nor the mates were in sight to forbid him, he
stepped to the rail, mounted Into the shrouds, or ladders, that are
formed by the wire ropes supporting the mast, and was soon
ascending toward the maintop, the highest point of the largest mast.

It was rather difficult work, but Bob kept on and soon was a great
distance above the deck. He looked around him, noted several ships
which were not visible from below and then glanced down. He saw
Mr. Tarbill come out on deck, and then, more in good spirits than
because he wanted, to cause the nervous passenger a scare, Bob gave
a great shout. Mr. Tarbill looked up, saw the boy far in the air,
clinging to what, at that distance, Seemed but a slender stick, and
then he cried:

"Quick! Somebody come quick!"

"What is it?" shouted Mr. Carr, thinking from the tones of Mr.
Tarbill's voice some one had fallen overboard.

"That boy! That awful boy!" replied the nervous man.

"What about him? Is he overboard? Which side? I'll throw him a
life-preserver!"

"No, he isn't overboard! He's up there! On the mast! Oh!
Suppose he falls! My nerves are in such a state! This is an awful
shock! What a dreadful boy! I wish he had never come aboard this
ship, or else that I hadn't!"

"Come on up!" cried Bob, all unconscious of the excitement he had
created. "It's fine up here!"

"Oh! I feel as if I was going to faint!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill,
growing paler than usual.

"Come down, Bob!" ordered Mr. Carr, making a trumpet of his hands.
"If it isn't one thing it's another," thought the mate. "I'll be
glad when this voyage is over."

CHAPTER XV

THE STORM

Bob came down, wondering why he was not allowed to stay at the
maintop for a while longer.

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill when the boy reached the deck.
"You've given me such a fright!"

"I didn't mean to," replied Bob honestly enough.

"Oh, but you did! I think I'll have to go to my cabin and take some
nerve medicine."

The passenger left the deck, and Mr. Carr said:

"Don't do that again, Bob."

"No, sir; not if you don't want me to."

"It's too dangerous," added the first mate.

Bob was not very sharply reprimanded by Captain Spark for this
escapade, as the commander realized that the boy meant no harm.
But it was several days before Mr. Tarbill got over the shock.

Urged on by brisk winds the _Eagle_ made excellent speed, and
several days before he calculated he would reach it Captain Spark
f