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interrupted.
    â€œShut up! You stay out of this!” Rawlin shouted. He turned to Joe and grabbed the boy by the lapel of his jacket. “I oughta wipe up the deck with you!”
    In a sudden move Joe broke away from the man’s grip.
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” a voice boomed.
    The boys turned to see a burly man of medium height approaching. He had a large graying mustache and cold blue eyes.
    â€œHello, Cap’n,” Rawlin said. “These two kids just signed on. The blond-haired one almost hit me with a can of paint.”
    â€œThat true?” the officer demanded as he glared at Joe.
    â€œIt was an accident, sir.”
    â€œThat’s what he says,” snarled Rawlin. “And what’s more, he tried to get tough with me just now.”
    â€œOh, yeah?” the captain growled. “Lacks discipline, eh? A couple of days on bread and water in the brig will take the fight out of him.”
    Frank pleaded with the men on his brother’s behalf. It was useless. Joe was taken to the brig below decks. It was a small enclosure with a door of metal bars. No guards were posted.
    Late that night Frank secretly made his way to the ship’s galley and collected some food. Then he sneaked quietly to the brig.
    â€œJoe!” he whispered. “I brought some chow.”
    â€œGreat! I’m starved.”
    Frank passed the food through the bars and watched as Joe ate heartily. Then they discussed the situation.
    â€œI hate leaving you in there,” Frank said. “But if you were to break out, it would only rile the captain further and possibly ruin our chances to investigate the ship.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Joe replied. “I won’t upset the applecart.” He forced a grin. “Just keep the food coming every night and I’ll be able to put up with anything.”
    â€œIt should only be for a couple of days,” Frank assured him. In the meantime, I’ll get our investigation underway.”
    â€œWhat do you plan to do first?”
    â€œExamine those logs we saw in the hold. I’ve a hunch that’s not an ordinary pile of lumber.”
    â€œWhat about the warning note? Any idea who wrote it?”
    â€œNo, not yet,” Frank admitted. “But if we were recognized by someone aboard this ship, then I think the note was meant to be a friendly warning. Otherwise he would have turned us over to the captain by now.”
    â€œIf you’re right, I wish that that someone would come out into the open. I don’t like having mystery friends for too long.”
    Frank agreed. “Now I’d better be on my way. See you tomorrow night.”
    â€œGood luck.”
    Frank began to edge his way in the direction of the cargo hold. As he rounded the comer of a passageway, he suddenly found himself face to face with Rawlin.
    â€œWhat are you roaming around for?” the first mate demanded.
    â€œWell—er—I was just getting acquainted with the layout of the ship,” Frank stammered.
    â€œGet back to your quarters!” Rawlin commanded.
    Crestfallen, Frank obeyed, but decided that he would try again the following night. He fell into his bunk and was soon asleep. To him, it seemed only seconds later that he was being shaken awake.
    â€œUp on deckl” a hefty crewman yelled.
    Frank pulled on his pants and quickly followed the man up the ladder. Dawn was just breaking as Rawlin’s voice boomed through the crisp, fresh morning air.
    â€œEveryone’s to carry on with his regular duties! Frank Karlsen is to report to me!”
    Frank went up to the first mate.
    â€œI’m assigning you to deck watch,” Rawlin told him. “Four hours on, and four hours off. Now report to the bridge.”
    Frank was bored with his new duty. But what bothered him even more was the fact that he had to remain in one spot and could not wander about to search for information.
    It was well after midnight