Why don't you turn over a new leaf?"
"Oh, such talk makes me sick!" growled the bully, and turned away.
A little while later Captain Blossom appeared and hunted up Dan
Baxter, who sat in his state-room, packing up his few belongings.
"Well, have you decided on your course, young man?" demanded the
master of the _Golden Wave_.
"Do you mean to lock me up if I refuse to become a sailor?" asked
Dan Baxter,
"I do, and I won't argue with you, either. Is it yes or no?"
"I don't want to be locked up in some dark hole on your ship."
"Then you are willing to become a sailor?"
"I--er--I suppose so."
"Very well, you can remove your things to the forecastle. Jack Lesher,
the first mate, will give you your bunk."
This was "adding insult to injury," as it is termed, so far as Baxter
was concerned, for it will be remembered that it was Jack Lesher who
had obtained the passage on the _Golden Wave_ for the bully.
But Dan Baxter was given no chance to demur. Taking his traps he went
on deck, where Jack Lesher met him, grinning in sickly fashion.
"So you are going to make a change, eh?" said the mate.
"You needn't laugh at me, if I am," growled Baxter.
"I shan't laugh, my boy. It's hard luck," said Lesher. "Come along."
He led the way to the forecastle and gave Baxter a bunk next to that
occupied by old Jerry. Then he brought out an old suit of sailor's
clothing and tossed it over.
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