Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/210

 as well teach him his place one time as another."

Roy opened his lips to protest against such an outrage, but seeing the mate advancing upon him, he turned and took to his heels. In half a minute more he was hauling at a rope in company with somebody whom he took to be Tony; but it proved to be a sailor who was posted in regard to the vessel and her contemplated movements.

"What ship is this?" whispered Roy, trying hard to swallow a big lump that seemed to be rising in his throat.

"The White Squall," was the answer.

"Is she going to sea?"

The sailor prepared to give a profane response to the question, which was so simple that a blind boy ought to have been able to answer it for himself, but when he came to look at Roy he hesitated, and choked back the words that arose to his lips.

"Yes, she's bound out, and you haven't any call to go with her, have you?" said he. "It's a hard case, but I don't see what you can do about it."