Beadle's Dime Novels No. 94: The Mad Skipper — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

20 THE MAD SKIPPER. formed by an open space beneath a great pile of whalebone slabs in one corner, As this could only be reached by climb- ing over the top of the pile and deseending on the other side, and as their guide declared that it was only known to him- self, he alone having been employed in piling up the slabs, our two friends were much pleased with their temporary re- treat. : “And now,” said the old tar, “ I have to caution you about speaking loud, seeing as the bulkhead is only a few feet from you, and your voice might reach them quick-eared heathens in the forecastle, The ship sails day after to-morrow, and until then you must make yourselves as comfortable as you can in this narrow hole, and with the provision which I shall lower to you.” “Many thanks, my friend,” said Frank. “ We shall never forget your kindness.” “It isn’t worth mentioning,” replied the other. “ Ben Williams is always ready to help a shipmate, and the man who isn’t is worse than a shark.” So saying, he crawled out of the opening and left the hold, to return, a few niinutes after, with a small package of pro- visions and a keg of water, which he lowered from the top of the whalebone pile to the two men below. With a hearty good-night, he then ascended to the deck and cautiously closed the hatch, | CHAPTER II. A STRANGE CAPTAIN. On the morning of the 23d, a whaleboat was sent ashore from the Monongahela for the two passengers, the doctor and his daughter Lilian, who stood upon the landing, ready to em- bark. “ Why, papa,” whispered the young girl, uneasily, as the boat tlided alongside the Jittle wharf, “these men are all savages!” ~The doctor smiled. “ All the crew, with the exception of the captain, two white connicloooks.com a