CHAPTER XX
OFF AGAIN
"This is a queer turn to affairs," thought Nat, as he awaited thearrival of Captain Turton. "I never thought a thing about not having alicense, when I steered the boat, and I don't believe Mr. Weatherbydid either. I suppose I did wrong, but it was unintentional, and Idon't see what else I could have done under the circumstances.
"But I'll have a chance at Bumstead now. As soon as I get out of hereI'll cause his arrest. Hold on, though, maybe I'll not get out ofhere. I wonder what the punishment is for piloting a boat without alicense?"
This was another phase of the queer affair. He realized if he was heldon the charge, he would have no chance to make an accusation againstthe rascally mate.
"I know what I'll do," said Nat to himself, while he anxiously waited."If Bumstead comes here I'll tell Captain Turton to go out and get apoliceman. Then I can make a new complaint, charge Bumstead withkeeping money belonging to me, and he'll be arrested. That's what I'lldo."
While Nat sat in the office of the harbor master, he listened toseveral cases that were being disposed of. Captains of tugs and otherboats were arraigned on charges of violating rules of the harbor; suchas displaying wrong lights, crossing the course of other boats at theimproper time, failing to give warning signals, colliding with othercraft, or not filing the proper reports.
Some of the men were fined, others were suspended for a certain lengthof time, and one or two had their licenses revoked.
"I wonder what he'll do to me?" thought Nat. "There doesn't seem to beany case just like mine."
He was interrupted in his musing by the entrance of Captain Turton.
"What's this I hear?" asked the commander wonderingly, after he hadgreeted his young pilot. "Are you in trouble, Nat?"
"It seems so," and the boy told the circumstances.
"Don't worry," advised Captain Turton cheerfully. "I'll stand by you,and we'll have that mate arrested as soon as he leaves the place."
"Is the Morton case ready?" asked the harbor master, looking abouthim, after he had disposed of all the other matters before him.
"The mate Bumstead isn't here yet," replied an officer who was incharge of the court. "Young Morton is here, and Captain Turtle----"
"I beg your pardon, my name is Turton," interrupted the commander ofthe _Mermaid_.
"Turton, I should say," corrected the court officer.
"Where is the person who made the charge--Bumstead the mate?" askedthe harbor master.
"I have sent Officer Jenkins for him, sir. He'll be here directly. Ah,here is Jenkins now."
"Well, Jenkins," said the harbor master, "did you bring the mate backwith you? This case has been delayed long enough."
"No, sir, I didn't bring him."
"Why not?"
"Because, sir, his ship has just sailed, and he's gone with her."
"I'll commit him for contempt of court!" exclaimed the harbor master."Make out the papers at once," he added, turning to his clerk. "I willnow take up this case, however, and proceed as far as possible. Giveme the written accusation."
He looked over some papers, and, at a nod from him, Nat walked forwardand stood in front of the big table. Then the harbor master read thecomplaint as made by Bumstead. It set out in a number of legal termsand phrases, that Nat Morton had, in violation of the regulations,piloted a vessel without having a license. The mate, it appeared, hadheard of Nat's feat early that morning while the two vessels weredocked, and had lost no time making his accusation, for mere spite.
"How do you plead to that?" asked the harbor master.
"I guess I did it," answered Nat.
"Perhaps you had better explain," suggested one of the other menpresent. "We will mark you 'not guilty' until we have heard the case."
Thereupon, Nat told all the circumstances connected with the suddenillness of Mr. Weatherby, the storm, the leak in the ship and thenecessity for keeping on. Captain Turton was called and verified allthat Nat said.
"Hum," remarked the harbor master. "There seems to be somejustification here. I will consult with my colleagues on this. We willlet you know our decision shortly. You may wait here."
He motioned to the men on either side of him, and they all retired toa rear room.
"What do you suppose they'll do to me?" asked Nat.
"Nothing very serious, I think," replied the captain, for he had beenthrough such cases before, and he knew that harbor masters weredisposed to stretch a point wherever possible.
"And Bumstead has got away again," went on Nat. "He stayed just longenough to file his complaint, and then skipped out. I wonder if heknows I am after him?"
"I think not," remarked Captain Turton, who had been told thecircumstances of the lumber deal. "If he did he wouldn't venture tostay in the same port with you long enough to make a charge againstyou. Probably he wants to make all the trouble he can for you, in thehope that you will give up this ship life, and go somewhere so that hewill not have to worry about you finding out about him."
"Perhaps," agreed Nat.
The harbor master and his colleagues filed back into the room. Nattried to gather from their looks what disposition they had made of hiscase, but the men gave no indication, seeming to be as grave andserious as when they had gone out.
"Hum," mumbled the harbor master, in his deep voice. "We haveconsidered your case, Nat Morton, and we wish to ask you a fewquestions."
Thereupon, Nat was put through a brief examination in relation tomatters connected with piloting and the management of boats. Theharbor master and his colleagues asked him a lot of questions, some ofwhich Nat answered to his own satisfaction, at least. To others, moretechnical, he replied as best he could.
Fortunately his life about the docks, and his instructions at thehands of Mr. Weatherby, stood him in good stead. He showed a goodpractical knowledge of piloting, though some of the questions puzzledhim, and his answers seemed to afford mirth to the harbor master andhis associates.
"Well," remarked the harbor master after a pause, "what you did, Nat,may have been irregular--in fact it was irregular, and against therules--but, under the circumstances, we cannot blame you for it. Youare doing very well, and you know more, now, than many pilots who havea license. Still, you are under the age. When you reach the properlimit you will have to appear for an official examination. Until thenyou can go on as you have been doing, only don't try to handle a boatalone in a storm. Wait until you have had a little more experience.Then you can come up for examination, and get a full license. Thiscase is laid over indefinitely."
"Does that mean I can go?" asked Nat.
"Yes, you can go," answered the harbor master with a smile. "And don'tworry. We'll pass you, as soon as you are of the proper age. Icongratulate you on your pluck," and then, to the surprise of hiscolleagues (for the harbor master was a somewhat gruff sort of a man),he leaned over and shook hands with Nat.
A little later Nat and Captain Turton were aboard the _Mermaid_. Theyfound Mr. Weatherby much better, and when the repairs were completed,and the freight and passengers aboard, the ship steamed out of theharbor to resume her voyage.