to throw overboard; they wouldn't hang together many days longer."

Ned would have insisted on knowing what the mate meant by his words in reference to the vessel; but that gentleman did not appear inclined to continue the conversation, and the boy was forced to follow him into the cabin without the desired information.

Ten minutes later Ned had forgotten that anything odd or unusual had been said, so interested was he in his work.

The cabin was in a shockingly dirty condition, and he resolved to put it so thoroughly to rights that the captain could not fail to be pleased at having hired such an industrious boy.

He had had no breakfast; but the loss of a meal was something to which he was accustomed, having missed more than he got while on shore, therefore this trifling matter did not disturb him.

When noon came he had not finished, and the cook insisted that he stop until dinner should be served.

As a matter of course he obeyed, and was assisting in laying the table when the captain entered.

"Is this what you call cleaning the cabin?" he cried in a rage, pointing to a pile of dirt which Ned had left in one corner until he finished sweeping.

"I only stopped to help set the table, sir," Ned replied promptly, little thinking there could be any cause for complaint. "I shall be all through before supper-time."

"How many hours do you want on a job like this?" the captain asked angrily.

"I'm getting along right well, sir; but it was so dirty that a feller couldn't make his work show till he was almost through."

"You've got too much chin to suit me," the captain cried, and at that instant Ned was forced to pass very near the man, who appeared as if trying to make himself angry when no reason for a display of temper existed.

Conscious that he had not offended in any way, Ned hardly expected to receive punishment, therefore was wholly unprepared for what followed.

The captain struck him a vicious blow which sent him headlong toward the companion-way at the very instant the cook was descending with a basin of hot soup.

As a matter of course Ned had no control over his own movements, neither had the cook, and the result was that the two came together with a force and suddenness which sent both to the floor, the scalding liquid flowing over their faces and limbs.

"What do you mean by that?" the captain cried, as running swiftly toward the injured boy, he seized him by the coat collar, struck him on the face several times with full force, and then hurled him to the deck above. "I'll teach you to spoil my dinner!"

Ned did not hear this last remark. His head had struck against one of the rail stanchions, and he lay unconscious, while the captain turned the vials of his wrath on the unoffending steward.

When the new cabin-boy recovered his senses he was in the galley and the cook was applying oil and flour to the blisters on his own face and hands.

"What was you doin' when the captain came in?" the master of the galley asked.

"Nothin' more'n you saw. I'd been to work all the forenoon, an' only stopped when you wanted me to help set the table. I can't tell what made him fly at me so."

"It's a way he has when he gets two or three drinks aboard," the cook replied with a smothered threat. "One of these days he'll try that trick too often."

"Did he do anything to you?"

"Not so very much," and the man pulled up his trousers to show two ugly bruises on his leg. "That's where he caught me before I could get on to my feet."

"Did you say anything?"

"It don't pay to do very much chinnin' when the captain is around," was the sage reply; "but he's got to carry sail different from this, or the Evening Star won't have a cook on board when she leaves port."

"He can hunt for another cabin-boy mighty quick," Ned said angrily. "I'm willin' to do my work or stand a flogging, but he shan't knock me down when I'm trying my best."

"I don't see how you can help yourself now."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothin' except that you've shipped, an' it won't be so easy to get away, for the police would arrest you on his complaint."

"But I haven't reg'larly shipped."

"Oh, yes, you have. The minute you received what they handed out from the slop-chest you was one of the crew. It's a case now of makin' the best of it, and if you take my advice you'll show up bright and smilin' when he sends for you."

It was only natural Ned should be very angry because of the cruel and undeserved treatment; but before the cook finished giving him good advice he realized that there was nothing left but to make the best of a bad job, since without money or friends it would be very difficult to avoid going to sea in the Evening Star, in case the captain insisted on his remaining aboard.

Ned was not fit for duty during this day and the next.

Both his eyes were blackened, his cheek cut and swollen, and his face blistered in several places.

After ministering to his necessities as well as possible, the cook carried him into the forecastle, and there, alone, he had ample opportunity to reflect upon what kind of a life he might be forced to lead while it was necessary he should remain aboard the brig.

On the evening of the first day, the chief mate, Bob Stout, came below to inquire how the boy felt, and before he had been in the ill-smelling place five minutes Ned decided that he should like this officer, no matter how brutal the others might be.

"Got knocked 'round pretty lively for a few minutes, eh?" the mate said in a cheery tone as he seated himself on a chest by the side of Ned's bunk.

"Indeed I did, an' all for nothin'. I was doin' the best I knew when he begun, an' then how could I help tumblin' the cook over when the captain fired me at him?"

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