"I never was more surprised in my life than I was when I found that I had Captain Nellis aboard," said the captain. "Of course, I had him carried back to my state-room, but I was too far gone on my voyage to take him back. I thought I would put him off at the Azores, and write somebody at home where they could find him; but when I came up there I found that they had no place for him."
The captain then went on to say that he was put to his wits' end to know what to do with the man, for he began to grow unruly and to talk about coming on deck to take charge of the vessel, so he had to confine him in a state-room. He next decided upon an asylum at Cape Town, but when he got there he found that the insane patients were so meanly treated that he couldn't bear the thought of leaving him there alone, and so he took him to sea again, hoping that the fresh air and some medicine which he had received from a doctor at Cape Town would do for him what the asylum might do if had been allowed to remain there. But nothing seemed to benefit the captain.
"Your men knew that you had him on board?" said Bob.
"Yes, and they thought I was to blame for all of it. The threats have come to my ears that if I didn't let him out they would take the ship. But mercy knows I was doing the best I could for him. I intended as soon as I got my cargo here to put for home. I was afraid the crazy man might die on my hands. Now you have my story. The men are not entirely satisfied with it, and you will help me and make the voyage smoother if you go amongst them."
"I will do it," said Bob. "You are certain you do not intend to take any revenge on them for their mutiny?"
"Oh, no. I saw through it all, and I knew that the thing could be easily settled. Perhaps you had better speak to them about that. The mutineers are gaining others as fast as they can talk to them."
"I would like to have Ben Watson sent down here to relieve me," said Bob. "Somebody ought to be with father the whole time."
The captain replied that he would go himself. He got upon his feet and went on deck, and in a few minutes old Ben came down. He was very much distressed for his captain, and he wanted to have a good look at him before he said a word to Bob.
"He came to himself, and pronounced my name all right," said Bob. "You must be careful what you say to him when he awakes. He thinks he is a few miles from Clifton."
"Say," said Ben, who was overjoyed to hear this; "you didn't think you would see your father this trip, did you?"