Part 19 (1/2)

”Don't make a noise, please. I'm from the other boat, and I want to help you, if I can. You may trust me, my boy, to the limit!”

The crouching figure started, and Frank saw a small face bent down close to his own; then a trembling hand caught his, and there came a whisper:

”Oh! if you only could get me out of this sc.r.a.pe! I'll die if I stay here! They kick me and beat me terribly! Please take me away, mister!”

Frank's first impulse was to draw the lad into the dinghy, then his natural caution caused him to hesitate.

”Who are you, boy?” he whispered.

”Joe Abercrombie; and I guess it's near killed my mother, because they think I run away,” came the quick answer.

”Is your father aboard this boat?”

”I ain't got any father. He's dead long time ago. I live with my mother and sister down at Cedar Keys. Please get me off here, mister! I'll do anything for you, if you only can!” the boy kept on saying, and unconsciously raising his voice in his excitement.

Frank's determination was taken. He would accept the chances of trouble and a.s.sist this poor little chap, whose condition seemed so miserable, as the slave of the trio of big, rough spongers.

Before he could say another word, or draw the boy into his dinghy, a gruff voice came booming out of the cabin:

”Hey! Who yer talkin' to out thar, younker? Wake up, fellers! I reckon we're boarded by some reptiles! Hank! Carlos! Git at 'em!”

”Oh!” exclaimed the lad piteously. ”They've heard us! They're coming out to kill you! Don't stop for me, but go!”

But Frank Langdon was not built that way.

Chapter XVI

JOE

With one sweep of his arm Frank drew the little fellow into the dinghy.

Then he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his paddle, and dipped it deeply into the flood. The corklike boat answered instantly to the demand, and backed away from the side of the anch.o.r.ed sharpie.

Even though but a few seconds had pa.s.sed, the racket aboard the boat had become tremendous by now. The men were shouting at each other as they groped around in the dark for the boy.

Frank knew that the very sounds they made were apt to a.s.sist him in his escape, for they helped to drown what little noise he was compelled to make in his quick and positive work with the paddle.

Then one of them must have reached the conclusion that the boy had been kidnapped by some unseen visitor, coming in another boat.

”Keep still, you fools, an' listen!” he shouted.

They seemed to guess his reason, for the chorus of loud voices ceased.

Frank also stopped paddling, momentarily. He hoped the listening spongers would be unable to locate him in the darkness.

”Have they any small boat?” he whispered in the ear of the cowering boy.

”No. It broke loose three days ago, in a squall,” came the reply.