Part 4 (2/2)
Captain Jeremiah Spark was an old seafaring man. He was a distant relative of Bob's mother, and, in fact, he was on his way to call on her, having just returned from a long voyage, when he ran into the boys, or, rather, they collided with him.
”So you're playing tricks on a poor, lone widow woman, are you?”
asked the captain in no very pleasant tones.
”We--we didn't mean any harm,” said Bob.
”No, I suppose not. Boys never do, but the harm comes. Now I'm going to march you two lads right up before the mast; and you're going to apologize to the widow. If you don't, why, I reckon a cat-o'-nine-tails will fit the case pretty well.”
Mrs. Mooney was standing in her door as the captain led the two boys up to her.
”Here's the burglars you were shouting about, ma'am,” he said.
”One of 'em a relative of mine, I'm sorry to say. They've come to beg your pardon. Go ahead, boys.”
”I'm sorry about the tic-tac,” said Bob in a low voice.
”We didn't mean nothin',” added Ted.
”Was it you boys?” asked the widow. ”I was so frightened. I thought burglars were trying to cut out a pane of gla.s.s.”
”I don't believe they'll do it again,” remarked Captain Spark.
”Will you, boys?”
”No, sir,” they chorused.
”That's right. Now come on, Bob. I'm going to your house.”
The captain was warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Henderson a little later. Bob was wondering whether the captain would say anything about the recent prank, but the old seaman said nothing, though his eyes twinkled when, in response to a question from Mr. Henderson as to where the captain had met Bob, the former replied that there had been a collision in the dark.
That night, after Bob had gone to bed, Mrs. Henderson had a talk with her relative.
”I don't know what to do with Bob,” she said. ”He is always getting into mischief. He is not a bad boy at heart, but he is thoughtless.”
”Yes, that he is,” agreed Captain Spark.
”I am almost sure he was up to some prank tonight,” went on Bob's mother. ”I shall probably hear about it in the morning, when some of the neighbors call to make a complaint. Oh, dear, I wish I knew what to do!”
”I'll tell you what,” suddenly exclaimed the captain, banging his fist down on the table with emphasis. ”Let me take him to sea with me aboard the Eagle.”
”Take him to sea? Take Bob on a voyage?” asked Mrs. Henderson.
”That's it! You let me take him, and I'll guarantee I'll make a man of him. The land is no place for a boy, anyhow. He needs a bit of ocean travel to broaden his views.”
”That is a strange proposition,” said Mr. Henderson. ”We must think it over.”
CHAPTER IV
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