He was astonished to see Frank, but did not recognize him in the fur costume he wore, for the hood covered most of the young man’s face to ward off the cold.
Frank walked from one end of the boat to the other.
Finding a ladder at the side, he made his way up to the deserted ice-covered deck and saw a light in the cabin windows.
From down in the forecastle came the sound of sailors’ voices, and a stream of smoke was pouring up from a funnel in the deck, showing that the whalers had fires going below decks.
He had scarcely observed this when the cabin door was opened.
The captain strode out, muffled up in heavy clothing.
“I don’t mind. It’s bitterly cold out here.”
The captain led the way into his cabin, and Frank followed him, closing and locking the door, and taking the key.
Not another man was in the cozy little room.
“Sit down,” said Bolt, pointing to a chair beside the table.
“Thank you,” replied Frank, complying, and Bolt seated himself opposite.
“Well,” replied Frank, “I’m searching for a certain party.”
“Shipwrecked crew?” queried the captain, curiously.
“No,” replied Frank, fixing a keen glance on the man, “A stolen boy.”
“What!” roared Bolt, with a sudden start.
“The deuce!” gasped the captain, excitedly.
“And he was carried off on this ship from Boston.”
With a wild glare in his eyes, the captain regarded Frank as if he were some horrible apparition.
“Do you recognize me?” asked the inventor, uncovering his face.
A yell of alarm escaped the captain when he saw who his caller was, and he recoiled a step, exclaiming:
“Yes,” assented Frank, as he whipped out a pistol and covered the wretch with it; “and if you utter a word to betray me to your crew, I’ll put a ball in your brain.”
There were plenty things to tie him with.
The inventor secured a long, stout lanyard.
“Place your hands behind your back!” he ordered.
“Don’t kill me!” whined the captain, as he obeyed.
“I won’t, if you behave. I’ll simply render you helpless so you can’t show any treachery.”
And Frank bound the captain’s arms behind his back.
He was pale and agitated beyond all measure.
“Now, see here, my man!” said Frank, sternly, “I’ve chased you all the way here from Boston to rescue Walter Grey——”
“I don’t know nothin’ about him,” growled Bolt.