Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

14 ) a FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS.. sea there are as many up there as there (whistle, the signal to sleeping sailors that would be if a hurricane was blowing.” it had come to be their turn to go on He wondered who they were and pres-} duty. ently his curiosity was satisfied. ‘Go to the chief enigneer, Mr. David-!about it?’ growled the captain. | son, and tell him to report to me here.’’? |had twice the time necessary to bring the ‘CAy, ay, siz.” Davidson was the name of the second officer. The first speaker Frank recog- nized by his voice as Captain Dunbar. As Davidson descended the ladder the captain spoke again—words that the boy could not catch, but in the prompt ‘‘ay, ay, sir,’’ that followed, he recognized Mr. Murray. “This isn’t Murray’s rights,’? thought Frank. something unusual that requires the pres- ence of the three principal officers on the bridge at this time. Then there’s the summons to the chief engineer. he wanted for? Let’s see.”’ Frank took out his watch, and with- drawing to a sheltered doorway, lighted amatch and counted the vibrations of the ship. In this way he made out that the propeller was making several more rev- olutions to the minute than usual. | In other words, the steamer was being driven attop speed. : ‘Perhaps the captain wauts her to go faster still,’’ was Frank’s thought. Slowly he strolled back to the bridge and waited until several minutes had passed. | Captain Dunbar was pacing constantly. Murray still leaned motionless against the rail. ) ‘‘Tell the bo’s’n to pipe the watch,” said the captain, abruptly. ‘‘It’s ahead of time, but let’s have ’em out.”? “Ay, ay, sir,’ watch by What’s | responded Murray, | “Ts Davidson going to be all niglhit “Hears chief here. Signal the engine room.”’’ Murray applied his hand to a lever and a distant bell tinkled. | There was an immediate answer. Then followed a communication by signals between the engine room and the bridge, the substance of which was that the chief had started with Second Officer Davidson to report to the captain. ‘Started, eh?’ muttered the captain, ‘Jt must be!and yet so loud that Frank could hear distinctly. ‘‘Then why aren’t they both here ?”? The bo’s’n’s whistle shrieked again. To Frank the air seemed to tingle with mysterious excitement. | There might be nothing but common- place events in progress, and yet some- how his heart beat hard and fast, and every second he waited, as if expecting something serious to happen. Captain Dunbar was impatient. ‘‘Mr. Murray,’’ he said, ‘‘go below and hurry up the chief and Davidson—or wait. I prefer that you remain here. IJ] send a seaman.’’ | Just as the captain turned to give his order to the sailor stationed at the star- board end of the bridge, Frank had a glimpse of figure moving stealthily, it seemed, across the deck, some distance aft. The movement reminded him of the sailor whom he had seen hurrying along when he firstcameondeck. The boy’s umnreasoning nervousness BT] . and he went to another part of the bridge/| turned quickly to a terrible suspicion. to call to the boatswain and give the: desired command. | Tt seemed now as if he knew exactly what was the matter and why his nerves A moment later there was a hoarse | were on edge, why three officers were on ‘Ay, ay, sir,’’ from forward, and this, the bridge, why—— was followed by the shrill bo’s’n’s; Without stopping to think farther h . salle COLA ainctalee (CO