He was himself so altered both by time and suffering, that Harvey did not recognize him. The latter had served out his apprenticeship, and was at present first-mate on board the Pacific, so that Frank was of course completely within his power in almost every respect. Frank's first emotion on seeing him was surprise-he had long forgiven him for his cruelty, and he now held out both his hands to assure him of the pleasure he had at meeting with him so unexpectedly. Harvey drew back with a look of suspicion, and asked him, with an oath, who he was that claimed acquaintance with him. "And is it possible,” replied Frank, "that you do not remember Frank Hartwell, with whom you used to play so often, and sail the little canoe on the river at Elm Grove ?” For an instant he was incredulous, but then recollecting his features, he replied, Ay, well I do remember the young spiteful urchin who lodged a complaint with my owners, and had me kept to hard labour and harder 66 knocks for a long half year. And you have been playing the vagabond, my younker, have you, and got yourself into hot water, I suppose : run off from mamma, no doubt. Very well, my young gentleman, you need not thank the wind that blew you under my orders, for I shall now take special care to have ample revenge for all the mischief you have caused me; and trust me, before we reach England, you shall dearly rue the hour your friends wrote to lodge a charge with his masters against Jack Harvey, for sousing you in a ditch." So saying, he caught him by the collar, and flung him half way up the deck, cursing him at the same time to go get the cook's direction as to what he was to do in preparing the table for the cabin-dinner; there was here again no room for refusing, and Frank obeyed, half grumbling and half indignant, at the brutality of this petty tyrant. CHAPTER XIX. A TYRANNICAL CAPTAIN.-MISERIES OF A MERCHANTMAN.-CRUELTY. No care of justice, nor no rule of reason, But cruelty, the sign of currish kind, And 'sdainful pride, and wilful arrogaunce, SPENSER. EDWARDS, the commander of the Pacific, was a man of vulgar mind and debauched habits on shore or in port he was all activity and attention to the orders of his owners, nor did he at any time neglect their interests; but at sea he was an absolute beast in his habits; scarcely ever moving from his cabin, where his meat was brought to him, and leaving to his second in command the exclusive conduct of the vessel and management of the crew; from morn till eve the pipe was never seen from his hand, nor the bottle from his table, and tobacco and brandy occupied every moment of his time, and almost every consideration of his mind. By his crew he was at once hated and despised; towards them the tyranny of Harvey, who was his deputy in every affair, was galling beyond endurance; and their appeals or complaints of him to Edwards were either unheard, or unattended to. The whole of the ship's company was by this means split into two factions, one consisting of the captain, the cook, and the mate, and another of the remainder of the hands. With the latter Frank soon became an especial favourite; he was so manly and spirited by nature, and then so mild and uncomplaining, under all the cruelties and privations to which he was subjected, that every one at once admired and pitied him. But unfortunately no interference of theirs could protect him from insult and ill usage; and their sympathy, when observed by Harvey, only served to aggravate his malice, and increase his brutality towards the unresisting and helpless boy. The cook, who readily chimed in with the wishes of the mate, was most ingenious in tormenting him, and had unluckily the best opportunities of doing so. If any thing belonging to the cabin went astray, it was Frank who was always in fault; when any thing was broken, it was he who did it. the dinner ill-dressed, or the table unprepared, each was alike laid to the charge of the cabin-boy, and in his own person he expiated all the crimes of his tormentors. Harvey, on his part, was always sure to call him away at the moment when he was preparing some matter for Edwards, so that he had an opportunity of blaming him with inattention and idleness; nor did he ever let pass an occasion of prejudicing Was |