"Oh, I guess not," replied Bob confidently. He and Mr. Tarbill
were together on the quarterdeck. The nervous passenger's fears
gave Bob an idea.

"I'll give him a real scare," thought the boy. "Maybe it will cure
him of being nervous."

My reader can easily understand that Bob had one thought for Mr.
Tarbill and two for himself.

The boy considered matters a few minutes, during which time the
nervous passenger seemed to grow more and more frightened of the
big waves, which had been piled up by quite a heavy blow the
previous night.

Presently Bob went to the after-rail and looked intently into the
water. Then he uttered an exclamation.

"Oh! Oh!" he cried. "It's coming right after us! Have you a
revolver, Mr. Tarbill?"

"A revolver? What for? What is coming after us, my dear young
friend?"

"A big whale! He's just under the surface of the water! He's
trying to break off the rudder! Quick, give me your revolver!"

"I haven't any! Oh, dear! I'm so nervous! Do you think he will
damage the ship, my dear young friend?"