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diff --git a/22365-h/22365-h.htm b/22365-h/22365-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..799c9e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/22365-h/22365-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6291 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little By Little, by William Taylor Adams. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + hr.smler { width: 10%; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0px; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .right {text-align: right;} + .tbrk { margin-top: 2.75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em;} + + .mynote { background-color: #DDE; color: black; padding: .5em; margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; } /* colored box for notes at beginning of file */ + + /* index */ + + div.index ul { list-style: none; } + div.index ul li span.mono {font-family: monospace;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little By Little, by William Taylor Adams + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Little By Little + or, The Cruise of the Flyaway + +Author: William Taylor Adams + +Release Date: August 21, 2007 [EBook #22365] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE BY LITTLE *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:<br /><br /> +The text on pages 93 and 95 was transposed - it has been placed in the correct order.<br /> +Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p></div> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h1>LITTLE BY LITTLE</h1> + +<h4>OR</h4> + +<h2>The Cruise of the Flyaway</h2> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>WILLIAM TAYLOR ADAMS</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>)</p> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h3>CHICAGO<br />UNION SCHOOL FURNISHING COMPANY<br />PUBLISHERS</h3> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h4>TO<br />CHARLES LABAN ADAMS<br />This Book<br />IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED<br /><span class="smcap">By</span> HIS UNCLE.</h4> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + +<p>In presenting to his young friends the sixth volume of the "Library for +Young People," the author cannot be unconscious of what the readers of +his former books require of him. They will turn the leaves of "Little by +Little," expecting to find an abundance of stirring incidents; and he +hopes they will not be disappointed. Some of the older readers and +sterner critics will look for romantic and rather exaggerated events; +but he thinks they will look in vain, for as we grow older we become +more reasonable, and do not expect showers of gold to fall upon every +seedy hero, or to see nice young gentlemen leap over lofty precipices +without sometimes being dashed to pieces.</p> + +<p>But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents will be +found upon his pages; that, though he has seldom, if ever, gone out of +his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral quantity, of +the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not be found +wanting in a true Christian spirit.</p> + +<p>Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and +most of the events of the story occur upon the water; but the author +hopes his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> young lady friends will not make faces at him on this +account. The boys insisted upon having a sea story, and being the "lords +of creation," of course they must be indulged; but the writer most +solemnly promises to remember the girls next time.</p> + +<p>Thanking my young friends again for the continued kindness manifested +towards my pets, I give them "Little by Little," hoping that the +excellent spirit of Paul Duncan will pervade their minds and hearts, and +lead them forward to the material and moral triumphs which crowned his +useful life.</p> + +<p class="right">WILLIAM T. ADAMS.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dorchester</span>, August 28, 1860.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="index"> +<ul> +<li><span class="mono"><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></span></li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></span> Paul Duncan Disobeys Orders</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></span> Paul is Cool and Self-possessed</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></span> Paul Hears Bad News</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></span> Paul Becomes the Head of the Family</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></span> Paul Cooks His Own Breakfast, and Goes a-Fishing</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></span> Paul Makes a Good Speculation</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></span> Paul Goes Into Business on His Own Account</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></span> Paul Takes a Cold Bath</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></span> Paul Becomes the Skipper of the Fawn</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></span> Paul and John are Very Much Excited</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></span> Paul's First Cruise in the Fawn</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></span> Paul Sleeps on His Watch</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></span> Paul Makes a Night Run in the Storm</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></span> Paul Scolds the First Officer of the Fawn</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></span> Paul Goes on a Cruise in the Flyaway</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></span> Paul Witnesses a Mutiny</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></span> Paul Discovers that Mischief is Brewing</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></span> Paul is Made a Prisoner</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></span> Paul Takes Command of the Flyaway</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></span> Paul Exercises a Strong Moral Influence</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></span> Paul Advances Little by Little, and the Story Ends</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<h1>LITTLE BY LITTLE;</h1> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h2>THE CRUISE OF THE FLYAWAY.</h2> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL DUNCAN DISOBEYS ORDERS.</h3> + +<p>"I'll give you a quarter, Paul, if you will take me down to the Point in +your boat," said Thomas Nettle, as he came down to the beach where the +boy addressed was baling out an old dingy-looking boat.</p> + +<p>"It blows too hard," replied Paul Duncan.</p> + +<p>"The club went down in their boat."</p> + +<p>"But it didn't blow so hard then as it does now. It's a regular +sou'easter."</p> + +<p>"What are you afraid of, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid; but there's no use of risking your life for a quarter."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a half, then."</p> + +<p>Paul Duncan hesitated. Half a dollar was a great deal of money to him, +and more than often found its way into his exchequer. He glanced at the +white-capped waves in the bay, and then at Thomas.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p><p>"There's no ballast in her," said he.</p> + +<p>"Put some rocks in, then."</p> + +<p>"I think it's rather dangerous, and I don't believe your mother would +agree to have you go out in a boat in such a blow as this."</p> + +<p>"My mother! Humph! Let me tell you I'm not tied to my mother's apron +string. I think I'm old enough to have a will of my own. Don't talk to +me about my mother," replied Thomas contemptuously. "I'm not a baby."</p> + +<p>"Just as you please; but I think it blows too hard to go out."</p> + +<p>"Let me have your boat, and I'll go alone then, if you are afraid to +go."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," answered Paul, stung by these repeated implications +upon his courage. "Jump in, and I'll give you enough of it before you +get half way to the Point."</p> + +<p>Thomas got into the boat, which was anything but a beauty in her shape +and appointments. Paul pushed her off the beach upon which she had +grounded, and as she receded from the shore, leaped on board of her. +Placing an oar at the stern, he sculled her out a short distance from +the land, and then shook out the sail. The first flaw of wind that +struck it heeled the boat over so far that Thomas leaped with desperate +haste up to the windward side.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, Tom," said Paul, with a smile. "She has got the wind +now."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p><p>"Who's afraid?" demanded Thomas.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were by the way you jumped."</p> + +<p>"Well, the gunnel of your old craft went under."</p> + +<p>"Not quite."</p> + +<p>"I say it did; and you don't suppose I was going to sit there and be +spilled into the drink—do you?" continued Thomas, sharply.</p> + +<p>"I won't dispute with you; she heeled over, as a boat always will when +she first gets the wind."</p> + +<p>"You think you are an old salt, Paul, but you don't know enough to +navigate a herring pond."</p> + +<p>"Just as you like," replied Paul, whose good nature was proof against +the assaults of his companion. "I don't pretend to know much; but I +think I understand this old boat pretty well."</p> + +<p>"Paul! Paul!" cried a voice from the shore.</p> + +<p>"That's my mother," said the young boatman, as he discovered a woman on +the beach. "What do you want, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Come ashore," replied Mrs. Duncan, whose voice was almost drowned by +the noise of the waves as they beat against the boat.</p> + +<p>Paul's mother seemed to think she had said enough, for her son was +generally a very obedient boy, and she turned to walk up the bluff +towards the house. But she knew enough about the management of a boat to +perceive that, in this instance, her order was not obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Come ashore right off, Paul," she repeated with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> an emphasis that was +calculated to make an impression upon the rebellious party.</p> + +<p>"Do you want me, mother?" asked Paul, as he put the boat about, and +brought her upon the home tack.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want you; but it blows too hard for you to be out there. +You'll capsize, as true as you're alive," replied Mrs. Duncan; and +seeing the boat headed towards the shore, she hastened home.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to back out, Paul?" demanded Thomas, as the boat came +about.</p> + +<p>"My mother won't let me go," replied Paul, rather sheepishly, for he was +not proof against the derision of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Won't let you go!" sneered Thomas.</p> + +<p>"You heard what she said."</p> + +<p>"I did; my mother would no more dare to say as much as that to me than +she would dare to cut my head off. She knows her place better."</p> + +<p>Paul was not a little shocked by this unfeeling speech, and could not +help seeing that Thomas had not much regard for his mother. For his own +part, he loved his mother very much, though he was not exactly willing +to confess the fact to a boy who entertained such opinions as those of +Thomas Nettle. He had been accustomed to obey his mother for the respect +and love he bore her, and it had never before occurred to him that she +overstepped the bounds of reason and propriety in presuming to command +him. Paul had the reputation of being a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> good boy, both at home and +among the neighbors; but it must not be inferred that he was perfect, +that he never disobeyed his father and mother,—though the instances +were very rare,—or that he never did what he knew to be wrong. He had +his faults and his weaknesses; but for the present I shall let my young +reader discover them from what he says and what he does. He was +disturbed by the derision of his friend, no less than by his impudent +self-possession. He even asked himself why he should be tied to his +mother's apron string, as Thomas expressed the subjection of the child +to the parent. He was only a year younger than his companion, and he +began to question whether it was not about time for him to assert his +own independence, and cut the apron string when it pulled too hard upon +his inclination.</p> + +<p>Paul was the oldest of a family of six children, and was now in his +fourteenth year. His father was a journeyman ship carpenter—an honest, +temperate, hard-working man, who was obliged to struggle with the +realities of life in order to win a comfortable subsistence for his +large family. In the inoffensive sense of the term, he was a poor man; +that is, he lived from hand to mouth, and had not saved a single dollar +with which to meet the misfortunes of life. But he had brought up his +family as well as he could, and given the oldest the best education his +limited means would afford.</p> + +<p>Thomas Nettle's father was a wealthy merchant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> who had retired from +active business, and lived upon his beautiful estate in Bayville, in +which transpired the events of my story. Major Nettle, as his townsmen +called him,—for he had attained to the rank indicated by his military +title in the militia,—was an easy, careless man, and had but a very low +appreciation of the moral and religious duties and responsibilities of a +parent. It was a favorite theory with him that a boy would do well +enough if only let alone. It was of no use to cram his head or his heart +with notions, as he called them, about morality and religion; the boy +would find them out himself when he wanted them. In support of his +doctrine, he used to point to the minister's son who was in the state +prison, and the deacon's son who had run away to sea to avoid the house +of correction. Of course, then, Master Thomas Nettle's parental training +was never very severe, for he had no one to dispute his independence +when he chose to assert it.</p> + +<p>Paul had seen enough of the world to find out that wealth commands a +certain respect, and he could not always keep down a sense of deference +with which his rich companions inspired him; and when they admitted him +to their friendship, he could not help being greatly influenced by their +words and their actions. Thomas was always dressed well, and always had +money in his pocket; and these things made Paul realize the difference +in their social positions. It is true, he tried to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> make himself believe +that he was as good as any one else, and would not bend his neck or his +knee to the smartest boy in Bayville; yet he could not but feel the +disparity between himself and the sons of his rich neighbors. He would +not go out of his way to court their favor, though it flattered his +vanity to be their chosen companion.</p> + +<p>"Steady! why don't you luff her up, when the puffs come," said Thomas, +as a flaw of wind struck the sail, and careened her so far that she took +in a little water over the side.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mind a little dash of water over the side," replied Paul, +with a smile; for it must be owned that he was disposed to punish his +companion for the imputations he had cast upon his seamanship and his +courage.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you going ashore?" continued Thomas. "Are you going to let +your mother domineer over you? If you do, I hope she will put you in the +cradle and rock you to sleep when you get ashore."</p> + +<p>"We must get some ballast," answered Paul, who had not yet got far +enough to declare his independence of maternal authority.</p> + +<p>"You are afraid to go!"</p> + +<p>"I think I can stand it as long as you can."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you going ashore for?"</p> + +<p>"After more ballast," replied Paul, who, though deeply stung by the +sneers of Thomas, had not yet decided to disobey his mother.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p><p>"Will you take me down to the Point when you get the ballast?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I'll see."</p> + +<p>The old boat dashed on, and in a moment or two grounded upon the beach. +There was a great struggle in the soul of Paul. He did not like to go +contrary to the express command of his mother on the one hand, and he +did not like to incur the derision of Thomas on the other, for he would +tell it to all the boys who would call him "chickenish."</p> + +<p>"There are two rocks that will just answer your purpose," said Thomas, +as they leaped out of the boat. "You take one and I will take the other. +Come, bear a hand, or I shall not get to the picnic till the fun is all +over."</p> + +<p>The two large stones were placed in the boat, and still Paul was +undecided. He had not the courage to face the ridicule of his +independent friend, nor the heart to disobey the mother whom he loved +and respected.</p> + +<p>"I guess I won't go, Tom," said he, as a momentary resolution supported +the better impulse of his nature.</p> + +<p>"Chicken-hearted! Are you afraid of your mother or of the wind and +waves?" sneered Thomas, and his features curled up into an expression of +contempt which moved the hesitating boy quite as much as his words.</p> + +<p>"Of neither. If you think I'm afraid to go any where that you dare go, +you are very much mistaken.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> It's a very easy thing for you to stand +there and talk, but when the boat takes in a pint of water over the +side, you jump as though an earthquake had taken you all aback," said +Paul, smartly.</p> + +<p>"Humph. Get into the boat, and we'll soon see who's afraid; though +perhaps you had better go and get your mother to go with you."</p> + +<p>"I have proved you to be a coward, and I don't think there is any use of +going now. I don't like to be in a boat with a fellow who is skittish +when the wind blows," continued Paul, who was determined to make the +most of their previous experience. "It isn't safe to have a fellow +jumping about in the boat when there's a heavy sea on. You might upset +her, cantering about over the thwarts like a frightened colt."</p> + +<p>"You are smart, Paul; but your big talk sounds silly while I stand here +and stump you to carry me down to the Point. You are afraid of the sea, +and afraid of your mother. You dare not go!"</p> + +<p>"Jump in!" cried Paul, desperately, as his failing resolution fled +before these taunts. "Jump in, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Now don't back out if you happen to see one of your mother's aprons on +the clothes-line."</p> + +<p>"Never fear me; and if you don't wish yourself ashore before you get +half way to Tenean Point, I lose my guess; that's all," answered Paul, +as he pushed the boat off into deep water. "The wind is dead ahead, and +we must beat all the way down."</p> + +<p>"Put her through, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, my hearty, I'll put her through, and you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> too," replied the +young boatman as he shook out the sail, and hauled the sheet home.</p> + +<p>As she felt the strong blast, the old boat lay down before it, and a +large wave broke over her gunnel; but Paul luffed her up, so that she +did not fill. Whatever Thomas thought of this stirring experience, he +kept his seat upon the weather side, and appeared to be perfectly +unconcerned. As they came out from under the bluff, where the windows of +the house above commanded a view of their position, they were discovered +by Mrs. Duncan, who again hastened to the beach to repeat her command +more imperatively than before. Paul had steeled his heart to do wrong in +this instance, and he pretended not to see or hear her; and the boat +dashed on her course.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL IS COOL AND SELF-POSSESSED.</h3> + +<p>Bayville is situated about seven or eight miles from Boston, on the line +of one of the principal railroads. A large portion of the inhabitants, +even at the time of which I write, were gentlemen doing business in the +city, though the place had a shipyard and several wharves from which the +surrounding country was supplied with wood, coal, and lumber. The town +is located on both sides of Tenean River, the estuary of which forms a +very good harbor, though the place has not yet attained to any +considerable commercial importance.</p> + +<p>The shipyard and the wharves were on the north side of the river, which +was known as Mercantile Point. On the south side a peninsula extended +about half a mile out into the sea, at the extremity of which was the +little cottage of Mr. Duncan, the ship carpenter. It was built upon the +high bluff, and below it was the beach, which had been formed by the +continued caving of the earth from the high bank. The cottage was over a +mile from the shipyard, by the road, and not more than half the distance +in a straight line across the water. As an easy and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> pleasant way to get +to his work, Mr. Duncan had purchased the old boat, in which Paul had +just embarked, for a few dollars, and in good weather generally went +over to the shipyard by water. He was a skilful boatman, and under his +tuition his son had learned all the mysteries of sailing a boat. Like +most boys, he was disposed to be more daring than was necessary, and it +was often that his father and mother found occasion to check him in the +pursuit of bold enterprises. Paul was passionately fond of the water, +and was proud of his nautical skill and knowledge.</p> + +<p>Aquatic sports were all the rage at Bayville, and there were very few +gentlemen who had the means that did not own boats of some kind. In the +summer season the harbor always presented a brilliant display of yachts, +sail boats, and wherries. The largest of these was the Flyaway, a +splendid yacht of fifty-two tons, which was jointly owned by Major +Nettle and Captain Littleton. Even the boys of the High School had a +club boat, which in the warm season, not only afforded them fine sport, +but plenty of healthy exercise for the proper development of their +physical organization.</p> + +<p>On the first day of May, when our story opens, the scholars of the High +School had a picnic at Tenean Point, and the boat club had gone down to +participate in the festivities of the occasion. Thomas Nettle had been +to the city in the morning, and had not returned in season to go down +with the club, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> which he was a member. It was four miles to the Point +by the road, and only half that distance by water, when the wind +permitted the passage in a straight line. He did not like the idea of +walking so far, choosing rather to incur the danger of being drowned by +the upsetting of Paul's old boat.</p> + +<p>In spite of the strong wind and the heavy sea, Paul kept the boat on her +course, though, as the tide was against her, she did not make much +headway.</p> + +<p>"Can you weather South Point, Paul?" asked Thomas, who had been silent +for some time.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't; this old boat makes about as much leeway as +headway."</p> + +<p>"It is pretty rough out here—isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Rather," replied Paul, indifferently.</p> + +<p>"She takes in a good deal of water."</p> + +<p>"Mostly spray; you can bale her out, if you have a mind to do so."</p> + +<p>Thomas was glad to have something in the shape of occupation, for it +required all his power to conceal a certain nervousness, which he would +not have had Paul see for all the world. He took the tin kettle, and +worked as though the safety of the craft depended entirely upon his +efforts.</p> + +<p>The wind seemed to increase rather than diminish in force, and the sail +was becoming more exciting every moment; but Paul maintained his +self-possession, and though he had some doubts about his ability to keep +the old craft right side up, he did not permit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> his companion to know +that he had a single misgiving.</p> + +<p>"We can't fetch by the Point," said he, when Thomas had done baling.</p> + +<p>"Better come about then; we may get ashore on the rocks."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Paul, with a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter now?" demanded Thomas.</p> + +<p>"The idea of striking a rock on the weather side!" laughed Paul.</p> + +<p>"You are right; I didn't think."</p> + +<p>The boat now came into comparatively still water, under the lee of Long +Island, as the outermost of three small islets, extending out in a line +from the mouth of the river, was called. The island was a mass of rocks, +rising from ten to twenty feet above high water mark, and as they got +behind it, they were sheltered from the force of the wind. In this +situation, Paul attempted to tack; but the old boat would not come round +in stays, for she had partially lost her headway, and the tide was +against her.</p> + +<p>"That's bad," said Thomas; "we shall lose all we have gained by this."</p> + +<p>"Take an oar and heave her head round, then," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay;" and Thomas took the oar, and brought her head up to the wind.</p> + +<p>There was a coolness and self-possession in the demeanor of Paul which +filled his companion with confidence as well as admiration, though he +was in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> no humor to acknowledge it. If Thomas was not actually terrified +by the sweeping billows and the rude pitching of the boat, it was only +because he felt that he was in the charge of a skilful boatman. The old +craft soon caught the wind on the other tack, and drove out among the +big waves again.</p> + +<p>Paul's mother was still on the beach watching the uneasy movements of +the boat, and in momentary expectation that she would be swamped. Her +earnest gestures were disregarded by her son, and she was prepared for +the worst fate that could befall him. Paul tried to keep his eyes away +from her; but he could not help stealing an occasional glance at her, +though his conscience reproached him for the pain and terror he was +giving her. But he felt that his courage and his reputation as a boatman +were at stake, and that, if he failed to achieve the purpose before him, +he would be the derision of Thomas Nettle and all his companions.</p> + +<p>For two hours the boat labored heavily in the rough sea, and had +accomplished about two thirds of the distance to Tenean Point. The young +adventurers were now in the worst place in the bay, and the boat was +exposed to the full force of the wind and the sea, from which they had +before been partially protected by an island.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Paul?" said Thomas, suspending for a moment the work +of baling, in which he had been engaged for the last hour.</p> + +<p>"What do I think?" replied Paul, coolly, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> wiped the spray from his +eyes; "I think it blows tremendous hard."</p> + +<p>"So do I."</p> + +<p>"Then we shan't quarrel about that, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can make the Point?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I do; I'm in for it, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"We don't make much headway."</p> + +<p>"That's true."</p> + +<p>"I shan't get to the picnic in any kind of season," continued Thomas, +crouching down under the weather rail, as a huge wave gave the boat a +slap that made her quiver like a leaf.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that, Tom; I didn't want you to come this way."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we had better run for the shore, and give it up?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think any such thing. If the old boat will only hold together +long enough, I'll put you ashore on Tenean Point."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid she won't hold together much longer."</p> + +<p>"No matter; we will go it while she does hold together. Can you swim, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>"You know very well I can swim, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Better get your boots off, then."</p> + +<p>"Who do you suppose could swim ashore in such a sea as this? Besides, it +is over a half a mile, and the surf on the beach would tear a fellow all +to pieces."</p> + +<p>"You ought to have thought of these things before you came out here."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p><p>"It is a great deal worse than I had any idea of," answered Thomas, who +had proceeded far enough to be willing to yield a point. "For my part, I +am willing to be landed here;" and he pointed to a little cove on the +Tenean shore.</p> + +<p>"You don't say you have got enough of it, Tom," said Paul, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Enough of it! I want to get to the picnic some time to-day. I hope you +don't think I am frightened."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't; you daresn't be frightened after all your big talk +before we came out."</p> + +<p>"I'll give up on that, Paul. You are the spunkiest fellow with a boat I +ever saw. I am willing to say that and stick to it."</p> + +<p>"That's saying a good deal."</p> + +<p>"But you mustn't suppose I am afraid."</p> + +<p>"Of course not; you're only in a hurry to get to the picnic; that's the +idea."</p> + +<p>"That's just it, and if you will put me ashore at the cove, I will be +just as much obliged to you as though you carried me all the way to the +Point."</p> + +<p>"Let's not back out, Tom."</p> + +<p>"I don't back out; and I'm sure you don't."</p> + +<p>"It looks a little like backing out to give up the chase."</p> + +<p>"You ought to be satisfied, if I am."</p> + +<p>"I shan't be satisfied till I land you at the Point."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Paul, don't carry the joke too far. The sea is getting +heavier and heavier, and the wind blows a young hurricane."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p><p>"O, well, if you really want to back out, I'm willing."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to do anything of the sort. If you think I can't stand it +as long as you can, you are mistaken," replied Thomas, proudly; and +taking the dipper, he continued to bale out the water, whistling an air +to indicate his indifference to the perils that surrounded them.</p> + +<p>"Put her through, then; we shan't be much longer if we don't get +swamped."</p> + +<p>The boat was now standing out from the shore, and while Thomas was still +busy, whistling off his fears, a violent gust of wind struck the sail, +causing the boat to heel over so far that she drank up several buckets +of water, and would have filled if the sprit had not broken, thus +removing the pressure.</p> + +<p>"Come, Paul, I have got enough of this," cried Thomas, uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you will be able to get any more of it, for the sprit has +snapped, and we can't carry sail any longer," replied Paul, apparently +unmoved by the accident. "Bale her out as fast as you can, and I will +take an oar, and keep her head up to the sea".</p> + +<p>"What will you do now?" asked Thomas, whose courage was sorely tried by +the perilous situation of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Get the water out, and we will see what can be done," answered Paul, +who, though he had already decided this important question, would not +permit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> his passenger to enter into his counsels, preferring to +tantalize him by his mysterious manner.</p> + +<p>"Let us get ashore, Paul, as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"Going to back out?"</p> + +<p>"No; what's the use of talking in that way, about backing out, when you +can't carry sail?" replied Thomas, whose pride was still unconquered, +though his courage was rapidly failing him.</p> + +<p>"I shall rig a new sprit; there's the boat-hook, which will make a very +good one; it is just the right length."</p> + +<p>"I'll give up then, and back out," said Thomas, despairing of any relief +from the misfortunes that had befallen the boat.</p> + +<p>"Don't back out on my account; I will put you ashore at the Point, if +you say the word," replied Paul, satisfied now that he had kept his +promise and given his friend enough of it.</p> + +<p>"Run for the shore, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Just as you say;" and the boatman, proud of the triumph he had won over +his boastful companion, turned the boat's head towards the shore.</p> + +<p>The corner of the sail hung down for the want of a sprit to support it, +but as they had the wind free, there was canvas enough to drive her +rapidly towards the shore. While they were still half a mile from the +cove, Thomas called Paul's attention to a horse and chaise on the beach, +from which a man was making violent gestures for them to come ashore.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL HEARS BAD NEWS.</h3> + +<p>"Who is it, Tom?" asked Paul, very anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; can't make him out."</p> + +<p>"What can he want with us?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps your mother has sent him after her runaway boy; but whoever he +is, I will tell him you are a fellow of the right spunk."</p> + +<p>"Who can it be?"</p> + +<p>"What matter who it is? Your mother won't whip you—will she?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not. My mother don't whip me."</p> + +<p>"I thought she did, you seem so much afraid of her."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid of her."</p> + +<p>"If you are, there is nothing else that can frighten you."</p> + +<p>"I mind my mother because she is my mother; because I like to do so, and +not because I am afraid of her. You had better not say much more about +being afraid, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say I was afraid?" said Thomas, smartly.</p> + +<p>"If you wasn't afraid, you was confoundedly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> scared," replied Paul, +whose paradox was fully appreciated by his companion.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Paul; are you going to tell the fellows that I was scared?" +demanded Thomas, rather in a beseeching than an intimidating tone.</p> + +<p>"That will depend on circumstances."</p> + +<p>"What circumstances?"</p> + +<p>"You may as well understand me first as last. You keep talking about my +being afraid of my mother, and all that sort of stuff. I'm not afraid of +her, and I don't like to be told that I am."</p> + +<p>"I won't say it again, then."</p> + +<p>"Fellows that live in glass houses mustn't throw stones."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think I was frightened, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"I really think you was. Didn't you back out?"</p> + +<p>"Not till the sail broke down."</p> + +<p>"I offered to fix that."</p> + +<p>"It's no use to risk a fellow's life for nothing."</p> + +<p>"That's the point exactly. Don't you say a word about my mother, and you +may talk as big as you please about this scrape."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to talk big about it. I shall give you all the credit you +deserve."</p> + +<p>"Of course you will. The fellow that holds the bag can let the cat out +when he chooses. I don't like to have my mother spoken of as you speak +of your mother. She's my mother, and she has always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> been a good mother +to me, and I would do anything in the world for her. There's only one +thing about this scrape that I'm sorry for; and that is, that I didn't +mind her. It makes me feel bad."</p> + +<p>"She won't say much to you; she will be so glad to have you safely home, +that she won't feel like jawing you," answered Thomas, in what he +intended for words of consolation, but which were really heartless and +offensive to the penitent.</p> + +<p>"My mother don't jaw; it will make her feel bad that I didn't mind her; +and that is ten times worse than a scolding or a whipping.—That man +keeps shaking his hat to us. Who do you think it is?"</p> + +<p>"It looks like Captain Littleton."</p> + +<p>"What can he want of me?" said Paul, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"If it is Captain Littleton, it is more like he wants me."</p> + +<p>In a few moments more the boat darted into the cove, and the boys +recognized Captain Littleton in the gentleman who had been beckoning to +them.</p> + +<p>"Come ashore, Paul, as quick as you can!" shouted he, as he jumped into +his chaise, and drove nearer to the point where the boat was to land.</p> + +<p>"Do you want me, sir?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"Yes; you are wanted at home."</p> + +<p>Our hero was filled with terror and anxiety by this reply. He was sure +that something had happened, or a gentleman like Captain Littleton +would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> not have taken the trouble to come after him. As the boat struck +the bank, he brailed up the sail, and jumped ashore with the painter in +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Come, Paul, never mind the boat; Thomas will take care of her. Get into +the chaise with me as quick as you can," said Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, sir? What has happened?" demanded Paul, trembling +with the most painful solicitude.</p> + +<p>"Get into the chaise first, and I will tell you as we return."</p> + +<p>"Has anything happened to my mother, sir?" cried Paul, the tears rushing +to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Nothing has happened to your mother, Paul. She is quite well," answered +Captain Littleton, as he urged the horse to his utmost speed.</p> + +<p>Paul was greatly relieved by this assurance, though it was still evident +from the manner of the gentleman, and the speed at which he drove the +horse, that some dreadful event had occurred. His conscience smote him +for his disobedience to his mother, and he was not in a fit moral +condition to meet the shock of adversity with courage and fortitude. He +would have given the world, in that anxious moment, to have undone the +work of the last three hours, and effaced their record from his +conscience.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what has happened, if you please, sir," he continued. "Is any +of the folks dead? You say it is not my mother."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p><p>"Your mother is quite well, and none of your family are dead, +though——"</p> + +<p>Captain Littleton paused, and looked at the boy's face, which was still +bathed in tears. He saw the misery that he was enduring, and he +hesitated to utter words which he knew must carry grief and woe to his +heart.</p> + +<p>"You must be calm and firm, Paul," continued the kind gentleman. "It is +not so bad as you suppose, and we may hope for the best. Your father has +just met with a serious accident."</p> + +<p>"Is he dead, sir?" gasped Paul. "You don't tell me the whole story, +sir."</p> + +<p>"He is not dead, Paul; but he is very badly hurt."</p> + +<p>"He is alive, then?"</p> + +<p>"He is."</p> + +<p>Paul closely scrutinized the expression of Captain Littleton, fearful +that he had not told him the whole truth.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure he was not killed?" he asked, still unsatisfied.</p> + +<p>"He was alive when I left him, but that was nearly an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"I am thankful if he is alive. How did it happen, sir?"</p> + +<p>"He fell from the bow of the ship upon which he was at work, and struck +a pile of timber. I am afraid he is very badly hurt. I happened to be +near the shipyard at the time, and assisted in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> carrying him home. He is +conscious, and asked for you. Your mother said you were out in the +boat."</p> + +<p>Paul burst into tears again at these words, for he realized the nature +and depth of his mother's feelings when she had uttered them, and how +bitterly did he regret his act of disobedience! The dreadful event had +come to intensify the anguish of his penitence, and he felt that, if he +had not done wrong, he could have met the calamity with patience and +resolution. When children do wrong, they know not what event may occur +to increase a thousand fold the bitterness of their remorse.</p> + +<p>"Do you think my father is alive now?" sobbed Paul.</p> + +<p>"I hope so; but it is impossible to foretell the result. The doctors +spoke very despondingly of his case; but we must hope for the best."</p> + +<p>"How does my mother bear it?"</p> + +<p>"As well as could be expected, considering the suddenness of the +calamity."</p> + +<p>"O, it will kill her," groaned Paul.</p> + +<p>"I hope not; you must be calm, my boy. It is dreadful, I know; but we +must not add to the pain of the sufferer by useless lamentation."</p> + +<p>"I will be as calm as I can, sir; but it is awful to have such a thing +happen just now."</p> + +<p>"We know not what a day or an hour may bring forth, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but to have it happen now. If it had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> at any other time, I +could have borne it better," continued the penitent boy, wiping away the +tears that blinded him.</p> + +<p>"We cannot choose the time for such an event to happen."</p> + +<p>"If it had only come before I left home! O, dear."</p> + +<p>"Be calm, Paul; we could not select a time when we should be prepared +for such a calamity. You must not suppose one time is better than +another for trials and sorrows."</p> + +<p>"You do not understand me, Captain Littleton," replied Paul, earnestly. +"I disobeyed my mother in going out in the boat. She told me to come +ashore, and stood on the beach beckoning and calling to me not to go, +but I didn't mind her. That's what makes me feel so bad about it."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you disobeyed her, for you must suffer the more for your +disobedience."</p> + +<p>"I was sorry I did so before I came ashore, and now I would give all the +world if I had minded mother, and let Tom Nettle laugh at me as much as +he pleased."</p> + +<p>"Tom is a wild boy, and you must not heed his jeers."</p> + +<p>"I will not, another time. You think my father is not dead?"</p> + +<p>"I think not," replied Captain Littleton, as he increased the speed of +the horse.</p> + +<p>Paul did not say much more, but wept in silence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> as the chaise dashed +along the road. Every moment seemed like an hour, till he came in sight +of the cottage of his father. There were the two sulkies of the doctors, +and a crowd of people at the gate, to enable him to realize the dreadful +calamity which had overtaken him. The panting horse stopped before the +door, and Paul's limbs almost failed him as he dragged himself into the +house.</p> + +<p>"O Paul," sobbed his mother, who met him at the door, "I thought you +would never come. I'm afraid you won't have a father a great while +longer."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, mother, for what I did," cried Paul.</p> + +<p>"I do forgive you, my son; but come, your poor father wants to see you +very much."</p> + +<p>His mother took him by the hand, and led him into the chamber where his +father lay. He was shocked by the change which a few short hours had +produced, and he needed not the skill of the physicians to assure him +that Mr. Duncan had but a short time to live.</p> + +<p>"Paul," said his father, faintly, "I shall soon be no more, and I leave +your mother and your brothers and sisters to your care. Take good care +of them, Paul, for they will soon have no one else to help them. Be a +good boy, and be an honest man, and everything will go well with you. Be +true to your God and true to yourself, and then all the world<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> cannot +harm you. May God keep you in the path of duty as long as you live."</p> + +<p>Mr. Duncan closed his eyes with an audible sigh, and Paul burst into +tears, realizing that he was about to lose the kindest and best of +fathers.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, my boy," said the sufferer; "be a man, and in a little while +the struggle will be over with me."</p> + +<p>The whole family were gathered round the bed, and Mr. Duncan gave them +his blessing, for the doctors assured him his hour was at hand. We will +not dwell upon the painful scene. In an hour all was still in that room +save the sobs of the bereaved widow, who stood gazing in agony upon the +silent form which she had seen go out from her that morning in the full +vigor of health and strength. The angel of death was there, and had done +his work.</p> + +<p>Paul was stupefied by the suddenness of the shock, and all the currents +of his existence seemed to stop in their flow. He spent the afternoon in +his chamber, trying to understand the nature of his situation. He had +dried his tears, but the deeper grief had gone in upon his heart. He +spent a wakeful night in thinking of the past, and in endeavoring to +make himself believe that his father was dead. All that he had ever done +for him, all that he had ever said to him, came up before him with a +vividness that made them seem like realities.</p> + +<p>In this condition he moved about the house till<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> after the funeral, +mechanically executing such duties as he was required to perform; but +everything was so unnatural to him that he could hardly persuade himself +of the reality of his being. The death of his father was an epoch in his +existence, a turning point in his career, and the wheels of time, the +current of events, stopped, soon to resume their course in a different +direction.</p> + +<p>When the last rites of love and respect had been paid to the remains of +his father, Paul roused himself from his stupor, and began to examine +the future. At the death bed of his parent he had received a solemn +charge, and he carefully reviewed the words, and recalled the expression +with which it had been committed to him. His mother and his brothers and +sisters had been given into his care, and he felt the responsibility of +the position he had accepted. He determined, to the best of his ability, +to discharge his duty to them; but he was sorely troubled to think of +some way by which he could earn money enough to support them, for he had +put a literal construction upon the dying words of his father.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL BECOMES THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.</h3> + +<p>For a week after the funeral Paul racked his brain in devising +expedients to supply the place of his father in a pecuniary point of +view, but without success. If he went into a store, or obtained such a +place as a boy can fill, it would pay him only two or three dollars a +week, and this would be scarcely anything towards the support of the +family, for his father had generally earned twelve dollars a week during +the greater portion of the year. He wanted to do something better. He +did not expect to make so much as his father had made, but was +determined, if possible, to earn at least half as much.</p> + +<p>Thus far his reflection had been to little purpose, for it was no small +matter for a boy to charge himself with double the work of one of his +age. He had not yet consulted his mother, nor obtained her views in +regard to the support of the family. He did not know whether she +expected him to do the whole of it, but it did not appear reasonable to +him that she could do anything more than to keep house and take care of +the children. He wished that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> could go to her and relieve her of all +responsibility in regard to the money affairs, and let her live just as +she had been accustomed to live before the death of his father; and he +almost cried with vexation, after he had vainly ransacked his brains for +the means, to think he could not do so. He could not hit upon any plan +that would meet his expectations, and he decided to have a talk with her +in relation to the future.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do, mother?" he asked, as he seated himself in the +kitchen where Mrs. Duncan was getting supper.</p> + +<p>"That is what I have been thinking of myself," she replied. "I have been +talking with Captain Littleton to-day, and he gave me some good advice, +and offered me any assistance I might require."</p> + +<p>"You surely don't mean to live on charity, mother," added Paul, proudly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. Captain Littleton did not offer to give me anything; +only to assist me in getting work for myself and you."</p> + +<p>"O, well, that's all right."</p> + +<p>"While we have our health and strength, we shall not have to ask other +help of any one."</p> + +<p>"Of course not."</p> + +<p>"I hope I am above asking charity, or taking it either."</p> + +<p>"I knew you were. What did Captain Littleton say?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks to the goodness and forethought of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> father, we are not left +entirely destitute," replied Mrs. Duncan, wiping a tear from her cheek.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know there was anything left."</p> + +<p>"After paying all the funeral expenses and the doctor's bills, I shall +have fifty dollars in money. Your father had no debts."</p> + +<p>"Fifty dollars isn't much, mother, towards supporting the family. It +wouldn't last two months."</p> + +<p>"That is very true; we have more than that. Three years ago your father +had his life insured for a thousand dollars, and this sum will be paid +to me in a few days."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know that," said Paul, greatly surprised to find they had what +seemed to him so vast a sum. "We shall get along very well."</p> + +<p>"Your father used to calculate that it cost him about eight dollars a +week to live, or about four hundred dollars a year. If he had had work +all the year round, he might have saved a very handsome sum, he used to +tell me."</p> + +<p>"It will not cost us eight dollars a week now."</p> + +<p>"No; we must live very prudently; but if it cost us only five, a +thousand dollars would last but a few years, and what should we do +then?"</p> + +<p>"We must not spend it then."</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton told me what he thought we had better do. This house +in which we live can be bought for fifteen hundred dollars, though the +owner has always asked eighteen hundred, and——"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p><p>"You don't really think of such a thing as buying the house?" +interrupted Paul, filled with amazement at the magnitude of the idea.</p> + +<p>"That is what Captain Littleton advises me to do."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't money enough."</p> + +<p>"I can give a mortgage for five hundred dollars. The rent of the house +is one hundred and forty dollars, and Mr. Freeman says he cannot afford +to let it for any less. Now, if we buy it, we can pay a thousand dollars +down, and we shall owe five hundred, on which we shall have to pay the +interest, amounting to thirty dollars. By this plan, we should have to +pay out only about fifty dollars a year for interest and taxes, or about +a dollar a week. In this way we can get along on five dollars a week."</p> + +<p>"Buy the house then, by all means, mother. Five dollars a week! Well, I +think I shall be able to support the family, after all."</p> + +<p>"You, Paul?" exclaimed Mrs. Duncan, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I can."</p> + +<p>"What do you intend to do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet."</p> + +<p>"Your poor father intended that you should enter the High School this +fall; but I suppose that cannot be. Captain Littleton said he would get +you a place where you could have two or three dollars a week."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p><p>"I must make more than that, mother," replied Paul, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"You must not be too ambitious. If you get two or three dollars a week, +you will do very well, and that sum will be a great help to me."</p> + +<p>"You heard what father said to me in his last moments?" said Paul, with +solemn earnestness. "He told me to take care of my mother and of my +brothers and sisters, and I mean to do so."</p> + +<p>"But he never had a thought that you could earn money enough to support +the whole of us. You are a good boy, Paul, but you must not try to do +too much."</p> + +<p>"If we can live on five dollars a week, I am almost sure I can earn +that."</p> + +<p>"That is a good deal for a boy like you."</p> + +<p>"I can do it, I know."</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton said he would find a place for you."</p> + +<p>"I shall be very much obliged to him, and will take any place I can get; +but I am certain before long that I can make five dollars a week."</p> + +<p>"Don't think of such a thing. There are a great many men who get no more +than that. You must work your way up, little by little, Paul, and one of +these days you will obtain a good situation."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean to do. Little by little—that's my motto; and +if I can only get hold any where, you may leave the rest to me."</p> + +<p>"You are a good boy, Paul, and you will succeed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> by and by," said Mrs. +Duncan, proudly. "I expect to get some work myself next week, and I have +no doubt we shall do very well."</p> + +<p>"What work, mother?" asked Paul, a shadow of dissatisfaction passing +over his face.</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton thought he could get me a chance to make bags for the +flour mills."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to have you take in work, mother. You have enough to do to +take care of the house and the children."</p> + +<p>"I can do a good deal besides. Sarah can help a great deal about the +house, and with what we can all do, we shall get along very well indeed. +We ought to be very thankful for all the blessings that surround us."</p> + +<p>"We are enough sight better off than I thought," replied Paul; "but I +don't want to have you make a slave of yourself. You used to work hard +enough; and now, if you are going to take in work, you will wear +yourself out in a few years."</p> + +<p>"I guess not, Paul. There is somebody knocking at the door; go and see +who it is."</p> + +<p>Paul went to the door, and the visitor proved to be Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"I was looking for you, Paul," said he. "I'm going to give a dinner +party to-morrow, and I want a mess of perch, fresh from the rocks, by +twelve o'clock. I want you should go down and catch them for me. You +always have good luck at fishing. Will you do this for me, Paul?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p><p>"Yes, sir; certainly I will."</p> + +<p>"I will speak to your mother about it."</p> + +<p>Paul conducted Captain Littleton into the little parlor, and called his +mother. She was willing that he should go, and glad to have him do +something in return for the gentleman's repeated acts of kindness.</p> + +<p>"I will give you twenty cents a dozen for them, Paul, and I want at +least five dozen," continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"He will not charge anything, sir," added Mrs. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"Not a cent, sir," repeated Paul.</p> + +<p>"It's a fair trade, young man, and I won't take them unless I pay for +them."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any pay from you, sir."</p> + +<p>"But I choose to pay you, and you must take your orders from me in this +instance. Have you any clams for bait?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. I will get some to-night."</p> + +<p>"Very well; you may go and get them now, and I will talk to your mother +about business."</p> + +<p>Paul took his hat and went down to the beach. Embarking in the old boat, +he sailed over to Tenean, where plenty of clams were to be had, and a +bucket full was soon procured. Like a prudent fisherman, he made all his +arrangements for the next day. First he repaired the worn-out sail, then +made a new sprit, and refitted the tiller to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> rudder head. When +everything was in ship-shape order about the boat, he took out his perch +lines, ganged on a new hook, and rigged an extra sinker for use in case +of accident.</p> + +<p>"Going a fishing, Paul?" said John Duncan, his brother, a lad of ten, +who joined him when he had nearly completed his preparations.</p> + +<p>"I'm going down in the morning to get a mess of perch for Captain +Littleton."</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"You must go to school."</p> + +<p>"It don't keep."</p> + +<p>"Ask mother, then; if she is willing, I am."</p> + +<p>"Have you got a line for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>John Duncan, for his years, was almost as much of a sailor and fisherman +as Paul. Both of them took to the water like ducks, and seemed to +understand all about a boat as if by instinct. The prospect of a day +down below fired the imagination of the "young salt," and he ran up the +bluff with all his might to obtain the desired permission.</p> + +<p>"May I go a-fishing with Paul to-morrow, mother?" shouted he, as he +rushed into the parlor, without noticing the presence of Captain +Littleton.</p> + +<p>"We will see about that by and by. Take off your cap."</p> + +<p>"How do you do, John?" said Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p><p>"Pretty well," replied John, whose head keeled over on the port side, +as he discovered the visitor, and three fingers found their way into his +mouth.</p> + +<p>"You want to go a-fishing, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is safe to let him go?" asked Mrs. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"I ain't afraid, mother," interrupted the young hopeful.</p> + +<p>"I know you are not, and that's one reason why I don't like to trust you +in the boat."</p> + +<p>"Your boys take to the water in a natural way; and when boys have a +decided taste of that kind, it isn't of much use to thwart them."</p> + +<p>"I know it isn't; but John has worried my life out since he was four +years old, for he is always in the water."</p> + +<p>"I should use proper precaution with him; but Paul is so good a boatman +that I should not be afraid to trust him in his care."</p> + +<p>"You may go, John," added Mrs. Duncan. "I have almost made up my mind to +let him live in the water; but I can't help going to the window when he +is out on the beach, at least twenty times a day, to see if he isn't in +trouble."</p> + +<p>"To return to Paul," said Captain Littleton, resuming the remarks which +the entrance of John had interrupted. "I have the refusal of a place in +a lawyer's office, where the salary is two dollars and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> a half a week. +It is small pay, but it is better than nothing."</p> + +<p>"He expects more than that. It would have astonished you to hear him +talk a little while ago. He is going to assume the whole burden of +supporting the family, and is not willing that I should do anything."</p> + +<p>"He is a smart boy, and ought to have a good place."</p> + +<p>"He says he means to make five dollars a week; but that is mere +boy-talk."</p> + +<p>"I like his spirit, but he will hardly be expected to earn five dollars +a week at present. I hope I shall be able to find him a better place +than the one I spoke of."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, sir; I shall never be able to repay you for your +kindness."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it, ma'am. I am very glad to do anything I can for you. +You have made up your mind then to purchase the house?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"I think that's the best thing you can do under the circumstances. The +property is rising in value, and in a few years, if you should want to +sell, it would bring two thousand dollars. I will see Freeman as I +return, and the papers shall be made out immediately."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>Captain Littleton took his leave, and Mrs. Duncan was very grateful to +him for the friendly interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> he manifested in her affairs. When Paul +returned to the house, his mother informed him that her friend had found +a place for him; but the young aspirant had got an idea, and made up his +mind to decline the situation.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL COOKS HIS OWN BREAKFAST, AND GOES A-FISHING.</h3> + +<p>About six miles east of Bayville was a rocky island, around which perch +were abundant. Paul had often been there with his father, and was +familiar with the locality. He knew just where to moor his boat to have +good luck in fishing; and was acquainted with all the channels, +currents, and bars in the bay. He was not only a skilful seaman, but a +good pilot, and felt as much at home on the bay as in the streets of +Bayville.</p> + +<p>It would be low tide in the bay at seven o'clock, and Paul made his +calculations accordingly. The best time to fish was on the "young +flood," or soon after the tide had turned to come in; and, if the wind +should happen to be light or contrary, it would take him a long time to +run down to Rock Island, as the place was called; therefore he must go +down with the tide. To accomplish his purpose it was necessary that he +should start by five o'clock in the morning, which was an hour before +his usual breakfast time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><p>He did not sleep very well that night, for the great idea to which we +have alluded was creating an immense commotion in his mind. He had +reasoned out the certainty of his being able to support the family, and +he felt as proud of his great resolution as though he had achieved its +full fruits. When, at last, he dropped asleep, it was only to dream of +great speculations, and of the satisfaction he should have in giving his +mother money enough on Saturday night to pay all the expenses of the +family for a week.</p> + +<p>He woke very early in the morning, and as he jumped out of bed he heard +the clock on the Town Hall strike four. He did not mean to disturb his +mother, and therefore cautioned John not to make any noise. He was not +like some boys, who growl and grumble at their mothers if their meals +are not ready when they want them. Stealing softly down stairs, he went +to the back kitchen, and made a fire in the stove.</p> + +<p>"Now, John, you go down to the boat, and bale her out," said he to his +brother, as the latter joined him.</p> + +<p>"Are you going without any breakfast?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"No; breakfast will be ready by the time you have baled out the boat."</p> + +<p>"You haven't called mother yet?"</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to do so."</p> + +<p>"Where will you get your breakfast, then?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p><p>"I will get it myself."</p> + +<p>"You don't know how to cook," replied John, incredulously.</p> + +<p>"You see if I don't; now go ahead, and don't make a noise, or you will +wake mother."</p> + +<p>Paul then went down cellar, and brought up a few potatoes, which he +washed and put into the kettle. A piece of pork and a slice of veal were +deposited in the frying pan, ready to be cooked at the proper time. The +coffee, not omitting the important bit of fish skin, was put in the +coffee-pot, and operations in that quarter were suspended till the water +in the tea-kettle should boil. Though our hero had never actually +performed these man[oe]uvres with his own hands, he had seen them +executed so many times that he was perfectly familiar with the routine.</p> + +<p>Everything upon the stove was doing very well, and he pulled out the +table, which he proceeded to cover with the proper articles for the +morning meal. Each article was carefully disposed in its proper place, +for Paul had already learned that food tastes better in the midst of +order and neatness, than when taken in dirt and confusion. It is true, +he made some mistakes for the want of experience, and was frequently +obliged to stop and think what articles were required; but when the +table was set, he was satisfied with its cheerful and neat appearance. +By this time the tea-kettle was spouting out long jets of steam, and the +lid was rattling under the influence of the commotion beneath it. Paul +poured a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> of the boiling water into the coffee-pot, and then came +an appalling difficulty—he did not know how much to put in, and was not +sure that he had taken the proper quantity of coffee. At a venture he +filled the pot half full, and then proceeded to cook the meat. After the +coffee had boiled ten or fifteen minutes, he tested its strength, and +added more water. He was delighted with his success, and when John +returned from the beach, he was putting the breakfast upon the table.</p> + +<p>"Breakfast is ready," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"Did you cook it, though?"</p> + +<p>"I did; I told you I could."</p> + +<p>"I'll give up now. Why don't you hire out for a cook?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I shall, one of these days."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't mother's eyes stick out if she should happen in about this +time!"</p> + +<p>"I guess not much."</p> + +<p>But they did, for just as the boys were seating themselves at the table, +Mrs. Duncan entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Why, boys! what have you been doing?" exclaimed she, astonished at the +regularity with which everything seemed to be proceeding in her absence.</p> + +<p>"Only getting something to eat before we go," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you call me?"</p> + +<p>"I thought I wouldn't get you up so early; besides, I could get +breakfast just as well myself."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p><p>"I declare you are a good cook, Paul. Your potatoes and meat look as +nice as can be. How is your coffee? Did you put a piece of fish-skin in +the pot?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Did you put any salt on the meat?"</p> + +<p>"I did; come, mother, sit down and eat your breakfast."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Duncan accepted this polite invitation, and seating herself in her +accustomed place, began to pour out the coffee. It was clear, and of the +right strength, and she liberally praised Paul for his culinary skill, +and declared that her son was a jewel about the house. The breakfast +seemed even better than usual that morning, and our hero was as proud as +though he had built a meeting house.</p> + +<p>"Come, John, we must bear a hand; there isn't a breath of wind, and it +will take us some time to make Rock Island," said Paul, as he rose from +the table. "Have you filled the jug with water?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I will."</p> + +<p>"Here is some gingerbread and cheese for luncheon," added Mrs. Duncan, +as she handed Paul a basket she had filled for their use. "Now, be very +careful, and don't run any risk. Look out for squalls, and don't carry +sail too long."</p> + +<p>"I'll be very careful, mother. You may trust me to go round the world," +replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"But I wish you had a better boat."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p><p>"She'll do very well, mother, though I hope to have a better one some +time or other."</p> + +<p>The jug was filled at the pump, and with their provisions and water the +boys set off with light hearts for the work of the day.</p> + +<p>Paul felt the responsibility of the trust which Captain Littleton had +imposed upon him. He was going to make some money by the operation, and +upon this day's success depended the hopes which he had been cherishing +in regard to his new scheme.</p> + +<p>There are always some drawbacks to disturb the best-laid plans, and when +Paul reached the bluff, he discovered the boat adrift at some distance +from the shore.</p> + +<p>"You are a careless fellow, John," he cried. "You didn't make fast the +boat."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad, Paul; I didn't mean to do that," replied John, vexed at +the accident.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose you did; but you are careless."</p> + +<p>"I thought I made her fast. What shall we do, Paul? I would rather given +anything than had this happen."</p> + +<p>"So would I; but there is no use of crying about it. There isn't a skiff +within half a mile of here."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do, Paul," said John, putting down the jug and +throwing off his jacket. "I'll swim out to her and scull her in."</p> + +<p>Paul made no objection to this plan, and in half a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> minute more, John +had stripped and was swimming with all his might after the boat, which +was perhaps fifty rods from the shore. He was a vigorous swimmer, as +self-possessed in the water as on the land, and his brother had no fears +in regard to his safety, or his ability to reach the boat.</p> + +<p>It did not take the little fellow long to catch the boat, and the +accident did not make more than half an hour's delay. The stores were +taken on board, and before John had time to dress himself, the boat was +under sail, and working slowly down the bay. A light breeze from the +west had sprung up, and a gentle ripple at the bow assured the young +fisherman that everything was progressing in a satisfactory manner.</p> + +<p>"I should like to be a fisherman, Paul," said John, who sat on the +bottom of the boat opening clams for bait.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may be one of these days," replied Paul, moodily. "I think +I shall do something in that line right off."</p> + +<p>"You, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but don't you say a word about it to anybody, above all, not to +mother. I have been thinking about it all night."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Paul?"</p> + +<p>The ambitious youth had a great idea in his mind, which was struggling +to be actualized. More than twenty times since the preceding evening had +the words of Captain Littleton crossed his imagination,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> and kindled up +a great blaze of possibilities and probabilities. "I will give you +twenty cents a dozen for them," the captain had said. If he would buy +perch others would buy them. He had a boat, and there would not be many +days when he could not catch as many as five or six dozen. Even at a +shilling a dozen he could make a dollar a day.</p> + +<p>This was his scheme—to supply Bayville with fresh fish. He had as good +a chance to sell them as the men who went through the place blowing +their tin horns. He should have an advantage over them, for his fish +were certain to be fresh, and he was sure the people would be willing to +patronize him. The plan promised exceedingly well, and he wished to talk +it over with some one, though he was not quite ready to have it made +public. It was true, John was only ten years old, and didn't know much; +but he wanted to talk with somebody about it, and so he concluded to +take his brother into his confidence.</p> + +<p>"What do I mean, John?" said he. "Why can't I catch perch every day, and +sell them in town?"</p> + +<p>"Sure enough, why can't you?" replied John, delighted with the idea, and +perhaps bringing some selfish motives to bear upon it.</p> + +<p>"We can haul 'em in as fast as we can throw over the line off the rocks, +and there are rich folks enough in Bayville to buy them."</p> + +<p>"It's a first-rate idea," exclaimed John, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> enthusiasm. "You might +go down farther, and catch cod and haddock."</p> + +<p>"I would if I had a good boat."</p> + +<p>"Father used to go out after cod and haddock in this boat."</p> + +<p>"I know, but she is getting rather shaky."</p> + +<p>The great idea was discussed in all its bearings till they reached Rock +Island, when Paul carefully selected his position, and let go the +anchor. The hooks were baited and the lines thrown over, and never +before had Paul taken his fishing apparatus when so much seemed to +depend upon the success of his efforts. His heart beat as the sinker +touched the bottom, and he pulled it up the proper distance. All his +fortunes for the future appeared to hang upon the result.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! I've got one!" shouted John, as with childish eagerness he +pulled in his line.</p> + +<p>It was a sculpin!</p> + +<p>Was this a type of his own success? Was he to watch his chance on the +great sea of life, and finally, after all his anxious watching and toil, +was he to pull in only a sculpin? These were painful thoughts to Paul, +and his heart almost sunk within him, as he considered the possible +failure of his favorite scheme. If he failed in this, he must accept the +paltry two dollars and a half a week, and let his mother drudge like a +slave. He could not tolerate the thought of failure, and——</p> + +<p>A bite!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>Paul did not whistle till he got out of the woods, and announced his +success to John by slapping a monster perch upon the bottom of the boat. +If that was a type of his success he was satisfied. Before he had time +to follow out the reflections suggested by the event, John hauled in the +mate to the big fish, and another had taken hold of his own hook.</p> + +<p>By ten o'clock there were six dozen perch in the basket, besides three +handsome tautog and half a dozen sea flounders. The young fisherman was +satisfied, hauled up killock, and made sail for home. His heart was as +light as the upper air, and he was confident of the success of his grand +scheme.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL MAKES A GOOD SPECULATION.</h3> + +<p>"Now, John you must steer, while I skin the perch," said Paul, as he +resigned the helm to his brother.</p> + +<p>"That I will," replied he, with alacrity, for he did not often get a +chance to handle the boat, and was fond of the amusement.</p> + +<p>"But you must be careful, and keep your eyes open, for we have no time +to spare," added the youthful skipper.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I don't know how to steer a boat?" asked John, hurt by the +insinuation.</p> + +<p>"You know how well enough, if you will pay attention to it, and not be +fooling with her."</p> + +<p>"I'll keep her right."</p> + +<p>Paul took from under the thwart an old shoe-knife which had been ground +down to one third of its original width. It had been well sharpened for +this important occasion, but he had provided an old whetstone as a +further precaution against a dull blade. To skin a perch neatly and +expeditiously is a nice operation; but Paul had had sufficient practice +in the art to render him a skilful hand. Seating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> himself on the lee +rail, he commenced work in earnest, occasionally glancing up to see that +the boat was doing her best in the way of sailing.</p> + +<p>"How much will you make, Paul, if you sell all your fish?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"The perch will bring a dollar and twenty cents, if I get twenty cents a +dozen for them."</p> + +<p>"The tautog are worth something."</p> + +<p>"They are worth a quarter apiece."</p> + +<p>"You have done a good day's work then?"</p> + +<p>"If I sell the fish, I shall," answered Paul, with a smile of +satisfaction. "Come, John, the sail is shaking, and you have lost the +wind," he added as his brother carelessly luffed her up.</p> + +<p>"I was adding up the perch and the tautog."</p> + +<p>"You must mind the boat; you must stop talking, if you can't do your +duty without."</p> + +<p>John promised to be more careful, and Paul had no further occasion to +complain of his inattention. The younger fisherman was a good boy, but +he had not yet been trained to that steadiness of purpose which is +necessary to success. He was only ten years old, and it was not to be +expected that he should fully appreciate the earnestness of his +brother's purpose, though he was beginning to realize that close +attention was necessary in order to accomplish great deeds. He was fond +of trying experiments, just for the fun of the thing; and when he had +been permitted to take the helm on other occasions, he wanted to do +something besides keep her in a direct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> course—to see how close she +would lie to the wind without letting the sail shake, to run down a +floating mass of seaweed, or chase a stick of wood; but on this trip, he +was guilty of no greater indiscretion than carelessness.</p> + +<p>Long before the boat reached Bayville, Paul had skinned and strung the +fish; and their appearance on the line was creditable to his skill. +Leaving John to secure the boat, he took the fish and hastened up to the +house of Captain Littleton. He found that gentleman in his garden with +his guests.</p> + +<p>"Well, Paul, what luck?" asked he, as the young fisherman came in sight.</p> + +<p>"First-rate, sir."</p> + +<p>"How many have you got?"</p> + +<p>"Six dozen."</p> + +<p>"Just the number I want. Carry them into the kitchen, Paul. I declare, +you have dressed them very nicely."</p> + +<p>"I tried to have them right, sir, and I am glad they suit you," replied +Paul, modestly, as he walked towards the rear of the house.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Paul; what have you got there?" said Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"Tautog, sir; and if you will permit me, I will leave them in the +kitchen with the perch."</p> + +<p>"You are a lucky fisherman Paul; those are handsome fish, and if you +will leave them, I will make it all right when you come out. That is a +luxury I did not expect."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p><p>Paul was delighted by the commendation of his friend, and the splendid +scheme of his future operations increased in importance with every word +that was uttered. With a light heart he ran into the kitchen with his +stock, and then returned to Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"Here is two dollars, Paul," said he, handing him a bill.</p> + +<p>"That is too much, sir," stammered Paul, overwhelmed at the idea of +having made two dollars in one day.</p> + +<p>"It is right, my boy; take it. You mustn't be bashful if you are going +to fight your way through the world."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, sir, but this is more than the fish come to," +answered Paul, taking the bill.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't; the perch come to a dollar and twenty cents, the tautog +to seventy-five, which make a dollar and ninety-five cents. So we will +call it square, and I am very much obliged to you besides."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to charge you any thing for the tautog, sir."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Paul; when you get rich I will accept your gifts; but now, +my boy, I will take the will for the deed, and I feel just as grateful +to you as though you had presented me a service of plate. You have done +well, and I am glad of it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you for this, and for all you +have done for my mother," replied Paul, as he put the bank bill in his +pocket.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p><p>"By the way, how about that place in the lawyer's office, Paul?" said +Captain Littleton, as the young fisherman turned to go home.</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, I had rather not take the place."</p> + +<p>"You are going to do better, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I think I am. I am very much obliged to you for the trouble +you have taken."</p> + +<p>"Not at all, my boy; I didn't think the situation would be large enough +to suit your ambition. What are you going to do, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to catch fish, and sell them in town, sir," replied Paul, +boldly, though he could hardly keep down the emotions that swelled in +his bosom.</p> + +<p>"Good, my boy! I like an enterprising spirit and I dare say you will do +very well. You may put me down for two dozen perch every Saturday."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"I will speak to my neighbors, and I have no doubt you will find a +market for all the fish you can catch."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind."</p> + +<p>"What does your mother say about the plan?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't told her yet. It is a new idea. I am afraid she will not like +it very well."</p> + +<p>"She will not object very strongly."</p> + +<p>"If you would speak to her about it, if you please, sir; she will think +everything of what you say."</p> + +<p>"I will, Paul. When you catch any more tautog, be sure and bring them to +me."</p> + +<p>"I certainly will, Captain Littleton," answered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> Paul, as he bounded +towards home, his heart filled with gratitude to his friend, and with +hope for the success of his darling scheme.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen times on the way, he put his hand into his pocket to feel +of the old black wallet, that contained the proceeds of his first day's +work. He had never done a job before which produced more than half a +dollar, and the immense sum in his pocket seemed enough to make or break +an ordinary bank. Such a run of luck was almost incredible. Wouldn't his +mother be astonished when he handed her that two dollar bill!</p> + +<p>He had some misgivings in regard to his mother's consent; for like all +good mothers, who love their sons, she did not like to have him exposed +to danger. But that two dollar bill, and the brilliant promise of +success which the future held out to him, would be strong arguments in +favor of the scheme, and he hoped to triumph over every objection she +could present.</p> + +<p>Before he reached the cottage, Paul contrived to subdue some of his +enthusiasm, and walked into the kitchen, where his mother was getting +dinner, as coolly and indifferently as though nothing extraordinary had +happened. It was hard work for him to keep down the excitement that was +raging within, but he had determined not to made a fool of himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, Paul, have you had a good time," said Mrs. Duncan, as he entered +the room.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p><p>"First-rate, mother," he replied; though he was not exactly pleased to +find that she regarded the trip to Rock Island in the light of a +pleasure excursion.</p> + +<p>"Did you get as many fish as Captain Littleton wanted?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, more too; I left six dozen perch and three handsome tautog in his +kitchen just now."</p> + +<p>"You were lucky."</p> + +<p>"I am good for as many as that every day. Look here, mother;" and he +pulled out his wallet, and took therefrom the two dollar bill. "What do +you think of that?"</p> + +<p>"Did he give you all that?"</p> + +<p>"He did."</p> + +<p>"He is very liberal."</p> + +<p>"That he is; but the fish came to about that; the tautog are worth a +quarter apiece."</p> + +<p>"You have done bravely, my boy. If you could make half as much money as +that every day, we should have all we want, and more too."</p> + +<p>"I can, mother; and I mean to do so," replied Paul, thinking this a good +opportunity to announce his magnificent intentions.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't be too confident, Paul."</p> + +<p>"I know I can."</p> + +<p>"And, pray, what do you mean to do?" inquired Mrs. Duncan, with an +incredulous smile.</p> + +<p>"I am going into the fishing business, mother."</p> + +<p>"Into what?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p><p>"Into the fishing business."</p> + +<p>"What in the world do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"I mean just what I say, mother!"</p> + +<p>"Is the boy crazy?" demanded Mrs. Duncan, suspending her culinary +operations, and looking with interest into the animated face of her son.</p> + +<p>"I am as regular as I ever was in my life. I've thought it all over, and +spoken to Captain Littleton besides; and he says go ahead," replied +Paul, making an early use of the captain's encouraging words.</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand what you mean? Going into the fishing business?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; we've got a boat, and I mean to go down to Rock Island +every day, Sundays excepted, and catch perch. I mean to sell them here +in Bayville, and Captain Littleton told me to put him down for two dozen +every Saturday. That's the idea, mother."</p> + +<p>"But, Paul——"</p> + +<p>"If I can get a shilling a dozen for them, I can make a dollar a day as +easy as you can turn your hand over," added Paul, who was not disposed +to let his mother speak upon impulse.</p> + +<p>"You would have to be on the water every day."</p> + +<p>"What of that, mother? The water is a good thing to be on, and just as +safe as the land, if you are only a mind to think so."</p> + +<p>"Rather dangerous, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p><p>"O, no, mother; it's only a notion some folks have, that the water +isn't safe."</p> + +<p>"Hundreds of people are drowned every year."</p> + +<p>"And hundreds smashed up and killed on the railroads. Why, Captain +Mitchell don't think it is safe to go about much on the land. He only +feels secure when he is in his old whale boat. He won't get into a +chaise or a wagon—don't think it is safe to ride in them; but he knocks +about the bay in all sorts of weather. Please don't object to it, +mother, for I've set my heart upon the business, and I'm satisfied I +shall do well," said Paul, with kindling enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you are set upon it, I don't want to say too much against it," +replied Mrs. Duncan, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton will speak to you about it, and he understands these +things."</p> + +<p>"I know he does; but after all, I would rather have you safe on land."</p> + +<p>"I shall be safe enough, mother; and I shall be able to take care of the +family without your making bags."</p> + +<p>"You are a good boy, Paul," added his mother, turning from him to wipe +away the tears that moistened her eyes, for in the loneliness of her +widowhood she realized what it was to have such a noble and devoted son.</p> + +<p>Paul was delighted to think he had so easily smoothed over matters with +her. He had expected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> to have a hard beat to windward in reconciling her +to his plan, but she had proved much more reasonable than he +anticipated. He attributed his ready victory in a great measure to the +influence of Captain Littleton's name, and he was confident he would +remove any remaining doubts she might harbor.</p> + +<p>After dinner Paul went up to his room, and taking from his drawer a +little account book, which had long been waiting to be used, he entered +the amount of the day's sales upon the first page.</p> + +<p>"Little by little," said he, as he returned the book to the drawer, "and +one of these days I shall be rich."</p> + +<p>This was a very comforting reflection, and notwithstanding the possible +slip between the cup and the lip, he enjoyed the full benefit of it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL GOES INTO BUSINESS ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.</h3> + +<p>Before night, all the arrangements for the next day's trip were +completed, and Paul retired at an early hour, so as to be up in season +in the morning. The excitement which his great project created in his +mind, however, would not let him sleep till he was actually exhausted +with thinking. He did not wake till five o'clock in the morning, which +made him so ashamed of himself, that he could hardly conceal his +vexation, especially as he found his mother was up, and his breakfast +was nearly ready, when he went down-stairs. But on reflection he found +he was early enough, for it would be low tide nearly an hour later than +on the preceding day.</p> + +<p>While he was eating his breakfast, his brother John came down. It was an +unusually early hour for him to rise, and it was evident from the haste +with which he completed his toilet, after he found Paul had not gone, +that he had an idea of his own, as well as his brother.</p> + +<p>"Mayn't I go with you, Paul?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"You must go to school."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>"Mayn't I stay away from school to-day, mother?" added he, turning +quickly to Mrs. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather you wouldn't, John."</p> + +<p>"Why not, mother?" whined he.</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to stay out of school a single day, when it can be +prevented."</p> + +<p>"I should think I might go with Paul. I can catch as many fish as he +can."</p> + +<p>"Paul is older than you are, and he always kept close to his school till +he left."</p> + +<p>"I want to do something towards supporting the family, as well as he."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Duncan laughed, and so did Paul; for however ambitious the young +gentleman might have been to bear his full share of the burden of the +family, it was too evident that his taste for boating and fishing was +the dominant motive for absenting himself from school.</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Mother says you must go to school, and I think you had better be +there."</p> + +<p>"Who will steer the boat while you skin the fish?" demanded John, who +had a proper idea of the value of his services, and was not at all +pleased at the thought of having them undervalued.</p> + +<p>"I shall try to get along some way without you. I should like to have +you go, first rate, John; but I don't think you ought to stay out of +school. You will have a vacation next week, and you may go every day +then, if you want to."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>"You ought to take me with you, Paul," continued John, resorting to the +persuasive, now that the argumentative had failed.</p> + +<p>"I tell you I should like to have you go with me, if it were not for +your school."</p> + +<p>John exhausted his store of arguments and persuasions without effect, +and then fled to his room to cry over his defeat. Paul sympathized with +his brother in his disappointment, but as the head of the family, he +could not, on principle, yield the point. Taking his jug of water and +his lunch, he left the house and hastened to the beach. The wind was +light, as on the preceding day, and it took him nearly two hours to run +down to Rock Island, for the old boat was a very heavy sailer even under +the most favorable circumstances.</p> + +<p>Paul did not feel quite so nervous as on the day before, for he was so +confident of success that he did not feel uneasy even when he did not +get a bite for quarter of an hour. The perch were accommodating in the +main, and did not disappoint him, for at twelve o'clock—as he judged it +to be by the height of the tide—he had seven dozen in the boat, and +they were still biting as greedily as when he first commenced. He had +two lines on board, and he tried the experiment of using them both at +the same time, though without much success; for perch are fastidious, +and require a great deal of attention. While he was pulling in a fish +upon one line, the sly rogues in the brine stole his bait from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> the +other, and he came to the conclusion it was not best to have too many +irons in the fire at once.</p> + +<p>Paul did not like to abandon the field while it was yielding such a rich +harvest; but he was a prudent fisherman, and not disposed to run any +risks. The tide would turn in less than two hours, and he knew it would +be impossible to run up to Bayville against both wind and tide. The old +boat was not equal to any such emergency, and he reluctantly wound up +his line and made sail for home.</p> + +<p>The seven dozen perch were to be cleaned, and when he got fairly under +way he missed John, for it was difficult for him to skin fish and work +the boat at the same time. Seating himself in the stern he passed his +arm round the tiller,—for there was no comb to keep it in place,—and +commenced his labors. He soon found that he was working at a great +disadvantage, and he exerted his ingenuity to devise a plan for +overcoming the difficulty. Taking a small line, he made the middle of it +fast to the end of the tiller; then passing it round the cleets, he tied +the ends together. This apparatus kept the tiller in its place, and he +could change it to any required position by pulling the line. Resuming +his labors upon the fish, he found his plan worked very well, and the +perch were in readiness for market when he reached the shore. After +securing the boat, he hastened with the fish to the cottage, where his +dinner was waiting for him. His mother congratulated him upon his +success, and told him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> that Captain Littleton had been to see her during +his absence, and that she was entirely reconciled to his new occupation.</p> + +<p>The most difficult part of the business, in Paul's estimation, was yet +to come—that of selling the fish. As he left the house with his +precious load of merchandise, he could not help feeling that the grand +scheme was still an experiment, for it had not been demonstrated that +Bayville would buy six or eight dozen of perch every day. It was a large +place, containing about six thousand inhabitants; and as he walked +along, he brought his mathematical knowledge into use in an attempt to +convince himself that the market was large enough to keep him busy +during the season. At the least calculation there were six hundred +families in the town, and probably a thousand. If each family would buy +a mess of perch once in ten days, it would make six hundred dozen in +that time, or sixty dozen a day; but, to make allowance for +over-estimates, he was willing to reduce the total one half, and call it +thirty dozen a day. The fisherman would supply a large portion of the +demand, but he concluded that he should have no difficulty in selling +all the perch he could catch.</p> + +<p>Passing the house of Captain Littleton, the next was that of Major +Nettle, and he resolved to make his first attempt to sell. The +gentleman, was not at home, and the servants didn't know anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> about +it; and he was just leaving when Thomas Nettle accosted him.</p> + +<p>"What have you got, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Perch; do your folks want to buy any?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess they do. Where did you catch them?"</p> + +<p>"Down at Rock Island; I am going down every day."</p> + +<p>"Are you, though? I should like to go with you some time."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to have you. I have gone into this business."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"Since my father died, I have to do something to help my mother," +replied Paul, not caring to announce to his friend the whole of his +stupendous plan.</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to do anything at this business?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I do; I made two dollars at it yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Did you though?"</p> + +<p>"Do your folks want any perch to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I guess they do; how much a dozen?"</p> + +<p>"Seventeen cents," replied Paul, who had decided to be moderate in his +prices.</p> + +<p>"I will speak to my mother."</p> + +<p>Thomas returned in a short time, and took two dozen of the fish, and +paid the money for them. Overjoyed at this success, he proceeded to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +next house; but though he was eloquent in regard to the freshness and +fineness of his wares, he could not make a trade. He met with no better +success at the next three or four places at which he called, and he +began to feel a little discouraged. But the next house in his way was a +large, genteel boarding-house, and he had the satisfaction of selling +four dozen at the price he had before fixed, though he had almost made +up his mind to let them go at ninepence. The gentleman who kept the +house was pleased to get the perch, and wanted the young fisherman to +bring him some three times a week for the present, for his boarders were +very fond of them.</p> + +<p>Paul could scarcely contain himself for the joy he felt, as he glanced +at the only remaining dozen of his stock, and at the very next house he +disposed of them. With a dollar and nineteen cents in his pocket, he +walked towards home, proud as a lord of his success. The result of this +day's work afforded him far more satisfaction than that of the preceding +day, though the proceeds were considerably less; for he was conscious of +the influence of Captain Littleton's generosity in the transaction. But +the second day's triumph was achieved by his own unaided labor and +skill. What he had done this day was a fair specimen of what he might +hope to do in the future.</p> + +<p>"Sold out so soon, Paul?" said his mother, as he entered the kitchen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>"Yes; I had good luck. They took four dozen at the boarding-house. I +think if I had had twenty dozen I could have sold them all. There is a +great deal of difference between perch just out of the water, fresh and +good, and perch which have been dragged about in a fish cart, under a +hot sun, for two or three days."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Duncan fully agreed with this sage remark, and did not think it +improved any kind of fish to keep them a great while after they were +caught.</p> + +<p>"One dollar and nineteen cents, mother; here is the money," continued +Paul, emptying the contents of the wallet into her lap. "What do you +think of the fishing business <i>now</i>, mother?"</p> + +<p>"It has proved to be a very good business so far: but you must not +expect people to eat perch all the year round, Paul. They will get sick +of them after a while."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall go farther off; but there are other fish besides perch, +and I don't intend to confine my operations to one kind. There are eels, +and smelts, and cod, and haddock; and if worse comes to worse, I can go +into the clam trade."</p> + +<p>"What a boy!" laughed Mrs. Duncan. "You are so determined that I have no +doubt you will succeed."</p> + +<p>"If I don't, it shall not be my fault," replied Paul, complacently.</p> + +<p>"But you don't mean to follow this business all your life?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p><p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"The life of a fisherman is not the pleasantest in the world."</p> + +<p>"That's according to one's taste. If I only had a good boat, I can't +think of anything that would suit me better."</p> + +<p>"It is hard work."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. You said that five dollars a week would support the +family. Now, if you have no objection, I will save up all I make over +that sum, till I get enough to buy a boat."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Paul; and if you give me three dollars a week, or even two, +I can get along very well."</p> + +<p>"I shall not do that, mother. I am going to support the family, anyhow; +and I wish you wouldn't take any more bags to make."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't think of doing too much, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Too much! I shall be idle half the time, at this rate. Here I am, with +my day's work done at three o'clock in the afternoon. I don't want you +to do anything, mother, but take care of the house, as you always used +to do."</p> + +<p>"There will certainly be no need of it, if you get along as well as you +expect. How much will such a boat as you want cost, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know; when I buy I want to get a first-rate one."</p> + +<p>"How much do you think."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>"Fifty to seventy-five dollars; but I won't think of such a thing yet a +while. The old one will do very well for the present. I can save up +something every week, and little by little, I shall make up enough to +get just such a boat as I want."</p> + +<p>"You might take the money from the life insurance; for Mr. Freeman will +perhaps sell us the house, if we pay nine hundred dollars down."</p> + +<p>"I won't do that, mother. My boat shall be bought with my own earnings."</p> + +<p>"I will lend you the money, then."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't get in debt."</p> + +<p>"But a new boat would be safer."</p> + +<p>"The old one is safe enough; all the fault I find with her is, that it +takes her so long to get down to the fishing ground."</p> + +<p>Paul resolutely refused to run in debt, or to touch the money which had +been appropriated for the purchase of the house. He intended, when he +had time, to fix up the old boat, and rig a jib on, which he thought +would overcome his principal objection to her.</p> + +<p>When he went to bed that night, he entered the proceeds of this day's +work in his book, and then with pardonable pride, he congratulated +himself on the sum total of the earnings of the two days.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL TAKES A COLD BATH.</h3> + +<p>The limits of our little volume do not permit us to follow Paul Duncan +into the minutiæ of his prosperous business, and we are reminded that +great events in his experience are yet to be introduced. He was +successful in his undertaking, though, like all in this inconstant +world, he was subjected to trials and disappointments. There were some +days when it was so rough off the rocks that he could not fish; and +there were others when he had to travel many miles before he could sell +his fish. During John's vacation, his receipts amounted to about two +dollars a day, which went a great way in counter-balancing the ill luck +of the next week. On an average, he earned about a dollar a day.</p> + +<p>He had won a reputation in Bayville which helped him a great deal in +disposing of his merchandise. People saw him working hard to supply the +place of his father, and they were glad to encourage him, as there are +always found enough who are willing to help those that help themselves. +The sympathy and kindness of his neighbors were a great assistance to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +him, and no doubt without them his fish would have oftener been a drug +in the market.</p> + +<p>Paul inherited some portion of his father's mechanical skill; and on the +first stormy day after he set up in business, he commenced his +contemplated improvements upon the old boat. She was a very poor subject +to work upon, but he got out the wood for building a half deck over her, +which he fitted on as he had opportunity. A short bowsprit was added to +her rig, and his mother made him a jib, which he cut out himself. Thus +refitted, the old boat, though her main defects could not be remedied, +was much improved, and worked better than before. She was far from +coming up to the young fisherman's ideal of a trim craft, and he +cherished a strong hope that before many years had passed away, he +should have the satisfaction of sailing such a boat as his fancy had +already clearly defined. The time was closer at hand than he suspected.</p> + +<p>One day, early in the month of July, Paul was making his way home from +the rock in a smart blow. While he was fishing, the wind had hauled +round to the northeast, and continued to freshen till it became a +reefing breeze. He had got but a small fare of fish, for the heavy sea +had interfered with his operations. He disliked to leave the fishing +ground, but it was sufficiently evident to him that a storm was +approaching. He had often promised his mother that he would be very +careful, and the present seemed a proper time to exercise that caution. +John was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> with him, and in spite of this bold youth's most earnest +protest, he got up the anchor and made sail for home.</p> + +<p>"What are you afraid of, Paul?" demanded John, with evident disgust.</p> + +<p>"You are a pretty sailor! Don't you see it is going to blow a young +hurricane?"</p> + +<p>"What if it does? I should like to be out in a blow once. I want to know +what it's like," replied the reckless boy.</p> + +<p>"You may know now, before you get home. Don't you see the white caps on +the waves off to windward?"</p> + +<p>"I like the looks of them, and it's fun to skip over them."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to worry mother. She's at the window by this time, looking +out for the boat. Do you think there is any fun in making her uneasy? +Besides, I don't think it is safe to stay here any longer. There comes +the Flyaway under jib and mainsail."</p> + +<p>"What of it?"</p> + +<p>"She went down to be gone all day. What do you suppose she's coming back +for at this early hour?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose Captain Littleton didn't want to make the women seasick," +promptly replied John.</p> + +<p>"Would the foresail make them sick? She has taken the bonnet off her jib +too. Captain Littleton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> knows when to expect a gale, and we shall have +it soon."</p> + +<p>So it seemed by the working of the little boat, for she tossed up and +down on the waves like a feather, and thrust her bows under so far, that +John had to waste some of his enthusiasm upon the baling kettle. Paul +had not hoisted the jib, for the mainsail was all the old craft could +stagger under, and her youthful skipper expected soon to be obliged to +reef. The Flyaway was at the eastward of the island, driving over and +through the waves like a phantom. The spray was dashing over her bows, +and her jib was wet several feet above the boltrope. She was working to +windward till she could clear the island, when she would have the wind +free into Bayville Harbor. Perhaps some of my non-nautical young readers +will need to be informed that working to windward means sailing in a +zigzag line in the direction from which the wind blows.</p> + +<p>The Flyaway ran close in to Rock Island, and tacked at the very spot +where Paul had just been lying at anchor, and his boat was not more than +the eighth of a mile distant from her. The boys could distinctly see the +ladies and gentlemen on board of her, and replied to signals of +recognition that were made to them. There were several children on her +deck, and Paul identified Carrie Littleton in a little girl of ten, who +was waving her handkerchief to him. As the yacht came up into the wind, +and before the boom swung over, the young lady jumped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> upon the taffrail +to obtain a better view of them. To the horror of all who saw the +accident, the heavy spar struck her on the shoulder, and she was knocked +overboard. The Flyaway, catching the wind, flew from the spot, and when +the little girl rose to the surface of the water, she was out of the +reach of those on board of her.</p> + +<p>"Heavens and earth!" shouted Paul, jumping up from his seat, as he +beheld the catastrophe. "There is Carrie Littleton knocked overboard by +the boom!"</p> + +<p>"O, dear! She will be drowned!" gasped John.</p> + +<p>"Take the helm, John! Don't blubber! Quick!" cried Paul, as he leaped +forward, and brailed up the sail. "Now, hard down! Lively!"</p> + +<p>The boat, which was making very good headway, came about, and was headed +towards the island. Shaking out the sail again, she bore down towards +the unfortunate girl. In the meantime, the Flyaway had luffed up; though +she was nearer to Carrie than Paul's boat, she was rapidly drifting to +leeward. Her tender, which was a light canoe, had been placed upon deck, +and the crew were launching her; but as they did so, by the clumsiness +of some one engaged in the operation, she filled as she struck the +water, and they were obliged to haul her up again with the halliards.</p> + +<p>Before they had made fast to the painter of the canoe, Paul had reached +the scene of the disaster,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> but poor Carrie had sunk beneath the angry +waves. She had evidently been injured by the blow of the boom, and was +unable to make any exertion.</p> + +<p>"Now mind your eye, John!" shouted Paul as he dashed off his coat and +shoes. "When I dive, throw her up into the wind."</p> + +<p>"Look out, Paul; don't do that," remonstrated his brother. "You will be +drowned yourself. Fish her up with the boathook. Mother will——"</p> + +<p>The intrepid youth, disregarding the terror of his brother, dived over +the bow of the boat the moment he saw the form of the poor girl, which +was revealed to him by the white dress she wore. John obeyed the +instructions he had received, but before Paul reappeared, with the +drowning child in his arms, the boat had drifted some distance from the +spot.</p> + +<p>"Haul aft your sheet!" gasped Paul, when he had regained breath enough +to speak.</p> + +<p>John obeyed, but his terror had almost paralyzed his arm, and his action +was not so prompt as it might have been; but the boat slowly gathered +headway, and moved towards the struggling youth. Paul battled manfully +with the big waves, which repeatedly swept him under, and determined to +die rather than drop his helpless burden.</p> + +<p>As the boat came down upon him, Paul supported Carrie with one arm, and +grasped the gunwale with the other.</p> + +<p>"Luff up!" said he. "Now, catch hold of her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> and help haul her in," he +added, as the boat came up into the wind.</p> + +<p>John did his best, but he was not strong enough to draw the lifeless +form into the boat. Bidding him hold on for his life, Paul leaped into +the boat, and drew her in.</p> + +<p>"Keep her away for the yacht," cried Paul, as he placed the form of the +poor girl—for he was not certain that it was still animated by the +vital spark—in the bottom of the boat.</p> + +<p>Turning her face down, in order to let the water run out of her mouth, +he used all the efforts his knowledge and his means would permit to +promote her restoration. In a few moments the boat came alongside the +Flyaway, though John, in the excitement of the moment, stove her gunwale +in, and had nearly added another calamity to the chapter of accidents.</p> + +<p>Captain Littleton jumped into the boat as she struck the side, and +seizing the beloved child in his arms, leaped back upon deck, and then +rushed into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Hand up your painter, Paul, and come on board, both of you," said +Captain Gordon, the skipper of the Flyaway.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," replied Paul, too much interested in the fate of poor +Carrie to think of parting company with the yacht.</p> + +<p>The fishing boat was made fast at the stern of the Flyaway, and she +stood off again to clear the rocks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> around the island. All the party on +board had followed Captain Littleton into the cabin, to learn the +condition of his child, or to render assistance in restoring her. It was +very fortunate that Dr. Lawrence was one of the company, for he was a +very skilful man, and under his direction the measures for the relief of +Carrie were conducted.</p> + +<p>The Flyaway had reached her berth at the mouth of the river before the +efforts for the child's restoration promised to be effectual. It was +found that the blow of the boom had not seriously injured her. In an +hour after the yacht reached her moorings, she was able to speak, and +the doctor ordered her to be taken home.</p> + +<p>Before the yacht reached her berth, a pair of anxious eyes, from the +chamber window of the cottage, had discovered the dingy old boat towing +at her stern. The mother's heart almost failed her, as her imagination +pictured some dreadful calamity that had happened to her boys. Filled +with dreadful forebodings, she seized her shawl and bonnet, and hastened +to the landing, in the rear of Captain Littleton's house. They were +bringing home the boat in which her boys had gone out, and she feared +that one or both of them had been lost. She tried to believe that the +yacht had overtaken them, and that Captain Littleton had invited them on +board; but her fears were stronger than her hopes.</p> + +<p>When she reached the landing place, she saw that the gunwale of the old +boat was stove, and her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> heart sank within her. There were several +persons at the landing, and she told them what she feared. One of them +took a skiff and rowed out to the yacht. Paul and John were both in the +cabin, and when the messenger came alongside, the captain called them on +deck. Seeing Mrs. Duncan on the shore, they got into their boat, and +soon joined her.</p> + +<p>"I never was so glad to see you before in my life!" exclaimed the +delighted mother, clasping them both to her bosom. "Why, Paul, you are +as wet as a drowned rat! You have been overboard; I know you have!"</p> + +<p>"That's so, mother; but I didn't upset nor fall overboard. I went over +of my own free will."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did, mother," interrupted John. "Carrie Littleton was knocked +overboard by the boom, the Flyaway's boat got swamped, and she drifted +to leeward, and we came about, and bore down on her, and Paul dived +after her, and I worked the boat, and we hauled her in, and took her on +board the Flyaway—didn't we, Paul?" and John sputtered as though his +own mouth had been full of salt water.</p> + +<p>"We did," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"You will catch your death a-cold, Paul. Do come home now."</p> + +<p>"I must take the boat round."</p> + +<p>One of the bystanders, all of whom had listened with eager interest to +the particulars of the accident, volunteered to perform this service for +him;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> and Paul, shivering with cold, ran home, followed by his mother +and John.</p> + +<p>"Where is Paul Duncan?" demanded Captain Littleton, after the doctor had +ordered his daughter to be carried ashore.</p> + +<p>"Gone, half an hour ago, sir," replied Captain Gordon.</p> + +<p>"God bless him!" fervently ejaculated the grateful father; and he +proceeded to give directions for the removal of Carrie.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL BECOMES SKIPPER OF THE FAWN.</h3> + +<p>The heroic act of Paul, in saving the life of Carrie Littleton, was the +principal topic of conversation in Bayville for the next week. Of course +it was the unanimous vote of the people that Paul was a hero, and there +was some talk of giving him a complimentary dinner, and making speeches +at him; but the good sense of the strong-minded men and women of the +place prevailed, and he was not treated with the honors that turn the +head of a third-rate politician. But everybody thought something ought +to be done, and after a full week had passed by, everybody wondered that +Captain Littleton did not do something; that he did not make Paul a +present of a gold medal, or give him a check for a hundred dollars. The +gossips could not find out that he had done anything more than thank +Paul, with tears of gratitude in his eyes, for the noble service he had +rendered him. The captain had the reputation of being a very liberal +man, but the glory of his good name seemed to be rapidly passing away.</p> + +<p>Paul attended to his business as usual, and seemed to give but little +heed to the compliments that were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> showered upon him. When any one spoke +to him about his gallant deed, he tried to turn it off, declared he had +only done his duty, as sentimental heroes generally do, and he did not +think he had done any very great thing, after all. But notwithstanding +all this seeming indifference, Paul was proud of the act that had made +him famous. He was conscious that he had done a noble deed; and his own +heart assured him he deserved the praise which was so liberally bestowed +upon him.</p> + +<p>Above all, he was grateful for the opportunity of serving Captain +Littleton, who had been so kind to him and to his mother. He was happy +in the thought of having saved that darling child from a watery grave, +and he had given the fond father a good reason for being his friend as +long as he lived. Paul never thought of any reward; he hoped Captain +Littleton would not give him anything, for that would deprive him of one +half the satisfaction the act had afforded him.</p> + +<p>Another week passed by, and still, to the astonishment and disgust of +the gossips of Bayville, Captain Littleton took no further notice of +Paul's heroic deed. Mrs. Green, who was Mrs. Duncan's nearest neighbor, +ventured to suggest that the captain was a mean man, and she wouldn't +have thought it of him.</p> + +<p>"What would you have him do?" asked Paul, to whom Captain Littleton's +reputation was as dear as that of his mother, or even of his dead +father.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>"What would I have him do?" repeated the old lady. "Why, he ought to +give you a hundred dollar bill, all for your own. At least he ought to +give you fifty."</p> + +<p>"I don't want anything, Mrs. Green," said Paul stoutly.</p> + +<p>"That's nothing to do with it. He could just offer it—couldn't he? He +is a rich man, and a hundred dollars is no more to him than a hundred +cents to me. It is downright mean, there."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so, marm. Captain Littleton has done everything he could +for mother and for me, and I'm sure I was glad to have a chance to do +something for him."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but it don't look well for a rich man like him to let you +save his little daughter from drowning, and then only say thank'ee for +it."</p> + +<p>"I think it does, Mrs. Green, and I hope he will let the matter rest +just where it is."</p> + +<p>"There is no danger now but what he will. If he ever meant to do +anything for you, he would have done it before now."</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly contented, marm, and I only wish the neighbors were as +easy about it as I am."</p> + +<p>"It ain't none of the neighbors' business, I know," added Mrs. Green, a +little tartly; "but I can't look on and see such meanness without +speaking of it. It don't make no difference who I say it to, neither; I +had just as lief say it to Captain Littleton, as say it to you and your +mother. That is just what I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> think, and I may just as well speak it as +think it."</p> + +<p>It was a remarkable fact, under the circumstances, that Mrs. Green never +did give Captain Littleton the benefit of her opinion on this subject. +Perhaps she wronged him by her silence, thus denying him the practical +advantage of her criticism for the direction of his future life. But +Paul never liked Mrs. Green so well after this, for she had spoken ill +of him whom he honored and esteemed.</p> + +<p>Our young fisherman, apparently unmoved by the honors that clustered +around his name, pursued his humble avocation with pride and +pleasure—with pride, because he had been successful by his own unaided +exertions; with pleasure, because he was actually relieving his mother +from the entire burden of supporting the family. Since the rescue of +Carrie, perch, tom-cod, flounders, and tautog had been in greater demand +than ever, for many of the rich people bought fish, even when they did +not want them, just for the sake of patronizing the young hero; and the +poor people ate fish oftener than they would if their admiration for the +little fish merchant had been less.</p> + +<p>The long summer vacation had commenced, and the boys were let loose from +school for six weeks. John felt as though he had been emancipated from a +dreadful drudgery. He could scarcely repress his exuberant joy, as he +carried home his books on the last day of the term. Paul reproved him +for his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>dislike of school, and told him he might see the day when he +would appreciate the advantages of a good education.</p> + +<p>"I don't dislike school," growled John, though it was a good-natured +growl.</p> + +<p>"Yes you do; you hate school," added Paul. "If you did not, you would +not be so glad to get away from it."</p> + +<p>"'Not that I love Cæsar less, but I love Rome more,'" replied John, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" demanded Paul, amused at the attitude into +which his brother threw himself as he uttered the quotation.</p> + +<p>"Not that I love school less, but I love fishing more; that's the idea," +replied John.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will get enough of it in six weeks, then."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, but I don't believe I shall. At any rate, I'm going every +day, and I'm going to be first mate of the Blowout."</p> + +<p>"The what?"</p> + +<p>"The Blowout; that's what I have christened the old boat."</p> + +<p>"That's a very beautiful name."</p> + +<p>"And she's a very beautiful boat," laughed John. "I wish you had a +better one."</p> + +<p>"So do I; perhaps I may have, one of these days."</p> + +<p>"Somebody's got a new one, Paul," added John.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>"There is one moored off Mercantile Point. Did you see her?"</p> + +<p>"No; whose is she?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I saw her come up the bay as I came home from school. +She's a perfect beauty."</p> + +<p>"We will go over and see her by and by," said Paul, for a new boat was +an object of interest to him, and he always improved the opportunity to +inspect any strange craft that visited the bay. "But, John, we must be +off early on Monday morning, and the jib of the Blowout, as you call +her, wants mending. We will go down and sew it up."</p> + +<p>The brothers repaired to the beach, where the old boat was now high and +dry upon the sand and taking a little box containing the thread, +needles, and wax for mending the sail, they commenced their labors. +Their busy hands soon completed the task, and the Blowout was otherwise +prepared for duty on Monday, for Paul never went near the boat on +Sunday. They were now ready to visit the new craft; but when they had +pushed their boat down into the water, Paul saw a gentleman enter the +cottage of his mother.</p> + +<p>It was Captain Littleton; and Paul delayed their departure, thinking +that he might want to see him. Presently his friend appeared on the +bluff.</p> + +<p>"Are you busy, Paul?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I will be with you in a moment."</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are;" and Captain Littleton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> descended the steep path +which led to the beach. "You were going out—were you?"</p> + +<p>"We were, sir; but it is of no consequence," replied Paul. "John says +there is a new boat over by the Point, and we were about going to see +her."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will go with you;" and Captain Littleton stepped into the +boat.</p> + +<p>"Our boat is not a very nice one for you to sail in," apologized Paul.</p> + +<p>"I have been in worse ones than this, Paul; and I have seen the time +when I would have given all I had in the world for even so dingy a boat +as this."</p> + +<p>"When was that, sir?" asked John, very promptly; for he stood his +ground, unawed by the dignity of the richest man in Bayville.</p> + +<p>"Get your boat under way, and I will tell you about it," replied Captain +Littleton.</p> + +<p>Paul shook out the mainsail, and then pushed off the boat, while John +hoisted the jib. The former then took his place at the helm, and the +latter seated himself amidships, both eager to hear the story of the +captain. It was fortunate for them that the old Blowout was a very heavy +sailer; otherwise they could not have obtained the whole of the story, +which was long and very interesting and exciting. We have not space to +repeat the story, but it was all about a shipwreck, and clinging to a +broken spar for forty-eight hours, without food or water, and being +rescued when life was nearly gone.</p> + +<p>"So you see, Paul, I should have been very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>comfortable even in a worse +boat than yours," added the story-teller, as he completed his narrative.</p> + +<p>"I should like to be shipwrecked once," said John, musing.</p> + +<p>"Should you, my fine fellow?" exclaimed the captain.</p> + +<p>"I should, sir, just to see how it would seem."</p> + +<p>"It would seem very uncomfortable, my boy; and I recommend you never to +express such a wish again. Many shore people think there is something +very fine and romantic about the sea, or even about a wreck; but half a +day's experience would teach them better. For my part, I was very glad +when I escaped the necessity of going to sea, even as master of a +vessel."</p> + +<p>"There is the new boat," interrupted Paul, as the Blowout rounded Dog +Island, which had before concealed the new craft from their sight.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she a <i>ripper!</i>" exclaimed John.</p> + +<p>"Don't use such words, John," added Paul, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"She's a very fine boat," said John.</p> + +<p>"She has a broad beam, but she looks as though she would sail well;" +Paul continued.</p> + +<p>"Keep her away a little; we will go on board of her if you like," said +Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>Paul, though he would not have ventured on board of the new craft if he +had been alone, ran the Blowout alongside of her, for he was satisfied +that the presence of his friend would free him from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> charge of +trespass. John made fast the painter to the new boat, and the party +leaped on board.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she a beauty!" ejaculated John.</p> + +<p>"A perfect beauty," added Paul, with enthusiasm. "She will sail like a +bird."</p> + +<p>"You see she has air chambers at the bow and stern," said Captain +Littleton. "You cannot sink her."</p> + +<p>The boys examined her from stem to stern, and their eyes sparkled with +pleasure, as they rested upon her useful and elegant appurtenances. John +looked over her gracefully rounded stern, and found there the words, +<span class="smcap">Fawn—Bayville</span>, in raised gilt letters; and he immediately gave +utterance to his opinion that the Fawn of Bayville couldn't be beaten.</p> + +<p>"How do you like her, Paul?" quietly asked Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"First rate, sir; she is the finest boat I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she would sail well?"</p> + +<p>"I know she would."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we try her. You may hoist the fore and main sails."</p> + +<p>"Does she belong to you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"She belongs to a friend of mine; but we will try her."</p> + +<p>Paul and John hoisted the sails, and got everything in readiness to slip +the moorings, when the captain wished John to take the Blowout over to +her berth, and they would take him on board again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> He consented, and +the two boats were soon headed towards the beach; but the Fawn made +three rods as often as the Blowout made one.</p> + +<p>At last John worked the clumsy old boat up to the beach, and jumped on +board the Fawn. The language with which he expressed his satisfaction at +her performance under sail was not very elegant or well chosen; but it +undoubtedly expressed his opinion, so that no mistakes in regard to his +meaning could have been excused.</p> + +<p>"You like her, do you, Paul?" asked Captain Littleton for the tenth +time.</p> + +<p>"Very much indeed. She is a beauty! Who owns her, sir?"</p> + +<p>"She belongs to a young friend of mine—one Paul Duncan."</p> + +<p>"Sir! What!"</p> + +<p>"Exactly so, Paul. She belongs to you, and henceforth you are to be the +skipper of the Fawn."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL AND JOHN ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED.</h3> + +<p>Paul was overwhelmed with astonishment and delight at this unexpected +declaration. His eyes filled with tears, and he could not utter a word +to express the gratitude that filled his heart.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Paul, you shall hereafter be the skipper of the Fawn," repeated +Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"And I shall be first mate!" exclaimed John, jumping up and clapping his +hands with rapture.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you shall be first mate, John; for I have not forgotten that a +part of my debt of gratitude for the rescue of my daughter is in your +favor, my fine fellow. The Fawn shall be owned between you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied John; "but it was Paul that saved Carrie."</p> + +<p>"If you had not handled the old boat well, Paul could not have saved +her. You are fairly entitled to a share of the honor of that noble +exploit."</p> + +<p>"But, Captain Littleton," interposed Paul, "I do not want to be paid for +what I did. It was only my duty to save Carrie."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p><p>"Everybody does not do his duty in such a trying time as that was, +Paul. But I have not said a word about paying you."</p> + +<p>"I know you have not, sir; but I suppose that is what you mean."</p> + +<p>"I mean nothing of the kind, my boy. I could not pay you. There lies the +Flyaway," continued the Captain, pointing to his beautiful yacht; "she +cost me six thousand dollars. If I were called upon to decide which I +would lose, Carrie or the Flyaway, which should I choose?"</p> + +<p>"The Flyaway, of course."</p> + +<p>"Then the Flyaway would have been but a small compensation for my child. +Nay, if I were called upon to decide between my child and all I am worth +in the world, I would sacrifice all my earthly possessions for her. +Then, if I paid you all I could pay you, it would be all I have, Paul. +You will not, therefore, consider this boat as a reward for saving +Carrie's life."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that, sir," stammered Paul, "but——"</p> + +<p>"But you thought I meant it. I did not. I shall never be able to +discharge the debt of gratitude I owe you."</p> + +<p>"We will call it square, if you please, sir," said John.</p> + +<p>"We will not, my fine fellow," added the Captain, laughing at John's +matter-of-fact speech. "I had been thinking of making you a present of a +boat <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>before this event happened, Paul; but I confess, the gift was +hastened by your daring act. The long and the short of the whole matter +is, that we will consider the Fawn a memorial of the rescue of Carrie, +and not a reward. She is a strong, well-built, and safe boat, and I +think will just answer your purpose. By the way, how do you like her +name?"</p> + +<p>"First rate, sir."</p> + +<p>"I think I heard you suggest that name for a boat once."</p> + +<p>"It is just the name I should have given her," replied Paul, so excited +by the extraordinary event of the hour, that he could hardly keep his +seat.</p> + +<p>"I am glad, then, that she suits you in every respect. Now, if you will +put me ashore near my house, I will leave the Fawn and her owners to +their future destiny."</p> + +<p>Paul landed Captain Littleton on the pier behind his house, and after +pouring out his thanks for the magnificent gift, they parted company. +The Fawn was headed away from the rocks, and again stood out into the +bay before the fresh breeze.</p> + +<p>"I say, Paul, isn't this a stunner?" exclaimed John, suddenly jumping up +from his seat, after he had remained silent and motionless for the full +space of five minutes—a most extraordinary occurrence with him.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by a 'stunner,' John," asked Paul, with dignity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p><p>"Well, what a—what a—what a thundering thing this is!" sputtered +John. "Only to think——"</p> + +<p>"I wish you wouldn't use those slang phrases. You let them out before +Captain Littleton, just as though he were one of the fellows."</p> + +<p>"He's one of 'em, anyhow. He's a trump!"</p> + +<p>"Will you quit using slang words?"</p> + +<p>"I'll try."</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that Paul was always so particular in regard to +the choice of words; but at the present time, the idea of being owner of +such a craft as the Fawn, and being the friend of such a man as Captain +Littleton, inspired him with a dignity he did not always possess.</p> + +<p>"Talk like a gentleman, if you can, now there is some prospect of your +becoming one," continued Paul.</p> + +<p>"I will try; but I want to talk about the boat now. Isn't she a—a +beauty! I should like to try her with the Snowbird."</p> + +<p>"Very likely we may have a chance. She's too good to go a fishing with," +said Paul, glancing around him at the cushioned seats in the standing +room.</p> + +<p>"It won't hurt her any; we can take the cushions out when we fish."</p> + +<p>"We must use her for that, I suppose. But Jack Starr lets his boat, +which is not half as good as this, for four dollars a day. Perhaps we +can do a little business of this kind."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p><p>"Very likely we can; folks always want to go down in the best boat."</p> + +<p>"We can suit them, then. Where are you going now, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to run in, and let mother see her."</p> + +<p>"Good! Won't her eyes stick out?"</p> + +<p>"She will be surprised," replied Paul, in tones of gentle rebuke.</p> + +<p>The Fawn was run carefully upon the beach, and John was despatched for +his mother. While he is absent, we will improve the opportunity to give +our young readers a better idea of the new boat than they have yet +obtained. She was about eighteen feet long, and very broad for her +length. Her bow was very sharp, and her build combined the advantages of +being a safe boat and a fast sailer. She was schooner-rigged, carrying a +jib, foresail, and mainsail; and there was a staysail in the cuddy for +use when the wind was light.</p> + +<p>The deck of the Fawn extended over about half her length, and under it +was a cuddy, or small cabin, containing two berths, both of which were +furnished with proper bedding. There were four lockers, or closets, +accessible from the standing room, where the boys could keep their fish +lines, knives, spare ropes, and other articles required on board.</p> + +<p>The Fawn was rather large for a boy of Paul's age to handle, but as this +fault would be corrected in a year or two, Captain Littleton thought it +would be well to prepare for the future as well as the present.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> But the +rigging was so arranged that the new boat was hardly more difficult to +manage than the old one, and she was capable of saving at least one half +the time which the Blowout occupied in going to and returning from the +fishing ground.</p> + +<p>While John was absent, Paul again examined every part of the Fawn. He +looked into all the lockers, sounded the copper air-chambers, lay down +upon each of the berths, and hoisted the mainsail, just to see how +easily it could be done. The examination was satisfactory in every +respect.</p> + +<p>"Mother, mother!" shouted John, as he rushed breathless into the house, +where Mrs. Duncan was getting tea; "come down to the beach just as quick +as ever you can."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, John? What has happened?" asked Mrs. Duncan, +alarmed by his earnest manner.</p> + +<p>"Come down quick, mother; don't stop a minute!"</p> + +<p>"What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, mother; only come."</p> + +<p>"Is anything the matter with Paul?" she inquired, as she hastily grasped +her sun-bonnet, and followed John out of the house.</p> + +<p>The enthusiastic youth did not wait for the more tardy steps of age, but +tumbled recklessly down the steep path, and leaped into the boat.</p> + +<p>"Where is mother?" demanded Paul.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p><p>"She is coming. I wish we had a cannon; we would fire a salute."</p> + +<p>"No use of burning powder for nothing. There she comes."</p> + +<p>But it was some time before Mrs. Duncan could reach the beach, and John +occupied the interim in various antics, such as running up the shrouds +of the Fawn, hoisting and lowering the jib, lying down on the bobstay, +and finally in tumbling overboard while attempting to perch himself on +the end of the bowsprit. This accident did not in the least disturb his +equanimity, and he had just shaken himself, like a Newfoundland dog, +when his mother reached the beach.</p> + +<p>"Whose boat is that, Paul?" asked Mrs. Duncan, who, during the last +moments of her walk, had been gazing with admiration upon the trim +craft.</p> + +<p>"Mine, mother," replied Paul, with assumed indifference.</p> + +<p>"Mine, too," added John.</p> + +<p>"We own her together," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"Own her together? What do you mean by that? Haven't you learned better +than to make sport of your mother, boys?"</p> + +<p>"It is ours, certain true, mother!" cried John.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean so?"</p> + +<p>"It is a fact, mother," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"Why, where, what in the world——"</p> + +<p>"That's it, mother; I knew you'd come to it,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> interposed John. "To make +a long story short, Captain Littleton made us a present of her."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!"</p> + +<p>"Isn't she a beauty?"</p> + +<p>"I should think she was."</p> + +<p>"Come, mother, we are going to take you out to sail in her. You shall +try her right off," said John. "Jump aboard."</p> + +<p>"But I can't jump aboard. The water is knee-deep around her. Besides, +supper is almost ready."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the supper. Jump in."</p> + +<p>"I can't jump in. Where <i>have</i> you been, John? You are as wet as a +drowned rat!"</p> + +<p>"I fell into the tub just now; but never mind that."</p> + +<p>"But I do mind it; and you must go up and have on dry clothes before you +go anywhere."</p> + +<p>"We will go up and have supper, and after that we will take you out," +said Paul.</p> + +<p>John was disposed to rebel at this step; but Paul was firm and decided, +and made fast the Fawn to the stake in the beach. When they reached the +house, the young rogue, sorely against his will, was compelled to retire +to his chamber and change his clothes. Even then, dripping as he was +from the effects of his cold bath, when Paul went up to call him to +supper, he found him standing at the window, in his wet garments, gazing +with intense interest upon the Fawn, as she lay moored at the beach.</p> + +<p>Paul, notwithstanding the flutter of emotions in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> his bosom, ate his +supper with dignity and propriety, and several times admonished his +brother that he behaved more like a young monkey than a reasonable human +being. Yet Paul was excited, and so was his mother. The former talked of +the good times he should have down the bay, and the latter speaking of +the forethought of Captain Littleton in having the copper air chambers +placed in the boat. She was glad the Fawn was a lifeboat, and she could +feel a great deal easier, now, when her boys were away on the water.</p> + +<p>Supper was finished, and John, in his impatience to get on board the +boat again, condescended to wipe the dishes, while Paul cleared off the +table. Matters thus expedited, the party were ready to embark, and +repaired to the beach for that purpose. John was absolutely frantic in +his efforts to perform his duty as the first officer of the Fawn, and in +his eagerness had nearly drowned his mother, and swamped the boat. If +the halliards of the new craft had not been new and strong, he would +certainly have broken them in hoisting the sails. Paul was disgusted at +his conduct, and it was only when he threatened to put him on shore that +the mate subsided into the appearance of a tolerable calm.</p> + +<p>The party had a very pleasant sail; but John almost cried with vexation, +after the boat was properly secured at her moorings, to think he could +not go on board of her again till Monday morning. Paul was scarcely less +excited than his brother; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> the consciousness of being the head of +the family restrained any outbreak of enthusiasm on his part.</p> + +<p>His thoughts ran deeper and extended farther into the future.</p> + +<p>As he retired that night, he examined the columns of his account book, +and had every reason to be satisfied with his success. His excitement +had moderated, and he looked upon the Fawn as a new blessing, and in his +heart thanked God, from whom all his blessings came.</p> + +<p>He regarded his fortune as already made, for little by little, he felt +sure of achieving it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL'S FIRST CRUISE IN THE FAWN.</h3> + +<p>At breakfast time the next morning, John Duncan was among the missing. +His mother had charged him, when he first got up, to study his Sunday +school lesson, which, in the extraordinary excitement of the preceding +evening, had been neglected. Paul searched for him in their chamber, and +in all the other apartments of the house; but he was not to be found.</p> + +<p>Neither Paul nor his mother had any fears that he had run away or +committed suicide; so that his absence produced more of indignation than +alarm.</p> + +<p>"He must have gone down to the boat," suggested Mrs. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"If he has, I will throw him overboard."</p> + +<p>"O, no, my son! you would not do that."</p> + +<p>"He has no business on board the boat on Sunday."</p> + +<p>"That is very true, Paul; but I suppose he cannot keep his thoughts away +from her. I don't much wonder, either."</p> + +<p>"I don't know as I am very much surprised <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>myself," added Paul, whose +second thought was more reasonable than the first.</p> + +<p>When he considered how many times his thoughts had wandered to the +beautiful Fawn, and how many times he had permitted himself to +anticipate the pleasure of the first cruise in her, during the morning, +he was more charitable towards his younger brother, who had only done +what he had thought.</p> + +<p>"I will find him," said Paul, taking his cap.</p> + +<p>"Don't be harsh with him, Paul, for he means right, only he has not so +much strength of mind as you have."</p> + +<p>"I won't be hard upon him."</p> + +<p>"Because you are older than he is."</p> + +<p>"I won't be a hypocrite, mother, and I may as well own that, while +getting my lesson, I could not help thinking of the new boat. I don't +want you to believe I am better than I am."</p> + +<p>"It is very natural that you should think of her; but you must try not +to do so. It is almost a pity the boat had not come on Monday, so that +you could have had a whole week to think about her before Sunday."</p> + +<p>Paul ran down to the beach, and discovered that the door of the cuddy of +the Fawn was open. Jumping on board, he found John stretched out upon +one of the beds, apparently very busily engaged in studying his Sunday +school lesson.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here, John?" demanded Paul, though his tones were +very gentle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p><p>"I am getting my lesson," replied John, as demurely as though he had +not chosen an unusual place for the exercise.</p> + +<p>"Have you got it?"</p> + +<p>"All but two questions."</p> + +<p>"What made you come here?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help thinking of the boat, and I made up my mind that I +could get my lesson here better than anywhere else."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you haven't studied it much."</p> + +<p>"Hear me say it, then," said John, jumping up, and handing Paul the +book.</p> + +<p>"Not now; breakfast is ready. But I want to have an understanding with +you, as you are part owner of the Fawn, that neither of us go on board +of her on Sunday, unless there is some strong reason for it. Will you +agree to it?"</p> + +<p>"I shan't want to after to-day."</p> + +<p>"No matter; will you agree to it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but there was a strong reason this morning."</p> + +<p>"What was it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I wanted to see her."</p> + +<p>"That's no reason at all. I have just as hard work as you have to keep +away from her; but we mustn't do everything we want to do. Come, lock +the cuddy, and let us go up to the house."</p> + +<p>"That's honest, and not a bit like preaching," said John to himself, as +he locked the cuddy, and followed his brother up the hill.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p><p>"I am trying to make money, John, but I don't believe money is all we +have to live for."</p> + +<p>"Of course not; there is a good deal of fun to be had in this world, +that costs money instead of bringing it in," answered John, very +soberly; and it was evident that his thoughts were not upon his Sunday +school lesson.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't speaking of fun. Up to the time I went to sleep last night I +was thinking how I should make money; this morning, the first words I +saw when I opened the Testament to get my Sunday school lesson, were, +'For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose +his own soul?'"</p> + +<p>"I guess you had the nightmare last night, and have got the blues this +morning," said John, trying to get up a laugh, in which, however, he did +not succeed very well, for it is hard, even for a tolerably +well-disposed boy, to make fun of serious things.</p> + +<p>"I mean just what I say, John; you needn't laugh. I feel that we have +something else to live for besides money. It is a very pleasant thing to +make money——"</p> + +<p>"Little by little," added John, adopting his brother's favorite motto.</p> + +<p>"But I wouldn't be a rich man, if I had to be as mean and selfish as +old—no matter who. He is poorer than I am now, with his hundreds of +thousands. I mean to lay up good principles——"</p> + +<p>"Little by little," interpolated John.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p><p>"Little by little, if you please; but even a little every day will make +a good man one of these days. A good thought every day will make a man +rich in good principles; at any rate, my book says so."</p> + +<p>"How can a fellow help thinking of the boat, if it is Sunday?"</p> + +<p>"We must try to think of our lesson, and when we go to church, of what +the minister says. I am going to try and not think of the Fawn again +till I wake up to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to try, but it's no use. I wish Sunday was over, and +Monday had come."</p> + +<p>How many boys and girls have thought the same thing! That Sunday, whose +moments seemed so heavy, was a golden opportunity which may have passed +never to be recalled. We are indebted to the still hours of the quiet +Sabbath, to the leisure moments of our daily life, nay, to the sleepless +couch of pain and suffering, and to the bitter time of woe and +bereavement, for some of the best and truest thoughts which illuminate +our mortal pilgrimage, and which give birth to our good resolutions. A +single instant may produce an impression upon the heart which shall last +to the end of life.</p> + +<p>The words of the Scripture which Paul had read and heard read a hundred +times, without feeling the tremendous truth they contain, were now full +of meaning. They seemed to connect themselves with his individual +future, and to have produced an impression which the excitement of +possessing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> new boat could not overcome. He was in the right frame +of mind to receive such an impression, and it had an important influence +on all his subsequent career.</p> + +<p>As the family seated themselves at the breakfast table, Mrs. Duncan +improved the opportunity to enlarge upon the duties we owe to ourselves +and to others, in connection with the Sabbath day. It is true that +John's levity occasionally detracted from the effect of the lessons; but +it was not wholly lost, even upon that wayward youth.</p> + +<p>Paul struggled hard with his thoughts during the day, and he was +surprised, when night came, to find how successful he had been. It had +been a good day to him, and he had profited by the instruction it +afforded him; for the first step towards moral or spiritual improvement +is to fasten the mind earnestly upon some moral or religious topic.</p> + +<p>Long before the sun rose the next morning, Paul and John were on the +beach. And when Mrs. Duncan rang the bell out of the window for them to +come to breakfast, they had dug a bucket of clams, and had prepared the +Fawn for her first trip down the bay.</p> + +<p>"You won't be anxious about us now, mother, for we have a boat that +can't sink," said Paul, as he took the luncheon prepared for them.</p> + +<p>"I shall feel easier now."</p> + +<p>"Besides, you know we have two good berths on board the boat, and we +should be just as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>comfortable, if out all night, as though we were in +our own beds up-stairs."</p> + +<p>"That may be, but I hope you will never stay out all night, when you can +help it."</p> + +<p>"We shall not, mother; you may depend upon it; but we might get aground; +or the wind might die out, and the Fawn is too large to be rowed up."</p> + +<p>"I shan't worry about you, if I can help it, for I know you are very +careful, Paul."</p> + +<p>The boys hastened down to the boat, and Mrs. Duncan went out upon the +bluff to see them off. The wind blew fresh from the southwest when they +started, and the Fawn went out under jib and mainsail only; but even +with this sail, she flew like a racehorse over the waters.</p> + +<p>"Shall I hoist the foresail, Paul?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"I think not; she is doing very well."</p> + +<p>"But she will do better with the foresail."</p> + +<p>"Let well enough alone."</p> + +<p>"I want to see her do her best."</p> + +<p>"I have promised mother a hundred times that I would be careful; and if +she should see us put on all sail in this wind, though there might not +be any danger, she would think we were going straight to the bottom. We +will not hoist the foresail."</p> + +<p>This answer satisfied the impatient boy, and in a short time they +reached the perch ground; but either there were no fish there, or they +had not got the hang of the new boat; for the fishermen could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> hardly +get a bite. After trying for an hour, and catching only half a dozen +small perch, the boys became disgusted with their ill luck, and it +required but little persuasion on the part of John to induce Paul to get +up the anchor, and go farther down the bay.</p> + +<p>An hour's sail brought them to a reef of rocks, which was quite a noted +locality with the fishermen. The Fawn was anchored in a safe place, and +the young fishermen threw over their lines. Better success attended +their efforts here, and in three hours they had caught eight dozen fine +perch, besides ten handsome rock-cod.</p> + +<p>While they were fishing under the lee of the rocks, they had scarcely +noticed that the wind had been steadily increasing, and that it was +producing a heavy sea in the bay.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a chance to find out what kind of a sea boat the Fawn +is," said Paul, as he weighed the anchor.</p> + +<p>"I am glad of it," replied John.</p> + +<p>"The wind is freshening every moment," said Paul, casting an anxious +glance to windward.</p> + +<p>"Hope it will blow a gale."</p> + +<p>"I think we shall get more than we want."</p> + +<p>"Not more than I want, at any rate."</p> + +<p>Paul hoisted the jib, and the Fawn rushed out among the white-capped +waves; but she walked over them so majestically, that John declared she +could weather any gale that ever blew. For a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> time she breasted the foam +of the head sea in a most gallant manner; but the wind came in fearful +gusts, increasing in violence every moment till Paul came to the +conclusion that it was no longer safe to carry the jib and mainsail, and +proposed to set a reefed foresail. John scouted the idea, but he did not +want the mainmast blown out of her, and consented to the change.</p> + +<p>John took the helm, and Paul, after lowering the jib and mainsail, +hoisted the reefed foresail. The boat rode easier then; but as the wind +and tide were both against them, it was soon discovered that she made no +headway. As the gale steadily increased in fury, Paul would not attempt +to carry any more sail, though John insisted that she could bear the jib +and a close-reefed mainsail.</p> + +<p>It was evident to Paul that, unless he put on more sail, he could not +beat up to Bayville against the tide; but it was clearly imprudent to +carry any more sail, and for two hours more the Fawn struggled with her +hopeless task without making a single mile.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Paul?" asked John, impatient, but not +terrified by their situation.</p> + +<p>"We can't beat up in this sea."</p> + +<p>"I know that."</p> + +<p>"We will run over to Farm Island, and anchor under the lee of the high +bluff;" and he headed the Fawn in the direction indicated.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL SLEEPS ON HIS WATCH.</h3> + +<p>Farm Island was about two miles distant, and as the Fawn had the wind on +the quarter, it required but a short time for her to reach her haven of +safety. Under the high bluff on the seaward side of the island, the +water was comparatively tranquil; and here Paul anchored.</p> + +<p>"We are all right now," said he, with a feeling of relief, as he took in +the foresail.</p> + +<p>"When do you suppose we shall get home?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; we will not borrow any trouble, so long as we are in a +place of safety."</p> + +<p>"Mother won't think we are in a place of safety," added John.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she will: I have often told her that when a gale came on, I should +always get into a safe place, and keep quiet till it was prudent to run +home."</p> + +<p>"It is lucky we are in the Fawn instead of the Blowout."</p> + +<p>"We should not have gone down so far in the old boat. I felt so safe in +this craft that I did not mind much about the weather."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>"We have been safe enough all the time; and if you would only have put +on the jib and reefed mainsail, we should have been at home by this +time."</p> + +<p>"I did not think it was prudent to do so. I may have been mistaken; if I +was, I have erred on the safe side."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we must sleep on board," said John.</p> + +<p>"If you don't like the idea, you can go on shore, and sleep at the farm +house."</p> + +<p>"But I do like the idea; we have good beds, and I had just as lief sleep +here as in my own bed at home. In fact, I am rather glad we are caught."</p> + +<p>"I thought so," said Paul, laughing; "but there it one thing we are not +prepared for."</p> + +<p>"What is that?"</p> + +<p>"Supper."</p> + +<p>"I wish we had a frying pan and a furnace; we could have some fried +perch for supper."</p> + +<p>"As we have not those things, we must make the best of what we have. Our +luncheon is all gone; but there are two or three crackers in the locker, +which I threw in from the old boat."</p> + +<p>"We shan't starve before morning," replied John, whose philosophy was +proof against an empty stomach.</p> + +<p>"I know that; but it would be a good deal better to have some supper, if +we could get it."</p> + +<p>"Can't we go on shore?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p><p>"No, we can't land on this shallow beach. It wouldn't be safe to get +aground here."</p> + +<p>Both boys were very hungry, for it was now nearly night and they had +taken their lunch in the middle of the day. The crackers were eaten, and +washed down with a drink of cold water from the jug; but it was a dry +and unsatisfactory supper and Paul resolved in future to keep the Fawn +provisioned for such an emergency as the present.</p> + +<p>The wind still blew with undiminished violence, and the black clouds +indicated rain. By and by the darkness came on, and there was no longer +any prospect of getting home before the next day. Just before dark, a +man hailed them from the shore, and offered them a bed at the farm +house; but Paul thanked him and declined the offer, at the same time +hinting that they had nothing on board to eat.</p> + +<p>"Come ashore, then, and get some supper," replied the man.</p> + +<p>"We can't get ashore; we draw too much water," answered Paul.</p> + +<p>"I will bring you off then."</p> + +<p>The man pushed a skiff into the water, and soon came alongside the Fawn.</p> + +<p>"You have got a fine boat here," said he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; she is a very nice boat."</p> + +<p>"But this is pretty heavy weather for boys to be out. Whose boat is +she?"</p> + +<p>"She belongs to us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p><p>"To you?" replied the man, apparently much astonished.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; she was given to us by Captain Littleton."</p> + +<p>"O, ho! so you are Paul Duncan."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"And I understand why he gave it to you. Come, boys, you must go up to +my house and stay with me to-night. I should rather have Paul Duncan +under my roof than the governor of the state."</p> + +<p>"We must stay on board, sir, to look out for the boat. If anything +should happen to her in the night, I should never forgive myself for +deserting her. We have a nice place to sleep," continued Paul, opening +the doors of the cuddy, and pointing to the two berths.</p> + +<p>"That looks very comfortable, but there is not much fun in sleeping on +board a small boat such a night as this will be. But come up to the +house, and have some supper."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; we will do that, for we are both very hungry. Stop a +moment. John, hand out two or three of those rock-cod. Won't you take +these, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you for them. Though we live so near the fish we +don't have much time to catch them," replied Mr. Drake,—for that was +the name of the farmer,—as he threw the fish into his skiff.</p> + +<p>The two boys got into the boat with him, and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> rowed them on shore. +They were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Drake and the children, and a nice +supper was soon placed before them; but all the arguments and +expostulations of the farmer and his wife could not induce them to spend +the night at the house. Paul was too fearful in regard to the safety of +the Fawn to leave her, and John was too deeply smitten with the romantic +idea of sleeping on board, to think of spending the night in any other +manner. Mr. Drake, therefore, reluctantly put them on board their boat +again.</p> + +<p>"Now, Paul, we are in for it," said John, as he saw the farmer land, and +draw up his skiff upon the beach.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it is going to be a very dirty night. I think the wind has +shifted since we went ashore," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"So do I; we feel it as much again as we did."</p> + +<p>"It blows full as hard as it has any time to-day."</p> + +<p>The boys sat down in the standing room, and had a long talk about home +and mother, and wondered what she would think because they didn't come +home. It was now quite dark, and there was not a single star to relieve +the gloom of the scene. John even went so far as to admit that it +"looked kind of pokerish," and he was glad they were in so comfortable a +place.</p> + +<p>"Come, Paul, isn't it time to turn in?" asked John, after they had come +to the unanimous conclusion that it was a decidedly stormy night.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p><p>"You can turn in, John, if you want to," replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"Ain't you going to sleep any to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I have no idea of leaving the Fawn to take care of herself in such +weather as this."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to sit up all night?" asked John.</p> + +<p>"It isn't customary, I believe, on board ship, for all hands to turn in, +and let the vessel take her chance."</p> + +<p>"There is no danger here."</p> + +<p>"If we both go to sleep, we may wake up and find ourselves nowhere. +Suppose the wind should change to the eastward; we should be fully +exposed to all the fury of the storm."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think of that. Suppose we watch by turns, then."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I will keep the first watch, and you may turn in as soon as +you please."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked John as he heard three strokes of a bell.</p> + +<p>"There is a large ship at anchor off there."</p> + +<p>"But it isn't three o'clock yet. Her clocks must be out of order."</p> + +<p>"Three bells; that is half-past nine o'clock."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand it; how should three bells mean half-past nine?" +inquired John, who did not like to leave any nautical subject till it +had been fully investigated.</p> + +<p>"It begins to rain, and we may as well sit in the cuddy;" and they both +retreated to the little cabin,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> and seated themselves on their berths. +"If we only had a lantern to hang up in here, we should be perfectly at +home."</p> + +<p>"We will bring one next time; but about the bells, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they have two watches on board ship, which are called the larbord +and the starbord watches. In large vessels, they are under the care of +the first and second mates. The twenty-four hours, on board ship, are +divided into five watches of four hours each, and two dog-watches of two +hours each. During these watches, the bell is struck every half hour; +that is, one bell at half past eight; two bells at nine, three bells at +half-past nine; and so on, till twelve, when it is eight bells, at which +time one watch goes below, and the other comes on deck. At half past +twelve the bell strikes one again; at one it strikes twice, and so on. +Do you understand me?"</p> + +<p>"I think I do; but when are the dog-watches?'</p> + +<p>"From four to six, and from six to eight in the evening. They always +strike the bells by twos, as you heard just now. But, John, it rains +like fury."</p> + +<p>"So it does, but it is a dry place in this cabin."</p> + +<p>"I wish we had a lantern, for it is as dark as a pocket in here. It +would make it so much pleasanter. But you must turn in now, or you will +not be able to stand your watch."</p> + +<p>"I think I will."</p> + +<p>John took off his boots, and placed himself under the blanket and +comforter of his berth, for there were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> no sheets. He gaped several +times, and tried to continue the conversation with Paul; but the poor +fellow, worn out with the fatigue and excitement of the day, was soon +fast asleep. Paul listened to the sound of his heavy breathing, between +the splashes of the waves as they broke upon the bow of the boat, till +he began to feel sleepy himself, and then, wrapping the greatcoat, which +he always carried with him, closely around his body, he went upon deck +to see if there was any change in the weather or the position of the +boat.</p> + +<p>It was clear to him that the wind had been hauling round to the +eastward, for the Fawn tumbled about as she had done out upon the open +waters of the bay As he lay down upon the deck to examine the cable, so +as to assure himself that it was not chafing the boat, a huge wave broke +over the bowsprit, and he would have been drenched to the skin, if his +coat had not been water-proof.</p> + +<p>The rain continued to pour down, and Paul retired to the cuddy again. It +was a weary, lonely watch, and he was so tired he could hardly keep his +eyes open. But it seemed to him that the violence of the gale was +subsiding, and he again went upon deck to satisfy himself on this point. +There was still a heavy sea, but he was satisfied that the wind had very +sensibly abated. Six bells sounded from the ship as he returned to the +cuddy.</p> + +<p>Throwing himself on his berth, he listened for a while to John's +sonorous snores, and before he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> sensible of the danger of his +position, he was sound asleep himself. Worn out by the labors of the +day, he could no longer keep his eyes open.</p> + +<p>He woke with a start,—for he was conscious that he had forsaken the +post of duty,—and hastened upon deck. Eight bells from the ship told +him it was midnight. The wind had nearly subsided, but it rained very +hard, and the heavy sea continued to break over the bow of the Fawn.</p> + +<p>John was still sleeping like a log, and Paul, though it was time for the +larboard watch to be called, had not the heart to wake up his brother. +As the gale had subsided, the boat seemed to be no longer in danger, and +he decided to turn in and finish his nap. But while he slept, the wind, +which had abated only to come with still greater violence from another +quarter, steadily increased in fury, till it blew a gale from the +northeast.</p> + +<p>The pitching of the boat soon startled Paul from his slumbers, and he +rushed out into the standing room to find that the Fawn was rapidly +dragging her anchor, and was in imminent peril of being dashed to pieces +on the rocky shore.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL MAKES A NIGHT RUN IN THE STORM.</h3> + +<p>"John, John!" shouted Paul, when he realized the dangerous situation of +the Fawn.</p> + +<p>But the first mate of the craft slept too soundly to be disturbed by +mere words, and the skipper had to shake him before he came to his +senses.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Paul?" asked he, as soon as he could get his eyes +open and realize where he was.</p> + +<p>"Put on your greatcoat and shoes, and come out here and be lively about +it," cried Paul.</p> + +<p>John obeyed, and before he was ready to join Paul in the standing room, +he began to apprehend the state of affairs on board, for the furious +wind and the angry waves that stormed against the hull and rigging of +the Fawn told their own story.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" he asked, as he joined his brother.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see there is a gale of wind down upon us?" replied Paul, +sharply.</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?" demanded the young salt, with provoking +indifference.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p><p>"A good deal of it; the boat has dragged her anchor, and at this rate +will be upon the rocks in fifteen minutes! Come, be alive, and don't +stand there like a log."</p> + +<p>"What shall I do? You are the skipper, and I am ready to do anything you +say," replied John, who was by this time fully awake.</p> + +<p>"Can we pay out any more cable?"</p> + +<p>But this was a useless question, for Paul knew very well that the cable +was all out. Our young readers may not all understand the meaning of +Paul's question. If the vessel rides at anchor with a short cable, her +motion, as she rises and falls with the sea, raises up the shaft of the +anchor, which has a tendency to detach the flukes, or points from the +bottom. But Paul had been careful the night before to give the Fawn all +the cable he could spare; and it was evident, therefore, that the anchor +was not heavy enough, or that there was no holding-ground at the bottom.</p> + +<p>"There is only one thing we can do, John," said Paul, desperately, after +he had fully examined the situation of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Say on, then," replied John; "I am ready for anything that you say."</p> + +<p>"We must get up the anchor, and leave this place."</p> + +<p>"Up it is, then."</p> + +<p>"But this is an awful bad time, and an awful bad place to hoist a sail."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><p>"Let her drive; we shall go it well enough. It blows like +all-possessed: but what's the use of having a life boat, if you can't go +out in her when it blows?"</p> + +<p>"Stand by the fore halliards, then," cried Paul. "The sail is +close-reefed, just as we used it yesterday."</p> + +<p>The foresail was hoisted, and slammed with tremendous fury in the fresh +gale. The boys then grasped the cable, and it required the full effort +of their united strength to weigh the anchor; but the task was +accomplished at last, and Paul leaped to his place at the helm. Laying +her course parallel with the shore of the island, the Fawn dashed over +the furious waves, within ten rods' distance from the breakers on the +beach. In a few moments she passed beyond the reach of this peril, and +rushed out among the billows of the open bay.</p> + +<p>It was a fearful night even for strong men to venture upon the stormy +sea; it was doubly perilous for these two boys; yet they had no choice, +for to avoid a greater danger they had chosen the less. But the Fawn +behaved in a very gallant manner, and her noble bearing promised to +achieve all that could be done for the safety of the young fishermen. +Notwithstanding the violence of the gale, she rested buoyantly on the +top of the waves, and did not seem to labor in her course.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where you are, Paul?" asked his brother, after they had sat +in silence for half an hour.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p><p>"Certainly I do; there is South Point light dead ahead."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but there is any quantity of rocks between us and the light."</p> + +<p>"I know that; but I know where they are just as well as I know where the +kitchen is, when I get into the house. Don't talk to me now, John; go +below and turn in, if you like."</p> + +<p>"Don't you want me?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Paul did not think that John could act upon this suggestion, in such a +storm and in the midst of so many perils; but he did, and as the young +skipper heard no more from him, he concluded he was asleep.</p> + +<p>"What a fellow!" thought Paul. "He could sleep in the midst of an +earthquake or a tornado. Well, let him sleep; he is tired enough."</p> + +<p>The Fawn dashed madly on, yet under perfect control, and the gallant +skipper, when he saw through the deep darkness, the white breakers on +Rock Island, felt entirely relieved from the responsibility which had +before almost crushed his spirits, for it was plain sailing after he had +passed that point and the dangerous reefs which environed it. If the +Fawn could stand such a sea as that, she could stand anything, and her +character was fully established for the future.</p> + +<p>His spirits rose as he neared South Point light, which was not more than +a mile and a half from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> mother's house. He whistled merrily, to give +expression to his satisfaction, as he passed the light, for he and the +boat were now safe beyond a peradventure. Taking an extra turn in the +foresheet, he laid the course of the boat a little closer to the wind, +which soon brought her into the comparatively still water behind Long +Island.</p> + +<p>He saw the cottage of his mother now, and a light was burning in her +chamber. He was grieved to see this, for he feared she might be sick, or +that in her anxiety for the safety of her boys, she had sat up all night +thinking of them. But in a few moments, he let go the anchor off the +beach, and lowered the foresail. After making everything secure on +board, he hauled the old boat, which he had moored there in the morning, +alongside. John was still asleep; neither the paying out of the cable, +nor the noise of Paul's feet, as he furled the foresail, had roused him +from his deep slumbers, and the skipper decided to let him finish his +night's rest on board.</p> + +<p>Sculling the old boat ashore, he ran up the hill, and knocked at the +side door of the cottage.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked his mother.</p> + +<p>"Paul."</p> + +<p>The door was opened, and the fond mother clasped her son to her heart, +while the great tears coursed down her furrowed cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad you have got back!" exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> she; "I was sure you were +drowned. Where is John? He isn't with you, Paul! O, he is——"</p> + +<p>"Fast asleep on board the Fawn, mother."</p> + +<p>"Then he is safe."</p> + +<p>"Yes; safe—yes."</p> + +<p>"You have had a terrible time of it—haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Not very bad, mother; the wind and tide were against us, and we +couldn't get up without carrying more sail than I thought it was safe to +carry; so I ran under the lee of an island, and anchored."</p> + +<p>"But what did you start back in the night for?"</p> + +<p>"The wind hauled round to the northeast, and blew so that we dragged our +anchor, and had to make sail to keep off the rocks."</p> + +<p>"And John is safe, you say?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly safe. But why are you not in bed, mother?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't sleep in such a tempest as this, when I knew my boys were on +the water."</p> + +<p>"Well, go to bed now, then, for I must go on board again and clean my +fish."</p> + +<p>"You shall do nothing of the kind! I will warrant you haven't had a wink +of sleep all night long."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I slept two or three hours."</p> + +<p>"Go right up-stairs, and go to bed, then. You will kill yourself, +working all night, and losing your sleep."</p> + +<p>"But John is asleep in the cabin of the Fawn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> Shall I leave him there? +Suppose the boat should go adrift?"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, go down to the boat, and go to bed there. You needn't clean +your fish yet."</p> + +<p>Paul decided to adopt this suggestion, and in a few moments he was +snoring with his brother in the little cabin of the boat.</p> + +<p>It was six o'clock when the first officer of the Fawn began to show +signs of life, and it was fully quarter past six before he realized, in +the fullest sense, that he was still in the land of the living. An +unpleasant dream that the gallant craft had been dashed in pieces on +Rock Island reef, and that he, the before mentioned first officer of the +schooner Fawn, had been thrown upon the rocks, where an enormous green +lobster, about the size of a full-grown elephant, had seized him in one +of his huge claws, and borne him down among the rock weed and devil's +aprons for his breakfast, happily proved to be a mere fantasy of his +slumbering faculties.</p> + +<p>John sat upon his berth and congratulated himself upon his escape from +the claw of the lobster. Then the occurrences of the night, the run off +the lee shore, and the white-capped billows that had growled so in the +gloom, began to come to his recollection, and he realized that they had +had a tough time of it. But it was all right now, for though the rain +pattered upon the deck above him, the boat did not pitch much. And there +was Paul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> fast asleep in the other berth; of course it was all right, or +he would not be there.</p> + +<p>"But where are we?" thought John. "That's the next question. The last +thing I remember was, that we were driving like mad over the rough sea. +Then Paul told me to turn in; and I did, but I could hardly keep in my +berth, the boat rolled and pitched so. Of course Paul couldn't get up +while the wind blew so, and he must have anchored under some island. I +wonder where we are."</p> + +<p>At last John came to the conclusion that he could find out by simply +walking out of the cuddy into the standing room. Acting upon this +brilliant idea, he soon ascertained that the Fawn was at anchor near the +beach of Bayville. He was somewhat astonished at the fact, and then paid +a very high, though inaudible, compliment to the sleeping accommodations +of the Fawn, whereof he was first mate.</p> + +<p>He then returned to the cuddy,—he and Paul invariably dignified the +little place as the <i>cabin</i>,—and found that Paul still slumbered. He +was considerate enough not to wake him, for he knew that he had had a +hard time of it; but it occurred to him that their mother might be +desirous of knowing whether they were still in the land of the living or +not, and he decided to go up to the house and reveal that important +fact. It was very affectionate of him to think of his mother, after he +had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> snoring like a trooper all night; but John, in spite of his +waywardness, was a kindhearted boy, and he came to the unanimous +conclusion—he and John—that it was not right to let his mother worry +any longer about them. She would be astonished to see him alone, and +would immediately make up her mind that Paul was drowned; and he should +have the pleasure of informing her that his brother still lived, and was +fast asleep in the cabin of the Fawn, whereof he was captain, and he, +the speaker, was first mate.</p> + +<p>John, on his arrival at the house, walked into the kitchen where Mrs. +Duncan was getting breakfast; walked in as he who does the ghost in +Hamlet walks in—with the confident assurance that he is about to create +a sensation.</p> + +<p>"Well, John, you have got back. Did you sleep well, my son?"</p> + +<p>"First rate," growled John. "Why the deuce isn't she astonished?" +thought he. "She ought to be astonished to see me come home after being +on the briny deep all night."</p> + +<p>"You had a hard time of it—didn't you, John?"</p> + +<p>"Well, rather hard; I slept like a log all night—except about half an +hour. You didn't expect to see us back—did you?"</p> + +<p>"I was a good deal worried till Paul came up and told me you were safe, +and that you were asleep in the cabin."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p><p>"O, ho! so Paul has been home—has he? That accounts for it. Paul is +asleep in the cabin now."</p> + +<p>"Let him sleep—he needs rest," replied Mrs. Duncan; and it was after +nine o'clock when the family breakfasted that morning.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL SCOLDS THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE FAWN.</h3> + +<p>After breakfast the young fishermen cleaned their perch and cod, and +before dinner had disposed of the lot. From the proceeds of the sale, +Paul purchased a small lantern, which was suspended in the cabin of the +Fawn, for the darkness of that gloomy night was not soon to be +forgotten.</p> + +<p>The next day was clear and pleasant, and the boat went down as usual, +and for more than a fortnight, no event worthy of a place in the history +of Paul's fortunes occurred. The new boat worked admirably in every +respect, and the boys were as proud of her as England has ever been of +the Great Eastern. During these two weeks Paul had taken down three +fishing parties, and had given them so good satisfaction, that his +services in this line promised to be in demand. As he received four +dollars a day for her, including the wages of himself and the first +officer, he always welcomed such jobs, and John liked the fun of it even +better than fishing, especially when there were any ladies in the party, +for it was very amusing to him to see them in the agonies of sea +sickness. He took a malicious delight in stowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> them away in the +berths in the cabin; yet in spite of the fun he made of them John would +do all he could to assist them.</p> + +<p>Just before the arrival of the Fawn in the waters of Bayville harbor, +Paul had been unanimously elected a member of the Tenean Boat Club. He +was very grateful for the honor conferred upon him, but his business was +such that he could not often pull an oar in the boat. The members of the +club all treated him with a great deal of consideration, though they +were all the sons of rich men; and Paul felt that, if he was not their +equal in worldly possessions, he could hold his head up with the best of +them in the management of a boat.</p> + +<p>One day, when the young fisherman called at the house of Major Kettle to +sell fish, he met Thomas in the garden, who unfolded to him a +magnificent project in which the Teneans—as the members of the Boat +Club were generally called—were about to engage.</p> + +<p>"We think of going on a cruise in the Flyaway," said Thomas.</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where yet; but we mean to be gone a week or ten days."</p> + +<p>"Who is going with you?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton, I suppose, though I had just as lief he would stay +at home."</p> + +<p>"Of course he wouldn't let a lot of boys go off for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> a week in the +yacht, without some one to take care of them," said Paul, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"We can take care of ourselves; we don't want any one to take care of +us."</p> + +<p>"How many of you are going?"</p> + +<p>"Ten or twelve; we want you with us."</p> + +<p>"But I can't go."</p> + +<p>"Yes you can; why not?"</p> + +<p>"I have to attend to my business."</p> + +<p>"You can afford to take a vacation of a week or two, I should think."</p> + +<p>Paul shook his head. He was delighted with the idea, and would have been +very glad to go, but he could not think of neglecting his business to go +away upon a pleasure excursion.</p> + +<p>"You must go, Paul; the fellows all want you to go, and we shall have a +first-rate time."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt you will; and I should be very glad to go with you if I +could; but it is of no use for me to think of such a thing."</p> + +<p>"It is not fully decided that we are to go yet; but Captain Littleton +and my father have consented to let us have the Flyaway. We shall know +all about it next week."</p> + +<p>Paul continued his walk, but the project of the excursion in the Flyaway +haunted his imagination, and it required a great deal of self-denial for +him to forego the anticipated pleasure. He felt that the summer season +was the harvest time of his business, and he could not afford to waste a +week or two in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> idle play. "Little by Little," was his motto, and he was +not willing that any of those "littles" should slip through his fingers.</p> + +<p>When they went down in the Fawn the next day, he told John about the +excursion, and that he had been invited to form one of the party.</p> + +<p>"But I can't afford to go," he added.</p> + +<p>"Why not? It won't cost you anything."</p> + +<p>"I shall lose my time, for the Fawn will lie idle at her moorings while +I am gone."</p> + +<p>"No, she won't. I will go a fishing in her every day."</p> + +<p>"I think not, John."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I can't manage her?" demanded the first officer, indignant +that such an aspersion should be cast upon his nautical skill.</p> + +<p>"She's too heavy a boat for you to manage alone."</p> + +<p>"I will get a couple of fellows to help me; they will be glad enough of +the chance."</p> + +<p>"I dare say they will; but you are not quite old enough yet to run the +boat yourself."</p> + +<p>"What odds does it make how old I am, if I only know how to handle her? +Could you work her any better if you were a hundred years old?"</p> + +<p>"But you are reckless, careless, John; you know you are."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I am; but I will promise to be very careful. You may take +the foresail off, if you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> please, before you go; then you will be sure I +shall not carry too much sail."</p> + +<p>"I don't intend to go; so it is of no use to talk about it."</p> + +<p>"You are a fool if you don't; that's all I have to say."</p> + +<p>"You have a right to your own opinion, John."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had a chance to go. I would give all my old shoes, if I could +only be one of the party. What a glorious time they will have!"</p> + +<p>Paul was of precisely the same opinion, but the idea of letting John run +the Fawn during his absence was not for a moment to be tolerated. He +would certainly run her on the rocks, or carry sail till the wind took +the masts out of her.</p> + +<p>As it was a very pleasant day, Paul decided to run down below, and try +his luck among the cod and haddock; and they went farther out than they +had ever been before. A fine lot of fish, including a mammoth cod, that +had required the strength of both of them to pull out of the water, +rewarded their enterprise.</p> + +<p>The wind was very light, and instead of getting home before the tide +turned, as Paul had calculated, they were two miles below Rock Island, +when the ebb tide set in against them. To add to this misfortune, the +wind entirely died out, and they were forced to come to anchor, to +prevent drifting down with the tide. With a good wind they were only two +hours' sail from home; but, as it was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> there was a prospect of spending +another night in the cabin of the Fawn—not a very unpleasant +alternative, John thought, especially as they had a lantern, and plenty +of provisions on board.</p> + +<p>The cod and haddock had all been dressed, and there was nothing for the +boys to do; so Paul went into the cabin and stretched himself on his +berth. He had placed two or three books on board for such an emergency +as the present, and he was soon absorbed in the contents of one of them. +He did not read long, for a hard day's work is not a good preparation +for literary labors. The book fell from his hand, and to the music of +the flapping sails he dropped asleep.</p> + +<p>It is a noticeable fact that fishermen can sleep twenty-four hours on a +stretch. Many years ago, we went down a-fishing in one of the +pinky-stern schooners, which were much more common then in the waters of +Massachusetts Bay than at the present time. The crew consisted of the +skipper and three men, the former of whom was an old, weather-beaten +fisherman, who had roughed it on the coast from his boyhood. We went +down one night intending to fish the next day, and return by sunset; but +unfortunately a heavy rain kept us at our anchorage off Spectacle Island +for twenty-four hours. The old skipper got out of his berth and ate his +breakfast about ten, and after going half way up the companion ladder, +to smell the weather, turned in again, and slept till four, when he was +called to partake of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> greasy chowder. As soon as he had disposed of a +reasonable allowance for four hearty men, he tumbled into his berth once +more, and was not visible again till the next morning. The rest of the +crew slept about two thirds of the time. They were the sleepiest men we +ever encountered during their leisure; but even the old skipper suddenly +joined the "wide-awakes" when we reached the fishing grounds.</p> + +<p>Paul had already contracted this fisherman's habit, and while the Fawn +lay at anchor, he slept like a rock. After amusing himself for an hour +on deck, John went below to take an observation, and to announce the +prospect of "a breeze from the south-ward," for he had discovered a +gentle ripple on the water at a distance. But when he saw that Paul was +"having his watch below," he quickly returned to the standing room, +closing the cabin doors behind him.</p> + +<p>"There is a capful of wind," said he to himself, "and I will just show +the skipper of the Fawn that I can handle her as well as he can."</p> + +<p>He waited till the breeze reached her, and then, with as little noise as +possible, he weighed the anchor, and took his place at the helm.</p> + +<p>"All right, Captain Duncan; you can finish your snooze at your leisure," +muttered he, congratulating himself upon the fact that he had got off +without waking Paul.</p> + +<p>The wind freshened into a nice little breeze, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> the Fawn, +close-hauled rippled merrily through the water. Still Paul slept on, +unconscious of the progress she was making, while John was jubilant over +the success of his trick. He was obliged to tack so as to go to the +windward of Rock Island, but he twice accomplished this man[oe]uvre +without disturbing the sleeper.</p> + +<p>The boat was now up with Rock Island, and John, who could never see why +Paul always wanted to keep half a mile away from this dangerous reef, +laid her course very near the rocks.</p> + +<p>"All right, my boy," said John, who had a bad habit of talking to +himself when there was no one present to whom he could address his +remarks; "won't Captain Duncan be astonished when he comes out of the +cabin?"</p> + +<p>And Captain Duncan was astonished when he came out, for just as the rash +first officer arrived to the conclusion that the boat had run clear of +all the dangers of the navigation in that quarter,—</p> + +<p>Bump! went the Fawn on a hidden ledge.</p> + +<p>"What are you about?" cried Paul, angrily, as he rushed out of the +cabin.</p> + +<p>"About got aground, I should say," replied John, a good deal more +astonished than he had calculated Paul would be.</p> + +<p>"Let go your sheets! Take the boat hook, and let us push her off, if we +can," cried Paul.</p> + +<p>Both the boys went to work, and after a few <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>moments of hard labor, +succeeded in pushing the Fawn off the ledge upon which she had struck.</p> + +<p>"I suppose this is a specimen of your management," said Paul, as he +hauled the sheets home, and seated himself at the helm.</p> + +<p>"Rather bad management, I am willing to own," replied John, who felt +that his reputation as a skilful navigator had departed in the twinkling +of an eye.</p> + +<p>"Next time, when you undertake to sail the Fawn without me, don't you do +it. You would be a pretty fellow to run the boat if I were away a week; +there wouldn't be a board left on her ribs in three days."</p> + +<p>"It hasn't hurt her any, Paul."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it hasn't; but it would have been just the same if it had +been blowing a ten-knot breeze."</p> + +<p>But John felt that, if it hadn't hurt the Fawn any, it had hurt himself +a great deal; and he made a tremendous great resolution to be more +careful in the future. The boat reached her mooring in good season, +notwithstanding the detention.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL GOES ON A CRUISE IN THE FLYAWAY.</h3> + +<p>"There has been a gentleman here to see you," said Mrs. Duncan, when +Paul went to the house.</p> + +<p>"Who was he?"</p> + +<p>"He left his name and residence on a piece of paper, and wants you to +call and see him this evening," replied Mrs. Duncan, handing him the +address of the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Charles Morrison, Chestnut Street, third house from the depot," said +Paul, reading the paper. "What does he want?"</p> + +<p>"He said something about hiring your boat next week."</p> + +<p>"What, the Fawn?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so; but he wants to see you, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"Does he want me to go with her?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know."</p> + +<p>After supper Paul went to see Mr. Morrison, and found that he wanted the +Fawn for the whole of the following week, and that he did not want a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>skipper. He was going down to Bleakport to spend a week, and he wanted +a good boat, which he could not procure at the place. He offered to pay +fifteen dollars for the use of her, and to restore her in as good +condition as when he took her.</p> + +<p>This was certainly a good offer, and Paul concluded that he could not do +better; but he was not prepared to give a decided answer, and promised +to see the gentleman again the next evening.</p> + +<p>On his return home he found Henry Littleton and Thomas Nettle waiting +for him. The arrangements in regard to the excursion in the Flyaway had +been completed, and the two boys had come to urge Paul to join them.</p> + +<p>"When do you sail?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"Next Friday."</p> + +<p>"And how long shall you be gone?"</p> + +<p>"About eight or ten days," replied Henry Littleton. "My father is going +with us."</p> + +<p>"I have got a good offer for the use of my boat next week," answered +Paul, musing, "and I don't know but I will go."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Paul; we must have you with us, at all events."</p> + +<p>"Father says we ought to have you with us," said Henry.</p> + +<p>"I will talk with my mother about it, and if she is willing, I think I +will go."</p> + +<p>"We have talked with your mother already, and she is perfectly willing +you should go."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p><p>"I will let you know to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The boys left him, saying he must certainly go with them, and Paul went +into the house to talk over the matter with his mother.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I can go, mother?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure you can go," interposed John. "What is the use of talking +about it?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't ask you John," said Paul, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you can't go," replied Mrs. Duncan. "I suppose there is +no more danger of your getting drowned than there would be if you stayed +at home."</p> + +<p>"He will certainly be drowned, mother," added John.</p> + +<p>"We shall be safe enough."</p> + +<p>"Then you had better go."</p> + +<p>"I have got a chance to let the Fawn for fifteen dollars; and that would +be about as much as I should make if I stayed."</p> + +<p>"And if you let her, I shall go skipper. Shan't I?" demanded John.</p> + +<p>"I think not; Mr. Morrison will be his own skipper."</p> + +<p>"Then I won't agree to it. I am part owner of the Fawn," said the first +mate, pouting like a school-girl.</p> + +<p>"You agreed to let me manage the Fawn at the beginning," added Paul. +"You can't do anything with her alone, except run her on the rocks."</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to manage me out of her in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> that manner," growled +John. "I have as good a right in her as you have, and I don't mean to +stay on shore here a whole week, sucking my fingers, when there is fun +to be had."</p> + +<p>While they were discussing this important question, which even +threatened a rupture in the partnership between the young fishermen, +Captain Littleton was admitted by Mrs. Duncan.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, boys? You are not quarrelling, I hope," said Captain +Littleton, as he entered the room, for he had heard a portion of one of +John's excited speeches while at the door.</p> + +<p>"O, no, sir," replied Paul. "I have got a chance to let the Fawn for a +week, and John is opposed to my doing so."</p> + +<p>"Is he? I am sorry for that. Mr. Morrison spoke to me about a boat for +the week, and I recommended him to you. I had a motive for doing so, for +I want you to join the excursion in the Flyaway. I thought you would +like to go, if you could do so without any loss."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I should like to go very much; and when I got this +chance to let the Fawn, I about made up my mind to go."</p> + +<p>"Then it is all right; but I am sorry John will not consent to the +arrangement."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to stay on shore a whole week," pouted the first mate of +the Fawn. "If they would only take me as skipper, I should like it first +rate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> What shall I do with myself for a whole week on shore?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see as I can go, then," added Paul.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't want to keep you from going, Paul;" and a better feeling +seemed to be roused in John's bosom.</p> + +<p>"I can't afford to let the Fawn lie idle for a week, in the busy +season," continued Paul.</p> + +<p>"Can't I go a-fishing in her while you are gone?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; you can't have my share to smash up on the rocks," said +Paul, a little tartly. "You know you ran the boat on the rocks this very +afternoon."</p> + +<p>John felt a little lame here, and he did not venture a reply. He had +sacrificed his reputation as a navigator by carelessly attempting to run +too near the reef, and he felt that his brother's conclusions were +correct.</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, I won't keep you from going in the Flyaway, whatever +I do. I will agree to let her to Mr. Morrison."</p> + +<p>"That's generous, John. You have got the right kind of a heart beneath +your jacket, though you have an odd way of showing it sometimes," said +Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"John means right, sir," added Paul.</p> + +<p>"I like to have a little fun myself, as well as the rest of the +fellows," continued John, "but I am willing to stay at home for Paul's +sake."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p><p>"That's the right feeling, my boy," replied Captain Littleton; "and if +your mother is willing, you may go in the Flyaway."</p> + +<p>"Hoo-ray!" shouted John, jumping out of his chair, and performing some +gymnastic feats that astonished the visitor and the family. "I may +go—mayn't I, mother?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objection, if Captain Littleton thinks it is safe."</p> + +<p>"He will be as safe as my own son, Mrs. Duncan," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"Hoo-ray!" shouted John again.</p> + +<p>"Come, my son, behave yourself, or they won't want such an unmannerly +fellow in the company."</p> + +<p>"I will be as polite as a French dancing-master."</p> + +<p>John was in luck again, and for the following three days he talked of +nothing but the cruise of the Flyaway. Even sailing in the Fawn seemed +tame to the idea of going off one or two hundred miles, and visiting +towns and cities he had never seen, and had never before expected to +see. He could hardly sleep nights, and when he did sleep, it was only to +dream of being out of sight of land, or of occupying a berth in the +cabin of the yacht.</p> + +<p>Paul concluded his bargain with Mr. Morrison, and made all his +preparations for an absence of a week or ten days—a longer time than he +had ever been away from home before. He cleaned up the Fawn for Mr. +Morrison, and split wood enough to last his mother a fortnight. It had +already been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> decided that the yacht should go to the eastward, and +visit Gloucester, the Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth, and Portland; and to +be prepared for the excursion, he carefully studied all the maps and +books he could procure, which gave any information in regard to these +places.</p> + +<p>The Flyaway was to sail on Friday at high water. For more than a +fortnight, Captain Gordon had been training the boys of the Tenean Club +to serve as "able seamen" on board the yacht. There were twelve of them, +including Paul, who were to join the party. More than half of them were +sixteen or seventeen years old; so that they were strong enough to do +all the work required in the management of the vessel. They were all +well trained, and every one of them knew his duty on board.</p> + +<p>Besides Captain Gordon, who was to command the yacht, there was Captain +Briskett, who had for many years been the master of a coasting vessel, +and knew every rock and shoal between Boston and Eastport. Dick, the +colored steward, was to retain his place during the cruise. Captain +Littleton was to go as a passenger. John Duncan was nominally appointed +cabin boy.</p> + +<p>Friday came, and the officers and crew of the Flyaway were all on board. +The anchor had been hove short, and the mainsail hoisted; the hour for +sailing had arrived, and she only waited the coming of Captain +Littleton. He had gone to Boston that morning, and his return was +momentarily expected.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>When the amateur crew had grown very impatient at his non-arrival, he +appeared; but only to inform them that he had just received a +telegraphic despatch from New York, which would compel him to start for +that city in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys, what is to be done?" asked he. "Will you postpone the trip +for a week?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose we must," replied Henry; but the faces of the whole crew were +wofully elongated.</p> + +<p>"I must give it up altogether, then," added Paul, bitterly disappointed; +and John was ready to howl at the idea of not going.</p> + +<p>"I will see what can be done," continued Captain Littleton, as he called +Captain Gordon.</p> + +<p>For a few moments they were engaged in earnest conversation together, +and the boys waited with anxious interest for the result of the +conference.</p> + +<p>"Captain Gordon thinks he can take care of you, and I have concluded to +let you go without me."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted several of the boys.</p> + +<p>"But, boys, I must put you on honor to behave well during the cruise. +Will you do it?"</p> + +<p>"We will."</p> + +<p>"And obey the orders of Captain Gordon in all things, whether you are on +board or on shore?"</p> + +<p>"We will," replied all the boys at once.</p> + +<p>"Very well; I shall trust you. If I return soon enough to join you at +Portsmouth, I shall do so. Good-by, now, and a pleasant cruise to you;" +and Captain Littleton went over the side.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p><p>"Good-by, sir," replied the crew.</p> + +<p>"That's first rate—isn't it?" whispered Tom Nettle, as the captain +departed. "I am glad he isn't going."</p> + +<p>"So am I," replied Frank Thompson.</p> + +<p>"We shall not have him watching us all the time. Let me tell you, there +is fun ahead now," added Thomas.</p> + +<p>Captain Briskett, who was to be first officer of the Flyaway, as well as +pilot, summoned them to the windlass to heave up the anchor; and in a +few minutes the yacht was standing down the harbor under all sail. The +Teneans gave three rousing cheers, and then distributed themselves in +various parts of the deck to enjoy the exciting scene.</p> + +<p>"All hands aft," said Captain Gordon, when the yacht had reached the +open bay.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," replied several, as the crew took their places in the +standing room.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys, we must make our arrangements. When a ship goes to sea, it +is customary to divide the crew into two watches. I shall take the +starboard watch, and Captain Briskett the larboard. Each of us will +choose a man in his turn till all are taken."</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Captain Briskett.</p> + +<p>"Henry Littleton," replied the skipper.</p> + +<p>"Paul Duncan," added the pilot.</p> + +<p>And so they proceeded till all the boys were chosen, except John, who +resented the slight thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> put upon him. To satisfy him, therefore, he +was taken into the captain's watch.</p> + +<p>"There are only eight berths in the cabin, boys, and you must draw lots +for them," continued the master; "but they are all wide enough to hold +two each. Now, if you want to pair off, you can do so."</p> + +<p>Lots were drawn, and Paul and Henry were to occupy the same berth. Again +John found himself thrown out of the calculation; but the captain said +he would make a bed for him on a locker, and he was satisfied. The boys +then went below to see their berths, which had all been numbered for the +occasion.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL WITNESSES A MUTINY.</h3> + +<p>When the Flyaway had passed Farm Island, and reached the fishing ground, +she lay to, for the purpose of enabling the crew to catch a few cod and +haddock, for the chowder and fry. But cod and haddock are singularly +obstinate at times, and persistently refuse to appreciate the angler's +endeavors in their behalf. They were so on the present occasion, and it +was two hours before the chief of the culinary department could say +there were enough to satisfy the ravenous appetites of the sixteen +persons on board. Some of the boys had actually decided that fishing was +a nuisance, but they were just as fond of chowder as those who enjoyed +the fun even of catching only one fish per hour.</p> + +<p>As fast as they were caught, Dick dressed them and prepared them for the +chowder pot or the frying pan. There were some queer fish caught, +including quite a number of sculpins, "a wolfer eel,"—so Captain +Briskett called him,—and a large catfish. The latter was an ugly +monster, having dangerous-looking teeth, with which he laid hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> of +everything that came in his way. There was also in the collection a +large skate, or ray, which called forth some rather large fish stories +from the two experienced skippers on board.</p> + +<p>As the culinary department was now supplied, the yacht stood away for +Gloucester, which was to be her first port. They had a fine wind, and +before the chowder was ready, the Flyaway was in sight of the Reef of +Norman's Woe.</p> + +<p>"Dinner is ready," said Dick, at last, for the stomachs of the boys had +been in a state of rebellion for two hours.</p> + +<p>There was a grand rush for the cabin; but, to the astonishment of the +hungry crew, Captain Gordon placed himself at the companion way, and +would not permit a single one of them to go below.</p> + +<p>"That's not the way to do on board ship," said he. "Are you all going +below at once?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tom Nettle.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we should have occasion to tack, or to take in sail in a hurry? +Have we got to wait for you to finish your plate of chowder?"</p> + +<p>"We are all as hungry as bears, Captain Gordon," added Frank Thompson. +"We can't stand it any longer."</p> + +<p>"Part of you must stand it half an hour longer. Captain Briskett has the +helm, and the larboard watch will remain on deck, the starboard watch go +below."</p> + +<p>The captain's watch tumbled down the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>companion way, ranged themselves +round the table, and went to work as though they had not eaten anything +for a month. As they are doing very well, we will return to the deck, +and listen a few moments to the remarks of the mate's watch.</p> + +<p>Paul had seated himself by the side of the helmsman, and was asking +questions in regard to the reef, the depth of water in the harbor, and +other questions of interest only to nautical persons. The rest of the +watch had gathered in a group on the forecastle. It was unfortunate that +so many of the refractory spirits had been chosen into the same watch; +but there were Tom Kettle, Frank Thompson, and Samuel Nason, all three +of whom had once been expelled from the club for misconduct, and only +been readmitted on their solemn promise to mend their manners, and +behave like gentlemen in future.</p> + +<p>"I don't like it," said Tom; "and if the rest of the fellows will back +me up, I will go below and have dinner with the crowd."</p> + +<p>"I will back you up, for one," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"And I, for another," added Samuel.</p> + +<p>"But Captain Gordon gave a good reason why some of us should remain on +deck," suggested one of the boys.</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't. What is there to do? We shan't have to touch a sail this +hour—see if we do," retorted Tom.</p> + +<p>"But we might have occasion to do so, and for one,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> I am willing to +observe the discipline of the vessel," said Charles Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the idea of having old Gordon domineering over us for a +week," added Frank. "I don't care so much about the dinner as I do the +spirit the old fellow exhibited. He placed himself before the companion +way, just as though he had been the captain of a ship, and we were all +common sailors."</p> + +<p>"We will cure him of that before we have been with him many days," added +Tom.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet we will," answered Frank; "and I think the present is the best +time to begin. How many of you will make a grand rush into the cabin?"</p> + +<p>There were only four of them who were willing to take this rash step.</p> + +<p>"Come on, then," said Tom, "I will go if there is only one fellow to +back me up."</p> + +<p>"We will follow you," added Frank. "Go ahead, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"You had better count the cost before you go any farther," interposed +Charles Lawrence. "You know we all promised to obey Captain Gordon in +everything he directed, whether on shore or on board."</p> + +<p>"We didn't expect he was going to treat us like servants—like dogs."</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton wouldn't let him domineer over us in that style if he +were here. Come on, boys," said Tom, as he led the way aft.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, boys?" demanded Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> Briskett, as the +rebellious watch appeared in the standing room.</p> + +<p>"Going below to get our dinner."</p> + +<p>"Not yet; you must wait till the watch is relieved. You heard the +captain's orders."</p> + +<p>"We don't care for the captain's orders. We are not going to be treated +like dogs."</p> + +<p>"But it is necessary that one watch should be on deck all the time."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me why it was necessary to have the starboard watch go to +dinner first?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot; it is the captain's business to order, and mine to obey," +replied the mate.</p> + +<p>"It isn't our business to obey any such orders as that," said Tom. +"Come, Paul, let us all go below, and have our dinner."</p> + +<p>"I shall obey orders," replied Paul, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"On deck, there! What's the matter?" called Captain Gordon, from the +cabin.</p> + +<p>"There is a mutiny in the larboard watch," replied the mate, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>Tom and Frank did not wait for any more explanations, and began to +descend the ladder into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Stop, boys! what does this mean?" demanded Captain Gordon, rising from +the table.</p> + +<p>"It means that we are going to have our dinners; that is all," replied +Tom, who had by this time reached the cabin floor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p><p>"But my orders were, that the larboard watch should remain on deck."</p> + +<p>"We don't care for that."</p> + +<p>"You don't, eh?" And Captain Gordon was evidently very much surprised, +for whatever he had expected, he certainly had not anticipated a mutiny +the first day out.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't my order a reasonable one?" he continued.</p> + +<p>"No, sir! It was not."</p> + +<p>"It is necessary that one watch should be on deck while the vessel is +under sail."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but it wasn't necessary that <i>your</i> watch should go to +dinner first," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"Will you return to your duty, or not?"</p> + +<p>"No, <i>sir!</i>"</p> + +<p>"You had better consider well what you are doing, Tom, before you go any +farther. Captain Littleton placed me in command of the yacht, and +expressly directed me to do everything I have done, so far; and +especially to keep one watch on deck all the time, while we are under +sail. Now, those of you who are willing to return to your duty and obey +orders, as you promised Captain Littleton, go on deck again."</p> + +<p>Not one of the four boys accepted this polite invitation.</p> + +<p>"Then I am to settle this question with these four," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"There's no settling about it; we are going to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> have our dinner; that's +all," said Tom, pushing forward towards the table; but Captain Gordon +placed himself before him, and prevented his farther progress.</p> + +<p>"I have asked you to return to your duty; now I order you to do so; and +I am going to be obeyed, even if there are some broken heads to bind up +afterwards," replied the captain. "Briskett, let Paul take the helm and +come below."</p> + +<p>"Stand back, and let me pass" cried Tom, his face flushed with anger.</p> + +<p>But instead of standing back, Captain Gordon seized him by the collar +and threw him down. This was the signal for Frank to step in, and do +battle for his friend. He was a stout fellow, and there was, for a +moment, a prospect of a smart little battle but the brawny pilot +suddenly destroyed this prospect by laying both hands on the second +mutineer, and dragging him on deck. Captain Gordon followed him with +Tom, the two other refractory spirits not deeming it prudent to keep the +promises they had made on deck only a few moments before.</p> + +<p>Captain Gordon tied Tom's hands behind him, and Frank was presently +reduced to the same ignominious condition. The other two were ordered to +take their places by the side of the prisoners, and they deemed it +prudent to obey.</p> + +<p>"All hands on deck!" shouted the captain, as he took the helm from Paul. +"Ready to go about!"</p> + +<p>All the boys wondered what was to be done next;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> but the orders were +promptly obeyed, and they took their stations as they had been +instructed to do when the yacht was to go about. In a few moments the +Flyaway, which had by this time passed the reef, and was standing up the +harbor, was put about, and headed towards the open sea. No one ventured +to ask any questions; but as soon as the mate had been restored to the +helm, he fastened the prisoners to the rail, and gave the starboard +watch orders to finish their dinners, and led the way to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"He will have to pay dearly for this," growled Tom, when the captain had +gone below. "My father is half owner of the Flyaway, and if he doesn't +get turned off, it won't be his fault."</p> + +<p>But Frank did not make any reply. His father did not own half the yacht, +and he began to think he had "barked up the wrong tree," as he +afterwards expressed it. He did not exactly know what to make of things, +and couldn't understand why the yacht had been put about, and headed +towards home. It was rather ominous, and he wished himself out of the +scrape, or rather that he had not embarked in such a stupid enterprise.</p> + +<p>Captain Gordon finished his dinner in silence, and as his brow looked as +stormy as a thundercloud, not one of the boys in his watch cared to +question him in regard to his future course.</p> + +<p>When the starboard watch had finished their dinner, they went on deck; +and the captain ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> Dick to carry some of the chowder up for the +rebellious portion of the other watch, while the mate, and those of his +party who "stuck by the ship," went below.</p> + +<p>When dinner was over, and all hands had returned to the deck, Captain +Gordon announced his intention to return to Bayville at once.</p> + +<p>"We haven't been gone a week yet," said Henry Littleton.</p> + +<p>"Your father told me, if any serious difficulty occurred on board, to +return home without delay. These fellows have chosen to disobey orders +the first day out; and I think that is a serious matter."</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that, Tom?" said Frank, in a whisper, to his +fellow-prisoner.</p> + +<p>"I don't care; the sooner he goes home the sooner will he be +discharged."</p> + +<p>"But we shall lose all our fun, any way."</p> + +<p>"Can't help it; I won't be treated like a servant by my father's +servant," replied Tom, loud enough to be heard by the captain.</p> + +<p>"Your father can do what he thinks best when I get home, but while I +command a vessel all hands obey orders."</p> + +<p>"Come, Tom, don't let us spoil all the fun. We will pay him off at +another time. Don't let us break up the cruise," whispered Frank. "He's +got us where the hair is short, and we can't help ourselves."</p> + +<p>Tom at first refused to "back down," as he and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> his party elegantly +expressed it; but Frank's suggestion to pay him off at another time at +last prevailed with him, and he consented to join with his companions in +trouble in an apology to Captain Gordon, and a promise to obey orders +without grumbling in future. Frank therefore made overtures for a +capitulation; but the captain at first declined to listen to them, and +it was only upon the urgent request of the rest of the party that he +finally consented to pardon the offenders and continue the cruise. It +was only because he did not like to punish the innocent with the guilty, +he declared, that he reversed his former decision; but if any further +difficulty occurred, they would know what to expect.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL DISCOVERS THAT MISCHIEF IS BREWING.</h3> + +<p>It was with more than the usual alacrity that the crew flew to their +stations when the order was given to come about, and the Flyaway was +soon retracing her course towards Gloucester. It was about sunset when +this step was taken, and the yacht was some ten or twelve miles from +Norman's Reef. She would have made a quick run of this distance, but the +wind had all died out, and there was a perfect calm upon the sea. There +was but little prospect of their getting to Gloucester that night, and +they were too far out to anchor.</p> + +<p>Before dark the captain had some misgivings as to the propriety of his +course in continuing the cruise, for Tom and his companions seemed to be +sulky, and he had several times observed them in close communication on +the forecastle. But he felt perfectly competent to manage them, however +refractory they might prove to be; yet he feared their misconduct would +destroy all the pleasure of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> the trip. He resolved to treat them as well +as though nothing had happened, but at the same time to keep a sharp +lookout upon them.</p> + +<p>"All hands aft," called Captain Gordon; and the crew, including the +mutineers, promptly obeyed the summons. "Boys," he continued, when they +had all assembled in the standing room, "I propose, during this trip, at +the suggestion of Captain Littleton, who would have carried out the plan +if he had come with us,—I propose to instruct you a little in the +practical duties of seamanship to give you something to think about, +while we are idling around the decks. You see that bell, over the +windlass?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p> + +<p>"That's a very important thing on board a ship, for by it is regulated +everything that takes place, especially the watches. As we are likely to +be out to-night, or at least a part of the night, I intend to keep a +regular watch on board, just as they do in any well-regulated vessel. +Indeed, it is absolutely necessary to do so. We can't all turn in and +sleep while the vessel is on her course; some of us must be on deck all +the time. Therefore we had better have things done up in shipshape +order."</p> + +<p>"That is just what we want," said Henry—a sentiment which was responded +to by a majority of the crew.</p> + +<p>"Very well," continued the captain, consulting his watch; "it wants a +few minutes of eight o'clock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> at which time we will strike eight bells, +and set the watch."</p> + +<p>"Which watch, captain?" asked Tom Nettle, in rather surly tones.</p> + +<p>"There is a rule about this matter, my lad, as there is about everything +aboard ship. I shall follow this rule," replied Captain Gordon, without +even looking at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"What is the rule?" asked Henry, rather because he wished to turn the +captain's attention away from Tom, than because he was impatient to know +the rule.</p> + +<p>"The captain's watch, which is the second mate's in ships, takes the +first, and the first officer's the second, on the outward voyage; on the +homeward voyage the order is reversed. The starboard watch is the +captain's; therefore it is my first watch to-night. It will be from +eight to twelve; when the larboard watch will come on deck, and remain +till four; then the starboard again till eight."</p> + +<p>"That isn't fair," said Edward Freeman.</p> + +<p>"Why not, my boy?" asked the captain, with a smile; for he readily +perceived the objection the speaker was about to urge.</p> + +<p>"The starboard watch will be on deck eight hours of the night, while the +other watch will be up only four hours."</p> + +<p>"Just so, my lad; but to-morrow night the order of the watches will be +reversed. Give me your attention for a moment, and I will explain the +matter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> Continuing from the point where I left off, the starboard watch +will be on duty from eight to twelve; the larboard from twelve to four; +when the starboard will come on deck; but——"</p> + +<p>"That will bring things just as they were the preceding night, and the +starboard watch will be on duty eight hours, as before," interrupted +Edward, thinking he had caught the captain this time.</p> + +<p>"To avoid this difficulty, the watch from four to eight in the afternoon +is divided into two, called the <i>dog-watches</i>."</p> + +<p>"That makes it all right."</p> + +<p>At this moment, Captain Briskett, who had gone forward for the purpose, +struck the bell eight times.</p> + +<p>"Eight bells! All the starboard watch, ahoy!" shouted Captain Gordon. +"All the rest of you had better go below and turn in; while you sleep, +pay attention to it, for when we call you, we shall want you."</p> + +<p>The mate and his watch all went below; but, though they took to their +berths, the excitement of the occasion was too great to permit them to +sleep. There was a great deal of "skylarking" done in the cabin, as well +as on deck, during the next hour, but one by one the boys below dropped +asleep, and those on deck were soon tired of play, and called upon +Captain Gordon to "spin a yarn." He was good-natured enough to comply +with their request.</p> + +<p>The watch on deck soon came to the conclusion that "sailoring" was not +particularly funny at night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> for there was a good deal of gaping, and +not a little impatience for the eight bells that would relieve them for +a while. At six bells there was a prospect of a little wind, and the +yacht began to ripple through the water. The wind increased steadily +till they had quite a lively breeze.</p> + +<p>"All the larboard watch, ahoy!" shouted the captain down the +companionway, at eight bells.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," replied Briskett.</p> + +<p>But it was no easy task to rouse the sleepers, and even when they were +awoke, some of them declared they were not going on deck again that +night. They concluded, however, after the experience of the first day, +that it would be better to fall in with the discipline of the vessel. +They found the Flyaway making good progress through the water, which in +some measure waked them up, and reconciled them to their situation. In +two hours more, she came to anchor in Gloucester harbor, and the watch +were permitted to go below. A lantern was hoisted on the forestay, and +all hands were soon asleep.</p> + +<p>Our limited space does not permit us to transfer the log of the Flyaway +to our pages, and we must hasten on to more exciting events than the +ordinary working of the vessel. The party spent the forenoon at +Gloucester, and after dinner made sail for Portsmouth, arriving there at +about nine o'clock in the evening; or rather at the mouth of the river, +for they anchored off Kittery Point. On Monday<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> morning, the Tenean, +which lay upon deck, was put into the water, and the club pulled up to +the city.</p> + +<p>While they were absent, the wind veered round to the northeast, and +there were some signs of a storm. It had been the intention of Captain +Gordon to run over to the Isles of Shoals in the afternoon, but the +weather was so inauspicious that he declined to carry out his purpose. +The club spent the afternoon, therefore, rowing about the bay, in +fishing, and in visiting the objects of interest on shore, including, of +course, the Pepperell monument.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, Tuesday proved to be no better day than Monday; and in +addition to the prospect of a storm, there was a dense fog outside the +harbor. As Captain Gordon had been particularly cautioned to incur no +needless risks, he positively refused to leave the harbor, though the +boys had teased him from sunrise to do so. Even Henry and Paul were +vexed at the delay. They had thoroughly exhausted Portsmouth, Kittery +Point, and the Navy Yard; had visited Fort Constitution, Fort McClary, +and the Lighthouse; in fact, there was not a single point of interest +left to be visited.</p> + +<p>All the forenoon the boys did not intermit their persuasions to induce +the captain to proceed on the cruise; but he was as firm as a rock, and +declared that, if they all went down on their knees before him, he would +not "budge an inch."</p> + +<p>After dinner, Captain Gordon, probably to escape the importunities of +his crew, announced his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>intention to walk up to Portsmouth, and called +for volunteers to accompany him. Captain Briskett, Henry, and Edward +were all that were disposed to go with him, and he departed, leaving the +rest of the crew to amuse themselves in the best way they could.</p> + +<p>Hardly had they disappeared behind the hill on shore, before Paul +noticed that Tom Nettle and the other mutineers on the first day out +were gathered in a group around the heel of the bowsprit. They were +engaged in earnest conversation, but in tones so low that he could not +understand them. Presently Tom called one of the boys who were fishing +over the port rail, and then another, and another, till all on board but +himself had been admitted to the conference. Even John Duncan was +permitted to share the confidence of the party.</p> + +<p>Paul at once came to the conclusion that they were plotting mischief; +but he could form no idea of the nature of the plot—whether it was to +rob a hen-roost on shore, or capture the wooden fort that frowned upon +them from the heights above. He was sorry to see John permitted to enter +this conclave of mischief; but because his brother apparently acquiesced +in the plan, he hoped that no serious roguery was intended.</p> + +<p>The details of the mysterious scheme seemed to have been all arranged, +for presently the boys separated into groups; but Paul heard Tom say the +tide would begin to run out in half an hour. What this meant he could +not possibly imagine, unless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> the boys intended to run away in the +Tenean, and wanted the ebb tide to help them out of the river.</p> + +<p>"John," said Paul, when the conspirators separated.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want, Paul?" demanded John, in rather surly tones, as +he joined his brother.</p> + +<p>"There is mischief brewing there, and I warn you not to engage in it."</p> + +<p>"Mischief?" queried John. "What do you mean by mischief?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know what mischief means?"</p> + +<p>"Rather think I do."</p> + +<p>"These boys are getting up some trick; don't you have anything to do +with it."</p> + +<p>John made no reply.</p> + +<p>"What is the game?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"Can't tell."</p> + +<p>"Can't you indeed?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can't."</p> + +<p>"You know we all promised to obey Captain Gordon."</p> + +<p>"I am not going to disobey him."</p> + +<p>"If there is anything wrong going on, it is your duty to tell of it."</p> + +<p>"O, you can't pump me; so it's no use to try," replied John, walking +away, and joining the principal conspirators in the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"But what are you going to do with Paul?" were the first words that +saluted his ears, as John joined them.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p><p>"I don't know. What can we do with him?" said Tom, to whom the question +of the previous speaker had been addressed.</p> + +<p>"Of course Paul won't join us," added Frank.</p> + +<p>"No; you might as well attempt to capture Fort Constitution as to make +him join us."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure we can't bring him over?"</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word to him about it, or he will prevent us from going."</p> + +<p>"He can't do that."</p> + +<p>"He would find a way; he might jump overboard, and swim to one of these +vessels and get assistance."</p> + +<p>"But we want Paul; and if we keep him on board, he will join us after a +few hours."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't hurt him any way," interposed John; "if you are going to do +anything of that sort, I shall let the cat out of the bag."</p> + +<p>"We won't hurt him," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what we will do. We will get him to go down into the +cabin under some pretence, and then fasten him down," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"That will do first rate."</p> + +<p>"But Dick is on board too; what shall we do with him?"</p> + +<p>"Fasten them both down below."</p> + +<p>Paul, from the frequent glances bestowed upon him by the plotters, was +satisfied that he was the subject of their remarks; but this did not +disturb him, for, firm in his purpose to do right, whatever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> might +happen to him in consequence, he was prepared for any event which the +conspirators might bring to pass. He was sorry to find that mischief was +brewing at all, and pained to see his brother a consenting party to it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL IS MADE A PRISONER.</h3> + +<p>Before the half hour which the conspirators had indicated as the +favorable time for carrying out their mysterious project had elapsed, +Tom Nettle and Frank Thompson went below to prepare the way for the +execution of their scheme. In the cook room, which occupied the fore +part of the hold of the yacht, Dick was busily engaged in scraping +potatoes. This seemed to be the favorite occupation of the steward, for +he spent a large share of his time between meals in this employment; and +fried potatoes was the standard dish for breakfast, dinner, and supper.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you come down, Tom; I want to use you a few moments," said +Dick, as the two boys entered the cook room.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to help me move the stove; the pipe is loose; and if you +will just hold it while I slide the stove back two or three inches, it +will make it all right. Just hold the pipe up while I push the stove +back."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>"I have just cleaned up, Dick," replied Tom, who never hesitated at a +white lie, and not often at a black one. "Paul is on deck, and in just +the trim to do a job of that kind."</p> + +<p>"No matter, then; I will call him," replied Dick; and the two boys +presently returned to the deck.</p> + +<p>"Just what we wanted," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word, and Dick will call him down in a minute."</p> + +<p>But the steward seemed to forget that he intended to make a change in +the position of the stove, for he did not call Paul, as the conspirators +were anxiously waiting for him to do. The tide had turned, and there was +no obstacle in their way except the presence on deck of him to whom they +had not dared to breathe a word of moral treason.</p> + +<p>"Paul," said Tom, at last, when his patience was completely exhausted, +"Dick wants to see you down below."</p> + +<p>In order to make the request seem like one just made, he had lain down +upon the fore hatch, which opened into the apartment where the steward +was at work, thus seeming to be in communication with him.</p> + +<p>"What does he want?" asked Paul, unconscious of the trick which was +about to be played off upon him, and rather pleased than otherwise at +the prospect of some employment to relieve the monotony of his +situation.</p> + +<p>"He wants you to help him move the stove."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p><p>"Never mind it now, Paul," interposed the steward from below; "any time +before I make the fire to get supper will do."</p> + +<p>"I will go now; I have nothing else to do," replied Paul, as he +descended the companion ladder.</p> + +<p>"Now is our time!" exclaimed Tom. "You look out for the fore hatch, and +I will take care of the companion way."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, Tom, and be quick about it."</p> + +<p>At a signal from the chief conspirator, the slide was drawn and the fore +hatchway covered up, thus making Paul and the steward prisoners below.</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" said Paul.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; some mischief, I suppose," replied Dick. "They are +playing off a trick upon us."</p> + +<p>"We are prisoners, anyhow," continued Paul, glancing at the closed +hatchway.</p> + +<p>"All the same to me; don't mind them at all, and they will soon get sick +of the fun."</p> + +<p>"But what are they about?" added Paul, as he heard the creak of the +windlass on deck. "I'm afraid they are up to some serious mischief."</p> + +<p>"Can't help it; 'tain't my fault, and I never meddle with what don't +concern me. All I got to do is to cook the victuals, and take care of +the cabin."</p> + +<p>Dick was utterly indifferent in regard to the conspirators, and went on +scraping his potatoes, as though nothing unusual was in progress. As +long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> as they had not carried off his cooking stove, or separated him +from the ice chest, he was perfectly contented, and undoubtedly would +call all hands to supper at the proper time, precisely as though +everything was proceeding in a proper and regular manner on board the +Flyaway. Dick prided himself upon minding his own business; and if the +yacht had been seized by a gang of West India buccaneers, his culinary +operations would have proceeded with their accustomed order and +promptness.</p> + +<p>It was not so with Paul; for the creaking of the windlass, and the +activity that seemed to be manifested on deck, had already suggested to +him a suspicion in regard to the purpose of the crew. He was not long +left in doubt, for the sounds from above soon indicated that a portion +of the conspirators were hoisting the mainsail. But he found it very +difficult to accept the conclusion that these indications forced upon +him. The boys on deck were certainly getting the yacht in readiness to +sail; yet it seemed scarcely credible to him that they intended to run +away with her. A scheme so bold and wicked passed his comprehension, and +he was not prepared to believe that even Tom and Frank had the hardihood +to carry it out. But the evidences were fast increasing; he heard the +voice of Tom Nettle, as he stood at the helm, issuing his orders with as +much assurance as though he had been regularly placed in authority.</p> + +<p>Presently he heard the anchor strike against the hawse-hole, and the jib +rattling up the stay. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> could no longer cherish a hope that their +purpose was less criminal than he had feared. He almost cried with +sorrow and vexation when he considered that his brother John was one of +the mutineers.</p> + +<p>"They are running away with the yacht," said he to his fellow-prisoner.</p> + +<p>"That's none of my business," replied Dick, with his accustomed +stoicism. "All I got to say is, that supper will be ready at six +o'clock; because why—that's the time Captain Gordon told me to have +supper."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean to let them run away with the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"Don't see that I can help myself;" and the steward suspended his labors +for a moment, glancing at Paul as though he had a vague suspicion that +he might be in some degree responsible for his inactivity.</p> + +<p>"I think we have a duty to perform," continued Paul.</p> + +<p>"What can we do?"</p> + +<p>"We must get the vessel away from them and take her back to her +anchorage."</p> + +<p>"But we can't do that. We are prisoners here; can you break through that +hatchway?"</p> + +<p>"Then you are willing to do something?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I am," replied Dick. "If you can tell me what to do, I will +do it."</p> + +<p>Paul seated himself by the side of the steward, and proposed to him +that, at a suitable time, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> should make an effort to recover the +yacht, and return her to her lawful commander. Dick consented, but he +was afraid they would have no opportunity to put the plan in execution, +for they could hardly overcome the eleven mutineers. Yet each pledged +himself to the other to do whatever could be done; but it was agreed +that they should not attempt anything without a reasonable prospect of +success.</p> + +<p>There was a stiff breeze from the northeast, and the prisoners saw the +yacht lying over upon her side, which gave some indication of the rate +at which she was passing through the water. They knew how dense was the +fog outside, and they had some fears that her reckless managers would +run her upon the rocks, which was not a pleasant prospect to them, +confined as they were in the cabin.</p> + +<p>An hour by the clock had elapsed since the yacht got under way, and it +was evident from her motion that she was laboring through a heavy sea. +Paul had begun to be uneasy, for he had very little confidence in the +seamanship of Tom Nettle, who, he judged, was the new master of the +Flyaway, and he was in momentary expectation that she would strike upon +a rock, and the cabin be filled with water.</p> + +<p>When the yacht first got under way there had been a great deal of +confusion on deck. Frank had rebelled at the authority of Tom, and +claimed the right to command; but this dispute had been settled, and new +causes of difficulty had appeared every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> moment. But now the +conspirators were very quiet, and Paul perceived that they had come to +realize the full peril of their position. He could hear their low and +earnest tones, as they consulted together in the standing room. More +than once he had heard his own name mentioned, but he could not hear +enough of the conversation to determine what they intended to do with +him. We will leave Paul and his fellow-prisoner below for a time, and +notice the condition of things on deck.</p> + +<p>The weather was decidedly threatening. The wind was increasing in +violence, and there was a heavy sea. In short there was every indication +of a regular northeaster. Tom Nettle had the helm, but his face no +longer wore the confident assurance which had given him the victory over +his rival in the contest for the command, and which had strengthened the +doubting hearts of his more timid followers. His eye was restless, and +his movements uneasy. He was not a stupid boy—only a reckless one; and +he could not help seeing that he was leading those who had trusted in +him into hardship and perils which neither party had foreseen.</p> + +<p>The Flyaway was lying close to the wind, under jib and mainsail, and was +completely enveloped in the dense fog that covered the ocean. Her +bowsprit was slapping the waves, and the spray sweeping the entire +length of the deck. Frank Thompson was lying out upon the bowsprit, wet +to the skin, peering through the fog to give timely notice of breakers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +or of any vessel which might lie in the path of the yacht. The rest of +the crew were seated in the standing room, most of them engaged in +watching the anxious face of Tom Nettle, whose boasted seamanship was +now put to the severest test.</p> + +<p>The Flyaway dashed on, and the faces of the rebel crew became more and +more anxious every moment. Another hour elapsed, and the wind continued +to freshen, and the sea to rise. Dense volumes of fog rolled by the +vessel, and the mutineers were all wet to the skin. John Duncan was the +only one who seemed to enjoy the scene, and it was evident at times that +even he had some painful misgivings in regard to the future.</p> + +<p>"Hard a-lee! hard a-lee!" shouted Frank, suddenly jumping down from the +bowsprit, and making the most violent gestures.</p> + +<p>Tom, startled and confused by the frantic movements of Frank, +unfortunately put the helm the wrong way; and the yacht, getting the +wind more a-beam, plunged deeper than ever into the huge waves.</p> + +<p>"The other way, you confounded fool!" roared Frank, as he let go of the +jib sheet.</p> + +<p>The bewildered helmsman obeyed this order; but the movement had been so +long delayed that the whole crew could hear the roar of the breakers +ahead of the yacht. With the assistance of his companions Tom put the +helm hard-a-lee, and the Flyaway came up into the wind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p><p>But Frank had made a greater blunder, if possible, than the confused +skipper; for when he had cast off the jib sheet, long before he should +have done so, the sail had blown out as far as it could, carrying the +end of the sheet with it.</p> + +<p>My young and non-nautical readers must not suppose that a sheet is a +sail; it is a rope. The jib-sheet is the rope attached to the lower part +of the sail, by which it is hauled in or let out, as occasion may +require. On the Flyaway this rope ran through a double block, or tackle. +The sail was now slapping and banging in the fresh wind, so that Frank +could not get hold of it; for the heavy block threatened to knock his +brains out, as it thrashed in every direction.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this blunder, when the yacht came up into the wind, +and there was no jib to help her round, she fell off, lost her headway, +and drifted helplessly towards the rocks. Tom was appalled at the danger +that menaced them, and gave all sorts of orders; but none of them were +heeded by the panic-stricken crew.</p> + +<p>"Draw the slide, and call up Paul," gasped the disheartened skipper; and +his order was understood and instantly obeyed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL TAKES COMMAND OF THE FLYAWAY.</h3> + +<p>"Help us, Paul, if you can," cried Tom, as the prisoners rushed up the +ladder. "You take the helm, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Me!" exclaimed the steward. "I don't know no more about handling a +vessel than I do about making a watch. Paul must help you."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, Paul, for shutting you up down there, and get us out of +this scrape if you can."</p> + +<p>At this moment the keel of the Flyaway grazed upon a rock, and then +bumped heavily as she sank down with the sea.</p> + +<p>"We are lost! We shall all be drowned!" exclaimed Frank Thompson.</p> + +<p>Paul's quick eye instantly measured the peril that menaced the Flyaway, +and though she continued to thump and grind on the rocks at the bottom, +he did not lose all hope of saving her. The first thing was to secure +the jib sheet. Seizing the guy rope which was used to haul out the main +boom, he ordered all hands forward. At the end of the line there was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +large iron hook, which, with a dexterous throw, he succeeded in +fastening to the block. The sail was then hauled down, and the truant +sheet effectually secured.</p> + +<p>The coast line, upon which they were in danger of being dashed to +pieces, extended northeast and southwest, and the yacht was still some +twenty rods distant from the breakers. Paul ordered the jib to be hauled +hard up on the weather side, which caused the vessel's head to swing +round with the wind; then, as the sheet was eased off, she slid over the +rock, and for a moment ran down parallel with the coast, and before the +wind.</p> + +<p>When this man[oe]uvre had been successfully accomplished, Paul ran to +the helm, and giving the necessary orders, the Flyaway was soon braced +sharp up, and standing away from the breakers.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Paul Duncan!" shouted Tom Nettle, when he realized +that they had escaped the terrible fate which a moment before had hung +over them. "One!"</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, Tom!" replied Paul, sharply. "Try the pump, and see +whether she leaks any."</p> + +<p>The cheers were not given in the face of this sharp rebuke, and Tom +hastened to obey the order which Paul had just issued. The examination +revealed the gratifying fact that the Flyaway was still sound, and made +no water. She had only bumped a few times in deep water with the action +of the waves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p><p>"You can take the helm again, Tom," said Paul, when the survey was +completed. "If you wish to make me a prisoner again, I will go below."</p> + +<p>"I do not," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"I am not one of your number, but I should like to ask what you intend +to do?"</p> + +<p>"We calculated to go to Portland," replied the chief of the conspiracy.</p> + +<p>"To Portland?"</p> + +<p>"That is what we intended."</p> + +<p>"That is not what you told us," said one of the boys. "You said you +would only run out a little way, and return before Captain Gordon got +back."</p> + +<p>"That was only to get your consent to the plan, you spoonies," said +Frank.</p> + +<p>"You are smart sailors, I must confess," replied Paul, with a sneer. "It +was easy enough to get out of the harbor, but not so easy to get back +again."</p> + +<p>"We depended upon you," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Did you, indeed? Do you expect me to join in such a miserable scrape as +this?"</p> + +<p>"We will do just what you say now."</p> + +<p>"Will you? You are very kind. After you have got into a difficulty you +can't get out of you want me to join the company. You expect me to pilot +you down to Portland—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"We will obey your orders, Paul; go anywhere you please," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"That is a great deal easier said than done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> What can I do, what can +anybody do, in this fog? You thought you knew everything, Tom, better +than Captain Gordon. I hope you have got enough of it."</p> + +<p>"Captain Gordon was right," replied Tom; and this sentiment was +responded to by all the mutineers.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you have come to your senses, even at the eleventh hour," +continued Paul; who, finding the conspirators were all upon the stool of +repentance, was disposed to treat them a great deal better than they +deserved.</p> + +<p>"I shall not go to Portland, or attempt to go there, for I do not +consider myself competent to pilot a vessel in these waters," said he. +"I shall take the Flyaway back to Portsmouth harbor as soon as I can get +there."</p> + +<p>"Wherever you say, Paul, we will go," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>It was no easy matter to run back to the harbor they had left in the +dense fog that then prevailed, and Paul was sorely tried to determine +what course he should take. From his study of the chart and the +information derived from Captain Briskett, he had obtained a tolerable +idea of the coast and of the dangerous ledges and islands in the +vicinity. This knowledge, however, was of little use to him while the +fog lasted. He had no doubt that the island upon which the mutineers had +so nearly wrecked the Flyaway was Boon Island, or one of the Isles of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +Shoals. The yacht was now headed east by north by the compass, and a few +hours upon this course would bring them to the coast of Maine.</p> + +<p>"Two of you go forward, and keep a sharp lookout ahead," said Paul. +"Tom, you will take the helm, while I go below and look on the chart."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," replied Tom, reassured by the coolness and self-possession of +the newly-appointed skipper.</p> + +<p>"I would give a good deal to be out of this scrape," continued Paul.</p> + +<p>"So would I," frankly added Tom. "I was a fool to think I knew more +about navigation than Captain Gordon. What do you suppose will become of +us?"</p> + +<p>"I can't form any idea," answered Paul, as he descended the ladder.</p> + +<p>He found that the closet which contained the chart was locked; but he +felt that the circumstances in which he was placed fully justified him +in forcing open the door, and he lost no time in doing so. With the +chart in his hand he returned to the deck.</p> + +<p>After questioning Tom in regard to the course he had sailed since +leaving Kittery Point, he came to the conclusion that the land astern of +them was one of the Isles of Shoals, for they never could have made Boon +Island without tacking. But he could not see how, with the wind +northeast, and the yacht close-hauled, she had brought up on the Isles +of Shoals. Tom helped him solve this difficulty by declaring that he had +not been very particular in keeping her close up to the wind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p><p>Having satisfied himself on this point, the youthful skipper proceeded +to decide upon his future course. If he continued to sail towards the +north, he was in danger of running upon Boon Island. The night was +coming on and it promised to be a night of peril.</p> + +<p>There were only two methods open to the young navigator. He must either +attempt to make Portsmouth harbor again, or stand out to sea. In the +dense fog, it would be extremely perilous for him to try to find the +port from which they had sailed; and on the other hand, it seemed +scarcely less perilous to go to sea with the prospect of a gale before +him. It was an anxious moment for poor Paul, for he felt that the safety +of the yacht and of his misguided companions were in his keeping, and +before God he felt responsible for them. He tried to hold a consultation +with Tom and some of the larger boys, but they were utterly incapable of +giving him any advice. They were completely bewildered, and looked up to +Paul as children to a father, in the midst of the dangers into which +they had so recklessly and criminally plunged.</p> + +<p>The heart of the young captain was full, as he thought of his mother and +his friends at home. He felt his own weakness, his own ignorance, and, +stealing away from his companions he went below, and, on his bended +knee, looked to Heaven for that strength and that knowledge which Heaven +alone can give in the hour of peril. He prayed for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>himself, for his +brother, and for all his companions; but especially did he ask God to +give him wisdom to guide the frail bark through the perils that +environed her.</p> + +<p>The prayer gave him resolution, and, as though his earnest supplication +had been heard, he felt competent to decide between the two courses +which alone were left open to him. The shore was studded with dangers; +and the broad ocean, though lashed into fury by the increasing tempest, +was preferable to a lee shore. The Flyaway was a stiff sea-boat, and if +well-managed, would ride out any gale that would be likely to come upon +them at this season of the year.</p> + +<p>On his return to the deck, therefore, he ordered all hands to stand by +the jib sheet while he took the helm himself. His directions were so +skilfully given, and so well obeyed, that the Flyaway came about as +handsomely as though Captain Gordon himself had controlled the +man[oe]uvre. Her course was laid exactly east, and the compass was +placed in a convenient position for use.</p> + +<p>Dick now summoned the crew to supper. Several of them looked at Paul, +but no one ventured to leave the post of duty till explicit orders had +been given to that effect. Half the boys were permitted to "pipe to +supper," while the other half were to remain on duty.</p> + +<p>After the meal was disposed of, Paul gave the helm to Tom, and went +forward to make his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>arrangement for the night. The foresail was reefed +in readiness for use in case it should blow too hard for the vessel to +carry the jib and mainsail; the fore hatch was carefully secured to +guard against the peril of "shipping a sea;" and such other preparations +were made as the occasion required.</p> + +<p>On his return to the standing room, Paul found that Tom could not steer +by compass, and he was obliged to take the helm himself. Among the +appointments of the Fawn, there was a compass; and Paul, more for the +purpose of familiarizing himself with its use than from any necessity +had often steered by it. The knowledge which the youthful mariner had +thus gained was now invaluable to him, and he was thankful that he had +obtained it.</p> + +<p>A long and tedious night was before him, even though the perils of a +gale should not be added to his present trials. The steward, at his +request, brought him up an oil-cloth coat belonging to Captain Gordon, +and thus protected from the penetrating mist, he gave himself up to the +long and anxious watch before him.</p> + +<p>Darkness came down upon them, and the Flyaway still rolled and pitched +in the heavy head-sea. The wind did not sensibly increase, and Paul +dared to hope that the gale would not break upon them. At nine o'clock +he bade half the boys go below and turn in, assuring them they would be +called at one o'clock. The order was obeyed, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> not one of the boys +could sleep until nearly half of their watch below had expired.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour Paul kept his position at the helm, till the clock in +the cabin indicated midnight. The watch on deck had taken turns at the +lookout on the bowsprit. No event had occurred to disturb the monotony +of the scene, except that they narrowly escaped being run down by a +large schooner. The fog had begun to dissipate, and by one o'clock they +had passed entirely out of it; but the wind had increased in violence, +and at this time it blew a fresh gale.</p> + +<p>All hands were called up, and after an hour of hard labor, the jib and +mainsail were taken in, and the reefed foresail set. Now, though the +wind blew a gale, the Flyaway behaved so well that Paul ventured to send +the watch which had served from nine o'clock below. At four o'clock, the +yacht having run ten hours to the eastward, the clouds began to +disperse, the wind suddenly abated, till it became almost a calm, and +there was every appearance of fair weather. At this time Paul put the +Flyaway about, and laid her course due west.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL EXERCISES A STRONG MORAL INFLUENCE.</h3> + +<p>At sunrise the sky was clear, and there was not a particle of fog to be +seen in any direction; but the wind had all died out, and there was a +perfect calm upon the ocean. The yacht was out of sight of land, and +Paul judged that she was from eighty to a hundred miles to the eastward +of the Isles of Shoals. There was not a sail to be seen, and the crew +were awed by the feeling that they were alone upon the ocean. Perhaps +not one of them had ever been out of sight of land before, and many of +them had serious doubts whether they should ever see the shore again.</p> + +<p>After the Flyaway had rolled and pitched for an hour in the heavy sea +that still prevailed, a breeze sprang up from the southwest. The bonnet +was rove on the jib, and the yacht began to dash merrily over the waves. +Paul ate his breakfast, and remained on deck till nine o'clock, though +he was almost exhausted by the fatigue and incessant watching of the +previous night; but he had trained Tom and Frank so that they could +steer by compass, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> at the suggestion of the former, he went below to +obtain the sleep he so much needed.</p> + +<p>As the wind continued to blow steadily from the southwest, the yacht +held her course, and the young commander was permitted to sleep till two +o'clock in the afternoon, when, much refreshed, he again appeared on +deck. Land was in sight over the weather bow, and the boys were in +excellent spirits—or rather would have been, if the record of their +misconduct could have been obliterated. Frank and Tom had recovered +their wonted cheerfulness, and when they sighted the land, had begun to +think of the probable consequences of the mutiny in which they had been +the ringleaders. It was clear enough that Captain Gordon would +immediately return home, when he recovered possession of the yacht. The +cruise was, therefore, about up, if they returned to the port from which +they had sailed; and strange as it may seem, Frank was actually trying +to persuade his companions to run for Portland.</p> + +<p>They had all enjoyed their sail during the day, and been pleased with +the novelty of their situation. It was not pleasant for them to think of +the frowns of Captain Gordon, and of being compelled to sail at once for +home. A majority of them would have been in favor of continuing the +cruise, if that oppressive sense of having done wrong had not operated +against the scheme. But the most the adventurous leader—brave and +skilful now that it was fine weather and plain sailing—could +accomplish, was to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> induce the others to consent if Paul would agree to +the plan.</p> + +<p>"Of course he won't agree," replied Frank, pettishly. "There are enough +of us to have our own way about it."</p> + +<p>"You had your own way yesterday, and we came within one of being +wrecked," said one of them.</p> + +<p>"That wasn't my fault," growled Frank.</p> + +<p>"Whose fault was it, then?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yours, of course; didn't you put the helm the wrong way when I told you +to put it hard-a-lee?"</p> + +<p>"And you let go the jib sheet long before you ought to have done so. +That's what made all the trouble. If it hadn't been for Paul, some of us +would not have been here to talk about it now."</p> + +<p>"You are a spunky fellow, Tom," sneered Frank.</p> + +<p>"So are you, when there is no danger near."</p> + +<p>"How many fellows will go to Portland?" asked Frank, desperately.</p> + +<p>There was no response, and the conversation was here interrupted by the +appearance of Paul. There were enough of them who would gladly have seen +the bow of the Flyaway pointed to the north, instead of the west, but +the influence of Paul was so powerful that no one but Frank would +consent to take the command from him.</p> + +<p>"What land is that?" asked Tom, as the skipper joined the group in the +standing room.</p> + +<p>"The Isles of Shoals. Keep her away a couple of points, Frank," replied +Paul.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p><p>"I shall keep her as I think best," answered Frank, gruffly; for he was +smarting under the disappointment he had just experienced.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to run her on the island?" said Paul, astonished at the +rude answer he had received.</p> + +<p>"I don't know as it is any more your business than mine where I run +her."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Frank? What ails you? What makes you so +ill-natured? I hope I haven't done anything to give you reason for any +ill feeling."</p> + +<p>"He wants us to go to Portland," said one of the crew.</p> + +<p>"I thought you had got enough of cruising on your own hook," added Paul, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going back to be snubbed by old Gordon; and the rest of the +fellows wouldn't, if they had any spunk at all. Come, Tom, let's keep +her away for Portland."</p> + +<p>"I will not," replied Tom, decidedly; "at least, I will not unless Paul +thinks we had better go there."</p> + +<p>"I do not think so," interposed Paul. "You have done wrong, and all of +you had better get in the right path as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"I am willing," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"So am I," replied half a dozen others.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, fellows," continued Tom, very earnestly, "I have had a +lesson which will last me as long as I live. This is the meanest scrape +I was ever concerned in, and when I get out of it I will try to do +better. You needn't grin, Frank Thompson; I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> am ashamed of what I have +done, and I confess that I am heartily sorry for it. I did more thinking +last night than I ever did in seven years before."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" sneered Frank.</p> + +<p>"I don't care what you say, Frank; if it is in my power to reform my +life, I mean to do it."</p> + +<p>Tom continued his remarks in quite an eloquent strain, declaring that, +in the perils of the stormy night through which they had passed, he had +thought of all the wrong he had ever done, and resolved to be a better +boy. Above all things, he said, he had learned the necessity of +obedience; and that because he had refused to obey Captain Gordon, he +had been glad to obey the orders of Paul Duncan, a boy like himself.</p> + +<p>"That schooner is bearing down upon us," said Samuel Nason, pointing to +a vessel over the weather quarter.</p> + +<p>The stranger was evidently a fisherman, and had now approached within +hail of the Flyaway. In a few moments more she had come near enough to +enable the boys to distinguish the persons of those on board of her.</p> + +<p>"Captain Littleton!" exclaimed Tom, who was the first to recognize him.</p> + +<p>"Ease off the jib sheet!" shouted Frank, as he cast off the main sheet +himself, and put the helm up, so as to carry the yacht away from the +schooner.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" demanded Paul.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I am going to throw myself into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> the hands of Captain +Littleton and old Gordon? I'll bet I ain't," replied Frank.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Get out of his way, of course; the Flyaway can outsail that craft, and +we may as well have our cruise out as be snubbed by any of 'em. Ease off +that jib sheet, I say. Come, Tom, show your spunk."</p> + +<p>"I will, but in a little different way from what you want," said Tom, +seizing the helm, and attempting to restore the yacht to her former +course.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't," growled Frank, dealing him a heavy blow, which Tom +promptly returned; and then commenced a struggle between them for the +possession of the tiller.</p> + +<p>Frank was the largest and strongest boy on board, and for a moment the +victory leaned to his side. Paul, who had seconded Tom's movement by +hauling in the main sheet, now rushed to the conflict, assisted by +several of the larger boys. After a severe engagement, Frank was knocked +down, and held till his hands and feet were tied.</p> + +<p>This turbulent spirit thus secured, Paul took the helm, and the yacht +was brought to her course again. By this time the schooner had lowered +her boat from the stern davits, and Captain Littleton and his companions +were pulling towards the Flyaway.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" demanded the captain, sternly, as he leaped over +the rail. "Paul," he continued, as he discovered his young friend at the +helm, "I am astonished to see <i>you</i> here."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p><p>The boys hung their heads with shame, and Paul preferred to let some +other person vindicate him from the implied charge.</p> + +<p>"Will you explain this, Paul?" said Captain Littleton. "If it had been +my own son, I could not have been more surprised."</p> + +<p>"Paul is innocent, sir," interposed Tom, stepping forward. "Frank +Thompson and myself are the guilty ones. He and I got up the scrape; we +fastened Paul and Dick in the cabin, and deceived the rest of the +fellows. We kept Paul a prisoner till we had nearly wrecked the Flyaway, +and then we called him up, and he saved the yacht and all our lives."</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a true story, Tom, and I am glad to find you have the +manliness to acknowledge your guilt. Paul, your hand; I have been +grieving over you all day, and now I am rejoiced to find you are still +true to yourself and the good character you have hitherto borne."</p> + +<p>Paul gave the captain his hand, and thanked him for the kind words he +had spoken.</p> + +<p>"What was the quarrel I witnessed just before I came on board?" asked +Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"Frank Thompson wanted to run away from you, and have the cruise out," +replied Paul. "Tom and all the rest of the party opposed him, and +finally took the helm away from him by force."</p> + +<p>Paul proceeded to give a more detailed account of the events which had +transpired on board of the Flyaway since her departure from Portsmouth +harbor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> Tom and the other mutineers expressed their sorrow for what +they had done, and were ready to submit to such punishment as the +captain thought it necessary to inflict upon them. But Paul told him how +penitent they had been, that Tom had promised to reform his life, and he +thought they had already been severely punished for their misconduct by +the terrors of the long and anxious night they had passed through. This +he proved by showing that all of them had refused to follow Frank's plan +of continuing the cruise.</p> + +<p>"But they punished you more than they punished themselves, by keeping +you on deck all night," said Captain Littleton.</p> + +<p>"It was not punishment to me, for I was innocent, and they were guilty," +replied Paul.</p> + +<p>"You are right, my boy; it is guilt that makes us cowards in the midst +of peril. You plead so strongly for them, Paul, that I shall forgive all +except Frank. He must be a passenger in that fishing schooner, which is +bound for Boston. When I arrived at Portsmouth this morning, I learned +from Captain Gordon that the boys had run away with the yacht. I +supposed, of course, you had wrecked her in the gale and the fog, and I +chartered that vessel, which was on the point of sailing for Boston, to +go in search of you. I thank God you are all safe."</p> + +<p>Frank Thompson, in spite of his earnest protest, was put on board the +schooner, and the Flyaway's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> head was turned to the north. Captains +Gordon and Briskett resumed their places, and Henry Littleton spent the +whole afternoon in listening to Paul's animated narrative of the cruise +of the yacht to seaward.</p> + +<p>In the course of the night the Flyaway reached Portland. But we have not +space to detail the adventures of the Teneans in the harbor, or to give +the particulars of the race between them and the North Star Boat Club. +On the following Saturday night the Flyaway arrived at Bayville, and +Mrs. Duncan once more pressed to her heart her darling boys.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>PAUL ADVANCES LITTLE BY LITTLE, AND THE STORY ENDS.</h3> + +<p>For several years Paul pursued his calling as a fisherman; and as he +grew older the business became more profitable. Before he was +twenty-one, the mortgage on the house was paid off; and when he was free +he had saved up quite a handsome sum of money, with which he purposed to +extend his operations. But when he was on the point of purchasing a +schooner of sixty tons, a situation as second mate of an ocean steamer +was offered to him, with the promise of certain advancement as he became +qualified to fill more important positions. He concluded, after mature +deliberation, to accept the offer, and the fishing business was entirely +given up to John, who continued it for several years, with good success.</p> + +<p>If my young reader's imagination is vivid enough to accomplish the feat, +let us step forward nine years which will very nearly bring our story up +to the present time. It is easy to jump over a long period of years in +this manner on paper, but not so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> easy for the mind to realize the +number and the importance of the events which may transpire in this +time. Though we step forward over long years of toil and care, of joy +and sorrow, of severe trial and patient waiting, and behold the Paul +Duncan of to-day, it will be hard to believe he is not still a boy, and +the skipper of the Fawn, as we have seen him in the pages of our story.</p> + +<p>He is no longer a boy, and we can scarcely believe that he with the +bushy whiskers, and the strong, well-knit frame, is the young navigator +of our tale. Yet it is he; and in order that our young friends may be +properly introduced to him, we will step back a day.</p> + +<p>Ah, you don't recognize Bayville; you don't feel at home there; for +everything is changed since the young fisherman sold his wares in its +streets.</p> + +<p>Where is the cottage of Mrs. Duncan, do you ask? Well, about two years +ago, it was pulled down to give place to the more elegant structure that +occupies its site. It is a very beautiful residence; not very elaborate +or very costly, it is true, but a beautiful residence for all that.</p> + +<p>Who lives there now? Mrs. Duncan, of course; and she is still an active +woman, and as affectionate a mother as can be found in the whole +country. You recognize in the elderly gentleman who has just rung the +front door bell our old friend Captain Littleton. He is still hale and +hearty, and makes a regular call every day at the home of Mrs. Duncan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +He is in a hurry to-day, and has a newspaper in his hand.</p> + +<p>"The Marmora has arrived," he exclaims, as he enters the room where the +old lady is seated.</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!"</p> + +<p>"Arrived this morning, and is at the wharf in New York by this time."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad!" replied Mrs. Duncan, pulling off her spectacles, and +wiping away the moisture in her eyes. "When will they be home?</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>And on the following morning, Captain Littleton and Mrs. Duncan were at +the railroad station, waiting the arrival of the train which was to +bring the absent ones. They were not very patient, but at last the cars +appeared, and stopped at the station.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" cried Mrs. Duncan, as she stepped forward and grasped +the hand of the gentleman with the strong, well-knit frame and bushy +whiskers. A beautiful lady is leaning upon his arm, and when she sees +Captain Littleton, she throws herself into his arms, just as the young +ladies in the romances do.</p> + +<p>But you wish to know about this lady, and we hasten to inform you that +it is Mrs. Paul Duncan, late Miss Carrie Littleton. No doubt you +expected all this when the young fisherman jumped overboard and rescued +her from a watery grave; and it would be a great pity to disappoint you, +especially when a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> few dashes of the pen will make all right with them +and with the sympathizing reader.</p> + +<p>Captain Duncan and lady were escorted to the residence of Mrs. Duncan by +their happy parents, and attended by sundry brothers and sisters, all +intensely delighted with this pleasant reunion. I will not tell you how +happy everybody is at the house on the point; but if the reader wishes +to hear about the last trip of the Marmora, he must "call at the +captain's office," and obtain the particulars from him. It was the +quickest passage which had yet been made, and Captain Duncan was almost +as proud of his ship as he was of his wife.</p> + +<p>Little by little, Paul Duncan had worked his way up from the position in +which we left him ten years before, to the command of one of the finest +ocean steamers that sailed out of New York. He was exceedingly popular +with the public, and was often quoted as the noblest specimen of a +gallant captain, and, at the same time, a true Christian gentleman. He +is not rich, as wealth is measured in our day, though he has some +property, and receives a liberal salary from the Steamship Company; but +in the higher and truer sense, he is rich—rich in the possession of a +noble and lofty character, and a faith which reaches beyond the +treasures of this world.</p> + +<p>John Duncan still continues to follow the fishing business, and owns a +fine schooner, which is engaged in mackerel catching most of the time. +He is the same bold, daring fellow that we knew on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> board the +Fawn,—which, by the way, is the name of his schooner,—and is noted for +carrying sail longer than any other skipper in the fleet, thus putting +the nerves of his crew to the severest trials.</p> + +<p>Now, reader, if you like the character of Paul Duncan, build up one like +it. Be true to yourself, to your parents, and to your God; be patient +and persevering, and you will obtain your full measure of success, +though like him you are obliged to win it <span class="smcap">Little by Little</span>.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Little By Little, by William Taylor Adams + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE BY LITTLE *** + +***** This file should be named 22365-h.htm or 22365-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/3/6/22365/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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