When the Bouncing Betsey was fairly out to sea, Captain Brace, anticipating, with the malicious delight which a petty tyrant feels in the sufferings of those subject to him, the grief and terror of our young hero, ordered Charlie to be released from his bonds and brought before him.

This order the mate chose to execute in person.

The pressure of the cords, with which he had been bound, had chafed his limbs, and the constraint of his position had made them ache.

As the mate busied himself in unbinding him, Charlie inquired, with a glimmering of hope, "Are you going to let me go?"

[142]

"Where?" asked Randall.

"On shore."

"Perhaps you don't know that, by this time, we are at least forty miles from Boston."

"Could you send me back?" asked Charlie, his heart sinking within him.

"I suppose we might turn the ship about, and go back for your accommodation," said the mate, with a sneer; "but I don't think Capt. Brace would consent."

"Is there no way?" implored Charlie. "Couldn't you put me on board some ship going back?"

"You can speak to the captain about that. He has sent for you. Come along, and don't be all day about it."

Charlie stretched himself with the intent of gaining some relief from the stricture he had suffered, and prepared to do what he knew there was no means of evading, he followed Randall to the presence of Capt. Brace.

"Well, Jack," said Capt. Brace, showing his teeth in an unpleasant manner, "how do you like life on shipboard?"

"My name is not Jack," was our hero's reply.

[143]

"Indeed! Perhaps you will do me the favor to tell me what is it."

"My name," said our hero, not liking the captain's tone, "is Charlie Codman."

"So you pretend to be wiser than your uncle," said Capt. Brace, looking towards the mate.

"He is not my uncle," said Charlie, boldly. If he had felt it to be prudent, he would have added that he had no desire for a relationship to Randall, but he knew that it would not be wise.

"Do you dare to contradict my first officer?" demanded the captain, with a frown.

"I am only telling the truth," said Charlie, undauntedly.

"Silence!" roared the captain, in a passion. "If he chooses to call you his nephew, you shall be so; do you hear that? I say, do you hear that?" he repeated, pounding with his clenched fist upon the table before him.

"Yes, sir," said our hero.

"Take care that you remember it then. Your name, henceforth, is Jack Randall,—at any rate, as long as you remain aboard this ship."

[144]

"How long am I to remain on board, sir?" Charlie could not help asking.

"How long?" repeated the captain. "Forever, if I choose. And now as this is the last conversation which I intend to hold with you on this point, you will bear in mind that you are shipped on board this vessel as a boy, and that, if you don't do your duty you'll get——"

We suppress the word with which the captain closed his sentence, not being willing to soil our pages with it.

This was rather a hard trial for our young hero, accustomed to a mother's gentle and affectionate words. Had he been less manly, he would have burst into tears; but he only turned pale a little, and bit his lips.

"Take him on deck, Mr. Randall, and set him to work," said the captain; "and mind, Jack, that I don't hear any complaints of you."

Charlie followed the mate to the deck. He had made up his mind that he must stay in the ship during the voyage, or, at all events until they reached land somewhere,[145] and resolved that, since it was forced upon him, he would do his duty as well as he could, and so afford as little advantage as possible to those who seemed determined to persecute hi............