Tip Top Library: Frank Merriwell in the South Seas — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

‘Nothing extraordinary in that, I should say, considering that we’re not far from the coast of China.’’ ‘Thousand miles, more or less.”? ‘Well, that ain’t much in this part of the world.’ Mr. Murray did not respond. He stood looking at the Chinese crew fora moment, and then, shutting up his glass, remarked: ‘“*T don’t like it. The old man must be informed. Good Lord! here he comes now !”? The first officer turned a startled face toward Frank. It might be a serious matter, in spite of the boy’s popularity, if Captain Dunbar should find that a pas- ‘senger had been permitted on the bridge. Frank needed no hint. He never would have forgiven himself if by any careless act of his the friendly Murray had got into trouble. There was but one gangway to the bridge, and that upon the ‘port side of the vessel. The captain was approaching rapidly. Frank skipped to the starboard of the bridge, let himself over the rail, and dropped. He did not allow himself to fall to the deck, ten feet beléw, but caught the ride planking with his hands and hung on, his legs swinging back and forth like a pendulum. _ His fingers only were visible to any- body on the bridge, and he trusted to luck that the captain, interested in the shipwrecked crew, would not observe them. _ Frank did not drop to the deck from any fear of bruising himself by the fall, but because the noise would have been noticed. Now that the engines had stopped, the air was so still that the lapping of the water could be heard distinctly as the steamer moved lazily along. this FRANK MERRIWELL IN THE SOUTH SHAS. ‘““What’s the trouble, Mr. Murray?’ asked Captain Dunbar as he began to climb the ladder. “CA boat load of Chinese showing a signal of distress tight ahead, sir,’’ re- sponded Murray, with trembling voice, and in spite of himself he glanced ner- vously in the direction where Frank was hanging. ‘‘I was just about to send for you. They’ll be alongside directly.’ ‘“‘Humph!?’ responded the captain as he took up a position where he could see the shipwrecked crew. - There was no need of a glass. now, though the captain used one. He looked long and silently, while Murray wondered if Frank could manage to drop ‘to the deck without attracting attention. Meantime, Frank was beginning to wonder how long he could hang on. It isn’t the easiest thing in the world to hold the weight of one’s body by the finger tips, as any boy may know if he tries it. Frank had quickly counted on chance assistance from a passing sailor, but as |the seconds sped along and no sailor hove in sight, the lad began to fear that he would have to let go. His arms ached and his fingers stung under the rails: The perspiration ‘began to roll down his cheeks. He shut his jaws hard together and measured the distance to the deck with his eyes. “Tt woul’ make a loud thump,”’ he thought, ‘‘and the captain would be pretty sure to ask troublesome questions. I'll hang here till I drop, anyway.”” Just then a door opened a little way in | front of him, or toward the after part of the steamer. A young man in uniform émrdoci, looked off at sea a moment, then for- ward, and exclaimed: ‘‘Hello! What the mischief are you up to??? | GO GIOO (CO