he.

Harry, too astonished to speak, hurried on deck, and, to his
consternation, saw a dense smoke arising from the fore-hatchway. The
students did not grumble now at being called to fire-quarters, for this
was not a false alarm; the inside of the galley was a sheet of flames.

CHAPTER II.

SAM BARTON'S HARBORING PLACE.

Tom Newcombe seemed to possess, in a remarkable degree, the faculty of
creating a disturbance wherever he went, and his re-appearance in the
village was the signal for a general commotion. Johnny Harding came in
for a share of the trouble, and was the hero of an adventure that gained
him an enviable reputation in Newport. In order that the reader may
understand how it came about, we must go back and describe some events
with which he is not acquainted.

For two weeks after the Spartan sailed with the fisher-boy on board, Tom
Newcombe led a most miserable life. His father took especial care that
every moment of his time, from eight in the morning until four in the
afternoon, should be occupied with some business or another, and, in
Tom's estimation, this was the very worst punishment that could be
inflicted upon him. In addition to that, the law against going outside
the gate after dark was rigidly enforced; and thus Tom was thrown upon
his own resources for recreation.

There were few boys in the village he cared to associate with now. He
avoided the students, and Johnny Harding and his set, as he would a
pestilence; but he was not always successful in his efforts to keep out
of their way, for he had a good many errands to do about the village,
and at almost every corner he met somebody he did not want to see.
Besides, Johnny had taken up his position behind Mr. Henry's counter;
and, although he had become a steady, well-behaved boy in other
respects, he was as full of mischief as ever, and seemed to take
unbounded delight in tormenting Tom. Mr. Henry's store was but a short
distance from the office; and as Johnny was constantly running up and
down the wharf on business, he met Tom frequently, and never failed to
make particular inquiries concerning the welfare of the young ruffians
who had composed the Crusoe band.

"Ah, _good_ morning, captain!" he would say, raising his hand to his cap
with a military flourish, "how's the governor? and how does the society
come on?"

Tom sometimes made an angry reply; but generally he would take to his
heels, and as soon as possible get out of hear