IN IRONS.
"What?" cried the engineer, in astonishment.
"How do you know?" asked the engineer's assistant, incredulously.
"That's it—how do you know?" demanded the engineer. "You said you did not see the person who attacked you."
"I did not."
"Yet you say this is the man."
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"I know him."
"You do?"
"Yes."
"You have seen him before?"
"I should say so, on several occasions. He is one of my bitterest enemies. This is not the first time he has tried to kill or injure me. He has made the attempt many times before. He is the only person here who would do such a thing."
"If this is true," said the engineer, grimly, "he shall pay dearly for his work!"
The assistant nodded.
"What have you to say, Hackett?" demanded the engineer.
"I say it's a lie!" growled the fellow. "I never saw this chap before he came into the engine-room. He doesn't know me, and I don't know him."
"You hear what Hackett has to say," said the engineer, turning to Frank.
"I hear what this fellow has to say, but his name is not Hackett."
"Is not?"
"No, no more than mine is Hackett."
"Then what is his name?"
"His name is Harris!" asserted Merry, "and he is a gambler and a crook. I'll guarantee that he has not been long on the 'Eagle.'"
"No; we took him on in New York scarcely two hours before we sailed. We needed a man, and he applied for any kind of a job. Found he had worked round machinery, and we took him as wiper and general assistant."
"It was not so many weeks ago that he attacked me at New Haven," said Frank. "He failed to do me harm. When he found I was going abroad he declared he would go along on the same steamer. At the time he must have thought I was going by one of the regular liners; but it is plain he followed me up pretty close and found I was going over this way. As there is no second-class passage on this boat, he decided he could not travel in the same class with me without being discovered, and he resolved to go as one of the crew, if he could get on that way. That's how he happens to be here."
"If what you say is true, it will go pretty hard with Mr. Harris. We'll have him ironed and—"
A cry of rage broke from the lips of the accused.
"There is no proof!" he snarled. "No one can swear I attacked this fellow and threw him into the stoke-hole!"
"Oh, yes!" said the stoker who had come up from below. "I saw the whole business. By the light from the furnaces, I plainly saw the man who did it, and you are the man!"
"That settles it!" declared the engineer. "You'll make the rest of the voyage in irons, Mr. Harris!"
"Then I'll give you something to iron me for!" shouted the furious young villain.
He leaped on Frank Merriwell with the fierceness of a wounded tiger.
Frank was not expecting the assault, and, for the moment, he was taken off his guard.
They were close to the moving machinery. Within four feet of them a huge plunging rod was playing up and down, moved by a steel bar that weighed many tons. Harris attempted to fling Frank beneath this bar, where he would be struck and crushed.
The villain nearly succeeded, so swift and savage was his attack.
Frank realized that the purpose of the wretch was to fling him into the machinery, and he braced himself to resist as quickly as possible.
Shouts of consternation broke from the engineer and his assistant. They sprang forward to seize Harris and help Frank.
But, before they could interfere, Frank broke the hold of his enemy, forced him back and struck him a terrible blow between the eyes felling him instantly.
Merriwell stood over Harris, his hands clenched his eyes gleaming.
"Get up!" he cried. "Get up you dog! I can't strike you when you are down, and I'd give a hundred dollars to hit you just once more!"
But Harris did not get up. He realized that his second attempt had failed, and he stood in awe of Frank's terrible fists. He looked up at those gleaming eyes, and turned away quickly, feeling a sudden great fear.
Did Frank Merriwell bear a charmed life?
Surely it seemed that way to Harris just then. For the first time, perhaps, the young rascal began to believe that it was not possible to harm the lad he hated with all the intensity of his nature.
The engineer and his assistants grabbed Harris and held him, the former swearing savagely. They dragged the fellow to his feet, but warned him to stand still.
Harris did so. For the moment, at least, he was completely cowed.
A man was sent for the captain, with instructions to tell him just what occurred. Of course the captain of the steamer was the only person who could order one of the men placed in irons.
The captain came in in a little while, and he listened in great amazement to the story of what had taken place. His face was hard and grim. He asked Frank a few questions, and then he ordered that Harris be ironed and confined in the hold.
"Mr. Merriwell," said the captain, "I am very sorry that this happened on my ship."
"It's all right, captain," said Frank. "You are in no way to blame. The fellow shipped with the intention of doing just what he did, if he found an opportunity."
"It will go hard-with him," declared the master. "He'll not get out of this without suffering the penalty."
Harris was sullen and silent. Frank spoke to him before he was led away.
"Harris," he said, "you have brought destruction on yourself. I can't say that I arm sorry for you, for, by your persistent attacks on me, you have destroyed any sympathy I might have felt. You have ruined your own life."
"No!" snarled Sport. "You are the one! You ruined me! If I go to prison for this, I'll get free again sometime, and I'll not forget you, Frank Merriwell! All the years I am behind the bars will but add to the debt I owe you. When I come forth to freedom, I'll find you if you are alive, and I'll have your life!"
Then he was marched away between two stout men, his irons clanking and rattling.