Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 ors having been examined by Dr. disease, were being taken on board. The passengers viewed the scene from a distance with great satisfaction. Ray-| burn and found to be free from infectious FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. ordinary way. The Chinese were men- tioned occasionally, and Frank was praised until] he was tired of it, for the ‘pluck he showed in compelling the hard- hearted captain to.act humanely; for in ‘‘Let’s take up a collection for them!’ spite of anything Frank could say, the cried Frank. The suggestion was adopted at once, with the result that a considerable sum in gold was turned over to Frank to be distributed among the suffering Celes- tials. Shortly after the G/asgow started on again Frank took the money to the cap- tain. ‘*Well,’’ said that officer, ‘‘I’ll see that the Chinks get this, of course, but in my opinion it’s charity wasted. I tell you, young man, though you mustn’t repeat it to the passengers, I’m sorry those fel- lows are on my ship.”’ ‘Where are they ?”’ ‘In the fo’c’sle.”” ‘“May I see them ?”’ “No, siree!”’ “All right, then,’’ said Frank, cheer- fully ; ‘‘T’ll say nothing to the passengers, but I don’t believe you’ll ever regret having treated the Chinese like white men.”’ The captain bit his lip and said noth- ing. Frank was deeply impressed by the captain’s words and manner. He puzzled his head in vain for some meaning that wasn’t apparent, and at last gave it up as a bad job. “Captain Dunbar and Kyto,’’ he said to himself, ‘‘haven’t any use for a Chi- nese. That’s about all there is to it.”’ With this thought he joined the other passengers and took his usual part in the games that went on on deck. The day continued cloudy, but the sea was calm, and after passing the island of Ajax the Glasgow was again upon a stretch of sea that appeared to have no end. Everything on board went on in the ‘board. passengers would have it that Captain ‘Dunbar would have cast the’ unfortunates adrift but for the boy’s argument and pleading. When night came on Frank was sur. prised to find himself strangely nervous. This was wholly unlike him. He could not understand it, and he did not enjoy it at all. The Chinese kept constantly in his thoughts. Hecould not dismiss them, try as he would. They were in the fo’c’sle, quite likely locked up. At all events, not one of them had been seen during the day after their arrival on Frank wondered how they were passing the time, what sort of treatment they were receiving, and so on. All through the day and evening Saso had remained in her stateroom, not even venturing out to meals. | Kyto. remained with her or within easy call, and never did his face lose its ex- pression of sombre gravity. None of the other passengers appeared to be in the least concerned. Most of them retired early. By. five bells, or half- past ten, Frank was the only passenger on deck. The deck steward closed the smoking room for the night and. went below. Captain Dunbar joined the second off- cer on the bridge. In one sense there was nothing unusual in this, but Frank no- ticed it and wondered much anything. The boy was leaning against the rail rather far aft, trying to make up his mind to go to his room. Somebody approached and paused: in front of him. ‘*Is that you, Merriwell?”? if it meant Goin Goo (CO