CHAPTER XXVI. NELSON ON SHIPBOARD.

 Nelson was tending the stand on the morning following the conversation just recorded, when suddenly Paul Randall came running up, all out of breath.

 

"I just saw Billy Darnley," gasped¹ the little newsboy, when able to speak.

 

"Where did you see him?" questioned Nelson quickly.

 

"Right straight across town, on the East River. He was talking to the captain of a big schooner² named the Victory. I guess he was wanting to ship in her."

 

"Tend the stand, Paul, and I'll go after him," said Nelson, and leaped outside. Soon he was making his way toward the East River with all possible speed.

 

When he came in sight of the docks half a dozen vessels³ met his view, all with their bows stuck far over into the street. Of a sailor standing⁵ near he asked which was the Victory.

 

[Pg 199]

 

"There she is," answered the tar⁶, pointing with his sunburnt hand. "Want to ship?"

 

"Not much!" laughed Nelson. "I want to keep another fellow from shipping⁷."

 

"Then you'll have to hurry, for the Victory is going to sail putty quick."

 

Nelson was soon picking his way across the dock where the big schooner lay. Merchandise was on every hand, and on turning a pile of this he suddenly found himself face to face with Billy Darnley and a burly man dressed in a sea suit.

 

"So I've got you at last, have I?" cried Nelson, as he grasped Darnley by the arm.

 

"Lemme go!" howled the bully⁸, in great alarm. "Lemme go, Nelson!"

 

"Not much! I'm going to hand you over to the police," was Nelson's firm answer.

 

"I won't go!"

 

"What's the trouble?" demanded the nautical-looking man curiously⁹.

 

"He's a thief, that's the trouble," answered our hero.

 

"It aint so. I never stole nuthin' in my life," retorted Darnley sulkily. "He's down on me, and he's always tryin' to git me into trouble."

 

"I am telling the truth," said Nelson. "He's got to go with me."

 

"I won't go!" roared the bully.

 

[Pg 200]

 

For a moment the face of the seafaring man was a study. His name was Grabon, and he was part owner and captain of the Victory.

 

"Darnley has signed articles with me, for a trip to the West Indies and Brazil," he said.

 

"Well, he can't go to the West Indies and Brazil. He's going to the lock-up," returned Nelson firmly.

 

"What is he guilty of?"

 

"Of two robberies, so far as I know. He once robbed me of some money, and only a short while ago he robbed a news stand belonging to me and another party."

 

"Humph! What did he rob you of—half a dozen newspapers?" sneered¹⁰ Captain Grabon. "If he did, you shan't keep him ashore¹¹ on that account. I am short of hands as it is, and must sail by the tide to-day."

 

"The trouble was all over ten newspapers," said Billy Darnley, quick to take up an idea that had come to him. "He says I stole 'em, but I didn't."

 

"I won't listen to such nonsense." Captain Grabon shoved Nelson back. "Let my man go."

 

"I won't!" exclaimed our hero.

 

"You will!" put in Billy Darnley, and[Pg 201] wrenching¹² himself free, he ran along the dock toward the Victory and clambered aboard the vessel⁴.

 

"You're going to get yourself into a whole lot of trouble!" ejaculated Nelson to the captain.

 

"You clear out!"

 

"Not much—not until I've caught that thief."

 

As quickly as he could, our hero ran toward the ship and clambered aboard after Darnley. For the moment he had lost sight of the bully, but now he saw him peering out from behind the mainmast. At once a chase ensued.

 

OUR HERO RAN TOWARD THE SHIP AND CLAMBERED ABOARD

"OUR HERO RAN TOWARD THE SHIP AND CLAMBERED ABOARD."

 

Nelson the Newsboy. —Page 201.

 

In the meantime Captain Grabon came on board, and going quickly to his mate, he ordered the lines flung off and the boat towed out into the stream.

 

Around and around the deck flew Darnley, with Nelson after him. Then the bully leaped down the companion-way steps and into the cabin. Undaunted, our hero followed, and presently the pair found themselves at the end of a narrow passageway.

 

"Now I've got you!" panted Nelson. "You shan't get away from me again."

 

"I won't go!" howled Billy Darnley desperately¹³. "I'm booked for this trip to sea."

 

[Pg 202]

 

"Well, a sea trip might do you some good, Billy, but you are not going to take it just yet What did you do with the stuff you stole from the stand?"

 

"Didn't steal anything from the stand."

 

"Yes, you did—you and Len Snocks. Van Pelt¹⁴ and I know all about it. You got to give up the goods, do you hear?"

 

"I aint got nuthin," growled¹⁵ Darnley.

 

He tried to break away again, and a hand-to-hand tussle¹⁶ ensued. Presently both boys went down and rolled over. As they did this Nelson's head struck an iron projection¹⁷, and he was partly stunned¹⁸. Before he could recover the bully was on his feet once more.

 

"Take that!" roared Darnley, and gave Nelson a cruel kick in the side. A kick in the head followed, and with a groan¹⁹ our hero was stretched out insensible.

 

By this time Captain Grabon was coming below to see what was going on. He met Darnley in the cabin.

 

"Hold on!" he cried. "Where are you going?"

 

"On deck," answered the bully, but did not add that he wanted to go ashore.

 

"Where's the other boy?"

 

"I knocked him down."

 

[Pg 203]

 

Darnley was about to move on, but the captain would not allow it.

 

"You stay here for the present," he said. "I want to investigate this."

 

"I'm going on deck," growled the bully.

 

"What!" roared the captain. "Why, you monkey, don't you know you are now under my orders?"

 

At this Darnley fell back, aghast.

 

"Under your orders?"

 

"Certainly. And you mind me, or I'll have you rope-ended well."

 

Still holding fast to Darnley, he forced his way to the narrow passage, and here saw Nelson still lying motionless. He gave a low whistle.

 

"So this is your game," he said. "You must have hit him hard."

 

"I did," answered the bully, telling the falsehood without an effort.

 

"This may be serious. Help me carry him into the cabin."

 

Alarmed, Darnley did as requested, and our hero was placed on a lounge. There was a big lump on Nelson's forehead, and this the captain made Darnley bathe with some water from an ice-cooler in the corner.

 

It was nearly an hour before our hero came to his senses, for the kicks from the bully had[Pg 204] been severe. He sat up, completely bewildered.

 

"Where am I?" was the first question he asked himself. Then he stared around him, to behold²⁰ a negro sitting near, reading a newspaper.

 

"Hullo!" he said feebly. "What place is this?"

 

"Dis am de fo'castle of de Victory," was the negro's reply.

 

"The fo'castle of the Victory?" repeated Nelson, puzzled. "Where—who placed me here? And who put this rag on my head?"

 

"Cap'n Grabon had you carried here. You had a row wid one of de new hands. Don't you remember dat?"

 

"Certainly I remember it," answered Nelson, and sat up. His head ached severely²¹. "Who are you?"

 

"My name am Puff²² Brown. I's de cook ob de boat."

 

"Oh! And where is Billy Darnley?"

 

"De feller you had de fight wid?"

 

"Yes."

 

"He's on deck, learnin' how to become a sailor."

 

"I want him arrested. He's a thief."

 

So speaking, Nelson staggered to his feet and[Pg 205] made for the doorway²³ of the forecastle. When he got on deck he stared around him in amazement²⁴. The dock had been left behind, and around the ship were the blue waters of New York Bay.

1 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 schooner   

n.纵帆船

参考例句：

• The schooner was driven ashore.那条帆船被冲上了岸。
• The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at an equal rate.急流正以同样的速度将小筏子和帆船一起冲向南方。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

7 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

8 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

9 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

10 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

11 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

12 wrenching   

n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛

参考例句：

• China has been through a wrenching series of changes and experiments. 中国经历了一系列艰苦的变革和试验。 来自辞典例句
• A cold gust swept across her exposed breast, wrenching her back to reality. 一股寒气打击她的敞开的胸膛，把她从梦幻的境地中带了回来。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

13 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

14 pelt   

v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火

参考例句：

• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
• Crowds started to pelt police cars with stones.人群开始向警车扔石块。

15 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 tussle   

n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩

参考例句：

• They began to tussle with each other for the handgun.他们互相扭打起来，抢夺那支手枪。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

17 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

18 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

19 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

20 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

21 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

22 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

23 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

24 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。