At this moment the captain was summoned to the deck, and Harry found himself alone with the supercargo.
“Mr. Weldon,” said our hero, suddenly, making up his mind to secure the young man as a friend if possible, “do you go with us to China?”
“Yes, my boy.”
“Will you be my friend?”
Such an appeal, coming from a frank, manly boy, was not easily to be resisted.
Mr. Weldon took the hand so frankly offered, and said:—
“I will be your friend. I believe you are a good boy.”
“Don’t believe what Captain Brandon has told you. It is absolutely false. I never saw or heard of him till two days since, and he does not know any of my friends. He induced me to come on board this ship on false pretences, and I think must have given me something to make me sleep, for I became sleepy at once, and have slept, as he tells me, ever since yesterday noon.”
“This is a strange story. What can be his object?”
“I don’t know that; but he has got me into his power, and I need a friend.”