to him."

The nervous man started off. Just then Captain Spark, having
received his clearance papers by messenger, gave orders to cast off.
The _Eagle_ was about to sail.

"All ashore that's going ashore!" called the first mate.

The 'longshoreman started down the gangplank which was about to be
hauled in.

"Wait, I must pay you!" called the nervous passenger, turning back
toward the man who had brought his trunk aboard.

The 'longshoreman waited.

"Cast off that stern line!" shouted the captain.

"Oh, dear! I wish I was sure this was the _Eagle_!" spoke the
nervous passenger.

"It is," Bob assured him, smiling at the man's manner. First he
would advance a little way toward the captain, intending to ask him
the momentous question; then he would turn toward the 'longshoreman,
who was waiting for his money.

"Lively with that gangplank now!" ordered the commander.

"Oh, if I have made a mistake and gotten on the wrong ship it will
be terrible," murmured the man.

"Why don't you throw off that stern line?" again shouted the captain.

"What shall I do?" exclaimed the nervous man.

"If you're goin' t' pay me, your honor, you'll have t' hustle,"
advised the 'longshoreman.

"I will, my man. Never mind touching your hat. Oh, you are not
carrying my trunk now; I forgot. Here's a dollar. Never mind the
change."

"All ashore that's going ashore!" yelled Mr. Carr again.

Up came the gangplank. The 'longshoreman leaped over the side of
the ship and landed on the dock. There was a puffing from the tug
that had been engaged to pull the _Eagle_ out into the channel.

"Are you sure this is the right ship?" appealed the man to Bob once
more.

"Positively yes, sir. Anyhow, it's too late now."

"Too late? How? What do you mean?"

"I mean that we're under way now."

The nervous passenger ran to the side and looked over. True enough,
the _Eagle_ was some distance from the wharf. The tug was straining
on the big hawser. The ship had begun her long voyage around Cape
Horn.

CHAPTER XII

SOME JOKES ON BOB

Seeing that he was now indeed afloat, and that the ship was some
distance from land, the man became more nervous than ever. He
paced up and down the deck, looking anxiously at the fast-receding
shore.

Suddenly he ran toward the bow of the ship and leaned far over the
rail.

"Hey there!" yelled Bob, thinking the man was going to Jump
overboard and swim ashore. "What are you doing?"