threw him into the stoke-hole!"

"Oh, yes!" said the stoker who had come up from below. "I saw the whole
business. By the light from the furnaces, I plainly saw the man who did
it, and you are the man!"

"That settles it!" declared the engineer. "You'll make the rest of the
voyage in irons, Mr. Harris!"

"Then I'll give you something to iron me for!" shouted the furious young
villain.

He leaped on Frank Merriwell with the fierceness of a wounded tiger.

Frank was not expecting the assault, and, for the moment, he was taken
off his guard.

They were close to the moving machinery. Within four feet of them a huge
plunging rod was playing up and down, moved by a steel bar that weighed
many tons. Harris attempted to fling Frank beneath this bar, where he
would be struck and crushed.

The villain nearly succeeded, so swift and savage was his attack.

Frank realized that the purpose of the wretch was to fling him into the
machinery, and he braced himself to resist as quickly as possible.

Shouts of consternation broke from the engineer and his assistant. They
sprang forward to seize Harris and help Frank.

But, before they could interfere, Frank broke the hold of his enemy,
forced him back and struck him a terrible blow between the eyes felling
him instantly.

Merriwell stood over Harris, his hands clenched his eyes gleaming.

"Get up!" he cried. "Get up you dog! I can't strike you when you are
down, and I'd give a hundred dollars to hit you just once more!"

But Harris did not get up. He realized that his second attempt had
failed, and he stood in awe of Frank's terrible fists. He looked up at
those gleaming eyes, and turned away quickly, feeling a sudden great
fear.

Did Frank Merriwell bear a charmed life?

Surely it seemed that way to Harris just then. For the first time,
perhaps, the young rascal began to believe that it was not possible to
harm the lad he hated with all the intensity of his nature.

The engineer and his assistants grabbed Harris and held him, the former
swearing savagely. They dragged the fellow to his feet, but warned him
to stand still.

Harris did so. For the moment, at least, he was completely cowed.

A man was sent for the captain, with instructions to tell him just what
occurred. Of course the captain of the steamer was the only person who
could order one of the men placed in irons.

The captain came in in a little while, and he listened in great
amazement to the story of w