Part 16 (1/2)
”Positively yes, sir. Anyhow, it's too late now.”
”Too late? How? What do you mean?”
”I mean that we're under way now.”
The nervous pa.s.senger ran to the side and looked over. True enough, the _Eagle_ was some distance from the wharf. The tug was straining on the big hawser. The s.h.i.+p had begun her long voyage around Cape Horn.
CHAPTER XII
SOME JOKES ON BOB
Seeing that he was now indeed afloat, and that the s.h.i.+p was some distance from land, the man became more nervous than ever. He paced up and down the deck, looking anxiously at the fast-receding sh.o.r.e.
Suddenly he ran toward the bow of the s.h.i.+p and leaned far over the rail.
”Hey there!” yelled Bob, thinking the man was going to Jump overboard and swim ash.o.r.e. ”What are you doing?”
”I was trying to see the name of the vessel,” answered the man, whose face was now red instead of pale, caused by his exertion in bending over the rail.
”You can't see it by leaning over,” replied Bob. ”It's painted away up by the figurehead.”
”I know I can't see it,” answered the nervous pa.s.senger. ”Oh, I wish I was sure.”
”I tell you you're on the _Eagle_,” declared Bob. ”Can't you take my word?”
”When you get as old as I am, and have been through as much trouble, you'll never take anybody's word for anything,” was the answer. ”I must be sure. I'm off for a long voyage, and I don't want to make a mistake.”
”You're not making any mistake if you want to be aboard the _Eagle_. Here comes Captain Spark now. You can ask him.”
At that moment the commander, having seen his vessel well under way, came to where Bob and the nervous pa.s.senger were standing.
”Is this Mr. Hiram Tarbill?” asked the mariner, holding out his hand.
”Yes, sir. Are you Captain Jeremiah Spark?”
”That's who I am.”
”Is this the schooner _Eagle_, bound around Cape Horn?”
”Yes, sir, with a mixed cargo consigned to various firms in Lima, Peru. Would you like to look at my papers?”
”No, I guess it's all right,” and Mr. Tarbill seemed much relieved.
”You see, my train was late,” he went on, ”and I came aboard in such a hurry that I was not sure I was on the right s.h.i.+p. I dislike to make mistakes, especially as my health is not very good.”
”Yes, you're on the right s.h.i.+p,” Captain Spark a.s.sured Mr. Tarbill.
”Now if you'll come with me I'll show you to your stateroom. But first let me introduce to you a relative of mine,” and he presented Bob.
”Yes, I have been talking with him,” said Mr. Tarbill. ”He a.s.sured me I was on the right vessel, but I did not know whether he knew or not.”