A Millionaire at Sixteen by Oliver Optic

At this stage of the discussion, Louis happened to step out of the stateroom to which he had retired on the appearance of Scoble, for he did not wish to provoke a quarrel with him at present. But if the vessel was in danger, as the mate intimated, he wanted to know something more of the situation. It would have been better, so far as preserving the peace was concerned, if he had kept out of sight.

"Go on deck, Mr. Frinks, and put a reef in the mainsail! " stormed the captain; and his wrath seemed to be freshly rekindled at the sight of Louis.

"It can't be done without more hands. If you don't care what becomes of your schooner, I am sure I don't," replied Frinks, who did not seem to be a model sailor, for he had not learned the duty of passive obedience.

"Here is a stout boy; take him on deck with you! " said Scoble, concentrating a look of hatred upon Louis. "He shall work his passage. Take him on deck with you! He's of no use below."

"He is a lubber, and good for nothing," answered the mate, glancing at the victim. "I expect every minute to hear the mast snap off; but I shall wait till you get ready to go on deck, Captain Scoble."

"What do you mean by calling me Captain Scoble? " demanded the commander; and it was clear that Frinks had forgotten his instructions in the excitement, and that Scoble had not noticed it till he realized that Louis was present to hear the name.

"I stand corrected, though Farrongate is not your name, all the same," added the mate in sulky tones.

"We will not quarrel, Mr. Frinks," said the captain, doubtless seeing that he was tipping his own fat into the fire. "I will go on deck with you, and we will reef both the fore and the mainsails."

"All right, Captain Farrongate," added Frinks, who had carried his point, and went on deck.

"Come, Louis, you must do your share of the work in handling the vessel, and I shall soon make a sailor of you," said Captain Scoble, in a more pliable tone than he had used to him before.

"No, I thank you, Captain Scoble; I prefer not to be a sailor on board of this schooner," replied Louis firmly, but in a gentle tone.

"At your old tricks, are you? " demanded the captain, scowling maliciously at the passenger.

"I must decline to do anything to assist you and your crew in carrying off my mother," answered the brave young man.

"I don't intend to argue the point with you any more than with the mate," said Scoble, who had been beaten in the discussion with Frinks.

"I have no desire to argue the point, and shall not insist upon doing so," replied Louis, moving away from the stateroom door, for he was afraid his mother would be disturbed.

"I am the master of the vessel, and all on board of her obey my orders," retorted Scoble, following the boy farther aft, as though he intended to enforce his command.

"I have nothing to say," added the passenger, not desiring to irritate his tyrant if he could avoid doing so, though that was an almost hopeless task.

"I have something to say, you young rascal!"

"Say it if you wish; I do not object."

"I ordered you to go on deck."