Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

8 | FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. ‘Rubbish!’ interrupted the captain. “Td as soon oak on board a cargo of rats!” “Shame! sliame!”” exclaimed two or three passengers together. Frank did not join in this cry, His generous nature was aroused to indigna- tion by Captain Dunbar’s harshness, and. if he, as a boy, could have done anything at that moment to. help the Chinese, he would have done it unhesitatingly; but Frank had traveled sufficiently to learn that the commander of a steamship is a tyrant, not often an unkind one, but a tyrant always, and that the surest way to make him ugly is to oppose him stub- bornly. The boy watched and listened, there- fore, trying in vain to see a reason for the captain’s ill feeling, and hoping for an opportunity to befriend the shipwrecked Celestials. | Captain Dunbar turned upon the passengers. impatiently ‘“VYou’re welcome to your opinions,”’ he said, doggedly, ‘‘but don’t forget that Iam master of this steamship. I know pretty well how to guard my employers’ interests, and if you had sailed these seas as long as J have you’d probably do just as I am doing. You would if you were sensible. ”’ ‘‘But, captain,’’ said an elderly man, “T have traveled other seas than this and more then once have been present when .shipwrecked crews were picked up.’’ ‘“Well, suppose you have. What then?” i. “*T know the customs——’’ “‘Don’t talk custom to me! Haven't I made it plain that my will is law?’ “We all admit that, Captain Dunbar, but every commander is master of his own vessel, isn’t he?’ “OF course!” ‘Every commander I have sailed with before now has felt bound to obey hu- maue instincts. Simple humanity de- mands that those poor wretches be taken on board and cared for until we reach port.”’ Captain Dunbar scowled and did not answer. He turned to an under officer and gave an order for lowering a small quantity of ship bread and water to the boat alongside. . “See here, captain,’’ cried another passenger, “does that mean that you’re going to cast those suffering men adrift ?”’ ‘‘None of your business, sir!” roared the captain. ‘‘T’]] make it my business.”’ The captain stamped his foot. “Do you know,’’ he shouted, ‘‘that it is in my power to have you put in irons ?”’ an | do. ) ‘‘Vou dare to dispute my authority here and I’ll have you in the dungeon in two minutes. ”’ ‘*T don’t dispute your authority,” 9 ‘(Then what do you mean ?’’ ““What I said.’’ ‘That you would make it your busi- ness——”? - ““Hexactly, but not here.’’ ‘Where, then?” | _ **On shore.”? Captain Dunbar turned contemptuously aside, watching the sailors preparing to lower food to the Chinese. It was evident from the way he shut his jaws hard to- gether that he was in a tremendous tage and that it was dificult to control him- self. “T admit,’ the passenger resumed, in aloud and determined voice, ‘‘that if you order those men adrift there is none here who can prevent the execution of the order. If you give the. order I, for one, shall make no foolish effort to op- pose you.’’ The passenger paused to give the captain a chance to speak, but the latter simply turned his back and pretended not to listen. ‘It riay interest you to know,’’ con- GOnRMGOOOKS (CO