Frontier Boys in the South Seas Part 5

"How do you do, gentlemen?" The captain greeted them with punctilious politeness, "glad to meet you."

"And we are very glad to meet you, Captain Wilkins," returned Jim. "This is a fine boat you have."

"Isn't she," returned the captain with enthusiasm. "There was never a better come out of a shipyard. Look at her lines. Why she sets on the water like a duck. And roomy, too. She ain't one of the slim waisted kind where you don't have room to turn around. Why, Lord love you, lads, ye could be no more comfortable if you put up at the Palace Hotel."

"You're right there, captain," agreed Berwick, "I never saw a prettier boat. I can see you carry quite an armament."

"Oh, that was for use in the South Seas. She was engaged in trade down there, and we used to have a brush occasionally with the pirates. Not of late, however, for they learned to leave her alone."

"Do you own her?" asked Jim.

"Haven't such good luck. Wish I did. No, she belongs to a professor with a long name, though I'm blessed if I know what he's going to do with her. Just bought her a couple of months ago, and fixed her all up.

Overhauled the hull and rigging, put in new tackle and fixed up the engines as good as new."

"Do you think he would sell her?" asked Jim.

"Not him," responded the captain. "He has just got her fixed to suit him. She's fit for a queen now. Just come below and take a look around."

Accepting the invitation, Jim and Berwick went below and inspected the staterooms and found that they fully justified the captain's praise.

"Ye G.o.ds and little fishes!" exclaimed Berwick, "it looks more like a lady's boudoir than a ship's cabin."

"I fancy you've hit it, don't you know," agreed the captain, "I kind of fancy that he's going off on a bridal tour."

"Where is the professor now?" asked Jim.

"He's off East somewhere," replied the captain. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone after the lady."

"Much obliged to you, captain," said Jim, when they had gone up on deck again, "I'm awfully sorry she can't be bought. I think she would have just suited us."

"You can't never tell," observed the captain, philosophically, when they were leaving, "you might hunt up the perfesser when he gets back.

Perhaps the lady might change her mind. Such things have happened."

"So I have learned," laughed Berwick. "Well, goodbye, captain. We may act on your advice."

CHAPTER V.

WHEREIN ARE SEVERAL SURPRISES.

John Berwick had taken the oars on leaving the Storm King, and had pulled for some time in the direction of the city. Without speaking, he gave undivided attention to his task, while Jim seated in the stern sheets, was also silent, lost in thought.

"Well, Jim," began Berwick, after a time, as they were nearing the city wharves, "have you decided on your next move?"

"Yes," responded Jim, rousing himself. "The next thing I am going to do is to get dinner.

"Then," continued Jim, "I am going to bed and get a good night's sleep and make a fresh start in the morning."

"A most sensible thing, Jim," agreed the man at the oars.

"That's what Broome is going to do, too."

"What?" asked Jim.

"Make a good start in the morning."

"Can't help it if he does," growled Jim. "Have you anything better to suggest?"

"No, I suppose that we have done all that we can."

"But not all that we are going to do!" snapped Jim. "I'll find some way of squaring our accounts.

"Hallo!" he cried in an undertone a moment later. "Now what do you think of that?"

"What is it?" asked Berwick in alarm.

"Look there on the wharf."

"By the beard of Neptune! You're right!" exclaimed Berwick, dropping his oars in his surprise, and nearly capsizing the boat as he grabbed for one.

"Easy there, old fellow," cautioned Jim, "remember I haven't got my bathing suit on."

"What in the name of all that is wonderful is _he_ doing there?"

"Looks as if he was taking a nap," said Jim. "Sh! Don't wake him!" as Berwick with his hand to his mouth was about to call. "We'll crawl up on him and take him by surprise."

"Make him think old Broome has got him," chuckled the engineer.

Berwick pulled the boat gradually up to the wharf, and after making fast, the two conspirators climbed up on to the wharf and crept toward the unsuspecting Juarez, as has already been told in the opening chapter of this book.

Juarez had not recognized his antagonist, and struggled furiously. The two rolled and tumbled about on the floor of the wharf, there being no time or opportunity for any explanation. Berwick, who had watched the outcome of the "surprise" with amus.e.m.e.nt, thinking it had gone far enough, was about to interfere, when Jo and Tom, who had come up un.o.bserved, threw themselves into the melee, and in a trice had Jim secure and powerless to move.

"Whew!" panted Juarez. "That was a close call."

"I told you to watch out!" declared Jo. "But it isn't Broome."

"Jo! Tom!" called Berwick, who was shaking with laughter at the turn the affair had taken. He stepped out of the shadow where he had been hiding.

"Hallo!" cried Tom, suspiciously. "Who is it?"

"It is I, John Berwick," responded the engineer, between peals of laughter. "Better let your captive up, but keep out of his reach. It's Jim."

"Jim!" exclaimed Jo and Tom together. "What is Jim doing here?"

"Just giving Juarez a little surprise party," explained Berwick.