Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/224

 were speaking of an every-day occurrence, "I've seen a good many such whacks in my time."

"Do all officers pound their men in this fashion, and do you fellows submit to it?" cried Roy, in great surprise. "Well, I won't, I bet you. I'll have those two men arrested; the captain for kidnapping me, and the mate for using me up in this way."

"Drink this coffee and tell us when you're going to do all that," said one of the men.

"Yas," said the other. "And while I am helping you rub them bruises with this arnica, tell us how you're going to do it."

"When and how?" repeated Roy, as he submitted to the old sea-dog's rough but kindly administrations.

"Yas. You can't get ashore before morning, and by that time the White Squall will be miles and miles at sea. It'll be two years, mebbe three, before she makes this port again, and like as not there won't be a single man in her crew that she took away with her. Then where'll your witnesses be to prove that you