Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

18 FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SEAS. he reflected: ‘‘in the dark and disguised| ‘‘They’re fighters. Are you going down by the ship’s clothing, how many of our/|alone?”’ men have the rascally Chinks left alive???| They had come to the engineer’s door- It was a terrible thought that perhaps) way. more than half of the steamer’s crew had ‘No,’ said Frank, halting and speak- been slaughtered in their bunks. ing in a low tone. “‘I’m not going alone ‘“‘Murray !’’ shouted the captain. for two reasons. ”? ‘CAY, ay, ejr!?? Wel] : oe?) ‘*The stoke hole!”’ “Vow re going with me, because you’re “Ay, ay, sir!” a fichter yourself, if I’m not mistaken, Murray understood the suggestion. It and, secondly, because I want you to go was to make his way to the engine room, | and find out for yourself about an Ameri- not by the companion used by the engi-jcan’s pluck.” neers, but by the one farther forward) «yz gon't need to go to find that out, used by the firemen. | Merriwell ; but stow the talk.’ How shall He went directly to it and found two) iwe go about it??? inen struggling fiercely before it. ‘‘Cautiously, I suppose. Davidson and One he recognized by hig voice as a the chief are lying just within. ’? boatswain. Dr, Rayburn drew a long breath. The other was undoubtedly a Chinese.| ‘Terrible night’s work,’? he whis- Murray caught this other by the shoul-| pered.. ders, hurled him aside, knocked him flat}.. ccwrore not done with it yet,?? Prank ou his back with a blow of his fist, and | returned. without waiting for further results, hur- ried down to the stoke hole. Carefully they entered the doorway and {stood upon the narrow iron platform. eerie Frank, on his way to the The machinery was doing its duty as engineer’s gangway, had brushed against faithfully as if it was still under the con- Dr. Rayburn, who had been aroused by |i.) of its rightful masters. — and had come on deck hal Frank stepped across Davidson’s body pene one Dee) ein Fh 7 and peered over the edge of the platform. , | e ; | Tang. Thirty or more feet below him he could | What’s up?’’ asked the doctor, turmn- see a faint light, made, as he well knew, ing to follow. by the lamp set near the starting lever. tt : | The Chinese——” How many Chinese were in charge “Great Scott! Say no more! So that) there he could only guess.: There was no was their game! What are you going to| sight of any of them. do?’ | It would certainly not do to go clatter- ‘*Recapture the engine room.”’ ‘ing down the series of stairs and ladder as ‘Have they got it?” if there was no trouble on board. ‘“Yes. Haven’t you noticed the change | | Whisperirig to the doctor to move softly in the steamer’s vibration?” |and to look out for the chief's body, he “Ay, that I have. Where are the offi- began slowly to descend the steps. cers?” The flights were short. ‘Two dead that I know of.” _ Every few feet there were platforms “Whew!” ‘that extended in footboards into the very ‘Cap and Murray were alive a second heart of the giant engine, paths that only ago.” a skilled workman could travel without GONMMGOOOKS