Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/217

 sleeve of Roy's shirt in his grasp, and Roy himself, having cleared the deck in two or three jumps, was standing upon the lee rail.

"Come back here, you villain," roared the mate, starting forward, "or I'll haze you till you'll be glad to go overboard in mid-ocean."

But the boy preferred to go overboard in the harbor, where he stood a chance—a bare chance—of rescue. He did not see the pilot-boat that dashed by just then, but he saw the light-ship riding at her anchorage a short distance away, and without pausing to take another look at the angry waters, for fear that the sight of them would be too much for his courage, he sprang into the air. The mate reached the side just a minute too late. The deserter was well out of his way.

"That's the end of him, sir," said he, turning to the captain.

"Let the pilot-boat take care of him," said the latter gruffly. "I can't stop to bother with him."

This was all that was said aboard the White Squall, and nothing whatever was done to aid the deserter; but the pilot-boat officers had