Brave and Bold
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Horatio Alger, Jr. >> Brave and Bold
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The offer was thankfully accepted, and the generous merchant was as good
as his word. A home was found for Captain Rushton in the boarding-house
of Mrs. Start, a widow, who, thrown upon her own exertions for support,
had, by the help of the merchant already referred to, opened a
boarding-house, which was now quite remunerative.
"He will require considerable care, Mrs. Start," said Mr. Perkins, the
merchant, "but I am ready and willing to compensate you for all the
trouble to which you are put. Will you take him?"
"Certainly I will," said the warm-hearted widow, "if only because you
ask it. But for you, I should not be earning a comfortable living, with
a little money laid up in the bank, besides."
"Thank you, Mrs. Start," said the merchant. "I know the poor man could
be in no better hands. But you mustn't let any considerations of
gratitude interfere with your charging a fair price for your trouble. I
am able and willing to pay whatever is suitable."
"I don't believe we shall quarrel on that point," said the widow,
smiling. "I will do all I can for your friend. What is his name?"
"That I don't know."
"We shall have to call him something."
"Call him Smith, then. That will answer till we find out his real name,
as we may some day, when his mind comes back, as I hope it may."
From that time, therefore, Captain Rushton was known as Mr. Smith. He
recovered in a considerable degree his bodily health, but mentally he
remained in the same condition. Sometimes he fixed his eyes upon Mrs.
Start, and seemed struggling to remember something of the past; but
after a few moments his face would assume a baffled look, and he would
give up the attempt as fruitless.
One day when Mrs. Start addressed him as Mr. Smith, he asked:
"Why do you call me by that name?"
"Is not that your name?" she asked.
"No."
"What, then, is it?"
He put his hand to his brow, and seemed to be thinking. At length he
turned to the widow, and said, abruptly:
"Do you not know my name?"
"No."
"Nor do I," he answered, and left the room hastily.
She continued, therefore, to address him as Mr. Smith, and he gradually
became accustomed to it, and answered to it.
Leaving Captain Rushton at Calcutta, with the assurance that, though
separated from home and family, he will receive all the care that his
condition requires, we will return to our hero, shut up on shipboard
with his worst enemy. I say this advisedly, for though Halbert Davis
disliked him, it was only the feeling of a boy, and was free from the
intensity of Ben Haley's hatred.
No doubt, it was imprudent tor him to reject the mate's hand, but Robert
felt that he could not grasp in friendship the hand which had deprived
him of a father. He was bold enough to brave the consequences of this
act, which he foresaw clearly.
Ben Haley, however, was in no hurry to take the vengeance which he was
fully resolved sooner or later to wreak upon our young hero. He was
content to bide his time. Had Robert been less watchful, indeed, he
might have supposed that the mate's feelings toward him had changed.
When they met, as in the narrow limits of the ship they must do every
day, the forms of courtesy passed between them. Robert always saluted
the mate, and Haley responded by a nod, or a cool good-morning, but did
not indulge in any conversation.
Sometimes, however, turning suddenly, Robert would catch a malignant
glance from the mate, but Haley's expression immediately changed, when
thus surprised, and he assumed an air of indifference.
With Captain Evans, on the other hand, Robert was on excellent terms.
The captain liked the bold, manly boy, and talked much with him of the
different countries he had visited, and seemed glad to answer the
questions which our hero asked.
"Robert," said the captain, one day, "how is it that you and Mr. Haley
seem to have nothing to say to each other?"
"I don't think he likes me, Captain Evans," said Robert.
"Is there any reason for it, or is it merely a prejudice?"
"There is a reason for it, but I don't care to mention it. Not that it
is anything I have reason to regret, or to be ashamed of," he added,
hastily. "It is on Mr. Haley's account that I prefer to keep it secret."
"Is there no chance of your being on better terms?" asked the captain,
good-naturedly, desirous of effecting a reconciliation.
Robert shook his head.
"I don't wish to be reconciled, captain," he said. "I will tell you this
much, that Mr. Haley has done me and my family an injury which, perhaps,
can never be repaired. I cannot forget it, and though I am willing to be
civil to him, since we are thrown together, I do not want his
friendship, even if he desired mine, as I am sure he does not."
Captain Evans was puzzled by this explanation, which threw very little
light upon the subject, and made no further efforts to bring the two
together.
Time passed, and whatever might be Ben Haley's feelings, he abstained
from any attempt to injure him. Robert's suspicions were lulled to
sleep, and he ceased to be as vigilant and watchful as he had been.
His frank, familiar manner made him a favorite on shipboard. He had a
friendly word for all the sailors, which was appreciated, for it was
known that he was the _protege_ of the owner. He was supposed by some to
be a relation, or, at any rate, a near connection, and so was treated
with unusual respect. All the sailors had a kind word for him, and many
were the praises which he received in the forecastle.
Among those most devoted to him was a boy of fourteen, Frank Price, who
had sailed in the capacity of cabin-boy. The poor boy was very seasick
at first, and Captain Evans had been indulgent, and excused him from
duty until he got better. He was not sturdy enough for the life upon
which he had entered, and would gladly have found himself again in the
comfortable home which a mistaken impulse had led him to exchange for
the sea.
With this boy, Robert, who was of about the same age, struck up a
friendship, which was returned twofold by Frank, whose heart, naturally
warm, was easily won by kindness.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE NEW CAPTAIN.
The voyage was more than half completed, and nothing of importance had
occurred to mark it. But at this time, Captain Evans fell sick. His
sickness proved to be a fever, and was very severe. The surgeon was in
constant attendance, but the malady baffled all his skill. At the end of
seven days, it terminated fatally, to the great grief of all on board,
with whom the good-natured captain was very popular. There was one
exception, however, to the general grief. It is an ill wind that blows
good to no one, and Ben Haley did not lament much for an event which
promoted him to the command of the vessel. Of course, he did not show
this feeling publicly, but in secret his heart bounded with exultation
at the thought that he was, for the time, master of the ship and all on
board. He was not slow in asserting his new position. Five minutes after
the captain breathed his last, one of the sailors approached him, and
asked for orders, addressing him as "Mr. Haley."
"Captain Haley!" roared the new commander. "If you don't know my
position on board this ship, it's time you found it out!"
"Ay, ay, sir," stammered the sailor, taken aback at his unexpected
violence.
Robert mourned sincerely at the death of Captain Evans, by whom he had
always been treated with the utmost kindness. Even had he not been
influenced by such a feeling, he would have regarded with apprehension
the elevation to the command of one whom he well knew to be actuated by
a feeling of enmity to himself. He resolved to be as prudent as
possible, and avoid, as far as he could, any altercation with Haley. But
the latter was determined, now that he had reached the command, to pick
a quarrel with our hero, and began to cast about for a fitting occasion.
Now that Captain Evans was dead, Robert spent as much time as the
latter's duties would permit with Frank Price. The boys held long and
confidential conversations together, imparting to each other their
respective hopes and wishes. Haley observed their intimacy and mutual
attachment, and, unable to assert his authority over Robert, who was a
passenger, determined to strike at him through his friend. His
determination was strengthened by a conversation which he overheard
between the boys when they supposed him beyond earshot.
"I wish Captain Evans were alive," said Frank. "I liked him, and I don't
like Captain Haley."
"Captain Evans was an excellent man," said Robert.
"He knew how to treat a fellow," said Frank. "As long as he saw us doing
our best, he was easy with us. Captain Haley is a tyrant."
"Be careful what you say, Frank," said Robert. "It isn't safe to say
much about the officers."
"I wouldn't say anything, except to you. You are my friend."
"I am your true friend, Frank, and I don't want you to get into any
trouble."
"I am sure you don't like the captain any better than I do."
"I don't like the captain, for more reasons than I can tell you; but I
shall keep quiet, as long as I am on board this ship."
"Are you going back with us?"
"I don't know. It will depend upon circumstances. I don't think I shall,
though I might have done so had Captain Evans remained in command."
"I wish I could leave it, and stay with you."
"I wish you could, Frank. Perhaps you can."
"I will try."
Haley overheard the last part of this conversation. He took particular
notice of Robert's remark that he would keep quiet as long as he
remained on board the ship, and inferred that on arrival at the destined
port our hero would expose all he knew about him. This made him uneasy,
for it would injure, if not destroy, his prospect of remaining in
command of the _Argonaut_. He resented also the dislike which Robert had
cautiously expressed, and the similar feeling cherished by the
cabin-boy. He had half a mind to break in upon their conversation on the
spot; but, after a moment's thought, walked away, his neighborhood
unsuspected by the two boys.
"They shall both rue their impudence," he muttered. "They shall find out
that they cannot insult me with impunity."
The next day, when both boys were on deck, Captain Haley harshly ordered
Frank to attend to a certain duty which he had already performed.
"I have done so, sir," said Frank, in a respectful tone.
"None of your impudence, you young rascal!" roared the captain, lashing
himself into a rage.
Frank looked up into his face in astonishment, unable to account for so
violent an outbreak.
"What do you mean by looking me in the face in that impudent manner?"
demanded Captain Haley, furiously.
"I didn't mean to be impudent, Captain Haley," said Frank. "What have I
done?"
"What have you done? You, a cabin-boy, have dared to insult your
captain, and, by heavens, you shall rue it! Strip off your jacket."
Frank turned pale. He knew what this order meant. Public floggings were
sometimes administered on shipboard, but, under the command of Captain
Evans, nothing of the kind had taken place.
Robert, who had heard the whole, listened, with unmeasured indignation,
to this wanton abuse on the part of Captain Haley. His eyes flashed, and
his youthful form dilated with righteous indignation.
Robert was not the only one who witnessed with indignation the captain's
brutality. Such of the sailors as happened to be on deck shared his
feelings. Haley, looking about him, caught the look with which Robert
regarded him, and triumphed inwardly that he had found a way to chafe
him.
"What have you got to say about it?" he demanded, addressing our hero,
with a sneer.
"Since you have asked my opinion," said Robert, boldly, "I will express
it. Frank Price has not been guilty of any impudence, and deserves no
punishment."
This was a bold speech to be made by a boy to a captain on his own deck,
and the sailors who heard it inwardly applauded the pluck of the boy who
uttered it.
"What do you mean by that, sir?" exclaimed Haley, his eyes lighting up
fiercely, as he strode to the spot where Robert stood, and frowned upon
him, menacingly.
"You asked my opinion, and I gave it," said Robert, not flinching.
"I have a great mind to have you flogged, too!" said Haley.
"I am not one of your crew, Captain Haley," said Robert, coolly; "and
you have no right to lay a hand on me."
"What is to prevent me, I should like to know?"
"I am here as a passenger, and a friend of the owner of this vessel. If
I receive any ill-treatment, it shall be reported to him."
If the sailors had dared, they would have applauded the stripling who,
undaunted by the menacing attitude of the captain, faced him boldly and
fearlessly. Haley would gladly have knocked him down, but there was
something in the resolute mien of his young passenger that made him
pause. He knew that he would keep his word, and that, with such
representations as he might make, he would stand no further chance of
being employed by Mr. Morgan.
"I have an account to settle with you, boy," he said; "and the
settlement will not long be delayed. When a passenger tries to incite
mutiny, he forfeits his privileges as a passenger."
"Who has done this, Captain Haley?"
"You have done it."
"I deny it," said Robert.
"Your denial is worth nothing. I have a right to throw you into irons,
and may yet do it. At present I have other business in hand."
He left Robert, and walked back to Frank Price, who, not having Robert's
courage, had been a terrified listener to the colloquy between him and
the captain.
"Now, boy," he said, harshly, "I will give you a lesson that you shall
remember to the latest day of your life. Bring me the cat."
The barbarous cat, as it was called, once in use on our ships, was
brought, and Captain Haley signaled to one of the sailors to approach.
"Bates," he said, in a tone of authority, "give that boy a dozen
lashes."
Bates was a stout sailor, rough in appearance, but with a warm and
kindly heart. He had a boy of his own at home, about the age of Frank
Price, and his heart had warmed to the boy whose position he felt to be
far from an enviable one.
The task now imposed upon him was a most distasteful and unwelcome one.
He was a good sailor, and aimed on all occasions to show proper
obedience to the commands of his officers, but now he could not.
"Captain Haley," he said, not stirring from his position, "I hope you
will excuse me."
"Is this mutiny?" roared the captain.
"No, Captain Haley. I always mean to do my duty on board ship."
"I have told you to flog this boy!"
"I can't do it, Captain Haley. I have a boy of my own about the size of
that lad there, and, if I struck him, I'd think it was my own boy that
stood in his place."
This unexpected opposition excited the fierce resentment of the captain.
He felt that a crisis had come, and he was determined to be obeyed.
"Unless you do as I bid you, I will keep you in irons for the rest of
the voyage!"
"You are the captain of this ship, and can throw me in irons, if you
like," said Bates, with an air of dignity despite his tarred hands and
sailor jacket. "I have refused to do no duty that belongs to me. When I
signed my name to the ship's papers, I did not agree to flog boys."
"Put him in irons!" roared the captain, incensed. "We will see who is
captain of this ship!"
The mandate was obeyed, and Bates was lodged in the forecastle, securely
ironed.
The captain himself seized the cat, and was about to apply it to the
luckless cabin-boy, when a terrible blast, springing up in an instant,
as it were, struck the ship, almost throwing it upon its side. There was
no time for punishment now. The safety of the ship required instant
action, and Frank Price was permitted to replace his jacket without
having received a blow.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE CAPTAIN'S REVENGE.
The storm which commenced so suddenly was one of great violence. It
required all the captain's seamanship, and the efforts of all the crew,
to withstand it. However reluctant to do it, Captain Haley was forced to
release Bates from his irons, and order him to duty. The latter worked
energetically, and showed that he did not intend to shirk any part of
his duties as seaman. But the result of the storm was that the vessel
was driven out of her course, and her rigging suffered considerable
injury. The wind blew all night. Toward morning it abated, and, as the
morning light broke, the lookout described a small island distant about
a league.
The captain looked at it through his glass, and then examined the chart.
"I can't make out what island that is," he said.
"It is not large enough," suggested the mate, "to find a place on the
map."
"Perhaps it is as you say," said Captain Haley, thoughtfully. "I have a
mind to go on shore and explore it. There may be some fresh fruits that
will vary our diet."
This plan was carried out. A boat was got ready, and the captain got in,
with four sailors to row.
Just as he was about to descend into the boat, he turned to Robert, who
was looking curiously toward land, and said:
"Rushton, would you like to go with us?"
It was precisely what Robert wanted. He had a boy's love of adventure,
and the thought of exploring an island, perhaps hitherto unknown, struck
his fancy, and he eagerly accepted the invitation.
"Jump in, then," said Haley, striving to appear indifferent; but there
was a gleam of exultation in his eye, which he took care to conceal from
the unsuspecting boy.
Swiftly the boat sped through the waters, pulled by the strong arms of
four stout sailors, and, reaching the island, was drawn into a little
cove, which seemed made for it.
"Now for an exploring expedition," said the captain. "Boys," addressing
the sailors, "remain near the boat. I will soon be back. Rushton," he
said, turning to our hero, "go where you like, but be back in an hour."
"Yes, sir," answered Robert.
Had it been Captain Evans, instead of Captain Haley, he would have
proposed to join him; but, knowing what he did of the latter, he
preferred his own company.
The island was about five miles in circumference. Near the shore, it was
bare of vegetation, but further inland there were numerous trees, some
producing fruit. After some weeks of the monotonous life on shipboard,
Robert enjoyed pressing the solid earth once more. Besides, this was the
first foreign shore his foot had ever trodden. The thought that he was
thousands of miles away from home, and that, possibly, the land upon
which he now walked had never before been trodden by a civilized foot,
filled him with a sense of excitement and exhilaration.
"What would mother say if she should see me now?" he thought. "What a
wonderful chance it would be if my father had been wafted in his boat to
this island, and I should come upon him unexpectedly!"
It was very improbable, but Robert thought enough of it to look about
him carefully. But everywhere the land seemed to be virgin, without
other inhabitants than the birds of strange plumage and note, which sang
in the branches of the trees.
"I don't believe any one ever lived here," thought Robert.
It struck him that he should like to live upon the island a week, if he
could be sure of being taken off at the end of that time. The cool
breezes from the ocean swept over the little island, and made it
delightfully cool at morning and evening, though hot in the middle of
the day.
Robert sauntered along till he came to a little valley. He descended the
slope, and sat down in the shade of a broad-leaved tree. The grass
beneath him made a soft couch, and he felt that he should enjoy lying
there the rest of the day. But his time was limited. The captain had
told him to be back in an hour, and he felt that it was time for him to
be stirring.
"I shall not have time to go any further," he reflected. "I must be
getting back to the boat."
As this occurred to him, he rose to his feet, and, looking up, he
started a little at seeing the captain himself descending the slope.
"Well, Robert," said Captain Haley, "how do you like the island?"
"Very much, indeed," said our hero. "It seems pleasant to be on land
after being on shipboard so many weeks."
"Quite true. This is a beautiful place you have found."
"I was resting under this tree, listening to the birds, but I felt
afraid I should not be back to the boat in time, and was just starting
to return."
"I think we can overstay our time a little," said Haley. "They won't go
back without me, I reckon," he added, with a laugh.
Robert was nothing loth to stay, and resumed his place on the grass. The
captain threw himself on the grass beside him.
"I suppose you have read 'Robinson Crusoe?'" he said.
"Oh, yes; more than once."
"I wonder how it would seem to live on such an island as this?"
"I should like it very well," said Robert; "that is, if I could go off
at any time. I was just thinking of it when you come up."
"Were you?" asked the captain, showing his teeth in an unpleasant smile,
which, however, Robert did not see. "You think you would like it?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am glad of that."
"Why?" asked Robert, turning round and looking his companion in the
face.
"Because," said Haley, changing his tone, "I am going to give you a
chance to try it."
Robert sprang to his feet in instant alarm, but too late. Haley had
grasped him by the shoulder, and in his grasp the boy's strength was
nothing.
"What are you going to do?" asked Robert, with fearful foreboding.
"Wait a minute and you will see!"
The captain had drawn a stout cord, brought for the purpose, from his
pocket, and, dragging Robert to a tree, tied him securely to the trunk.
The terrible fate destined for him was presented vividly to the
imagination of our hero; and, brave as he was, it almost unmanned him.
Finding his struggles useless, he resorted to expostulation.
"I am sure you cannot mean this, Captain Haley!" he said. "You won't
leave me to perish miserably on this island?"
"Won't I?" returned the captain, with an evil light in his eyes. "Why
won't I?"
"Surely, you will not be so inhuman?"
"Look here, boy," said the captain, "you needn't try to come any of your
high-flown notions about humanity over me. I owe you a debt, and, by
Heaven! I'm going to pay it! You didn't think much of humanity when you
wounded me."
"I couldn't help it," said Robert. "I didn't want to hurt you. I only
wanted to protect your uncle."
"That's all very well; but, when you interfered in a family quarrel, you
meddled with what did not concern you. Besides, you have been inciting
my crew to mutiny."
"I have not done so," said Robert.
"I overheard you the other night giving some of your precious advice to
my cabin-boy. Besides, you had the impudence to interfere with me in a
matter of discipline."
"Frank Price deserved no punishment."
"That is for me to decide. When you dared to be impudent to me on my own
deck, I swore to be revenged, and the time has come sooner than I
anticipated."
"Captain Haley," said Robert, "in all that I have done I have tried to
do right. If I have done wrong, it was because I erred in judgment. If
you will let me go, I will promise to say nothing of the attempt you
make to keep me here."
"You are very kind," sneered the captain; "but I mean to take care of
that myself. You may make all the complaints you like after I have left
you here."
"There is One who will hear me," said Robert. "I shall not be wholly
without friends."
"Who do you mean?"
"God!" said Robert, solemnly.
"Rubbish!" retorted Haley, contemptuously.
"I shall not despair while I have Him to appeal to."
"Just as you like," said the captain, shrugging his shoulders. "You are
welcome to all the comfort you can find in your present situation."
By this time, Robert was bound to the trunk of the tree by a cord, which
passed around his waist. In addition to this Haley tied his wrists
together, fearing that otherwise he might be able to unfasten the knot.
He now rose to his feet, and looked down upon the young captive, with an
air of triumph.
"Have you any messages to send by me, Rushton?" he said, with a sneer.
"Are you quite determined to leave me here?" asked Robert, in anguish.
"Quite so."
"What will the sailors say when I do not return?"
"Don't trouble yourself about them. I will take care of that. If you
have got anything to say, say it quick, for I must be going."
"Captain Haley," said Robert, his courage rising, and looking the
captain firmly in the face, "I may die here, and so gratify your enmity;
but the time will come when you will repent what you are doing."
"I'll risk that," said Haley, coolly. "Good-by."
He walked up the slope, and disappeared from view, leaving Robert bound
to the tree, a helpless prisoner.
CHAPTER XXX.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
Captain Haley kept on his way to the shore. The four sailors were all
within hail, and on the captain's approach got the boat in readiness to
return.
"Where is the boy?" asked Haley. "Hasn't he got back?"
"No, sir."
"That is strange. I told him to be back in an hour, and it is already
past that time."
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