Adrift on the Pacific
A Boys Story of the Sea and its Perils
By EDWARD S. ELLIS
Author of
“The Young Pioneers,” “Fighting to Win,” “Adrift in the
Wilds,” “The Boy Patriot,” Etc.
A. L. BURT COMPANY; PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK
Copyright, 1911
By A. L. BURT COMPANY
Adrift on the Pacific
Adrift on the Pacific
A few hours before the sailing of the steamer Polynesia,from San Francisco to Japan, and while CaptainStrathmore stood on deck watching the bustle andhurry, he was approached by a nervous, well-dressedgentleman, who was leading a little girl by the hand.
“I wish you to take a passenger to Tokio for me,Captain Strathmore,” said the stranger.
The honest, bluff old captain, although tender ofthe feelings of others, never forgot the dignity andrespect due to his position, and, looking sternly at thestranger, said:
“You should know, sir, that it is the purser and notthe captain whom you should see.”
“I have seen him, and cannot make a satisfactoryarrangement.”
“And that is no reason, sir, why you should approachme.”
The captain was about moving away, when thestranger placed his hand on his arm, and said, in ahurried, anxious voice:
“It is not I who wish to go––it is this little girl.It is a case of life and death; she must go! You, ascaptain, can take her in your own cabin, and no onewill be inconvenienced.”
For the first time Captain Strathmore looked downat the little girl, who was staring around her with thewondering curiosity of childhood.
She was apparently about six years of age, and thepicture of infantile innocence and loveliness. Shewas dressed with good taste, her little feet being incasedin Cinderella-like slippers, while the prettystockings and dress set off the figure to perfection.She wore a fashionable straw hat, with a gay ribbon,and indeed looked like a child of wealthy parents, whohad let her out for a little jaunt along some shadyavenue.
When Captain Strathmore looked down upon thissweet child, a great pang went through his heart, forshe was the picture of the little girl that once calledhim father.
Her mother died while little Inez was an infant,and, as soon as the cherished one could dispense with5the care of a nurse, she joined her father, the captain,and henceforth was not separated from him. Shewas always on ship or steamer, sharing his room andbecoming the pet of every one who met her, no lessfrom her loveliness than from her childish, winningways.
But there came one awful dark day, away out inthe Pacific, when the sweet voice was hushed forever,and the rugged old captain was bowed by a grief suchas that which smites the mountain-oak to the earth.
The little girl who now looked up in the face ofCaptain Strathmore was the image of Inez, who yearsbefore had sunk to the bottom of the sea, carryingwith her all the sunshine, music and loveliness thatcheered her fathe