A Millionaire at Sixteen by Oliver Optic

The mate and the captain of the Maud did not appear to agree together any better than when Louis had listened to them in the interview in the cabin. Scoble took the non-appearance of the cook very hardly, while Frinks declined to say anything more about it. Without waiting for the command of his superior, he ordered the men to trip the anchor, and stand by the jib-halliards. The captain made no objection, and the schooner was very soon under way.

Frinks took the wheel, and ordered the men to hoist the jib. Casting on the port tack, he soon came about, and stood to the southward till the vessel reached the opening. Then he laid an easterly course, and stood out to sea. The gale had begun to moderate, though the sea was still heavy. The Maud began to pitch and roll as she had before; but, as soon as she was clear of the inlet, the sheets were started, and the vessel was headed for Sandy Hook Light, about nine miles distant. This change in the course gave her a free wind, and she behaved better than before.

The mate then called Stowin aft, and gave him the wheel. Instructing the helmsman to keep well to windward of the light-ship, he intimated to the captain that he was ready to talk with him in the cabin. Felix immediately retreated when he heard this remark, and sprang into the berth next aft of Mrs. Belgrave's room, where he had pretended to be asleep when the captain looked about the cabin. Whatever might be the subject of the conversation, he was anxious to hear all that was said.

"What has become of that other boy, Captain Scoble? " asked the mate as soon as they had descended the companion-way.

"He is fast asleep in one of the berths on the port side of the cabin," replied the captain. "He don't amount to anything at all, and is as stupid as an owl at noon-time."

"Thank you for the compliment," thought Felix. "Perhaps that is the kind of fellow I had better be under present circumstances."

The mate moved aft, apparently to satisfy himself that the intruder, as both of them now regarded him, was not in condition to listen to them. Felix opened his mouth partly, and snored musically enough to have suited the corporosity of Uncle Moses. Frinks looked at him, and listened to him, and left the berth evidently satisfied that the occupant was not in condition to hear what was said.

"What shall we do with that young cub? " asked the captain, as the mate seated himself opposite him at the table.

"I don't know, unless we throw him overboard," replied Frinks indifferently. "Never mind him now; we have better fish to fry."

"Everything seems to work right for those who have truth and honesty on their side," added Scoble.

"I don't think so, for the devils have got the weather-gage of the angels this time."

"What do you mean by that? " demanded Scoble, scowling fiercely.

"I consider the two persons we have just tricked and got rid of as honest and upright people, and I wish I were like them. I can't say as much as that of you or myself," replied Frinks bluntly.

"I claim to be an honest and upright man," added Scoble.

"Then the devil himself is one of that sort! But I don't want to discuss morality and piety with you, for you know nothing at all about subjects of that sort."

"Don't you think I have a right to my wife?"

"I don't know, and I don't care, whether you have or not. I haven't anything to say about that. You agreed to pay me five hundred pounds if I helped you out successfully with your business on this side of the ocean. You were to pay me a hundred pounds when I got the lady and her son on board of the Maud."

"But her son is not here now," pleaded the captain.

"He is not here because you wanted to get rid of him; and I got rid of him, and the man with him, who was big enough to turn your cake into dough. One hundred pounds now, Captain Scoble, or we quarrel on the spot."

"Don't be in such a hurry, Frinks. I will pay you every shilling I agreed to pay you," said the captain.