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. HAPPY
DAYS
It was pitch dark, and the only eens
they would have of knowing if t! ap-
proached the bergs would be the difter ence
in temperature, and every one was cau-
tioned to note any change and report it.
It was Kirke’s watch on deck, the cap-4
tain } ha aving gone below fo snateh an hour
or f se sep after a hard day’s work.
Wr t the wheel, and Old Bill on
the’ Took out forvan, Kirke knowing that
he could trust
Ned presently heard some one come
over the quarter-de
“Careful how you ead, boy,” said
Welch, as he stepped down into the cock-
“Get out of the way, you booby,
rd let me see.”
Ned stepped to one side and thought he
heard the sound of some heavy object be-
ing put on deck, but was not certain.
“You are all off, as I thought,” growled
the mate. “That isn’t the course you were
given, I Know. out her right, you fool,
and. keep her
Ned glanced at the compass in the bin-
nacle and Saw that he was considerably
off his cou
Wondering “how this could have hap-
pened, but makirg no comments, Ned _al-
tered his course to proper one, while
Mr. Welch went below after a surly. re-
mark or so.
“It’s very queer,” thought the boy.
know it was right when ‘he spoke, yak
couldn’t have changed so much in the Tittle
time I let go of the spokes. I wonder
what’s the matter?”
Satisfied that something was wrong and
yet not knowing what, the boy began to
think most earnestly for a few moments.
Welch hated him, he knew, and his very
presence there at that time, when he was
~ supposed to be below, was in itself sus-
picious.
The man would do anything to injure
him, and perhaps his being there at that
time had something to do with some evil
project
bow Suddenly a thought flashed upon the
Could the course have been changed, and
was he now on the right
he compass said’ he was, me was he?
How could he be on a wrong course
when the needle gave the proper one
Then the sound he had keard suddenly
occurred to him.
In an instant he felt that he had solved
- its meaning.
A piece of iron put under or near the
binnacle would deflect the needle.
He moved his feet back and forth and
presently encountered an obstacle.
Holding the spoke down with one hand,
he reached down with the other and felt
some heavy object wrapped in a piece of
sailcloth.
He pushed it out of the way with his
hand and foot and glanced at the com-
pase
was on a wrong course, and yet an
instant before he had been on apparently | 4
the right on
“Ahoy, there!” ‘yelled old Bill.
ahead!”
Ned pushed the heavy object- still far-
ther away and then righted his wheel.
That was iron in the sail-cloth,
had thrown the needle out of its true
ireetio’
“Hallo, there, Ned, how does she head?”
“Right news sir!” cried Ne
“Ice
‘Do you see the ice, Sellers?”
“We're passing it, sir. That was a
close shay
“What ‘io you want a fool boy ai the
wheel for, anyhow?” growled Welch, sud-
denly appearing. “Don’t you know you
are responsible for his stupidity ? Go be-
low and tell the captain you nearly wreck-
ed the vessel by your carelessness.”
“He won't!” spoke up Ned, “but I will
tell him you put a lot of iron close to
the binnacle to throw the needle of.”
ved!” cried Kirke.
“Well, I'm plowed!” grunted old Bill.
“How! dare you?” hissed Welch, hurry-
ing a.
a did,” cried Ned. “It is here“now,
but I pushed it back out of the way and
the needle went back.”
“You young liar!” roared the mate,
There was a flash of something bright
in the light from the cabin, and then
Kirks sprang forward.
ere was a report, but Kirke had
thrown the mate’s pang up and 4 bullet
went through the t
“How dare you?” veiled Welch, turning
upon Kirke.
The boy dashed the weapon from the
man’s hand as it was discharged again.
hen Captain Rodgers came on deck.
“What's the matter?” he asked.
“Young Grahame tried to shoot me,”
said Wi ele “T knocked the pistol out of
his_han
“Is iis true, Kirke?” asked the cap-
tain.
AUN ‘No, it is-not. Mr. Welch would
have shot “at Ned, but I prevented him.
Then he would have fired at me, but I
tlashed the pistol out of his hand.”
“The béy lies!” hissed. Welch. “Pick
up ne pistol and see if it is his or not.
oy Was mutinous, but I would never
think of shooting him. I gave Grahame
an order and he refused to obey it.”
did* not,” said Kirke, “but I shall.
Ned interrupted rae with a serious accusa-
jon against ihe mate.
Meantime Captain Rodgers had. picked
up the pistol.
“This belongs to you, Kirke,” he said.
“I am afraid this is a serious matter.”
‘0 it is, sir, but not for me. The pistol
being mine does-not prove that I fired it.
Mr. Welch lies, and there are many to
prove it.”
~ The mate would have, rushed at Kirke,
but the skipper prevented h:
is your watch below, in? he said.
“What was the charge Ned: made
ut a lot of iron near the Spinmacle
to disarrange the needle,” said Ned. “We
went off our course and pearly | smashed
into the berg. Then he fired at id
at Kirke, aw both shots. If that is
Kirke’s pistol, “then Welch stole ity -
CHAPTER XVII.
THE. EXPLORER’S VOYAGE ENDED.
’ The mate would have stayed to argue
ihe matter, but Captain Rodgers. ordered
m below, whither he went with. surly
ooks and muttered rema:
ONow t then, my boy, tel me a straight
story,” Captain Rodgers to Ned.
When Ned had told his story they found
e iron where he had pushed it, and all
holiewed him.
“ s of iron like that would have
the effect that Ned describes, as you must
all know,” said the captain, “but why
should the man wish to endanger his own
life as well as those of us all?
“ put disgrace on the hoy, sir,” an-
swered Rid Bill. “He hates Mr. Grahame,
and he’d run the risk if he could’ye got
you to put the boy in the forecastle.
This ain’t the fost time he’s tried to do
him a nast:
“But why should he hate Mr. Grahame? 2”
“I dunno, sir, ‘less it’s fur the same
reason that cats fight, fur general cussed-
This ain’t the fust | time that he’s
showed his claws, nuther,
“Thi
erious matter, and will have
to be looked into,” said the captain. “Every
one to his post! Mr. Grahame, it is your
watel
Captain Rodgers then went below and
Kirke remained on watch.
Lights were burning forward from time
to time so as to show them any dangerous
bergs, for it was so dark otherwise that
they would have been able to distinguish
anythi.
Occasionally a berg, not near enou:
to be dangerous, would be lighted up, pre-
senting a most beautiful sight as it re-
flected the glare from its many sides, show-
ing here and there deep blue shadows
and egin flashing Tike a great diamond.
It was well on toward midnight when
Clews, called out that there must be
close at hand, as the air had turned cud
denly intensely co!
Opposite this ee berg, on the brig’s
port side, was another, noe so large, but
still of sufficient size to a_menace,
Right ahead, but not less thaw thirty
‘| fathoms distant, were other bergs, while
astern was another, the vessel being sur-
rounded by them, in fact.
They might pass betw een the two bergs
alongside, but the one in front would then
ock their way unless, possibly, there
Ww: as 21 a passage between that and one of the
ot]
It was considerable’ risk to take, and
Kirke | was unwilling to accept the respons-
silit
“Go and call the captain and ask him
to come on deck at once,” he said to Ned.
“Keep a sharp lookout, there,” he shouted.
“Stand by to drop everything. Steady at
the wheel
“Aye, a Me sir!” answered the men, who
knew the danger and yet had implicit
trust in the young officer.
Something was drawing the two larger
bers together, and the channel between
them was narrowing every ins'
Unless there was a side passage On front
of the berg ahead the vessel would un-
doubtedly be nipped,
The captain came hurrying, on deck,
only jalt e clad, saw the danger and
ou
“Send up rockets, burn more fire for-
ward. Run ahead, Kirke, and see if there | h
is any way out in front. Call all hands!”
The orders were quickly obeyed, Kirke
iunning out on the bowsprit and keeping
a sharp lookout ahead.
“There’s clear water: to starboard,” he
presently shouted, “if we can make ie
“Sing out when you're ready,”
“Aye, aye, sir!”
On plided "the vessel, but the strait be-
tyeen the two bergs was roridly closing
and phe ancight of ‘the ice masses shut
out the
On hey ‘went, and presently Kirke
shouted an order to the helmsman.
—The vessel swung around and swept in-
to a new channel,
Scarcely had it cleared the bergs, when
hey closed with a crushing, grinding
sound, and masses of ice fell from thera.
Some plunged into the water and sent
the spray flying nearly as high as the
A few small fragments fell on deck and
did no damage, but present! tly agreat splin-
ter, looking like a giant needle, came fly-
ing down, struck the captain on the head
and: stretched him senseless, buried be-
neath a mass of ice slivers.
Three or. four of the sailors ran to his
side and lifted him to his feet, but he had
no power to stand upon them, his hanas
fell limp at his side, and his head drooped
upon his breast.
The man would never accomplish the
purpose for which he had set sail, for his
life voyage was over.
It was a lifeless form that ‘they bore
reverently down the cabin steps and laid
m a settee, covering it with the flag.
Kirke knew nothing of what had hap-
pened until, calling to.the helmsman to
keep straight ahead, he was hailed. by
Mr. Welch ith:
vy. there, you lubbers, what are you
giving orders for? Who sent you there?”
he captain, . sir.
.“Well,-I’m the captain now. Come in
on deck and take, your place with the other
4 foremast hands.”
“Youve no right to disgrace him, Mr.
Welch, ? spoke up Captain North. “He
was only doing his duty. He’s the mate
of the brig now, by rights.”
“Mind. your. business, you old fool!”
snarled Welch, who was now master of
the Good Hope. What vent have you
to dictate to me?
“The right. that every honest 1 man has
to protest against an injustice,” answered
the other. “Take care, sin You may not
know what mutiny is,
“What are you iene abe about? - How
lare you accuse me o Who said any-
thing about mutiny? I didn’
“No wonder it bothered him,” muttered
old Bill. “If I’m not mistaken, he’s Hugh
Owens hisself, with his whiskers: dyed.
Ha! I’ve got it. He’s a Welshman. That’s
how he calls himself we welch. Ha! Why
didnt I think of it bef
ou'll bring one on e you push that
boy too “hard,” said’ the whaler. “The
men all like him, and they won’t stand by
and sce him disgraced for one of your
mere whims.”
“It was his carelessness that caused the
death of the skipper.
“It was not; that was an accident that
no one could have prevented
“y say | it wasn’t, you meddiesome, lying
h | old idiot
Casekn North’s brawny fist flew out,
caught the insanely angry man on the
jaw and mocked him
“ calls me a liar, captain or no
captain!” “hissed the whaler. “I didn’t
ship under- your orders, you brute, and
Yr m, not going to submit to your bullyi
“Put that man in irons!” growled Watch,
raising himself on his elbo
o one stirred, and old Bil Sellers, com-
ing up, asked:
“What did you say, Mr. Hugh Owens?
Seems-to me I heard something about
irons. Did you want ’om? -You’re used
to ’em, Mr. Owens, I reckon.” °
“Who are you calling Owens, you wal’
fool!” gasped Welch, turning white. “My
name is Welch.”
“Yes, youre Welsh, I know, but seems
‘0 me you had another -name, time when
n Grahame, of. the——”
“Strilee eight ‘ets change the watch,”
cried the former mate. r watch, Mr.
Grahame. Mr. North, you’re second mate.”
“Not if I know it, I ain’t!” growled the
whal Jer “I’m not on the brig’s articles,
and I’m net taking. ‘any favors meant to
keep my mouth, shut. Put in Clews, he’s
next in line.
To this Captain Welch made no answer.
CHAPTER XVUI.
MINNA’S SACRIFICE,
It was an anxious night to all on board
the Good H
ney ‘were still in great danger from
the ice, but there were other Perils fully
as serious,
The captain was dead; no one knew
how far Welch would try to carry hi
hatred of Kirke, and all hands felt. that
they were walking on the edge of a vol-
cano, which might burst forth at any mo-
ike was now-the mate; Captain
North’s mention of Clews had decided the
men that the latter should be second of-
ficer, and some one would probably be
put in Kirke’s former position.
0
3
Bifl kad wat been punished for his|*
reminding Welch of former days, nor had
Captain North been put in irons, but
every one knew that they were on, the —
verge of a crisis, and the night. was,
therefore, an anxious one to ail on bo: ard.
Whether Welch came to his senses and
decided that it was. unwise to persecute
Kirke further, or whether he was waiting
for a more favorable opportunity, no one +
knew, but, at any rate, there was no more
excitement that night, except , that nas
turally caused by their danger.
When the short day dawned they wore
still in the midst of huge masses of ice,
many of which were two or three times
the height of the vessel, bat they were
not in any immediate peril.
The body of the dead commander was
rought on deck, and the new captain, .
turning to the whaler -
- “Captain North, will” Sou Tread the burial
service?
“As you please, sir,” said the other, not
wishing to continue the old quarrel.
- It was a politic move on the part of,
Welch, for no one could object to Captain
rth performing this ceremony, and in-
deed they all felt that he was dust the
man to do it. \ .
The last rites were over, the remains .
of Captain Rodgers were consigned to the. ~
deep, the secrets of which he had in vain’ -
tried to learn, and then Welch went be-. |
low, leaving the deck in charge of Kirke..
young fellow had known consider-
able ‘of, navigation, while he was third’
te, and since then he had studied to,
perfect himself in the science, so that now
he had made such strides that he was
thoroughly competent to take charge:of
the vessel. -
During the morning “both Minna and ivi
Jessie came on deck, talking to Kirke
when he was not busy, but spending most. °
of the time. with the doctor and the
professor. «
ly interested in Minna and wanted -to~3
know all the particulars of her life with
the strange people, who had ‘now. probably-'
ceased to exist, unless there were other ~,
tribes further South.
Minna told them many things of” fn
terest, and they filled their notebooks
with ‘information which they felt sur
would startle the world.
Day followed day, and the progress of?
the Good Hope was very slow, not more
than a few miles being made on pak
no headway whateve:
his temper, for the men did not like hinf
and it would Bave | taken very little t
ereate a distu
Since old Bill Sellers had identified hie
as Hugh Owens, he en very careful*
not to provoke a quarrel with the old fg |
low, nor to show his spite against Kirkey ¢
never addressing the latter, however,
less obliged to do’ so.
Clews was second mate, and upon Kirke
and him devolved the management of the
vessel, Welch doing very Jittle, remaining
below’ most of the time or keeping - byt
himself when on deck. eee
Ned had paid eonsiderable attentions
Minna, and at first she had seemed ‘to
like him, but one fay he Bill said to, himy .
as_they forward, looking at. the
towering masses of ice which were evel y
where about: :
“Tell yer what, ‘boy, that gal O sub
is a nice critter, but she’s just like one.o”
them icebergs, as fur as you're consarneil.” |:
he bay she's quiet, that’s all.” - “retubied:
-
verhak ain’t it, ‘Nea, ” said the old min, ce
with a wise look, “She liked you fustst
the v’y’ge, she run acrosst & craft .:
what she timed better. She’s head over | +
gars in love with Kirke, an’: sko wre
keep her eyes off’n him. gt te: :
“Why, but any one can see that de *
and Kirke are—’
“Yas, so they ‘in, and mebby
it; but’ all the same, boy. sahe’s fen
love with him and you hain’t five,
hunderdth lay i in that ventures,
“ I suppose not; but I coe if
Kirke knows it?”
“Can't tell. Mebby not, bein’. asthio :
an’ the old man’s gal is so- wrayped aip in .
each other; but it’s as pure as. prepehin’ |
that t’other: gal is plumb in love” wgih
him, an’ there hain’t no more changt fu
her than there is fur me.” ent
“She’s_a very nice youn; lady?” said
Ned. “If Kirke wants her, Why is “i
+
4
I won’t——”
. “But he don’t. She wants hi
wise mebby she don’t, but all.
she’s clean in love with him,
never take any one else.”
for Kirke, but they could sa: 0
and matters were allowed to g 3 ae eb,
“She’d give up anythin; for him,” said
old Bill one da “Ee en i rin ta
she’s got no hope, she’H be. just af fond
of him. I believe she’d die for Bima
never say a .”
wor
“Ym sorry for’ her,” said Ned “But
@hat can we doz ‘ i u
“ancien
The two scientific gentlemen were great-7 es
of
<a
mo velch was careful. about giving way tot :
Re
Bs)
she cede} ~
i
Others noticed the fondness ft “te ut