“Mr. Graham, send a master-at-arms ashore immediately to make full inquiries about the condition of Collins’ wife and her needs. Collins, if I learn you have a wife ashore who is critically ill, I’ll send you to her.”
Mr. Graham’s lip curled. “If,” he murmured contemptuously, “if that Collins has a wife anywhere I’d be surprised.”
The captain had turned away and did not hear his executive’s remarks, but Collins did.
“Mr. Graham,” said the latter, firmly but respectfully, “I wish to inform you, sir, that I’m a self-respecting American; I tell the truth, sir; I always tell the truth.”
“Of course,” sneered Mr. Graham. “Master-at-arms, take Collins down below forward, put handcuffs on his wrists and leg irons on his ankles, and keep him there for ten days. Put a watch over him.”
“Yes, sir; come along, Harry.”
Three hours later Captain Waddell directed that Collins be brought before him.
“Collins,” he said, “I am glad to tell you your wife is in no danger at present, though she is very sick. She needs a little cash and I will let you draw fifteen dollars for her on a special money requisition; if she gets worse I’ll give you leave from Gardiner’s Bay; we leave for there to-night.”
“Thank you, captain.”
The Puritan left that evening for the North, traveling at a slow speed. She was a huge monitor displacing nearly seven thousand tons. The second day out she ran into quite a gale, making conditions aboard most uncomfortable for everybody. Hundreds of tons of water boiled over her low deck and smashed against the forward turret, from there sending great columns of foam and spray over the turret, sometimes even deluging the bridge above. It was a fearful, awe-inspiring sight to the midshipmen. The ship rolled from side to side, not easily, but with a quick, uncomfortable jerk, throwing people off their feet and sending unsecured articles spinning about the deck. “It’s glorious, isn’t it?” exclaimed Ralph, holding on to a rail on top of the superstructure deck, exulting in the fact he was not seasick. At the same instant an extra quick, heavy jerk caused him to lose his hold, and he was slammed hard down on the deck. Even the miserably seasick Bollup laughed heartily as Ralph ruefully staggered to his feet, clutching an awning stanchion for support.