“Quick!  Get me a life-preserver!” exclaimed Mr. Tarbill.  “A life-preserver!  The ship is sinking!”

[Illustration:  “A life-preserver!  The ship is sinking!”]

“What’s all the excitement about?” suddenly asked Captain Spark, appearing at the head of the ladder that led to the quarterdeck.

“The ship has been struck by a monster whale!” exclaimed the nervous passenger, “He’s rammed us, captain, and I’m going to get a life-preserver!  Then I must save my valuables in my cabin!”

He rushed from the deck, while the captain, with a grim look on his face, glanced at Bob, who burst into laughter.

CHAPTER XIV

MR. TARBILL GETS A SHOCK

“This is one of your ‘jokes,’ I suppose,” remarked the captain.

“Yes.  It was too funny,” answered Bob.  “He really believed a whale was after us.”

“Do you think it was a good thing to do, alarm him so?”

“I—­er—­well, I thought it might do his nerves good,” stammered Bob.

“Hum!” murmured the captain.  “I must say, Bob, you have a queer idea of what is good for the nerves.  Now I can’t allow this.  Mr. Tarbill is a guest of mine, and I will not have his comfort interfered with.  He is taking a voyage for his health, and I don’t want him annoyed.”

“I’m sorry,” began Bob, always ready to repent, though usually it did not last long.

“Then don’t do it again.”

“I’ll not, sir.  I didn’t think he’d believe me.”

“He knows very little about the ocean.  In fact, there are some things you don’t know, and, if they wanted to, some of the old sailors could spin you yarns that would make your hair stand up.”

“I wish they would then,” said Bob.  “I like sea stories, captain.”

“I guess I’ll have to take stronger measures with him,” thought the commander as he walked forward.

A few minutes later Mr. Tarbill rushed up on deck.  He had a life-preserver strapped about him, and in either hand was a valise, while over his shoulder was some spare clothing he had not had time to pack in the satchels.

“Are the lifeboats ready?” he asked of Mr. Carr, who was the first person he met on deck.

“The lifeboats?  What for?”

“Why, the ship has been rammed by a whale and is sinking.”

“Who told you so?”

“That boy, Bob Henderson.”

“I thought so!” exclaimed the mate.  “That’s one of his so-called ‘jokes.’  There’s no danger, Mr. Tarbill.  That was only a big wave that hit us.  You are perfectly safe.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite sure.”

“Don’t you think I had better see the captain and ask him about it before I take off my life-preserver?”

“Oh, no; there is no need of that.  The ship is in no danger,” and the mate tried not to smile at the nervous passenger’s fears.