“Why don’t you throw off that stern line?” again shouted the captain.

“What shall I do?” exclaimed the nervous man.

“If you’re goin’ t’ pay me, your honor, you’ll have t’ hustle,” advised the ’longshoreman.

“I will, my man.  Never mind touching your hat.  Oh, you are not carrying my trunk now; I forgot.  Here’s a dollar.  Never mind the change.”

“All ashore that’s going ashore!” yelled Mr. Carr again.

Up came the gangplank.  The ’longshoreman leaped over the side of the ship and landed on the dock.  There was a puffing from the tug that had been engaged to pull the Eagle out into the channel.

“Are you sure this is the right ship?” appealed the man to Bob once more.

“Positively yes, sir.  Anyhow, it’s too late now.”

“Too late?  How?  What do you mean?”

“I mean that we’re under way now.”

The nervous passenger ran to the side and looked over.  True enough, the Eagle was some distance from the wharf.  The tug was straining on the big hawser.  The ship had begun her long voyage around Cape Horn.

CHAPTER XII

SOME JOKES ON BOB

Seeing that he was now indeed afloat, and that the ship was some distance from land, the man became more nervous than ever.  He paced up and down the deck, looking anxiously at the fast-receding shore.

Suddenly he ran toward the bow of the ship and leaned far over the rail.

“Hey there!” yelled Bob, thinking the man was going to Jump overboard and swim ashore.  “What are you doing?”

“I was trying to see the name of the vessel,” answered the man, whose face was now red instead of pale, caused by his exertion in bending over the rail.

“You can’t see it by leaning over,” replied Bob.  “It’s painted away up by the figurehead.”

“I know I can’t see it,” answered the nervous passenger.  “Oh, I wish I was sure.”

“I tell you you’re on the Eagle,” declared Bob.  “Can’t you take my word?”

“When you get as old as I am, and have been through as much trouble, you’ll never take anybody’s word for anything,” was the answer.  “I must be sure.  I’m off for a long voyage, and I don’t want to make a mistake.”

“You’re not making any mistake if you want to be aboard the Eagle.  Here comes Captain Spark now.  You can ask him.”

At that moment the commander, having seen his vessel well under way, came to where Bob and the nervous passenger were standing.

“Is this Mr. Hiram Tarbill?” asked the mariner, holding out his hand.

“Yes, sir.  Are you Captain Jeremiah Spark?”

“That’s who I am.”

“Is this the schooner Eagle, bound around Cape Horn?”

“Yes, sir, with a mixed cargo consigned to various firms in Lima, Peru.  Would you like to look at my papers?”