"What are you doing up there, you young lubber?" he shouted.
"Mr. Holdfast sent me," answered Jack.
"You lie!" roared the captain. "I'll teach you to lie to me!"
"I'll come down, sir," said Jack, "if you say so."
"I'll bring you down!" shouted the captain, furiously, as he
deliberately pointed the pistol at the cabin boy, and prepared to pull
the trigger.
There was a cry of horror on the part of the passengers as they saw
the insane act of the captain, and realized the peril of poor Jack.
But, in spite of all, the boy would probably have fallen a victim to
the drunken fury of Captain Hill. Jack himself fully understood his
danger, and his ruddy face turned pale. His life hung in the balance,
and was saved only by the courage of his boy friend, Harry.
Of all the passengers, Harry stood nearest to the captain. When he saw
the pistol pointed at Jack, he did not stop to think, but made a
bound, and dashed the weapon from the captain's hand. It was
discharged but the bullet sped over the rail and dropped into the
ocean. Nor did Harry stop here. He seized the fallen pistol, and
hurled it over the side of the vessel.
The captain was for the moment stupefied by the suddenness of the act.
Then, in a voice of fury, he exclaimed, pointing to Harry: "Put that
boy in irons!"
CHAPTER XI
A SENSATIONAL SCENE
"Put that boy in irons!" repeated Captain Hill, his eyes blazing with
anger.
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