CHAPTER XXVI.
ON LAKE MICHIGAN.
Not wishing to be discovered by his former working companion, Franklin hurried forward as Captain Cosgrove had ordered him. Under other circumstances he would have made inquiries concerning the destination of the Sunflower, and the pay he might expect, but just now he thought it best to say nothing on either point, and calmly await developments.
The two trucks backed close to the boat and the work of unloading them began without delay. The new man who had taken Franklin's place was evidently experienced at the job, and between him and Macklin, aided by two hands from the freight-boat, the boxed up batteries were stowed in the hold in a short space of time.
While the work was going on, Franklin reported to Pollock, the mate, and was assigned a place where he might place the small bundle of clothing he had brought along.
"Now you had better get on deck and help load cargo," said the mate, after the young electrician had made himself at home in his new qnarters. "The captain wants to get off early to-day."
Franklin was in a quandary, not wishing to disobey orders and still unwilling to go where Macklin might see him.
"Yes, sir," he said. "I'll go out as soon as I fix my shoes."
He sat down, and, while lacing up the shoe slowly, help came from an unexpected quarter.
"Hi, Mr. Pollock, ain't I to hab any help no mo'?" cried a voice from the cooking galley, and a big negro stalked up, soup ladle in hand, and with a wrathful look on his homely visage.
"Yes, here's the new hand can help you," returned the mate. "Never mind going on deck," he added to Franklin. "Go and help Jeffers get dinner ready. That will be part of your work while you are on board."
Glad to get out of what he thought a tight situation, the young electrician left the forecastle and followed the negro to the galley.
"Peel those potatoes in dat dere basket and open dem cans ob green corn," ordered Jeffers, setting him to work without delay. "And after dat yo' kin cut dat piece ob beef up into hash. De dinner is an hour behind han' aready!"
The work assigned to him was not to his taste, but nevertheless Franklin set about it cheerfully. Before he had finished the tasks mentioned, and several others Jeffers thought of later on, he was relieved to hear the two trucks drive off.
"So far I am safe," he thought. "Now I wish we would leave Chicago, then there won't be any more trouble to expect from that quarter."
Franklin was not kept long in waiting. Dinner was sent to the cabin for Captain Cosgrove, and while the master of the Sunflower was eating, the mate called all hands on deck and the lines were cast off.
The craft, which was by no means large, soon slipped out of the river, and by three o'clock in the afternoon was heading up Lake Michigan at all the speed at her command.
Franklin had never taken a long trip of any kind on the water, and as it was a fine day, he enjoyed it immensely. The city and harbor were left in the distance, and as soon as it grew dark, land faded from sight and they sped along upon one vast sheet of dancing water unbroken in any direction they might look.
"This must be like the ocean, only it is smoother." thought Franklin. "I wonder how much of a trip we are going to make?"
Franklin became quite well acquainted with Ben Stanhope, one of the sailors, and before they retired for the night asked him their destination, not directly, but in a careless manner.
"you'll have to ax the cap'n, an' I wouldn't advise it," replied Ben Stanhope. "He sails where he pleases."
"But he has to discharge his cargo somewhere, doesn't he?"
"Yes, but he doesn't tell where he is going to leave that until it's about time to unload. He's a very peculiar man, Cap'n Cosgrove is."
"I should think he was," thought Franklin, and he said no more.
The bunk that had been assigned to the young electrician was neither soft nor clean, and Franklin, who had always been accustomed to a soft, spotless bed, entered it rather gingerly. But he was tired, and the rocking of the craft soon put him to sleep.
"All hands on deck!" Such was the cry which aroused the young electrician long before daylight. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Did some one call me?" he asked of one of the hands, who was busy getting into his clothes.
"Yes, all hands on deck! The cap's afraid of a storm, and he wants matters looked after."
"A storm," repeated Franklin. "It didn't look like a storm last night."
"So much the worse for us, youngster. It's the storms as come up the quickest, that's the nastiest," and with this wise remark the sailor hurried from the forecastle.
Franklin waited to hear no more, but leaping from his bunk he slipped into his clothing with the least possible delay. If they were to encounter a storm he wished to be where he could do his duty, and thus help avoid possible harm.
Once on deck the young electrician saw that, despite the fact that morning was not far off, the heavens were black. The clouds appeared to be rolling up from the eastward, and far off could be heard the rumbling thunder.
"The first thunder storm of the season," remarked Ben Stanhope. "An' I reckon as how it will be a whistler when it gits here."
The men were ordered aloft, and while they were taking in sail, Franklin was set to work clearing the decks, and making many things fast. Of course it was all new to him, but he did the best he could.
"You lubber, you!" shouted Captain Cosgrove at him, more than once. "It's a pity you haven't had more training. That's no way to tie a rope! Throw the slip around this way."
"Yes, sir," returned Franklin.
"You're of no account on deck!" stormed the owner of the Sunfiower, five minutes later, as he rushed at Franklin, and grabbed him by the throat. "Go down in the cabin, and do what you can there. We'll have lots of rolling presently, and unless things are secured they'll all go to smash."
Flung aside with these harsh words, Franklin at once started to comply with the last order.
Already the Sunflower was pitching and tossing on the choppy sea, which was every moment getting worse, and he had all he could do to keep his feet.
"No life on the rolling deep for me," he muttered to himself, as a sudden strange feeling in the region of the stomach attacked him. "If it gets much rougher, I really believe I'll be seasick."
He came down the companionway on a run, and slid half across the cabin before he could stop himself. Then when he did finally start to do the work at hand, he found his head spinning around dreadfully, while that awful, deadly feeling in his stomach kept growing worse with every roll of the vessel.
"I must brace up!" he murmured, as he sank dowm in one of the captain's armchairs. "I must, no matter if I'm turned inside out!"
And using all of his will-power, Franklin staggered up, and began to straighten out the cabin.
He had nearly finished when a vivid flash of lightning, followed by a deafening clap of thunder startled him. Immediately after, came a heavy downpour of rain.
"Shut up all the portholes and windows, Franklin!" yelled the mate down the companionway. "Be lively now!"
"I'm already closing them, sir."
"When you are through come on deck. We'll need every hand while this storm lasts."
To go out into the downpour of rain was not pleasant, but there was no help for it, and after Franklin had bolted every porthole and every window, he crawled up the companionway ladder.
The rain and wind almost took him off his feet, and in less than five minutes he was drenched to the skin. He tried to find some shelter beside the forecastle, but was ordered aft by Captain Cosgrove.
We want no skulking around during a storm like this!" he growled, savagely. "Stand where I can see you when I want you. If you don't I'll—"
A brilliant flash of lightning caused him to break off short. Then came a sharp crack and a mighty crash of thunder, Which seemed to shake the freight-boat from stem to stern. On the instant, the deck was littered with a mass of splintered wood, long ropes and ribbons of canvas.
"The foretopmast has been struck!" sang out Pollock, the mate.
"Stand by to clear away the wreck!" rang out in Captain Cosgrove's loudest tones.
And then the sailors fairly flew in all directions for axes and other implements, with which to do as they had been ordered.