HARKAWAY 
 
 AND 
 
 HIS BOY 
 
 TINKER 
 
 BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 - 1 
 
 "a
 
 ADVENTURES OF YOUNG 
 
 JACK HARKAWAY 
 
 AND HIS BOY TINKER 
 
 M. A. DONOHUE & CO.
 
 M. A. DONOH UE &. COMPANV 
 
 PRINTERS AND BINDERS 
 
 *O7.429 DEARBORN STREET 
 
 CHICAGO
 
 //1 7 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 YOUNG JACK ON THE MOVE AGAIN HIS PROSPECTS. 
 
 "WHAT, Jack, leave us and go on your travels alone?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Sir," said his father, in surprise; "you are on your 
 dignity about something I should think, Jack. " 
 
 "No, no, dad," said young Jack, quickly, "it is not 
 that. All I want is to cut out a path for myself to be 
 self-reliant like my father before me." 
 
 Old Jack pursed up his brows and looked gloomy. 
 
 "But your father before you needed to be self-reliant ; 
 he was poor in starting life, Jack. You have no need to 
 be any thing of the kind, seeing that I have all that is 
 wanted to make you comfortable aye, and precious 
 comfortable too." 
 
 " I know that, dad," replied his son, " but I don't lika 
 the idea of feeling dependent even upon you." 
 
 "I can't quarrel with the feeling, Jack," said his father, 
 "but I must object to your restlessness, no matter what 
 the cause of it " 
 
 "Restlessness!" 
 
 "Yes, that's it." 
 
 " It is not restlessness, dad, that prompts me to be off 
 on my own fortunes. The desire is only prompted by 
 the hope of doing for myself." 
 
 "The fact is," said old Jack, shaking his head, "that 
 you are suffering, my boy, from the old Harkaway dis- 
 ease. " 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 4 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Restlessness," replied his father. "But, my boy, I 
 know full well the inclinations of one of our race are no* 
 readily baulked. I am aware that, try what I would, 
 you must have your own way in the end. And so you 
 want to go to sea ? " 
 
 " Yes, dad," responded young Jack ; "since you put it 
 so, I want to go to sea. " 
 
 "Alone?" 
 
 "Not quite. 5 ' 
 
 " Harry Girdwood would accompany you ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Harry faced Harkaway senior, his face flushed. 
 
 "I shall go where Jack goes," he said, "even to the 
 world's end." 
 
 Old Jack pressed his hand in silence. 
 
 "The greatest thing of all to Mr. Harvey and myself," 
 he said, " was the mutual support we were to each other. 
 A staunch comrade at your back will pull you through 
 many a difficulty." 
 
 " So I feel, dad," replied young Jack, "and that's why 
 I hope Harry will go with me wherever I go." 
 
 "You do?" said old Jack. "Well, then, I will see 
 what can be done for you both." 
 
 So having reconciled himself to young Jack's wish, he 
 set to work to further his boy's views. 
 
 A friend introduced him to the owner of a ship that was 
 just going to set sail for the west coast of Africa, and Mr. 
 Harkaway (how strange it seems to speak of old Jack in 
 that formal manner) used his influence to secure the two 
 boys appointments on board. 
 
 This was easily accomplished. 
 
 Harkaway had an idea, somehow, that at the eleventh 
 hour young Jack would repent of his resolution, and 
 cave in. 
 
 We shall see how far he was right presently. 
 
 The two places for the boys being secured, Harkaway 
 wrote to them from Portsmouth to come down at once to 
 be introduced to the captain and owner. This led to a 
 general migration of the Harkaway family and friends. 
 
 A house was taken in the outskirts of the town, with 
 accommodation for them all, including their numerous 
 retinue. 
 
 And here for awhile they took up their abode.
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 TINKER'S MYSTERY HOW HIS VALET APPEARED ON THE SCENE 
 BOGEY MAKES HIS BOW. 
 
 PRIOR, however, to the incident just narrated long 
 previously, in fact, for it was sharply upon their arrival 
 in England it became known that there was something 
 strange going on in connection with the black boy, 
 Tinker. 
 
 Tinker had grown singularly mysterious. 
 
 He was observed disappearing continually, when any 
 inquiry was made for him, into the lower regions of the 
 Harkaway establishment. 
 
 He had been watched, and then there came a report 
 that he often carried off food. 
 
 " He thinks there is going to be a famine," remarked 
 young Jack, "and he is making a store." 
 
 But this did not satisfactorily explain it. 
 
 Sunday, however, solved the mystery. 
 ' He's got some sort of animal to feed downstairs." 
 ' What is it ? " asked young Jack, " a coon ? " 
 ' Or a 'possum ? " 
 ' Or a kangaroo ? " 
 ' What larks. V 11 hunt him." 
 
 'No, 'tisn't that,' ^plied Sunday ; "we'll have it up, 
 and you shall see foi rourselves." 
 
 So down he went \\ Jth orders to Tinker. 
 
 "Yes, Massa Sunday," said Tinker, "I can brought 
 up my animile if you like, only I must have time to 
 make him look spry." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 "An" an' dey won't be cross, 'case of my having the 
 noble critter ? " 
 
 "No, no." 
 
 "Nor 'case uv my hidin' uv him on board de 3hip 
 comin' home?" 
 
 "No, no." 
 
 "All right," said Tinker, brightening up wonderfully. 
 "Now I'll come d'reckly."
 
 6 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 The people upstairs could hardly restrain their impa- 
 tience while Tinker made his preparations. 
 However, at length Tinker came in alone. 
 " Hullo, Tinker," cried the boys, " where's the animal ? 
 Tinker bowed much in the way of a ring-master at a 
 
 circus. 
 
 "De splendid animile is comm, he said, gravely. 
 " I hope as it'll please de company all a thunderin' big 
 immense lot. " 
 
 Tinker carried a whalebone whip in his hand which 
 added to the ring-master appearance alluded to, and with 
 his whip he signalled the "animile " to approach. 
 
 "Bogey." 
 
 "Oh, yah, yah," yelled something unearthly outside. 
 
 And then the door opened, and a nigger boy bounded 
 into the room. 
 
 He tripped up over the woollen mat at the door and 
 sprawled, but turned over on to his feet with the agility 
 of a trained acrobat. 
 
 But the impetus with which he had regained his feet 
 sent him over the mark, and down he went, bounding 
 up, for the second time, like an India rubber-ball. 
 
 This time he landed fairly upon his feet, and coming a 
 dull weight, he gave a thud as he grounded, and the 
 shock rattled all the room up. 
 
 And now the party had time to examine him. 
 
 This negro was a boy a little younger than Tinker, 
 apparently, and not quite so tall. 
 
 He was certainly not a pretty nigger. 
 
 His mouth was huge, even for a darkey. 
 
 Such a gash, in fact, that, at a casual glance at his 
 face, you saw little else than mouth. 
 
 His lord and master, Tinker, had provided him with 
 hair powder, and it did not adhere to his frizzly poll, 
 but shook over his sable face, giving him a ludicrous 
 aspect. 
 
 Tinker had rigged him up in a novel kind of livery, 
 composed of a variety of second-hand garments, which 
 he had purchased at a marine-store dealer's. 
 
 He wore a militiaman's coat with a pair of huge epau- 
 lettes on the shoulders, that could only have belonged to 
 an officer in a Christmas pantomime, an old cowskin 
 waistcoat, and a pair of real footman's plush breeches.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 7 
 
 The boots had been Tinker's chief difficulty, for his 
 protigPs feet were of abnormal dimensions. 
 
 But he had managed to find a pair of shoes that had 
 been owned in their better days by a celebrated perform- 
 ing giant, and this completed the nigger-boy's rig-out 
 
 "Now, dear Bogey," said Tinker, giving him a gentle 
 flick with his whip, ' ' just make you bow to de company. " 
 
 Bogey smiled he had a deafening smile and jerking 
 his body forward, he scraped his right shoe back in mak- 
 ing his obeisance. 
 
 "Drop that," cried Sunday, rushing at him. "You'll 
 spile the carpet, you black imp." 
 
 "He could use up a carpet a day, "said young Jack, 
 grinning. 
 
 " If he was often took polite," commented Sunday. 
 
 "Ladies an' gemmen," began Tinker, who meant a 
 speech. 
 
 " He, he, he, yah ! " smiled the new nigger, in rather 
 a loud voice. 
 
 "You iggorant beast," said Tinker, flicking him with 
 the whip. "What you grinning like a cantankerous old 
 dam Cheshire cat for ? " 
 
 "'Case," explained Bogey, showing his ivories in an 
 alarming manner, "'case you says ladies an' gemmen." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "An' an'," explained Bogey, who could not get along 
 for laughing, " an' dere ain't no gals." 
 
 This set the company generally off upon the giggle. 
 
 " Bery good, sar," said Tinker, eyeing his subordinate 
 severely, ' ' bery good, sar. Gemmen, fellers, an' pussons, 
 dis black nigger, Bogey as I calls him, I brought ovar 
 wid me jes' as a kinder speeches o' walley, jes' to look 
 after me, and 'tend to de little wants of dis good-looking 
 child." 
 
 "Ur, ur, ur, ur, yah!" grinned Tinker's "walley." 
 "You beastly ugly, Master Tinker." 
 
 "Take dat," said Tinker. 
 
 He got it, too, in the shape of a crack on the head with 
 a whalebone whip, which sent the darkey's hair powder 
 flying out, but did not appear to incommode him in the 
 least. 
 
 " So you've got a valet, Tinker? " said Harvey. 
 
 "Yes, sar."
 
 8 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 And what do you want with a valet, pray ? " 
 
 Tinker drew himself up to his full height, which was 
 not any thing extraordinary, it might be mentioned. 
 
 "My walley, sar, am to look arter my own pussonal 
 wants, sar, dat's de use of my walley. Take dat for 
 larfin', you nigger beast." 
 
 Bogey got it again. 
 
 Tinker promised to be a rare tyrant. 
 
 "Tell us where you picked up our friend Bogey," said 
 young Jack. 
 
 "Bress my 'art," returned Tinker, with a supercilious 
 air, "don't you know dat, Massa Jack? You don't know 
 nuffin. Why, I took de poor debil 'case he was so 
 bressed hungry. I found him starvin', 'case he belong to 
 dat cantankerous dam willin, Capen Morgan, an' when 
 we kill all de lot, dis poor dam ugly critter hab no grub, 
 an' nowheres to look for any. He was so bressed fin dat 
 I took him for a skellington, an' dat's why I called him 
 Bogey, 'case he frightened me so." 
 
 ' ' So you adopted him at once ? " inquired young Jack. 
 
 Tinker nodded in a condescending manner. 
 
 "Dat's it; I took de bressed nigger into my sarvice, 
 an' feed him on de fat ob de land, sar. Don't I, 
 Bogey ? " 
 
 He accompanied this question with a crack of the whip, 
 probably intended to quicken the reply. 
 
 "Yah, ha, ha, !" grinned Bogey, "fat ob de land 
 dat's it. You don't gib too much lean." 
 
 " Iggorant beast," said Tinker, with lofty disdain ; 
 " follow dis cleber child, and don't make a row." 
 
 _There was, at length, no end to the ranks and grades 
 of the humbler retainers in the Harkaway household. 
 
 "That's Mr. Harkaway's bell, Sunday," said Monday, 
 as he sat roasting his knees before the fire in the servants' 
 hall. 
 
 "So it is," says Sunday. " D'ye hear dat bell, 
 Tinker ? " 
 
 ' ' De gub'nor's bell ? " murmurs Tinker, with all the re- 
 pose and languor of a Belgravian flunkey. "Bogey you 
 nigger, do you hear dat bell ? " 
 
 "Yes."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 " Well, go, if you hear dat bell, you ebony cuss ? " 
 "Oh, yes, Massa Tinker," replies Bogey, grinning so 
 as to show a sectional view of his throat ; "but I thought 
 you was all a-gwine at oncet, yah, yah, yah ! " 
 
 And Bogey tumbled head over heels out of the room. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AT PORTSMOUTH MR. HARKAWAY's DOUBTS THE GOOD SHIP- 
 OWNER. 
 
 THAT is how the Harkaway party became increased by 
 one important retainer, the funny nigger boy Bogey Mr. 
 Tinker's valet, if you please. 
 
 Well, Bogey soon got to be a great favorite, and a gen- 
 eral source of amusement all round, so that when the 
 Portsmouth trip was mooted, nothing would do for young 
 Jack but his boy Tinker and Bogey should go. 
 
 The shipowner was a bland, agreeable gentleman, with 
 soft, persuasive manners, and a voice to match. 
 
 Young Jack soon got upon the right side of him also. 
 
 Mr. Murray, for that was his name, had a clerical look, 
 and was generally taken for a parson, as he wore a white 
 choker and a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. 
 
 Young Jack, who was not wanting in brass, put it to 
 Mr. Murray that they would like to take his boy Tinker 
 and Bogey with them. 
 
 "Well, Master Harkaway," said the benevolent old 
 gentleman, smiling, " it is not exactly usual for young- 
 sters like you to take a body-guard on board. But I sup- 
 pose I shall have to say yes. Are they good sailors ? " 
 
 "They are pretty well up in their duties aboard ship," 
 returned young Jack ; ' ' they made the voyage home 
 from Australia with us.'' 
 
 This was settled. 
 
 " I shall be able to introduce you to your new captain 
 to-morrow," said Mr. Murray. 
 
 " A good seaman, you say? " remarked old Jack. 
 
 " Captain Jem Robinson, my dear Mr. Harkaway," re- 
 turned the shipowner, ' ' is not only every inch a sailor, 
 but he is a good man a Christian, sir a disciplinarian, 
 but right, sir. "
 
 10 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "I'm glad to hear it ; I like my boys to be with a man 
 who knows his duty and does it." 
 
 "You are fortunate, Mr. Harkaway," said the ship- 
 owner, warmly, "in having such a captain for your 
 boys." 
 
 "I'm glad of that." 
 
 "Ah, sir," pursued Mr. Murray, "Captain Jem Robin- 
 son is the very man of all others that I should like my 
 own boy to go under. 
 
 "You have a son?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Has he any fancy for the sea ? " 
 
 "No; I wished him to go out in the 'Albatross,' I 
 pressed the matter, in fact, when I heard of your young 
 gentleman at first ; but my boy is not a good, docile lad 
 like yours." 
 
 "Ahem! " 
 
 "No, no, my boy is very self-willed and fast, my dear 
 sir very fast, I regret to say. In fact, a boy that is used 
 up and blast as most fast men of forty." 
 
 " It's a thousand pities," said Harkaway ; " why, a trip 
 with such a man as Captain Robinson would work a 
 radical cure." 
 
 "So I feel," returned Mr. Murray, with a sigh ; "but 
 I've tried and tried and tried until I am tired. The ' Alba- 
 tross ' is such a splendid ship." 
 
 "Safe as one of the P. and O. line, I am told." 
 
 "Quite," replied the shipowner. 
 
 " The underwriters must seek your custom, Mr. Mur- 
 ray ? " 
 
 " I don't insure," replied the ship owner. 
 
 "Not insure ! " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 "As I have a great number of vessels, you see, I have 
 an insurance fund of my own, and up to the present I 
 have been so very fortunate with my ships, that if I did 
 meet with losses, I should be covered for a very consid- 
 erable sum out of what I have saved by not insuring my 
 ships." 
 
 "I see." 
 
 And in truth old Jack felt precious comfortable to think 
 that since his boys for Harry Girdwood was but one
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. 1 1 
 
 degree less dear to him than his own son were bent 
 upon leaving him, they were at least going in good com- 
 pany, and in as stout and staunch a ship as there was 
 afloat. 
 
 So everybody said. 
 
 They had not seen the " Albatross " as yet 
 
 But what of that ? 
 
 " He insures his own vessel," said Harkaway to all his 
 friends and companions; "that's something like confi- 
 dence, eh ? " 
 
 And they were agreed all upon this point. 
 
 "I don't like him." 
 
 "Prejudice, my dear," said Jack. "Prejudice." 
 
 "Don't care," replied Mrs. Harkaway, "there is some- 
 thing in his face that makes me shudder. " 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " I don't know. But I always feel when I look at him 
 much the same as I do when I look at an undertaker." 
 
 "That's because of his white choker," said old Jack. 
 
 "No, no," said Mrs. Harkaway. "He is an oily- 
 tongued old rascal, Jack. " 
 
 "Emily ! " exclaimed her husband, rather angrily. 
 
 "Object to the expression if you like," said Mrs. Hark- 
 away; "I can't help it. Depend upon it that anything 
 we have to do with old Murray will lead to no good, 
 neither to you nor I, nor to our Jack and Harry." 
 
 Old Jack turned away impatiently at this. 
 
 "Jack," said Mrs. Harkaway, seriously, "do you 
 know what you have said to me, scores and scores of 
 times?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Yes, you do. You have often told me that I am as 
 good as a witch and my life upon it this old Murray is 
 a hypocrite." 
 
 " Why, what on earth would you do then ?" 
 
 " Give up all dealings with him." 
 
 " Impossible. Consider how far we have gone in the 
 business." 
 
 "What of that?" 
 
 "Every thing of that. You can't for a mere whim or 
 fancy throw up a whole negotiation. It would not be
 
 1 2 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 treating Mr. Murray fairly. Besides, ask Jack and Harry 
 what they would do ! " 
 
 And so the little argument ended 
 
 Mrs. Harkaway was silenced, at any rate. 
 
 But was she convinced ? 
 
 No. 
 
 A silent, inward voice persisted in whispenng warn- 
 ings anent the " Albatross " and the venerable owner. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LITTLE EMILY AND PAQUTTA A STARTLING ADVENTURE YOUNG 
 JACK TO THE RESCUE THE YOUTHFUL SWELL AND HIS FAST 
 TIGER A TUSSLE AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 
 
 WHILE Mrs. Harkaway was filled with solicitude about 
 her boy and his companion, Harry Girdwood, little Emily 
 and Paquita met with an adventure which may as well 
 be narrated, as it bears directly upon the future of the 
 chief personages in this portion of our history. 
 
 Little Emily we call her so to distingush her from Mrs. 
 Harkaway ; in reality she was fast losing the right to the 
 diminutive distinction and Paquita were rambling out 
 of the town to catch a glimpse of the country, and discuss- 
 ing the prospects of their two youthful admirers, young 
 Jack and Harry Girdwood, when the adventure alluded 
 to occurred. 
 
 "I wish they had never got such a silly notion in their 
 heads," said Paquita, who spoke perfect English now, but 
 with (he prettiest accent in the world. 
 
 'They are rolling stones," sighed little Emily. 
 
 ' I can't think what possesses Harry to go." 
 
 'I can," said Emily. 
 
 'What?" 
 
 ' Because he is tarred with the same brush as my father 
 and Mr. Harkaway. They are ever on the move, never 
 satisfied to be settled down in one place." 
 
 "So it is with Jack," said Paquita, "but Harry only 
 goes because he won't desert his comrade." 
 
 "Do you think that they "ill be liiely to come tUs 
 way ? " demanded Emily.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 3 
 
 " I think it is very likely." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " I mentioned that we thought of strolling this way." 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 " Ahem ! " 
 
 As these young ladies reached this period of their pro- 
 Aienade and of their conversion, they perceived two 
 young fellows advancing towards them from the opposite 
 direction. 
 
 They only caught a casual glance at them, and taking 
 it for granted that they were Harry Girdwood and young 
 Jack, they at once stopped short. 
 
 But they were both mistaken about the persons coming 
 along. 
 
 One was a rakish-looking youth, who bore some ap- 
 pearance of having dined very recently and very plen- 
 teously. 
 
 His cheeks were flushed with wine, and his eyes full of 
 mischief. 
 
 Beside him walked a young fellow, of about his own 
 age, dressed in a tiger's livery. 
 
 Thus their relative positions were shown. 
 
 "Two luscious gals, sir," said the tiger, touching his 
 hat, and pointing to Emily and Paquita. 
 
 "Swell," returned the master, sententiously. 
 
 " Right in our course too, sir, " said the tiger with a leer. 
 
 "So they are, Chivey," said his master, " so we'll teach 
 'em to take up all the room, eh ? " 
 
 On they came behind the unsuspecting girls. 
 
 "Well, my pretty darling, where are you going?" 
 
 And the inebriated young gentleman threw his arm 
 round Emily's neck and kissed her. 
 
 Like master, like man. 
 
 Tiger Chivey placed his arm around Paquita's waist, 
 and squeezed it. 
 
 "Hah!" screamed Emily, thinking it was Jack, "how 
 dare you ? " 
 
 She was mistaken ; but Paquita caught a glimpse of 
 her tormentor, and swinging herself round, she dealt him 
 a spanking box on the ear, that gave Mr. Chivey the news- 
 bell for an hour or so. 
 
 " My dear," began the young gentleman, "give us an- 
 other.'*
 
 1 4 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 And the young scamp endeavoured to kiss Emily 
 again. 
 
 " Let me go ! " cried Emily, indignantly. 
 
 "Not if I know it, my pretty dear." 
 
 Emily shrieked as he pressed her closer in his arms, 
 and kissed her again in spite of her struggles. 
 
 Suddenly the young gentleman's head was jerked 
 violently back. 
 
 A hand at the back of his collar had done it. 
 
 He was swung round and sent spinning round and 
 round, to find his ignominious level in the middle of the 
 road. 
 
 "Hullo, you sir ! " cried Tiger Chivey, squaring up to 
 the new comer; " drop that game, or look out for your 
 nob." 
 
 "Be off, you dog,'' said young Jack, for he was the 
 opportune performer of this feat. 
 
 Harry Girdwood was there, and he was not in the 
 humour to stand any nonsense. 
 
 He dropped the sprightly tiger a very ugly blow upon 
 his cheek, and following it rapidly up with a second 
 visitation, Mr. Tiger found himself on his back, but he 
 was quickly up again. 
 
 Chivey ran to his master's aid, and helped him to 
 scramble to his feet. 
 
 "Just hold my coat, Chivey, while I double up that 
 young rough," said his master. 
 
 "Yes, sir," said the tiger, quite cheerfully. 
 
 He had his coat off very promptly, and began squaring 
 up. 
 
 Upon these unmistakable signs of warfare the two 
 young ladies grew dreadfully alarmed, and both hung on 
 to young Jack to keep him from getting into mischief. 
 
 ' ' Don't go near him, Jack ! " exclaimed Emily. " Come 
 home." 
 
 "Yes, you shall take him home, my love," said Mr. 
 Chivey, the tiger ; " when my guv'nor has done with 
 him." 
 
 "They'll kill him," cried Emily, in great alarm. 
 ;'Not quite," said the tiger, "only spoil his beauty." 
 'Let go, Em," said young Jack, whose dander was 
 regularly up by now. 
 
 "Come home, "implored poor Emily. "Oh, do, Jack I "
 
 fffS BOY TINKER. 15 
 
 " Here, Harry," said Jack, "just you go home with the 
 girls, and leave me to correct this fellow." 
 
 "They'd better take him home while there's some of 
 him left," said Chivey, compassionately, "or you will 
 have to pick him up in little pieces." 
 
 This nettled Harry Girdwood, so he ran at Chivey, but 
 the latter dodged him nimbly. 
 
 "Come, come, this is no place for you, Paquita, nor 
 for you either, Emily. Come along." 
 
 "No, no." 
 
 "Jack can take care of himself, I tell you; come 
 along." 
 
 Half-persuading, half-dragging, Harry got them away 
 from Jack. 
 
 Now the latter was no sooner freed from their embar- 
 rassments, than the youthful scamp who insulted little 
 Emily made a rush at Jack before he could recover him- 
 self sufficiently to be upon his guard, and dropped in two 
 stinging blows which half-staggered him. 
 
 "That will teach you to " he began. 
 
 But he hadn't time to finish it. 
 
 Young Jack was at him like a lion, and he "forced the 
 pace, " as sporting people say, so hard, that the adversary 
 retreated before him half-a-dozen paces, guarding some- 
 what wildly. 
 
 But young Jack was not to be denied. 
 
 He pulled up short, and sparred a bit. 
 
 And then leaving an opening just to coax his man on, 
 he feinted with his left, and shot out his right like a steam 
 hammer. 
 
 It went right over the other's guard, and down he 
 went. 
 
 "Bravo, old boy." 
 
 Now, strange to relate, this applause came from the 
 tiger. 
 
 Such an enthusiast was Mr. Chivey in the noble art of 
 self-defence, that he could not control his admiration for 
 such a stroke. 
 
 However, he helped his master on to his legs and 
 scraped off the mud from his back. 
 
 The shock had completely sobered the young scoundrel, 
 and he saw now that he was in for a very doubtful job. 
 
 However he was not wanting in courage.
 
 16 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 So, pulling himself together, he sparred warily for 
 
 Both combatants were skillful boxers, but Jack had 
 received some very valuable hints from his professor, 
 Dick Harvey, and he remembered now one bit of advice 
 to follow up an advantage sharply. 
 
 So he would not allow his adversary to get into trim 
 again, but boring him in, he set to work at heavy play, 
 and landed him three times in quick succession upon the 
 face. 
 
 He drew blood now, and a good deal of it, which 
 frightened the young ladies, you may be sure. 
 
 The unlucky young rake was restored to the tiger for 
 his care and attention. 
 
 "I think that he has had enough, Jack," said Harry 
 Girdwood. 
 
 " I hope you're not much hurt? " remarked Jack. 
 
 The other made no reply. 
 
 "Apologise to the young ladies," said Jack, "and 
 there'll be an end to the matter." 
 
 " You be hanged ! " cried the half-beaten young rake ; 
 "I'll smash you yet." 
 
 " Well, " said Jack, coolly; "you force it on yourself, 
 so it's no fault of mine. Now I'm ready to thrash you 
 again. " 
 
 " Oh, Jack," cried little Emily, in great distress ; "don't 
 hurt him again ; look how dreadful he looks." 
 
 This goaded the object of her solicitude to fury. 
 
 "You want to get him away now, do you you 
 you -" 
 
 " If you forget yourself before the ladies," said Harry 
 Girdwood, " you'll get more than you bargain for." 
 
 "Why don't you come and help him?" 
 
 "He don't want any assistance," said Harry. "My 
 friend Jack is enough for you." 
 
 ' ' See the girls home, Harry," said Jack, "and then come 
 back, if you like." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 Harry took them each by the arm and forced them 
 away. 
 
 "This is not a sight for young ladies, " he said ; "come, 
 come. Jack can take care of himself." 
 
 In this way he got them some little distance.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 17 
 
 And then seeing that it was no use to oppose further 
 they effected a compromise. 
 
 "We'll go, Harry," said Emily, " if you 11 stay." 
 
 "Very well." 
 
 "But see that Jack doesn't get into any harm." 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "Go back then." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 "Now, now." 
 
 "Very well ; but you go home." 
 
 "We will, we will ; but get back." 
 
 Harry waited a bit to see them on their way, and when, 
 casting lingering looks behind towards the scene of the 
 fray, they had got some twenty or thirty paces, he went 
 back to rejoin his comrade." 
 
 It was just time. 
 
 Jack's adversary had closed with him, and the tiger 
 Chivey, profiting by the absence of spectators, was 
 pounding away at Jack's head and back as hard as he 
 could. 
 
 "Hullo!" cried Harry, rushing up; "that's a nice 
 way of fighting. Drop that, you scamp." 
 
 He seized Mr. Chivey by the collar and dragged him 
 off, and then he kicked him viciously in the rear. 
 
 This he continued until he was tired out, in spite of the 
 tiger's struggles. 
 
 Chivey had reason to remember this. 
 
 "A low beast of a fellow," the tiger said subsequently 
 to his master; " my back's like a stained-glass window, 
 I know. He wears boots like a navvy." 
 
 Young Jack could take a good lot of punishment, and 
 it appeared to have very little effect upon him, for he 
 dropped into the work again as fresh as ever. 
 
 He popped in the blows in such quick succession, that 
 his adversary was fairly knocked out of time. 
 
 He guarded wildly, and swung his arms about, leaving 
 young Jack to do pretty well as he liked with him 
 now. 
 
 "Will you apologise? " demanded Jack. 
 
 "No!" 
 
 4 'Take that then."
 
 l8 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Down went the ill-advised young rake as flat as a 
 flounder. 
 
 " That's a cooper, " cried Chivey, dropping to his knees 
 beside his master; "you may consider as I've chucked 
 up the sponge. " 
 
 "Does he apologise ? " demanded Jack. 
 
 "Yes," responded the vanquished adversary, in a faint 
 voice. 
 
 "All right," said young Jack, all his enmity vanishing 
 upon the instant. "What can I do for you? There's 
 my hand. " 
 
 "Keep it," returned the beaten youth, sullenly, "keep 
 it until I take it out of you when I'm in condition ; you 
 shall get it yet. I'll have my revenge on you." 
 
 "Brute! "said Harry Gird wood; "you deserve your 
 licking." 
 
 "If you want me," said Jack, tossing down a card, 
 " you will always find me at that address; my name's 
 young Jack Harkaway." 
 
 "The deuce it is," exclaimed the Tiger; "here's a 
 
 go." 
 
 And he whispered something to his master. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 JOVIAL CAPTAIN ROBINSON MR. CHIVEY THE TIGER VISITS HIS 
 MASTER'S FATHER. 
 
 NEITHER young Jack nor Harry noticed the tiger's 
 whisper to his master. 
 
 And so, without paying any more attention to master 
 or man, our two companions made their way after little 
 Emily and Paquita. 
 
 And young Jack had not a trace of his late encounter 
 to take home with him. 
 
 Brave young Jack. 
 
 Young Jack was precious lucky to escape this tussle 
 without so much as a mark to take home with him. 
 
 When he got back, he was met at the door by little 
 Emily and Paquita, whose expression denoted how much 
 they had really suffered in anxiety for his safety.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 19 
 
 " What a bad, rash boy you are," said Emily ; "how 
 dare you go fighting like that ? " 
 
 "Now, I appeal to any one," replied young Jack. 
 "Was it my fault?" 
 
 "But fighting in the streets is not gentlemanly." 
 
 "I know that," returned young Jack, "but I couldn't 
 get out of it you wouldn't have me turn around and 
 run away, especially from such a miserable worm as 
 that ? " 
 
 " Of course not, Jack." 
 
 And her looks showed plainly enough that she had 
 too much of her parents' spirit in her to wish such a 
 thing. 
 
 Her looks, too, showed unbounded admiration for her 
 champion. 
 
 ' I've got news for you, Jack," she said, presently. 
 ' Good news ? " 
 'Yes." 
 
 What is it ? " 
 Guess." 
 
 ' Captain Robinson has arrived," guessed Jack. 
 ; That's it. Why, you're a conjuror. How did you 
 guess ? " 
 
 "I expected Captain Robinson, that's all." 
 
 Captain Robinson came, and a jovial, red- faced skipper 
 he looked. 
 
 And his manner was perfectly in keeping with his 
 appearance. 
 
 A hearty, taking way he had that won every heart. 
 
 "The 'Albatross!'" he exclaimed, when questioned 
 by Harkaway as to the merits of his vessel ; "I only wish 
 that there was a thousand such crafts afloat in these 
 waters, none of your flash-looking, rakish craft, but a 
 downright solid-built Englishman one of the float-while- 
 there's-a-plank-left-sort, and never say die." 
 
 Mrs. Harkaway made no reply. 
 
 "And what do you think of the 'Albatross,' young 
 gentleman ? " said the skipper to Harvey and young Jack. 
 
 "Can't give any opinion yet, captain," answered the 
 latter, " until she arrives." 
 
 " What ? " 
 
 " Let us see her first, sir," said Harry, "and then we'll 
 give an opinion."
 
 2 o YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 ''Why," exclaimed the captain, ''surely you don't 
 mean that you haven't been to see her? " 
 
 "Couldn'f very well, not knowing what part of the 
 world she v *n," answered young Jack. 
 
 " Wel^ > suppose that she is about a mile from here, 
 riding at anchor, and waiting to welcome us." 
 
 " You don't say that? " 
 
 "Don't I? "said the captain shortly; "I thought I 
 
 did/' 
 
 " I'll go on board to-morrow, Captain Robinson, said 
 young Jack, " with your permission." 
 
 " Of course you shall, " returned the bluff captain ; * ' and 
 as many more of you as like to." 
 
 " I'll go too, then," said Dick. 
 
 "Welcome." 
 
 "And I." 
 
 "Welcome again, say I ; and welcome all round." 
 
 And so it was settled that the party should be made up 
 to visit the ship. 
 
 Everyone about were charmed with this model skipper, 
 so bluff and hearty was he. 
 
 " A bold and good sailor, I should think," said Dick. 
 
 And this opinion was re-echoed by one and all. 
 
 Mr. Murray, the owner of the "Albatross" amongst 
 others, was in trouble. 
 
 He had one son, as he has already mentioned himself 
 incidentally, and this son occasioned an endless amount 
 of trouble. 
 
 Mr. Murray knew that his scapegrace boy was some- 
 where about in the neighbourhood, and he sought for him 
 far and wide. 
 
 But there was no luck. 
 
 "There is nothing for it," he said, "but to wait until 
 he has spent his last money, and then we shall see him. 
 He always calls when the funds run low." 
 
 But this time the scapegrace boy did not call. 
 
 He sent 
 
 His messenger was his friend, his confidant, and his 
 tiger. 
 
 "Well, Mr. Chivey," said Mr. Murray, in his severest 
 manner ; " what do you want i "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 21 
 
 "Guv'nor sent me, sir," replied Mr. Chivey, touching 
 his forehead by way of salute. 
 
 "The governor?" exclaimed Mr. Murray, in disgust: 
 "do you mean my son ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir, just so." 
 
 ' ' Then why don't you say my son ? " exclaimed Mr. 
 Murray, testily. 
 
 " Because he ain't my son," replied Chivey, with great 
 promptitude. 
 
 "Bah!" 
 
 "Eh!" 
 
 The tiger's manner was most aggravating, and Mr. 
 Murray lost his temper. 
 
 " Be off," he said, " and send your master to me." 
 
 "Can't, sir." 
 
 "Can't!" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 " Be off, you scoundrel. You shall not stay in my 
 service any longer. Get out ; I loathe the sight of you." 
 
 "Very sorry, sir, I assure you," returned Chivey, who 
 looked more upon the grin than contrite, "but I'm not in 
 your service, sir ; I'm in theguv'nor's." 
 
 " Send my son here." 
 
 " He can't come." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " He's on his back ; got on a couple o' poultices and 
 tincture of arniky all over." 
 
 "Tincture of what ? " exclaimed Mr. Murray. 
 
 "Arniky," answered Mr. Chivey, and with a pitying 
 air he added "you don't know what arniky is? Why, 
 it's a sort of lotion you put on to bruises and such. " 
 
 "What on earth do you mean? Is my son ill ? Has 
 he met with an accident ? " 
 
 " Why, no, you can't call it a accident, exactly," an- 
 swered Chivey, coolly, while Mr. Murray was foaming ; 
 "he asked for it, and he got it, too ; in fact, sir, he got 
 more then he wanted." 
 
 "Got what?" 
 
 "A licking, sir about as neat a licking as you ever 
 see a proper cove the other, a regular propper, I might 
 say, sir, with two p's he, he ! " excuse my little joke 
 " he propped the guv'nor all over. Ding dong ! one on the 
 smeller. Tick, tick, bunged up the left peeper. Tap,
 
 22 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 tap, it came postman's knock, here, there, an' where'll 
 you have it next, my boy ? " 
 
 Mr. Murray groaned. 
 
 " This animal will drive me mad ! " 
 
 "Animal ! " iterated Mr. Chivey, raising- his shirt collar ; 
 "come now I say " 
 
 "You idiot ! " 
 
 " ' Compliments pass when gentlefolks meet.' " 
 
 " Where is my son ? " 
 
 "Here's his address, sir." 
 
 The tiger handed Mr. Murray a very dirty card, upon 
 which was written his master's address. 
 
 "Say I'll call." 
 
 "Very good, sir ; shall I take any tin to the guv'nor, 
 sir ? " 
 
 " Say I'll call." 
 
 "Yes, sir, I heard." 
 
 "Get out." 
 
 "D'rectly, sir; but you really ought to have seen him 
 at it. Lor' ! it would have made you jump for joy such 
 slogging, and the guv'nor ain't bad with his fives either. 
 But he wasn't in training like the other ; the proper cove, I 
 mean. The guv'nor he liquors-up too much, and that's a 
 fact makes you puffy, you know the worst thing in the 
 world for a chap in training ; you ought to be right off 
 your lotion. But Lor' ! sir, you might as well talk to the 
 deaf and dumb school as to Master Herbert play ! " 
 
 He broke off abruptly to catch a boot which Mr. 
 Murray, now thoroughly exasperated, hurled at him. 
 
 He placed the boot down on the floor with great 
 deliberation, bowed to Mr. Murray, and hitching up his 
 collar, walked quickly to the door. 
 
 " Nice boot, sir ; good morning, sir ; I'll tell the guv'noi 
 you're coming."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 23 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 JOVIAL CAPTAIN ROBINSON AGAIN STRANGE REVELATIONS ! 
 
 CAPTAIN ROBINSON'S LEECH AND HOW IT BEGAN TO SUCK 
 
 BLOOD FATHER AND SON YOUNG HOPEFUL'S RESOLVE THE 
 
 ' ' ALBATROSS " SAILS TO-MORROW. 
 
 "CAPTAIN ROBINSON, sir," said Mr. Murray's servant. 
 
 " Let Captain Robinson come in," said Mr. Murray. 
 
 The captain entered. 
 
 He was not quite so jovial as he had shown himself 
 upon his introduction to the Harkaways, and he went 
 with his owner into business at once, with scarcely so 
 much as the usual greetings. 
 
 "The 'Albatross' must sail to-morrow night," he 
 said. 
 
 "And why must, Captain Robinson ? " asked the owner. 
 
 "Because the Harkaways and their friends are just 
 about as 'cute as people say, and unless you want the 
 whole game blown, we had better get off." 
 
 "Bah!" returned Mr. Murray, contemptuously ; "you 
 make a grand mistake ; their confidence is unbounded, I 
 tell you unbounded." 
 
 "Is it?" 
 
 "Of course." 
 
 "Then they made some very curious remarks about 
 the depth of water in the hold for one thing." 
 
 "That's your fault, then ; you ought to have had the 
 pumps going up to the very moment they went on board." 
 
 "So I had, but damme ! the water gets in too fast by a 
 long way, I couldn't keep it under by hook or by crook. 
 Besides, I've got a new passenger, an awful rich Cock- 
 ney, and I want to get off before he can hear any ugly 
 tales. " 
 
 "What's his name?" 
 
 "Figgins." 
 
 "A retired grocer? " 
 
 ' ' That's the party. Well, he's going to dub up hand- 
 some, and to take out a whole cargo of good things, so 
 that I don't want to risk spoiling him, by no manner of 
 means. "
 
 2 4 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AMD 
 
 "Very well, Robinson," said the shipowner; "only 
 mind you don't spoil the very thing you are trying 
 after. " 
 
 " How ?" 
 
 " By raising suspicions through undue haste." 
 
 ' ' No fear of that. " 
 
 "When do you go on board ? " 
 
 Captain Robinson stared at his owner. 
 
 "Didn't you hear me ? I said, when do you go on 
 board ? " 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "To take command." 
 
 "Why, you don't suppose for a minute that I mean 
 going on board the ' Albatross ? ' ' 
 
 "Not going!" exclaimed Mr. Murray. "Why, how 
 on earth, then, can she start ? " 
 
 "Why, I set too big a price upon my precious carcase, 
 to trust myself on such a rotten old tub. Why she's as 
 full of holes as a cullender." 
 
 " But they have been caulking and painting this week 
 past." 
 
 "Aye, up above the water line. But let her get into a 
 bit of sea, and it'll all wash away as clean as a whistle, 
 and in'll come the water by the bucketful aye, by the 
 barrelful. " 
 
 "You exaggerate the danger, I am sure." 
 
 "Devil a bit," returned Captain Robinson, " and none 
 knows it better than you " 
 
 "Sir!" 
 
 "Come, come, no smarming politeness with me, if you 
 please. Why, who knows all about it better " 
 
 "The 'Albatross/ sir " began Mr. Murray. 
 
 "Is a lovely craft on paper a splendid ship for the 
 underwriters. However, we're only wasting time by 
 going into that." 
 
 "Why on earth did you lead me to suppose you 
 accepted the command, then ? " 
 
 "Why? I never led you to suppose I was going. 
 I've got a substitute all right and tight, and I shall be 
 taken ill at the last moment, d'ye see? " 
 ' Who is the substitute ? " 
 
 "A pal of mine, who's in trouble, and can't show up 
 until the last moment "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 25 
 
 "But, if the 'Albatross' is not under skilful command, 
 she'll founder before she gets out of sight of land " 
 
 Mr. Murray pulled up short. 
 
 He had said too much. 
 
 He would have given something to recall those words. 
 Too late. 
 
 Captain Robinson leered at the owner significantly. 
 
 "You needn't fear nothing about that. Joe Deering is 
 as good a seaman as ever sailed, only he's got into an 
 awkward mess, and must get away, or he'd be lodged in 
 limbo in a brace of shakes just the fellow for a forlorn 
 hope. " 
 
 Mr. Murray winced. 
 
 "Be more choice in your expressions, Captain Robin- 
 son," he said. 
 
 "Well, that's just what it is, neither more nor less ; a 
 forlorn hope. But there, it's no use arguing. Would you 
 like to take a voyage in the ' Albatross ? ' ' 
 
 "I?" 
 
 " No, you would not, of course. No sane man would, 
 if he knew as much as you and I know." 
 
 " But frankly, Captain Robinson disguise apart, you 
 think that the ' Albatross ' is " 
 
 " Fated ? Yes, that's the word. She'll go to the bottom 
 of the sea like a stone, and you'll land a big plum in the 
 way of insurance, and I shall come in for my little bit as 
 captain." 
 
 "I don't see that." 
 
 "I do, though." 
 
 "But, if you don't go " 
 
 " Then I should consider it my duty to society to show 
 you up." 
 
 Bland Mr. Murray smiled. 
 
 ' ' You forget, captain, that that is a proceeding which 
 would cut both ways." 
 
 " Not it. Catch a weasel asleep, and shave his eye- 
 brows. I've got the ground all thoroughly prepared for 
 myself." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "By those letters I wrote, warning you." 
 
 *'I never received any." 
 
 "I can't help that," answered this jovial captain. "I 
 wrote 'em and had 'em duly witnessed, and copied in a
 
 2 6 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 letter book, and if you pretended that you never received 
 them, why, who on earth would believe you ? Besides, 
 my refusal to go is quite enough, else why did you en- 
 gage Captain Joe Deering ? " 
 
 "I never engaged him." 
 
 " Who did, then ? " 
 
 "You." 
 
 "Get along with you. Joe Deering will never come 
 back to say that, and you might talk till you was pea- 
 green without getting anybody to listen to it." 
 ^ "But I " 
 
 "Bah, sir. You try it on with a jury when you like." 
 
 Mr. Murray gasped. 
 
 "Well, sir." 
 
 "Well, then," said Captain Robinson, in his old jovial 
 style, "it is understood. The 'Albatross' sails to- 
 morrow ? " 
 
 " I suppose so." 
 
 Mr. Murray was beaten. 
 
 The villanous captain got a little money on account 
 and left his owner, smacking his pocket with an evident 
 air of satisfaction. 
 
 He had reason to. 
 
 "That's the first of a series, "said Captain Robinson. 
 " I couldn't have hit upon a better thing. I have only 
 got to apply my leech, and I'll bleed the old rascal just a& 
 often as I like." 
 
 And the villain walked off, looking the very picture of 
 good nature. 
 
 ****** 
 
 Mr. Murray visited his scapegrace son. 
 
 He found him in bed, bandaged and swathed in lint 
 and arnica, precisely as the Cockney tiger had stated. 
 
 His eyes were both discoloured in spite of all the reme- 
 dies which had been applied. 
 
 Young Jack's handiwork was not like some of those 
 cheap printed calicoes we hear about. 
 
 His were fast colours. 
 
 Herbert Murray's nose was swollen to about thrice its 
 normal dimensions, and his lips were as thick as a 
 negro's.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 27 
 
 He rued the rashness bitterly that had tempted him into 
 an encounter with the son and heir of the Harkaways. 
 
 "Well, Master Herbert," said his father, sternly, "this 
 is a pretty affair." 
 
 " It's no use bullying," responded young hopeful. " I 
 did all I knew to knock him out of time, but he was too 
 quick, and nothing hurts him." 
 
 " Hurts him !" said the shipowner, looking up to the 
 ceiling with an injured air; "it hurts me far more than 
 you." 
 
 "I'd bet a penny it doesn't," responded his son, " and 
 chance it. Chivey shall hold the stakes. " 
 
 "Chivey is ready and willin'," said the tiger, holding 
 out his palm. "Perhaps your governor will make it a 
 fiver. " 
 
 "Cease this levity," said Mr. Murray. " Who is it you 
 have been fighting with ? " he continued, turning to his 
 son. 
 
 " What's his name, Chivey ? " demanded the patient. 
 
 "Young Jack Harkaway, sir, and a stunner at a game 
 stand-up fight," said the tiger. 
 
 " Harkaway ! " exclaimed the shipowner ; "you don't 
 mean it." 
 
 "I do." t 
 
 "Why, this young Harkaway is going out in my ship 
 the * Albatross/ or he was going of course now that he 
 has been fighting with you, it is all over and I shall lose 
 a very handsome sum. Besides which, the fact of Mr. 
 Harkaway 's son going out in the ' Albatross ' inspired 
 confidence. It brought me passengers and freights better 
 than any advertisement we could have hit upon. You 
 young ruffian, you have spoilt me completely." 
 
 " Wait a bit, dad wait a bit," said the patient. 
 
 He struggled to raise himself up into a sitting posture, 
 and succeeded, but groaned the while at the anguish of 
 his bruises. 
 
 ' Going out in your ship, you said ? " 
 'Yes." 
 
 'That's the ticket," observed Chivey. 
 ' He was going ; but this disgraceful affair will of 
 course spoil it," said Mr. Murray. 
 
 'I don't see that," responded Herbert. 
 'Nor I, my noble governor," said Chivey.
 
 <# JiOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y 
 
 "Silence, fellow, "said the shipowner, turning round 
 "Mum's the word," responded the tiger, clapping his 
 hand over his mouth so as to make it pop. 
 
 " He didn't know me from Adam," said Herben Murray. 
 "Are you sure?" 
 "Yes." 
 
 "That's better. I breathe again." 
 " Look here, dad," said the patient ; " you've often said 
 that I was a good-for-nothing lot." 
 ' ' I said the bare truth. " 
 
 "Well, then, I'll tell you what. You've often said you 
 wanted to get me away from this place and from bad 
 associates. " 
 'I have." 
 
 'Let me go to sea." 
 Youl" 
 
 ' Yes ; why not ? " 
 When, when ? " 
 'In the 'Albatross.'" 
 
 ilr. Murray started back as though he had ben shot 
 ' Are you mad ? " he exclaimed. 
 'I don't think so," replied the son ; ask Chivey." 
 'Not exactly," said the tiger, without waiting to be 
 asked ; " I am proud of him, sir ; he is just about as art- 
 ful a card as you'll meet with between Portsmouth and 
 Tattersall's." 
 And then he shouted 
 
 " Oh a life on the ocean wave, 
 And a home on the rolling deep." 
 
 "Hold your tongue, and leava, the room," exclaimed 
 Mr. Murray. 
 
 " Quite so ; quick march," said Chivey. 
 
 The patient, however, winked at his tiger to wait, and 
 Chivey, to use his own expressive form of speech, knew 
 his book too well to go away. 
 
 The young rake did not like being left alone with his 
 father, for he could not hold his own so well when the 
 shipowner took to lecturing him. 
 
 The occasional interjections of the tiger helped him out. 
 
 "Well, what do you say, governor?" said young 
 Murray ; "you have wished me dead a hundred times, I 
 know."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 39 
 
 "I!" 
 
 "Yes; I have caused you such a lot of worry and 
 
 trouble, that you Couldn't help it." 
 
 "My boy, my boy," exclaimed the shipowner, "you 
 don't know what you are saying. " 
 
 " Oh, yes, I do, and if you really want to get rid of me, 
 why, let me sail in the 'Albatross.'" 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "To cry quits then with that young beast who has 
 decorated me with black and blue spots like this." 
 
 Bland Mr. Murray's eyes flashed fire at this. 
 
 "I don't object to your crying quits with him," hesaid, 
 "only you mustn't go in the 'Albatross.'" 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " Because I won't allow it. Ask any thing of me you 
 will, my boy," said Mr. Murray, speaking now with un- 
 feigned emotion, "anything but that, and I will not re- 
 fuse you." 
 
 " Give me some money, then." 
 
 "There." 
 
 And promptly suiting the action to the word, the ship- 
 owner placed two bank notes in his son's hand. 
 
 " I must go now, Herbert," he said, "but I will look in 
 to-morrow, and if you still want to go to sea, when you 
 are better, you shall go." 
 
 "But not in the 'Albatross ? " demanded his son. 
 
 "No, not for the world in the 'Albatross,'" said Mr. 
 Murray, hastily. 
 
 And he vanished. 
 
 "Unhappy boy," exclaimed the shipowner, "he little 
 thinks what it is he asks. The ' Albatross ! ' I would al- 
 most as lief see him in his coffin, for then, at least, I 
 should know the end of him. But there I should not 
 know what sufferings might be in store for him. My 
 poor boy ! My poor boy ! " 
 
 And the old rascal actually wrung his hands in anguish 
 at the thought. 
 
 Here was one who did not hesitate, for the sake of 
 gain, to risk the lives of numbers of honest men, and yet 
 who was filled with tenderness for his own son.
 
 30 YO UNG JA CK HA RKA WA Y AND 
 
 " How much do you think he has given me ? " asked 
 young Murray. 
 
 'Twenty quid, governor?" 
 Right. Will that pull us through ? " 
 'Of course it wilL" 
 And leave us a bit to the good ? " 
 Yes." 
 
 'Then what do you say to sailing to-morrow night? " 
 'By the 'Albatross'?" asked Chi vey. 
 'Yes." 
 
 'I'm game," responded Chivey, with a chuckle; "if 
 it's only to take a rise out of the old gentleman who was 
 so down upon that identical point. " 
 
 "And I mean to go, Chivey," said Herbert Murray, 
 " to take it out of young Jack Harkaway. " 
 
 "Once alone with him on board your father's own 
 ship, you will be able to do as you like with that fighting 
 cock." 
 
 "That's just my meaning, Chivey. Ill be master 
 there." 
 
 " To-morrow we sail, then, governor?" 
 "To-morrow we sail, Chivey. " 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS BOW THE LAST NIGHT ON SHORE- 
 MISCHIEF BREWING. 
 
 THE news of the sudden departure of the "Albatross" 
 startled our friends, the Harkaways, considerably. 
 
 Young Jack and Harry Girdwood no sooner heard the 
 rumour, than they went straight to Mr. Murray's office to 
 inquire into the truth of it. 
 
 Here they encountered a little old gentlemen of eccen- 
 tric appearance. 
 
 "Are you waiting to see Mr. Murray, young gentle- 
 men ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir," responded Jack. 
 
 "So am I." 
 
 "The same errand as ourselves, probably," said Harry 
 Girdwood. " We wish to know if the report is true. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 31 
 
 ' About the ' Albatross ' sailing to-morrow ? " 
 'Yes." 
 'So do I." 
 
 * Do you go in the ' Albatross ' ? " asked Jack. 
 'Yes," returned the eccentric little man; "although 
 my line of life has, hitherto, been cast in different places, 
 yet I feel that I was really and truly born for the sea. " 
 ' I hope you may like it, sir. " 
 'Sure to." 
 
 'I hope it may like you." 
 ' Why should it not ? " 
 
 'Oh, I don't know. I suppose you have been to 
 sea ? " 
 
 "Never that is, never further than Gravesend by 
 water, and I have never been unwell. It is almost the 
 sea there, you know." 
 
 "Almost like the sea," said young Jack, winking at 
 Harry. 
 
 " And you didn't feel at all sea-sick, sir ? " asked Harry. 
 "Not a bit, not a bit." 
 
 The two boys elevated their eyebrows, expressive of 
 great wonderment. 
 
 ' ' Then there is no doubt about it, sir, the sea is your 
 proper element." 
 
 ' So I believe, so I believe. Have you been to sea ? " 
 'Oh yes," said both at once. 
 'How far?" 
 
 'A long way beyond Gravesend." 
 Indeed?"' 
 
 'Yes, as far as Australia." 
 'Oh!" 
 
 The stranger eyed the two boys askance. 
 Evidently he was in doubt upon the subject 
 " Australia is a very long way." 
 
 "Well," said young Jack, stroking his chin compla- 
 cently was he trying to coax on his beard? "it is what 
 one may call a goodish step." 
 
 " Humph ! " said the eccentric little man ; " and you are 
 going too, in the ' Albatross ' ? " 
 "Yes, sir." 
 ' ' Passengers ? " 
 
 "No," said Harry Girdwood ; " we are officers." 
 "Indeed."
 
 3 2 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "And we hope that we may be able to contribute 
 towards making your voyage as agreeable as possible. " 
 
 "That's very kind of you. The fact is, gentlemen, 
 sometimes I am very sad ; my fate I consider a hard one." 
 
 " I am sorry for you, sir," said young Jack ; "but why 
 is your fate so hard ? " 
 
 "The fact is, young gentlemen," answered the old 
 fellow, " I am an orphan." 
 
 ' ' How sad. " 
 
 "Yes, I am an orphan, but my instinct always pointed 
 to a maritime career. My grandfather was a nautical 
 man. " 
 
 "Oh, indeed ; fought with Nelson at Trafalgar, and all 
 that sort of thing ? " said impudent young Jack. 
 
 "Why, no, not exactly," answered the elderly orphan; 
 " he was a species of nautical man a kind of custom- 
 house officer what is called a tide-waiter." 
 
 Harry's eyes twinkled, and he exchanged a wink with 
 his larkish comrade. 
 
 ' ' That settles it, sir, in my opinion ; you were, no 
 doubt, born a sailor, Mr. Mr. I haven't the honour of 
 knowing your name." 
 
 "Figgins Mark Antony Figgins, late of Cow Cross, 
 tea merchant. Families supplied wholesale and retail." 
 
 "Dear me ! " 
 
 "The name is familiar to you?" said Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "Yes, indeed." 
 
 "I don't wonder at that," said the orphan, with con- 
 scious pride, " for our emporium was noted far and wide. 
 We made such a show at Christmas, that it was quite the 
 talk of the neighbourhood." 
 
 "I dare say." 
 
 "Well, well," said Mr. Figgins, after a certain lapse of 
 time, "Mr. Murray does not appear to be coming. Sup- 
 pose that we adjourn to my hotel, and leave word?" 
 
 "Where are you staying, sir?" 
 
 "At the 'Royal'." 
 
 Young Jack pulled a very long and serious face. 
 
 "It is a good house, I believe, is it not? " 
 
 "Well, yes; only it bears a very peculiar reputation," 
 said Jack. 
 
 "Dear me, you excite my curiosity," said Fig-gins. 
 "Tell me why/'
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 33 
 
 f 'Wby, people say that really, I can't tell you." 
 
 "Oh, do do, pray," exclaimed Mr. Figgins. "I am 
 most anxious to know." 
 
 " Well, then, they pretend that it is haunted. " 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed Harry Gird wood, "that is a 
 capital joke, sir." 
 
 "We don't quite believe in ghosts in this half of the 
 century," said Mr. Figgins. 
 
 They were leaving Mr. Murray's office, when they en- 
 countered Mr. Mole, who was just coming in search at 
 them. 
 
 Now young Jack and Harry Girdwood had never ceased 
 to be to the worthy old gentleman the teases which we 
 have already known them, yet Mr. Mole could not con- 
 template without pain the prospect of parting with them. 
 
 " Mr. Mole," said young Jack, presenting his tutor ; 
 "my best friend. Mr. Figgins, a fellow traveller, sir," he 
 added to Mr. Mole. 
 
 "Proud to make your acquaintance, sir," said Mole. 
 " Hope you'll enjoy the society of my young friends. I 
 assure you, sir, it grieves me to part with them." 
 
 "So you are about parting? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, I have been with young Jack all his life, and 
 now have to part with him ; he goes on his travels with- 
 out any of his old protectors. " 
 
 And the old gentleman wiped a tear from his eye. 
 
 "We were just going to my hotel to dine ; will you 
 honour us with your company? " said Figgins. 
 
 Mr. Mole was nothing loth, so off they all went And 
 a very jolly dinner it was. 
 
 So jolly that only a new chapter can do full justice to 
 the particulars. 
 
 Harry ! " 
 
 ' Hullo ! " 
 
 ' Don't bawl out," said young Jack, "but listen." 
 
 ' I'm all ears, as our orphan might say. Drive on." 
 
 ' Well, we shall soon say good-bye to our friends, Mr. 
 
 Mole included, and as this will be our last night on shore, 
 
 it must be a jolly one." 
 "It must" 
 " I'm on for a lark." 
 3
 
 34 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " I'm there," said Harry. " A lark with old Mole and 
 the interesting orphan." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 That poor, tender orphan was doomed to have a hard 
 time of it with young Jack and Harry the last night they 
 remained in old England. 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 THE DINNER PARTY THE HAUNTED ROOM AND THE RED 
 RIDING HOOD GHOST A SCRAMBLE WITH THE HAIRY GHOST. 
 
 THE bottle was circulating very freely at the head- 
 quarters of the Harkaway family. 
 
 We don't mean to imply that our young friends, Jack 
 and Harry, were indulging ; they contented themselves 
 with plying Mr. Mole and the orphan. 
 
 To do them justice, both gentlemen wanted but little 
 persuasion to make them merry. 
 
 Mr. Mole was on his legs for the first toast. 
 
 " Bumpers round, if you please," said the old gentle- 
 man, in his most grandiloquent style ; "I give you 'The 
 Sovereign '. " 
 
 "That's for pocket money on our voyage," said Harry, 
 in an audible whisper to Jack. 
 
 "No, no," replied young Jack, in the same tones ; "it's 
 the seven and sixpence Mr. Mole owes me, but I haven't 
 got change." 
 
 " Hear, hear ! very well said." 
 
 "You mistake me, Jack, my boy," said Mr. Mole. " I 
 don't refer to vulgar dross, but to our gracious sovereign, 
 one that we never want to change." 
 
 The toast was then drunk with appropriate honours. 
 
 " I have now to propose a toast which will be received 
 with no less enthusiasm than the last " 
 
 "Hear, hear!" 
 
 "Thank you than the last. The health I have to pro- 
 pose, you will no doubt have guessed." 
 
 " Guest 1" exclaimed young Jack, "he means our 
 host. " 
 
 " It sounds like a riddle, for all the world," said Harry.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 35 
 
 " Really " began Mr. Mole. 
 
 "I can give you a better one than that," said young 
 Jack. " If a herring and a half cost three-ha'pence, why 
 is -Mr. Mole like a rhinoceros ? " 
 
 "Really!" exclaimed Mr. Mole, looking around him 
 in the greatest indignation ; " I never heard " 
 
 " Never heard it ! " said young Jack. " I should think 
 not. It's original, I assure you." 
 
 " Hear, hear ! " said Harry. 
 
 "Upon my life!" exclaimed Mr. Mole, "Jack, this is 
 too bad, and on the eve of your leaving us, really " 
 
 " Don't mind, sir," said Jack, coolly; "I'll forgive you. 
 I had finished." 
 
 "You!" 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Jack, innocently; "that was all my 
 riddle." 
 
 "Jack, Jack," began Mr. Mole, "I'll " 
 
 " Dear, dear me," said Mr. Figgins, greatly alarmed , 
 " it is all a mistake, gentlemen. You don't understand, 
 Mr. Cole " 
 
 "Mole, sir." 
 
 " Mr. Pole, I beg pardon. Mr. Harkaway thought you 
 alluded to the interruption of his friend, and so he 
 said " 
 
 "That's it," said young Jack, "you have got it, Mr. 
 Figgins." 
 
 " I am sure no offence was meant to Mr. Pole " 
 
 " Mole, sir," exclaimed the old gentleman, quite exas- 
 perated. "MOLE, Mole, sir. " 
 
 " How well Mr. Mole spells," said young Jack to Harry, 
 in audible admiration. 
 
 "Wonderful man," responded Harry. 
 
 "You may call this joking," said Mr. Mole, fiercely; 
 "but I call it downright " 
 
 "A glass of rum, Mr. Mole." 
 
 This brought a smile on Mr. Mole's face. 
 
 He could never refuse good liquor, so this glass stopped 
 his indignation. 
 
 They plied him with a glass or two, and he forgot all 
 about the burking of his speech. 
 
 "There, gentlemen," said Mr. Figgins, " now we are 
 getting comfortable again. The bottle is there beside 
 you, sir; fill up and pass it, Mr. Dole "
 
 36 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Mole, sir," exclaimed the old gentleman. 
 
 "Of course, Mole, I do forget names. Bth, i must 
 bring my artificial memory to bear upon it" 
 
 "Do you believe in artifical memory, then? "asked 
 Jack. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " How does it work ? " 
 
 "Simple enough," returned Mr. Figgins. "For in- 
 stance, here is Mr. Foal ; now I recollect I have a bad 
 cold in the throat, on the day that I have the pleasure of 
 meeting him for the first time. N I am hoarse. Now do 
 you see ? Hoarse foal see I " 
 
 "Capitall" 
 
 "Wonderful," cried Harry ; "a grand system." 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Mr. Figgins. ' ' Let's see what was it 
 oh, hoarse foal, of course Mokes on memory is an in- 
 fallible cure for my little drawback. " 
 
 "Of course," said Mr. Mole, savagely, "only my name 
 doesn't happen to be Foal." 
 
 " Pass the decanter, Harry," said Jack. 
 
 Both the gentlemen were getting what young Jack 
 called "nice and mellow" by this time, and Mr. Mole was 
 indulging in his old propensity for pulling the long bow. 
 
 ' Yes, my dear sir, the day I lost that right leg, I " 
 
 'Advertised in all the papers for it," suggested Jack. 
 
 'What?" 
 
 ' Beg pardon, sir, I misunderstood, " replied Jack. 
 
 ' That day," resumed Mr. Mole, " I slew ten men with 
 my own hand." 
 
 : Ten ! " quoth Mr. Figgins, looking quite frightened. 
 
 'Ten!" 
 
 ' How dreadful. " 
 
 'Glorious, sir, glorious," said Warrior Mole, dilating on 
 his favourite theme; "I wasn't then the miserable old 
 wretch that you see me now." 
 
 "Come, come, sir," remonstrated Mr. Figgins. 
 
 " I repeat it, miserable old wretch. Single-handed, sir, 
 I kept three-and-twenty of 'em at bay ; they were de- 
 moralised, sir, demoralised, and I played at skittles with 
 'em, sir, damme." 
 Mr. Figginj was struck dumb with admiration.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 37 
 
 "Thfe is a most enjoyable day in my life, "said he ; 
 "most enjoyable. I shall never think of this day with- 
 out associating the name of Dole with that of " 
 
 "Sir," said Mole, rising, " my name is " 
 
 "Norval," said Jack. 
 
 "Goodness me," murmured Mr. Figgins, sinking into 
 his shell. "I beg your pardon. The wine is near you 
 and time is pressing." 
 
 Time to go. 
 
 Mr. Mole was by no means firm upon his wooden pins. 
 
 " How very uneven your floor is," he said, with a hic- 
 cup, to his host. 
 
 Mr. Figgins gave him his arm, and they steadied each 
 other. 
 
 But it was no use, and down went Mole and the orphan. 
 
 Mr. Mole was not in a fitting state to walk through the 
 streets, and so the boys proposed that he should take a 
 room in the hotel. 
 
 " If Mr. Bole likes to accept it," said Mr. Figgins, "he 
 can have one of the beds in my room. It is a double- 
 bedded room." 
 
 "Very much 'bliged, old man," said Mr. Mole, whose 
 utterance had become strangely thick. 
 
 " Is that your bedroom ?" asked young Jack, pointing 
 to an inner apartment. 
 
 "Yes," answered Mr. Figgins, the orphan, "thatish 
 my b-room. I mean b-droom. Dear, how very singular 
 I can't say b-b-bed-room." 
 
 "That's the very room I was warned against beyond 
 all others," said young Jack. 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Someone declares that at certain stated intervals, a 
 huge hairy monstrosity, half man, half beast, is seen 
 haunting the place." 
 
 The orphan opened his eyes rather wider than usual. 
 
 "What a sniglar, I mean sing'lar shtory," he lisped. 
 
 Mr. Mole giggled. 
 
 "It's like Re-Re-Riding Hood," he said. 
 
 And then subduing his voice to a growl, he replied to 
 himself 
 
 " All the better to shee with, my dear. He he, he !" 
 
 " Hoh, hoh ! " laughed Figgins. 
 
 Young Jack and Harry enjoyed this mightily.
 
 38 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 "Ah," said the former ; "it is all very well for you to 
 talk like that, but you would not grin, gentlemen, if you 
 really did see this horrible thing." 
 
 He gave a most natural shudder as he spoke. 
 
 The gentle orphan looked tipsily alarmed. 
 
 "Shertanly unpleasank," he said. 
 
 Here he became conscious of a certain thickness and 
 ^regularity in his speech, and he made a definite effort to 
 steady himself. 
 
 "But you don't believe in any thing so ridiculous as 
 ghosts ? ' said Jack. 
 
 " No, no." 
 
 "Well, then, I shall wish you good-night, sir," said 
 Jack. 
 
 "Good-night." 
 
 " Good-night," said Harry. 
 
 Mr. Mole was beyond replying. 
 
 He was carefully tucked up, and playing a very inhar- 
 monious tune indeed upon his nasal organ. 
 
 "It's snorer, dear snorer," sang young Jack, as they 
 descended the stairs of the hotel, paraphrasing Tom Moore, 
 or somebody else. 
 
 They stopped upon the next landing, and gave a hearty, 
 but silent laugh, which half threatened to choke them. 
 ' Isn't it prime ? " exclaimed young Jack. 
 'Jolly." 
 
 ' What a rich treat the young and tender orphan is ! " 
 
 'Beats Mole." 
 
 'Into a cocked hat. Oh, we'll have some good fun 
 out of him." 
 
 "Let's get back again sharp, or we shalj miss the oyster 
 shells.'^ 
 
 Slipping rapidly up stairs again, and into the lately 
 vacated supper-rooms, they found the light extinguished. 
 
 Yet the reflection from the inner room the bedroom, 
 where Mole was snoring and Mr. Figgins was still engaged 
 in undressing sufficed to light them upon the nefarious 
 project which now occupied their thoughts. 
 
 "Here's the dish." 
 
 "Hand it over." 
 
 ' Gently!" 
 
 " Hush ! " 
 
 Young Jack passed the dish of empty oyster shells on
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 39 
 
 to his companion, who hurried noiselessly to the door 
 and proceeded with all possible dispatch to pave the pas- 
 sage with them. 
 
 This done, they went down stairs, and waited in the 
 lobby of the hotel for awhile. 
 
 Mr. Figgins had just completed his bed-toilet. 
 
 " What an extrorny tale that wash 'bout wooden legs 
 and the ghosk I mean jost ; sniglar thing I can't say jhost 
 kost confound the thing ! gossush snivelling in m' 
 mouth brumgoil mean gumboil, I sposh Red Re-n 
 Hood. Fancy finding wooden legs and wolf dressed up 
 in granny's nightcap in bed jush ash you wash blow 
 that gumboil jush ash you wash tumblin' in hah ! oh ! " 
 
 He had scrambled under the sheets when oh, mercies ! 
 something hairy touched his leg. 
 
 He started back. 
 
 There, in his bed, lay a long, gaunt, hairy form, with 
 a hideous head enshrouded in a large frilled nightcap. 
 
 Mr. Figgins gazed in horror at the vision. 
 
 Was the hideous object alive ? 
 
 Yes. 
 
 It moved. 
 
 Spellbound for awhile, the old orphan presently re- 
 covered himself sufficiently to shrink backwards off the 
 bed. 
 
 The hairy monster sat up, slowly, cautiously. 
 
 Its huge jaws opened, displaying a glistening set of 
 sharp, white teeth, and a blood-red tongue. 
 
 Mr. Figgins gasped. 
 
 The effects of the wine were dispatched instanter with 
 the awful fright. 
 
 He retreated from the bed. 
 
 The hairy monster advanced. 
 
 Figgins retreated to the door backwards. 
 
 On came the ghost. 
 
 "Mr. Cole wooden legs M-M-Mr. C-Cole ! M-Mr. 
 Coke," he stammered. 
 
 Mole snored. 
 
 ' ' M-m-murder ! " gasped the affrighted orphan. 
 
 But he had not voice enough left in him to give the 
 alarm.
 
 40 YO UNG JACK HARK A WAY A N't) 
 
 He tried to cry out, but the sound died away upon his 
 lips. 
 
 Backwards he went, trembling and shaking, into the 
 
 adjoining- room. 
 
 On came the hairy form, that looked half-human, half- 
 devilish, for Mr. Figgins perceived, to his horror, as the 
 thing slid from the bed, that its legs and feet were long, 
 sinewy, and covered with brownish shaggy hair. 
 
 "Mr. Dole," gasped the hapless grocer, " I want you, 
 wooden leg Dole my dear Dole, I want you badly. Oh, 
 come to my help, or this monster will eat up a poor, help- 
 less orphan." 
 
 The poor orphan did indeed want help. 
 
 Meanwhile, the hirsute visitor, grinning upon its des- 
 tined victim, like some evil sprite just let loose from be- 
 low, advanced with outstretched arms. 
 
 And fearfully weird-like did it look in the long white 
 gown in which it was enveloped. 
 
 " Dole ! " gasped Figgins, his voice growing fainter and 
 fainter. "Oh, help a poor orphan." 
 
 The hairy monster hopped suddenly forward, and Fig- 
 gins, with a wild shriek, fled to the door. 
 
 The monster jumped after him, and Figgins darted to 
 the other side of the table. 
 
 Now he was near the chimney, and here were the bell- 
 ropes. 
 
 He gave a succession of fierce jerks at the rope and a 
 deafening clatter was heard below as the rope came away 
 in his hands. 
 
 He rushed to the other side of the chimney. 
 
 After him bounded his tormentor, with a hop and a 
 jump. 
 
 Figgins made for the bedroom and pounced upon Mole. 
 
 "Mr. Cole! Mr. Cole!" he yelled, dragging the old 
 gentleman half out of bed. 
 
 " Hallo ! " 
 
 " Look up ! here's the devil come for you, Dole I mean 
 the ghost of Red Riding Hood's wolf." 
 
 Mole rubbed his eyes and stared towards the door. 
 
 There stood the awful visitor, grinning diabolically. 
 
 Mole slid from the bed, and the hairy ghost retreated. 
 
 "Go and fight it out," said Mole, not quite understand- 
 ing what it all meant
 
 ff2S BOY TINKER. 41 
 
 " But, my dear sir, I am an orphan and can't fight." 
 
 "Come and see what it is, then," said Mole, as Figgins 
 took hold of his guest by the arm, and together they trem- 
 blingly advanced into the dining-room. 
 
 Gone. 
 
 The hirsute monster had disappeared. 
 
 " It must have been fancy ; took too much rum," said 
 Mr. Mole. 
 
 "No fancy," moaned Figgins. "I know I saw it, a 
 dreadful monster with large, sharp teeth." 
 
 "Well," said Mole, "you look after him; I'll go to 
 bed." 
 
 ' ' No, no, my dear Dole, don't go to bed and leave a 
 poor orphan. Ha ! look, there he is coming." 
 
 "Ah, yes oh!" 
 
 The monster had been hiding behind the window cur- 
 tains, and now he suddenly pounced out upon them. 
 
 The two old gentlemen dodged away, and did all they 
 possibly could to avoid the ghostly enemy. 
 
 But the latter was fearfully nimble. 
 
 At length, Mr. Mole was so fortunate as to drag the 
 room door open, and out he ran, followed by Figgins. 
 
 Mr. Mole stumbled over the oyster shells, which Harry 
 and young Jack had paved the passage with so carefully, 
 but his wooden legs preserved him from the unpleasant 
 consequences which his companion and host experienced. 
 
 No sooner did Mr. Figgins land with his naked feet upon 
 the oyster shells, than it made him howl with pain. 
 
 We have all heard how a cat danced on hot bricks. 
 Well, Mr. Figgins's terpsichorean evolutions beat the 
 grimalkin's all to fits. 
 
 And the higher he jumped, the further his fall, and there- 
 fore the more unpleasant the consequences. 
 
 "Hah, oh!" 
 
 "Murder, murder!" he cried. "I am being cut to 
 death with sharp flints." 
 
 Now the alarm was given generally in the hotel, and 
 up ran waiters and porters, wildly, summoned by the 
 clanging of the bell, and the fearful cries of the two old 
 gentlemen. 
 
 The hubbub seemed to alarm the hairy ghost as well, 
 for out he bolted, overturning the two frightened old 
 gentlemen, and bounding down the stairs.
 
 42 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 A yell of alarm came from the advancing waiters, as 
 the hairy ghost, with long night-gown on, and tall night- 
 cap on head, rushed precipitately at them, and overturn- 
 ing about three at a bound, sent, by the force of the shock, 
 not less than a dozen of them falling head over heels down 
 the stairs. 
 
 Shouts, shrieks, and cries of alarm. 
 
 Feaiful hubbub. 
 
 And when this mob of falling men, a sort of avalanche 
 of waiters, rolled to the bottom of the stairs, young Jack 
 and his companions were just going out at the hotel door. 
 
 But before they got out, the hairy ghost shot past them 
 into the street, his long night-gown torn to ribbons, and 
 his night-cap hanging round his neck by the strings. 
 
 " There goes Nero ! " cried Jack to Harry. 
 
 " Hasn't he had a lark with the poor orphan ? " said 
 Harry Girdwood ; " and what a pile of waiters he has 
 left on the mat at the bottom of the stairs." 
 
 " We had better get him home, and hide him away." 
 
 "Yes, let's after him, or he'll frighten some old woman 
 or policeman to death." 
 
 "Mole and the orphan will never guess it's oH 
 
 XT > 
 
 Nero. 
 
 "No; but what puzzled me was, how you smuggled 
 Nero into the bedroom." 
 
 "Don't you remember, that I went into the bedroom 
 to wash my hands just before dinner ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, I smuggled him into the hotel just before 
 that. " 
 
 "On the second floor?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Hah, I see." 
 
 " I then made him get in bed, and I tucked him up 
 comfortably in Mr. Figgins' flea-bag, fixed the wolfs 
 mask over his face, and then went back into the dining- 
 room to prepare for larks." 
 
 Verily, it looked anything but promising for the poor 
 orphan's peace of mind, if he had to accompany these 
 two high-spirited practical jokers on a voyage in the 
 "Albatross."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 43 
 
 There they would have scarcely any other resource 
 than victimising the middle-aged orphan. 
 . Poor Figgins ! Poor orphan ! 
 
 He merits our fullest sympathy, and he has it 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MOTHER AND SON THE LOVE GIFTS NEVER UNTIL DEATH 
 SHALL PART US, AND SO FORTH THE ' ' ALBATROSS " WEIGHS 
 ANCHOR. 
 
 "JACK, Jack, oh, my own dear boy, pray don't go," 
 replied Mrs. Harkaway. 
 
 " Why, mother, what on earth has got hold of you ?" 
 
 " A horrible presentiment, my darling." 
 
 "That's very strong language, mother," said young 
 Jack. 
 
 "Not stronger than my feelings warrant," answered 
 Mrs. Harkaway ; " oh, my darling boy, pray be ruled by 
 me." 
 
 ' ' Nay, mother, " answered her son, ' ' you ask too much. 
 I have a little of your own independence of spirit, and I 
 don't want to have to rely upon you or my father all my life. 
 I want to show you that I am not unworthy to bear the 
 name of Harkaway." 
 
 His mother appeared distressed at these words. 
 
 Yet, at the same time, the sentiment filled her with 
 pride for her boy. 
 
 The old adventurous spirit of the Harkaways burnt in 
 young Jack's breast as fiercely as ever it had done in his 
 father's. 
 
 Neither time nor altered circumstances could change it. 
 
 It is a saying both trite and true, that what is bred in 
 the bone must come out in the flesh. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 The speaker was his comrade, Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "Come in, Harry." 
 
 "Have you any news ? " said Mrs. Harkaway. 
 
 "Yes."
 
 44 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Important?" 
 
 "Very." 
 
 "Out with it, Harry," said young Jack, impatiently; 
 " for goodness' sake, don't beat about the bush." 
 
 "Captain Robinson is taken suddenly ill and he can't 
 start. " 
 
 " I'm sorry for Captain Robinson," said Jack. 
 
 "And so am I," said his mother ; "only I am glad that 
 the ship can't sail. " 
 
 " Oh, but the 'Albatross ' must sail all the same," said 
 Harry Gird wood ; "it is bound by contract to start to- 
 night, it appears, and we must be on board before eight 
 o'clock. 
 
 Mrs. Harkaway's spirits sank to zero at once. 
 ' How can it sail without a captain ? " she asked. 
 'They have found a substitute," replied Harry. 
 ' A good man ? " 
 
 ' Oh, yes, a capital sailor, according to all accounts. " 
 ' His name ? " 
 ' Deering." 
 
 'Well," said young Jack, "if he is only as good a 
 sailor as the poor fellow who was to have commanded; 
 we can't ask for anything better." 
 
 When Mrs. Harkaway had left the room, the two boys 
 set to work about their preparations. 
 
 These were of the most elaborate nature. 
 
 They had not only all their traps and baggage to get 
 on board, but also to make everything snug for Nero, for 
 young Jack could not leave his faithful old monkey 
 behind. 
 
 Nero had grown greatly attached to his young master, 
 and one and all predicted that if Jack left him behind, he 
 would pine away and die. 
 
 Objections were naturally raised to this ; but old Jack's 
 liberality smoothed away all apprehensions. 
 
 Nero was not all. 
 
 There was Jack's boy Tinker to be got on board, and 
 Tinker's new valet, Bogey. 
 
 However, all was settled to their perfect satisfaction. 
 
 And now young Jack had to bid farewell to little 
 Emily !
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 45 
 
 Two young couples were walking at sunset in a retired 
 suburb of the town. 
 
 They were all of one party ; yet they kept sufficient 
 distance between them to prevent their conversation being 
 overheard. 
 
 It was a tender topic upon which they were engaged. 
 
 "Jack, darling," said little Emily, "I've got something 
 here for you. " 
 
 She produced a small object wrapped in a piece of 
 paper, and pressed into his hand. 
 
 "Don't open it, dear, until until you are gone." 
 
 She had some difficulty in getting this word out. 
 
 Young Jack silently squeezed her hand. 
 
 " I've nothing to give you, Em'," he said, vainly en- 
 deavouring to steady his voice, for he was in fear of 
 shaming his manhood, "unless you'll accept this." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " My portrait. I have had it taken expressly for you. 
 It isn't a very good one, Em', but you'll know that it is 
 meant for me." 
 
 "It shall never leave me, Jack, day or night." 
 
 "Bless you." 
 
 "And you'll never forget this night of parting:. 
 Jack?" 
 
 "Never never, if I live to be as old as Methusalem." 
 
 "And never forget poor little Em' that you leave behind 
 you and say you love ?" 
 
 "Never. Can you believe me such an utter duffer, 
 Em' ? " 
 
 "And you'll always wear my little keepsake round 
 your neck ? " 
 
 "Always." 
 
 She pressed his arm with a tender, trembling hand. 
 
 They had turned the corner now, and a high wall hid 
 them from the view of Paquita and Harry Girdwood. 
 
 So Master Jack took the unwarrantable liberty of 
 pressing her in his arms and kissing her again and again. 
 
 She did not resist, but only murmured a faint protesta- 
 tion. 
 
 "Oh, Jack, you've upset my hair dreadfully." 
 
 "Never mind, Em', I'll be your barber, and soon put 
 that to rights." 
 
 "I don't mind that," returned little Emily, shooting
 
 4 6 YO UNG JA CK HARK A W "A Y AND 
 
 him an arch look, " so long as you don't practise hair- 
 dressing upon any girl's head but mine." 
 "Never, never." 
 
 " If you only cared half as much for me as you pretend, 
 Harry, you would not go away at all." 
 
 'I can't help myself, Paquita," responded Harry. 
 ' Why not ? " 
 'I am not like Jack." 
 ' How ? " 
 
 ' I have no rich parents upon whom to rely. I feel 
 that I ought to cut out a path for myself, dear Paquita, 
 not to be dependent upon the dear, fond friends who have 
 so far adopted me ; now, were I in Jack's place, I should 
 talk very differently. But how would it look for me to 
 remain here an idler and a dependent when Jack was 
 going ? " 
 
 Paquita sighed, saying 
 
 "I never looked upon it in that light before, Harry." 
 
 "Of course you didn't, dear. Look here, see what I 
 have got for you." 
 
 " A crooked sixpence ? " 
 
 ' ' Yes, in two halves, each drilled with a hole. You 
 must wear this half round your neck for my sake, 
 Paquita. " 
 
 " I will, Harry dear." 
 
 "And only throw it away when you forget poor me, 
 and are going to get married to somebody better, better- 
 looking and richer." 
 
 "Hold your tongue, sir," interrupted Paquita; "that 
 will never be." 
 
 "You may think so now, but you may change your 
 mind some day." 
 
 " If you never come back, Harry, I shall die an old 
 maid." 
 
 Harry Girdwood looked very serious at this. 
 
 "Don't make any rash vows, dear, pray don't. I 
 might never come back, and I would not have you sacri- 
 fice your life to a memory ; that would be too selfish on 
 my part." 
 
 " Hush, Harry, don't talk like that, dear." 
 
 But why should we linger over this oft-told tale ?
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 47 
 
 All that they are saying has been said a thousand aye, 
 n million times before, under circumstances more or less 
 similar. 
 
 But never indeed were young lovers' vows exchanged 
 with greater mutual sincerity. 
 
 ****** 
 
 The ' ' Albatross " sailed. 
 
 Captain Deering took the command, and every move- 
 ment, as well as every word that he uttered, showed him 
 to be, as he had been eulogistically described a good 
 sailor. 
 
 "Huzzah!" 
 
 "Huzzah !" 
 
 "Now then, my lads, give them one more," cried young 
 Jack, " and let it be loud enough to reach the shore." 
 
 And the men obeyed. 
 
 British sailors have certainly one specialty in which 
 they distance all possible competition. 
 
 This is cheering. 
 
 Poor old Mole with other friends, had bid young Jack 
 good-bye with a choking voice, and the old gentleman was 
 seen to wipe his eyes more than once. 
 
 And so brave young Jack Harkaway bid adieu to his 
 country to seek adventures, and make his way in the 
 world with Harry and his boy Tinker. 
 
 "We're off," said a familiar voice close at hand, "s'elp 
 my Jerusalem pony." 
 
 They turned simultaneously, showing they recognised 
 the tones, and so could hardly have been both mistaken. 
 
 But, in the nautical get-up of the speaker, they failed to 
 recognise the tiger Chivey. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MR. MURRAY AWAITS HIS SON HE GOES AFTER HIM AND FINDS 
 ONLY A LETTER. 
 
 MR. MURRAY waited. 
 
 His scapegrace son made no signs of life. 
 
 So he still waited. 
 
 At length his impatience and anxiety to hear from his
 
 48 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 wild and reckless boy got so far the better of his discre- 
 tion, that he made up his mind to go down to his lodgings 
 and make inquiries about him. 
 
 The door was opened by the landlady herself. 
 
 "Young Mr. Murray," she said; "do you want 
 him ? " 
 
 "Yes. I am Mr. Murray's father," said the shipowner, 
 quietly. 
 
 ' ' Oh, you are ? Then that's right " she took a letter 
 out of her pocket. "Perhaps you'll pay my bill. He 
 left here the night after you called. " 
 
 "Left? Where for?" 
 
 "Can't say. This letter is to tell you." 
 
 "Give it to me." 
 
 " When you have paid up the bill," said the wary land- 
 lady, "not before." 
 
 "Give me your bill then, sharp come," said Mr. 
 Murray. 
 
 "Hoity toity ! " said Mrs. Bouncer, " we're in a hurry, 
 I should say." 
 
 She held out her bill, and he snatched it most ungal- 
 lantly from the lady's hand. 
 
 "There's the money never mind the receipt. Give 
 rne the letter," said Mr. Murray. 
 
 She handed it to him. 
 
 He tore it open, and read it eagerly. 
 
 As he read, the colour forsook his cheek, and he turned 
 ashy pale. 
 
 His knees seemed to give way beneath him, and reach- 
 ing out, he caught hold of the landlady to prevent him 
 from falling. 
 
 "Goodness 'eavens ! " she cried, "he's dead." 
 
 " Hullo, what's all this ? " cried a deep voice. 
 
 "Old gentleman took ill ; he's fainted," said the land- 
 lady. 
 
 "What does he do here ? " 
 
 " He came after his son. The young gent have gone 
 away flew. He wrote this letter." 
 
 The policeman picked the letter off the ground, and 
 read it down by the aid of his bull's-eye. 
 
 It ran as follows 
 
 "DEAR DAD, You wouldn't give your consent, so I've
 
 ffJS BOY TINKER. 
 
 49 
 
 gone without it. Chivey and I sail to-night in the 
 " Albatross ' for goodness knows where. 
 
 " Your affectionate son, 
 "H. M. 
 
 " P. S. Send me some tin to one of your agent fellows 
 wherever we stop first " 
 
 Mr. Murray still remained senseless on the doorstep 
 while the policeman gazed anxiously at him." 
 Was he dead ? 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE ORPHAN'S PRESENTIMENT YOUNG JACK AND HARRY FIND 
 THEMSELVES ASSISTING IN LEGAL BUSINESS TINKER AND 
 
 BOGEY HAVE A FEW WORDS HERBERT MURRAY AND HIS VALET 
 
 COME ACROSS THEM. 
 
 JACK and his comrade, Harry Girdwood, were standing 
 on the deck of the ' ' Albatross. " 
 
 " Harry, where are you." 
 
 ' ' Whose voice is that ? " said Jack. 
 
 "'Tis the voice of the orphan ; I hear him complain," 
 laughed Harry. 
 
 " He was woke from his slumber and comes up again," 
 laughed Jack, finishing the poetical sentence. 
 
 It was that unprotected individual. 
 
 And the next moment the head of Mr. Mark Antony 
 Figgins appeared slowly ascending from the hatchway. 
 
 "Oh, there you are," he said, as he caught sight of our 
 heroes. 
 
 " What now, my noble Roman ? " Jack asked. 
 
 "Don't call me a Roman, please," entreated Mr. Figgins 
 in a piteous tone ; " I don't feel a bit like a noble Roman ; 
 I am a poor sick orphan." 
 
 Most certainly, he didn't look at all like the renowned 
 historical personage, Mark Antony, whose name he bore. 
 
 The orphan had on a white cotton night-cap. 
 
 His complexion was about as yellow as a daffodil. 
 
 His nose excepted, which looked like a small cherry in 
 the centre of his face. 
 4
 
 5 o YOUNG fA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Altogether, he looked woe-begone in the extreme. 
 
 "What's the matter, old son?" asked young Jack, 
 throwing a good deal of sympathy into his look and tone. 
 
 "I hardly know," responded the tea-dealer, dolefully, 
 "but I don't feel very happy." 
 
 "You don't look at all well, Mr. Figgins, that's 
 certain," joined in Harry Girdwood, with much concern. 
 
 "And I feel as bad as I look." 
 
 "A life on the ocean wave doesn't seem to agree with 
 you," Jack remarked. 
 
 " I don't think it does. My instincts deceived me. 
 They led me to come on board ; and now I feel oh " 
 
 "You 'never were meant for the sea,' you feel so, so, 
 ail round your " said Harry. 
 
 "Yes, that's just how I do feel," admitted the orphan 
 Figgins, "and somehow I fancy I shall never see dry 
 land again." 
 
 At this ominous opinion his listeners glanced at each 
 other significantly. 
 
 It recalled old doubts and suspicions, but after a mo- 
 ment Jack exclaimed 
 
 "Oh, hang it, Mr. Figgins, that's too melancholy; 
 you're in the dumps." 
 
 " Your liver must be out of order," suggested Harry. 
 
 "It oughtn't to be. I've taken any quantity of blue 
 pills since we've started." 
 
 "You look quite blue." 
 
 "And I've got the blues too, dreadfully," moaned the 
 afflicted tea dealer ; "oh, dear, I feel I'm going." 
 
 "Well, you wouldn't have us stand still, would you? " 
 said Jack ; " we're all going, ain't we ? " 
 
 "Yes, but the 'go' you mean and the 'go' I mean are 
 two different things," whined Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "Where do you fancy you're going, then?" asked 
 Harry. 
 
 "To pay a visit to to I forget what the nautical peo- 
 ple call the person at this moment but I know his Chris- 
 tian name's David." 
 
 " And his surname's Jones, isn't it ? " 
 
 "Yes; that's it." 
 
 "Yes, Davy Jones; that's him. I feel I am on my 
 way to Davy Jones' as fast as I ean gallop." 
 
 " Dear, dear, that's very sad."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 51 
 
 " It is ; I am only an orphan, but don't cry for me, my 
 dear boys. " 
 
 "We won't if we can help it," said Jack, getting up a 
 fictitious sob for the occasion. 
 
 "That's right ; why should you ? Though not young, 
 I'm a desolate orphan that nobody cares for." 
 
 "Poor creature," murmured Jack and Harry, as they 
 nudged one another, and sniffed violently in order to check 
 a rising tendency to laugh. 
 
 Mr. Figgins was so touched with these evident expres- 
 sions of feeling, that he burst into tears on the spot. 
 
 "I do feel very ill, and I'm alone in the world," he 
 wailed. 
 
 " You're not the only one in that unhappy state," said 
 Jack consolingly. 
 
 "I know that," wept the orphan ; "but what am I to 
 do with all my money when I die ? " 
 
 " Leave it behind you for the benefit of the living," 
 counselled Jack. 
 
 "They'll be very much obliged to you for it." 
 
 "Ah, yes I " exclaimed Mr. Figgins, " no doubt ; and 
 this brings me round again to what I want to do." 
 
 "What is that, sir?" 
 
 " Why, as I've not a soul in the world to bequeath my 
 property to, I'm naturally anxious to make my will. 
 Oh, dear me, this rolling ship is very unpleasant. I am 
 afraid I am going to be extremely ill." 
 
 "Leave your fortune in favour of Mr. Nobody, eh?" 
 said Jack. 
 
 "Oh, no; I mean to leave my hard-earned gains to 
 society in general. I think I shall bestow it on a oh, 
 Lor' ha' mercy, I knew it was coming." 
 
 This abrupt deviation from the subject was caused by a 
 sudden twinge which compelled Mr. Figgins to grasp his 
 stomach convulsively. 
 
 "Take me below ; I'm dying," he gasped, in a hollow 
 voice, as he doubled up and sat down on the deck, and 
 his wig at the same time. 
 
 "'Take him up tenderly, lift him with care,'" said 
 young Jack, quoting the " Bridge of Sighs." 
 
 " He's only an orphan without any heir," supplemen- 
 ted Harry Girdwood, as they picked him up, and his wig 
 at the same time.
 
 52 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Carry me to my cabin, dear boys," he murmured; 
 "and you must help me make my will. But first give 
 me something to comfort me. A little warm brandy 
 and oh ! water ; and another ugh ! blue p-pill oh, 
 oh ! I wish I had never come to sea ; it looks very nice 
 on land, but when you are on it, oh " 
 
 In the midst of these ejaculations our heroes carried 
 him down stairs. 
 
 Hardly had they disappeared from view when a merry 
 black face became visible emerging from the hatchway. 
 
 It was Jack's boy, Tinker. 
 
 Having stepped on to the deck, he stood sniffing the 
 briny with evident satisfaction. 
 
 "Golly, dat beau'ful ! De smell ob de sea very oderi- 
 f rous ! conglomerated essence ob chloride ob lime notink 
 to it ! do dis chile much big lot o' good arter bein' shut 
 up down below in de fowls' air." 
 
 Having thus expressed himself he walked to the ship's 
 side and looked down upon the water for a few seconds. 
 
 " Massa Jack smoke, me tink Tinker hab a smoke," he 
 said to himself. 
 
 He took a few steps, but stopped suddenly. 
 
 " Gem'lam like me got no right to wait upon 'isself," he 
 reflected ; " sartainly not; what de good o' keepin' a help ? " 
 
 With this impression he went to the hatchway and 
 called down 
 
 "Bogey, you nigger I " 
 
 There was no answer. 
 
 "Whardat lazy nigger got to? "he muttered to him- 
 self. 
 
 Then after a moment, finding that his help did not re- 
 spond in any way, he bawled again 
 
 ' ' Bogey, yer lazy, ugly cuss, why you not come when 
 you massa call eh ? " 
 
 " I'se on de way," replied Bogey's cheerful voice from 
 the distance. 
 
 And presently Bogey himself came shuffling up the steps 
 on to the deck. 
 
 "Why you not come quick quick as de lectric tele- 
 scope, eh, you dirty-looking nigger?" demanded Tinker, 
 in a tone of authority. 
 
 "'Cos him not a telescope, I s'pose," returned Bogey 
 with a grin.
 
 If IS BOY TINKER. 
 
 S3 
 
 "Den you won't do for me, dat sartain. I shall 
 change. " 
 
 " Bery good ! me do for someun else, I dessay," Bogey 
 
 replied. 
 
 ' ' What dat you say, sar ? " 
 
 " Me not gwine to say it ober agin to please nobody," 
 said Bogey obstinately. 
 
 Tinker drew himself up and looked at his rebellious help 
 in an indignant manner. 
 
 " You dare talk to me like dat? " he exclaimed after a 
 moment. 
 
 "Course I dare!" 
 
 " What dat you say to a gentleman, who am your 
 massa?" 
 
 " Dere no massas in dis 'ere free country; all ekal 
 alike yah yah ! " chuckled Bogey, with much bounce. 
 
 " Tell you what it am," cried Tinker, in a tone of pro- 
 found disgust ; ' ' you dam 'umbug, dat what you are I " 
 
 " You 'noder." 
 
 "Me?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Take dat." 
 
 "Take dat yourself?" 
 
 The two niggers master and help having first kicked 
 each other's shins, next seized one another by their woolly 
 locks. 
 
 And then for some moments they tugged away to their 
 hearts' content. 
 
 At length they fell back on the deck with a tuft of wool 
 in each hand. 
 
 And their irritability being somewhat appeased, Tinker 
 said in a dignified tone 
 
 " Dere, 'nuf of dis! an' as your conduc' bery beastly 
 and abdominal, I only got one ting to gib yar." 
 
 "What dat?" 
 
 " De big bag de sack." 
 
 " De sack ? What dat?" asked Bogey, with a kind of 
 sulky curiosity. 
 
 " Ya're discharged dat's what it am ! " said Tinker, in a 
 tone so hard and stern, that it almost took the frizz out of 
 his woolly locks. "Go back to de ignorant black an'mals 
 I took yer from. Yar not fit to live in suspect'ble society. 
 Fake yar 'ook ! go 1 "
 
 5 4 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AMD 
 
 The tremendous energy with which these words were 
 uttered, recalled Bogey at once to a full sense of his dis- 
 obedience. 
 
 " Don' send me 'way dis time, Massa Tinker," he said, 
 entreatingly, falling on his knees ; " me neber pull your 
 wool agin. Let me 'top." 
 
 "No," replied Tinker, firmly; "it quite imposs'ble ' 
 De young gentleman, Tinker, say yar got to go. " 
 ' I'm bery sorry. " 
 
 ' Am yar bery, big, much, dam, tremendous sorry ? " 
 ' Orful ! " 
 
 ' Yar neber do it again to dis noble Tinker? " 
 ' Neber ! neber ! " whimpered Bogey ; " not till de nex* 
 time." 
 
 You quite sure on dat p'int ! Neber till next time I " 
 < Sartain ! " 
 
 ' Den I forgib yar," said Tinker, magnanimously ; "in 
 token ob which, you may kiss my big toe." 
 
 He extended his foot as he spoke, and Bogey kissed 
 that important member. 
 
 In the sincerity of his repentance he did a little more. 
 
 He bit it. 
 
 So sharply, that his forgiving master shot out his leg and 
 knocked him flat on his back. 
 
 After a moment he said 
 
 " You cuss nigger, I told you to kiss my toe, not bite 
 it Now get up an' go an' fetch me a smoke." 
 
 "Whar me get a smoke?" asked Bogey, rubbing his 
 nose. 
 
 "What dat to do with me ? " said Tinker, sharply. "I 
 tell you get me a smoke. Whar you get it your bis'ness." 
 
 Bogey disappeared. 
 
 During his absence Master Tinker walked up and down 
 the deck with his hands in his pockets, whistling. 
 
 In a few moments Bogey returned. 
 
 "'Ere 'im are, massa," he said, as he handed him half 
 a cigar. 
 
 Tinker examined it a moment with evident dissatis- 
 faction. 
 
 ' ' What de meanin' ob dis ? " he asked at length, in dis- 
 gust. " Whar you get dis from ? " 
 
 "Out ob one ob de cabs." 
 
 "Cabins, sar. Why you not speak gumratical ? I tell
 
 If IS BOY TINKER. 
 
 55 
 
 you bring me a smoke. Why you bring me half 
 smoke." 
 
 " 'Cos I couldn't get no more," was Bogey's answer. 
 
 Tinker gave a grunt and proceeded at once to light his 
 half smoke with a fusee. 
 
 In vain he puffed and pulled ; he could get no smoke 
 out of it ; it was cracked and wouldn't draw. 
 
 Happening to turn round, he espied his help very com- 
 placently blowing a voluminous cloud from a piece of 
 cigar that looked very like the other half of the weed he 
 was smoking himself. 
 
 His suspicions were at once excited, and rushing to 
 him, he collared him on the spot. 
 
 "You dam nigger tief ! You ugly, big-mouf chimney- 
 pot ! " he shouted, as he shook him almost out of his boots. 
 "What you mean to rob you massa in dis hyar way 
 eh?" 
 
 Bogey, caught in the fact, had no excuse to offer, and 
 at once glided back into penitent confession. 
 
 " Beg pard'n, massa, 'im no rob notink, s'elp 'im golly, 
 'im habn't ! " he said. 
 
 " You tell lie, 'bominal wicked lie 1 " cried Tinker, in- 
 dignantly. "You know bery well you cut de smoke in 
 two bits." 
 
 "Dat's as true, massa, as one and two makes six," 
 admitted Bogey. " But den de oder 'alf war cracked." 
 
 ' ' Yes, and dis chile got it. You keep de good 'alf 
 yourself, you greedy-gut pig ! " shouted his master, as he 
 crammed the damaged piece half way down Bogey's 
 throat and almost choked him. " Dere, see 'ow you 
 like it" 
 
 Bogey didn't like it at all, and spluttered and coughed 
 a good deal. 
 
 But at length, he compromised matters by going and 
 fetching an enormous regalia, which he presented to the 
 incensed Tinker. 
 
 This timely atonement pacified his master immediately. 
 
 And the two niggers the next moment, forgetting all 
 their past squabbles, were smoking together in the utmost 
 harmony. 
 
 Chivey ! " exclaimed Herbert Murray.
 
 j6 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Sir, to you!" 
 
 " I feel inclined for a weed." 
 
 "All right, guv'nor ; I feel as though I could do a 
 smoke myself. " 
 
 "So you shall. Hand over the box. " 
 
 "Where is it?" 
 
 " On the shelf yonder ; there are two of those rattling 
 regalias still left." 
 
 "Not one," said Chivey, as he held out the empty box. 
 
 "Some confounded prig has been helping himself," 
 continued the young gentleman, irritably; "I wish I 
 knew who it was ; I'd teach him to respect the rights of 
 property. " 
 
 "Ditto! ditto!" cried Chivey, doubling his right fist 
 and giving an imaginary double knock in the air with it. 
 " I'd let him have a good lump of returns in exchange, 
 for his own private smoking." 
 
 "You had better go to the steward and get another 
 box," said his master. 
 
 " Tell him to put it down in the bill as per usual, I sup- 
 pose?" said Chivey, with an inquiring grin. 
 
 "Certainly ; dad pays all my exes." 
 
 The valet disappeared, and in a very brief space came 
 back with a fresh supply. 
 
 And the pair, having lit up, went on deck. 
 
 Both Jack and Harry at the time were writing in their 
 cabin, therefore, not seen by Murray or his servants. 
 
 Almost the first things Herbert noticed were Tinker and 
 his valet, who were both puffing away in a state of entire 
 satisfaction. 
 
 The young gentleman eyed them for some little time, 
 in silence, and then said 
 
 ' ' Who are those two ugly black brutes ? " 
 
 "They belong to the Harkaway gang," was Chivey 's 
 reply. 
 
 " The devil they do !" 
 
 "Yes; that's a fact." 
 
 "I can't for the life of me understand why such abomi- 
 nations as niggers are permitted to exist," remarked 
 Herbert in a tone of utter disgust. 
 
 "It's a great mistake, that's certain," admitted Chivey. 
 
 "Oh, it's a frightful error; they pollute the very at- 
 mosphere. Phew ! I can smell them as I stand here."
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 57 
 
 "There's no doubt they're orful strong-flavoured" 
 'And they're smoking, too." 
 ' Cigars ! " 
 
 'My regalias, perhaps," said Herbert suspiciously. 
 'Very like." 
 
 ' If so, I'll break their ugly necks. " 
 'Quite right and proper, sir, and I'll help you." 
 ' Let's come a little nearer to them." 
 Murray and his valet approached the niggers. 
 "How dreadfully they stink!" exclaimed the young 
 gentleman, as he drew near. 
 
 "Oh, taller and trotters ! " cried Chivey. 
 The darkeys, having particularly quick ears, heard these 
 remarks distinctly. 
 
 It was fully intended that they should hear them. 
 "Rader fancy dem gem'lams war deludin' to us, 
 Bogey ? " whispered Tinker, to his comrade. 
 
 " Me incline to your 'pinions," Bogey answered. 
 " What war it he say ? " 
 " He say you 'tink drefful." 
 
 "Bery much great insult, and dam big lie as well," re- 
 sponded Tinker, indignantly. 
 
 ' ' Ob course it am. Every body know we two ob de 
 sweetest objec's in creashun." 
 
 " Dat's a fac'," exclaimed Tinker, confidently; "gas 
 pipes fools to us." 
 
 " Hallo 1 you two blackbeetles," shouted Herbert 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A BLACK BOY'S REPLY HERBERT MURRAY AND HIS VALET MAKE 
 AN ATTACK UPON TINKER AND HIS HELP, AND GET THE WORST 
 OF IT CHIVEY RECEIVES A COMMISSION FROM HIS MASTER AND 
 PREPARES TO EXECUTE IT A CHASE ALOFT TINKER GETS A 
 DROP TOO MUCH. 
 
 THE beetles looked round. 
 " Who gave you permission to smoke ? " 
 "Neber axed no permission," Tinker replied. 
 " Who gib you ? " inquired Bogey, in his turn. 
 "We don't require permission," returned Herbert, 
 grandly ; " our colour is privileged."
 
 58 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Colour notink. We got jes' the same pilliwedges as 
 you two got," said Tinker, drawing himself up with im- 
 mense grandeur. 
 
 "And pray what are you smoking ? " 
 
 "De very bes' 'Avannahs, ob course." 
 
 "Ob course! Black gem'lams allays has de bes'." 
 joined in Bogey, as he sent a stream of aromatic smoke 
 puffing into the face of the questioner, and half suffocated 
 him. 
 
 "Ugh, ugh, ugh ! '' coughed Herbert ; "ugh, ugh ! you 
 brutes. " 
 
 "Uncultivated swine," exclaimed Chivey, sneezing 
 violently. 
 
 "The fact is," continued Murray, "you have been 
 purloining my regalias, you black brutes." 
 
 As he said this, he stepped forward, and snatched 
 the stump of the cigar Tinker was smoking from his 
 mouth. 
 
 " Of course, as I suspected," he cried, as he glanced at 
 it. " What have you to say for yourself, eh, you black 
 prig ? " 
 
 "Jes' dis hyar. If you take 'way dis chile's cigar, he 
 take 'way yourn, yah, yah ! " 
 
 And with these words Tinker made a grab at Murray's 
 weed, and got it. 
 
 At the same moment Bogey followed suit upon Chivey 
 in the same manner. 
 
 Both master and valet found themselves suddenly de- 
 prived of their choice smokes. 
 
 "Give it up, you villain ! " exclaimed Herbert. 
 
 " Drop it, you sweep ! " bawled Chivey. 
 
 They made a rush at the darkeys as they spoke. 
 
 But Tinker and Bogey, being as quick as a pair of 
 electric eels, dodged aside, and the irritated pair only 
 dashed themselves against the bulwarks of the ship, 
 scraping their knuckles, and almost flattening their noses 
 in their impetuosity. 
 
 When they recovered themselves, they found the young 
 niggers a few yards from them, puffing away at their 
 cigars with a broad grin on their sable countenances. 
 
 "Dese hyar cigars bery much consid'rable good. We 
 smoke dem for you 'cause dey might make you ill," 
 remarked Tinker.
 
 2 HIS BOY TINKER. 59 
 
 " Iss, dey am good, " coolly responded Bogey, as he 
 puffed away. 
 
 This defiance on the part of the darkeys was unbearable 
 to Herbert Murray, and scarcely less irritating to the 
 feelings of Mr. Chivey. 
 
 " You pair of reptiles ! " cried the former. 
 
 " Scum o' the earth ! " exclaimed the latter. 
 
 " There's only one way of dealing with such, and that 
 is to crush them." 
 
 " Smash 'em ! knock 'em to smithereens ! " joined in 
 Chivey ; "go it, guv'nor ! " 
 
 With clenched fists, the Englishman advanced, for the 
 purpose of inflicting condign punishment on the obnox- 
 ious blacks. 
 
 Tinker and Bogey could see their opponents were in 
 earnest, and, quickly knocking off the ash of their cigars, 
 slipped them into their pockets, and were quite ready to 
 meet their foe. 
 
 The latter came sparring up in the usual orthodox 
 English fashion. 
 
 The young blacks did not spar. 
 
 They simply waited for the attack, with their legs a 
 little bowed, and their heads a little forward as if inviting 
 a punch. 
 
 The invitation was instantly accepted. 
 
 Herbert Murray and his valet made a simultaneous 
 rush in. 
 
 The pair of woolly heads instantly bobbed down. 
 
 The blows passed harmlessly over them, whilst at the 
 same instant they shot forward, head first, full butt, and 
 delivering their antagonists a broadside below the belt 
 that sent them flying as though stricken by a couple ot 
 battering-rams. 
 
 The shock of the fall was so severe that they lay for a 
 moment in the scuppers, motionless, with their breath 
 apparently shaken out of their bodies. 
 
 "Golly ! " exclaimed Tinker, after a moment, as he ad- 
 vanced and looked down at them, "me tink we knock 
 'em into what dey call de 'mortal smash.'" 
 
 " Seem like it ; dey not like what we gib 'em," cried 
 Bogey. 
 
 ' ' Dat sartain. Dey look for all de world as if dey was 
 dead."
 
 60 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Bogey's face grew a trifle longer at this suggestion. 
 
 "What dey do to people what kill oder people ? " 
 
 " 'Ang 'em up by de 'eels till dere neck's stretched long 
 as turkey cocks," Tinker explained. 
 
 Bogey was so horrified at this idea,, that he made a 
 precipitate retreat down the hatchway and vanished. 
 
 "Me go hide away," he cried. 
 
 Tinker, whose nerves were somewhat stronger, quietly 
 re-lighted his cigar and walked forward, saying 
 
 " Dis shild not afraid." 
 
 After a short time, Herbert Murray and Chivey came 
 to themselves. 
 
 Herbert had had enough of Australian savages for the 
 present, and he said to his valet 
 
 " I shall have nothing more to do with those black 
 brutes. Having no brains, and skulls as thick as paving- 
 stones, it's losing labour to hammer at them. I leave 
 them to you, Chivey ; you know what to do." 
 
 Chivey screwed up his features with as grateful an ex- 
 pression as possible, and pledged himself solemnly to 
 "smash the pair of them," if he could. 
 
 Herbert Murray then went below, and Chivey having 
 armed himself with a marline-spike, went forward in 
 search of the "black brutes." 
 
 He soon espied Tinker, who was leaning over the ship's 
 side, placidly smoking Chivey's cigar. 
 
 Grasping the implement he held tightly, he approached 
 as noiselessly as possible, and having got near enough, 
 suddenly sprang forward, and aimed a tremendous blow 
 at Tinker's woolly head. 
 
 Had the stroke taken effect, it would inevitably have 
 fractured Tinker's skull. 
 
 But fortunately the black boy caught a glimpse of his 
 assailant just in time to enable him to drop down, and 
 the blow fell harmlessly. 
 
 Before it could be repeated, Tinker had removed him- 
 self several yards out of harm's way, and stood with his 
 cigar in his mouth, with his large dark eyes riveted upon 
 his foe, as if reckoning him up, calculating the chances 
 in his favour in case the white youth renewed his attack. 
 
 That this would be the case seemed pretty evident from 
 the spiteful gleam in Mr. Chivey's eyes. But to put the 
 latter beyond all doubt, he exclaimed ferociously
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 6." 
 
 " It's the guv'nor's orders you're to be smashed, yer 
 darned dirty black puddin', an' by the livin' jingo, I'm 
 g-oin' to smash yer." 
 
 "Am yer?" replied Tinker, with an inward chuckle. 
 " Dis chile bery much 'blige for de informashun, but 
 yah, yah ! golly ! you big bully, you got to ketch 'im 
 fust." 
 
 "I shan't be long about that," cried the valet, as he 
 sprang forward. 
 
 But by the time he reached the spot where Tinker had 
 been standing a moment before he found it vacated. 
 
 The young nigger had cleverly changed places with 
 him, and was now as far behind as he had previously 
 been in front of him. 
 
 Clenching his teeth and knitting his brows with irrita- 
 tion at having missed his mark, the valet made a second 
 rush after Tinker. 
 
 Tinker simply stepped aside, and disappeared behind 
 the foremast. 
 
 "Ha, ha! got yer now, blackin' bottle," chuckled 
 Chivey, as he bounded towards the mast ; and having 
 reached it, he made a slashing blow with his marline- 
 spike, but hit nothing, for the simple reason that there 
 was nothing to hit. 
 
 To his great surprise Tinker had vanished. 
 
 "Where the devil has the ugly beggar got to? "he 
 muttered, in a savagely perplexed tone. 
 
 A peculiar sound over his head at that moment caused 
 him to look up. 
 
 Tinker's ebony face looked down upon him. 
 
 " 'Ere 'im am, massa, yah, yah," he grinned, as he sat 
 composedly astride the yardarm ; " 'ere de ugly beggar ; 
 cotch 'im if you can, you ugly white nigger. " 
 
 Chivey uttered an oath, and clutched the implement he 
 held tighter still in his fury. 
 
 "You shall have it hot when I ketch yer," he growled. 
 
 "Yah, yah! when yer do when," grinned the black; 
 "dat long time fust; come along, ugly white serv- 
 ant." 
 
 It was most galling to Mr. Chivey's already incensed 
 feelings to be chaffed in this way by a contemptible 
 nigger boy, and thrusting the marlin-spike into his belt, 
 he prepared to mount the ratlines in pursuit.
 
 62 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Chivey flattered himself that he could climb "a trifle." 
 And so he could. 
 
 In his earlier years he had had considerable practice 
 upon scaffold poles, and since he had been afloat he had 
 been aloft and regarded his skill as little inferior to that 
 of any sailor on board the ' ' Albatross. " 
 
 But there was no doubt that Mr. Chivey would have 
 all his work to do to catch Tinker. 
 
 At all events, he had a certain amount of dogged deter- 
 mination in his temper that led him to try. 
 
 Up the shrouds he went, and was soon pursuing his way 
 through the rigging up aloft out of sight of those on deck. 
 
 The breeze had freshened, and the cranky, leaky old 
 vessel rolled heavily in the waters, causing the valet to 
 hold on like grim death as the ship, in her deviations 
 from the perpendicular, gave him a very uncomfortable 
 glimpse of the foaming waves beneath. 
 
 But Chivey prided himself on his British pluck, and he 
 still kept on. 
 
 So also did Tinker ; but Tinker was much more at home 
 in his aerial position than his pursuer, and seemed, if any- 
 thing, rather to enjoy it. He took delight in allowing his 
 enemy to get very near him. 
 
 Then as the latter extended his arms to seize him, he 
 would suddenly remove himself. 
 
 But only just sufficiently to be provokingly close, and 
 yet beyond reach. 
 
 Here, lying at full length, with his limbs skilfully en- 
 twined in the ropes that supported him, he would grin 
 derisively in his opponent's face. Chivey ground his 
 teeth fiercely. 
 
 "You infernal black flibbertigibbet!" he growled, 
 "it's no use your trying to escape me ; I'm bound to lay 
 hold of you in the long run." 
 
 "Yah, yah ! " grinned Tinker, " you hab dam long run 
 'fore dat, massa. " 
 
 And as he spoke, he took his cigar from his mouth, and^ 
 pressed the hot end upon the back of Mr. Chivey's out-* 
 stretched hand. 
 
 "Dere, how you like dat, eh?" he cried. 
 
 It was awfully startling, and raised an immediate 
 blister ; and the worse of it was Mr. Chivey dared not 
 let go lest he should fall.
 
 If IS BOY TINKER. 63 
 
 A volley of execrations burst from his lips. 
 
 During which Tinker unwound his limbs from the gear 
 that enmeshed their, and made another move. 
 
 Chivey, growling, and rendered more furious by the 
 pain of his burn, followed. 
 
 Tinker kept himself particularly cool, and having found 
 a short piece of knotted rope, he amused himself by turn- 
 ing round every now and then and giving his pursuer a 
 sharp tap on his knuckles. 
 
 Still the chase continued. 
 
 From rope to rope from mast to mast, Tinker led his 
 pursuer any thing but a merry dance. 
 
 In time he found himself on the crosstrees of the top 
 mainmast. 
 
 "Yah, yah ! Massa Piggy no come up hyar ; the white 
 nigger 'fraid to follow dis chile hyar ! " he grinned as he 
 sat poised on his rocking perch. 
 
 But he was mistaken. 
 
 For the next moment the heavy breathing ot the valet 
 was heard, and his face appeared almost livid with his 
 intense exertions and his longing for revenge. 
 
 He now held the marline-spike between his'teeth. His 
 eyes gleamed as fiercely as those of an angry wild cat as 
 he gradually ascended 
 
 Tinker evinced no dismay whatever. 
 
 He simply shifted himself a little further along the cross 
 bar on which he was seated. 
 
 But Chivey was not to be debarred from following. 
 
 With an energetic tug he pulled himself up and was 
 soon seated astride the crosstree. 
 
 Quickly removing the marline-spike from between his 
 teeth, and clinging firmly with his legs, he once more 
 aimed a tremendous blow at Tinker's head. 
 
 Tinker of course dodged the blow. The iron weapon 
 slipped from Chivey's hand and fell heavily on deck, at 
 the feet of the solitary orphan, who, feeling a trifle better, 
 had paused in the middle of the codicil, and crept up upon 
 deck for a moment to get a sniff of fresh air. 
 
 The marlin-spike almost scraped his nose in its de- 
 scent. 
 
 An inch or two nearer, and it would probably have 
 knocked his unprotected brains out. 
 
 ' ' Good gracious me ! what's that ? " he exclaimed
 
 64 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 aghast, as he glanced at it apprehensively* " It must be 
 a thunderbolt, I think." 
 
 And without making any further investigations, &e 
 crept down again as quietly as he had crept up. 
 
 Whilst this was transpiring below, Chivey was up in 
 the maintop glaring at his intended victim. 
 
 He had again missed his mark, and Tinker, in order to 
 put as great a distance as possible between his vindictive 
 assailant and himself, had edged off to the extreme ena 
 of the yard. 
 
 An awfully perilous position it seemed as he sat there. 
 
 Not that he felt it so. 
 
 Although the vessel was rolling from side to side in 
 any thing but an agreeable manner. 
 
 "Yah, yah, Massa Chivey !" he cried, defiantly, 
 " you know better dan follow me 'long hyar. " 
 
 "I'll have your life, if I follow you into the next world, 
 yer imp of Beelzebub ! " hissed Chivey between his teeth. 
 
 As he spoke, he commenced crawling along the cross- 
 tree with deadly determination. 
 
 Being at the extremity of his perch, Tinker could go 
 no further. 
 
 ' ' Oh, golly ! " he muttered to himself in a perplexe6 
 tone, " what 'im do now ?" 
 
 He looked up. 
 
 There was no way of escape in that direction, for he 
 was already almost at the highest pinnacle of the mast. 
 
 Beneath him rolled the dark, stern waves. 
 
 Almost close alongside him was his foe, with an un- 
 mistakably murderous gleam in his eyes. 
 
 Suddenly the young negro uttered a self-congratulatory 
 chuckle. 
 
 He had espied a rope hanging from the end of the yar4 
 on which he sat. 
 
 All his coolness returned to him in a moment. 
 
 "Come 'long, Massa Chi-ikey," he cried, ironically: 
 " mind you don't fall. Yah, yah ! dis infant hab to fish 
 you out if you fall. " 
 
 With an oath, Chivey extended his arm to seize him. 
 
 " Not jes' yet," exclaimed Tinker ; "dis chile off to de 
 nex' world." 
 
 And before the valet's grasp could close upon biro, he 
 disappeared with the rapidity of a flash of lightning. He
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 65 
 
 was now dangling at the end of six feet of rope, like a 
 spider hanging by its web. 
 
 Chivey looked down at him with a look of baffled spite. 
 
 But suddenly a new idea flashed across him. 
 
 His eyes became full of evil light. He muttered, 
 viciously 
 
 "Yes ; you black beast, the next world ; an' I'll send 
 you there in double quick time, too ! " 
 
 With these words, he cautiously glided his hand into 
 his breast-pocket and drew out a clasp knife, which he 
 opened with his teeth. 
 
 Poor Tinker, at the end of his tether, had watched his 
 actions. 
 
 And instinctively divining what they meant, at once 
 came to the conclusion that his position was extremely 
 critical. 
 
 At once he began to haul himself up. 
 
 He soon reached the yard, and grasped it 
 
 "Tink we been playing' long 'nough now, Massa 
 Spiv'ey," he said, endeavouring to turn the affair into a 
 pleasant joke. 
 
 A fierce growl, and an angry chop with the clasp knife 
 on his fingers, was the only answer he received. 
 
 Down he glided again, maimed and bleeding. 
 
 " You coward ! you big sneaking white dam coward ! " 
 cried the boy Tinker, as he looked up at the livid face of 
 his adversary. 
 
 "You dirty nigger !" returned Chivey, with a semi- 
 sarcastic smile, ' ' I'm goin' to send you where such cattle 
 always go ! " 
 
 Just at that moment the ship gave a fearful lurch. 
 
 Chivey severed the cord with a slash of his knife. 
 
 Then with a wild cry of horror the hapless Tinker fell 
 through the air over and over into the dark deep waters. 
 
 Bogey heard the cry of his master. 
 
 But his fate had been so quickly accomplished Bogey 
 knew not what had befallen him. 
 
 As the " Albatross" rolled on her way, no trace of 
 poor Tinker could be seen. 
 
 He was gone, indeed it seemed* to the next world. 
 
 5
 
 66 YO UNO JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 BOGEY RECEIVES A SPECTRAL VISITATION FROM AN OLD FRIEND, 
 WHO EXPLAINS VARIOUS MATTERS, AND ARRANGES A LITTLE 
 PLOT FOR MR. CHIVEY's EXPRESS BENEFIT. 
 
 CHIVEY, having- accomplished his dastardly act, de- 
 scended from the rigging, cautiously. No one had seen 
 him go up. No one saw him come down. 
 
 Consequently no one suspected the deed he had com- 
 mitted up aloft. 
 
 Having reached the deck, the half groom, half valet, 
 hurried below at once, and joined his master in his cabin. 
 
 With much exultation he informed the latter of what he 
 had done. 
 
 Herbert Murray received the tidings with equal 
 saisfaction. 
 
 Not only was his revengeful spirit gratified at Tinker's 
 destruction, but he rejoiced at the thought of the power it 
 would give him over his servant. 
 
 Chivey would now be a mere tool in his hands. 
 
 " Devilish well managed ! " he cried, approvingly : "pity 
 you couldn't have served the other black brute in the same 
 manner." 
 
 " I'll do that yet," promised Chivey : " I'll pickle him 
 in brine at the first opportunity." 
 
 "Do so," replied his master ; " what are' the lives of a 
 pair of dirty niggers? Something less than nothing at all. 
 Bring out the brandy, Chivey, and let's have a smoke." 
 
 The liquor and cigars were produced. 
 
 Not the slightest compunction or remorse oppressed 
 them. 
 
 The fact that they were at that moment chargeable 
 with the crime of murder did not intrude itself upon their 
 minds. 
 
 It was only a dirty nigger that had been suddenly 
 dispatched into eternity what was that? Less than 
 nothing ! And so they smoked and drank to their hearts' 
 content.
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 67 
 
 But there was one on board whose mind was ill at ease. 
 
 This one was Bogey. 
 
 Young Jack was also dreadfully concerned about his 
 boy Tinker, and caused every search to be made for him. 
 
 The general opinion was that the young negro had 
 paid not for peeping but climbing ; and that, in his 
 gambols amongst the rigging of which he was very 
 fond he had slipped his hold and fallen into the sea. 
 
 Bogey listened to these opinions. 
 
 But he only shook his head ominously, and kept his 
 thoughts whatever they were to himself. 
 
 It was night. 
 
 Bogey feeling in particularly depressed spirits, young 
 Jack had given him permission to retire to his bunk early ; 
 but he could not sleep. 
 
 The ship rolled heavily ; and he lay listening to her 
 creaking timbers, that sounded like the wailings of 
 someone in pain. 
 
 Thinking, as he lay, of his lost comrade, wondering 
 what had become of him. 
 
 As he lay there, he was suddenly startled by a strange 
 sound, like someone breathing almost close to him. 
 
 Sitting up, he looked out of his bunk, half expecting to 
 see one of his white foes Chivey for instance with a 
 knife in his hand, standing at his side ; but he saw noth- 
 ing. And still the deep respirations were distinctly 
 audible. 
 
 " What de dooce am dat ? " he muttered. 
 
 Bogey began to experience some very unpleasant 
 sensations. 
 
 * ' It notink ! it can't be notink ! it on'y some 'un in de 
 nex' cabin," he argued with himself; and with this 
 reflection he lay down again ; but presently he heard a 
 voice exclaim in indistinct and smothered tones 
 
 ' ' Bogey, Bogey ! " 
 
 "What de matter? Bogey am all right," he cried, 
 starting up once more in his bed, with a chill creeping of 
 gooseflesh all over him. 
 
 There was no answer for a moment ; and then the 
 voice continued inquiringly
 
 68 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 ' You dere, Bogey ? " 
 
 "Iss me hyar ! " returned the young negro, his teeth 
 chattering audibly. 
 
 " Am you all 'lone by you 'self? " 
 
 I i i iss, me all 'lone by my self. I wish I 
 wasn't," gasped Bogey, the big drops trickling down his 
 face. 
 
 'Dat right ! den dis chile can come out." 
 ' Who am yah ? " shivered Bogey. 
 ' Don't yah know the soun' ob my woice? " 
 ' No n o ! s'elp 'im golly 'im don't ! " 
 'It Tinker dat undressing hisself to yah at dis minniL" 
 This was too much for Bogey. 
 And he shouted 
 
 'It dam lie, it notink ob de kind. Tinker dead." 
 ' I tell you I am here. " 
 ' If you Tinker, whar am you den ? " 
 ' In de cupboard, " the voice replied 
 'This fact of course accounted for the muffled 
 indistinctness of the tones of the speaker. 
 But Bogey was still incredulous. 
 And he replied 
 
 " Dat 'nother lie ! Tinker at de bottom ob de sea, and 
 de fishes habin' dere supper off him." 
 
 Something very much like a subdued laugh was heard 
 at this. 
 
 And presently the voice said 
 " Tinker come back to see Bogey." 
 Bogey's superstitious terrors were becoming stronger 
 every moment. 
 
 But he replied desperately 
 
 " If you am Tinker, why de debble you stop in de cup- 
 board, eh ? Why you not come out and show yourself? " 
 There was a slight scraping heard within the recess. 
 The door slowly opened a little, and a black woolly 
 head was thrust out. 
 
 In the dim light of the ship's lantern, Bogey at once 
 recognised his comrade's well-known features. 
 
 "Iss, ise, you am Tinker," he exclaimed; "dere not 
 de least doubt on dat point." 
 
 The door swung open wider at this juncture, and 
 Tinker with one stride stepped forth, and stood before 
 his comrade.
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 69 
 
 There was something in his manner that impressed 
 Bogey as strange. 
 
 Perhaps Tinker, in his love of mischief, was acting a part 
 
 At all events, his help was still a prey to his fears. 
 
 ' ' Am you de real Tinker, or am you a member ob de 
 land ob sperrits ? " he asked. 
 
 ' ' I'm de real Tinker, ole hoss, and dere no sperrits about 
 me. Wish dere war." 
 
 Encouraged by this assurance, Bogey sprang from his 
 bed, and grasped his comrade by the hand. 
 
 To his great joy he found him real flesh and blood. 
 
 ' ' Oh, golly, golly ! " he cried, excitedly, ' ' dis bery 
 won'ful, bery strawb'ry won'ful. Dey say you slip from 
 de rope, and fall into de sea." 
 
 " So I did fall into de sea. But Massa Chivey cut de 
 rope fust, wid him knife," explained Tinker. 
 
 " He big bla'guard. But how you get back agin hyar, 
 den ? " 
 
 "Him swim to de ship's side, lay hole ob rope, pull 
 hisself up, get trough the cabin winder." 
 
 1 ' An' 'ide yourself in de cupboard ? " 
 
 "Iss." 
 
 "Why you 'ide, eh?" 
 
 " Want to sarve out Massa Chivey, dat why. 'Lectrify 
 im out ob his 'leben senses." 
 
 Bogey looked at his comrade inquiringly. 
 
 " 'Ow you do dat ? " 
 
 " Tear afore 'im in de' middle ob de night, He tink 
 me ghost of murdered Tinker I Gib 'em de 'errors orful, " 
 said Tinker, in an awfully deep and impressive tone. 
 
 Bogey grinned from ear to ear. 
 
 " Golly, dat good ! Dat fuss-rate good," he exclaimed. 
 
 "Me fader tink it am," said Tinker complacently. 
 
 " But 'ow you gwine to manidge 'bout de ghost ? " Bogey 
 asked. 
 
 Tinker grinned and winked and his head nodded like a 
 Chinese image, as he chuckled in reply 
 
 " Dis chile know all 'bout it." 
 
 "But dis chile don't know notink; an' 'im want to 
 know bery much." 
 
 Suddenly he exclaimed 
 
 " Me got it de hidear.' 
 
 "What am it, eh?"
 
 y YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Why, fust you get under Massa Chivey's bed." 
 
 " 'Top bit ; got to git into Massa Chivey's cabin fust, 
 fore 'im git under de bed," grinned Tinker; " 'ow me 
 get dare ? " 
 
 "Through de door, ob course," said Bogey, looking 
 rather indignant at the simplicity of the question. 
 
 " S'pose de door locked," said his comrade, knowingly ; 
 "what den?" 
 
 Bogey scratched his head again fretfully. 
 
 "Dunno any oder way den," Bogey replied. 
 
 " Den I show you," said Tinker ; "look hyar ! " 
 
 As he spoke, he went into the cupboard. 
 
 His comrade followed eagerly. 
 
 "You see de boards there ?" continued Tinker, as he 
 pointed to the back. 
 ' Iss, me see 'em. " 
 
 'Bery good ; den behind dare Massa Chivey's cabin." 
 ' Am it, though ? " 
 ' Iss well, dem boards moves. " 
 ' Golly ! does 'em ? " 
 
 Tinker pushed aside a panel, which slid along in a 
 groove, disclosing a tolerably large aperture which was, 
 however, entirely filled up with what appeared to be solid 
 wood. 
 
 Bogey noticed this at once, and exclaimed 
 
 ' ' You not be able to get in dere ! " 
 
 "Wait bit ; you see. " 
 
 As Tinker spoke, he applied his hand to the wood, and, 
 giving it a slight tug, it came away, revealing the back 
 view of the interior of a chest of drawers. 
 
 " Golly 1" murmured Bogey, in much surprise at this 
 wonderful discovery; "you mean git inside dem 
 drawers ? " 
 
 "Ob course 'im do," Tinker replied, as with another 
 slight pull he removed the backing of the bottom drawer. 
 
 The drawer was entirely empty. 
 
 "Dere," said Tinker, triumphantly, " dat whar de 
 ghost gwine to be." 
 
 And in order to prove the practicability of this arrange- 
 ment, he crawled in. 
 
 " But Massa Chivey not be able to see you in dere," 
 remarked his comrade, after a moment. 
 
 "Know dat as well as you do," Tinker replied sharply ;
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. 7 1 
 
 "but he able to 'ear me when I gib 'im drefful warnin' (he 
 meant warning) out ob de key'ole." 
 
 "Ah, yes ; 'im 'ear dat ! " admitted Bogey, "golly, im 
 be in great fright." 
 
 After a moment he said inquiringly 
 
 " 'Ow you gwine to get out ? " 
 
 "Crawl out the same way I crawl in," replied Tinker, 
 with a grin as he emerged backwards from his narrow 
 retreat, and replaced the back of the drawers. 
 
 Bogey watched this operation. 
 
 "'Ow de ghost gwine to show 'isself? " he asked. 
 
 "Open you eyes," Tinker replied, with a chuckle ; and 
 as he spoke, he pushed the panel a little further along in 
 its groove, until it was clear of the chest of drawers, and 
 displayed an aperture through which the interior of the 
 adjoining cabin could be distinctly seen, and through 
 which a not over bulky body could squeeze itself easily. 
 
 " Dere," exclaimed Tinker, as he pointed to it triumph- 
 antly ; "dat de way de ghost gwine to show hisself, 
 and dat the way de ghost gwine to vanquish arter- 
 wards. " 
 
 "Golly," exclaimed Bogey, "Massa Chivey hab de 
 funks orful when he see you, Tinker ; he go inter con- 
 fluxions an' kick the buckit." 
 
 " Sarve 'im right, too," Tinker replied, as he closed the 
 panel again. 
 
 "I say, ole hoss," said Bogey, to his comrade, after 
 contemplating him thoughtfully for a moment. 
 
 "What de matter now ? " 
 
 "You don't look bit like a ghost." 
 
 "Course 'im don't jest at present; but 'im will 'fore 
 long. Yar go an' get me lump ob chalk." 
 
 "Any thing else ? " 
 
 "Shouldn't mind some grubs as well, if yar can get 'old 
 ob some." 
 
 "An' sometink to drink? " 
 
 " Iss. Go fetch old Mole's bottle we brought wid us, 
 yah, yah ! Drop ob rum do me lot ob good." 
 
 ' ' Course it would. I git some too. As you gwine to 
 act the ghost, it bery right and proper you liquor up wid 
 de sperrits fust." 
 
 And with a broad grin at his own humorous idea, Bogey 
 left the cabin.
 
 7 2 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 He was soon back again with a loaf and a lump of 
 chalk, and last, not least, a pint bottle of rum. 
 
 Tinker uncorked the bottle, and took a good swig at 
 the spirit, which, after being drenched in the waves he 
 needed, if only to quicken his circulation. 
 
 He then proceeded to convert himself into a ghastly 
 spectre. 
 
 His first step in this transforming process was to give 
 his dusky features a coat of whiting. 
 
 "Want eber so much more, yet," said Bogey, who 
 watched the operation with much interest. "You not 
 more dan whitey-brown at present." 
 
 "Dat lot much too white for niggers," responded 
 Tinker ; " niggers' ghostes not white at all." 
 
 "What colour am dey, den ? " 
 
 "Grey, excep' when de weader cold; den dey turn 
 blue." 
 
 Tinker, after some little trouble, contrived with the 
 assistance of a fragment of looking-glass, to bring his face 
 to a very ghostly hue. 
 
 Altogether, he performed his work very artistically. 
 
 He was neither too white nor too dark ; but a kind of 
 ashy grey, much more awful to contemplate. 
 
 Having finished this, he wrapped himself in a couple 
 of sheets, tied a pillow case round his head, and his 
 spectral make-up was completed. 
 
 " You look like ghost now," cried Bogey, in an ecstasy 
 of admiration, " dere no doubt 'bout dat. Me run fitch 
 you big fish, den you show Chivey you come from bottom 
 ob de sea." 
 
 Tinker, as he glanced at himself in his small mirror, 
 could but think that he was the very cream of spectres ; 
 and having indulged in another sip of rum, and taken in 
 hand a large fish Bogey brought him, he sat down to 
 wait until the moment of action should arrive.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 73 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A GUILTY CONSCIENCE A BAD COMPANION THE GROAN THE 
 WARNING VOICE FROM THE CHEST OF DRAWERS APPEAR- 
 ANCE OF THE MURDERED TINKER TERRIBLE PREDICTION THE 
 
 GHOST SETS HIS MARK ON CHIVEY, AND DEPARTS. 
 
 CHIVEY had been spending the evening, as he usually 
 did in his master's company, in the intellectual pastime 
 of smoking cigars and drinking brandy. 
 
 It was late when he reached his own cabin ; which, 
 owing to the rolling of the ship and the liquor he had 
 swallowed, he did not accomplish very easily. 
 
 "Phew !" he muttered, as he entered, and after several 
 abortive efforts, locked the door and dropped the key. 
 " I've had a reg'lar good soakin' to-night. Hang me, if 
 I don't feel more than half hie screwed." 
 
 He staggered to his bed, and sat down upon it. 
 
 Looking mistily at nothing particular, with his stump 
 of cigar between his teeth. 
 
 "My mast'r's jolly good fell'r," he soliloquised; "a 
 reg'lar hie brick ; it's pleas'r' to work for reg'lar 
 hie brick. " 
 
 He sucked hard at his Havannah stump fora moment, 
 but could draw no smoke from it. 
 
 It had gone out. 
 
 "Confound the hie c'gar ! but no mattT." 
 
 His thoughts again reverted to his master. 
 
 ' ' How pleased Mr. Herbert was when I told him how 
 I'd settled that black beggar. Ha, ha ! what a chase he 
 led me through the hie rigging ; wonder I hadn't broke 
 my blessed hie neck. Lucky had my knife in pocket 
 that dropped him cut him adrift, and now he's at the 
 bottom of the hie sea." 
 
 With a half-drunken chuckle, Mr. Chivey leant back 
 on his bed, and looked in a vacant manner at his top 
 boots. 
 
 " Now for a little drop more brandy." 
 
 But before he could drink, an awfully hollow groan 
 made him pause suddenly, and sit bolt upright.
 
 74 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " What the devil's that ! " he muttered to himself. 
 
 He was answered by a second groan, more hollow and 
 deeper than the first. 
 
 He looked round him apprehensively, but saw nothing. 
 
 Again the groan was repeated. 
 
 "Somebody got hie stomach ache nex' door must 
 have. What's the matter ? anyone ill ? " he shouted. 
 
 Another groan was returned of harrowing intensity. 
 
 "Don't kick up that jolly hie row," he bawled; "go 
 to sleep." 
 
 "Oh, oh ! me no sleep nebber no more ! oh ! " groaned 
 the voice again. 
 
 These words had a startling effect on the valet. 
 
 His hair began to bristle. 
 
 His cigar dropped from between his chattering teeth. 
 
 The flask fell from his trembling hand. 
 
 He fancied he rcognised the voice. 
 
 "Who speaks? " he gasped at length. 
 
 "It am me." 
 
 "Who the deuce is me ? " 
 
 " I'm de ghost ob de deceased Tinker what you killed 
 and sent into the next world at a minnit's notice." 
 
 " The devil you are ! " shivered the conscience-stricken 
 valet, as he rolled his haggard eyes around in search of 
 the speaker, who was still invisible. 
 
 Mr. Chivey, who was rapidly becoming sober under 
 the influence of terror, felt certain in his own mind that 
 the ghost was in the chest of drawers. 
 
 "It's someone havin' a lark with me," he muttered to 
 himself; "and yet how could any thing mortal get into 
 that drawer when it's locked ? " he thought. 
 
 After an instant, he asked of the spectre 
 
 ' ' Where are you ? " 
 
 "Dat no business ob yourn, Massa Chivey ! " the 
 spectre answered in a dogged tone. 
 
 "It is my business ! " cried the valet, desperately ; "I 
 know where you are, Mr. Ghost you're in my bottom 
 drawer ; and I'll have you out too ! " 
 
 A sarcastic laugh responded (evidently from the afore- 
 said keyhole), and then died away in a hollow murmur. 
 
 Summoning all his resolution, Chivey sprang from his 
 bed, and, rushing to the drawer, unlocked it and dragged 
 it out. '
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 75 
 
 It was perfectly empty. 
 
 "W w well, s s 'elp me n n never ! " he gasped, 
 as he felt the drops of perspiration trickling down his 
 back; "it is a a g ghost of someone, perhaps mur- 
 dered in this little den ! " 
 
 With trembling hands he closed the drawer, and stag- 
 gered back to his bed. 
 
 His knees knocking together as he staggered to his bed, 
 but he was not allowed to remain in peace. 
 
 Again the awful voice was heard at the keyhole. 
 
 "Massa Chivey, Massa Chivey !" it called. "You 
 have done a drefful murder, and I want you." 
 
 " W w what do yer w w want?" stammered the 
 terror-stricken rough. 
 
 " It you I want," was the hollow reply. 
 
 " I'll fetch my master for you. I c c can't c c c 
 come ! " returned Chivey, scarcely able to reply, and 
 feeling strongly inclined to shriek. 
 
 "Don't want yar master, and me don't want you to 
 come nowheres just at present," continued the voice. 
 
 " That's all right," muttered Chivey, in a tone of relief; 
 ' ' go back to the next world as soon as possible, that's 
 a good cove." 
 
 "No ! " cried the spectre peremptorily ; " me come up 
 from de bottom ob de sea, purpose to haunt yar." 
 
 " Haunt me ? " groaned the perspiring Chivey ; "oh, 
 Lor' ! oh, Lor' ! " 
 
 Then, in a kind of desperate mirth, he sang out 
 
 "Tommy, make room for your uncle." 
 
 To which the invisible ghost replied solemnly 
 
 "Dere no room for Tommy, nor 'um uncle neider." 
 
 "Do go away, there's a good fellow ; give young Jack 
 Harkaway a turn ; I don't want you. I want to go to 
 sleep," moaned Chivey, in a tone of despair. 
 
 "Yar nebber gwine to sleep no more. The ghost ob 
 poor Tinker keep you 'wake ebery night. Him ghost 
 close to you now." 
 
 " Don't, don't," gasped the valet ; " " I I'm v very 
 s sorry, 'pon my soul I am. Hook it, for goodness' 
 sake, or I shall do something desperate." 
 
 There was a hollow laugh at this. 
 
 And the next moment a white object rose up slowly 
 behind the further side of the chest of drawers.
 
 76 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 There was no mistaking the grim, ashen-grey features 
 of the spectre. 
 
 They belonged to the dead Tinker, and no one else. 
 
 Chivey recognised them with his eyes starting almost 
 out of his head, and sat perfectly helpless, glaring at the 
 ghastly face. 
 
 The ghost, with its stern, unwinking orbs, glared in 
 return at him. 
 
 " Massa Chivey ! Massa Chivey ! " exclaimed the 
 spectre at length, in an awful tone. 
 
 "I'm he ere," gasped the unnerved valet, wishing 
 from the bottom of his heart he had been a thousand 
 miles off. 
 
 The ghostly form extended its greyish-white hand, and 
 continued impressively 
 
 "Yarjes' got to take de wool out ob yar ears, and 
 listen to what I say." 
 
 "Haven't g g got any w w wool in 'em," mur- 
 mured Chivey. 
 
 " Den don't take it out." 
 
 "I w w won't." 
 
 "You mind and pay de mos' partickler inattenshun. 
 I come all de way up from de bottom ob de sea to warn 
 yar." 
 
 "What about?" 
 
 "Ob de drefful fate dat comin' to you and yourmassa." 
 
 "What fate? " inquired Chivey, a nameless terror hold- 
 ing him fast. 
 
 "You bote ob you goin' to de nex' worl' together." 
 
 " You mean to say we're a-goin' to die ? " 
 
 " It's sartain you am ; dat quite settled." 
 
 "Andwhen'sit a-comin' off ? " asked the valet, with 
 quivering lips and blanched cheeks. 
 
 "It not my bis'ness to name dates," responded the 
 ghost, cautiously ; " you'll know when de time come." 
 
 "And me and the the guv'nor's a-goin' to s s 
 slope together, are we ? " said Chivey. 
 
 "Yes, bote togeder." 
 
 " At a short notice ? " 
 
 "Yes, bery sudden ; jes' as you drop me into the sea, you 
 be dropped." 
 
 "Any thing else? " said Chivey, who having heard the 
 worst, was beginning to grow
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 77 
 
 "Yes, when you kill dis child, him drop to bottom of 
 de sea, and die ; den de big fish come to poor boy Tinker 
 and begin to eat him up. Dis fish," said Tinker, holding 
 up the one brought him by Bogey, "eat up part of 
 Tinker leg ; Tinker not like it, so him bring it you ; take 
 'im. " 
 
 And Tinker flung the dead fish at Chivey's head. 
 
 Chivey fell back half dead as the cold fish struck him 
 across the face. 
 
 "Dat all for de present, "returned the ghost, "gib you 
 more nex' time me come." 
 
 Chivey uttered an irritable growl, and tried to rise. 
 
 But his legs failed him, and he tried in vain. 
 
 But as he pressed his hands down on the bed, they 
 came in contract with the flask of brandy. 
 
 His semi-brutal nature had been almost cowed by his 
 supernatural terrors, but it reasserted itself as his fingers 
 fastened upon the bottle. 
 
 " Ghost or no ghost ! man or devil, livin' or dead ! here 
 goes," he muttered ; and, urged on by an impulse he could 
 not control, he hurled the flask full at the ghost's head. 
 
 The spectre, with wonderful dexterity, caught it not 
 on the part intended, but in his hand. 
 
 " Yah, yah, yah ! " he chuckled, with a dreadfully sar- 
 castic grin ; "it no go, Massa Chivey ; notink do no 
 harm to speckters, 'cose dey corp'ral sperrits ; you better 
 take back de bottle." 
 
 With these words he sent the flask flying through the 
 air on its return journey. 
 
 The valet had a kind of dim consciousness of something 
 whizzing rapidly towards him, which he made a kind of 
 frantic effort to stop, but in vain. 
 
 The fragile article went straight to its mark, that being 
 Mr. Chivey's forehead. 
 
 There was a crash, a wound, and a yell at one and the 
 same time. 
 
 Mr. Chivey fell back on the bed. 
 
 " Murder ! fiends ! devils ! " he roared, at the top of his 
 voice. 
 
 Suddenly the cabin lamp fell off its nail with a crash, 
 and went out 
 
 Total darkness reigned around. 
 
 "Massa Chivey ! Massa Chivey ! " exclaimed the deep
 
 7 8 YO UNO JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 hollow voice ; " me gwine back now to de subterranean 
 debts ob de ocean. Adoo ! till de nex' time. Adoo ! 
 adoo ! ad oo ! " 
 
 The voice grew fainter and fainter, and at length died 
 away and was heard no more; but Chivey still continued 
 to shout " Murder ! " so lustily that it distinctly caught the 
 ears of the sailors, and a body of men came hurrying to 
 his cabin. The door was locked. 
 
 The key not to be found. 
 
 After a brief consultation, one of the sailors unlocked it, 
 by a very simple expedient. 
 
 He put his foot through the panel. 
 
 In they got ; and lanterns being procured, they found 
 Chivey lying on his back on the bed, smothered in blood 
 from an ugly cut on his forehead, with the fragments of 
 the flask around him. 
 
 The loss of his vital fluid had cooled his excitement, 
 and he answered vaguely to the eager questions put to 
 him. 
 
 He had been dreaming woke up in a fright been 
 attacked by a nightmare. 
 
 "But how about this shivered bottle, and your cracked 
 frontispiece, Mister Chivey ? " said Nat Cringle, the sailor, 
 who had forced the door. 
 
 Chivey couldn't or rather wouldn't give any informa- 
 tion on the subject, and the sailors, having bound up his 
 wound, retired, considerably perplexed. 
 
 " He's been havin' a single combat with ole Nick, seems 
 to me. Two to one old Nick will beat the tiger," remarked 
 Nat Cringle to his mates. 
 
 No class is more superstitious than sailors, and at these 
 words, they raised their eyebrows, and glanced at each 
 other ominously. 
 
 "If so be as the devil's aboard, we'd better look out," 
 they murmured ; "it's no safe craft that he sails in." 
 
 Herbert Murray, who had strolled in with the rest, re- 
 mained behind after they had departed. 
 
 " What's all this about, Chivey ? " he asked as soon as 
 they were alone. 
 
 "Blest if I can hardly tell yer, guv'nor," returned the 
 valet, in a pained tone, pressing his hand to his aching 
 forehead ; "but it seems to me I've seen a beastly ghost. 
 I've had a visitation."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 79 
 
 ' A visitation ? What do you mean ? " 
 'Well, then, I've seen a spectre." 
 ' Of police ? " 
 
 ' No, a real live spectre. " 
 
 ' How can a spectre be alive ? " said Murray. 
 
 ' No, no, I don't mean that. I mean a dead ghost ! " 
 cried Chivey. 
 
 His master burst into a mocking laugh. 
 
 "Psha, nonsense ! A case of delirium tremens." 
 
 ' ' No, it ain't, " growled Chivey, ' ' it's Tinker cuss him. " 
 
 " What of him ! He's dead." 
 
 "I know he is. And I'll take my oath I've seen his 
 ghost to-night, " cried the valet, his eyes distending with 
 horror. 
 
 ' ' You don't mean that ? " 
 
 "I do, by all that's horrible," returney Chivey. 
 
 "What did he want ?" asked Murray, recklessly. 
 
 " He came with a warning." 
 
 "Oh !" 
 
 "Yes, for you as well as for me. For both on us. 
 We're booked. " 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Sudden death ! " exclaimed Chivey, in a hollow tone. 
 
 The mocking smile died out of his young master's face, 
 and he said no more. 
 
 Both master and man looked blankly at each other. 
 
 Perhaps at that moment they would have rejoiced to 
 know that poor Tinker was still alive. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 JACK FINDS OUT BOGEY*S SECRET HERBERT MURRAY DETERMINES 
 
 TO GIVE A SUPPER THE BILL OF FARE IS DECIDED UPON THE 
 
 SPECTRE GETS SCENT OF THE FORTHCOMING BANQUET. 
 
 YOUNG Jack was leaning over the side of the "Alba- 
 tross " in deep thought, when Harry came and touched 
 him lightly on the arm. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 " Hullo, Harry! you startled me, for I was thinking 
 deeply."
 
 So 
 
 " What about, old boy ? " 
 
 "Poor Tinker, and yet sometimes, Harry, I fancy 
 Tinker is not drowned, for I see Bogey going about with 
 a merry twinkle in his eyes, that denotes more mischief 
 than sorrow. " 
 
 "You're right, Jack. I have noticed Master Bogey's 
 happy, yet strange ways lately. And look, here comes 
 the young imp ; let's question him, Jack." 
 
 " Bogey ! " shouted Jack. " Come here, sir." 
 
 "Yes, Massa Jack, here am Bogey." 
 
 " I know you are here, sir, and now I want to ask you 
 a question or two." 
 
 " Yes, sir ; a tousand, if you like, sir." 
 
 " Attention, Bogey," said Harry. 
 
 "Now, you lump of mischief, said Jack. "Where's 
 my boy Tinker ? " 
 
 Bogey cast down his eyes, and without looking up, 
 replied 
 
 " Tinker fell in de sea, sar." 
 
 "Yes, "said Jack, "he fell in the sea, I know. But 
 where is he now ? " 
 
 Bogey stood before Jack, and for the first time in his 
 life, felt confused. 
 
 " Now, Bogey, the truth, and nothing but the truth," 
 said Harry. 
 
 "Well, sare, Tinker down below." 
 
 ' In the sea ? " asked Jack. 
 'No, sar, below in my bunk." 
 ' Not dead ? " said Harry. 
 'He's a ghost, sar, splendiferous ghost, sar." 
 ' A ghost," cried Jack ; " and not dead ? " 
 ' No, sar ; Chivey tink he kill Tinker ; Tinker haunt 
 him and frighten him and his master's life out, ebery 
 night, sar." 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " cried Jack. " Go on, Bogey, and have 
 your game out, for the rascals deserve to be frightened 
 for their villany. " 
 
 "Yes, sar. T'ank you, sar; Chivey not go scot 
 free. Tinker bery clever, no cotch weasel asleep. Yah, 
 yah ! " 
 
 And away ran Bogey, to inform Tinker that he had 
 Jack's permission to torment Chivey and his master out 
 of their lives.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 81 
 
 And the two blacks at once set about their preparations 
 for an immense lark. 
 
 " I say, Chivey ! " 
 
 " Yes, guv'nor ; Chivey is here ; what ca'n he do for 
 you ? " 
 
 "I'm getting heartily sick of this cranky old washing, 
 tub." 
 
 "Same here, guv'nor ; it's a regler nausea." 
 
 "Just look at this cabin, what a state it's in." 
 
 "Perfect state of slush, that's a fact. Looks as if it had 
 been well mopped, and badly wiped." 
 
 "It's enough to give a fellow the rheumatic fever. 
 See, the water is making way through ; hang me if I 
 stand it any longer." 
 
 " Don't, guv'nor. Come into my 'umble cabin. It is 
 water tight." 
 
 "So I will, Chivey. Any thing's better than a blue 
 mouldy crib like this." 
 
 This conversation took place between Herbert Murray 
 and Chivey a short time after the ghost incident. 
 
 The relative positions of a master and servant had been 
 almost lost sight of by Herbert Murray since he had been 
 on board. 
 
 He treated his tiger as his confidant, companion and 
 friend. 
 
 Herbert Murray having made up his mind to vacate his 
 own cabin, had his 'portable traps removed to his new 
 quarters. 
 
 But even here he felt anything but comfortable. 
 
 Although the cabin was dry, it was small, gloomy and 
 close. 
 
 "By jingo, Chivey," he growled, "I was about 
 drowned in the other shop ; I think I shall be stifled in 
 this. " 
 
 ' ' Oh, you'll get used to it, guv'nor, after a bit, " was 
 Chivey's cheerful reply. 
 
 But his master did not get used to it. 
 
 What could he do to relieve the monotony of his exis- 
 tence to throw a little life and jollity into that gloomy, 
 dingy hole ? 
 
 At last, an idea flashed across him. 
 
 " We'll have a banquet on a small scale," he exclaimed 
 suddenly. 
 6
 
 82 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "A feed, I s'pose yer mean, don't yer, guv'nor?' 4 
 asked Chivey, looking at his master. 
 
 "Feed's vulgar. I prefer banquet; it sounds more 
 aristocratic," said Herbert. 
 
 "Well, it all comes to the same thing in the end, don't 
 it ? " grinned the tiger. "A blow-out's a blow-out, call it 
 what you like." 
 
 "Can it be managed? " asked Herbert. 
 
 " Dessay it can," answered Chivey, "if we can get the 
 Stewart and the cook in a line to give us tick. But I say, 
 guv'nor ! " 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Supposing we can make it, right, where's our guests 
 to come from, eh ? " 
 
 "Ah, true; the guests," echoed Herbert "I forgot 
 them." 
 
 " Must have guests, to join in with us, you know. We 
 couldn't bolt the lot ourselves." 
 
 " Not exactly. Let me see, now who is there on board 
 we could invite ? " 
 
 "There's the captain to begin with." 
 
 " Don't care about him." 
 
 "The crew ?" 
 
 "Nor them." 
 
 " Nor Harkaway and his pal, I s'pose ! " said Chivey. 
 
 Herbert Murray knitted his brows and looked as 
 black as thunder at this question, but condescended no 
 reply. 
 
 "Thought yer wouldn't cotton to them, guv'nor, "re- 
 marked Chivey. "Well, then, there's only one more I 
 know of." 
 
 "Who's he?" 
 
 "Why, that tea-dealer cove as answered to the name of 
 Spriggins or Wiggins, or the orphan, or something of that 
 sort.' 
 
 " Splendid. We'll have the orphan, by all means. " 
 
 "Um, well suppose we say, soup, pair of fowls, 
 boiled ham." 
 
 " Soup, pair of fowls, boiled ham," repeated the tiger, 
 as he made his notes in his book; anything else?" 
 
 "Plum pudding." 
 
 "Ah, yes; must have a plum pudding. And now 
 about wine?"
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 83 
 
 " Port, sherry, claret, and champagne ; spirits we have 
 already." 
 
 " Yes, plenty," muttered the valet, with a slight shiver, 
 as he completed his memoranda. "I've had enough of 
 spirits to last me my life. " 
 
 " Well now, Chivey, I leave it all to your management." 
 
 "I'll do it in tip-top style," Chivey replied. 
 
 " Don't haggle about price," continued his master ; "as 
 I never intend to pay for it, of course I can afford to be 
 liberal. " 
 
 "Of course," ejaculated Chivey, with the most knowing 
 of winks-. " Ha, ha, ha ! " 
 
 After which Chivey left the cabin to make arrangements 
 ft r the forthcoming banquet 
 
 'Dat you, Bogey?" 
 ' Yes, it me. " 
 
 ' Golly, me so glad ; make haste open de door, me got 
 something to tell you. " 
 ' Am it good noose ? " 
 'Iss ! Berry much splendifrous good noose." 
 
 In an instant the key was thrust into the lock. 
 
 The door opened, and Tinker, with his eyes glisten- 
 ing like diamonds, emerged from the cupboard. 
 
 " Massa Jack know you alive, Tinker; him asked me 
 all 'bout you." 
 
 "That am right, Bogey; me glad Massa Jack know 
 Tinker not dead ; me hab had nice smoke and drop of 
 Massa Chivey's brandy, yah, yah ! " 
 
 Mr. Chivey found that his brandy and cigars vanished 
 in a remarkably rapid and mysterious manner. 
 
 And not being able to account for their disappearance 
 in any other way, he was compelled to attribute it to 
 spiritual agency. 
 
 " It's that darned ghost ! " he would mutter to himself. 
 
 And he was quite right it was. 
 
 But he was perfectly willing to stand any quantity of 
 drink and smoke to the spectre, provided it did not haunt 
 him with its terrible presence. 
 
 Little, however, did he dream that this supernatural 
 being had been listening with intense interest to the con- 
 versation between his master and himself, and that he
 
 84 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 knew all about their arrangements as well as they did 
 themselves. 
 
 It was this secret he was now bursting to impart to his 
 comrade. 
 
 "Oh, golly! golly! what you tink?" he exclaimed 
 eagerly. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Massa Chivey an' Massa Muggy (he meant Murray) 
 gwine hab supper t'morrer night." 
 
 "Dat nuffink," answered Bogey, in a slight tone of 
 disgust ; " cicy hab supper eb'ry night." 
 
 "' On 1 but dis sometink," Tinker insisted, opening his 
 eyes as wide as saucers ; " dis great big 'normous supper. 
 Whar dey call gran' blanket." 
 
 "Blanket!" echoed Bogey, thoughtfully, "dat what 
 dey put in de beds ; dey don't eat blankets for supper." 
 
 "Tell ye dey do ! What you mean by contraflick me, 
 sar, eh, you nigger ? " cried Tinker indignantly. 
 
 "Nebber 'noo any one eat blankets but boa con- 
 structor, and den he choke 'isself," Bogey ventured to 
 remark. 
 
 "Well, den, dere gwine to be great blow-up blanket 
 to-morrer night, in de nex' cabin," said Tinker; "and 
 Massa Piggins invited." 
 
 "Oh, de orflan?" 
 
 " Iss. And dey gwine to hab all sort ob beau'ful grubs 
 to eat." 
 
 "What dey gwine to hab? " asked Bogey, his mouth 
 beginning to water. 
 
 "Fuss dey hab soap." 
 
 "Datnice? What nex'?" 
 
 " Pair ob bile fools?" 
 
 " Golly, dat better ; bile fools bery delishus." 
 
 " Den dere ham, to eat 'long ob de fools ! " 
 
 " Dat am prime. Any tink else ? " 
 
 "Plum poodle!" exclaimed Tinker, with immense 
 emphasis. 
 
 "Oh, golly ! golly ; plum poodle ! dat am bery lubly," 
 joined in Bogey, exultingly. 
 
 After a moment he asked 
 
 "Am dey gwine to hab any wine? " 
 
 "Iss, golly! lots. Dey gwine to hab pork, jerry, 
 cracket, an chilblain.'*
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 85 
 
 Tinker must be pardoned for his singular version of the 
 wine list. 
 
 It being the nearest approach his memory permitted 
 to port, sherry, claret and champagne. 
 
 But it was perfectly satisfactory to Bogey, who grinned 
 all over his face with astonishment. 
 
 The two darkies remained licking their lips and rubbing 
 their stomachs for several seconds, in a kind of blissful 
 mental reverie. 
 
 At length, Bogey, rousing himself, said wistfully 
 
 "Couldn't we get a bit ob dis blanket for ourself ? " 
 
 " Rader ! " returned Tinker, with a wink that would 
 have cracked a walnut; "dis chile mean hab big large 
 bit. " . . ' ' 
 
 "Me too," put in Bogey. 
 
 "Ob course," replied Tinker; "you help me, I feed 
 you." 
 
 " Me help, s'elp him golly 'im will ! What you want ? " 
 
 "Long bit ob wire, wid hook at de end ob it," said 
 Tinker, with a grin. 
 
 " Any tink more?" 
 
 "A fork wid long handle, d sharp at de points." 
 
 "Any tink more?" 
 
 " Notink. You get me de ob'lisks what I bin perscrib- 
 ing to you, and we hab reg'lar good blow-up you see." 
 
 "What time the blanket gwine begin ? " 
 
 "Eight o'clock," Tinker answered. 
 
 And then with a chuckle of intense exultation, the 
 lively ghost slipped once more into his cupboard, whilst 
 his accomplice went on the prowl for the apparatus 
 necessary to the successful carrying out of their designs. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SUPPER COMES OFF CHIVEY HAS A PRELIMINARY INTIMATION 
 
 OF THE GHOST'S PRESENCE THE ORPHAN COMES OUT RATHER 
 
 STRONG SPIRITUAL INFLUENCES SPECTRAL. 
 
 CHIVEY, by means of unblushing cheek and a remark- 
 able facility for lying, got on very well with the steward 
 of the "Albatross."
 
 86 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Promising that worthy individual, on his master's part, 
 a cheque for the entire amount due to him the moment 
 the vessel touched land, he consented to provide all that 
 was required for the banquet. 
 
 It was near upon eight o'clock. 
 
 Herbert Murray and his tiger were quite ready for 
 supper, and in excellent appetite. 
 
 So also were two other individuals. 
 
 Tinker and Bogey, to wit, who were snugly posted at 
 the secret panel, hungry as a couple of alligators. 
 
 Tinker had assumed his ghostly garments and whitened 
 his face to be ready for any emergency, and he now 
 waited anxiously the opportunity to commence his oper- 
 ations. 
 
 Eight o'clock struck. 
 
 The cabin door opened, and the cook entered with the 
 tureen. 
 
 The secret panel also moved slightly at the same time, 
 and could any human eye have been strong enough to 
 pierce through the chest of drawers, two black noses 
 might have been seen at the aperture sniffing eagerly. 
 
 " Dere de soap," whispered Tinker. 
 
 " Don't 'urn smell beau'ful," whispered Bogey. 
 
 Herbert Murray and his tiger seated themselves at the 
 table, which stood conveniently near the drawers. 
 
 The chair placed for their guest was vacant. 
 
 He had not yet arrived. 
 
 " Where's the orphan ? " asked Herbert. 
 
 " I told him eight sharp," Chivey answered, 
 
 Mr. Figgins at that moment was looking for some arti- 
 cle of dress which had got stowed away in a corner out 
 of his sight. 
 
 As he did not make his appearance, Herbert said 
 
 " I'll go and hunt him up. The supper will be nothing 
 without the orphan, Figgins." 
 
 With this, he hurried out of the cabin. 
 
 "Who's a-going to wait for orphans? " said Chivey to 
 himself, as his master disappeared. "I ain't; I'm on my 
 peck. Here goes." 
 
 And as he spoke, he removed the lid of the tureen, and 
 helped himself to a plateful of savoury ox-tail.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 87 
 
 "Ah ! " he exclaimed, smacking his lips as the fragrance 
 mounted to his nostrils, "this is something like, this is 
 a fine stop ! where's the napkin ? Oh, here it is. May 
 as well do it in style. Now then," he cried, as he turned 
 round to the table and grasped his spoon, " if there's one 
 thing in the world I like, it's a good plate of ox-tails " 
 
 The word died away upon his lips. 
 
 The spoon dropped from his hand. 
 
 He gazed upon a vacant space. 
 
 Both plate and soup had vanished. 
 
 "What the devil's up now? " he muttered to himself; 
 " I'll swear it was there a second ago." 
 
 He looked apprehensively first over one shoulder, and 
 then over the other, but saw nothing. An unpleasant 
 sensation began to steal over him. 
 
 He glanced up at the dim yellow flame of the solitary 
 cabin lantern. 
 
 "What a bad light," he growled nervously, "like a 
 farthing rushlight in a fog. It's enough to give a cove 
 the horrors." 
 
 With a hand slightly tremulous he poured out a bumper 
 of sherry. 
 
 "There's nothing like a glass of good wine to steady 
 a chap's nerves," he soliloquised, as he was about to drink. 
 
 A strange and indescribable sound caught his ear, and 
 caused him to pause, and look once more with increased, 
 trepidation behind him. Still there was nothing to be 
 seen. 
 
 With a fretful ejaculation he turned round again. 
 
 " Oh, hang it all ! " he cried, with an attempt at reck- 
 lessness ; " who's afraid ? " 
 
 Seizing his glass hastily, he raised it to his lips, but 
 lowered it as quickly again in dismay. 
 
 It was empty. 
 
 "Angels an' ministers of grease defend us ! " he gasped, 
 in an awe-stricken tone, as he glared at the empty tumbler ; 
 "this d d crib's haunted, and every thing in it." 
 
 In a kind of paroxysm of terror, he made a sudden 
 rush to the door, and threw it open, just in time to admit 
 his master and his guest, who returned at the moment. 
 
 The sight of them somewhat restored him to himself. 
 
 " Oh, there you are, guv'nor," he said, as he wiped the 
 drops from his forehead.
 
 88 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Yes, here we are," returned Hurbert Murray. "Mr. 
 Figgins was detained by an unfortunate domestic calamity, 
 having lost his " 
 
 "Grandmother? " 
 
 "No, his boots." 
 
 " Poor soul ! " murmured Chivey. 
 
 "I've lost all all," murmured Figgins, in a tone of 
 anguish. "I'm only a poor, and unprotected orphan, 
 who " 
 
 Herbert Murray cut him short by saying 
 
 "Let's hope you haven't lost your appetite, Mr. Fig- 
 gins at any rate." 
 
 He accompanied this inquiry with a playful slap on the 
 back. 
 
 Chivey, who had now recovered himself, gave him 
 another playful slap on the same spot. 
 
 "Oh, ugh!" gasped Mr. Figgins, who was startled 
 almost out of his patent leathers ; ' ' pray don't do 
 that ; my nerves are very weak, and being only a poor 
 orphan " 
 
 "Yes, exactly," interposed Herbert Murray, hurrying 
 his guest to the table ; " we'll have the rest by and bye." 
 
 " Now, gentlemen, be seated," he exclaimed, grandly ; 
 "the banquet awaits." 
 
 They all three sat down, but instantly sprang up again 
 with a yell, and clapped their hands simultaneously to 
 their coat tails. 
 
 "Oh, oh, I'm mortally wounded," shrieked the orphan, 
 writhing like a worm on a hook. 
 
 Herbert Murray looked suspiciously at his tiger, then 
 at the seat of his chair, from which a very handsome 
 corking pin protruded, point uppermost. 
 
 With a frown he fixed his eyes again on Mr. Chivey, 
 who was holding his hands to his back, and like the 
 orphan, seemed to be suffering pain there. 
 
 " Is this one of your confounded Whitechapel jokes ? " 
 he demanded, in an angry tone. 
 
 "No, 'pon my soul, it ain't, guv'nor," Chivey answered, 
 promptly, with a very wry face, " for I'm a wictim my- 
 self. I've got the pain here," and he slapped his hands 
 behind him. 
 
 Murray found they were all supplied with a pin apiece 
 and a large one it was in each of their chairs.
 
 I/IS BOY TINKER. 89 
 
 They looked at each other in silent amazement. 
 
 " Who can have done this ? " said Herbert, indignantly. 
 
 "Well, if I must express my sentiments," Chivey re- 
 plied very seriously, after a moment, "I should say it 
 was Figgins, the wicked orphan." 
 
 " Me ! "cried the unprotected one, holding up his hands 
 in the intensity of horror and pain. "Oh, dear, dear, 
 dear me ; a helpless orphan who never 
 
 The look and tone of the innocent being were so irre- 
 sistibly comic, that Herbert Murray burst into a roar of 
 laughter, which was echoed, though cautiously, by the 
 ghost and his confederate from behind the drawers. 
 
 " It was only a joke, my dear Figgins,'' said Herbert, 
 after a moment; "and there's one comfort, as we're all 
 sufferers in this case, one can't laugh at the other." 
 
 ' ' It doesn't matter much, " sighed the orphan, dolefully ; 
 "it does smart ; yes, it smarts very much, but I feel I'm 
 destined for an early grave." 
 
 "Well, have some soup 'fore you start, anyhow, Fig- 
 gins," urged Chivey, as he handed him a plateful. 
 
 "I've no appetite, and I'm afraid of my wounds morti- 
 fying," wailed the tea-dealer. 
 
 "Oh, gammon ! that soup'll set yer to rights if any 
 think will. Pitch into it." 
 
 The orphan did as he was desired, and considering he 
 had no appetite, it was wonderful how rapidly the ox-tail 
 disappeared down his throat. 
 
 "Yer find it rayther tasty, don't yer, old Cocky wax ?" 
 asked Chivey. 
 
 "Well a I think yes very nice and relishing in- 
 deed, but my name is not Cocky wax." 
 
 "Well, never mind, I'll take a glass of wine with you, 
 Mr. Figgins," said Herbert. 
 
 " Proud and happy, I'm sure." 
 
 " Your health." 
 
 "Thank'ee; yours." 
 
 "I'll drink with you, Figgins," cried Chivey, as he filled 
 his glass. 
 
 " You're very kind, but I've just drank and " 
 
 "Well, drink again." 
 
 " I'm afraid ; my wound still smarts, and my head's not 
 over strong, and being only a poor orph " 
 
 "Oh, come, that be blowed. Drop it, and drink.
 
 90 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Here's wishin' some nice gal may take pity on yer help- 
 less condition, and make yer a happy husband and the 
 father of a dozen kids. " 
 
 "Oh, horror !" 
 
 The orphan dropped his glass on the spot and fainted. 
 
 Being brought to, he asked for some port, and hoped 
 Mr. Chivey would never say such a dreadful thing again 
 to him. 
 
 Chivey filled him a bumper, and he drank it off. 
 
 The fowls and ham came next. 
 
 "Take a leg, Mr. Figgins?" said Herbert. 
 
 "Thank you, if you please." 
 
 "How orful purlite you are, Figgins," said Chivey. 
 
 "Can't help it ; I was always brought up to be polite. 
 My venerable parent bless his memory ! never omitted 
 to chastise me soundly whenever I committed a breach 
 of politeness. I I think with your permission, gentle- 
 men, I'll drink his health." 
 
 ' ' Cert'nly ! " cried Chivey, ' ' port ag'in ? " 
 
 "Port again, if you please." 
 
 All the glasses being filled, the company rose. 
 
 ' ' To the health of the dear departed, " said Mr. Figgins, 
 impressively. 
 
 "The dear departed," echoed the rest. 
 
 The orphan emptied his glass, sat down, and sighed 
 deeply. 
 
 Then, taking up his knife and fork, he prepared to set 
 to work in earnest at the ham and chicken. 
 
 Suddenly he uttered an ejaculation 
 
 "Why, where's it all gone? "he exclaimed in blank 
 amazement. 
 
 "Where's what gone? " inquired Herbert Murray and 
 Chivey. 
 
 "Why, the ham and chicken," he replied ; " my plate's 
 empty. " 
 
 "So it is," said Herbert, "and by Heaven ! " he ex- 
 claimed, in a startled tone, as he glanced at his own plate, 
 "so is mine." 
 
 "And mine, too, s'elp me wonderful ! " cried Chivey, 
 as he fell back in his chair, with his hair standing on 
 end. 
 
 The ghost had taken advantage of the moment when 
 the company rose, and were drinking, to slip his hand
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 9! 
 
 out quickly, and accomplish the feat that had such an 
 astounding effect. 
 
 For a moment there was a dead silence, which was 
 broken rather strangely by the orphan, who said with a 
 slight hiccough 
 
 ' ' Nor'r glass hie port. " 
 
 The wine was poured out. 
 
 Herbert and Chivey drank brandy, and then, their 
 nerves being fortified, they commenced a search under 
 the table. 
 
 Whilst thus engaged, a long fork was mysteriously 
 thrust out from behind the chest of drawers and then 
 withdrawn quickly several times. 
 
 Each time it disappeared it carried away a bottle, which 
 it caught by its neck between the prongs. 
 
 Before the search under the table was concluded, there 
 was not a bottle to be seen. 
 
 The remains of the fowl had also been forked away. 
 
 "There must be a trap or something of that sort," said 
 Herbert, as he and his companions examined the floor on 
 their hands and knees ; but there was no sign of any such 
 thing. 
 
 It was most bewildering. 
 
 "It may be occasioned by hie spiritual influences," 
 murmured the orphan, as he peered on the ground, with 
 his coat-tails over his shoulders, and the bow of his white 
 cravat under his left ear. 
 
 ' ' Spiritual humbug 1 Spiritual bosh I " growled Chivey, 
 who was sore upon the subject, and sought to conceal 
 his inward fears by a tone of bravado; "you're tight, 
 Figgins." 
 
 "No, my dear boy," returned that forgiving individual, 
 "not t-tight, not 'tall t-t-ight, only powerfully hie im- 
 pressed. Let's have glass hie brandy." 
 
 This was readily agreed to, and the party dragged them- 
 selves once more to an upright position, but only to re- 
 ceive a fresh shock. 
 
 The table was cleared of every thing but the empty 
 plates and the ham. 
 
 Herbert Murray collapsed, and fell back in his chair. 
 
 His tiger turned deadly pale. 
 
 The orphan looked blandly at nothing at all, and 
 smiled.
 
 Q 2 YC UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AMD 
 
 "This confounded place is the abode of evil spirits," 
 exclaimed Herbert, at length, looking particularly be- 
 wildered. 
 
 "It's the devil himself, and no one else," muttered 
 Chivey, in a tone of horror. 
 
 Just at this moment the door opened, and the cook 
 appeared. 
 
 "Plum pudden, gentlemen," he said, as he placed it 
 on the table. 
 
 Ashamed to show the man the mental trepidation they 
 were in, Herbert said in as steady a tone as he could 
 
 " More wine." 
 
 "Yes, sir," the man replied, in some surprise, thinking 
 the party must have drunk uncommonly hard, if they had 
 emptied all their bottles. 
 
 "Shall I take away the empty bottles, sir? " he asked, 
 after a moment. 
 
 "Ye es, if yer can find 'em," replied Chivey, with a 
 kind of grimly ironical mirth. 
 
 "Umph!" muttered the cook to himself as he went 
 out; "swallowed the bottles as well, I s'pose." 
 
 The events that had occurred had quite taken away the 
 appetites of two at least of the party. 
 
 The orphan, not being impressed with ghostly fears, 
 sat down, and began innocently enough to pick the plums 
 out of the pudding with his fork. Herbert Murray drew 
 his tiger aside. 
 
 " You told me not long since, you had had a visitation," 
 he said to him in a low tone. 
 
 "Yes, from the ghost of that d d nigger Tinker," 
 
 replied Chivey hoarsely. 
 
 "I've heard," continued his master, "that those who 
 have been murd " 
 
 "Oh, don't don't, guv'nor." 
 
 "Well, then, those who have died violent deaths some- 
 times appear to those who have destroyed them. " 
 
 " Yes, yes, "groaned Chivey, in a hollow voice ; " that's 
 it. It's that cussed ghost that's doing all this. I wish to 
 goodness the black beggar was alive again, I'd " 
 
 A deep, hollow groan at this juncture put a stop to the 
 tiger's expressions of remorse. 
 
 "There he is ! that's his voice," he cried. "It scares 
 me like a voice from a bury ing-ground."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 93 
 
 The orphan stopped picking his plums, and looked 
 round inquiringly. 
 
 " W-w-har-rat ? " he asked, in an incoherent tone. ""It 
 sounds like a groan." 
 
 Herbert Murray sprang desperately on a chair. 
 
 " I'll stand it no longer," he cried, as he hastily snatched 
 down the lantern. 
 
 The yellow flame flickered from the tug it had received, 
 and seemed inclined to go out. 
 
 To his horror, at that instant the ham sprang up from 
 the dish, and began to perform as good a jig as a ham 
 could be expected to do in the air. 
 
 ' ' Lor' 'a' mercy, what's the matter with the ham ? I'm 
 poor helpless hie orphan, " gasped Mr. Figgins, as he 
 fell over the chair and all to the ground at this unearthly 
 spectacle. 
 
 At the same moment, the dish containing the plum- 
 pudding without any perceptible means glided off the 
 table, and disappeared. 
 
 Chivey uttered a cry of horror. 
 
 Herbert Murray rushed forward. 
 
 A crash and a shriek were heard. 
 
 The lantern had fallen from his hand. 
 
 The ham had stopped dancing suddenly (the hook hav- 
 ing broken away from the wire that sustained it), and the 
 shriek came from the prostrate orphan, on whose upturned 
 face it came down with a tremendous slap. 
 
 Consternation prevailed. 
 
 Only a faint glimmer came from the almost extinct 
 light. 
 
 When suddenly, to add to the horrors of the moment, 
 the table itself became inspired with motion, and began 
 a horrible and unnatural dance round and round, back- 
 wards and forwards. 
 
 Down the middle and up again it went, as no table 
 ever went before. 
 
 "Oh, take me out and bury me, someone," yelled the 
 half tipsy and horrified Chivey, as he clung to his master. 
 
 "Ghost or devil, depart," shouted Herbert Murray, 
 hoarsely, who was like the rest, half tipsy from the effect 
 of the port wine and brandy mixture, and he tried to kick 
 the table. 
 
 * ' Murder murder poor helpless orphan hie mur
 
 9 q. YO UNG JA CK HA RKA WAY A ND 
 
 der ! " shrieked Mr. Figgins, as he lay on his back and 
 did nothing. "Somebody come and pick up a poor 
 orphan." 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE SICK MAN'S LEECH JOVIAL CAPTAIN ROBINSON MEETS WITH 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT UGLY THOUGHTS. 
 
 WE must now return to Mr. Murray. Our readers will 
 remember we left him stricken with grief at the departure 
 of his son in the ship " Albatross." 
 
 He was borne away insensible by the policeman, and 
 taken home to bed. 
 
 During Mr. Murray's illness his ravings were of so ugly 
 a nature, that it was indeed fortunate no listeners were 
 nigh, for some unpleasant rumors might possibly have 
 got abroad else. 
 
 One day, however, the third after Mr. Murray's seizure 
 with his illness, jovial Captain Robinson came there to 
 inquire after him. 
 
 The doctor's orders were that no one was to be ad- 
 mitted to the sick room under any pretext whatever. 
 
 But jovial Captain Robinson was one of those men who 
 would not be denied. 
 
 So up he went. 
 
 "My leech must be applied again," he muttered to 
 himself. 
 
 He opened the door, and entered. 
 
 At the very moment he crossed the threshold the sick 
 man was raving wildly. 
 
 "Who calls the 'Albatross 'a coffin ship? Ill have 
 the law of any man that dares disparage my property 
 my own boy's on her ha ! ha ! And would I set my 
 own flesh and blood afloat in a doomed hull ? Liars ! 
 Heavily insured ! Of course she is ! Of course she is ! 
 and hark ! hark ! how the wind whistles, and how the 
 waves moan and moan, before they send out their roar 
 that foretells woe to the underwriters, and hark ! what 
 was that ? " 
 
 Jovial Captain Robinson was just a bit startled at this 
 point
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 95 
 
 The sick man started up in his bed, and said this so 
 pointedly at the jovial captain, that the latter answered 
 involuntarily 
 
 "Which?" 
 
 "Did you not hear? aery for help! A despairing 
 cry a wail of agony, as the cruel waves close over the 
 poor drowning wretch. What voice is that? Surely, I 
 know it yes it is, it is my boy's. " 
 
 And then the sick man cowered, in his frenzy, up in a 
 corner of the bed. 
 
 There was something very unpleasant in all this, and 
 the jovial Captain Robinson turned pale. 
 
 "Dead, gone, are you, my poor, foolish boy!" said 
 the patient, with a moan, as though a settled remorse 
 was upon him, for a matter which was no longer 
 new. 
 
 "I have done it all I I your fond, foolish old 
 father, that would have given my heart's best blood to 
 save you a pang. I ruined you firstly by my want of 
 firmness and decision of character, and lastly, by my 
 sternness, that came so suddenly upon him. But I'll not 
 live! Why should I when he's gone? There's no 
 reason why I should. Get me a razor, nurse ; I'll soon 
 put an end to this. One good sharp stroke, and I'll take 
 my head clean off; and hark you here." 
 
 He sank his voice to a loud whisper. 
 
 "When Robinson comes to put on the screw for hush 
 money his leech, as he calls it you can throw my head 
 at him that'll show him " 
 
 And the sick man gave a weird chuckle at this ghastly 
 conceit. 
 
 Suddenly he seized himself by the throat, and tried to 
 strangle himself, but Robinson caught hold of him, and 
 held him down. 
 
 A sharp tussle ensued, for although Captain Robinson 
 was a very powerful man compared to Mr. Murray, yet 
 the latter was nerved by frenzy, and he made a desperate 
 fight for it. 
 
 At length the nurse came in, and lent a hand. 
 
 And between them they contrived to strap the wretched 
 man down, and put him out of the way of doing himself 
 harm. 
 
 " A lucky thing you was here, sir," said the nurse ; "I
 
 9 6 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 only left the room for a minute ; but I should never dare 
 to again never." 
 
 Captain Robinson mumbled something, and glided out 
 of the sick room, and into the street. 
 
 The colour had left his cheek, and his jovial manners 
 disappeared. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 ON BOARD A COFFIN SHIP ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP NAT 
 CRINGLE LETS THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 
 
 A SHORT time after our friends Tinker and Bogey had 
 had their fun out with young Murray and Chivey, Jack 
 and Harry were in deep conversation about the ship they 
 were sailing in. 
 
 "Harry," said Jack, "what do you think of this ship, 
 eh, old boy ? " 
 
 "Well, Jack, I have been thinking that although they 
 say the ' Albatross ' is such a clinker, she is certainly not 
 famed for speed." 
 
 "Speed," echoed young Jack, "why, I call her 
 precious slow." 
 
 "Slow," exclaimed a voice behind them; " I call her 
 an old crawler." 
 
 They looked round, and there stood a big sturdy sailor, 
 one who had often touched his forelock to them in hopes 
 they would have spoken to him. 
 
 He was six feet high, and a little bit over, and had a 
 pair of shoulders on him that would inspire respect in the 
 champion pugilist of England. 
 
 " That's strong language, Nat Cringle," said young 
 Jack. 
 
 "Strong," quoth the sailor; "is it? Not stronger 
 than I mean." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Why? Because she's the slowest old tub that was 
 ever built of sponge a rotten old hull that ought to have 
 been burnt up long ago." 
 
 The boys stared. 
 
 "Nat Cringle!"
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 97 
 
 "That's me, and I wish your honours had spoken to 
 me about the ship before. " 
 
 " Whatever are you talking about ? " said Hardy Gird- 
 wood. 
 
 "The * Albatross,' if you please, and few people could 
 tell you more about it than Nat Cringle. " 
 
 "I can't hear you disparage our own ship, Nat," said 
 Jack; " it isn't proper, you know." 
 
 "What isn't proper? Which isn't proper, and why 
 not?" 
 
 * ' Because she is between us and Davy Jones's locker. " 
 
 "That's it," rejoined the sailor, quickly; "that's just 
 it But how long will she keep us so ? That's the rub. 
 Why, it's a downright regular conjuring trick to keep her 
 afloat." 
 
 "Well, Cringle," said Harry Girdwood, "I never heard 
 a man speak so yet of a ship he had just taken service in. " 
 
 "Bah, they pay me well for that." 
 
 "But payment could not recompense you for risking 
 your life," said Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "Couldn't it, though?" exclaimed Nat Cringle. "And 
 why not, pray? Have I not often risked my life for 
 less ? " 
 
 ' ' Ever served ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Of course I have," said Nat Cringle. "Seen lots of 
 service on different stations when I was in the royal 
 navy. I never got a scratch, and I've been in some hot 
 jobs too ; I've been in a bit of weather, too, now and 
 again. But when the bullets were thick as hail, and the 
 men dropped around me like rotten sheep, I never got a 
 scratch. I've been in three wrecks. Once I was the 
 only hand saved. I tell you I can't come to harm, or 
 else you wouldn't find me here, 'cause my bent ain't by 
 no means suicidal." 
 
 "Do you really mean, Cringle," said Jack, "that you 
 think the ' Albatross ' isn't seaworthy ? " 
 
 "Bah!" 
 
 An expression of utter contempt passed over the sailor's 
 face as he said this. 
 
 "Seaworthy ? Why, there's not a sound plank in her. 
 It's a coffin-ship." 
 
 "A what!" 
 
 "A coffin-ship. Nothing more nor less," said Nat 
 7
 
 98 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Cringle : "and old Murray's got a new line on that'll suit 
 his book right enough old Murray the wholesale under- 
 taker, as we used to call him." 
 
 ' ' But why on earth the wholesale undertaker ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 "Because he's buried such lots of people more than 
 any six undertakers have the chance of doing in their 
 lifetime, however brisk a trade they may drive." 
 
 "Ahem ! " 
 
 "I suppose you didn't know about all this?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "It looked oddish that you should join such a ship," 
 eaid Nat Cringle ; "but I supposed that there was some 
 sort of a reason for it. Howsomever, I recommend you 
 to keep a sharp lookout on me." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "When she settles." 
 
 ' ' You don't think really that the ' Albatross ' is in im- 
 mediate danger ? " 
 
 "Difficult to say that. But you just look how she is 
 plugged up with goods. Low freight, you know. See 
 how low she is in the water, and see the way she 
 labours along. Why, she has weight enough of cargo to 
 founder a good ship, let alone such a coffin-ship as this." 
 
 Jack and Harry were more than half convinced by his 
 earnest manner. 
 
 "Does she make much water? " 
 
 "Does she not!" exclaimed Nat Cringle; "hark at 
 the pumps working incessantly. I have been pumping 
 this hour or more. But you only wait until we get a 
 little more weather, and then you'll see. You go and 
 help work at the pumps, and see how little you can do 
 to " 
 
 "Work at the pumps ?" repeated a voice, close by. 
 
 It was Mr. Figgins, the Cockney orphan, who had 
 again ventured on deck. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " What do you mean, pray, by working at the pumps ? " 
 
 Young Jack winked at the sailor and Harry. 
 
 "They are going to give the crew and passengers 
 a dance," said he, "and Nat Cringle has been a shoe- 
 maker he has to repair the dancing shoes the pumps, 
 you see."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 99 
 
 " Dear me," exclaimed Mr. Figgins, in surprise, "how 
 very singular the manners and customs of life at sea are." 
 
 " Very." 
 
 "You'll join in the merry dance, I suppose?" said 
 Jack. 
 
 "No ; not at present. I thought I was getting better ; 
 but when the ship rocks, I really feel the old feeling 
 coming on." 
 
 "You're not well yet? " 
 
 " No, I have not been well ever since I came on board," 
 replied the orphan, with a faint air of embarrassment. 
 
 "Still sick ?" 
 
 "Oh, dear no." 
 
 " I thought not. You are too much of a Jack tar for 
 that, now." 
 
 "Rather!" 
 
 Mr. Figgins had got his notions of an ideal sailor from 
 Mr. T. P. Cooke, and other stage mariners, and as he 
 said "Rather!" he essayed to give that well-known 
 hitch to his trousers. 
 
 But the effort or jerk, and a heavy roll of the ship, 
 caused a return of those unpleasant symptoms which the 
 orphan was subject to. 
 
 So he clapped his hand to his mouth, and beat a pre- 
 cipitate retreat to the ship's side. 
 
 "Nat Cringle," said young Jack, seriously, "I hope 
 that you exaggerate the dangers of this ship." 
 
 " Don't you hope any thing of the kind, young gentle- 
 man," said Nat Cringle, "or you'll be disappointed. I 
 ain't exaggerated nothing. The ' Albatross ' is neither 
 more nor less than a coffin ship, and the very next storm 
 that comes on, down she goes." 
 
 Jack and Harry looked grave. 
 
 They were no cowards. 
 
 Those of our readers who have followed them through 
 their varied adventures, need no assertion to this effect. 
 
 "If the 'Albatross' foundered in the mid-ocean, you 
 would have but a poor chance of saving your life." 
 
 "Who spoke of mid-ocean?" said Nat Cringle; "I 
 didn't for one." 
 
 "But " 
 
 " Don't you jump at no rash conclusions, young gentle- 
 man. The ' Albatross ' will founder, but not in mid-ocean,
 
 I oo YOUNG JACK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 as long as I have half a chance of handling the helm. 
 Let her have a fair run for the Spanish coast. ''' 
 * ' I see." 
 
 "What I should like more than any thing else would 
 
 
 "What?" 
 
 The honest tar looked anxiously around him. 
 
 "Just to run her into port, and get her condemned." 
 
 "By whom?" 
 
 "British consul and Lloyd's people." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Just to pay the warmints out who traffic in honest 
 men's lives. Don't you see, they'd lose their insurance 
 money aye, and they'd lose their freight too." 
 
 "What a noble notion," ejaculated Jack. 
 
 "Yes, rather tidy, ain't it?" added the sailor. "But 
 to do this proper, we want one thing." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "To square the skipper." 
 
 "Is it to be done?" 
 
 "Can't say." 
 
 " I should think that he's in with the owner and the 
 other villains," suggested Harry Gird wood. 
 
 "That's just what I should like to know," said Nat 
 Cringle, thoughtfully; "Cap'n Deering ain't no fool, he 
 ain't. He knows his dooty no man better every rope 
 in the ship, and every plank aye, and what's more, he 
 warn't on board six hours before he knew every man Jack 
 of us aboard by our names. So I can't make out why 
 he should take sarvice in sich a rotten old hull, unless 
 there was some particular reasons for it, that no one 
 knows about." 
 
 " He didn't know any thing about it," said Jack, pos- 
 itively. 
 
 Nat Cringle eyed the speaker sharply. 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Because he told me that he had been sent for express 
 to town, when it was known that Captain Robinson was 
 too ill to go out. " 
 
 "Too ill?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Nat Cringle burst out into a boisterious laugh. 
 
 "What's that for?"
 
 ffIS BOY T/JVXAA. 101 
 
 " Cap'n Robinson was about as ill as I am this 'ere 
 
 blessed moment," he answered, with an oath. "Cap'n 
 Robinson values his precious skin too much to go afloat 
 in such a ship as the ' Albatross. ' " 
 
 " But surely he meant to go." 
 
 " Never." 
 
 The boys were literally staggered at this. 
 
 " Nat," said Jack, "my father's rich, and the best man 
 that ever drew breath. He will take in hand this rascal 
 Murray, and punish him." 
 
 "Bless you, your honour," ejaculated the tar, quite 
 moved ; " you're the right sort, you are." 
 
 " But I shall have to get the chance to do this act of 
 justice, " said young Jack. 
 
 "It'll come." 
 
 " But if the ship should sink ? " said Jack. 
 
 "Look here, your honour," said Nat Cringle; "the 
 'Albatross ' will go down, that's a mortal sartinty ; but 
 you stick close by me, whenever she's in trouble, and 
 we'll sink or swim together. And I for one don't mean 
 sinking. " 
 
 " Give us your hand upon that," said Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "Here it is," said the honest tar, thrusting out a huge 
 horny palm, " and here's the other for you, Master Jack, 
 nearest the 'art, you know. But mum ! here comes the 
 
 second mate, d d ugly swab, betwixt you and me and 
 
 the bedpost 1 " 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE YOUTHFUL SWELL NEXT TO JACK*S CABIN THE TALE OF A 
 
 CHEQUE-BOOK THE HOLE IN THE PANEL A SHINE ON DECK ! 
 
 THE THREATENED MUTINY JUST IN TIME. 
 
 THE youthful swell Murray was so dissatisfied with his 
 cabin that he removed to one with more comforts, and 
 that one happened by chance to be next to our friend young 
 Jack. 
 
 ' ' Chivey," said the master. 
 
 ' ' Sir, " said the man. 
 
 "Give me a soda." 
 
 "And b., sir?"
 
 1 02 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y ANL, 
 
 "Of course ! " 
 
 "It's all very well to say of course, sir," said Mr. 
 Chivey ; " but the fact is the steward won't give us much 
 more tick." 
 
 " The steward's a puppy, Chivey," said Herbert Murray ; 
 "he knows that I am the owner's son ; tell him I must 
 be attended to. " 
 
 "Very good." 
 
 " And tell him if he makes any bones about it, I'll get 
 him discharged from the ship, as safe as my name's 
 Herbert Murray." 
 
 "Very good, sir." 
 
 Chivey disappeared, and young Murray waited impa- 
 tiently for his return. 
 
 "I'm always thirsty," he muttered; " should like to 
 have S. and B. laid on by a sort of New River Company." 
 
 A merry voice in the adjoining cabin broke in upon his 
 reverie with a snatch of a song 
 
 " My name d'ye see's Tom Tough, 
 And I've seen a deal of sarvice." 
 
 " Blow his sarvice, and him too," muttered Mr. Murray 
 Junior. "That's that beast of a Jack Harkaway, I 
 know." 
 
 "That's him, sir." 
 
 "Hullo !" 
 
 The master turned round, and there stood the man at 
 the door. 
 
 ' ' What are you spying upon me" for, Chivey ? " he said. 
 
 " Spying ain't in my line, sir," retorted the tiger. " I 
 was only a-watchin' of you." 
 
 ' ' The same thing. " 
 
 "Not quite." 
 
 " Silence ! You hear Harkaway in the next cabin ? ** 
 
 "Oh, I hear, sir." 
 
 And well he might, for young Jack was swelling ou* 
 his voice. 
 
 " And if more you would be knowin', 
 I have sailed with bold Boscawen." 
 
 " He's getting on a nautical chant," said Mr. Chivey, 
 " to make hisself believe that he don't feel queer."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 103 
 
 " I've watched him," groaned young Murray, "and I 
 know he doesn't ; he was rollicking about all over the 
 ship, when I was half dead with sea-sickness, hang 
 him." 
 
 "Don't you get impatient, sir," said the tiger, "and 
 I can put you up to a wrinkle." 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 "Something extra double artful, sir. O. T. Q." 
 
 "Out with it ; you know how I hate beating about the 
 bush ! " exclaimed Herbert Murray impatiently. 
 
 "Keep your 'air on, sir, I beg," said the tiger, "and 
 I'll tell you all about it ; you know this ship is made up 
 of sliding boards." 
 
 He crept up to the end of the cabin, and gently slid 
 back a small trap. 
 
 At the same time he blew out the lamp, which was 
 burning upon the table, so that they were in total dark- 
 ness. 
 
 Through the hole they could see all that was passing. 
 
 There was young Jack seated at a desk in which were 
 displayed a number of letters and papers on which he was 
 engaged. 
 
 At the moment that the two spies, for they were nothing 
 less, peeped through, Harry Girdwood was entering the 
 cabin. 
 
 And now they could not only see, but they could hear 
 every word that was uttered, as distinctly as if they had 
 been in the cabin with the speakers. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 "What now?" said young Harkaway, looking up. 
 
 " I've been thinking over what Nat Cringle said." 
 
 " So have I ; the danger we are now in is great, for a 
 heavy storm might come upon us at any time." 
 
 "Now supposing we got ashore off the coast yonder." 
 
 Here Herbert Murray looked nervously round at the 
 tiger, who pressed his master's arm warningly. 
 
 "Well." 
 
 "I want to see Spain," continued Jack; "the land of 
 Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and Gil Bias and Don 
 Juan and Figaro and Almaviva, and such a lot more 
 people we are all acquainted with in books and plays." 
 
 "That's all very well, Jack, but we are short ef 
 money."
 
 1 04 YOUNG JA CK HARjSA WA V AJVL. 
 
 " No, the governor gave m a cheque-book, and I have 
 
 only to fill in the cheques for any amount I like, and get 
 them cashed through any banker in any civilised city. We 
 would have to wait while they authenticated the cheques, 
 and there's tin for you to any reasonable amount." 
 
 "As he spoke, he flourished a cheque-book in his hand. 
 
 " You must keep that in your pocket always." 
 
 "I do." 
 
 "Wrap it in an oil skin, and fasten it about your body, 
 for if any accident happened " 
 
 "And we had to swim for it? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It would be safe enough, and as for swimming for 
 It, why " 
 
 At this juncture a hoarse voice was heard giving orders 
 on deck, and it stopped their talk. 
 
 "All hands to the pumps ! " 
 
 "Hark 1" 
 
 "I hear." 
 
 "Any thing worse than usual, I wonder? " said Harry. 
 
 Murmurs were heard on deck so loud that the grumbling 
 tones reached them distinctly. 
 
 Harry Girdwood ran up the cabin stairs to see what was 
 going forward. 
 
 " The men are grumbling," said he, turning round 
 towards Jack. 
 
 "What at ?" 
 
 "This unceasing working at the pumps. They get no 
 rest." 
 
 " All hands pump ship ! " sang out the second mate. 
 
 A muttered menace was heard to come from one of the 
 crew. 
 
 This was the signal for a low growl low, but general. 
 
 And, as it went on, it seemed to gather force like a 
 distant storm. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 "Yes, Harry. " 
 
 " It is getting serious. Get your pistols and let us go 
 up on deck. The mate may want assistance. " 
 
 "I'm with you," said Jack. 
 
 He dropped his cheque-book on to the desk, and stick- 
 ing his pistols into his belt, up he ran. 
 
 Matters were growing serious on deck.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 105 
 
 The wind had freshened and the glass fell rapidly, de- 
 noting that some dirty weather was to be expected. 
 
 A heavy swell had set the ' ' Albatross " rolling, and 
 the water was now gaining fast upon her. 
 
 The gale, which had been gradually working its way 
 up to them, caught the ship at last with greater sudden- 
 ness than they could reasonably have expected. 
 
 But Captain Deering was prompt to meet the emergency. 
 
 The upper fore and main top-sails were reefed. 
 
 The mizzen sail was furled. 
 
 The rain came down in buckets, and the men were 
 working deep in water upon deck. 
 
 The men had deputed a spokesman to go to the skipper 
 to ask for an extra allowance of grog. 
 
 And, surely, if any circumstances could warrant such 
 a license, this was the opportunity to grant it 
 
 But the captain being busily occupied, the men referred 
 their request to the mate, a surly, and ill-natured fellow, 
 who refused it point blank. 
 
 The wind increased, and as the heavy cross sea caught 
 her, the ship laboured and creaked, and strained contin- 
 ually, causing Nat Cringle to sing out, ironically, from 
 time to time 
 
 ' ' There's music for you, lads 1 " 
 
 And as the wind continued, the ship lurched and rolled 
 fearfully. 
 
 Now and again a heavier sea than usual would break 
 clean over the deck, washing every thing before it, and 
 carrying the men away from the pumps to land them in 
 the lee scuppers all in a heap, bruised and marked about 
 dreadfully. 
 
 When young Jack and his comrade, Harry, got on deck, 
 the crew were assembled all in a group talking to the 
 second mate, and the conversation had grown remarkably 
 warm. 
 
 *' We've been up to our waists in water, Mr. Mackenzie," 
 said the spokesman, "and we think you really ought to 
 serve us out an extra allowance." 
 
 "I'm of a different way of thinking," replied the mate, 
 who was a temperance man ; ** and I'll just do nae such 
 thing." 
 
 The men murmured. 
 
 " Let us see the captain," said
 
 Io6 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Aye, aye, the captain." 
 
 "Yes, yes," called a third. 
 
 " Ye'll do nae such thing," said the mate, obstinately. 
 " Captain Deering has deputed me to see you, and " 
 
 " Well, then, if you stop the grog, I won't go to the 
 pumps, for one that's flat," replied the man. 
 
 "Ye mutinous thief ! " roared the mate. " I'll clap ye 
 in irons in no time." 
 
 " Ye'd belter not try it, Sandy," said the sailor, 
 threateningly. 
 
 " Drop him overboard," suggested one of the men. 
 
 Now whether this suggestion would have been acted 
 upon, it is not easy to say. 
 
 Before it could be put to the test, young Jack and 
 Harry Girdwood appeared on deck, and quickly as quietly 
 they ranged themselves beside Mackenzie the mate. 
 
 "Come, come, my men," said Jack, showing his pistols, 
 " stand back, no mutineeringhere." 
 
 "We don't want to mutiny, Master Jack : we've only 
 made a very reasonable request." 
 
 'Aye, aye," said Jack. " What is it, my men ? " 
 
 'Give us some rum." 
 
 'Not a drop," cried Mackenzie vehemently. 
 
 * Down with him ! " cried the sailors. 
 ' Stand back, men ! " cried Jack. 
 
 It was a very ticklish moment. 
 
 "I won't countenance any thing like mutiny or insub- 
 ordination," said Jack, "but put your request into more 
 respectful language, and Mr. Mackenzie will, I am sure, 
 listen to you, if it is reasonable." 
 
 " You're making sure before your time, then," said the 
 mate, ungraciously. 
 
 "Sir?" 
 
 "Did you no hear what I said? Ye've no right to 
 promise any thing in my name. Ye're just a wee bit over 
 fast, and it ill becomes ye." 
 
 " Come, come, Mr. Mackenzie, don't be vexed with 
 me," said Jack, good-naturedly. "I spoke only for the 
 good of the ship." 
 
 " Hold your tongue, boy." 
 
 "Will you not let the men have some grog, sir?" 
 
 "No I" cried the Scotch mate, furiously; "and if 
 you "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 107 
 
 "Stop, stop, sir," said young Jack, " you've no need 
 to threaten me. I came to assist you " 
 
 " Dom yere impudence," cried Mackenzie. 
 
 "But since you don't want it " 
 
 "Nor you either. Go forward, you young imp, ye 
 ye " 
 
 "Save your breath to cool your porridge, sir," said 
 young Jack, coolly. "Stay here, Harry, to see that Mr. 
 Mackenzie doesn't get into any trouble while I step aft 
 and talk to Captain Deering. " 
 
 The mate raged. 
 
 However, Jack did not wait to hear his retort. 
 
 Young Jack went straight up to the skipper at once. 
 
 "Captain Deering, may I have one word with you, 
 please ? " 
 
 "Just one, Mr. Harkaway," returned the skipper, 
 "only be quick about it, if you please." 
 
 At this moment a deep, threatening growl was heard 
 from the men on deck. 
 
 After a pause, the captain fiercely asked 
 
 "Well, what is all this fuss about ? " 
 
 " The men have been working like steam-engines hour 
 after hour, sir, knee deep in water, and not a man, sir, 
 amongst them has a dry thread on him. They want 
 some rum," responded young Jack. 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Let them have it at once at once. Do you hear ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " Off with you." 
 
 "Excuse me, captain, they have asked Mr. Mackenzie 
 already and he refused. " 
 
 "Oh." 
 
 "Well, I wouldn't ask after that, but they are grum- 
 bling and look precious ugly, but he holds out, so that I 
 really fear some harm may come to him." 
 
 "He's a fool," muttered the captain. 
 
 And then he gave orders to the steward to serve out a 
 grog all round. 
 
 Meanwhile, Harry Girdwood was boldly confronting 
 the mutineers, who, awed by his pistols, hung back, 
 hardly daring to commit the violence they had it in their 
 minds to do. Oaths and curses were hurled at the head
 
 1 08 YO UNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 of the mate, but they all admired the boy's pluck, though 
 he stood in their way. 
 
 It is doubtful, though, whether he would have been 
 able to keep them at bay much longer, had not young 
 Jack returned with the welcome news that they were to 
 have the rum. 
 
 A cheer greeted this announcement, and then the 
 steward made his appearance. 
 
 " I hope, Mr. Mackenzie," said Jack, stepping up to the 
 mate, " that you'll not take offence at what I've done." 
 
 "If ye think to palaver me over," said Mackenzie, sul- 
 lenly, "ye're mistaken. Ye think to mak' a fule o' me 
 befoor the crew. Weel, I shall yet ha' the opportunity o' 
 showing ye that it's no the best day's wark o' yer life to 
 mak a fule o' Donald Mackenzie." 
 
 "All hands pump ship ! " sang out Captain Deering, as 
 soon as the men had swallowed their rum. 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 The men flew to work again with alacrity at this. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Mackenzie," called the captain, "tumble 
 about, please look lively." 
 
 The Scotch mate growled something inaudible, and 
 moved away. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 RASTER AND MAN THE POSITIONS REVERSED TIGER CHIVEY 
 "PLAYS ARTFUL," AND HIS MASTER MAKES A VERY FALSE 
 
 MOVE THE FORGED CHEQUES AND THE SLIDING TRAP IN THE 
 
 CABIN PANEL. 
 
 MURRAY and Chivey had remained all this time in their 
 cabin. 
 
 " That Harkaway cove has left his cheque-book behind 
 him," said Chivey. 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 "Why, by just putting my arm through this little 'ole 
 I can get at it." 
 
 " Chivey, I forbid you to do any thing of the sort." 
 
 The tiger had dived his arm through the hole in the 
 
 fanelling, and in the twinkling of an eye, he held young 
 ack's cheque-book under his master's nose.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. log 
 
 " But I have done it, sir ; ltok here," cried Chivey. 
 
 "Chivey, this won't do for me." 
 
 " Oh, it will for me, though. Why, with just one little 
 lark with the cheque-book, you could pepper him nicely 
 for all that precious sewing up he give you ashore." 
 
 "I shouldn't object to do that," returned Herbert 
 Murray, " but I would do any thing " 
 
 Chivey interrupted his master with a cry of delight and 
 amazement. 
 
 "My hi, and Elizabeth Martin! What a slap-up 
 lark ! " 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Look here 1" 
 
 He pushed the open cheque-book under young Murray's 
 eyes, and there was a cheque already written and signed 
 by Jack for twenty pounds. 
 
 Jack had got it ready for some purpose or other at the 
 very moment that he had been called up on deck by the 
 mutinous demonstrations of the crew. 
 
 "It is strange why he should leave the cheque in the 
 book. " 
 
 "Perhaps it was meant for your own especial benefit, 
 sir." 
 
 Mr. Chivey cocked his head on one side in his own 
 peculiar fashion. 
 
 ' ' Whatever do you mean by that, Chivey ? " asked the 
 master. 
 
 "Only this, sir if I could only write like you, I'd fill 
 up every blessed cheque in the book and make presents 
 of ''em to all the orspitals and charities and such." 
 
 Herbert Murray's eyes flashed again at this. 
 
 "By jingo! that would be a lark, and serve young 
 Harkaway out." 
 
 "Rather!" 
 
 The tiger saw that he had got his weak and vacillating 
 master upon the right tack, and he saw also that it 
 would not do to press the matter unduly. 
 
 " Wouldn't that ugly young rascal stare when he found 
 out that he had subscribed to a charity or charities 
 without knowing it ? " 
 
 "Would he not?" exclaimed Chivey; "only you 
 couldn't imitate the signature near enough to match with 
 that"
 
 HO YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "You never made a greater mistake in your life, Chivey, 
 than to suppose that." 
 
 " You don't mean to say, sir, that you really could ? " 
 exclaimed the tiger, with a look that combined incredulity 
 and admiration. 
 
 Chivey knew that weak-headed young master of his 
 well. 
 
 No one better. 
 
 He could do more with Herbert Murray with a mere look 
 than could the latter's father accomplish by dint of praises 
 and reproaches, coaxing and scolding, severity and 
 leniency combined. 
 
 And the singularity of the affair was that Chivey really 
 commanded while he appeared to obey. 
 
 Murray snatched up a pen, and wrote in imitation of 
 Jack's signature. 
 
 Chivey gave his master an admiring glance. 
 
 "Well, there!" he exclaimed, turning his eyes up- 
 wards and seeming to address the roof of the cabin, "if 
 he ain't just about the tallest thing out in fly coves, I wish 
 I may die an old maid ! " 
 
 "Oh, there's nothing very wonderful in that, Chivey," 
 said his master, with an off-hand air. 
 
 "Ain't there ? Why, nobody could tell but what it was 
 young Harkaway's writing. Have a cheque out of his 
 book, sir ; you do imitate him so well. " 
 
 "Yes, it ain't bad, is it?" said Herbert, taking up the 
 pen again, and involuntarily copying the signature of 
 young Jack Harkaway, at the foot of a blank cheque and 
 then of a second. 
 
 The tiger looked on greatly interested. 
 
 ' ' Beautiful ! " ejaculated Chivey, ' ' lovely. Dot de hi, 
 sir ! " 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 "In junior." 
 
 ' ' It doesn't matter ! " 
 
 "Oh, dot his hi ; he dotted yours pretty smartly for 
 you, didn't he ha ! ha ! ha ! " 
 
 This was a mistake. 
 
 "What the devil do you mean by that, you impudent 
 scoundrel ? " exclaimed Herbert Murray ; for this was a 
 very sore topic to joke upon. 
 
 Chivey, with his wonted quickness, saw his error.
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. Ill 
 
 But he had not been able to resist the joke. 
 
 "Beg pardon, sir!" he said, saluting his master, and 
 pulling a face as grave as a mute's, "couldn't help it, sir 
 no offence." 
 
 "Don't you learn to be too familiar, Chivey, or I'll 
 give you the bag ! You mustn't learn to forget your 
 place, because I'm civil to you." 
 
 "No, sir! " 
 
 "You'll just about spoil yourself if you do, let me tell 
 you. Now you may not earn much now " 
 
 " It isn't to say a downright fortune, sir." 
 
 " No, perhaps not but I shall have a pot of tin one of 
 these days, and it will be a fortune to you, if you know 
 how to behave yourself. " 
 
 "Thankee, sir," responded the tiger. " I don't want a 
 fortune, so long as you keep me on." 
 
 "Very well then. It entirely depends on yourself." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 Chivey looked wistfully at those two signed cheques. 
 
 And as he looked, his speculative mind shot ahead into 
 the future. 
 
 He fancied he saw in those two strips of paper the 
 means of making himself safe of putting his position 
 beyond the mere caprice of his shifty young master. 
 
 But how ? 
 
 This we shall see. 
 
 Meanwhile it may be well to remark that Chivey, with 
 all his shrewdness, had yet to learn that to speculate upon 
 the remote future was rash, seeing that if the weather did 
 not speedily improve, the "Albatross" was likely to 
 prove the coffin for one and all on board for passengers 
 as well as crew. 
 
 "Just listen, sir, what a row they are making over- 
 head. " 
 
 "That's Jack Harkaway's voice. He's coming down, 
 Chivey." exclaimed his master, anxiously; "put back 
 the cheque-book." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 The tiger obeyed. 
 
 And in obeying, somehow or another, the two signed 
 cheques found their way into Chivey's pocket
 
 1 13 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 'Push to the trap." 
 'It's down, sir close as wax." 
 ' I hope they won't see it from the other side." 
 'Never a bit, sir." 
 
 'Then up on deck, and see what all this precious 
 hubbub is about, Chivey." 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 The tiger turned upon the cabin steps, and gave his 
 master a parting glance of admiration. 
 And he disappeared up the steps on deck. 
 Young Murray fully believed in Chivey's adulation, 
 and accepted it as justifiable homage. 
 Silly young fool ! 
 
 He had just added forgery to his varied and unenviable 
 accomplishments. 
 
 Forgery has an ugly sound ; yet forgery it was. 
 Moreover, this crafty, cunning young man about town 
 had left in the possession of his own wicked servant the 
 proofs of his crime 1 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 LISTENERS HEAR BAD NEWS OCCASIONALLY. 
 
 " I SAY, Jack, " exclaimed Harry Girdwood, when they 
 returned to their cabin, "that's rather careless of you 
 leaving your cheque-book out." 
 
 ' ' No fear ; no one came down here, they had too much 
 to do on deck." 
 
 "True," answered cautious Harry, "but you can't be 
 too careful with your cheque-book.' 
 
 "True, but my own opinion is, that unless we look 
 remarkably lively, the cheque-book won't be of any par- 
 ticular use to any of us." 
 
 "I don't think it is as bad as that," replied Harry. 
 
 "I do ; the rotten old tub is as nearly water-logged as 
 possible. Let a few more seas break over her and down 
 she'll go, as sure as my name's Jack ! " 
 
 ****** 
 
 At this moment Chivey tottered down the companion- 
 ladder to his master.
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. 1 13 
 
 His cheeks were ashy pale, and he had not a word to 
 say for himself ; for he absolutely quaked for fear. 
 
 But his master did not want to learn the news from 
 Chivey. 
 
 He was stretched at full length in his berth, with his 
 ear close to the panel, and he could hear every word of 
 the conversation going forward between Jack Harkaway, 
 junior, and his comrade, Harry. 
 
 " Hush, listen ! " he whispered warningly to Chivey. 
 
 The tiger obeyed. 
 
 And this is what they both overheard together. 
 
 "I mean to put on my cork clothing," said Jack ; "get 
 yours ready too, Harry, at once." 
 
 "Very good." 
 
 "And meanwhile, in case of accidents, I mean to 
 scribble out a little information and stick the paper into 
 a corked and sealed bottle. " 
 
 " What's the good of that ? " 
 
 ' Lots," replied Jack ; "if we go down to Davy Jones, 
 it will be saying good-bye to all our friends at home, and 
 it will show up that murderous old thief, Murray, to the 
 world. " 
 
 "But Mr. Murray's own son is on board." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, then, nobody will believe that he sent his own 
 flesh and blood afloat in a coffin ship." 
 
 "But he didn't know that his son was here. Accord- 
 ing to Captain Deering's own showing, the young fellow 
 took his passage, with his servant, under assumed names, 
 so as to dodge his father. But I'm sorry for the son," 
 said Jack, " for he's very little chance of saving himself, 
 and, unless the wind drops, the * Albatross' will never 
 float twelve hours more I " 
 
 "Chivey!" 
 
 Herbert Murray's voice was hoarse with terror. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Bring me something to drink some brandy and 
 water. " 
 
 "I ain't got time," replied his servant ; " I've got to 
 look after myself now, and put on my lifebelt, for I mean 
 to have a good hard try for it," 
 8
 
 1 1 4 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 ' What do the men say on deck ? " 
 
 "They are getting ready the boats, and some are talk- 
 ing of a raft. " 
 
 Herbert Murray sank back with a groan, burying his 
 face in his hands. 
 
 Meanwhile, young Jack was writing out his statement 
 of the case to expose the shipowner's villany. 
 
 And this being done, he enclosed it, together with a 
 hastily written farewell to his father and mother, little 
 Emily, and friends, in a bottle, which was tightly corked 
 and sealed. 
 
 Then it was committed to the waves. 
 
 " Now for the lifebelts ! " 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 BETTER NEWS THE SKIPPER MEETS AN OLD COMRADE STRANGE 
 
 REVELATIONS THE CAPTAIN'S RESOLVE "WE'LL DO THEM 
 
 YET, BY THE LORD HARRY ! " 
 
 Now, while preparations were made for dire extremi- 
 ties below, matters grew better above. 
 
 The wind lulled, and Captain Deering exclaimed in the 
 fulness of his heart 
 
 ' ' We shall pull her through now, the rotten old sponge ! " 
 
 "For the present, sir," said a voice close to his ear. 
 
 Captain Deering turned round, and there was Nat 
 Cringle. 
 
 "Hullo, my man 1" he said, biting his lip with vexa- 
 tion, " you oughtn't to be at my elbow to pick up every 
 word I may happen to let fall." 
 
 Nat Cringle pulled his forelock in salute, and gave an 
 apologetic scrape with his foot. 
 
 "All right, captain, I'm mum. Axing your pardon, I 
 took the liberty o' speaking on the score of this not being 
 the first nor the tightest scrape we've been in together." 
 
 "We!" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "I scarcely remember," murmured the captain, in the 
 voice of one diving back into the past, "and yet I should 
 know your voice. Why, let me think. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 115 
 
 " Don't your honour remember the ' Lively Polly '? " 
 Here he broke out into a snatch of a sea song 
 
 " If you wish to know the liveliest craft that ever sailed from port, 
 Why, that's my Polly the ' Lively Polly ' and she's a rare good 
 sort." 
 
 "The ' Lively Polly '!" quoth Captain Deering; "I 
 should think I do remember, and now, Nat Cringle, I 
 remember you." 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 " Nat Cringle's your name, is it not? " 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 "Tip me your fin, Nat Cringle," said the skipper heart- 
 ily ; "I'm precious glad to sail with an old comrade. 
 Why, where have you been all these long years, old ship- 
 mate ? " 
 
 "Knocking about, cap'n," replied the sailor, "up and 
 down often er down than up, if the real truth be spoken." 
 
 "And so, Nat, you think the 'Albatross' will only pull 
 through for the present ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Your honour needn't ask that," replied the sailor, 
 "seeing as you know all about the ship now as much as 
 I do." 
 
 "Aye, Nat Cringle, but from the way you speak, you 
 show me that you have known something more about 
 the ' Albatross ' than you choose to tell for a long while 
 past. " 
 
 "Not more than you, captain," said Nat Cringle. 
 "Leastways, I suppose not, considering as you've em- 
 barked in the same venture as me." 
 
 " You suppose so ? " 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 "Tell that to the marines, Joe," said Captain Deering, 
 "sailors won't believe it. We all know what you believe. 
 You know as well as possible that I only came up at the 
 eleventh hour to take Captain Robinson's place when he 
 was taken ill." 
 
 Nat laughed. 
 
 "When what?" 
 
 "When Captain Robinson was taken ill, I say."
 
 1 1 6 YO UNO JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed Nat Cringle, grimly. " You kno\c 
 all about that, sir. " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Why, about Captain Robinson's illness." 
 
 "I don't quite know what you are driving at, Nat," 
 said Captain Deering. 
 
 There was a peculiar look in his eyes and a strange 
 twang in his voice that told as plainly as possible that 
 his suspicions were aroused by the sailor's manner. 
 
 ' ' I'll tell you, Captain Deering, " replied Nat " I know, 
 and you know too leastways your honour ought to know 
 that Captain Robinson was about as ill as I am at this 
 present moment." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Of course you know he was only shamming." 
 
 The skipper broke in indignantly at this. 
 
 "Do you know, Nat, what you are saying? Captain 
 Robinson is one of my best and oldest friends." 
 
 "The devil he is !" said Nat Cringle. "Why, then, 
 he ought to be keelhauled and have a round dozen, and 
 be tarred and feathered and pitched overboard, the swab." 
 
 Nat Cringle's manner was so full of downright earnest- 
 ness that the skipper could not mistake it. 
 
 " Do you really think, old shipmate," he said, earnestly, 
 sinking his voice to a whisper, "that Captain Robin- 
 son " 
 
 He paused. 
 
 He could not bring himself to put his thoughts into 
 words. 
 
 Nat nodded. 
 
 "Yes, sir," he said, "that's just it. He knew well 
 enough. It's all a game a sort of play at life and death. 
 They speculate with money for your life and ours, and 
 the best news that they could hear, would be that the 
 rotten old ' Albatross ' had gone to the bottom, and with 
 her every mortal soul on board." 
 
 Captain Deering walked aft in great emotion. 
 
 After pacing the deck for several minutes he came back 
 to where Nat Cringle stood, stock still, awaiting him. 
 
 "Nat Cringle," he said, earnestly, " we have sailed to- 
 gether often enough, and we have faced death too often 
 together for there to be any deception or concealment 
 between us.*
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. Iiy 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 " How came it that, knowing this, you are here ? " 
 
 "Because I know very well," returned the old salt, 
 with the same air of conviction that he had previously 
 shown in his conversation with Jack and Harry Girdwood, 
 " that nothing can hurt me that, come weal, come woe, 
 I shan't go to the bottom. " 
 
 The skipper looked amazed at this declaration. 
 
 " Do you mean it ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "You think that you bear a charmed life? " 
 
 "If you like to put it like that, your honour," returned 
 the sailor, smiling, "I feel that I can't go down, else I 
 shouldn't have come aboard the ' Albatross,' nor, in fact, 
 any ship belonging to old Murray." 
 
 "I don't understand you quite, Nat." 
 
 "It's easy understood, cap'n," returned Nat Cringle, 
 warming up on his favourite theme. "He gets hold of 
 some rotten old hull that's been condemned, and dodges 
 it up with paint and putty, and he gets a cargo in a strange 
 port. Then he puffs it up and gets hold of a captain 
 whose name is well known amongst the merchants and 
 shippers, and so gets hold of passengers and cargo. The 
 ' more passengers the better, you see. Well, he and Cap- 
 tain Robinson have worked this job together, and a nice 
 bargain they've made of it. Captain Robinson never 
 meant sailing in her, of course. He waits till the last 
 moment, and then he gets hold of you." 
 
 Captain Deering here interrupted him with a boisterous 
 exclamation. 
 
 " Do you know how he got hold of me, Nat Cringle? " 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Then I'll tell you. I was in trouble up in London. 
 I was in precious low water. My name was on a heavy 
 bill for a poor devil who'd gone queer, and they were 
 going to nab me for it, to lodge me in limbo. " 
 
 "The swabs." 
 
 " Well, I looked up my pals to help me through, and I 
 thought of my old mate Robinson. He sent me word 
 that he couldn't help me with money, that he was very 
 ill, but that he could get me a ship at once, and start me 
 off before the sharks could get scent of my whereabouts. 
 Down I came on the sly and took ship."
 
 1 18 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 " The mean, artful son of a sea-cook," ejaculated hon- 
 est Nat Cringle. 
 
 "I begin to see clear now, Nat," said the skipper, 
 thoughtfully ; " and if I don't spoil their speculations, you 
 can call me all the lubbers you can lay your tongue to. " 
 
 Nat Cringle grew quite excited at this. 
 
 " Captain Deering, would your honour be offended at 
 a suggestion ? " 
 
 "Offended, Nat ! There's no shame to any sailor, what- 
 ever his grade, in asking your advice, old comrade." 
 
 " Thank your honour. Well, then " 
 
 " Your advice ? " 
 
 "Put her about, and let us run for the nearest port. 
 Have the British consul on board, and let the ship be 
 surveyed. If Lloyd's agent gets over her after the strain- 
 ing she's undergone in this gale, she'll be condemned as 
 sure as eggs is." 
 
 The skipper looked about him, and took an earnest sur- 
 vey of the weather signs. 
 
 "Nat Cringle," he said, clapping the old salt on the 
 shoulder, "it shall be done. If the rotten 'Albatross' 
 will hold together, we'll do them yet, by the Lord Harry." 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A WRINKLE IN PUMPING THE SOUNDING ROD JACK READS 
 THE OLDEST TAR ON BOARD A LESSON. 
 
 CAPTAIN DEERING had the men served with another 
 allowance of grog. 
 
 And again he sang out the order so often heard in this 
 short voyage 
 
 "All hands pump ship ? " 
 
 This time it was readily, if not quite cheerfully, 
 obeyed. 
 
 As Nat Cringle said, the constant bending over the 
 pumps strained their backs woefully. 
 
 "If I go on much longer, "said another tar, ruefully, 
 " damme if I shan't get as humpty backed as King Dick 
 in the play. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 119 
 
 "There's a simple remedy for that, my men," said 
 young Jack, promptly. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Rig up bell-ropes on to the pumps and you won't 
 have to stoop." 
 
 "Bravo ! " 
 
 They set to it at once. 
 
 A bell-rope is a short rope with a thimble, or iron ring 
 spliced into one end. 
 
 The thimbles were slipped over the handles. 
 
 This done, the men tailed on to the ropes to pull the 
 handles round. 
 
 By dint of this simple artifice the work was done 
 quicker and better, and with half the fatigue. 
 
 When next they sounded the well, there was no abate- 
 ment. 
 
 This naturally discouraged the men, who murmured 
 ominously. 
 
 One old fellow, with grizzly hair and beard, dropped 
 off, and swore a good round oath that he would work no 
 more. 
 
 "She's settling," he said ; and a look of dismay was 
 seen upon most of the anxious faces present. 
 
 "I don't believe it" 
 
 "You don't believe it ! " said the old fellow, fiercely. 
 "What does a boy like you know about it? I tell you 
 she's going down. " 
 
 "I tell you, then, Norris," said young Jack, firmly, 
 "she's doing no such thing ; and if she were, why, that's 
 no reason why you should desert your duty. " 
 
 "More I don't," retorted the sailor, savagely, "only 
 at the last gasp, and I mean to make a kick for it. As 
 long as it's of use I was willing to pump ; but now she's 
 going down I mean to save my breath, and not be so 
 pumped." 
 
 Jack saw with a sinking heart that several of the men 
 were about to follow the old sailor's example. 
 
 "Wait a bit, wait a bit," he exclaimed, eagerly, "and 
 I'll soon show you that I'm right and he's wrong." 
 
 The old man grunted. 
 
 "Give him a chance, Norris," cried Nat Cringle. 
 " Damme, give him fair play." 
 
 "Every time we've sounded the well for the last
 
 120 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 twenty-four hours, "said young Jack, "it has gained upon 
 us slowly, very slowly, thanks to our hard struggle 
 with it yet none the less surely." 
 'It has." 
 
 'And that's cold comfort to give us," growled Norris. 
 ' Well, the last time we sounded, it was stationary." 
 ; What of that ? " 
 
 ' Stow your gaff ! " interrupted Nat Cringle. ' ' Damme, 
 you're enough to make the Pope o' Rome swear. Don't 
 you see what Master Harkaway is a-driving at ? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Then you must ha' got your figger-'eds stuffed with 
 sawdust instead of brains. Why, if it's a level fight 
 now, or on last soundings, with the water, why it's 
 better than it was before, inasmuch and seeing as how 
 it had us at aadwantage before." 
 
 "Nat Cringle has just said what I was trying to get 
 at," said Jack. "Now listen." 
 
 "Aye, aye?" 
 
 " Let us have one more shy," said young Jack ; "I'll 
 take Norris's place, for we don't want any half-hearted 
 coves this turn. " 
 
 "And I'll take Marshall's," said Harry Girdwood. 
 
 " Bravo ! " said one of the sailors. 
 
 The cheer was caught up readily, for the example of 
 these plucky youngsters was the very thing to give a 
 fillip to these poor worn-out sailors, and worn out they 
 were and no mistake, every man of them. 
 
 "Now, Norris," said Jack, "you go and sound the 
 well." 
 
 ' ' Aye, aye, sir ! " 
 
 In the course of a few moments back came old Norris 
 with ' ' a face as long as a fiddle, " as one of the sailors 
 remarked. 
 
 "A fiddle ! " quoth Jack. "A bass-viol you mean." 
 
 At this they all laughed. 
 
 The old man gave his report with a precious lugubrious 
 air. 
 
 It was somewhat serious, and Jack felt it to be so. 
 
 "Now then, mates," cried Nat Cringle; "no more 
 palaver ; but let's go in and give her a proper doing for 
 a spell, and if we don't make the sounding-rod tell a 
 warstly different tale in the splicing of a mainbrace, you
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. iai 
 
 may call me the darndest loblolliboy as ever smarted 
 his grinders over a twel'month-old ship biscuit." 
 
 This made the men grin. 
 
 Young Jack struck up a snatch of an old song, slightly 
 altered for the occasion 
 
 " ' Pull away merrily, 
 Pull away cheenly, 
 
 Send the pumps' fly-wheels all fast spinning round. 
 Each try at the bell ropes, 
 Heightens our well hopes, 
 And the rod shall encourage us when next we sound.' " 
 
 The air was brisk and lively, and Jack's impromptu dog- 
 gerel was more welcome to those hard-working tars than 
 the Laureate's most polished stanzas would have been. 
 The men caught up the chorus all together. 
 The fly-wheels did go round as Jack sang. 
 " Hullo !" cried one of the sailors, "here comes old 
 Norris again with his report." 
 
 'Jest look at his winegar mug," said another. 
 'Now, Norris." 
 'Speak up, man," said Jack. 
 ' Out with it," cried a sailor, impatiently. 
 ' What's the werdick ? " said another. 
 'Well," says Norris, putting a plug of Cavendish into 
 his cheek with aggravating deliberation, " this young 
 fellow was right I was wrong ; and what's more, I'm 
 not fool enough to be sorry to own myself licked by such 
 a proper young cove." 
 "Bravo, Norris ! " 
 
 But Norris, heedless of the approving cheer, only 
 turned to Jack Harkaway. 
 
 "Give us your flipper, youngster," he said ; " if you 
 only live to be my age, you'll be able to take a rise out 
 of any post-captain in the Royal Navy aye, damme ! 
 and the port admiral into the bargain. " 
 Jack grinned. 
 The men cheered. 
 
 "This is all right and proper, Norris, " said Nat Cringle, 
 who was not a little gratified with his crusty old ship- 
 mate's conduct ; "but how about the well?" 
 
 "Why, you see, some folks " 
 
 " Awast, Ned, awast," exclaimed Nat ; no yarn."
 
 122 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Well, then, we've gained just four inches on her." 
 " Huzza ! " 
 
 " Huzza ! " yelled the men. 
 
 "Tune up again, Jack," cried Harry Girdwood, ex- 
 citedly, " and let's have one more go." 
 
 " ' Pull away merrily, 
 
 Pull away cheerily ' " 
 
 " Hold 'ard, there," cried Norris, pulling young Jack 
 away ; " you take a turn at the sounding too, and let this 
 
 d d obstinate old grampus get back to his dooty. 
 
 ****** 
 
 Young Jack made three soundings, and reported each 
 time. 
 
 The lad's manner seemed to fire the men with new 
 energy every time he returned to report 
 
 The third time he came back from sounding the well. 
 
 " How are we getting on ? " cried the men eagerly. 
 
 ' ' Why, " answered Jack, grinning over his face, ' ' you'vt* 
 sucked her dry as a bone. So now I propose that wt> 
 obey the good old maxim, and let well alone." 
 
 Never did these honest tars ever hear a joke so 
 thoroughly to their tastes. 
 
 That done, Harry Girdwood made a proposition that 
 was far from being distasteful to the crew. 
 
 "With Captain Deering's permission," he said, "I 
 shall treat you all round to another go of grog." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " 
 
 Harry went and asked permission, and what's more he 
 got it too. 
 
 "As you like, Mr. Girdwood," said the skipper, "but 
 neither you nor Mr. Harkaway must ask me again to- 
 day, for I couldn't refuse you any thing. You are made 
 of the right stuff that England's sailors are built of, and 
 you've done more between you towards saving the 
 ' Albatross ' than any man aboard. "
 
 ffZS BOY TINKER. 123 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A BANQUET AFLOAT " TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS" MR. NERO 
 
 IN THE CHAIR MR. FIGGINS RESPONDS HIS ACCIDENT WITH 
 
 NERO PANTOMIME WITH A MAMMOTH PIE UNLUCKY BOGEY ! 
 
 ALL work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 
 
 Our Jack was a real good one to work, as we all 
 know. 
 
 He could play, too. 
 
 Moreover, he could make others play, and enjoy his 
 fun. 
 
 The carpenter and his mate were sent down below to 
 the hold, to caulk and patch and trim the soft-wooded 
 old carcase in the most dangerous places, before the 
 water could gain upon her again, and while this was go- 
 ing forward, Jack and his chum, Harry Girdwood, enter- 
 tained a select party, by special permission of the skipper, 
 in their own cabin. 
 
 Jack stood treat. 
 
 It was not a very grand affair, but the honest tars 
 thought it a banquet fit for the gods. 
 
 Jack now treated them, by the steward's aid, to a 
 stewed rabbit and smoking hot potatoes, cooked in their 
 jackets, some boiled pork, and pease pudding and other 
 delicacies. 
 
 Some prime corned beef was on the festive board, too, 
 and there was beer and grog to moisten it withal ; so that 
 the guests voted Jack a trump, and drank his health in 
 bumpers round to an accompaniment of loud, ringing 
 cheers. 
 
 Now amongst the company assembled to do honour to 
 the occasion were the two young darkeys, Tinker and 
 his "valet," Bogey, for much to Murray's and Chivey's 
 disgust, they had by this time found out the ghostly trick 
 played upon them by Jack's boy Tinker, but to tell the 
 truth, they were both glad that Tinker was not killed. 
 
 Our faithful old friend Nero was seated in the place of 
 honour, dressed in a glittering naval uniform and a grand 
 cocked hat.
 
 124 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Nero did not take it for a laughing matter, we can as- 
 sure you, but sat at the head of the table as grave and 
 dignified as though he had been the lord high admiral 
 himself. 
 
 "My Lord Nero," said Jack, filling his glass, " I drink 
 to the health of the skipper, Captain Deering." 
 
 "Captain Deering 1 " shouted the sailor guests. 
 
 "Stop a bit, gentlemen," said Mr. Figgins, getting on 
 his legs ; " let's have Captain Deering with due honours.' 
 
 "Three times three!" 
 
 "Aye, aye." 
 
 "No, "cried Nat Cringle, "with nine times nine at 
 t^e very least. Take the time from me, please, and all 
 together hip, hip, hip, hurrah 1 " 
 
 "Hurrah!" 
 
 "Hurrah!" 
 
 You would scarcely have thought it possible that they 
 could be on board a ship which one and all had con- 
 demned so recently. 
 
 A ship which would, beyond all doubt, have gone down 
 with skipper and crew, but for their manful and untiring 
 exertions. 
 
 "And now a little one in, "said Nat Cringle, waving 
 his hand. 
 
 They responded, too, with a will, one and all 
 
 " For he's a jolly good fellow, 
 For he's a jolly good fellow, 
 For he's a jolly good fellow, 
 
 And so say all of us, 
 
 And so say all of us, 
 
 And so say all of us, 
 With a hip, hip, hurrah I " 
 
 And so forth, with a general chorus ad lib. 
 
 Jack noticed that Nero had a knack of swinging his 
 glass round, as he responded by gestures to the invitation 
 to give a toast, watching all his master's movements with 
 startling fidelity. 
 
 So he prepared. 
 
 " Charge your glasses, " cried the orphan, in the pompous 
 manner of a toast-master at a public banquet ; "bumpers, 
 gentlemen." 
 
 Jack had filled Nero's glass up, and then catching his
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 12$ 
 
 eye, Jack waved his own glass, which was empty, round 
 to the right, with a jerky air. 
 
 Nero followed suit. 
 
 Now Mr. Figgins was Nero's next-door neighbour, and 
 the orphan received the contents of Nero's glass down 
 his collar, and over his shirt front, and the glass, slipping 
 from Nero's hand, struck the orphan in the face. 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 "Hallo!" 
 
 " Murder ! " yelled Mr. Figgins, springing up. 
 
 Nero grew frightened, and jumped on to the table at 
 once, playing havoc with the dishes. 
 
 Mr. Figgins scrambled out of his seat, and made for 
 the companion ladder. 
 
 But somehow or other he got the leg of a camp stool 
 between his legs, and tripped up. 
 
 Nero jumped on his back in a jiffy, and the sailors 
 laughed until the tears ran down their cheeks. 
 
 "Help!" 
 
 "Go it, Nero!" 
 
 " Murder ! take the monster oft" 
 
 ' ' Keep it up, Nero ! hi ! hi ! " 
 
 Nero wanted no inciting to mischief. 
 
 He was as playful as a kitten, and we verily believe 
 that he understood fun as well as his friends and patrons 
 generally. 
 
 " Help ! " yelled Mr. Figgins ; "hell murder me ! " 
 
 He grew desperate in his struggling, and scrambling to 
 his feet, he tripped Nero over. 
 
 One desperate plunge, and he reached the stairs. 
 
 Three at a time he went up them. 
 
 But poor Mr. Figgins' troubles were not yet at an end. 
 
 At the foot of the stairs he encountered Bogey, who 
 was descending with a huge a ea-pie swimming about in 
 a mammoth dish, full of smoking hot gravy. 
 
 The orphan was shooting up head forwards, and 
 pressed down like an old goat butting an enemy, and he 
 shot just under the sea-pie, and landed Bogey in the 
 belly. 
 
 Bogey yelled. 
 
 "Oh, golly!" 
 
 Down fell the dish, pie, orphan and all a regular smok- 
 ing avalanche that rolled along the orphan's back, while
 
 126 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 the stinging hot gravy found a channel for itself between 
 his shirt collar and his flesh. 
 
 The result was that Mr. Figgins' underclothing was 
 literally saturated with the luscious juice, which was 
 unpleasantly warm. 
 
 Down he went the whole length of the cabin floor, 
 considerably faster even than he had gone up the 
 stairs. 
 
 Down flopped Bogey, plump into the orphan's stomach. 
 
 And up he got, "looking," as Nat Cringle said, "all 
 ways for Sunday. " 
 
 ' ' Golly ! what dis all mean ? " 
 
 That was all that the astonished darkey could manage 
 to iterate. 
 
 It had all been so sudden and unexpected. 
 
 "Oh!" groaned Mr. Figgins; "why did I leave my 
 happy home on land to come to sea, and meet with such 
 disasters oh ! " 
 
 The company literally yelled with delight. 
 
 Sailors are a rough lot, and there are few tars but relish 
 practical joking. 
 
 Mr. Figgins, sitting up, with the gravy streaming down 
 his hair and cheeks, presented such a ludicrous and de- 
 plorable figure, that it was no wonder that they laughed. 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" 
 
 "You may laugh," he said, ruefully, "but how would 
 you like hot juice from a pie down your back ? Just you 
 answer me that. " 
 
 "Capital ! " ejaculated young Harkaway ; "it must be 
 tuce." 
 
 "So sweet \ " chimed in Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "But it was well done, Mr. Figgins," said Jack. "I 
 hitd no idea you had got such spirits for a lark, sir." 
 
 ' ' What ! " cried the astonished Mr. Figgins.^ " A lark ? " 
 
 "Yes. Why, you would have made an immense for- 
 t'me, sir, as a harlequin in the pantomime." 
 
 "Give him a cheer." 
 
 They did, too. 
 
 "Do you mean to say," began the orphan^at length, 
 when he could succeed in obtaining a hearing, "that 
 you think I did it for fun ? " 
 
 "Of course you did," said Jack. 
 
 "But but I assure you," began the orphan, " 1 - "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 127 
 
 "Dat, sar,"said Tinker, bowing at Mr. Figgins, "am 
 awful gollopshus beastly fine lark ob yourn, sar. 
 
 " Massa Figgins comes down, 
 And cracks his crown, 
 And Bogey comes tumbling after. 
 
 / 
 
 Yah, yah, yah ! " 
 
 Tinker's new version of Jack and Jill was highly 
 applauded by one and all present. 
 
 "Dat all bery fine, Massa Figleaf," said Bogey, "but 
 you spile dis chile's beauty." 
 
 " Bravo, Bogey ! " 
 
 "And dis chile don't like it, sar, by golly, sar. Dis 
 chile owe you one, Massa Figleaf, for dat oh ! " 
 
 " Hold your catawampus jaw, you ignorant nigger," 
 cried Tinker, shying a hot and soft potato at his follower's 
 head, "and listen to your s'perior hossifer; Massa Fig- 
 gins do it lubly bew'ful." 
 
 " Bravo for funny Figgins ! " 
 
 " His health in a bumper round, messmates." 
 
 His health was then given with all due honours. 
 
 The poor orphan began to think that he was being made 
 
 ihm of. 
 
 ***** * 
 
 " Mr. Harkaway." 
 
 "Hallo!" 
 
 "Wanted, sir." 
 
 " By whom?" 
 
 " The captain." 
 
 "I'm there," responded young Jack, springing up. 
 
 He flew up the cabin stairs, and was with Captain 
 Deering in half a crack. 
 
 "Sent for me, sir? " 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Harkaway," said the skipper. " I'm sorry 
 to break in upon your festivity, but duty " 
 
 " Must be obeyed, sir," responded young Jack. 
 
 ' ' Quite right, " said the captain. ' ' Well, then, the wind, 
 I find, is freshening again." 
 
 "Hah!" 
 
 "Pass the word to Nat Cringle, and old what-d'ye- 
 call-him ? to come up." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir?"
 
 128 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "We must keep her away. Clear away the fore-top- 
 sail," he suddenly sang out. 
 
 Then watching for a smooth chance, he gave the order 
 to hoist away. 
 
 The sail was quickly set 
 
 The helm was put up, and the lee main-braces checked 
 a foot or two, the object of this manoeuvre being to ease 
 the wind out of the topsail. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 FIGHTING WITH DEATH A TOUGH STRUGGLE, AND BEATEN AFTER 
 
 ALL " LOOK TO YOUR LIFE RAFT, AS SMART AS YOU LIKE ! " 
 
 IT was a moment a good long one, by the way, of 
 considerable anxiety to all. 
 
 It was no joke what Captain Deering was after now. 
 
 The danger of the movement precious soon made itself 
 apparent. 
 
 The sea caught the ship abeam, and as it did so, a tre- 
 mendous wave was seen curling up astern, rushing on 
 in pursuit of the "Albatross " as if to engulf it 
 
 Roaring like a hungry monster for its helpless prey, it 
 came on. 
 
 " Hold fast ! " yelled the captain ; "hold on for your 
 lives, men, fore and aft." 
 
 Harry Girdwood and Jack, holding by each other, and 
 with their disengaged hands grasping the nearest ropes 
 they could clutch, were jerked so violently that their 
 wrists were well nigh dislocated, and it was marvellous 
 indeed that they were not one and all swallowed up by 
 the sea. 
 
 The only thing which saved the "Albatross" from 
 instant destruction, was the fact of the bulwarks being 
 washed away in pieces by the severity of the late gale. 
 
 The "Albatross" quivered from stem to stern ! 
 
 However, as soon as the water found its way off the 
 decks rapidly, the ship paid off quickly enough, and in 
 the course of a few moments they were going along dead 
 before the gale.
 
 HJS BOY TINKER. 
 
 129 
 
 The force of the wind was felt much less, of course, than 
 when they went head to it. 
 
 The sea, however, was very heavy. 
 
 Soon after this one, monster wave came roaring after 
 them astern, like a mountain suddenly invested with life, 
 and they saw that although there was not the same danger 
 as in the previous visitation there was a precious ugly 
 shock to be anticipated. 
 
 It was a terrible shock this time. 
 
 Young Jack thought they were gone for a certainty. 
 
 Even old Nat Cringle avowed afterwards that he was in 
 a thundering rage. Because why? "He was going to 
 get a lot more trouble to reach shore safe and sound than 
 he had bargained for " not that his faith in his wonder- 
 ful good luck deserted him even then ! 
 
 The sheets were now hauled aft, and the foresail had 
 been loosed, and the ship shot faster through the water. 
 
 The whole topsails were now set and matters looked 
 more promising. 
 
 Once more they had, by the prompt and skilful seaman- 
 ship of the skipper, escaped a deadly peril. 
 
 But there was no rest for the hard-worked crew. 
 
 "Pump ship!" sang out the first mate, "all hands 
 pump ship ! " 
 
 "That's a good thing," growled Nat Cringle, with an 
 oath. 
 
 "You're right there, Nat," said a voice at his elbow. 
 
 Nat turned round. 
 
 " Ax pardon, Captain Deering," said the old salt with 
 a grin, " but I should like to be wrung out fust." 
 
 "Help keep this old sponge afloat, Nat Cringle," said 
 the skipper, with a fierce air of determination, "and you 
 shall get wrung out." 
 
 " I ain't afeard " 
 
 "Quite right," said Captain Deering, with a smile, 
 "but help keep the ship afloat, Nat, for the sake of the 
 
 rest of them, and for " 
 
 ' For what ? " 
 
 'To help pay off old scores with the owner, old 
 Murray. " 
 
 'I will, sir." 
 
 'And my friend Captain Joe Robinson." 
 ' Damme, that I will 1 *' said Cringle, heartily. 
 9
 
 X 30 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 From that moment old Nat was all over the ship. 
 
 Lending one a hand here, and encouraging the half- 
 drowned, shivering crew there by his cheery voice and 
 valuable assistance. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 " What do you think of matters now, Captain Deer- 
 ing?" 
 
 The speaker was our young hero, Jack Harkaway. 
 
 "It'll take us all our time to pull through unless we 
 sight land within a reasonable time." 
 
 "Hah!" 
 
 It was enough to make the listener say " hah ! " 
 
 The ship laboured and groaned ominously. 
 
 There was no possible doubt about the peril. 
 
 But the danger was not immediate. 
 
 Good seamanship and incessant labour at the pumps 
 kept her afloat. 
 
 But Captain Deering had told those to whom he could 
 safely entrust his views that it was but a question of 
 time. 
 
 " We may yet pull through," he said, " if we sight land 
 soon, or if we fall in with assistance and get towed into 
 port." 
 
 Eagerly they scanned the horizon with their glasses. 
 
 All in vain. 
 
 Not the faintest speck in sight wherever they looked. 
 ****** 
 
 "Nat, captain wants you." 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 Nat Cringle ran up on deck to the skipper. 
 Captain Deering was looking anxiously ahead, and so 
 engrossed with his observations, that he did not hear the 
 old tar's approach. 
 'Here I am, sir." 
 1 What do you think now, Nat ? " 
 
 'Well, I think " 
 
 ' Out with it, Nat ; no palavering with me, you know." 
 ' Well, then, I think as it's as nigh all up with the 
 * Albatross' as it well can be." 
 The skipper sighed. 
 
 "Just my notion, Nat," he said; "not that I'm going 
 to give in yet awhile ; only let us be prepared. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 131 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 "For the sake of the passengers, if not for ourselves, 
 get the ship's carpenter, and see what you can get to- 
 gether between you towards fixing up a big life raft. " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "That with the boats will perhaps enable us to save 
 all." 
 
 "Perhaps, sir." 
 
 "But, hang the thieves, they'll get the insurance money 
 then," growled the skipper. 
 
 "Not sure yet, your honour," said Nat; "let's make 
 ourselves sure first, and then have a turn at the rotten old 
 hull again." 
 
 " How's the well ?" 
 
 "Mortal bad" 
 
 " So I feared ; so look to your raft as smart as you 
 like." 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE HARKAWAYS AT HOME OLD JACK*S TROUBLE THE VISIT 
 
 FROM OVER THE SEA AN UNLUCKY POSTMAN YOUNG JACK 
 HARKAWAY'S LAST WORDS. 
 
 WE will now return for a short time to our old friends 
 at home. 
 
 Matters went badly with the Harkaways. 
 
 When we say the Harkaways, we mean the family 
 ashore, and not the son and heir of the house, whom we 
 left afloat in a coffin-ship. 
 
 Not a word of information could old Jack or his friends 
 glean to give them a hope for their darling boy's safety. 
 
 "I have behaved like a fool, Dick, for allowing my 
 bold boy to go in that coffin-ship," he would say again 
 and again to his faithful old friend and companion, 
 Harvey. 
 
 And it was in vain that Dick Harvey essayed to con- 
 dole with, and comfort him. 
 
 "You are too hard upon yourself, Jack," Dick returned, 
 firmly. "You acted upon cool judgment, and if you 
 have been deceived, the fault is certainly not yours." 
 
 Harkaway and his friend Dick had just finished their
 
 walk and cigar, when they were met at the door of the 
 house by Mrs. Harkaway. 
 
 ' ' Oh, Jack, look at this ! " she said, pointing to a para- 
 graph in the newspaper she held. 
 
 " I'll come in and read it," said old Jack ; "there's no 
 urgent reason for reading it in the street, my dear, I 
 suppose." 
 
 " It is not a matter for smiling at, Jack," she returned. 
 
 Impressed by her manner, Harkaway took the paper, 
 and ran his eyes down the paragraph indicated. 
 
 It was headed thus 
 
 " MISSING SHIPS. 
 
 "The 'Albatross' has not been heard of since she 
 sailed, on the I3th inst. This vessel has lately passed 
 into the hands of Mr. Murray, whose bad fortune with 
 his vessels has been a general theme for gossip of late in 
 the shipping world. Strange rumours have been circulat- 
 ing about her. The owner, however, was fully insured. " 
 
 The paper fell from old Jack's hand. 
 
 "Fully insured ! " he gasped. "It is impossible ! " 
 
 "It must be another vessel of the same name," said 
 Harvey. " I know Murray told us that his vessels were 
 so good he never insured. " 
 
 ' ' Look here, Jack, " said Mrs. Harkaway, with a start- 
 ling voice ; " Murray has played us false, and I fear our 
 poor boy is in sore peril. Oh, husband, where's our 
 Jack?" ' 
 
 At this juncture a newsboy went past with a flaming 
 placard in his hand. 
 
 " Fearful shipwreck and loss of life ! All hands per- 
 ished ! Full and particular account price " 
 
 "Emily!" 
 
 Harkaway just turned round in time to catch her as she 
 fell in a death-like swoon into his arms. 
 
 The strain on young Jack's mother's nerves was too 
 great she had fainted. 
 
 Some few days after the above events, a sailor came 
 to the house to inquire for old Jack, and the latter, who 
 was seated smoking a pipe with Harvey and Mr. Mole, 
 gave orders to have the sailor admitted. 
 
 '* You want me," said old Jack with a look of surprise.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 133 
 
 "We picked up a bottle, yer honour," said the tar, " and 
 inside we found a letter that was directed to you, so as 
 soon as we got within sight of land, the captain sent me 
 ashore with it. I made inquiries, and " 
 
 " Where's the bottle?" 
 
 "Here." 
 
 From the cracked bottle he drew forth a letter, and 
 handed it to Harkaway. 
 
 Mole looked at Dick, and Dick looked at Jack, 
 
 The latter had grown as pale as a sheet 
 
 "Take something to drink, shipmate," said Harvey to 
 the sailor; "there's brandy in that bottle; serve your- 
 self." 
 
 Old Jack tore the letter open. 
 
 "Stop a bit," said Mr. Mole, jumping up and clapping 
 his hand over the letter ; "just take a suck at the bottle 
 first." 
 
 Old Jack took a stiff glass of branay, and read. 
 
 "Ha!" 
 
 The paper fell from his hands, and he sank back with 
 a groan of anguish. 
 
 "Jack," cried poor Harvey, springing forward, and 
 catching his old comrade in his arms, "Jack, old friend, 
 don't don't take on so. What is it ? " 
 
 But Harkaway could not answer. 
 
 Dick picked up the letter and read. 
 
 This was young Jack's letter, which he had committed 
 to the waves in a time of deadly peril. 
 
 "Mr DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER, The 'Albatross' is 
 what they call a coffin-ship, and we are near the end of 
 a precious hard fight for life. Forgive your poor Jack for 
 being so pig-headed as to insist upon leaving you, and 
 don't waste time in regretting and mourning after Harry 
 and I ; but seek out that old Murray, and that hypocritical 
 Captain Robinson. Take one each, dad, you and Uncle 
 Dick, and give them a thundering good larrupping, and 
 when you have knocked them both into a good jelly, seek 
 out some influential man in the Great Talking House, and 
 get him to lift his voice to get this scandalous state of 
 things reformed. Here we are, I cannot tell you how 
 many of us passengers and crew, all sent afloat in a rotten 
 old tub, painted and caulked up spruce, and puffed up to
 
 134 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 impose upon poor, ignorant fools. Now, we're not gone 
 yet, but it looks unpleasantly like going, and so in case 
 the law can't reach these dealers in human life, I leave 
 them to you and to Uncle Dick. I hope to come back yet, 
 and so does Harry, who sends his love to all, if we don't 
 Good-bye, perhaps for ever, dear father and mother. 
 
 "JACK." 
 
 Young Jack's letter was finished rather abruptly. 
 
 His father guessed that some calamity had overtaken 
 the ship. 
 
 But it was not so. 
 
 The simple reason was that he and Harry had been 
 summoned by an alarm to the deck, and fearing that they 
 might not have another chance of posting their missive, 
 it was placed in its bottle and dropped overboard. 
 
 When they had finished reading the letter, Mr. Mole 
 was observed to grow very fidgety and red in the face. 
 
 He stumped up and down the room, thrusting his hands 
 viciously into his pockets, and dragging them out again 
 and then cracking his knuckles with small reports, like 
 Barcelonas going pop ! 
 
 "I don't feel very well, Jack," he said, blowing his 
 nose hard to disguise his emotion ; " I I in fact I shall 
 go for a walk good-night, I mean morning, I I'm going 
 to bed at once." 
 
 And with this somewhat confused valediction, Mr. 
 Mole glided quickly out of the room. 
 
 Jack stared at Dick, Dick stared at Jack. 
 
 "What's the matter with poor old Mole?" said 
 Harvey. 
 
 Old Jack shook his head and tapped his forehead 
 significantly. 
 
 "Going. Yes?" 
 
 "So I think." 
 
 "I think that this dreadful news has done it for the poor 
 old fellow ; he was so fond of Jack." 
 
 "I verily believe," said old Jack, wrestling with his 
 grief, " I verily believe he would give every farthing he 
 has in the world for those two wild boys to be here and 
 play off their cruel practical jokes at his expense."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 135 
 
 " I am sure he would," said Dick. 
 
 The conversation flagged now for several minutes. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 "Dick." 
 
 " The boys have left us a legacy to punish the villains 
 Murray and Robinson." 
 
 "I'll tell you what," said Harkaway, "you shall take 
 charge of old Murray, and I'll look after the welfare of 
 jovial Captain Robinson." 
 
 "Agreed." 
 
 The two friends grasped hands in silence. 
 
 Thus the compact was sealed, and now woe betide 
 jovial Captain Robinson and the ship-owner, whenever 
 Harkaway or Dick Harvey should come across them. 
 
 "Jack," said Harvey, coolly, "you brought home 
 from Australia with you, a short-handled stock-whip, with 
 a thick leather thong ? " 
 
 Old Jack started. 
 
 "You don't mean to say that you will use that on the 
 villain ? " 
 
 "That's just exactly what I do mean, "said Harvey. 
 
 " It shall be at your service, Dick." 
 
 So Harkaway went for the stock-whip. 
 
 If Mr. Murray could but have overheard the conversa- 
 tion, he would not have felt very easy in his mind. 
 
 Altogether matters looked rather ugly for him. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIL 
 
 ARTFUL MOLE MOLE THE EXECUTOR HIS SINGULAR PRESENT 
 
 FOR MR. MURRAY A NOVEL DUEL SHARP WORK MR. MURRAY 
 
 TASTES THE BITTERS OF HIS PROFESSION. 
 
 ISAAC MOLE went to his room and got out a pistol case. 
 He was engaged in loading his six-shooter when his 
 wife crept into the room. 
 
 "Evins an' erf, Ikey ! " she ejaculated aghast, "what 
 you doing thar ? " 
 
 Mr. Mole looked up a bit startled, but went on loading 
 the revolver.
 
 136 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Ask no questions, my dear," he answered, "but fetch 
 me my walking stick." 
 
 Chloe, considerably flurried, hastened to obey her lord 
 and master. 
 
 " Which walking stick ? " 
 
 Mr. Mole paused to reflect. 
 
 It was a weighty matter, and demanded reflection, for 
 he had a regular collection of walking canes, and it was 
 necessary for his purpose to get a good pliable stick. 
 
 " Let it be the Malacca cane, with the gold top," he 
 said. 
 
 She returned with it in a few moments. 
 
 " Where you goin' to, Ikey?" she demanded. 
 
 "That, my dear, concerns me alone," replied Mr. 
 Mole. " Have the goodness, for once in your life, to re- 
 press your curiosity." 
 
 " Bress my art ! " began the dark lady. 
 
 " Repress your curiosity," said Mr. Mole again, "for 
 I haven't the remotest intention of telling you where I 
 am going, or what for." 
 
 "But, Ikey " 
 
 " Good-bye, for the present, my dear ; I shall in all 
 probability return for dinner." 
 
 "I say, now, Ikey " 
 
 But he was gone. 
 
 And very soon was knocking at Mr. Murray's door. 
 
 "Mr. Murray." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Take my card," said Mr. Mole, "and my compli- 
 ments. I should like to have a word with him." 
 
 The maid servant went to her master, but shortly re- 
 turned to say, that Mr. Murray was very particularly en- 
 gaged just then, and would accept an appointment for 
 another time, if Mr. Mole could conveniently defer his 
 business. 
 
 " That is precisely what I can't do," returned the old 
 gentleman. " Will you go back to Mr. Murray, there- 
 fore and tell him that I have something for him ? " 
 
 Back went the girl, and returned in a few moments. 
 
 " Master's compliments, sir, and if you would send it 
 in by me, he would take it as a favour." 
 
 Mr. Mole smiled. 
 
 An odd smile it was yet still a smile of a kind.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 137 
 
 -I can't, " he said, shaking his gold-headed Malacca cane 
 nervously as he spoke. "I must hand it Mr. Murray 
 personally." 
 
 This carried the day. 
 
 Mr. Mole was ushered into the shipowner's presence 
 forthwith. 
 
 Mr. Murray sat in an armchair, before an office table, 
 which was covered with business books and papers. 
 
 He looked up, and rose as Mr. Mole entered. 
 
 But Mr. Mole had his back turned. He was apparently 
 engaged in shutting the door after the servant. 
 
 Mr. Murray did not observe that his visitor not only 
 shut the door but also locked it, and pocketed the key. 
 
 " Good-morning, Mr. Mole," said the shipowner; 
 " you will excuse my refusal to see you at first, sir, but I 
 have been ill for some considerable time, and the accumu- 
 lation of business matters during that time has driven me 
 into a corner. I cannot get the arrears of work under 
 at all. " 
 
 " I shall not detain you long," returned Mr. Mole. 
 
 "Take a seat, sir." 
 
 Mr. Mole declined. 
 
 "What I have to do is best done standing." 
 
 "My servant informs me you have brought something 
 for me ? " said the shipowner. 
 
 "Quite right." 
 
 "I am much beholden to you for the pains you have 
 taken," said Mr. Murray. 
 
 Mr. Mole smiled. 
 
 ' ' I have taken no pains, Mr. Murray, " he answered ; 
 "it is you who will have to take the pains." 
 
 "What is it you have brought for me, may I ask ? '' 
 
 Mr. Mole held up the gold-headed Malacca. 
 
 "This!" 
 
 "Excuse me, sir," said Mr. Murray, in his blandest 
 tone, "but I don't quite see, even now " 
 
 "Don't you?" said Mr. Mole, "then I will explain." 
 
 He drew a step nearer to the shipowner. 
 
 The latter shrank back instinctively. 
 
 "I am. as you are doubtless aware, the personal friend 
 of Mr. Harkaway, and was tutor of his son, who has 
 gone a voyage in the 'Albatross.'" 
 
 Mr. Murray winced.
 
 138 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "A fine ship, the 'Albatross/ sir, A i at Lloyds,' I be- 
 lieve. " 
 
 " Yes, sir," returned Mr. Murray, in an unsteady voice. 
 
 "Of course," said Mr. Mole, in the same strain, "a 
 gallant craft, and you are a, happy man to possess such 
 a vessel." 
 
 Mr. Murray could not stand this. 
 
 "You will excuse the question," he said in a hard 
 voice that had no ring in it, "but is this the object of your 
 visit, sir ? " 
 
 'Patience, Mr. Murray, patience, and you will learn." 
 
 ' I must really " 
 
 'No, you mustn't ! " interrupted Mole. 
 
 'Really, I " 
 
 'Sir," quoth Mr. Mole emphatically, and banging down 
 the gold-headed Malacca cane between each word, on 
 the shipowner's writing-table, as if to give extra force to 
 his speech, " I must tell my business in my own way. 
 I say, then, that the 'Albatross' is a noble craft 'noble 
 craft ! ' is the word I believe so expressive so romantic 
 so jolly Jack Tar-ish ! not a bit of a coffin-ship ! " 
 
 The shipowner started back. 
 
 " How dare you ! " he began. " How dare you come 
 here?" 
 
 "I came to bring you a present," said Mr. Mole, as 
 cool as ever. " The noble craft has gone to the bottom 
 the gallant ' Albatross ' is lying in goodness knows how 
 many fathoms, or exactly where, but from all report, not 
 a long way from the Bay of Biscay. " 
 
 Mr. Murray poured out a tumbler of water, and drank 
 it off. 
 
 The interview grew warm, and he was silent. 
 
 "My murdered boy stand still and hear me out," 
 added Mole, sternly, "or by the Lord Harry I'll make 
 an example of you ! My murdered boy, I say the brave 
 young Jack found time as the ' Albatross' was going 
 down, to write a letter his will I may call it telling all 
 he knew, all he had learnt on board since sailing, and as 
 he was dropping into the watery grave to which you 
 consigned him " 
 
 "Sir!" 
 
 " He had learnt, too late, alas ! the exact nature of the 
 trade which you pursue."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 139 
 
 " I don't understand what you mean." 
 
 " You soon will. " 
 
 Mr. Murray detected something in old Mole's voice 
 which raised dire misgivings. 
 
 So he stretched out his hand to reach the bell-rope. 
 But before he could accomplish his purpose, Mr. Mole 
 hopped over and brought down the gold-headed Malacca 
 a very smart rap on his knuckles. 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 "Standstill." 
 
 Mr. Murray bridled up at this, and stepped forth. 
 
 While only menaced with scandal, he was filled with 
 the greatest fear. 
 
 But now that the visitor grew more demonstrative yet, 
 his sensations changed. 
 
 He was not to say physically a coward. 
 
 Moreover, Isaac Mole with his venerable appearance, 
 and his two wooden legs, did not look a very formidable 
 antagonist 
 
 "If you don't instantly quit my house," he said, shak- 
 ing his fist at the visitor, "I shall put you out of the 
 window." 
 
 "Oh, you will?" 
 
 "I will." 
 
 Mole smiled. 
 
 " That is something better, " he said quietly; "up till 
 now, you have shown that you are only possessed of the 
 assassin's brutal instincts without having any thing of 
 such kind of courage as many of the worst murderers are 
 known to possess." 
 
 "Scoundrel!" 
 
 "It is, at any rate," pursued Mr. Mole, who declined 
 to be flurried under any pretext whatever, "it is at any 
 rate refreshing to find you have a dash of something like 
 a man in you for Jack's present this is old Jack's 
 present," he added, giving the walking stick a parenthet- 
 ical flourish ; " it is an honest good cane, and I should 
 not like to dirty it by contact with any thing so utterly 
 degraded as I feared you would prove." 
 
 Mr. Murray grew livid. 
 
 "You, you " 
 
 "Gently, gently," said Mr. Mole, "and I'll prove my- 
 self your best friend. "
 
 140 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Infamous old ruffian," cried Mr. Murray. 
 
 "Thank you, I'll prove it. Jack's legacy was to have 
 been brought by his father ; I wanted the office for two 
 reasons : first, because I looked upon it as my privilege 
 and my right ; secondly, I want you to have half a 
 chance we are both old men, and in addition I am a 
 cripple, as you see ; now that equalises matters, but if 
 Mr. Harkaway had brought you his son's legacy, you 
 would never have crossed that threshold alive ! " 
 
 "So," said Mr. Murray, very white yet very deter- 
 mined, "assassination is your intention." 
 
 " No, punishment only," responded Mole. 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 " Your villany may not prove get-at-able by law may 
 not, I say we have to try that yet. So for fear of a mis- 
 carriage of justice, I am here to fulfil my dear, murdered 
 boy's dying injunctions, and believe me, Mr. Murray," 
 added the old gentleman with an odd mixture of satire 
 and pathetic earnestness as he held out the cane, "the 
 finest advocate in the world could never wheedle Jack's 
 legacy into believing you were guiltless." 
 
 ' : You are mad ! " 
 
 Mr. Mole turned up his wristband. 
 
 "We are wasting time." 
 
 "Leave the house!" exclaimed Mr. Murray, ; *orril 
 have you dragged off to gaol " 
 
 He slipped to the door and turned the handle. 
 
 It was fast. 
 
 " Locked ! " 
 
 "As you see, my dear sir," responded Mole, quite 
 pleasantly. 
 
 "Where's the key?" 
 
 "I have got it" 
 
 " Give it up or * 
 
 He made one stride up to Mole, who raised the 
 cane. 
 
 Down it came, cutting the air with the most vicious 
 music, and it left its mark across the shipowner's forehead 
 and face. 
 
 Staggered for a moment, Mr. Murray made a rush at 
 his assailant. 
 
 But the old gentleman, as cool as a cucumber still, 
 whirled round upon one of hte wooden le^ and
 
 ff/S SOy TINKER. 1 4 1 
 
 Murray by the coat collar with the left hand, while with 
 the right he banged away at his shoulders and back. 
 
 A dozen strokes were put in thus with such vigour and 
 rapidity, that Mr. Murray was fain to wriggle himself 
 free, and stagger across the room. 
 
 But Isaac Mole would not be denied. 
 
 He stumped after his man as fast as he could, and 
 dropped in another or two wherever he could. 
 
 One smart cut across the face brought blood, and the 
 shipowner, in the space of a minute, presented a very 
 alarming aspect. 
 
 But Mr. Mole never paused to consider this. 
 
 Murray was now getting very badly punished, and it 
 was necessary to take a serious step. 
 
 He took it. 
 
 Feinting to dart to the door, he made a sudden rush at 
 his writing table, and dragged open one of the drawers. 
 
 Mole was after him. 
 
 Only the table between them, and he saw what it was 
 that the shipowner was after. 
 
 He saw his hand upon a pistol, and so he whipped out 
 his own revolver, and stretching over the table, he thrust 
 it in Mr. Murray's face. 
 
 "Put down that pistol," he said, in low, earnest tones ; 
 "put it down or I'll blow you to atoms." 
 
 Mr. Murray paused. 
 
 " Put it down, I say," replied Mole ; " in three seconds 
 you are a dead man else hah ! " 
 
 The shipowner cowered before that revolver. 
 
 Death was unpleasantly near, and few men can face it 
 in such proximity <vith any thing like calmness. 
 
 He dropped the pistol. 
 
 " Shut the drawer, " said Mole sternly. "If you use 
 firearms, so shall I, and I have first shot. I provided 
 against such an emergency as this." 
 
 "Assassin ! " gasped the shipowner. 
 
 "Not I," returned Mole, "I am poor young Jack's ex- 
 ecutor, nothing more. Lock the drawer throw over the 
 key, do you hear ? " 
 
 With a scowl of undying hate the shipowner complied 
 reluctantly. 
 
 "Now I put by my pistol," said Mole, suiting the 
 action to the word, " and we resume the thrashing."
 
 1 42 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 He walked around the table after his man. 
 
 Mr. Murray waited a little. 
 
 Then he shot away. 
 
 Mole stumped after him. 
 
 Murray looked about him anxiously. 
 
 Then his glance resting upon the fireplace, he dodged 
 a vicious cut which Mole aimed at him, and pounced 
 upon the poker. 
 
 " Now, you old vagabond ! " he said, or rather hissed 
 serpent fashion, "we are equal." 
 
 "Not quite," said Mole, "you have a bit of the ad* 
 vantage; no matter." 
 
 It was truly a most extraordinary sight. 
 
 Two men, well on in years, one with a pair of wooden 
 legs, facing each other, armed with weapons of a more 
 or less offensive description. It looked awkward for 
 Mole. 
 
 Very. 
 
 A poker against a walking-cane was no fair match. 
 
 Mole had his revolver to the good, it is true, but he 
 would not use it. 
 
 Moreover, the shipowner felt assured that he had to do 
 with a man of his word. 
 
 So his courage rose as he advanced to meet his wooden- 
 legged adversary. 
 
 " You shall suffer now, you villanous old ruffian ! " he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Indeed ! " replied Mr. Mole, coolly. 
 
 The old gentleman kept a sharp look-out, and just as 
 the shipowner drew back to deal him a desperate blow 
 with the poker, Mr. Mole dropped in such a stinger upon 
 Murray's hand that the poker fell from his grasp, and the 
 knuckles were cut open. 
 
 ' ' Now for it. " 
 
 Mole pounced upon his man, and showered down such 
 a succession of blows, that Murray, stunned, confused, 
 and pounded into a jelly, could not offer the feeblest 
 resistance. 
 
 "Take that," cried the infuriated Mole, pounding 
 away vigorously, "and that and that, and I wish I 
 had more wind left in me to stay, here's one more for 
 poor Harry Girdwood." 
 
 It was but one.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 143 
 
 But such a one. 
 
 It seemed to lay the unhappy's man's back bare. 
 
 "And now," said Isaac Mole, readjusting his disordered 
 dress, " I'll go home to dinner." 
 
 "You'll suffer for this," groaned the shipowner. 
 
 "That's doubtful," returned Mole; "but there is no 
 doubt in life that you will. Let me give you a word of 
 advice. Keep clear of Mr. Harkaway ; I have been 
 merciful. " 
 
 Murray groaned. 
 
 "But he will have no mercy on his son's destroyer. 
 Keep yourself under lock and key. Do you hear ? For 
 once let John Harkaway or Richard Harvey get within 
 arm's length of you, and Heaven have mercy upon your 
 miserable carcase. They are both young and vigorous 
 men, not miserable old cripples, like yours obediently, 
 Isaac Mole." 
 
 He fished out the key and opened the door. 
 
 "Don't you think to escape like that," moaned the 
 shipowner, crawling to the bell. 
 
 "Nor you either," returned Mole, turning round, " for 
 we mean to have the very best law that is to be bought 
 for money, to pepper you with, and we'll see if you 
 haven't a part more vulnerable than your body. I mean 
 your pocket." 
 
 He went out. 
 
 But as he closed the door, an idea occurred to him, and 
 so he pushed open the door and popped in his head. 
 
 "Your accomplice, Captain Robinson, has turned 
 king's evidence," he said. 
 
 This was not to say the downright truth, as you know. 
 
 Yet it served for a parting shot at Mr. Murray. 
 
 With which, Mr. Mole stumped back to dinner, happy 
 in his mind and with a ravenous appetite.
 
 /4 4 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 MR. MURRAY'S MISFORTUNES THE DOOR CHAIN ANOTHER 
 VISITOR FOILED "LOOK TO IT, FOR I AM ON THE WATCH." 
 
 MR. MURRAY arose from the floor, bruised and bleeding. 
 
 Isaac Mole had piled it on pretty stiffly, and his arm 
 fell heavily. 
 
 What was to be done ? 
 
 He would seek assistance in the town. 
 
 It would be better for him to have a sturdy man servant 
 always upon the premises, so that if any of the Harkaway 
 people should venture again to intrude upon him, he 
 would be prepared to meet violence with violence. 
 
 Mr. Murray opened the door, and found himself face 
 to face with a servant maid. 
 
 "Jane!" 
 
 "Yes," said the girl. "Are you ill again, sir? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 " I thought I heard you call out, sir." 
 
 Mr. Murray stammered out something confusedly, and 
 grew very flushed in the face. 
 
 "No, no, Jane, I am well enough that is, better I am 
 better, Jane, only pay attention to me, Jane." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "If anyone comes to ask for me, don't admit them 
 until I have given you orders." 
 
 "No, sir, I'll show them into the parlour, and say I'll 
 see if you are visible or not, sir." 
 
 "No, no, no!" exclaimed the shipowner, eagerly, 
 "you are wrong, Jane ; that is precisely what you must 
 not do, Jane. " 
 
 "What then, sir?" 
 
 " Keep the chain up always." 
 
 "That's odd, sir." 
 
 " Hold your tongue ! " exclaimed Mr. Murray testily, 
 "and make no reflections upon the orders I give you. 
 Keep the chain up." 
 
 "Lor', yes, sir! "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 145 
 
 "So that you can always keep anybody out if you don't 
 choose to admit them. Once for all, attend to that, for 
 I don't choose to have a parcel of insolent beggars 
 forcing their way in and insulting me in my own 
 house." 
 
 " I shall know that wicked old sinner ag'in, sir," pur- 
 sued Jane, mentally denouncing poor old Mole; "he's 
 got nothing out of you, I suppose, so most likely he'll try 
 on the seaman who was blown up, or the respectable 
 mechanic who was whirled up on a saw-mill, or, in fact, 
 anything just to change his luck when he has his next 
 turn ; though, I'll bet you've rayther troubled him for 
 one while, by the way you have given it to him this 
 time, and bless me ! " 
 
 " What is it ? " exclaimed Mr. Murray, with a start 
 
 "You've tore your coat." 
 
 "Bah ! what of that!" 
 
 " Nothing much, for you can get lots more ; only it's a 
 pity to waste good clothing over such a old villain as that 
 was ; that's all I think, sir, and oh, Lor' ! " 
 
 "What now ?" 
 
 "You've got a bruise on your face, sir." 
 
 " Hold your tongue. Bear in mind what I have told 
 you about that door-chain." 
 
 Saying which, Mr. Murray turned back into the room, 
 and slammed-to the door. 
 
 Mr. Murray surveyed himself in a glass. 
 
 Unpleasant reflection in two senses of the expression. 
 
 His face was bruised. 
 
 His coat was torn. 
 
 Moreover, his general appearance was disordered, as 
 well it might be by the violence of the late encounter. 
 
 Mr. Murray renovated himself at once. 
 
 A touch with the comb, a charge of garments, and a 
 little vinous stimulant steadied his nerves a bit. 
 
 "The first thing will be to get round to Harris, and 
 make him provide me with a good big fellow as a body- 
 guard." 
 
 He was about to remove the chain and go forth, when 
 a knock came at the door that made him jump. 
 
 A rat-tat-tat ! 
 
 Mr. Murray started back as the tall figure of a man 
 stood in the doorway. 
 10
 
 1 46 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 He recognized him, too, immediately. 
 
 Harvey ! 
 
 Yes, Dick Harvey was prompt to perform his part of 
 his contract with old Jack. 
 
 Little did he suppose that he had been forestalled. 
 
 How could he or anyone, in fact, expect Isaac Mole to 
 turn champion ? 
 
 Dick had been engrossed in thought after knocking, or 
 he would have perceived that the door was open. 
 
 He gave it a push, but the chain held it fast. 
 
 "Hallo!" 
 
 Dick thrust his head in, and looked round, to find him- 
 self face to face with the very man he had come to see. 
 
 "Mr. Murray* 1 ' 
 
 "I'm out," exclaimed the shipowner ; "I'm not well, 
 and I can't see anybody." 
 
 "I'll not detain you long," said Dick, coaxingly. 
 
 " No, no ; of course not." 
 
 "One word." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Let down the chain," said Dick. 
 
 " Impossible ; it will not come undone." 
 
 This exasperated Dick, who lost his coolness. 
 
 " You lying old villain. Can't face me, I suppose ? " 
 
 "Be off." 
 
 "You know what I come for." 
 
 "I do," retorted Murray; "and if you are not off, I 
 will call a policeman and have you given in custody." 
 
 " I'll wait, " said artful Dick, "if you like to come out 
 and make the charge." 
 
 "Not I," returned the shipowner; " I'll watch until a 
 policeman passes, and give orders, that's what I'll do." 
 
 This would not suit Dick. 
 
 "Very well, Mr. Murray," he said, "very well. Since 
 that is your notion, I can afford to wait my opportunity." 
 
 "Wait then wait," retorted the shipowner "and let 
 me caution you. I mean to invoke the law." 
 
 " You dare not," said Dick, "you dare not, and you 
 know it. What you say is mere idle brag. Hark you, 
 old man. If there is any justice in Providence, you will 
 have to go afloat in a coffin ship yourself, and go down 
 with it experience yourself, the horrors of drowning. 
 When I hear that that has been your fate, I can perhaps
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. i 47 
 
 forgive you. But while you are on dry land, look to your 
 miserable self. I am on the watch." 
 
 " A telegram for you, sir," said the maid-servant, en- 
 tering the shipowner's room. 
 
 "How you startled me," exclaimed Mr. Murray; 
 "there, that'll do." 
 
 He tore open the telegram, and read it down. 
 
 His face turned ashy pale, and he gasped at the sight 
 of that paper. 
 
 And yet the news it brought was the most welcome 
 news that he could possibly have desired. 
 
 " Here is that which would gladden the hearts of those 
 Harkavvay people if I took it to them. But no ; let them 
 pine and languish in bitterness of spirit as I have done. 
 That will teach them not to try on their villany again. 
 The assassins ? No man ever yet affronted me with im- 
 punity. I'll keep it to myself, and I'll be off at once 
 aye, this very night, if I can get away from this port. " 
 
 The news contained in that telegram would indeed 
 have gladdened the Harkaways. 
 
 But before we give the reader the information upon this 
 head, let us return to follow the fortunes of young Jack 
 and his comrade Harry Girdwood. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 THE FATE OF THE " ALBATROSS " FOUNDERED IN FAIR WEATHER 
 
 " MAN THE BOATS " THE ROLL CALL THE OWNER'S 
 
 SON AND HIS MAN A POOR ORPHAN AND THE NEW BREAK- 
 FAST RELISH OVERBOARD. 
 
 AND did the wretched old "Albatross" go down? 
 
 No. 
 
 Thanks to the admirable seamanship of her commander 
 and to the perseverance and undying energy of the crew, 
 to which they were in no slight degree stimulated by the 
 example of young Harkaway and Harry Girdwood, the 
 " Albatross " weathered the gale. 
 
 It was a precious near squeak with her.
 
 1 48 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 They ran for the Spanish coast, and once they had 
 sighted land, they never ceased firing minute guns, and 
 they hoisted signals of distress. 
 
 They fortunately attracted attention pretty soox., and 
 assistance was promptly rendered. 
 
 The passengers and crew were for the most part landed 
 in other boats, but Captain Deering stuck to his post, as 
 did young Jack. 
 
 "Let me be here while there's one plank holding to 
 another," he said; "not that I bear the worm-eaten old 
 hull any love, only she mustn't go down without a very 
 big effort. I'll see her in port aye, in dock, and have 
 her condemned properly. Let the owners pay the piper 
 now. They have had their sport with her and a lot of 
 brave fellows ; the owners must pay for all the work they 
 have given us, and all the fears and qualms that we have 
 gone through aye, the stoutest hearts on board." 
 
 We leave you to guess how this speech was received. 
 
 A ringing cheer of assent greeted it. 
 
 And the men within earshot gathered round the skipper, 
 more eager than ever to save the "Albatross." 
 
 They did it, too. 
 
 They worked her into a Spanish port, and then they 
 had an official visit and examination made, the result of 
 which was that she was condemned to be broken up. 
 
 All this was not without its effect upon young Murray, 
 who insisted on being landed with his servant, and the 
 ship proceeding on her journey. 
 
 But he protested in vain. 
 
 What authority had he in the matter? 
 
 It was all very well for him to say that he was the son 
 of the owner, but he had shipped in an assumed name, 
 and although it was pretty generally known who he was, 
 Captain Deering professed to doubt his story in toto. 
 
 "You see," said the skipper, when the general inquiry 
 was commenced before the British consul, " what he says 
 may or may not be true, but we ain't bound to believe a 
 young fellow who on his own showing has shipped under 
 false colours." 
 
 Young Murray used violent language and threatened 
 everybody concerned, until Captain Deering frightened 
 this style of conduct out of him by a hint at putting him 
 in irons.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 149 
 
 " I'll tell you what, sir," said Chivey. "You had better 
 telegraph over to the governor, and let him get to work, 
 or it'll all be U P with the 'Albatross,' in a brace of 
 shakes. " 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "Double quick, sir." 
 
 "Right, Chivey." 
 
 He telegraphed accordingly, and then he felt easier in 
 his mind. 
 
 A letter was dispatched after his telegram, and this letter 
 made his father much easier in his mind, knowing now 
 his son was safe. 
 
 It lifted a weight of care off that unscrupulous man's 
 mind. 
 
 It was more than he deserved, to be thus relieved, all 
 things considered. 
 
 Now while the condemned "Albatross" lay off the 
 harbour, the chief care of the captain and of those in au- 
 thority was to remove the cargo, and they forgot all about 
 the pumps. 
 
 The consequence of this may be imagined. 
 
 One night, when they had just turned in, young Jack, 
 who was uncommonly sleepy, was aroused by Harry 
 Girdwood with a very uncomfortable announcement 
 
 "Hark, hark, Jack!" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "The sound of rushing waters." 
 
 "Listen again." 
 
 Jack aroused himself with a bit of an effort, and sure 
 enough he did catch the sound of rushing water. 
 
 "What does it mean? " demanded young Jack. 
 
 "Why, I'll tell you what," returned Harry. "The 
 rushing sound of waters means the ship 'Albatross ' is 
 going down to her grave." 
 
 Young Jack sat bolt upright in his berth at this. 
 
 "I believe you're right, Harry. The coffin-ship is- 
 doomed, but, thank the Lord, not in mid-ocean." 
 
 He glided out of the berth and slipped on his trousers 
 in less than a minute. 
 
 "I'm off on deck, old boy ; come along."
 
 150 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 And suiting the action to the word, he flew up the com- 
 panion ladder. 
 
 Harry Girdwood was not slow to follow on deck. 
 
 ' ' Whose watch is it ? " demanded Harry, as he appeared 
 on deck. 
 
 "Mackenzie's, your honour," was the reply. 
 
 " Where is he ? " 
 
 " Below." 
 
 " He's a fine officer to set an example." 
 
 The rushing sound of water became louder and louder. 
 
 " I'll rouse the skipper," said Jack. 
 
 " Right, Jack ; be quick." 
 
 Young Jack soon had Captain Deering upon deck. 
 
 The skipper was a thorough sailor, and he took in the 
 whole situation at a single glance. 
 
 " Who is the officer of the watch ? " he demanded. 
 
 "Mr. Mackenzie, sir," replied a sailor. 
 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 "Below." 
 
 "Call him up." 
 
 " He ain't exactly fit to come, your honour," was the 
 reply. 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " He's took too much spirit in his water, your honour." 
 
 The skipper frowned. 
 
 "I'll make an example of Mackenzie." 
 
 However it was waste of time and of words to take 
 any more notice about him just then. 
 
 "Pipe all hands." 
 
 Nat Cringle came up now and made his way to the side 
 of Captain Deering with considerable alacrity. 
 
 "We haven't got many minutes, your honour," he said, 
 "before the 'Albatross' will swallow up every stick and 
 scrap as she goes down." 
 
 "We must be smart then," cried the captain. 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 " All hands to the boats." 
 
 The order was given. 
 
 Now the "Albatross " was well manned and excellently 
 ordered far better than such a rotten old hulk ever de- 
 served to be ; and every thing was got about with the 
 quiet discipline that one might expect to observe on board 
 a man-of-war.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 151 
 
 A boat was lowered and filled rapidly. 
 
 " Pull ashore," cried the captain, through his trumpet 
 " pull smart, and two of you bring the boat back at racing 
 pace ; we may want you." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 The orders were given promptly enough. 
 
 Captain Deering told off the different persons to the 
 boats, and all went very well until young Murray and 
 his man Chivey, who were anxiously awaiting the calling 
 out of their names, caused some confusion by pressing 
 forward. 
 
 For there were still a score or more of passengers on 
 board. 
 
 "Stand back," exclaimed the skipper sternly, "or you 
 shall remain till the last on board this sinking ship. 
 Stand back, I say. " 
 
 "But, captain " began Herbert Murray. 
 
 "Utter a word, or do any thing to impede us now," re- 
 turned Captain Deering, " and I'll have you thrown over- 
 board." 
 
 "Oh, what a orful beast," said Chivey. 
 
 But he had spoken just a shade too loud, and it was 
 overheard by one of the horny-fisted tars, who gave the 
 tiger what he called an admonisher, but what Chivey 
 designated "aback hander on the smeller, that put my 
 two peepers into mournin'." 
 
 "Stand back, stand back," cried the second mate; 
 "keep the gangway clear." 
 
 Mr. Figgins, who had been awaiting his turn with what 
 patience he could muster, anxiously looked round at them 
 for help. 
 
 He tried to quiet himself at such a critical moment, 
 and put on an appearance of calm. 
 
 He nodded at the skipper, and smiled in the sickliest 
 manner imaginable, and tried endless artifices to call the 
 captain's attention. 
 
 But no use. 
 
 No one took any notice of him. 
 
 Captain Deering went steadily on, calling out the 
 names one after the other, and got every thing much 
 more forward by his quiet, calm manner of going to 
 work than any excitement or bustle could possibly have 
 done.
 
 152 YOUNG JACK HARK A WA Y AMD 
 
 'Ahem ! " said Mr. Figgins, at length, "I am not very 
 well, I thank you, captain I am still here. " 
 
 " Barclay ! " 
 
 "Here." 
 
 * ' I am on deck, you see, " murmured the orphan. ' * My 
 name is Figgins, sir, and I am an orphan." 
 
 "Fen ton ! " 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "Figgins?" said the orphan, eagerly; "dear me, I 
 thought you said Figgins, captain." 
 
 "Charlton ! 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "Frampston!" 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "Here!" said the orphan, in a faint voice, stepping 
 forward. "I think you said Figgins that time." 
 
 "Stand back!" cried one of the sailors, dragging the 
 orphan back by the collar. 
 
 "Dear me," exclaimed Figgins in distress. "I made 
 sure that the captain said Figgins." 
 
 "No, he didn't" 
 
 "Grant!" 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "Dear, dear, dear," exclaimed the orphan, unable any 
 longer to conceal his fears, "whenever will my turn 
 come ? " 
 
 "It won't come at all," returned the sailor, "unless 
 you keep quiet." 
 
 ' ' What do you mean by that ? " faltered Figgins. 
 "Pray, captain, let me get in the boat. I shan't 
 take up much room, you know; I'm only a poor 
 orphan. " 
 
 " You'll go down to the bottom with the few as remain 
 on board, I expect," remarked the sailor. 
 
 "Oh, Lor'! oh, Lor'! why was I born?" moaned 
 Figgins. "Oh, it's dreadful to go to the bottom of the 
 sea, and never come up again." 
 
 "And you won't come up again unless it's in the form 
 of shrimps," said Jack. 
 
 " Shrimps ! " almost shrieked Mr. Figgins. 
 
 " Yes," said young Jack, who was bound to have his 
 lark under any conditions whatever, "we shall probably 
 hear of you, sir, under another form altogether. Shrimps
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 153 
 
 are notoriously fond of dead bodies, particularly the body 
 of an orphan. " 
 
 A hollow groan greeted the awful speech. 
 
 " It would really be a novelty," pursued the remorse- 
 less Jack ; " fancy the Figgins-flavoured prawn." 
 
 "Or the orphan potted shrimp paste," observed the 
 equally remorseless Harry Girdwood; "the new break- 
 fast relish." 
 
 "Don't, I say." 
 
 "Don't what?" 
 
 " Don't talk so. I hate such fearful levity." 
 
 "Mr. Figgins, " said the youthful Harkaway in a deep 
 sonorous voice, "such a fate M r ould immortalize the name 
 of Figgins. " 
 
 "And hand you down to posterity," added Harry 
 Girdwood, in the same key, "as a benefactor to man- 
 kind and " 
 
 " Breakfast tables, with the Figgins shrimp paste." 
 
 "Thank you very much," replied the orphan, "I've no 
 desire for fame. " 
 
 " Fame, sir," replied Harry, " fame is your lot, desire it 
 or not but hold tight, or you'll be overboard, sir." 
 
 " Bromley 1 " sang out the skipper. 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "French!" 
 
 "Here." 
 
 "Oh, Lor' ! " cried Mr. Figgins ; "I'm a gone man." 
 
 " Figgins ! " sang out Captain Deering. ' ' Figgins ! " 
 
 The orphan tried to shriek out a reply, but his tongue 
 clove to the roof of his mouth, and he was dumbstruck. 
 
 "Figgins ! " 
 
 The orphan's lips moved, but not a sound came. 
 
 "Confound him !" ejaculated the captain ; "pass on, 
 next one Jefferies I " 
 
 "Here." 
 
 At this moment Figgins found his voice, and shrieked 
 
 " Here I am, captain. Figgins, the orphan, is here ! " 
 
 And he dashed forward in a frenzy of fright at being 
 passed over. 
 
 " Then why the devil don't you answer to your name ? H 
 
 "Over with you," said Nat, who stood by. 
 
 "Dear, dear," said the orphan, "what a remarkably 
 awkward ladder. Someone help me."
 
 154 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Now, look sharp. " 
 
 " I hope I shan't fall overboard oh ! " 
 
 The words had barely passed his lips, when he 
 stumbled and fell. 
 
 Down he dropped, touching the boat and falling into 
 the water. 
 
 But the men dragged him out. 
 
 "Mind the shrimps don't get at you, Figgins ! " 
 cried young Harkaway. 
 
 "Oh," groaned the orphan, as the boat rowed away, 
 "never was it my fate before to go down such a remark- 
 ably awkward flight of steps." 
 
 "But, damme ! " cried one of the tars, " you didn't go 
 down the steps. You preferred dropping into the water 
 and sousing us all with the splash of your darned car- 
 case. " 
 
 "Don't be so impatient, my good man," said the 
 orphan. "Consider, I was never meant for a sailor." 
 
 "Bah!" 
 
 ' ' I don't like the sea, and I beg you " 
 
 ' ' There, stow your gab ! " 
 
 "Dear me, how very violent," said the orphan. "Oh, 
 I wish I was in smoky London again." 
 
 "Mr. Figgins !" shouted Harry Gird wood. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Think of the new-flavoured prawn." 
 
 The orphan was drenched to the skin, but in spite of 
 his drowned-rat appearance, he could afford a little laugh 
 now. 
 
 So he put on a sickly smile. 
 
 "Perhaps you don't know I'm only an orphan, my good 
 men," he said to the rowers, plaintively, "and it's my 
 belief that there's a special providence ready to rescue 
 the poor orphan from a watery grave." 
 
 "Special fiddlestick," returned a tar; "why, it was 
 Dick Bean as lugged you out by the starn o' yer blessed 
 slacks." 
 
 " Orfin be blowed ! " ejaculated another demonstrative 
 old salt ; "jest smarm a lollipop into the orphan's gills to 
 stop his jaw ! " 
 
 ' ' Dear, dear me, " said the orphan, ' ' what dreadful 
 manners you men of the s* 1 * have. Oh, you make me
 
 HIS BOY TINKER, 155 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE LAST ON THE MUSTER ROLL THE SKIPPER*S HEADER DAVt 
 
 JONES'S LOCKER. 
 
 CAPTAIN DEERING continued to call out the names stead- 
 ily still, although every moment increased the peril of 
 those on board. 
 
 'Jack, old fellow." 
 ' What is it ? " 
 
 ' We shall have to swim for it, after all," said Harry. 
 ' I don't think so." 
 
 ' I feel sure of it," said Harry ; "let us get on our cork 
 jackets sharp." 
 
 "It is not far to swim," said Jack, "but there is no 
 harm in taking precautions ; there may be harm in neg- 
 lecting them. " 
 "Very well." 
 Down they went. 
 
 Now Jack, in donning his cork jacket, forgot to replace 
 his locket Emily's parting gift and so he had to put it 
 on over the jacket, a chance which, strangely enough, 
 led to a singular mishap, as we shall presently see. 
 They were on deck in three minutes. 
 " Binks," said the skipper. 
 "Binks," cried the mate. 
 " Where's Binks ?" 
 No response. 
 
 " He has sneaked into one of the first boat-loads, per- 
 haps," suggested someone. 
 
 "No, he ain't," returned Nat Cringle. "Binks is as 
 drunk as an alderman down below, along o' Joe Sprunt 
 and Mr. Mackenzie." 
 
 "The time grows short," said Captain Deering, un- 
 easily ; "they'll be drowned if we aren't sharp." 
 'Girdwood," sang out Captain Deering. 
 'Here." 
 'Drewitt." 
 'Here." 
 ' Will no one go and warn these men ? " said young
 
 I c6 YQUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Juck. ' ' I'm not going to leave the ship, and see them 
 dragged down without an effort to save them." 
 " Harkaway," called out Captain Deering. 
 No reply. 
 'Harkaway." 
 
 ' Harkaway ! Where's Harkaway gone to 1 " 
 'Below." 
 
 'Call him," cried the captain, anxiously. 
 ' Harkaway ! " yelled honest Nat Cringle, who had 
 taken a wondrous fancy to young Jack ; "for the Lord's 
 sake come up. " 
 ' Cringle. " 
 'Here, sir." 
 'Over with you." 
 ' And you, captain ? " 
 ' I remain here till you are all oft" 
 ' I'll just see after Master Harkaway, sir." 
 ' Nat Cringle," replied the skipper, sternly, "you must 
 obey orders, or you 11 be answerable for the lives of these 
 men. Over with you." 
 
 Two men remained ; one of the mates and a sailor. 
 They forced Nat Cringle over the side. 
 But the honest old tar never ceased yelling for Jack 
 Harkaway. 
 
 The cries resounding in all directions, were deafening. 
 In the boat just pushed off the voice of Harry Gird- 
 wood could be heard above all, calling to his rash 
 young comrade in wild despair. 
 'Now, Briggit." 
 'Here, yer honour." 
 ' Over with you. " 
 ' And you, captain ?" 
 
 ' Confound you ! " roared the captain, losing his tem- 
 per now that he had saved his crew by his coolness and 
 presence of mind ; " over with you." 
 "After you, yer honour." 
 
 " D n you for a mutinous thief. She's rocking un- 
 der our feet I tell you. Over with you ; the ship is going 
 down fast." 
 
 The "Albatross " was giving her final kick. 
 "Pull clear of the ship pull hard pull pull, I say. 
 Lay down to it, or you'll be sucked down. " 
 The men gave way and pulled with resolution, with
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 157 
 
 the instinct of discipline strong upon them rather than 
 But for the word of command, which the skipper cried out 
 so clearly, they would have stuck there, heedless of the 
 danger of being drawn down in the vortex, so that they 
 could have been near their bold, lion-hearted skipper. 
 
 Captain Deering's task of peril was not yet over. 
 
 Seeing the boat clear of danger now, the captain threw 
 off his top coat and ran along the deck to yell down be- 
 low after Jack. 
 
 " Harkaway ! " he cried, " Harkaway. Come up ; the 
 last boat's gone. Hah ! too late. " 
 
 He cast off what clothing he could, and bounding up 
 to a point of vantage, he took a long, vigorous dive just 
 as the treacherous old "Albatross" settled and went 
 down. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 DARE DEVIL JACK IN THE DEEP TROUGH OF THE SEA THE CORK 
 JACKET PLAYS ITS PART WELL MR. TINKER AND HIS VALET 
 " GO TO LARN UP ALL PERTICKLARS. " 
 
 "WHERE is Jack?" cried Harry Gird wood. "Pull 
 back, I say. Don't desert him." 
 
 " There goes the skipper," cried Nat Cringle. " Hur- 
 rah ! " 
 
 This was at the moment that Deering took his desper- 
 ate header. 
 
 The men caught up the cheer one and all. 
 
 "Pull back, pull back," said Harry Gird wood, despair- 
 ingly. "Don't let us desert like curs the bravest, boldest 
 heart that ever beat in a sailor's breast." 
 
 " Don't listen to him, men ; Harkaway had his chance ; 
 let him drown, he's not of any use to us. Pull away, or 
 we shall all be drawn under the sinking ship," said 
 Murray. 
 
 "Hold your mag," said Harry, dropping his hand 
 heavily upon the speaker's head. "Jack is worth a thou- 
 sand of your wretched sort." 
 
 "Why should we endanger all for the sake of one? 
 cried Murray. " He chose to go and play the fool after 
 those drunken men."
 
 J58 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Silence, you heartless young swab," exclaimed Nat 
 Cringle. *' Haifa word more to that tune, and I'll drop 
 you overboard." 
 
 "There's someone climbing the rigging, I think," said 
 one of the sailors. " Look there. " 
 
 " It's young Harkaway." 
 
 "No, no, it is not Jack," said Harry Girdwood, almost 
 in tears. "Poor Jack has gone down." 
 
 Alas ! there was no hope for him now. 
 
 Meanwhile, Captain Deering was seen breasting the 
 surface of the water, and pushing along with a vigorous 
 
 side stroke. 
 
 ****** 
 
 When young Jack got down below, he found two of the 
 crew hopelessly drunk, and the Scotch mate in a scarce 
 better condition. 
 
 "This is a hopeless case," exclaimed young Jack. 
 
 The mate was not quite so far gone as the two unfort- 
 unate men to whom he had set so bad an example. 
 
 " Mackenzie, "cried Jack, shaking him. 
 
 " Eh ? Whose watch ? " muttered the mate. 
 
 "The ship's settling, I tell you," cried Jack. "Wake 
 up." 
 
 "Ugh ! "grunted Mackenzie ; "it's not my watch, I tell 
 ye. I ken verra weel when " 
 
 And then he lay back and snored again. 
 
 Jack cried out in despair 
 
 ' The fool! He's lost 1 Hah! what's this here ? The 
 very thing." 
 
 A bucket of water stood just handy, so Jack whipped 
 it up and dashed it over the mate. 
 
 "Darn yer imperence !" cried Sandy, waking up and 
 making a grab at young Jack. 
 
 Just then the voice of the skipper was heard calling 
 him wildly to come up. 
 
 "Let go, Mackenzie," cried Jack, struggling with 
 desperation. 
 
 But the mate was a gaunt, strong fellow, and young 
 Jack stood but a very poor chance in a tussle with him. 
 
 "I'll crop yer ears for ye, ye whelp of Satan 1 " hic- 
 coughed the Scotch mate. 
 
 " Too late, too late, " cried the skipper up aloft. ' ' Jack, 
 lack, where are you ? "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. ^9 
 
 The words sounded like a death-knell in young Jack's 
 ear. 
 
 He fought fiercely with the drunken mate, and, wrig- 
 gling himself half out of his clutches, sent him staggering 
 back, but before Jack could get fairly off, Mackenzie was 
 after him again, and grabbed at him. 
 
 He was a little short, but he chanced to get hold of the 
 locket and chain little Emily's parting gift and held 
 Jack momentarily a prisoner, but holding on to the hand- 
 rail with the energy of despair, our hero kicked out des- 
 perately, and sent the mate reeling back. 
 
 Up he flew on deck. 
 
 The captain had already taken his leap for life. 
 
 The ship sank fast 
 
 Jack's peril was deadly. 
 
 He looked about him. 
 
 His only chance was the rigging. 
 
 Young Jack climbed like Nero himself, so up he went 
 hand over hand into the shrouds, as the ill-starred " Alba- 
 tross " quickened her pace downwards. 
 
 Even now he did not turn sick or faint-hearted, as may 
 be guessed by the following characteristic speech 
 
 "That beast Mackenzie has grabbed Em's locket" 
 
 He reached the crosstrees, and gave a sharp look 
 around him as he calculated his chances. 
 
 The whirlpool which the sinking of the huge carcase 
 caused, was of alarming dimensions. 
 
 Spars, chips and coops, and sundry floating things 
 which had been thrown overboard at the last moment, 
 were drawn into the vortex already. 
 
 And this told young Harkaway his danger. 
 
 It was not difficult to see it. 
 
 "Well," said young Jack, resolutely, "it is my only 
 chance for life. Here goes." 
 
 He set his teeth, poised himself for a moment upon the 
 crosstree, then swinging back, he plunged boldly forward 
 into the air. 
 
 Heaven ! 
 
 What an eternity it seemed to our brave young hero, 
 that brief passage through the air ! 
 
 Down, down he v/ent, seemingly to the ocean's bed. 
 
 Then having regained well, scarcely his presence of 
 mind, but rather having strong instinct of self-preserva-
 
 1 60 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 tion he struck upwards, and with half a dozen vigorous 
 strokes he reached the surface reached air and light. 
 
 The cork jacket now played its part well. 
 
 Where would young Harkaway have been else ? 
 
 Probably at the bottom of the sea. 
 
 And there would have been an end to the adventures 
 of young Jack Harkaway and his boy Tinker at once. 
 
 Brave young Jack did not mean to cry a go yet. 
 
 He stuck to it manfully, and as he breasted the surface 
 of the water, a singular phenomenon manifested itself. 
 
 He had not felt the influence of the sinking ship while 
 under, yet now that he was on the surface, and on the 
 limit of the whirlpool's eddies, he felt the strength of its 
 influence. 
 
 It was desperate work now. 
 
 He set his teeth, and plunged on. 
 
 Yet he felt that in spite of every thing, he made little or 
 no progress. 
 
 As fast as he got ahead, the fierce strength of the whirl- 
 pool drew him back. 
 
 It was indeed well for him that he had not reached the 
 surface earlier. 
 
 He felt this instinctively, and taking a long, deep 
 draught of air, he ducked his head, and plunged below 
 the surface once more. 
 
 A dozen vigorous strokes, and he shot up again. 
 
 Then he was safe. 
 
 "Now for a good, long, steady swim, Jack, old boy," 
 he cried to himself. 
 
 Then turning over on his back, he took it easy and 
 looked about him. 
 
 "That was a narrow squeak," he said. "But I wish 
 that that beast of a Mackenzie had not prigged my 
 locket." 
 
 He was a good swimmer, but there came a time, when 
 even he was tired out. 
 
 He turned over and had a swim. 
 
 The shore looked a desperate way off. 
 
 " I shall never be able to reach shore all that way off," 
 he said. "But 'never say die' is my motto, so here 
 goes. " 
 
 Young Jack caught sight of a boat presently, and he 
 hailed it.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. l6l 
 
 " Hello ho I Help ho, ho ! " 
 
 The effort took all his strength, and he gasped again. 
 
 Thanks to his cork jacket, he did not go under, but by 
 now he was powerless to help himself. 
 
 But on board this boat there were two persons who had 
 heard the cry. 
 
 Moreover, both of them had recognised the voice. 
 
 "Oh golly, dat's Massa Jack," said one of the persons. 
 " I's gwine to larn up all perticklers." 
 
 And with no more ado, the speaker, who was a nigger, 
 tumbled over into the water. 
 
 The other person was likewise a darkey. 
 
 "You may consider dis infant dere, Massa Tinker," 
 said the other person, peeling hastily. 
 
 He dived over too. 
 
 These two darkeys, who were, need we say ? Tinker, 
 and that gentleman's valet and major-domo, Bogey, 
 were quite as much at home in the water as they were 
 upon land, and they thought no more of trusting their 
 ebony carcases to the waves than we should think of eat- 
 ing our dinner. 
 
 They played up all kinds of pranks in the water, and 
 could keep under, seemingly, any length of time. 
 
 It was a comical race. 
 
 Every now and again, one or the other would bob up 
 and squint at his fellow-countryman. 
 
 Then they would shoot along again. 
 
 "Look, Bogey," cried Tinker. "Yah, yah; dere he 
 am, dis child soon hab him." 
 
 At length they got within range of poor young Jack. 
 
 He was floating, thanks to the corks, but insensible. 
 
 When they were within range, they dived simultane- 
 ously, and then shooting upwards, came to the surface at 
 the self-same moment, one on either side of young Jack. 
 
 "Oh golly, Bogey," cried Tinker; "dis infant am 
 awful glad he got hold of good Massa Jack." 
 
 And so the two niggers, master and valet, towed young 
 Jack up to the side of the boat, and then with great diffi- 
 culty they got him into it. 
 
 II
 
 1 62 YO UNG JA C.K HARK A WA Y AXD 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 BOGEY IS COMMISSIONED TO RUB MASSA JACK*S LITTLE TUMMY. 
 
 "BE golly, him look pale ! " 
 
 ' ' 'Ole your bressed tongue, nigger ! " said Tinker, 
 authoritatively ; " and rub him little tummy." 
 "Yes, massa. " 
 
 "Poor fellar ! " said Tinker, sadly ; " himbery uncom- 
 mon poorly." 
 
 " Dis chile make him tummy warm," remarked Bogey, 
 "an' den he'll get all right, massa." 
 
 So saying, he rubbed away now more vigorously than 
 ever. 
 
 The efforts of the two faithful darkeys soon told, for 
 Jack opened his eyes. 
 
 'Tinker," said he, with a sigh. 
 Yes, sar, dat am dis good-looking child." 
 ' Where am I ? " 
 
 'Hyar, sar, 'long wid Tinker and Bogey." 
 ' Where's here ? " 
 ' In de boat, sar. " 
 'I remember now, Tinker." 
 ' What you remember, sar ? " 
 'That beast of a Mackenzie prigged my locket" 
 Tinker looked puzzled. 
 
 Then shooting an inquisitive glance at his master, he 
 made up his mind. 
 
 The trials and dangers had turned "him bressed 
 head." 
 
 "Mackenzie, sar," he said, seemingly indignant, "did 
 you say Mackenzie, sar? " 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, sar, punch him head." 
 
 " I mean to if he's afloat," returned young Jack ; 'but 
 I fear he's gone down." 
 
 This being off his mind, young Jack lapsed into a sort 
 of semi-somnolency. 
 ' ' Bogey. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 163 
 
 "Yes, massa." 
 
 "Rub him tummy, you ugly waggibone.** 
 
 "Yes, massa." 
 
 "Keep a-rubbin' ob him till he get allober warm like." 
 
 "Yes, massa." 
 
 And he went to work at a rare rate, too. 
 
 Well, the result of this was that when they got ashore, 
 young Jack had so far recovered that he was really very 
 little the worse for his leap, and his dive, and his pro- 
 tracted immersion. 
 
 The boat grounded just about three or four minutes 
 before another boat came on shore. 
 
 And in this boat was Harry Girdwood, just returned in 
 bitter despair at what he thought Jack's death. 
 
 He looked so pale and haggard that one could scarcely 
 believe it to be the result of grief alone. 
 
 Young Jack ran to greet him. 
 
 "Why, Harry, old man, what is the matter?" 
 
 Harry Girdwood looked puzzled. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Is it you?" 
 
 "Why, yes, unless I am very much mistaken. I don't 
 think I am anyone else than young Jack Harkaway." 
 
 "Why, Jack, my dear old boy, how did you get 
 here ? " 
 
 "Partly by swimming, partly by floating, and partly 
 in the boat, while Bogey rubbed my little tummy to bring 
 me round. " 
 
 While Jack was urging on his wild career shorewards, 
 the other boat in which Harry Girdwood was drafted off, 
 had been hanging about the wreck to pick up anyone 
 who might have been overboard and had the good luck 
 to get clear of the vessel. 
 
 But they were singularly unfortunate. 
 
 A third boat had picked the skipper up, while they re- 
 mained even ignorant of his fate as they had been until 
 now of young Jack Harkaway's. 
 
 "What, young Harkaway," cried out a manly voice; 
 "give us your grappling-iron, Master Jack, for, damme, 
 Nat Cringle longs to touch your flesh."
 
 164 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " With all my heart, Nat Cringle," cried young Jack ; 
 "give us a grasp." 
 
 His example was followed by all round. 
 
 And young Jack had his right hand well-nigh wrung 
 off. 
 
 ' ' I had all my work to do," said young Jack, " to get 
 free of that drunken old Mackenzie." 
 
 And thereupon he related all that had taken place on 
 board during his vain endeavour to rescue the mate from 
 the wreck. 
 
 " I only hope as he's saved," said Nat Cringle, " for if 
 I meet him ashore, I'll make small biscuit of him in the 
 turning of a marlin-spike." 
 
 That Nat's resolve was highly approved of was duly at- 
 tested by the salvos of cheers from the sailors which 
 greeted his speech. 
 
 "Well," cried Jack, " I hope we shall meet him, for 
 confound the brute 1 he's prigged a locket my little sweet- 
 heart gave me at parting on shore. " 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIIL 
 
 THE ORPHAN'S INFIRMITIES JACK GIVES HIM A LESSON IN 
 
 SPANISH. 
 
 "HERE comes the skipper." 
 
 " Hurrah, here he conies." 
 
 Captain Deering saw Jack, and he came running up to 
 the spot to greet him. 
 
 "Egad, Master Harkaway, you've had a narrow es- 
 cape this time," he said. 
 
 "And you too, sir." 
 
 "Yes, Harkaway," replied the skipper; "a closer 
 shave than I should care for every day. I might not 
 always come off, d'ye see ? " 
 
 Just then a sick-looking gentleman came up with his 
 head tied up in a white handkerchief. 
 
 "Oh, Captain Deering," said he, " I congratulate you, 
 indeed I do. After what young Harkaway told me of 
 those nasty shrimps, I feared you had gole to the bot- 
 tob." 
 
 "So I had, Mr. Figgins," returned the skipper, with a
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 165 
 
 "and I came to the top again as quick as conven- 
 fent" 
 
 "It was dearly all over with be, too, captid." 
 
 "Oh, no," returned the captain, "you were soon 
 picked out, and you're not much the worse for a sousing. 
 Salt water doesn't hurt any man." 
 
 The orphan gave a groan and a grunt of impatience at 
 this. 
 
 "Doesl't it leither? Why, I've got a cole id by dose 
 that'll last be for a fortdight. " 
 
 The doleful expression of the orphan's face made the 
 skipper laugh outright. 
 
 ' ' Not so bad as that, Mr. Figgins, I hope. " 
 
 "Isl't it? but I know it is. I wish somebody else 
 had got my cold in his nose," returned the orphan. 
 
 "You may think yourself very fortunate there were no 
 shrimps here to seize upon you, when you tumbled in the 
 water ; but you can easily get over your cold, Mr. Figgins," 
 said young Jack. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Jack." 
 
 "How do you feel, Mr. Figgins?" 
 
 "I'm very bad indeed, Bister Jack ; I wish some kind 
 person would take care of me, for I am only an orphan." 
 
 " Oh, we'll take care of you, but you must get over your 
 cold first. Take a tubful of gruel with a candle in it, sir." 
 
 "A what ?" 
 
 "A candle ; I don't mean to eat the candle altogether." 
 
 "I should thick dot." 
 
 " You only have to drop the candle in the gruel, while 
 it's nice and hot to melt it a little and rub yourself all over 
 with it." 
 
 "Get alog, you're chaffig. I wish you good evedig, 
 Baster John." 
 
 " I'm only Master John on Sundays, Mr. Figgins Jack 
 on week days, please." 
 
 " Jokid apart," said the orphan, "gruel isl't a bad thig 
 for a cole, oly I cal't thig how I shall get od with these 
 Spadiards. " 
 
 "Easy enough." 
 
 " What's the Spadish for gruel, Jack ? " 
 
 " Bilstickas sauce," responded young Jack, promptly. 
 
 "Dear be. Ad ad jokid apart, a caddie isl't half a 
 bad thig for the dose."
 
 166 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 ' You're right." 
 
 ' What's the Spadish for caddie, cub dow?*' 
 Fardendippa," answered young Jack. 
 ; Fardeddippa." 
 'Yes." 
 
 'What a sigular lagwidge Spadish is, Baster Jack." 
 ' Very. Remember that Spanish people are very proud 
 and ceremonious. " 
 
 "All right, I'll be cerebodious with theb. I shall get to 
 the hotel and off to bed ; good-dight." 
 
 "Well, good-night, Mr. Figgins, and don't forget your 
 Spanish, for remember you are a young and tender 
 orphan, with no one to look after you, and the Spanish peo- 
 ple like to use their knives on unprotected English 
 orphans. " 
 
 "True, true. Oh, I wish I was at home." 
 And as he went up the beach, he kept repeating it to 
 himself 
 
 "Gruel, bilstickas sauce. Caddie, fardeddippa, good 
 for the dose and a cold." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 AT THEIR TRICKS AGAIN THE COCKNEY WAITER A SURPRISE 
 POOR ORPHAN FIGGINS. 
 
 "JACK, what do you think of this place?" 
 "Well, Harry, not half bad diggings up to the present 
 There is only one drawback as far as I can find out as 
 yet." 
 
 ' What is it ? " 
 
 ' The Carlists. " 
 
 'Those rascals are never here," exclaimed Harry. 
 
 'Yes, they are ; rather strong, too." 
 
 ' Are these people all Carlists then ? " 
 
 'To a man." 
 
 ' Pheugh ! I say, Jack, old boy, that's rather hot" 
 
 ' Oh, there is nothing much to fear until the other 
 scoundrels come and bombard the town." 
 
 "The deuce they will. Why, Jack, we have run 
 ourselves into some danger. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 167 
 
 "Very great danger, from what I hear." 
 
 "Well, this is a precious rum go, " said Harry Girdwood. 
 "However," he added, with a merry twinkle in his eye, 
 "we can stand to it, and it won't prevent us making the 
 most of Mr. Figgins' terror when we pile it on him." 
 
 "Oh, our poor orphan will be in for a good thing," 
 said Jack, chuckling aloud at the bare anticipation ; "but 
 it must be very carefully done." 
 
 "Very." 
 
 ' ' I'll work up to it with tales of the Carlists' atrocities 
 Make out that they're every thing that's awful cannibals 
 included ? " 
 
 Poor Figgins ! 
 
 Hapless orphan ! 
 
 He was destined to suffer now for the amusement ot our 
 two young scapegraces. 
 
 They M r ent up to have a look at Mr. Figgins, and they 
 found him in his room in bed, struggling in an over- 
 whelming sea of difficulties. 
 
 "You feel more yourself now, Mr. Figgins," said Harry 
 Girdwood, " now that you have on your nightcap." 
 ' I do certainly feel easier. " 
 ' You would of course, " said Jack eagerly. 
 ' And did you try the gruel and the candle ? " 
 'I couldn't." 
 'Why not?" 
 
 [ Couldl 'bake eb udderstal." 
 
 'We'll manage that for you," said Harry Girdwood, 
 tipping Jack the wink. 
 
 ' Of course, any thing to oblige Mr. Figgins. " 
 'Thakyou, oh! thak you, young geltlemal," responded 
 the grateful sufferer ; ' ' but, oh, why did I ever come to 
 sea ? I was never intended for a sailor. Oh, dear ! " 
 " Poor thing. Shall I ring the bell ? " said Jack. 
 "Oh, I wish I could hear a London muffin bell ; that 
 would be music to me. " 
 
 Harry rang, and up came a spruce young waiter. 
 
 "Waiter," said Jack, in his most Spanish air. 
 
 "Senor." 
 
 " Candeloza por el nosa deT olda-cockawaxa." 
 
 The waiter looked considerably puzzled.
 
 168 YOUNG JACK HARKAWAY AND 
 
 " Candeloza, senor excettenza P" 
 
 "Si," said young Jack, "don't you understand? 
 Candeloza far dendip pa por el nosa del? ancienta-buffa." 
 
 ' ' Por taller sua snuff boxa, " explained Harry Gird wood, 
 gesticulating violently. 
 
 The waiter looked on aghast. 
 
 " He doesl' cobrehed, " exclaimed the invalid, in despair ; 
 "waiter." 
 
 "Senor." 
 
 Mr. Figgins sat bolt upright and pantomimed violently 
 at the waiter. 
 
 "Caddie udderstal, caddie, tallow-wick, light, fat to 
 rub ol by lose, udderstal ? " 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 That was all the waiter could say in his wonder. 
 
 "Now he understands," said Jack, winking at Harry. 
 
 "Mr. Figgins' Spanish is better than ours." 
 
 "Oh, dear, no, sir," responded the waiter, with a 
 mirthful twinkle in his eye and in purest Whitechapel 
 English ; "about the same, sir. Didn't know you was 
 English, sir. Old gent wants a taller candle to rub on his 
 nozzle. I see, sir. I'd no notion that you was a-getting 
 at me, sir ! I'm from the East of London, bred and born 
 there. " 
 
 Off he ran, leaving Master Jack and his companion 
 rather more astonished than the waiter himself had 
 previously appeared. 
 
 " Well 1 " exclaimed Harry Girdwood, "that has rather 
 taken it out of us. " 
 
 "Rather. Who would have thought of seeing a Lon- 
 don waiter here ? " 
 
 "Let us go and find the Cockney waiter and see what 
 we can do with him." 
 
 "Come along." 
 
 They found that Cockney waiter and they bribed him. 
 
 And they plotted in the most shameful manner against 
 the orphan Figgins' future peace of mind. 
 
 Of this more anon. 
 
 For the present we must limit ourselves to saying that 
 some unhappy moments were in store for the 
 gentleman with the cold in his head.
 
 BOY TINKER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 A STROLL IN AN ORANGE GROVE THE VINEYARD THE HARKAWAY 
 BLOOD IS UP AGAIN AN AWKWARD MESS. 
 
 " LET'S go and have a look about the town," said Jack. 
 
 " With all my heart, "responded Harry Gird wood, "but 
 let us get some information first of the Cockney waiter." 
 
 Trimmer, the Cockney waiter, had lived there for years 
 and knew every thing and every body. 
 
 He was well acquainted with the country around and he 
 directed them to the most interesting places to visit. 
 
 " If you turn to the left when you get outside," said 
 he, " you will come to the orange grove the best walk 
 in this part and beyond that you get to the vineyards, 
 and they are downright awful stunning." 
 
 " You are so emphatic and forcible," said young Jack, 
 " that I shall be off at once." 
 
 "All right, sir, but keep clear of them Carlist fellows ; 
 they're as proud as Lucifer, and they haven't a stiver to 
 spend ; they lived upon olives and garlic, and there ain't, 
 so to speak, a clean shirt in the army." 
 
 "I'll be careful." 
 
 "That's right." 
 
 " And if any of them Carlist fellows speak to you, only 
 bow and walk on." 
 
 "We will." 
 
 It would have been as well if they had followed out the 
 injunctions of the Cockney waiter literally. 
 
 But out of sight, out of mind. 
 
 They were no sooner in the orange grove than they 
 forgot all about the Carlists and the waiter, and, in fact, 
 about any thing for the time being, but the delicious per- 
 fume of the enchanting scene through which they were 
 passing. 
 
 " What a Paradise, Jack ! " exclaimed Harry. 
 
 "Elysium," was Jack's rapturous reply.
 
 170 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "It smells like all the perfumes of Bond Street boiled 
 down. " 
 
 "Delicious! " 
 
 " What a thousand pities that our foggy old climate 
 won't grow such a treat as this." 
 
 " It is. But, then, our foggy old climate dosn't grow 
 Carlists and garlic and dirt and brag and lies so pro- 
 lifically as this beautiful place." 
 
 "That's true, old wet-blanket," said Jack." 
 
 "Old England isn't half a bad place, after all, in spite 
 of its fogs and rains and coughs, colds, catarrhs, 
 rheumatism, and the rest of it." 
 
 "Ugh ! " growled Harry, "couldn't you rake up a few 
 more reproaches for the land of your birth ? " 
 
 Young Jack's response was brief and expressive 
 
 "Pickles!" 
 
 "Then, after a moment, he said 
 
 ''Let's change the subject." 
 
 "When will the divers begin their operations?" 
 
 "To-morrow, if what Captain Deeringsays is true ; the 
 vessel is already on the spot, you know." 
 
 ' ' But I am told that only one of the divers has come 
 over up to the present." 
 
 "What of that?" 
 
 "A great deal." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " How can he begin alone? ** ' 
 
 "Easily enough." 
 
 "It must be precious dangerous, I should say." 
 
 "Why more dangerous for one than for several ? " 
 
 "Why, if two are together and one is not well if any 
 accident happens, the other could give the signal to haul 
 up." 
 
 " True, there must be great danger attendant upon deep 
 sea diving." 
 
 They walked on for some distance in silence. 
 
 "Harry." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " I'm going to confide in you, old man, only I want 
 you first to make me a promise." 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "You won't laugh ? " 
 
 "I'll look as serious as a whole bench of judges."
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. 1 7 1 
 
 "Well, the fact is, that in the under steward's cabin of 
 the ' Albatross ' is something which I wouldn't lose for a 
 hundred pounds no, nor for a good many hundreds." 
 
 Harry stared. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "You're going to grin." 
 
 "Not I." 
 
 "Well, it is a now don't get on that beastly guffaw, 
 Harry. Em gave me a locket before I left, with a lock of 
 her hair in it bless her ! and the drunken brute Mackenzie 
 made a grab at me as I was escaping up the companion 
 ladder, and tore it off my neck." 
 ; What then?" 
 I want it." 
 'You can't get it." 
 < I'll go after it." 
 
 Bosh ! Do you think you would please Emily by 
 risking your life on such a job ? " 
 
 " No, but I don't mean to go home without it." 
 
 Harry Girdwood looked anxious at this. 
 
 He knew too well the determination of the Harkaways 
 one and all, and he knew that all the arguments he could 
 use would not turn young Jack from his purpose. 
 
 So he tried to effect a compromise. 
 
 "You have only to try and tip the diver who's there 
 already. " 
 
 "I'll try it." 
 
 They had now emerged from the orange grove. 
 
 Beyond, they came to an enclosed ground with a high 
 wall lining the side of the path on their right. 
 
 They had to pick their way along here, for the road was 
 below the level of the path, and a recent heavy rain and 
 bad drainage combined had left the road in a sad mess. 
 
 They picked their way along in single file, keeping up 
 close to the wall. 
 
 In this way they progressed for some distance, when a 
 man was seen to turn a corner sharply .and advance 
 towards them. 
 
 Now this man could very well have retreated to the 
 place from whence he had emerged and allowed them to 
 pass.
 
 1 7 2 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 But he was a haughty, ill-natured fellow, and he made 
 straight up to the two lads with a sternly defiant air, and 
 waited for them to turn aside for him. 
 
 So they came to a full stop. 
 
 The stranger was a young, tall, dark man, handsome 
 enough to look at, and seemingly a military officer. 
 
 He paused a moment, looking down upon young Jack, 
 who stared back coolly enough, for it wanted a very big 
 man indeed to abash a Harkaway. 
 
 " Maledicion ! give way, boy," ejaculated the Spaniard, 
 furiously. 
 
 And lunging suddenly forward, he seized hold of Jack 
 and whirled him off the path into the mud, ankle deep. 
 
 Now this was not the sort of thing that young Jack 
 could relish, or he would not have been the son of his 
 father. 
 
 Before you could say Jack Robinson, or, indeed, give 
 utterance to an infinitely more brief exclamation, he 
 sprang forward and seized the Spaniard by the leg, and 
 gave it a mighty tug. 
 
 The effort was so sudden that the officer could not save 
 himself, and he went sprawling in the mud. 
 
 The Spaniard made a rare noise and bluster, and used 
 a lot of very alarming expressions, or rather expressions 
 which ought to have frightened the very soul out of the 
 two boys if they had understood a word of them. 
 
 But beyond a good many Carambas, Carajos, and Mal- 
 edicions they did not understand much. 
 
 He shook some of the mud from his garments and made 
 a rush at Jack, but the latter dodged the don and met him 
 with a good old English one, straight from the shoulder. 
 
 " I'll have your heart's blood for that," cried the 
 Spaniard, taking out a card and throwing it at Jack. 
 
 Now the latter understood the action, although he could 
 make nothing of the words, and this was a species of in- 
 vitation which one of his hot-blooded race could not 
 refuse. 
 
 "It's a challenge," exclaimed Harry, in alarm. 
 
 Young Jack produced his card and wrote upon it the 
 name of the hotel at which they were staying. 
 
 "What are you about ? " cried Harry Gird wood. " I'm 
 not going to have anything of this kind ; you shall not 
 meet this man in combat"
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 173 
 
 "You can't help it any more than I can," returned Jack, 
 coolly. " At your service, sefior, when you please," he 
 added, with a bow to the Spaniard. 
 
 The latter bowed in return, and curling his moustache 
 fiercely, he strode away, shaking his fist in the air. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 THE CHALLENGE A PROFESSIONAL DUELLIST TRICKS OF FENCE 
 JACK AND HIS MAITRE-o'ARMES. 
 
 "WELL, Jack, this is bad. What would your poor 
 father say if he knew about it ? " said Harry Girdwood, 
 utterly dismayed ; ' ' it's a dreadful job. " 
 
 "A rum go, isn't it? " 
 
 "A rum go," cried his companion. " Oh, Jack, Jack, 
 whatever will you do ? " 
 
 Jack stared. 
 
 " Do ? What would you do ? " 
 
 " It is not right you should fight this Carlist brute. I 
 should bolt." 
 
 "Bolt," echoed Jack. "Yes, I think I see myself; 
 why, Harry, you old fibber, to say you'd bolt. Why, 
 you would have wanted to fight it out then and there." 
 
 "It is madness, Jack. I tell you that this meeting 
 must not take place." 
 
 ' ' Now don't be obstinate, Harry, " said Jack, angrily. 
 "What, would you have me turn coward before this 
 bully ! No, Harry, no wretched Spaniard shall have 
 the chance of saying that he frightened young Jack 
 Harkaway." 
 
 This closed the conversation. 
 
 They walked back to the hotel *n utter silence. 
 
 "Let us look at his card," said Harry Girdwood. 
 
 This was the first word spoken between them. 
 
 Jack handed over the card. 
 
 "Don Gil Perez." 
 
 " He's a pretty don," said Harry. 
 
 Young Jack turned to his friend and silently held out 
 his hand. 
 
 "Come, come, Harry, old man," said he; '* we mustn't 
 have any bad feeling over this job. "
 
 174 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Harry returned his grip with heartiness. 
 
 " 111 feeling ! " said he with deep emotion. "Heaven 
 forbid that any thing should make ill-feeling between you 
 and me." 
 
 The Cockney waiter came in just then with a card on a 
 salver. 
 
 "A gent is a- waiting below, sir," said he, with a myste- 
 rious air ; " aCarlist officer, I should say, sir, by the looks 
 of him. " 
 
 Jack took the card. 
 
 " 'Don Miguel Basten. Whoever is that?" 
 
 "Someone from the other don, I suppose," said Harry. 
 
 "By jingo!" said Jack, with a laugh, "the Spaniard 
 means righting ; well, I'll fight him, and he shall find 
 young Jack Harkaway a true Boy of England." 
 
 ' Will you see this gentleman, sir ? " asked the waiter. 
 Of course. Show him in," replied Jack. 
 'Yes, sir." 
 
 'And come back with him, waiter," said Harry. 
 Yes, sir." 
 
 'We shall want you to interpret for us." 
 'All right, sir." 
 
 A moment after the waiter returned, ushering in a 
 Spanish officer. 
 
 Don Miguel Basten was a fine, soldier-like man, well 
 advanced in years, with close-cropped grey hair, and a 
 thick grey moustache. 
 
 He doffed his cap on entering, and bowed low to the 
 tw lads. 
 
 "Will you say that it is Sefior John Harkaway that I 
 wish to see ? " said he to the waiter. 
 
 "This is Sefior Harkaway, captain," replied the waiter, 
 waving his hand towards Jack. 
 
 " Impossible ; he is only a boy. It must be his father 
 I have come to see." 
 
 This was translated to Jack, who had, however, given 
 a pretty shrewd guess at what was meant. 
 
 "No. Tell Don Miguel Basten that my father is in 
 England, and that I am the person. " 
 
 This was duly translated by the waiter. 
 
 "It is very strange," said the officer. " The Sefior 
 Harkaway is very young. " 
 
 "Yes, sefior."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 1 7 5 
 
 ' Ask him if he comes from Don Gil Perez," said Jack. 
 
 ' Gil Perez ? " 
 
 'Yes." 
 
 ' Do you know him, sir? " 
 
 'Slightly." 
 
 The waiter put on a frightened look, which they could 
 not very well understand. 
 
 "Si si," said the Carlist officer, with a nod of intelligence 
 at Jack. " I have the honour to come on behalf of Don 
 Gil Perez." 
 
 "At your service, senor," said Jack, bowing politely. 
 
 " Tell the young English gentleman," said the officer, 
 "that he has gravely affronted Don Gil Perez, and that no 
 apology is possible." 
 
 The waiter looked aghast at this message. 
 
 "My hi, sir," he exclaimed, "this is a precious go. 
 Why, you've been and had a rumpus with the most noto- 
 rious duellist and the very worst bully in the Carlist army. 
 Oh, my ! " 
 
 Jack smiled. 
 
 " He says that no apology is possible." 
 
 "I never intended an apology." 
 
 The waiter looked more frightened than ever. 
 
 "Translate that, do you hear ?" said Jack sharply. 
 
 "But, sir, consider ; this Don Perez is a dreadful man 
 with all weapons, and " 
 
 "Do what I tell you, or leave the room," said Jack. 
 
 He obeyed. 
 
 The officer pursed his brows. 
 
 "I did not mean that," he said. "I meant that it 
 would be impossible for us to accept an apology. But the 
 senor is very young " 
 
 "Old enough to take my own part," responded Jack. 
 
 "Very good," said Don Miguel. "Then, with the 
 deepest regret, I have to arrange the preliminaries." 
 
 "As you please, sir." 
 
 " Your weapons ! " 
 
 "Yours, senor?" 
 
 " Sword or pistol ? " 
 
 "I am equally good, or bad, at both," replied young 
 Jack. ' ' I am not in the habit of fighting duels. So if Don 
 Miguel Basten will make all arrangements for us, he may 
 consider them as accepted in advance."
 
 176 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 This was translated by the waiter. 
 
 "One word before we go any further, " said the officer, 
 who had been eyeing young Harkaway with considerable 
 interest. " I said an apology was impossible. Now, my 
 principal is a noted duelist, a dead shot, and one of the 
 keenest blades in the army of his Catholic majesty. In 
 consideration of the Senor Inglese's youth, I will under- 
 take to insist upon an apology being accepted, if Senor 
 Harkaway will make one." 
 
 "Impossible," returned Jack, hastily. "I am an 
 Englishman, senor, and hold my honour as dearly as any 
 Spaniard born." 
 
 ' ' Senor, " returned the officer, ' ' your courage does you 
 honour, and I wish this painful task had devolved upon 
 anybody but me. Swords, then, at six in the morning." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 lt In the valley beyond the church." 
 
 "I will be there, sefior." 
 
 "Is this young gentleman your friend?" asked the 
 officer, bowing to Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " I shall have the painful honour of meeting you both, 
 then," said the Spaniard, bowing once more. " Before I 
 go, young gentleman," he added, advancing a step 
 towards Jack, " allow me the pleasure of shaking hands 
 with you, for you are a brave lad. " 
 
 " With great pleasure," returned Jack courteously. 
 
 They shook hands, and Don Miguel Basten, after look- 
 ing once more at Jack, bowed himself out. 
 
 ' ' Well, I'm jiggered ! " exclaimed the waiter. ' * You've 
 been and gone and done it, Mr. Harkaway, you have. 
 Oh, how you'll get run through, sir." 
 
 "Is it such a very poor lookout for me, then ?" asked 
 Jack, with a smile. 
 
 "You may as well say your prayers and order your 
 coffin, sir, that's all." 
 
 "You're a nice Job's comforter," laughed Jack. 
 
 "Why, this beast of a Gil Perez has spitted about a 
 dozen within the last month ; he's without exception, the 
 one cove, sir, that you ought to have avoided. He's a 
 devil, sir."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 177 
 
 "I can't help that ; it's done and can't be undone now. 
 You can't unnerve me by any talk, so don't try it on." 
 
 "Don't say that, sir. I'd give a year's perks, sir, to 
 see you lard him well, the Spanish beast, but there's no 
 chance of it." 
 
 ' What do they understand by swords ? " 
 'Rapiers." 
 
 I wish it was broadsword cut and thrust " 
 ' Why, sir ? " 
 I know the exercise." 
 
 The waiter thought for a moment, and then burst into 
 a laugh. 
 
 "That's not half a bad idea, sir. Take your sword 
 with you. The choice was with you ; you said swords, 
 but you didn't stipulate what kind. Insist upon your cut- 
 and-thrust cove, and Don Gil Perez may be took at a dis- 
 advantage. Oh, what larks it would be to see a young 
 English gentleman like you spit this brute of a Spaniard." 
 
 "Do they never fight with any thing but rapiers ? " 
 
 " Not often. I've seen many a duel, sir ; two or three 
 with the cut-and-thrusters, but they're blessed awkward 
 at it. They have only one cut and one guard, as far as I 
 can see." 
 
 " Do you know it?" 
 
 " Oh, yes. I can show it you in half a crack, and 
 proud I am of the honour, sir." 
 
 "You seem up to a great many things," said Harry 
 Gird wood. " How did you learn this ? " 
 
 " I've been in the army here, sir." 
 
 " The deuce you have.'' 
 
 " I was in the army in England, and my time was out, 
 so I came travelling here with my master, poor chap ; 
 he was an officer in my regiment, and travelling here on 
 half-pay when he got the fever in Cadiz and it took him 
 off. That's three years ago. I was left without any re- 
 sources, so I enlisted in the national army for three years. 
 When they was up, I came on here, and, being hard up, 
 got a billet here as waiter." 
 
 " What an extraordinary career," exclaimed Jack. " I 
 never heard of a soldier being waiter before. " 
 
 ' ' What's the odds as long as you're happy ? I don't 
 care much for the place, but it's vittles and drink, besides 
 occasional pickings, an' so I manage to grub along." 
 
 12
 
 1 78 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 " Well," said Jack, " now for this famous guard." 
 
 The Cockney soldier-waiter got a walking-stick, and 
 showed them several tricks of fence. 
 
 "If you don't mind a slight sabre-cut on the shoulder, 
 you can spit your man like a herring." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "This way. They cut down thus it's a vicious cut, 
 meant to break your guard you mustn't attempt to parry 
 it, but jump in under it. You're nimble enough, I see, a 
 good deal more so than Mr. Bully Gil Perez. . Run in 
 sharp as soon as you're engaged, and you have him as 
 safe as eggs is eggs. Oh, my eye ! I should be glad." 
 
 Jack appeared to be satisfied, but Harry was less con- 
 fident. 
 
 "Very well," said Jack. " Now we'll get to bed, for I 
 want to be up at five. I shouldn't like to be late, or go 
 on the field sleepy at all. Stay, in case any thing should 
 happen to me, here's a trifle to remember me, for you 
 seem kind." 
 
 The waiter put back young Harkaway's hand firmly, 
 but politely. 
 
 "Not to-night, sir." 
 
 ' ' What ! You're not proud. " 
 
 "Not I, sir," returned the waiter. "Pride wouldn't 
 well become one who lives upon tips. No, sir, good luck 
 to you. Wait till the job's over and then double it." 
 
 "That's a bargain," said Jack. 
 
 "That's business," said Harry Girdwood, laughing, in 
 spite of himself, for his heart was as heavy as lead. 
 
 "Good-night." 
 
 "Good-night, gents, both of you. Rise with a steady 
 hand and stout heart, and may good luck attend you in 
 the morning." 
 
 "Amen to that ! " said Harry Girdwood, fervently.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 179 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 THE DUEL IN THE VALLEY THE FACE-GUARD AND HOW IT 
 TOLD STRUCK HOME THE ENGLISH DIVER. 
 
 A KNOCK at the door. 
 
 "Come in." 
 
 "Five o'clock, sir." 
 
 "So soon? " 
 
 Jack had slept like a top. 
 
 Poor Harry Girdwood had hardly closed his eyes the 
 livelong night, and when he had snatched a little fitful 
 slumber, he had dreamt dreadfully. 
 
 His visions were all of men slain in single combat. 
 
 Fierce Spaniards slaughtering inexperienced duellists, 
 and these pallid men stretched upon the ground, with the 
 life-blood oozing slowly from gaping wounds. 
 
 Such were the visions which poor Harry had, and he 
 was not sorry when the time arrived to be moving. 
 
 Young Jack sprang from his bed and slipped into his 
 garments as hurriedly as possible. Harry Girdwood fol- 
 lowed suit. 
 
 But he failed to display the same alacrity in his move- 
 ments. 
 
 Slowly and fearfully he prepared for this terrible busi- 
 ness. 
 
 "Look sharp, Harry." 
 
 "All right, Jack, my dear boy." 
 
 Harry did not believe that there was much chance for 
 his brave comrade ; yet such as there was, he wished 
 him to profit by to the uttermost ; and so he tried with 
 all his might to disguise his own unpleasant feelings upon 
 the matter. 
 
 At length they were ready to start. 
 
 "Harry," said Jack, earnestly, "tip us your fin, old 
 man." 
 
 Harry silently extended his hand. 
 
 "Come, come, old sobersides, you mustn't be down- 
 hearted, or I shall go into action with a heavy heart, and 
 that won't improve my chance."
 
 1 80 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "I'm as cheerful as I can be, but you wouldn't have 
 me feel downright happy, Jack, would you ? " 
 
 "I tell you what, Harry, I'm as good as a hundred 
 dead men yet. I've a presentiment that I shall pull 
 through this job as I have many a worse one before. I 
 don't fear the bully Spaniard. " 
 
 "No, Jack. Keep your pluck up." 
 
 "Now, Harry," said Jack, "when you are quite 
 ready." 
 
 "Now." 
 
 "Come on." 
 
 "You have nothing to say, Tack, before we start? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 They were first on the field. 
 
 However, they had not long to wait, for in less than 
 three minutes, Don Gil Perez was seen advancing, lean- 
 ing upon the arm of two brother officers, Don Miguel 
 Basten and a stranger. 
 
 Close upon their heels came two more men. 
 
 The first of them was the waiter from the hotel. 
 
 The other was a thick-set, pale-faced man, with a sort 
 of semi-sailor cut about him. 
 
 The former saluted Jack and his companion with the 
 grave dignity peculiar to the Spanish people. 
 
 The latter advanced towards Jack and Harry, saluting 
 them as they approached. 
 
 "I thought I'd like to look on and see fair play, sir," 
 said the waiter, touching his hat "I am not a bad 
 swordsman, and if there should be foul play on the part 
 of these dons, I'll stand by you, sir." 
 
 "Thank you, and who have you brought with you?" 
 said Jack. 
 
 "A fellow-countryman of ours. The diver who has 
 been sent for to go down to the ' Albatross. ' " 
 
 " Indeed," said Harry Girdwood, turning to the diver. 
 " So you are an Englishman ? " 
 
 " Yes, sorr," replied the diver, " an' it's proud I am of 
 that same, sorr. " 
 
 "Well, we won't say English altogether," said Jack, 
 smiling, "a Briton, at all events."
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 181 
 
 "Yes, sorr." 
 
 "Dublin?" 
 
 "County Gal way, sorr, at your sarvice," returned the 
 diver, with a salute. 
 
 "And have you come to see fair play, too? " 
 
 "Ye may say that, an' be jabers, I'll see it; the mur- 
 therin' bosthoon. Give half a worrd, sorr, an' I'll wire 
 into the lot of 'em at oncet." 
 
 Jack laughed. 
 
 " There's no need for that at present, thanks," he said ; 
 "he's trod on the tail of my coat at present. You can 
 wire in when I've had my turn." 
 
 "You're a fine boy, anyhow." exclaimed the diver, in 
 undisguised admiration. " I hope as there'll be little left 
 of the omadhauns for me to pound away at by the time 
 you've done with 'em." 
 
 " I'm only going to fight with one of them," replied 
 Jack, with mock gravity ; "there'll be plenty for you to 
 peg away at afterwards." 
 
 "Hurrah ! " cried the Irishman, "that's balm to one's 
 feelings, anyhow." 
 
 The others drew near. 
 
 Don Gil Perez had divested himself of hat, cloak and 
 coat, and he stood ready in his shirt sieves. 
 
 Jack speedily followed suit. 
 
 Harry Girdwood handed Jack his weapon. 
 
 Then it was for the first time that Don Miguel dis- 
 covered tae difference in the swords, and he at once inter- 
 fered. 
 
 " Sefior Harkaway understood that the combat was to 
 be with sabres, Don Miguel," said the waiter, pretending 
 to interpret. 
 
 The notorious duellist curled his lip scornfully when 
 this was told him. 
 
 "The English boy is laughing at us," he said. " He 
 only wants a pretext to save his skin." 
 
 "No pretext, senor," replied the waiter, promptly. 
 "Sefior Harkaway remarks that the gentleman beside 
 you wears a sabre. He says, too, that any weapon is 
 indifferent to him. " 
 
 "The sabre be it then," said Don Miguel; " and let 
 him consider he has not five minutes to live." 
 
 The officer who had accompanied them handed Don
 
 i82 YOUNG fACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 Gil Perez his sabre, and the latter cut the air viciously 
 with it to try its temper. 
 
 ' ' He looks as if he'd like to make sassengers of the 
 whole biling of us," said the diver, with a comical gri- 
 mace. 
 
 They were now about to give the signal to engage, 
 when Don Miguel advanced to his principal's side, and 
 said something to him in a low tone. 
 
 "A brave lad, you say," returned the duellist, coarsely, 
 " and spare him ! Bah ! he has sought it, and he must 
 pay the penalty. His mother's tears should not save him 
 now. I will have the English dog's life." 
 
 He hoped that his adversary would hear it, and that 
 this gentlemanly speech would serve to unnerve him for 
 the combat. 
 
 But he just forgot that Jack did not understand a word 
 that was said. 
 
 The military Cockney waiter did, however, and he 
 turned away in disgust. 
 
 ' ' Beast ! " he muttered. 
 
 "Ready?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Remember your face-guard, sir," said the waiter, 
 quietly, "Hold your elbow low, keep the hilt of your 
 sword straight between your eyes. He's a powerful and 
 wicked brute. If he tries to break down your guard by 
 mere force, don't attempt to parry, but leap aside, and 
 give him your point not too high, for I don't think you 
 could get it into him about the chest" 
 
 The honest waiter's meaning became apparent after the 
 contest was over. 
 
 You will see how. 
 
 "On guard!" 
 
 The swords clashed, and the Spaniard began by a des- 
 perate down cut, which Jack, remembering his instruc- 
 tions, leapt aside to avoid, and boring suddenly in, down 
 went the brutal duellist with a gasp. 
 
 " Hit ! " cried the waiter. 
 
 "Spitted, byjabers !" 
 
 " Caramba ! " 
 
 " Maledicion /" cried the wounded combatant. 
 
 And staggering up, sword in hand, he made a step 
 forward as if to cleave his young adversary to the earth,
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 183 
 
 but ere he could reach him, Jack passed his sword through 
 his side. The Spaniard, with a groan, tottered, and fell 
 again in a deadly faint. 
 
 Jack at once dropped his sword, and ran forward. 
 
 "I hope he is not badly hurt," he said, dropping on 
 one knee by the side of the wounded man. 
 
 The officer whose sabre Don Gil Perez had borrowed 
 for the combat proved to be a military surgeon. 
 
 He examined the wound, and speedily relieved all anx- 
 iety upon this head. 
 
 " An ugly wound. Care and rest only required," he 
 said. 
 
 "I'm heartily glad of that, "said Jack, with a deep- 
 drawn sigh of relief. 
 
 Having assured himself of his principal's safety, Don 
 Miguel Basten beckoned the waiter to his side. 
 
 "Tell the young Inglese from me that he has conducted 
 himself like a brave lad that he is an honour to his name 
 and to his country, and that if he wants a friend while 
 here, he may count upon Miguel Basten." 
 
 "I will, senor." 
 
 "And tell him also that the sooner he is away from 
 this place now, the better it will be. I wish the brave 
 boy well." 
 
 This was translated to young Jack who bowed his 
 acknowledgments, and having resumed his jacket, 
 started, with his friends towards his hotel 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIIL 
 
 THE VICTOR'S RETURN BULL RUNNING THE ORPHAN IS IN 
 
 TROUBLE AGAIN. 
 
 ' ' HARRY GIRDWOOD was now radiant with smiles. 
 
 "What did I tell you, Harry?" said the successful 
 combatant. 
 
 "There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft. You 
 know the rest." 
 
 "I do." 
 
 "An illigant fight," said the diver, "but the fun was 
 precious soon over. "
 
 1 84 YO UNG JA CK HA RKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Come home with us," said Jack. "You're going 
 down to the wreck this morning ? " 
 
 "Yes, sorr." 
 
 " I can give you a job." 
 
 "Can you, though? Ye're good at giving jobs, your 
 honour, axing yer pardon. Ye've give that mossoo don 
 a job in the stimmick that'll want a deal of mending." 
 
 " Well, the beast deserved it, but now let us come to 
 breakfast, "said Harry. 
 
 "With all my heart, yer honour." 
 
 " I've not done a bad morning's work either," said the 
 military waiter. "I did well to make my bargain last 
 night. " 
 
 " You did," said Jack, " and I'll treble the tip, my boy, 
 for you're an honest fellow, and a true Englishman. And 
 now for breakfast." 
 
 And a capital breakfast it was, although rather foreign 
 in its elements, to which young Jack and Harry Girdvvood 
 sat down on their return from the duel. 
 
 Need we say that being blest with healthy English 
 appetites, they did ample justice to it ? 
 
 "What is that fellow doing over the way ? " said Harry, 
 when the edge of his appetite was pretty well blunted. 
 
 As he spoke, he pointed to a very shabby-looking 
 Spaniard, who was plastering some gaudy strips of 
 coloured paper to the wall of a house opposite. 
 
 " Looks like a bill-sticker," replied Jack. 
 
 "Then let him beware." 
 
 The two youths continued to watch him till he had 
 almost covered the side of the building with an immense 
 advertisement which, being at least ten times as large 
 as any thing else of that kind in the town, was evidently 
 some announcement of great importance. 
 
 "Waiter," shouted Jack, ringing the bell. 
 
 " Yessir, comin', sir," responded the English attendant. 
 "Some more wine, sir? We have very nice garlic and 
 donkey sausages, sir, if you would like some just to finish 
 off with, or will you take some holives, gemmen ? " 
 
 "Pah! nothing of the kind. We want to know what 
 that big bill is about. " 
 
 "A bull-fight sir." 
 
 "A bull-fight, when? " 
 
 " At two o'clock to-morrow, sir."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 185 
 
 "They don't advertise it long beforehand," observed 
 Harry. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir, they have had smaller bills out for a 
 week or more." 
 
 ' ' Shall we go, Harry ? " asked young Jack. 
 
 "Don't much care about it, after all I've read on the 
 subject, but I suppose being in Spain, we must do as the 
 Spaniards do. How far is it to the arena ? " 
 
 " Haifa mile, sir ; you can't mistake the road ; all you 
 has to do is foller the crowd ; and if yer consciences 
 should be unheasy, gemmen, remember this 'ere bull-fight 
 is for the benefit of the hospital of San Carlos, so you'll be 
 doin' good to the poor by going." 
 
 Now it may be taken for granted that all Spaniards are 
 fond of their national pastime of the bull-fight, but it is 
 also a fact that in all towns where such sport is supported, 
 there is a number of poor people who are unable to pay 
 for admission to the arena. Therefore, for the gratifica- 
 tion of these humble folk, it is customary to exhibit the 
 bulls publicly the day before the fight. 
 
 This public exhibition of the animals takes place in the 
 following fashion. 
 
 The bulls having been driven down from the mountains, 
 are pastured in some meadows belonging to the author- 
 ities, till the evening before the fight, when they are 
 driven thence through the chief streets to the stalls, or 
 torril, of the arena. 
 
 All the lower classes go to witness this gratuitous ex- 
 hibition called the encierro to speculate on the qualities 
 and condition of the animals, and the prospect of their 
 showing good sport 
 
 These ragamuffins of the town also contrive to make 
 a little sport for themselves, for they yell like fiends, flutter 
 their tattered cloaks, throw stones, and freely use their 
 cudgels on the semi-savage cattle, which thus get a nice 
 foretaste of, the tortures that await them. 
 
 But to return to Jack and Harry. 
 
 By the time they had finished their breakfast, the sun 
 was so powerful that they did not care to venture out, so 
 they read, lounged, and dozed till the afternoon, when 
 the sound of an unusual concourse of people in the street 
 drew them to the window. 
 
 "What's up, Jack ? " asked Harry.
 
 1 86 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Can't say, old boy, unless it is another revolution. 
 Ask the waiter." 
 
 The question having been put, they received the ex- 
 planation given above ; and being informed that the bulls 
 would probably pass in front of the hotel, they drew their 
 chairs out to the balcony to witness the fun. 
 
 "Look at that fellow, Harry," said young Jack, point- 
 ing to a man, whose coarse hair was visible through the 
 crown of his broad hat, whose scanty jacket betrayed his 
 want of shirt, whose breeches were woefully tattered, but 
 who, nevertheless, wore his cloak gracefully draped over 
 his shoulder, with as jaunty an air as though he had been 
 a grandee of the bluest blood. 
 
 Both lads burst into loud laughter at the sight of this 
 figure. 
 
 " A fourth-rate Don Quixote," exclaimed Harry. " Ha, 
 ha, ha ! his dignity is wounded by our merriment." 
 
 The object of their mirth, hearing the sound of laughter, 
 looked up, and perceiving that they were laughing at him, 
 scowled most ferociously. 
 
 Of course this only increased the mirth of our hero and 
 his friend Harry. 
 
 " He'd make the fortune of any East End theatre," ex- 
 claimed Jack. " See, there's an attitude for you. " 
 
 The man was shaking his fist and (although the lads 
 did not understand him) evidently swearing most furi- 
 ously. 
 
 Finding this no use, however, he threw his cloak over 
 his shoulder and stalked away. 
 
 "Jack, do you know that fellow?" 
 
 "Not I. Do you?" 
 
 " I've seen him before, I feel certain, but I can't re- 
 member where or when it was. He looks like a villain." 
 
 "He be hanged! don't puzzle your brains about him, 
 Harry, but look out, for here come the bulls." 
 
 The roars and snouts of the crowd were deafening as 
 the four fine animals came along the street. 
 
 One was deep red or dun in colour, another a light 
 grey, and a third black and white. 
 
 These three went along tolerably quiet, but the fourth 
 was a fierce-looking brute, with narrow flanks, deep 
 chest, a tangled mass of hair over his eyes, and a skin 
 black as night.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER, 187 
 
 On seeing him the multitude at once saluted him as El 
 Diablo, the devil, and a devilish temper he exhibited cei- 
 tainly. 
 
 "Bravo !" shouted the multitude, and by way of re- 
 sponse, the bull turned and made a savage rush at one 
 fellow. 
 
 The crowd shrieked and swayed backwards, and some 
 of the weaker were trodden under foot. 
 
 "By Jove! old fellow, this is dangerous work," ex- 
 claimed Jack. 
 
 "They want a few of our Australian stock-driving 
 friends here," responded Harry. 
 
 Now it so happened that in the crowd was no less a 
 person than our old friend the orphan. 
 
 Mr. Figgins had gone out, not to see the bulls, but to 
 look at the town and pick up an idea or two as to 
 how his trade was managed in the native home of the 
 orange. 
 
 Luckless Mr. Figgins ! he managed to get back into the 
 the main street just as the black bull El Diablo made his 
 rush. 
 
 With head down, and eyes blinded by the shaggy hair 
 that fell over them, the savage brute charged in a direct 
 line along the street, the people opening out and crowd- 
 ing into doorways so as to form a clear course. 
 
 The course was cleared, but the orphan was left, like 
 the dog that always appears on an English racecourse, 
 and the bull getting an indistinct view of him, uttered a 
 deep roar and charged at him headlong. 
 
 Away flew the orphan at full speed, the bull pursuing, 
 but a glance over his shoulder soon convinced him that 
 he could not escape by swiftness, so he turned sharply 
 and tried to dodge the infuriated animal. 
 
 "Oh, dear, oh, dear," said the orphan; "I thought I 
 travelled for pleasure, bt this is any thing but fun for me. 
 Oh, you horrid beast ; oh, oh ! " 
 
 The bull was too quick for him, and in a moment threw 
 Mr. Figgins on a huge heap of vegetable refuse, cabbage 
 leaves, and such like, that had been swept out of the 
 market-place. 
 
 Into this heap of rubbish he sank deeply, but he had 
 sufficient presence of mind to throw a few of the cabbage 
 leaves over him, so as to conceal his body from the
 
 1 88 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 savage creature, otherwise he would certainly have been 
 gored. 
 
 Not seeing his enemy, but discovering some cabbage 
 leaves that were not quite rotten, the bull began to feed 
 upon them. 
 
 "Save me! Save a poor orphan. Help, help, help!" 
 shouted Figgins from beneath his verdant coverlet "The 
 brute is devouring me. " 
 
 Loud shouts of laughter came from the crowd, and El 
 Diablo, warned by the sound that he had more than one 
 enemy, turned, tossing his head, pawing the ground, and 
 apparently selecting the next object for his attack. 
 
 "Look at our orphan friend," exclaimed Jack, who had 
 been laughing as loudly as anyone at Mr. Figgins' 
 mishap. 
 
 "Bravo! orphan. Well done, bull,'' shouted Harry. 
 "Tell the bull you are a poor orphan, Figgins, and he 
 won't have the heart the heart to touch you." 
 
 The orphan had ventured to peep out from his hiding- 
 place, and seeing the tail of the bull turned towards him, 
 prepared to steal away. 
 
 With the greatest caution he removed the leaves, crept 
 from his hiding-place, and darted down the street, towards 
 the hotel. 
 
 He had gone perhaps fifteen or twenty yards when El 
 Diablo, turning round probably for another mouthful of 
 cabbage perceived his enemy running away. 
 
 Another loud roar, and with tail erect, the bull gave 
 chase. 
 
 " Oh, mercy ! why did I ever leave my happy home in 
 London ? " shrieked Figgins, dodging the bull and turning 
 back. "Save me, someone. Oh, I shall feel his horns in 
 a moment." 
 
 " I must save him ; he is in real danger now," exclaimed 
 young Jack. " Here goes." 
 
 And snatching up the sabre with which he fought the 
 Carlist, he took a flying leap from the balcony, just as the 
 hapless orphan, in his fright, ran past the hotel. 
 
 " Bravo, viva ! " shouted the crowd, as they saw Jack 
 safe on the ground, sword in hand, place himself between 
 the bull and the flying man. 
 
 The monster, paused a moment on seeing his new 
 foe.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 189 
 
 But a moment after, he charged with reaouoied vio- 
 lence, not at the orphan this time, but at our hero. 
 
 Now young Jack had read of the style in which a 
 Spanish matador slays his bull, and in his usual dare-devil 
 way, resolved to show the people that an English lad 
 could do the trick. 
 
 So, as the bull all but reached him, he stepped 
 nimbly aside, and drove the blade of his sabre between 
 the bull's shoulder and ribs. 
 
 Snap ! 
 
 The blade parted at the hilt and Jack, although he 
 struck furiously at the brute $ was knocked down and 
 stunned. 
 
 "Have a care have a care," shouted the people, as 
 the bull, in spite of its wound, half turned, and went down 
 on its knees to finish the brave English youth. 
 
 But Harry Girdwood by this time was close at hand, 
 and ere the sharp-pointed horns could pierce our hero's 
 body, a pistol bullet crashed through the skull of El 
 Diablo, who with a dull, hollow moan, fell dead. 
 
 " The bull's killed. Bravo ! " shouted the crowd, as 
 they closed round. 
 
 Then rose shouts for wine, brandy, and water for young 
 Jack. 
 
 Some of the latter was given him first, then a drop of 
 brandy, and our hero was once more on his feet. 
 
 " Thanks, old fellow," said Jack, warmly pressing 
 Harry's hand. "I am all right, now ; is the bull dead and 
 the orphan safe ? " 
 
 "Oh, Master Jack," cried the orphan, running up; 
 "you have saved my life ; you are better than a mother 
 to me, my dear boy." 
 
 "I was doubtful whether I should be in time," said 
 Harry. ' ' But are you sure you are not hurt, Jack ? " 
 
 "No bones broken. Nothing but a bruise or two, and 
 that we are both used to by this time." 
 
 "Look, Jack, how the mob is getting round us ; let's 
 get back to the hotel." 
 
 ' ' All right. But what are these fellows grumbling at ? " 
 
 The temper of the crowd seemed to have undergone a 
 sudden change, and instead of applauding the gallantry 
 of the two English lads, the people began to abuse them. 
 
 " They have slain the best bull," shouted some.
 
 igo YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 ' ' Better that fifty English should have been gored, than 
 we deprived of our sport," said others. 
 
 "Knock 'em down," cried an English voice. "Kill 
 'em ; they're only English spies. " 
 
 Jack looked round, and thought he caught sight of 
 Chivey. 
 
 Cudgels were flourished in a very threatening manner, 
 but in the midst of the uproar, an officer of the municipal 
 authorities, who had provided the bulls for the show, 
 came up. 
 
 "You are foreigners, senors ? " said this man in broken 
 English. 
 
 "Yes," responded Jack. 
 
 "You have slain the best of the bulls provided by 
 the council of the town for to-morrow's show, and 
 must, therefore, pay the sum of two hundred dollars at 
 once." 
 
 " What for? " demanded Jack, bluntly. 
 
 "The cost of the animal is one hundred and fifty 
 dollars, and the council imposes a fine of fifty dollars on 
 anyone who interrupts or prevents the public sports." 
 
 "I'll see the council hanged first," exclaimed young 
 Jack, indignantly. "What, pay two hundred dollars 
 because my brave friend here saved my life ? You go to 
 Bath and learn how to shave pigs." 
 
 The majority of the mob could no more understand 
 Jack's speech than he could theirs ; but they guessed from 
 his manner that it was nothing very complimentary. 
 
 " What says the islander? " they roared. 
 
 And when the municipal officer translated our hero's 
 words they grew furious. 
 
 Knives were brandished as well as cudgels, and there 
 arose a savage cry of 
 
 "Death! Death to the English !" 
 
 "Give it 'em; run 'em in again," cried the voice of 
 Chivey from the background. 
 
 Now young Jack was not one of those who, on receipt 
 of a blow, say 
 
 " If you do that again, I'll strike you." 
 
 But his practise was, when fighting seemed necessary 
 and could not be honourably avoided, to put in the first 
 blow which he looked upon as being a good way to- 
 wards winning the battle.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 1 9 1 
 
 So now finding himself menaced, he wasted no time 
 in words, but rushing at one fellow, snatched away his 
 cudgel, and with him instantly knocked down another of 
 the mob. 
 
 Harry Girdwood immediately followed suit. 
 
 "Wire in, Jack." 
 
 " Go ahead but keep cool don't lose your nut." 
 
 So back to back they stood defying the mob. 
 
 The municipal officer drew his sword, but Jack, with- 
 out any ceremony, knocked it out of his hand with such 
 force that the blade snapped. 
 
 "There, old man," cried Jack; "get a better sword 
 when you again stand before a Boy of England." 
 
 "Look out, Jack. They are drawing knives," said 
 Harry. 
 
 "The cowardly villains; why, they are a hundred to 
 one, now. We are in for it, Harry, old boy ; only keep 
 on cracking Spanish nuts as long as you can lift your 
 stick." 
 
 Harry responded by dropping a weighty blow on the 
 head of a ragamuffin, who was pressing in upon them, 
 with a knife only half concealed in his tattered coat- 
 sleeve. 
 
 "Take that, you dirty thief," he said, addressing his 
 fallen foe, who not being quite stunned, had sense 
 enough to roll away among the feet of his friends. 
 
 The others, seeing the resolute attitude of the two 
 youths, drew back a little, not quite relishing the en- 
 counter. 
 
 " Cowards," exclaimed a gruff voice from the back, 
 " are you going to be beaten by two boys ? " 
 
 Jack guessed at the meaning of the words, and shouted 
 out 
 
 "If the gentleman in the background wants any thing, 
 let him come forward, and I will be most happy to oblige 
 him. " 
 
 Which words were translated for the benefit of the 
 unseen speaker by the municipal officer, who remained 
 on the scene of battle, though he prudently kept out of 
 the reach of Jack's cudgel. 
 
 There was a slight commotion in the crowd, and a 
 burly fellow, a butcher by trade, pushed his way to the 
 front.
 
 192 YOUNG JACK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 He had in one hand a heavy cudgel, and in the other a 
 long knife, used in his business. 
 
 "He's a toughish customer, Harry, so keep the crowd 
 back as well as you can, while I have a crack at him. 
 Oh, if dad and Uncle Dick were here, we'd soon make 
 short work of them. " 
 
 So saying, Jack made a step forward, and at once 
 knocked the knife out of the rascal's hand, who roared 
 with pain. 
 
 "At wrestling, boxing, or singlestick I am your man," 
 said Jack ; but before he could give his adversary a speci- 
 men of either art, the crowd closed in upon them. 
 
 Jack was unable to use his cudgel, but he struck out 
 with his hands and made the eyes of more than one 
 Spaniard blacker than nature intended them to be. 
 
 " How goes it, Harry ? " he found time to ask. 
 
 " Plenty to do, and not much to get for it. Ease off a 
 little, if you can, and let us get back to back." 
 
 "Right," and knocking down a man in front of him, 
 so as to make room, young Jack placed his back to 
 Harry's, and there they stood defying the whole mob. 
 
 By this time the butcher had recovered his courage and 
 his knife. 
 
 He was just meditating another onslaught, when on the 
 outskirts of the crowd was heard a loud shout. 
 
 " Hurroo ! Ould Ireland for ever. Faugh-a-ballah ! 
 Clear the road, ye dhirty spalpeens, bad manners to the 
 loikes of yez ! " 
 
 "Here's Whitechapel to the fore, mates; mind yer 
 eye," said another voice. 
 
 "Will ye trid on the tail of me coat? Come out o' 
 that now and foight, ye ill-looking thief o' the worrld." 
 
 And then there were shrieks and curses as the English 
 waiter from the hotel and his friend, the diver, forced 
 their way through the crowd. 
 
 " Hurrah for Old England ! " shouted Jack, and making 
 a dash forward, he hurled to the ground the only Spaniard 
 who stood between him and his friends. 
 
 "Safe, Mr. 'Arkaway?" asked the waiter. 
 
 "All right, thank you," responded our hero, picking up 
 his cudgel. 
 
 " Mr. Girdwood all right ? " 
 
 <( A slight cut on the arm nothing worth mentioning."
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 193 
 
 "One ihore charge, lads, and victory is ours. Now, 
 all together." 
 
 They made a charge forward, and the Spaniards scat- 
 tered in every direction, shouting as they ran 
 
 " Death ! Death to the Inglese ! " 
 
 "Hot work while it lasted, gemmen," observed the 
 waiter; "but, Lord, them fellows is no use whatever. 
 They lives on garlic, and the strongest thing about 'em is 
 their breath. They ain't got no more biceps than a black 
 beetle. " 
 
 "Be the holy piper," exclaimed the diver, "I belave 
 I've killed one of the ugly gossoons. Get up, ye 
 murtherin' villain," he continued, tickling the prostrate 
 Spaniard's ribs with his toe, ' ' get up and tell us if ye're 
 dead enough to be afther wantin' a coffin.'' 
 
 The man was not dead, for he started to his feet, and 
 drawing a knife, hurled it at the Irishman. 
 
 The missile hissed past his head, and stuck quivering in 
 a door behind him. 
 
 "Death to the English!" shouted the man, as he 
 started off at full speed down the street. 
 
 "Bad cess to ye!" shouted the Irishman, shaking his 
 fist, half inclined to follow, and yet restrained by what he 
 thought his duty viz., a determination to protect our hero. 
 
 "That was a narrow escape," observed Harry Gird- 
 wood. 
 
 "A miss is as good as a mile, sorr. But I'll be afther 
 knowin' the blackguard again if I meet him, and " 
 
 The man gave a vicious flourish to as elegant a shille- 
 lagh as ever grew in the county of Wicklow to express 
 what would happen when he did meet that Spaniard. 
 
 ' ' But where is Mr. Figgins all this while ? " asked Tack. 
 "We had better look about for him, for if those fellows 
 get hold of him, they will carve him up in no time." 
 
 13
 
 1 94 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 THB ORPHAN FIGHTS A SINGLE COMBAT SUPPER A GRANDEE 0* 
 SPAIN APPEARS ON THE SCENE. 
 
 BUT where was the luckless Mr. Figgins ? 
 
 Our friends looked up the street and down the street 
 
 There may have been orphans in view, but if so, they 
 were of Spanish descent ; Mr. Figgins could not be seen. 
 
 Inquiry was made at the door of the hotel, but he had 
 not been seen there since the morning. 
 
 "Come along; let us look for him," said Harry. "If 
 he is in trouble, we must help him out of it." 
 
 ' ' Begorra ! " exclaimed the Irishman, ' ' it's me opinion 
 that the gentleman can not take care of himself at all, at 
 all." 
 
 " He has never been brought up to help himself much in 
 the fighting line," said Jack, "and you know it can't be 
 learnt all at once." 
 
 "Thrue for ye. Howly saints ! miny's the time I had 
 me head broke before I knew how to prevent it." 
 
 " Hark ! " said Harry. "Unless I am very much mis- 
 taken, that's his voice." 
 
 "Voice, d'ye call it ? Shure, an Oirish pig under a gate 
 has a more illigant voice." 
 
 Paying no heed to the Irishman's disparaging remarks, 
 Jack and Harry rushed off in the direction of the sound. 
 
 Turning an abrupt angle, they beheld the object of 
 their search. 
 
 Mr. Figgins was standing in a doorway. 
 
 In front of him was an old Spanish woman, armed with 
 a dagger, with which she made furious thrusts at the 
 orphan, all the while cursing him in the choicest Spanish. 
 
 The orphan parried her blows as well as he could, all 
 the while bellowing for help at the top of his voice. 
 
 By a lucky stroke of his stick, he managed to knock 
 the dagger out of her grasp. 
 
 But it was a case of out of the frying-pan into the fire 
 with him, for the old woman, rushing in, seized him by 
 the head, tore his hair, and buffeted his face at a furious 
 rate.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 195 
 
 The waiter, however, coming up behind, seized her by the 
 wrists and dragged her away to the other side of the road, 
 when, seeing that the odds were very much against her, 
 she departed, not without bestowing a back-handed bless- 
 ing, in the choicest of Spanish Billingsgate slang, upon 
 the English nation generally. 
 
 "Where is he? Where is the monstrous brigand with 
 whom I have been fighting for an hour or more ? " said 
 Figgins, catching up his stick and brandishing it very 
 near the Irishman's head. 
 
 "Bad cess to yez ! Put down that twig, or I'll be 
 afther killin' ye. Put it down, ye spalpeen." 
 
 Mr. Figgins dropped his stick as if it was red hot. 
 
 "Brigand!" exclaimed Jack, shaking with laughter. 
 "Why, it was an old woman, and I am surprised you 
 should be so ungallant as to strike one of the fair sex." 
 
 "Not a brigand?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Then my eyes have deceived me but that is not to 
 be wondered at, as my eyeglass is smashed. Oh, Master 
 Jack, I must once more thank you. But are you certain 
 the bull is dead ? " 
 
 "Dead as a doornail," answered Jack ; "and you have 
 to thank Harry as well as me for your safety." 
 
 "Gentlemen," said the orphan, "I thank you very 
 much. I had the misfortune to be left without a parent's 
 guidance many years ago, but I have been taught to be 
 grateful, and to prove my gratitude by something more 
 than words, allow me to invite you all to supper with me 
 at let me see, it's five o'clock now how will nine o'clock 
 suit ? " 
 
 "Admirably," said Harry and Jack. 
 
 "These two gentlemen will join us, of course," con- 
 tinued the orphan, pointing to the waiter and the 
 diver. 
 
 "Will a duck shwim ! " exclaimed the driver. "An' 
 d'ye think an Oirishman will iver turn his back on good 
 'ating, dhrinkin', foightin', or iny other koind of fun ? It's 
 there I'll be, shure enough, yer honour." 
 
 But the waiter said, when appealed to 
 
 "Much obliged, I'm sure, sir, but I'm honly one of the 
 servants, and should be out of place a setting down with 
 you gemmen."
 
 1 96 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 "Nonsense!" exclaimed Jack. "For once we'll dis- 
 pense with all notions of etiquette. As we have fought 
 together, so we'll sup together." 
 
 ' ' Very good, sir honly I thought as how, perhaps, 
 some might object." 
 
 "Not at all," responded the orphan and Harry. 
 
 "Then, that bein' the case, I had better get in and 
 order the feed." 
 
 "Certainly," replied Figgins, "and mind that every- 
 thing is of the very best. Get as many English dishes as 
 you can." 
 
 " Trust me, sir. I and the cook is great pals. " 
 
 "Mr. Figgins," said Jack, as the waiter moved off, 
 " will you permit me to bring a friend with me ? " 
 
 "Certainly. A gentleman, I presume, for I am very 
 nervous in ladies' company." 
 
 "Oh, yes," responded Jack, "a Polish nobleman on 
 his travels Count Nerowski by name." 
 
 "I shall be delighted to see him. He, he, he ! I am 
 getting to be quite at home among the aristocracy. Well, 
 good-evening, gentlemen, for the present ; don't forget 
 nine o'clock, for my terrific combat has made me very 
 hungry. " 
 
 The orphan walked away. 
 
 "Sorr," said the diver, "I'll wish yez good-evening 
 for the presint. " 
 
 "You'll come to supper ? " 
 
 ' ' Be aisy about that same, sorr. I only want to put on 
 me most illigant clothes, so as not to disgrace the gintle- 
 man." 
 
 " Very well ; but we shall expect you." 
 
 "Jack," said Harry, as they stood together in front of 
 the hotel, " who is this Polish nobleman ? " 
 
 " One who can climb a pole better than either of us, 
 and we are not altogether lubbers." 
 
 "What do you mean ? " 
 
 "Count Nerowski is our old friend Nero, with a tail to 
 his name as well as to his body. By-the-bye, how did he 
 get ashore ? " 
 
 "Jumped into one of the boats along with the men." 
 
 ' ' By-the-bye, Harry, did you see that beast Chivey in 
 the mob ? " 
 
 "Yes, Jack, I caught sight of the young villain for a
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 197 
 
 moment. We must be on the lookout for him and his 
 master. But what is your little game, Jack ? " 
 
 "Only a lark." 
 
 " No harm, I suppose ? " 
 
 " Not a bit ; old Nero will get a good supper, and we 
 shall have some harmless fun." 
 
 They strolled up and down the verandah for some 
 time, and at length resolved to go and dress for supper. 
 
 Their own costume required little alteration, as they said 
 that if the dress of a British sailor was not good enough, 
 they would not alter it to suit anyone's taste, but to equip 
 Count Nerowski in a costume suited to his high rank was 
 no such easy work. 
 
 After some trouble, however, they managed to get him 
 rigged out in a pair of black trousers, white vest, across 
 which a blue and red ribbon was tied sashwise, and a 
 black dress coat. 
 
 But as for getting the count's feet into boots, or his 
 hands into gloves, that was a matter none of them could 
 accomplish, so they allowed his hands and feet to remain 
 uncovered. 
 
 "Mr. Figgins, allow me to introduce you to his excel- 
 lency Count Nerowski," said Jack, leading that distin- 
 guished foreigner into the supper room. 
 
 Nero bowed in imitation of his master, and chattered at 
 the orphan, who of course did not understand. 
 
 "I am very delighted to make the acquaintance of 
 your noble friend, but he is a strange-looking person," he 
 said to Jack, on the quiet. 
 
 The company being assembled, supper was served, 
 the orphan taking the head of the table, and Count Ne- 
 rowski facing him, that being the dark end of the room. 
 
 For a time all went well, and the company enjoyed 
 themselves. 
 
 When the cloth was removed, a few toasts were pro- 
 posed, and Harry Girdwood gave "The health of our es- 
 teemed friend, Mr. Figgins." 
 
 They all stood up to drink the toast. 
 
 "Good Heaven! what is the count doing?" exclaimed 
 Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "Bravo, Nerowski," shouted Jack. 
 
 The count, wishing to pay all honour to his host, had 
 mounted on the back of his chair, where he held on by
 
 198 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 one foot, while with the other he lifted a glass of wine to 
 his lips. 
 
 In his right hand he held a cigarette, in his left he 
 waved a cambric handkerchief. 
 
 The diver, the waiter, young Jack, and Harry Gird- 
 wood screamed with laughter at this performance, but the 
 orphan, being nearsighted, and Nero in the dark part of 
 the room, was really frightened. 
 
 " Help your friend down, I pray, Mr. Harkaway. If 
 he should fall and get hurt, I should never forgive my- 
 self." 
 
 ' ' Don't be alarmed, sir ; he very often goes on in this 
 style." 
 
 ' ' But what's he doing ? " 
 
 " He's now imitating the celebrated marble group en- 
 titled 'Ajax defying the Vaccination Act,'" said Jack 
 gravely. 
 
 " It is most extraordinary. I wish I had my eyeglass, 
 or the room was lighter, for I can hardly see him so far 
 away." 
 
 Nero sat down, and having, by accident, wetted his 
 pocket-handkerchief with, champagne, gravely squeezed 
 out the superfluous moisture as he had seen sailors and 
 washerwomen do after rinsing their clothes. 
 
 "That's another of his illustrations," observed Jack, 
 " copied from a bronze group he purchased at St. Peters- 
 burg." 
 
 " Indeed. May I ask the name of it? " 
 
 " It represents Neptune washing a paper collar at the 
 public fountain of Cecropia. " 
 
 ' ' You surprise me, " exclaimed Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "So you do me," said Harry, trying to keep from 
 laughing. 
 
 As for the diver and the waiter, they roared again. 
 
 How long the fun would have lasted, is uncertain ; but 
 a Spanish waiter entering, called out the English one, 
 and that for a time interrupted the conversation. 
 
 "I shall not be away long, gentlemen," said the Eng- 
 lish waiter. 
 
 He had not left the company but a few moments, before 
 Jack thought he heard a strange sound. 
 
 " Hark ! " exclaimed Jack, "what sound is that? " 
 
 "What is the matter, old man ? " asked Harry.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 199 
 
 * I thought I heard a groan. " 
 
 " Nonsense." 
 
 "Be gorra ! there it is again," said the diver. 
 
 They all listened attentively, and in a few seconds 
 heard a faint sob like the gasp of a dying man. 
 
 Jack at once rushed out, followed by Harry and the 
 Irishman. 
 
 There, in the corridor, lay their humble friend the Eng- 
 lish waiter, his life blood streaming from three stiletto 
 wounds in the body. 
 
 "Alarm the house; murder's been done!" shouted 
 Jack. 
 
 The landlord and servants soon came flocking to the 
 place, and the unfortunate man, being laid on a bed, 
 medical aid was sought. 
 
 At the British consulate was an English medical man, 
 and he being informed of what had happened, quickly ap- 
 peared on the scene. 
 
 " Is he alive ? " asked Jack. 
 
 It was some minutes before the doctor answered 
 
 " He still breathes, but his life hangs by a thread, and 
 if he recovers, it will be more through the aid of Provi- 
 dence than my medicine. But who did this ? " 
 
 That no one could tell. 
 
 The Spaniard who called the wounded man out had 
 left him talking with two men those men had disap- 
 peared, and no one knew who they were or whither they 
 had gone. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 MR. MURRAY HAS A SECOND EDITION DICK'S SUBSTITUTE FOR AN 
 
 ACT OF PARLIAMENT MR. MURRAY STARTS FOR SPAIN. 
 
 SOON after Mr. Murray read his hopeful son's telegram, 
 of which we have already spoken, he made preparations 
 hurriedly to start. 
 
 He dreaded every hour of his life to come across the 
 wooded-legged warrior Mole, or Jack Harkaway, or Dick 
 Harvey. 
 
 " I must be careful," he thought
 
 200 YO UNO JA CK HA RKA WA Y AND 
 
 He got hold of a shipping advertisement sheet, and se 
 lected a vessel which was to start at an early date. 
 
 At length, being perfectly satisfied that the coast was 
 clear, he sallied forth. 
 
 He was so disguised that very little of his countenance 
 remained visible. 
 
 "I'm in luck," he said to himself; "the Harkaway 
 people are not on the watch." 
 
 He was mistaken. Night and day they had been, one 
 or the other of them, on watch by the shipowner's house, 
 until the wretched man was in fear of his life. 
 
 "A brutal, murderous lot, these people," he said; "a 
 villanous crew those Harkaways, and they would think 
 110 more of taking one's life than of cracking a nut." 
 
 Barely had Mr. Murray made this very singular simile 
 when bang came a thwack upon the top of his head. 
 
 ' ' Oh, oh ! " he cried. 
 
 And a thousand sparks flashed across his eyes. 
 
 "You old beast ! " exclaimed a voice in his ear, which 
 sounded familiar. 
 
 Mr. Murray, momentarily dazed by the blow, looked 
 round, and there stood Dick Harvey. 
 
 The shipowner was aghast at the sight. 
 
 Dick carried a stout ash stick. 
 
 " How dare you stop me in this way, ruffian?" said 
 Mr. Murray, looking anxiously about him as he spoke. 
 
 "How dare I?" exclaimed Dick. "Why, for decoy- 
 ing young Jack Harkaway and his comrade, Harry Gird- 
 wood, on board your coffin-ship. The law doesn't call 
 this murder, so what I have got to do is not legal. But 
 punished you must be all the same, and shall be, without 
 witnesses. " 
 
 Mr. Murray suddenly plucked up courage for a very 
 brief moment, and made a desperate rush. 
 
 But before he could get any distance, Dick Harvey was 
 after him. 
 
 "Stop that." cried Dick, grabbing at his shoulder. 
 "You can't get out of it now. You brought it on your- 
 self, and you must take punishment from my hand and 
 this stick." 
 
 Mr. Murray had bought himself a jack-knife, a big one, 
 for the voyage, and so, as the handiest weapon of defence, 
 he whipped it out and stood at bay.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 2OI 
 
 For a minute they stood facing each other, Dick poising 
 his stick in his hand, ready to run in and make play, Mur- 
 ray crouching and watching the faintest movements of 
 the enemy with great eagerness. 
 
 Dick advanced. 
 
 "Keep off," cried Murray; "I don't want your blood 
 upon my head." 
 
 "I'll take my chance," said Dick, still advancing. 
 
 Now he shot in closer, and when old Murray brandished 
 his weapon rather wildly, Dick dropped him a stinger on 
 the hand, and down went the knife. 
 
 "Murder ! " yelled Murray. " Oh, oh ! " 
 
 "Cry away," said Dick, cheerfully, as he laid on his 
 blows with a lavish hand. 
 
 " Help, help, murder ! " 
 
 Bang ! thwack ! came down Dick's stick. 
 
 " Ruffian ! " gasped the shipowner. 
 
 "There," cried Dick, "one more." 
 
 Mr. Murray felt the crack, and sank upon the ground 
 with a groan. 
 
 "Now," said Harvey, "now, Mr. Murray, you may 
 pause before you venture upon any more of your in- 
 famous exploits ; when you want to speculate again in 
 sailors' lives, and play at legalised murder, just you 
 reflect on this." 
 
 Dick shook the stick before old Murray's eyes. 
 
 "Think," said Dick, sternly, "of the wretchedness 
 you have made in many a home as you are a father, 
 think of the desolation wrought upon the Harkaways by 
 your villanous conduct." 
 
 " My own boy, my darling Herbert was on board the 
 'Albatross,'" said Murray, looking up. 
 
 " Then the greater old villain you ! " ejaculated Harvey, 
 with indignation. 
 
 "You have used me cruelly," said old Murray, rubbing 
 his bruised parts. 
 
 ' ' Not half so badly as I ought to have done. " 
 
 " But I will try and forgive ; I will try and repay you 
 with comfort ; yes, news to make you happy." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "Listen. Will you tell Mr. Harkaway that his boy is 
 safe safe and sound on the Spanish coast ? " 
 
 "Never."
 
 2 02 YO UNG JA CK HARK A IV A Y AND 
 
 ' He is, I swear. I have a telegram from my son." 
 ' Where ? " 
 'Here." 
 ' Give it me." 
 
 'No, no," returned old Murray, clapping his hand over 
 his breast pocket. "I am hastening now to take ship to 
 fly over to my boy my dear, rebellious, disobedient 
 darling. " 
 
 " Let me look." 
 
 Like a man in a dream, Dick Harvey read the telegram 
 which old Murray handed to him. 
 
 "Safe ashore. 'Albatross' condemned in port to be 
 sold." 
 
 " Good Heaven ! " thought Dick, "if this is true, what 
 joyful news for Jack and Emily." 
 
 " It is true," said Murray. "I have a heart, much as 
 you may doubt it, and I would not now trifle with a 
 father's feelings no, not for all the mines of gold, I 
 swear. " 
 
 There was no mistaking this miserable man's earnest- 
 ness now. 
 
 " He is sincere, if ever a man was," said Harvey. 
 
 He was right. 
 
 A change had come over Mr. Murray's feelings. 
 
 "Why on earth did you not tell me before?" said 
 Harvey; "all might have been spared all all." 
 
 " I tried to speak; you would not listen," replied Mr. 
 Murray, groaning over his bruises. 
 
 "Where are you going to now?" demanded Dick. 
 "Speak without fear; I shall put your answer to no evil 
 use. " 
 
 "I am going on board to-night," returned Mr. Murray. 
 
 " Go at once, then. I will hasten to inform Harkaway 
 of young Jack's safety." 
 
 That night Mr. Murray slept on board. 
 
 The next morning, at an hour after daylight, the ship 
 "Harpy" weighed anchor and carried the shipowner 
 towards his scapegrace son. 
 
 Let the most favourable winds fill the sails of the good 
 ship "Harpy," we doubt if she will very speedily reach 
 the port where the " Albatross " lies fathoms low, found- 
 ered in fair weather.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 203 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 MR. MURRAY ON BOARD THE SHIP " HARPY" THE BITER 
 
 BIT MORAL REFLECTIONS. 
 
 THE good ship "Harpy" stood out at sea ready for 
 the Spanish coast. 
 
 From the first, however, she had encountered heavy 
 weather, and she strained and creaked as she ploughed 
 her way through the boiling sea in a way that would have 
 made a nervous mariner quake. 
 
 But Mr. Murray was too full of the happy anticipations 
 of once again pressing his wild and disobedient son to 
 his heart to think of the perils afloat. 
 
 Let the wind roar and the ship be knocked about ever 
 so much, not a bit did he heed it. 
 
 When they had been a few days afloat, there were 
 signs of uneasiness amongst the crew that should have 
 made him think seriously. 
 
 But he never questioned them, nor did he take any 
 notice whatever, until the steward came to him with a 
 long face and broached the subject of the extreme stress 
 of weather. 
 
 " It'll be a precious narrow squeak, sir, for us if we ever 
 see land again." 
 
 " Do you think that the ship is in any danger? " asked 
 Murray. 
 
 " Do I think ! " returned the steward. " Do I know ! 
 Why, our chance of seeing land again in this ramshackle 
 old cockboat is about as small as it well could be. A 
 good ship would have a bad chance now, but a patched- 
 up old hull like the ' Harpy's hasn't the ghost of a chance, 
 and that's my candid opinion, sir. " 
 
 "Good Heaven ! " cried old Murray, in fright. 
 
 "Yes, sir," continued the steward, "I fear we are 
 doomed for a watery grave. " 
 
 "I was given to understand that the 'Harpy' was a 
 capital little ship. Ah, and in excellent condition." 
 
 The steward chuckled grimly at this. 
 
 "You was, was you ? "
 
 204 YO UNG JA CK HA RKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Yes, by the people at the brokers who chartered her." 
 
 " I thought so," remarked the steward, gravely. 
 
 " But why, my good man, why ? " asked Mr. Murray, 
 anxiously, and beginning to feel dreadfully frightened. 
 
 " Why, I believe the owners are rascals, and ought to 
 be trounced for trapping poor devils on their coffin-ship. " 
 
 Mr. Murray gave a start of utter dismay. 
 
 A coffin-ship ! 
 
 " You, you don't mean to say you think this ? " 
 
 "Yes, I do, though." 
 
 " Good Heaven ! " cried the ship broker, falling back 
 with horror. 
 
 " Hold steady, sir ; but that's just about the size of it," 
 pursued the steward. 
 
 Mr. Murray gave a hollow groan and staggered back, 
 half fainting. 
 
 He had been already punished by the flight of his 
 boy, and now he was crowning the fulfilment of his des- 
 tiny by sinking in a coffin-ship in mid-ocean. 
 
 It would be impossible to describe adequately the 
 thousand and one conflicting thoughts which fled through 
 his mind. 
 
 Was this indeed to be the end of everything? 
 
 His very soul quaked. 
 
 His punishment had come. 
 
 He walked up and down in the greatest restlessness 
 and anxiety, vainly endeavouring to calm himself. 
 
 The hand of fate was upon him. 
 
 He jumped up and made for the deck 
 
 He found out the first mate and questioned him about 
 the vessel. 
 
 "Well, sir," said the mate, "all I can say is we ain't 
 gone down yet, that's all, though how long I may be 
 able to sing the same tune is quite another matter. " 
 
 " Do you look upon the ' Harpy ' as doomed then ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 The mate nodded. 
 
 " That's about it, sir." 
 
 "Then what preparations are you making to meet the 
 calamity ? " 
 
 "None."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 205 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " We ain't got preparations to make. When the time 
 comes, we shall take to the boats. As many as can get 
 in, will get in, and the rest " 
 
 "Yes, the rest? " demanded the shipowner, eagerly. 
 
 ' ' They'll have to shift for themselves. " 
 
 " Good Heaven ! " ejaculated Mr. Murray. " Is it pos- 
 sible that proper precautions aren't taken by the owners ? " 
 
 " The owners? There are plenty of owners like them; 
 they send out rotten ships that they know must go to 
 the bottom of the sea. What are the lives of sailors 
 and passengers to them, sir? They are simply mur- 
 derers, and when their time comes to die, they will be 
 punished here and hereafter for their black deeds." 
 
 Mr. Murray staggered back a sad man. 
 
 Oh, how he feared death, and above all death in a cof- 
 fin-ship at sea. 
 
 "Is there no hope for the ' Harpy ? ' " asked the ship- 
 owner once more. 
 
 The mate shook his head. 
 
 " Is the danger immediate, do you think ?" 
 
 "There's a bare chance, if we come across assistance. 
 But you can turn in in safety to-night, for the wind has 
 dropped, and there's no fear of an accident yet awhile. 
 But it's only a question of time." 
 
 With a heavy heart, the man that had caused so many 
 deaths at sea went below to his berth. 
 
 He tried to sleep, but he was a long time dropping off, 
 and then his slumber was of a fitful, unhealthy kind. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 ATONEMENT ALONE IN THE DARK STRANGE VISITORS A 
 
 NAMELESS TERROR THE "HARPY " STRIKES THE SHIPOWNER'S 
 
 DYING STRUGGLES. 
 
 THE swinging lamp in Mr. Murray's berth grew strange- 
 ly dull, and in the dim, uncertain light, the shipowner felt 
 ill at ease. 
 
 A vague uneasiness fell upon him a dread of unknown 
 danger.
 
 206 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 And presently, in his half-dreaming state, there ap 
 peared in the corner of the cabin a singular figure. 
 
 From the first moment that his glance rested upon th> 
 strange visitor, the shipowner felt that it was a familial 
 presence, and so he watched with singular interest the 
 movements of this figure. 
 
 It advanced slowly, and without appearing to walk. 
 
 It was more like a gliding motion with which it pro- 
 gressed. 
 
 And, in this way, the figure advanced to the side oi 
 Mr. Murray's berth. 
 
 Never a word did he speak. 
 
 When he was close beside him, the shipowner, who 
 was, until now, apparently tongue-tied, found his voice. 
 
 "What do you want? " he demanded, in a constrained 
 voice. 
 
 The figure made no reply. 
 
 A grave nod of the head was his sole acknowledgment 
 of the shipowner's question. 
 
 And now, Mr. Murray observed, as the man bowed 
 his head in solemn recognition, that water dripped from 
 his hair and beard, which were matted, seemingly, by 
 long immersion. 
 
 " What do you want here? " exclaimed the shipowner, 
 suddenly. "I know you. You are Captain Rocket." 
 
 "I was, " returned the strange visitor, in a hollow voice, 
 "known by that name." 
 
 " I knew it," gasped the shipowner; "and you were 
 once the captain of my vessel, the ' Sea Bird. ' " 
 
 " I come to warn you," said the spectral figure. 
 
 " What is that water and seaweed that drips from youi 
 long hair?" 
 
 "It is part of my shroud, " returned the figure. 
 
 The shipowner essayed to make answer. 
 
 But his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. 
 
 ' ' Your what ? " he managed at length to articulate. 
 
 ' ' My shroud. " 
 
 " Then you are not a living, breathing man like me ? " 
 
 The figure shook its head mournfully. 
 
 "lam what you have made me, Murray," it answered, 
 in hollow, sepulchral tones, " through sending me out in 
 your coffin-ship, I have risen from my watery grave, to 
 which you have sent me, to warn you. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 207 
 
 "Of what?" 
 
 "To-morrow." 
 
 The shipowner gave a sudden cry of alarm. 
 
 "What mean you ? " 
 
 "Beware to-morrow," returned the strange visitor. 
 " The fate, to which you so heartlessly condemned me and 
 many others, shall be yours. An eye for an eye a tooth 
 for a tooth." 
 
 A nameless dread filled the unhappy shipowner at these 
 awful words, 
 
 "Go," he cried piteously. " Go, and leave me. Why 
 do you come to torment me now ? " 
 
 "Because you condemned me to a watery grave I who 
 never wronged you or yours. Because, for vile unhallowed 
 gains, you waited and waited hourly for the news that I 
 had perished with the ' Sea Bird.' It is one year ago this 
 very night that I and a poor helpless crew went to our 
 watery grave from your rotten ship. Yes, I and everyone 
 on board." 
 
 "Everyone ? " 
 
 "Yes, men and boys all lost for your gain." 
 
 "It is false," cried Mr. Murray, starting up in his berth. 
 "It is false, I say ; it was through no fault of mine," re- 
 torted Mr. Murray, "that you and the crew were drowned." 
 
 "Whose, then?" 
 
 " The owners from whom I bought the ship." 
 
 The figure shook his head gravely as before. 
 
 "You know well that you, and you alone, are respon- 
 sible. For you it was who trafficked in honest men's lives 
 to secure your own vile gains. Many's the ship, and 
 many's the crew that now lie fathoms deep in the ocean, 
 sent to their early graves through your villany ; therefore, 
 prepare for your doom to-morrow." 
 
 " It is all false you tell me. I shall not perish to-morrow. 
 Begone ! " 
 
 The strange visitor shook his head in the same solemn 
 manner as before. 
 
 "You may never learn the truth from other lips than 
 mine," said the shade of Captain Rocket ; "but listen. 
 Never more shall you look upon the face of your son 
 again." 
 
 ' ' Begone. Out of my sight, devil," yelled the shipowner, 
 worked up into a regular frenzy by now; " out of my sight. "
 
 208 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 The figure stood still. 
 
 "Begone, devil!" exclaimed the wretched man; "I 
 know you now. You are an evil spirit who has taken the 
 form of Rocket to torture me, but I defy you." 
 
 But still the pale figure of the dead captain stood there. 
 
 And now his rage was succeeded by a deathly fear. 
 
 A nameless terror crept upon him once again, and he 
 cowered in his bed. 
 
 "Heaven rid me of this horror," wailed the unhappy 
 man. 
 
 He closed his eyes to shut out the fearful spectacle, and 
 on opening them, a minute or so later, it was gone. 
 
 Yes, vanished ! 
 
 But only to be replaced by many figures of boys and 
 old sailors. 
 
 "What do you want? " faltered the shipowner. 
 
 " Beware to-morrow," replied the shadows, in a hollow 
 chorus. 
 
 " What of to-morrow ? " demanded Murray, eagerly, 
 
 "To-morrow you will expiate your crimes, for the many 
 murders you are guilty of in sending us poor souls to sea 
 in your coffin-ships," was their reply. 
 
 "But how how? " cried the shipowner; " tell me 
 how, if I am to perish. " 
 
 "You will be punished by the fate to which you re- 
 morselessly condemned our wretched selves. Your bones 
 shall rot in the bed of the ocean." 
 
 "It's false," faltered the shipowner, trying in vain to 
 put on a bold front. 
 
 "It is true," returned the shade of one poor boy, 
 solemnly. 
 
 "If it is not true, " said the other figures, in the same 
 measured and hollow tones, "why are we here?" 
 
 "As surely as we speak, Michael Murray, you shall 
 never see another sunset. You are on a rotten ship, and 
 you are doomed for a watery grave." 
 
 The frightened shipowner essayed in vain to speak. 
 
 He could not articulate, try as he would. 
 
 He cowered again in his berth to shut out the sight of 
 the spectres, and muttered a prayer, and when he had 
 done this, he found voice to articulate 
 
 ' ' Heaven rid me of the presence of these dreadful 
 spirits. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 209 
 
 "We must be gone," said the spectres. "We have 
 warned you ; now prepare for your death." 
 
 Their shadowy forms melted rapidly. 
 
 They were gone. 
 
 Mr. Murray struggled to rise from his berth ; but some- 
 thing appeared to hold him back, powerless to move hand 
 or foot. 
 
 So desperate became his efforts that he lost himself com- 
 pletely in them, and lapsed into insensibility. 
 
 Tossing about on his pillow. 
 
 Moaning, groaning and sighing alternately, keeping 
 time, as it were, to the warning creaking of the vessel, 
 and the ominous roar of the elements without. 
 
 Presently he opened his eyes and looked about. 
 
 There he was in his cabin. The oil lamp had gone out 
 
 "Where are they?" he murmured, rubbing his eyes, 
 and glancing about him in fear. ' ' Captain Rocket and 
 the drowned sailors. I say, where are they ? " 
 
 All gone ! 
 
 A sudden light dawned upon him. 
 
 " I was dreaming," he cried, " dreaming only a dream, 
 after all. But, oh, how horrible ! I fell asleep brooding 
 over the steward's croakings of evil, and so have conjured 
 up that horrible vision. But what a relief to find that it 
 all means nothing ! It can mean nothing." 
 
 The ship received a sudden shock, which threw Mr. 
 Murray from his berth. 
 
 "What was that?" 
 
 It felt as if she had struck. 
 
 As Murray regained his feet, the vessel quivered from 
 stem to stern, as if from the shock she had encountered. 
 
 Filled with dire forebodings, he made for the deck with 
 all despatch, and as he reached it, he was dazed with a 
 sudden and vivid flash of lightning. 
 
 Recoiling for a moment, he walked on, after holding by 
 the ropes and bulwarks to steady himself, and 
 
 Where was the crew ? 
 
 Where was the captain ? 
 
 Not a soul in sight ? 
 
 He passed his hand across bis eyes and stared about 
 him. 
 14
 
 2 1 C YOUNG JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 "I am still labouring under the effects of this dreadful 
 nightmare, I suppose. How strangely real ! " 
 
 "Hark!" 
 
 A distant growl of thunder rolled on after the tempest- 
 tossed ship, gathering force as it came, and bursting with 
 a deafening crash close overhead. 
 
 Then followed a second flash of lightning, and in that 
 lurid glare which momentarily illumined the boiling sea 
 for miles around, the shipowner saw something that 
 chilled the very marrow in his bones. 
 
 Two heavily-laden boats tearing through the waves, 
 now perched mountains high, now diving down into the 
 deep trough of the sea. 
 
 He guessed the whole truth now at a single glance. 
 
 The crew of the " Harpy " had deserted her and taken 
 to the boats. 
 
 Aye, to a man. 
 
 He was left alone. 
 
 Alone ! 
 
 Oh, fearful word. 
 
 Alone to encounter the fearsome perils of that awful 
 night. 
 
 " Help, help ! " he shouted, with sudden energy. " Do 
 not desert me. Cowards miscreants murderers ! Do 
 not leave me alone to perish like a rat in a trap ? " 
 
 In vain did he cry. 
 
 In vain did he shout. 
 
 The roar of the wind and the waves drowned his voice. 
 
 "Hark again to the thunder ! " he shouted again. 
 
 His own voice echoed back to him, borne on the wind, 
 seemingly in a mournful cadence, as though he were 
 singing his own funeral dirge. 
 
 He looked about him frantically. 
 
 Not a hope ! 
 
 He kicked against some loose spars as he ran forward, 
 and then with wild energy he set to work to lash himself 
 to one with a rope. 
 
 But before he could accomplish this a last faint hope 
 the " Harpy" gave signs of settling down to her fate. 
 
 He felt the ship sinking beneath him, and then he sent 
 up a piercing shriek. 
 
 Ha ! what are they rising from the waves ? Sailor 
 boys and men, with pale, ghastly faces pointing at him.
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER. 2 1 1 
 
 Look ! they are dead men and boys his victims 
 drowned at sea. 
 
 A piteous cry for mercy comes from the shipowner. 
 
 A wail of despair. 
 
 And in his frenzy he seemed to hear the voices of his 
 vision reminding him of their warnings. 
 
 "What mercy did you have upon others? The mercy 
 you showed them shall be meted out to you ! " 
 
 He groaned in despair. 
 
 Oh, for a hope ! 
 
 Oh, for the faintest glimmer of a hope ! 
 
 None none ! 
 
 The ship was settling rapidly. 
 
 He knew it. He struggled to his feet 
 
 But, weighted as he was with the spar to which he had 
 been fastening himself, he could do nothing. 
 
 "It will never float. I shall be drawn down in the 
 vortex." 
 
 He now fought frantically to cast himself loose. 
 
 He looked about him for a knife for any thing to cut 
 the rope. 
 
 He remembered then that he had provided himself with 
 a large jack-knife, and that he had lost it in his encounter 
 with Harvey. 
 
 He fought and struggled as the vessel went lower and 
 lower. 
 
 Then the "Harpy" gave a fearful lurch; then heeled 
 up ; then plunged down head foremost. 
 
 A dreadful despairing shriek came from the unhappy 
 man, and he was silenced for ever. 
 
 But the thunder continued to growl, the wind kept up 
 its piteous moan. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 MR. CHIVEY GROWS ANECDOTAL AND UNPLEASANT TO THE ORPHAN 
 IN PARTICULAR. 
 
 THE duel between young Harkaway and the Spanish 
 officers was one of those tales which are called in 
 French
 
 2 1 2 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 11 Un secret de Polichinelle Punch's secret otherwise 
 a secret that goes from mouth to mouth like wildfire." 
 
 And so did this spread. 
 
 The successful issue of it was talked over with a chuckle 
 by all the English, as you may imagine. 
 
 Yet stay. 
 
 Not all. 
 
 There were two persons who did not chuckle at all. 
 
 These were Herbert Murray, who was waiting to hear 
 from his father, little knowing the dreadful fate that had 
 overtaken that wretched man, and Mr. Chivey the tiger. 
 
 "A very likely tale, Chivey," said the master. 
 
 "Very," said the man. 
 
 The master meant it ironically ; but the man, who 
 delighted in aggravating the master, chose to pretend to 
 take it literally. 
 
 "That Harkaway would run a mile if he saw a drawn 
 sword in the hand of a Carlist soldier," said young 
 Murray. 
 
 "Not he," returned the tiger, "he's a regular Tartar. 
 But I never thought that he was half such a dab with the 
 skewer as he is with his fives." 
 
 "No humbug, Chivey." 
 
 "Well, sir, we know he is a dab with his fives, don't 
 we?" he said, stroking his chin complacently. "I've 
 seen a bit or two in my time. I've had the gloves on 
 with some pretty warm members, but bless my 'art, I 
 never see a cove fib away half so pretty as he did at you. 
 You looked like a rainbow when he'd done with you, sir." 
 
 "You're a beast, Chivey." 
 
 "But he was wonderful quick. Ding, dong, all over 
 the shop at once. Tick, tick, where'll you have it next?" 
 
 "Chivey, I'll " 
 
 "The awful way he must ha* made you see fireworks, 
 sir. Beastly hard knuckles, I should think, sir." 
 
 "If you don't hold your tongue, Chivey, I'll send you 
 packing with a flea in your ear." 
 
 Mr. Chivey sulked. 
 
 "S'pose I mustn't speak now might as well be in the 
 Penitentiary or the ha'penny tentiary, if that's a wuss 
 place. " 
 
 ' ' Hold your tongue ; here comes that old fool of a 
 Figgins."
 
 HIS BOY TINK&R. 213 
 
 "The orphan, sir ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Mr. Figgins approached with a nod of recognition, and 
 stopped to chat. 
 
 The gruel and tallow candle difficulty had been got 
 over. Mr. Figgins was materially improved in health 
 to-day, having got over the fright of the attack of the 
 bull. 
 
 " Good-morning, young gentleman," he said. 
 
 "Good-morning," responded Herbert Murray. 
 
 "It's a singular thing, sir," said Chivey, touching his 
 hat, " but just as you come up, we were talking of tigs." 
 
 Mr. Figgins changed colour slightly at this remark. 
 
 "Why singular? " demanded the orphan, curtly. 
 
 "Oh, nothing, sir," returned Chivey, with another 
 salute; "only you used to deal in 'em, sir, I believe, 
 didn't you ? " 
 
 "Ahem ! Yes, I certainly did. There is nothing dis- 
 honourable in trade. I am proud of my commercial 
 origin. I " 
 
 " Hear, hear ! " said Chivey. 
 
 "I did deal in figs amongst other articles of colonial 
 produce. " 
 
 "I've seen that line up somewheres," said Chivey, 
 placing the tip of his forefinger to his forehead. "I'm 
 quite certain we are old pals ! Now where is it I have 
 met you I " 
 
 After a pause, the orphan said 
 
 " I am not ashamed to own that I have traded in figs." 
 
 "And uncommon nice trading, too," said Chivey; 
 " only I should wolf all the profit up if I was a grocer 
 and kept a shop." 
 
 The obnoxious words "grocer" and "shop" made 
 the retired tradesman writhe. 
 
 Why should his humble origin he cast in his teeth here, 
 far away from Cow Cross, and the scenes of his early 
 struggles ? 
 
 "I never see you, sir, "said the tiger, with the same 
 innocent air, "but what I think of that pious grocer, who 
 used to call to his 'prentice 'Sammy, when you've 
 sanded the sugar, and birch-broomed the tea, and horse- 
 beaned the coffee, come up to prayers.'" 
 
 "That's a very stale anecdote, Mr. Murray," said the
 
 2 1 4 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 orphan ; "is your servant general entertainer as well as 
 boot-polisher ? " 
 
 "He takes liberties, Mr. Figgins," returned Herbert 
 Murray, who was enjoying the orphan's uneasy looks. 
 "Great liberties. You must learn to know your place, 
 Chivey." 
 
 The tiger touched his hat in all humility, but with a 
 merry devil in his eye all the while. 
 
 " Don't be cross ; no bones broke," said the tiger. 
 
 "No." 
 
 Chivey was in high spirits and a mischievous humour. 
 
 "Ah, Mr. Figgins, sir," said Chivey, with something 
 very like a sigh, " I remember your shop in Cow Cross 
 well." 
 
 Mr. Figgins gave a start and a look of dismay. 
 
 The shop in question although he called it an empo- 
 rium was really a very humble establishment. 
 
 "I think I can see your little drum now, sir. The 
 smashed dates with the tupp'ny ticket on 'em, and the 
 fly-blowed sugar." 
 
 "Ahem! Fly-blown, Chivey !" said Murray ; "that's 
 a scandal." 
 
 "Oh, no, sir. Mr. Figgins will bear me out, won't 
 you, Mr. Figgins ? I used to know all your stock, sir, 
 better than you knew it yourself, sir, when I was a kid. 
 I used to go and flatten my blessed nose, sir, against 
 your window, and get right down ravenous at the 
 sight of your biscuits, although they wasn't too fresh- 
 looking." 
 
 "Come, come," said Murray, who was obliged to 
 speak so as not to burst out laughing, " the biscuits weren't 
 fly-blown as well." 
 
 " Wasn't they, though ? " 
 
 "No, no," said Mr. Figgins, indignantly, "certainly 
 not. Fly-blown, indeed." 
 
 "Well, sir," said the tiger, "I don't like to contradick, 
 but all I knows is that I cert'n'y thought you'd upset the 
 black pepper over 'em myself." 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed his master, at this. 
 
 Mr. Figgins looked very red in the face. 
 
 "And then the cheese, sir," said Chivey, seriously, 
 "a peculiar sort o' mottled soap cheese that used to hang 
 on hand a long while as a rule "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 215 
 
 "It is false," said Mr. Figgins. "Really, Mr. Murray, 
 
 "And then," continued Chivey, heedless of the orphan's 
 indignation, "it used to be jobbed off to the beershop 
 next door; that was Shiny William's perks." 
 
 ' ' Shiny William ? " said Murray. Who's that ? " 
 
 " Shiny William was the waiter as had to wait on the 
 cabbies and other gents that used the house." 
 
 "But why Shiny William ? " 
 
 "I think it was because of his shiny coat, sir," con- 
 tinued the tiger ; " it had wore that smooth with age and 
 grease, that you'd ha' took it for mackintosh." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed his master ; "so that was Shiny 
 William, Mr. Figgins's friend ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir. Mr. Figgins remembers him well." 
 
 " Indeed, I don't," retorted the retired grocer, looking 
 as though he would like to have thrashed the tiger. 
 
 "I thought you would, sir, on account of the tale of 
 one of the parties as used the house." 
 
 "What was that? " 
 
 " He went in one day for some bread and cheese, and 
 says he 'Here, Shiny William, serve us up a slice o' 
 beeswax and a buster.' 'Yes, sir,' says Shiny William ; 
 ' and, mind, none of old Figgins's mottle mind.'" 
 
 "What did your elegant friend mean by beeswax?" 
 Mr. Figgins demanded. 
 
 "Why, cheese, sir," continued Chivey. "Well, he 
 cuts open the loaf and out pops a little mouse. Shiny 
 William looks as if he'd been struck by lightning, but the 
 other party took it quite cool. ' Here, Shiny William,' 
 he says, 'sarve this up next turn. I wants bread and 
 cheese, I didn't ask you for a sandwich.'" 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed his master. 
 
 But Mr. Figgins never moved a muscle. 
 
 "lam glad, Mr. Murray," he said, "that you enjoy 
 your servant's anecdotes. That one was stale when I 
 was a child." 
 
 "I've seen staler things in a certing little shop down 
 Cow-Cross way. Eh, Mr. Figgins ? " said Chivey. 
 
 "Sir," said the orphan proudly to young Murray, "I 
 called on you not to be insulted by your servant, but to 
 speak to you of the great bravery of young Jack Hark- 
 away how he fought a duel and beat his man, and after
 
 2 1 6 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 that how he saved my life from a mad bull ; but I see 
 you do not understand noble deeds, and I wish you good- 
 morning', sir." 
 
 With that the orphan placed his hat on head, and beat 
 a retreat. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 OFF TO THE BULL-FIGHT THE ORPHAN IN TROUBLE AGAIN 
 
 CHIVEY'S DISGRACE AND FIGGINS TRIUMPHANT. 
 
 THE bull-fight that had been so extensively advertised 
 and eagerly looked forward to was postponed. 
 
 As already related, young Jack and Harry had slain the 
 best bull. 
 
 Therefore another bull, young and fierce, had to be 
 procured from the mountain pastures, and it was some 
 days ere that could be done. 
 
 During that time our hero was delighted to find a great 
 change in the condition of his friend, the English waiter 
 at the hotel, who had been stabbed, out of revenge, by 
 some of the Spanish people, whom he had struck down 
 when protecting young Jack from the mob. 
 
 The wounds that at first looked so deep and dangerous 
 speedily healed ; in three days he was able to sit up, and 
 by the time the new bulls were brought into the town, he 
 could get about. 
 
 So on the day when at length the fight was to take 
 place, he went out with young Jack, Harry Girdwood, 
 the orphan, and the Irish diver. 
 
 They managed to get very good seats in the front row, 
 but the pleasure of Mr. Figgins was considerably marred 
 when he found he had for a neighbour the hateful tiger 
 Chivey. 
 
 "Ugh ! " he muttered, "I am surprised that they allow 
 servants to sit in the best parts of the house." 
 
 Chivey heard the remark. 
 
 ' ' They don't let no tradespeople come here if they knows 
 it, Mr. Figgins, so you had better dry up, or I'll split on 
 you ; but I say, old boy, what's the price of soap ? " 
 
 "Begorra, young man," said the diver, turning: fiercely
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 217 
 
 toward Chivey, "you'd better be keepin' yer own com- 
 pany." 
 
 " Oh, and it is all the way from ould Ireland you have 
 come to tell me that same, my Lord Pat? Ah, sure 
 now ! " 
 
 And Chivey put his ringer to his nose and winked at 
 the Irishman. 
 
 " By the holy poker, I'll sarve you as your mother did 
 when you was an ugly baby, if you say another word." 
 
 Chivey was silent for a time, but he resolved to play a 
 trick or two with the orphan before the sport was over. 
 
 By this time the whole of the seats were occupied, and 
 the people began to signify their desire that the fight 
 should at once commence. 
 
 Several of the people in the cheaper parts of the house 
 recognised our hero, and threats were freely uttered, but 
 as the British consul was present, and a British frigate 
 was expected to call at the port in a day or two, they 
 confined themselves to threats, and did not venture upon 
 any act of violence. 
 
 Presently there was a great shout of applause, as two 
 officers of the municipality came into the arena, and, 
 after saluting the authorities, proceeded to open the large 
 gates on opposite sides of the arena. 
 
 "Bravo!" shouted Jack; "the show is going to 
 begin ! " 
 
 "Ain't they fine fellows? " said Harry, as from one of 
 the gates there entered a band of mounted men (picadors), 
 while at the other appeared a number of foot men 
 (matadors and chulos). 
 
 "The best show I've seen for a longtime," said the 
 waiter. "There'll be some good sport." 
 
 Suddenly the shouts of applause were turned into groans 
 and yells of disapprobation as a very seedy-looking 
 individual entered the arena. 
 
 "Who is he? " demanded Jack and Harry in a breath. 
 
 "The verdugo, the common hangman. A lot o' them 
 vagabonds shouting knows they'll have to pass through 
 his hands some time or other, either to be scragged, or 
 branded as galley slaves, so they're takin' it out of him 
 aforehand." 
 
 Quite unmoved by the execrations so lavishly heaped 
 on his head, the hangman bowed in a most humble
 
 2 1 8 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 manner before the state box of the authorities, and the 
 key of the torril, or bull pen, was thrown down to him. 
 
 He then departed to give admittance to the first bull. 
 
 "That is Julian Sanchez, the best picador in the 
 province," said the waiter, pointing to one who urged his 
 horse in front ; " he is a bold man." 
 
 At that moment the first bull rushed into the arena. 
 
 Dazzled by the bright sunlight after being in a dark 
 stable so long, the bull stood hesitating for a minute, but 
 it was only for a minute, and then with head lowered, it 
 dashed at Sanchez. 
 
 But the lance of the picador glanced from the shoulder 
 of the bull, which instantly dashed one of its horns into 
 the chest of the horse. 
 
 A stream of blood poured from the wound, and the 
 spectators shouted 
 
 ' ' Braoa ! " Well done, bull. " 
 
 " I say, Harry," said young Jack Harkaway ; "I don't 
 think this cruel sport would go down in old England." 
 
 "No, Jack, I think not ; but look at that noble horse, 
 how he trembles with fear." 
 
 As Sanchez drove his spurs into the flanks of the poor 
 wounded animal, it tottered and fell, while the bull rushed 
 across the arena to attack another picador known as El 
 Gato, or the Cat. 
 
 This man received his enemy with a powerful thrust of 
 the lance, but so vigorous was the onset of the bull that 
 El Gato was thrown from his horse, the wooden shaft 
 of the lance bending up and rebounding like a steel 
 spring. 
 
 Again there were loud shouts of applause. 
 
 "This is no child's play," said Jack, as the chulos 
 bounded forward, waving their cloaks to divert the bull's 
 attention from the overthrown picadors. 
 
 El Gato's horse was fairly tossed in the air and came 
 down dead, but Sanchez managed to stop the small 
 wound in his animal's chest with some tow, and having 
 dragged him to his feet, again mounted, and watching 
 his opportunity, made a deadly thrust with his lance. 
 
 The bull sank down, made a feeble attempt to rise 
 again, and then rolled over in the dust. Loud applause 
 was bestowed upon Sanchez, who hastily acknowledging 
 the plaudits, rode out of the arena.
 
 ff/S BO Y TINKER. 2 1 9 
 
 "He seems in a hurry to be off," observed Jack. 
 
 "That's to keep possession of the horse," replied the 
 waiter. "You see the town finds the steeds, and the 
 picador, if he kills a bull, is allowed to keep the horse if 
 it has been wounded." 
 
 ' ' Well, I would not give much for that horse, " observed 
 Jack. 
 
 "What d'ye think o' this here fun, governor?" said 
 Chivey, to the orphan. "Beats cock-fighting, don't it?" 
 
 And Chivey, passing his arm round the orphan, in- 
 serted a large pin in his side. 
 
 The orphan jumped up with pain, and looked at a 
 lady sitting next to him, being in doubt where the pin 
 came from. 
 
 " Pray address your conversation to your equals and 
 friends," said the orphan, haughtily, turning to Chivey. 
 
 "Blest if you ain't a precious sight too lofty," retorted 
 Chivey. " I'll bring you down a peg or two afore I've 
 done with you." 
 
 Figgins was just about to retort when the trumpets 
 sounded, and another bull dashed into the ring. 
 
 Two picadors were almost instantly overthrown, and 
 one of the chulos only saved his life by vaulting over 
 the barriers, in which the bull's horns made two nasty 
 holes. 
 
 "Bravo, toro ! " shouted the people. 
 
 "Bravo, toro ! " shouted the orphan, standing up and 
 clapping his hands. 
 
 Chivey saw Mr. Figgins thus excited, and seeing, as 
 he thought, the chance of a good lark, bobbed down 
 under the outstretched legs of the hapless orphan, and 
 endeavoured to pitch him over the ring, but Mr. Figgins 
 did not feel disposed to go over among the raging bulls, 
 and caught hold of the first thing he could to save him- 
 self, and that happened to be Mr. Chivey's collar. 
 
 "Here, I say, let go, you old ass," exclaimed the 
 tiger. 
 
 " Drag me up, you bloodthirsty murderer," shouted the 
 orphan. 
 
 "Bravo, Figgins ; stick to him," said Jack. 
 
 " Like grim death to a deceased African," added Harry. 
 
 " Here, somebody come and help me ; the old orphan's 
 pulling me over."
 
 220 YO UNG JACK HARKAWA Y 
 
 Figgins stuck to Chivey, who, being unable to release 
 
 himself, was dragged over into the arena. 
 
 "Another bull, another bull 1 " shouted the people. 
 " Look out for danger." 
 
 The attendant hangman in the pens heard the shouts, 
 and thinking the beast last released had been killed, 
 released another. 
 
 "Look out, Figgins," shouted Jack. 
 
 The orphan had only just time to scramble to his feet 
 when he found one of the fierce beasts close upon him. 
 
 Figgins dodged, and then sped round the arena at his 
 best pace, Chivey keeping close to him, his hair standing 
 on end with fright 
 
 Both bulls were now in pursuit and rapidly gaining 
 ground. 
 
 In a few minutes more they must be trampled down 
 and gored, if help did not arrive. 
 
 Suddenly Mr. Figgins bethought him of what he had 
 seen the chulos do, and drawing out a red silk pocket- 
 handkerchief from his pocket, he dropped it over the bull's 
 face, and then dodged aside. 
 
 "Bravo, Inglese," shouted the people, as the bull was 
 diverted from his course by the fluttering bit of silk. 
 
 Mr. Figgins looked round, and just caught sight of 
 Chivey as that unfortunate tiger was sent flying up in the 
 air by one of the bulls. 
 
 "Good Heaven ! he'll be killed," remarked Figgins. 
 
 But he had no time to make inquiries on the subject, 
 for his bull having got rid of the handkerchief, returned 
 once more to the charge. 
 
 "Help him, some of you," shouted Harry, "or he'll 
 be gored to death. " 
 
 Jack would unarmed as he was have jumped down 
 mto the arena, had not his powerful Hibernian friend re- 
 strained him. 
 
 "Aisy, sorr; it's no use, for what can ye do at all, at 
 all ? Shure your friend the orphan must be afther takin' 
 care of his own bones. Begorra, an' he's got some of 
 'em broke now." 
 
 This latter exclamation was caused by the orphan 
 getting a sudden and violent lift, which sent him flying 
 in the air. 
 
 "Cowards!" shouted Jack, shaking his fist at the
 
 HIS BO Y TINKER 221 
 
 professional bullfighters who had crowded together in the 
 gateway. 
 
 " It's the devil's own luck he has," exclaimed the Irish- 
 man. "Look at him now." 
 
 Ad truly it seemed so. 
 
 For the orphan had fallen with his legs astride the 
 bull's back, and seizing the animal by its mane, clung on 
 as tight as could be. He held on firmly. 
 
 The bull had never been treated that way before, and 
 rushed round the arena like mad, the Spanish picadors 
 and chulos applauding what they considered the pluck 
 and skill of the Englishman. 
 
 " Bravo ! bravo ! " shouted the people. " Look at the 
 daring rider. " 
 
 The second bull being in the way, was overthrown by 
 the infuriated beast ridden by the orphan, and applause 
 redoubled, but the British consul at length managed to 
 make the professionals aware of the real state of affairs, 
 and they entered the arena for the purpose of slaying the 
 bull. 
 
 A matador, or swordsman, claimed the preference, and 
 armed with a long sword, approached. 
 
 The man was either very nervous or he did not know 
 his business, for instead of killing the bull at the first 
 thrust, he made half-a-dozen blows without inflicting a 
 mortal wound, though he managed to inflict a great deal 
 of terror on the orphan, who thought that each stroke was 
 intended for his own heart. 
 
 "Oh! Help, help! Don't let the murderer slay a 
 poor orphan,'* cried Figgins, still holding on to the mane 
 of the bull as he dashed wildly round the ring. 
 
 "Get down and pitch into the man with your fists," 
 exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Take the sword from him and kill the bull yourself," 
 said Harry. 
 
 Meanwhile, the people were getting very impatient, 
 calling the man thief, and other opprobrious names, but 
 still applauding the orphan. 
 
 Presently, however, the bull fell, and the orphan rolled 
 in the sand, but the luckless matador was ordered off to 
 prison. 
 
 ' ' A la carcel I " they shouted. 
 
 And he was dragged away to gaol.
 
 222 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 The orphan, after taking one last look of dismay at 
 the bull, and seeing the coast clear, clambered over the 
 barricade and rejoined his friend, who by this time 
 had almost had enough of it, and were preparing to 
 leave. 
 
 ' ' Oh, yes, let's get home. " 
 
 The orphan willingly acceded to their proposition to 
 adjourn to the hotel. 
 
 He had to endure a vast quantity of applause from the 
 people, who still thought he had entered the ring on his 
 own free will to fight the bull. 
 
 Jack, although he disliked Chivey, could not refrain 
 from making some inquiries, which brought the intelli- 
 
 fence that the tiger, though much bruised, had no bones 
 roken. 
 And so ended the bull fight 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 CHIVEY'S PRACTICAL JOKE WHAT CAME OF IT HERBERT MURRAY 
 PAYS HIM OFF DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND THE ARREST. 
 
 THE day after the bull fight, Chivey and his master 
 were in the town, the tiger feeling very stiff and sore. 
 
 They were conversing together when a Spanish officer 
 approached and gave Chivey a stiff military salute. 
 
 The tiger returned it with his own peculiar jerky greet- 
 ing, the forefinger up to the brim of the hat. 
 
 "Sefior Harkaway, I believe ! " he said in broken 
 English. 
 
 Chivey tipped his master the wink. 
 
 "D'ye hear that, sir ?" he whispered. "He takes me 
 for Harkaway. Shall I have a lark with him ? " 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Just to see if we can't pay out that Harkaway 
 fellow." 
 
 The officer still stared and awaited their reply. 
 
 "I asked if I had the honour of addressing Senor Hark- 
 away ? " he said, looking rather serious. 
 
 " Yes oh, yes," returned Chivey, "I am Sefior Hark- 
 away. What is your pleasure, young man ? " 
 
 The Spanish officer bowed.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 223 
 
 "I did not mean you," he said, "but this gentleman," 
 pointing to young Murray. 
 
 "Oh, no," said Chivey ; "I'm the fellow they call 
 Harkaway, and that young man is my servant my 
 tiger." 
 
 The Spanish officer opened his eyes in wonder. 
 
 "Tiger?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "That's a strange name for a servant," he said. 
 
 "We swells all have our tigers," said Chivey, stroking 
 his chin, and looking the greatest toff imaginable. 
 
 "You insolent vagabond ! " exclaimed his master. 
 
 Chivey winked. 
 
 " Keep it up, sir, keep it up. We'll have no end of 
 a lark with this Mossoo Don Tickletoby. Perhaps he's 
 going to invite us to dinner." 
 
 The Spaniard, while they were talking, had walked 
 away into a low building hard by, which was used by 
 the Carlists as a guard-room, and at this juncture he 
 emerged from the doorway, followed by a file of soldiers. 
 
 " Hullo ! " exclaimed Chivey, " what the doose " 
 
 "Sefior Harkaway," said the Spanish officer, drawing 
 his sword with a flourish, " you are my prisoner." 
 
 Chivey started back. 
 
 "Come, I say, old cove, this " 
 
 "You are my prisoner," repeated the officer. 
 
 " Prisoner ! what for ? " demanded Chivey. 
 
 "You are charged with being a spy in the pay of the 
 enemies of Spain, of his majesty the king, and the 
 enemies of the cause of order and of religion." 
 
 "That's quite enough for your money," said the tiger, 
 with a doleful look, ' ' but you've altogether mistook your 
 party, for I ain't an enemy to nothing or nobody." 
 
 "That you'll have to prove," said the officer. 
 
 "But, I say, governor, don't go and " 
 
 "Fall in." said the officer, peremptorily. 
 
 He waved his sword, and the file of soldiers advanced, 
 closing up before and behind the miserable joker, Chivey. 
 
 ' ' Quick march, " said the officer. 
 
 "It's all a mistake," cried Chivey, in desperation. "I 
 ain't Harkaway at all, I tell you. Harkaway's another 
 party altogether, not any thing like so good-looking as 
 me. Oh, captain, do listen to a cove."
 
 224 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 The officer was obdurate, and the soldiers, at a sign 
 from him, began to hustle the tiger off towards the bar- 
 racks. 
 
 "Oh, major! " implored Chivey, dolorously. 
 
 "Away with him, "said the officer, melodramatically. 
 
 "Colonel ! " ejaculated Chivey, "do listen." 
 
 The officer relented a little at this. 
 
 He was a sub-lieutenant, and it was not unpleasant to 
 be addressed as colonel. 
 
 "Well, sir?" 
 
 "I tell you, colonel, I am only a poor cove. I ain't 
 a swell. I ain't Harkaway at all, sir. Oh, no ; never, 
 sir, not me. I only said it for a lark. Ask my governor 
 there." 
 
 The officer looked from one to the other in doubt. 
 
 " How can I believe you," he said. 
 
 "Look at my innocent mug," said Chivey, dolefully; 
 "ask my governor." 
 
 "Governor? " 
 
 "My master," explained the luckless joker. 
 
 " Why, you said he was your servant," said the Carlist 
 
 "No, no ; you ask him." 
 
 "Well, sir," said the officer, who was getting con- 
 siderably puzzled between the two of them, "what do 
 you say ? " 
 
 Herbert Murray owed his impudent tiger a rub for his 
 insolence. 
 
 Here was the opportunity for paying it off. 
 
 " He spoke the truth at first," said he ; "I am his serv- 
 ant." 
 
 "I thought as much," said the Carlist officer; "away 
 with him. This prevarication will do you no good, sir." 
 
 They marched him off to the door of the guard-room. 
 
 Here Chivey grew desperate. 
 
 " At least, general," he cried, in despair, " allow me to 
 have my servant with me. " 
 
 "Insolent scoundrel," exclaimed his master. 
 
 He would have fled, but the officer gave the word, and 
 two of the soldiers brought him back. 
 
 "You want him with you?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " If I go in with you, Chivey," said Herbert Murray, be- 
 tween his teeth, " I'll discharge you from this minute."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 225 
 
 Cmvey was not to be influenced by threats. 
 
 "Wants to lock me up," said Chivey to himself. 
 "Perhaps he thinks I know too much for him. Well, 
 well, I'll teach him to try his larks on with me." 
 
 They were taken into the guard-room, and formally 
 handed over to the Carlist military authorities. 
 
 They were driven rudely into a cell, and there left to 
 reflect upon the unpleasant habit of practical joking. 
 
 14 Chivey." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "This is a nice thing you have done for us." 
 
 "Twasn't my fault," groaned the groom. "You had 
 only to back me up when I told him who we really was." 
 
 "You're taken up as a spy, and I suppose that you 
 know what the punishment for that is in war time ! " 
 
 "Not I." 
 
 "They'll put your back against a wall, and six or eight 
 men will fire into you." 
 
 Chivey gave a very hollow groan on hearing this. 
 
 "Oh, Lord oh, Lord," he cried, "I wish I was back 
 in Whitechapel." 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 THE NEW DIVER AT THE WRECK- COME AT LAST BETTER 
 LATE THAN NEVER DOWN YOU GO. 
 
 MEANWHILE Jack Harkaway junior, all unconscious of 
 the danger which he ran of being imprisoned, was gone 
 with Harry Girdwood to witness the operations of the 
 divers at the spot where the ill-fated ' ' Albatross " had gone 
 down. 
 
 They pulled out in a small boat towards the sloop, 
 which was riding at anchor close by the scene of the 
 wreck, and as they got in sight, a sudden gleam of sun- 
 shine appeared to strike the waves by the sloop's side. 
 
 " What was that ?" 
 
 ' ' The diver's helmet He's just gone down. " 
 
 They pulled sharply out, and soon they were alongside 
 the sloop. 
 15
 
 226 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 There was a number of people on board, watching the 
 proceedings with the greatest curiosity. 
 
 The mechanical appliances attracted great attention. 
 
 The air pumps, and the men on the platform beside 
 them, whose duty it was to watch for the slightest 
 signal of the venturesome diver, now fathoms deep in 
 the sea. 
 
 The rounds of the little ladder lowered from the ship's 
 side to the water, fixed the attention of our two youthfu* 
 adventurers. 
 
 "Look down there, Jack," Harry Girdwood remarked, 
 pointing to the ladder. 
 
 "I see." 
 
 "The 'Albatross' has gone down in twelve fathoms." 
 
 "Look! see those air bubbles rising just beyond the 
 ladder." 
 
 The huge helmet of the diver appeared ; then the body 
 of the adventurous fellow emerged from the water, and 
 he looked up the little ladder. 
 
 A horrible amphibious monster it looked, with the huge 
 head and glass goggle eyes, the rude, ungainly limbs, and 
 the lethal weapons fastened to the leathern girdle he wore 
 round his loins, an axe on one side and a long-bladed 
 dagger upon the other. 
 
 He looked armed to do battle with the marine demons 
 below the waters. 
 
 As soon as the diver reached the deck, he was tended 
 by two or more "valets," who removed the lead collar 
 from his shoulders and the metal plates he wore to give 
 his body the necessary weight to make his way through 
 the water. 
 
 And when the huge helmet was removed, and the 
 diver's jovial face was seen, it was quite a relief to all. 
 
 The diver went below to make his report, and when 
 this was done, Jack questioned him eagerly. 
 
 "Did you go down below? " was his first question. 
 
 "No, Mr. Harkaway," returned our old friend the 
 diver; "progress wasn't as easy as you might suppose 
 above here." 
 
 "Why's that?" 
 
 "The * Albatross' has got jammed between two or 
 three big rocks, and the knocking about that she has re- 
 ceived has sent all the rigging and such like all over the
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 227 
 
 deck in fact," he added, with a grin, "I had to axe my 
 way everywhere." 
 
 "Now a word with you, my friend diver," said Jack 
 "I mean to go down with you next time that you de- 
 scend. " 
 
 "Never." 
 
 The diver evidently looked upon it as a very serious 
 job. 
 
 "Why not?" said Jack. "I want to go below. 
 You don't seem to care to go and get my locket I spoke 
 of to you." 
 
 "I don't like meddling with dead men anywheres," 
 said the diver, "but least of all under the water." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "They have got such a horrible look ; they bob about 
 with the motion of the water, and look as if they were 
 living ugh ! " 
 
 And the burly diver, who was ready to fight half a 
 dozen Spaniards, shuddered again. 
 
 "Well," said young Jack, " I don't care for such sights 
 myself, but I have a purpose in view, so down I go with 
 you." 
 
 The diver demurred. 
 
 "I should get into trouble for taking you down." 
 
 "Taking me down ! Come, I like that. Why, you 
 speak as if I were a child. You can't prevent my going 
 if I choose to go. Besides, everything is favourable for the 
 job. Your mate hasn't turned up, you say, and I can go 
 down in his diving-dress." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ' ' Once inside the helmet, I defy anyone to tell 
 whether it is Jack Harkaway or Tim whatever his name 
 is." 
 
 This closed the discussion most effectually. 
 
 The diver had nothing further to oppose. 
 
 Young Jack found a pretext for remaining on board. 
 
 The moment for the experiment approached, and the 
 professional diver passed the time in giving his pupil all 
 the necessary instructions. 
 
 One recommendation a prime one remained in his 
 mind, happily. 
 
 "Four tugs at the air-pipe means 'Haul me up.' Do 
 vou mark? " said the diver. " And when you are twelve
 
 228 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 fathoms down below the air and light, you are apt to forget 
 nearly every thing. Whatever you do, don't forget that 
 don't forget that, Master Harkaway, as you value your 
 life." 
 
 "Four?" 
 
 " Four," repeated the diver, seriously. 
 
 ' ' All right," said young Jack. " I'll not forget that. " 
 
 A little later on, the diver and his mate emerged from 
 their cabin with their helmets on. 
 
 " Hullo," said the captain of the sloop, " I didn't know 
 that your mate had come over. " 
 
 " Yes, cap'en," said the diver, " here he is at last/' 
 
 " That's hearty," said the skipper. " Well, the water's 
 as smooth as a millpond nothing could be better, so lose 
 no time, my lads." 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 THE HORRORS OF THE DEEP YOUNG JACK VISITS THE DEAD 
 MEN BENEATH THE WAVES A PERILOUS VOYAGE. 
 
 IT is no wonder that the captain of the sloop failed to 
 recognise our Jack. 
 
 It would have been surprising, indeed, if he had. 
 
 Let a person who had never seen a man in diving cos- 
 tume, come upon him for the first time, and it is very 
 sure that he would not have believed it to be anything 
 human. 
 
 Jack's limbs, swathed in surplus clothing, were double 
 their usual size, and more ungainly and awkward a fashion 
 than one can conceive. 
 
 On his shoulders was a kind of plate made of white 
 metal, edged with copper, into which was screwed a water 
 proof jerkin, enclosing both front and back. 
 
 Besides this, there was a deal of india-rubber about him, 
 and leaden-soled boots which weighed not less than ten 
 pounds apiece. 
 
 Young Jack had heard of divers being attacked by 
 sharks ; but as soon as he had looked at himself in the 
 looking-glass through the glazed goggle eyes of his helmet, 
 he could not believe it possible that the boldest fish that
 
 ffZS BOY TINKER. 
 
 229 
 
 ever swam would dare tackle such a formidable-looking 
 monster. 
 
 "No, no," said Jack, to himself, "they would shoot 
 away for their lives at the sight of such a horrible-looking 
 thing as this." 
 
 Once by the ship's side, the huge and crushing weights 
 of lead were fastened upon his shoulders, and the shock 
 was so sudden, that young Jack was about to kick up a 
 rumpus, when a sort of glass box was fastened over the 
 mouth of his helmet, and screwed tightly on. 
 
 He was ceasing to breathe. 
 
 This awful sensation Jack never forgot ; but, happily, 
 it was but of momentary duration, for the air-pumping 
 apparatus was set to work, and supplied him with the 
 vital fluid. 
 
 The signal was given to descend the ladder, and now 
 began the most painful part of the ordeal, for young Jack 
 felt the weight of the garb and accoutrements dreadfully, 
 so much so, in fact, that he could scarce move one leg 
 before the other. 
 
 In addition to the air-pipe, there was a string which was 
 meant to guide the diver towards the ladder, in case he 
 should lose his way under water. 
 
 However, Jack, by a strong effort of will, got down the 
 ladder, and after a certain time, he missed the action of 
 the air upon his head, and then he knew that he was 
 under water. 
 
 What a journey it seemed ! 
 
 Never did he forget it. 
 
 But the longest journey comes to an end, and at length 
 he touched the bottom, where, to his intense relief, he 
 found the other diver awaiting him. 
 
 The first remarkable thing was the wondrous power of 
 the water upon him, notwithstanding the enormous weight 
 of his body and accoutrements. 
 
 He was swayed backwards and forwards, and was 
 forced to hold on to the ladder to keep himself steady. 
 
 The diver nodded his helmet gravely, and the effect was 
 most weird and fantastic. 
 
 He gave Jack a pat of encouragement, and held out his 
 hand, but this was no use, for the amateur diver dare not 
 for awhile let go the ladder. 
 
 He saw the seaweed waving fantastically about at his
 
 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 feet, and the fishes swam about him, circling round and 
 round, apparently very much interested in what was going 
 forward, and all seemed wondrous strange. 
 
 Suddenly a tap on his shoulder reminded him that he 
 had not come here to make observations upon such mat- 
 ters as these, but for serious business. 
 
 He let go the ladder, steadied himself by an effort, and 
 shuffled along until a dark, shapeless object impeded his 
 further progress. 
 
 It looked like some dead monster of the deep, ugly and 
 confused in outline, so dire had been the work of wind 
 and wave upon the wreck of what had once been a goodly 
 ship, though not in our experience. 
 
 This was all that remained of the "Albatross." 
 
 The two divers groped their way along the vessel until 
 they came to a breach, through which they mounted, the 
 professional diver leading the way with infinite care and 
 pains, for now the most dangerous part of their work had 
 indeed commenced. 
 
 The air tubes upon which they depended for life itself, 
 were in great peril of getting twisted in some projecting 
 parts of the wreck, or snapping by a sudden jerk. 
 
 A motion of his companion's head showed Jack the way 
 that they had to go to seek the forecabin in which the un- 
 happy mate Mackenzie was to be found. 
 
 Now began the most terrible part of the ordeal, for Jack 
 had to perform the rest of his operations alone. 
 
 He groped on, never pausing to think, and well it was, 
 for he would never have accomplished his self-set task if 
 he had. 
 
 He reached the cabin stairs, and then, with infinite 
 pains, he managed to get down, for the action of the sea 
 had already worn away the woodwork in every direction. 
 
 Down the stairs he went, groping along, and then 
 
 Oh, Heaven ! 
 
 There he was. 
 
 Mackenzie was in the same position, as nearly as pos- 
 sible, as when Jack had last seen him in life. 
 
 Death had overtaken him, apparently, in his drunken 
 stupor. 
 
 Jack looked at the dead man. 
 
 He had got hold of the handrail with his right, and of a 
 low beam with his left hand, the nearest objects at which
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 231 
 
 he had clutched when young Harkaway had kicked him 
 off in sheer desperation at the last moment. 
 
 So life-like, so real it all looked, that young Jack 
 was filled with a ghostly dread as he looked upon the 
 scene. 
 
 Nevertheless, his glance rested upon the hand which 
 clutched the beam, for, hanging from his fast-clenched fist, 
 he perceived the fragment of a chain. 
 
 This was attached to the locket little Emily's parting 
 gift. 
 
 The object of young Jack's perilous adventure. 
 
 The grim figure of the Scotch, mate bobbed up and down 
 as the amateur diver approached, filled with awesome 
 dread. 
 
 Oh, that was a terrible time for the bold boy. 
 
 But he had set himself a task, and it must be gone 
 through. 
 
 This stern resolution had carried him through many an 
 undertaking, and it should aid him to bring this to a suc- 
 cessful issue, come what might. 
 
 It wanted all his resolution now, however, let his will 
 be ever so strong. 
 
 With closed eyes, Jack stretched forth his hand to grasp 
 Emily's love-token. 
 
 The first contact with that cold, dead flesh sent a thrill 
 throughout his entire frame, which he never forgot until 
 his dying day. 
 
 However, he kept to it with desperate resolution. 
 
 The dead man's grip was fast on dear little Emily's 
 locket, and he failed to loosen the hand of the corpse. 
 
 He felt for the dagger at his girdle. 
 
 The thought of using a knife upon a dead body fathoms 
 low beneath the sea was horrible indeed. 
 
 But better not be there at all than recoil before any thing 
 now. 
 
 Emily's last love-gift he must regain. 
 
 He drew the keen blade across the dead man's fingers. 
 
 He clutched the prize and 
 
 Horrors upon horror's head accumulate. 
 
 The maipT4. corpse slowly sank in the water, and its 
 znat. _/a&pea Jawcs tegs around. Fixed and fascinated 
 at the sight, young Jack remained there spellbound. 
 
 His senses appeared to have left him, for he knew not
 
 232 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 how long he thus remained, when a hand was placed 
 
 upon his shoulder. 
 
 The diver had come in search of him, alarmed at the 
 Jong delay. 
 
 The spell was broken. 
 
 Guided by the diver, he groped his way up the cabin 
 stairs and along the deck of the wreck, when the signal 
 was given to haul up. 
 
 It was a miracle, indeed, that young Jack ever reached 
 the surface alive. 
 
 But fearsome as was the recollection of that voyage on 
 the ocean's bed, he never regretted it. 
 
 He had gone through a terrible adventure. 
 
 But he had accomplished his purpose. 
 
 He had recovered his locket, little Emily's parting love 
 gift. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 AIR AND LIGHT THE RECOGNITION " SENOR HARKAWAY, YOU 
 
 ARE MY PRISONER" "ON WHAT CHARGE ? " A DESPERATE 
 FIX. 
 
 ON reaching the deck of the sloop the helmet was taken 
 off, and then a startled cry burst from several of the by- 
 standers, but the loudest voice was Harry Girdwood's. 
 
 "Jack," he cried, "why, what a blessed dance you 
 have led me." 
 
 " How?" cried Jack, innocently enough. 
 
 " How? Why, you traitor. Why the deuce didn't you 
 tell me about this ? " 
 
 Young Jack leered at his faithful comrade, and burst out 
 laughing. 
 
 " I'll tell you why, old man," he said ; "it is because 
 you wouldn't have let me go." 
 
 " That's right enough," said Harry Girdwood. " I 
 swear I wouldn't. But what with your duels, your bull 
 fights, and diving, I never know when you are safe. You 
 keep me in a continual ferment, Jack." 
 
 " Never mind, old man." 
 
 "What is diving like?" 
 
 Jack shuddered.
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 233 
 
 " Dreadful. " 
 
 " How dreadful?" demanded Harry. 
 
 " The sensation of going under is beyond description, 
 and the sights you see below are things likely to haunt 
 your dreams for a long long while. But ugh ! don't let 
 us talk of it. I have got back my locket, and now, 
 Harry, I should like to forget that horrible journey if I 
 could." 
 
 They went ashore as soon as they could, and as the boat 
 grounded, they perceived that something unusual was 
 going forward. 
 
 The beach was lined with soldiers, in the midst of whom 
 were two persons that they recognised at once. 
 
 One of these persons was young Herbert Murray. 
 
 The other was Chivey. 
 
 Now the excitement of the latter was curious to witness 
 as soon as he saw who were the occupants of the boat. 
 
 " There, there ! " he exclaimed, in a voice which both 
 Jack and Harry Girdwood heard distinctly, "that is Hark- 
 away that one there." 
 
 Jack was the first to leap ashore, and advancing to the 
 soldiers with all his old boldness, he said 
 
 " Yes, I am Jack Harkaway and who wants Jack 
 Harkaway ? " 
 
 "I do." 
 
 He turned round as one of the officers advanced from 
 the file of soldiers. 
 
 "You want me, sefior captain?" said young Jack. 
 " Indeed." 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " For what purpose?" 
 
 " I have to arrest you." 
 
 ' ' On what charge ? " exclaimed Harry Girdwood. 
 
 " That of being a secret agent of the enemy in other 
 words, a spy. " 
 
 " Why, this is madness." 
 
 "It is serious earnest you will find," returned the 
 officer. 
 
 "It is impossible to bring such a charge against me." 
 
 " Not impossible, for you find the charge is brought. 
 My earnest wish is that you may manage to clear your- 
 self; if not, death will follow. Fall in, please. Left 
 wheel march. "
 
 234 YO UNG JA CK HA RKA WA Y AND 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 JACK IS TRIED CONDEMNED TO DEATH HANGING IS THE DOOM 
 
 OF A SPY THE CARLISTS' JUSTICE JACK'S FRIENDS RALLY 
 
 ROUND NO GO THE SIGNAL FROM THE FORTRESS-TOWER AN 
 
 OLD NOTION REVIVED. 
 
 JACK never quite understood what took place at the ex- 
 amination which he underwent. 
 
 A shifty sort of mock trial took place in which the 
 prisoner was condemned and sentenced to be hanged. 
 
 "Well, gentlemen," said young Harkaway boldly, 
 " you have had it all your own way, and now perhaps I 
 may be allowed to say a word or two to the court." 
 
 The president of the court martial, as this peculiar tri- 
 bunal was styled, bowed his head gravely to Jack. 
 
 "Speak," he said, "but be as brief as possible." 
 
 "I will," replied Jack; "if you dare to carry out this 
 wretched sentence, you will have to answer for it." 
 
 "To whom, pray?" 
 
 "England." 
 
 " We don't tremble at the power of England." 
 
 "Which only shows your thoughtlessness," replied the 
 prisoner, boldly; "for such an outcry would be raised 
 throughout the length and breadth of the land by the 
 murder of an English lad by Carlists that your very cause 
 would be imperilled, and you will be put down, as sure 
 as my name's Jack Harkaway." 
 
 The president of the court laughed ironically. 
 
 "The lad does not put small value upon himself," he 
 said. 
 
 "Why, you see," retorted Jack, boldly; " if I were 
 some obscure poor devil's son, you could perhaps afford to 
 murder me for chastising one of your comrade's inso- 
 lence. " 
 
 "Hah !" 
 
 "Silence." 
 
 "He dares insult the court," cried another officer, 
 springing up and looking fiercely at Jack. 
 
 " Well," said young Jack, " from all appearance that is 
 not a feat requiring any great amount of courage. "
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 235 
 
 "Carramba/" 
 
 ' ' There can be no mistake about the motive, whatever the 
 pretext may be. And remember, gentlemen, that in that 
 unfortunate affair I was not the aggressor. Don Gil Perez 
 insulted me first and challenged me after I struck in self- 
 defence and much as I may regret the matter, it must be 
 borne in mind that he forced it upon me that I had no 
 choice but to fight. He fell as I might have fallen but 
 for my own proverbial luck standing by me as usual." 
 
 "That has nothing whatever to do with the present 
 charge. " 
 
 " You have no evidence," said Jack. 
 
 " There you are wrong. We have ample evidence, 
 and, moreover, there are some of your fellow-countrymen 
 who give the most important testimony against you." 
 
 "What ! Confront me with them, at least," said Jack, 
 desperately. 
 
 "The case is fully substantiated without them," was 
 the reply. "The sentence of the court you know. Re- 
 move the prisoner." 
 
 The soldiers closed up, and laid hands upon young 
 Jack. 
 
 "Stop," said he ; "before you go to extremities, let 
 me warn you that I am English born, that my govern- 
 ment does not allow its subjects to be shot with impunity ; 
 so beware." 
 
 Jack was hurried away to gaol. 
 
 Harry Girdwood was fortunately at large, and he set to 
 work desperately to get Jack set at liberty, but this was 
 not easily accomplished. 
 
 The captain of the "Albatross" went straight to the 
 Carlist generals to make representations respecting the 
 injustice of the sentence, but no less to his surprise than 
 indignation, they turned a deaf ear to him. 
 
 In vain did he storm and threaten. 
 
 The only notice taken of this was to menace him with 
 sharing young Harkaway's fate. 
 
 " Joe Deering, my boy," said the skipper to himself, 
 " that would never do. No ; you mustn't get clapped 
 into limbo, or you'll not be able to lend the boy a 
 hand." 
 
 He went off with Harry Girdwood to the residence of 
 the British consul, and that excellent official being found
 
 236 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 at home, immediate steps were taken to secure young 
 Jack's release. 
 
 "Jack Harkaway again 1 " said the consul, with a 
 stare. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Why, that hot-blooded young countryman of ours is 
 always in hot water, it seems to me. When the ' Alba- 
 tross ' foundered and everybody else was taking to the 
 boats, he was down below and had a narrow escape of 
 drowning." 
 
 "Well, that can't be said to have got him into hot 
 water, anyhow," suggested Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "Well, no," resumed the consul, with a smile. "He 
 must have found it precious cold." 
 
 "And damp." 
 
 "And damp, as you say, young gentleman it is one 
 of the attributes of water. Well, no sooner is he out of 
 that job than he gets into a duel, and pinks his man." 
 
 " Don Gil Perez is not dead," exclaimed the skipper, 
 anxiously. 
 
 "No; only very bad. Well, next he is the cause of 
 killing a prize bull, then frightens us all by going down in 
 a diver's dress, and now he gets himself locked up 
 and " 
 
 "Now," said the skipper, with a long face, "he is con- 
 demned to death. " 
 
 "To death," said the consul. "We live in ticklish 
 times here, and must be prompt. They think no more of 
 taking a man's life than of rolling a cigarette. " 
 
 "The savages," exclaimed Harry; "these Spaniards 
 are " 
 
 "About as bad as Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, 
 or any other people in time of war." 
 
 " Here we are at the Carlist's headquarters, " said the 
 skipper. 
 
 " I will go in alone," said the consul. "I don't want 
 to begin by exasperating them. They are as proud as 
 Lucifer, and we must go through certain forms, or we 
 may sacrifice our dashing young Harkaway by our im- 
 prudence." 
 
 They waited in considerable anxiety for the consul's 
 return. 
 
 At length he came.
 
 fflS BOY TINKER. 237 
 
 The first glimpse at his countenance was any thing but 
 reassuring. 
 
 "Well, what's the verdict, sir?" demanded Harry 
 Girdwood, eagerly. 
 
 " Mr. Jack Harkaway has been tried as a spy and con- 
 victed." 
 
 " And his sentence? " 
 
 " He is to be hanged." 
 
 "Good heaven!" exclaimed the skipper; "how 
 awful." 
 
 "Nothing can save him." 
 
 In what state of mind they walked away, we leave the 
 reader to imagine. 
 
 Harry Girdwood was heartbroken. 
 
 As they turned round the citadel, skirting the edge of 
 the moat, a shout from above attracted their attention. 
 
 Looking up, they saw someone at a narrow grated 
 window waving a hand. 
 
 * ' Is that meant for us ? " 
 
 "Listen." 
 
 The sound came clearer this time, and they made it 
 out 
 
 ' ' A Harkaway, a Harkaway to the rescue. *' 
 
 Harry Girdwood gave a cry of delight 
 
 "It's Jack." 
 
 Jack's war cry served to rally them immediately. 
 
 They nodded, waved handkerchiefs, and shouted back 
 to encourage the prisoner. 
 
 "Captain Deering," said Harry, "we must get him 
 out of that. Shall I write home to Mr. Harkaway ? " 
 
 " No," said the consul, "that will not help, and would 
 only frighten the family. We must see what we can do 
 to save the boy." 
 
 "We will save him," said Harry. 
 
 " Yes," said the consul, ' ' but how ? That's the rub. " 
 
 They stood looking up anxiously at the fortress. 
 
 It was a desperate place to think of effecting a rescue 
 from. 
 
 A deadly height to descend. 
 
 A fearful wall to scale. 
 
 Anyone attempting to climb down, would be dashed to 
 pieces beyond the slightest possibility of doubt 
 
 The captain of the " Albatross " gave a shout
 
 238 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "I've got it," returned the skipper. "Do you remem- 
 ber, Master Girdwood, that yarn you told me about the 
 Harkaways' adventures in New York, when your big 
 monkey Nero did something wonderful there at a fire 
 somewhere." 
 
 "Yes, yes," exclaimed Harry Girdwood, excitedly. 
 
 "Well, then, he's only loafing about here at the hotel, 
 frightening the women, and Mr. What's-his-name, the 
 orphan, or gorging himself on nuts and oranges, till he's 
 losing his graceful figure ; let us make the beggar work." 
 
 ' ' Bravo for Nero," shouted Harry. 
 
 " He'll do it," said the skipper. 
 
 " Hurrah for Nero ; he only wants putting in the right 
 road to see his master, and he'll reach him. Hurrah 
 hurrah ! " 
 
 But now we must return to have a word with the poor 
 prisoner, young Jack Harkaway. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 JACK IN LIMBO UNWELCOME NEWS THE COMMUTATION OF HIS 
 SENTENCE A SOLDIER'S GRAVE A QUESTIONABLE HONOUR. 
 
 *' STONE walls do not a prison make, 
 Nor prison bars a cage," 
 
 sighed Jack Harkaway, junior, as he looked about his 
 new residence ; " but, with all due deference to the poet, 
 they do contribute to keep up the illusion." 
 
 The stone walls of Jack's place of confinement were 
 uncommonlv thick. 
 
 The bars were both thick and close together, and firmly 
 imbedded in the stone work of the window. 
 
 The window itself was a good nine feet from the floor. 
 
 As soon as Jack heard the door of the cell fast bolted 
 upon the outside, and the echoes of the gaoler's footsteps 
 die away in the distance of the long stone-paved corridors 
 without, he looked wistfully at the window. 
 
 " I shall have a shy at that," he said half aloud 
 
 Nine feet up. 
 
 No hold.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 239 
 
 Tne wall built of solid blocks of stone not brick, to 
 enable a dreary prisoner to pick out the mortar mayhap, 
 and thus by patience and perseverance secure a hold by 
 which to mount. 
 
 Jack went up, however, after hard labour and risk. 
 
 Once he got the slightest hold upon the iron bars, he 
 hung on like grim death, raising his whole body up, and 
 getting a good perch on the narrow casement. 
 
 What a distance down it was to look. 
 
 It made him dizzy. 
 
 " I could get those bars out all right enough," he said, 
 testing the fastenings as he spoke. "But how the deuce 
 could I get down there, then?" 
 
 How indeed ? 
 
 "They have left me nothing to escape by," he said to 
 himself, " no bedclothes." 
 
 For the matter of that there was no bed. 
 
 Well, here young Jack stuck, perched up like a pool 
 little bird fluttering its wings against the bars of its cage. 
 He saw three persons go past along the edge of the moat 
 below. 
 
 "That one is Harry !" he exclaimed, "it is, and that 
 is Captain Deering ; but who is the third person ? I won- 
 der if they are here upon any business. Oh, they must 
 be ; Harry ! ho ! ho ! Ho ! ho ! ho 1 ho ! " 
 
 An answering shout came up to him from below. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " exclaimed Jack, " they can see me." 
 
 They shouted again and again, and presently a faint 
 semblance to words of encouragement came up to him. 
 
 " Wait and watch t " 
 
 " I will I will," returned young Jack. 
 
 "Hope!" 
 
 "They said 'hope,' I'm sure," exclaimed the prisoner, 
 excitedly; "rather. 'Never say die,' is the Harkaway 
 motto." 
 
 In his excitement Jack did not notice that there was 
 someone in the stone corridor outside his cell door. 
 
 It was, in fact, only when the door was swinging open 
 that he heard it, so absorbed was he in the prospect 
 below. 
 
 Then with a look of alarm, he dropped from his perch, 
 and in his hurry he came a very hard cropper on the 
 flags.
 
 240 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 However, Jack was no milksop ; so he scrambled up 
 and rubbed his bruises, just as the new-comer entered. 
 
 Jack looked round, and to his surprise discovered that, 
 instead of being the military gaoler, it was one of the 
 officers who had been a member of the court that had 
 condemned him. 
 
 This officer spoke English fairly well. 
 
 "Prisoner," said he, " I come to inform you that a 
 modification has been made in your favour, in regard to 
 the sentence pronounced upon you." 
 
 Jack bowed. But he said nothing. 
 
 "All brag and bounce these Dons," bethought. "I 
 was certain that they would never dare to put a British 
 subject to death." 
 
 He was making certain a little too soon. 
 
 " You have had the honour of crossing swords with one 
 of us," said the Spaniard, loftily, "and it has therefore 
 been decreed that the act has so far ennobled you, in 
 spite of the disgraceful character you have acquired, and 
 which has caused you to be justly sentenced to die." 
 
 Jack bowed again. 
 
 "What a precious old wind-bag this fellow is," he said. 
 "What is he driving at, I wonder?" 
 
 The news he was to learn would be communicated 
 quite soon enough for Jack. 
 
 He need not be impatient to hear it 
 
 "The honourable court which tried you has decided 
 that you shall be spared the humiliation of dying by the 
 hangman's hands." 
 
 " I didn't expect to " 
 
 "You are to have a soldier's death a warrior's grave. 
 At daybreak to-morrow you will be conducted to the 
 ground by a file of soldiers. Don Gil Perez will himself 
 command the firing party." 
 
 The officer bowed haughtily, and made his exit, leaving 
 the prisoner dazed bewildered stupefied. 
 
 " Am I dreaming ? " 
 
 No ; the gloomy walls, the frowning bars above, the 
 dreary prison, were dreadful realities. 
 
 It was no dream. 
 
 "Do they really mean that they will dare to murder 
 me in the name of justice ? " he exclaimed, aloud. 
 
 There was small doubt of this.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 241 
 
 They would dare any thing. 
 
 Poor Jack felt precious unhappy now. 
 
 "That fellow meant it," he said to himself; "there 
 was a murderous look about his eye. Harry, my boy, 
 you will have to be smart in your movements if you wish 
 to save your old chum Jack. " 
 
 He thought of home now that he was in a really serious 
 dilemma, and wondered if he should ever see his mother 
 or his Emily any more. 
 
 "I wish dad and Uncle Dick were here. Oh, if I could 
 but send to them," he said, to himself, again and again ; 
 "they would find some way out of this job for a cer- 
 tainty. But I fear that poor Harry won't carry enough 
 weight to make these thieves and murderers take any 
 particular notice." 
 
 He sighed and sang to kill dull care, but his heart was 
 heavy as lead. 
 
 * There's a sweet little cherub as sits up aloft, 
 To keep watch o'er the life of poor Jack." 
 
 "No, no, my cherub has shifted his moorings, and 
 scudded away ; I'm left to my fate this time. What will 
 poor old Sobersides say ? What will they say at home ? " 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 NERO'S MONKEY TRICKS AND WHAT CAME OF THEM THE TALE 
 
 OF A KNOTTED ROPE THE SENTRY'S SHOT IN THE MOAT 
 
 HARRY GIRDWOOD'S ESCAPADE CATCHING A TARTAR POOR 
 
 DON ! 
 
 "THAT sits up aloft" 
 
 Happy thought. 
 
 He would have another look from his perch in the 
 grated window. 
 
 "It is a tough job getting up," grunted the prisoner, 
 quaintly, "yet I managed to come down pretty fast 
 too." 
 
 However, he was up again quick enough. 
 
 " I wish it was no further to drop outside than it is 
 16
 
 2 42 YO UNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 here," said Jack, looking down into the cell ; "I'd be out 
 then like a bird." 
 
 " I'm a sweet little cl:erub, perched here up aloft, 
 But I can't save the life of poor Jack " 
 
 "Hallo!" 
 What was that? 
 
 A strange squeaking sound, \vhich was almost familiar 
 !o his ear, sent the blood from his cheeks. 
 "How strange," he murmured. "How wonderfully 
 
 He peered through the bars as far as he could. 
 
 The squeaking noise came again. 
 
 And now he caught a glimpse of some huge hairy 
 object on the wall a little to the left, and about twelve or 
 fourteen feet below the window. 
 
 "Nero ! " gasped the prisoner. " It is, it is Nero." 
 
 " Nero it was too. 
 
 Toiling up a wall nearly perpendicular, with scarcely a 
 hold for his paws we beg his pardon his hands, and 
 helped but slightly in his progress by the huge iron drain 
 pipe which descended from the roof to the moat, the 
 faithful Nero was fighting manfully it would perhaps be 
 more appropriate to say monkeyfully with the difficulties 
 besetting his task. 
 
 "Nero." 
 
 " Tweek ! " responded Nero, quite joyfully. 
 
 The sound of his master's voice gave the faithful animal 
 fresh courage and renewed strength. 
 
 He toiled onward. 
 
 Painfully slow was his progress. 
 
 But up he went. 
 
 "Brave Nero," said Jack, coaxingly, "good Nero. 
 Come along, come along. Hold tight, good Nero." 
 
 "Hah!" 
 
 He shot out his hand, and caught Nero by the paw. 
 
 The assistance came exactly in the nick of time. 
 
 Nero was getting used up, and at the very moment he 
 got assistance from his master. 
 
 A moment more and he was up perched on the casement, 
 holding tight on by the bars. 
 
 "My good Nero," cried Jack, again and again, quite
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 243 
 
 overjoyed at this meeting with his faithful dumb fol- 
 lower. 
 
 Nero squeaked his responses to his master's greeting, 
 and looked as happy as you could wish, and he scratched 
 away merrily at his ribs in sheer glee. 
 
 " Hullo ! " exclaimed Jack. "Whatever is this? " 
 
 A satchel fastened to his side by a strap across his 
 shoulder. 
 
 Nero thrust the satchel up to Jack, and eagerly opening 
 it, he found first of all the following note hurriedly written 
 by Harry Girdwood. 
 
 "DEAR JACK, We are waiting and watching below. 
 Take the file out of Nero's bag, and get through the bars 
 quickly. There is a ball of string in the bag. Make one 
 end secure above, and lower the other to us, where we 
 are hiding in the moat just underneath. That is why you 
 have not been able to see us before. We will fasten a 
 thick knotted rope to the end of your string, and you can 
 haul it up. Time presses. Keep your nut cool, and lose 
 no time. 
 
 "HARRY." 
 
 " God bless you, Harry," cried Jack, fervently. " What 
 an ungrateful beast I was to doubt your wit as well as 
 your good will." 
 
 He dipped into Nero's satchel, and brought out the ball 
 of string, a file, and a small phial of oil. 
 
 First to lower the string. 
 
 The end was made fast to one of the iron bars, and the 
 ball dropped down. 
 
 A few seconds passed. 
 
 Then the string was gently tugged. 
 
 It had reached the moat. 
 
 "Now for the bars." 
 
 They wanted no filing. 
 
 Yet the file proved remarkably useful, for with its 
 pointed end, he contrived to pick away the cement bed of 
 the bars and loosen them in their sockets. 
 
 Once he had got one of them away bodily, the rest was 
 easy. 
 
 The string was pulled again from below. 
 
 Ready !
 
 244 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 They had fastened the knotted rope on to it 
 
 So Jack hauled up. 
 
 In a very little while he had the rope up and the top 
 of it fastened securely to the grating of the window. 
 
 ' ' Now, Nero, " said his master, ' ' down you go first. " 
 
 Nero got out and slid down the rope at a rattling pace. 
 
 Then Jack followed suit. 
 
 Suddenly from the moat there came a cry of alarm. 
 
 Captain Joe Deering and Harry Girdwood were hiding, 
 as the latter had said in his note, in the moat just beneath 
 the spot where Jack's prison window was situated high up 
 aloft. 
 
 And as they watched Jack's progress down the knotted 
 rope, the skipper saw a soldier appear on the rampart 
 immediately below the further bastion. 
 
 The soldier stared again at the old spectacle of a 
 human figure swaying about in mid air upon the frail sup- 
 port of a rope. 
 
 Then apparently guessing what it meant, he brought 
 his rifle up to his shoulder, took deliberate aim and 
 
 The skipper yelled. 
 
 Bang went the rifle, but the soldier was probably put 
 off his aim by the cry, and the ball whistled harmlessly 
 by. 
 
 "Make haste, Jack !" 
 
 " I'm there," responded our hero. 
 
 And down he scrambled, and was caught in the 
 skipper's arms. 
 
 Meanwhile there was a devil of a hubbub going on 
 within the fortress. 
 
 Drums beating, a bugle sounding the alarm, and guns 
 firing. 
 
 Jack found them in their very damp hiding-place, and 
 a hurried council of war was held. 
 
 "That sentry has spoilt us," said Deering. "We shall 
 all be laid by the heels, every mother's son of us. *' 
 
 ' ' I fear so, " said Harry Girdwood, despondingly. 
 
 "Wait a bit." 
 
 "What shall we do?" 
 
 A harsh, grating noise reached them and gave them an 
 uncomfortable turn. 
 
 ' ' You guess what that is, I suppose ? " said the skip- 
 per.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 24$ 
 
 "No." 
 
 'Nor I." 
 
 ' I should say it is the drawbridge being raised." 
 'I don't believe they are movable," said Jack. 
 ' They are. Hark ! there goes the other one up." 
 ' Then we are trapped." 
 'I fear so." 
 
 'What's to be done!" 
 
 Bugle calls and drum alarums went off just the same as 
 ever. 
 
 Continentals of all countries have a great weakness for 
 military noises they share with the dusky aborigines of 
 America and of Africa, the fancy for letting their warriors 
 kick up as much of a shindy as possible. 
 
 These Carlists distinguished themselves greatly, there- 
 fore, by the row they made. 
 
 Now this place was like many of the old fortified towns 
 upon the Continent ; it had its citadel surrounded by a 
 double moat. 
 
 Bad luck for our friends this. 
 
 Forts and fortified towns have been long ago proved 
 useless in modern warfare, and moats only serve to yield 
 up death-dealing miasma, however advantageous they 
 might have been in the days when they fought with bows 
 and arrows, and slings, and catapults, and poured hot 
 lead and such trifles from the battlements upon besiegers 
 below. 
 
 But in Spain you know they are a century or two be- 
 hind the age ; Bryant and May have been worsted in a 
 tough fight with flint and steel and tinder-box ; and moats 
 and drawbridges still flourish in fortified towns. 
 
 Worse luck for Jack Harkaway and his companions. 
 ' What's to be done now ? " asked Jack, doubtfully. 
 ' Hanged if I know ! " said the captain. 
 'Separate," suggested Harry Gird wood. "We shall 
 all be taken of a heap if we don't." 
 Good ! " 
 
 I'm off this way," remarked Captain Deering. 
 'And I'm going to the left," said Jack, gliding off as 
 he spoke. " Off you go, Harry." 
 Harry Girdwood popped up his head. 
 No one was about. 
 The coast was clear.
 
 2 46 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 He scrambled up on to the ground above, and sheltered 
 from observation by some dwarf shrubs (which had been 
 allowed to grow unmolested, although against the ele- 
 mentary rules of such kind of fortifications, so long had 
 the works of the old citadel and its surroundings fallen 
 into disuse), he gained the second moat. 
 
 Here he dropped gingerly down and made for the driest 
 part he could find. 
 
 Then up he went on the other side, and staring about 
 him, made a dash for the town. 
 
 Now before he had got half a start, there was a cry 
 raised from a low-roofed house, little more than a hut, 
 and a man ran out in pursuit. 
 
 He yelled out something at Harry which he did not at 
 all understand, nor did he wish to, and made the pace 
 very hot. 
 
 Harry Girdwood looked over his shoulder at his pur- 
 suer. 
 
 Only one. 
 
 " I'm not going to bolt away from one man," he 
 thought. " The Dons would never leave off bragging." 
 
 So being artful, he let the man catch him up without 
 appearing to stop for him, and then just as the man 
 dropped his hand upon his shoulder, Harry swung round, 
 and dropped the Spaniard a stinger on the face. 
 
 The fellow saw fireworks, and staggered. 
 
 He "carajo'd" and " caramba'd" all over the place 
 and drew a knife. 
 
 But Harry dodged the knife, and dropped in his British 
 weapons straight from the shoulder. 
 
 It was all over very quickly, and the Spaniard, being 
 utterly unused to such unceremonious treatment, laid 
 down on his back, and bellowed for help. 
 
 "Good-morning," said Harry, giving him a farewell 
 kick upon his seat of honour. 
 
 Off he bolted. 
 
 This Spaniard ever after vowed that Englishmen were 
 worse than savages. 
 
 Never in all his life had he caught such a Tartar. 
 
 It is really very unpleasant to think that he should have 
 run so hard after what he got from Harry. 
 
 Poor Don !
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 347 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 THE GRAVE MARTIAL LAW NERO's EXPLOIT, AND WHAT CAME 
 OF IT BRITISH TARS TO THE RESCUE FLIGHT FROM SPAIN. 
 
 WHEN Harry Girdwood got to the hotel, he met Captain 
 Deering quietly smoking a cigar upon the threshold. 
 
 He stared and rubbed his eyes at this like a dreamer 
 newly awakened. 
 
 " Hallo ! " 
 
 " I'm glad to see you safe out of that little job." 
 
 " And I you," responded the still puzzled Harry. " But 
 how the deuce did you manage to get here so quickly ? " 
 
 " I sneaked along and then turned my coat inside out, 
 pulled my cap well over my head, and crawled up out of 
 the moat by some unlucky chance near the guard-house. 
 It gave me a twinge, I can tell you, when I found myself 
 scrambling up close under the belly of a horse. On the 
 horse was seated an officer, who was sniffing all over the 
 shop for me, I suppose, and there was I just under his 
 sniffer. I saw a chance, and before Mister Don Officer 
 had time to look down, I lugged hold of him, pulled him 
 out of the saddle, pitched him into the ditch, and put 
 myself in his place. " 
 
 " Bravo, captain ! " 
 
 "Wasn't half bad, was it?" said Deering, complacently. 
 
 " It was immense," exclaimed Harry. " But how did 
 you get off without being molested ? " 
 
 " I rode quickly off." 
 
 " But the officer surely he made a rumpus ? " 
 
 "Well, no," returned the skipper, drily; "he went 
 down head first, and as he fell on nothing particularly 
 soft excepting his head, he lay very quietly just where he 
 dropped, while I dug my heels into the horse's ribs and 
 galloped off." 
 
 " Bravo ! " 
 
 " Well, as soon as I got some distance away, I reined 
 in my fiery steed, turned him round, scrambled out of the 
 saddle, and sent him flying back riderless towards the 
 fortifications. Then, to provide against accidents, I
 
 248 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 loafed about here looking as much as possible as though 
 I had been occupied in loafing for the entire day. And 
 I think I may say that, bar accidents, I have established 
 about as neat an alibi as any Old Bailey lawyer could 
 wish for." 
 
 " Well done. Now I'll just change my togs a bit, and 
 return to you." 
 
 Harry soon returned, and then they looked anxiously 
 about : firstly, for poor Jack, a"nd secondly, to see how 
 the passers-by might regard them. 
 
 A patrol passed by, going to relieve guard evidently. 
 
 The officer of the watch eyed them keenly, for all the 
 English residents from the wrecked "Albatross" were 
 objects of suspicion. 
 
 But the lazy, lazzaroni looks of Captain Deering and 
 his companion quite put them off the scent. 
 
 "We are safe enough," said the skipper; "they are 
 , vidently quite off the scent." 
 
 " They are," said Harry Gird wood ; " and I only wish 
 
 e could say as much for poor Jack." 
 ' He may be safe enough yet," said the skipper. 
 ' I begin to feel uncomfortable about it." 
 'Wait." 
 ' We must. " 
 
 ' It is very likely that he has had to skulk down in the 
 moat for a very long while, and will only be able to creep 
 out of his hiding-place after dark." 
 
 " Let us hope we shall soon see him." 
 
 But no such luck. 
 
 Before long the Cockney military waiter brought them 
 news. 
 
 News which confirmed their worst anticipations about 
 poor young Jack Harkaway. 
 
 " He was surrounded in the moat, it seems," said the 
 waiter, " and although he fought like a tiger-cat, accord- 
 ing to the soldiers, he was, of course, powerless against 
 a mob of armed men." 
 
 "And what is done with him now ? " demanded Harry. 
 
 "He is taken back to prison, and to-morrow morning 
 at daybreak, if nothing interferes to save him, he will 
 oe " 
 
 He paused. 
 
 ' ' Be what ? " demanded Harry, breathlessly.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 249 
 
 " Shot behind the chapel," was the waiter's reply. 
 
 Shot! 
 
 What a fearful sound that word had. 
 
 " Oh, Captain Deering," exclaimed Harry Girdwood, 
 in the greatest distress, ' ' surely there is yet some means 
 of saving my poor, dear Jack. What can be done ? " 
 
 " There is but one thing now," returned the skipper. 
 
 "And that is ? " 
 
 "Wait till daybreak," said Captain Deering, "and then 
 be there in as strong force as we can muster." 
 
 "That's a poor chance." 
 
 ' ' I don't know that. The firing party will not be very 
 strong." 
 
 ' ' Perhaps twelve. " 
 
 ' ' Well, and what's twelve Spaniards ? " exclaimed the 
 captain, with the true British contempt for foreigners. 
 
 "What's twelve Spaniards?" remarked Harry, drily. 
 "Why, about a dozen, I suppose." 
 
 "Well, with half-a-dozen Englishmen with good stout 
 cudgels," said Captain Deering, "you shall see what'll 
 take place." 
 
 Harry Girdwood was inspired by the speaker's confi- 
 dent air, notwithstanding his gloomy forebodings. 
 
 "Let us get in and muster our forces at once," he 
 said. 
 
 "Good." 
 
 " I've got to beat up Nat Cringle to begin with." 
 
 " He's the sort. Let's get one or two of those tough 
 old tars, and we shall have some real sport with the 
 Dons." 
 
 ' ' You will find I and the diver will not be far away, 
 sir," said the waiter. 
 
 "Glad to hear it," said Harry. 
 
 Well, they matured some sort of a plan of action, but 
 whether it was good or bad can only be learnt by reading 
 further on. 
 
 Daybreak. 
 
 A dull, drizzling morning, with the sun struggling in 
 vain to peer through the mist. 
 
 Behind the chapel, the spot appointed for the tragedy 
 to take place, a grave had been recently dug-.
 
 2$0 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 It was situated just at the base of a tree, a long, droop- 
 ing branch of which hung over into the grave itself. 
 
 This was where they meant to put young Jack Harka- 
 way out of the world. 
 
 This spot was quite deserted now. 
 
 Not a sign of a soul in sight. 
 
 Surely young Jack's friends were astir? 
 
 Unless they were, there would be but small chance for 
 him. 
 
 We shall see. 
 
 The chapel bell struck five, and then it tolled on a dis- 
 mal knell as the regular tramp of the military was heard. 
 
 Then there appeared two soldiers walking along with 
 their muskets under their arms, the muzzles pointed to 
 the ground. 
 
 After them came the prisoner, young Jack, with form 
 erect and a firm step, although the pallor of his cheek 
 showed that he was far from being insensible to the 
 solemnity of the situation. 
 
 Beside young Jack walked a priest, crucifix in hand, 
 and exhorting the prisoner, with great earnestness, to die 
 in the good faith. 
 
 Jack pretended to listen, but his thoughts were very far 
 from the subject of the holy man's words. 
 
 Moreover, he could not understand a single syllable 
 that was spoken, for the priest only spoke Spanish, of 
 which Jack was ignorant. 
 
 They took the prisoner up to the edge of the grave, 
 and placed him in position there. 
 
 Oh, what sad thoughts passed through the boy's mind 
 at that moment ! 
 
 Father, mother, Dick Harvey and his wife, little Emily, 
 his sweetheart all, all came before his mind's eye. 
 
 "And shall I die thus?" thought young Jack. "Far 
 away from all I hold dear. Oh, it is horrible." 
 
 And the brave boy's courage for a moment left him. 
 
 The soldiers, at an order from the sergeant, grounded 
 arms and waited. 
 
 Waited for what ? 
 
 For somebody to arrive apparently. 
 
 Presently the prisoner's curiosity 'for curiosity he cer- 
 tainly did feel upon this subject was gratified. 
 
 A measured tramp was heard, and four soldiers ap-
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 251 
 
 peared, bearing a litter, upon which reclined, pale and 
 almost done to death, Jack's wounded adversary, Don Gil 
 Perez. 
 
 Jack started, in spite of himself, nor could he repress a 
 slight exclamation of surprise. 
 
 It was then true that this vindictive scoundrel had 
 worked his destruction, in revenge for being worsted in 
 the encounter with his gallant boy opponent. 
 
 " Halt ! " said the wounded officer. 
 
 The litter was placed by his orders near the spot where 
 the prisoner stood. 
 
 " You have to die," he said, in broken English, and 
 speaking with difficulty, while his eyes glistened with 
 fiend-like viciousness ; "to die for venturing to play a 
 villain's part, to die as a spy, although we have been mer- 
 ciful, and not decided to string you up like a dog, which 
 is the fitting punishment for such as you. " 
 
 Jack turned upon him with a look of ineffable scorn. 
 
 "I don't fear death, Don Gil Perez," he said, "for I 
 come of a brave race, and have been taught to face death 
 long ago. But you must not think that you will escape 
 the fruits of your crime. This assassination will cost you 
 and your party dear." 
 
 The officer smiled then in a sickly, sardonic way. 
 
 " You must brag on the brink of the grave," he said. 
 
 Jack gave him a defiant look, and snapped his fingers in 
 his face. 
 
 " You are a very good witness," he said, "that I can 
 do something as well as brag. Give me a sword, coward, 
 if you dare, and stand before me. " 
 
 The wounded man flushed purple at the taunt. 
 
 He scowled at the defiant Jack and gave the word of 
 command. 
 
 "Fall in!" 
 
 The soldiers pressed into position. 
 
 ' ' Attention ! Make ready ! Present " 
 
 Jack's heart stood still. An awful moment was this 
 indeed for luckless Jack, tottering, as it were, upon the 
 threshold of the world to come. 
 
 Suddenly there was a scrambling sound in a tree over- 
 hanging the grave, and some large object flopped down 
 out of the thickest part of it, plump on to t^ \Uter occu- 
 pied by the wounded officer.
 
 252 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Don Gil Perez was canted out by the shock, and his 
 strange assailant danced around him like a redskin in a fit. 
 
 Jack stared again. 
 
 Then the impulse to laugh became irresistible. He burst 
 into such a fit of merriment that the soldiers were stag- 
 gered. 
 
 They had met courageous men on the field who took 
 peril lightly. 
 
 But seldom had they seen a doomed wretch a mere 
 boy laugh in the very teeth of the firing party. 
 
 " Go on, Nero," cried Jack, pointing to the grave, 
 '' shove him into here throw him in ! " 
 
 The gesture accompanying young Jack's words gave 
 him an inkling of his meaning, for Nero made a rush at 
 the officer, and rolled him fairly over into the grave. 
 
 At the same moment the firing party were suddenly at- 
 tacked in the rear. A desperate crack from a heavy stick 
 brought the sergeant to the ground, and a few flourishes 
 of the same formidable cudgel, dexterously landed upon 
 their heads, made two of the soldiers drop their muskets. 
 
 " Hurrah! Nat Cringle ! " cried the prisoner, joyfully. 
 "I'm in it!" 
 
 He was too, in half a crack. 
 
 The soldiers were taken completely by surprise, and 
 did not stand half a chance, notwithstanding their weapons 
 and their discipline. 
 
 They were all disarmed in the confusion which pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 The only one of them who had managed to keep hold 
 of his musket was attacked in the rear in the most un- 
 manly way by Nero, who tore out his hair. 
 
 This one dropped his musket, and fled, roaring lustily 
 for help. 
 
 Now the sergeant, having recovered from the effects of 
 the first surprise, turned to show fight, but Captain Deering 
 covered him with one of the muskets, while Jack disarmed 
 him. 
 
 Nat Cringle and two of his mates secured the rest of the 
 firearms, and then they turned to retreat. 
 
 *' Now for the beach," cried Captain Deering. "Sharp's 
 'he word, or the fool that bolted away howling will be 
 back with A!\ the army." 
 
 "Off we go. -
 
 fffS BOY TINKER. 
 
 253 
 
 They divided the spoil the muskets of the soldiers 
 fairly between them, so that one should not be unduly 
 encumbered by the weight, and then they made a good 
 quick run for it 
 
 But before they had got two or three steps, the disarmed 
 soldiers made a show of pursuing them. 
 
 So Harry Girdwood and Nat Cringle turned round to 
 menace them with their own guns. 
 
 "Stir a peg, you Spanish brutes, and I blaze away, 
 damme ! " said old Nat 
 
 They all fell back before the pair of muskets, and the 
 party got off to the beach. 
 
 " Tell us what we are coming here for, Captain Deer- 
 ing?" said Jack. 
 
 " To get afloat safe and sound," was the reply ; "for 
 this place'll be too hot to hold us, after that job." 
 
 A long-boat was ready waiting for them, so in they got 
 and shoved off, just as a strong detachment of the mili- 
 tary came pelting down to the beach at the pas gymnas- 
 tique. 
 
 The soldiers swore and shook their fists after the re- 
 ceding boat ; but the Englishmen made but one reply, and 
 this was only by gesture, which goaded the military to 
 fury. 
 
 But the crowning insult was offered by Nero. 
 
 That valiant monkey sat astern, taking a two-handed 
 sight in addition to putting his tongue out at the soldiers. 
 
 " Give it 'em, Nero." 
 
 Nero caught a flea to show his appreciation of his mas- 
 ter's words of encouragement, and carried on all sorts of 
 antics. 
 
 " Look out," exclaimed Nat; "they're going to fire at 
 us." 
 
 It looked like it. 
 
 They had brought up their muskets to the "present." 
 
 Quick as lightning Captain Deering and Harry Gird- 
 wood, who had half anticipated this, had their muskets 
 ready to reply to it. 
 
 " Two can play at that." 
 
 " Bang ! " went a couple of shots. One whistled harm- 
 lessly over their heads; the other struck the boat just 
 below the water line, and so being nearly spent by the 
 water, did no damage.
 
 254 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 " Take that," cried Captain Deering ; and blazed away 
 
 One of the soldiers was seen to stagger and fall. 
 
 " Hit him, by jingo ! " 
 
 Two more shots from the boat threw the soldiers into 
 confusion. 
 
 " Soon silenced their batteries," said Nat, grimly. 
 
 " Pull hard," said the skipper ; " their next move will 
 be to send boats off in pursuit." 
 
 " Let them come," said Jack. 
 
 " Rather ; let us get on board sharp, for I for one have 
 had all the fun that I can wish for out of these murdering 
 thieves. " 
 
 Boats were launched from the beach no less than three 
 and these were quickly rilled with armed men. 
 
 But the fugitives had a good long start, and, moreover, 
 the rowers were old salts, well up to their work ; most ot 
 them had served in the Royal Navy, and could put the 
 steam on without flurrying themselves at all. 
 
 They were soon on board the English vessel waiting 
 for them, where Captain Deering had secured passages for 
 all, and Jack received a hearty welcome from many friends 
 he did not expect to see on board. 
 
 But for the lucky accident of this vessel being there, the 
 gallant and audacious rescue of young Jack would have 
 been useless ; for the Spaniards were mad over the job. 
 
 " Hullo," said the commander of the vessel, to Deering ; 
 " are those boats coming after you? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " We've weighed anchor. So slope's the word. If we 
 stop any longer, we shall have to sink those boats with a 
 shot from our little deck gun, and that's what I don't 
 want." 
 
 They worked the ship smartly enough, the men from the 
 "Albatross" aiding, and they were precious soon a good 
 distance out at sea, scudding along with full sails set, and 
 a favourable wind. 
 
 The orphan, the English waiter, and the diver were all 
 eager to shake young Jack by the hand. Lucky Jack 1
 
 fflS BOY TINKER. ,55 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 MASTER AND MAN AGAIN OSTENTATION, EXPLANATION, RECRIMI- 
 NATION HOW CHIVEY SHOWS HIS CARDS UGLY WORDS PASS 
 THEY COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT CAME OF IT. 
 
 As the ship faded away in the distance, bearing Jack 
 Harkaway junior, and his triumphant colleagues to newer 
 climes and fresh adventures, there was a whole mob of 
 disappointed and defeated men upon the beach. 
 
 And amongst the mob were two English lads, who were 
 as full of disappointment as any of the Spaniards. 
 
 One of these English youths was Herbert Murray, the 
 other was his groom, valet, confidant, his fidus Achates, 
 and his most dangerous acquaintance, Chivey. 
 
 " These are English," said one of the soldiers, when it 
 became apparent to all that the pursuit was a failure ; 
 " let us arrest them." 
 
 And arrested they would have been but for the lucky 
 accident of one of the soldiers present knowing all about 
 them, and interfering on their behalf. 
 
 " They are Englese," said the soldier, "but they have 
 been assisting us against the assassins that have escaped." 
 
 And so Murray and Chivey got off. 
 
 But they soon got tired of being in this place, 
 "stranded," as Mr. Chivey elegantly expressed it, "for 
 want of the dibs." 
 
 The master complained, and the man found the means 
 of satisfying him with money. 
 
 Now when Chivey produced the funds, his master never 
 dreamed of asking him how the money was obtained, or 
 where it came from. 
 
 But he was destined to learn a very unpleasant truth 
 about this at a most unexpected moment. 
 
 " This isn't half a bad place, Chivey," said young 
 Murray, after a grand dinner they had just regaled them- 
 selves with. 
 
 " Not when you've got the tin," said Chivey, "and lots 
 of it"
 
 256 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Well, we've managed pretty well as far as that's con- 
 cerned," returned young Murray. 
 
 "We!" 
 
 " Yes ; we," said his master. " Why, you must have 
 been spending some of your own wages that you had 
 saved up." 
 
 Chivey turned up his nose. 
 
 ' Don't talk muck," he said, contemptuously. 
 
 ' Chivey ! " 
 
 ' Hallo ! " 
 
 ' Learn to know your place better. You presume upon 
 my good nature, and if you don't reform, why " 
 
 ' Well ? " 
 
 ' Why, I shall have to send you about your business." 
 
 Chivey put on a serious air. 
 
 "Yes. You might send me away," he said. "You 
 might, I will say that, but the question is, should I go ? " 
 
 Herbert Murray had just been drinking enough to get 
 on his dignity and feel outraged at this. 
 
 "Chivey, you'll have to go," said young Murray, 
 sternly, " and the sooner the better." 
 
 "With all my heart," responded the groom, quite cheer- 
 fully. "Would you like me to change the other cheque 
 first, perhaps?" 
 
 There was something in his manner which made his 
 master turn round at this. 
 
 " Do what ? " 
 
 " Change the other cheque." 
 
 " What cheque ?" 
 
 " Why, young Jack Harkaway's cheque, that you 
 forged. " 
 
 Murray turned purple, then deadly pale. 
 
 Chivey pretended not to notice it. 
 
 " Chivey," said his master, after awhile. 
 
 " What is it now, my sweet and pleasant ? " said the 
 groom, insolently. 
 
 " What do you mean by that stupid speech about 
 forging ? " 
 
 " Well, I don't call that so stupid; it's only the literal 
 truth." 
 
 " Don't talk rubbish," said Murray. 
 
 " Well," said the tiger, "I ain't what you can call a 
 downright university scholard, but I'd bet a good lump
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 257 
 
 level that you can find it in any dictionary. Forgery to 
 write another cove's name." 
 
 Herbert Murray had been flushed and excited before, 
 but he was suddenly as sober as a judge now. 
 
 "That was only a foolish freak, when we were on 
 board ship with Harkaway, Chivey," he said; "you 
 know that, and no one could call such a thing as that 
 forgery. " 
 
 "I don't know that," returned the tiger, coolly. "It 
 would be transportation all the same if you was nabbed 
 for it" 
 
 " Don't be a fool, Chivey," said Murray. 
 
 "Look here now, Murray," exclaimed the tiger, " I'm 
 not going to stand your cheek do you hear ? I ain't go- 
 ing to stand your cheek, so don't you go and try it on." 
 
 "Scoundrel!" 
 
 "Drop that," said the tiger, wagging his forefinger 
 warningly at his master. "Drop that talk; I ain't 
 a-going to stand it, I tell you. We ain't the friends we 
 was, Murray, and I warn you that if you ain't more 
 respectful, I'm just likely to cut up rusty." 
 
 There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, 
 there was no further concealment between them. 
 
 When young Murray made an egregious ass of him- 
 self, it was solely the result of his silly pride and vanity in 
 showing Chivey how well he could imitate young Jack's 
 handwriting. 
 
 "Do you mean to say, Chivey, that you have cashed 
 one of those " 
 
 " Forged cheques ? " 
 
 "Well, yes," said young Murray, gulping it down. 
 
 "Of course I did," returned the tiger; "where could 
 we have got the money to live upon else ? I watched 
 Harkaway, and found out the place where he got his 
 cheques cashed, and I passed the one you forged. " 
 
 " You are a fool, Chivey." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Because the utterer of a forged cheque is just as 
 guilty as the forger." 
 
 "Bosh!" 
 
 "You make inquiries," said Murray. '"It would be 
 for life with you. " 
 
 Chivey did not like this. 
 
 'f
 
 258 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 " Don't you go trying to drag me into your mess, if 
 you please ; don't you try that on, Murray. You gave me 
 the forged cheque to get cashed. I am your servant, 
 just bear in mind, a poor ignorant fellow, without no edu- 
 cation. All I'd got to do was to go and get the coin for 
 your forgery " 
 
 "Hush ! " exclaimed Murray, with an uneasy glance at 
 the door. 
 
 " Oh," cried Chivey, raising his voice, "I ain't afraid 
 for any body to hear me ; I'm as hinnercent as a unborn 
 babe, I am. Let all the world know if you like. " 
 
 Murray winced. 
 
 He walked up and down the room thinking the job 
 over, while Chivey, lolling back in an easy-chair, sur- 
 veyed him lazily through the thick fumes rising from his 
 cigar. 
 
 " I've got him on the grand hop ! " thought the tiger ; 
 "he won't try it on again in a hurry." 
 
 He arose languidly, and tossed the end of his cigar into 
 the fire. 
 
 "I'm going for a stroll, Murray," he said, pulling up 
 his collar ; "I shan't be long. By the way, just pull the 
 bell, and order coffee for me." 
 
 " Murray bit his lips in silence. 
 
 " Didn't you hear me, Murray? " said Chivey, louder. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Then why the deuce don't you ring the bell ! " 
 
 His master swallowed this, too, and rang. 
 
 A servant came, and stood waiting his orders. 
 
 "Well, Murray," said the tiger, "why don't you 
 order ? " 
 
 ' Coffee in the garden for one. " 
 'Yes, sir." 
 
 ' No ; for two," said Chivey. 
 ' I don't want any," said his master. 
 ' Oh, yes, you do. Coffee for two," said Chivey. 
 "That'll do."' 
 
 The servant bowed, and left the room. 
 
 "Murray." 
 
 "Well." 
 
 " Give me a weed. Yours are better than mine." 
 
 His master lifted up his arm as if to strike, and then 
 threw his cigar case over to his tiger.
 
 HIS BO* TINKER. 259 
 
 "That's rude," said Chivey, stooping to pick it up, 
 ' ' very rude. I'll not stand that sort of thing. There's 
 nothing like coming to an understanding. We shall be 
 better friends for it. A match ; do you hear ? Thanks. 
 Follow me to the garden, and take your coffee. Make 
 haste ; I don't like cold coffee." 
 
 And he lounged out. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 CHIVEY HEARS GOOD NEWS HIS RESOLVES HE PUTS ON THE 
 
 SCREW AGAIN ' ' RULE OF THUMB " THE LONELY WALK TO 
 
 THE GRAVEL PITS CHIVEY TREADS TOO HARD THE 
 
 WORM TURNS AND STINGS HIM SOMETHING LIKE MURDER. 
 
 HERBERT MURRAY heard the retreating footsteps of his 
 servant die away in the distance. 
 
 Then he jumped up, and paced the room like a wild 
 beast in a cage. 
 
 " What an ass what an idiot have I been," he ex- 
 claimed, "to be caught in a trap by such a paltry scoun- 
 drel ! My father warned me against him again and 
 again a low cunning thief ! But I must keep down my 
 rage and disgust. I'll show him no mercy when I get 
 my chance, and I shall get it, that I am certain of. The 
 sooner the better the sooner the better." 
 
 He shook his fist at the room door, as if it had been 
 offending him, when there came a knock. 
 
 The door opened, and the servant who had answered 
 the bell before appeared there. 
 
 "You are to go down to the garden, if you please, to 
 your coffee," he said. 
 
 "I'll come." 
 
 "Very good, sir." 
 
 Herbert Murray clasped his hands in a feverish manner } 
 and hurried off to his room. 
 
 Here he locked himself in. 
 
 Dropping on his knees before his portmanteau, he 
 routed out a revolver from the bottom of it. 
 
 " Loaded in every chamber," he said, as he examined 
 it hastily. " It may be useful. Who can say ? "
 
 260 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 H concealed it in his pocket, and walked down to the 
 garden, where he found Chivey lounging in one chair, 
 with his feet on another, while he lazily sucked at his 
 cigar. 
 
 "At last," he said. "You have taken your time to 
 think about coming." 
 
 The studied insolence of his manner goaded Murray to 
 fury. 
 
 He felt inclined, momentarily, to kick over the traces, 
 and defy his impudent servant. 
 
 But Herbert Murray was too great a coward for that. 
 
 ' ' Take a seat," said Chivey, slowly, dragging his legs 
 off the chair, and pushing it towards Murray with a lazy, 
 languid air. 
 
 Herbert Murray sat down in silence. 
 
 "Come, come, Murray," said Chivey, "drink your 
 coffee. I can't stand no sulks." 
 
 "Very good," responded his master. 
 
 And he drank the coffee as he was bidden. 
 
 Chivey 's contempt for Herbert Murray increased four- 
 fold from that moment. 
 
 "Just order some chartreuse for me, "said he, sharply ; 
 "do you hear?" 
 
 As he raised his voice, Murray lost patience. 
 
 He grew rather pale, and turning to his servant, said, in 
 a tone indicative of self-restraint 
 
 ' Be careful, Chivey, be careful, I tell you." 
 
 ' What for ? " 
 
 ' If you put too much on to me, I may thrash you. " 
 
 ' You ? " 
 
 'Yes. Be more civil." 
 
 ' As for thrashing," said Chivey, " I don't know that 
 you could. I don't believe you would ever have had 
 enough pluck to try it on, if you thought I would 
 stand up to you. I have stood your bullying long 
 enough. I worked this job especially to get you under 
 my thumb. You may as well know it now. You 
 dropped into the trap like a lambkin well, what is it 
 now ? " 
 
 He broke off because Murray, with an ejaculation of 
 disgust, jumped up and walked out of the garden. 
 
 Chivey burst out into a loud and boisterous laugh. 
 
 "But where's he gone to, I wonder?"
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 261 
 
 He did not feel quite at ease upon this score, so he got 
 up, and went in search of his master. 
 
 "The gentleman asked the way to the gravel pits," 
 said a man, at the door of the hotel, in reply to Chivey's 
 inquiries. 
 
 "What can he want there?" muttered Chivey to him- 
 self. 
 
 He would go and see. 
 
 He did not like the idea of Herbert Murray being too 
 far away, so he was just starting off in pursuit, having 
 first inquired his way, when the British consul came up 
 and stopped him. 
 
 ' You are Mr. Murray's servant, I believe ? " 
 ' Yes, sir. " 
 ' I want him." 
 ' He's out, sir." 
 'When will he be back?" 
 'He'll not be long, sir." 
 
 ' I must see him as soon as he comes. I have some 
 bad news for him, and wish to break it gently." 
 Chivey pricked up his ears at this. 
 "Nothing very bad, I hope, sir?" 
 "Indeed it is." 
 
 ' ' I wish you would tell me what it is, sir. I shouldn't 
 like my poor master to know any thing very bad too 
 suddenly. " 
 
 The consul gave Chivey a sharp glance. 
 ' Are you discreet ? " 
 'Of course, sir." 
 
 'Well, then, your master's father is dead." 
 Dead?" 
 'Yes." 
 
 ' When ? How did you know it, sir ? " 
 ' He went down in the ' Harpy ' on his way hither to 
 join his son, if we can believe the papers." 
 
 "How dreadful," exclaimed the tiger, looking ine*>- 
 pressibly shocked. " I'll go and seek the guv'nor, sir." 
 "But be careful," said the consul. 
 
 No sooner was Mr. Chivey out of sight and hearing of 
 the consul, than he executed a boisterous double shuffle 
 to a mirthful accompaniment of his own. 
 
 "The old boss has snuffed it, has he ? " he said to him- 
 self. "We must be worth coin now a bag of money.
 
 262 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 It is more than ever this child's game to keep a tight hand 
 over Herbert. Now for him." 
 
 He made his way with all despatch to the gravel pits to 
 which he had been directed, and here surely he came 
 upon his master, Herbert Murray. 
 
 Orphan Herbert. 
 
 Remorseless young scoundrel that he was, Chivey 
 never thought of this with the least feeling of pity for his 
 master. 
 
 "I must keep my fist on him hard," said Chivey, again 
 and again ; "rule of thumb is my motter." 
 
 He walked on hurriedly, for he felt more anxious than 
 ever to come up with Herbert. 
 
 A barren, desolate-looking part was that surrounding 
 the gravel pits, several miles from any signs of a human 
 dwelling. 
 
 "This is the sort o' place," said the tiger, to himself, 
 "that I should like to have had that young Jack Harka- 
 way fellow all alone no witnesses, and his hands tied. 
 Ah, yes, his hands tied by all means. I never see such 
 knuckles as that beast has got. They're just like iron, 
 and they've got such a beastly low way of finding out a 
 feller's sore spots. I should like to give him toko ; and 
 yet I could almost forgive him when I look back to that 
 awful doing which he gave Herbert. What's that ? It's 
 him." 
 
 Yes, there was his master sitting upon the ground by 
 the edge of one of the deepest of the gravel pits, peering 
 down into its depths moodily. 
 
 A book lay open at his side, as though he had been 
 reading in this dreary spot. 
 
 Chivey chuckled. 
 
 "He's got a royal hump on him," said the tiger. 
 "Took a dose of doleful. I hope he won't go and com- 
 mit susanside. Oh, no," he added, "he ain't got the 
 pluck." 
 
 He approached. 
 
 " Murray," said Chivey, in his coarsest manner. 
 
 Herbert looked up at the sound of his voice. 
 
 "What do you want here, Chivey ? " he said. "I don't 
 wish to be intruded upon." 
 
 Chivey grinned. 
 
 " Do you hear ? " continued Murray.
 
 ffIS BOY TINKER. 263 
 
 "Oh, yes, I hear." 
 
 *' Then leave me." 
 
 "Oh, you are a treat, you are, and no error." 
 
 "Do you hear what I said?" replied Herbert. "Go 
 away. " 
 
 "Come now, I tell you what it is, Murray. I ain't 
 going to have you so cheeky. So come, jump up." 
 
 Herbert Murray bent his head lower yet. 
 
 Chivey could not see the strange expression of his face, 
 or he would not have pushed matters any further. 
 
 Herbert's face was deathly pale, his lips were blood- 
 less. This young man had been well educated and 
 passed his boyhood amongst people from whom he had 
 learnt to feel occasionally something like the instincts of 
 a gentleman. 
 
 Evil courses and dissipation had led him into the follies 
 we have seen him commit. 
 
 Chivey, his tiger, was more than any one responsible 
 for Herbert's lapsing into such evil ways. 
 
 How a youth decently brought up could have fallen 
 into the error of making an associate of such an illiterate, 
 ignorant youth as this Chivey, is not easy to understand. 
 
 " Do you hear me, young fellow ? " said Chivey, im- 
 periously. 
 
 Herbert Murray never heeded his words. 
 
 "Come, I say." 
 
 And there the tiger made the mistake. 
 
 He ventured so far as to give his master a gentle 
 reminder with the tip of his boot. 
 
 Murray sprang up with a cry like that of a savage 
 beast just wounded, and he fell upon his insolent servant. 
 
 Chivey gave a cry of alarm. 
 
 He would have fallen back. 
 
 But too late. 
 
 Herbert Murray had not voice for words. 
 
 Passion choked him. 
 
 Holding his traitor servant with one hand, he ham- 
 mered at him with the other, until his strength, and not 
 his will, failed him. 
 
 Then, gathering up his force for a last effort, he seized 
 him with both hands and hurled the unfortunate tiger from 
 him with such desperation that Chivey fell half stunned 
 and bleeding on the ground
 
 264 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 " Murder ! " he cried faintly, " murder, help ! " 
 
 Herbert whipped out a revolver from his breast-pocket 
 
 " It isn't murder yet, devil," he hissed at him between 
 his fast-set teeth ; " but that's coming next." 
 
 " Help ! " 
 
 Herbert cocked the revolver. 
 
 ' ' Mercy ! " cried Chivey, wildly ; ' ' oh, sir, do have 
 mercy. " 
 
 His master laughed. 
 
 "Oh, sir, do have mercy on a poor cove. I never did 
 you no harm. I've been a good servant to you, and I 
 will be again. " 
 
 "No, you'll not," retorted Herbert Murray, "never 
 again." 
 
 This quiet retort made Chivey quake from top to toe. 
 
 " Mercy," he gasped. 
 
 "Take that," said Murray. 
 
 He thrust out his pistol and pulled the trigger. 
 
 Click. But no report. 
 
 He was wrong when he had pronounced it loaded in 
 every chamber. 
 
 One was empty, and this was the very one. 
 
 "Confusion ! " he exclaimed, with an oath. 
 
 He cocked it again, while Chivey was up and creeping 
 fearfully backwards, facing his foe. 
 
 Herbert Murray followed him up with outstretched hand. 
 
 Unsuspectingly Chivey was backing on the brink of 
 the deepest gravel pit. 
 
 "Die," said Herbert Murray, thrusting the revolver 
 forward. 
 
 "Hah!" 
 
 The tiger scrambled back. 
 
 A moment more and he was over the precipice and had 
 fallen backwards down that fearful height. 
 
 A wild, despairing cry he gave as he fell. 
 
 Murray drew near. 
 
 A low, hollow groan came up from the bottom of the 
 pit. 
 
 Then all was still. 
 
 Dead! 
 
 "He's gone," said Herbert Murray, turning deathly 
 white; "it is no fault of mine. He brought it on him 
 self. He's dead, and I am free."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 265 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 MOURNING THE ORPHAN HIS APPARITION CRUEL HOAX RE- 
 TALIATION HUNTING FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES TARRING AND 
 
 FEATHERING MAMMOTH BLACKBIRDS. 
 
 WHILE the events just related were occurring in the 
 obscure Spanish port, Jack Harkaway, junior, and his 
 friends were on their way down the Mediterranean. 
 
 A lucky escape it was for them, one and all. 
 
 "I'm very sorry," said Jack, upon the following day, 
 ''that we have missed our old friend the orphan." 
 
 "Poor old Figgins ! " returned Harry Girdwood ; "I 
 should have liked him with us too." 
 
 They felt the want of some sort of a butt, be it remarked, 
 to supply the place of genial lying, bragging, affectionate, 
 old Isaac Mole. 
 
 Figgins, the self-styled orphan, just rilled this place 
 admirably, with one or two characteristics which were 
 
 new. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 Now, while Jack and Harry Girdwood were talking 
 over the loss of poor Figgins, Tinker and Bogey were 
 seated astride the hatchway leading to the fore-cabin. 
 
 They were serious as judges, and Tinker was reading 
 his dependant a fine moral lesson, when suddenly Bogey 
 looked over the stairs and stared as wildly as if he had 
 seen a ghost. 
 
 "Look hyar, Massa Tinker," he whispered. 
 
 "Whar?" 
 
 " Down dere." 
 
 "Ugh ugh u up!" grinned Tinker, with difficulty 
 repressing his mirth, " hyar's a gollopshus, cata wampus, 
 thunderin' great larks, ugh up." 
 
 "What is it, Tinker ? " demanded young Jack. 
 
 " Hush, sar ; hold your blessed tongue, sar, d'rec'ly of 
 sooner. " 
 
 "Well ! " said his master, "that's polite." 
 
 "A gemman's coming up, sar. Oh, my ! sich larks."
 
 266 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 He appeared as though about to be convulsed again 
 with laughter, and rocked about so upon his perch that 
 Jack thought every minute he would fall. 
 
 "Oh, sich larks!" repeated the black lad. "You 
 nebber guess what." 
 
 " What larks do you mean ? " asked Jack. " I believe 
 you have been drinking, you rascal." 
 
 Tinker looked supremely offended. 
 
 "No, sar," 
 
 "You have." 
 
 "Not a drop, sar," protested the darkey. 
 
 " I've half a mind to give you a good thrashing," con- 
 tinued Jack. 
 
 Tinker slid off his perch sharply, and got just a safe 
 distance away. 
 
 'Thrashin' nebber good, sar, allus miserable dam bad, 
 sar. Only good for Bogey." 
 
 "No, 'tain't," said the person most nearly concerned. 
 " Bewful ting for my s'perior hossifer ; berry bad ting for 
 Bogey." 
 
 " Quiet, you ugly brack nigger," said Tinker. " Hyar 
 comes Massa Orfin." 
 
 Mr. Figgins came slowly and unsuspectingly up the 
 hatchway. 
 
 He was not thinking of any thing in particular, nor did 
 he notice either the black boys' or our hero, young Jack 
 Harkaway, who was standing close by with his friend 
 Harry Girdwood. 
 
 In fact, although the orphan possessed some amount of 
 Cockney shrewdness he must have had some wit to 
 have been a successful trader in London he was, just at 
 that moment, in a state of mental abstraction, very favour- 
 able to the perpetration of a practical joke. 
 
 Half a dozen more steps, and he was at the top of the 
 companion ladder. 
 
 As Mr. Figgins stepped on to the deck, the two 
 mischievous niggers seized the tremulous orphan in the 
 rear. 
 
 "We arretht you, sar," exclaimed Tinker. "We am 
 all pirates, and you must walk de bressed plank or be 
 strung up." 
 
 They seized him by his garments, and hrew him on 
 his hands and knees.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 267 
 
 He roared loudly. 
 
 ' ' Murder ! " cried Mr. Figgins ; ' ' help ! I'm done for ! " 
 
 " What are you doing with Mr. Figgins?" exclaimed 
 the captain. 
 
 The others tried to tip him the wink. 
 
 But the captain was not very much alive to fun, and he 
 failed to see what it meant. 
 
 Mr. Figgins, on hearing a friendly voice, looked up. 
 
 And then he learnt that instead of being surrounded 
 by pirates, it was only the mischievous Tinker and Bogey 
 larking. 
 
 Jack was standing close by, and with him was Harry 
 Girdwood, grinning all over their faces. 
 
 The orphan disliked ridicule greatly. 
 
 He changed colour and looked rather sheepish, and 
 then he got up a faint grin, as if to join in the fun. 
 
 " I'll take it out of those two young devils," he said to 
 himself, as he sneaked off to his cabin. "Only let me 
 get half a chance, and I'll worry them." 
 
 He kept his word. 
 
 * * * # # if. 
 
 They had been through the Straits of Gibraltar some 
 time, and were sailing lazily along the Mediterranean, 
 when one day they were becalmed off the coast of Tunis. 
 
 While there a sudden disturbance arose on shore, 
 and it became known on board that a number of slaves 
 had escaped, thanks to the common sense of a few 
 English residents there. 
 
 Boats were put off, and a search ordered on board the 
 ships riding at anchor along the coast, for those slaves 
 were the property of the Bey of Tunis himself, and his 
 highness was not the sort of man to tamely submit to a 
 loss. 
 
 Tinker heard the matter discussed, and he naturally 
 enough for a gentleman of colour, took a very lively 
 interest in it. 
 
 The orphan Figgins was there to communicate with 
 them. 
 
 "Well, Bogey," said he, wishing to have some fun 
 with them, "if they do send on board here to search for 
 their slaves, they are very likely to insist upon taking 
 you or Tinker." 
 
 The latter pricked up his ears.
 
 2 68 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Not exactly," said Tinker. 
 
 "Oh, I don't know," said Mr. Figgins, seriously ; "we 
 mustn't be too sure." 
 
 "Dey couldn't take dis chile." 
 
 " It is not a question of that, Tinker," said Mr. Figgins ; 
 " as for their power to take you, there isn't much doubt 
 about that. The only thing is, would they be merciful ? 
 I am inclined to think not" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Dey can't take me," said Bogey, looking very fright- 
 ened. " I'se not one ob dere niggars. " 
 
 ' ' That doesn't matter ; all niggers are alike all black 
 cattle." 
 
 Tinker shot at the speaker an indignant glance. 
 
 "I'll gib you black cattle," said he to himself. 
 
 "The fact is, Bogey," said the orphan, " I don't want 
 them to come here and get hold of you, for if the captain 
 did give you up " 
 
 "He wouldn't." 
 
 "Oh, yes, he would." 
 
 "Nebbah!" 
 
 " You're wrong there. He'd sooner give you up than 
 
 ?et into any mess with the big-wigs here, and if he does 
 shall miss my retaliation. " 
 
 "Your what, sir?" 
 
 "Tallyashun," said Bogey. "What the debil dat, 
 sar ? " 
 
 "My chance of paying you out for the tricks you have 
 played off on me." 
 
 "Yah, yah!" guffawed the two of them in chorus. 
 ' ' We have larks wid you and hab more yet " 
 
 <' Very funny, " said the orphan, with a vicious look. 
 "Well, I mean to tar and feather you for your larks." 
 
 Tinker pretended to look very frightened, and Bogey, 
 taking the cue from his master, made an extravagant 
 show of shaking at the knees. 
 
 "Oh, Massa Figgins, you so big and strong sar an' 
 so berry fine man, sar. You no hurt de poor niggar, 
 sar?" 
 
 "You'll see," said Mr. Figgins ; and he walked away. 
 
 He went below, and bribed two of the sailors for some 
 
 purpose or another, which only transpired later on. 
 * * * * * *
 
 fflS BOY TINKER. 269 
 
 One of the crew came running up to where Tinker and 
 Bogey stood by the cook's galley, chatting with him and 
 sniffing the steam that arose from a savoury stew. 
 
 ' ' Tinker," cried the sailor, " you've only got time." 
 
 "What for?'" 
 
 "Just bare time ; for they'll be on deck soon." 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 ' ' And as for trying to put them off, why, it's no more 
 use than nothing. Nat Cringle says that the skipper's 
 sure to give you up, the pair of you. He daren't refuse. 
 Of course they'd do justice to your memory. But before 
 they could find out as you weren't theirs, you'd be bow- 
 strung, or something of that kind." 
 
 Tinker looked utterly dismayed as the sailor went on, 
 and as for Bogey, he was ready to give way now at the 
 knees, much as he had shammed to do before Mr. 
 Figgins. 
 
 Just at this moment Mr. Figgins came up hurriedly, 
 and seemingly in a state of considerable alarm. 
 
 "Oh, my poor fellows," he exclaimed, in a state of 
 great alarm apparently ; " here they come." 
 
 ' ' Who ? " cried Tinker. 
 
 ' ' Where ? " said Bogey. 
 
 "Is dey many?" 
 
 "Twenty men, armed to the teeth, to capture run- 
 away slaves," returned Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "Oh, golly!" 
 
 "All with scimitars, big enough to cleave an elephant 
 in two. " 
 
 " Oh, Jerusalem ! " gasped Tinker ; "how offul." 
 
 "Drefful," ejaculated Bogey ; "beastly offul, drefful." 
 
 "What shall we do?" 
 
 "There is nothing for it," returned Mr. Figgins. 
 
 "Only to die or go into slavery," added one of the 
 sailors. 
 
 " Mussy on us ! " cried Tinker. 
 
 "Oh, Massa Figgins, do save a poor miserable cove, 
 an' I'll bress you. Oh, do, sar, I'll nebar hab no larks 
 ag'in wid you, sar ; s'elp me golly, sar. " 
 "You promise, Tinker?" said Mr. Figgins. 
 "Oh, yes, sar." 
 "Swear, then." 
 "I don't like to, sar."
 
 270 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 "Swear, I tell you. Do you know what an oath 
 is?" 
 
 'Yes, sar." 
 
 'Then swear." 
 
 'If I must, sar." 
 
 'Certainly you must ; I insist upon it." 
 
 'Well, den, you'se a dam tief, a ugly old orphan, 
 
 blarm yah ; you, you " 
 
 "Stop, stop," cried Mr. Fig-gins; "that's not the sort 
 of swearing I mean. I want you to take an oath that 
 you will never again behave so disgracefully to me." 
 'I swear dat, sar." 
 
 ' Good ; then I'll try and save you, Tinker." 
 ' An' me, sar ? " 
 'And you, too, Bogey." 
 
 ' Bress your 'art, Massa Figgins ; you'se a good sort. " 
 ' I hope so. Now down with you below. Go with 
 him," he added, pointing to the sailor, "while I stop 
 here and put them off if they insist upon going below." 
 Off went the two darkeys with the sailor. 
 After a few moments the orphan went after them, and 
 getting to the hatchway, he shuffled about a good deal, 
 and made a rare lumbering noise with his feet, so as to 
 make it sound as though there were a whole host of peo- 
 ple moving about. 
 
 Then he ran nimbly down the companion ladder into 
 the cabin, where Tinker and Bogey shivered up in a 
 corner, hiding behind two big barrels. 
 
 ' ' Look out, " exclaimed Mr. Figgins, in a whisper ; 
 " they are coming." 
 "Who?" 
 
 ' ' The Tunisians, in search of their slaves, who have 
 escaped. " 
 "Golly 1" 
 
 " Dey ain't gwine to come down hyar ?" said Bogey, 
 anxiously. 
 
 "Yes ; hark ! Here they come." 
 
 "Oh, golly, Massa Figgins," cried Tinker. " I'se a 
 dead un. Do go fetch Massa Harkaway. " 
 
 "I have no time to find him. Where can I put you ? " 
 said Mr. Figgins, looking about him for a hiding-place. 
 ' ' Why, here you are ; creep into this barrel, both of you. 
 In you go."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 2 7 l 
 
 Tinker obeyed with the greatest alacrity. 
 
 He was closely followed by his man Bogey. 
 
 But before Tinker had got to the full length, there came 
 a cry from the barrel that would certainly have betrayed 
 them had the search-party from land been near at hand. 
 
 "What is it?" exclaimed Mr. Figgins. "You'll ruin 
 all." 
 
 ' ' Dere's suffin all wet and sticky inside dat bressed 
 barrel," said Tinker. 
 ' Sticky ? " 
 ' Yes ; orful. " 
 1 What is it ? " 
 
 ' Dunno, sir; smell like tar." 
 
 'How unfortunate," said the orphan, with a sly look 
 at the sailor, who stood beside him. "Out with you, 
 creep into the next. Quick, for your life. " 
 
 " I'm in." 
 
 "So's me." 
 
 They scrambled in on all fours, and Mr. Figgins 
 clapped on the head of the cask. 
 
 But even this did not appear to satisfy them, for 
 Tinker's voice was heard in loud complaint. 
 
 "What is it now? " said Mr. Figgins. 
 
 " Dis barrel is chock full ob feathers, sar." 
 
 "Well they can't hurt you." 
 
 " No ; but dey's sticking to us 'ca'se ob dat oder muck 
 de tar." 
 
 " Well what of that ? Hush! I hear them coming." 
 
 Surely enough, the heavy tramp of footsteps was heard 
 on deck. 
 
 Then down the companion ladder three or four sailors 
 came, led by Nat Cringle. 
 
 They kicked up a rare hullabaloo, and one of them 
 snapped a pistol. 
 
 Then they seized hold of the barrel in which the two 
 niggers were concealed, and gave it a roll backwards and 
 forwards, after which they departed. 
 
 "Now," ejaculated Mr. Figgins, knocking off the lid, 
 "now's your time. Fly, for your lives. " 
 
 Tinker scrambled out and got up the companion ladder 
 somehow, dosely followed by Bogey. 
 
 Having very little clothing on, they were covered with 
 feathers from head to foot.
 
 272 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 The first barrel had been carefully coated with tar, so 
 that turn, which way they would, they could not escape it. 
 
 The second barrel contained the feathers of a dozen 
 fowls and ducks, and these stuck to our dusky practical 
 jokers in a way they had never counted upon. 
 
 On reaching the deck, they found themselves faced by 
 nearly the whole of the passengers and crew, and they 
 were greeted with a perfect storm of laughter. 
 
 They saw that they had been the victims of a hoax, and 
 they turned to retreat. 
 
 But, alack, the ladder was blocked by Mr. Figgins, Nat 
 Cringle, and the rest of the sailors who had participated 
 in the fun. 
 
 "Whatever are these funny-looking objects?" said 
 Harry Girdwood, coming on deck with young Jack. 
 
 "New specimens. Mammoth blackbirds," cried Jack, 
 laughing at Bogey and his boy Tinker as they ran about, 
 not knowing where to hide themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 HOW TINKER DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AN ALARM THE SHARK 
 
 TINKER DOES A DEED OF DARING. 
 
 TINKER looked quite crestfallen. 
 
 "We look like birds moulting; but keep up your 
 pecker, massa," whispered Bogey. 
 
 " Whatever have you been up to ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "I'll tell you," said the orphan, beaming with satisfac- 
 tion at the success of his exploit. " They were in a 
 dreadful fright of being taken away by the Tunis people, 
 who were hunting after the runaway slaves, and so they 
 disguised themselves as a pair of geese." 
 
 ' ' Ha, ha, ha ! " 
 
 "You laugh, Massa Jack, "said Bogey, ruefully. "You 
 no like for to be in such a Dressed pickle yourself." 
 
 This made them laugh more boisterously than ever. 
 
 "Stop a bit," said Harry Girdwood. " Here's a riddle 
 for you." 
 
 "Out with it"
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 2 7 ^ 
 
 "Why are Tinker and Bogey like the champions of the 
 Thames and Tyne? " 
 
 " Because they handle their skulls so well," said Jack, 
 promptly. 
 
 This was greeted with a perfect yell of laughter, as 
 Tinker and Bogey were scratching furiously at their 
 woolly heads. 
 
 "No," said Harry; "it's because they feather so 
 beautifully." 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" 
 
 Mr. Figgins laughed louder than all the rest together. 
 
 Bogey, who was very sensitive to ridicule, made a des- 
 perate effort to get down below again. 
 
 But this the assembled company would not allow. 
 
 He tore ferociously at his itching skin. 
 
 "Oh, golly !" he cried out in despair, "what shall I 
 do to get off dese bressed feathers ? " 
 
 " I'll tell you how, Sambo," said one of the sailors. 
 
 Bogey turned eagerly to the speaker. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " Go to the cook's galley, and get him to pluck you in 
 the regular way " 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha ! " 
 
 "I'll tell you another way," said Nat Cringle. 
 
 "Out with it." 
 
 " Let's draw up two lines, and give them a fair run 
 down the middle while we souse 'em with water." 
 
 The orphan was standing very close to Tinker enjoying 
 the fun. Tinker saw him, and at once made a rush, 
 clutching him round the waist. 
 
 " I's got yar, Massa Orphan," he said ; "now, I gibe 
 you some of my tar and feathers make you look like old 
 goose. " 
 
 And Tinker began to rub himself against the orphan. 
 
 The next moment they rolled over and over together on 
 the deck, the orphan each time getting plenty of Tinker's 
 tar and feathers, and each time screaming loudly for 
 help. 
 
 At last Jack, amidst much laughter, managed to pull 
 Tinker off. 
 
 Tinker then gave a sharp look about him, meaning to 
 ir.ake a run for it. 
 
 But there was no escape. 
 18
 
 2/4 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 They were too well encompassed to get off. 
 
 In almost less time than it takes to tell the tale, buckets 
 Were brought and passed round. 
 
 Then there was an opening made in their ranks, and 
 Tinker made a sudden rush. 
 
 He was not quick enough, however. 
 
 Two of the buckets were emptied over him as he flew, 
 and Bogey got the contents of three more as he followed 
 his master. 
 
 "Reserve the rest till they come back," said Jack. 
 
 But they did not come back. 
 
 Tinker made one desperate rush to the first vacant 
 space at the ship's side, and without more ado, sprang up 
 on the bulwarks. 
 
 ' ' Dis de way I'se gwine to wash dem dam fedders 
 off ! " he shouted. 
 
 And overboard he leaped. 
 
 A cry of alarm was raised. 
 
 But before a second cry could be uttered, Bogey was 
 after him. 
 
 In an instant the adventure was robbed of its comic 
 aspect. 
 
 Alarm was depicted upon every countenance. 
 
 The cry was raised 
 
 " Man overboard! " 
 
 "Lower boats." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 Old Nat Cringle and another well-disciplined man old 
 salts who had served in the Royal Navy set to work 
 promptly and methodically, without any of that wild 
 hurry-scurry which defeats itself. 
 
 Two boats were very promptly lowered. 
 
 ' ' There's no danger for Tinker, " said Jack. ' ' He swims 
 like any fish in the sea." 
 
 "And as for Bogey, he could live for a week in the 
 water," added Harry. 
 
 Everybody had rushed over to the side of the vessel, 
 and all eyes were straining eagerly after the two negro 
 boys. 
 
 But no signs of them were visible at present. 
 
 "They don't seem to come up very quickly," said Jack* 
 anxiously. 
 
 Mr. Figgins was precious ill at ease now.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 27S 
 
 This desperate conclusion to the fun quite spoilt the 
 joke, and he would have given something never to have 
 had a hand in it. 
 
 "Dear, dear! " he exclaimed, "I hope no harm will 
 come to the poor boys." 
 
 His distress of mind was so genuine that Jack Harka- 
 way took pity upon him, and did his best to reassure 
 him. 
 
 "They had a good deep dive," said he. " It's no joke 
 a jump from the side here. But I'll wager that they are 
 only taking a second dive, just to frighten us." 
 
 But now the boats were lowered, Nat Cringle and an- 
 other sailor in one, and three sailors in the other. 
 
 They pulled away from the ship some little distance, 
 until a welcome cry came from one of the boats 
 ' There they are ! " 
 'Where?"' 
 
 ' Out yonder, ever so far." 
 ' I see them," cried Jack. 
 
 'Tinker ahoy!" shouted Nat Cringle. "Bogey, you 
 waggybone, come back." 
 
 " Tinker ! " 
 
 Tinker was seen swimming lazily along with one hand 
 whilst with the other he was busily engaged upon his 
 feathers, which stuck to him with remarkable perti- 
 nacity. 
 
 "Tinker." 
 
 Tinker was within hearing now. 
 
 "I'se comin'," he answered, "when dese bressed 
 fedders all off." 
 
 It was a curious sight to watch the antics of the sable 
 pair in the water. 
 
 They both could do just as they liked in it, and the way 
 they paddled round each other, and trod the water with 
 their feet while they picked the feathers off each other's 
 carcase, was a regular side-splitting sight. 
 
 Suddenly a cry was raised which sent a thrill of terror 
 through every frame. 
 
 "Sharks !" 
 
 "Drop that, Small," cried Jack Harkaway ; "that's no 
 joke. " 
 
 " That it ain't, sir," replied the sailor, "but a bora fact j 
 look there."
 
 376 YO UNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Jack followed the direction in which the sailor pointed, 
 and then he perceived a huge white shark playing about 
 under the ship's counter. 
 
 "Shark ! " shouted Jack, with all his force. 
 
 "Den be golly, Massa Harkaway," replied Tinker, 
 " you tar and fedder him." 
 
 "Into the boat with you!" yelled Jack, wildly ; 
 ' ' sharks, I say. " 
 
 Every instant he expected to see the monster turn and 
 dart in the direction of the unhappy negroes. But 
 strangely enough the shark did not appear to notice 
 them. 
 
 As soon as the word "shark" was spoken, a Yankee 
 sailor named Biles, bolted down below and reappeared 
 laden with a strong chain and hook, upon which was fixed 
 a huge morsel of fat pork. 
 
 Besides this, he carried two other pieces of meat. 
 
 The pork bait struck the water. 
 
 Then the Yankee sailor threw over one of his pieces of 
 loose bait, a little nearer to where the shark was swim- 
 ming about. 
 
 The monster of the deep struck after it as it sank, and 
 snapped it up. 
 
 Then he shot out after the next piece, and Biles gave a 
 sudden tug at the line he had affixed to the chain. 
 
 " Hooked him," exclaimed Biles ; " hurrah ! " 
 
 The interest now was clean gone from Tinker and Bogey, 
 who were safe, and centred in the white shark, who had 
 just swallowed Mr. Biles's bait in the mildest and most 
 tt^duspectin^f manner imaginable. 
 
 Now, as ^oon as the shark felt the hook, he made a 
 desperate plunge to get free, and had not the line been a 
 precious stout one, it would never have stood the shock. 
 
 As it was, however, it held out bravely. 
 
 Biles played with him a bit, and let him run out a good 
 distance. 
 
 Then he tightened his rope, and began to haul in. 
 
 Mr. Shark objected, but the Yankee would not be 
 denied. 
 
 " He's getting bad," said one of the bystanders; "I 
 wouldn't like to be near him now." 
 
 Tinker, it would seem, entertained quite a different 
 opinion, as we shall see.
 
 &IS BOY TINKER. 2ft 
 
 As soon as he got alongside, he scrambled up on deck 
 like a monkey and ran off down below. 
 
 "There goes Tinker," laughed Jack. 
 
 In the space of a few minutes, back came Tinker, carry* 
 ing a freshly-ground cutlass. 
 
 Jack saw him, and stepped forward in some alarm. 
 
 What could he mean ? 
 
 Was he about to wreak vengeance upon Mr. Figgins ? 
 
 He feared so. 
 
 " Now, sir, what is this for?" asked Jack, sternly. 
 
 " Tse gwine to take a walk wid Massa Shark." 
 
 Tinker then sprang up on to the bulwark, and waved 
 his cutlass as he called out very loudly to the orphan 
 
 "Now, Massa Figbox, I'se gwine to show you how to 
 carve up shark for table. If you got de pluck, jist you 
 come and tar and fedder him." 
 
 Then with a wild, derisive laugh, and before anyone 
 could interfere to stop him in his mad freak, over he 
 plunged again sword in hand. 
 
 The water was clear and translucid, and they could see 
 fathoms down. 
 
 But Tinker went clear out of sight. 
 
 They watched eagerly for his reappearance, but a 
 sudden and violent plunge of the shark drew off their 
 attention. 
 
 "Look out," cried Biles. 
 
 Just then the shark shook all over again as if suddenly 
 palsied, and the water was dyed red all round him. 
 
 Then Tinker suddenly shot up to the surface upon the 
 other side of the shark, swimming with his left arm, 
 while in his right hand he waved the cutlass dripping with 
 blood. 
 
 He had contrived to keep under long enough to plunge 
 the cutlass thrice into the monster's belly. 
 
 The third time up to the hilt it went, and Tinker had a 
 bath of blood. 
 
 The shark had had enough. 
 
 It rolled over, and then lay flat and motionless upon 
 the water. 
 
 Tinker had done for him. 
 
 4 ' Bravo, Tinker ! " 
 
 A dozen voices caught up the cry, and Jack's brave boy 
 Tinker became the hero of the hour.
 
 278 YOUNG JACK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 NEWS FROM HOME STRANGE TIDINGS ROBBERY "AYE, AND 
 
 FORGERY, TOO ! " PRECAUTIONS ON AGAIN THE TURKISH 
 PORT DARE-DEVIL JACK A PROMISE OF ADVENTURE ONCE 
 MORE. 
 
 A RIGHT pleasant cruise they had, and we would fain 
 linger with them as they pursue their way up the sunny 
 Mediterranean. But we must bear in mind how great is 
 the work before us, and how small is the space remain- 
 ing at our disposal, and resist temptation. 
 
 Let us push on, then. 
 
 Malta was the most important station on their way, 
 and this was because sundry passengers were expecting 
 letters there from home. 
 
 Amongst the number was Jack Harkaway. 
 
 Letters from home ! 
 
 Welcome, indeed, were they to everyone on board. 
 
 And they who hoped for some sign from those they had 
 left behind, and found not a line, were naturally sadly 
 crestfallen and disappointed. 
 
 Any but the veriest egotist might surely think of those 
 that are far away. 
 
 A few short lines, however hastily written, may send a 
 thrill of joy through the heart of the absent one. 
 
 It is cruel, then, to neglect such a duty under the plea 
 that you "are such a bad correspondent," or that you 
 "detest writing letters." 
 
 The worst pretext of all is, perhaps, the one which is 
 the most frequently made " I haven't had time." 
 
 The very slowest of slow correspondents can find time 
 to idle away some scattered moments of his or her 
 busiest day. 
 
 Never mind if your orthography is weak enough to 
 Cause you to run a muck at a ' ; bee. " 
 
 No matter if your pothooks and hangers are execrable.. 
 
 Send the absent and expectant ones a scrawl. 
 
 Let them be able to decipher ,no more than the bare
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 279 
 
 address, it will cause them a feeling of pleasure, be as- 
 sured. 
 
 Well, Jack Harkaway and his friends were among the 
 lucky ones. 
 
 There were letters for Jack and for Harry Girdwood. 
 
 Jack's first. 
 
 His will tell a tale for itself which should not be with- 
 out a certain interest for the faithful who have followed 
 his fortunes up to the present. 
 
 Jack comfortably seated himself, broke the seal, and 
 began to read the letter from home. 
 
 And this is the letter which old Jack Harkaway had 
 written to his hopeful son. 
 
 " MY OWN DEAR JACK, Since receiving your first letter, I 
 have written to you twice. Your dear mother has likewise, 
 and although we have heard from you twice, your letters 
 contain no acknowledgment of ours. What does this 
 mean ? Can our letters have miscarried ? We fear so. 
 Need I go over the old ground, my dear boy ? Need I say 
 how wild with joy we were to receive your first letter, and to 
 learn that you had escaped the peril which the deliberate 
 villany of old Murray had placed you in ? This is the 
 fourth letter to you. 
 
 "Now it is very remarkable that you should not reply, 
 because my letters both alluded to a matter which should 
 certainly have claimed your attention. I alluded to your 
 extravagance. This, my dear boy, is a new weakness, 
 and one which should be nipped in the bud. When you 
 draw cheques for four hundred pounds at once, it is high 
 time to reflect upon what is going forward, upon how far 
 you may be allowing yourself to be led away by persons 
 who are either thoughtless or unscrupulous. And I cer- 
 tainly feel it my duty to mention the fact, as habits of 
 extravagant expenditure are likely to grow upon one, and 
 at some time or other there comes, however great your 
 fortune, an imperative necessity to put on the skid and 
 pull up ; this would be attended with painful feelings of 
 self-sacrifice. I hope that an early date will bring on an 
 acknowledgment of this letter, and the assurance that both 
 yourself and Harry are well and happy and not too wild. 
 
 "Your affectionate father, 
 "J. H."
 
 2&0 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WA Y AND 
 
 Jack was astounded. What could it mean ? 
 
 He ran away after Harry Girdwood as fast as his legs 
 would take him. 
 
 Harry had received letters, too, from England. 
 
 One of these was in a lady's handwriting, and he was 
 eagerly reading it when his friend exclaimed 
 
 "Harry." 
 
 "What is it, Jack?" 
 
 "Read that." 
 
 He placed his father's letter in Harry's hands. 
 
 Harry read it down, but on coming to the four-hundred- 
 pounds question, Jack s comrade was surprised. 
 
 " What does that mean, Harry ?" 
 
 Harry pondered a long while over this before he spoke. 
 ' There is but one explanation possible," said Harry. 
 ' And that is ? " 
 'Villany. Forgery." 
 
 'Good Heaven, Harry! " exclaimed Jack, " it is im- 
 possible. " 
 
 ' What other explanation can you give me ? " 
 'None." 
 
 'Now, Jack," said Harry, presently, "let us be practi- 
 cal. How could any stranger draw upon your credit ? " 
 
 "Only with my cheques," replied Jack; "but the 
 honest truth is that I have never examined my cheque- 
 book for some time." 
 
 "Then we must examine the cheque-book at once," 
 said Harry. 
 
 Jack soon had his cheque-book before him. 
 
 " It looks all right," said Jack. " Here's the last cheque 
 that I drew. " 
 
 "Go through it, Jack," said the more thoughtful Harry. 
 
 Jack soon discovered several cheques had been ab- 
 stracted. 
 
 "What can this mean, Harry?" cried Jack, aghast; 
 " who has done it ? " 
 
 "Do your suspicions rest on anyone, Jack?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 ****** 
 
 "I tell you what, Jack," said Harry, "we can't trace 
 it now, that is as clear as daylight. But the first step is 
 to write home." 
 
 "Yes."
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 2 8l 
 
 "Note down the numbers of the stolen cheques." 
 
 This was done. 
 
 "Now, in addition to this, write home that every cheque 
 you draw in future will bear some mark or sign in addi- 
 tion to your signature." 
 
 " Good, " said Jack. " I'll put your initials H. G." 
 
 "That will do as well as any thing else." 
 
 ' ' Now then to write home. " 
 
 The robbery of the cheques had been cunningly con- 
 trived. 
 
 They never suspected the real culprits. 
 
 But the numbers of the cheques being sent home, 
 nothing was easier than to trace them. 
 
 Each cheque reached the London bankers with several 
 endorsements which would enable them to go right back 
 to the original negotiator of it in Spain. 
 
 There was a chance then of the crime being punished. 
 We shall see the result. 
 
 ****** 
 
 The vessel made no more stoppages of any importance 
 until they came to a port not a thousand miles from 
 Lagos. 
 
 Here they cast anchor. 
 
 " I know the English consul here," said Captain Deer- 
 ing, " and he is a man of some distinction. He is likely 
 to stand well enough with the pasha to make matters 
 pretty comfortable for us while we stay here. " 
 
 "That sounds like business, Captain Deering," said 
 Jack. " I should like to go over the place." 
 
 "The pasha is sure to invite us. The only one word 
 of recommendation I have to offer you, Mr. Harkaway, 
 is that no mention be made of the harem." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 ' ' The subject is tabooed, according to Turkish etiquette." 
 
 ' ' Oh. crikey ! what fun we could have among 'em, then, " 
 said Jack. 
 
 "And they might have fun with you," replied Captain 
 Deering, significantly. 
 
 "What sort?" 
 
 " They have various diversions with the too curious," 
 returned the skipper. " Bowstringing is a favourite pas* 
 time, impaling is another." 
 
 "And so we can't see the harem ? '' said Jack,
 
 282 YOUNG JA CK HARKA WA Y AND 
 
 "Not only can't see it, but you must not mention it" 
 
 "That is the most unlucky thing of all." 
 
 "I was wrong in saying you could not see it. You 
 can see the outside of it. There, that large window, 
 before which dangles a palm-leaf mat as a sunblind, 
 right upon the edge of the water that is the saloon, 
 answering to the drawing-room, in which the beauties of 
 the seraglio assemble. " 
 
 "I should like to have a peep," said Jack, anxiously. 
 
 The skipper pulled a precious long face. 
 
 "No nonsense, Master Jack," said he, seriously. "It 
 would cost you your life. " 
 
 "Rather a long price to pay for a peep, captain." 
 
 "Yes, Jack, take my advice, and do not risk your life 
 
 by attempting to annoy the Turks. " 
 
 * ***** 
 
 " Harry," said Jack some time afterwards. 
 
 " Well, Jack ? " 
 
 "Tinker and Bogey are in the boat already." 
 
 "I'm afraid it is rather risky, Jack, after what Captain 
 Deering said. " 
 
 "Then don't come." 
 
 "If you are going." 
 
 "I am." 
 
 "Then so am I. Where you go, Jack, I'll go. I don't 
 mind danger ; I don't quite think it right to rush into it 
 for sheer foolery, but I'm blowed if you shall go alone. " 
 
 "Stow your palaver then," said Jack, with a grin, 
 " and over you go." 
 
 The old Harkaway temper was in him. 
 
 The spirit of adventure was too strong within him to be 
 resisted, no matter what the danger might be.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 283 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 A MOONLIGHT ADVENTURE AFLOAT THE BLACK BOATMEN AND 
 THEIR MYSTERIOUS CARGO A SACK FOR A COFFIN THE AS- 
 SASSINATION THE DEATH-CRY TINKER THE AVENGER HOW 
 
 HE SET TO WORK RETREAT. 
 
 IT was a bright moonlight night, so they resolved to go 
 ashore. 
 
 Tinker and Bogey rowed, pulling hard, and Jack steered, 
 while Harry Gird wood stood up in the boat, and gave all 
 the necessary directions. 
 
 "Let's make for the creek up beside that palace," said 
 he, pointing to a dark inlet on the right ; "that's our best 
 chance." 
 
 " Hush ! " 
 
 They rested awhile upon their oars in silence, for from 
 the pasha's palace came a warning sound. 
 
 A gong sounded in the distance, then came the grating 
 of a heavy gate, and forth from the creek came a boat. 
 
 Now in this boat were two men, turbaned black fellows 
 of sinister aspect, who were bringing a strange-looking 
 burthen out to sea. 
 
 In the boat was a sack, filled to the neck with some- 
 thing which riveted their attention, in spite of its outline 
 being so confused and indistinct. 
 
 "What's that they have in the sack? " whispered Harry 
 Girdwood., 
 
 "Hush!" 
 
 "They don't see us." 
 
 The palace cast such a black shadow in the strong 
 moonlight, that where our friends were in their boat, they 
 were almost invisible. 
 
 Their presence was unsuspected by the newcomers, 
 who pulled out into the open, and then proceeded to 
 complete the object of their journey. 
 
 They shipped their oars, and each took an end of their 
 strange burden. 
 
 Then on a given signal the sack was hoisted up, and 
 
 A piercing shriek rent the air.
 
 YOUNG JA CK HARK A WAY AND 
 
 There was no mistaking the direction from whence ft 
 came the sack. 
 
 " Did you hear that ? " 
 "Yes." 
 
 " What does it mean, Jack ? " whispered Harry. 
 
 Jack's answer was a single word, but expressive. 
 
 " Murder !." 
 
 " I believe it is. " 
 
 "What shall we do?" 
 
 "We could never save the poor wretch, whatever we 
 did, and we should only get into trouble uselessly." 
 
 "Hush!" 
 
 Another shriek, louder than before. 
 
 A muttered curse or two came from the boat where the 
 tragedy was being enacted. 
 
 The sack was hoisted up, and then pushed over the 
 boat's side. 
 
 A dull, heavy splash. 
 
 All was over. 
 
 A creepy, crawly feeling seized the occupants of the 
 boatload of spectators of this crime, and Harry Girdwood 
 shivered as he said in a whisper 
 
 " It sounded like a woman's voice, I thought." 
 
 "So did I," replied Jack ; " but you could hardly tell, 
 muffled as the voice was." 
 
 "Murdered a gal, "quoth Tinker, " I'seoff, Massa Jack, 
 to Charlestown after 'em." 
 
 " Brave Tinker ! " cried Jack, " you can do little good. " 
 
 But as he spoke, Tinker dropped over into the water. 
 
 He shot down under the water, and struck out at a 
 great pace for the boat containing the assassins. 
 
 He was alongside of it in a crack, just as the two 
 coloured villains in the boat put out the oars again to row 
 back. 
 
 He made a sudden grab at the nearest of the oars, and 
 wrested it out of the rower's hand. 
 
 Then, before the two could recover from their surprise, 
 he sprang at the edge of the boat, and jerking on it with 
 his whole weight, over it went. 
 
 The next instant all three were scrambling in the water 
 together. 
 
 The assassins raised a terrible hubbub, that soon brought 
 assistance from the palace.
 
 HIS BOY TINKER. 285 
 
 Lights were seen flashing to and fro, and an alarm gong 
 was heard beating. 
 
 "Jack." 
 
 ' ' What now ? " 
 
 " Sharp's the word." 
 
 " Good." 
 
 "Where's Tinker?" 
 
 " I don't know. We must wait for him." 
 
 "Yes; if we don't, he'd be bowstrung before many 
 hours are over." 
 
 "Unless he is lucky enough to get drowned." 
 
 "Tinker, hallo! " 
 
 " Hist ! Tinker, Tinker," cried Harry Girdwood. 
 
 The young negro's lithe form was soon seen shooting, 
 eel-like, through the water, and soon he was dragged inter 
 the boat 
 
 "Tinker, you vagabond, you've ruined all," said Jack. 
 
 "Yes, sar. " 
 
 "And as soon as we get back, I'm going to have you 
 tied up, and give you a dozen." 
 
 "Cakes, sir? " 
 
 "No, lashes." 
 
 "Golly!" cried the negro, "that's luck for dis chile. 
 What's I been doing ? " 
 
 "You have spoilt one of the best adventures we could 
 have had." 
 
 " And I spile them vagabond's beauty, sar. No vi'lence, 
 sar ; Tinker only rub the boat's scull agin the nigger's 
 skull rader hard, sar, like, and, oh golly ! Massa Hark- 
 away, you should heerd 'em squirm and squeal. " 
 
 " I did, and so did they hear them in the palace. The 
 game's up for to-night, and all through you. We must 
 try again to-morrow." 
 
 Tinker sulked. 
 
 " I thought you allus liked, Massa Harkaway, to pay 
 out dem dam catawampus, thundering, immense thieves, 
 sar. I should like to spifflicate de whole bilin', sar." 
 ' Did they see you ? " 
 
 ' Dey too frightened, sar, " grinned the darkey. 
 ' What could they have taken you for ? " Tinker. 
 'De debil," suggested Bogey, promptly. 
 'Very likely," said Jack. "Tinker's not unlike 
 him."
 
 *86 YOUNG JACK HARKAWAY AND -HIS BOY TINKER. 
 
 "Well, sar, you ought to know; I don't keep sich 
 company myself, sar, and can't say." 
 
 The boats from the palace were seen issuing from the 
 water-gate at the side, with lanterns at the bow of each 
 boat; so the adventurous party pulled back as fast as 
 possible to the ship, deferring the visit till next day, 
 then to make it in a more regular if less exciting manner. 
 
 The continuation of "Jack Harkaway and His Boy 
 Tinker" is found in "Jack Harkaway 's Boy Tinker 
 Among the Turks" and may be had from your dealer 
 or from the publishers of this book upon receipt of 
 75 cents.
 
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