THE BOY . . VOYAGERS CORfs[ELL UNIVERSITY LIBHARY BOUGHT W*H THE INCOME OF THE SaIe endowment FUND GIV* IN 1891 BY HENRY \siLLIAMS SAGE Cornell University Library PZ 6.B78B7 The boy voyagers :of , The pirates of the 3 1924 009 420 500 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924009420500 THE BOY VOYAGERS OR ; THE PIRATES OF THE EAST BY ANNE BOWMAN GEORGE ROBERTSON & CO. (Proprietary, Limited) MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE AND BRISBANE Printed in England. PREFiCE, CusTOH, rather than necessity, requires that the first page of a new book should be occupied hj an Introduction. It is hopeless to expect tnat this un- aecessftry introduction should be always read ; but, perhaps, among the young friends who have honoured me by approving of the volumes I have previously published, some may commence this by turning to the usually neglected page ; to them I promise a story which shall introduce them to new scenes and new characters, and which I earnestly hope may be re- ceived as favourably as "Esperanza," or any of my former publications, which have all passed into more hands than even my moat sanguine hopes dared to calculate on. Nor do I fear that the interest and amusement my readers may feel in the work will be all the benefit Tl PBBFACB. they may derive from it. I trust that the seeds of instruction it contains may, in due season, produce some good fruit ; and that, while reading the history of my two heroes, the adventurous and undisciplined may be led to reflect that a rash and premature plunge into independence, with its perils and heavy responsibilities, is an unprofitable change from the short and wholesome trials of school life which form the safe foundation of honour, prosperity, and happiness. A. B. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Discontented School-bnys— Merton School Life — Projected Rebellion — An Investment of Capital — A Geographical Diffi- culty — The sad Fate of the Swiss Bobinson — ^The Battle of the Orders — ^The Honest Avowal Pagt 1 CHAPTER II. rhe Penalty of wiisted Hours — Money and Opportunity — ^The Packing-up — Off by the Train — The Jolly Sailor at Liverpool — Captain Moody — The confiscated Watch — A friendly Landlady — On board the good Ship AmAia 13 SHAPTER III. First Impressions — ^A Peep below Deck — Honest Tom Heartley — Life in the Cabin — First Day at Mess — Sanatory Labours — Walter's ideal Sailor — ^A long Yam — ^Tom in the tinion-house — The Sailor-boy — Tom's Notions of Geography 25 CHAPTER IV. Tom Heartley's Voyages — Alarming Suspicions — Moody's Tyranny — ^The Question of Supplies — ^The Amelia, a Slaver — A Secret Confederacy — Mike Ryan, the new AUy — The Coast of Africa — Where shall they turn — ^The Favourable Oppor- tunity 40 CHAPTER V. The Watch-boat — ^The Embarkation — Mike's Morality — Maps and Charts — ^Whither to steer — Land, ho ! — The Plague of Mosquitoes — A natural Tea-kettle — ^A Foraging Expedi- tion • fil viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. The Bird Colony— Mike's Cliarity for the SaTages— Canoes ia Bight— A Storm— The Hour of Danger— The Wreck of the Boat— The Coral Eeefs— A Resting-place— A Bold Invader— An Attempt at Harpooning— The Landing Page 61 CHAPTER VII. The First View of the Coast— A Turtle— Frank sets ont Turtle- nesting — ^An Aldermanic Feast — The Shark again — The Sailors' Cruise — A Strange Meeting — An Englishman and a Christian ' » CHAPTER VIII. Chased by Pirates— The Strand deserted— A Providential Asylum — The Church in the Rooks — The Silent Congregation — ^The Wonders of the Subterranean Castle — The Confession of the School-boys — ^The Sailors in the Pirates' Camp — Mr. Sinclair proposes to tell his Stoiy 84 CHAPTER IX. Mr. Sinclair's Story — ^The Schoolmaster in Madagascar — ^The Persecutions of the Christians — ^The Pilgrim Fugitives — ^The Happy Jlecluaes — First Alarms — Death in the Caves — The Solitary Mourner — Scarcity of Provisions 93 CHAPTER X. A Foraging Expedition — Unknown Fruits — The Battle of the Wild Hogs — Formidable Enemies —Once more in the Cave — The Game-bags — Babyroussa— Madagascar Bat — The Green Pigeon — The Mango — The irksome Imprisonment — ^A Ship in sight 104 CHAPTER XI. The Attack of the Pirates— The Sack of the Vessel— The swamped Boat — A Man saved — Domestic Surgery — ^The Nobleman Ramarla — The frustrated Plan of Flight — ^A Litter in requisition — A nocturnal Expedition — The haunted Mango-tree IIC CONTENTS. IX OHAPTEK XII. The Macaco — Another foraging Party — Mike's valuable Dis- ooveiy— A Sight of fresh Meat — A fierce Conflict — Mike in Jeopardy — The Booty — The last Days in the Cave — The Beginning of the Pilgrimage Page 126 CHAPTER Xm. The Thnnder-storm — ^The Tropical Bains — ^AWalk in the Forest —The Citron— The Lace-leafed Plant— The Bread-fruit— Pes- tilence and Famine — The Travellers' Tree — Sporting on the Marsh — A Fishing Expedition 136 CHAPTER XIV. Now for the Mountains — ^The Impenetrable Forest — Over the Cliffe — A Grand Haul — Awkward Birdnesting — The Mountain Storm — ^The Bobbers' Cave — ^Unpleasant Opposite Neighbours 147 CHAPTER XV. The East of the Mountains — New Fruit-trees — ^A Serpent — The Aye-aye — The Sugarcane — Pursuit — A Skirmish — Thfi Bescue — Malagasy Hospitality— The Bofia Cloth — Domestia Slavery,. 168 CHAPTEB XVI. Again on the Boad — The Alligators — Malagasy Canoes — ^Unex- pected Visitors — A hasty Flight — A Gale at Sea — The barrel Island — A Ship in sight — Once more on the Ocean .... 168 CHAPTER XVII. Captain Wilson — The Pleasures of Voyaging — The Perils of the China Sea — Pi-ahus in sight — A Typhoon — A Boat Voyage — A Rocky Island — Minna and her Parrot — ^Miss Griffin — A Cool Reception — The Grotto in the Rocks ..... 178 CHAPTER XVIII. Mike's cooking — Miss Griffin's Story — ^The Prejudices of a good Sailor — The consequences of neglecting Miss Griffin's Advice — The Ladies abandon the Ship — The lonely Isle — ^The new Community — Miss Griffin, Dictator — An Exploring Expe- dition 191 S CONTENTS. CHAPTEE XIX. Coasting the Island — ^The Lake and its Inhabitants — The Moun- tains — A Pic-nic — The Fairy Bower — Milie's Lion — Tha Vagaries of the Wanderoo — The Baboon Army — ^A grand Conflict Page 201 CHAPTER XX. A new Alarm — ^Beating a Retreat — The Landing of the Enemy — The fruitless Search — Capturing the Sentinels — The hasty Embarkation — The Dyak Pilots — A Promise of Security. 213 CHAPTER XXL A Dangerous Gale — ^A Feud among the Crew — The quiet Bay — ^The Danger to Mike's Head — The Love-offering — Waltei-'s Advice — ^The Voyage up the River — The Bore — Total Desti- tution— The Pirates' Fortress 224 CHAPTER XXIL Poll's unlucky Blunder — The Pursuit — ^The Boom in the River — The Second Fort — Bujong's Proposal — The Boats aground — The Desertion of the Dyaks — Night Lodgings — Nocturnal Visitors— The Land Crab— The Wild Hog 231 CHAPTER XXIIL Swamps and Snakes — Lizards and Insects — The Red Men — The Lady of thfe Cave — A fierce Combat — The Defeat of the Oran-outangs — The Waking of the Dead — Cultivated Groundp — A Village 247 CHAPTER XXIV. The Reception — Dyak Hospitality — Religious Opinions — Tom at Work— Preparations for the Coast— The Edible Birds' Nests— The Departure— The Procession to the Coast — The Scotch Captain — ^The Amsterdam 257 CHAPTER XXV. Captain Mackay's Cabin — A hard Bargain — Miss GrifBn'g Traffic-The Voyage to the China Sea — Pirates in sight — The beset Indiaman — Mackay's Opinions on Charity A par- donable Mutiny — The Quakers 269 ooiTFEirrs. ^ CHAPTER XXVI. The unfortnoate Indiaman — From the Pirates to the Storm — The diaabled Ship— The Boat sent out for Help — The float- ing Wreck — Land in sight — Cast away on an unknown Land — The hospitable Islanders — Where had they been thrown? Pagt 279 CHAPTER XXVII, The mercenai-y Captain — Unlading the Amaterdam — An alarm- ing Interruption — ^A Deed of Blood — Captivity — A March in Bonds — A new and powerful Friend — Madsimano's Injunc- tions 289 CHAPTER XXVIII. Mike and his Captain — The new Prison — Men-cages — ^An Appeal to Mackay — A fearful Night's Work — A solitary Voyage — Wholesome Reflections — The Port in sight — ^The Dutch Vessel— The Rescue 300 CHAPTER XXIX. A Return to the Prisoners — The Discovery in the Morning — General Dismay — Miss Griffin's Plans — ^A Procession through the Streets — A Court of Justice — The Examination of the Prisoners — The Separation — ^The Prospect of a long Imprison- ment 309 CHAPTER XXX. Miss Griffin and Minna d la Japormaiie — Madsimano's Danger — Plans of Escape— The Hari-kari — Excursions in the Country — ^A convenient Physician — A Ride into the Woods — The captured Guards 320 CHAPTER XXXI. Madsimano's Plan — The Progress among the Mountains — ^The mock Prisoners — Japanese Inn — The Benefit of Liberality— TTie Paper Mulberry — The Magpie — ^The Sight of the Se» — Th« fikithfol Massee— The odd Hand 383 & CONTEMTS. CHAPTER XXXn, Acfieu to Japan — The rooky Patmos — ^The Cargo of the Boat— The Encampment — The Island Lake — The Corean Mandera — Dangerous Birdnesting — ^A Fishing Frolic — The Results of a, "Lark"— The Enemy in View Page 341 CHAPTER XXXIII. torn and Mike sent out as Spies — The Plot of the Islanders — The besieging Fleet— The Forlorn Hope— The William in sight — A perilous Escape — Reception on Board — An Ameri- can Captain — ^Arrival at Shanghai 863 CHAPTER XXXIV, First Sight of the Chinese — ^An Old Acquaintance — The Chinese Hotel — An awkward Inquiry — A Visit from a Chinese Merchant— The Streets of China^-The Villa of Ki-Chung— The Women of China 363 CHAPTER XXXV. The Opinions of the Visitors — Tom's Chinese Cruise — ^A Mob of Barbarians— An English Protector — XJp the River — Farewell to China— The Storm in the Straits — ^The Fate of the William — Escape to Singapore S74 CHAPTER XXXVI. A Cosmopolitan Hotel— The Indiaman to Calcutta — ^Mrs. Stuart and her Nurse— The determination of Mike— The Malays in the Jungle — A Tiger-hunt— Frank's Victory — The Sun- Biids. 88f CHAPTER XXXVII. On Board the ffbosr%— Madsimano's First Ball— Calcutta- Mrs. StMley— Mr. Thornville— The Landing— Everybody's Btory— The Future of ihe School-boys— Conclusion .... 890 THE BOY VOTAGEES CHAPTER I. The Discontented School-boys— Merton School Life — ^Projected Bebellion — An Inrestment of Capital — A Geographical Diffi- culty — ^The sad &te uf the Swiss Bebinson — The Battle of the Orders — The Honest Avowal. " Now then ; whimpering again. ! " said Frank Free- man to his school-fellow and friend, Walter Thorn- viUe — " What in the world has gone wrong now 1 A fine sight, to see a Merton lad cr}dng like a school- girl ! What a little soft fool you are ! " " I'm not a fool, Freeman," answered Walter : "you know very well I'm not a fool ; but I hate this school, and am quite miserable. Everybody is so cross, and unjust, and tyrannical. Cameron never believes that I do my exercises myself ; the young lads laugh at me and mock me, and the big fellows are worse than those slave-drivers in ' Uncle Tom.' I wish somebody would write a book about them." " A great deal of good that would do, you fancy, you little green muff," said Freeman ; " why, the big fellows always will crow over the little fellows at every school It's all right, man ; your turn will come ; and then you can flap your wings and peck as you like." " But I shouldn't like it," said the pining boy ; "I don't want to flap my wings and crow. Freeman. J3o B 8 THE BOt TOYAGEfiS. you think I could find in my heart to thrust pins into a little boy, or pull his ears till they bled, or make bim sleep in such cold weather as this without blankets as that brute Hamilton does 1 " " Never you care for Hamilton," said Frank, laugh- ing. " Be plucky, old man, and row him well ; and when he robs you of your blankets, cover yourself, as other fellows do, with your coat and cloak ; besides, you have a capital railway-rug down in the hall, worth a couple of blankets. You're not half so ill off as I am ; for you have money, and plenty of clothes, and a comfortable home to fall back on." " Not a home, Freeman," answered Walter. " I can never feel at home in the house of papa's agent. To be Bure the house is fine enough. They give you plenty to eat, and there's nobody to prig your blankets ; but ever since papa went back to India I have had the life of a dog among those Homers. The lads are so imper- tinent — Etonians they call themselves, — and give themselves such airs ; they think there is a world of Etonians, and all the restof the world outside are snobs." " Then why did not your papa send you with them to Eton 1 " asked Freeman. "Because he chose me to be one of the outside snobs," replied Walter. "He is a great merchant himself and he wants his son to be a merchant like him : so he thought I should be spoiled among the young nobles ; but I have often been sorry he didn't try me. You know I have a hard life here. First I am laughed at by the fellows for knowing things they don't care for — botany and chemistry, and natural history ; and next I'm rowed by the masters because I'm not well up in Greek, and am so slow over those weary sums in long division. Then I'm a milksop, and a spooney, and a little sneak, with the big fellows ; and you know. Freeman, I'm not a coward ; but I like to read quietly ; and I hate foot-ball, with all ita senseless riot, and I will not join in it." THE BOT VOYAGEBfl. 3 "But you ought to join, maa," said Frank, "or you'll have a dog'a life, I'll tell you. They are a set of vulgar, purse-proud tyrants here, I know. I've roughed it till I'm sick of them ; but vyhat can I do 1 I have no home, no parents, no money ; and my hard uncle grudges even the money paid for my education ; and as to pocket-money, there's not a fellow in the school but you, Wally, that knows how badly I'm off. Then look at my shabby clothes, which these fellows have the impudence to laugh at me about. It's only by hard fighting that I keep them down, and save you from being quite worried." " I know you do. Freeman," said Walter ; " I would tell papa all my troubles ; but that mean Cameron reads all oiir letters. How I wish we could get to dear papa. I know he would not be a bit vexed to gee us both in India. Couldn't we run away. Freeman i What a lark it would be." "I've had that dodge long enough in my head, WaUy," said his friend, " if I'd had any place to run to. But without a penny in my pocket, or any means of earning a living, it would be little good for a poor friendless dog like me to fly from bad to worse." " But you are not friendless. Freeman," said Walter, earnestly. " You and I wUI be friends as long as we live ; and so, do let us think of going off. I shall get a good lot of money from papa, before midsummer j that would be useful, you know ; but I don't know how to set about getting to Calcutta. You are clever about contriving plans, and know a good deal about seaports and ships. Will you make inquiries and draw up a plan for our frolic i To be sure, it wants three months till we break up, and that's a long time to bear our slavery ; but, if we have it all planned and agreed, we can talk about it, and that will make the time sUp over. Now, let me see your Latin verses, I think I can mend them ; and do teH me how often 29 will go in £187. lis. lO^d. These fractions make my head B 2 4 THE BOY VOYAGERS. ache, and I see no good in spending so much time in working them out : I would rather lose the farthings in a bargain than have the labour of calculating the division of them." " Nay, that would never do in business transactions, Wally," replied Frank; "it would shake the very principle of money-dealing. Come, and I wUl show you a simple way to unravel these difficulties, by at- tacking them at the very root." Frank Freeman was fourteen years old ; but he was not a clever scholar. At the village school, from which he had been transferred to Merton, the classics were not taught ; but he had worked his way through volumes of arithmetical calculations, and was never puzzled by figures. He was a daring, honest, warm- hearted youth, but full of the errors incidental to a neglected education ; and he might have become a hard character, but for his acquaintance with "Walter Thornville, to whom he clung with an afiection he had never felt towards any human being since the death of his parents. This affection was lavishly returned by the gentle, studious, indulged boy, who had been reared in the lap of luxury, and who, now but twelve years of age, shrunk, -with repugnance and terror, from all the petty, wholesome trials of school-boy life. The wild project of escaping jfrom their thraldom, broached half in jest at first, became the favourite, and almost the sole subject of conversation between the two friends. Though so differently constituted, they had both a large share of the spirit of romantic ad- venture, which had been fostered by their attachment to that branch of literature so charming to boys, — Voyages and Travels. Then Freeman had really a hard and miserly guardian, and felt that he was unjustly treated ; and Walter pined for the luxuries, the devoted attention, and the undivided affection, to which he had been accustomed in the house of hi» THE EOT TOTAOEKS, O fether. He could not endure the repi^blicanisra of a school life ; he was no longer Master Thomville ; and /he complained to Freeman, that, like a prisoner in the mines of Siberia, he was only distinguished by his number. He was just third of the fourth form. " Don't you think, Frank," said he to his friend in one of their conyersations, " that we might be begin- ning to collect stores for our voyage ? I shall have, of course, to go to Portman-square at Easter ; and you cannot think how much I dislike it. Mr. and Mrs. Homer do not care a bit for me ; they are polite just to oblige papa ; the girls take no notice of me, and the boys ridicule and tease me. It is even worse than Merton, where I have you to talk to. But there is one good thing, Frank, I can get some useful things when I am there j first, I think of buying a gun." "A gun, man!" exclaimed Freeman. "What in the world do you want with a gun on a voyage to India 1 You might just as well provide saddles and bridles in case we should want to ride out on our way." " But consider, Frank, we might be cast away like Robinson Crusoe, and then how useful we should find it," said he. " Hold your tongue, simpleton," said Frank, laugh- ing. "Whoever is cast away nowadays in such a regular hum-drum voyage 1 It's a chance we see land before we reach India, unless we could afibrd a passage in a first-rate steamer, and that we must not think of. And then, even if we should touch at the Cape, or at the Mauritius, I suspect you would have no use for your gun, unless you chose to shoot a brace or two of your fellow-creatures." " Well, Freeman, I dare say you know best," replied Walter, in a disappointed tone j " but I must say I should have liked a gun ; and in all the adventures I ever read, the people had guns. What would you ad- vise me to buy, then 1 Shall I get a book on uavi^ 8 THE BOY VOYAGERS. tion, with a compass, and some other nautical inatni- nieEts?" " The captain won't call on us to navigate his ship," said Frank ; " and we have hard work enough without setting about the study of navigation. Not but what I am up in the theory a bit — my old village school- master taught me to work equations and that sort of thing ; but I don't expect I should come out strong among real sailors. No, Wally, if we do cut off, you will have to come down with the cash ; and, my dear lad, I doubt it will take a lot : all we can raise ; so never think of wasting any on chronometers) and compasses. But mind you look about you, and pick up all you can about vessels and the cost of passage ; and take care you don't look guilty and make people suspect what you're about. I have a bolder face for a bad action, if I could have got off, but I'm a fixture here ; holidays never come to me ; so you look sharp, old man, and bring off some useful hints for us." But though Walter spent ten days in town, and had money and liberty, he did not accomplish much for the great cause, for he was little accustomed to independent action. It was only the day before his return, when he was assured that the Homers would be absent for some hours, that he ventured out to a shop which had long attracted his attention, where ready-made clothes were exposed for sale. On two complete sailors' dresses of rough material he had often cast a longing eye, and he now took the opportunity of purchasing them. Then he took courage, and asked the man of the shop if he could tell him the cost of a cabin passage to Calcutta. The man looked with suspicion on the young, delicate school-boy, named a fabulous sum that made Walter tremble, and requested to know where he should send the clothes. " I saw by the man's face," said Walter, as he told the story to his friend, " that he meant to tell of me, so I Baid to him I would carry the parcel myself. Such THE BOY VOYAGERS. 7 a load it was ! but when I turned out of the street, I got a cab and drove to the back entrance to Mr. Hor- ner's ; then I stole up the stable-yard with my great bundle, and as all the men were luckily out with the carriage, I got into the house unperceived ; hurried to my own room, and squeezed the clothes into my port- manteau without any one suspecting me. Don't you think I managed cleverly, Frank ? " " Yon made the best of it," answered he, " but you paid far too much for your bargain ; and, anyhow, we had better have got the things at Liverpool, as we shall certainly have to start from thence, and in some trading vessel. We never shall be able to raise money to pay our passage in a first-class steamer ; not that I believe that fellow's assertion that it would cost us a hundred pounds each." After the dresses had been inspected and fitted on with great approbation, they were carefully locked up in Walter's large portmanteau till the important hour arrived ; and then the two boys could think and talk of nothing but their charming plan. Lessons became daily more and more irksome, punishments were fre- quent, Latin and Greek fell into utter neglect, and their schoolfellows even sent them to Coventry for their unsocial habits, and for shirking all sports, that they might be continually talking over their project. Geography was the only study that could engage their attention, and Walter especially enjoyed it, and re^ garded with intense interest the great South Atlantic, and that island-crowded Indian Ocean, so fall of de- lightful associations, which he hoped he should soon be sailing over. " Which of these islands do you think, sir, is that oa which the Swiss family lived so long ? " asked he of Mr. Landmann, the geography master. "If you know the latitude and longitude of the place," said the master, impatiently, " what diflioulty C4Q there be in finding it ! You can never be at the 8 THE BO^ -VOTAGEnS. trouble of working a thing out for yourself. What Swiss family do you allude to? I never heard of them." " I will bring the book to show you to-morrow, sir," answered Walter ; " but I do not remember that the latitude and longitude of the island are given." So the next day, when Walter went up to his lesson in geography, he took his beloved Swiss Robinson in his hand. Mr. Cameron, the second master, was talk- ing to Mr. Landmann at the time, and when he saw Walter, whom he looked upon as an idle and inatten- tive boy, and for whom he had in consequence no great love, he snatched the book from his hand, de- manding how he dared have the audacity to bring his idle tale-books to read in school-hours j and, without waiting for any reply, flung the book into the fire. Unable to see, without extreme sorrow, the destruction of his favourite book, Walter burst into tears, and Freeman sprung forward to rescue it ; but Cameron seized his collar, threw him back, and struck him with his cane. " You have no right to strike me now, sir,'' said Freeman, " I am not under you in geography hours." Enraged at this rebellious speech, and still further exasperated by a low hissing which rose generally at the sight of the wanton sacrifice of a book which was nearly worn out by frequent perusal, especially by the younger boys, among whom it had been generously circulated, Cameron struck Frank again and again, and Walter sobbed louder and louder. The noise reached the ears of Dr. Markham, who walked up to learn the cause of the unusual commotion, and seeing Walter in tears, said — " What are you crjdng for, Thornville i are you such a baby as to weep for punishment 1 " " No, sir, I never cry for a caning," answered the boy ; " but, if you please, sir, I could not bear to see my Swiss Robinson burnt." THE BOY V0TAGEE8. 9 The doctor turned a look of regret towards the blazing leaves, as if he, too, had a liking to the victim ; but he continued, " No doubt you deserved to forfeit your pleasant book. I conclude you were reading it instead of learning your task." " If you please, sir, I had never opened it," replied he j "I only brought it to show to Mr. Landmann, that he might point out to me the ' Happy Island ' on the map ; and Freeman got licked for trying to take it oflP the fire." " Then Freeman was wrong to interfere," said the doctor ; but there was a faint smile on his face, mingled with a slight expression of annoyance, as, in turning away, he glanced at the angry countenance of Cameron, who yet stood over the stubborn Freeman with his uplifted cane, ready to repeat the blows. But the doctor said to him, " There is a passage in one of the exercises, Mr. Cameron, I should like you to see j can I trouble you to come with me 1 " and led away the reluctant master. When school was over, and the events of the morn- ing had been discussed in the play-ground j " You'll hear no more of this. Freeman," said one of his class- mates ; " Cameron would get a rowing for his tyranny, depend on it, only the doctor must uphold his police force in public." " That won't save Thornville'a book," said Freeman, " nor make me forget the disgrace of the coward's blows. I can stand the doctor's crotchety ways, because he is a gentleman ; but Cameron is a snob, and a sneaking tyrant." " You fourth form fellows must put up with your grievances," said Hamilton, contemptuously. "You should try to work your way up into a better set ; you are old enough, I should say." " Old enough and stout enough to hold my own io this field, against all of my own size," answered Free- 10 THE BOT VOYAGERS. man, " tliougli perhaps a shade or two behind some of you in classics. Ne^er mind ; wait a bit, and I hope we shall measure our strength together fairly." "Whenever you like my fine fellow," drawled Hamilton. " Even now, if you will have a thrashing ; though it will be somewhat mfra dig. for me to con- descend to lick a fourth form." " It is not wfra dig. for you to sneer at and bully a fourth form," replied Freeman, " always provided he be a little fellow, that cannot stand up foi> himself." " Then you will have it, will you, young man," said Hamilton, leisurely taking off his coat. " Please don't fight, Frank," said Walter ; " he is the head bigger than you and in regular training ; you are sure to be licked ; and all for me ! " " For you indeed ! what conceit ! No, I'm the champion of the lower school. Hurrah ! for liberty and equality ! " So saying, and throwing his coat to Walter, Free- man entered the lists, supported by cheers from the younger boys, who now looked on him as the repre- sentative of their order. Four times was Freeman brought to the ground, bruised and bleeding, by the superior skill and strength of his antagonist ; but at the fifth round he stretched his tall tyrant at his feet with a bloody nose, a black eye, and an utter incapacity to continue the fight. He was borne off by his mortified high-school sup- porters, while the conqueror was cheered and led to his room half blinded with bruises, to be carefully attended by the distressed and afiectionate Walter. " How can you ever show in the school this after- noon 1 " asked Walter. " I had better go for Mr. Wright (the surgeon of the school) and get a report to take up." " It won't do, Wally," answered the wounded hero. " rU not show the white feather now. There, bandage tlds thumb, and bring my hair over the cut. Is ajl THE BOY V0YAGEK3. 11 the blood washed off? for I can see nothing. It's lucky this is repetition afternoon, and I'm pretty woll up for it. There I shall do ; lend me your arm, for rm a bit shaky yet ; but that's passion, Wally ; and it's -worse to bear than thumps, I can tell you." " And it's sinful too, Frank," answered Walter sor- rowfully. " We have both been very bad to-day ; we ought to pray God to forgive us, and we must try to forgive Cameron and that brute Hamilton." " Well, I'll speak the truth ; I can hardly do that," said Frank. " As to Hamilton, he's a great bully, and no mistake, but I can forgive him ; for you see, when I dared him to it, he was bound to fight for hia order j and besides, I returned him as good as he gave, BO we are straight. But for Cameron, I know when I go up he will set on to sneer and aggravate me, and set my blood up again ; and it's no use saying that I could hold out my hand and say ' My good fellow, I freely forgive you ! ' When we're fairly out of his clutches I may think better on it ; and if we had the means and the chance, I don't care if we were off this very night, for we shall have bitter lives till Mid- summer." " I have only one sovereign left," answered Walter, " for the dresses cost so much. Here, Frank, do you take care of it, for fear I should spend it. Then I have my half-crowns to come in every week, and except that I must buy a new Swiss Eobinson, I don't mean to spend any part of them. We shall have money enough, Frank." But Frank knew more about money than his friend, and he shook his head, as they went forward to the Bchool-room. Hamilton, more unscrupulous and more independent than Freeman, sent a note to plead a bad headache, and did not appear j and the boys seemed much sur- prised at the entrance of Frank, who bore the unmistakable marks of lus deeds of arms. When he 12 THE BOY VOTAGEHS. went up with his class, Cameron surveyed him with a sardonic grin, and indulged the class with a sarcastic lecture on the advantages of wisdom, and the beauty of the regulation of the passions, so strikingly illus- trated in that bright example of learning and meekness now before him, which it was unnecessary for him to point out directly. Then perceiving he could not provoke Freeman again into rebellion, he said, " I will trouble you, Freeman, to take these papers to Dr. Markham." Freeman, fully aware of the intent of this invidious distinction, bit his lip, but obediently fulfilled the command. The doctor could not overlook his appearance. " What is the matter with your face, Freeman ? " said he. " If you please, sir, I've had a fight," said Freeman, respectfully. " Very bad, sir," said the doctor ; " very disgraceful —a violation of the laws of your school — of your country — of your God." " I was not the aggressor, sir," said the boy, in a low tone. " "Well, go away ; tell Mr. Cameron I wish you to do no more work to-day ; you must go to your room," ordered the doctor, an order which Freeman gladly repeated, and Cameron received with vexation, though he was compelled to agree to it. And the doctor observed to one of his head boys who was near him, " This accounts for Hamilton's headache. He is less honest than Freeman." SBfi BOr VOTAOEBS. IS CHAPTER II. Fhe penalty of wasted hoars — Money and Opportunity — ^Th« packing-up— Off by tjie Train— The Jolly Sailor at Liverpool — Captain Moody — The confiscated Watch — A fiiendly Landkidy — On board the good ship Amdia. The dismal, trying hours of lost and wasted time wore away. There was less tyranny in the play-ground after the battle ; but the two plotting boys could not work ; they fell even under the displeasure of the doctor for their carelessness and negligence ; and he thought it his duty to write to the harsh uncle of Free- man to say that he feared the boy was in no way advanced during the half-year ; and that this utter want of progress was entirely to be attributed to his own idleness. The consequence of this report was seen in a letter which the boy received from his uncle ; short, bitter, and cruel. He was ordered to take leave of school when it broke up, — to take his place to Liverpool, — to proceed to a certain office named, which was on the quay, where a situation of the lowest kind had been procured for him, and where he would probably have to use his strong limbs for some time as a porter, since he had not chosen to use his head to fit him for any better place , for no more money should be wasted on his education. A cheque for five pounds on a Liver- pool bank was inclosed to pay for his first quarter's lodging ; Dr. Markham would pay his fare to Liver- pool, and his uncle concluded by the affectionate decla- ration that he desired never to see his face again. This letter decided Freeman to persevere in his plan ; it was, indeed, rather pleasant than otherwise, since it supplied him with a small sum of monej 14 THE BOY VOYAGEH& towards his project, and he now seriously demanded of Walter whether he was quite determined to share the rough fa,te of one who was really driven to adopt 80 desperate an expedient. " Why surely, Freeman, you never thought of going without me," said Walter, in great trepidation. " My dear old fellow," answered Frank, " I should be wretched without you ; but just consider, you have a home to go to, with people who care for you ; you are not, like me, a poor, penniless outcast." " I would not stay a day at Merton school after you left it for the world," said the boy. " If you won't take me, I will run away all the same, and hire myself to be a cabin-boy, or something of that sort ; and then I know that I shall die without you to help me." " I know that well enough," answered Freeman ; " so cheer up, we'll not part, man ; we'll scramble on to- gether. And you see what a bit of luck it is that my uncle himself has given me a lift by freeing me to Liverpool, just where I wanted to go ; and where we shall have oui troubles to get you smuggled cleverly." Two days after arrived the anxiously -expected de- spatch from India ; a letter for Dr. Markham, and one for Walter himseLf, inclosing a bUl of exchange for thirty pounds — a large sum for a boy so young ; but Mr. ThornviUe was rich and generous. He wrote tenderly, saying how much he longed to see his dear boy ; but he trusted that he was happy at school, and still happier in his holidays with his good friends in Portman-square. Walter, with his usual impulsive feeling, burst into tears when he read the kind letter of his beloved father. " He will forgive me. Freeman," said he ; " I know he will forgive me when he sees me, and learns how cruelly I have been used. And he will be so much obliged to you, dear Frank, for taking care of me. Then, I dare say he will let us choose what we would like to ba What do you think you tronld like ) Kot a porter, THE BOT TOTAOEBS. 15 certainly ; but, do you knov, I am afraid we are neither of us fit for anything clever ; we have been idle fellows this last half." " There's no mistake there, W^lly," answered his friend, " and I believe in my heart we shirked ouj tasks half to spite Cameron. We shouldn't have done that — it was dastardly j and we got no good by it. But we'll think of the future now ; let me consider ; I have always had a great fancy for the sea, and I shall now look round and see how I should like it ; but then, there will be the vexation of parting from you ; for you wiQ be rich, and can afford to lead an easy life." " No, no, I'll be what you are, Frank," replied "Wal- ter j " I never liked any books so well as voyages and adventures ; and I will never settle to an easy life till I have been all round the world, and peeped into all the queer corners that no one else has seen. How I wish we were off j there is only one week left now to make all our arrangements ; and I am dreadfully afraid that if I do not appear in Portman-square on the day I am due, they will make a fuss and send after me, and perhaps get hold of me. What must we do, Frank?" " I could easily make up a story to deceive them," said Frank, after a pause ; " but you know, Walter, we could not expect to be lucky if we started off with a deliberate lie. As soon as we learn the hour we are to be packed off, we must decide on some plan." Their diflSculties were much smoothed, however, by this letter, which Walter received the next morning from Mrs. Horner. "Dbab Wai/teb. — Mr. Homer goes to Hamburg on business to-day, and John and Edgar accompany him. The rest of the children have been laid up in the hooping-cough, so I must carry them off to Brigh- ton in a day or two. But I have arranged all pleasantly for you. Come direct to Fortman-square, where I 16 THE BOY VOTAGEES. have left Mrs. Brooke, the housekeeper, strict ordera to make you comfortable till it is safe for you to join us. Ask for everything you want, and I hope we shall see you at Brighton very soon. " Yours very truly, "Ameua Horner." " What an escape for you ! " said Freeman, " and luckily Cameron knows nothing about it ; for he was too busy with the examinations this morning to look after the letters. I see now we shall get you off cleverly. I was a whole week at Liverpool two years ago, and I know the docks, and the queer, dirty shops, where the Jews will buy our useless clothes and cheat us soundly, and then sell us other things and cheat us more. Never mind ; we want their help. Then I know the bank, where we can get our bills turned into cash ; for we must not put them into the hands of the captain we sail with as they are ; he might smell a rat to see two young vagabonds like us with a bill like yours for such a round sum, and the names would give him a clue to find us out. Now, into that large new portmanteau of yours we will put everything we mean to take for the voyage, and into this crazy old trunk of mine all we can spare, and mean to part with, and turn into cash." " Capital ! " said Walter, in great excitement, as he began to pack ; " we must put in our sailors' dresses, and shirts, and handkerchiefs, and most of our books. Here is my new Swiss Robinson, that Cameron forced me to buy ; and we must take paper, and pens, and ink, and pencils, and my pocket-telescope." " And put in that work-bag, Wally," said Frank. "Old Margery, the housemaid, the only body that ever cared for me, packed it among my clothes, and T can mend rents, and sew on buttons tidily enough." " Then, about our bats and balls. Freeman," a«ked Walter. " We must leave them here for the young THE BOT VOTAOEES. 17 lads," answered he ; " they have the school brand on them, and though we bought them with our own money, we could not offer them for sale without the risk of falling into trouble. What have you got in that leather case ] " " It is a christening gift," said the boy — " a gold knife, fork, and spoon; Idon't thinkloughttopartwiththem." " Of course not : in with them," said Freeman ; " we may be glad of them if we get into one of those scurvy little ships where there may be short accom- modations. Now, what next 1 All the shoes and boots we must have ; I cannot afford to buy more when we get to Calcutta ; railway-rug 1 certainly useless in India, but may serve us for a mattress, if we cannot get a hammock ; for I can tell you, Wally, our thirty- five pounds will not go far in getting us comforts ; indeed, I fear they wiU hardly give us bread and water for it on the long voyage, if we don't make it up with working." " Well, I'm willing enough to work at anything but figures or football," sighed out Walter. " What do you think we could do 1 " " I hardly know what there is to do in a ship," answered Frank ; " but I have my doubts whether there is anything that we shall be up to. Never mind ; where there is a will, there is a way, you know. There, there, put no more into the portmanteau ; wa must leave room to stow some prog at Liverpool, for you'll hardly stomach salt junk and mouldy biscuit, old fellow. Now throw all the rest into the discarded trunk ; and a pretty skirmish I shall have with the roguish old Jew that buys them." " Do you know him, then i " asked Walter. " Not I," answered Frank ; " but he must be a Jew, and a roguish Jew too, who would buy good clothes from two run-away school-boys, which he will soon make out we are, and take advantage of the dis- covery." 18 THE BOT VOVAGERS. " But will lie give us up to the police, do you think 1" asked the alarmed boy. " Do you think he will be such a fool ? " replied Frank. " That would proclaim his own knavish deal- ings. No ; he will hook us like two gudgeons, and make us his victims ; but we cannot help that." It was on a cheerful, bright morning of June, that Bome cab-loads of noisy boys left Merton school for the nearest railway station ; each boy supplied with the sum of money necessary for his journey, and then left to make his way as he could. Amongst the band, though many might be merrier, none were more hope- ful and anxious to be off than Freeman and his young friend. Great was the excitement ; every one rushing to the booking-oflGlce for his ticket, thinking only of himself, forgetting every friend, and uninterested in the destination of any one but himself. Then the trains began to arrive one after another : a last look at the correctness of the ticket, and a batch of boys took their places and departed with cheers. North, west, east, and south ; all rushing in and rushing off again with fresh supplies, till all the shouting, happy expectants, with the pleasant vision of home before them, were carried off, except Freeman and Walter. The Liverpool train at length started, and the boys sprang into a third-class carriage, among rough mechanics, ragged women, and squalling child- ren j there were no cheers for the conscious truants, who shrunk back ashamed of their position, and were whirled off for ever from Merton school, where they had been so unhappy ; doubtless, in a great measure, from their own faults. With what strange, mingled feelings the two rash boys stepped out upon the crowded platform, and knew that they had reached Liverpool, which they had so long talked and thought of. They felt a certain relief and independence ; but this was somewhat checked, especially in Walter, by timidity, and the emban'ass- ment of such a new position. THE BOt TOYAGERS 19 " What shall we do, Freemaa ? " whispered he, cling- ing to his companion. " Some of these people may know us. See how that policeman is watching us." "No wonder," replied Freeman, sharply, "when you are looking so sneaking and cowardly. 1 suppose he takes us for a couple of young pickpockets. Look round you like an honest man, can't you ? We're safe enough at this strange place, rely on it. Here, catch up one end of the portmanteau, while T shoulder the trunk — mind the rug — now push along." When they reached the stand, Freeman hailed a cab, and, depositing in it the luggage and his alarmed companion, he tpld the man to drive to the " Jolly Sailor," near the quay, and then stepped into the cab. " We shall do now, my boy," said he. " This ' Jolly Sailor ' is a low, noisy, sailor-haunted place ; but it is just the right thing for us ; my uncle went there be- sause it was cheap — that's a recommendation to ws — and it is near the ships, and out of the way of towns- people. And now, Wally, I do insist on it, that you put on a bold face, or we shall never get on. You are my younger brother, you know ; I am Francis Thomp- son and you are Walter Thompson, because of the " T" on your portmanteau. We will keep our Christian names ; for if we changed them, the right name might blurt out by accident and betray us." They were set down at the " Jolly Sailor," which ▼as by no means an inviting hotel, and there they entered a coffee-room, surrounded by boxes, into one of which Freeman led the way, and called out in a tone of authority, much to the admiration of Walter, for "Tea and chops for two." This refreshment cheered them greatly, and when Freeman had secured a bed-room, and deposited there in safety the precious trunks, the friends sat down to smoke a cigar, an ac- complishment they had acquired, under many diflS* cultiee, at Merton school. Very early in the morning, Walter waa looking c 2 20 THE BOT VOYAGERS. through the mud-covered windows of their room in astonishment and disgust. Could this indeed be the wealthy Liverpool — the city of merchant-princes ! Tall black houses shut out all prospect beyond the narrow street, along which loaded trucks and waggons were slowly winding in an incessant, dull, filthy stream. He opened the window, but shut it again immediately to escape the intolerable effluvia of mingled bad odour^ amongst which gas and tar predominated. " How can people live in this place i " asked he of Lis friend. " I am quite sure that everything we eat will taste of tar and gas. This must be a very bad part of the town." ' Not quite Portman-square, my boy,'' answered Frank, laughing ; " but we would have it, you know ; and it is a capital place for our purpose. Did you see what lots of sailor-fellows were about last night. I heard one of them drop something about the Amelia sailing to-day for Calcutta. That is our chance, I should say, the sooner we start the safer we shall be." " But we can never get ready, Frank," said Walter, " we have a great deal to do ; the money to get at the bank, and then to buy our stores, and " " Never you mind, we'll manage — come along, we'll have some breakfast, and then be off to look after the AmeKa." They put on their sailors' jackets, breakfasted, and then set out to the docks ; but amidst the forest of masts, and the confusion and crushing, they might have sought in vain for the Amelia, if a sailor lad, with a load on his back, had not run against Walter and thrown him down. He stopped to ask if the boy was any worse, lifted him up, and said, "Now, whereaway, young chap 1 " and tempted by his good- natured countenance. Freeman asked him where the Amelia was Ijring. " I'm off to her now," answered the lad ; " if you Bteer after mo you cannot miss hev But what will THE EOT VOTAGEBS. 2l you be wanting with the Amelia I " added he, with th( inquisitive freedom of his class. "If we can agree on terms," said Freeman, "we would like to take our passage out to India." " What do lads like you want to go out to Indy for ? " continued the sailor. " They don't need no such chaps thereaway ; such small boats better keep in port. Moreover, I reckon we've little passenger- zoom J but yon's our captain, you can hear what he says, and it 's a chance you'll be over well pleased with his speech." The boys followed him up to a dark, morose-looking man, who in a harsh and vehement tone was directing the men who were engaged in loading the vesseL *" Now, lads," said he impatiently, " what are you wanting to trouble me about at this untoward time ? " " Please, Frank," whispered Walter, " don't ask him. I'm afraid of him." But Frank knew the peril of delay, and said boldly, " We want to go out to Calcutta, sir, where our father lives ; we must go as soon as possible ; we have not much money, and we wish to know what is the lowest sum you can take for our passage." The man looked on them with a scornful laugh, and said, " We're not likely ta come to terms, I fancy. How much cash have you, Vi like to know 1 " Will you take us to Calcutta for twenty pounds I" asked Frank. Where do you think I get my beef and biscuit, you fools 1 " shouted the man. " How do you fancy I can feed two hungry lads like you, and find you in ship-room to Calcutta, for ten pounds a piece ? Make off with you. We're full, ana we can't be pestered with idle vagrants without a penny in their pockets." " Then wUl you be civil enough to tell us," replied Freeman, " if you know of any other ship likely to sail for Calcutta soon." " None that will take in such useless ballast," said he. 22 THE BOT TOTAQEBS. " Oh, Frank, what will become of us ?" cried Walter, in distress. " We must get to papa : he is rich ; he will pay you, sir, what more you require : pray take us to him, and we can work for you." " Much good you would do," answered he, looking with contempt on the delicate boy. "Here's your brother, to be sure, is a stout fellow, and might lend a hand. But how can I tell whether you have really a fether in Calcutta or not, and whether he will be 'sponsible for your debts. I like my money paid down." " Please, sir," said Walter eagerly, " I have a watch that papa said cost him twenty-five guineas." "Did he say so? Then I should say he's been famously taken in. Let's look at your twenty-five pounder," said the captain. To Freeman's great vexation, Walter produced his handsome watch and chain, and the crafty skipper saw at once that the watch was valuable ; but he said, " It's not worth a quarter of what you say ; but, howsomever, hand it over — I'll keep it safe till my money's made up — and bring me your twenty pounds and your kit to-night at seven. As you both seem wilUng to do little odd jobs when we're put to for hands, I'll not object to give you your berths and your grub. Now, make yourselves scarce — I've plenty to do without such idle talk." The boys, somewhat cast down, reluctantly left the watch in the hands of the covetous man, and returned to the tavern to make ready for their expedition into the town for the purpose of getting the bills cashed. This business Freeman undertook to transact, as his age and confidence of manner fitted him better for a manager of money matters than the shy boy. Dressed in their best clothes, they proceeded to the bank pointed out to them by the landlady, whose sympathy was awakened by the polite appeal made to her by the two well-dressed and well-manuered boys, who seemed THE BOY VOYAGEES. 23 80 young to be thrown on the world without pro- tection. There was no difficulty made in cashing a bill drawn by a firm so well known as that of Thorn- ville and Co., and so obviously meant for the expenses of the son who indorsed it ; and the relieved boys proceeded to a marine store-shop, to be regularly taken in, as Frank predicted ; and there disposed of the trunk and its contents for two sovereigns, not a quarter of their worth ; but then — ^no questions were asked. They next consulted the friendly landlady on the subject of the stores it would be advisable to purchase, telling her they had engaged to go in the ArruMa. " The Amdia I " exclaimed the good woman ; " poor boys ! Ay, ay ! you're like to take your own pro- vision, or it's little you'll get. But, now, honeys, you'd better think again about it. Moody 's a hard, screwing fellow J he always has trouble enough to raise a crew to carry his old crazy ship out, and he has no accommo- dation for passengers ; not he, indeed. He will be set to give you either bed or board. What possessed you, lads, to think on sailing with the Amelia ?" " Because it was the first ship to sail, Mrs. Smith,' replied Freeman; "and we were anxious to be in Calcutta. Besides, our money would have been spent if we had been forced to stay here long." " You've fallen into bad hands, my bonny bairns,^ said Mrs. Smith. " You'd better wait a few days ; yon grand stieamer 's to leave port on Friday." " But Captain Moody has cribbed my watch, ma'am," said Walter, "and papa would be sorry if I should lose it, for he paid twenty-five guineas for it." "Twenty-five guineas for a watch for a lad like you ! " exclaimed Mrs. Smith. " Whose bairns will you be ? and what for are ye strolling about here by your- selves 1 I'm feared ye'll be after some scampish tricks ; and I tell you, lads, I don't half like it." " But you must not tell of us, dear Mrs. Smith," Baid Freeman j " we have run away, because we have 24 THE BOY VOYAGERS. been very cruelly used; but we really -want to go straight to Calcutta, to Walter's father, who willbe glad to receive us, and will thank any one who is kind to us. We had not so much money as Captain Moody required, and that was the reason Walter had to give up his watch; and it is quite out of the question to think that we could have paid our passage in a steamer." " Poor fellows ! and how much has he had the con- science to charge you ! " inquired the landlady. " We are to give him twenty pounds, besides my watch ; and papa is to pay the rest when we get to Calcutta," said Walter. " He'll never face your papa, rogue that he is ! " said the irritated woman. " He'll strip you of all you have, and then God knows . . . But if I see him I'll warn him he need never show his face in Liverpool docks again, if he does not act fairly by you." " Is he a pirate, do you think, ma'am 1 " said Walter, fearfully. "Nay, nay, my honey,'' answered she, laughing. " Pirates wouldn't pick up a deal hereabouts ; but he's just a hard-hearted grasping rascal, he is ! and you'll have to keep stout hearts, and both eyes open, and, after all, he'U fleece you." Moody did not call any more at the " Jolly Sailor ;" probably he had an idea that he was no favourite with the landlady. So, all she could do for the poor boys she felt so much compassion for, was to advise and help them. She procured them a stout deal box with a lock, in which she packed a ham ready cooked, a cheese, a large bag of fine biscuit, a good supply of tea and sugar, and a bottle of brandy in case of illness. She got them to buy some wax candles, and match boxes, for she suspected Moody would not allow them lights, and she counselled them especially to conceal from him that they had any money left, for they might yet find a use for it. To these stores the boys added the ex THE BOT VOTAGEES. 25 travagance of a small box of cigars; then the locker, as the good woman called it, was closed. She set before them a substantial dinner before they left her, and, taking an affectionate leave of them, she sent a porter with their luggage to the quay, where the boys found a boat, and were carried from the shore on their rash and imprudent expedition. CHAPTEE III, First impressioDB — A peep below deck — Honest Tom Beartlej — Life in the cabin — First day at mess — Sanatory labours — Walter's ideal sailor — ^A long yam — Tom in the union-house — The sailor-boy — ^Tom's notions of geogiaphy. When they stepped upon the filthy, crowded deck of the Amdia, they were distracted at the confusion around them, and were glad to sit down upon their two boxes, to save them from being heaved down into the hold amongst the multifarious packages that still encumbered the deck, and which the men were lowering in a rough and careless manner. The boys heard the loud harsh voice of Moody, shouting, cursing, and abusing the sailors ; at last his eyes fell on his young passengers, and he called out, "Now, then, loungers, Where's your cash 1 hand it over, and then be off, out of our way, unless you mean to do a stroke of work." But it was not Freeman's plan that they should begin to work for the despot, till they could no longer avoid it. He gave twenty pounds into the hands of the captain, who looked suspiciously at the boys, and seemed surprised to see the gold. " Now, Captain Moody," said Freeman, " you will please to spare one of your people to show us our berths, that wemayremoveour luggage ©utof your way. 26 THE BOY VOtAGEKS. He hesitated, and grumbled a little, then went to the young man who had introduced the boys to him, gave him some brief direction, and resumed his noisy, rough bawling. "This way, young fellows," called Tom, as they heard Moody name him, leading them to an open hatchway, and pointing out a crazy, broken, companion- ladder. " Hand me over that heavy locker, and give each of you a hand to the leather thing. Now, then, steady, my boys, it's rough sailing down here, mind your footing." In no very pleasant mood of mind the two lads at last managed their awkward descent, and followed Tom through piles of boxes, casks, and bales, in dark- ness and alarm, till he opened a door, and showed them into a little den about eight feet square, and ten feet high, dimly lighted by a single sky-light of dust- covered glass, closely grated over, which enabled them to take a survey of their future apartment. It was wholly without furniture, except a small broken table, lying on the side, and one rude hammock, which Tom told them he had that morning put up for himself. Round this cabin were lockers, which formed a low bench, on which they seated themselves ; ■ but every- thing was so filthy, and the air was so close and impure, that the lads felt quit