Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/134

 108 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. in his hand and was studying an articulata of the order orthoptera, an insect of the Blattidae family ; its charac- teristics are a roundîsh body, rather long wings, flat elytra, and a head hidden by the prothorax. He had been on deck at the time of the calamity ; the ill-fated captain with the crew had been drowned before hîs very eyes ; but he said nothing ; not that he was unmoved ; to think that he was not struck with horror would be to libel his kind and • pîtying nature. His sympathy was aroused, especially for his cousin ; he pressed her hand warmly as if he would assure her of his truest commisération ; but he said nothing ; he hurried off towards hîs cabin ; and who shall deny that it was to devise some wonderfully energetic measures that he would take in conséquence of this melancholy event ? Passing the kitchen, however, he caught sight of Negoro in the act of crushing a blatta, an American species of cock- roach. He broke out into a storm of invective, and in tones of indignation demanded the surrender of the insect, which Negoro made with cool contempt In a moment Captain Hull and his partners in death were ail forgotten; the enthusiast had secured a prize with which he hastened to his own little compartment, where he was soon absorbed in proving to his own satisfaction, in opposition to the opinion of other entomologists, that the blattse of the phoraspous species, which are remarkable for their colours, differ in their habits from blattse of the ordinary sort. For the remainder of the day perfect order reîgned on board the " Pilgrim." Though they were unable to shake off the sickening feeling of horror roused by the frightful disaster, and felt that they had sustained a start- ling shock, ail the passengers seemed mechanically to fall into their usual routine. Dick Sands, though avowedly at the wheel, seemed to be everywhere, with an eye for every- thîng, and his amateur crew obeyed him readily, and with the promptness of a willing activity. Negoro made no further overt attempt to question the young captain's authority, but remained shut up in hîs kitchen, Dick made no secret of his détermination to place the cook in close confinemetvl i Vve exKibited any