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whipping ropes； would have told Jeff they were scudding along fast； even
if the heeling of the schooner and its swift forward leaps had not made it
plain。
〃By God； Jones； she's walking；〃 he heard the captain boom across to
the mate。
Just then a figure cut past him and made straight for the captain。
Farnum recognized in it the sailor whom he had left asleep in the
forecastle and even in that fleeting glance was aware of the man's livid
fury。 Up the steps he went like a wild beast。
〃What kind of a boat is this？〃 he panted hoarsely。
The captain turned toward him。 His eyes were shining wickedly； but
his voice was ominously suave and honeyed。 〃This boat； son； is a
threemasted schooner； name of _Nancy Hanks_ ； Master Joshua Green；
bound for the Solomon Islands with a cargo of Oregon fir。〃
〃I've been shanghaied。 This is a nest of crimps；〃 the man screamed。
Joshua Green's salient jaw came forward。 〃Been shanghaied； have you？
And we're a nest of crimps； are we？ Son； the less I hear of that line of talk
the better。 Put that in your pipe and smoke it。〃
The man turned loose a flood of profanity and swore he would rot in
hell before he would touch a rope on that ship。
Out went Green's great gnarled fist。 The seaman shot back from the
quarterdeck and struck a pile of rope below。 He was up again and down
again almost quicker than it takes to tell。 Three times he hit the planks
before he lay still。
The captain stood over him； his eyes blazing。 He looked the savage；
barbaric slavedriver he was。
〃Me； I'm Bully Green； and don't you forget it。 Been shanghaied； have
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you？ Not going to touch a rope？ Then； by thunder； you white…livered
beachcomber； a rope will touch you till you're flayed。 Get this in your
coconut。 You'll walk chalk； you lazy son of a sea cook； or I'll haze you till
you wish you'd never been born。〃 He punctuated his remarks with
vigorous kicks。 〃Bully Green runs this tub； strike me dead if he don't。 Now
you hump for'ard and clap a hand to them sheets。 Walk； you shanghaied
Dutchman！〃
The sailor crawled away； completely cowed。 For one day he had had
more than enough。 The captain watched him for a moment； his great jaw
thrust grimly out。 Then； as on a pivot； he whirled toward Jeff。
〃Come here； you！ Step lively； Sport！〃
Farnum wondered whether he was about to undergo an experience
similar to that of the sailor。 〃Do you want to know what kind of a ship this
is？〃
〃No； sir。 I'm perfectly satisfied about that；〃 smiled his victim。
〃Got no opinions you want to hand out free； son？〃
〃Think I'll keep them bottled。〃
〃Say 'sir；' Sport！〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered Farnum； his quiet eyes steady and unafraid。
〃When I give an order you expect to jump？〃
〃Jump isn't the word。〃
〃Sir！〃 thundered Green； and 〃Sir〃 the newspaper man corrected
himself。
〃Got no story to spiel about being shanghaied； son？〃
〃Would it do any good； sir？〃
〃Not unless you're aching to get what that son of a Dutchman got。 See
here； sport！ You walk the chalk line； and Bully Green and you'll get along
fine。 I'm a lamb； I am； when I'm not riled。 But get gayand you'll have a
hectic time。 I'll rough you till you're shark…food。 Get that through your
teeth？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Now you trot down to the fo'c'sle and dive into them slops you find
there。 You got just three minutes to do the dress…suit act。〃
Jeff； as he passed below； could hear the great bull voice roaring orders
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to the men。 〃Set y'r topsails！ Jam 'er down hard； Johnnie Dago！ Stand by；
you lubbers！ 。 。 。 Now then； easy does it 。 。 。 easy！〃
Within the allotted three minutes Farnum had climbed into the foul
oilskin coat and tarry breeches he found below and was ready for orders。
〃Clap on to that windlass； sport！ No loafing here。 。 。 。 Hump y'rself。
D'ye hear me？ Hump？〃
Jeff threw his one hundred and fifty pounds of bone and muscle
against the crank of the windlass。 Some men would have fought first as
long as they could stand and see。 Others would have begged； argued； or
threatened。 But Jeff had schooled himself to master impulses of rage。 He
knew when to fight and when to yield。 Nor did he give way sullenly or
passionately。 It was an outrage highhanded tyrannybut at the worst it
was a magnificent adventure。 As he flung his weight into the crank he
smiled。
PART 2
Before the trade winds the _Nancy Hanks_ foamed along day after day；
all sails set； making excellent time。 But for his anxiety as to the effect his
disappearance would have upon the political situation； Jeff would have
enjoyed immensely the wild rough life aboard the schooner。 But he could
not conceal from himself the interpretation of his absence the machine
agents would scatter broadcast。 He foresaw a reaction against his bill and
its probable defeat。
The issue was on the knees of chance。 The fact that could not be
obliterated was that he had been wiped from the slate until after the
legislature would adjourn。 For every hour was carrying him farther from
the scene of action。
His only hope was that the _Nancy Hanks_ might put in at the
Hawaiian Islands； from which place he might get a chance to write； or；
better still； to cable the reason of his absence。 Captain Green himself
wiped out this expectation。 He jocosely intimated to Farnum one afternoon
that he had no intention of calling the Islands。
〃When we get through this six months' cruise you'll be a first… rate
sailorman； son； and you'll get a sailorman's wages；〃 he added genially。
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The shanghaied man met his eye squarely。 〃I think I could arrange to
draw on Verden for a thousand dollars if you would drop me at the
Islands。〃
〃Not for twenty thousand。 You're going to stay with us till we get to
the Solomon Islands； and don't you fo