“Of all the scrapes I ever heard of, this is the worst,” Adoniram exclaimed in comment.
But Caleb, now that his fears for Don’s safety were somewhat allayed, seemed rather to enjoy the situation.
“Oh, that boy’s smart,” he declared, with a chuckle. “I’ll risk him even if he is in that vessel’s hold. Leroyd won’t get the best of him. Probably, too, the captain of the Success is not a bad sort of a fellow, an’ he won’t see the boy maltreated.
“I feel better, ’Doniram, and with your permission we’ll get under way at once.”
“But what shall we do with this lad?” asked the little merchant, nodding and smiling at Swivel. “He’s deserving of much praise for his honesty and faithfulness.”
“Oh, take me along, will yer?” exclaimed the gamin, with eagerness. “I’ll work hard ef ye will! I jest wanter see dis thing out, I do! I like dat Brandon Tarr, an’ I wanter see him git the di’monts wot he said was on dat wreck yer arter. Say, lemme go, will yer?”
Caleb looked at the ship owner in perplexity.
“Oh, take him, Caleb,” said Adoniram quickly. “It may be the making of the lad to get him off the city streets. He deserves it.”
“So be it then,” said Caleb, rising. “Now, Mr. Coffin and Mr. Bolin—to work! You’ll have to go ashore at once, Adoniram. I shall have Number Three out of her berth in half an hour.”
Steam was got up, the crew flew about their several duties under the energetic commands of the officers, and within a short time the whaleback, to the manifest disappointment of Mr. Snaggs, who watched proceedings from the shadow of the wharf, cast off her lines and steamed down the bay into the darkness of the night.