Beadle's Dime Novels No. 94: The Mad Skipper — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

32 THE MAD SKIPPER. the constitution. It was partly on that account, and partly for the purpose = congratulating you, that I came up here.” “My dear sir,” said Frank, smiling, “I thank you very much; but as you are not used to being aloft, you had better go below as quick as you can. A roll of the ship might | throw you off.” “ T should certainly be glad to take your advice if I could,” — answered the doctor, now hugging the yard with both arms; “but having got thus far, I can neither go any further, nor yet can I return.” | “Why, my eyes!” cried Ben Williams, “it’s as simple as _ the tying of a square knot. The slightest bit of a sheer to lar- board will carry you into the cieving’ “ Unfortunately,” replied Claret, “I now feel the inevita- ble consequences of exercising on an empty stomach. My legs and arms are shaking so that I am totally unable to perform | the ‘sheer’ to which you so kindly allude.” The old tar turned aside his head to conceal a broad grin; while Frank, gently grasping the doctor’s arm, soon contrived to get him in- to the rigging. With great trepidation, Claret then descended to the deck, where he encountered his daughter, who threw her arms im- pulsively around his neck. | “Oh, papa! Iwas so frightened. How could you ven- | ture so far aloft! I expeeted every moment to see you fall to the deck, you trembled so while clinging to that boom !” “Oh! so you have been watching me,” said Claret, looking much confused. “I left you iu the cabin and had no idea you would come ap before I returned to the deck. Is it possible you could see me tremble while so far from me ?” “Yes, you shook like an aspen, papa, and you would cer- tainly have fallen had you been left to yourself.” “ Ahem—well—yes, I did tremble a little on account of ex- ercising on an empty stomach; but as to falling, I hardly think that could have happened, as I was perfectly self-possess- ed. I may add,” continued the doctor, drawing. himself up, that “ our profession ” are remarkable for having their wits about them under every circumstance.” “ Breakfast !” shouted Tom Col’ins, at this juncture, thrust ing his long face through the companion-way. Comicbookssecom