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diff --git a/23351-h/23351-h.htm b/23351-h/23351-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..464c488 --- /dev/null +++ b/23351-h/23351-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11565 @@ +<!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 The Yacht Club, by Oliver Optic. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + 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; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} +.fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yacht Club, by Oliver Optic + +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: The Yacht Club + or The Young Boat-Builder + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: November 6, 2007 [EBook #23351] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YACHT CLUB *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Front matter"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="244" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</td><td align='left'><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="250" height="400" alt="YACHT CLUB SERIES" title="YACHT CLUB SERIES" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="600" height="447" alt="Miss Nellie Patterdale and Don John. Frontispiece." title="Miss Nellie Patterdale and Don John. Frontispiece." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Miss Nellie Patterdale and Don John</span>. Frontispiece.</span> +</div> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE YACHT CLUB SERIES.</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h1>THE YACHT CLUB;</h1> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h2>THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>OLIVER OPTIC,</h2> + +<div class='center'><small> +AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES,"<br /> +"THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE<br /> +BOAT CLUB STORIES," "THE LAKE SHORE SERIES,"<br /> +"THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES,"<br /> +ETC., ETC.<br /></small> +<br /> +<br /> +<i>WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.</i> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +BOSTON:<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.<br /> +NEW YORK:<br /> +LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.<br /></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='center'> +<small>Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873,</small><br /> +<span class="smcap">By WILLIAM T. ADAMS</span>,<br /> +<small>In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</small><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<small>Brown Type-Setting Machine Company.</small><br /></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> +<small>TO</small><br /> +<br /> +MY YOUNG FRIEND<br /> +<br /> +<i>CHARLES H. HASTINGS</i>,<br /> +<br /> +<small>OF NEW YORK,</small><br /> +<br /> +<b>This Book is Affectionately Dedicated.</b><br /></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h2>The Yacht Club Series.</h2> +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div> +1. LITTLE BOBTAIL; <span class="smcap">or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.</span><br /> +<br /> +2. THE YACHT CLUB; <span class="smcap">or, The Young Boat-builder.</span><br /> +<br /> +3. MONEY-MAKER; <span class="smcap">or, The Victory of the Basilisk.</span><br /> +<br /> +4. THE COMING WAVE; <span class="smcap">or, The Hidden Treasure of High Rock.</span><br /> +<br /> +5. THE DORCAS CLUB; <span class="smcap">or, Our Girls Afloat</span>.<br /> +<br /></div> +<div class='center'>(The sixth in preparation.)<br /></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The Yacht Club</span>" is the second volume of the <span class="smcap">Yacht Club +Series</span>, to which it gives a name; and like its predecessor, is an +independent story. The hero has not before appeared, though +some of the characters of "<span class="smcap">Little Bobtail</span>" take part in the +incidents: but each volume may be read understandingly without +any knowledge of the contents of the other. In this story, +the interest centres in Don John, the Boat-builder, who is certainly +a very enterprising young man, though his achievements +have been more than paralleled in the domain of actual life.</p> + +<p>Like the first volume of the series, the incidents of the story +transpire on the waters of the beautiful Penobscot Bay, and on +its shores. They include several yacht races, which must be +more interesting to those who are engaged in the exciting sport +of yachting, than to others. But the principal incidents are distinct +from the aquatic narrative; and those who are not interested +in boats and boating will find that Don John and Nellie +Patterdale do not spend all their time on the water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<p>The hero is a young man of high aims and noble purposes: +and the writer believes that it is unpardonable to awaken the +interest and sympathy of his readers for any other than high-minded +and well-meaning characters. But he is not faultless; +he makes some grave mistakes, even while he has high aims. +The most important lesson in morals to be derived from his +experience is that it is unwise and dangerous for young people +to conceal their actions from their parents and friends; and that +men and women who seek concealment "choose darkness because +their deeds are evil."</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Harrison Square, Boston</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11.5em;">May 22, 1873.</span><br /></p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='center'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Don John of Belfast, and Friends</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">About the Tin Box</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Yacht Club at Turtle Head</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Sad Event in the Ramsay Family</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Captain Shivernock</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span><span class="smcap">Donald gets the Job</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER VII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Laying down the Keel</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The First Regatta</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER IX.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Skylark and the Sea Foam</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER X.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Launch of the Maud</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The White Cross of Denmark</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Donald answers Questions</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Moonlight on the Juno</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Captain Shivernock's Joke</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span><span class="smcap">Laud Cavendish takes Care of Himself</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XVI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Saturday Cove</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XVII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Great Race</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>CHAPTER XVIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Hasbrook Outrage, and other Matters</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> +</table></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE YACHT CLUB;</h2> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h3>THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.</h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>DON JOHN OF BELFAST, AND FRIENDS.</h3> + + +<p>"Why, Don John, how you frightened +me!" exclaimed Miss Nellie Patterdale, +as she sprang up from her reclining position +in a lolling-chair.</p> + +<p>It was an intensely warm day near the close +of June, and the young lady had chosen the +coolest and shadiest place she could find on the +piazza of her father's elegant mansion in Belfast. +She was as pretty as she was bright and vivacious, +and was a general favorite among the +pupils of the High School, which she attended. +She was deeply absorbed in the reading of a +story in one of the July magazines, which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +just come from the post-office, when she heard +a step near her. The sound startled her, it +was so near; and, looking up, she discovered +the young man whom she had spoken to close +beside her. He was not Don John of Austria, +but Donald John Ramsay of Belfast, who had +been addressed by his companions simply as +Don, a natural abbreviation of his first name, +until he of Austria happened to be mentioned +in the history recitation in school, when the +whole class looked at Don, and smiled; some of +the girls even giggled, and got a check for it; +but the republican young gentleman became a +titular Spanish hidalgo from that moment. +Though he was the son of a boat-builder, by +trade a ship carpenter, he was a good-looking, +and gentlemanly fellow, and was treated with +kindness and consideration by most of the sons +and daughters of the wealthy men of Belfast, +who attended the High School. It was hardly +a secret that Don John regarded Miss Nellie +with especial admiration, or that, while he was +polite to all the young ladies, he was particularly +so to her. It is a fact, too, that he blushed when +she turned her startled gaze upon him on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +piazza; and it is just as true that Miss Nellie +colored deeply, though it may have been only +the natural consequence of her surprise.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Nellie; I did not mean +to frighten you," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose you did, Don John; but you +startled me just as much as though you had +meant it," added she, with a pleasant smile, so +forgiving that the young man had no fear of the +consequences. "How terribly hot it is! I am +almost melted."</p> + +<p>"It is very warm," answered Donald, who, +somehow or other, found it very difficult to carry +on a conversation with Nellie; and his eyes seemed +to him to be twice as serviceable as his tongue.</p> + +<p>"It is dreadful warm."</p> + +<p>And so they went on repeating the same thing +over and over again, till there was no other known +form of expression for warm weather.</p> + +<p>"How in the world did you get to the side of +my chair without my hearing you?" demanded +Nellie, when it was evidently impossible to say +anything more about the heat.</p> + +<p>"I came up the front steps, and was walking +around on the piazza to your father's library. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +didn't see you till you spoke," replied Donald, +reminded by this explanation that he had come +to Captain Patterdale's house for a purpose. "Is +Ned at home?"</p> + +<p>"No; he has gone up to Searsport to stay +over Sunday with uncle Henry."</p> + +<p>"Has he? I'm sorry. Is your father at home?"</p> + +<p>"He is in his library, and there is some one +with him. Won't you sit down, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," added Donald, seating himself +in a rustic chair. "It is very warm this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Nellie actually laughed, for she was conscious +of the difficulties of the situation—more so than +her visitor. But we must do our hero—for such +he is—the justice to say, that he did not refer to +the exhausted topic with the intention of confining +the conversation to it, but to introduce the +business which had called him to the house.</p> + +<p>"It is intensely hot, Don John," laughed +Nellie.</p> + +<p>"But I was going to ask you if you would +not like to take a sail," said Donald, with a +blush. "With your father, I mean," added he, +with a deeper blush, as he realized that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +actually asked a girl to go out in a boat with +him.</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted to go, but I can't. +Mother won't let me go on the water when the sun +is out, it hurts my eyes so," answered Nellie; +and the young man was sure she was very sorry +she could not go.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can go after sunset, then," suggested +Donald. "I am sorry Ned is not at home; +for his yacht is finished, and father says the paint +is dry enough to use her. We are going to have +a little trial trip in her over to Turtle Head, +and, perhaps, round by Searsport."</p> + +<p>"Is the Sea Foam really done?" asked Nellie, +her eyes sparkling with delight.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is all ready, and father will deliver +her to Ned on Monday, if everything works right +about her. I thought some of your folks, especially +Ned, would like to be in her on the first +trip."</p> + +<p>"I should, for one; but I suppose it is no use +for me to think of it. My eyes are ever so much +better, and I hope I shall be able to sail in the +Sea Foam soon."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too. We expect she will beat the +Skylark; father thinks she will."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't care whether she does or not," laughed +Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I could see your father just a +moment?" asked Donald. "I only want to know +whether or not he will go with us."</p> + +<p>"I think so; I will go and speak to him. Come +in, Don John," replied Nellie, rising from her +lolling-chair, and walking around the corner of +the house to the front door.</p> + +<p>Donald followed her. The elegant mansion was +located on a corner lot, with a broad hall through +the centre of it, on one side of which was the +large drawing-room, and on the other the sitting +and dining-rooms. At the end of the great hall +was a door opening into the library, a large apartment, +which occupied the whole of a one-story +addition to the original structure. It had also an +independent outside door, which opened upon the +piazza; and opposite to it was a flight of steps, +down to the gravel walk terminating at a gate +on the cross street. People who came to see +Captain Patterdale on business could enter at this +gate, and go to the library without passing +through the house. On the present occasion, +a horse and wagon stood at the gate, which indi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>cated +to Miss Nellie that her father was engaged. +This team had stood there for an hour, and +Donald had watched it for half that time, waiting +for the owner to leave, though he was not at all +anxious to terminate the interview with his fair +schoolmate.</p> + +<p>Nellie knocked at the library door, and her father +told her to come in. She passed in, while Donald +waited the pleasure of the rich man in the hall.</p> + +<p>He was invited to enter. Captain Patterdale +was evidently bored by his visitor, and gave the +young man a cordial greeting. Donald stated his +business very briefly; but the captain did not say +whether he would or would not go upon the trial +trip of the Sea Foam. He asked a hundred questions +about the new yacht, and it was plain that +he did not care to resume the conversation with +his visitor, who walked nervously about the room, +apparently vexed at the interruption, and dissatisfied +thus far with the result of his interview +with the captain.</p> + +<p>What would have appeared to be true to an observer +was actually so. The visitor was one Jacob +Hasbrook, from a neighboring town, and his reputation +for honesty and fair dealings was not the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +best in the world. Captain Patterdale held his +note, without security, for thirteen hundred and +fifty dollars. Hasbrook had property, but his +creditors were never sure of him till they were +paid. At the present interview he had astonished +Captain Patterdale by paying the note in full, +with interest, on the day it became due. But it +was soon clear enough to the rich man that the +payment was only a "blind" to induce him to +embark in a doubtful speculation with Hasbrook. +The nature and immense profits of the enterprise +had been eloquently set forth by the +visitor, and his own capacity to manage it enlarged +upon; but the nabob, who had made his +fortune by hard work, was utterly wanting in enthusiasm. +He had received the money in payment +of his note, which he had expected to lose, +or to obtain only after resorting to legal measures, +and he was fully determined to have nothing more +to do with the man. He had said all this as +mildly as he could; but Hasbrook was persistent, +and probably felt that in paying an honest +debt he had thrown away thirteen hundred and +fifty dollars.</p> + +<p>He would not go, though Captain Patterdale<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +gave him sufficient excuse for doing so, or even +for cutting his acquaintance. The rich man continued +to talk with Don John, to the intense disgust +of the speculator, who stood looking at a tin +box, painted green, which lay on a chair. Perhaps +he looked upon this box as the grave of his hopes; +for it contained the money he had just paid to the +captain—the wasted money, because the rich man +would not embark with him in his brilliant enterprise, +though he had taken so much pains, and +parted with so much money, to prove that he was +an honest man. He appeared to be interested in +the box, and he looked at it all the time, with +only an impatient glance occasionally at the nabob, +who appeared to be trifling with his bright hopes. +The tin chest was about nine inches each way, +and contained the private papers and other valuables +of the rich man, including, now, the thirteen +hundred and fifty dollars just received.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale was president of the Twenty-first +National Bank of Belfast, which was located +a short distance from his house. The tin box was +kept in the vaults of the bank; but the owner +had taken it home to examine some documents +at his leisure, intending to return it to the bank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +before night. As it was in the library when Mr. +Hasbrook called, the money was deposited in it +for safe keeping over night.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't go with you, Donald," said +Captain Patterdale, after he had asked him all the +questions he could think of about the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, sir; for Miss Nellie wanted to go, +and I was going to ask father to wait till after +sunset on her account," added the young man.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hasbrook began to look hopeful; for the +last remark of the nabob indicated a possible termination +of the conversation. Donald began his +retreat toward the hall of the mansion, for he +wanted to see the fair daughter again; but he had +not reached the door before the captain called him +back.</p> + +<p>"I suppose your father wants some more money +to-night," said he, feeling in his pocket for the +key to open the tin box.</p> + +<p>"He didn't say anything to me about it, sir," +replied Donald; "I don't think he does."</p> + +<p>Hasbrook looked hopeless again; for Captain +Patterdale began to calculate how much he had +paid, and how much more he was to pay, for the +yacht. While he was doing so, there was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +knock at the street door, and, upon being invited +to do so, Mr. Laud Cavendish entered the library +with a bill in his hand.</p> + +<p>Mr. Laud Cavendish was a great man in his own +estimation, and a great swell in the estimation +of everybody else. He was a clerk or salesman +in a store; but he was dressed very elegantly for +a provincial city like Belfast, and for a "counter-jumper" +on six or eight dollars a week. He was +about eighteen years old, tall, and rather slender. +His upper lip was adorned with an incipient mustache, +which had been tenderly coaxed and colored +for two years, without producing any prodigious +result, though it was the pride and glory of +the owner. Mr. Cavendish was a dreamy young +gentleman, who believed that the Fates had made +a bad mistake in his case, inasmuch as he was +the son of an honest and industrious carpenter, +instead of the son and heir of one of the nabobs +of Belfast. He believed that he was fitted to +adorn the highest circle in society, to shine +among the aristocracy of the city, and it was a +cruel shame that he should be compelled to work +in a store, weigh out tea and sugar, carry goods +to the elegant mansions where he ought to be ad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>mitted +at the front, instead of the back, door, +collect bills, and perform whatever other service +might be required of him. The Fates had blundered +and conspired against him; but he was not +without hope that the daughter of some rich +man, who might fall in love with him and his +mustache, would redeem him from his slavery +to an occupation he hated, and lift him up to +the sphere where he belonged. Laud was "soaring +after the infinite," and so he rather neglected +the mundane and practical, and his employer did +not consider him a very desirable clerk.</p> + +<p>Mr. Laud Cavendish came with a bill in his +hand, the footing of which was the sum due his +employer for certain necessary articles just +delivered at the kitchen door of the elegant +mansion. Captain Patterdale opened the tin box, +and took therefrom some twenty dollars to pay +the bill, which Laud receipted. Mr. Hasbrook +hoped he would go, and that Don John would go; +and perhaps they would have gone if a rather exciting +event had not occurred to detain them.</p> + +<p>"Father! father!" exclaimed Miss Nellie, rushing +into the library.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Nellie?" demanded her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +father, calmly; for he had long been a sea captain, +and was used to emergencies.</p> + +<p>"Michael has just dropped down in a fit!" +gasped Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"In the yard."</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale, followed by his three visitors, +rushed through the hall, out at the front +door, near which the unfortunate man had fallen, +and, with the assistance of his companions, lifted +him from the ground. Michael was the hired +man who took care of the horses, and kept the +grounds around the elegant mansion in order. +He was raking the gravel walk near the piazza +where Nellie was laboring to keep cool. As we +have hinted before, and as Nellie and Don John +had several times repeated, the day was intensely +hot. The sun where the man worked was absolutely +scorching, and the hired man had experienced +a sun-stroke. Captain Patterdale and his +visitors bore him to his room in the L, and Don +John ran for the doctor, who appeared in less than +ten minutes. The visitors all did what they +could, Mr. Laud Cavendish behaving very well. +Michael's wife and other friends soon arrived,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +and there was nothing more for Laud to do. He +went down stairs, and, finding Nellie in the hall, +he tried to comfort her; for she was very much +concerned for poor Michael.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he will die, Mr. Cavendish?" +asked she, almost as much moved as though the +poor man had been her father.</p> + +<p>"O, no! I think he will recover. These Irishmen +have thick heads, and they don't die so +easily of sun-stroke; for that's what the doctor +says it is," replied Laud, knowingly.</p> + +<p>Nellie thought, if this was a true view of <i>coup de +soleil</i>, Laud would never die of it. She thought +this; but she was not so impolite as to say it. She +asked him no more questions; for she saw Don +John approaching through the dining-room.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, Miss Patterdale," said Laud, +with a bow and a flourish, as he retired towards +the library, where he had left his hat.</p> + +<p>In a few moments more, the rattle of the +wagon, with which he delivered goods to the +customers, was heard as he drove off. Don John +came into the hall, and Nellie asked him ever so +many questions about the condition of Michael, +and what the doctor said about him; all of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +which the young man answered to the best of his +ability.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he will die, Don John?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I can't tell," replied Donald; "I +hope not."</p> + +<p>"Michael is real good, and I am so sorry for +him!" added Nellie.</p> + +<p>But Michael is hardly a personage in our story, +and we do not purpose to enter into the diagnosis +of his case. He has our sympathies on the merit +of his sufferings alone, and quite as much for Nellie's +sake; for it was tender, and gentle, and kind +in her to feel so much for a poor Irish laborer. +While she and Donald were talking about the +case, Mr. Hasbrook came down stairs, and passed +through the hall into the library, where he, also, +had left his hat. In a few moments more the rattle +of his wagon was heard, as he drove off, indignant +and disgusted at the indifference of the nabob +in refusing to take an interest in his brilliant enterprise. +He was angry with himself for having +paid his note before he had enlisted the payee in +his cause.</p> + +<p>"How is he, father?" asked Nellie, as Captain +Patterdale entered the hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The doctor thinks he sees some favorable +symptoms."</p> + +<p>"Will he die?"</p> + +<p>"The doctor thinks he will get over it. But +he wants some ice, and I must get it for him."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you will not go in the Sea Foam +now?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"No; it is impossible," replied the captain, +as he passed into the dining-room to the refrigerator.</p> + +<p>The father was like the daughter; and though +he was a <i>millionnaire</i>, or a <i>demi-millionnaire</i>—we +don't know which, for we were never allowed +to look over his taxable valuation—though he was +a nabob, he took right hold, and worked with +his own hands for the comfort and the recovery +of the sufferer. It was creditable to his heart that +he did so, and we never grudge such a man his +"pile," especially when he has earned it by his +own labor, or made it in honorable, legitimate +business. The captain went up stairs again with +a large dish of ice, to assist the doctor in the +treatment of his patient.</p> + +<p>Donald staid in the hall, talking with Miss Nellie, +as long as he thought it proper to do so, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +not as long as he desired, and then entered the +library where he, also, had left his hat. Perhaps +it was a singular coincidence that all three of the +visitors had left their hats in that room; but then +it was not proper for them to sit with their hats +on in the presence of such a magnate as Captain +Patterdale, and no decent man would stop for a +hat when a person had fallen in a fit.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale's hat was still there; and, +unluckily, there was something else belonging to +him which was not there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>ABOUT THE TIN BOX.</h3> + + +<p>Captain Patterdale worked with the +doctor for a full hour upon poor Michael, +who at the end of that time opened his eyes, and +soon declared that he was "betther entirely." +He insisted upon getting up, for it was not "the +likes of himself that was to lay there and have +his honor workin' over him." But the doctor +and the nabob pacified him, and left him, much +improved, in the care of his wife.</p> + +<p>"How is he, Dr. Wadman?" asked the sympathizing +Nellie, as they came down stairs together.</p> + +<p>"He is decidedly better," replied the physician.</p> + +<p>"Will he die?"</p> + +<p>"O, no; I think not. His case looks very +hopeful now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought folks always died with sun-stroke," +said Nellie, more cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"No; not unless their heads are very soft," +laughed the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Well, I shouldn't think Laud Cavendish would +dare to go out when the sun shines," added the +fair girl, with a snap of her bright eyes.</p> + +<p>"It isn't quite safe for him to do so. Unfortunately, +such people don't know their own heads. +I will come in again after tea," said the doctor, +as he went out of the house, at the front door; +for he had not left his hat in the library.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad Michael is better!" continued +Nellie. "When I saw him drop, I felt as cold +as ice, and I was afraid I should drop too before +I could get to the library."</p> + +<p>"Did you see him fall, Nellie?" asked her +father.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he gave a kind of groan, and then fell; +he was—"</p> + +<p>"Gracious!" exclaimed Captain Patterdale, interrupting +her all of a sudden.</p> + +<p>He turned on his heel, and walked rapidly into +the library. Nellie was startled, and was troubled +with a suspicion that her father had a <i>coup<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +de soleil</i>, or <i>coup de</i> something-else; for he did not +often do anything by fits and starts. She followed +him into the library. It was a fact that +the captain had left his hat there; but it was not +for this article, so necessary in a hot day, that +he hastened thus abruptly into the room. Nellie +found him flying around the apartment in a high +state of excitement for him. He was looking +anxiously about, and seemed to be very much +disturbed.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is the matter, father?" +asked Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Where is your mother?"</p> + +<p>"She has gone over to Mrs. Rodman's."</p> + +<p>"Hasn't she been back?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly not; I was just going over to +tell her what had happened to Michael, when you +came down."</p> + +<p>"Who has been in here, Nellie?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that anybody has. I haven't +seen any one. What's the matter, father? what +in the world has happened?"</p> + +<p>"I left my tin box here when I went out to +see to Michael, and now it is gone," answered +Captain Patterdale, anxiously. "I didn't know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +but that your mother had come in and taken care +of it."</p> + +<p>"The tin box gone?" exclaimed Nellie. +"Why, what can have become of it?"</p> + +<p>"That is just what I should like to know," +added the captain, as he renewed his search in +the room for the treasure chest.</p> + +<p>It was not in the library, and then he looked +in the great hall and in the little hall, in the +drawing-room, the sitting-room, and the dining-room; +but it was not in any of these. He knew +he had left it on the chair near where he was sitting +when he went out of the room. Then he +examined the spring-lock on the door of the +library which led into the side street. It was +closed and securely fastened. The door shut itself +with a patent invention, and when shut it +locked itself, so that anybody could get out, but +no one could get in unless admitted.</p> + +<p>"Where were you when I was up stairs, Nellie?" +asked Captain Patterdale, as he seated +himself in his arm-chair, to take a cool view of +the whole subject.</p> + +<p>"I was in the hall most of the time," she replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who has been in the library?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see; Laud Cavendish came down +first, and went out through the library."</p> + +<p>The captain rubbed his bald head, and seemed +to be asking himself whether it was possible for +Mr. Laud Cavendish to do so wicked a deed as +stealing that tin box. He did not believe the +young swell had the baseness or the daring to +commit so great a crime. It might be, but he +could not think so.</p> + +<p>"Who else has been in here?" he inquired, +when he had hastily considered all he knew about +the moral character of Laud.</p> + +<p>"That other man who was with you—I don't +know his name—the one that was here when I +came in with Don John."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hasbrook."</p> + +<p>"He went out through the library. I thought +he looked real ugly too," added Nellie. "He +kept fidgeting about all the time I was here."</p> + +<p>"And all the time he was here himself. He +went out through the library—did he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale mentally overhauled the +character of Mr. Hasbrook. It was unfortunate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +for his late debtor that his character was not first +class, and between him and Laud Cavendish the +probabilities were altogether against Hasbrook. +He had evidently been vexed and angry because +he failed to carry his point, and his cupidity +might have been stimulated by revenge. But the +captain was a fair and just man, and in a matter of +this kind, involving the reputation of any person, +he kept his suspicions to himself.</p> + +<p>"Who else has been in the library, Nellie?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"No one but Don John," replied she. And +whatever Laud or Hasbrook might have done in +wickedness, Nellie had too much regard for her +friend and schoolmate to admit for one instant the +possibility of his doing anything wrong, much less +his committing so gross a crime as the stealing +of the tin box and its valuable contents.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale was hardly less confident of +the integrity of Donald. Certainly it was not +necessary to suspect him when the possibilities of +guilt included two such persons as Laud and Hasbrook. +Donald was rather distinguished, in school +and out, as a good boy, and he ought to have the +full benefit of his reputation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You don't think Don John took the box—do +you, father?" asked Nellie, as her father was meditating +on the circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Nellie," protested the captain, +warmly; "I don't know that anybody has taken +it."</p> + +<p>"I know Don John would not do such a +thing."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he would."</p> + +<p>"I know he would not."</p> + +<p>Her father thought she was just a little more +earnest in her uncalled-for defence of the young +man than was necessary, and for the first time in +his life it occurred to him that she was more interested +in him than he wished her to be; for, +as Donald was only the son of a poor boat-builder, +such a strong friendship might be embarrassing +in the future. However, this was only the shadow +of a passing thought, which divided his attention +only for a moment. The loss of the tin box was +the question of the hour, and "society" topics +were not just then in order.</p> + +<p>"I have no idea that Don John took the box," +replied Captain Patterdale. "I am more willing +to believe either of the other two who were in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +library took it than that he did. But he was the +last of the three who went out through this room. +He may be able to give me some information, and +I will go down and see him. He and his father +were going off in the new yacht—were they not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You need not say a word about the box to +any one, Nellie, nor even that it is lost," added +the captain. "If I do not find it, I shall employ a +skilful detective to look it up, and he may prefer +to work in the dark."</p> + +<p>"I will not mention it, father," replied Nellie. +"What was in the box? Was it money?"</p> + +<p>"I put thirteen hundred and fifty dollars into +it, but I took out twenty to pay the bill that Laud +brought. It contains my deeds, leases, policies +of insurance, and my notes, and these papers +are really more valuable to me than the money. +Luckily, my bonds and securities are in another +box, in the vault of the bank."</p> + +<p>"Then you will lose over thirteen hundred +dollars if you don't find the box?"</p> + +<p>"More than that, I am afraid, for I shall +hardly be able to collect all the money due on the +notes if I lose them," replied the captain, as he +left the house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>He walked down to the boat shop of Mr. Ramsay. +It was on the shore, and near it was the +house in which the boat-builder lived. Neither +Don John nor his father was at the shop, but a +sloop yacht, half a mile out in the bay, seemed to +be the Sea Foam. She was headed towards the +shore, however, and Captain Patterdale seated +himself in the shade of the shop to await its +arrival, though he hardly expected to obtain any +information in regard to the box from Donald. +While he was sitting there, Mr. Laud Cavendish +appeared with a large basket in his hand. The +counter-jumper started when he turned the corner +of the shop, and saw the nabob seated there.</p> + +<p>"Going a-fishing?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I'm going over to Turtle Head to +camp out over Sunday," replied Laud. "How is +Michael, sir?"</p> + +<p>"He is much better, and is doing very well."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it," added Laud, as he carried +his basket down to a sail-boat which was partly +aground, and deposited it in the forward cuddy.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale wanted to talk with Laud, +but he did not like to excite any suspicions on his +part. If the young man had taken the box he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +would not be likely to go off on an island to stay +over Sunday. Besides, it was evident from the +position of the boat, and the fact that it contained +several articles necessary for a fishing excursion, +in addition to those in the basket, that +Laud had made his arrangements for the trip before +he visited the library of the elegant mansion. +If he had taken the box, he would probably have +changed his plans. It was not likely, therefore, +that Laud was the guilty party.</p> + +<p>"Are you going alone?" asked the captain, +walking down the beach to the boat.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I couldn't get any one to go with +me. I tried Don John, but he won't go off to stay +over Sunday," replied Laud, with a sickly grin.</p> + +<p>"I commend his example to you. I don't +think it is a good way to spend Sunday."</p> + +<p>"It's the only time I can get to go. I've been +trying to got off for a month."</p> + +<p>"Saturday must be a bad time for you to +leave," suggested the captain.</p> + +<p>"It is rather bad," added Laud, as he shoved +off the bow of the boat, for he seemed to be in +haste to get away.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Laud, did you notice a tin box<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +in my library when you were there this afternoon?" +asked the nabob, with as much indifference +in his manner and tone as he could command.</p> + +<p>"A tin box?" repeated Laud, busying himself +with the jib of the sail-boat.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it was painted green."</p> + +<p>"I don't remember any box," answered Laud.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see it? I opened it to take out +the money I paid you."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mind. I was receipting the bill +while you were getting the money ready. You +know I sat down at your desk."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I know you did; but didn't you see the +box?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I don't remember seeing any box," +said Laud, still fussing over the sail, which certainly +did not need any attention.</p> + +<p>"You went out through the library when you +came down from Michael's room—didn't you?" +continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I did. I left my hat in there."</p> + +<p>"Did you see the box then?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I didn't. If I had, I should have +remembered it," replied Laud, with a grin. "I +just grabbed my hat, and ran, for I had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +in the house some time; and I got a blessing for +being away so long when I went back to the +store."</p> + +<p>"You didn't see the box, then?"</p> + +<p>"If it was there, I suppose I saw it; but I +didn't take any notice of it. Why? is the box +lost?"</p> + +<p>"I want to get another like it. Haven't you +anything of the sort in the store?"</p> + +<p>"We have some cake and spice boxes. They +are tin, and painted on the outside."</p> + +<p>"Those will not answer the purpose. It's a +very hot day," added the captain, as he wiped +the perspiration from his face, and walked back +to the shade of the shop.</p> + +<p>Mr. Laud Cavendish stepped into the sail-boat, +hoisted the sails, and shoved her off into deep +water with an oar. Captain Patterdale thought, +and then he did not know what to think. Was +it possible Laud had not noticed that tin box, +which had been on a chair out in the middle of +the room? If he had not, why, then he had not; +but if he had Laud had more cunning, more self-control, +and more ingenuity than the captain had +ever given him the credit, or the discredit, of pos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>sessing, +for there was certainly no sign of guilt in +his tone or his manner, except that he did not look +the inquirer square in the face when he answered +his questions, though some guilty people can even +do this without wincing.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale watched the departing and +the approaching boats, still considering the possible +relation of Laud Cavendish to the tin box. +If the fellow had stolen it, he would not go off +on an island to stay over Sunday, leaving the box +behind to betray him; and this argument seemed +to be conclusive in his favor. The captain had +looked into the boat, and satisfied himself that +the box was not there; unless it was in the basket, +which appeared to contain so many other +things that there was no room for it. On the +whole, the captain was willing to acquit Mr. +Laud Cavendish of the act, partly, perhaps, because +this had been his first view of the matter. +It was more probable that Hasbrook, angry and +disappointed at his failure, had put the box into +his wagon, and returned to the neighboring town, +where, as before stated, his reputation was not +first class, though, perhaps, not many people believed +him capable of stealing outright, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +the formality of getting up a mining company, +or making a trade of some sort. But Donald had +been the last of the trio of visitors who passed +through the library, and the captain wanted to +see him.</p> + +<p>The Sea Foam, with snowy sails just from the +loft, and glittering in her freshly-laid coat of +white paint, ran up to a wharf just below the boat +shop. Donald was at the helm, and he threw +her up into the wind just before she came to the +pier, so that when she forged ahead, with her sails +shaking in the wind, her head came up within +a few inches of the landing-place. Mr. Ramsay +fended her off, and went ashore with a line in +his hand, which he made fast to a ring. Captain +Patterdale walked around to the wharf, as soon as +he saw where she was to make a landing.</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you like her, Sam?" said Donald +to a young man of his own age in the standing-room +with him.</p> + +<p>"First rate; and I hope your father will go to +work on mine at once," replied the passenger.</p> + +<p>"You will lay down the keel on Monday—won't +you, father?"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Mr. Ramsay, who had seated +himself on a log on the wharf.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will lay down the keel of the boat for +Mr. Rodman on Monday—won't you?" repeated +Donald.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if I am able; I don't feel very well to-day." +And the boat-builder doubled himself up, +as though he was in great pain.</p> + +<p>The young man in the standing-room of the +Sea Foam was Samuel Rodman, a schoolmate of +Donald, whose father was a wealthy man, and +had ordered another boat like the Skylark, which +had been the model for the new yacht. He had +come down to see the craft, and had been invited +to take a sail in her; but an engagement +had prevented him from going as far as Turtle +Head, and the boat-builder and his son had returned +to land him, intending still to make the +trip. By this time Captain Patterdale had reached +the end of the wharf. He went on board of the +Sea Foam, and looked her over with a critical +eye, and was entirely satisfied with her. He was +invited to sail in her for as short a time as he +chose, but he declined.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Donald, did you see the green +tin box when you were in my library this afternoon?" +he asked, when all the topics relating to +the yacht had been disposed of.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I saw you take some money from +it," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Then you remember the box?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did you notice it when you came out—I mean, +when you left the house?"</p> + +<p>"I don't remember seeing it when I came out," +answered Donald, wondering what these questions +meant.</p> + +<p>"I want to get another box just like that one. +Did you take particular notice of it?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I can't say I did."</p> + +<p>"You didn't stay any time in the library after +you came down from Michael's room, did you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I only went for my hat, and didn't +stay there a minute."</p> + +<p>"And you didn't notice the tin box?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I didn't see it at all when I came +out."</p> + +<p>"Then of course you didn't see any marks upon +it," added the captain, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"If I didn't see the box, I shouldn't have +been likely to see the marks," laughed Donald. +"What marks were they, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It's of no consequence, if you didn't see them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +The box was in the library—wasn't it?—when you +went out."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it was or not. I only +know that I don't remember noticing it," said +Donald, who thought the captain's question was +a very queer one, after those he had just answered.</p> + +<p>The nabob was no better satisfied with Donald's +answers than he had been with those of Laud +Cavendish, except that the former looked him full +in the face when he spoke. He obtained no +information, and went home to seek it at other +sources.</p> + +<p>"I think I won't go out again, Donald," said +Mr. Ramsay, when Captain Patterdale had left. "I +don't feel very well, and you may go alone."</p> + +<p>"Do you feel very sick, father?" asked the son, +in tones of sympathy.</p> + +<p>"No; but I think I will go into the house and +take some medicine. You can run over to Turtle +Head alone," added the boat-builder, as he walked +towards the house.</p> + +<p>"Can't you go any how, Sam?" said Donald, +turning to his friend.</p> + +<p>"No, I must go home now. I have to drive over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +to Searsport after my sister," replied Sam, as he +left the yacht, and walked up the wharf.</p> + +<p>Donald hoisted the jib of the Sea Foam, shoved +off her head, and laid her course, with the wind +over the quarter, for Turtle Head—distant about +seven miles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE YACHT CLUB AT TURTLE HEAD.</h3> + + +<p>The Sea Foam was a sloop yacht, thirty feet in +length, and as handsome as a picture in an +illustrated paper, than which nothing could be +finer. It was a fact that she had cost twelve hundred +dollars; but even this sum was cheaper than +she could have been built and fitted up in Boston +or Bristol. She was provided with everything +required by a first class yacht of her size, both for +the comfort and safety of the voyager, as well +as for fast sailing. Though Mr. Ramsay, her +builder, was a ship carpenter, he was a very intelligent +and well-read man. He had made yachts a +specialty, and devoted a great deal of study to +the subject. He had examined the fastest craft in +New York and Newport, and had their lines in his +head. And he was a very ingenious man, so that +he had the tact to make the most of small spaces,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +and to economize every spare inch in lockers, +closets, and stow-holes for the numerous articles +required in a pleasure craft. He had learned his +trade as a ship carpenter and joiner in Scotland, +where the mechanic's education is much more +thorough than in our own country, and he was an +excellent workman.</p> + +<p>The cabin of the Sea Foam was about twelve +feet long, with transoms on each side, which were +used both as berths and sofas. They were supplied +with cushions covered with Brussels carpet, +with a pillow of the same material at each end. +Through the middle, fore and aft, was the centre-board +casing, on each side of which was a table +on hinges, so that it could be dropped down +when not in use. The only possible objection to +this cabin, in the mind of a shoreman, would have +been its lack of height. It was necessarily "low +studded," being only five feet from floor to ceiling, +which was rather trying to the perpendicularity +of a six-footer. But it was a very comfortable +cabin for all that, though tall men were compelled +to be humble within its low limits.</p> + +<p>It was entered from the standing-room by a +single step covered with plate brass, in which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +name of the yacht was wrought with bright copper +nails. On each side of the companion-way was a +closet, one of which was for dishes, and the other +for miscellaneous stores. The trunk, which readers +away from boatable waters may need to be +informed is an elevation about a foot above the +main deck, to afford head-room in the middle of +the cabin, had three deck lights, or ports, on +each side. At one end of the casing of the centre-board +was a place for the water-jar, and a rack +for tumblers. In the middle were hooks in the +trunk-beams for the caster and the lantern. The +brass-covered step at the entrance was movable, +and when it was drawn out it left an opening into +the run under the standing-room, where a considerable +space was available for use. In the centre +of it was the ice-chest, a box two feet square, +lined with zinc, which was rigged on little +grooved wheels running on iron rods, like a +railroad car, so that the chest could be drawn +forward where the contents could be reached. +On each side of this box was a water-tank, holding +thirty gallons, which could be filled from the +standing-room. The water was drawn by a faucet +lower than the bottom of the tank in a recess at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +one side of the companion-way. The tanks were +connected by a pipe, so that the water was drawn +from both. At the side of the step was a gauge +to indicate the supply of fresh water on board.</p> + +<p>Forward of the cabin, in the bow of the yacht, +was the cook-room, with a scuttle opening into it +from the forecastle. The stove, a miniature affair, +with an oven large enough to roast an eight-pound +rib of beef, and two holes on the top, was +in the fore peak. It was placed in a shallow pan +filled with sand, and the wood-work was covered +with sheet tin, to guard against fire. Behind the +stove was a fuel-bin. On each side of the cook +room was a shelf eighteen inches wide at the +bulk-head and tapering forward to nothing. Under +it were several lockers for the galley utensils +and small stores. The room was only four feet +high, and a tall cook in the Sea Foam would +have found it necessary to discount himself. On +the foremast was a seat on a hinge, which could +be dropped down, on which the "doctor" could sit +and do his work, roasting himself at the same +time he roasted his beef or fried his fish. Everything +in the cook-room and the cabin, as well as +on deck, was neat and nice. The cabin was cov<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>ered +with a handsome oil-cloth carpet, and the +wood was white with zinc paint, varnished, with +gilt moulding to ornament it. Edward Patterdale, +who was to be the nominal owner and the +real skipper of this beautiful craft, intended to +have several framed pictures on the spaces between +the deck lights, a clock in the forward end +over the cook-room door, and brass brackets for +the spy-glass in the companion-way.</p> + +<p>On deck the Sea Foam was as well appointed +as she was below. Her bowsprit had a gentle +downward curve, her mast was a beautiful spar, +and her topmast was elegantly tapered and set +up in good shape. Unlike most of the regular +highflyer yachts, her jib and mainsail were +not unreasonably large. Mr. Ramsay did not intend +that it should be necessary to reef when it +blew a twelve-knot breeze, and, like the Skylark, +she was expected to carry all sail in anything +short of a full gale. But she was provided with +an abundance of "kites," including an immense +gaff-topsail, which extended on poles far above +the topmast head, and far beyond the peak, a +balloon-jib, a jib-topsail, and a three-cornered +studding-sail. The balloon-jib, or the jib-topsail,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +was bent on with snap-hooks when it was needed, +for only one was used at the same time. These +extra sails were to be required only in races, and +they were kept on shore. One stout hand could +manage her very well, though two made it easier +work, and six were allowed in a race.</p> + +<p>Donald seated himself in the standing-room, +with the tiller in his right hand. As soon as he had +run out a little way, his attention was excited by +discovering three other sloop yachts coming down +the bay. In one of them he recognized the Skylark, +and in another the Christabel, while the third +was a stranger to him, though he had heard of the +arrival that day of a new yacht from Newport, +and concluded this was she. He let off his sheet, +and ran up to meet the little fleet.</p> + +<p>"Sloop, ahoy!" shouted Robert Montague, from +the Skylark, as Donald came within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>"On board the Skylark!" replied the skipper +of the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay."</p> + +<p>"What sloop is that?" demanded Robert.</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where bound?"</p> + +<p>"Over to Turtle Head."</p> + +<p>"We are bound there; come with us."</p> + +<p>"Ay ay."</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute, Don John," shouted some +one from the Christabel.</p> + +<p>Each of the yachts had a tender towing astern, +and that from the Christabel, with five boys in it, +immediately put off, and pulled to the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"Will you take us on board, Don John?" +asked Gus Barker, as the tender came alongside.</p> + +<p>"Certainly; I'm glad to have your company," +replied Donald, who had thrown the yacht up +into the wind.</p> + +<p>Three of the party in the tender jumped upon +the deck of the Sea Foam, and the boat returned +to the Christabel. Each of the yachts appeared +to have half a dozen or more on board of her, so +that there was quite a party on the way to Turtle +Head. The sloops filled away again, the Skylark +and the new arrival having taken the lead, while +the other two were delayed.</p> + +<p>"What sloop is that with the Skylark?" asked +Donald.</p> + +<p>"That's the Phantom. She got here from New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>port +this forenoon. Joe Guilford's father bought +her for him. She is the twin sister of the Skylark, +and they seem to make an even thing of it in sailing," +replied Gus Barker.</p> + +<p>"You have quite a fleet now," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and we are going to form a Yacht Club. +We intend to have a meeting over at Turtle Head. +Will you join, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't any boat."</p> + +<p>"Nor I, either. All the members can't be skippers," +laughed Gus. "I am to be mate of the Sea +Foam, and that's the reason I wanted to come on +board of her."</p> + +<p>"And I am to be one of her crew," added +Dick Adams.</p> + +<p>"And I the steward," laughed Ben Johnson. +"I am going down into the cook-room to see +how things look there."</p> + +<p>"You will join—won't you, Don?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know. I can't afford to run +with you fellows with rich fathers."</p> + +<p>"O, get out! That don't make any difference," +puffed Gus. "The owner of the yacht has to foot +the bills. Besides, we want you, Don John, for +you know more about a boat than all the rest of +the fellows put together."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I shall be very glad to do anything I +can to help the thing along; but there are plenty +of fellows that can sail a boat better than I can."</p> + +<p>"But you know all about a boat, and they want +you for measurer. We have the printed constitution +of a Yacht Club, which Bob Montague got in +Boston, and according to that the measurer is entitled +to ten cents a foot for measuring a yacht; +so you may make something out of your office."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to make any money out of it," +protested Donald.</p> + +<p>"You can make enough to pay your dues, for +we have to raise some money for prizes in the +regattas; and we talk of having a club house +over on Turtle Head," rattled Gus, whose tongue +seemed to be hung on a pivot in his enthusiasm +over the club. "Every fellow must be voted in, +and pay five dollars a year for membership. We +shall have some big times.—We are gaining on +the Skylark, as true as you live!"</p> + +<p>"I think we are; but I guess Bob isn't driving +her," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"She carries the same sail as the Sea Foam. I +would give anything to beat her. Make her do +her best, Don John."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will," laughed the skipper, who had kept +one eye on the Skylark all the time.</p> + +<p>He trimmed the sails a little, and began to be +somewhat excited over the prospect of a race. +The Christabel was three feet longer than the +other yachts, and it was soon evident that in a +light wind she was more than a match for them, +for she ran ahead of the Sea Foam. Her jib and +mainsail were much larger in proportion to her +size than those of the other sloops, but she was +not an able boat, not a heavy-weather craft, like +them. The Sea Foam continued to gain on the +Skylark, till she was abreast of her, while the +Phantom kept about even with her. But then +Robert Montague was busy all the time talking +with his companions about the Yacht Club, and +did not pay particular attention to the sailing of +his boat. The Sea Foam began to walk ahead +of him, and then, for the first time, it dawned +upon him that the reputation of the Skylark was +at stake. He had his crew of five with him, and +he placed them in position to improve the sailing +of his craft. He ordered one of his hands to give a +small pull on the jib-sheet, another to let off the +main sheet a little, and a third to haul up the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +centre-board a little more, as she was going +free.</p> + +<p>The effect of this attention on the part of the +skipper of the Skylark was to lessen the distance +between her and the Sea Foam; they were abeam +of each other, with the Phantom in the same line. +The Christabel was about a cable's length ahead +of them.</p> + +<p>"She's game yet," said Gus Barker, his disappointment +evident in the tones of his voice, as +the Skylark came up to the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"This is a new boat, and I haven't got the +hang of her yet," Donald explained. "Haul up +that fin a little, Dick."</p> + +<p>"What fin?"</p> + +<p>"The centre-board."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," replied Dick, as he obeyed the order.</p> + +<p>"Steady! that's enough," continued Donald, +who now narrowly watched the sailing of the +Sea Foam, to assure himself that she did not make +too much leeway.</p> + +<p>"That was what she wanted!" exclaimed Gus, +when the yacht began to gain again, and in a few +minutes was half a length ahead.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="600" height="448" alt="The Start. Page 51." title="The Start. Page 51." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Start.</span> <a href="#Page_51">Page 51</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>"But not quite so much of it," replied Donald,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +when he saw that his craft was sliding off a very +little. "Give her just three inches more fin, +Dick."</p> + +<p>The centre-board was dropped this distance, and +the tendency to make leeway thus corrected.</p> + +<p>"She is gaining still!" cried Gus, delighted.</p> + +<p>"Not much; it is a pretty even thing," added +Donald.</p> + +<p>"No matter; we beat her, and I don't care if +it's only half an inch in a mile."</p> + +<p>"But the Christabel is leading us all. She is +sure of all the first prizes."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it. She has to reef when there's +a capful of wind. In a calm she will beat us, but +when it blows we shall wax her all to pieces."</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" shouted Mr. Laud Cavendish, whose +small sail-boat was overhauled about half way +over to Turtle Head. "Is that you, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Where you going?"</p> + +<p>"Over to Turtle Head. Want us to give you +a tow?"</p> + +<p>"No; you needn't brag about your old tub. +She don't belong to you; and I'm going to have +a boat that will beat that one all to splinters," +replied Laud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right; fetch her along."</p> + +<p>"I say, Don John, I'm going to stop over +Sunday on Turtle Head. Won't you stay with +me?"</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you. I must go home to-night," +answered Donald.</p> + +<p>Mr. Laud Cavendish knew very well that Donald +would not spend Sunday in boating and fishing; +and he did not ask because he wanted him. +Besides, for more reasons than one, he did not +desire his company. The Sea Foam ran out of +talking distance of the sail-boat in a moment. +Robert Montague was doing his best to keep up +the reputation of the Skylark; but when the fleet +came up to Turtle Head, she was more than a +length behind. The jib was hauled down, the +yachts came up into the wind, and the anchors +were let go.</p> + +<p>"Beat you," shouted Gus Barker.</p> + +<p>"Not much," replied Robert. "We will try +that over again some time."</p> + +<p>"We are willing," added Donald.</p> + +<p>The mainsails were lowered, and the young +yachtmen embarked in the tenders for the shore. +Turtle Head is a rocky point at the northern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +extremity of Long Island, in Penobscot Bay. +There were a few trees near the shore, and under +these the party purposed to hold their meeting. +Though the weather was intensely hot on shore, +it was comfortably cool at the Head, where the +wind came over five or six miles of salt water +cool from the ocean. The boys leaped ashore, +and hauled up their boats where the rising tide +could not float them off. There were over twenty +of them, all members of the High School.</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam sails well," said Robert Montague, +as he walked over to the little grove with +Donald.</p> + +<p>"Very well, indeed. This is the first time she +has been out, and I find she works first rate," +replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"I want to try it with her some day, when +everything is right."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't everything right to-day?" asked Donald, +smiling, for he was well aware that every +boatman has a good excuse for the shortcomings +of his craft.</p> + +<p>"No; my tender is twice as heavy as yours," +added Robert. "I must get your father to build +me one like that of the Sea Foam."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will try it without any tenders, which we +don't want in a race."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't know but the Sea Foam +can beat me; but I haven't seen the boat of her +inches before that could show her stern to the +Skylark," said Robert; and it was plain that he +was a little nettled at the slight advantage which +the new yacht had gained.</p> + +<p>"I should like to sail her when you try it, for +I have great hopes of the Sea Foam. If my +father has built a boat that will beat the Skylark +in all weathers, he has done a big thing, and it +will make business good for him."</p> + +<p>"For his sake I might be almost willing to be +whipped," replied Robert, good-naturedly, as +they halted in the grove.</p> + +<p>Charley Armstrong was the oldest member of +the party, and he was to call the meeting to +order, which he did with a brief speech, explaining +the object of the gathering, though everybody +present knew it perfectly well. Charles was then +chosen chairman, and Dick Adams secretary. It +was voted to form a club, and the secretary was +called upon to read the constitution of the "Dorchester +Yacht Club." The name was changed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +Belfast, and the document was adopted as the +constitution of the Belfast Yacht Club. The second +article declared that the officers should +consist of a "Commodore, Vice-Commodore, +Captain of the Fleet, Secretary, Treasurer, Measurer, +a Board of Trustees, and a Regatta Committee;" +and the next business was to elect them, +which had to be done by written or printed ballots. +As the first three officers were required to +be owners in whole, or in part, of yachts enrolled +in the club, there was found to be an alarming +scarcity of yachts. The Skylark, Sea Foam, +Phantom, and Christabel were on hand. Edward +Patterdale and Samuel Rodman had signified +their intention to join, though they were unable +to be present at the first meeting. The Maud, as +Samuel Rodman's new yacht was to be called, +was to be built at once: she was duly enrolled, +thus making a total of five, from whom the first +three officers must be chosen.</p> + +<p>The secretary had come supplied with stationery, +and a slip was handed to each member, +after the constitution had been signed. A ballot +was taken for commodore; Robert B. Montague +had twenty votes, and Charles Armstrong one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +Robert accepted the office in a "neat little +speech," and took the chair, which was a sharp +rock. Edward Patterdale was elected vice-commodore, +and Joseph Guilford captain of the fleet. +Donald was chosen measurer, and the other +offices filled to the satisfaction of those elected, +if not of the others. It was then agreed to have a +review and excursion on the following Saturday, +to which the ladies were to be invited.</p> + +<p>The important business of the day was happily +finished, and the fleet sailed for Belfast. Having +secured the Sea Foam at her mooring, Donald +hastened home. As he approached the cottage, +he saw a doctor's sulky at the door, and the neighbors +going in and out. His heart rose into his +throat, for there was not one living beneath that +humble roof whom he did not love better than +himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A SAD EVENT IN THE RAMSAY FAMILY.</h3> + + +<p>Donald's heart beat violently as he hastened +towards the cottage. Before he could +reach it, another doctor drew up at the door, +and it was painfully certain that one of the family +was very sick—dangerously so, or two physicians +would not have been summoned. It might be his +father, his mother, or his sister Barbara; and +whichever it was, it was terrible to think of. +His legs almost gave away under him, when he +staggered up to the cottage. As he did so, he +recalled the fact that his father had been ailing +when he went away in the Sea Foam. It must be +his father, therefore, who was now so desperately +ill as to require the attendance of two doctors.</p> + +<p>The cottage was a small affair, with a pretty +flower garden in front of it, and a whitewashed +fence around it. But small as it was, it was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +owned by the boat-builder, who, though not in +debt, had hardly anything of this world's goods—possibly +a hundred dollars in the savings' bank, +and the furniture in the cottage. Though he was +as prudent and thrifty as Scotchmen generally +are, and was not beset by their "often infirmity," +he had not been very prosperous. The business +of ship-building had been almost entirely suspended, +and for several years only a few small +vessels had been built in the city. Ramsay had +always obtained work; but he lived well, and +gave his daughter and his son an excellent education.</p> + +<p>Alexander Ramsay's specialty was the building +of yachts and boats, and he determined to make a +better use of his skill than selling it with his labor +for day wages. He went into business for himself +as a boat-builder. When he established himself, +he had several hundred dollars, with which he +purchased stock and tools. He had built several +sail-boats, but the Sea Foam was the largest job +he had obtained. Doubtless with life and health +he would have done a good business. Donald +had always been interested in boats, and he knew +the name and shape of every timber and plank in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +the hull of a vessel, as well as every spar and +rope. Though only sixteen, he was an excellent +mechanic himself. His father had taken great +pains to instruct him in the use of tools, and in +draughting and modelling boats and larger craft. +He not only studied the art in theory, but he +worked with his own hands. In the parlor of the +little cottage was a full-rigged brig, made entirely +by him. The hull was not a log, shaped and +dug out, but regularly constructed, with timbers +and planking. When he finished it, only a few +months before his introduction to the reader, he +felt competent to build a yacht like the Sea +Foam, without any assistance; but boys are generally +over-confident, and possibly he overrated +his ability.</p> + +<p>With his heart rising up into his throat, Donald +walked towards the cottage. As he passed the +whitewashed gate, one of the neighbors came out +at the front door. She was an elderly woman, +and she looked very sad as she glanced at the +boy.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you have come, Donald; but I'm +afraid he'll never speak to you again," said she.</p> + +<p>"Is it my father?" gasped the poor fellow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is; and he's very sick indeed."</p> + +<p>"What ails him?"</p> + +<p>"That's more than the doctors can tell yet," +added the woman. "They say it's very like the +cholera; and I suppose it's cholera-morbus. He +has been ailing for several days, and he didn't +take care of himself. But go in, Donald, and see +him while you may."</p> + +<p>The young man entered the cottage. The doctors, +his mother and sister, were all doing what +they could for the sufferer, who was enduring, +with what patience he could, the most agonizing +pain. Donald went into the chamber where his +father lay writhing upon the bed. The physicians +were at work upon him; but he saw his son +as he entered the room and held out his hand to +him. The boy took it in his own. It was cold +and convulsed.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you've come, Donald," groaned he, +uttering the words with great difficulty. "Be a +good boy always, and take care of your mother +and sister."</p> + +<p>"I will, father," sobbed Donald, pressing the +cold hand he held.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid I might never see you again," +gasped Mr. Ramsay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O, don't give up, my man," said Dr. Wadman. +"You may be all right in a few hours."</p> + +<p>The sick man said no more. He was in too +much pain to speak again, and Dr. Wadman sent +Donald to the kitchen for some hot water. When +he returned with it he was directed to go to the +apothecary's for an ounce of chloroform, which +the doctors were using internally and externally, +and had exhausted their supply. Donald ran all +the way as though the life of his father depended +upon his speed. He was absent only a few minutes, +but when he came back there was weeping +and wailing in the little cottage by the sea-side. +His father had breathed his last, even while the +doctors were hopefully working to save him.</p> + +<p>"O, Donald, Donald!" cried Mrs. Ramsay, as +she threw her arms around his neck. "Your poor +father is gone!"</p> + +<p>The boy could not speak; he could not even +weep, though his grief was not less intense than +that of his mother and sister. They groaned, and +sobbed, and sighed together, till kind neighbors +led them from the chamber of death, vainly endeavoring +to comfort them. It was hours before +they were even tolerably calm; but they could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +speak of nothing, think of nothing, but him who +was gone. The neighbors did all that it was necessary +to do, and spent the night with the +afflicted ones, who could not separate to seek +their beds. The rising sun of the Sabbath found +them still up, and still weeping—those who could +weep. It was a long, long Sunday to them, and +every moment of it was given to him who had +been a devoted husband and a tender father. +On Monday, all too soon, was the funeral; and +all that was mortal of Alexander Ramsay was laid +in the silent grave, never more to be looked upon +by those who had loved him, and whom he had +loved.</p> + +<p>The little cottage was like a casket robbed of +its single jewel to those who were left. Earth +and life seemed like a terrible blank to them. +They could not accustom themselves to the empty +chair at the window where he sat when his day's +work was done; to the vacant place at the table, +where he had always invoked the blessing of God +on the frugal fare before them; and to the silent +and deserted shop on the other side of the street, +from which the noise of his hammer and the clip of +his adze had come to them. A week wore away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +and nothing was done but the most necessary +offices of the household. The neighbors came +frequently to beguile their grief, and the minister +made several visits, bearing to them the consolations +of the gospel, and the tender message of a +genuine sympathy.</p> + +<p>But it is not for poor people long to waste +themselves in idle lamentations. The problem +of the future was forced upon Mrs. Ramsay for +solution. If they had been able only to live +comfortably on the earnings of the dead husband, +what should they do now when the strong arm that +delved for them was silent in the cold embrace of +death? They must all work now; but even then +the poor woman could hardly see how she could +keep her family together. Barbara was eighteen, +but she had never done anything except to assist +her mother, whose health was not very good, +about the house. She was a graduate of the High +School, and competent, so far as education was +concerned, to teach a school if she could obtain +a situation. Mrs. Ramsay might obtain work to +be done at home, but it was only a pittance she +could earn besides doing her housework. She +wished to have Donald finish his education at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +High School, but she was afraid this was impossible.</p> + +<p>Donald, still mourning for his father, who had +so constantly been his companion in the cottage +and in the shop, that he could not reconcile himself +to the loss, hardly thought of the future, till +his mother spoke to him about it. He had often, +since that bitter Saturday night, recalled the last +words his father had ever spoken to him, in which +he had told him to be a good boy always and take +care of his mother and sister; but they had not +much real significance to him till his mother +spoke to him. Then he understood them; then +he saw that his father was conscious of the near +approach of death, and had given his mother and +his sister into his keeping. Then, with the memory +of him who was gone lingering near and dear +in his heart, a mighty resolution was born in his +soul, though it did not at once take a practical +form.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about the future, mother," said +he, after he had listened to her rather hopeless +statement of her views.</p> + +<p>"I don't worry about it, Donald, for while we +have our health and strength, we can work and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +make a living. I want to keep you in school till +the end of the year, but I—"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can't go to school any more, +mother. I am ready to go to work," interposed +Donald.</p> + +<p>"I know you are, my boy; but I want you to +finish your school course very much."</p> + +<p>"I haven't thought a great deal about the matter +yet, mother, but I think I shall be able to do +what father told me."</p> + +<p>"Your father did not expect you to take care +of us till you had grown up, I'm sure," added +Mrs. Ramsay, who had heard the dying injunction +of her husband to their son.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that he did; but I shall do the +best I can."</p> + +<p>"Poor father! He never thought of anything +but us," sighed Mrs. Ramsay; and her woman's +tears flowed freely again, so freely that there was +no power of utterance left to her.</p> + +<p>Donald wept, too, as he thought of him who +was not only his father, but his loving companion +in study, in work, and in play. He left the +house and walked over to the shop. For the first +time since the sad event, he unlocked the door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +and entered. The tears trickled down his cheeks +as he glanced at the bench where his father had +done his last day's work. The planes and a few +other tools were neatly arranged upon it, and his +apron was spread over them. On the walls were +models of boats and yachts, and in one corner +were the "moulds." Donald seated himself on +the tool-chest, and looked around at every familiar +object in the shop. He was thinking of something, +but his thought had not yet taken definite +form. While he was considering the present and +the future, Samuel Rodman entered the shop.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose I can get the model of the +Sea Foam, Don John?" inquired he, after something +had been said about the deceased boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"I think you can. The model and the drawings +are all here," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"We intend to build the Maud this season, and +I want her to be as near like the Sea Foam as possible."</p> + +<p>"Who is going to build her?" asked Donald, +his interest suddenly kindled by the question.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; we haven't spoken to any one +about it yet," replied Samuel. "There isn't any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>body +in these parts that can build her as your +father would."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="600" height="451" alt="Don John wants a Job. Page 73." title="Don John wants a Job. Page 73." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Don John wants a Job.</span> <a href="#Page_73">Page 73</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Sam, can't I do this job for you?" said +Donald.</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I. You know I used to work with my +father, and I understand his way of doing things."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hadn't thought that you could do it; +but I will talk with my father about it," answered +Samuel, who appeared to have some doubts +about the ability of his friend to do so large a +job.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to do it all myself, Sam. I will +hire one or two first-rate ship carpenters," added +Donald. "She shall be just like the Sea Foam, +except a little alteration, which my father explained +to me, in the bow and run."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could do the job, Don +John?" asked Samuel, with an incredulous smile.</p> + +<p>"I know I could," said Donald, earnestly. +"If I had time enough I could build her all +alone."</p> + +<p>"We want her as soon as we can get her."</p> + +<p>"She shall be finished as quick as my father +could have done her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will see my father about it to-night, Don +John, and let you know to-morrow. I came +down to see about the model."</p> + +<p>Samuel Rodman left the shop and walked down +the beach to the sail-boat in which he had come. +Donald was almost inspired by the idea which +had taken possession of him. If he could only +carry on his father's business, he could make +money enough to support the family; and knowing +every stick in the hull of a vessel, he felt +competent to do so. Full of enthusiasm, he hastened +into the cottage to unfold his brilliant +scheme to his mother. He stated his plan to her, +but at first she shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could build a yacht, Donald?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>"I am certain I could. Didn't you hear father +say that my brig contained every timber and +plank that belongs to a vessel?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that the work was done as well as he +could do it himself; but that does not prove that +you can carry on the business."</p> + +<p>"I want one or two men, if we build the Maud, +because it would take too long for me to do all +the work alone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Maud?"</p> + +<p>"That was the yacht that father was to build +next. I asked Sam Rodman to give me the job, +and he is going to talk with his father about it +to-night."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ramsay was rather startled at this announcement, +which indicated that her son really +meant business in earnest.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he will let you do it?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"I hope he will."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you can make anything if you +build the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"Father made over three hundred dollars on +the Sea Foam, besides his day wages."</p> + +<p>"That is no reason why you can do it."</p> + +<p>"All his models, moulds, and draughts are in +the shop. I know where they are, and just what +to do with them. I hope you will let me try it, +mother."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you don't make out?"</p> + +<p>"But I shall make out."</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Rodman refuses to accept the yacht +after the job is done, what will you do?"</p> + +<p>"I shall have her myself then, and I can make +lots of money taking out parties in her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your father was paid for the Sea Foam as the +work progressed. He had received eight hundred +dollars on her when she was finished."</p> + +<p>"I know it; and Captain Patterdale owes four +hundred more. If you let me use some of the +money to buy stock and pay the men till I get +payment on the job, I shall do very well."</p> + +<p>"We must have something to live on. After +I have paid the funeral expenses and other bills, +this money that Captain Patterdale owes will be +all I have."</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Rodman will pay me something on +the job, when he is satisfied that the work will +be done."</p> + +<p>The widow was not very clear about the business; +but she concluded, at last, that if Mr. +Rodman would give him the job, she would allow +him to undertake it. Donald was satisfied, and +went back to the shop. He opened his father's +chest and took out his account book. Turning to +a page which was headed "Sea Foam," he found +every item of labor and expenditure charged to +her. Every day's work, every foot of stock, +every pound of nails, every article of brass or +hardware, and the cost of sails and cordage,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +were carefully entered on the account. From +this he could learn the price of everything used +in the construction of the yacht, for his guidance +in the great undertaking before him. But +he was quite familiar before with the cost of +everything used in building a boat. On a piece +of smooth board, he figured up the probable +cost, and assured himself he could make a good +job of the building of the Maud.</p> + +<p>The next day was Saturday—two weeks after +the organization of the yacht club. There had +been a grand review a week before, which Donald +did not attend. The yachtmen had taken +their mothers, sisters, and other friends on an +excursion down the bay, and given them a collation +at Turtle Head. On the Saturday in +question, a meeting of the club at the Head had +been called to complete the arrangements for a +regatta, and the Committee on Regattas were to +make their report. Donald had been requested +to attend in order to measure the yachts. He +did not feel much like taking part in the sports +of the club, but he decided to perform the duty +required of him. He expected to see Samuel +Rodman on this occasion, and to learn the de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>cision +of his father in regard to the building of +the Maud.</p> + +<p>After breakfast he embarked in the sail-boat +which had belonged to his father, and with a +fresh breeze stood over to Turtle Head. He had +dug some clams early in the morning, and told +his mother he should bring home some fish +which he intended to catch after the meeting of +the club. As the boat sped on her way, he +thought of his grand scheme to carry on his +father's business, and everything seemed to depend +upon Mr. Rodman's decision. He hoped +for the best, but he trembled for the result. +When he reached his destination, he found another +boat at the Head, and soon discovered +Laud Cavendish on the bluff.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Don John!" shouted the swell, as +Donald stepped on shore.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Laud? You are out early."</p> + +<p>"Not very; I came ashore here to see if I +couldn't find some clams," added Laud, as he +held up a clam-digger he carried in his hand—a +kind of trowel fixed in a shovel-handle.</p> + +<p>"You can't find any clams here," said Donald, +wondering that even such a swell should expect +to find them there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am going down to Camden to stay over +Sunday, and I thought I might fish a little on the +way."</p> + +<p>"You will find some farther down the shore, +where there is a soft beach. Do you get off every +Saturday now, Laud?"</p> + +<p>"Get off? Yes; I get off every day. I'm out +of a job."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were at Miller's store."</p> + +<p>"I was there; but I'm not now. Miller +shoved me out. Do you know of any fellow +that has a good boat to sell?"</p> + +<p>"What kind of a boat?"</p> + +<p>"Well, one like the Skylark and the Sea +Foam."</p> + +<p>"No; I don't know of any one around here. +Do you want to buy one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I thought I would buy one, if I could +get her about right. She must be cheap."</p> + +<p>"How cheap do you expect to buy a boat like +the Sea Foam?" asked Donald, wondering what a +young man out of business could be thinking +about when he talked of buying a yacht.</p> + +<p>"Four or five hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam cost twelve hundred."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's a fancy price. The Skylark didn't +cost but five hundred."</p> + +<p>"Do you want to give five hundred for a +boat?"</p> + +<p>"Not for myself, Don John. I was going to +buy one for another man. I must be going +now," added Laud, as he went down to his boat.</p> + +<p>Hoisting his sail, he shoved off, and stood over +towards Searsport. Donald walked up the slope +to the Head, from which he could see the yacht +club fleet as soon as it sailed from the city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK.</h3> + + +<p>Donald seated himself on a rock, with his +gaze directed towards Belfast. His particular +desire just then was to see Samuel Rodman, +in order to learn whether he was to have the job of +building the Maud. He felt able to do it, and even +then, as he thought of the work, he had in his +mind the symmetrical lines of the new yacht, as +they were to be after the change in the model which +his father had explained to him. He recalled a +suggestion of a small increase in the size of the +mainsail, which had occurred to him when he +sailed the Sea Foam. His first aspiration was +only to build a yacht; his second was to build +one that would beat anything of her inches in the +fleet. If he could realize this last ambition, he +would have all the business he could do.</p> + +<p>The yacht fleet did not appear up the bay; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +it was only nine o'clock in the morning, and possibly +the meeting of the club would not take +place till afternoon. If any one had told him the +hour, he had forgotten it, but the former meeting +had been in the forenoon. He was too nervous +to sit still a great while, and, rising, he walked +about, musing upon his grand scheme. The +place was an elevated platform of rock, a portion +of it covered with soil to the depth of several +feet, on which the grass grew. It was not far +above the water even at high tide, nor were the +bluffs very bold. The plateau was on a peninsula, +extending to the north from the island, +which was not unlike the head of a turtle, and +the shape had given it a name. Donald walked +back and forth on the headland, watching for the +fleet.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Laud Cavendish was digging for +clams up here," thought he, as he observed a spot +where the earth appeared to have been disturbed.</p> + +<p>The marks of Laud's clam-digger were plainly +to be seen in the loam, a small quantity of which +remained on the sod. Certainly the swell had +been digging there; but it could not have been +for clams; and Donald was trying to imagine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +what it was for, when he heard footsteps near +him. Coming towards him, he discovered Captain +Shivernock, of the city; and he had two +problems to solve instead of one; not very important +ones, it is true, but just such as are suggested +to everybody at times. Perhaps it did +not make the least difference to the young man +whether or not he ascertained why Laud Cavendish +had been digging on the Head, or why Captain +Shivernock happened to be on the island, +apparently without any boat, at that time in the +morning. I do not think Donald would have +given a nickel five-cent piece to have been informed +correctly upon either point, though he did +propose the question to himself in each case. +Probably Laud had no particular object in view +in digging—the ground did not look as though he +had; and Captain Shivernock was odd enough to +do anything, or to be anywhere, at the most unseasonable +hours.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Don John?" shouted the captain, +as he came within hailing distance of +Donald.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Captain Shivernock," replied +the young man, rather coldly, for he had no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +regard, and certainly no admiration, for the man.</p> + +<p>"You are just the man I wanted to see," added +the captain.</p> + +<p>Donald could not reciprocate the sentiment, +and, not being a hypocrite, he made no reply. +The captain seemed to be somewhat fatigued and +out of breath, and immediately seated himself on +the flat rock which the young man had occupied. +He was not more than five feet and a half high, +but was tolerably stout. The top of his head was +as bald as a winter squash; but extending around +the back of his head from ear to ear was a heavy +fringe of red hair. His whiskers were of the +same color; but, as age began to bleach them out +under the chin, he shaved this portion of his +figure-head, while his side whiskers and mustache +were very long. He was dressed in a complete +suit of gray, and wore a coarse braided straw hat.</p> + +<p>Captain Shivernock, as I have more than once +hinted, was an eccentric man. He had been a +shipmaster in the earlier years of his life, and +had made a fortune by some lucky speculations +during the War of the Rebellion, in which he +took counsel of his interest rather than his +patriotism. He had a strong will, a violent tem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>per, +and an implacable hatred to any man who had +done him an injury, either actually or constructively. +It was said that he was as faithful and devoted +in his friendships as he was bitter and +relentless in his hatreds; but no one in the city, +where he was a very unpopular man, had any particular +experience of the soft side of his character. +He was a native of Lincolnville, near Belfast, +though he had left his home in his youth. He +had a fine house in the city, and lived in good +style. He was said to be a widower, and had no +children. The husband of his housekeeper was +the man of all work about his place, and both of +them had come with their employer from New +York.</p> + +<p>He seldom did anything like other people. +He never went to church, would never put his +name upon a subscription paper, however worthy +the object, though he had been known to give a +poor man an extravagant reward for a slight service. +He would not pay his taxes till the fangs +of the law worried the money out of him, but +would give fifty dollars for the first salmon or the +first dish of peaches of the season for his table. +He was as full of contradictions as he was of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +oddities, and no one knew how to take him. One +moment he seemed to be hoarding his money like +a miser, and the next scattering it with insane +prodigality.</p> + +<p>"I'm tired out, Don John," added Captain +Shivernock, as he seated himself, fanning his red +face with his hat.</p> + +<p>"Have you walked far, sir?" asked Donald, +who was well acquainted with the captain; for +his father had worked on his boat, and he was +often in the shop.</p> + +<p>"I believe I have hoofed it about ten miles this +morning," replied Captain Shivernock with an +oath; and he had a wicked habit of ornamenting +every sentence he used with a profane expletive, +which I shall invariably omit.</p> + +<p>"Then you have walked nearly the whole +length of the island."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me I lie?" demanded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, sir," protested Donald.</p> + +<p>"My boat got aground down here. I started +early this morning to go down to Vinal Haven; +but I'm dished now, and can't go," continued +Captain Shivernock, so interlarding with oaths<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +this simple statement that it looks like another +thing divested of them.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get aground?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"Down by Seal Harbor."</p> + +<p>"About three miles from here."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I lied to you?"</p> + +<p>"By no means, sir."</p> + +<p>Donald could not divine how the captain had +got aground near Seal Harbor, if he was bound +from Belfast to Vinal Haven, though it was possible +that the wind had been more to the southward +early in the morning, compelling him to +beat down the bay; but it was not prudent to +question anything the captain said.</p> + +<p>"I ran in shore pretty well, and took the +ground. I tried for half an hour to get the Juno +off, but I was soon left high and dry on the +beach. I anchored her where she was, and I'm +sorry now I didn't set her afire," explained the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Set her afire!" exclaimed Donald.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. She shall never play +me such a trick again," growled the strange man.</p> + +<p>"Why, it wasn't the fault of the boat."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say it was my fault?" de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>manded +the captain, ripping out a string of oaths +that made Donald shiver.</p> + +<p>"It was an accident which might happen to any +one."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I didn't know what I was +about?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you did, sir; but any boat may get +aground."</p> + +<p>"Not with me! if she did I'd burn her or sell +her for old junk. I never will sail in her again +after I get home. I know what I'm about."</p> + +<p>"Of course you do, sir."</p> + +<p>"Got a boat here?" suddenly demanded the +eccentric.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I have our sail-boat."</p> + +<p>"Take me down to Seal Harbor in her," added +the captain, rising from his seat.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I can go, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't you? What's the reason you can't?" +asked the captain, with a sneer on his lips.</p> + +<p>"I have to meet the yacht club here."</p> + +<p>Captain Shivernock cursed the yacht club with +decided unction, and insisted that Donald should +convey him in his boat to the place where the +Juno was at anchor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have to measure the yachts when they +come, sir."</p> + +<p>"Measure—" but the place the captain suggested +was not capable of measurement. "I'll +pay you well for going."</p> + +<p>"I should not ask any pay if I could go," +added Donald, glancing up the bay to see if the +fleet was under way.</p> + +<p>"I say I will pay you well, and you will be a +fool if you don't go with me."</p> + +<p>"The yachts haven't started yet, and perhaps I +shall have time to get back before they arrive."</p> + +<p>"I don't care whether you get back or not; I +want you to go."</p> + +<p>"I will go, sir, and run the risk," replied +Donald, as he led the way down to the boat.</p> + +<p>Shoving her off, he helped the captain into her, +and hoisted the sail.</p> + +<p>"What boat's that over there?" demanded +Captain Shivernock, as he pointed at the craft +sailed by Laud Cavendish, which was still standing +on towards Searsport.</p> + +<p>Donald told him who was in her.</p> + +<p>"Don't go near her," said he, sternly. "I +always want a good mile between me and that +puppy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He is bound to Camden, and won't get there +for a week at that rate," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"Don't care if he don't," growled the passenger.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I do, either," added the +skipper. "Laud wants to buy a boat, and perhaps +you can sell him yours, if you are tired of +her."</p> + +<p>"Shut up!"</p> + +<p>Donald did "shut up," and decided not to +make any more talk with the captain, only to +give him civil answers. Ordinarily he would as +soon have thought of wrestling with a Bengal +tiger as of carrying on a conversation with such a +porcupine as his passenger, who scrupled not to +insult man or boy without the slightest provocation. +In a few moments the skipper tacked, +having weathered the Head, and stood into the +little bay west of it.</p> + +<p>"Don John," said Captain Shivernock, sharply, +fixing his gaze upon the skipper.</p> + +<p>"Sir?"</p> + +<p>The captain took his wallet from his pocket. +It was well filled with greenbacks, from which +he took several ten-dollar bills—five or six of +them, at least.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will pay you," said he.</p> + +<p>"I don't ask any pay for this, sir. I am willing +to do you a favor for nothing."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, you fool! A favor?" +sneered the eccentric. "Do you think I would +ask a little monkey like you to do me a favor?"</p> + +<p>"I won't call it a favor, sir."</p> + +<p>"Better not. There! take that," and Captain +Shivernock shoved the bills he had taken from +his wallet into Donald's hand.</p> + +<p>"No, sir! I can't take all that, if I do anything," +protested the skipper, amazed at the generosity +of his passenger. The captain, with a +sudden spring, grasped a short boat-hook which +lay between the rail and the wash-board.</p> + +<p>"Put that money into your pocket, or I'll +smash your head; and you won't be the first +man I've killed, either," said the violent passenger.</p> + +<p>Donald did not find the money hard to take +on its own merits, and he considerately obeyed +the savage order. His pride, which revolted at +the idea of being paid for a slight service rendered +to a neighbor, was effectually conquered. +He put the money in his pocket; but as soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +the captain laid down the boat-hook, he took it +out to count it, and found there was fifty dollars. +He deposited it carefully in his wallet.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to pay me all that money for +this little job?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I don't know what I mean?" +snarled the passenger.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you do, sir."</p> + +<p>"You suppose I do!" sneered the cynic. "You +know I do."</p> + +<p>"Fifty dollars is a great deal of money for +such a little job."</p> + +<p>"That's none of your business. Don John, +you've got a tongue in your head!" said Captain +Shivernock, pointing his finger at the skipper, +and glowering upon him as though he was +charging him with some heinous crime.</p> + +<p>"I am aware of it, sir," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what a tongue is for?" demanded +the captain.</p> + +<p>"It is of great assistance to one in talking."</p> + +<p>"Don't equivocate, you sick monkey. Do +you know what a tongue is for?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"What's a tongue for?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To talk with, and—"</p> + +<p>"That's enough! I thought you would say +so. You are an ignorant whelp."</p> + +<p>"Isn't the tongue to talk with?"</p> + +<p>"No!" roared the passenger.</p> + +<p>"What is it for, then?" asked Donald, who +did not know whether to be alarmed or amused +at the manner of his violent companion.</p> + +<p>"It's to keep still with, you canting little +monkey! And that's what I want you to do +with your tongue," replied Captain Shivernock.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I understand you, sir."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you do. How could you, when +I haven't told you what I mean. Listen to me." +The eccentric paused, and fixed his gaze earnestly +upon the skipper.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen me this morning?" demanded +he.</p> + +<p>"Of course I have."</p> + +<p>"No, you haven't!"</p> + +<p>"I really thought I had."</p> + +<p>"Thought's a fool, and you're another! You +haven't seen me. If anybody in Belfast asks +you if you have seen me, tell 'em you haven't."</p> + +<p>"If the tongue isn't to talk with, it isn't to +tell a lie with," added Donald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the captain; "you've +got me there."</p> + +<p>He produced his wallet again, and took a ten-dollar +bill from the roll it contained, which he +tendered to Donald.</p> + +<p>"What's that for?" asked the skipper.</p> + +<p>"Put it in your pocket, or I'll mash your +empty skull!"</p> + +<p>Donald placed it with the other bills in his +wallet, more than ever amazed at the conduct of +his singular passenger.</p> + +<p>"I never allow anyone to get ahead of me +without paying for my own stupidity. Do you +go to Sunday School, and church, and missionary +meetings?" asked the captain, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"I do, sir."</p> + +<p>"I thought so. You are a sick monkey. You +don't let your tongue tell a lie."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I don't mean to tell a lie, if I can +help it, and I generally can."</p> + +<p>"You walk in the strait and narrow way which +leads to the meeting-house. I don't. All right! +Broad is the way! But one thing is certain, +Don John, you haven't seen me to-day."</p> + +<p>"But I have," persisted Donald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I say you have not; don't contradict me, if +you want to take that head of yours home with +you. Nobody will ask whether you have seen +me or not; so that if a lie is likely to choke +you, keep still with your tongue."</p> + +<p>"I am not to say that I have seen you on the +island?" queried Donald.</p> + +<p>"You are not," replied the captain, with an +echoing expletive.</p> + +<p>"Why not, sir?"</p> + +<p>"None of your business! Do as you are told, +and spend the money I gave you for gingerbread +and fast horses."</p> + +<p>"But when my mother sees this money she +will want to know where I got it."</p> + +<p>"If you tell her or anybody else, I'll hammer +your head till it isn't thicker than a piece of +sheet-iron. Don't let her see the money. Hire +a fast horse, and go to ride next Sunday."</p> + +<p>"I don't go to ride on Sunday."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. Give it to the missionaries +to buy red flannel shirts for little niggers in the +West Indies, if you like. I don't care what you +do with it."</p> + +<p>"You don't wish anybody to know you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +been on the island this morning—is that the idea, +Captain Shivernock?" asked Donald, not a little +alarmed at the position in which his companion +was placing him.</p> + +<p>"That's the idea, Don John."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why—"</p> + +<p>"You are not to see why," interrupted the captain, +fiercely. "That's my business, not yours. +Will you do as I tell you?"</p> + +<p>"If there is any trouble—"</p> + +<p>"There isn't any trouble. Do you think I've +killed somebody?—No. Do you think I've +robbed somebody?—No. Do you think I've set +somebody's house on fire?—No. Do you think +I've stolen somebody's chickens?—No. Nothing +of the sort. I want to know whether you can +keep your tongue still. Let us see. There's +the Juno."</p> + +<p>"Somebody will see your boat, and know that +you have been here—"</p> + +<p>"That's my business, not yours. Don't bother +your head with what don't concern you," growled +the passenger.</p> + +<p>The Juno was afloat, but she could not have +been so many minutes, when Donald came along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>side +of her. It was now about half tide on the +flood, and she must have grounded at about half +tide on the ebb. This fact indicated that Captain +Shivernock had left her at four o'clock in the +morning. The owner of the Juno stepped into +her, and Donald hoisted the sail for him. The +boat was cat-rigged, and about twenty-four feet +long. She was a fine craft, with a small cabin +forward, furnished with every convenience the +limited space would permit. The captain seated +himself in the standing-room, and began to heap +maledictions upon the boat.</p> + +<p>"I never will sail in her again," said he. "I +will burn her, and get a centre-board boat."</p> + +<p>"What will you take for her, sir?" asked +Donald.</p> + +<p>"Do you want her, Don John?" demanded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't afford to keep her; but I will sell +her for you."</p> + +<p>"Sell—" it is no matter what; but Captain Shivernock +suddenly leaped back into Donald's boat, +and her skipper wondered what he intended to do +next. "She is yours, Don John!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"To sell for you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No! Sell her, if you like, but put the +money in your own pocket. I will sail up in +your boat, and you may go to Jerusalem in the +Juno, if you like. I will never get into her +again," added the captain, spitefully.</p> + +<p>"But, Captain Shivernock, you surely don't +mean to <i>give</i> me this boat."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I don't know what I mean?" +roared the strange man, after a long string of +expletives. "She is yours, now; not mine. I'll +give you a bill of sale as soon as I go ashore. +Not another word, or I'll pound your head. +Don't tell anybody I gave her to you, or that +you have seen me. If you do there will be a job +for a coffin-maker."</p> + +<p>The captain shoved off the boat, and laid her +course across the bay, evidently to avoid Laud +Cavendish, whose craft was a mile distant; for he +had probably put in at Searsport. Donald +weighed the anchor of the Juno, and sailed for +Turtle Head, hardly knowing whether he was +himself or somebody else, so amazed was he at +the strange conduct of his late passenger. He +could not begin to comprehend it, and he did not +have to strain his logic very much in coming to +the conclusion that the captain was insane.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>DONALD GETS THE JOB.</h3> + + +<p>Whether Captain Shivernock was sane or +insane, Donald Ramsay was in possession +of the Juno. Of course he did not consider himself +the proprietor of the craft, if he did of the sixty +dollars he had in his pocket. She had the wind +over her port quarter, and the boat tore through the +water as if she intended to show her new skipper +what she could do. But Donald paid little attention +to the speed of the Juno, for his attention +was wholly absorbed by the remarkable events of +the morning. Captain Shivernock had given him +sixty dollars in payment nominally for the slight +service rendered him. But then, the strange +man had given a poor laborer a hundred dollars +for stopping his horse, when the animal leisurely +walked towards home from the store where the +owner had left him. Again, he had given a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +negro sailor a fifty-dollar bill for sculling him +across the river. He had rewarded a small boy +with a ten-dollar bill for bringing him a despatch +from the telegraph office. When the woman +who went to his house to do the washing was +taken sick, and was not able to work for three +months, he regularly called at her rooms every +Monday morning and gave her ten dollars, which +was three times as much as she ever earned in +the same time.</p> + +<p>Remembering these instances of the captain's +bounty, Donald had no doubt about the ownership +of the sixty dollars in his pocket. The +money was his own; but how had he earned it? +Was he paid to keep his tongue still, or simply +for the service performed? If for his silence, +what had the captain done which made him desire +to conceal the fact that he had been to the +island? The strange man had explicitly denied +having killed, robbed, or stolen from anybody. +All the skipper could make of it was, that his +desire for silence was only a whim of the captain, +and he was entirely willing to accommodate +him. If there had been any mischief done on +the island, he should hear of it; and in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +event he would take counsel of some one older +and wiser than himself. Then he tried to satisfy +himself as to why the captain had walked at +least three miles to Turtle Head, instead of waiting +till the tide floated the Juno. This appeared +to be also a whim of the strange man. People +in the city used to say it was no use to ask +the reason for anything that Captain Shivernock +did. His motive in giving Donald sixty +dollars and his boat, which would sell readily for +three hundred dollars, and had cost over five hundred, +was utterly unaccountable.</p> + +<p>Donald was determined not to do anything +wrong, and if the captain had committed any evil +deed, he fully intended to expose him; but he +meant to keep still until he learned that the evil +deed had been done. The money in his pocket, +and that for which the Juno could be sold, would +be capital enough to enable him to carry on the +business of boat-building. But he was determined +to see Captain Shivernock that very day in +regard to the boat. Perhaps the strange man +would give him a job to build a centre-board +yacht, for he wanted one.</p> + +<p>"Hallo! Juno, ahoy!" shouted Laud Cavendish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Donald threw the boat up into the wind, under +the stern of Laud's craft.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were going down to Camden," +said he. "You won't get there to-day at this +rate."</p> + +<p>"I forgot some things I wanted, and ran up to +Searsport after them. But what are you doing +in the Juno, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"She's going to be sold, Laud," replied Donald, +dodging the direct question. "Didn't you say +you wanted to buy a boat?"</p> + +<p>"I said so; and I want to buy one badly. I'm +going to spend my summer on the water. What +does the captain ask for her?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what the price is, but I'll let you +know on Monday," added Donald, as he filled +away again, for the yacht fleet was now in sight.</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute, Don John; I want to talk +with you about her."</p> + +<p>"I can't stop now. I have to go up to the +Head and measure the yachts."</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word to anybody about my buying +her," added Laud.</p> + +<p>He was soon out of hearing of Laud's voice. +He wondered if the swell really wished to buy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +such a boat as the Juno, and could pay three hundred +dollars for her. His father was not a rich +man, and he was out of business himself. And +he wanted Donald to keep still too. What motive +had he for wishing his proposition to be kept +in the dark? His object was not apparent, and +Donald was obliged to give up the conundrum, +though he had some painful doubts on the subject. +As he thought of the matter, he turned to observe +the position of the two boats to the southward of +him. Directly ahead of Laud's craft was an +island which he could not weather, and he was +obliged to tack. He could not lay his course, +and he had to take a short and then a long +stretch, and he was now standing across the bay +on the short leg. Captain Shivernock had run +over towards the Northport shore, and Donald +thought they could not well avoid coming within +hailing distance of each other. But the Juno +passed beyond the north-west point of the island, +and he could no longer see them. He concluded, +however, that the captain would not let +Laud, or any one else, see him afloat that day. +He was a very strange man.</p> + +<p>Donald ran the Juno around the point, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +anchored her under the lee of Turtle Head. The +fleet was still a couple of miles distant, and after +he had lowered and secured the mainsail, he had +nothing to do but examine the fine craft which +had so strangely come into his possession. He +went into the cuddy forward, and overhauled +everything there, till he was fully qualified to set +forth the merits of her accommodations to a purchaser. +The survey was calculated to kindle his +own enthusiasm, for Donald was as fond of boating +as any young man in the club. The idea of +keeping the Juno for his own use occurred to +him, but he resisted the temptation, and determined +not even to think of such an extravagant +plan.</p> + +<p>The yacht fleet was now approaching, the Skylark +gallantly leading the way, and the Christabel, +with a reef in her mainsail, bringing up the +rear. The Sea Foam did not seem to hold her +own with the Skylark, as she had done before, +but she was the second to drop her anchor +under the lee of Turtle Head.</p> + +<p>"I cam glad to see you, Don John," said +Commodore Montague, as he discovered Donald +in the Juno. "I was afraid you were not com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>ing, +and I went up to the shop to look for you. +But how came you in that boat?"</p> + +<p>"She is for sale," replied Donald, as the tender +of the Skylark came alongside the Juno, and he +stepped into it. "Do you know of anybody that +wants to buy her?"</p> + +<p>"I know three or four who want boats, but I +am not sure the Juno would suit either of +them," replied the commodore.</p> + +<p>The boat pulled to the shore, and no one asked +any more questions about the Juno, or her late +owner. The members of the club on board of +the several yachts landed, and Donald was soon +in earnest conversation with Samuel Rodman.</p> + +<p>"What does your father say?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"He wants to see you," replied Samuel.</p> + +<p>"Does he think I can't do the job?"</p> + +<p>"He did not think so at first, but when I told +him you would employ one or two regular ship +carpenters, he was satisfied, and I think he will +give you the job."</p> + +<p>"I hope he will, and I am sure I can give +him as good work as he can get anywhere."</p> + +<p>"I haven't any doubt of it, Don John. But +the Sea Foam isn't doing so well as she did the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +first day you had her out. The Skylark beats +her every time they sail."</p> + +<p>"Ned Patterdale hasn't got the hang of her +yet."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not."</p> + +<p>"I should like to have Bob Montague sail +her, and Ned the Skylark; I think it would +make a difference," added Donald. "Ned does +very well, but a skipper must get used to his +boat; and he hasn't had much experience in +yachts as large as the Sea Foam. I spoke to you +of a change in the model for the Maud; and if +I'm not greatly mistaken, she will beat both the +Sea Foam and the Skylark."</p> + +<p>"I would give all my spending-money for a +year, over and above the cost, if she would do +that," replied Rodman, with a snap of the eye.</p> + +<p>"Of course I can't promise that she will do +it, but I expect she will," said Donald.</p> + +<p>The club assembled under the trees, and the +members were called to order by the commodore. +The first business was to hear the report of the +Regatta Committee, which proved to be a very +interesting document to the yachtmen. The +race was to take place the next Saturday, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +was open to all yachts exceeding twenty feet in +length, duly entered before the time. All were +to sail in the same class; the first prize was a +silver vase, and the second a marine glass. The +course was to be from the judge's boat, in Belfast +harbor, by Turtle Head, around the buoy on +Stubb's Point Ledge, leaving it on the port hand, +and back to the starting-point. The sailing regulations +already adopted by the club were to be +in full force. The report was accepted, and the +members looked forward with eager anticipation +to what they regarded as the greatest event of the +season. Other business was transacted, and +Donald, who had brought with him a measuring +tape and plummet, measured all the yachts of the +club. Dinner was served on board of each craft, +and the commodore extended the hospitalities of +the Skylark to Donald.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, the fleet made an excursion +around Long Island, returning to Belfast about +six o'clock, Donald sailing the Juno, and catching +a mess of fish off Haddock Ledge. He +moored her off the shop, and was rather surprised +to find that his own boat had not yet been returned. +After supper he hastened to the house<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +of Mr. Rodman, with whom he had a long talk in +regard to the building of the Maud. The gentleman +had some doubts about the ability of the +young boat-builder to do so large a job, though +he desired to encourage him.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to give you the work, and to +pay you the same price your father had for the +Sea Foam; but I don't like to pay out money till +I know that you are to succeed," said he.</p> + +<p>"I don't ask you to do so, sir," replied Donald, +warmly. "You need not pay me a cent till +you are perfectly satisfied."</p> + +<p>"But I supposed you would want money to +buy stock and pay your men, even before you had +set up your frame."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; we have capital enough to make a +beginning."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied then, and you shall have the +job," added Mr. Rodman.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Donald, delighted +at his success.</p> + +<p>"You may go to work as soon as you please; +and the sooner the better, for Samuel is in a +great hurry for his yacht."</p> + +<p>"I will go to work on Monday morning. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +model, moulds, and drawings are all ready, and +there will be no delay, sir," answered the young +boat-builder, as he took his leave of his considerate +patron.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Mr. Rodman was not satisfied that the +young man would succeed in the undertaking, but +he had not the heart to discourage one who was +so earnest. He determined to watch the progress +of the work very closely, and if he discovered +that the enterprise was not likely to be successful, +he intended to stop it before much time or +money had been wasted. Donald had fully detailed +the means at his command for doing the +job in a workman-like manner, and he was well +known as an ingenious and skilful mechanic. +Mr. Rodman had strong hopes that the young +man would succeed in his undertaking.</p> + +<p>Donald walked toward the house of Captain +Shivernock, congratulating himself on the happy +issue of his interview with Mr. Rodman. As he +passed the book and periodical store, he saw +Lawrence Kennedy, a ship carpenter, who had formerly +worked with Mr. Ramsay, standing at the +door, reading the weekly paper just from the +press. This man was out of work, and was talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>ing +of going to Bath to find employment. Donald +had already thought of him as one of his +hands, for Kennedy was a capital mechanic.</p> + +<p>"What's the news?" asked Donald, rather to +open the way to what he had to say, than because +he was interested in the latest intelligence.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Donald?" replied the ship +carpenter. "There's a bit of news from Lincolnville, +but I suppose you heard it; for all the town +is talking about it."</p> + +<p>"I haven't heard it."</p> + +<p>"A man in Lincolnville was taken from his +bed in the dead hour of the night, and beaten to +a jelly."</p> + +<p>"Who was the man?"</p> + +<p>"His name was Hasbrook."</p> + +<p>"Hasbrook!" exclaimed Donald.</p> + +<p>"Do you know him, lad?"</p> + +<p>"I know of him; and he has the reputation of +being anything but an honest man."</p> + +<p>"Then it's not much matter," laughed the ship +carpenter.</p> + +<p>"But who beat him?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"No one knows who it was. Hasbrook +couldn't make him out; but likely it's some one +the rogue has cheated."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hasbrook must have seen him," suggested +Donald.</p> + +<p>"The ruffian was disguised with his head in a +bit of a bag, or something of that sort, and he +never spoke a word from first to last," added +Kennedy, looking over the article in the paper.</p> + +<p>Donald wondered if Captain Shivernock had +any dealings with Hasbrook. He was just the +man to take the law into his own hands, and +assault one who had done him a real or a fancied +injury. Donald began to think he understood +why the captain did not wish it to be known +that he was on Long Island the night before. +But the outrage had been committed in Lincolnville, +which bordered the western arm of Penobscot +Bay. It was three miles from the main land +to the island. If the captain was in Lincolnville +in "the dead of night," on a criminal errand, +what was he doing near Seal Harbor, where the +Juno was aground, at four o'clock in the morning? +If he was the guilty party, he would naturally +desire to get home before daylight. The +wind was fair for him to do so, and there was +enough of it to enable the Juno to make the run +in less than two hours. It did not seem probable,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +therefore, that the captain had gone over to the +other side of the bay, three miles off his course. +Besides, he was not disguised, but wore his usual +gray suit; and Hasbrook ought to have been able +to recognize him by his form and his dress even +in the darkest night.</p> + +<p>Donald was perplexed and disturbed. If there +was any probability that Captain Shivernock had +committed the crime, our hero was not to be +bribed by sixty or six thousand dollars to keep +the secret. If guilty, he would have been more +likely to go below and turn in than to walk three +miles on the island for assistance, and he would +not have gone three miles off his course. But +Donald determined to inquire into the matter, +and do his whole duty, even if the strange man +killed him for it. Kennedy was reading his +paper while the young man was thinking over the +case; but, having decided what to do, he interrupted +the ship carpenter again.</p> + +<p>"Are you still out of work, Mr. Kennedy?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"I am; and I think I shall go to Bath next +week," replied Kennedy.</p> + +<p>"I know of a job for you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="600" height="433" alt="The News from Lincolnville. Page 110." title="The News from Lincolnville. Page 110." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The News from <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Linconville'">Lincolnville</ins>.</span> <a href="#Page_110">Page 110</a> .</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you, lad? I don't want to move away +from Belfast, and I should be glad to get work +here. What's the job?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to build a yacht of the size of +the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"Who?" inquired the workman.</p> + +<p>"My mother and I intend to carry on my +father's business."</p> + +<p>"And you wish me to manage it for you?"</p> + +<p>"No; I intend to manage it myself," added +Donald, confidently.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, you are clever enough to do it; +and if you are like your father, I shall be glad +to work for you."</p> + +<p>The wages were agreed upon, and Kennedy +promised to be at the shop on Monday morning, +to assist the young boat-builder in selecting the +stock for the Maud. Donald walked to the +house of Captain Shivernock. In the yard he +found Sykes, the man who did all sorts of work +for his employer, from taking care of the horses +up to negotiating mortgages. Donald had occasionally +been to the house, and he knew Sykes +well enough to pass the time of day with him +when they met in the street.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is Captain Shivernock at home?" asked the +young man, trying to appear indifferent, for he +wanted to get as much information in regard to +the strange man's movements during the last +twenty-four hours as possible.</p> + +<p>"No, he is not," replied Sykes, who to some +extent aped the manners of his eccentric employer.</p> + +<p>"Not at home!" exclaimed Donald, who had +not expected this answer, though he had not +found his own boat at her moorings on his return +from the excursion with the fleet.</p> + +<p>"Are you deaf, young man?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; not at all."</p> + +<p>"Then you heard me say he was not at +home," growled Sykes.</p> + +<p>"I want to see him very much. Will he be +long away?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you. He won't come back till +he gets ready, if it isn't for a month."</p> + +<p>"Of course not; but I should like to know +when I can probably see him."</p> + +<p>"You can probably see him when he comes +home. He started in his boat for Vinal Haven +early this morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This morning?" repeated Donald, who wished +to be sure on this point.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say so? This morning. He comes +back when he pleases."</p> + +<p>"When do you expect him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't expect him. I never expect him. He +may be home in five minutes, in five days, or +five weeks."</p> + +<p>"At what time this morning did he go?"</p> + +<p>"He left the house at five minutes after four +this morning, the last that ever was. I looked +at my watch when he went out at the gate; for +I was thinking whether or no his boat wasn't +aground. Do you want to know what he had +for breakfast? If you do, you must ask my +wife, for I don't know," growled Sykes.</p> + +<p>"I am very anxious to see him," continued +Donald, without heeding the sulky tones and +manner of the man. "Perhaps he told Mrs. +Sykes when he should return."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he did, and perhaps he told her +how much money he had in his pocket. He was +as likely to tell her one as the other. You can +ask her," sneered Sykes.</p> + +<p>As the housekeeper sat on the piazza enjoying +the cool evening breeze, Donald decided to avail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +himself of this permission, for he desired to know +how well the two stories would agree. He saluted +the lady, who gave him a pleasanter reception +than her bearish husband had accorded to him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sykes told me that Captain Shivernock +was away from home," said Donald. "Can you +tell me when he is likely to return?"</p> + +<p>"He intended to come back to-night if the +wind favored him. He went to Vinal Haven +early this morning, and as you are a sailor, you +can tell better than I whether he is likely to return +to-night," replied Mrs. Sykes.</p> + +<p>"The wind is fair, and there is plenty of it," +added Donald. "What time did he leave?"</p> + +<p>"About four o'clock. I gave him his coffee at +half past three, and it must have been about four +when he went away."</p> + +<p>If the outrage at Lincolnville had been committed +in "the dead of the night," it was perfectly +evident to Donald that Captain Shivernock +had had nothing whatever to do with it. This +conclusion was a great relief to the mind of the +young man; but he had hardly reached it before +the captain himself passed through the gate, and +fixed a searching gaze upon him, as though he regarded +him as an interloper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>LAYING DOWN THE KEEL.</h3> + + +<p>"What are you doing here, Don John?" +demanded Captain Shivernock, as he +ascended the steps of the piazza.</p> + +<p>"I came to see you, sir," replied Donald, respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see me—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I do, sir."</p> + +<p>"Have you been talking to Sykes and his +wife?" asked the captain, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I have, sir."</p> + +<p>"Have you told them that you saw me on the +island?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; not them, nor anybody else."</p> + +<p>"It's well for you that you haven't," added +the captain, shaking his head—a significant gesture, +which seemed to relate to the future, rather +than to the present. "If you lisp a syllable of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +it, you will need a patch on your skull.—Now," +he continued, "what do you want of me?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to talk about the Juno with you. +Perhaps I can find a customer for you."</p> + +<p>"Come into the house," growled the captain, +as he stalked through the door.</p> + +<p>Donald followed him into a sitting-room, on +one side of which was a secretary, provided with +a writing-desk. The captain tossed his cap and +overcoat into a chair, and seated himself at the +desk. He picked up a quill pen, and began +to write as though he intended to scratch a hole +through the paper, making noise enough for a +small locomotive. He finished the writing, and +signed his name to it. Then he cast the contents +of a sand-box upon it, returning to it the portion +which did not adhere to the paper. The document +looked as though it had been written with +a handspike, or as though the words had been +ploughed in, and a furrow of sand left to form +the letters.</p> + +<p>"Here!" said the captain, extending the paper +to his visitor, with a jerk, as though he was performing +a most ungracious office.</p> + +<p>"What is it, sir?" asked Donald, as he <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'too'">took</ins> +the document.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can't you read?" growled the strange man.</p> + +<p>Under ordinary circumstances Donald could +read—could read writing when not more than +half the letters were merged into straight lines; +but it required all his skill, and not a little of his +Scotch-Yankee guessing ability, to decipher the +vagrant, staggering characters which the captain +had impressed with so much force upon the paper. +It proved to be a bill of sale of the Juno, in due +form, and for the consideration of three hundred +dollars.</p> + +<p>"Surely you cannot mean this, Captain Shivernock?" +exclaimed the amazed young man.</p> + +<p>"Can't I? Do you think I'm a lunatic?" +stormed the captain.</p> + +<p>Donald did think so, but he was not so imprudent +as to say it.</p> + +<p>"I can't pay you three hundred dollars for the +boat," pleaded he.</p> + +<p>"Nobody asked you to pay a red cent. The +boat is yours. If you don't want her, sell her to +the first man who is fool enough to buy her. +That's all."</p> + +<p>"I'm very grateful to you for your kindness, +Captain Shivernock; and I hope—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All stuff!" interposed the strange man, savagely. +"You are like the rest of the world, and +next week you would be as ready to kick me as +any other man would be, if you dared to do so. +You needn't stop any longer to talk that sort of +bosh to me. It will do for Sunday Schools and +prayer meetings."</p> + +<p>"But I am really—"</p> + +<p>"No matter if you are really. Shut up!"</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall be able to do something to +serve you."</p> + +<p>"Bah!"</p> + +<p>"Have you heard the news, Captain Shivernock?" +asked Donald, suddenly changing the +topic.</p> + +<p>"What news?"</p> + +<p>"It's in the <i>Age</i>. A man over in Lincolnville, +by the name of Hasbrook, was taken out of +his bed last night, and severely beaten."</p> + +<p>"Hasbrook! Served him right!" exclaimed +the captain, with a rough string of profanity, +which cooled the blood of the listener. "He is +the biggest scoundrel in the State of Maine, and +I am much obliged to the man who did it. I +would have taken a hand with him at the game, +if I had been there."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="600" height="443" alt="The Bill of Sale. Page 119." title="The Bill of Sale. Page 119." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Bill of Sale.</span> <a href="#Page_119">Page 119</a>.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was equivalent to saying that he was not +there.</p> + +<p>"Do you know this Hasbrook?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"Do I know him? He swindled me out of a +thousand dollars, and I ought to know him. If +the man that flogged him hasn't finished him, I'll +pound him myself when I catch him in the +right place," replied the strange man, violently. +"Who did the job, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir. He hasn't been discovered +yet."</p> + +<p>"If he is discovered, I'll give him five hundred +dollars, and pay the lawyers for keeping him out +of jail. I wish I had done it myself; it would +make me feel good."</p> + +<p>Donald was entirely satisfied that Captain Shivernock +had not done it. He was pleased, even +rejoiced, that his investigation had resulted so +decidedly in the captain's favor, for he would +have been very sorry to feel obliged to disregard +the injunction of secrecy which had been imposed +upon him.</p> + +<p>"Did you fall in with any one after we parted +this morning?" asked Donald, who desired to +know whether the captain had met Laud Caven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>dish +when the two boats appeared to be approaching +each other.</p> + +<p>"None of your business!" rudely replied the +captain, after gazing a moment into the face of +the young man, as if to fathom his purpose in +asking the question. "Do you think the world +won't move on if you don't wind it up? Mind +your own business, and don't question me. I +won't have anybody prying into my affairs."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir; I don't wish to pry into your +affairs; and with your permission I will go home +now," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"You have my permission to go home," +sneered the strange man; and Donald availed +himself of it without another instant's delay.</p> + +<p>Certainly Captain Shivernock was a very +strange man, and Donald could not begin to understand +why he had given him the Juno and the +sixty dollars in cash. It was plain enough that +he had not been near Hasbrook's house, though +it was not quite clear how, if he left home at four +o'clock, he had got aground eight miles from the +city at the same hour; but there was probably +some error in Donald's reckoning. The young +man went home, and, on the way, having assured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +himself, to his own satisfaction, that he had no +painful duty in regard to the captain to perform, +he soon forgot all about the matter in the more +engrossing consideration of his great business +enterprise. When he entered the cottage, his +mother very naturally asked him where he had +been; and he gave her all the details of his interview +with Mr. Rodman. Mrs. Ramsay was more +cheerful than she had been before since the death +of her husband, and they discussed the subject +till bed time. Donald had seventy-two dollars +in his pocket, including his fees for measuring +the yachts. It was a new experience for him to +keep anything from his mother; but he felt that +he could not honorably tell her what had passed +between the captain and himself. He could soon +work the money into his business, and he need +keep it only till Monday. He did not feel just +right about it, even after he had convinced himself +that he ought not to reveal Captain Shivernock's +secret to her; but I must add, confidentially, +that it is always best for boys—I mean +young men—to tell their mothers "all about it;" +and if Donald had done so in this instance, no +harm would have come of the telling, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +might have saved him a great deal of trouble, and +her a great deal of anxiety, and a great many +painful doubts. Donald thought his view was +correct; he meant to do exactly right; and he +had the courage to do it, even if thereby he incurred +the wrath and the vengeance of the strange +man.</p> + +<p>I have no doubt, from what indications I have +of the character of Donald Ramsay, that he tried +to learn his Sunday School lesson, tried to give +attention to the sermons he heard, and tried to +be interested in the good books he essayed to +read on Sunday; but I am not sure that he succeeded +entirely, for the skeleton frame of the +Maud would rise up in his imagination to cloud +the vision of higher things, and the remembrance +of his relations with Captain Shivernock would +thrust itself upon him. Yet it is a great deal +even to try to be faithful in one's thoughts, and +Donald was generally more successful than on +this occasion, for it was not often that he was excited +by events so stirring and prospects so brilliant. +A single week would be time enough to +accustom the young boat-builder to his occupation +and restore his mental equilibrium.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>The light of Monday morning's sun was very +welcome to him; and when only its light gleamed +in the gray east, he rose from his bed to begin +the labors of the day. His father had enlarged +the shop, so that he could build a yacht of the +size of the Maud under its roof; and before +breakfast time, he had prepared the bed, and levelled +the blocks on which the keel was to rest. +At seven o'clock Lawrence Kennedy appeared, +and together they looked over the stock on hand, +and made out a list of the pieces of timber and +plank that would be required. At first the journeyman +was inclined to take the lead in the +business; but he soon found that his youthful employer +was entirely familiar with the minutest +details of the work, and knew precisely how to +get out every stick of the frame. Donald constantly +referred to the model of the Sea Foam, +which he had already altered in accordance with +the suggestions of his father, using the inch scale +on which the model was projected, to get the size +of the pieces, so that there should be no unnecessary +waste in buying.</p> + +<p>Kennedy went with him to the lumber wharf, +where the stock was carefully selected for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +frame. Before dinner it was carted over to the +shop, and in the afternoon the work was actually +commenced. The keelson, with the aperture for +the centre-board nicely adjusted, was laid down, +levelled, and blocked up, so that the yacht should +be as true as a hair when completed. The next +steps were to set up the stern-post and the stem-piece, +and Mr. Ramsay's patterns of these timbers +were ready for use. Donald was tired enough to +rest when the clock struck six; but no better +day's work for two men could be shown than that +performed by him and his journeyman. Another +hand could now work to advantage on the frame, +and Kennedy knew of a first-rate workman who +desired employment. He was requested to have +him in the shop the next morning.</p> + +<p>After supper, Donald went back to the shop to +study, rather than to work. He seated himself +on the bench, and was thinking over the details +of the work, when, through the window, he saw +Laud Cavendish run his sail-boat alongside the +Juno, which was moored a short distance from the +shore. Laud wanted to buy a boat, and Donald +wanted to sell one. More than once he had been +tempted to keep the Juno for his own use; but he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +decided that he could not afford such a luxury, +even though she had cost him nothing. If he +kept her, he would desire to use her, and he +might waste too much of his precious time in +sailing her. It would cost money as well as time +to keep her; for boats are always in need of paint, +spars, sails, rigging, and other repairs. He was +resolute in his purpose to dispose of the Juno, +lest the possession of her should demoralize him, +and interfere with his attention to business.</p> + +<p>It was plain enough to Donald that he must sell +the Juno, though it was not as clear that Laud +Cavendish could buy her; but he decided to see +him, and, launching his tender, he pulled out for +the Juno. While he was plying his oars, it suddenly +came across the mind of the young boat-builder +that he could not sell this boat without +exposing his relations to Captain Shivernock. +He was rather startled by the thought, but, before +he had followed it out to a conclusion, the tender +was alongside the Juno.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Don John?" said Laud. "I +thought I would come down and look over the +Juno."</p> + +<p>"She is a first-rate boat," replied Donald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And the captain wants to sell her?"</p> + +<p>"She's for sale," replied her owner.</p> + +<p>"What's the price of her?"</p> + +<p>"Four hundred."</p> + +<p>"That's too steep, Don John. It is of no use +for me to look at her if the captain won't sell her +for less than that."</p> + +<p>"Say three fifty, then," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Say three hundred."</p> + +<p>"She is worth more money," continued the +owner, as he unlocked the cuddy. "She has a +fine cabin, fitted up like a parlor. Go in and +look round."</p> + +<p>Donald led the way, and pointed out all the +conveniences of the cabin, eloquently setting forth +the qualities of the boat and her accommodations.</p> + +<p>"I'll give three hundred for her," said Laud.</p> + +<p>"She is worth more than that," replied Donald. +"Why, she cost the captain over five hundred; +and I wouldn't build her for a mill less than +that."</p> + +<p>"You?" laughed Laud.</p> + +<p>"I'm building a yacht thirty feet long for Sam +Rodman; and I'm to have twelve hundred for +her," answered Donald, struggling to be modest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are some punkins—<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'arn't'">aren't</ins> you, Don +John?"</p> + +<p>"I can't quite come up to you, Mr. Cavendish."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will when you are as old as I +am."</p> + +<p>"Possibly; but it's a big height to reach in two +years. A man of your size ought not to haggle +for fifty dollars on a boat."</p> + +<p>"I can't afford to give more than three hundred +for the Juno," protested Laud, very decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Can you afford to give that?" asked Donald, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>Laud looked at him sharply, and seemed to be +somewhat embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I can't really afford it; but what's +life for? We can't live it over again, and we +ought to make the best of it. Don't you think +so?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly—the best of it; but there may be +some difference of opinion in regard to what the +best of it may be."</p> + +<p>"I mean to be a gentleman, and not a philosopher. +I go in for a good time. Will you take +three hundred for the boat? or will you tell the +captain I will give that?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can sell her without going to him. I +haven't offered her to anybody but you, and I +have no doubt I can get my price for her."</p> + +<p>Laud talked till it was nearly dark; but Donald +was firm, and at last he carried his point.</p> + +<p>"I will give the three hundred and fifty, because +I want her very badly; but it's a big price," said +Laud.</p> + +<p>"It's dog cheap," added Donald, who was +beginning to think how he should manage the +business without informing the purchaser that the +Juno was his own property.</p> + +<p>Donald was a young man of many expedients, +and he finally decided to ask Captain Shivernock +to exchange the bill of sale for one conveying the +boat directly to Laud Cavendish. This settled, +he wondered how Laud expected to pay for his +purchase, for it was utterly incredible to him that +the swell could command so large a sum as three +hundred and fifty dollars. After all, perhaps it +would not be necessary to trouble the captain +about the business, for Donald did not intend to +give a bill of sale without the cash.</p> + +<p>"When do you want to close the trade?" he +asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought we had closed it," replied Laud.</p> + +<p>"You want a bill of sale—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't; I would rather not have one. +When I get the boat, I know how to keep her. +Besides, you will be a witness that I have bought +her."</p> + +<p>"That isn't the way to do business," protested +Donald.</p> + +<p>"If I'm satisfied, you need not complain. If I +pay you the cash down, that ends the matter."</p> + +<p>"If you do."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will; here and now," added Laud, +pulling out his wallet.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get so much money, Laud?" +asked Donald.</p> + +<p>It was doubtless an impertinent question, but it +came from the heart of him who proposed it; and +it was not resented by him to whom it was put. +On the contrary, Laud seemed to be troubled, +rather than indignant.</p> + +<p>"Don John, you are a good fellow," said +Laud, after a long pause.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am."</p> + +<p>"For certain reasons of my own, I want you to +keep this trade to yourself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why so?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you."</p> + +<p>"Then I won't do it. If there is any hitch +about the money, I won't have anything to do +with it."</p> + +<p>"Any hitch? What do you mean by that?" +demanded Laud, with a lofty air.</p> + +<p>"It's no use to mince the matter, Laud. Three +hundred and fifty dollars don't grow on every +bush in your or my garden; and I have been +wondering, all the time, where a fellow like you +should get money enough to buy a boat like the +Juno."</p> + +<p>Donald said all this fairly and squarely; but it +occurred to him just then, that after he had sold +the boat, any one might ask him the same question, +and he should not feel at liberty to answer it.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to insult me?" demanded Laud.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort; and you needn't ride +that high horse. I won't sell the boat till I know +where the money came from."</p> + +<p>"Do you doubt my honor?"</p> + +<p>"Confound your honor! I think we have said +enough."</p> + +<p>"If you mean to say that I didn't come honorably +by my money, you are mistaken."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where did you get it, then?"</p> + +<p>"Are you always willing to tell where you get +every dollar in your pocket?" retorted Laud.</p> + +<p>That was a home-thrust, and Donald felt it in +his trowsers pocket, where he kept his wallet.</p> + +<p>"I am generally ready to tell where I get my +money," he replied, but he did not speak with +much energy.</p> + +<p>Laud looked about him, and seemed to be considering +the matter.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to be accused of stealing," mused +he.</p> + +<p>"I don't accuse you of anything," added +Donald.</p> + +<p>"It's the same thing. If I tell you where I +got this money, will you keep it to yourself?" +asked Laud.</p> + +<p>"If it's all right I will."</p> + +<p>"Honor bright, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"If it's all right."</p> + +<p>"O, it is!" protested Laud. "I will tell you; +but you must keep the secret, whatever happens."</p> + +<p>"I will, if everything is as it should be."</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain Shivernock gave it to me," +said Laud, in confidential tones, and after looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +about to satisfy himself that no third person was +within hearing.</p> + +<p>"Captain Shivernock!" exclaimed Donald.</p> + +<p>"Just so."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you any more. The captain +would kill me if he found out that I had told you +so much," answered Laud. "I don't understand +the matter myself; but the captain gave me that +money and fifty dollars more;" and he handed +Donald the price of the Juno. "You are not to +say that I have even seen the captain."</p> + +<p>"When was this?"</p> + +<p>"Last Saturday; but that's all; not another +word from me."</p> + +<p>"It's very odd," mused Donald.</p> + +<p>"You will keep still—won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; until I am satisfied the thing is not all +right."</p> + +<p>"I shall not say that I own the Juno yet a +while," added Laud, as he returned to the boat +in which he had come.</p> + +<p>Donald pulled ashore, with the money in his +pocket.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST REGATTA.</h3> + + +<p>Donald was not disposed to doubt the truth +of Laud Cavendish's story, for the circumstances +were precisely the same as those under +which he had received the boat and the money +from Captain Shivernock. If he had had no experience +with the eccentric shipmaster himself, +he would have doubted the whole explanation, +and refused to take the money. He recalled the +events of Saturday. The last he saw of Laud, on +that day, was when he ran his boat over towards +the Northport shore, whither the captain had +gone before him. He had lost sight of both their +boats at a time when it seemed very probable +that they would meet. After what Laud had +just said to him, and with the money he had paid +him in his pocket, he was confident they had met. +The strange man had purchased the silence of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +Laud, as he had his own, and at about the same +price.</p> + +<p>Donald realized that Captain Shivernock had +thrown away about seven hundred dollars that +morning, and, as he thought of it, he was amazed +at his conduct; but the captain did not mind paying +a thousand dollars any time to gratify the +merest whim. The young man tried again to +fathom the motive of his eccentric but liberal +patron in thus throwing away such large sums, +unnecessarily large, to accomplish his object. +The Lincolnville outrage was the only possible +solution; but if he were the ruffian, he would not +have been on Long Island when he had a fair +wind to run home, and Sykes and his wife both +agreed that he had left the house on the morning +that Donald had seen him. It was not possible, +therefore, that the captain was guilty of the outrage. +Laud had paid him seven fifty dollar bills, +and he had over four hundred dollars in his +pocket. He did not know what to do with it, +and feeling that he had come honestly by it, he +was vexed at the necessity of concealing it from +his mother; but he was determined to pay it out, +as occasion required, for stock and hardware for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +the yacht he was building. When he went to his +chamber, he concealed three hundred and fifty +dollars of the money in a secret place in the pine +bureau in which his clothes were kept.</p> + +<p>The next morning Kennedy appeared with the +man he was authorized to employ, and the chips +flew briskly in the shop all that day. At noon +Donald went to the wharf where he had bought +his stock, and paid the bill for it. The lumber +dealer commended his promptness, and offered to +give him credit for any lumber he might need; +but Donald proudly declared that he should pay +cash for all he bought, and he wanted the lowest +cash prices. On his return to the shop, he entered, +in the account-book his father had kept, +the amount he had expended. The work went +bravely on, for his two journeymen were interested +in his success. They were glad to get employment, +and desired that the young boat-builder +should not only build a fine yacht, but should +make money by the job. The stem-piece and +stern-post were set up, and gradually the frame +began to assume the shape of a vessel. Donald +watched the forming of the yacht very carefully, +and saw that everything was done according to +the model and the scale.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>On Saturday morning Mr. Rodman, accompanied +by a friend who was a ship-builder, visited +the shop to inspect the work. The frame, so far +as it had been set up, was carefully examined, and +the expert cordially approved all that had been +done, declaring that he had never seen a better +job in his life. Of course Donald was proud of +this partial success.</p> + +<p>"I have had some doubts, Don John," laughed +Mr. Rodman; "but I am entirely satisfied now."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I have had no doubts; I +could see that frame in my mind as plainly before +a stick had been touched as I do now."</p> + +<p>"You have done well, and I am quite sure that +you will make a yacht of it. Now, if you will give +me a receipt for one hundred dollars, I will let +you have so much towards the price of the Maud, +for I suppose you want to pay your men off +to-night."</p> + +<p>"I have money enough, sir, to pay my men, +and I don't ask you for any money yet," replied +the young boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"But I prefer to pay you as the work progresses."</p> + +<p>Donald did not object, and wrote the receipt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +He was a minor, and his mother, who was the +administratrix of her husband's estate, was the +responsible party in the transaction of business; +but he did not like to sign his mother's name to +a receipt, and thus wholly ignore himself, and, +adopting a common fiction in trade, he wrote, +"Ramsay and son," which he determined should +be the style of the firm. Ramsay might mean +his father or his mother, and he had already +arranged this matter with her. Mr. Rodman +laughed at the signature, but did not object to it, +and Donald put the money in his pocket, after +crediting it on the book.</p> + +<p>This was the day appointed for the first regatta +of the Yacht Club. The coming event had been +talked about in the city during the whole week, +not only among the boys, but among the men +who were interested in yachting. About a dozen +yachts had been entered for the race, though only +four of them belonged to the club; those that +were not enrolled being nominally in charge of +members, in order to conform to the regulations. +Donald had measured all these boats, and made a +schedule of them, in which appeared the captain's +name, the length of the craft, with the correction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +to be subtracted from the sailing time in order +to reduce it to standard time. There were columns +in the table for the starting time, the return +time, and the sailing time. The "correction" +was virtually the allowance which a large yacht +made to a smaller one for the difference in length.</p> + +<p>The club had adopted the regulation of the +Dorchester Yacht Club, which contained a "table +of allowance per mile." In this table, a yacht +one hundred and ten feet six inches long, is taken +as the standard for length. The Skylark was just +thirty feet long on the water-line, and her allowance +by the table was two minutes forty-three and +four tenths seconds for every mile sailed in a +regatta. The Sea Foam's length was three inches +less, and her allowance was one and three tenths +seconds more. Donald had his table all ready for +the use of the judges, of whom he had been +appointed the chairman. Mr. Montague's large +yacht had been anchored in the bay, gayly dressed +with flags and streamers, to be used as the judges' +boat. The yachts were to start at ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to leave my work a bit," said +Donald, as he took off his apron. "I may have to +lose a whole day in the race, and I can't afford +it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, I think you can," replied Kennedy.</p> + +<p>"It looks too much like boys' play."</p> + +<p>"No matter what it is. If you are going to +make a business of building yachts and sail-boats, +it is for your interest to encourage this sort of +thing all you can," added Kennedy.</p> + +<p>"I think you are right there," answered Donald, +who had not before taken this view.</p> + +<p>"Besides, you ought to see how the boats +work. You will get some ideas that will be of +use to you. You should observe every movement +of the boats with the utmost care. I think you +will make more money attending the regattas, if +there was one every week, than by working in the +shop."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Kennedy, and I am glad you +expressed your opinions, for I shall feel that I +am not wasting my time."</p> + +<p>"Your father has been to Newport and New +York on purpose to attend regattas, and I am +sure, if he were here now, he would not miss this +race for a fifty-dollar bill," continued the workman.</p> + +<p>Donald was entirely satisfied, and went into +the house to dress for the occasion. He was soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +ready, and walked down the beach towards the +skiff he used to go off to the sail-boat. The sky +was overcast, and the wind blew a smashing +breeze, promising a lively race. The Juno had +been entered for the regatta, but she was still at +her moorings off the shop, and Donald wondered +where Laud was, for he had been very enthusiastic +over the event. Before he could embark, the +new proprietor of the Juno appeared. He was +dressed in a suit of new clothes, wore a new +round-top hat, and sported a cane in his hand. +His mustache had been freshly colored, and every +hair was carefully placed. He did not look like +a yachtman; more like a first-class swell.</p> + +<p>"I have been all the morning looking for some +fellows to sail with me," said Laud. "I can't +find a single one. Won't you go with me, Don +John?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you; I am one of the judges, and I +can't go," replied Donald, who, if he had not +been engaged, would have preferred to sail with +some more skilful and agreeable skipper than +Laud Cavendish.</p> + +<p>"Won't your men go with me?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; you can ask them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am entitled to carry five, and I want some +live weights to-day, for it is blowing fresh," +added Laud, as he walked towards the shop.</p> + +<p>Neither of Donald's men was willing to lose +his time, and as Laud came out of the shop, he +discovered a young lady walking up the beach +towards the city. A gust of wind blew her hat +away at this moment, and Mr. Cavendish gallantly +ran after, and recovered it, as Donald would have +done if he had not been anticipated, for he recognized +the young lady as soon as he saw her. +Even as it was, he was disposed to run after that +hat, and dispute the possession of it with Mr. +Laud Cavendish, for the owner thereof was Miss +Nellie Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to return your truant hat, Miss +Patterdale," said Laud.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish," replied Nellie, +rather coldly, as she resumed her walk towards +the place where Donald stood, a few rods farther +up the beach.</p> + +<p>"We have a fine breeze for the race, Miss Patterdale," +added Laud, smirking and jerking, as +though he intended to improve the glorious opportunity, +for the young lady was not only be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>witchingly +pretty, but her father was a nabob, +with only two children.</p> + +<p>"Very fine, I should think," she answered; +and her tones and manner were anything but +encouraging to the aspirant.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are going to honor the gallant +yachtmen with your presence, Miss Patterdale."</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly see the race.—Good morning, +Don John," said she, when she came within +speaking distance of Donald.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Nellie," replied he, blushing, +as he felt the full force of her glance and her +smile—a glance and a smile for which Laud would +have sacrificed all he held dear in the world, even +to his cherished mustache. "Don't you attend +the race?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I want to attend now. Ned invited me +to go on board of the judge's boat; but the sun +was out then, and mother would not let me go. +Father said the day would be cloudy, and I decided +to go; but Ned had gone. I came down +here to see if I couldn't hail him. Won't you +take me off to the Penobscot in your boat?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, with the greatest pleasure," +replied Donald, with enthusiasm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Miss Patterdale," interposed +Laud. "I am going off in the Juno; allow +me to tender her for your use. I can take you +off, Don John, at the same time."</p> + +<p>"It's quite rough; as you see, Nellie, and the +Juno is much larger than my boat. You can go +in her more comfortably than in mine," added +Donald.</p> + +<p>"Thank you; just as you please, Don John," +she answered.</p> + +<p>"Bring her up to the wharf, Mr. Cavendish," +continued Donald.</p> + +<p>Laud leaped into his skiff, and pulled off to the +Juno, while Nellie and Donald walked around to +the wharf. In a few moments the boat was ready, +and came up to the pier, though her clumsy skipper +was so excited at the prospect of having the +nabob's pretty daughter in his boat, that he had +nearly smashed her against the timbers. The +gallant skipper bowed, and smirked, and smiled, +as he assisted Miss Patterdale to a place in the +standing-room. Donald shoved off the bow, and +the Juno filled her mainsail, and went off flying +towards the Penobscot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's a smashing breeze," said Donald, as the +boat heeled down.</p> + +<p>"Glorious!" exclaimed Laud. "Are you fond +of sailing, Miss Patterdale?"</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you would like to sail around the +course in one of the yachts?" suggested the skipper.</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted to do so," she replied, +eagerly; and she glanced at Donald, as if to +ascertain if such a thing were possible.</p> + +<p>"I should be pleased to have you sail in the +Juno," added Laud, with an extra smirk.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; you are very +kind; but perhaps I had better not go."</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted to have you go with +me."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you would enjoy it, Nellie," said +Donald. "It blows fresh, and the Juno is rather +wet in a heavy sea."</p> + +<p>Laud looked at him with an angry expression, +and when Nellie turned away from him, he made +significant gestures to induce Donald to unsay +what he had said, and persuade her to go with +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sure you will be delighted with the sail, +Miss Patterdale. You will be perfectly dry where +you are sitting; or, if not, I have a rubber coat, +which will protect you."</p> + +<p>"I think I will not go," she replied, so +coldly that her tones would have frozen any one +but a simpleton like Laud.</p> + +<p>The passage was of brief duration, and Donald +assisted Nellie up the accommodation steps of the +Penobscot, stepping forward in season to deprive +Laud of this pleasant office.</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you, Mr. Cavendish," +said she, walking away from the steps.</p> + +<p>"That was mean of you, Don John," muttered +Laud, as Donald came down the steps to assist in +shoving off the Juno.</p> + +<p>"What was mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, to tell Nellie she would not enjoy the +sail with me."</p> + +<p>"She could do as she pleased."</p> + +<p>"But you told her the Juno was wet," added +Laud, angrily.</p> + +<p>"She is wet when it blows."</p> + +<p>"No matter if she is. It was mean of you to +say anything about it, after all I have done for +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It wasn't mean to tell the truth, and save +her from a ducking, and I don't know what you +have done for me."</p> + +<p>"You don't? Didn't I buy this boat of you, +and pay you fifty dollars more than she is worth?"</p> + +<p>"No, you didn't. But if you are dissatisfied +with your bargain, I will take her off your +hands."</p> + +<p>"You! I want the money I paid."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it. Come to the shop after +the race, and you may throw up the trade."</p> + +<p>"Will Captain Shivernock pay you back the +money?" sneered Laud.</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of that, if you want to give her +up," added Donald, warmly.</p> + +<p>"Never mind that now. Can't you persuade +Nellie to sail with me?" continued Laud, more +gently. "If you will, I will give you a five-dollar +bill."</p> + +<p>Donald would have given double that sum +rather than have had her go with him, and she +would have given ten times the amount to avoid +doing so.</p> + +<p>"I can't persuade her, for I don't think it is +best for her to go," replied Donald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No matter what you think. You are a good +fellow, Don John: do this for me—won't you? +It would be a great favor, and I shall never forget +it."</p> + +<p>"Why do you want her to go with you?" +demanded Donald, rather petulantly. "A yacht +in a race is no place for ladies. I can find some +fellows on board here who will be glad to go with +you."</p> + +<p>"But I want her to go with me. The fact of +it is, Don John, I rather like Nellie, and I want +to be better acquainted with her."</p> + +<p>"If you do, you must paddle your own canoe," +replied Donald, indignantly, as he ascended the +steps, and joined the other two judges on deck.</p> + +<p>"We are waiting for you, Don John," said +Sam Rodman, who was one of them.</p> + +<p>"It isn't ten yet, and I have the papers all +ready. Who is to be time-keeper?" asked the +chairman.</p> + +<p>"I have a watch with a second hand, and I will +take that office," said Frank Norwood, who was +the third.</p> + +<p>Most of the yachts were already in line, and +the captain of the fleet, in the tender of his yacht,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +was arranging them, the largest to windward. +The first gun had been fired at half past nine +which was the signal to get into line, and at the +next, the yachts were to get under way. All sail +except the jib was set, and at the signal each +craft was to slip her cable, hoist her jib, if she +had one, and get under way, as quickly as possible. +The "rode" was simply to be cast off, for +the end of it was made fast to the tender, which +was used as a buoy for the anchor.</p> + +<p>"Are they all ready?" asked Donald, as the +time drew near.</p> + +<p>"All but the Juno. Laud has picked up two +live weights, and wants another man," replied +Sam Rodman.</p> + +<p>"We won't wait for him."</p> + +<p>But Laud got into line in season. One of the +seamen of the Penobscot stood at the lock-string +of the gun forward, ready to fire when the chairman +of the judges gave the word.</p> + +<p>"Have your watch ready, Frank," said Donald.</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered Norwood.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" shouted Donald.</p> + +<p>Some of the ladies "squealed" when the gun +went off, but all eyes were immediately directed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +to the yachts. The Christabel, with a reef in +her fore and main sails, was next to the Penobscot; +then came the Skylark, the Sea Foam, and +the Phantom. Before the gun was fired, the +captain had stationed a hand in each yacht at the +cable, and others at the jib-halyards and down-hauls. +The instant the gun was discharged, the +jibs were run up, and the "rodes" thrown overboard. +Some of the yachts, however, were unfortunate, +and did not obtain a good start. In +one the jib down-haul fouled, and another ran +over her cable, and swamped her tender. The +conflict was believed to be between the Skylark +and the Sea Foam, for there was too much wind +for the Christabel, which was the fastest light-weather +craft in the line.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful sight when the yachts went +off, with the wind only a little abaft the beam. +The young gentlemen sailing them were rather +excited, and made some mistakes. The Skylark +at once took the lead, for Commodore Montague +was the most experienced boatman in the fleet. +He made no mistakes, and his superior skill was +soon evident in the distance between him and the +Sea Foam.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>The crowd of people on the shore and the +judges' yacht watched the contestants till they +disappeared beyond Turtle Head. The boats had +a free wind both ways, with the exception of a +short distance beyond the head, where they had +to beat up to Stubb's Point Ledge. There was +nothing for the judges to do until the yachts came +in, and Donald spent a couple of delightful hours +with Nellie Patterdale. Presently the Skylark +appeared again beyond the Head, leading the +fleet as before. On she drove, like a bolt from an +arrow, carrying a big bone in her mouth; and the +judges prepared to take her time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE SKYLARK AND THE SEA FOAM.</h3> + + +<p>Frank Norwood was the time-keeper, +and he stood with his watch in his hand. +Each yacht was to pass to windward of the Penobscot, +and come round her stern, reporting as she +did so. Sam Rodman was to call "time" when +the foremast of each yacht was in range with a certain +chimney of a house on the main shore. At the +word Frank was to give the time, and Donald +was to write it down on his schedule. Everything +was to be done with the utmost accuracy. +The Skylark was rapidly approaching, with the +Sea Foam nearly half a mile astern of her. The +Phantom and Christabel were not far behind the +Sea Foam, while the rest were scattered along all +the way over to Turtle Head.</p> + +<p>"Ready there!" shouted Donald, as the Skylark +came nearly in range of the Penobscot and +the chimney.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All ready," replied Sam Rodman.</p> + +<p>The gun forward had been loaded, and a seaman +stood at the lock-string, to salute the first +boat in.</p> + +<p>"Time!" shouted Sam, as the mainsail of the +Skylark shut in the chimney on the shore; and +the six-pounder awoke the echoes among the hills.</p> + +<p>"Twelve, forty, and thirty-two seconds," added +Frank, as he took the time from the watch.</p> + +<p>"Twelve, forty, thirty-two," repeated Donald, +as he wrote it on the schedule.</p> + +<p>The crowd on the judges' yacht cheered the +commodore as the Skylark rounded the Penobscot, +and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs at +him with desperate enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"I thought you said the Sea Foam was to beat +the Skylark," said Nellie Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"I think she may do it yet," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"And Sam's new boat must beat them both, +Don John," laughed Maud Rodman.</p> + +<p>"Time!" called Sam.</p> + +<p>"Twelve, forty-five, two," added Frank.</p> + +<p>"Twelve, forty-five, two," repeated Donald, +writing down the time.</p> + +<p>By this time the Skylark had come about, not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +by gybing,—for the wind was too heavy to make +this evolution in safety,—but had come round +head to the wind, and now passed under the stern +of the Penobscot.</p> + +<p>"Skylark!" reported the commodore.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the Sea Foam did the +same. The Phantom came in a minute after the +Sea Foam, and for a few moments the judges +were very busy taking the time of the next four +boats. The Juno did not arrive till half past +one, and she was the last one. As fast as the +yachts rounded the Penobscot, they went off to +the line and picked up their cables and anchors. +The captains of the several craft which had sailed +in the race then boarded the Penobscot to ascertain +the decision of the judges.</p> + +<p>"You waxed me badly, Robert," said Ned +Patterdale, who was mortified at the defeat of the +Sea Foam, though he kept good-natured about it.</p> + +<p>"I still think the Skylark can't be beaten by +anything of her inches," replied Commodore +Montague.</p> + +<p>"I am rather disappointed in the Sea Foam," +added Ned.</p> + +<p>Donald heard this remark, and he was much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +disturbed by it; for it seemed like a reproach +upon the skill of his father, and an imputation +upon the reputation of Ramsay and Son. If the +yachts built by the "firm" were beaten as badly +as the Sea Foam had been, though she had outsailed +the Phantom, it would seriously injure the +business of the concern. The defeat of the Sea +Foam touched the boat-builder in a tender place, +and he found it necessary to do something to +maintain the standing of the firm. He knew just +what the matter was; but under ordinary circumstances +he would not have said a word to damage +the pride of the present owner of the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are not satisfied with her, +Ned," said Donald.</p> + +<p>"But I expected too much of her; for I thought +she was going to beat the Skylark," replied Ned +Patterdale. "I think you encouraged me somewhat +in that direction, Don John."</p> + +<p>"I did; and I still think she can beat the Skylark."</p> + +<p>"It's no use to think so; for she has just beaten +me four minutes and a half; and that's half a +mile in this breeze. Nothing could have been +more fairly done."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was all perfectly fair, Ned; but you know +that winning a race does not depend entirely upon +the boat," suggested Donald, hinting mildly at +his own theory of the defeat.</p> + +<p>"Then you think I didn't sail her well?" said +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I think you sailed her very well; but it could +not be expected that you would do as well with +her as Bob Montague with the Skylark, for he has +sailed his yacht for months, while you have only +had yours a few weeks. This is a matter of business +with me, Ned. If our boats are beaten, we +lose our work. It is bread and butter to me."</p> + +<p>"If it was my fault, I am sorry she was beaten, +for your sake, Don John; but I did my best with +her," replied Ned, with real sympathy for his +friend.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am not going to cry over spilt +milk."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think the Sea Foam can beat +the Skylark?"</p> + +<p>"I think so; but I may be mistaken. At any +rate, I should like the chance to sail the Sea Foam +with the Skylark. I don't consider it exactly an +even thing between you and the commodore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +because he has had so much more experience than +you have," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"You believe you can sail the Sea Foam better +than I can—do you, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't be pleasant for me to say that, +Ned."</p> + +<p>"But that's what you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I have explained the reason why I spoke of +this matter at all, Ned. It is bread and butter to +me, and I hope you don't think I am vain."</p> + +<p>Ned was a little vexed at the remarks of his +friend, and rather indignant at his assumed superiority +as a boatman. Donald was usually very +modest and unpretentious. He was not in the +habit of claiming that he could do anything better +than another. Generally, in boating matters, +when he saw that a thing was done wrong, he +refrained from criticising unless his opinion was +asked, and was far from being forward in fault-finding. +Though he was an authority among the +young men in sailing boats, he had not attained +this distinction by being a critic and caviller. +Ned was therefore surprised, as well as indignant, +at the comments and the assumption of Donald; +but a little reflection enabled him to see the boat-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>builder's +motive, which was anything but vanity. +He had some of this weakness himself, and felt +that he had sailed the Sea Foam as well as any +one could have done it, and was satisfied that the +Skylark was really a faster yacht than his own. +The race was plain sailing, with a free wind +nearly all the way, and there was not much room +for the exercise of superior skill in handling the +craft. At least, this was Ned's opinion. If the +course had been a dead beat to windward for ten +miles, the case would have been different; and +Ned had failed to notice that he had lost half the +distance between the Skylark and the Sea Foam +when he rounded the stake buoy.</p> + +<p>It was a fact that among the large party on +board the Penobscot, the boats of the firm of +Ramsay and Son were just then at a discount, +and those of the Newport builders at a corresponding +premium. Donald was grieved and vexed, +and trembled for the future of the firm of which +he was the active representative. But he figured +up the results of the race, and when the captains +of all the yachts had come on board of the judges' +boat, he announced the prizes and delivered them +to the winners, with a little speech. The silver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +vase was given to the commodore, with liberal +and magnanimous commendations both of the +yacht and her captain. The marine glass was +presented to Edward Patterdale, as the winner of +the second prize, with some pleasant words, +which did not in the least betray the personal +discomfiture of the chairman. There was a further +ceremony on the quarter-deck of the Penobscot, +which was not in the programme, and which +was unexpected to all except the officers of the +club.</p> + +<p>"Captain Laud Cavendish, of the Juno," said +the chairman of the judges, who stood on the +trunk of the yacht, where all on board, as well as +those in the boats collected around her, could see +him.</p> + +<p>Laud stepped forward, wondering what the call +could mean.</p> + +<p>"I find, after figuring up the results of the +race," continued the chairman, glancing at the +schedule he held in his hand, "that you are entitled +to the third and last prize. By carefully +timing the movements of your excellent craft, and +by your superior skill in sailing her, you have +contrived to come in—last in the race; and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +officers of the club have instructed the judges to +award this medal to you. I have the honor and +the very great pleasure of suspending it around +your neck."</p> + +<p>The medal was made of sole leather, about six +inches in diameter. Attached to it was a yard of +stove-pipe chain, by which it was hung around the +neck of the winner of the <i>last</i> prize. A shout of +laughter and a round of applause greeted the +presentation of the medal. Laud did not know +whether to smile or get mad; for he felt like the +victim of a practical joke. Miss Nellie Patterdale +stood near him, and perhaps her presence restrained +an outburst of anger. Mr. Montague, +the father of the commodore, had provided a +bountiful collation in the cabin of the Penobscot, +and the next half hour was given up to the discussion +of the repast. Laud tried to make himself +agreeable to Nellie, and the poor girl was +persecuted by his attentions until she was obliged +to break away from him.</p> + +<p>"Don John, I am told that everybody is satisfied +with this race except you," said Commodore +Montague, as the party went on deck after the +collation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am satisfied with it," replied Donald. +"Everything has been perfectly fair, and the Skylark +has beaten the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"But you still think the Sea Foam can outsail +the Skylark?"</p> + +<p>"I think so; but of course I may be mistaken."</p> + +<p>"You believe that Ned Patterdale didn't get +all her speed out of the Sea Foam," added the +commodore.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to say a word to disparage Ned; +but he don't know the Sea Foam as you do the +Skylark."</p> + +<p>"There is hardly a particle of difference between +the boats."</p> + +<p>"I know it; but you have had so much more +experience than Ned, that he ought not to be expected +to compete with you. If you will exchange +boats, and you do your best in the Sea +Foam, I believe you would beat your own yacht. +I think Ned does first rate for the experience he +has had."</p> + +<p>"So do I; but I believe the difference is in the +sailing of the boats; for you may build two yachts +as near alike as possible, and one of them will do +better than the other," said Robert Montague.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should like to have you sail the Sea Foam +against the Skylark, Bob," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"You don't want me to beat my own boat, if I +can—do you, Don John?" laughed Robert.</p> + +<p>"I think you could."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll sail the Skylark +against the Sea Foam this afternoon, and you +shall handle Ned's yacht. I have been talking +with him about it, and he agrees to it."</p> + +<p>"I'm willing, Bob," replied Donald, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>"I hope Ned don't think hard of me for speaking +of this matter," added Donald. "I wouldn't +have uttered a word if this result did not affect +our business."</p> + +<p>"I understand it, Don John; and so does Ned. +But I think you are making a mistake; for if the +Sea Foam is beaten again by the Skylark,—as I +believe she will be,—it will be all the worse for +your firm," laughed Robert.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to run the risk," replied Donald. +"If we can't build a boat as fast as the Skylark, +I want to know it."</p> + +<p>"But, Don John, you don't expect me to <i>let</i> +you beat me—do you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Bob. I hope you will do your +very best, and I shall be satisfied with the result."</p> + +<p>It was soon reported over the Penobscot that +another race was to be sailed immediately, and +the report created intense excitement when +the circumstances of the affair were explained. +Judges were appointed, and other arrangements +concluded. Donald and Ned Patterdale went on +board of the Sea Foam, and Commodore Montague +on board of the Skylark. The two yachts anchored +in line, with the Skylark to windward, as she was +three inches longer than the other. The start +was to be made at the firing of the first gun. +Donald took his place at the helm of the Sea +Foam, and stationed the hands. He was a little +afraid that Ned Patterdale was not as enthusiastic +as he might be; for if his yacht won the race, the +responsibility for the loss of the first prize in the +regatta would rest upon him, and not upon his +craft. It would not be so pleasant for him to +know that he had failed, in any degree, as a +skipper. The position of Donald, therefore, was +not wholly agreeable; for he did not like to prove +that his friend was deficient in skill, though the +future prosperity of the firm of Ramsay and Son +required him to do so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wind was even fresher than before, and +dark clouds indicated a heavy rain before night; +but Donald did not heed the weather. He stationed +Ned in the standing-room to tend the jib-sheets +and mind the centre-board. Two hands +were at the cable, and two more at the jib-halyards.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready forward?" called the +skipper <i>pro tem.</i> of the Sea Foam.</p> + +<p>"All ready," replied the hands. And Donald +waited with intense interest for the gun.</p> + +<p>Bang.</p> + +<p>"Let go! Hoist the jib!" cried Donald.</p> + +<p>The hands forward worked with a will. The +rope was thrown into the tender, to which the +end of it was made fast, and the jib, crackling +and banging in the stiff breeze, now almost a +gale, went up in an instant.</p> + +<p>"Haul down the lee jib-sheet," said Donald to +his companion in the standing-room. And it is +but fair to say that Ned worked as briskly as the +yachtmen at the bow.</p> + +<p>The Sea Foam heeled over, as the blast struck +her sails, till her rail went under; but Donald +knew just what she would bear, and kept the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +tiller stiff in his hand. Stationing Dick Adams +at the main sheet behind him, he placed the +others upon the weather side. In a moment +more the yacht came to her bearings, and lying +well over, she flew off on her course. She had +made a capital start, and the Skylark was equally +fortunate in this respect. The two yachts went +off abeam of each other, and for half a mile +neither gained a hair upon the other. Then commenced +the struggle for the victory. First the +Skylark gained a few inches; then the Sea Foam +made half a length, though she immediately lost +it; for in these relative positions, she came under +the lee of her opponent.</p> + +<p>Again the Skylark forged ahead, and was a +length in advance of the Sea Foam, when the +yachts came up with Turtle Head.</p> + +<p>"You are losing it, Don John," said Ned, +apparently not much displeased at the result.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," replied Donald. "A pull on the +main sheet, Dick," added the skipper, as he put +the helm down. "Give her six inches more +centre-board, Ned."</p> + +<p>"You will be on the rocks, Don John!" +shouted the owner of the yacht, as the Sea Foam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +dashed under the stern of the Skylark, and ran in +close to the shore.</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed, Ned. Haul down the jib-sheet +a little more! Steady! Belay!" said the +confident skipper.</p> + +<p>By this manœuvre the Sea Foam gained a position +to windward of her rival; but she ran within +half her breadth of beam of the dangerous rocks, +and Ned expected every instant the race would +end in a catastrophe. She went clear, however; +for Donald knew just the depth of water at any +time of tide. Both yachts were now under the +lee of the island, and went along more gently +than before. It was plain enough now that the +Sea Foam had the advantage. Beyond the Head, +and near the ledge, she was obliged to brace up to +the wind, in order to leave the buoy on the port, +as required by the rule. Donald kept her moving +very lively, and when she had made her two +tacks, she had weathered the buoy, and, rounding +it, she gybed so near the ledge that the commodore +could not have crawled in between him and +the buoy if he had been near enough to do so. +Hauling up the centre-board, and letting off the +sheets, the Sea Foam went for a time before the +wind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the Skylark had rounded the buoy, and +laid her course for Turtle Head again, she was at +least an eighth of a mile astern of her rival. +Donald hardly looked at her, but gazed steadfastly +at the sails and the shore of the island. +The sheets had to be hauled in little by little, as +she followed the contour of the land, till at the +point below Turtle Head the yacht had the wind +forward of the beam. Then came the home +stretch, and the skipper trimmed his sails, adjusted +the centre-board, and stationed his crew as +live weights with the utmost care. It was only +necessary for him to hold his own in order to win +the race, and he was painfully anxious for the +result.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="600" height="448" alt="Donald sailing the Sea Foam. Page 166." title="Donald sailing the Sea Foam. Page 166." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Donald sailing the Sea Foam.</span> <a href="#Page_166">Page 166</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>In the Skylark the commodore saw just where +he had lost his advantage, and regretted too late +that he had permitted the Sea Foam to get to +windward of him; but he strained every nerve to +recover his position. The wind continued to +freshen, and probably both yachts would have +done better with a single reef in the mainsail; +but there was no time to reduce sail. As they +passed Turtle Head and came out into the open +bay, the white-capped waves broke over the bows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +dashing the spray from stem to stern. Neither +Donald nor Robert flinched a hair, or permitted +a sheet to be started.</p> + +<p>"You'll take the mast out of her, Don John," +said Ned Patterdale, wiping the salt water from +his face.</p> + +<p>"If I do, I'll put in another," replied Donald. +"But you can't snap that stick. The Skylark's +mast will go by the board first, and then it will +be time enough to look out for ours."</p> + +<p>"You have beaten her, Don John," added Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. 'There's many a slip between the +cup and the lip.'"</p> + +<p>"But you are a quarter of a mile ahead of her, +at least. It's blowing a gale, and we can't carry +all this sail much longer."</p> + +<p>"She can carry it as long as the Skylark. +When she reefs, we will do the same. I want to +show you what the Sea Foam's made of. She is +as stiff as a line-of-battle ship."</p> + +<p>"But look over to windward, Don John," +exclaimed Ned, with evident alarm. "Isn't that +a squall?"</p> + +<p>"No; I think not. It's only a shower of rain," +replied Donald. "There may be a puff of wind +in it. If there is, I can touch her up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Skylark has come up into the wind, and +dropped her peak," added Norman, considerably +excited.</p> + +<p>But Donald kept on. In a moment more a +heavy shower of rain deluged the deck of the Sea +Foam. With it came a smart puff of wind, and +the skipper "touched her up;" but it was over in +a moment, and the yacht sped on her way towards +the goal. Half an hour later she passed the +Penobscot, and a gun from her saluted the victor +in the exciting race. About four minutes later +came the Skylark, which had lost half this time +in the squall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>THE LAUNCH OF THE MAUD.</h3> + + +<p>The heavy rain had driven nearly all the people +on board of the Penobscot below, but the +judges, clothed in rubber coats, kept the deck, in +readiness to take the time of the rival yachts. +After the squall, the weather was so thick that both +of them were hidden from view. The craft not in +the race had anchored near the Penobscot, and on +board of all the yachts the interest in the result +was most intense.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it will be no race," said Sam Rodman, +who was now the chairman of the judges.</p> + +<p>"The commodore will put the Skylark through, +whatever the weather," replied Frank Norwood.</p> + +<p>"Don John will keep the Sea Foam flying as +long as Bob runs the Skylark, you may depend."</p> + +<p>"It was quite a little squall that swept across +the bay just now," added Rodman. "I hope no +accident has happened to them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll risk the accidents. I would give a dollar +to know which one was ahead."</p> + +<p>"Not much doubt on that point."</p> + +<p>"I think there is. Don John generally knows +what he is about. He don't very often say what +he can do, but when he does, he means it."</p> + +<p>"The commodore is too much for him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is, but I have hopes of the Sea +Foam. Don John is building the Maud for me, +and I have some interest in this race. I don't +want a yacht that is to be beaten by everything in +the fleet. If the Skylark is too much for the Sea +Foam, the chance of the Maud won't be much +better."</p> + +<p>The judges discussed the merits of the two +yachts for half an hour longer, and there was as +much difference of opinion among them as among +the rest of the spectators of the race.</p> + +<p>"There's one of them!" shouted Frank Norwood, +as the Sea Foam emerged from the cloud of +mist which accompanied the rain.</p> + +<p>"Which is it?" demanded Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I can't make her out," replied Norwood, for +the yacht was over a mile distant.</p> + +<p>"But where is the other? One of them is getting +badly beaten," added Rodman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That must be the Skylark we see."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it is. It is so thick we can't +make her out, but her sails look very white. I +think it is the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"There's the other!" exclaimed Norwood, as +the Skylark was dimly perceived in the distance.</p> + +<p>"She is half a mile astern. It is a bad beat for +one of them."</p> + +<p>"That's so; and if it is the Sea Foam, I shall +want to throw up the contract for the Maud," said +Rodman.</p> + +<p>"There is one thing about it; both of those craft +are good sea boats, and if they can carry whole +jib and mainsail in this blow, they are just the +right kind of yachts for me. I like an able boat, +even if she don't win any prizes. Give me a stiff +boat before a fast one."</p> + +<p>"I should like to have mine both stiff and fast."</p> + +<p>"Look at the Christabel. She went round the +course with a reef in the fore and main sails, and +was beaten at that," added Norwood. "Here +comes the head boat. It is the Skylark, as sure +as you live."</p> + +<p>"Not much, Frank. Do you see her figure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>-head? +Is it a bird?" demanded Rodman, triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"It isn't; that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"That's the Sea Foam fast enough."</p> + +<p>This was exciting news, and Sam Rodman +walked rapidly to the companion-way of the +Penobscot.</p> + +<p>"Yachts in sight!" shouted he to the people +below.</p> + +<p>"Which is ahead?" asked Mr. Montague.</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam," replied Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad!" exclaimed Miss Nellie Patterdale.</p> + +<p>Mr. Montague and Captain Patterdale only +laughed, but they were sufficiently interested to +go on deck in spite of the pouring rain, and they +were followed by many others.</p> + +<p>"Time!" shouted Sam Rodman, as the gun was +fired.</p> + +<p>"Four, thirty-two, ten," added Frank Norwood; +and the figures were entered upon the +schedule.</p> + +<p>The Sea Foam passed the judges' yacht, came +about, and went under her stern.</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam," shouted Donald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Though the spectators were not all satisfied +with the result, they gave three cheers to the +victorious yacht, magnanimously led off by Mr. +Montague himself.</p> + +<p>"Time!" called Sam, as the Skylark came into +the range of the chimney on shore.</p> + +<p>"Four, thirty-six, twelve," said Norwood.</p> + +<p>The Skylark came about, and passed under the +stern of the Penobscot, reporting her name. The +judges went below, and figured out the result, by +which it appeared that the Sea Foam had beaten +the Skylark, after the correction for the three +inches' difference in length, by three minutes fifty-nine +and four tenths seconds.</p> + +<p>Donald was the first to come on board of the +Penobscot, and was generously congratulated on +his decisive victory, especially by Mr. Montague, +the father of the commodore. Robert followed +him soon after, and every one was curious to know +what he would say and do.</p> + +<p>"Don John, you have beaten me," exclaimed +he, grasping the hand of Donald. "You have +done it fairly and handsomely, and I am ready to +give up the first prize to the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>The party in the cabin of the Penobscot heartily +applauded the conduct of the commodore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are very kind and generous, Bob," replied +Donald, deeply moved by the magnanimity +of the commodore.</p> + +<p>"When I am whipped, I know it as well as the +next man. The silver vase belongs to the Sea +Foam."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," protested Donald. "This last +race was not for the vase, and you won the first +one fairly."</p> + +<p>"Of course the vase belongs to the commodore," +added Rodman. "The judges have already +awarded and presented the prizes."</p> + +<p>This was the unanimous sentiment of all concerned, +and Robert consented to retain the first +prize.</p> + +<p>"I say, Don John," continued the commodore, +removing his wet coat and cap, "I want to have +an understanding about the affair. While I own +that the Skylark has been beaten, I am not so +clear that the Sea Foam is the faster boat of the +two."</p> + +<p>"I think she is, commodore," laughed Donald; +"though I believe I understand your position."</p> + +<p>"We made an even thing of it till we came up +with Turtle Head—didn't we?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so. If either gained anything for +the moment, he lost it again," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Then, if we made exactly the same time to +Turtle Head, it seems to me the merits of the two +boats are about the same."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, commodore. You forgot that the +Skylark has to give time to the Sea Foam—one +and three-tenths seconds per mile; or about eight +seconds from here to the Head."</p> + +<p>"That's next to nothing," laughed Robert. +"But I was a length ahead of you."</p> + +<p>"I let you gain that, so that I could go to windward +of you."</p> + +<p>"You made your first point by running nearer +to the rocks than I like to go, by which you cut +off a little of the distance; and inches counted in +so close a race."</p> + +<p>"That's part of the game in sailing a race."</p> + +<p>"I know that, and it's all perfectly fair. I lost +half my time when the squall came. I thought it +was going to be heavier than it proved to be."</p> + +<p>"I threw the Sea Foam up into the wind when +it came," said Donald.</p> + +<p>"But you didn't drop your peak, and I lost two +minutes in doing it. Now, Don John, I can put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +my finger on the four minutes by which you beat +me; and I don't think there is any difference +between the two yachts."</p> + +<p>"You forget the allowance."</p> + +<p>"That's nothing. In all future regattas the +result will depend more upon the sailing than +upon the boats."</p> + +<p>"I think you are quite right, Bob; and the +fellow who makes the most mistakes will lose the +race. But when the Maud is done she is going to +beat you right along, if she has anything like fair +play," laughed Donald.</p> + +<p>"She may if she can," replied Robert.</p> + +<p>The reputation of Ramsay & Son, boat builders, +was greatly increased by the result of the race. +If Edward Patterdale was a little mortified to have +it demonstrated that the Sea Foam had lost the +first prize by his own want of skill and tact in +sailing her, he was consoled by the fact that +Commodore Montague, who had the credit of +being the best skipper in Belfast, had been beaten +by his yacht. When the shower was over the +party went on shore, and Donald hastened to the +shop to attend to business. He found that his +men had done a good day's work in his absence,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +and he related to Kennedy all the particulars of +the two races.</p> + +<p>"It would have been a bad egg for you if you +had not been present," said Kennedy, much interested +in the story. "In these regattas the +sailing of the yacht is half the battle, and these +young fellows may ruin your reputation as a boat-builder, +if you don't look out for them."</p> + +<p>"When I heard Ned Patterdale say he was disappointed +in the Sea Foam, I felt that our business +was nearly ruined. I think I have done a good +thing for our firm to-day."</p> + +<p>"So you have, Donald; and when the Maud is +finished, I hope you will sail her yourself in the +first race she enters."</p> + +<p>"I will, if Sam Rodman consents."</p> + +<p>Donald paid off his men that night from the +money received from Mr. Rodman. The next +week he employed another hand, and worked diligently +himself. Every day his mother came out +to see how the work progressed, as she began to +have some hope herself of the success of the firm +of Ramsay & Son. Donald paid her all the fees +he received for measuring yachts, and thus far this +had been enough to support the family. She did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +not inquire very closely into the financial affairs +of the concern, and the active member of it was +not very communicative; but she had unbounded +confidence in him, and while he was hopeful she +was satisfied.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to follow the young builder +through all the details of his business. The frame +of the Maud was all set up in due time, and then +planked. By the first of August, when the vacation +at the High School commenced, she was ready +to be launched. All the joiner work on deck and +in the cabin was completed, and had received two +coats of paint. Mr. Rodman had paid a hundred +dollars every week on account, which was more +than Donald needed to carry on the work, and the +affairs of Ramsay & Son were in a very prosperous +condition.</p> + +<p>On the day of the launch, the Yacht Club attended +in a body, and all the young ladies of the +High School were present. Miss Maud Rodman, +with a bottle in her hand, had consented formally +to give her own name to the beautiful craft. Nellie +Patterdale was to be on deck with her, attended +by Donald and Sam Rodman. The boarding at the +end of the shop had been removed, to allow the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +passage of the yacht into her future element. The +ways had been laid down into the water, and well +slushed. It was high tide at ten o'clock, and this +hour had been chosen for the great event.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready, Mr. Kennedy?" asked +Donald.</p> + +<p>"All ready," replied the workman.</p> + +<p>"Let her slide!" shouted the boat-builder.</p> + +<p>A few smart blows with the hammers removed +the dog-shores and the wedges, and the Maud +began to move very slowly at first. Those on +deck were obliged to stoop until the hull had +passed out of the shop.</p> + +<p>"Now stand up," said Donald, as the yacht +passed the end of the shop; and he thrust a long +pole, with a flag attached to the end, into the mast +hole.</p> + +<p>The boat increased her speed as she advanced, +and soon struck the water with a splash.</p> + +<p>"Now break the bottle, Maud," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"I give this yacht the name of Maud," said Miss +Rodman, in a loud tone, as she broke the bottle +upon the heel of the bowsprit.</p> + +<p>"Won't she tip over, Don John?" asked Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; nearly all her ballast has been put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +into her, and she will stand up like a queen on the +water," answered Donald, proudly, as he realized +that the launch was a perfect success.</p> + +<p>Loud cheers from the crowd on shore greeted +the yacht as she went into the embrace of her +chosen element. The ladies waved their handkerchiefs, +and the gentlemen their hats. Maud and +Nellie returned the salute, and so did Sam Rodman; +but Donald was too busy, just then, even to +enjoy his triumph. As the hull slid off into the +deep water, the boat-builder threw over the anchor, +and veered out the cable till her headway +was checked. The Maud rested on the water as +gracefully as a swan, and the work of the day was +done.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the yacht brought up at her cable, +when the Juno, in which Laud Cavendish had been +laying off and on where he could see the launch, +ran alongside of her.</p> + +<p>"Keep off!" shouted Donald; "you will scrape +her sides."</p> + +<p>"No; hold on, Don John; I have a cork fender," +replied Laud, as he threw his painter on +board of the Maud. "Catch a turn—will you?"</p> + +<p>"Don't let him come on board, if you can help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +it," whispered Nellie Patterdale. "He is a terrible +bore."</p> + +<p>"I can help it," replied Donald, as, with a +boat-hook he shoved off the bow of the Juno.</p> + +<p>Then, for the first time, he observed that Laud +had a passenger, a man whom he remembered to +have seen before, though he did not think where.</p> + +<p>"What are you about, Don John?" demanded +Laud.</p> + +<p>"Keep off, then," replied Donald. "We don't +want any visitors on board yet. We are going +to haul her up to the wharf at once."</p> + +<p>"But I came off to offer the ladies a passage to +the shore," said Laud.</p> + +<p>"They don't want any passage to the shore."</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Miss Patterdale," added Laud, +as Nellie went to the rail near the Juno. "Allow +me to offer you a place in this boat to convey you +to the shore."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; I intend to remain +where I am," replied she, rather haughtily.</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to take you out to sail, if you +will do me the honor to accompany me; and Miss +Rodman, too, if she will go."</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you; I am otherwise engaged,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +answered Nellie, as she retreated to the other side +of the yacht.</p> + +<p>"I say, Donald, let me come on board," asked +Laud, who was desperately bent upon improving +his acquaintance with Nellie Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Not now; you can come on board at the +wharf."</p> + +<p>Donald was resolute, and Laud, angry at his +rebuff, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'filled'">filed</ins> away.</p> + +<p>"Here is a man that wants to see you, Don +John," shouted Laud, as he ran his boat up to the +Maud again.</p> + +<p>"I can't see him now," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>Kennedy now came alongside in the skiff, bringing +a warp-line from the shore, by which the Maud +was hauled up to the wharf. The spectators went +on board, and examined the work. Many of them +crawled into the cabin and cook-room, and all of +them were enthusiastic in their praise, though a +few seasoned it with wholesome criticism. Some +thought the cabin ought to be longer, evidently +believing that it was possible to put a quart of +water into a pint bottle; others thought she ought +to be rigged as a schooner instead of a sloop, which +was a matter of fancy with the owner; but all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +agreed that she was a beautiful yacht. In honor +of the event, and to please the young people, Mr. +Rodman had prepared a collation at his house, to +which the members of the Yacht Club and others +were cordially invited. Kennedy and the other +men who worked on the Maud were included in +the invitation, and the afternoon was to be a holiday. +Laud Cavendish, who had moored the Juno +and come on shore, liberally interpreted the invitation +to include himself, and joined the party, +though he was not a member of the club. Some +people have a certain exuberance on the side of +their faces, which enables them to do things which +others cannot do.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you, Don John," said Laud, as +the party began to move from the wharf towards +the mansion of Mr. Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I'll see you this evening," replied Donald, +who was anxious to gain a position at the side of +Miss Nellie Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"That will be too late. You saw the man in +the Juno with me—didn't you?" continued Laud, +proceeding to open his business.</p> + +<p>"I saw him."</p> + +<p>"Did you know him?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No; though I thought I had seen him before," +replied Donald, as they walked along in the rear +of the party.</p> + +<p>"He is the man who was beaten within an inch +of his life over to Lincolnville, a while ago."</p> + +<p>"Hasbrook?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, his name is Jacob Hasbrook."</p> + +<p>"He was with us in the library of Captain Patterdale +the day we were there, when the man had +a sun-stroke."</p> + +<p>"Was he? Well, I don't remember that. Folks +say he is a big rascal, and the licking he got was +no more than he deserved. He was laid up for a +month after it; but now he and the sheriff are trying +to find out who did it."</p> + +<p>Donald was interested, in spite of himself, and +for the time even forgot the pleasant smile of +Nellie, which was a great deal for him to forget.</p> + +<p>"Has he any idea who it was that beat him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether he has or not. He only +asks questions, and don't answer any. You know +I met you over to Turtle Head the morning after +the affair in Lincolnville."</p> + +<p>"I remember all about it," answered Donald.</p> + +<p>"I saw you in the Juno afterwards. By the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +way, Don John, you didn't tell me how you happened +to be in the Juno at that time. I don't recollect +whether you had her at Turtle Head, or not. +I don't think I saw her there, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"No matter whether you did or not. Go on +with your story, for we are almost to Mr. Rodman's +house," replied Donald, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Well, after I left you, I ran over towards Saturday +Cove," continued Laud. "You know where +that is."</p> + +<p>"Of course I do."</p> + +<p>This was the place towards which Captain Shivernock +had gone in the sail-boat, and where Laud +had probably seen him, when he gave him the +money paid for the Juno. Laud did not say that +this was the time and place he had met the captain, +but Donald was entirely satisfied on this point.</p> + +<p>"From Saturday Cove I ran on the other tack +over to Gilky's Harbor," added Laud.</p> + +<p>"Did you see anybody near the cove?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't say whether I did or not," replied +Laud, after some hesitation, which confirmed Donald's +belief that he had met the captain on this +occasion. "Never mind that. Off Gilky's Harbor +I hailed Tom Reed, who had been a-fishing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +It seems that Tom told Hasbrook he saw me that +forenoon, and Hasbrook has been to see me half +a dozen times about it. I don't know whether he +thinks I am the fellow that thrashed him, or not. +He has pumped me dry about it. I happened +to let on that I saw you, and Hasbrook wants to +talk with you."</p> + +<p>By this time they reached Mr. Rodman's house, +and to the surprise of Donald, Laud Cavendish +coolly walked into the grounds with him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHITE CROSS OF DENMARK.</h3> + + +<p>Laud Cavendish was at Donald's side +when they entered the grounds of Mr. Rodman, +where the tables were spread under the trees +in the garden. As the collation was in honor of +the launch of the Maud, of course the young boat-builder +was a person of no little consequence, and +being with him, Laud was permitted to enter the +grounds unchallenged; but they soon separated.</p> + +<p>Donald was disturbed by what Laud had told +him, and he did not wish to answer any questions +which might be put to him by Hasbrook, who was +evidently working his own case, trying to ascertain +who had committed the outrage upon him. He +did not wish to tell whom he had seen on that +Saturday forenoon, and thus violate the confidence +of Captain Shivernock. But he was entirely satisfied +that the captain had nothing to do with it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +for he had not left his house until after the deed +was done, according to the testimony of Sykes and +his wife, whom he had separately interviewed. To +decline to answer Hasbrook's questions, on the +other hand, was to excite suspicion. He could +not tell any lies about the case. If he could, it +would have been easily managed; as it was, the +situation was very awkward. But he had not time +to think much of the matter, for one and another +began to congratulate him upon the success of the +launch, the fine proportions and the workmanship +of the Maud. The praise of Captain Patterdale +was particularly agreeable to him; but the best +news he heard was that Major Norwood intended +to have a yacht built for his son, and would probably +give the job to Ramsay & Son.</p> + +<p>"Well, Don John, you are a real lion," laughed +Nellie Patterdale, when, at last, the young boat-builder +obtained a place at her side, which had +been the objective point with him since he entered +the grounds.</p> + +<p>"Better be a lion than a bear," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Everybody says you have built a splendid +yacht, and Maud is delighted to have it named +after her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think the Sea Foam ought to have been called +the Nellie," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! I asked Ned to call her the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"If I ever build a yacht on my own account, I +shall certainly name her the Nellie Patterdale," +continued Donald, though the remark cost him a +terrible struggle.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Don John; but I hope you will +never build one on your own account, then," answered +she, with a slight blush.</p> + +<p>"Why, wouldn't you like to have a boat named +after you?" asked he, rather taken aback at her +reply.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't like to have my whole name given +to a boat. It is too long."</p> + +<p>"O, well! Then I shall call her the Nellie."</p> + +<p>"You are too late, Don John," laughed Laud +Cavendish, who was standing within hearing distance, +and who now stepped forward, raised his +hat, bowed, and smirked. "I have already ordered +the painter to inscribe that word on the bows and +stern of the Juno, for I never liked her present +name."</p> + +<p>Nellie blushed deeper than before, but it was +with anger this time, though she made no reply to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +Laud's impudent remark. At this moment Mr. +Rodman invited the party to gather around the +tables and partake of the collation.</p> + +<p>"Will Miss Patterdale allow me to offer her my +arm?" added Laud, as he thrust his elbow up +before her.</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you," she replied, walking towards +the tables, but keeping at Donald's side.</p> + +<p>The boat-builder had not the courage to offer +her his arm, though some of the sons of the nabobs +had done so to the ladies; but he kept at her side. +Laud was desperate, for Nellie seemed to be the +key of destiny to him. If he could win her heart +and hand, or even her hand without the heart, his +fortune would be made, and the wealth and social +position of which cruel fate had thus far robbed +him would be obtained. Though she snubbed him, +he could not see it, and would not accept the situation. +If Donald had not been there, she would +not have declined his offered arm; and he regarded +the boat-builder as the only obstacle in his path.</p> + +<p>"I wish you had not invited that puppy, Don +John," said Nellie, as they moved towards the +tables; and there was a snap in her tones which +emphasized the remark.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I didn't invite him," replied Donald, warmly.</p> + +<p>"He came in with you, and Mr. Rodman said +you must have asked him."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I did not; I had no right to invite +him," protested Donald.</p> + +<p>Nellie immediately told this to the host of the +occasion, and in doing so she left Donald for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you get out of the way, Don John, +when you see what I am up to?" said Laud, in a +low tone, but earnestly and indignantly, as though +Donald had stepped between him and the cheerful +destiny in which his imagination revelled.</p> + +<p>"What are you up to?"</p> + +<p>"I told you before that I liked Nellie, and you +are all the time coming between me and her. She +would have taken my arm if you had stepped +aside."</p> + +<p>"I don't choose to step aside," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"I want to get in there, Don John," added +Laud, in a milder tone.</p> + +<p>"Paddle your own canoe."</p> + +<p>"You don't care anything about her."</p> + +<p>"How do you know I don't?"</p> + +<p>"Do you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's my affair."</p> + +<p>"She don't care for you."</p> + +<p>"Nor you, either."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not now, but I can make it all right +with her," said Laud, as he twirled his colored +mustache, which he probably regarded as a lady-killer. +"Besides, you are not old enough to think +of such things yet, Don John."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think of such things yet," replied +Donald, who really spoke only the truth, so far as +he was consciously concerned.</p> + +<p>"But you ought not to stick by her to-day. You +are the boat-builder, and you should bestow your +attentions upon Maud Rodman, after whom the +yacht was named. She is the daughter of the man +who gave you the job. If you will just keep away +from Nellie, I can paddle my own canoe, as you +say."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cavendish," interposed Mr. Rodman, "I +believe you are not a member of the Belfast Yacht +Club."</p> + +<p>"I am not yet, but I intend to join," replied +Laud.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time, this occasion is for the +members of the club and their friends; and I wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +to suggest the propriety of your withdrawing, as I +believe you are here without an invitation," +added Mr. Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I came with Don John," said Laud, rather +startled by the plain speech of the host.</p> + +<p>"If Don John invited you—"</p> + +<p>"I didn't invite him, or any one else. I did +not consider that I had any right to do so," protested +Donald, as he walked forward and joined +Nellie.</p> + +<p>Laud could not gainsay this honest avowal; but +there was no limit to his wrath at that moment, +and he determined to punish the boat-builder for +"going back" on him, as he regarded it.</p> + +<p>The collation was a sumptuous one, for when +Belfast nabobs do anything, they do it. The +guests had good appetites, and did abundant justice +to the feast. The incident of which Laud Cavendish +had been the central figure caused some talk +and some laughter.</p> + +<p>"He had the impudence to say he was going to +name his boat after me," said Nellie Patterdale. +"He don't like the name of Juno."</p> + +<p>"Does he own the Juno?" asked Captain Patterdale, +quietly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose he does."</p> + +<p>"How is that, Don John?" added the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, he owns her; Captain Shivernock got +tired of the Juno, and Laud bought her."</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale made a note of that piece of +information, and regarded it as a clew to assist in +the discovery of the tin box, which had not yet +been found, though the owner and the deputy +sheriff had been looking diligently for it ever since +its disappearance.</p> + +<p>"What did he pay for her?" inquired Captain +Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Three hundred and fifty dollars," answered +Donald, who hoped he would not be asked of whom +Laud had bought the Juno.</p> + +<p>The captain did not ask the question, for it +seemed to be self-evident that he had purchased +her of Captain Shivernock. Indeed, nothing more +was said about the matter. A dance on the shaven +lawn followed the collation, and the guests remained +until the dews of evening began to fall. +Donald walked home with Nellie, and then went +to the shop. He expected to find Hasbrook there, +but he had returned to Lincolnville. He saw that +the sails for the Maud had been sent down during<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +his absence, and on the desk lay the bill for them, +enclosed in an envelope, directed to "Messrs. +Ramsay & Son." While he was looking at it, +Mr. Leach, the sail-maker, entered the shop. He +had come to look after his money, for possibly he +had not entire confidence in the financial stability +of the firm.</p> + +<p>"Have you looked over those sails, Don John?" +asked Leach.</p> + +<p>"Not yet; it is rather too dark to examine them +to-night," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"That's the best suit of sails I ever made," +added the sail-maker. "You said you wanted the +best that could be had."</p> + +<p>"I did." And Donald unrolled them. "They +look like a good job."</p> + +<p>"If they are not as good as anything that ever +went on a boat, I'll make you another suit for +nothing. I was in hopes you would look them +over to-night. I don't want to trouble you, Don +John, but I'm a little short of money. Captain +Patterdale has a mortgage on my house, and I like +to pay the interest on it the day it is due. You +said you would let me have the money when the +sails were delivered."</p> + +<p>"And so I will."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If they are not all right, I will make them +so," added Leach. "I should like to pay the +captain my interest money to-night, if I can."</p> + +<p>"You can. I will go into the house and get the +money."</p> + +<p>Donald went to his room in the cottage, and +took from their hiding-place the bills which had +been paid to him by Laud Cavendish for the Juno. +Without this he had not enough to pay the sail-maker. +He did not like to use this money, for he +was not fully satisfied that Laud would not get +into trouble on account of it, or that he might not +himself have some difficulty with Captain Shivernock. +He feared that he should be called upon to +refund this money; but Mr. Rodman would pay +him another instalment of the price of the Maud +in a few days, and he should then be in condition +to meet any demand upon him. Laud had paid +him seven fifty-dollar bills, and he put them in his +pocket. As he passed through the kitchen, he +lighted the lantern, and returned to the shop.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to dun you up so sharp for this +bill," said Leach; "but I haven't a dollar in my +pocket at this minute, and I am very anxious to be +punctual in the payment of my interest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's all right; I had as lief pay it now as at +any other time. In fact, I like to pay up as soon +as the work is done," replied Donald, as he handed +the sail-maker three of the fifty-dollar bills, which +was the price agreed upon for the sails, five in +number.</p> + +<p>Leach looked carefully at each of the bills. All +of them were quite new and fresh, and one was +peculiar enough to attract the attention of any one +through whose hands it might pass. It was just +like the others, but at some period, not very +remote in its history, it had been torn into four +parts. It might have been in a sheet of note +paper, torn up by some one who did not know the +bill was between the leaves. It had been mended +with two narrow slips of thin, white paper, extending +across the length and width of the bill, like +the horizontal white cross on the flag of Denmark.</p> + +<p>"That bill has been in four pieces," said Leach, +as he turned it over and examined it; "but I suppose +it is good."</p> + +<p>"If it is not, I will give you another for it," +answered Donald.</p> + +<p>"It is all here; so I think it is all right. I wonder +who tore it up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know; it was so when I took it."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you, Don John; +and the next time I make a suit of sails for you, +you needn't pay me till you get ready," said the +sail-maker, as he put the money in his wallet.</p> + +<p>"I didn't pay for this suit till I got ready," +laughed the boat-builder; "and when you get up +another, I hope I shall be able to pay you the cash +for them."</p> + +<p>Leach left the shop a happy man; for most men +are cheerful when they have plenty of money in +their pocket. He was more especially happy +because, being an honest man, he was able now +to pay the interest on the mortgage note on the +day it was due. He had worked half the night +before in order to finish the sails, so that he might +get the money to pay it. With a light step, +therefore, he walked to the elegant mansion of +Captain Patterdale, and rang the bell at the library +door. There was a light in the room, which +indicated that the captain was at home. He was +admitted by the nabob himself, who answered his +own bell at this door.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you thought I wasn't going to pay +my interest on the day it was due," said Leach, +with a cheerful smile.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="The Sail-maker's Bill. Page 199." title="The Sail-maker's Bill. Page 199." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Sail-maker's Bill.</span> <a href="#Page_199">Page 199</a>.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I didn't think anything at +all about it," replied Captain Patterdale. "I was +not even aware that your interest was due to-day."</p> + +<p>"I came pretty near not paying it, for work has +been rather slack this season; but the firm of +Ramsay & Son helped me out by paying me +promptly for the sails I made for the Maud."</p> + +<p>"Ramsay & Son is a great concern," laughed +the nabob.</p> + +<p>"It pays promptly; and that's more than all of +them do," added Leach, drawing his wallet from +his pocket.</p> + +<p>"I haven't your note by me, Mr. Leach," said +Captain Patterdale; but he did not consider it +necessary to state that the important document +was at that moment in the tin box, wherever the +said tin box might be. "I will give you a receipt +for the amount you pay, and indorse it upon the +note when I have it."</p> + +<p>"All right, captain."</p> + +<p>"Do you know how much the interest is? I am +sure I have forgotten," added the rich man.</p> + +<p>"I ought to know. I have had to work too hard +to get the money in time to forget how much it +was. It is just seventy dollars," answered Leach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You needn't pay it now, if you are short."</p> + +<p>"I'm not short now. I'm flush, for which I +thank Don John," said the sail-maker, as he +placed two of the fifty-dollar bills on the desk, +at which the captain was writing the receipt.</p> + +<p>The uppermost of the two bills was the mended +one, for Leach thought if there was any doubt in +regard to this, it ought to be known at once. If +the nabob would take it, the matter was settled. +Captain Patterdale wrote the receipt, and did not +at once glance at the money.</p> + +<p>"There's a hundred, captain," added the sail-maker.</p> + +<p>The rich man picked up the bills, and turned +over the upper one. If he did not start, it was +not because he was not surprised. He was utterly +confounded when he saw that bill, and his thoughts +flashed quickly through his mind. But he did not +betray his thoughts or his emotions, quick as were +the former, and intense as were the latter. He +took up the mended bill, and looked it over several +times.</p> + +<p>"That's the white cross of Denmark," said he, +suppressing his emotions.</p> + +<p>"Isn't the bill good?" asked the sail-maker.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good as gold for eighty-eight cents on a dollar," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then it is not good," added Leach, who did +not quite comprehend the nabob's mathematics.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is."</p> + +<p>"But you say it is worth only eighty-eight cents +on a dollar."</p> + +<p>"That is all any paper dollar is worth when gold +is a little rising fourteen per cent. premium. The +bill is perfectly good, in spite of the white cross +upon it. You want thirty dollars change."</p> + +<p>The captain counted out this sum, and handed +it to the debtor.</p> + +<p>"If the bill isn't good, I can give you another," +replied Leach, as he took the money.</p> + +<p>"It is a good bill, and I prefer it to any other +for certain reasons of my own. It has the white +cross of Denmark upon it; at least, the white bars +on this bill remind me of the flag of that nation."</p> + +<p>"It's like a flag—is it?" added the sail-maker, +who did not understand the rich man's allusion.</p> + +<p>"Like the flag of Denmark. I made a voyage +to Copenhagen once, and this bill reminds me of +the merchant's flag, which has a couple of white +bars across a red ground. Where did you say you +got this bill, Mr. Leach?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don John gave it to me, not half an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"It has been torn into quarters some time, and +the pieces put together again. Did Don John +mend the bill himself?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; he says the bill is just as it was when +he received it. I looked at it pretty sharp when +I took it; but he said if it wasn't good, he would +give me another."</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly good. Did he tell you where +he got the bill?" asked Captain Patterdale, manifesting +none of the emotion which agitated him.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; he did not. I didn't ask him. If it +makes any difference, I will do so."</p> + +<p>"It makes no difference whatever. It is all +right, Mr. Leach."</p> + +<p>The sail-maker folded up his receipt, and left +the library. He went home with eighty dollars +in his pocket, entirely satisfied with himself, with +the nabob, and especially with the firm of Ramsay +& Son. He did not care a straw about the white +cross of Denmark, so long as the bill was good. +Captain Patterdale was deeply interested in the +bill which bore this mark, and possibly he expected +to conquer by this sign. He was not so much +interested in the bill because he had made a voyage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +up the Baltic and seen the white cross there, +as because he had seen it on a bill in that tin box. +He was not only interested, but he was anxious, +for the active member of the firm of Ramsay & Son +seemed to be implicated in a very unfortunate and +criminal transaction.</p> + +<p>More than once Captain Patterdale had observed +the pleasant relations between Don John and his +fair daughter. As Nellie was a very pretty girl, +intelligent, well educated, and agreeable, and in +due time would be the heiress of a quarter or a +half million, as the case might be, he was rather +particular in regard to the friendships she contracted +with the young gentlemen of the city. +Possibly he did not approve the intimacy between +them. But whatever opinions he may have entertained +in regard to the equality of social relations +between his daughter and the future partner of her +joys and sorrows, we must do him the justice to +say that he preferred honor and honesty to wealth +and position in the gentleman whom Nellie might +choose for her life companion. The suspicion, or +rather the conviction, forced upon him by "the +white cross of Denmark," that Donald was neither +honest nor honorable, was vastly more painful than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +the fact that he was poor, and was the son of a +mere ship carpenter.</p> + +<p>Certainly Nellie did like the young man, though, +as she was hardly more than a child, it might be a +fancy that would pass away when she realized the +difference between the daughter of a nabob and +the son of a ship carpenter. While he was thinking +of the subject, Nellie entered the library, as +she generally did when her father was alone there. +She was his only confidant in the house in the +matter of the tin box, and he determined to talk +with her about the painful discovery he had just +made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>DONALD ANSWERS QUESTIONS.</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Nellie, did you have a good time +to-day?" asked Captain Patterdale, as +his daughter seated herself near his desk.</p> + +<p>"I did; a capital time. Everybody seemed to +enjoy it," replied she.</p> + +<p>"But some seemed to enjoy it more than +others," added the captain, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Now, father, you have something to say," said +she, with a blush. "I wish you would say it right +out, and not torment me for half an hour, trying +to guess what it is."</p> + +<p>"Of course, if I hadn't anything to say, I should +hold my tongue," laughed her father.</p> + +<p>"Everybody don't."</p> + +<p>"But I do."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I enjoyed the occasion more +than any one else, father?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought you were one of the few who enjoyed +it most."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I was; but what have I done?"</p> + +<p>"Done?"</p> + +<p>"What terrible sin have I committed now?"</p> + +<p>"None, my child."</p> + +<p>"But you are going to tell me that I have sinned +against the letter of the law of propriety, or something +of that kind. This is the way you always +begin."</p> + +<p>"Then this time is an exception to all other +times, for I haven't a word of fault to find with +you."</p> + +<p>"I am so glad! I was trying to think what +wicked thing I had been doing."</p> + +<p>"Nothing, child. Don John seemed to be +supremely happy this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I dare say he was; but the firm of Ramsay & +Son had a successful launch, and Don John had +compliments enough to turn the head of any one +with a particle of vanity in his composition."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it; and I suppose you were not +behind the others in adding fuel to the flame."</p> + +<p>"What flame, father?"</p> + +<p>"The flame of vanity."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I don't think I uttered a +single compliment to him."</p> + +<p>"It was hardly necessary to utter it; but if you +had danced with him only half as often, it would +have flattered his vanity less."</p> + +<p>"How could I help it, when he asked me? There +were more gentlemen than ladies present, and I +did not like to break up the sets," protested +Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Of course not; but being the lion of the occasion, +don't you think he might have divided himself +up a little more equitably?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; but I couldn't choose my own +partner," replied Nellie, her cheeks glowing.</p> + +<p>"You like Don John very well?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do, father," replied she, honestly. +"Don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it don't make so much difference +whether I like him or not."</p> + +<p>"You have praised him to the skies, father. +You said he was a very smart boy; and not one in +a hundred young fellows takes hold of business +with so much energy and good judgment. I am +sure, if you had not said so much in his favor, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +shouldn't have thought half so much of him," +argued Nellie.</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you for thinking well of him, +my child," interposed her father. "I only hope +you are not becoming too much interested in him."</p> + +<p>"I only like him as a good-hearted, noble fellow," +added Nellie, with a deeper blush than +before, for she could not help understanding just +what her father meant.</p> + +<p>"He appears to be a very good-hearted fellow +now; but he is young, and has not yet fully developed +his character. He may yet turn out to be a +worthless fellow, dissolute and dishonest," continued +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Don John!" exclaimed Nellie, utterly unwilling +to accept such a supposition.</p> + +<p>"Even Don John. I can recall more than one +young man, who promised as well as he does, that +turned out very badly; and men fully developed +in character, sustaining the highest reputations in +the community, have been detected in the grossest +frauds. I trust Don John will realize the hopes +of his friends; but we must not be too positive."</p> + +<p>"I can't believe that Don John will ever become +a bad man," protested Nellie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We don't know. 'Put not your trust in +princes,' in our day and nation, might read, 'Put +not your trust in young men.'"</p> + +<p>"Why do you say all this, father?" asked +Nellie, anxiously. "Has Don John done anything +wrong; or is he suspected of doing anything +wrong?"</p> + +<p>"He is at least suspected," replied Captain +Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Why, father!"</p> + +<p>"You need not be in haste to condemn him, or +even to think ill of him, Nellie."</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall not."</p> + +<p>"There is the white cross of Denmark," added +the captain, holding up the bank bill which had +told him such a terrible story about the boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"What is it, father? It looks like a bank note."</p> + +<p>"It is; but there is the white cross of Denmark +on it."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand what you mean."</p> + +<p>"I only mean that these white slips of paper +make the bill look like the flag of Denmark."</p> + +<p>Nellie took the bill and examined it.</p> + +<p>"It has been torn into four pieces and mended," +said she.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is precisely how it happens to be the +white cross of Denmark. Do you think, if you +had ever seen that bill before, you would recognize +it again, if it fell into your hands?" added the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I should."</p> + +<p>"Well, it has been in my hands before. Do +you remember the day that Michael had the sun-stroke?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and your tin box disappeared that +day."</p> + +<p>"Precisely so; and this bill was in that tin box. +Jacob Hasbrook, of Lincolnville, paid me a note. +I put the money in the box, intending to take it +over to the bank before night, and deposit it the +next day. I looked at the bill when I counted the +money, and I spoke to Hasbrook about it. I +called it the white cross of Denmark then."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get it now?" inquired Nellie, +her heart in her throat with anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leach, the sail-maker, paid it to me just +before you came into the library."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leach!" exclaimed she, permitting herself +to be cheered by a ray of hope that her father +was not working up a case against Donald Ramsay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; you remember who were in the library +on the day I lost the tin box."</p> + +<p>"I remember very well; for all of you went out +and carried Michael into the house. Besides we +talked about the box ever so long. You asked me +who had been in the library while you were up +stairs; and I told you Mr. Hasbrook, Laud Cavendish, +and Don John."</p> + +<p>"Precisely so; I remember it all very distinctly. +Now, one of the bills that was in that box comes +back to me."</p> + +<p>"But it was paid to you by Mr. Leach."</p> + +<p>"It was; but he had it from Don John half an +hour before he paid it to me."</p> + +<p>"Why, father!" exclaimed Nellie, with real +anguish; for even a suspicion against Donald was +a shock to her. "I can never believe it!"</p> + +<p>"I don't wish you to believe anything yet; but +you may as well be prepared for anything an investigation +may disclose."</p> + +<p>"That Don John should steal!" ejaculated +Nellie. "Why, we all considered him the very +soul of honor!"</p> + +<p>"You are getting along faster than I do with +your conclusions, child," added Captain Patter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>dale. +"A suspicion is not proof. The bill came +from him, beyond a doubt. But something can +be said in his favor, besides the statement that his +character is excellent. Of the three persons who +were in the library that day, two of them had +wagons on the street. It does not seem probable +that Don John walked through the city with that +tin box in his hand. If he did, some one must +have seen it. Of course he would not have carried +it openly, while it could easily have been concealed +in the wagon of Hasbrook or Laud Cavendish."</p> + +<p>"Certainly; if Don John had taken it, he would +not have dared to carry it through the streets," +added Nellie, comforted by the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Again, if he had stolen this white cross of +Denmark, he would not have been likely to pass +it off here in Belfast," continued the captain; "for +he is sharp enough to see that it would be identified +as soon as it appeared. Very likely Mr. Leach +told him he intended to pay me some money, and +he surely would not have allowed the bill to come +back to me."</p> + +<p>"I know he didn't do it," cried Nellie, with +enthusiasm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are too fast again, child. It is possible +that he did, however improbable it may seem now, +for rogues often make very silly blunders. Is +Edward in the house?"</p> + +<p>"I think so; he was reading the <i>Age</i> when I +came in."</p> + +<p>"Tell him to go down and ask Don John to +come up and see me. We will have the matter +cleared up before we sleep. But, Nellie, don't tell +Edward what I want to see Don John for. Not a +word about that to any one. By keeping my own +counsel, I may get at the whole truth; whereas the +thief, if he gets wind of what I am doing, may +cover his tracks or run away."</p> + +<p>"I will be very discreet, father," replied Nellie, +as she left the library.</p> + +<p>In a few moments she returned.</p> + +<p>"He has gone, father; though he is very tired," +said she.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he is; but I don't want to believe +that Don John is a thief even over one night," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"He asked me what you wanted of Don John; +but I didn't tell him."</p> + +<p>The father and daughter discussed the painful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +suspicion until Donald arrived, and entered the +library with Edward. A conversation on indifferent +topics was continued for some time, and the +boat-builder wondered if he had been sent for to +talk about the launch of the Maud, which was now +an old story.</p> + +<p>"How is the wind, Edward?" asked Captain +Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"'Sou'-sou'-west, half west," laughed Edward, +who understood precisely what his father meant +by his question; and bidding Donald good night, +he left the library, without the formality of saying +he would go and see which way the wind was.</p> + +<p>"You know which way the wind is, Nellie; and +so you need not leave," added the captain, as she +rose from her seat to follow the example of her +brother.</p> + +<p>"So did Ned, for he told you," she answered.</p> + +<p>"And you heard him, and know also."</p> + +<p>When Captain Patterdale had private business +with a visitor, and he wished any member of his +own family to retire, he always asked which way +the wind was.</p> + +<p>"Don John, you had a great success in the +launch of the Maud to-day," said the nabob; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +as the same thing had been said half a dozen times +before since the boat-builder entered the room, it +was hardly to be regarded as an original idea; and +Donald was satisfied that the launch was not the +business upon which he had been sent for.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; we got her off very well," he replied. +"I was sorry I couldn't launch her with the mast +stepped, so as to dress her in the colors."</p> + +<p>"In that case, you would have needed the flags +of all nations. I have them, and will lend them +to you any time when you wish to make a sensation."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"I have here the white cross of Denmark," +added the captain, holding up the mended bill.</p> + +<p>"A fifty-dollar white-cross," laughed Donald. +"I have seen it before."</p> + +<p>"This bill?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I paid it to Mr. Leach for the Maud's +sails since dark," answered Donald, so squarely +that the nabob could not help looking at his daughter +and smiling.</p> + +<p>"He said you paid promptly, which is a solid +virtue in a business man. By the way, Don John, +you will be out of work as soon as the Maud is +finished."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope to have another yacht to build by that +time, especially if the Maud does well."</p> + +<p>"I wanted to say a word to you about that, and +tell you some good news, Don John," continued +Captain Patterdale, as calmly as though he had no +interest whatever in the mended bill. "I had a +long talk with Mr. Norwood this afternoon. He +says he shall give you the job if the Maud sails as +well as the Skylark or the Sea Foam. He don't +insist that she shall beat them."</p> + +<p>"But I expect she will do it; if she don't I +shall be disappointed," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"Don't expect too much, Don John. I thought +you would sleep better if you knew just how Mr. +Norwood stood on this question."</p> + +<p>"I shall, sir; and I am very much obliged to +you."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you will make any money on the +building of the Maud?" asked the nabob.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I think I shall do pretty well with +her."</p> + +<p>"You seem to have money enough to pay your +bills as you go along. Did Mr. Rodman pay you +this bill?" inquired the captain, as he held up the +cross again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir; he did not. I have had that bill in +the house for some time," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Are you so flush as that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I had considerable cash in the +house."</p> + +<p>"Your father left something, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; but he never had that bill and the +other two I paid Mr. Leach," replied Donald; +and he could not help thinking all the time that +they were a part of the sum Laud Cavendish had +paid him for the Juno, under promise not to say +where he got it, if everything was all right.</p> + +<p>Though the boat-builder was a square young +man, he could not help being somewhat embarrassed, +for his sense of honor did not permit him +to violate the confidence of any one.</p> + +<p>"If it is a fair question, Don John, where did +you get this bill?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>Donald thought it was hardly a fair question +under the circumstances, and he made no answer, +for he was thinking how he could get along without +a lie, and still say nothing about Laud's connection +with the bill, for that would expose Captain +Shivernock.</p> + +<p>"You don't answer me, Don John," added the +nabob, mildly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't like to tell," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"I promised not to do so."</p> + +<p>"You promised not to tell where you got this +money?"</p> + +<p>Poor Nellie was almost overwhelmed by these +answers on the part of Donald, and her father began +to have some painful doubts.</p> + +<p>"I did, sir; that is, I promised not to tell if +everything about the money was all right."</p> + +<p>"If you don't tell where you got the money, +how are you to know whether everything is all +right or not?" demanded Captain Patterdale, in +sharper tones than he had yet used.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," answered the boat-builder, +not a little confused, and sadly troubled +by the anxious expression on Miss Nellie's pretty +face.</p> + +<p>Perhaps her father, who understood human +nature exceedingly well, had required her to +remain in the library during this interview, for a +purpose; but whether he did or not, Donald was +really more concerned about her good opinion +than he was about that of any other person in the +world, unless it was his mother. He was con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>scious +that he was not making a good appearance; +and under the sad gaze of those pretty eyes, he +was determined to redeem himself.</p> + +<p>"You ought not to make such promises, Don +John," said the captain; and this time he spoke +quite sternly.</p> + +<p>"You have that bill, sir. Is there anything +wrong about it?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then my promise covers nothing. Laud Cavendish +paid me that bill," added the boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"Laud Cavendish!" exclaimed Nellie.</p> + +<p>Her father shook his head, to intimate that she +was to say nothing.</p> + +<p>"Laud Cavendish gave you this bill?" repeated +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and six more just like it; only the +others were not mended. I paid Mr. Leach three +of them, and here are the other four," said Donald, +producing his wallet, and taking from it the four +bills, which he had not returned to their hiding-place +in the bureau.</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale examined them, and compared +them with the two in his possession. They +looked like the bills he had deposited in the tin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +box, when Hasbrook paid him the thirteen hundred +and fifty dollars and interest. Twelve of the bills +which made up this sum were fifties, nearly new; +the balance was in hundreds, and smaller notes, +older, more discolored, and worn.</p> + +<p>"Laud Cavendish paid you three hundred and +fifty dollars, then?" continued the nabob.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; just that. But what is there wrong +about it?" asked Donald, trembling with emotion, +when he realized what a scrape he had got into.</p> + +<p>"Following your example, Don John, I shall +for the present decline to answer," replied the +captain. "If you don't know—"</p> + +<p>"I don't!" protested Donald, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"If you don't know, I thank God; and I congratulate +you that you don't know."</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea."</p> + +<p>"Of course, if you don't wish to answer any +question I may ask, you can decline to answer, as +I do, Don John."</p> + +<p>"I am entirely willing to answer any and every +question that concerns me."</p> + +<p>"As you please; but you can't be called upon +to say anything that will criminate yourself."</p> + +<p>"Criminate myself, sir!" exclaimed Donald, +aghast. "I haven't done anything wrong."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't say that you have, Don John; more +than that, I don't believe you have; but if you +answer any question of mine, you must do it of +your own free will and accord."</p> + +<p>"I will, sir."</p> + +<p>"For what did Laud Cavendish pay you three +hundred and fifty dollars?"</p> + +<p>"For the Juno," replied Donald, promptly.</p> + +<p>"I did not know he owned the Juno."</p> + +<p>"He said he did to-day; at least, he said he was +going to change her name," added Nellie.</p> + +<p>"The fact that I did not know it doesn't prove +that it was not so. You sold the Juno to Laud, +did you, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I did, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did you own the Juno?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did you buy her of Captain Shivernock?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I did not buy her; he made me a +present of her."</p> + +<p>"A present!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; he got disgusted with her, and gave +her to me. I could not afford to keep her, and +sold her to Laud Cavendish."</p> + +<p>"Gave her to you! That's very strange."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But Captain Shivernock is a very strange +man."</p> + +<p>"None will dispute that," replied Captain Patterdale, +with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders. +"That man throws away his property with utter +recklessness; and I should not be surprised if he +ended his life in the almshouse. I will not ask +any explanation of the conduct of Captain Shivernock. +Laud Cavendish is not a man of means. +Did he tell you, Donald, where he got his money +to buy a boat worth three hundred and fifty +dollars?"</p> + +<p>"He did, sir, and explained the matter so that +I was satisfied; for I would not sell him the Juno +till he convinced me that there was no hitch about +the money."</p> + +<p>"Well, where did he get it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't feel at liberty to tell, sir; for he told +me it was a great secret, which did not affect him, +but another person. I inquired into the matter +myself, and was satisfied it was all right."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you have been deceived, Don +John; but I am convinced you have done no wrong +yourself—at least, not intentionally. Secrets are +dangerous; and when people wish you to conceal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +anything, you may generally be sure there is something +wrong somewhere, though it may look all +right to you. I have no more questions to ask to-night, +Don John; but I may wish to see you again +in regard to this subject. I must see Mr. Laud +Cavendish next."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i007.jpg" width="600" height="441" alt="Donald answers Questions. Page 225." title="Donald answers Questions. Page 225." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Donald answers Questions.</span> <a href="#Page_225">Page 225</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>Donald declared that he was ready to give all +the information in his power; and after a little +chat with Nellie, he went home, with more on his +mind than had troubled him before, since he could +remember.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>MOONLIGHT ON THE JUNO.</h3> + + +<p>Donald felt that he was in hot water, in spite +of the assurance of Captain Patterdale that +he believed him innocent of all wrong, and he was +sorry that he had made any bargains, conditional +or otherwise, with Captain Shivernock or Laud +Cavendish. The nabob would not tell him what +was wrong, and he could not determine whether +Laud or some other person had stolen the money. +He went into the house on his return from the elegant +mansion. His mother had gone to watch with +a sick neighbor, though his sister Barbara was +sewing in the front room.</p> + +<p>Donald was troubled, not by a guilty conscience, +but by the fear that he had innocently done wrong +in concealing his relations with Captain Shivernock +and with Laud Cavendish. Somehow the case +looked different now from what it had before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +Laud had told where he got his money, and given +a good reason, as it seemed to him at the time, for +concealment; but why the strange man desired +secrecy he was utterly unable to imagine. He +almost wished he had told Captain Patterdale all +about his meeting with Captain Shivernock on +Long Island, and asked his advice. It was not +too late to do so now. Donald was so uneasy +that he could not sit in the house, and went out +doors. He walked about the beach for a time, +and then sat down in front of the shop to think the +matter over again.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, while he was meditating in the darkness, +he saw the trunk lights of the Maud illuminated, +as though there was a fire in her cabin. +He did not wait to study the cause, but jumping +into his skiff, he pushed off, and sculled with all +his might towards the yacht. He was mad and +desperate, for the Maud was on fire! He leaped on +board, with the key of the brass padlock which +secured the cabin door in his hand; but he had +scarcely reached the deck before he saw a man on +the wharf retreating from the vicinity of the yacht. +Then he heard the flapping of a sail on the other +side of the pier; but he could not spend an instant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +in ascertaining who the person was. He opened +the cabin door, and discovered on the floor a pile +of shavings in flames. Fortunately there was a +bucket in the standing-room, with which he dashed +a quantity of water upon the fire, and quickly +extinguished it. All was dark again; but to make +sure, Donald threw another pail of water on the +cabin floor, and then it was not possible for the +fire to ignite again.</p> + +<p>Although the deck had been swept clean before +the launch, the side next to the wharf was littered +with shavings, and a basket stood there, in which +they had been brought on board, for it was still +half full. Donald found that one of the trunk +lights had been left unfastened, in the hurry and +excitement of attending the festival at Mr. Rodman's +house. Through the aperture the incendiary +had stuffed the shavings, and dropped a card +of lighted matches upon them, for he saw the remnants +of it when he threw on the first water. Who +had done this outrageous deed? Donald sprang +upon the wharf as he recalled the shadowy form +and the flapping sail he had seen. Leaping upon +the pier, he rushed over to the other side, where +he discovered a sail-boat slowly making her way, +in the gentle breeze, out of the dock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>Beyond a peradventure, the boat was the Juno. +Her peculiar rig enabled him readily to identify +her. Was Laud Cavendish in her, and was he +wicked enough to commit such an act? Donald +returned to the Maud to assure himself that there +was no more fire in her. He was satisfied that the +yacht was not injured, for he had extinguished the +fire before the shavings were well kindled. He +fastened the trunk lights securely, locked the cabin +door, and taking possession of the basket, he +embarked in his skiff again. Sculling out beyond +the wharf, he looked for the Juno. The wind was +so light she made but little headway, and was +standing off shore with the breeze nearly aft. It +was Laud's boat, but it might not be Laud in her. +Why should the wretch attempt to burn the Maud?</p> + +<p>Then the scene in Mr. Rodman's garden, when +Laud had been invited to leave, came to his mind, +and Donald began to understand the matter. +While he was thinking about it, the moon came +out from behind a cloud which had obscured it, +and cast its soft light upon the quiet bay, silvering +the ripples on its waters with a flood of beauty.</p> + +<p>Donald glanced at the basket in the skiff, still +half filled with shavings. It was Laud's basket,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +beyond a doubt, for he had often seen it when the +owner came down to the shore to embark in his +boat. The initials of his father's name, "J. C.," +were daubed upon the outside of it, for there is +sometimes as much confusion in regard to the +ownership of baskets as of umbrellas. Donald +was full of excitement, and full of wrath; and as +soon as he got the idea of the guilty party through +his head, he sculled the skiff with all the vigor of +a strong arm towards the Juno, easily overhauling +her in a few moments. He was so excited that he +dashed his skiff bang into the Juno, to the serious +detriment of the white paint which covered her +side.</p> + +<p>"What are you about, Don John?" roared Laud +Cavendish, who had seen the approaching skiff, +but had not chosen to hail her.</p> + +<p>"What are you about?" demanded Donald, +answering the question with another, Yankee fashion, +as he jammed his boat-hook into the side of +the Juno, and drew the skiff up to the yacht, from +which it had receded.</p> + +<p>Taking the painter, he jumped on the forward +deck of the Juno, with the boat-hook still in his +hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you mean by smashing into me in +that kind of style, and jabbing your boat-hook into +the side of my boat?" cried Laud, as fiercely as +he could pitch his tones, though there seemed to +be a want of vim to them.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by setting the Maud +afire?" demanded Donald. "That's what I want +to know."</p> + +<p>"Who set her afire?" replied Laud, in rather +hollow tones.</p> + +<p>"You did, you miserable spindle-shanks!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't set her afire, Don John," protested +Laud.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you did! I can prove it, and I will prove +it, too."</p> + +<p>"You are excited, Don John. You don't +know what you are talking about."</p> + +<p>"I think I do, and I'll bet you'll understand it, +too, if there is any law left in the State of Maine."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"I mean what I say, and say what I mean."</p> + +<p>"I haven't been near the Maud."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have! Didn't I see you sneaking +across the wharf? Didn't I see your mainsail alongside +the pier? You can't humbug me. I know a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +pint of soft soap from a pound of cheese," rattled +Donald, who could talk very fast when he was both +excited and enraged; and Laud's tongue was no +match for his member.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, I haven't been near the Maud."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me! I saw it all; I have two eyes +that I wouldn't sell for two cents apiece; and I'll +put you over the road at a two-forty gait."</p> + +<p>Laud saw that it was no use to argue the point, +and he held his peace, till the boat-builder had +exhausted his rhetoric, and his stock of expletives.</p> + +<p>"What did you do it for, Laud?" asked he, at +last, in a comparatively quiet tone.</p> + +<p>"I have told you a dozen times I didn't do it," +replied the accused. "You talk so fast I can't +get a word in edgeways."</p> + +<p>"It's no use for you to deny it," added Don +John.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I'd burn your yacht?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do; and I know you tried to do it. If +I hadn't been over by the shop, you would have +done it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i008.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="Don John visits the Juno. Page 230." title="Don John visits the Juno. Page 230." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Don John visits the Juno.</span> <a href="#Page_230">Page 230</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I didn't do it, I repeat. Do you think I would +lie about it? Do you think I have no sense of honor +about me!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Confound your honor!" sneered Donald.</p> + +<p>"Don't insult me. When you assail my honor, +you touch me in a tender place."</p> + +<p>"In a soft place, and that's in your head."</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Don John. I advise you not to +wake a sleeping lion."</p> + +<p>"A sleeping jackass!"</p> + +<p>"I claim to be a gentleman, and my honor is +my capital stock in life."</p> + +<p>"You have a very small capital to work on, +then."</p> + +<p>"I warn you to be cautious, Don John. My +honor is all I have to rest upon in this world."</p> + +<p>"It's a broken reed. I wouldn't give a cent's +worth of molasses candy for the honor of a fellow +who would destroy the property of another, +because he got mad with him."</p> + +<p>In spite of his repeated warnings, Laud Cavendish +was very forbearing, though Donald kept the +boat-hook where it would be serviceable in an +emergency.</p> + +<p>"No, Don John, I did not set the Maud afire. +Though you went back on me this afternoon, +and served me a mean and shabby trick, I wouldn't +do such a thing as burn your property."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who went back on you?" demanded Donald.</p> + +<p>"You did; when you could have saved me from +being driven out of the garden, you took the +trouble to say, you did not invite me," replied +Laud, reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I didn't invite you; and I had no right to +invite you."</p> + +<p>"No matter for that; if you had just said that +your friend, Mr. Cavendish, had come in with you +it would have been all right."</p> + +<p>"My friend, Mr. Cavendish!" repeated Donald, +sarcastically. "I didn't know I had any such +friend."</p> + +<p>"I didn't expect that of you, after what I had +done for you, Don John."</p> + +<p>"Spill her on that tack! You never did anything +for me."</p> + +<p>"I took that boat off your hands, and I suppose +you got a commission for selling her. Wasn't +that doing something for you?"</p> + +<p>"No!" protested Donald.</p> + +<p>"I have always used you well, and done more +for you than you know of. You wouldn't have +got the job to build the Maud if it hadn't been for +me. I spoke a good word for you to Mr. Rodman," +whined Laud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You!" exclaimed Donald, disgusted with this +ridiculous pretension. "If you said anything to +Mr. Rodman about it, I wonder he didn't give the +job to somebody else."</p> + +<p>"You think I have no influence, but you are +mistaken; and if you insist on quarrelling with +me, you will find out, when it is too late, what +folks think of me."</p> + +<p>"They think you are a ninny; and when they +know what you did to-night, they will believe you +are a knave," replied Donald. "You didn't +cover your tracks so that I couldn't find them; +and I can prove all I say. I didn't think you +were such a rascal before."</p> + +<p>"You won't make anything out of that sort of +talk with me, Don John," said Laud, mildly. +"You provoke me to throw you overboard, but +I don't want to hurt you."</p> + +<p>"I'll risk your throwing me overboard. I can +take care of myself."</p> + +<p>"I said I didn't want to hurt you, and I don't. +I didn't set your boat afire; I wouldn't do such a +thing."</p> + +<p>"You can tell that to Squire Peters to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that you will prosecute +me, Don John?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; I do mean it."</p> + +<p>"I came down from the harbor, and tacked +between those two wharves," explained Laud. +"I was standing off on this tack when you bunted +your skiff into me. That's all I know about it."</p> + +<p>"But I saw you on the wharf. No matter; we +won't argue the case here," said Donald, as he +made a movement to go into his skiff.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Don John. I want to talk with you +a little."</p> + +<p>"What about?"</p> + +<p>"Two or three things. I am going off on a long +cruise in a day or two. I think I shall go as far +as Portland, and try to get a situation in a store +there."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you will have a chance to go +to Portland, or anywhere else, unless it's Thomaston, +where the state prison is located."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think you would be so rough on me, +Don John. I didn't set your boat afire; but I can +see that it may go hard with me, because I happened +to be near the wharf at the time."</p> + +<p>"You will find that isn't the worst of it," added +Donald.</p> + +<p>"What is the worst of it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Never mind; I'll tell Squire Peters to-morrow, +when we come together."</p> + +<p>"Don't go to law about it, Don John; for though +I didn't do it, I don't want to be hauled up for it. +Even a suspicion is sometimes damaging to the +honor of a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"You had better come down from that high +horse, and own up that you set the Maud afire."</p> + +<p>"Will you agree not to prosecute, if I do?" +asked Laud.</p> + +<p>Donald, after his anger subsided, thought more +about the "white cross of Denmark" than he did +about the fire; for the latter had done him no +damage, while the former might injure his character +which he valued more than his property.</p> + +<p>"I will agree not to prosecute, if you will answer +all my questions," he replied; but I confess that +it was an error on the part of the young man.</p> + +<p>Donald fastened the painter of his skiff at the +stern, and took a seat in the standing-room of the +Juno.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you all I know, if you will keep me +out of the courts," added Laud, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Why did you set the Maud afire?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was mad, and meant to get even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +with you for what you did at Rodman's this afternoon. +You might do me a great service, Don +John, if you would. I like Nellie Patterdale; I +mean, I'm in love with her. I don't believe I can +live without her."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet you'll have to," interposed Donald, +indignantly.</p> + +<p>"You don't know what it is to love, Don John."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to know yet awhile; and I think +you had better live on a different sort of grub. +What a stupid idea, for a fellow like you to think +of such a girl as Nellie Patterdale!"</p> + +<p>"Is it any worse for me to think of her, than it +is for you to do so?" asked Laud.</p> + +<p>"I never thought of her in any such way as that. +We went to school together, and have always been +good friends; that's all."</p> + +<p>"That's enough," sighed Laud. "I actually +suffer for her sake. If the quest were hopeless," +Laud read novels—"I think I should drown myself."</p> + +<p>"You had better do it right off, then," added +Donald.</p> + +<p>"You can pity me, Don John, for I am miserable. +Day and night I think only of her. My<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +feelings have made me almost crazy, and I hardly +knew what I was about when I applied the incendiary +torch to the Maud."</p> + +<p>"I thought it was a card of friction matches."</p> + +<p>"The world will laugh and jeer at me for loving +one above my station; but love makes us equals."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it does when the love is on both +sides," added the practical boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"But I think I am fitted to adorn a higher station +than that in which I was born."</p> + +<p>"If so, you will rise like a stick of timber forced +under the water; but it strikes me that you have +begun in the wrong way to figure for a rise."</p> + +<p>"But I wish to rise only for Nellie's sake. You +can help me, Don John; you can take me into her +presence, where I can have the opportunity to win +her affection."</p> + +<p>"I guess not, Laud. Shall I tell you what she +said to me this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me all."</p> + +<p>"She said you were an impudent puppy, and +she was sorry I invited you."</p> + +<p>"Did she say that?" asked Laud, looking up to +the cold, pale moon.</p> + +<p>"She did; and I was obliged to tell her that I +didn't invite you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps I have been a fool," mused the lover.</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt of it. Nellie Patterdale dislikes, +and even despises you. I have heard her +say as much, in so many words. That ought to +comfort you, and convince you that it is no use to +fish any longer in those waters."</p> + +<p>"Possibly you are right; but it is only because +she does not know me. If she only knew me +better—"</p> + +<p>"She would dislike and despise you still more," +said Donald, sharply. "If she only knew that +you set the Maud afire, she would love you as a +homeless dog likes the brickbats that are thrown +at him."</p> + +<p>"You will not tell her that, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I will not tell her, or any one else, if you +behave yourself. Now I want to ask some more +questions."</p> + +<p>"Go on, Don John."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get the money you paid for the +Juno?" demanded Donald, with energy.</p> + +<p>"Where did I get it?" repeated Laud, evidently +startled by the question, so vigorously put. "I +told you where I got it."</p> + +<p>"Tell me again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Captain Shivernock gave it to me."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you that."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because it is a matter between the captain and +me."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if it is. You said you would +answer all my questions, if I would not prosecute."</p> + +<p>"Questions about the Maud," explained Laud. +"I have told you the secret of my love—"</p> + +<p>"Hang the secret of your love!" exclaimed +Donald, disgusted with that topic. "I meant all +questions."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot betray the secrets of Captain +Shivernock. My honor—"</p> + +<p>"Stick your honor up chimney!" interrupted +Donald. "If you go back on the agreement, I +shall take the fire before Squire Peters. The +question I asked was, why Captain Shivernock +gave you four or five hundred dollars?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I could answer you, Don John; but I +do not feel at liberty to do so just now. I will +see the captain, and perhaps I may honorably give +you the information you seek."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You needn't mince the matter with me. I +know all about it now; but I want it from you."</p> + +<p>"All about what?" asked Laud.</p> + +<p>"You needn't look green about it. Do you +remember the Saturday when I told you the Juno +was for sale?"</p> + +<p>"I do, very distinctly," answered Laud. "You +were in the Juno at the time."</p> + +<p>"I was; we parted company, and you stood over +towards the Northport shore."</p> + +<p>"Just so."</p> + +<p>"Over there you met Captain Shivernock."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say I did."</p> + +<p>"But I say you did," persisted Donald. "For +some reason best known to himself, the captain +did not want any one to know he was on Long +Island that night."</p> + +<p>Laud listened with intense interest.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what his reason was, Don +John?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. You saw his boat, and overhauled +him near the shore."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"You overhauled him near the shore, and he +gave you a pile of money not to say that you had +seen him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is you who says all this, and not I," added +Laud, with more spirit than he had before exhibited. +"My honor is not touched."</p> + +<p>"I wish you wouldn't say anything more about +your honor. It is like a mustard seed in a haymow, +and I can't see it," snapped Donald.</p> + +<p>"You can see that I came honorably by the +money."</p> + +<p>"Honestly by it; I am satisfied on that point," +replied Donald. "If I had not been, I wouldn't +have sold you the boat. You see I knew something +of Captain Shivernock's movements about +that time. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have believed +that he gave it to you."</p> + +<p>"Then you must have seen the captain at the +same time."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say I saw him," laughed Donald. +"But the wind is breezing up, and we are half +way over to Brigadier Island. Come about, +Laud."</p> + +<p>The skipper acceded to the request, and headed +the Juno for Belfast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK'S JOKE.</h3> + + +<p>Donald considered himself shrewd, sharp, +and smart, because he had induced Laud +virtually to own that Captain Shivernock had +given him the money to purchase his silence, but +Donald was not half so shrewd, sharp, and smart +as he thought he was.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cavendish, it's no use for us to mince +this matter," he continued, determined further to +draw out his companion, and feeling happy now, +he was very respectful to him.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, Don John."</p> + +<p>"It can do no harm for you and me to talk over +this matter. You saw Captain Shivernock on that +Saturday morning—didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, if I say I did, you will not let on +about it—will you?"</p> + +<p>"Not if I can help it; for the fact is, I am in +the same boat with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then you saw the captain."</p> + +<p>"Of course I did."</p> + +<p>"But what was he doing down there, that made +him so particular to keep shady about it?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea. It was the morning +after Hasbrook was pounded to a jelly in his own +house; but I am satisfied that the captain had +nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure of that," added Laud.</p> + +<p>"I am. I went to the captain's house before +he returned that day, and both Sykes and his wife +told me he had left home at four o'clock that morning, +and this was after the pounding was done. +Besides, the captain was over on Long Island +when I saw him. If he had done the deed, he +would have got home before daylight, for the wind +was fresh and fair. Instead of that, he was over +at Turtle Head when I first saw him. The Juno +got aground with him near Seal Harbor, which +made him so mad he would not keep her any +longer. He was mad because she wasn't a centre-boarder. +I suppose after we parted he went over +to the Lincolnville or Northport Shore, and hid +till after dark in Spruce Harbor, Saturday Cove, +or some such place. At any rate, I was at his +house in the evening, when he came home."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The old fellow had been up to some trick, you +may depend upon it," added Laud, sagely.</p> + +<p>"I came to the conclusion that his desire to +keep dark was only a whim, for he is the strangest +man that ever walked the earth."</p> + +<p>"That's so; but why should he give me such a +pile if he hadn't been up to something?"</p> + +<p>"And me another pile," added Donald. "We +can talk this thing over between ourselves, but +not a word to any other person."</p> + +<p>"Certainly; I understand. I am paid for holding +my tongue, and I intend to do so honorably."</p> + +<p>"So do I, until I learn that there is something +wrong."</p> + +<p>"You have told me some things I did not know +before, Don John," suggested Laud.</p> + +<p>"You knew that the captain was down by Long +Island."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I didn't know he was at Turtle Head; +and I am satisfied now that he is the man that +shook up Hasbrook that night," continued Laud, +in meditative mood.</p> + +<p>"Are you? Then I will let the whole thing out," +exclaimed Donald.</p> + +<p>"No, no! don't do that!" protested Laud. +"That wouldn't be fair, at all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I would not be a party to the concealment of +such an outrage."</p> + +<p>"You don't understand it. Hasbrook is a regular +swindler."</p> + +<p>"That is no reason why he should be pounded +half to death in the middle of the night."</p> + +<p>"He borrowed a thousand dollars of Captain +Shivernock a short time before the outrage. The +captain told him he would lend him the money if +Hasbrook would give him a good indorser on the +paper. After the captain had parted with the +money, he ascertained that the indorser was not +worth a dollar. Hasbrook had told him the name +was that of a rich farmer, and of course the captain +was mad. He tried to get back his money, for he +knew Hasbrook never paid anything if he could +help it. Here is the motive for the outrage," +reasoned Laud.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't he prosecute him for swindling? +for that's what it was."</p> + +<p>"Captain Shivernock says he won't trouble any +courts to fight his battles for him; he can fight +them himself."</p> + +<p>"It was wrong to pound any man as Hasbrook +was. Why, he wasn't able to go out of the house<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +for a month," added Donald, who was clearly +opposed to Lynch law.</p> + +<p>Donald was somewhat staggered in his belief by +the evidence of his companion, but he determined +to inquire further into the matter, and even hoped +now that Hasbrook would call upon him.</p> + +<p>"One more question, Laud. Do you know +where Captain Shivernock got the bills he paid +you, and you paid me?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't. How should I know where +the captain gets his money?" replied Laud, in +rather shaky tones.</p> + +<p>"True; I didn't much think you would know."</p> + +<p>"What odds does it make where he got the +bills?" asked Laud, faintly.</p> + +<p>"It makes a heap of odds."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you why. I paid three of those bills +to Mr. Leach to-night for the Maud's suit of sails. +One of them was a mended bill."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember that one, for I noticed it +after the captain gave me the money," added Laud.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leach paid that bill to Captain Patterdale."</p> + +<p>"To Captain Patterdale!" exclaimed Laud, +springing to his feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What odds does it make to you whom he paid +it to?" asked Donald, astonished at this sudden +demonstration.</p> + +<p>"None at all," replied Laud, recovering his +self-possession.</p> + +<p>"What made you jump so, then?"</p> + +<p>"A mosquito bit me," laughed Laud. But it +was a graveyard laugh. "Leach paid the bill to +Captain Patterdale—you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Captain Patterdale says there is +something wrong about the bill," continued Donald, +who was far from satisfied with the explanation +of his companion.</p> + +<p>"What was the matter? Wasn't the bill good?" +inquired Laud.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the bill was good; but something was +wrong, he didn't tell me what."</p> + +<p>"That was an odd way to leave it. Why didn't +he tell you what was wrong?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I suppose he knows what he is +about, but I don't."</p> + +<p>"I should like to know what was wrong about +this bill. It has passed through my hands, and it +may affect my honor in some way," mused Laud.</p> + +<p>"You had better have your honor insured, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +it will get burned up one of these days," added +Donald, as he rose from his seat, and hauled in his +skiff, which was towing astern.</p> + +<p>He stepped into the boat, and tossed Laud's +basket to him.</p> + +<p>"Here is your basket, Laud," added he. "It +was my evidence against you; and next time, when +you want to burn a yacht, don't leave it on her +deck."</p> + +<p>"You will keep shady—won't you, Don John?" +he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"That will depend upon what you say and do," +answered Donald, as he shoved off, and sculled to +the wharf where the Maud lay, to assure himself +that she was in no danger.</p> + +<p>He was not quite satisfied to trust her alone all +night, and he decided to sleep in her cabin. He +went to the house, and told Barbara he was afraid +some accident might happen to the yacht, and with +the lantern and some bed-clothes, he returned to +her. He swept up the half-burned shavings, and +threw them overboard. There was not a vestige +of the fire left, and he swabbed up the water with +a sponge. Making his bed on the transom, he lay +down to think over the events of the evening. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +went to sleep after a while, and we will leave him +in this oblivious condition while we follow Laud +Cavendish, who, it cannot be denied, was in a +most unhappy frame of mind. He ran the Juno +up to her moorings, and after he had secured her +sail, and locked up the cabin door, he went on +shore. Undoubtedly he had done an immense +amount of heavy thinking within the last two +hours, and as he was not overstocked with brains, +it wore upon him.</p> + +<p>It was nearly ten o'clock in the evening, but +late as it was, Laud walked directly to the house +of Captain Shivernock. There was a light in the +strange man's library, or office, and another in the +dining-room, where the housekeeper usually sat, +which indicated that the family had not retired. +Laud walked up to the side door, and rang the +bell, which was promptly answered by Mrs. Sykes.</p> + +<p>"Is Captain Shivernock at home?" asked the +late visitor.</p> + +<p>"He is; but he don't see anybody so late as +this," replied the housekeeper.</p> + +<p>"I wish to speak to him on very important business, +and it is absolutely necessary that I should +see him to-night," persisted Laud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will tell him."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sykes did tell him, and the strange man +swore he would not see any one, not even his +grandmother, come down from heaven. She reported +this answer in substance to Laud.</p> + +<p>"I wish to see him on a matter in which he is +deeply concerned," said the troubled visitor. +"Tell him, if you please, in regard to the Hasbrook +affair."</p> + +<p>Perhaps Mrs. Sykes knew something about the +Hasbrook affair herself, for she promptly consented +to make this second application for the +admission of the stranger, for such he was to her.</p> + +<p>She returned in a few moments with an invitation +to enter, and so it appeared that there was +some power in the "Hasbrook affair." Laud was +conducted to the library,—as the retired shipmaster +chose to call the apartment, though there were +not a dozen books in it,—where the captain sat in +a large rocking-chair, with his feet on the table.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded the strange man; +and we are obliged to modify his phraseology in +order to make it admissible to our pages.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Laud Cavendish, at your service," replied +he, politely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>Mister</i> Laud Cavendish!" repeated the captain, +with a palpable sneer; "you are the swell +that used to drive the grocery wagon."</p> + +<p>"I was formerly employed at Miller's store, but +I am not there now."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want here?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to see you, sir."</p> + +<p>"You do see me—don't you?" growled the +eccentric. "What's your business?"</p> + +<p>"On the morning after the Hasbrook outrage, +Captain Shivernock, you were seen at Seal Harbor," +said Laud.</p> + +<p>"Who says I was?" roared the captain, springing +to his feet.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon sir; but I say so," answered +Laud, apparently unmoved by the violence of his +auditor. "You were in the boat formerly owned +by Mr. Ramsay, and you ran over towards the +Northport shore."</p> + +<p>"Did you see me?"</p> + +<p>"I did," replied Laud.</p> + +<p>"And you have come to levy black-mail upon +me," added the captain, with a withering stare at +his visitor.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort, sir. I claim to be a gentleman."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O, you do!"</p> + +<p>Captain Shivernock laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"I do, sir. I am not capable of anything +derogatory to the character of a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Bugs and brickbats!" roared the strange man, +with another outburst of laughter. "You are a +gentleman! That's good! And you won't do anything +derogatory to the character of a gentleman. +That's good, too!"</p> + +<p>"I trust I have the instincts of a gentleman," +added Laud, smoothing down his jet mustache.</p> + +<p>"I trust you have; but what do you want of me, +if you have the instincts of a gentleman, and don't +bleed men with money when you think you have +them on the hip?"</p> + +<p>"If you will honor me with your attention a few +moments, I will inform you what I want of you."</p> + +<p>"Good again!" chuckled the captain. "I will +honor you with my attention. You have got +cheek enough to fit out a life insurance agency."</p> + +<p>"I am not the only one who saw you that Saturday +morning," said Laud.</p> + +<p>"Who else saw me?"</p> + +<p>"Don John."</p> + +<p>"How do you know he did?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He told mo so."</p> + +<p>"The young hypocrite!" exclaimed the strange +man, with an oath. "I made it a rule years ago +never to trust a man or a boy who has much to do +with churches and Sunday Schools. The little +snivelling puppy! And he has gone back on +me."</p> + +<p>"It is only necessary for me to state facts," +answered Laud. "You can form your own conclusions, +without any help from me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can," added Captain Shivernock, +who seemed to be in an unusual humor on this +occasion, for the pretentious manners of his visitor +appeared to amuse rather than irritate him.</p> + +<p>"Again, sir, Jacob Hasbrook, of Lincolnville, +believes you are the man who pounded him to a +jelly that night," continued Laud.</p> + +<p>"Does he?" laughed the captain. "Well, that +is a good joke; but I want to say that I respect +the man who did it, whoever he is."</p> + +<p>"Self-respect is a gentlemanly quality. The +man who don't respect himself will not be respected +by others," said Laud, stroking his chin.</p> + +<p>"Eh?"</p> + +<p>Laud confidently repeated the proposition.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You respect yourself, and of course you respect +the man that pounded Hasbrook," he added.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say I flogged Hasbrook?" +demanded the strange man, doubling his fist, and +shaking it savagely in Laud's face.</p> + +<p>"It isn't for me to say that you did, for you +know better than I do; but you will pardon me if +I say that the evidence points in this direction. +Hasbrook has been over to Belfast several times +to work up his case. The last time I saw him +he was looking for Don John, who, I am afraid, is +rather leaky."</p> + +<p>In spite of his bluff manners, Laud saw that the +captain was not a little startled by the information +just imparted.</p> + +<p>"The miserable little psalm-singer," growled +the strange man, walking the room, muttering to +himself. "If he disobeys my orders, I'll thrash +him worse than—Hasbrook was thrashed."</p> + +<p>"It is unpleasant to be suspected of a crime, +and revolting to the instincts of a gentleman," +added Laud.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that I am suspected of a +crime, you long-eared puppy?" yelled the captain.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Captain Shivernock, but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +isn't agreeable to a gentleman to be called by such +opprobrious names," said Laud, rising from his +chair, and taking his round-top hat from the table. +"I am willing to leave you, but not to be insulted."</p> + +<p>Laud looked like the very impersonation of +dignity itself, as he walked towards the door.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" yelled the captain.</p> + +<p>"I do not know that any one but Hasbrook suspects +you of a crime," Laud explained.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad he does suspect me," added the +strange man, more gently. "Whoever did that +job served him just right, and I envy the man that +did it."</p> + +<p>"Still, it is unpleasant to be suspected of a +crime."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't a crime."</p> + +<p>"People call it so; but I sympathize with you, +for like you I am suspected of a crime, of which, +like yourself, I am innocent."</p> + +<p>"Are you, indeed? And what may your crime +be, Mr. Cavendish?"</p> + +<p>"It is in this connection that I wish to state my +particular business with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go on and state it, and don't be all night about +it."</p> + +<p>"I may add that I also came to warn you against +the movements of Hasbrook. I will begin at the +beginning."</p> + +<p>"Begin, then; and don't go round Cape Horn +in doing it," snarled the captain.</p> + +<p>"I will, sir. Captain Patterdale—"</p> + +<p>"Another miserable psalm-singer. Is he in the +scrape?"</p> + +<p>"He is, sir. He has lost a tin box, which contained +nearly fourteen hundred dollars in cash, +besides many valuable papers."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it; and I hope he never will find +it," was the kindly expression of the eccentric +nabob for the Christian nabob. "Was the box +lost or stolen?"</p> + +<p>"Stolen, sir."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. I hope the thief will +never be discovered."</p> + +<p>Laud did not say how he <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'happpened'">happened</ins> to know +that the tin box had been stolen, for Captain Patterdale, +the deputy sheriff, and Nellie were supposed +to be the only persons who had any knowledge +of the fact.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It appears that in this tin box there was a certain +fifty-dollar bill, which had been torn into four +parts, and mended by pasting two strips of paper +upon it, one extending from right to left, and the +other from top to bottom, on the back."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" interposed the wicked nabob. "Wait +a minute."</p> + +<p>The captain opened an iron safe in the room, +and from a drawer took out a handful of bank +bills. From these he selected three, and tossed +them on the table.</p> + +<p>"Like those?" he inquired, with interest.</p> + +<p>"Exactly like them," replied Laud, astonished +to find that each was the counterpart of the one he +had paid Donald for the Juno, and had the "white +cross of Denmark" upon it.</p> + +<p>"Do you know how those bills happened to be +in that condition, Mr. Cavendish?" chuckled the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do not, sir."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, my gay buffer. I have got a +weak, soft place somewhere in my gizzard; I +don't know where; if I did, I'd cut it out. About +three months ago, just after I brought from Portland +one hundred of these new fifty-dollar bills,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +there was a great cry here for money for some +missionary concern. I read something in the +newspaper, at this time, about what some of the +missionaries had done for a lot of sailors who had +been cast away on the South Sea Islands. I +thought more of the psalm-singers than ever +before, and I was tempted to do something for +them. Well, I actually wrote to some parson here +who was howling for money, and stuck four of +those bills between the leaves. I think it is very +likely I should have sent them to the parson, if I +hadn't been called out of the room. I threw the +note, with the bills in it, on the table, and went +out to see a pair of horses a jockey had driven into +the yard for me to look at. When I came back +and glanced at the note, I thought what a fool +I had been, to think of giving money to those +canting psalm-singers. I was mad with myself +for my folly, and I tore the note into four pieces +before I thought that the bills were in it. But +Mrs. Sykes mended them as you see. Go on with +your yarn, my buffer."</p> + +<p>"That bill I paid to Don John for the Juno," +continued Laud. "He paid it to Mr. Leach, the +sail-maker, who paid it to Captain Patterdale, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +he says it was one of the bills in the tin chest +when it was stolen. Don John says he had it from +me."</p> + +<p>"Precisely so; and that is what makes it unpleasant +to be suspected of a crime," laughed Captain +Shivernock. "But you don't state where +you got the bill, Mr. Cavendish. Perhaps you +don't wish to tell."</p> + +<p>"I shall tell the whole story with the greatest +pleasure," added Laud. "I was sailing one day +down by Haddock Ledge, when I saw a man tumble +overboard from a boat moored where he had +been fishing. He was staving drunk, and went +forward, as I thought, to get up his anchor. The +boat rolled in the sea, and over he went. I got +him out. The cold water sobered him in a measure, +and he was very grateful to me. He went to +his coat, which he did not wear when he fell, and +took from his pocket a roll of bills. He counted +off ten fifties, and gave them to me. Feeling sure +that I had saved his life, I did not think five hundred +dollars was any too much to pay for it, and +I took the money. I don't think he would have +given me so much if he hadn't been drunk. I +asked him who he was, but he would not tell me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +saying he didn't want his friends in Boston to +know he had been over the bay, and in the bay; +but he said he had been staying in Belfast a couple +of days."</p> + +<p>"Good story!" laughed the wicked nabob.</p> + +<p>"Every word of it is as true as preaching," protested +Laud.</p> + +<p>"Just about," added the captain, who hadn't +much confidence in preaching.</p> + +<p>"You can see, Captain Shivernock, that I am in +an awkward position," added Laud. "I have no +doubt the man I saved was the one who stole the +tin box. He paid me with the stolen bills."</p> + +<p>"It is awkward, as you say," chuckled the +strange man. "I suppose you wouldn't know +the fellow you saved if you saw him."</p> + +<p>"O, yes, I think I should," exclaimed Laud. +"But suppose, when Captain Patterdale comes to +me to inquire where I got the marked bill, I +should tell him this story. He wouldn't believe +a word of it."</p> + +<p>"He would be a fool if he did," exclaimed +Captain Shivernock, with a coarse grin. "Therefore, +my gay buffer, don't tell it to him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I must tell him where I got the bill," +pleaded Laud.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the eccentric, shaking +his sides as though they were agitated by a young +earthquake. "Tell him I gave you the bill!"</p> + +<p>The captain seemed to be intensely amused at +the novel idea; and Laud did not object; on the +contrary, he seemed to appreciate the joke. It +was midnight when he left the house, and went to +the Juno to sleep in her cabin. If he had gone +home earlier in the evening, he might have seen +Captain Patterdale, who did him the honor to make +a late call upon him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>LAUD CAVENDISH TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF.</h3> + + +<p>Donald did not sleep very well in the cabin +of the Maud, not only because his bed was +very hard and uncomfortable, but because he was +troubled; and before morning he fully realized the +truth of the saying, in regard to certain persons, +that "they choose darkness, because their deeds +are evil." He wished he had not consented to +keep the secret of either Captain Shivernock or +Laud Cavendish, and was afraid he had compromised +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hsmself'">himself</ins> by his silence. When he turned out +in the morning, he believed he had hardly slept a +wink all night, though he had actually slumbered +over six hours; but a person who lies awake in +the darkness, especially if his thoughts are troublesome, +lengthens minutes into hours. But Donald +welcomed the morning light when he awoke, +and the bright sun which streamed through the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +trunk ports. He went to the shop, and for two +hours before his men arrived worked on the tender +of the Maud.</p> + +<p>The mast of the yacht was stepped during the +forenoon, and after dinner the rigger came to do his +part of the work. Samuel Rodman was now so +much interested in the progress of the labor on the +new yacht, that he spent nearly all his time on +board of her. The top mast, gaff, and boom were +all ready to go into their places, and the Maud +looked as though she was nearly completed. All +the members of the Yacht Club were impatient +for her to be finished, for the next regatta had +been postponed a week, so that the Maud could +take part in the affair; and the club were to go on +a cruise for ten days, after the race.</p> + +<p>There was no little excitement in the club in +relation to the Maud. Donald had confidently +asserted his belief, weeks before, that she would +outsail the Skylark, not as a mere boast, but as a +matter of business. His father had made an +improvement upon the model of the Sea Foam, +which he was reasonably certain would give her +the advantage. The young boat-builder had also +remedied a slight defect in the arrangement of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +centre-board in the Maud, had added a little to the +size of the jib and mainsail, and he hoped these +alterations would tell in favor of the new craft, +while they would not take anything from her stiffness +in heavy weather.</p> + +<p>"I believe the old folks are as much interested +in the next race as the members of the club, Don +John," said Rodman, one day, as he came upon +the wharf.</p> + +<p>"I am glad they are," replied Donald, laughing. +"It will make business good for Ramsay & Son."</p> + +<p>"Half a dozen of them are going to make up a +first prize of one hundred dollars for the regatta; +so that the winner of the race will make a good +thing by it," added Rodman.</p> + +<p>"That will be a handsome prize."</p> + +<p>"If the Maud takes it, Don John, the money +shall be yours, as you are to sail her."</p> + +<p>"O, no!" exclaimed Donald. "I don't believe +in that. The prize will belong to the boat."</p> + +<p>"If you win the race in the Maud, I shall be +satisfied with the glory, without any of the spoils."</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't quarrel about it now, for she +may not win the first prize."</p> + +<p>"Well, the same gentlemen will give a second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +prize of fifty dollars," continued Rodman. "But +don't you expect to get the first prize, Don John?"</p> + +<p>"I do; but to expect is not always to win, you +know."</p> + +<p>"You have always talked as though you felt +pretty sure of coming in first," said Rodman, who +did not like to see any abatement of confidence on +the part of the boat-builder.</p> + +<p>"It is the easiest thing in the world to be mistaken, +Sam. If the Maud loses the first prize, I +may as well shut up shop, and take a situation in +a grocery store, for my business would be ruined."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so bad as that, I hope," added Rodman.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Norwood is waiting to see how she sails, +before he orders a yacht for Frank. Can't you +invite Frank and his father to sail with us in the +race?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you desire it, Don John," replied +Rodman. "Mr. Norwood is a big man, and he +will be a capital live weight for us, if it happens +to blow fresh."</p> + +<p>"I hope it will blow; if it don't, the Christabel +is sure of the first prize. I want just such a day +as we had when the Sea Foam cleaned out the +Skylark."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That was a little too much of a good thing. +You came pretty near taking the mast out of the +Sea Foam that day."</p> + +<p>"Not at all; our masts don't come out so easily +as that, though I think the mast of the Sea Foam +would snap before she would capsize."</p> + +<p>"I like that in a boat; it is a good thing to +have a craft that will stay right side up. The +fellows have got another idea, Don John."</p> + +<p>"Well, ideas are good things to have. What +is it now?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"They are going to build a club-house over on +Turtle Head."</p> + +<p>"On Turtle Head! Why don't they have it +down on Manhegan?" which is an island ten miles +from the coast of Maine.</p> + +<p>"It will be only a shanty, where the fellows +can have a good time, and get up chowders. They +talk of hiring a hall in the city, and having meetings +for mutual improvement during the fall and +winter."</p> + +<p>"That will be a capital idea."</p> + +<p>"We can have a library of books on nautical +and other subjects, take the newspapers and magazines, +and hang up pictures of yachts and other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +vessels on the walls. I hope, when you get the +Maud done, you will not be so busy, Don John, +for you don't attend many of our club meetings."</p> + +<p>"I hope to be busier than ever. You see, Sam, +I can't afford to run with you rich fellows. I don't +wear kid gloves," laughed Donald.</p> + +<p>"No matter if you don't; you are just as good +a fellow as any of them."</p> + +<p>"Everybody uses me first rate; as well as +though my father had been a nabob."</p> + +<p>"Well, they ought to; for it is brains, not +money, that makes the man. We want to see +more of you in the club. You must go with us +on our long cruise."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I can't spare the time. Ten days +is a good while; but it will depend upon whether +I get the job to build Mr. Norwood's yacht."</p> + +<p>Donald would gladly have spent more time with +the club, but his conscience would not permit him +to neglect his business. He felt that his success +depended entirely upon his own industry and diligence; +and he never left his work, except when +the occasion fully justified him in doing so. He +attended all the regattas as a matter of business, +as well as of pleasure; and he had seen the Sea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +Foam beaten twice by the Skylark since he won +the memorable race in the former. Edward Patterdale +was fully satisfied, now, that a skilful +boatman was as necessary as a fast boat, in order +to win the honors of the club, and he wished +Donald to "coach" him, until he obtained the +skill to compete with the commodore. Donald +had promised to do it, as soon as he had time, and +the owner of the Sea Foam hoped the opportunity +would be afforded during the long cruise.</p> + +<p>The work on the Maud was hurried forward as +rapidly as was consistent with thoroughness, and +in a few days she was ready for the last coats of +paint. The boat-builder was favored with good, dry +weather, and on the day before the great regatta, +she was ready to receive her furniture and stores. +The paint was dry and hard; but when the stove-dealer +came with the little galley for the cook-room, +the deck was carefully covered with old +cloths, the cushions were placed on the transoms, +the oil-cloth carpet was laid on the floor by Kennedy, +who was experienced in this kind of work, +and Samuel Rodman was as busy as a bee arranging +the crockery ware and stores which he had +purchased. It only remained to bend on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +sails, which was accomplished early in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>With Mr. Rodman, Samuel, and the two workmen +on board, Donald made a trial trip in the new +craft. The party went down the bay as far as +Seal Harbor; but the wind was rather light for +her, and she had no opportunity to show her sailing +qualities, though with her gaff-topsail and the +balloon-jib, she walked by everything afloat that +day.</p> + +<p>"I am entirely satisfied with her, Don John," +said Mr. Rodman, as the Maud approached the city +on her return. "I think she will sail well."</p> + +<p>"I hope she will, sir," replied Donald. "To-morrow +will prove what there is in her."</p> + +<p>"She is well built and handsomely finished, and +whether she wins the race or not I shall be satisfied. +I never looked upon a handsomer yacht in +my life. You have done your work admirably, +Don John."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Kennedy did the joiner work," said Donald, +willing to have his foreman, as he called him, +share the honors of the day.</p> + +<p>"He did it well."</p> + +<p>"I only did just what my boss ordered me to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +do," laughed Kennedy; "and I want to say, that +I didn't do the first thing towards planning any +part of her. Don John hasn't often asked for any +advice from me. He is entitled to all the credit."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt you did all you could to make +the job a success," added Mr. Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I did; and so did Walker," said Kennedy, +indicating the other ship carpenter. "Both of us +did our very best, never idling a moment, or making +a bad joint; and I can say, there isn't a better +built craft in the United States than this yacht. +Not a knot or a speck of rot has been put into her. +Everything has been done upon honor, and she +will be stiff enough to cross the Atlantic in mid-winter. +I'd rather be in her than in many a ship +I've worked on."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to know all this," replied Mr. Rodman. +"Now, Don John, if the firm of Ramsay & +Son is ready to deliver the Maud, I will give you +a check for the balance due on her."</p> + +<p>Donald was all ready, and after the yacht had +been moored off the wharf where she had been +completed, the business was transacted in the +shop. A bill of sale was given, and the boat-builder +received a check for four hundred dollars,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +which he carried into the house and showed to his +mother. Of course the good lady was delighted +with the success of her son, and Barbara laughed +till she shook her curls into a fearful snarl.</p> + +<p>"You have done well, Donald," said Mrs. Ramsay. +"I thank God that you have been so successful."</p> + +<p>"I have paid nearly all my bills, and I shall +make about two hundred and fifty dollars on the +job," added the young boat-builder. "I think I +can build the next one for less money."</p> + +<p>"You may not get another one to build, my +son."</p> + +<p>"That depends upon the race to-morrow. If I +beat the Skylark, I'm sure of one."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too confident."</p> + +<p>"I am to sail the Maud to-morrow, and if there +is any speed in her, as I think there is, I shall get +it out of her. To-morrow will be a big day for +me; but if I lose the race, the firm of Ramsay & +Son is used up."</p> + +<p>Donald put the check in his wallet, and went +out to the shop again, where he found Samuel +Rodman looking for him. The owner of the Maud +was so delighted with the craft, that he could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +keep away from her, and he wanted to go on board +again.</p> + +<p>"Bob Montague is going to give you a hard pull +to-morrow, Don John," said Rodman, as they got +into the tender.</p> + +<p>"I hope he will do his best; and the harder the +pull, the better," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"If we only beat him," suggested Rodman.</p> + +<p>"I expect to beat him; but I may be mistaken."</p> + +<p>"Bob hauled up the Skylark on the beach this +afternoon, and rubbed her bottom with black +lead."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it."</p> + +<p>"Glad? Why?"</p> + +<p>"It proves that he means business."</p> + +<p>"Of course he means business."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he knows I am to build a yacht +for Mr. Norwood, in case I win this race."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he does. I never heard of it +till you told me."</p> + +<p>"He is such a splendid fellow, that I was afraid +he would <i>let</i> me beat him, if he knew I was to +make anything by it."</p> + +<p>"I think it very likely he would."</p> + +<p>"But I want to beat the Skylark fairly, or not +at all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There comes Laud Cavendish," said Rodman, +as the Juno came up the bay, and bore down upon +the Maud. "He was blackballed in the club the +other day, and he don't feel good. Let's go ashore +again, and wait till he sheers off, for I don't want +to see him. He will be sure to go on board of the +yacht if we are there, for he is always poking his +nose in where he is not wanted."</p> + +<p>Donald, who was at the oars, pulled back to the +shore. The Juno ran close up to the Maud, +tacked, and stood up the bay.</p> + +<p>"He is gone," said Rodman. "I don't want +him asking me why he was blackballed. He is an +intolerable spoony."</p> + +<p>"Don John!" called some one, as he was shoving +off the tender.</p> + +<p>Donald looked up, and saw Mr. Beardsley, the +deputy sheriff, who had been working up the tin +box case with Captain Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you," added the officer.</p> + +<p>Donald wondered if Mr. Beardsley wanted to +see him officially; but he was thankful that he was +able to look even a deputy sheriff square in the face.</p> + +<p>He jumped out of the tender, and Rodman went +off to the yacht alone. We are somewhat better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +informed than the young boat-builder in regard to +the visit of the sheriff, and we happen to know +that he did come officially; and in order to explain +why it was so, it is necessary to go back to the +point where we left Mr. Laud Cavendish. He +slept in the cabin of the Juno after he left the +house of Captain Shivernock. He did not sleep +any better than Donald Ramsay that night; and the +long surges rolled in by the paddle-wheels of the +steamer Richmond, as she came into the harbor +early the next morning, awoke him.</p> + +<p>The first thing he thought of was his visit to the +house of the strange man; the next was his breakfast, +and he decided to go on shore, and get the +meal at a restaurant. The Juno was moored near +the steamboat wharf, where the Portland boat made +her landings. This was a convenient place for +him to disembark, and he pulled in his tender to +the pier. As he approached the landing steps, he +saw Captain Shivernock hastening down the wharf +with a valise in his hand. It was evident that he +was going up the river, perhaps to Bangor. Laud +did not like the idea of the captain's going away +just at that time. Donald had told Captain Patterdale +that the mended bill came from him, and of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +course the owner of the tin box would immediately +come to him for further information.</p> + +<p>"Then, if I tell him Captain Shivernock gave it +to me, he will want to see him; and he won't +be here to be seen," reasoned Laud. "I can't +explain why the captain gave me the money, and +in his absence I shall be in a bad fix. I must +take care of myself."</p> + +<p>Laud went to the restaurant, and ate his breakfast; +after which he returned to the Juno. He +took care of himself by getting under way, and +standing over towards Castine, where he dined +that day. Then he continued his voyage down the +bay, through Edgemoggin Reach to Mount Desert, +where he staid several days, living upon "the fat +of the land" and the fish of the sea, which go well +together. When he was confident that Captain +Shivernock had returned, he sailed for Belfast, +and arrived after a two days' voyage. The strange +man had not come back, and Laud thought it very +singular that he had not. Then he began to wonder +why the captain had laughed so unreasonably +long and loud when he told him to say that he had +given him the mended bill. Laud could not see +the joke at the time; but now he concluded that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +the laugh came in because he was going away on a +long journey, and would not be in town to answer +any questions which Captain Patterdale might propose.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cavendish was disturbed, and felt that he +was a victim of a practical joke, and he determined +to get out of the way again. Unfortunately for +him, he had shown himself in the city, and before +he could leave he was interviewed by Captain +Patterdale and Mr. Beardsley. The white cross +of Denmark was pleasantly alluded to again by +the former, and exhibited to Laud. Did he know +that bill? Had he ever seen it before?</p> + +<p>He did not know it; had never seen it.</p> + +<p>It was no use to say, in the absence of that gentleman, +that Captain Shivernock had given him +the bill. It would be equally foolish to tell the +Haddock Ledge story in the absence of the generous +stranger, who had declined to give his name, +though he was kind enough to say that he had +spent a few days in Belfast. Since neither of +these fictions was available in the present emergency, +Laud "went back" on Donald Ramsay. +He did not love the boat-builder, and so it was not +a sacrifice of personal feeling for him to do it. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +the contrary, he would rather like to get his +"rival," as he chose to regard him, out of the +way.</p> + +<p>"But you paid him a considerable sum of money +some two months ago," suggested Captain Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Not a red!" protested Laud. "I never paid +him any money in my life."</p> + +<p>"You bought the Juno of him."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; nor of any one else. She don't belong +to me."</p> + +<p>"But you are using her all the time."</p> + +<p>"Captain Shivernock got tired of her, and lets +me have the use of her for taking care of her."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you say you owned her, and that you +were going to change her name from Juno to Nellie?" +demanded the captain, sternly.</p> + +<p>"I did; but that was all gas," replied Laud, +with a sickly grin.</p> + +<p>"If you would lie about one thing, perhaps you +would about another," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I was only joking when I said I owned the +Juno. If you will go up to Captain Shivernock's +house, he will tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>That was a plain way to solve the problem, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +they went to the strange man's house. Laud +knew the captain was not at home; but his persecutors +gave him the credit of suggesting this step. +Sykes and his wife were at home. They did not +know whether or not Captain Shivernock had given +Laud the use of the Juno, but presumed he had, +for the young man was in the house with him half +the night, about ten days before. Thus far everything +looked well for Laud; and the Sykeses partially +confirmed his statements.</p> + +<p>"Now, Captain Patterdale, I have answered all +your questions, and I wish you would answer +mine. What's the matter?" said Laud, putting +on his boldest face.</p> + +<p>"Never mind what the matter is."</p> + +<p>"Well, I know as well as you do. I used to +think Don John was a good fellow, and liked him +first rate. I didn't think he would be mean, +enough to shove his own guilt upon me," replied +Laud.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" demanded Captain +Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"Though I knew about it all the time, I didn't +mean to say a word."</p> + +<p>"About what?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i009.jpg" width="600" height="447" alt="The Papers from the Tin Box. Page 281." title="The Papers from the Tin Box. Page 281." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Papers from the Tin Box.</span> <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About your tin trunk. We didn't keep any +such in our store! I knew what you meant all the +time; but I didn't let on that Don John had done +it."</p> + +<p>"Done what?"</p> + +<p>"Stolen it. That day I was in the library with +Don John and Hasbrook, I was discharged from +Miller's, because I wanted to go away to stay over +Sunday. I had a boat down by Ramsay's shop, +and I went there to get off. Well, captain, I saw +Don John have the same tin trunk I saw in your +library."</p> + +<p>"Are you telling the truth?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I am. I wouldn't go back on Don +John if he hadn't tried to lay it to me. If you +search his house and shop, I'll bet you'll find the +tin trunk, or some of the money and papers."</p> + +<p>Captain Patterdale was intensely grieved, even +to believe Laud's statement was possibly true; +but he decided to have the boat-builder's premises +searched before he proceeded any further against +Laud. Mr. Beardsley was to do this unpleasant +duty, and for this purpose he called on Donald the +night before the great race.</p> + +<p>The deputy sheriff did his work thoroughly, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +spite of the confidence of Donald and the distress +of his mother and sister. Perhaps he would not +have discovered the four fifty-dollar bills concealed +in the bureau if Donald had not assisted him; but +he had no help in finding a lot of notes and other +papers hidden under a sill in the shop. The boat-builder +protested that he knew nothing about these +papers, and had never seen them before in his life.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ramsay and Barbara wept as though their +hearts would break; but Donald was led away by +the sheriff.</p> + +<p>That night Captain Shivernock returned by the +train from Portland.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>SATURDAY COVE.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Beardsley, the deputy sheriff, conducted +Donald to the elegant mansion of +Captain Patterdale. Perhaps no one who saw them +walking together suspected that the boat-builder +was charged with so gross a crime as stealing the +tin box and its valuable contents. Some persons +do not like to walk through the streets with sheriffs +and policemen; but Donald was not of that +sort, for in spite of all the evidence brought against +him, he obstinately refused to believe that he was +guilty. Even the fact that several notes and other +papers had been found in the shop did not impair +his belief in his own innocence. Captain Patterdale +was in his library nervously awaiting the +return of the officer, when they arrived.</p> + +<p>"Don John, I hope you will come out of this all +right," said he, as they entered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have no doubt I shall, sir," replied Donald. +"If I don't, it will be because I can't prove what +is the truth."</p> + +<p>Mr. Beardsley reported the result of the search, +and handed the captain the four fifty-dollar bills +with the papers.</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt all these were in the tin box," +said the nabob, sadly. "The bills are like those +paid me by Hasbrook, and these notes are certainly +mine. I don't ask you to commit yourself, Don +John, but—"</p> + +<p>"Commit myself!" exclaimed Donald, with a +look of contempt, which, in this connection, was +sublime. "I mean to speak the truth, whether I +am committed or not."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will be able to clear this thing +up," added Captain Patterdale. "I wish to ask +you a few questions."</p> + +<p>"I will answer them truly. The only wrong I +have done was to conceal what I thought there was +no harm in concealing."</p> + +<p>"It is not wise to do things in the dark."</p> + +<p>"You will excuse me, sir, but you have done +the same thing. If I had known that your tin box<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +was stolen, I should have understood several things +which are plain to me now."</p> + +<p>"What, for instance?"</p> + +<p>"If I had known it, I should have brought these +bills to you as soon as Laud paid them to me, to +see if they belonged to you. And I should have +known why Laud was digging clams on Turtle +Head."</p> + +<p>"Laud says he paid you no money."</p> + +<p>"He paid me three hundred and fifty dollars +for the Juno—these four bills and the three I +paid Mr. Leach."</p> + +<p>"He persists that he don't own the Juno, and +says that Captain Shivernock lets him have the +use of her for taking care of her," continued the +nabob.</p> + +<p>Donald's face, which had thus far been clouded +with anxiety, suddenly lighted up with a cheerful +smile, as he produced the cover of an old tuck-diary, +which contained the papers of Ramsay & +Son. He opened it, and took therefrom the bill of +sale of the Juno, in the well-known writing of +Captain Shivernock.</p> + +<p>"Does that prove anything?" he asked, as he +tossed the paper on the desk, within reach of the +inquisitor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It proves that Captain Shivernock sold the +Juno to you, and consequently he has not owned +her since the date of this bill," replied the nabob, +as he read the paper.</p> + +<p>"Is it likely, then, that Captain Shivernock lets +Laud have the use of her for taking care of her?" +demanded Donald, warmly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not."</p> + +<p>"Is it any more likely that, if I own the Juno, +I should let Laud use her for nothing, for he says +he never paid me a dollar?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it is."</p> + +<p>"Then you can believe as much as you please +of the rest of Laud's story, which Mr. Beardsley +related to me as we walked up," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"He says he saw you have the tin box, Don +John."</p> + +<p>"And I saw him digging clams in the loam on +Turtle Head."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"I think he buried the tin box there. I saw +where he had been digging, but I didn't know any +tin box had been stolen then, and thought nothing +of it," answered Donald.</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a tremendous ring at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +the door bell, a ring that evidently "meant business." +Captain Patterdale opened the door himself, +and Captain Shivernock stalked into the room +as haughtily as though he owned the elegant mansion. +He had been to Newport and Cape May to +keep cool, and had arrived a couple of hours before +from Portland. Mrs. Sykes had told him all the +news she could in this time, and among other +things informed him that Captain Patterdale and +the deputy sheriff had called to inquire whether +Laud had the use of the boat for taking care of +her. By this he knew that the tin trunk matter +was under investigation. He was interested, and +possibly he was alarmed; at any rate, he went to +his safe, put the roll of fifty-dollar bills in his +pocket, and hastened over to Captain Patterdale's +house.</p> + +<p>"When people come to my house, and I'm not +at home, I don't like to have them talk to my servants +about my affairs," blustered the strange +man.</p> + +<p>"I don't think we meddled with your affairs +any further than to ask if Laud Cavendish had the +use of the Juno for taking care of her," explained +Captain Patterdale.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It don't concern you. Laud Cavendish does +have the use of the Juno for taking care of her."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed the good nabob, glancing +at Donald.</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" sneered the wicked nabob. "You +needn't <i>indeed</i> anything I say. I can speak the +truth better than you psalm-singers."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad you can, Captain Shivernock, +for that is what we are in need of just now," +laughed the good nabob. "And since we have +meddled with your affairs in your absence, it is +no more than right that we should explain the +reason for doing so. A tin box, containing nearly +fourteen hundred dollars in bills, and many valuable +papers, was stolen from this room. Three +persons, Jacob Hasbrook, Laud Cavendish, and +Don John here, passed through the library when +they left the house."</p> + +<p>"Hasbrook stole it; he is the biggest scoundrel +of the three," added the wicked nabob.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," continued the good nabob. "A +bill which I can identify came back to me the other +day. Don John paid it to Mr. Leach, and he to +me. Don John says Laud Cavendish paid him +the bill."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And so he did," protested Donald, as the +captain glanced at him.</p> + +<p>"And I gave it to Laud Cavendish," added +Captain Shivernock; thus carrying out the programme +which had been agreed upon the night +before he went on his journey.</p> + +<p>Possibly, if Mr. Laud Cavendish had known +that the wicked nabob had returned, he would +have hastened to see him, and inform him of the +change he had made in the programme. If he +had done so, their stories might have agreed better. +Captain Patterdale, Mr. Beardsley, and Donald +were astonished at this admission.</p> + +<p>"For what did you pay it to him?" asked the +good nabob.</p> + +<p>"None of your business what I paid it to +him for. That's my affair," bluffed the wicked +nabob.</p> + +<p>"But this bill was in the box."</p> + +<p>"But how do you know it was? I suppose you +will say next that I stole the box."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will assist me in tracing out this +matter," said the good nabob, as he produced the +mended bill. "This is the one; I call it the +white cross of Denmark."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> + +<p>Captain Shivernock picked up the bill, and took +from his pocket his own roll of fifties.</p> + +<p>"You must admit that the bill is peculiar +enough to be easily identified," added Captain +Patter dale.</p> + +<p>"I don't admit it," said the strange man, as +he threw the four mended bills together on the +desk.</p> + +<p>"Now, which is it?"</p> + +<p>The wicked nabob laughed and roared in his +delight when he saw the confusion of the good +nabob.</p> + +<p>"They are very like," said the good.</p> + +<p>"But three of them are mine, and haven't been +out of my hands since the 'white cross of Denmark' +was put upon them," added the wicked, +still shaking his sides with mirth.</p> + +<p>"Still I can <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'indentify'">identify</ins> the one that was in the +box. That is it;" and Captain Patterdale held +up the right one. "This has been folded, while +yours have simply been rolled, and have not a +crease in them. Hasbrook paid me the money +that was stolen."</p> + +<p>"The villain swindled it out of me," growled +the wicked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But he folded his money, however he got it," +continued the good.</p> + +<p>"I can bring you a dozen bills with the white +cross on them," blustered the wicked, "and all of +them folded like that one."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell where you got it, captain?"</p> + +<p>"From the bank," replied he, promptly; and +then more to have his hit at the missionaries than +to explain the white cross, he told how the bills +were torn. "That's all I have to say," he added; +and he stalked out of the house, in spite of the +host's request for him to remain, without giving a +word or even a look to Donald.</p> + +<p>"I am astonished," said Captain Patterdale. +"Can it be possible that he paid that bill to +Laud?"</p> + +<p>Perhaps this was the joke of the strange man—simply +to confuse and confound a "psalm-singer."</p> + +<p>"It looks as though we had lost the clew," said +the deputy sheriff. "At any rate, Don John's +story is confirmed."</p> + +<p>"Why should the captain give Laud so much +money?" mused the nabob.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Donald. "I told you, in the +first place, that I knew where Laud got the money<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +to pay for the Juno; but it was a great secret +affecting another person, and he wished me not to +tell."</p> + +<p>"I remember that, Don John," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"He told me that Captain Shivernock gave him +the money; but he would not tell me why he gave +it to him; but I knew without any telling, for the +captain gave me sixty dollars, besides the Juno, +for holding my tongue."</p> + +<p>"About what?" asked the nabob, deeply interested +in the narrative.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand the matter myself; but I +will state all the facts, though Captain Shivernock +threatened to kill me if I did so. On the morning +after the Hasbrook outrage, while I was waiting +on Turtle Head for the Yacht Club to arrive, the +captain came to the Head, saying he had walked +over from Seal Harbor, where he had got aground +in his boat. I sailed him down, and on the way +he gave me the money. Then he said I was not +to mention the fact that I had seen him on Long +Island, or anywhere else. I didn't make any +promises, and told him I wouldn't lie about it. +Then he gave me the Juno, and took my boat,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +which he returned that night. After I went up in +the Juno, I met Laud, and offered to sell him the +boat. When we parted, he stood over towards the +Northport shore, where Captain Shivernock had +gone, and I thought they would meet; but I lost +sight of them."</p> + +<p>"Then you think the captain paid Laud the +money when they met."</p> + +<p>"That was what I supposed when Laud paid me +for the boat. I believed it was all right. I had +a talk with Laud afterwards about it, and I told +him how he got the money. He did not deny +what I said."</p> + +<p>"This was the morning after the Hasbrook outrage—was +it?" asked Mr. Beardsley.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was; but I knew nothing about that +till night."</p> + +<p>"We can easily understand why the captain did +not want to be seen near Lincolnville," added the +sheriff. "It was he who pounded Hasbrook for +swindling him."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I think not," interposed Donald. "I +inquired into that matter myself. Mr. Sykes and +his wife both told me, before the captain got home, +that he left his house at four o'clock in the morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am afraid they were instructed to say that," +said the nabob.</p> + +<p>"They shall have a chance to say it in court +under oath," added the officer; "for I will arrest +the captain to-morrow for the outrage. I traced +the steps of a man over to Saturday Cove, in +Northport, and that is where he landed."</p> + +<p>"Was it the print of the captain's boot?" +asked the nabob.</p> + +<p>"No; but I have a theory which I shall work +up to-morrow. Don John's evidence is the first +I have obtained, that amounts to anything."</p> + +<p>"If he pounded Hasbrook, why should he run +over to Seal Harbor, when he had a fair wind to +come up?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"To deceive you, as it seems he has," laughed +Mr. Beardsley. "Probably getting aground deranged +his plans."</p> + +<p>"But he ran over to Northport after we parted."</p> + +<p>"Because it was a better place to conceal himself +during the day. Sykes says he went down +to Vinal Haven that day. I know he did not. +Now, Don John, we must go to Turtle Head to-night, +and see about that box."</p> + +<p>"I am ready, sir."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will go with you," added Captain Patterdale; +"and we will take the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>Donald was permitted to go home and comfort +his mother with the assurance that he was entirely +innocent of the crime with which he was charged; +and great was the joy of his mother and sister. +The mainsail of the Sea Foam was hoisted when +he went on board. The wind was rather light, +and it was midnight before the yacht anchored off +Turtle Head. The party went ashore in the tender, +the sheriff carrying a lantern and a shovel. +Donald readily found the place where the earth +had been disturbed by Laud's clam-digger. Mr. +Beardsley dug till he came to a rock, and it was +plain that no tin box was there.</p> + +<p>"But I am sure that Laud had been digging +here, for I saw the print of his clam-digger," said +Donald.</p> + +<p>"This hole had been dug before," added the +sheriff.</p> + +<p>"Even Laud Cavendish would not be fool +enough to bury the box in such an exposed place +as this," suggested Captain Patterdale.</p> + +<p>"I know he came down here on the day the box +was stolen," said Donald, "and that he was here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +with his clam-digger on the day I met Captain +Shivernock. He must have put those papers in +the shop."</p> + +<p>"If the box was ever buried here, it has been +removed," added the captain.</p> + +<p>"Just look at the dirt which came out of the +hole," continued Mr. Beardsley, pointing to the +heap, and holding the lantern over it. "What I +threw out last is beach gravel. That was put in +to fill up the hole after he had taken out the box. +When he first buried it, he had to carry off some +of the yellow loam. In my opinion, the box has +been here."</p> + +<p>"It is not here now, and we may as well return," +replied Captain Patterdale. "I am really more +desirous of finding the papers in the box than the +money."</p> + +<p>"He has only chosen a new hiding-place for +it," said the sheriff. "If we say nothing, and +keep an eye on him for a few days, we may find +it."</p> + +<p>As this was all that could be done, the party +returned to the city; and early in the morning +Donald went to bed, to obtain the rest he needed +before the great day. Possibly Mr. Beardsley<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +slept some that night, though it is certain he was +at Saturday Cove, in Northport, the next forenoon. +He had a "theory;" and when a man has +a theory, he will sometimes go without his sleep +in order to prove its truth or its falsity. Jacob +Hasbrook was with him, and quite as much interested +in the theory as the officer, who desired to +vindicate his reputation as a detective. He had +driven to the house of the victim of the outrage, +and looked the matter over again in the light of +the evidence obtained from the boat-builder.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i010.jpg" width="600" height="445" alt="More Evidence. Page 299." title="More Evidence. Page 299." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">More Evidence.</span> <a href="#Page_299">Page 299</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I have been trying to see Donald Ramsay," +said Hasbrook. "I have been to his shop four +times, but he's always off on some boat scrape. +You say he saw Captain Shivernock the next +morning."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and the captain didn't want to be seen, +which is the best part of the testimony. If it was +he, it seems to me you would have known him +when he hammered you."</p> + +<p>"How could I, when he was rigged up so different, +with his head all covered up?" replied +Hasbrook, impatiently. "The man was about the +captain's height, but stouter."</p> + +<p>"He was dressed for the occasion," added the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +sheriff, as he walked to the shore, where the skiff +lay.</p> + +<p>They dragged it down to the water,—for it was +low tide,—and got into it. Beardsley had traced +to the cove the print of the heavy boot, which first +appeared in some loam under the window where +the ruffian had entered Hasbrook's house. He +found it in the sand on the shore; and he was satisfied +that the perpetrator of the outrage had arrived +and departed in a boat. He had obtained from +the captain's boot-maker a description of his +boots, but none corresponded with those which +had made the prints in Northport and Lincolnville.</p> + +<p>At the cove all clew to the ruffian had been lost; +but now it was regained.</p> + +<p>The sheriff paddled the skiff out from the shore +in the direction of Seal Island. The water was +clear, and they could see the bottom, which they +examined very carefully as they proceeded.</p> + +<p>"I see it," suddenly exclaimed Hasbrook, as he +grasped the boat-hook.</p> + +<p>"Lay hold of it," added the sheriff. "I knew +I was right."</p> + +<p>"I have it."</p> + +<p>Hasbrook hauled up what appeared to be a bun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>dle +of old clothes, and deposited it in the bottom +of the skiff. Mr. Beardsley had worked up his +case very thoroughly, though it was a little singular +that he had not thought to ask Donald any +questions; but these investigations had been made +when the boat-builder was at home all the time, +and the detective did not like to talk about the +case any more than was necessary. He had ascertained +that Captain Shivernock wore his usual +gray suit when Donald saw him after the outrage, +and he came to the conclusion that the ruffian had +been disguised, for Hasbrook would certainly have +known him, even in the dark, in his usual dress. +They returned to the shore; and the bundle was +lifted, to convey it to the beach.</p> + +<p>"It is very heavy," said Hasbrook. "I suppose +there is a rock in it to sink it."</p> + +<p>"Open it, and throw out the rock," added the +sheriff.</p> + +<p>Instead of a rock, the weight was half a pig of +lead, which had evidently been chopped into two +pieces with an axe.</p> + +<p>"That's good evidence, for the ballast of the +Juno is pig lead," said Beardsley, as he stepped +on the beach with the clothes in his hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were spread on the sand, and consisted of +a large blue woolen frock, such as farmers sometimes +wear, a pair of old trousers of very large +size, and a pair of heavy cow-hide boots.</p> + +<p>"Now I think of it, the man had a frock on," +exclaimed Hasbrook.</p> + +<p>"That's what made him look stouter than the +captain," added Beardsley, as he proceeded to +measure one of the boots, and compare it with the +notes he had made of the size of the footprints. +"It's a plain case; these boots made those tracks."</p> + +<p>"And here's the club he pounded me with," +said Hasbrook, taking up a heavy stick that had +been in the bundle.</p> + +<p>"But where in the world did Captain Shivernock +get these old duds?" mused the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"Of course he procured them to do this job +with," replied Hasbrook.</p> + +<p>"That's clear enough; but where did they come +from? He has covered his tracks so well, that he +wouldn't pick these things up near home."</p> + +<p>"There comes a boat," said the victim of the +outrage, as a sail rounded the point.</p> + +<p>"Get out of the way as quick as you can," +added the sheriff, in excited tones, as he led the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +way into the woods near the cove, carrying the +wet clothes and boots with him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" demanded Hasbrook.</p> + +<p>"That boat is the Juno; Laud Cavendish is in +her, and I want to know what he is about. Don't +speak a word, or make a particle of noise. If you +do, he will sheer off; and I want to see the ballast +in that boat."</p> + +<p>Laud ran his craft up to the rocks on one side +of the cove, where he could land from her; but as +it is eleven o'clock, the hour appointed for the +regatta, we must return to the city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE GREAT RACE.</h3> + + +<p>It was nine o'clock when Donald turned out +on the day of the great regatta. He had +returned at three in the morning, nearly exhausted +by fatigue and anxiety. It was horrible to be suspected +of a crime; and bravely as he had carried +himself, he was sorely worried. He talked the +matter over with his mother and sister while he +was eating his breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Why should Laud Cavendish charge you with +such a wicked deed?" asked his mother.</p> + +<p>"To save himself, I suppose," replied Donald. +"But he won't make anything by it. He hid +those papers in the shop within a day or two, I am +sure, for I had my hand in the place where he put +them, feeling for a brad-awl I dropped day before +yesterday, and I know they were not there then. +But he is used up, anyhow, whether we find the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +box or not, for he tells one story and Captain +Shivernock another; and I think Captain Patterdale +believes what I say now. But the race comes +off to-day, and if I lose it, I am used up too."</p> + +<p>The boat-builder left the house, and went on +board of the Maud, which lay off the shop. Samuel +Rodman was on deck, and they hoisted the +mainsail. The wind had hauled round to the +north-west early in the morning, and blew a smashing +breeze, just such as Donald wanted for the +great occasion. In fact, it blew almost a gale, +and the wind came in heavy gusts, which are very +trying to the nerves of an inexperienced boatman. +The Penobscot, gayly dressed with flags, was +moored in her position for the use of the judges.</p> + +<p>"We shall not want any kites to-day," said +Donald, as he made fast the throat halyard.</p> + +<p>"No; and you may have to reef this mainsail," +added Rodman.</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"But it is flawy."</p> + +<p>"So much the better."</p> + +<p>"Why so?"</p> + +<p>"Because a fellow that understands himself and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +keeps his eyes wide open has a chance to gain +something on the heavy flaws that almost knock a +boat over. It makes a sharper game of it."</p> + +<p>"But Commodore Montague is up to all those +dodges."</p> + +<p>"I know he is; but in the other race, he lost +half his time by luffing up in a squall."</p> + +<p>"But don't you expect a fellow to luff up in a +squall?" demanded Rodman.</p> + +<p>"If necessary, yes; but the point is, to know +when it must be done. If you let off the main-sheet +or spill the sail every time a puff comes, you +lose time," replied Donald. "I believe in keeping +on the safe side; but a fellow may lose the +race by dodging every capful of wind that comes. +There goes the first gun."</p> + +<p>"Let us get into line," added Rodman, as he +cast off the moorings and hoisted the jib. "Let +her drive."</p> + +<p>Donald took the helm, and the Maud shot away +like an arrow in the fresh breeze.</p> + +<p>"Her sails set beautifully," said the skipper for +the occasion; though Rodman was nominally the +captain of the yacht, and was so recorded in the +books of the club.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nothing could be better."</p> + +<p>"We shall soon ascertain how stiff she is," +added Donald, as a heavy flaw heeled the yacht +over, till she buried her rail in the water. "I +don't think we shall get anything stronger than +that. She goes down just so far, and then the +wind seems to slide off. I don't believe you can +get her over any farther."</p> + +<p>"That's far enough," replied Rodman, holding +on, to keep his seat in the standing-room.</p> + +<p>The Maud passed under the stern of the judges' +yacht, and anchored in the line indicated by the +captain of the fleet. The Skylark soon arrived, +and took her place next to the Penobscot. In +these two yachts all the interest of the occasion +centred. The Phantom and the Sea Foam soon +came into line; and then it was found that the +Christabel had withdrawn, for it blew too hard for +her. Mr. Norwood and his son came on board, +with Dick Adams, who was to be mate of the +Maud, and Kennedy, who was well skilled in sailing +a boat. Donald had just the crew he wanted, +and he stationed them for the exciting race. Mr. +Norwood was to tend the jib-sheets in the standing-room, +Kennedy the main sheet, while Dick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +Adams, Frank Norwood, and Sam Rodman were +to cast off the cable and hoist the jib forward.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready, there?" called Donald, +raising his voice above the noise made by the +banging of the mainsail in the fresh breeze.</p> + +<p>"All ready," replied Dick Adams, who was +holding the rode with a turn around the bitts.</p> + +<p>"Don't let her go till I give the word," added +Donald. "I want to fill on the port tack."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay!" shouted Dick; "on the port tack."</p> + +<p>This was a very important matter, for the +course from the judges' station to Turtle Head +would give the yachts the wind on the port quarter; +and if any of them came about the wrong +way, they would be compelled to gybe, which was +not a pleasant operation in so stiff a breeze. Donald +kept hold of the main-sheet, and by managing +the sail a little, contrived to have the tendency of +the Maud in the right direction, so that her sail +would fill on the port tack. He saw that Dick +Adams had the tender on the port bow, so that +the yacht would not run it down when she went +off.</p> + +<p>"There goes the gun!" shouted Rodman, very +much excited as the decisive moment came.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Dick Adams held on, as he had been instructed +to do, and pulled with all his might, in +order to throw the head of the Maud in the right +direction.</p> + +<p>"Hoist the jib!" shouted Donald, when he saw +that the yacht was sure to cast on her port tack.</p> + +<p>Rodman and Norwood worked lively; and in +an instant the jib was up, and Mr. Norwood had +gathered up the lee sheet.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" added Donald, when he felt that the +Maud was in condition to go off lively.</p> + +<p>She did go off with a bound and a spring. Donald +crowded the helm hard up, so that the Maud +wore short around.</p> + +<p>"Let off the sheet, lively, Kennedy!" said the +skipper. "Ease off the jib-sheet, Mr. Norwood!"</p> + +<p>"We shall be afoul of the Phantom!" cried +Dick Adams, as he began to run out on the foot-ropes +by the bowsprit.</p> + +<p>"Lay in, Dick!" shouted Donald. "Don't go +out there!"</p> + +<p>Dick retraced his steps, and came on deck. +The Phantom had not cast in the right direction, +and was coming around on the starboard tack, +which had very nearly produced a collision with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +the Maud, the two bowsprits coming within a few +inches of each other.</p> + +<p>"I was going out to fend off," said Dick, as he +came aft, in obedience to orders.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid you would be knocked off the +bowsprit, which is a bad place to be, when two +vessels put their noses together. It was a close +shave, but we are all right now," replied the +skipper.</p> + +<p>"The Sea Foam takes the lead," added Mr. +Norwood.</p> + +<p>"She had the head end of the line. The Skylark +made a good start."</p> + +<p>"First rate," said Kennedy. "She couldn't +be handled any better than she is."</p> + +<p>"We lead her a little," continued Mr. Norwood.</p> + +<p>"We had the advantage of her about half a +length; as the Sea Foam has a length the best of +us."</p> + +<p>The yachts were to form the line head to the +wind, and this line was diagonal with the course +to Turtle Head, so that the Sea Foam, which +was farthest from the Penobscot, had really two +length's less distance to go in getting to Stubb's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +Point Ledge than the Skylark; but this difference +was not worth considering in such a breeze, +though, if the commodore was beaten by only half +a length by the Maud, he intended to claim the +race on account of this disparity. The two yachts +in which all the interest centred, both obtained +a fair start, the Maud a little ahead of her great +rival. The Phantom had to come about, and get +on the right tack, for Guilford was too careful to +gybe in that wind. The Sea Foam got off very +well; and Vice Commodore Patterdale was doing +his best to make a good show for his yacht, but +she held her position only for a moment. The +tremendous gusts were too much for Edward's +nerves, and he luffed up, in order to escape one. +The Maud went tearing by her, with the Skylark +over lapping her half a length.</p> + +<p>"Haul up the centre-board a little more, Dick," +said Donald, who did not bestow a single glance +upon his dreaded rival, for all his attention was +given to the sailing of the Maud. "A small pull +on the jib-sheet, Mr. Norwood, if you please."</p> + +<p>"You gained an inch then," said Kennedy, +striving to encourage the struggling skipper.</p> + +<p>But Donald would not look at the Skylark. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +knew that the shortest distance between two points +was by a straight line; and having taken a tree on +the main land near Castine as his objective point, +he kept it in range with the tompion in the stove-pipe, +and did not permit the Maud to wabble about. +Occasionally the heavy gusts buried the rail in the +brine; but Donald did not permit her to dodge it, +or to deviate from his inflexible straight line. +She went down just so far, and would go no farther; +and at these times it was rather difficult to +keep on the seat at the weather side of the standing-room. +Dick Adams, Norwood, and Rodman +were placed on deck above the trunk, and had a +comfortable position. The skipper kept his feet +braced against the cleats on the floor, holding on +with both hands at the tiller; for in such a blow, +it was no child's play to steer such a yacht.</p> + +<p>"You are gaining on her, Don John," said Mr. +Norwood.</p> + +<p>"Do you think so, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I know it."</p> + +<p>"The end of her bowsprit is about even with +the tip of our main boom," added Kennedy.</p> + +<p>"How much fin have we down, Dick?" asked +the skipper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span></p> + +<p>The mate of the Maud rushed to the cabin, +where the line attached to the centre-board was +made fast, and reported on its condition.</p> + +<p>"Haul up a little more," continued Donald. +"Steady! Not the whole of it, but nearly all."</p> + +<p>"It is down about six inches now."</p> + +<p>"That will do."</p> + +<p>For a few moments all hands were still, watching +with intense interest the progress of the race. +The commodore, in the Skylark, was evidently +doing his level best, for he was running away from +the Sea Foam and the Phantom.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Don John!" exclaimed the excited Mr. +Norwood. "You are a full length ahead! I am +willing to sign the contract with Ramsay & Son to +build the yacht for me."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too fast, sir. We are not out of the +woods yet, and shall not be for some time."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied we are going to beat the Skylark."</p> + +<p>"Beat her all to pieces!" added Frank Norwood. +"She is doing it as easily as though she +were used to it."</p> + +<p>"I give you the order to build the yacht," said +Mr. Norwood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; but I would rather wait till +this race is finished before I take the job. We +may be beaten yet—badly beaten, too. There are +a dozen things that may use us up. The tide is +not up, so that I can't play off the dodge I did in +the Sea Foam; and if I could, Bob Montague is +up to it."</p> + +<p>"There is no need of any dodge of any sort," +replied Mr. Norwood. "We are beating the Skylark +without manœuvring; and that is the fairest +way in the world to do it."</p> + +<p>"This is plain sailing, sir; and the Skylark's +best point is on the wind. For aught I know, +the Maud may do the best with a free wind," said +Donald; and he had well nigh shuddered when he +thought of the difference in yachts in this respect.</p> + +<p>"It may be so; but we are at least two lengths +ahead of her now."</p> + +<p>"Over three," said Kennedy.</p> + +<p>"So much the better," laughed Mr. Norwood. +"The more we gain with the wind free, the less +we shall have to make on the wind."</p> + +<p>"But really, sir, this running down here almost +before the wind is nothing," protested Donald, +who felt that his passenger was indulging in strong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +expectations, which might not be realized. "The +tug of war will come when we go about. We +have to beat almost dead to windward; and it may +be the Maud has given us her best point off the +wind."</p> + +<p>"You don't expect her to fail on the wind—do +you, Don John."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I don't expect her to fail, for she did +first rate yesterday, when we tried her. She +looked the breeze almost square in the face: but +I can't tell how she will do in comparison with +the Skylark. Of course I don't expect the Maud +to be beaten; but I don't want you to get your +hopes up so high, that you can't bear a disappointment."</p> + +<p>"We will try to bear it; but Frank don't want +a yacht that is sure to be beaten," added Mr. +Norwood.</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps it is fortunate I didn't take the +job, when you offered to give it to me."</p> + +<p>"But I think the Maud will win the race," persisted +the confident gentleman.</p> + +<p>"So do I; but it is always best to have an +anchor out to windward."</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Don John!" shouted Kennedy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +after the yacht had crossed the channel where the +sea was very rough and choppy. "You made a +good bit in the last quarter of an hour, and we are +a dozen lengths ahead of her."</p> + +<p>"Surely she can never gain that distance upon +us!" exclaimed Mr. Norwood.</p> + +<p>"It is quite possible, sir. I have known a boat +to get a full mile ahead of another before the +wind, and then be beaten by losing it all, and +more too, going to windward. I expect better +things than that of the Maud; but she may disappoint +me. She is only making her reputation +now."</p> + +<p>Donald watched his "sight" ahead all the time, +and had not seen the Skylark for half an hour. +The party was silent again for a while, but the +Maud dashed furiously on her course, now and +then burying her rail, while the water shot up +through the lee scupper-holes into the standing-room. +But Dick Adams, who was a natural mechanic, +was making a pair of plugs to abate this +nuisance.</p> + +<p>"Turtle Head!" exclaimed Rodman, who, +though he had said but little, watched the movements +of the yacht with the most intense delight +and excitement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are a square quarter of a mile ahead of the +Skylark," said Kennedy. "Business will be good +with us, Don John, after this."</p> + +<p>"Give her a little more main-sheet, Kennedy," +was the skipper's reply, as the yacht passed the +Head, and he kept her away a little.</p> + +<p>"Eleven thirty," mused Mr. Norwood, who had +taken out his gold watch, and noted the moment +when the Maud passed the headland.</p> + +<p>"Now, mind your eye, all hands!" shouted +Donald, as the Maud approached the north-east +point of Long Island, where he had to change her +course from south-east to south, which involved +the necessity, with the wind north-west, of gybing, +or coming about head to the wind.</p> + +<p>It would take a small fraction of a minute to +execute the latter manœuvre; and as the sails +were now partially sheltered under the lee of the +land, the bold skipper determined to gybe. Kennedy +had early notice of his intention, and had +laid the spare sheet where it would not foul anybody's +legs. He hauled in all he could with the +help of the mate and others.</p> + +<p>"Now, over with it," said Donald, as he put +the helm down.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span></p> + +<p>The huge mainsail fluttered and thrashed for an +instant, and then flew over. Kennedy, who had +been careful to catch a turn in the rope, held fast +when the sail "fetched up" on the other tack, +and then the yacht rolled her rail under on the +port side.</p> + +<p>"Let off the sheet, lively!" cried Donald.</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm doing," replied the stout +ship carpenter, paying off the sheet very rapidly, +so as to break the shock.</p> + +<p>"Steady! belay! Now draw jib there."</p> + +<p>As Dick Adams cast off the weather sheet in +the new position, Mr. Norwood hauled in the lee. +For a short distance the Maud had the wind on +her starboard quarter; then the sheets were hauled +in, and she took it on the beam, till she was up with +the buoy on Stubbs Point Ledge, which she was +to round, leaving it on the port. The ledge was +not far from the land, on which was a considerable +bluff, so that the wind had not more than half its +force. In rounding the buoy, it was necessary to +gybe again; and it was done without shaking up +the yacht half so much as at the north-east point.</p> + +<p>"Now comes the pull," said Donald, as the +Maud rounded the buoy. "Stand by your sheets!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +Now brace her up! Give her the whole of the +board, Dick."</p> + +<p>Donald put the helm down; the jib and mainsail +were trimmed as flat as it was judicious to have +them; and the Maud was close-hauled, standing up +to the northward. The skipper was careful not to +cramp her by laying too close to the wind. He +was an experienced boatman, and he governed himself +more by the feeling of the craft under him +than by his sight. He could shut his eyes, and +tell by the pressure of the tiller in his hand +whether she was cramped, or was going along +through the water.</p> + +<p>"Did you get the time when the Skylark passed +the Head, Mr. Norwood?" asked Donald.</p> + +<p>"No; you made things so lively, I hadn't time +to look," replied the gentleman. "I should like +to know just how many minutes we are ahead of +her."</p> + +<p>"I think I can tell you, sir," added the skipper, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>"How many?"</p> + +<p>"How many do you think, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Five or six."</p> + +<p>"Not more than one and a half, Mr. Norwood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +Neither yacht has to give the other time, and what +we gain belongs to us."</p> + +<p>"I should have thought we were at least five +minutes ahead of her."</p> + +<p>"No, sir. Now we have a chance to manœuvre +a little," added Donald. "I know just what the +commodore will do; he will stand on this tack, +when he gets round the buoy, till he is almost up +with Brigadier Island; then he will make a long +stretch. I shall not do so."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because, if the wind lessens, he will get under +the lee of the land. I shall go just one mile on +this tack," replied Donald. "Have you any rubber +coats on board, Sam?"</p> + +<p>"I have only two."</p> + +<p>"You will want them, for we are beginning to +toss the spray about, as though it didn't cost anything."</p> + +<p>It was decidedly damp on the deck of the Maud, +for the water thrown up by the waves, dashing +against the weather bow, was carried by the gusty +wind to the standing-room, drenching those who +sat there. Donald and his companions had no fear +of salt water, and were just as happy wet to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +skin, as they were when entirely dry, for the +excitement was quite enough to keep them warm, +even in a chill, north-west wind. Half way across +to Brigadier Island, Donald gave the order, +"Ready about," and tacked. As he had predicted, +Commodore Montague continued on his course, +almost over to the island, and then came about. +The Maud rushed furiously on her long stretch, +dashing the spray recklessly over her deck, till +she was almost up with the Northport shore, when +she tacked again, and laid her course to windward +of the judges' yacht, as the regulations required. +As she rounded the Penobscot, a gun announced +the arrival of the first yacht. The Maud let off +her sheets, and passed under the stern of the +judges' craft.</p> + +<p>"The Maud!" shouted Donald, enraptured with +his victory.</p> + +<p>Four minutes and thirty-four seconds later, the +gun announced the arrival of the Skylark. It was +all of twenty minutes later when the Sea Foam +arrived, and half an hour before the Phantom put +in an appearance. There was not a shadow of a +doubt that the Maud had won the great race.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE HASBROOK OUTRAGE AND OTHER MATTERS.</h3> + + +<p>The Maud went round to the line, and after +picking up her tender and moorings, anchored +near the Penobscot.</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt now which boat has won +the race," said Mr. Norwood.</p> + +<p>"None whatever, sir," replied Donald. "The +day is ours by as fair a race as ever was sailed. +The Maud proved what she could do before we +got to Turtle Head; and all the conditions were +exactly equal up to that time. If I made anything +by manœuvring, it was only when we tacked a +mile north of the Head. We have beaten her +squarely in a heavy wind; but how she would do +compared with the Skylark in a light breeze, is +yet to be proved."</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied, Don John; and I give you the +job to build the Alice, for that is to be the name +of Frank's yacht."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I suppose you don't expect +to get her out this season."</p> + +<p>"No; if he has her by the first of June of next +year, it will be soon enough.—I hope you are satisfied +with the Maud, Sam," added Mr. Norwood, +turning to the owner of the winning craft.</p> + +<p>"I ought to be, and I am," replied Rodman.</p> + +<p>"You have the fastest yacht in the fleet."</p> + +<p>"She won't be when I sail her. The commodore +will clean me out every time, if Don John is +not at the helm."</p> + +<p>"Then there is a capital opportunity for you to +improve in the art of sailing a yacht."</p> + +<p>"Plenty of room for that," laughed Rodman.</p> + +<p>Dick Adams brought the tender alongside, and +pulled Mr. Norwood, Rodman, and Donald to the +Penobscot.</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you, Don John," said Mr. +Montague, extending his hand to the boat-builder. +"You have won the race handsomely."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"It is a double triumph to you, since you both +built your yacht, and sailed her," added Mr. +Montague.</p> + +<p>"It is worth a good deal to me in a business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +point of view; for I get a job to build another +yacht by it. The firm of Ramsay & Son can't +afford to have their boats beaten," laughed Donald. +"Here comes Robert."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he will not be satisfied with the +Skylark, now that she has been so thoroughly +whipped," added the commodore's father.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly satisfied with her, father. She is as +good a boat as she ever was," answered Robert, +as he gave his hand to Donald. "You have won +the race fairly and handsomely, Don John; and I +congratulate you upon your success."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Bob; but I would rather have +beaten any other fellow than you," replied Donald.</p> + +<p>"I can stand it as well as anybody."</p> + +<p>The ladies and gentlemen on board of the Penobscot +congratulated the hero of the occasion, and +condoled with the commodore, till the last of the +fleet arrived. The judges filled out the schedule +with the corrected time.</p> + +<p>"Captain Rodman, of the Maud," said the chairman; +and the owner of the winning yacht stepped +forward. "It appears from the schedule that you +have made the shortest time, and I have the pleasure +of presenting to you the first prize."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Rodman, accepting +the envelope, which contained the prize of one +hundred dollars; "but as it appears that Donald +Ramsay sailed the Maud, as well as built her, I +shall have the pleasure of presenting it to him."</p> + +<p>A round of hearty applause followed this little +speech, which ended in three cheers for the captain +of the Maud, and three more for her builder.</p> + +<p>"I can't take that," said Donald, declining to +receive the envelope.</p> + +<p>"But you must take it. I will hand you over +to Mr. Deputy Sheriff Beardsley, who, I see, is +coming up the bay in the Juno."</p> + +<p>"It don't belong to me. I am not the owner of +the Maud," protested Donald.</p> + +<p>"Take it! take it!" shouted one and another of +the interested spectators, until nearly all of them +had expressed their opinion in this way.</p> + +<p>Thus overborne, the boat-builder took the envelope, +though his pride revolted.</p> + +<p>"Commodore Montague, it appears that the +Skylark made the next best time, and I have the +pleasure of presenting to you the second prize."</p> + +<p>"Which I devote to the club for the building +fund."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span></p> + +<p>The members heartily applauded this disposal +of the money.</p> + +<p>"I will give the other prize to the club for the +same purpose," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" exclaimed Commodore Montague. +"The fund is completed, and the donation +cannot be accepted."</p> + +<p>"No! No!" shouted the members.</p> + +<p>"The fifty dollars I added to the fund just +makes up the sum necessary to pay for the club-house +on Turtle Head, which is to be only a +shanty; so you can't play that game on us, Don +John."</p> + +<p>Donald was compelled to submit; and he transferred +the hundred dollars to his pocket-book.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad you won the race, Don John!" +said Nellie Patterdale. "Everybody said you +sailed the Maud splendidly."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Nellie; your praise is worth more +to me than that of all the others," replied Donald, +blushing deeply; but I must do him the justice to +say that, if he had not been laboring under intense +excitement, he would not have made so palpable +a speech to her.</p> + +<p>Nellie blushed too; but she was not angry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +though her father might have been, if he had heard +the remark.</p> + +<p>"Is Captain Patterdale on board?" shouted Mr. +Beardsley, as the Juno ran under the stern of the +Penobscot.</p> + +<p>"Here," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you and Don John," added the +officer.</p> + +<p>The business of the race was finished, and the +Maud conveyed Captain Patterdale, his daughter, +and Donald to the shore. Laud Cavendish was +in the Juno, and so was Hasbrook; but none of +the party knew what had transpired at Saturday +Cove during the forenoon.</p> + +<p>"I will be at your house in half an hour, Captain +Patterdale," said Donald, as they landed. +"I am wet to the skin, and I want to put on dry +clothes."</p> + +<p>Mr. Beardsley had proposed the place of meeting; +and the boat-builder hastened home. In a +few minutes he had put himself inside a dry suit +of clothes. Then he went to the shop, and wrote +a brief note to Captain Shivernock, in which he +enclosed sixty dollars, explaining that as he had +been unable to "keep still with his tongue," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +could not keep the money. He also added, that +he should send him the amount received for the +Juno when he obtained the bills from Captain +Patterdale, who had a part of them. Sealing this +note in an envelope, he called at the house of the +strange man, on his way to the place of meeting. +Mrs. Sykes said that Captain Shivernock was in +his library.</p> + +<p>"Please to give him this; and if he wishes to +see me, I shall be at Captain Patterdale's house +for an hour or two," continued Donald; and without +giving the housekeeper time to reply, he hastened +off, confident there would be a storm as +soon as the eccentric opened the note.</p> + +<p>In the library of the elegant mansion, he found +the party who had been in the Juno, with Captain +Patterdale and Nellie. On the desk was the tin +box, the paint on the outside stained with yellow +loam. Laud Cavendish looked as though life +was a burden to him, and Donald readily comprehended +the situation.</p> + +<p>"We have found the tin box," said Mr. Beardsley, +with a smile, as the boat-builder was admitted.</p> + +<p>"Where did you find it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Laud had it in his hand down at Saturday +Cove. While I was looking up the Hasbrook +affair, our friend here landed from the Juno, and +was walking towards the woods, when he walked +into me. He owns up to everything."</p> + +<p>"Then I hope you are satisfied that I had nothing +to do with the box."</p> + +<p>"Of course we are," interposed Captain Patterdale. +"It certainly looked bad for you at one +time, Don John."</p> + +<p>"I know it did, sir," added Donald.</p> + +<p>"But I could not really believe that you would +do such a thing," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I knew he wouldn't," exclaimed Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Laud says he buried the box on Turtle Head, +just where you said, and only removed it yesterday, +when he put the notes under the sill in your +shop," continued Mr. Beardsley.</p> + +<p>"What did you do that for, Laud?" asked +Donald, turning to the culprit.</p> + +<p>"You promised not to tell where I got the +money to pay for the Juno. You went back on +me," pleaded Laud.</p> + +<p>"I told you I wouldn't tell if everything was +all right. When it appeared that the mended bill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +was not all right, I mentioned your name, but not +till then."</p> + +<p>"That is so," added the nabob. "Now, Laud, +did Captain Shivernock pay you any money?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Laud, who had concluded to +tell the whole truth, hoping it would go easier +with him if he did so.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get the mended bill you paid +Don John?"</p> + +<p>"From the tin trunk."</p> + +<p>"Why did you say that Captain Shivernock +gave you the money you paid for the Juno?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't account for it in any other way. I +knew the captain threw his money around very +loosely, and I didn't think any one would ask him +if he gave me the money. If any one did, he +wouldn't answer."</p> + +<p>"But he did answer, and said he gave you the +money."</p> + +<p>"He told me he would say so, when I went to +see him a fortnight ago."</p> + +<p>"Why did you go to see him?"</p> + +<p>Laud glanced at Donald with a faint smile on +his haggard face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don John told me Captain Shivernock had a +secret he wanted to keep."</p> + +<p>"I told you so!" exclaimed Donald.</p> + +<p>"You did; but you thought I knew the secret," +answered Laud. "You told me the captain had +given me the money not to tell that I had seen +him near Saturday Cove on the morning after the +Hasbrook affair."</p> + +<p>"I remember now," said Donald. "Captain +Shivernock gave me sixty dollars, and then gave +me the Juno, for which I understood that I was +not to say I had seen him that day. I refused to +sell the boat to Laud till he told me where he got +the money. When he told me the captain had +given it to him, and would not say what for, I +concluded his case was just the same as my own. +After I left the captain, he stood over to the +Northport shore, and Laud went over there soon +after. I was sure that they met."</p> + +<p>"We didn't meet; and I did not see Captain +Shivernock that day," Laud explained.</p> + +<p>"I supposed he had; I spoke to Laud just as +though he had, and he didn't deny that he had +seen him."</p> + +<p>"Of course I didn't. Don John made my story +good, and I was willing to stick to it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you did not stick to it," added the nabob. +"You said you had paid no money to Don John."</p> + +<p>"I will tell you how that was. When I got the +secret out of Don John, I went to the captain with +it. He asked me if I wanted to black-mail him. +I told him no. Then I spoke to him about the tin +trunk you had lost, and said one of the bills had +been traced to me. I made up a story to show +where I got the bill; but the man that gave it to +me had gone, and I didn't even know his name. +He had some bills just like that mended one; +and when I told him what my trouble was, he +promised to say that he had given me the bill; +and then he laughed as I never saw a man laugh +before."</p> + +<p>"What was he laughing at?" asked the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"He went off early the next morning, and I suppose +he was laughing to think what a joke he was +playing upon me, for he was not to be in town +when wanted to get me out of trouble."</p> + +<p>"He did say he let you have the use of the Juno +for taking care of her, and that he gave you the +money, though he wouldn't indicate what it was +for," added the officer.</p> + +<p>"I thought he was fooling me, and I didn't +depend on him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's Captain Shivernock," said the good +nabob, as the party in the library were startled by +a violent ring at the door.</p> + +<p>It was the strange man. He was admitted by +Nellie. He stalked up to Donald, his face red +with wrath, and dashed the letter and bills into +his face, crumpled up into a ball.</p> + +<p>"You canting little monkey! What have you +been doing?" roared he.</p> + +<p>"Since I could not do what you wished me to +do, I have returned your money," replied Donald, +rising from his chair, for he feared the captain +intended to assault him.</p> + +<p>"Have you disobeyed my orders, you whelp?"</p> + +<p>"I have; for I told you I should tell no lies."</p> + +<p>"I'll break every bone in your body for this!" +howled Captain Shivernock.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, captain," interposed Mr. Beardsley. +"You may have something else to break before +you do that job."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded the wicked nabob, +with what was intended as a withering sneer; but +no one wilted under it.</p> + +<p>"A deputy sheriff of Waldo County, at your +service; and I have a warrant for your arrest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For my arrest!" gasped Captain Shivernock, +dismounting from his high horse, for he had a +wholesome fear of the penalties of violated law.</p> + +<p>"Here is the document," added the sheriff, +producing a paper.</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p>"For breaking and entering in the night time, +in the first place, and for an aggravated assault on +Jacob Hasbrook in the second."</p> + +<p>"What assault? You can't prove it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we can; we went a-fishing down in Saturday +Cove this morning, and we caught a bundle, +containing a pair of boots, a blue frock, and other +articles, including the stick the assault was committed +with. They were sunk with half a pig of +lead, the other half of which I found in the Juno. +I hope you are satisfied."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not. I didn't leave my house till +four o'clock that morning; and I can prove it."</p> + +<p>"You will have an opportunity to do so in +court."</p> + +<p>The wicked nabob was silent.</p> + +<p>"I was bound to follow this thing up to the bitter +end," said Hasbrook, rejoiced at the detection +of the wretch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You got what you deserved, you miserable, +canting villain!" roared the captain. "You +cheated me out of a thousand dollars, by giving +me an indorser you knew wasn't worth a +dollar."</p> + +<p>"But I meant to pay you. I pay my debts. I +appeal to Captain Patterdale to say whether I do +or not."</p> + +<p>"I think you do when it is for your interest to +do so, or when you can't help it," added the good +nabob, candidly. "I suppose you know Mr. Laud +Cavendish, captain?"</p> + +<p>"I do," growled the rich culprit. "He is the +fellow that saved a man's life down at Haddock +Ledge; a man he hadn't been introduced to, who +gave him a pile of money for the job, but didn't +give him his name."</p> + +<p>"But, Captain Shivernock, you said you gave +him some money, and you didn't tell us what you +gave it to him for," added Beardsley.</p> + +<p>"That was my joke."</p> + +<p>"We do not see the point of it."</p> + +<p>"I only wanted the privilege of proving to Captain +Patterdale that he was mistaken about the +bill, by showing him three more just like it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you fold your money, Captain Shivernock?" +asked the nabob.</p> + +<p>"None of your business, you canting psalm-singer."</p> + +<p>"I shall be obliged to commit you," said the +sheriff, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Commit me!" howled the wicked nabob. "I +should like to see you do it."</p> + +<p>"You shall have that satisfaction. If you give +me any trouble about it, I shall have to put these +things on," added the sheriff, taking from his +pocket a pair of handcuffs.</p> + +<p>The culprit withered at the sight of the irons. +He and Laud both walked to the county jail, where +they were locked up. Of course the imprisonment +of such a man as the wicked nabob caused a +sensation; but there was no one to object. He +was willing to pay any sum of money to get out +of the scrape; but the majesty of the law must be +vindicated, and there was a contest between +money and justice. He obtained bail by depositing +the large amount required in the hands of two +men, whom his well-<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'feed'">fed</ins> lawyer procured. Between +two days he left the city; but Beardsley +kept the run of him, and when he was wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +for trial, he was brought back from a western +state.</p> + +<p>On the trial a desperate attempt was made to +break down the witnesses; but it failed. The first +for the defence was Mrs. Sykes; but her evidence +was not what had been expected of her. She had +told, and repeated the lie, that the captain left +his house at four o'clock on the morning after the +outrage; but in court, and under oath, she would +not perjure herself. She declared that the defendant +had left home about eleven o'clock in the evening, +dressed in her husband's blue frock, boots, +and hat. Mr. Sykes, after his wife had told the +whole truth, was afraid to testify as he had said +he should do. A conviction followed; and the +prisoner was sentenced to the state prison for ten +years. He was overwhelmed by this result. He +swore like a pirate, and then he wept like a child; +but he was sent to Thomaston, and put to hard +work.</p> + +<p>Laud pleaded guilty, and was sent to the same +institution for a year. There was hope of him; +for if he could get rid of his silly vanity, and go +to work, he might be saved from a lifetime of +crime.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> + +<p>Donald came out of the fire without the stain of +smoke upon him. After the great race, as Mr. +Norwood was in no hurry for the Alice, he went +on the long cruise with the fleet, in the Sea Foam. +They coasted along the shore as far as Portland, +visiting the principal places on the seaboard. On +the cruise down Donald "coached" his friend, +Ned Patterdale, in the art of sailing; and on the +return he rendered the same service to Rodman. +Both of them proved to be apt scholars; and after +long practice, they were able to bring out the +speed of their yachts, and stood a fair chance in +a regatta.</p> + +<p>On the cruise, the yachts were racing all the +time when under way, but the results were by no +means uniform. When Donald sailed the Maud, +she beat the Skylark; but when Rodman skippered +her himself, the commodore outsailed him. +The Maud beat the Sea Foam, as a general rule; +but one day Robert Montague sailed the latter, +and the former was beaten.</p> + +<p>"Don John, I don't know yet which is the fastest +craft in the fleet," said Commodore Montague, +as they were seated on <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Manheigan'">Manhegan</ins> Island, looking +down upon the fleet anchored below them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought you did, Bob," laughed Donald.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. I have come to the conclusion +that you can sail a yacht better than I can, and +that is the reason that you beat me in the Maud, +as you did in the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" replied Donald. "I am sure I can't +sail a boat any better than you can."</p> + +<p>"I can outsail any boat in the fleet when you +are ashore."</p> + +<p>"We can easily settle the matter, Bob."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"You shall sail the Maud, and I will sail the +Skylark. If the difference is in the skippers, we +shall come in about even. If the Maud is the +better sailer, you will beat me."</p> + +<p>"Good! I'll do it."</p> + +<p>"You will do your best in the Maud—won't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; and you will do the same in the +Skylark."</p> + +<p>"To be sure. We will sail around Matinicus +Rock and back."</p> + +<p>The terms of the race were agreed upon, and the +interest of the whole club was excited. The party +went on board the fleet, and the two yachts were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +moored in line. At the firing of the gun on board +the Sea Foam, they <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'run'">ran</ins> up their jibs and got +a good start. The wind was west, a lively breeze, +but not heavy. Each yacht carried her large +gaff-topsail and the balloon-jib. The course was +about forty miles, the return from the rock +being a beat dead to windward. Robert and +Donald each did his best, and the Maud came in +twelve minutes ahead of the Skylark.</p> + +<p>"I am satisfied now," said Robert, when they +met after the race.</p> + +<p>"I was satisfied before," laughed Donald. "I +was confident the Maud was faster than the Skylark +or the Sea Foam."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you now; and I have more respect +for myself than I had before, for I thought it was +you, and not the Maud, which had beaten me," +added Robert. "I have also a very high respect +for the firm of Ramsay & Son."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i011.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="The Maud winning the Race. Page 338." title="The Maud winning the Race. Page 338." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Maud winning the Race.</span> <a href="#Page_338">Page 338</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>The members of the club enjoyed the excursion +exceedingly; and on their return it was decided +to repeat it the next year, if not before. The +club-house on Turtle Head was finished when the +fleet arrived at Belfast; and during the rest of the +vacation, the yachts remained in the bay. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +had chowders and fries at the Head, to which the +ladies were invited; and Donald made himself as +agreeable as possible to Miss Nellie on these occasions. +Possibly her father and mother had some +objections to this continued and increasing intimacy; +if they had, they did not mention them. +They were compelled to acknowledge, when they +talked the matter over between themselves, that +Donald Ramsay was an honest, intelligent, noble +young man, with high aims and pure principles, +and that these qualifications were infinitely preferable +to wealth without them; and they tacitly +permitted the affair to take its natural course, as +I have no doubt it will. Certainly the young +people were very devoted to each other; and +though they are too young to think of anything +but friendship, it will end in a wedding.</p> + +<p>In the autumn, after the frame of the Alice was +all set up, Barbara obtained a situation as a teacher +in one of the public schools, and added her salary +to the income of the boat-builder. The family +lived well, and were happy in each other. After +the boating season closed, the yacht club hired +apartments, in which a library and reading-room +were fitted up; and the members not only enjoyed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +the meetings every week, but they profited by +their reading and their study. Donald is still +an honored and useful member, and people say +that, by and by, when the country regains her +mercantile marine, he will be a ship-builder, and +not, as now, <span class="smcap">The Young Boat-Builder</span>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>LEE & SHEPARD'S</h3> + +<h4>LIST OF</h4> + +<h2>JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h2>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</h2> + +<div class='center'> +Each Set in a neat Box with Illuminated Titles.<br /> +</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Oliver Optic Books"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Army and Navy Stories.</b> A Library for Young and +Old, in 6 volumes. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol.</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>$1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Army and Navy Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Soldier Boy.</td><td align='left'>The Yankee Middy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Sailor Boy.</td><td align='left'>Fighting Joe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Young Lieutenant. </td><td align='left'>Brave Old Salt.</td></tr> +</table></div></td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Famous "Boat-Club" Series.</b> A Library for Young +People. Handsomely Illustrated. Six volumes, in neat +box. Per vol.</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Boat Club List"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Try Again; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.</td></tr> +</table></div></td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Lake Shore Series, The.</b> Six volumes. Illustrated. +In neat box. Per vol.</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Lake Shore Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lightning Express; or, The Rival Academies.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>On Time; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Switch Off; or, The War of the Students.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Break Up; or, The Young Peacemakers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bear and Forbear; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Soldier Boy Series, The.</b> Three volumes, in neat +box. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Soldier Boy Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fighting Joe; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Sailor Boy Series, The.</b> Three volumes in neat box. +Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Sailor Boy Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Sailor Boy; or, Jack Somers in the Navy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Yankee Middy; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Starry Flag Series, The.</b> Six volumes. Illustrated. +Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Starry Flag Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Starry Flag; or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Seek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Freaks of Fortune; or, Half Round the World.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Down the River; or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>The Household Library.</b> 3 volumes. Illustrated. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Household Library"> +<tr><td align='left'>Living too Fast. </td><td align='left'>In Doors and Out.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>The Way of the World.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Way of the World, The.</b> By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic) +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>12mo 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Woodville Stories.</b> Uniform with Library for Young +People. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>16mo 1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Woodville Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Rich and Humble; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Work and Win; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hope and Have; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Yacht Club Series.</b> Uniform with the ever popular +"Boat Club" Series. Completed in six vols. Illustrated. +Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>16mo 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Yacht Club Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Bobtail; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Builders'">Builder</ins>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Money Maker; or, The Victory of the Basilisk.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Coming Wave; or, The Treasure of High Rock.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Dorcas Club; or, Our Girls Afloat.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Onward and Upward Series, The.</b> Complete in six +volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Onward and Upward Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sea and Shore; or, The Tramps of a Traveller.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Young America Abroad Series.</b> A Library of +Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. Illustrated +by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>16mo 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Young America Abroad Series"> +<tr><td align='center'><br /><i>First Series.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Shamrock and Thistle; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Red Cross; or, Young America in England and Wales.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dikes and Ditches, or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Palace and Cottage; or, Young America in France and Switzerland.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Down the Rhine; or, Young America in Germany.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br /><i>Second Series.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Up the Baltic; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cross and Crescent; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sunny Shores; or, Young America in Italy and Austria.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vine and Olive; or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Isles of the Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Riverdale Stories.</b> Twelve volumes. A New Edition. +Profusely Illustrated from new designs by Billings. In +neat box. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Riverdale Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Merchant.</td><td align='left'>Proud and Lazy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Young Voyagers.</td><td align='left'>Careless Kate.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Robinson Crusoe, Jr. </td><td align='left'>Christmas Gift.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dolly and I.</td><td align='left'>The Picnic Party.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Uncle Ben.</td><td align='left'>The Gold Thimble.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birthday Party.</td><td align='left'>The Do-Somethings.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Riverdale Story Books.</b> Six volumes, in neat box. +Cloth. Per vol.<br /> +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Riverdale Story Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Merchant. </td><td align='left'>Proud and Lazy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Young Voyagers.</td><td align='left'>Careless Kate.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dolly and I.</td><td align='left'>Robinson Crusoe, Jr.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Flora Lee Story Books.</b> Six volumes in neat box. +Cloth. Per vol.<br /> +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Flora Lee Story Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Christmas Gift.</td><td align='left'>The Picnic Party.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Uncle Ben.</td><td align='left'>The Gold Thimble.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birthday Party.</td><td align='left'>The Do-Somethings.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Great Western Series, The.</b> Six volumes. Illustrated. +Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Great Western Series"> +<tr><td align='right' valign='bottom'>Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='bottom'>Out West; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='bottom'>Lake Breezes.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Our Boys' and Girls' Offering.</b> Containing Oliver +Optic's popular Story, Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the +Clubs; Stories of the Seas, Tales of Wonder, Records +of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. Profusely +Illustrated. Covers printed in Colors. 8vo. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Our Boys' and Girls' Souvenir.</b> Containing Oliver +Optic's Popular Story, Going West; or, The Perils of a +Poor Boy; Stories of the Sea, Tales of Wonder, Records +of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. With numerous +full-page and letter-press Engravings. Covers +printed in Colors. 8vo. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h3><i>NEW PUBLICATIONS OF LEE AND SHEPARD.</i></h3> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h2>ELIJAH KELLOGG'S NEW BOOKS.</h2> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>JOHN GODSOE'S LEGACY.</b> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.<br /> +<br /><br /></div> +<div class='hang1'><b>THE FISHER BOYS OF PLEASANT COVE.</b> 16mo. +Illustrated. $1.25. Completing <span class="smcap">The Pleasant Cove Series.</span><br /> +<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE PLEASANT COVE SERIES.</b> Five vols. Illustrated. +Per vol., $1.25.</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Pleasant Cove SerieS"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. ARTHUR BROWN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. THE YOUNG DELIVERERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. THE CRUISE OF THE CASCO.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. THE CHILD OF THE ISLAND GLEN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. JOHN GODSOE'S LEGACY.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. FISHER BOYS OF PLEASANT COVE.</td></tr> +</table><br /><br /></div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE TURNING OF THE TIDE;</b> <span class="smcap">or, Radcliffe +Rich and his Patients</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.<br /><br /> +</div><div class='hang1'> +<b>A STOUT HEART;</b> <span class="smcap">or, The Student from over the +Sea</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. Cloth. $1.25.<br /><br /></div> +<div class='hang1'><b>THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES.</b> 6 vols. Illustrated. +Per vol., $1.25.</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="A Stout Heart"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. THE SPARK OF GENIUS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. THE SOPHOMORES OF RADCLIFFE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. THE WHISPERING PINE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. WINNING HIS SPURS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. THE TURNING OF THE TIDE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. A STOUT HEART.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><small>"Mr. Kellogg has made himself a great favorite with young people by +the number and variety of adventures which he manages to pack into a +book; and to the parents by the excellent precepts which he inculcates."</small></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>BY SOPHIE MAY.</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Sophie May Books"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Little Prudy's Flyaway Series.</b> By the author of +"Dotty Dimple Stories," and "Little Prudy Stories." +Complete in six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Little Prudy's Flyaway Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Folks Astray.</td><td align='left'>Little Grandmother.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Prudy Keeping House. </td><td align='left'>Little Grandfather.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Aunt Madge's Story.</td><td align='left'>Miss Thistledown.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Little Prudy Stories.</b> By Sophie May. Complete. +Six volumes, handsomely illustrated, in a neat box. +Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Little Prudy Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy's Sister Susy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy's Captain Horace.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy's Cousin Grace.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy's Story Book.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Dotty Dimple Stories.</b> By Sophie May, author of Little +Prudy. Complete in six volumes. Illustrated. Per +vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Dotty Dimple Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple at her Grandmother's. </td><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple at Play.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple at Home.</td><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple at School.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple out West.</td><td align='left'>Dotty Dimple's Flyaway.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>The Quinnebassett Girls.</b> 16mo. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Quinnebassett Girls"> +<tr><td align='left'>The Doctor's Daughter. 16mo. Illustrated. </td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Our Helen. 16mo. Illustrated.</td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Asbury Twins. 16mo. Illustrated.</td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Flaxie Frizzle Stories.</b> To be completed in six volumes. +Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Flaxie Frizzle Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Flaxie Frizzle.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Flaxie Frizzle and Doctor Papa.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Pitchers.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Young Dodge Club, The.</b> By James De Mille, author +of the B. O. W. C. Stories. Complete in three vols. +Illustrated. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Young Dodge Club"> +<tr><td align='left'>Among the Brigands. </td><td align='left'>The Seven Hills.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>The Winged Lion.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Hunter's Library, The.</b> 5 volumes. Illustrated. Per +volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Hunter's Library"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Australian Wanderers. The Adventures of Capt. Spencer and his Horse and Dog in the Wilds of Australia.</div></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Antonio in the Wilds of Africa.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Anecdotes of Animals, with their Habits, Instincts, &c., &c.</div></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Anecdotes of Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, &c., their Habits and Instincts.</div></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>A Thousand Miles' Walk Across South America, over the Pampas and the Andes.</div></td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Little People of God,</b> and what the Poets have said of +them. By Mrs. George L. Austin. 4to. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>2.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Frontier Series, The.</b> Five volumes. Illustrated. Per +vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Frontier Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Twelve Nights in the Hunters' Camp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Thousand Miles' Walk Across South America.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Cabin on the Prairie.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Planting the Wilderness.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Young Pioneers of the Northwest.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Helping Hand Series.</b> By May Mannering. Complete +in six vols. Illustrated. Per volume. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Helping Hand Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Climbing the Rope.</td><td align='left'>The Little Spaniard.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Billy Grimes's Favorite.</td><td align='left'>Salt-water Dick.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Cruise of the Dashaway. </td><td align='left'>Little Maid of Oxbow.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>An entirely new edition.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Cast Away in the Cold.</b> An Old Man's Story of a +Young Man's Adventures. By Dr. Isaac I. Hayes. 1 +volume. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Vacation Story-Books.</b> For Boys and Girls. Finely +Illustrated from designs by Hoppin and others. Six +volumes, square 16mo. In neat box. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>80</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Vacation Story-Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Worth not Wealth. </td><td align='left'>Karl Keigler.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Country Life.</td><td align='left'>Walter Seyton.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Charm.</td><td align='left'>Holidays at Chestnut Hill.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Winwood Cliff Stories.</b> By the Rev. Daniel Wise, +D.D., author of the "Glen Morris Stories." To be +completed in six volumes. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Winwood Cliff Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Winwood Cliff; or, Oscar, The Sailor's Son.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Ben Blinker; or, Maggie's Golden Motto, and what it did for her Brother.</div></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A new volume in Press.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Young Trail-Hunters' Series, The.</b> By Samuel Woodworth +Cozzens. 12mo. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Young Trail-Hunters Series"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Young Silver Seekers, The; or, Hal and Ned in Sonora. (In press.)</div></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Crossing the Quicksands; or, The Veritable Adventures of Hal and Ned upon the Pacific Slope. 16mo. Illustrated. 317 pp.</div></td><td align='left'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>The Young Trail-Hunters; or, The Wild Riders of the Plains. 12mo. Illustrated. 205 pp.</div></td><td align='left'>1.00</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Battles at Home.</b> By Mary G. Darling. Illustrated. +12mo. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>In the World.</b> By Mary G. Darling. Illustrated. +12mo. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Golden Hair.</b> A Story of the Pilgrims. By Sir Lascelles +Wraxhall, Bart. 12mo. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Snip and Whip,</b> and some other Boys. By Elizabeth A. +Davis. 16mo. Cloth. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Sunnybank Stories.</b> Twelve volumes. Compiled by +Rev. Asa Bullard, editor of the "Well-Spring." Profusely +Illustrated. 32mo. Bound in high colors, and +put in a neat box. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Sunnybank Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Uncle Henry's Stories.</td><td align='left'>Aunt Lizzie's Stories.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dog Stories.</td><td align='left'>Mother's Stories.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Stories for Alice.</td><td align='left'>Grandpa's Stories.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>My Teacher's Gem.</td><td align='left'>The Good Scholar.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Scholar's Welcome. </td><td align='left'>The Lighthouse.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Going to School.</td><td align='left'>Reward of Merit.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Sunnybank Stories.</b> Six volumes. Compiled by Rev. +Asa Bullard. Profusely Illustrated. 32mo. Bound in +high colors, and put up in a neat box. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Sunnybank Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Uncle Henry's Stories.</td><td align='left'>Aunt Lizzie's Stories.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dog Stories.</td><td align='left'>Mother's Stories.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Stories for Alice.</td><td align='left'>Grandpa's Stories.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Shady Dell Stories.</b> Six volumes. Compiled by Rev. Asa +Bullard, editor of the "Well-Spring." Profusely Illustrated. +32mo. Bound in high colors, and put up in a +neat box (to match the Sunnybank Stories). Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Shady Dell Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>My Teacher's Gem.</td><td align='left'>The Good Scholar.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Scholar's Welcome.</td><td align='left'>The Lighthouse.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Going to School.</td><td align='left'>Reward of Merit.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Tone Masters, The.</b> A Musical Series for the Young. +By the author of "The Soprano," &c. 16mo. Illustrated. +Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Tone Masters"> +<tr><td align='left'>Mozart and Mendelssohn. </td><td align='left'>Handel and Haydn.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>Bach and Beethoven.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Twilight Stories.</b> By Mrs. Follen. Twelve volumes. +4to. Illustrated. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Twilight Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Travellers' Stories.</td><td align='left'>The Talkative Wig.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>True Stories about Dogs. </td><td align='left'>What Animals do and say.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Made-Up Stories.</td><td align='left'>Two Festivals.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Peddler of Dust Sticks.</td><td align='left'>Conscience.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>When I was a Girl.</td><td align='left'>Piccolissima.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Who speaks Next?</td><td align='left'>Little Songs.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Maidenhood Series.</b> 12mo. Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Maidenhood Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Seven Daughters. By Miss A. M. Douglas.</td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Running to Waste: The Story of a Tomboy. By Geo. M. Baker. </td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Our Helen. By Sophie May.</td><td align='left'>1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>That Queer Girl. By Virginia F. Townsend.</td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Asbury Twins. By Sophie May.</td><td align='left'>1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Daisy Travers; or, The Girls of Hive Hall. By Adelaide F. Samuels.</td><td align='left'>1.50</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Amateur Drama Series.</b> By Geo. M. Baker. 6 volumes. +Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Amateur Drama Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Amateur Dramas.</td><td align='left'>The Drawing-Room Stage.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Mimic Stage.</td><td align='left'>The Exhibition Drama.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Social Stage. </td><td align='left'>Handy Dramas.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Eminent Statesmen.</b> The Young American's Library +of Eminent Statesmen. Uniform with the Young +American's Library of Famous Generals. Six volumes, +handsomely illustrated, in neat box. (New edition.) +Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Eminent Statesmen Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Benjamin Franklin. </td><td align='left'>William Penn.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Daniel Webster.</td><td align='left'>Henry Clay.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Daring Deeds.</td><td align='left'>Noble Deeds.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Famous Generals.</b> The Young American's Library of +Famous Generals. A useful and attractive series of +books for Boys. Six volumes, handsomely illustrated, +in neat box. (New edition.) Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Famous Generals"> +<tr><td align='left'>General Washington. </td><td align='left'>General Lafayette.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>General Taylor.</td><td align='left'>General Marion.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>General Jackson.</td><td align='left'>Napoleon Bonaparte.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Springdale Stories.</b> By Mrs. S. B. C. Samuels. Six +volumes. Illustrated. Per volume +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>75</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Springdale Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Obeying the Golden Rule. </td><td align='left'>The Smuggler's Cave.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Shipwrecked Girl.</td><td align='left'>Under the Sea.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Nettie's Trial.</td><td align='left'>The Burning Prairie.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Charley Roberts Series.</b> By Miss Louise M. Thurston. +To be completed in six volumes. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Charlie Roberts Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>How Charlie Roberts became a Man.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>How Eva Roberts gained her Education.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Home in the West.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Children of Amity Court.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Crusoe Library.</b> An attractive series for Young and +Old. Six volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Crusoe Library"> +<tr><td align='left'>Robinson Crusoe.</td><td align='left'>Young Crusoe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Arabian Nights.</td><td align='left'>Prairie Crusoe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Arctic Crusoe.</td><td align='left'>Willis the Pilot.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Dick and Daisy Series.</b> By Miss Adelaide F. Samuels. +Four volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Dick and Daisy Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Adrift in the World; or, Dick and Daisy's Early Days.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fighting the Battle; or, Dick and Daisy's City Life.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Saved from the Street; or, Dick and Daisy's <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'protégés'">Protégés</ins>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Grandfather Milly's Luck; or, Dick and Daisy's Reward.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Dick Travers Abroad Series.</b> By Miss Adelaide F. +Samuels. Four volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Dick Travers Abroad Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Cricket; or, Dick Travers in London.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Palm Land; or, Dick Travers in the Chagos Islands.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Lost Tar; or, Dick Travers in Africa.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>On the Wave; or, Dick Travers aboard the Happy Jack.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Turning of the Tide; or, Radcliffe Rich and his Patients.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Winning his Spurs; or, Henry Morton's First Trial.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Girlhood Series, The.</b> Comprising six volumes, 12mo. +Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Girlhood Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>An American Girl Abroad. By Miss Adeline Trafton.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Doctor's Daughter. By Sophie May.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sallie Williams, The Mountain Girl. By Mrs. E. D. Cheney.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Only Girls. By Virginia F. Townsend.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lottie Eames; or, Do Your Best, and Leave the Rest.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rhoda Thornton's Girlhood. By Mrs. Mary E. Pratt.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>BY J. T. TROWBRIDGE.</h2> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Trowbridge Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><b>His Own Master.</b> 16mo. Cloth. Illustrated. +(In press.) +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><b>Bound in Honor;</b> or, Boys will be Boys. 16mo. Cloth. +Illustrated. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h2>MISCELLANEOUS.</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Miscellaneous Stories"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Alden Series.</b> By Joseph Alden, D.D. 4 vols. Illustrated. +Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Alden Series."> +<tr><td align='left'>The Cardinal Flower. </td><td align='left'>Henry Ashton.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Lost Lamb.</td><td align='left'>The Light-hearted Girl.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Baby Ballad Series.</b> (In press.) Three volumes. Illustrated. +4to. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Baby Ballads"> +<tr><td align='left'>Baby Ballads. By Uno.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Little Songs. By Mrs. Follen.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New Songs for Little People. By Mrs. Anderson.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Beckoning Series.</b> By Paul Cobden. To be completed +in six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Beckoning Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Who will Win?</td><td align='left'>Good Luck.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Going on a Mission. </td><td align='left'>Take a Peep.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Turning Wheel.</td><td align='left'>(Another in preparation.)</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Blue Jacket Series.</b> Six vols. 12mo. Illustrated. Per +vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Blue Jacket Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>Swiss Family Robinson. </td><td align='left'>Gulliver's Travels.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Willis the Pilot.</td><td align='left'>The Arctic Crusoe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Prairie Crusoe.</td><td align='left'>The Young Crusoe.</td></tr> +</table></div> +</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><div class='hang1'><b>Celesta Stories, The.</b> By Mrs. E. M. Berry. 16mo. +Illustrated. Per vol. +</div></td><td align='right' valign='bottom'>1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Celesta Stories"> +<tr><td align='left'>Celesta. </td><td align='left'>The Crook Straightened.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>Crooked and Straight.</td></tr> +</table></div></td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +<p>Page 225, (between 224-225) illustration caption was cropped and page +number is presumed.</p> +<p>Advertising, the prices for: Riverdale Stories, Riverdale Story Books, +and Flora Lee Story Books were omitted in the original text.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yacht Club, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YACHT CLUB *** + +***** This file should be named 23351-h.htm or 23351-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/3/5/23351/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + +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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