boy sitting there. The other
seemed to be not over ten years of age, judging from his size. He was
barefooted, and without either hat or coat, though the night was getting
cold now.

Several times he sighed deeply, and once Frank was sure he heard what
seemed to be a stifled sob, as though he would have cried had he dared.

Obeying an impulse he could not control, Frank put his hand on the
other's arm, at the same time whispering softly:

"Don't make a noise, please. I'm from the other boat, and I want to help
you, if I can. You may trust me, my boy, to the limit!"

The crouching figure started, and Frank saw a small face bent down close
to his own; then a trembling hand caught his, and there came a whisper:

"Oh! if you only could get me out of this scrape! I'll die if I stay
here! They kick me and beat me terribly! Please take me away, mister!"

Frank's first impulse was to draw the lad into the dinghy, then his
natural caution caused him to hesitate.

"Who are you, boy?" he whispered.

"Joe Abercrombie; and I guess it's near killed my mother, because they
think I run away," came the quick answer.

"Is your father aboard this boat?"

"I ain't got any father. He's dead long time ago. I live with my mother
and sister down at Cedar Keys. Please get me off here, mister! I'll do
anything for you, if you only can!" the boy kept on saying, and
unconsciously raising his voice in his excitement.

Frank's determination was taken. He would accept the chances of trouble
and assist this poor little chap, whose condition seemed so miserable,
as the slave of the trio of big, rough spongers.

Before he could say another word, or draw the boy into his dinghy, a
gruff voice came booming out of the cabin:

"Hey! Who yer talkin' to out thar, younker? Wake up, fellers! I reckon
we're boarded by some reptiles! Hank! Carlos! Git at 'em!"

"Oh!" exclaimed the lad piteously. "They've heard us! They're coming out
to kill you! Don't stop for me, but go!"

But Frank Langdon was not built that way.

Chapter XVI

JOE

With one sweep of his arm Frank drew the little fellow into the dinghy.

Then he snatched up his paddle, and dipped it deeply into the flood. The
corklike boat answered instantly to the demand, and backed away from the
side of the anchored sharpie.

Even though but a few seconds had passed, the racket aboard the boat had
become tremendous by now. The men were shouting at each other as they
groped aro