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diff --git a/23758-h/23758-h.htm b/23758-h/23758-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..435bf58 --- /dev/null +++ b/23758-h/23758-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8136 @@ +<!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 Work and Win, 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%; + } + + .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;} +.hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Work and Win, 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: Work and Win + or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: December 7, 2007 [EBook #23758] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORK AND WIN *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 265px;"> +<img src="images/ill-001.png" width="265" height="400" alt="WORK AND WIN" title="WORK AND WIN" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 275px;"> +<img src="images/ill-002.png" width="275" height="400" alt="Girls golfing" title="Girls golfing" /> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/ill-003.png" width="285" height="400" alt="Boys playing tennis" title="Boys playing tennis" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/ill-005.png" width="278" height="400" alt="Signature: William T. Adams" title="Signature: William T. Adams" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>WORK AND WIN</h1> + +<h4>OR</h4> + +<h2>NODDY NEWMAN ON A CRUISE</h2> + +<h3>A Story for Young People</h3> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>OLIVER OPTIC</h2> + +<div class='center'> +AUTHOR OF "BOAT CLUB," "ALL ABOARD," "NOW<br /> +OR NEVER," ETC., ETC.<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +HURST & COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'> +To<br /> +<br /> +MY YOUNG FRIEND,<br /> +<br /> +<b>Edward C. Bellows,</b><br /> +<br /> +THIS BOOK<br /> +<br /> +IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.<br /></div><p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the preparation of this volume, the author has +had in his mind the intention to delineate the progress +of a boy whose education had been neglected, +and whose moral attributes were of the lowest order, +from vice and indifference to the development of a +high moral and religious principle in the heart, +which is the rule and guide of a pure and true life.</p> + +<p>The incidents which make up the story are introduced +to illustrate the moral status of the youth, at +the beginning, and to develop the influences from +which proceeded a gentle and Christian character. +Mollie, the captain's daughter, whose simple purity +of life, whose filial devotion to an erring parent, +and whose trusting faith in the hour of adversity, +won the love and respect of Noddy, was not the least +of these influences. If the writer has not "moralized," +it was because the true life, seen with the +living eye, is better than any precept, however skil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>fully +it may be dressed by the rhetorical genius of +the moralist.</p> + +<p>Once more the author takes pleasure in acknowledging +the kindness of his young friends, who have +so favorably received his former works; and he +hopes that "<span class="smcap">Work and Win</span>," the fourth of the +Woodville Stories, will have as pleasant a welcome +as its predecessors.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 1.5em;">WILLIAM T. ADAMS.</span><br /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">Harrison Square. Mass.</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">November 10, 1865.</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="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'>The Mischief-Makers</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'>The Circus at Whitestone</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'>A Moral Question</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'>Noddy's Confession</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'>Squire Wriggs at Woodville</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'>Noddy's Engagement</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'>The Ring-Master</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'>Good-by to Woodville</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'>An Attempt to Work and Win</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'>Poor Mollie</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'>The Schooner Roebuck</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'>The Drunken Captain</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'>The Shark</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'>The Yellow Fever</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'>The Demon of the Cup</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'>Night and Storm</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'>After the Storm</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'>The Beautiful Island</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'>The Visitors</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'>Homeward Bound</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'>The Clergyman and his Wife</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>WORK AND WIN;</h2> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h3>NODDY NEWMAN ON A CRUISE.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE MISCHIEF-MAKERS.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Here</span>, Noddy Newman! you haven't washed out +the boat-house yet," said Ben, the boatman, as the +young gentleman thus addressed was ambling down +towards the river.</p> + +<p>"Hang the boat-house!" exclaimed Noddy, impatiently, +as he stopped short in his walk, and seemed +to be in doubt whether he should return or continue +on his way.</p> + +<p>"You know what Miss Bertha says—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know what she says," added Noddy, +rubbing his head, as though he were trying to reconcile +his present purpose, whatever it was, with the +loyalty he owed to Bertha. "I suppose it don't make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +much difference to her whether I wash out the boat-house +now or by and by."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about that, my boy," said +the old man. "Miss Bertha told me to find some +regular work for you to do every day. I found it, +and she say you must wash out the boat-house every +morning before nine o'clock. If you don't do it, +I shall report you to her. That's all I've got to say +about it."</p> + +<p>"I calculate to wash out the boat-house."</p> + +<p>"You've only half an hour to do it in, then. +You've not only got to wash it out every morning, +but you have got to do it before nine o'clock. Them's +the orders. I always obey orders. If Miss Bertha +should tell me to tie you up, and give you as big a +licking as you deserve, I should do it."</p> + +<p>"No, you wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"I haven't got any such orders, mind ye, Noddy; +so we won't dispute about that. Now, go and wash +out the boat-house like a good boy, and don't make +any fuss about it."</p> + +<p>Noddy deliberated a few moments more. He evidently +disliked the job, or did not wish to do it at +that particular time; but Miss Bertha's influence was +all-powerful; and though he would have fought, tooth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +and nail, against anything like compulsion on the +part of Ben, he could not resist the potent spell +which the name of his young mistress cast upon him.</p> + +<p>"Hang the old boat-house!" exclaimed he, as he +stamped his foot upon the ground, and then slowly +retraced his steps towards the boatman.</p> + +<p>"Hang it, if you like, Noddy, but wash it out +first," said Ben, with a smile, as he observed the +effect of the charm he had used to induce the wayward +youth to do his duty.</p> + +<p>"I wish the boat-house was burned up!" added +Noddy, petulantly.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. I wish it was a pile of ashes at this +moment."</p> + +<p>"Don't say so, Noddy. What would Miss Bertha +think to hear you talk like that?"</p> + +<p>"You can tell her, if you like," replied Noddy, as +he rushed desperately into the boat-house to do the +disagreeable job.</p> + +<p>Noddy Newman was an orphan; and no one in the +vicinity of Woodville even knew what his real name +was. Two years before, Bertha Grant had taken the +most tender care of him, after an accident by which +he had been severely injured. Previous to that time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +he had been a vagabond, roaming about the woods +and the villages, sleeping in barns and out-buildings, +and stealing his food when he could obtain it by no +other means. Efforts had been made to commit him +to the poorhouse; but he had cunningly avoided +being captured, and retained his freedom until the +accident placed him under the influence of Bertha +Grant, who had before vainly attempted to induce +him to join her mission-school in the Glen.</p> + +<p>Noddy had been two years at Woodville. He +was neither a servant nor a member of the family, +but occupied a half-way position, eating and sleeping +with the men employed on the estate, but being +the constant companion of Bertha, who was laboring +to civilize and educate him. She had been partially +successful in her philanthropic labors; for +Noddy knew how to behave himself with propriety, +and could read and write with tolerable facility. +But books and literature were not Noddy's <i>forte</i>, and +he still retained an unhealthy relish for his early +vagabond habits.</p> + +<p>Like a great many other boys,—even like some of +those who have been brought up judiciously and +carefully,—Noddy was not very fond of work. He +was bold and impulsive, and had not yet acquired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +any fixed ideas in regard to the objects of life. +Bertha Grant had obtained a powerful influence over +him, to which he was solely indebted for all the progress +he had made in learning and the arts of civilized +life. Wayward as he always had been, and as +he still was, there was a spirit in him upon which to +build a hope that something might yet be made of +him, though this faith was in a great measure confined +to Bertha and the old boatman.</p> + +<p>He had a great many good qualities—enough, in +the opinion of his gentle instructress, to redeem him +from his besetting sins, which were neither few nor +small. He was generous, which made him popular +among those who were under no moral responsibility +for his future welfare. He was bold and daring, +and never hesitated to do anything which the +nerve or muscle of a boy of fourteen could achieve. +His feats of strength and daring, often performed +from mere bravado, won the admiration of the +thoughtless, and Noddy was regarded as a "character" +by people who only wanted to be amused.</p> + +<p>Noddy had reached an age when the future became +an interesting problem to those who had labored +to improve his manners and his morals. Mr. +Grant had suggested to Bertha the propriety of hav<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>ing +him bound as an apprentice to some steady +mechanic; and, at the time of our story, she and her +father were in search of such a person. The subject +of this kind solicitude did not relish the idea of +learning a trade, though he had not positively rebelled +at the disposition which it was proposed to +make of him.</p> + +<p>He had always lived near the river; and during +his residence at Woodville he had been employed, +so far as he could be employed at all, about the boats. +He was a kind of assistant to the boatman, though +there was no need of such an official on the premises. +For his own good, rather than for the labor he performed, +he was required to do certain work about +the boat-house, and in the boats when they were in +use.</p> + +<p>We could recite a great many scrapes, of which +Noddy had been the hero, during the two years of +his stay at Woodville; but such a recital would hardly +be profitable to our readers, especially as the young +man's subsequent career was not devoid of stirring +incidents.</p> + +<p>Noddy drew a bucket of water at the pier, and carried +it into the boat-house. Ben, satisfied now that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +the work was actually in progress, left the pier, and +walked up to the house to receive his morning instructions. +He was hardly out of sight before Miss +Fanny Grant presented herself at the door.</p> + +<p>Miss Fanny was now a nice young lady of twelve. +She was as different from her sister Bertha as she +could be. She was proud, and rather wayward. +Like some other young ladies we have somewhere +read about, she was very fond of having her own +way, even when her own way had been proved to be +uncomfortable and dangerous. But when we mention +Miss Fanny's faults, we do not wish to be understood +that she had no virtues. If she did wrong very often, +she did right in the main, and had made a great deal +of progress in learning to do wisely and well, and, +what was just as good, in doing it after she had +learned it.</p> + +<p>Fanny Grant walked up to the boat-house with a +very decided step, and it soon appeared that she was +not there by chance or accident; which leads us sorrowfully +to remark, that in her wrongdoing she often +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'fond'">found</ins> a ready companion and supporter in Noddy +Newman. She was rather inclined to be a romp; +and though she was not given to "playing with the +boys," the absence of any suitable playmate some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>times +led her to invite the half-reformed vagabond +of Woodville to assist in her sport.</p> + +<p>"You are a pretty fellow, Noddy Newman!" said +she, her pouting lips giving an added emphasis to her +reproachful remark. "Why didn't you come down +to the Point, as you said you would?"</p> + +<p>"Because I couldn't, Miss Fanny," growled Noddy. +"I had to wash out this confounded boat-house, +or be reported to Miss Bertha."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you do that after you got back?"</p> + +<p>"Ben said I must do it before nine o'clock. I +wanted to go down to the Point, as I agreed, but you +see I couldn't."</p> + +<p>"I waited for you till I got tired out," pouted +Fanny; but she neglected to add that five minutes on +ordinary occasions were the full limit of her patience.</p> + +<p>"Hang the old boat-house! I told Ben I wished +it was burned up."</p> + +<p>"So do I; but come along, Noddy. We will go +now."</p> + +<p>"I can't go till I've washed out the boat-house."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can."</p> + +<p>"But if Ben comes down and finds the place hasn't +been washed out, he will tell Miss Bertha."</p> + +<p>"Let him tell her—who cares?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She will talk to me for an hour."</p> + +<p>"Let her talk—talking won't kill you."</p> + +<p>"I don't like to be talked to in that way by Miss +Bertha."</p> + +<p>"Fiddle-de-dee! You can tell her I wanted +you," said Fanny, her eyes snapping with earnestness.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell her what you wanted me for?" asked +Noddy, with a cunning look.</p> + +<p>"Of course you needn't tell her that. But come +along, or I shall go without you."</p> + +<p>"No—you wouldn't do that, Miss Fanny. You +couldn't."</p> + +<p>"Well, won't you come?"</p> + +<p>"Not now."</p> + +<p>"I can't wait."</p> + +<p>"I will go just as soon as I have done washing the +boat-house."</p> + +<p>"Plague on the boat-house!" snapped Fanny. "I +wish it was burned up. What a nice fire it would +make!—wouldn't it, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>The bright eyes of the wayward miss sparkled +with delight as she thought of the blazing building; +and while her more wayward companion described the +miseries which he daily endured in his regular work,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +she hardly listened to him. She seemed to be plotting +mischief; but if she was, she did not make +Noddy her confidant this time.</p> + +<p>"Come, Noddy," said she, after a few moments' +reflection, "I will promise to make it all right with +Bertha."</p> + +<p>Noddy dropped the broom with which he had +begun to sweep up some chips and shavings Ben +had made in repairing a boat-hook.</p> + +<p>"If you will get me out of the scrape, I will go +now," said he.</p> + +<p>"I will; you may depend upon me."</p> + +<p>"Then I will go."</p> + +<p>"Where is Ben, now?"</p> + +<p>"He has gone up to the house."</p> + +<p>"Then you run down to the Point, and bring the +boat up to the pier. I am tired, and don't want to +walk down there again."</p> + +<p>Noddy was entirely willing, and bounded off like a +deer, for he had fully made up his mind to disobey +orders, and his impulsive nature did not permit him +to consider the consequences. He was absent but a +few moments, and presently appeared rowing a small +boat up the river. At the pier he turned the boat, +and backed her up to the landing steps.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All ready, Miss Fanny!" shouted the young boatman, +for his companion in mischief was not in sight.</p> + +<p>Still she did not appear; and Noddy was about to +go in search of her, when she came out of the boat-house, +and ran down to the steps. Her face was +flushed, and she seemed to be very much agitated. +Noddy was afraid, from her looks, that something had +happened to spoil the anticipated sport of the morning; +but she stepped into the boat, and told him, in +hurried tones, to push off.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Miss Fanny?" he asked, not +a little startled by her appearance.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Noddy; pull away just as fast as ever +you can."</p> + +<p>"Are we caught?" said he, as he followed Fanny's +direction.</p> + +<p>"No; caught! no. Why don't you row faster, +Noddy? You don't pull worth a cent."</p> + +<p>"I am pulling as hard as I can," replied he, unable +to keep pace with her impatience.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be seen here now for anything!" +exclaimed Fanny, earnestly, as she glanced back at +the boat-house, with a look so uneasy that it almost +unmanned her resolute companion.</p> + +<p>Noddy pulled with all his might, and the light boat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +darted over the waves with a speed which ought to +have satisfied his nervous passenger. As they reached +the point of Van Alstine's Island, a dense smoke was +seen to rise from the boat-house on the pier; and a +few moments later, the whole building was wrapped +in flames.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE CIRCUS AT WHITESTONE.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Do</span> you see that?" exclaimed Noddy, as he +stopped rowing, and gazed at the flames which leaped +madly up from the devoted building.</p> + +<p>"I see it," replied Fanny, with even more agitation +than was manifested by her companion.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand it," added Noddy.</p> + +<p>"The boat-house is on fire, and will burn up in +a few minutes more. I think it is plain enough;" +and Fanny struggled to be calm and indifferent.</p> + +<p>"We must go back and see to it."</p> + +<p>"We shall do nothing of the kind. Pull away as +hard as ever you can, or we shall not get to Whitestone +in season."</p> + +<p>"I don't care about going to Whitestone now; I +want to know what all that means."</p> + +<p>"Can't you see what it means? The boat-house +is on fire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, how did it catch afire? That's what +bothers me."</p> + +<p>"You needn't bother yourself about it. My father +owns the boat-house, and it isn't worth much."</p> + +<p>"All that may be; but I want to know how it got +afire."</p> + +<p>"We shall find out soon enough when we return."</p> + +<p>"But I want to know now."</p> + +<p>"You can't know now; so pull away."</p> + +<p>"I shall have the credit of setting that fire," added +Noddy, not a little disturbed by the anticipation.</p> + +<p>"No, you won't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I shall. I told Ben I wished the boat-house +would catch afire and burn up. Of course he will +lay it to me."</p> + +<p>"No matter if he does; Ben isn't everybody."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is 'most everybody, so far as Miss Bertha +is concerned; and I'd rather tumbled overboard +in December than have that fire happen just now."</p> + +<p>"You were not there when the fire broke out," +said Fanny, with a strong effort to satisfy her boatman.</p> + +<p>"That's the very reason why they will lay it to me. +They will say I set the boat-house afire, and then ran +away on purpose."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can say you were with me when the fire broke +out, and that I know you didn't do it," replied +Fanny.</p> + +<p>"That will do; but I would give all my old shoes +to know how the fire took, myself."</p> + +<p>"No matter how it took."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is matter, Miss Fanny. I want to know. +There wasn't any fire in the building when I left it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps somebody stopped there in a boat, and +set it on fire."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they did; but I know very well they +didn't," answered Noddy, positively. "There hasn't +been any boat near the pier since we left it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Ben left his pipe among those shavings."</p> + +<p>"Ben never did that. He would cut his head off +sooner than do such a thing. He is as scared of fire +as he is of the Flying Dutchman."</p> + +<p>"Don't say anything more about it. Now row +over to Whitestone as quick as you can," added Fanny, +petulantly.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going over to Whitestone, after what has +happened. I shouldn't have a bit of fun if I went."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Noddy; then you may get out of the +scrape as you can," said the young lady, angrily.</p> + +<p>"What scrape?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, they will accuse you of setting the boat-house +afire; and you told Ben you wished it was +burned down."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't set it afire."</p> + +<p>"Who did, then?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I want to find out. That's what +worries me; for I can't see how it happened, unless +it took fire from that bucket of water I left on the +floor."</p> + +<p>Fanny was too much disturbed by the conduct of +her boatman, or by some other circumstance, to laugh +at Noddy's joke; and the brilliant sally was permitted +to waste itself without an appreciative smile. She +sat looking at the angry flames as they devoured the +building, while her companion vainly attempted to hit +upon a satisfactory explanation of the cause of the +fire. Noddy was perplexed; he was absolutely worried, +not so much by the probable consequences to +himself of the unfortunate event, as by the cravings +of his own curiosity. He did not see how it happened; +and if a potent juggler had performed a +wonderful feat in his presence, he could not have +been more exercised in mind to know how it was +done.</p> + +<p>Noddy was neither a logician nor a philosopher;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +and therefore he was utterly unable to account for +the origin of the fire. In vain he wasted his intellectual +powers in speculations; in vain he tried to +remember some exciting cause to which the calamity +could be traced. Meanwhile, Miss Fanny was deliberating +quite as diligently over another question; for +she apparently regarded the destruction of the boat-house +as a small affair, and did not concern herself +to know how it had been caused. But she was very +anxious to reach Whitestone before ten o'clock, and +her rebellious boatman had intimated his intention +not to carry out his part of the agreement.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about, Noddy?" asked +she, when both had maintained silence for the full +space of three minutes, which was a longer period +than either of them had ever before kept still while +awake.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of that fire," replied Noddy, +removing his gaze from the burning building, and +fixing it upon her.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to Whitestone, or not?" continued +she, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't want to go to Whitestone, while +all of them down there are talking about me, and +saying I set the boat-house afire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They will believe you did it, too."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't, Miss Fanny. You know I didn't."</p> + +<p>"How should I know it?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was with you; besides, you came out +of the boat-house after I did."</p> + +<p>"If you will row me over to Whitestone, I will +say so; and I will tell them I know you didn't do it."</p> + +<p>Noddy considered the matter for a moment, and, +perhaps concluding that it was safer for him to keep +on the right side of Miss Fanny, he signified his +acceptance of the terms by taking up his oars, and +pulling towards Whitestone. But he was not satisfied; +he was as uneasy as a fish out of water; +and nothing but the tyranny of the wayward young +lady in the boat would have induced him to flee +from the trouble which was brewing at Woodville. +He had quite lost sight of the purpose which had +induced him to disobey Bertha's orders.</p> + +<p>Our young adventurers had not left Woodville +without an object. There was a circus at Whitestone—a +travelling company which had advertised +to give three grand performances on that day. Miss +Fanny wanted to go; but, either because her father +was otherwise occupied, or because he did not approve +of circuses, he had declined to go with her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +Bertha did not want to go, and also had an engagement.</p> + +<p>Fanny had set her heart upon going; and she +happened to be too wilful, just at that period, to +submit to the disappointment to which her father's +convenience or his principles doomed her. Bertha +had gone to the city at an early hour in the morning +to spend the day with a friend, and Fanny +decided that she would go to the circus, in spite +of all obstacles, and in the face of her father's +implied prohibition. When she had proceeded far +enough to rebel, in her own heart, against the will +of her father, the rest of the deed was easily accomplished.</p> + +<p>Noddy had never been to a circus; and when +Fanny told him what it was,—how men rode standing +up on their horses; how they turned somersets, +and played all sorts of antics on the tight rope and +the slack rope; and, above all, what funny things +the clowns said and did,—he was quite ready to do +almost anything to procure so rare a pleasure as +witnessing such a performance must afford him. It +did not require any persuasion to induce him to +assist Fanny in her disobedience. The only obstacle +which had presented itself was his morning work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +in the boat-house, which Bertha's departure for the +city had prevented him from doing at an earlier +hour.</p> + +<p>To prevent Ben from suspecting that they were +on the water, in case they should happen to be +missed, he had borrowed a boat and placed it at +the Point, where they could embark without being +seen, if Ben or any of the servants happened to +be near the pier. The boatman, who made it his +business to see that Noddy did his work on time in +the morning, did not neglect his duty on this occasion; +and when Noddy started to meet Fanny at +the appointed place, he had been called back, as +described in the first chapter.</p> + +<p>As he pulled towards Whitestone, he watched the +flames that rose from the boat-house; and he had, +for the time, lost all his enthusiasm about the circus. +He could think only of the doubtful position in +which his impulsive words to the boatman placed +him. Above all things,—and all his doubts and +fears culminated in this point,—what would Miss +Bertha say? He did not care what others said, +except so far as their words went to convince his +mistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>But, after all had been said and done, he was +not guilty. He had not set the boat-house on fire, +and he did not even know who had done the malicious +act. Noddy regarded this as a very happy +thought; and while the reflection had a place in his +mind, he pulled the oars with redoubled vigor. Yet +it was in vain for him to rely upon the voice of +an approving conscience for peace in that hour of +trouble. If he had not, at that moment, been engaged +in an act of disobedience, he might have +been easy. He had been strictly forbidden by Mr. +Grant, and by Bertha, ever to take Fanny out in +a boat without permission; and Miss Fanny had +been as strictly forbidden to go with him, or with +any of the servants, without the express consent, +each time, of her father or of Bertha.</p> + +<p>It is very hard, while doing wrong in one thing, +to enjoy an approving conscience in another thing; +and Noddy found it so in the present instance. +We do not mean to say that Noddy's conscience +was of any great account to him, or that the inward +monitor caused his present uneasiness. He had +a conscience, but his vagabond life had demoralized it +in the first place, and it had not been sufficiently +developed, during his stay at Woodville, to abate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +very sensibly his anticipated pleasure at the circus. +His uneasiness was entirely selfish. He had got into +a scrape, whose probable consequences worried him +more than his conscience.</p> + +<p>By the time the runaways reached Whitestone, +the boat-house was all burned up, and nothing but +the curling smoke from the ruins visibly reminded +the transgressors of the event which had disturbed +them. Securing the boat in a proper place, Noddy +conducted the young lady to the large tent in which +the circus company performed, and which was more +than a mile from the river. Fanny gave him the +money, and Noddy purchased two tickets, which +admitted them to the interior of the tent.</p> + +<p>If Noddy had been entirely at ease about the +affair on the other side of the river, no doubt he +would have enjoyed the performance very much; +but in the midst of the "grand entree of all the +horses and riders of the troupe," the sorrowing face +of Bertha Grant thrust itself between him and the +horsemen, to obscure his vision and diminish the +cheap glories of the gorgeous scene. When "the +most daring rider in the world" danced about, like +a top, on the bare back of his "fiery, untamed +steed," Noddy was enthusiastic, and would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +given a York shilling for the privilege of trying to +do it himself.</p> + +<p>The "ground and lofty tumbling," with the exception +of the spangled tunics of the performers, +hardly came up to his expectations; and he was +entirely satisfied that he could beat the best man +among them at such games. As the performance +proceeded, he warmed up enough to forget the fire, +and ceased to dread the rebuke of Bertha; but +when all was over,—when the clown had made +his last wry face, and the great American acrobat +had achieved his last gyration, Bertha and the fire +came back to him with increased power. Moody and +sullen, he walked down to the river with Fanny, who, +under ordinary circumstances, would have been too +proud to walk through the streets of Whitestone with +him. If he had been alone, it is quite probable that +he would have taken to the woods, so much did he +dread to return to Woodville.</p> + +<p>He pushed off the boat, and for some time he +pulled in silence, for Miss Fanny now appeared to +have her own peculiar trials. Her conscience seemed +to have found a voice, and she did not speak till the +boat had reached the lower end of Van Alstine's +Island.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The fire is all out now," said she.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I would give a thousand dollars to +know how it caught," added Noddy.</p> + +<p>"I know," continued Fanny, looking down into +the bottom of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Who did it?" demanded Noddy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I did it myself," answered Fanny, looking up +into his face to note the effect of the astonishing +confession.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A MORAL QUESTION.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Noddy</span> dropped his oars, and, with open mouth +and staring eyes, gazed fixedly in silence at his gentle +companion, who had so far outstripped him in +making mischief as to set fire to a building. It was +too much for him, and he found it impossible to +comprehend the depravity of Miss Fanny. He would +not have dared to do such a thing himself, and it +was impossible to believe that she had done so tremendous +a deed.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," said he; and the words burst +from him with explosive force, as soon as he could +find a tongue to express himself.</p> + +<p>"I did," replied Fanny, gazing at him with a kind +of blank look, which would have assured a more expert +reader of the human face than Noddy Newman +that she had come to a realizing sense of the magnitude +of the mischief she had done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, you didn't, Miss Fanny!" exclaimed her incredulous +friend. "I know you didn't do that; you +couldn't do it."</p> + +<p>"But I did; I wouldn't say I did if I didn't."</p> + +<p>"Well, that beats me all to pieces!" added Noddy, +bending forward in his seat, and looking sharply into +her face, in search of any indications that she was +making fun of him, or was engaged in perpetrating +a joke.</p> + +<p>Certainly there was no indication of a want of +seriousness on the part of the wayward young lady; +on the contrary, she looked exceedingly troubled. +Noddy could not say a word, and he was busily occupied +in trying to get through his head the stupendous +fact that Miss Fanny had become an incendiary; +that she was wicked enough to set fire to her father's +building. It required a good deal of labor and study +on the part of so poor a scholar as Noddy to comprehend +the idea. He had always looked upon Fanny +as Bertha's sister. His devoted benefactress was an +angel in his estimation, and it was as impossible for +her to do anything wrong as it was for water to run +up hill.</p> + +<p>If Bertha was absolutely perfect,—as he measured +human virtue,—it was impossible that her sister<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +should be very far below her standard. He knew +that she was a little wild and wayward, but it was +beyond his comprehension that she should do anything +that was really "naughty." Fanny's confession, +when he realized that it was true, gave him +a shock from which he did not soon recover. One +of his oars had slipped overboard without his notice, +and the other might have gone after it, if his companion +had not reminded him where he was, and +what he ought to do. Paddling the boat around with +one oar, he recovered the other; but he had no clear +idea of the purpose for which such implements were +intended, and he permitted the boat to drift with the +tide, while he gave himself up to the consideration of +the difficult and trying question which the conduct +of Fanny imposed upon him.</p> + +<p>Noddy was not selfish; and if the generous vein +of his nature had been well balanced and fortified +by the corresponding virtues, his character would +have soared to the region of the noble and grand in +human nature. But the generous in character is +hardly worthy of respect, though it may challenge the +admiration of the thoughtless, unless it rests upon +the sure foundation of moral principle. Noddy forgot +his own trials in sympathizing with the unpleas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>ant +situation of his associate in wrongdoing, and his +present thought was how he should get her out of +the scrape. He was honestly willing to sacrifice himself +for her sake. While he was faithfully considering +the question, in the dim light of his own moral +sense, Miss Fanny suddenly burst into tears, and cried +with a violence and an unction which were a severe +trial to his nerves.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, Fanny," said he; "I'll get you out of +the scrape."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to get out of it," sobbed she.</p> + +<p>Now, this was the most paradoxical reply which +the little maiden could possibly have made, and +Noddy was perplexed almost beyond the hope of redemption. +What in the world was she crying about, +if she did not wish to get out of the scrape? What +could make her cry if it was not the fear of consequences—of +punishment, and of the mean opinion +which her friends would have of her, when they found +out that she was wicked enough to set a building on +fire? Noddy asked no questions, for he could not +frame one which would cover so intricate a matter.</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly willing to be punished for what I +have done," added Fanny, to whose troubled heart +speech was the only vent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are you crying for?" asked the bewildered +Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Because—because I did it," replied she; and her +choked utterance hardly permitted her to speak the +words.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Fanny, you are altogether ahead of +my time; and I don't know what you mean. If you +cry about it now, what did you do it for?"</p> + +<p>"Because I was wicked and naughty. If I had +thought only a moment, I shouldn't have done it. I +am so sorry I did it! I would give the world if I +hadn't."</p> + +<p>"What will they do to you?" asked Noddy, whose +fear of consequences had not yet given place to a +higher view of the matter.</p> + +<p>"I don't care what they do; I deserve the worst +they can do. How shall I look Bertha and my father +in the face when I see them?"</p> + +<p>"O, hold your head right up, and look as bold as a +lion—as bold as two lions, if the worst comes."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so, Noddy. You make me feel worse +than I did."</p> + +<p>"What in the world ails you, Miss Fanny?" demanded +Noddy, grown desperate by the perplexities +of the situation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am so sorry I did such a wicked thing! I shall +go to Bertha and my father, and tell them all about +it, as soon as they come home," added Fanny, as she +wiped away her tears, and appeared to be much comforted +by the good resolution which was certainly +the best one the circumstances admitted.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to do that?" exclaimed Noddy, +astonished at the declaration.</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"And get me into a scrape too! They won't let +me off as easy as they do you. I shall be sent off +to learn to be a tinker, or a blacksmith."</p> + +<p>"You didn't set the boat-house on fire, Noddy. +It wasn't any of your doings," said Fanny, somewhat +disturbed by this new complication.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't have done it, if it hadn't been for +me. I told you what I said to Ben—that I wished +the boat-house was burned up; and that's what put +it into your head."</p> + +<p>"Well, you didn't do it."</p> + +<p>"I know that; but I shall have to bear all the +blame of it."</p> + +<p>Noddy's moral perceptions were strong enough to +enable him to see that he was not without fault in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +the matter; and he was opposed to Fanny's making +the intended confession of her guilt.</p> + +<p>"I will keep you out of trouble, Noddy," said she, +kindly.</p> + +<p>"You can't do it; when you own up, you will sink +me to the bottom of the river. Besides, you are a +fool to do any such thing, Miss Fanny. What do you +want to say a word about it for? Ben will think +some fellow landed from the river, and set the boat-house +on fire."</p> + +<p>"I must do it, Noddy," protested she. "I shall +not have a moment's peace till I confess. I shall +not dare to look father and Bertha in the face if I +don't."</p> + +<p>"You won't if you do. How are they going +to know anything about it, if you don't tell +them?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they will lay it to you if I don't."</p> + +<p>"No matter if they do; I didn't do it, and I can +say so truly, and they will believe me."</p> + +<p>"But how shall I feel all the time? I shall know +who did it, if nobody else does. I shall feel mean +and guilty."</p> + +<p>"You won't feel half so bad as you will when they +look at you, and know all the time that you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +guilty. If you are going to own up, I shall keep out +of the way. You won't see me at Woodville again +in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Noddy?" asked Fanny, +startled by the strong words of her companion.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean. If you own up, they +will say that I made you do it; and I had enough +sight rather bear the blame of setting the boat-house +afire, than be told that I made you do it. I can dirty +my own hands, but I don't like the idea of dirtying +yours."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to leave Woodville, Noddy?" +asked Fanny, in a reproachful tone.</p> + +<p>"If you own up, I shall not go back. I've been +thinking of going ever since they talked of making +a tinker of me; so it will only be going a few days +sooner. I want to go to sea, and I don't want to be +a tinker."</p> + +<p>Fanny gazed into the water by the side of the boat, +thinking of what her companion had said. She +really did not think she ought to "own up," on the +terms which Noddy mentioned.</p> + +<p>"If you are sorry, and want to repent, you can +do all that; and I will give you my solemn promise +to be as good as you are, Miss Fanny," said Noddy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +satisfied that he had made an impression upon the +mind of his wavering companion.</p> + +<p>His advice seemed to be sensible. She was sorry +she had done wrong; she could repent in sorrow and +silence, and never do wrong again. Her father and +her sister would despise her if they knew she had +done such a wicked and unladylike thing as to set +the boat-house on fire. She could save all this pain +and mortification, and repent just the same. Besides, +she could not take upon herself the responsibility of +driving Noddy away from Woodville, for that would +cause Bertha a great deal of pain and uneasiness.</p> + +<p>Fanny had not yet learned to do right though the +heavens fall.</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't say anything about it, Noddy," +said she, yielding to what seemed to her the force of +circumstances.</p> + +<p>"That's right, Fanny. Now, you leave the whole +thing to me, and I will manage it so as to keep you +out of trouble; and you can repent and be sorry just +as much as you please," replied Noddy, as he began +to row again. "There is nothing to be afraid of. +Ben will never know that we have been on the river."</p> + +<p>"But I know it myself," said the conscience-stricken +maiden.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course you do; what of that?"</p> + +<p>"If I didn't know it myself, I should feel well +enough."</p> + +<p>"You are a funny girl."</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever feel that you have done wrong, +Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I do; but I don't make any such fuss +about it as you do."</p> + +<p>"You were not brought up by a kind father and +a loving sister, who would give anything rather than +have you do wrong," said Fanny, beginning to cry +again.</p> + +<p>"There! don't cry any more; if you do, you will +'let the cat out of the bag.' I am going to land +you here at the Glen. You can take a walk there, and +go home about one o'clock. Then you can tell the +folks you have been walking in the Glen; and it will +be the truth."</p> + +<p>"It will be just as much a lie as though I hadn't +been there. It will be one half the truth told to hide +the other half."</p> + +<p>This was rather beyond Noddy's moral philosophy, +and he did not worry himself to argue the point. He +pulled up to the landing place at the Glen, where he +had so often conveyed Bertha, and near the spot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +where he had met with the accident which had placed +him under her kindly care. Fanny, with a heavy +heart and a doubting mind, stepped on shore, and +walked up into the grove. She was burdened with +grief for the wrong she had done, and for half an +hour she wandered about the beautiful spot, trying +to compose herself enough to appear before the people +at the house. When it was too late, she wished she +had not consented to Noddy's plan; but the fear of +working a great wrong in driving him from the good +influences to which he was subjected at Woodville, +by doing right, and confessing her error, was rather +comforting, though it did not meet the wants of her +case.</p> + +<p>In season for dinner, she entered the house with +her hand full of wild flowers, which grew only in +the Glen. In the hall she met Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, +who looked at her flushed face, and then at +the flowers in her hand.</p> + +<p>"We have been wondering where you were, all +the forenoon," said Mrs. Green. "I see you have +been to the Glen by the flowers you have in your +hand. Did you know the boat-house was burned +up?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the smoke of it," replied Fanny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is the strangest thing that ever happened. No +one can tell how it took fire."</p> + +<p>Fanny made no reply, and the housekeeper +hastened away to attend to her duties. The poor girl +was suffering all the tortures of remorse which a +wrong act can awaken, and she went up to her room +with the feeling that she did not wish to see another +soul for a month.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, Noddy Newman presented +himself at the great house, laden with swamp pinks, +whose fragrance filled the air, and seemed to explain +where he had been all the forenoon. With no little +flourish, he requested Mrs. Green to put them in the +vases for Bertha's room; for his young mistress was +very fond of the sweet blossoms. He appeared to +be entirely satisfied with himself; and, with a branch +of the pink in his hand, he left the house, and walked +towards the servants' quarters, where, at his dinner, +he met Ben, the boatman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>NODDY'S CONFESSION.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> old boatman never did any thing as other +people did it; and though Noddy had put on the +best face he could assume to meet the shock of the +accusation which he was confident would be brought +against him, Ben said not a word about the boat-house. +He did not seem to be aware that it had been +burned. He ate his dinner in his usual cheerful +frame of mind, and talked of swamp pinks, suggested +by the branch which the young reprobate had +brought into the servants' hall.</p> + +<p>Noddy was more perplexed than he had been before +that day. Why didn't the old man "pitch into +him," and accuse him of kindling the fire? Why +didn't he get angry, as he did sometimes, and call +him a young vagabond, and threaten to horsewhip +him? Ben talked of the pinks, of the weather, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +crops, and the latest news; but he did not say a +word about the destruction of the boat-house, or +Noddy's absence during the forenoon.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Noddy followed the old man down +to the pier by the river in a state of anxiety which +hardly permitted him to keep up the cheerful expression +he had assumed, and which he usually wore. +They reached the smouldering ruins of the building, +but Ben took no notice of it, and did not allude to +the great event which had occurred. Noddy was +inclined to doubt whether the boat-house had been +burned at all; and he would have rejected the fact, +if the charred remains of the house had not been +there to attest it.</p> + +<p>Ben hobbled down to the pier, and stepped on +board the Greyhound, which he had hauled up to +the shore to enable him to make some repairs on the +mainsail. Noddy followed him; but he grew more +desperate at every step he advanced, for the old man +still most provokingly refused to say a single word +about the fire.</p> + +<p>"Gracious!" exclaimed Noddy, suddenly starting +back in the utmost astonishment; for he had come +to the conclusion, that if Ben would not speak about +the fire, he must.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>The old boatman was still vicious, and refused +even to notice his well-managed exclamation. Noddy +thought it was very obstinate of Ben not to say something, +and offer him a chance, in the natural way, to +prove his innocence.</p> + +<p>"Why, Ben, the boat-house is burned up!" shouted +Noddy, determined that the old man should have no +excuse for not speaking about the fire.</p> + +<p>Ben did not even raise his eyes from the work on +which he was engaged. He was adjusting the palm +on his hand, and in a moment began to sew as though +nothing had happened, and no one was present but +himself. Noddy was fully satisfied now that the +boatman was carrying out the details of some plot +of his own.</p> + +<p>"Ben!" roared Noddy, at the top of his lungs, +and still standing near the ruins.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Noddy?" demanded Ben, as +good-naturedly as though everything had worked well +during the day.</p> + +<p>"The boat-house is burned up!" screamed Noddy, +apparently as much excited as though he had just +discovered the fact.</p> + +<p>Ben made no reply, which was another evidence +that he was engaged in working out some deep-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>laid +plot, perhaps to convict him of the crime, by +some trick. Noddy was determined not to be convicted +if he could possibly help it.</p> + +<p>"Ben!" shouted he again.</p> + +<p>"Well, Noddy, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Did you <i>know</i> the boat-house was burned up?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer; and Noddy ran down to the +place where the sail-boat was hauled up. He tried to +look excited and indignant, and perhaps he succeeded; +though, as the old man preserved his equanimity, he +had no means of knowing what impression he had +produced.</p> + +<p>"Did you know the boat-house was burned up?" +repeated Noddy, opening his eyes as though he had +made a discovery of the utmost importance.</p> + +<p>"I did," replied Ben, as indifferently as though +it had been a matter of no consequence whatever.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you tell me about it?" demanded +Noddy, with becoming indignation.</p> + +<p>"Because I decided that I wouldn't say a word +about it to any person," answered Ben.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't anything to say about it; so you +mustn't ask me any questions."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you know how it caught afire?" persisted +Noddy.</p> + +<p>"I've nothing to say on that subject."</p> + +<p>Noddy was vexed and disheartened; but he felt +that it would not be prudent to deny the charge of +setting it on fire before he was accused, for that +would certainly convict him. The old man was playing +a deep game, and that annoyed him still +more.</p> + +<p>"So you won't say anything about it, Ben?" added +he, seating himself on the pier.</p> + +<p>"Not a word, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't if I were you," continued +Noddy, lightly.</p> + +<p>Ben took no notice of this sinister remark, thus +exhibiting a presence of mind which completely +balked his assailant.</p> + +<p>"I understand it all, Ben; and I don't blame you +for not wanting to say anything about it. I suppose +you will own up when Mr. Grant comes home to-night."</p> + +<p>"Don't be saucy, Noddy," said the old man, +mildly.</p> + +<p>"So you smoked your pipe among the shavings, +and set the boat-house afire—did you, Ben? Well,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +I am sorry for you, you are generally so careful; +but I don't believe they will discharge you for +it."</p> + +<p>Ben was as calm and unruffled as a summer sea. +Noddy knew that, under ordinary circumstances, the +boatman would have come down upon him like a +northeast gale, if he had dared to use such insulting +language to him. He tried him on every tack, +but not a word could he obtain which betrayed the +opinion of the veteran, in regard to the origin of +the fire. It was useless to resort to any more arts, +and he gave up the point in despair. All the afternoon +he wandered about the estate, and could think +of nothing but the unhappy event of the morning. +Fanny did not show herself, and he had no opportunity +for further consultation.</p> + +<p>About six o'clock Bertha returned with her father; +and after tea they walked down to the river. Fanny +complained of a headache, and did not go with them. +It is more than probable that she was really afflicted, +as she said; for she had certainly suffered enough to +make her head ache. Of course the first thing that +attracted the attention of Mr. Grant and his daughter +was the pile of charred timbers that indicated the +place where the boat-house had once stood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How did that happen?" asked Mr. Grant of Ben, +who was on the pier.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how it happened," replied the boatman, +who had found his tongue now, and proceeded +to give his employer all the particulars of the destruction +of the building, concluding with Noddy's +energetic exclamation that he wished the boat-house +was burned up.</p> + +<p>"But did Noddy set the building on fire?" asked +Bertha, greatly pained to hear this charge against +her pupil.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Miss Bertha. I went up to the +house to get my morning instructions, as I always +do, and left Noddy at work washing up the boat-house. +I found you had gone to the city, and I +went right out of the house, and was coming down +here. I got in sight of the pier, and saw Miss Fanny +come out of the boat-house."</p> + +<p>"Fanny?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am sure it was her. I didn't mind where +she went, for I happened to think the mainsail of +the Greyhound wanted a little mending, and I went +over to my room after some needles. While I was +in my chamber, one of the gardeners rushed up to +tell me the boat-house was afire. I came down, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +'twasn't no use; the building was most gone when I +got here."</p> + +<p>"Did you leave anything in the building in the +shape of matches, or anything else?" asked Mr. +Grant.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I never do that," replied the old man, +with a blush.</p> + +<p>"I know you are very careful, Ben. Then I suppose +it was set on fire."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it was, sir."</p> + +<p>"Who do you suppose set it afire, Ben?" said +Bertha, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Bless you, miss, I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it was Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Bertha, I don't think it was."</p> + +<p>"Who could it have been?"</p> + +<p>"That's more than I know. Here comes Noddy, +and he can speak for himself."</p> + +<p>Noddy had come forward for this purpose when +he saw Mr. Grant and Bertha on the pier, and he had +heard the last part of the conversation. He was not +a little astonished to hear Ben declare his belief that +he was not guilty, for he had been fully satisfied that +he should have all the credit of the naughty transaction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you know how the fire caught, Noddy?" said +Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"I reckon it caught from a bucket of water I left +there," replied Noddy, who did not know what to say +till he had felt his way a little.</p> + +<p>"No trifling, Noddy!" added Mr. Grant, though +he could hardly keep from laughing at the ridiculous +answer.</p> + +<p>"How should I know, sir, when Ben don't know? +I tried to make him tell me how it caught, and he +wouldn't say a word about it."</p> + +<p>"I thought it was best for me to keep still," said +Ben.</p> + +<p>"This is very strange," continued Mr. Grant. +"Who was the last person you saw in the boat-house, +Ben?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Fanny, sir. I saw her come out of it only +a few moments before the fire broke out."</p> + +<p>Noddy was appalled at this answer, for it indicated +that Fanny was already suspected of the deed.</p> + +<p>"Of course Fanny would not do such a thing as +set the boat-house on fire," said Bertha.</p> + +<p>"Of course she wouldn't," added Noddy.</p> + +<p>"What made you say you did not think Noddy set +the fire, Ben?" asked Mr. Grant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Because I think he had gone off somewhere before +the fire, and that Miss Fanny was in the building +after he was. Noddy was sculling off before he +had done his work, and I called him back. That's +when he wished the boat-house was burned down."</p> + +<p>"It is pretty evident that the fire was set by Noddy +or Fanny," said Mr. Grant; and he appeared to have +no doubt as to which was the guilty one, for he looked +very sternly at the wayward boy before him.</p> + +<p>"I think so, sir," added Ben.</p> + +<p>"And you say that it was not Noddy?" continued +Mr. Grant, looking exceedingly troubled as he +considered the alternative.</p> + +<p>The boatman bowed his head in reply, as though +his conclusion was so serious and solemn that he +could not express it in words. Noddy looked from +Ben to Mr. Grant, and from Mr. Grant to Ben again. +It was plain enough what they meant, and he had +not even been suspected of the crime. The boatman +had seen Fanny come out of the building just before +the flames appeared, and all hope of charging the +deed upon some vagabond from the river was gone.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say, Ben, that you think Fanny +set the boat-house on fire?" demanded Mr. Grant, +sternly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't see who else could have set it," added +Ben, stoutly.</p> + +<p>"I do," interposed Noddy. "I say she didn't +do it."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say so?"</p> + +<p>"Because I did it myself."</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" exclaimed Mr. Grant, greatly +relieved by the confession.</p> + +<p>Ben was confused and annoyed, and Noddy was +rather pleased at the position in which he had placed +the old man, who, in his opinion, had not treated him +as well as usual.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you own it before?" said Mr. +Grant, "and not allow an innocent person to be +suspected."</p> + +<p>"I didn't like to," answered the culprit, with a +smile, as though he was entirely satisfied with his +own position.</p> + +<p>"You must be taken care of."</p> + +<p>"I am going to take care of myself, sir," said +Noddy, with easy indifference.</p> + +<p>This remark was capable of so many interpretations +that no one knew what it meant—whether +Noddy intended to run away, or reform his vicious +habits. Bertha had never seen him look so self-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>possessed +and impudent when he had done wrong, +and she feared that all her labors for his moral +improvement had been wasted.</p> + +<p>Some further explanations followed, and Noddy +was questioned till a satisfactory theory in regard +to the fire was agreed upon. The boy declared that +he had visited the boat-house after Fanny left it, and +that she was walking towards the Glen when he +kindled the fire. He made out a consistent story, +and completely upset Ben's conclusions, and left the +veteran in a very confused and uncomfortable state +of mind.</p> + +<p>Mr. Grant declared that something must be done +with the boy at once; that if he was permitted to +continue on the place, he might take a notion to burn +the house down. Poor Bertha could not gainsay her +father's conclusion, and, sad as it was, she was compelled +to leave the culprit to whatever decision Mr. +Grant might reach. For the present he was ordered +to his room, to which he submissively went, attended +by Bertha, though he was fully resolved not to be +"taken care of;" for he understood this to mean a +place in the workhouse or the penitentiary.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>SQUIRE WRIGGS AT WOODVILLE.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Bertha</span> was deeply pained at the reckless wrong +which her <i>protégé</i> had done, and more deeply by the +cool indifference with which he carried himself after +his voluntary confession. There was little to hope +for while he manifested not a single sign of contrition +for the crime committed. He was truly sorry for the +grief he had caused her; but for his own sin he did +not speak a word of regret.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I am to be a tinker now," said Noddy +to her, with a smile, which looked absolutely awful +to Bertha, for it was a token of depravity she could +not bear to look upon.</p> + +<p>"I must leave you now, Noddy, for you are not +good," replied Bertha, sadly.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you feel so bad about me, Miss +Bertha," added Noddy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish you would be sorry for yourself, instead +of me."</p> + +<p>"I am—sorry that you want to make a tinker of +me;" and Noddy used this word to express his +contempt of any mechanical occupation.</p> + +<p>He did not like to work. Patient, plodding labor, +devoid of excitement, was his aversion; though +handling a boat, cleaning out a gutter on some dizzy +height of the mansion, or cutting off a limb at the +highest point of the tallest shade tree on the estate, +was entirely to his taste, and he did not regard anything +as work which had a spice of danger or a thrill +of excitement about it. He was not lazy, in the +broad sense of the word; there was not a more active +and restless person on the estate than himself. A +shop, therefore, was a horror which he had no words +to describe, and which he could never endure.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you in some useful occupation, +where you can earn your living, and become a respectable +man," said Bertha. "Don't you want to +be a respectable man, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose I do; but I had rather be a +vagabond than a respectable tinker."</p> + +<p>"You must work, Noddy, if you would win a good +name, and enough of this world's goods to make you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +comfortable. Work and win; I give you this motto +for your guidance. My father told me to lock you +up in your room."</p> + +<p>"You may do that, Miss Bertha," laughed Noddy. +"I don't care how much you lock me in. When I +want to go out, I shall go. I shall work, and win my +freedom."</p> + +<p>Noddy thought this application of Bertha's motto +was funny, and he had the hardihood to laugh at it, +till Bertha, hopeless of making any impression on +him at the present time, left the room, and locked +the door behind her.</p> + +<p>"Work and win!" said Noddy. "That's very +pretty, and for Miss Bertha's sake I shall remember +it; but I shan't work in any tinker's shop. I may +as well take myself off, and go to work in my +own way."</p> + +<p>Noddy was tired, after the exertions of the day; +and so deeply and truly repentant was he for the +wrong he had done, that he immediately went to +sleep, though it was not yet dark. Neither the +present nor the future seemed to give him any +trouble; and if he could avoid the miseries of the +tinker's shop, as he was perfectly confident he could, +he did not concern himself about any of the prizes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +of life which are gained by honest industry or patient +well doing.</p> + +<p>When it was quite dark, and Noddy had slept about +two hours, the springing of the bolt in the lock of +his door awoke him. He leaped to his feet, and his +first thought was, that something was to be done +with him for burning the boat-house. But the door +opened, and, by the dim light which came through +the window, he recognized the slight form of Fanny +Grant.</p> + +<p>"Noddy," said she, timidly.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Fanny, have you come to let me out +of jail?"</p> + +<p>"No; I came to see you, and nobody knows I am +here. You won't expose me—will you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I won't; that isn't much like me."</p> + +<p>"I know it isn't, Noddy. What did you say that +you set the fire for?"</p> + +<p>"Because I thought that was the best way to +settle the whole thing. Ben saw you come out of the +boat-house, and told your father he believed you set +the building on fire. That was the meanest thing +the old man ever did. Why didn't he lay it to me, +as he ought to have done?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose he knew you didn't do it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That don't make any difference. He ought to +have known better than tell your father it was +you."</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry for what you have done!"</p> + +<p>"What are you sorry for? It won't hurt me, any +how; and it would be an awful thing for you. They +were going to make a tinker of me before, and I suppose +they will do it now—if they can. I wouldn't +care a fig for it if Miss Bertha didn't feel so bad +about it."</p> + +<p>"I will tell her the truth."</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it, Miss Fanny. That wouldn't +help me a bit, and will spoil you."</p> + +<p>"But I must tell the truth. They don't suspect +me even of going on the water."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. They won't ask you any +hard questions. Now, Miss Fanny, don't you say a +word; for if you do, it will make it all the worse +for me."</p> + +<p>"Why so, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"Because, according to my notion, I did set the +building afire. If I hadn't said what I did, you +never would have thought of doing it. So I was the +fellow that did it, after all. That's the whole truth, +and nothing but the truth."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you didn't set it afire, and you didn't mean +to do any such thing."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but you wouldn't have done it if +it hadn't been for me. It was more my fault than +it was yours; and I want you to leave the thing just +where it is now."</p> + +<p>"But it would be mean for me to stand still, and +see you bear all the blame."</p> + +<p>"It would be enough sight meaner for you to say +anything about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so."</p> + +<p>"I do; for don't you see it is a good deal worse +for me to put you up to such a thing than it was for +me to do it myself? Your father would forgive me +for setting the fire sooner than they would for making +you do it. I'm bad enough already, and they know +it; but if they think I make you as bad as I am +myself, they would put me in a worse place than a +tinker's shop."</p> + +<p>Noddy's argument was too much for the feminine +mind of Miss Fanny, and again she abandoned the +purpose she had fully resolved upon, and decided not +to confess her guilt. We must do her the justice to +say, that she came to this conclusion, not from any +fear of personal consequences, but in order to save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +Noddy from the terrible reproach which would be +cast upon him if she did confess. Already, in her +heart and before God, she had acknowledged her +error, and was sorrowfully repenting her misconduct. +But she could not expose Noddy to any penalty which +he did not deserve. She knew that he did not mean +to set the fire; that his words were idle, petulant ones, +which had no real meaning; and it would be wrong +to let her father and Bertha suppose that Noddy had +instigated her to the criminal act.</p> + +<p>Fanny had not yet learned that it is best to cleave +unto the truth, and let the consequences take care of +themselves.</p> + +<p>She yielded her own convictions to those of another, +which no person should ever do in questions +of right and wrong.</p> + +<p>She sacrificed her own faith in the simple truth, +to another's faith in policy, expediency.</p> + +<p>The question was settled for the present, and +Fanny crept back to her chamber, no easier in +mind, no better satisfied with herself, than before. +Noddy went to sleep again; but the only cloud he +saw was the displeasure of Bertha. He was simply +conscious that he had got into a scrape. He had +not burned the boat-house, and he did not feel guilty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +He had not intended to induce Fanny to do the +deed, and he did not feel guilty of that. He was +so generous that he wished to save her from the +consequences of her error, and the deception he +used did not weigh very heavily on his conscience.</p> + +<p>He regarded his situation as merely a "scrape" +into which he had accidentally fallen, and his only +business was to get out of it. These thoughts +filled his mind when he awoke in the morning. +He was too restless to remain a quiet prisoner for +any great length of time; and when he had dressed +himself, he began to look about him for the means +of mitigating his imprisonment, or bringing it to a +conclusion, as the case might require. The window +would be available at night, but it was in +full view of the gardeners in the daytime, who +would be likely to report any movement on his +part. The door looked more hopeful.</p> + +<p>One of the men brought his breakfast, and retired, +locking the door behind him. While he was +eating it,—and his appetite did not seem to be +at all impaired by the situation to which he had +been reduced,—he saw Mr. Grant on the lawn, +talking with a stranger. His interest was at once +excited, and a closer examination assured him that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +the visitor was Squire Wriggs, of Whitestone. The +discovery almost spoiled Noddy's appetite, for he +knew that the squire was a lawyer, and had often +been mixed up with cases of house-breaking, horse-stealing, +robbery, and murder; and he at once concluded +that the legal gentleman's business related +to him.</p> + +<p>His ideas of lawyers were rather confused and +indistinct. He knew they had a great deal to do +in the court-house, when men were sent to the +penitentiary and the house of correction for various +crimes. He watched the squire and Mr. Grant, +and he was fully satisfied in his own mind what +they were talking about when the latter pointed to +the window of his chamber. He had eaten only +half his breakfast, but he found it impossible to +take another mouthful, after he realized that he was +the subject of the conversation between Mr. Grant +and the lawyer.</p> + +<p>It seemed just as though all his friends, even +Miss Bertha, had suddenly deserted him. That +conference on the lawn was simply a plot to take +him to the court-house, and then send him to the +penitentiary, the house of correction, or some other +abominable place, even if it were no worse than a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +tinker's shop. He was absolutely terrified at the +prospect. After all his high hopes, and all his +confidence in his supple limbs, the judges, the +lawyers, and the constables might fetter his muscles +so that he could not get away—so that he could +not even run away to sea, which was his ultimate +intention, whenever he could make up his mind to +leave Miss Bertha.</p> + +<p>Noddy watched the two gentlemen on the lawn, +and his breast was filled with a storm of emotions. +He pictured the horrors of the prison to +which they were about to send him, and his fancy +made the prospect far worse than the reality could +possibly have been. Mr. Grant led the way towards +the building occupied by the servants. Noddy was +desperate. Squire Wriggs was the visible manifestation +of jails, courts, constables, and other +abominations, which were the sum of all that was +terrible. He decided at once not to wait for a visit +from the awful personage, who was evidently coming +into the house to see him.</p> + +<p>He raised the window a little, intending to throw +it wide open, and leap down upon the lawn, when +his persecutor entered the door. There was not a +man or boy at Woodville who could catch him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +when he had the use of his legs, and the world +would then be open to him. But the gentlemen +paused at the door, and Noddy listened as a criminal +would wait to hear his sentence from the stern +judge.</p> + +<p>"Thirty thousand dollars is a great deal of money +for a boy like him," said Mr. Grant. "Of course he +must have a guardian."</p> + +<p>"And you are the best person in the world for +that position," added Squire Wriggs.</p> + +<p>"But he is a young reprobate, and something +must be done with him."</p> + +<p>"Certainly; he must be taken care of at once."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he will burn my house down, as he +did the boat-house. My daughter is interested in +him; if it wasn't for her, I would send him to +the house of correction before I slept again."</p> + +<p>"When you are his guardian, you can do what +you think best for him."</p> + +<p>"That will be no easy matter."</p> + +<p>"We will take the boy over to the court now, +and then—"</p> + +<p>Noddy did not hear any more, for the two gentlemen +entered the house, and he heard their step +on the stairs. But he did not want to know any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>thing +more. Squire Wriggs had distinctly said they +would take him over to the court, and that was +enough to satisfy him that his worst fears were to be +realized. The talk about thirty thousand dollars, +and the guardian, was as unintelligible to him as +though it had been in ancient Greek, and he did not +bestow a second thought upon it. The "boy like +him," to whom thirty thousand dollars would be a +great deal of money, meant some other person than +himself. The court was Noddy's peculiar abomination; +and when he heard the words, he clutched +the sash of the window with convulsive energy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Grant and Squire Wriggs passed into the +house, and Noddy Newman passed out. To a gymnast +of his wiry experience, the feat was not impossible, or +even very difficult. Swinging out of the window, he +placed his feet on the window-cap below, and then, +stooping down, he got hold with his hands, and +slipped down from his perch with about the same +ease with which a well-trained monkey would have +accomplished the descent.</p> + +<p>He was on the solid earth now, and with the +feeling that the court-house and a whole regiment +of constables were behind him, he took to his heels. +A stiff-kneed gardener, who had observed his exit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +from the house, attempted to follow him; but he +might as well have chased a northwest gale. Noddy +reached the Glen, and no sound of pursuers could +be heard. The phantom court-house had been beaten +in the race.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>NODDY'S ENGAGEMENT.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Noddy reached the Glen, he had time to +stop and think; and the consequences of the sudden +step he had taken came to his mind with tremendous +force. He had fled from Miss Bertha, and all +the comforts and luxuries which had surrounded +him at Woodville. He was a vagabond again.</p> + +<p>It was a great deal better to be a vagabond than +it was to be an inmate of a prison, or even of a +tinker's shop. He had committed no crime; the +worst that could be said of him was, that he was +a victim of circumstances. It was unfortunate for +him that he had used those petulant words, that +he wished the boat-house was burned down, for +they had put the idea into Fanny's head. He did +not mean to kindle the fire, but he believed that +he had been the cause of it, and that it was hardly +fair to let the young lady suffer for what he had +virtually done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was sorry to leave Woodville, and above all, +sorry to be banished from the presence of Miss +Bertha. But that had already been agreed upon, +and he was only anticipating the event by taking +himself off as he did. He would rather have gone +in a more honorable manner than running away like +a hunted dog; but he could not help that, and the +very thought of the horrible court-house was enough +to drive him from the best home in the world.</p> + +<p>He walked up to a retired part of the Glen, +where he could continue his retreat without being +intercepted, if it became necessary, and sat down on +a rock to think of the future. He had no more +idea what he should do with himself, than he had +when he was a wanderer before in these regions. +Undoubtedly his ultimate purpose was to go to sea; +but he was not quite ready to depart. He cherished +a hope that he might contrive to meet Bertha +in some of her walks, and say good-bye to her before +he committed himself to his fortunes on the stormy +ocean.</p> + +<p>While he was deliberating upon his prospects, a +happy thought, as he regarded it, came to his mind. +He could turn somersets, and cut more capers than +any man in the circus company which he had seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +on the preceding day. With a little practice, he +was satisfied that he could learn to stand up on +the back of a horse. A field of glory suddenly +opened to his vision, and he could win the applause +of admiring thousands by his daring feats. He had +performed all sorts of gyrations for the amusement of +the idlers about Woodville, and he might now turn +his accomplishments to a useful purpose—indeed, +make them pay for his food and clothing.</p> + +<p>Noddy had no idea that circus performances were +not entirely respectable; and it seemed to him that +his early training had exactly fitted him to shine in +this peculiar sphere. It might not be decent business +for Mr. Grant and Bertha, but it was just the +thing for him. Whitestone was a very large town, +and the circus was still there. He had not a moment +to lose; and, under the impulse of his new resolution, +he left the Glen, intending to walk up the +river to the ferry, a couple of miles distant.</p> + +<p>Noddy went over the river, and reached the great +tent of the circus company about one o'clock. He +was rather disturbed by the fear that he might +meet Squire Wriggs, or some of the constables; but +all his hopes were now centred on the circus, and +he could not avoid the risk of exposing himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +He boldly inquired for the "head man" of the +establishment; but this distinguished functionary was +not on the premises at that time; he would be there +in the course of half an hour.</p> + +<p>He walked down to a shop, and having a small +sum of money in his pocket, he obtained something +to eat. On his return to the tent, the head man +was pointed out to him. Noddy, as a general rule, +was not troubled with bashfulness; and he walked +resolutely up to the manager, and intimated to him +that he should like to be engaged as a performer.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, my boy?" demanded the +head man, who was quite confident that he had +mistaken the applicant's meaning, for it was hardly +possible that a youth like him could be a circus +performer.</p> + +<p>"I want a place to perform, sir," repeated Noddy, +who was entirely ignorant of the technical terms +belonging to the profession.</p> + +<p>"To perform!" laughed the manager, measuring +him from head to foot with his eye.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"What kind of business can you do, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Almost anything, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you ride?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir; I'm not much used to standing up on +a horse, but I think I could go it, after doing it a +little while."</p> + +<p>"Do you, indeed!" sneered the man. "Well, we +don't want anybody that can do almost any kind +of business."</p> + +<p>"I'm used to this thing, sir," pleaded Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Used to it! I suppose you want a place as a +bill-sticker, or to take care of the horses."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I want to perform. If you will give +me a chance to show what I can do, I think you'll +have me," persisted Noddy, not at all pleased with +the decided refusal he had received.</p> + +<p>"Well, come in here," laughed the head man, +who had no doubt that the applicant would soon +be brought to grief.</p> + +<p>It was almost time for the doors to be opened +for the afternoon performance, and the man conducted +Noddy to the ring, where he saw a number +of the riders and gymnasts, all dressed in their silks +and spangles to appear before the public.</p> + +<p>"Here, Whippleby, is a young man that wants +an engagement," said the manager to the man who +had acted as ring-master when Noddy was present.</p> + +<p>"What can he do?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Almost everything; but he isn't much used to +riding."</p> + +<p>Whippleby laughed, and the manager laughed; +and it was quite evident, even to the aspirant for +circus honors, that all present intended to amuse +themselves at his expense. But Noddy felt able to +outdo most of the circus people at their own profession, +and he confidently expected to turn the laugh +upon them before the game was ended.</p> + +<p>"A versatile genius," said Whippleby.</p> + +<p>"Just try him, and see what he can do," added +the manager, significantly.</p> + +<p>"Well, my little man, what do you say to a little +ground and lofty tumbling," said Whippleby, winking +at the performers, who stood in a circle around +them.</p> + +<p>"I'm at home in that," replied Noddy, throwing +off his jacket.</p> + +<p>"Good! You have got pluck enough, at any +rate. Here, Nesmond, do something," said the ring-master +to a wiry young man of the group.</p> + +<p>Nesmond did what Noddy had seen him do the +day before; he whirled over and over across the ring, +like a hoop, striking his hands and feet alternately +on the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There, youngster, do you see that?" said Whippleby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I see it," replied Noddy, unabashed by +the work which was expected of him.</p> + +<p>"Now, let us see you do it."</p> + +<p>Noddy did it, and if anything, more rapidly and +gracefully than the professional man. The men applauded, +and Nesmond—"the great American +vaulter and tumbler"—looked exceedingly disconcerted +when he saw his wonderful act so easily imitated.</p> + +<p>"Try it again, Nesmond," said Whippleby.</p> + +<p>The distinguished athlete went on for half an +hour, performing his antics; and Noddy repeated +them, though he had never before attempted some of +them. Nesmond gave it up.</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, you can do almost everything, +but you are as clumsy and ungraceful as a bear +about it. You need a little training on your positions, +and you will make a first-class tumbler," said +the manager.</p> + +<p>The men had ceased to laugh, and even looked admiringly +on the prodigy who had so suddenly +developed himself. Noddy felt that his fortune was +already made, and he was almost ready to snap his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +fingers at the court-house. Here was a chance for +him to "work and win," and it was entirely to his +taste.</p> + +<p>The manager then questioned him in regard to his +family connections; but as Noddy had none, his +answers were very brief. He had no father nor +mother, and he had no home; he was no runaway, +for there was no one living who had any claim +upon him. These answers were entirely satisfactory +to the head man.</p> + +<p>"What salary do you expect?" asked the manager, +when he had assured himself there was no one +to interfere with any arrangement he might make.</p> + +<p>"What do you give?" asked Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Well, we give different salaries, depending on +the men."</p> + +<p>"You have seen what I can do—what will you +give me? Talk right up, or I shall have nothing +to do with it," added Noddy, borrowing an expression +from a highly respectable horse jockey, who had a +language of his own.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you your board and clothes, and your +dresses for the first season."</p> + +<p>"Nothing of that sort for me," replied Noddy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +promptly. "I want to know how much I am to +have in hard cash."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I'll give you five dollars a week, and +you find yourself."</p> + +<p>Five dollars a week looked like a large salary to +Noddy, though it was not one-fourth of what the distinguished +Mr. Nesmond received, and he immediately +closed the bargain.</p> + +<p>"I'll put you on the bills for the next town we +visit. What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"Noddy Newman."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>The embryo performer repeated his name.</p> + +<p>"That won't do; you must have a better name +than that. Arthur De Forrest—how will that suit +you?"</p> + +<p>"First rate," replied Noddy, who was very accommodating +in minor matters.</p> + +<p>"We show in Disbury to-morrow night, and you +must be ready to do your business then, Mr. De Forrest," +added the manager. "After the performance +this afternoon Mr. Whippleby will give you a +few lessons."</p> + +<p>"But where shall I get a dress?"</p> + +<p>"I will furnish you one, and take it out of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +salary. You had better put it on when you practice, +so as to get used to it."</p> + +<p>Noddy was highly pleased with all these arrangements, +and could not help congratulating himself +on the happy thought which had induced him to +join the circus. It was true, and he could not help +noticing it, that the men around him were not such +people as Mr. Grant, and others whom he had been +in the habit of seeing at Woodville. All of them +swore terribly; their breath smelt of liquor, and they +talked the language of a depravity to which Noddy, +with all his waywardness, was a stranger. There +were boys no older than himself in the company, +but they did not seem a whit less depraved than the +older ones.</p> + +<p>Though the novice was not a young man of high +aims and purposes, he was not much pleased with +his companions. He was what they termed +"green," and it was quite plain to him that there +would be a fight before many days had passed by, for +he was too high-spirited to submit tamely to the insults +which were heaped upon him.</p> + +<p>During the afternoon performance, he stood at the +gates of the ring, where the horses enter; and Mr. +Whippleby sent him before the public for the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +time, to bring out a whip which had been left there.</p> + +<p>"Noddy Newman!" shouted a boy among the +spectators.</p> + +<p>The young athlete heard his name, and too late he +remembered that he had exposed himself to the gaze +of the constables, who might by this time be in search +of him. During the rest of the afternoon he kept +himself out of sight; but the mischief had already +been done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RING-MASTER.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the performance was over, Noddy, with +the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself +in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring +to take his first lesson in graceful movements. He +could turn the somersets, and go through with the +other evolutions; but there was a certain polish +needed—so the ring-master said—to make them pass +off well. He was to assume a graceful position at +the beginning and end of each act; he must recover +himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make +a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant +thing.</p> + +<p>Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the +profession. He did not like the bowing and the +flourishing. If the feat itself did not please the people, +he could not win them by smirking. He was +much pleased with his costume, and this kept him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +good-natured, under the severe training of the ring-master, +for a time. Mr. Whippleby was coarse and +rough in his manners. During the show he had been +all grace and elegance, and did not use any big words, +but now he was as rough as a bear, and swore like a +pirate. He was just like a cat's paw,—he kept the +sharp claws down while the dear people were present; +but now he thrust them out.</p> + +<p>Noddy found the "business" was no joke. Mr. +Whippleby did not so regard it, now that the training +had commenced; and the novice found that he had +placed himself under a very tyrannical master. He +made his bows and flourished his arms, with all the +grace he could command for a time; but he did not +come up to his severe teacher's standard.</p> + +<p>"Do that again," said Mr. Whippleby, with savage +emphasis. "Don't hurry it."</p> + +<p>Noddy did it again, as slowly as he could; but he +was apparently just as far from perfection as before.</p> + +<p>"If you don't do better than that, I'll put the whip +around your legs!" shouted the impatient ring-master. +"One of the mules could do it better."</p> + +<p>"I did it as well as I could," replied Noddy, +rather tartly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will do it better than that, or your legs will +smart. Now do it again."</p> + +<p>Noddy obeyed. He did not think the ring-master +really intended to strike him with the long whip he +held in his hand, but supposed he was so much in the +habit of threatening the clown with the lash, that +he did it now from the force of habit. His last attempt +did not satisfy Mr. Whippleby, who stormed at +him more furiously than before.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I have nothing better to do than +waste my time over a blockhead like you? I haven't +had my bitters yet. Now do it again; and if you +fail this time you will catch it."</p> + +<p>Noddy turned his somerset; but he had hardly +recovered himself before he received a smart cut from +the whip in the tenderest part of his leg. There was +a young lion in the novice, and a blow from any man +was more than he could endure. He expressed his +mind in regard to the outrage with such freedom, +that Mr. Whippleby lost his temper, if he ever had +any to lose, and he began to lash the unfortunate +youth in the most brutal manner.</p> + +<p>Noddy, finding there was no satisfaction to be +obtained by facing the ring-master, fled from the +spot, leaping up on the seats where the spectators<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +sat. He was maddened to fury by the harsh treatment +he had received; and thirsting for vengeance, +he seized whatever missiles he could find, and hurled +them at his persecutor. His legs seemed to be on fire +from the effects of the blows he had received. He +rubbed them for a moment, while he hurled the most +bitter denunciations at the ring-master.</p> + +<p>"Now, come down, and try again," called Mr. +Whippleby, who did not seem to be much disconcerted +by what had taken place, when he had in some +measure recovered his equanimity.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't!" replied Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Have you got enough, Mr. Arthur De Forrest?"</p> + +<p>"I will give <i>you</i> enough before you get through."</p> + +<p>While this colloquy was going on, the manager +appeared in the ring. Whippleby laughingly told +him what had happened, and he seemed to be much +amused by it; but the ring-master had certainly +changed his tone at the appearance of the "head +man."</p> + +<p>"Come, my boy, come down, and let me see how +well you do your business," said the manager.</p> + +<p>"I've had enough of it," replied Noddy, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +returned to the ring. "I'm not a horse, and I'm +not going to be treated like one."</p> + +<p>"That's your initiation, my boy," said Whippleby. +"We always try new beginners in that way, +to find out what they are made of."</p> + +<p>"You will find out what I'm made of, if you hit +me again with that whip."</p> + +<p>"I know now. You won't need any more, if you +try to do what you are told."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to be whipped, whether I try or +not," added Noddy, doggedly.</p> + +<p>"You shall not be whipped, my boy," said the +manager. "Now show me your ground act."</p> + +<p>The novice was about to comply,—for he had already +come to the conclusion that the "head man" +would protect him,—when he saw two men enter the +tent. They did not belong to the company, and +Noddy was quite sure he had often seen them in +Whitestone.</p> + +<p>"We don't allow visitors in here now," said the +manager.</p> + +<p>"We come on business. There is a boy here that +we want to find," replied one of the men.</p> + +<p>"You must leave the tent," said the manager, +rather sharply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am a constable, and there is a boy about here +that I want."</p> + +<p>"What's his name?"</p> + +<p>"They call him Noddy Newman."</p> + +<p>"What do you want of him?"</p> + +<p>"That's my business," answered the constable, +rudely. "The boy came into the ring this afternoon +during the show, and I suppose he belongs to +the company."</p> + +<p>"That's the fellow!" exclaimed the other constable, +pointing to Noddy, who was trying to take +himself off without being noticed.</p> + +<p>"That's Arthur De Forrest," interposed the manager.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't; I've known him this five years," said +the man who had recognized the culprit.</p> + +<p>Both of them walked towards Noddy, with the +intention, apparently, of laying violent hands on him; +but the young gentleman in "trunk and tights" was +not prepared to yield up his personal liberty, and he +retreated.</p> + +<p>The officers were in a position where they could +stop him from leaving the tent by either of the two +entrances; and Noddy, finding his exit prevented, +seized a rope which was hanging down by the centre-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>pole, +and climbed up out of the reach of his pursuers.</p> + +<p>"What do you want of me?" demanded the young +athlete, as he perched himself in a comfortable position +on the "slack-rope," which was suspended to the +pole.</p> + +<p>"We shall not do you any harm, my boy," said +one of the officers.</p> + +<p>"What do you want of me?"</p> + +<p>"There is good news for you; and you are wanted +over at Squire Wriggs's office."</p> + +<p>"I know ye! You want to take me to the court-house. +You can't humbug me," said Noddy, fully +confirmed in his suspicions by the conduct of the men.</p> + +<p>"We won't hurt you."</p> + +<p>"You want to take me up."</p> + +<p>"No, we don't; we only want to take you up to +Squire Wriggs's office. It's all for your good."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't," replied Noddy. "You can't +cheat me."</p> + +<p>"We don't want to cheat you. We are only sent +to find you. We will not arrest you."</p> + +<p>"I know better. You can't fool me. I heard +Squire Wriggs say he wanted to take me up to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +court-house; and you don't catch me near no court-house. +I know what you mean."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, my boy. Come down, and I +will tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"When I do, you let me know," replied Noddy, +who felt so secure from arrest in his present quarters +that he expressed his mind with perfect freedom.</p> + +<p>"We promise not to arrest you," persisted the +constable who did the talking. "We have been looking +for you all day."</p> + +<p>"You may look another day, if you like," added +the defiant refugee. "You want me for setting fire +to the boat-house; but I am not to blame, if I did +do it."</p> + +<p>"We don't know anything about the boat-house; +Squire Wriggs has a lot of money for you."</p> + +<p>"You can't catch an old bird in any such trap as +that," answered Noddy, shaking his head significantly.</p> + +<p>The officers used all their powers of persuasion to +induce him to come down; but Noddy, satisfied that +they had been sent by Squire Wriggs, was fully +persuaded that they were trying to deceive him. +The story about a "lot of money" for a poor boy +like him, who had not a friend in the world, was too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +absurd, in his estimation, to be entertained for a +moment. He had heard the squire speak to Mr. +Grant about thirty thousand dollars; but such a sum +was beyond his comprehension. He did not believe +any man, not even the owner of Woodville, had so +much money; and of course it was nothing to him.</p> + +<p>The constables got out of patience at last; and +though they showed no signs of anger or malice, they +exhibited an intention to catch him, which was much +worse. One of them commenced the ascent of the +pole in the centre of the tent. The circus people, +who seemed to be in full sympathy with Noddy, remained +neutral, for the intruders were officers of +the law, and it was not prudent to oppose them.</p> + +<p>Noddy perceived the object of his pursuers, and +grasping one of the tent-ropes, he scrambled up to +the very apex of the canvas structure, and crawled +through the aperture around the pole. From this +point he slid down to the short poles, and then +dropped upon the ground, before the man in the ring +could pass round to the outside of the tent. Dodging +under the curtains, he reached the place which served +as a dressing-room. Removing his "trunks," he +hurried on his clothes, and rushed out into the open +air again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>His persecutors were not in sight, and he did not +lose a moment in putting a safe distance between +himself and them. Precisely as a well-educated +duck or other water-fowl would have done, he hastened +to the river, as his most natural element. He +had made a complete circuit of the town in his flight. +He did not dare to show himself to a living being; +for it seemed to him just as though the whole country +was after him. When he reached the river, he +sat down on the bank, exhausted by his efforts and by +the excitement of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I've got about circus enough," said he +to himself,—for there was no one else to whom he +could say it. "That Whippleby is worse than a +heathen. I don't like any of them."</p> + +<p>He rubbed his legs, which were not yet done smarting; +and the pain seemed to be an emphatic protest +against circuses in general, and the "Great Olympian +Circus" in particular. But whether he liked the +circus or not, it was no longer safe for him to remain +with the company. He had taken "French leave" +of the manager, and had cheated him out of the +tights which enveloped his body from neck to heels. +This thought reminded him that they did not feel at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +all comfortable, and he wished the manager had his +own again.</p> + +<p>Having abandoned the circus profession in disgust, +he wondered what he should do next. It was useless +for him to stay in the vicinity of Woodville; and the +only safe plan for him to adopt was, to go away to +some other part of the country, or go to sea at +once. He could not tolerate the idea of leaving without +letting Bertha know where he was. The officers +were on his track, and he could not hope always to +escape them. The court-house was terrible, and +prompt action was necessary.</p> + +<p>He must have a sight of Bertha, even if he did not +speak to her; and at the risk of being captured, he +determined to stay in the neighborhood of Woodville +till the next morning. Near the place where he sat +there was a skiff moored to the bank. He hauled it +in, and took up the oars. He did not mean to steal +it, only to borrow it till the next morning. With +this comfortable reflection he cast off the painter, +and pulled over to the other side of the river.</p> + +<p>It was now quite late in the evening. He had not +eaten any supper, and, like other boys, he was always +hungry at meal times. He wanted something to eat; +and it occurred to him that there were generally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +some crackers and cheese in the locker of the Greyhound, +and he rowed down to her moorings. He +found what he wanted there, and made a hearty supper. +He was satisfied then, and soon went to sleep +in the stern-sheets of the sail-boat.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for him he waked up about daylight, +and was not seen by any of the early risers at Woodville. +Appropriating the rest of the crackers and +cheese for his breakfast, he got into the skiff and +rowed up to the Glen, where he hoped, in the course +of the forenoon, to see Bertha.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>GOOD-BYE TO WOODVILLE.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Bertha</span> often walked to the Glen before breakfast, +and Noddy expected to find her there on the +present occasion. As she did not appear, he followed +the path toward Woodville, and actually +reached the lawn which surrounded the mansion before +he thought of the danger he incurred. But it +was breakfast time in the servants' quarters, and he +was not seen.</p> + +<p>Keeping on the outskirts of the lawn, where he +could make good his retreat in case of necessity, he +walked nearly around to the pier, and was so fortunate +as to discover Bertha at the turn of a winding +path, near his route. The sight of her filled him +with emotion, and brought to his mind the remembrance +of the many happy days he had spent in her +presence. He could hardly restrain the tears which +the thought of leaving the place brought to his eyes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +though Noddy was not given to the feminine custom +of weeping.</p> + +<p>"Miss Bertha," said he, as she approached the +spot where he stood.</p> + +<p>She started back with alarm; but he stepped forward +from the concealment of the bushes, and with +a smile of pleasure she recognized him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Noddy, is that you?" said she, walking +towards the spot where he stood.</p> + +<p>"It's me, Miss Bertha; but I suppose you don't +want to see me now."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to see you. What did you go +away for?"</p> + +<p>"Because they were going to put me in the court-house."</p> + +<p>"In the court-house!" exclaimed Bertha, who was +better acquainted with legal affairs than her pupil.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for setting the boat-house afire."</p> + +<p>"I don't think they intended to take you to the +court-house."</p> + +<p>"O, I know they did. I have had two constables +after me; but I got away from them. Besides, +I heard Squire Wriggs say they were going to take +me to the court-house. I heard him say so myself."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is so," said Bertha, musing. "Squire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Wriggs came to see father yesterday morning. They +went out together, and were speaking of you as they +left the house."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you didn't have anything to do with it," +said Noddy, delighted to find that Bertha was not +one of his persecutors.</p> + +<p>Then, with the utmost simplicity, and apparently +with the feeling that he was a persecuted youth, he +told her everything that had occurred from the time +he first saw Mr. Grant and Squire Wriggs on the +lawn.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what my father's plans are," said +Bertha, sadly; "but he thinks it is no longer safe to +permit you to roam about the place. He is afraid +you will set the house on fire, or do some other terrible +thing."</p> + +<p>"But I wouldn't, Miss Bertha," protested Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Why did you do such a wicked thing?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you could, Noddy. That's only making a +bad matter worse. Of course you could help setting +a building on fire."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't my fault, Miss Bertha," stammered he; +"I can't explain it now—perhaps some time I may;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +and when you understand it, you won't think so bad +of me."</p> + +<p>"If there is anything about it I don't know, why +don't you tell me?" added Bertha, mystified by his +strange remark.</p> + +<p>"I can't say anything now. Please don't ask me +anything about it, Miss Bertha. I'm not half so +much to blame as you think I am; but I set the fire, +and they are after me for it. They have used all +sorts of tricks to catch me; but I'm not going into +any court-house, or any tinker's shop."</p> + +<p>"What tricks do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"They said they had a lot of money for me, and +that Squire Wriggs wouldn't do me any harm."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know anything about that. Father +went over to Whitestone with Squire Wriggs, after +you ran away. He went over again last night, after +he came from the city, and I haven't seen him for +more than a moment since."</p> + +<p>"He is going to send me to the court-house," said +Noddy, fully satisfied that Bertha knew nothing +about the proceedings of her father. "I am going to +sea, now."</p> + +<p>"To sea, Noddy?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm going to work and win, as you told me, +and when I come back I shall be respectable."</p> + +<p>Bertha had her doubts on this point. She had +almost lost all hope of her <i>protégé</i>, and she did not +think that a voyage in the forecastle of a ship would +be likely to improve his manners or his morals.</p> + +<p>"I can't let you go, Noddy," said she.</p> + +<p>"I must go; if I stay here they will put me in +prison. You don't want to see me put in prison, +Bertha."</p> + +<p>"I don't."</p> + +<p>"Then what can I do? The officers are after me +this moment."</p> + +<p>"But I shall have to tell my father that I have +seen you."</p> + +<p>"You may do that; and you may tell him, too, that +it won't be any use for him to try to find me, for I +shall keep out of the way. If they catch me they +will be smarter than I am," added Noddy, confidently.</p> + +<p>"I want to see you again, Noddy, after I have +talked with father about you. I don't believe he +intends to send you to prison."</p> + +<p>"I know he does. I come over here to see you before +I went away. I couldn't go without seeing you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +or I shouldn't have come. I may never see you +again, for I shan't run any more risks after this."</p> + +<p>Bertha said all she could to induce him to meet +her again; but the cunning youth was afraid that +some trap might be set to catch him, and he assured +her that this was positively his last appearance at +Woodville for the present. He was satisfied that Mr. +Grant had taken the case into his own hands, and +that she could not save him if she would.</p> + +<p>"Now, good-bye, Miss Bertha," said he, wiping a +tear from his face.</p> + +<p>"Don't go, Noddy," pleaded she.</p> + +<p>"I must."</p> + +<p>"You haven't any clothes but those you have on, +and you have no money."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any. I can get along very well. +Won't you shake hands with me before I go?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I will," replied she, giving him her +hand. "You will not let me do anything for you +now?"</p> + +<p>"You have done more than I deserve. Good-bye, +Miss Bertha," said he, pressing the hand he held.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Noddy," replied she. "Good-bye, +if you must go."</p> + +<p>"There comes your father," exclaimed he, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +bounded off into the grove with the speed of an antelope.</p> + +<p>"Was that Noddy?" asked Mr. Grant, as he +joined Bertha a few minutes later.</p> + +<p>"Yes, father."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you tell me he was here, Bertha?"</p> + +<p>"He came but a few moments ago. He came to +bid me good-bye."</p> + +<p>"Where is he going?"</p> + +<p>"He is going to sea. He says you intend to take +him to the court-house."</p> + +<p>"This is very unfortunate. A most remarkable +event in regard to the boy has occurred, which I +haven't time to tell you about now. It is very important +that I should find him at once."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you can catch him. He is very +much afraid of being sent to prison."</p> + +<p>"I had no intention of sending him to prison," +laughed Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"But he heard Squire Wriggs say he must take +him over to the court."</p> + +<p>"That was for another matter—in a word, to have +a guardian appointed, for Noddy will be a rich man +when he is of age."</p> + +<p>"Noddy?" exclaimed Bertha.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; but I haven't a moment to spare. I have +been at work on his affairs since yesterday morning. +They are all right now; and all we want to +enable us to complete the business is the presence of +the boy."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow! He is terribly worked up at the +idea of going to the court-house, or even to a tinker's +shop, as he calls it."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is running away from his own fortune +and happiness; and I must find him."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will, father," said Bertha, earnestly, +as Mr. Grant hastened away to organize a pursuit of +the refugee.</p> + +<p>All the male servants on the place were summoned, +and several started off in the direction in +which Noddy had retreated. The boatman and others +were sent off in the boats; and the prospect was, +that the fugitive would be captured within a few +hours. As our story relates more especially to the +runaway himself, we shall follow him, and leave the +well-meaning people of Woodville to pursue their investigations +alone.</p> + +<p>When Noddy discovered Mr. Grant, he was satisfied +that the gentleman saw him, for he quickened +his pace, and walked towards the place where he stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +holding Bertha's hand. He ran with all his might +by the familiar paths till he reached the Glen. There +were, at present, no signs of a pursuit; but he was +confident that it would not be delayed, and he did +not even stop to take breath. Rushing down to the +water, he embarked in the skiff, and rowed up the +river, taking care to keep in shore, where he could +not be seen from below.</p> + +<p>Above Van Alstine's Island, he crossed the river, +and began to work his way down; but the white sails +of the Greyhound were seen, with all the boats belonging +to the estate, headed up stream. They were +chasing him in earnest, and he saw that it was not +safe to remain on the river.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where Mr. Grover lives?" he asked +of a ragged boy who was fishing on the bank of the +river.</p> + +<p>"Below Whitestone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Will you take this boat down there?"</p> + +<p>"I will," replied the boy, glad of the job, and willing +to do it without any compensation.</p> + +<p>Noddy had taken off the tights belonging to the +circus company, and rolled them up in a bundle. In +order to be as honest as Bertha had taught him to be,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>—though +he was not always so particular,—he engaged +the boy to leave them at the circus tent.</p> + +<p>The boy got into the boat, and began his trip down +the river. Noddy felt that he had been honest, and +he was rather proud of the record he was to leave +behind him; for it did not once occur to him that +borrowing the boat without leave was only a little +better than stealing it, even if he did return it.</p> + +<p>The servants at Woodville and the constables at +Whitestone were on his track, and he had no time to +spare. Taking a road leading from the river, he +walked away from it as fast as he could. About three +miles distant, he found a road leading to the northward; +and thinking it better to suffer by excess of +prudence than by the want of it, he took this direction, +and pursued his journey till he was so tired he +could go no farther.</p> + +<p>A farmer on the road gave him some dinner; and +when he had rested himself, he resumed his walk. At +sunset he reached a large town on the river, where he +felt safe from pursuit until he saw the flaming hand-bills +of the Great Olympian Circus, which was almost +as bad as meeting one of the constables, for these +worthies would expect to find him at the tent, and +probably were on the watch for him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>Noddy was too tired to walk any farther that day. +He wanted to reach some large seaport, like New +York or Boston, where he could find a vessel bound +on a foreign voyage. He was almost afraid to go to +the former city, for he had heard about the smart +detectives they have there, who catch any person +guilty of crime, though they never saw him before. +He had told Bertha that he intended to go to sea; +and he was afraid that Mr. Grant would be on the +watch for him, or set some of these detectives to +catch him, if he went there.</p> + +<p>It was almost time for the steamers for Albany, +which went up in the night, to reach the town, and +he determined to go on board of one, and proceed as +far up the river as he could with the small sum of +money in his possession. He soon found the landing-place, +and presently a steamer came along.</p> + +<p>"Where do you want to go, boy?" asked one of +the officers of the boat.</p> + +<p>"I want to go to Albany; but I haven't money +enough to pay my fare."</p> + +<p>"How much money have you got?"</p> + +<p>"Thirty-five cents. I will go as far as that will +pay my fare."</p> + +<p>"That will only be to the next landing-place."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Couldn't you give me some work to do, to pay my +fare up to Albany?"</p> + +<p>The officer happened to be rather pleased with +Noddy, and told him he might stand by and help +land the baggage at the stopping-places. He gave the +little wanderer some supper in the mess-room, after +the boat got off, and Noddy was as grateful as though +the man had given him a gold mine. When the +steamer made another landing, he worked with all his +might, and was highly commended for his skill and +activity.</p> + +<p>And so he passed the night, sleeping between the +stoppages, and working like a mule at every landing. +In the morning the boat reached Albany, and the +officer gave him his breakfast with the engineers. +Noddy felt safe from pursuit now; he went on shore, +and walked about the city, thinking what he should +do next.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>AN ATTEMPT TO WORK AND WIN.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Boston</span> was two hundred miles distant, and Noddy +was principally excited to know how he should get +there, for he had decided to ship in that city. It +would take him a week to go on foot, and his funds +were now completely exhausted, so that he could not +pay his fare by railroad. If he could neither ride +nor walk, the question was narrowed down to a point +where it needed no further consideration.</p> + +<p>"Here, boy, do you want a job?" said a gentleman, +coming out of a dwelling with a valise and a +large bundle in his hands.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; thank you, sir," replied Noddy, springing +forward, and taking the heavier articles, without +giving the gentleman the trouble to state what he +wanted of him.</p> + +<p>This incident seemed to solve the problem for him. +He could remain in Albany long enough to earn a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +sufficient sum of money to pay his fare to Boston. +He followed the gentleman to the railroad station, +and handed the valise to the baggage-master. The +gentleman gave him a quarter of a dollar for his +services. It was a liberal return for the short time +he had been employed, and a few more such jobs as +that would soon put him in funds.</p> + +<p>Noddy was sanguine now that he could earn money +with entire ease, and all the difficulties which had +beset him began to disappear. There was something +exceedingly pleasant in the idea of being independent; +of putting his hand into his pocket and always +finding some money there which had been earned by +his own labor. It was a novel sensation to him.</p> + +<p>"Work and win!" exclaimed he, as he walked out +of the railroad station. "I understand it all now, +and I may thank Miss Bertha for the idea."</p> + +<p>In the enthusiasm of the moment, he began to +consider whether it would not be better to remain +on shore and amass a fortune, which he believed +could be done in a short time. He could carry bundles +and valises till he got money enough to buy a +horse and wagon, when he could go into the business +on a more extensive scale. The road to fortune was +open to him; all his trials and difficulties had sud<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>denly +vanished, and he had only to reach out his hand +to pluck the golden harvest.</p> + +<p>The rattling of a train which had just arrived disturbed +this pleasant dream, and Noddy hastened +back to secure the fruit of his brilliant resolution. +There were plenty of gentlemen with bags and valises +in their hands, but not a single one of them wanted +any assistance; and some of them answered his civil +salutation with insult and harshness. The experiment +did not work so well as he had anticipated, for +Noddy's great expectations led him to believe that he +should make about half a dollar out of the arrival of +this train, instead of which he did not make a single +cent.</p> + +<p>"Work and win; but where are you going to get +your work?" said Noddy to himself.</p> + +<p>No more trains were to arrive for some hours, and +he posted himself in the street, asking for a job +whenever there was the least prospect of obtaining +one. At noon, Noddy was hungry, and was obliged +to spend half his morning's earnings for a coarse +dinner, for his circumstances did not permit him to +indulge in the luxury of roast beef and plum pudding. +During the afternoon he lay in wait for a job +at the railroad stations, and in the most public places<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +of the city. But the sum of his earnings was only +five cents.</p> + +<p>"Work and win!" said he. "Sum total of day's +work, thirty cents; not enough to buy what I want to +eat. It don't pay."</p> + +<p>If work did not pay, stealing certainly would not; +and we are happy to say, Bertha Grant had done her +duty by him so faithfully, that he did not feel +tempted to resort to any irregular means of obtaining +a subsistence. If work did not pay, it was only because +he could not obtain it. He had not yet struck +a productive vein. He had been a fishing a great +many times; but when he had no success, he neither +concluded that fish were not good, nor that there +were no fish in the river.</p> + +<p>There was a train to arrive, after dark, from New +York city, and he determined to make one more +effort to improve his fortunes. As the passengers +came out of the station with small parcels of baggage +in their hands, he offered his services to them. +His heart almost leaped with rapture when a gentleman +handed him a small carpet-bag, and told him +to follow to the Delavan House. He took the bag, +and then, to his horror, he discovered that the gentleman +was Mr. Grant!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>What had brought him to Albany? As Noddy's +sphere of observation was confined to the little world +of his own affairs, he concluded that the owner of +Woodville must be there for the purpose of arresting +him. Probably some of those smart constables had +traced him to the town where he had embarked for +Albany. Again the horrors of the court-house, the +jail, and the tinker's shop were present to his mind. +He had taken the valise, and was now following Mr. +Grant to the hotel. It was dark at the place where +he had received the carpet-bag, otherwise he would +have been recognized.</p> + +<p>Noddy had no doubt in regard to the correctness +of his conclusions; and he could not help thinking +that a great man, like Mr. Grant, was taking a good +deal of pains to capture a poor boy, like him. His +arrest was a matter of a great deal more consequence +than he had supposed, which made it all the +more necessary to his future peace and happiness +that he should escape. The bag tied him to his +persecutor, or he would have run away as fast as he +could. He could not carry off the baggage, for that +would subject him to another penalty, even if he had +been dishonest enough to do such a thing. He de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>cided +to follow Mr. Grant to the hotel, drop the bag, +and run.</p> + +<p>"Boy, do you know where the police office is?" +said Mr. Grant, suddenly turning round upon him.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Noddy, whose natural boldness +prompted him, when fairly cornered, to face the +danger.</p> + +<p>"What! Noddy?" exclaimed Mr. Grant. "I +came to look for you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Noddy.</p> + +<p>"You were a foolish fellow to run away. I'm +not going to hurt you; neither is anybody else."</p> + +<p>Noddy was not a little astonished to find Mr. +Grant, in his own homely terms, "trying it on" in +this manner. It was not strange that the constable, +or even Squire Wriggs, should resort to deception to +entrap him; but he was not quite prepared for it +from the upright proprietor of Woodville. If he was +wanted "bad enough" to induce a gentleman of +wealth and position to make a journey to Albany after +him, it was the very best reason in the world why he +should get out of the way as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>"How is Miss Bertha, sir?" asked Noddy, who +did not know what else to say.</p> + +<p>"She is quite well, and feels very badly now at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +your absence. You have made a great mistake, +Noddy," replied Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"Is Miss Fanny pretty well, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Very well. We don't wish to injure you, or +even to punish you, for setting the boat-house on fire. +The worst that I shall do will be to send you——"</p> + +<p>"Is Ben any better than he was?" continued +Noddy, fully satisfied in his own mind in regard to +the last remark.</p> + +<p>"Ben is very well," said Mr. Grant, impatiently. +"Now, you will come with me, Noddy, and not try +to run away again."</p> + +<p>"How is Mrs. Green and the rest of the folks?" +asked Noddy, fully resolved that even Mr. Grant +should not "pull wool over his eyes," as he quaintly +expressed his view of this attempt to deceive him.</p> + +<p>"She is well. Now come with me, Noddy. I will +give you a good supper, and you shall have everything +you need. Your circumstances have changed +now, and you will be a rich man when you are of +age."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard from Mr. Richard lately, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind Richard, now. Come with me, +Noddy. If you attempt to run away again, I shall +be obliged to hand you over to a policeman."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>That looked much more like it, in Noddy's opinion, +and he had no doubt of Mr. Grant's entire sincerity +in the last remark.</p> + +<p>"I will follow you, sir," replied Noddy, though +he did not intend to continue on this route much +farther.</p> + +<p>"You understand that I am your friend, Noddy, +and that no harm shall come to you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I understand that."</p> + +<p>"Come here now, and walk by my side. I don't +want to call a policeman to take charge of you."</p> + +<p>Noddy did not want him to do so either, and did +not intend that he should. He placed himself by +the side of his powerful persecutor, as he still regarded +him, and they walked together towards the +hotel. The young refugee was nervous and uneasy, +and watched with the utmost diligence for an opportunity +to slip away. As they were crossing a street, +a hack, approaching rapidly, caused Mr. Grant to +quicken his pace in order to avoid being run over. +Noddy, burdened with the weight of the carpet-bag, +did not keep up with him, and he was obliged to fall +back to escape the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Here, boy, you take this bag, and follow the +owner to the hotel, and he will give you something,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +said Noddy to a ragged boy at the corner of the +street.</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, he darted down +the cross street, and made his best time in the rush +for liberty.</p> + +<p>The boy, to whom Noddy had given the bag, ran +over the street, and placed himself behind Mr. +Grant, whom he judged to be the owner of the baggage.</p> + +<p>"Where is the other boy?" demanded Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"Gone down State Street to find ten cents he lost +there," replied the wicked boy. "I'll carry your +bag, sir."</p> + +<p>"But I want the boy! Which way did he go?" +said Mr. Grant, in hurried tones.</p> + +<p>"Down there, sir. His mother'll lick him if he +don't find the ten cents he lost. I'll carry the bag."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Grant was unwilling to trust his property +to the hands of such a boy, and he immediately +reclaimed it.</p> + +<p>"I want that boy!" exclaimed Mr. Grant, in +great agitation. "Which way did he go?"</p> + +<p>"Down there," replied the ragged boy, pointing +down a street in exactly the opposite direction from +that taken by the fugitive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. Grant was too wise a man to follow. He +was in search of a policeman just then. As these +worthy functionaries are never at hand when they +are wanted, of course he did not find one. He called +a carriage, and ordered the driver to convey him +with all speed, and at double fare, to the police office. +On his arrival, he immediately stated his business, +and in a few hours the whole police force of the +city were on the lookout for poor Noddy Newman.</p> + +<p>The object of all this friendly solicitude was unconscious +of the decided steps taken by Mr. Grant; +but he ran till he had placed a safe distance between +himself and his potent oppressor. He saw plenty +of policemen in his flight, but he paid no attention +to them, nor even thought what a powerful combination +they formed against a weak boy like himself. +He was satisfied, however, that he must leave the +city; and when he was out of breath with running, +he walked as nearly on a straight course as the streets +would permit, till he reached the outskirts of the +city.</p> + +<p>"Stop that heifer!" shouted a man, who was +chasing the animal.</p> + +<p>Noddy headed her off, and she darted away in +another direction. Our refugee was interested in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +the case at once; for he could not permit any horned +beast to circumvent him. He ran as though he had +not run before that evening, and brought the wayward +animal up in a corner when the man came to +his assistance.</p> + +<p>"You are a smart boy," said the drover.</p> + +<p>"That's so," puffed Noddy, modestly.</p> + +<p>"If you haven't got nothin' better to do, I'll +make it wuth your while to help drive these cattle +down to the keers," added the man.</p> + +<p>As Noddy had nothing better to do, he at once +accepted the offer, without even stipulating the price. +They started the heifer again, and she concluded to +join the drove which was in the adjoining street. +It was no easy matter to drive the animals, which +were not accustomed to the ways of the city, through +the streets, and Noddy won a great deal of credit for +the vigor and agility with which he discharged his +duty. They reached the ferry boat, and crossing, +came to the "keers," into which the young drover +assisted in loading the cattle.</p> + +<p>His employer gave him a quarter of a dollar, +which hardly came up to Noddy's expectations; for +it seemed to him like working very hard, and winning +very little for it. The man asked him some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +questions about his home. Noddy told as much of +the truth as suited his purpose, and concluded by +saying he wanted to get to Boston, where he could +find something to do.</p> + +<p>"O, you want sunthin to do—do ye?" replied the +drover. "Well, I'll give you your victuals, and +what clothes you want, to help me drive."</p> + +<p>This was not exactly Noddy's idea of "work and +win," and he told the drover he wanted to go to sea.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do. You may go down +to Brighton, and help take keer of the cattle in the +keers, and I'll take keer of you on the way."</p> + +<p>Noddy was more than satisfied with all these +"keers," and he promptly accepted the offer. In +half an hour the train started, and he was on the way +to Brighton, which is only a few miles from Boston.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>POOR MOLLIE.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Noddy</span>'s duty on the journey to Brighton was to +assist in keeping the cattle on their feet. When the +poor animals become weary, they are disposed to lie +down; but they are so closely packed that this is not +possible for more than one or two in a car; and if +one lies down he is liable to be trampled to death by +the others. The persons in charge of the cattle, +therefore, are obliged to watch them, and keep them +on their feet.</p> + +<p>The train occasionally stopped during the night, +and was several times delayed, so that it did not +reach its destination till the middle of the following +forenoon. The drover provided him a hearty breakfast +in the morning, and Noddy was in no haste. +The future was still nothing but a blank to him, and +he was in no hurry to commence the battle of life.</p> + +<p>When he arrived at Brighton he assisted in driving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +the cattle to the pens; and then, with half a dollar, +which the drover gave him for his extra services, he +started for Boston, whose spires he could even then +see in the distance. He reached the city, and from +the Mill Dam—the long bridge he had just crossed—he +walked to the Common. Being quite worn out by +two nights of hard work, and the long walk he had +just taken, he seated himself on one of the stone +benches near the Frog Pond. It was a warm and +pleasant day, and he watched the sports of the happy +children who were at play, until his eyelids grew +heavy, and he hardly knew the State House from the +Big Tree.</p> + +<p>For a boy of his age he had undergone a severe +experience. The exciting circumstances which surrounded +him had kept him wide awake until his +physical nature could endure no more. Leaving the +seat he had occupied, he sought out the quietest +place he could find, and stretching himself on the +grass, went to sleep.</p> + +<p>It was nearly sunset when he awoke; but he felt +like a new being, ready now to work and win at any +business which might offer. He wandered about the +streets of the city for two hours, and then ate a +hearty supper at a restaurant. It was too late to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +anything that night, and he asked a policeman to +tell him where he could sleep. The officer, finding he +was a friendless stranger, gave him a bed at the +station-house.</p> + +<p>In the morning he made his way to the wharves, +and during the long day he went from vessel to vessel +in search of a berth as cabin-boy. He asked for this +situation, because he had frequently heard the term; +but he was willing to accept any position he could +obtain. No one wanted a cabin-boy, or so small a +sailor as he was. Night came on again, with a hopeless +prospect for the future; and poor Noddy began +to question the wisdom of the course he had taken. +A tinker's shop, with plenty to eat, and a place to +sleep, was certainly much better than wandering +about the streets.</p> + +<p>He could not help thinking of Woodville, and the +pleasant <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'rooom'">room</ins> he had occupied in the servants' quarters; +of the bountiful table at which he had sat; +and, above all, of the kindness and care which Miss +Bertha had always bestowed upon him. With all his +heart he wished he was there; but when he thought +of the court-house and the prison, he was more reconciled +to his fate, and was determined to persevere in +his efforts to obtain work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the close of a long summer day. He had +been wandering about the wharves at the north part +of the city; and as the darkness came on, he walked +up Hanover Street in search of a policeman, who +would give him permission to sleep another night in +the station-house. As he did not readily find one, +he turned into another street. It made but little +difference to him where he went, for he had no destination, +and he was as likely to find a policeman in +one place as another.</p> + +<p>He had gone but a short distance before he saw +a crowd of ragged boys pursuing and hooting at a +drunken man who was leading a little girl ten or +eleven years of age,—or rather, she was trying to +lead him. Under ordinary circumstances, we are +afraid that Noddy would have joined the ragamuffins +and enjoyed the senseless sport as well as any of +them; but his own sorrows raised him above this +meanness in the present instance, and he passed the +boys without a particle of interest in the fun.</p> + +<p>He was going by the drunken man and the little +girl, when one of the boldest of the pursuers rushed +up and gave the man a push, which caused him to fall +on the pavement. The young vagabonds raised a +chorus of laughter, and shouted with all their might.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +The little girl, who was evidently the drunkard's +daughter, did not desert him. She bent over him, +and used all her feeble powers to assist him to his +feet again.</p> + +<p>"My poor father!" sobbed she; and her heart +seemed to be broken by the grief and peril which surrounded +her.</p> + +<p>The tones with which these words were spoken +touched the heart of Noddy; and without stopping +to consider any troublesome questions, he sprang to +the assistance of the girl. The man was not utterly +helpless; and with the aid of Noddy and his daughter +he got upon his feet again. At that moment another +of the unruly boys, emboldened by the feat of the +first, rushed up and grasped the arm of the little +girl, as if to pull her away from her father's support.</p> + +<p>"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" pleaded the +grief-stricken girl, in tones so full of sorrow that our +wanderer could not resist them, if her vagabond +persecutor could.</p> + +<p>He sprang to her assistance, and with one vigorous +and well-directed blow, he knocked the rude +assailant halfway across the street, and left him +sprawling on the pavement. Noddy did not wait to +see what the boy would do next, but turned his atten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>tion +to the poor girl, whose situation, rather than that +of her father, had awakened his sympathy.</p> + +<p>"What is your father's name?" asked Noddy, +who proceeded as though he had a sovereign remedy +for the miseries of the situation.</p> + +<p>"Captain McClintock," sobbed the little girl, still +clinging to her father, with no sting of reproach in +her words or her manner.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, little girl; I will do what I can for +you," said Noddy, warmly. "I can lick those boys, +if I can't do anything more."</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" replied the afflicted daughter. +"If I can only get him down to the vessel, I shall be +so glad!"</p> + +<p>"Want to fight?" shouted the young ruffian, +whom Noddy had upset, coming as near the party as +he dared.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you fight, if you come near me again," +replied the champion of the poor girl.</p> + +<p>"Come on, if you want to fight," cried the little +bully, who had not the pluck to approach within +twenty feet of his late assailant.</p> + +<p>The crowd of boys still shouted, and some of them +carried their hostility so far as to throw sticks and +stones at the little party; but as long as they kept at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +a respectful distance, Noddy did not deem it wise to +meddle with them, though he kept one eye on them, +and stood ready to punish those who ventured too +near.</p> + +<p>"Come, Captain McClintock," said he, as he attempted +to lead the drunken father, "let's go on +board."</p> + +<p>"Heave ahead, my hearty!" replied the captain, +as he pressed forward, though his steps were so uncertain +that his two feeble supporters could hardly +keep him on his feet.</p> + +<p>The remarkable trio passed down Fleet Street, and, +after many difficulties and much "rough weather," +reached the head of the wharf, where the little girl +said her father's vessel lay. They were still closely +followed by the merciless ragamuffins, who had pelted +them with stones and sticks, until the patience of +Noddy was severely tried.</p> + +<p>"Come, my boy, now we'll—hic—now we'll go +and—hic—go and take something 'fore we go on +board," said the drunken captain, suddenly coming +to a dead halt in the middle of the street.</p> + +<p>"O, no, father!" cried the daughter; "let us +go on board."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Something to take, Mollie, and you shall—hic—you +shall have some—hic—some soda water."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any, father. Do come on board."</p> + +<p>"You are a good girl, Mollie, and you shall—hic—you +shall have some cake."</p> + +<p>"Not to-night, father. We will get it in the +morning," pleaded poor Mollie, trembling with apprehension +for the consequences which must follow +another glass of liquor.</p> + +<p>"Come, Captain McClintock, let's go on board," +said Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded the inebriated man.</p> + +<p>"I'm the best fellow out; and I want to see your +vessel."</p> + +<p>"You shall see her, my boy. If you are—hic—the +best fellow out, come and take something with +me," stammered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Let's see the vessel first," replied Noddy, tugging +away at the arm of the drunken man.</p> + +<p>"She's a very fine—hic—fine vessel."</p> + +<p>"Let me see her, then."</p> + +<p>"Heave ahead, my jolly roebuck. I've got some +of the best—hic—on board zever you tasted. Come +along."</p> + +<p>Noddy and Mollie kept him going till they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +reached the part of the wharf where the captain's +vessel was moored; and the end of their troubles +seemed to be at hand, when the boys, aware that +their sport was nearly over, became very bold and +daring. They pressed forward, and began to push +the drunken man, until they roused his anger to such +a degree that he positively refused to go on board +till he chastised them as they deserved. He had +broken away from his feeble protectors, and in attempting +to pursue them, had fallen flat upon the +planks which covered the wharf.</p> + +<p>Mollie ran to his assistance; and as she did so, +one of the boys pushed her over upon him. Noddy's +blood was up in earnest, for the little girl's suffering +made her sacred in his eyes. He leaped upon the +rude boy, bore him down, and pounded him till he +yelled in mortal terror. Some of the boldest of the +ragamuffins came to his relief when they realized how +hard it was going with him, and that he was in the +hands of only one small boy.</p> + +<p>Noddy was as quick as a flash in his movements, +and he turned upon the crowd, reckless of consequences. +One or two of the boys showed fight; but +the young lion tipped them over before they could +make up their minds how to attack him. The rest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +ran away. Noddy gave chase, and in his furious +wrath felt able to whip the whole of them. He pursued +them only a short distance; his sympathy for +poor Mollie got the better even of his anger, and he +hastened back to her side. As he turned, the +cowardly boys turned also, and a storm of such missiles +as the wharf afforded was hurled after him.</p> + +<p>By this time two men from the vessel had come +to the assistance of the captain, and raised him to +his feet. He was still full of vengeance, and wanted +to chastise the boys. The young ruffians followed +Noddy down the wharf, and he was compelled, in +self-defence, to turn upon them again, and in presence +of the drunken man he punished a couple of +them pretty severely. One of the sailors came to his +aid, and the foe was again <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'vanguished'">vanquished</ins>. The appearance +of a policeman at the head of the wharf now +paralyzed their efforts, and they disbanded and +scattered.</p> + +<p>"You are a good fellow!" exclaimed Captain +McClintock, extending his hand to Noddy as he returned +to the spot.</p> + +<p>"The best fellow out," replied the little hero, +facetiously, as he took the offered hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So you be! Now come on board, and—hic—and +take something."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, captain. I should like to go on +board of your vessel."</p> + +<p>"Come along, then, my jolly fellow," added the +captain, as he reeled towards the vessel. "You are +a smart little—hic—you are a smart little fellow. +If you hadn't—hic—licked them boys, I should—hic."</p> + +<p>Noddy thought he did "hic;" but with the assistance +of the sailors, the captain got on board, and +went down into his cabin. His first movement was +to bring out a bottle of gin and a couple of glasses, +into which he poured a quantity of the fiery liquor. +He insisted that Noddy should drink; but the boy +had never tasted anything of the kind in his life; +and from the lessons of Bertha and Ben he had +acquired a certain horror of the cup, which had not +been diminished by the incidents of the evening. He +could not drink, and he could not refuse without +making trouble with his intoxicated host.</p> + +<p>But Mollie saw his difficulty, and slyly substituted +a glass of water for the gin, which he drank. Captain +McClintock was satisfied, and overcome by his +last potion, he soon sank back on the locker, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +dropped asleep. With the assistance of the mate he +was put into the berth in his state-room, to sleep off +the effects of his debauch.</p> + +<p>"I'm so grateful to you!" exclaimed Mollie, when +all her trials seemed to have ended.</p> + +<p>"O, never mind me."</p> + +<p>"Where do you live?"</p> + +<p>"Nowhere."</p> + +<p>"Have you no home?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Where do you stay?"</p> + +<p>"Anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Where were you going to sleep to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Anywhere I could."</p> + +<p>"Then you can sleep here."</p> + +<p>Noddy was entirely willing, and one of the eight +berths in the cabin was appropriated by the mate to +his use.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE SCHOONER ROEBUCK.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What</span> is your name?" asked Mollie, when the +arrangements for the night were completed.</p> + +<p>"Noddy Newman."</p> + +<p>"Noddy? What a queer name! That isn't your +real name—is it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I never knew any other."</p> + +<p>Mollie was certainly a very pleasing young lady, +and Noddy had become quite interested in her, as we +always are in those to whom we are so fortunate as to +render needed assistance. She had a pretty face, and +her curly hair might have challenged the envy of +many a fair damsel who was wicked enough to cherish +such a feeling. There was nothing rough or +coarse about her, and one would hardly have expected +to find so lady-like a person in such a situation in +life.</p> + +<p>We make this statement in apology for the interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +which Noddy took in the little maiden. The service +he had rendered her was quite sufficient to create a +kindly feeling towards her; and then she was so +pretty, so modest, and so gentle, that his sympathy +grew into admiration before she went to her little +state-room. Mollie asked him a great many questions +about his past life, and Noddy told her all he knew +about himself—about Bertha, Fanny, and others at +Woodville. He did not tell her about the affair of +the boat-house, though he determined to do so at +some future time, if he had the opportunity.</p> + +<p>In return for all this information, Mollie told him +that the schooner in which they then were was called +the Roebuck; that she belonged to her father, and +that they were bound to the Sandwich Islands, where +the vessel was to run as a packet between certain +islands, whose names she had forgotten. Captain +McClintock belonged in the State of Maine, where +Mollie's mother had died two years before. Her +father had some property, and learning that there +was a good chance to improve his fortunes at the +Sandwich Islands, he had built the Roebuck for this +purpose.</p> + +<p>As these distant islands were to be his future home, +he was to take his only child with him, and he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +fitted up a state-room in the cabin, next to his own +for her special use. Mollie told Noddy how much +pleased she was with all the arrangements, and how +happy she had been on the passage to Boston, where +the Roebuck was to pick up an assorted cargo for the +port of her destination. Then she wept when she +thought of the terrible scenes through which she had +just passed in the streets. She said her father did +not often drink too much; that he was the very best +father in the whole world; and she hoped he never +would get intoxicated again as long as he lived.</p> + +<p>Noddy hoped so too; and when the little maiden +had finished her story, he thought she was almost +equal to Miss Bertha; and he could not think of such +a thing as parting with her in the morning, again to +buffet the waves of disappointment on shore.</p> + +<p>"Does your father want a boy on board of the vessel?" +asked he.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Do you want to go with us?" +said Mollie, with a smile which spoke the pleasure +the thought afforded her.</p> + +<p>"I should like to go with you first-rate," replied +Noddy. "I want to do something, and earn some +money for myself. I want to work."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall go with us!" exclaimed Mollie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +"Out where we are going is a nice place to get rich. +My father is going to get rich out there, and then +we are coming home again."</p> + +<p>Poor child! She knew not what the future had in +store for them.</p> + +<p>The bells of the city rang for nine o'clock, and +Mollie said she went to bed at this time.</p> + +<p>"Can you read, Noddy?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Yes, some."</p> + +<p>"I always read my Testament before I go to bed; I +promised my mother, years ago, that I would; and +I like to do it, too. I suppose you read your Testament +every night—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes; that is, I did once," replied Noddy, +in some confusion, for he could not help recalling the +teachings of Bertha on this subject.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will read it together. You would like +to—wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I don't care if I do."</p> + +<p>There was a want of enthusiasm on his part which +was rather painful to the little maiden; but she got +the Testament, and when she had read a few verses +aloud, she passed the book to Noddy, who stumbled +through his portion, and she then finished the chapter. +She bade him good night, and retired to her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +state-room, leaving her new-made friend to meditate +upon the singular events of the evening.</p> + +<p>He did not meditate a great while—he never did. +His thoughts were disposed to stray from one subject +to another; and from the little maiden, he found +himself wondering whether Mr. Grant had finished +searching for him in Albany, and whether Miss +Fanny had "let the cat out of the bag" yet. Noddy +was too tired and sleepy to think a great while about +anything; and he turned into his berth, and went to +sleep.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning Noddy was on his feet. He +went on deck, and found that the Roebuck was a +beautiful vessel, almost handsome enough to be a gentleman's +yacht. He went upon the wharf, where he +could obtain a fair view of her bow, and he was sure +she would make good time with a fair breeze. When +he had satisfied himself with the examination, he +was more than ever inclined to go out in her.</p> + +<p>When he went down into the cabin again, Mollie +was there, setting the table for breakfast. She +looked as fair and as fresh as a country maiden. She +gave him a very friendly greeting.</p> + +<p>"Do you do these things, Mollie?" asked he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O, yes; I always work, and do what I can. I like +to do something."</p> + +<p>"How old are you, Mollie?"</p> + +<p>"Eleven last May."</p> + +<p>"But you can't do this work when you are out at +sea."</p> + +<p>"O, yes, I can."</p> + +<p>"You will be seasick."</p> + +<p>"I never was sick, and I have been to sea a great +deal with my father."</p> + +<p>"How is the captain this morning?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I haven't seen him yet," replied +she, looking very sad, as she thought of her kind +father's infirmity.</p> + +<p>Captain McClintock soon came out of his state-room. +He looked pale and haggard, and seemed to +be thoroughly ashamed of himself for what he had +done the evening before, as he ought to have been. +Mollie sprang to him, as he stepped out of his room, +and kissed him as lovingly as though he had never +done a wrong thing in his life. He glanced at Noddy, +as he entered the main cabin, and with a look of astonishment, +as though his connection with the events +of the previous evening were a blank to him.</p> + +<p>The captain did not say a word to Noddy, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +made the boy feel as though he was an intruder in +the cabin; and when he had the opportunity, he went +on deck, leaving Mollie to say whatever the circumstances +required in explanation of his presence.</p> + +<p>"I will never do it again, Mollie," said the fond +father, as he kissed his daughter. "I am very sorry, +and you must forgive me, my child."</p> + +<p>He was a penitent man, and felt how great was the +wrong he had done the poor child. He had taken her +out to walk, and to see the sights of the city, and +had become intoxicated. He remembered the whole +scene, when the boys had chased him; and to Mollie, +whom he loved with all his heart, he was willing to +own his fault, and to make her happy by promising +never to do the wrong again.</p> + +<p>Mollie then told him about her conversation with +Noddy, and of the boy's desire to go to sea with +them. Captain McClintock remembered in part what +the boy had done for them; and Mollie supplied what +he had not seen, or had forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; we want a cabin-boy. I should have +shipped one at home, if I could have found the right +one," replied the captain. "You say he is a good +boy?"</p> + +<p>"I know he is. He wants to work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Does he know anything about a vessel? I want +one who can go aloft, and shake out the top-gallant +sail."</p> + +<p>"He is used to boats and the water."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will see what he is good for, after breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will take him, for we have become fast +friends."</p> + +<p>"If he is good for anything, I will, Mollie. Call +him down. Here comes the doctor with the grub."</p> + +<p>The "doctor" was the black cook of the Roebuck, +who was now descending the companion-way with the +morning meal. Noddy was called, and Captain McClintock +spoke very kindly to him. He inquired particularly +into his knowledge of vessels, and wanted to +know whether he would be afraid to go aloft. Noddy +smiled, and thought he should not be afraid. He ate +his breakfast with a boy's appetite, and then the captain +took him on deck.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that fore-top-gallant yard?" asked +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I see it," replied Noddy, who had been +thoroughly instructed in these matters by the old +man-of-war's-man of Woodville, though he had no +practical experience in seamanship, even on as large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +a scale as a topsail schooner, which was the rig of +the Roebuck.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, that's a pretty high place. Should +you dare to go up there?"</p> + +<p>"I think I should," answered Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Let me see you do it."</p> + +<p>"Now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I want to see what you are good for. If +we can't make a sailor of you, it won't be worth while +to take you out to the Pacific. Let me see how long +it will take you to run up to that fore-top-gallant +yard."</p> + +<p>Noddy started. Captain McClintock was evidently +satisfied that it would make the boy dizzy; +and that, perhaps, if he had to do this kind of work, +he would not care to make a voyage. Mollie stood +by her father's side, deeply interested in the experiment, +and fearful that her heroic friend would fail +to meet her father's expectations, thus depriving her +of a pleasant companion on her long voyage.</p> + +<p>The candidate for a position on the Roebuck +skipped lightly forward to the fore-shrouds of the +vessel, ran up, as chipper as a monkey, to the mast +head, then up the fore-topmast rigging to the yard. +Planting his feet in the foot-ropes, he danced out to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +the port yard-arm. At this point he astonished the +spectators below by performing certain feats which he +had seen at the Great Olympian Circus. Descending +from the yard, he grasped the main-topmast stay, +and ran over upon it to the main-topmast, and then +made his way to the deck by the main-topmast back-stay.</p> + +<p>"You'll do, my boy!" said the captain, emphatically. +"You will make a smart sailor."</p> + +<p>"Am I to go with you, sir?" asked Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you like."</p> + +<p>"What will you give me?"</p> + +<p>This was a more difficult question; but the captain +finally agreed to give him eight dollars a month, and +to advance money enough to buy him an outfit. +Mollie actually danced about the deck with joy when +the terms were arranged, and it was certain that +Noddy was to go on the voyage.</p> + +<p>The boy's work had been carefully stated by the +captain. He was to take care of the cabin, wait +upon the captain and his daughter at table, and do +duty forward when required. He was to have a berth +in the cabin, and was not to be in either watch, unless +the vessel became short-handed.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall be happy!" exclaimed Mollie, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +had already formed many plans for the long and +lonely cruise.</p> + +<p>"I think we shall. Do you know when we sail, +Mollie?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps to-day; perhaps not till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I want to write a letter to Miss Bertha before we +go."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Noddy; never forget your friends. +I will give you pen, ink, and paper, by and by."</p> + +<p>In the forenoon Captain McClintock took the +young sailor ashore, and purchased for him a supply +of clothing. Noddy always dressed like a sailor at +Woodville. This was Ben's idea, and it was quite +proper, as his work was in the boats. His new garments +were not strange to him, therefore, though they +were much coarser than those he wore.</p> + +<p>After dinner the captain went on shore alone to +do his business, and Noddy wrote his letter. About +five o'clock he returned, and poor Mollie was dreadfully +grieved to find that he was partially intoxicated. +He immediately gave the order to get under +way, and went down into the cabin, leaving the mate +to haul the vessel out of the dock.</p> + +<p>Noddy made himself as useful as possible, and in +a short time the Roebuck was clear of the wharf.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +The captain came on deck again, when the jib was +hoisted, and the sails began to draw. The voyage +had actually commenced, and Noddy did not believe +that Mr. Grant and the constables would be able to +catch him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Lay</span> aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," +said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the +wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel. +"Be lively! What are you staring at?"</p> + +<p>The captain's tones were stern and ugly. He had +evidently taken another glass of gin since he came +on board. He was sufficiently intoxicated to be unreasonable, +though he could walk straight, and understood +perfectly what he was about. Noddy did +not like the harsh tones in which the order was +given, and he did not move as lively as he would have +done if the words had been spoken pleasantly. He +had not yet learned the duty of prompt obedience, +be the tones what they may.</p> + +<p>He went aloft, and helped the men who were at +work on the topsail. As soon as the sheets were +hauled home, the captain hailed him from the deck, +and ordered him to shake out the fore-top-gallant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +sail. Noddy had moved so leisurely before, that the +command came spiced with a volley of oaths; and +the cabin-boy began to feel that he was getting something +more than he had bargained for. He shook +out the sail, and when the yard had been raised to +its proper position, he went on deck again.</p> + +<p>The Roebuck was dashing briskly along with a +fresh southerly breeze; and if Noddy had not been +troubled with a suspicion that something was wrong, +he would have enjoyed the scene exceedingly. He +had begun to fear that Captain McClintock was a +tyrant, and that he was doomed to undergo many +hardships before he saw his native land again.</p> + +<p>"Don't be troubled, Noddy," said Mollie, in a low +tone, as she placed herself by his side at the lee rail. +"My father isn't cross very often."</p> + +<p>"I don't like to be spoken to in that way," replied +he, trying to banish a certain ill feeling which +was struggling for expression in his words and manner.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't mind that, Noddy. That's the way +all sea captains speak."</p> + +<p>"Is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is indeed, Noddy. You must get used to it as +quick as you can."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll try," answered the cabin-boy; but he did not +feel much like trying; on the contrary, he was more +disposed to manifest his opposition, even at the risk +of a "row," or even with the certain prospect of +being worsted in the end.</p> + +<p>Mollie, hoping that he would try, went aft again. +She knew what her father was when partially intoxicated, +and she feared that one who was high-spirited +enough to face a dozen boys of his own size +and weight, as Noddy had done in the street, would +not endure the harsh usage of one made unreasonable +by drinking. Some men are very cross and ugly +when they are partially intoxicated, and very silly +and good-natured when they are entirely steeped +in the drunkard's cup. Such was Captain McClintock. +If he continued his potations up to a certain +point, he would pass from the crooked, cross-grained +phase to that of the jolly, stupid, noisy debauchee. +Entirely sober, he was entirely reasonable.</p> + +<p>"Here, youngster!" called the captain, as he +stepped forward to the waist, where Noddy was +looking over the rail.</p> + +<p>"Sir," replied Noddy rather stiffly, and without +turning his head.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear?" yelled the captain, filled with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +passion at the contempt with which he was treated by +the boy.</p> + +<p>"I hear," said Noddy, turning round as slowly as +though he had a year in which to complete his revolution.</p> + +<p>"Swab up that deck there; and if you don't move +a little livelier than you have yet, I'll try a rope's end +to your legs."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't!" retorted Noddy, sharply, for +he could endure a whipping as easily as he could a +threat.</p> + +<p>"Won't I?" cried the captain, as he seized a +piece of rope from one of the belaying pins. "We'll +see."</p> + +<p>He sprang upon the high-spirited boy, and began +to beat him in the most unmerciful manner. Noddy +attempted to get away from him, but the captain +had grasped him by the collar, and held on with an +iron grip.</p> + +<p>"Let me alone!" roared Noddy. "I'll knock +your brains out if you don't let me alone!"</p> + +<p>"We'll see!" gasped Captain McClintock, furious +with passion and with gin.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for him, he did see when it was +too late; for Noddy had laid hold of a wooden be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>laying +pin, and aimed a blow with it at the head of +his merciless persecutor. He did not hit him on the +head, but the blow fell heavily on his shoulder, +causing him to release his hold of the boy. Noddy, +puffing like a grampus from the violence of the struggle, +rushed forward to the forecastle.</p> + +<p>The captain ordered the sailors to stop him; but +either because they were not smart enough, or because +they had no relish for the business, they failed +to catch him, and the culprit ran out on the bowsprit. +The angry man followed him as far as the +bowsprit bitts, but prudence forbade his going any +farther.</p> + +<p>"Come here, you young rascal!" shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>"I won't," replied Noddy, as he perched himself on +the bight of the jib-stay.</p> + +<p>"Come here, I say!"</p> + +<p>"I'll go overboard before I go any nearer to you. +I'm not going to be pounded for nothing."</p> + +<p>"You'll obey orders aboard this vessel," replied +the captain, whose passion was somewhat moderated +by the delay which kept him from his victim.</p> + +<p>"I'm ready to obey orders, and always have been,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +answered Noddy, who had by this time begun to +think of the consequences of his resistance.</p> + +<p>"Will you swab up the deck, as I told you?"</p> + +<p>"I will, sir; but I won't be whipped by no +drunken man.</p> + +<p>"Drunken man!" repeated the captain. "You +shall be whipped for that, you impudent young villain!"</p> + +<p>The captain mounted the heel of the bowsprit, and +was making his way up to the point occupied by the +refractory cabin-boy, when Mollie reached the forecastle, +and grasped her father in her little arms.</p> + +<p>"Don't, father, don't!" pleaded she.</p> + +<p>"Go away, Mollie," said he, sternly. "He is impudent +and mutinous, and shall be brought to his +senses."</p> + +<p>"Stop, father, do stop!" cried Mollie, piteously.</p> + +<p>He might as well stop, for by this time Noddy had +mounted the jib-stay, and was halfway up to the +mast head.</p> + +<p>"He called me a drunken man, Mollie, and he +shall suffer for it!" replied Captain McClintock, in +tones so savage that the poor girl's blood was almost +frozen by them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stop, father!" said she, earnestly, as he turned +to move aft again.</p> + +<p>"Go away, child."</p> + +<p>"He spoke the truth," replied she, in a low tone, +as her eyes filled with tears, and she sobbed bitterly.</p> + +<p>"The truth, Mollie!" exclaimed her father, as +though the words from that beloved child had paralyzed +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, father, you have been drinking again. You +promised me last night—you know what you +promised me," said she, her utterance broken by the +violence of her emotions.</p> + +<p>He looked at her in silence for an instant; but +his breast heaved under the strong feelings which +agitated him. That glance seemed to overcome him; +he dropped the rope's end, and, rushing aft, disappeared +down the companion-way. Mollie followed +him into the cabin, where she found him with his +head bent down upon the table, weeping like an +infant.</p> + +<p>Noddy leisurely descended from his perch at the +mast head, from which he had witnessed this scene +without hearing what was said; indeed, none of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +crew had heard Mollie's bitter words, for she had +spoken them in an impressive whisper.</p> + +<p>"Well, youngster, you have got yourself into hot +water," said the mate, when the boy reached the +deck.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it," replied Noddy, who had begun +to look doubtfully at the future.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't help it, you young monkey!"</p> + +<p>Noddy was disposed at first to resent this highly +improper language; but one scrap at a time was +quite enough, and he wisely concluded not to notice +the offensive remark.</p> + +<p>"I'm not used to having any man speak to me in +that kind of a way," added Noddy, rather tamely.</p> + +<p>"You are not in a drawing-room! Do you think +the cap'n is going to take his hat off to the cabin-boy?" +replied the mate, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"I don't ask him to take his hat off to me. He +spoke to me as if I was a dog."</p> + +<p>"That's the way officers do speak to men, whether +it is the right way or not; and if you can't stand it, +you've no business here."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know they spoke in that way."</p> + +<p>"It's the fashion; and when man or boy insults an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +officer as you did the captain, he always knocks him +down; and serves him right too."</p> + +<p>Noddy regarded the mate as a very reasonable +man, though he swore abominably, and did not speak +in the gentlest tones to the men. He concluded, +therefore, that he had made a blunder, and he desired +to get out of the scrape as fast as he could. +The mate explained to him sundry things, in the discipline +of a ship, which he had not before understood. +He said that when sailors came on board of +a vessel they expected more or less harsh words, and +that it was highly impudent, to say the least, for a +man to retort, or even to be sulky.</p> + +<p>"Captain McClintock is better than half of +them," he added; "and if the men do their duty, +they can get along very well with him."</p> + +<p>"But he was drunk," said Noddy.</p> + +<p>"That's none of your business. If he was, it was +so much the more stupid in you to attempt to kick +up a row with him."</p> + +<p>Noddy began to be of the same opinion himself; +and an incipient resolution to be more careful in +future was flitting through his mind, when he was +summoned to the cabin by Mollie. He went below; +the captain was not there—he had retired to his state-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>room; +and his daughter sat upon the locker, weeping +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"How happy I expected to be! How unhappy I +am!" sobbed she. "Noddy you have made me feel +very bad."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it; I didn't mean to make you +feel bad," protested Noddy.</p> + +<p>"My poor father!" she exclaimed, as she thought +again that the blame was not the boy's alone.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry for what I did. I never went +to sea before, and I didn't know the fashions. +Where Is your father? Could I see him?"</p> + +<p>"Not now; he has gone to his state-room. He +will be better by and by."</p> + +<p>"I want to see him when he comes out. I will +try and make it right with him, for I know I was to +blame," said Noddy, whose ideas were rapidly enlarging.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear you say so, Noddy," added +Mollie, looking up into his face with such a sad expression +that he would have done anything to comfort +her. "Now go on deck; but promise me that +you will not be impudent to my father, whatever happens."</p> + +<p>"I will not, Mollie."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Noddy went on deck. The Roebuck had passed +out of the harbor. She was close-hauled, and headed +to the southeast. She was pitching considerably, +which was a strange motion to the cabin-boy, whose +nautical experience had been confined to the Hudson +River. But there was something exhilarating in +the scene, and if Noddy's mind had been easy, he +would have been delighted with the situation. The +mate asked him some questions about the captain, +which led to a further discussion of the matter of +discipline on board a vessel.</p> + +<p>"I want to do well, Mr. Watts," said Noddy. +"My best friend gave me the motto, 'Work and +Win;' and I want to do the very best I know how."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you have begun very well. If you +are impudent to your officers, I can assure you that +you will work a great deal and win very little. +Neither boy nor man can have all his own way in +the world; and on board ship you will have to submit +to a great many little things that don't suit you. +The sooner you learn to do so with a good grace, the +sooner you will be comfortable and contented."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Watts, for your good advice, and +I will try to follow it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's right," replied the mate, satisfied that +Noddy was not a very bad boy, after all.</p> + +<p>Noddy was fully determined to be a good boy, to +obey the officers promptly, and not to be impudent, +even if they abused him. Captain McClintock did +not come on deck, or into the cabin, again that night. +He had probably drank until he was completely overcome, +and the vessel was left to the care of Mr. +Watts, who was fortunately a good seaman and a +skilful navigator. Noddy performed his duties, both +on deck and in the cabin, with a zeal and fidelity +which won the praise of the mate.</p> + +<p>"Captain McClintock," said Noddy, when the +master of the vessel came on deck in the morning.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want, youngster?" replied +the captain, in gruff and forbidding tones.</p> + +<p>"I was wrong yesterday; I am very sorry for it, +and I hope you will forgive me this time."</p> + +<p>"It is no light thing to be saucy to the captain."</p> + +<p>"I will never do so again," added Noddy.</p> + +<p>"We'll see; if you behave well, I'll pass it by, and +say nothing more about it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>The captain did not speak as though he meant +what he said. It was evident from his conduct dur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>ing +the forenoon, that he had not forgotten, if he +had forgiven, Noddy's impudent speech. He addressed +him rather harshly, and appeared not to +like his presence.</p> + +<p>In the forenoon the vessel passed Highland Light, +and before night Noddy saw the last of the land. +There was a heavy blow in the afternoon, and the +Roebuck pitched terribly in the great seas. The +cabin-boy began to experience some new and singular +sensations, and at eight bells in the evening +he was so seasick that he could not hold up his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE SHARK.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> two days Noddy suffered severely from seasickness, +and Mollie was full of tenderness and +sympathy. Captain McClintock still mocked the +poor child's hopes, and still broke the promises which +should have been sacred, for he was intoxicated each +day. On the second, while Noddy was lying in his +berth, the captain, rendered brutal by the last dram +he had taken, came out of his state-room, and halted +near the sick boy.</p> + +<p>"What are you in there for, you young sculpin?" +said he. "Why are you not on deck, attending to +your duty?"</p> + +<p>"I am sick, sir," replied Noddy, faintly.</p> + +<p>"Sick! We don't want any skulking of that sort +on board this vessel. You want to shirk your duty. +Turn out lively, and go on deck."</p> + +<p>"But he is sick, father," said Mollie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go away, Mollie. You will spoil the boy. Come, +tumble out, youngster, or I shall bring down the +rope's end," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The daughter pleaded for her patient; but the +father was ugly and unreasonable, and persisted in +his purpose. Noddy did not feel able to move. He +was completely prostrated by the violence of his disagreeable +malady; and five minutes before, he would +not have considered it possible for him to get out of +his berth. He must do so now or be whipped; for +there was no more reason in the captain than there +was in the main-mast of the schooner. He was not +able to make any resistance, if he had been so disposed.</p> + +<p>It was very hard to be obliged to go on deck when +he was sick, especially as there was no need of his +services there. He raised his head, and sat upright +in the berth. The movement seemed completely to +overturn his stomach again. But what a chance this +was, thought he, to show poor Mollie that he was in +earnest, and to convince her that he had really reformed +his manners. With a desperate struggle he +leaped out of his berth, and put on his jacket. The +Roebuck was still pitching heavily, and it was almost +impossible for him to keep on his feet. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +hardly tasted food for two days, and was very weak +from the effects of his sickness.</p> + +<p>He crawled on deck as well as he was able, followed +by Captain McClintock, who regarded him +with a look of malignant triumph. Poor Noddy felt +like a martyr; but for Mollie's sake, he was determined +to bear his sufferings with patience and resignation, +and to obey the captain, even if he told him +to jump overboard. He did what was almost as bad +as this, for he ordered the sick boy to swab up the +deck—an entirely useless operation, for the spray +was breaking over the bow of the Roebuck, and the +water was rushing in torrents out of the lee scuppers. +But Noddy, true to his resolution, obeyed the order, +and dragged his weary body forward to perform his +useless task. For half an hour he labored against +nature and the elements, and of course accomplished +nothing. It was all "work" and no "win."</p> + +<p>A boy who had the resolution and courage to face +a dozen angry fellows as large as himself, certainly +ought not to lack the power to overcome the single +foe that beset him from within. Noddy was strong +enough for the occasion, even in his present weakly +condition. It was hard work, but the victory he won +was a satisfactory reward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>The captain's vision was rather imperfect in his +present state, and he took it into his head that the +foretop-gallant sail was straining the topmast. Mr. +Watts respectfully assured him the topmast was +strong enough to stand the strain; but the master +was set in his own opinion. Apparently his view +was adopted for the occasion, for he ordered Noddy +to go aloft and furl the sail. Mollie protested when +she heard this order, for she was afraid Noddy was +so weak that he would fall from the yard. The +cabin-boy, strong in the victory he had just won, +did not even remonstrate against the order; but, +with all the vigor he could command, he went up the +fore-rigging. He was surprised to find how much +strength an earnest spirit lent to his weak body.</p> + +<p>The pitching of the Roebuck rendered the execution +of the order very difficult to one unaccustomed +to the violent motion of a vessel in a heavy +sea; but in spite of all the trials which lay in his +path, he furled the sail. When he came down to the +deck, the captain had gone below again, and the +weary boy was permitted to rest from his severe +labors. Instead of being overcome by them, he +actually felt better than when he had left his berth. +The fresh air, and the conquest of the will over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +feeble body, had almost wrought a miracle in his +physical frame. The mate told him that what he had +done was the best thing in the world for seasickness; +in fact, earnest exertion was the only remedy for the +troublesome complaint.</p> + +<p>At supper-time Noddy took some tea and ate a +couple of ship biscuits with a good relish. He began +to feel like a new person, and even to be much obliged +to the captain for subjecting him to the tribulations +which had wrought his cure. The next morning he +ate a hearty breakfast, and went to his work with the +feeling that "oft from apparent ills our blessings +rise."</p> + +<p>The captain kept sober during the next five days, +owing, it was believed by Noddy, to the influence of +his daughter, who had the courage to speak the truth +to him. Shortly after the departure of the Roebuck, +it had been ascertained that, from some impurity in +the casks, the water on board was not fit for use; and +the captain decided to put into Barbadoes and procure +a fresh supply. When the schooner took a pilot, +on the twelfth day out, it was found that the yellow +fever was making terrible ravages in the island; but +the water was so bad on board that the captain decided +to go into port and remain long enough to pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>cure +new casks and a supply of water. If he had +been entirely sober, he would undoubtedly have +turned his bow at once from the infected island.</p> + +<p>The Roebuck came to anchor, and the captain, regardless +of his own safety, went on shore to transact +the business. The casks were purchased, but it was +impossible to get them on board before the next +morning, and the vessel was compelled to remain at +anchor over night. The weather was excessively hot +in the afternoon, but towards night a cool breeze +came in from the sea, which was very refreshing; +and Noddy and Mollie were on deck, enjoying its +invigorating breath. The boat in which the captain +had just returned lay at the accommodation ladder. +The confinement of twelve days on board the vessel +had been rather irksome, and both of the young +people would have been delighted to take a run on +shore; but the terrible sickness there rendered such a +luxury impossible. They observed with interest +everything that could be seen from the deck, especially +the verdure-crowned hills, and the valleys +green with the rich vegetation of the country.</p> + +<p>If they could not go on shore, they could at least +move about a little in the boat, which would be some +relief from the monotony of their confined home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +They got into the boat with a warning from Mr. +Watts not to go far from the schooner, and not to +approach any other vessel, which might have the +yellow fever on board. Noddy sculled about on the +smooth water for a time, till it was nearly dark, and +Mollie thought it was time to return on board. As +she spoke, she went forward and stood up in the bow +of the boat, ready to step upon the accommodation +ladder.</p> + +<p>"Noddy, do you see these great fishes in the +water?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see them."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what they are?" continued she, as +she turned to receive the answer.</p> + +<p>She was accustomed to boats, and her familiarity +with them made her as fearless as her companion.</p> + +<p>"I never saw any like them before," replied Noddy, +still sculling the boat towards the Roebuck.</p> + +<p>"What do you think they are?" added she, with +one of those smiles which children wear when they +are conscious of being wiser than their companions.</p> + +<p>"I haven't any idea what they are; but they look +ugly enough to be snakes."</p> + +<p>"I've seen lots of them before, and I know what +they are. I like you very well, Noddy; and I ask<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +you, as a particular favor, not to fall overboard," +said she, with a smile, at what she regarded as a very +pretty joke.</p> + +<p>"What are they, Mollie?"</p> + +<p>"They are sharks, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"Sharks!" exclaimed the boy, who had heard Ben +tell awful stories about the voracity of these terrible +creatures.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are sharks, and big ones, too."</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Mollie. I don't like to see you stand +up there. You might fall overboard," said Noddy, +who actually shuddered as he recalled the fearful +stories he had heard about these savage fish.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid. I'm just as safe here as I should +be on board the Roebuck. I've seen sharks before, +and got used to them. I like to watch them."</p> + +<p>At that moment the boat struck upon something in +the water, which might have been a log, or one of the +ravenous monsters, whose back fins could be seen +above the water, as they lay in wait for their prey. +It was some heavy body, and it instantly checked +the progress of the boat, and the sudden stoppage +precipitated the poor girl over the bow into the sea. +Noddy's blood seemed to freeze in his veins as he +realized the horrible situation of Mollie in the water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +surrounded by sharks. He expected to see her fair +form severed in twain by the fierce creatures. He +could swim like a duck, and his first impulse was to +leap overboard, and save the poor girl or perish with +her in the attempt.</p> + +<p>A shout from the schooner laden with the agony +of mortal anguish saluted his ears as Mollie struck +the water. It was the voice of Captain McClintock, +who had come on deck, and had witnessed the fearful +catastrophe. The voice went to Noddy's soul. He +saw the slight form of Mollie as she rose to the surface, +and began to struggle towards the boat. The +cabin-boy sculled with all his might for an instant, +which brought the boat up to the spot; but he was +horrified to see that she was followed by a monstrous +shark. Noddy seized the boat-hook, and sprang forward +just as the greedy fish was turning over upon +his side, with open mouth, to snap up his prey.</p> + +<p>Noddy, aware that the decisive moment for action +had come, and feeling, as by instinct, that a miscalculation +on his part would be fatal to poor Mollie, +poised his weapon, and made a vigorous lunge at +the savage fish. By accident, rather than by design, +the boat-hook struck the shark in the eye; and with a +fearful struggle he disappeared beneath the surface.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +Grasping the extended arm of Mollie, he dragged her +into the boat before another of the monsters could +attack her.</p> + +<p>"O, Noddy!" gasped she, as she sank down upon +the bottom of the boat, overcome by terror, rather +than by her exertions,—for she had been scarcely a +moment in the water.</p> + +<p>"You are safe now, Mollie. Don't be afraid," +said Noddy, in soothing tones, though his own utterance +was choked by the fearful emotions he had +endured.</p> + +<p>"Our Father, who art in heaven, I thank thee +that thou hast preserved my life, and saved me from +the terrible shark," said Mollie, as she clasped her +hands and looked up to the sky.</p> + +<p>It was a prayer from the heart, and the good +Father seemed to be nearer to Noddy than ever before. +He felt that some other hand than his own had +directed the weapon which had vanquished the shark.</p> + +<p>"O, Noddy, you have saved me," cried Mollie, +as she rose from her knees, upon which she had +thrown herself before she uttered her simple but devout +prayer.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad you are safe, Mollie! But was it +me that saved you?" asked Noddy, as he pointed up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +to the sky, with a sincere feeling that he had had very +little to do with her preservation, though he was so +deeply impressed by the event that he could not +utter the sacred name of the Power which in that +awful moment seemed to surround him, and to be +in his very heart.</p> + +<p>"It was God who preserved me," said she, looking +reverently upward again; "but he did it through +you; and I may thank you, too, for what you have +done. O, Noddy, you have been my best earthly +friend; for what would my poor father have done if +the shark had killed me?"</p> + +<p>Noddy sculled towards the Roebuck, for he knew +that Captain McClintock was anxiously awaiting +their return. When the boat touched the accommodation +ladder, the anxious father sprang on board, +not knowing even then that his daughter was entirely +safe. He had seen Noddy draw her into the +boat, but he feared she had lost a leg or an arm, +for he was aware that the harbor swarmed with the +largest and fiercest of the merciless "sea-pirates."</p> + +<p>"My poor child!" exclaimed he, as he clasped +her in his arms, dreading even then to know the +worst.</p> + +<p>"Dear father!" replied she.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"Were there any sharks out there?"</p> + +<p>"I guess there were!" replied she, significantly.</p> + +<p>"One of them had just heeled over to snap at +her," added Noddy. "I never was so frightened in +my life."</p> + +<p>"Good Heaven!" gasped the captain.</p> + +<p>"I gave myself up for lost," said Mollie, shuddering, +as she recalled that fearful moment.</p> + +<p>"Well, what prevented him from taking hold of +you?" asked Captain McClintock, who had not been +near enough to discern precisely what had taken place +in the boat.</p> + +<p>"Noddy saved me, father. He jammed the boat-hook +right into the shark's head. In another instant +the creature would have had me in his mouth. O, +father, it was such an awful death to think of—to +be bitten by a shark!"</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" groaned the father. "Noddy, your +hand! You and I shall be friends to the last day of +my life."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied the heroic boy, as he +took the proffered hand. "I did the best I could;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +but I was so scared! I was afraid the shark would +catch her in spite of me."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Noddy! But come on board, and +we will talk it over."</p> + +<p>Captain McClintock handed Mollie, still dripping +with water, to Mr. Watts, who had been an interested +spectator of the touching scene in the boat; and she +was borne to the cabin amid the congratulations of +the crew, with whom she was a great favorite.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE YELLOW FEVER.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mollie</span> went to her state-room, and changed her +clothes; and she did not come out till she had +kneeled down and poured forth another prayer of +thanksgiving for her safety from the horrible monster +that would have devoured her. Her father +kissed her again, as she returned to the cabin. He +was as grateful as she was, and he took no pains to +conceal the emotions which agitated him.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me all about it, Mollie," said he. +"How happened you to fall overboard?"</p> + +<p>"I was careless, father. Noddy was persuading +me to sit down at the moment when I went overboard," +replied she.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of the sharks as soon as I knew +what they were; and I was thinking what an awful +thing it would be if she should fall overboard," +added Noddy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I had minded you, Noddy, I shouldn't have +been in danger."</p> + +<p>The story was told by the two little adventurers, +each correcting or helping out the other, till the +whole truth was obtained. It was evident to the captain +and the mate, that Noddy had behaved with +vigor and decision, and that, if he had been less +prompt and energetic, poor Mollie must have become +the victim of the ravenous shark.</p> + +<p>"You have saved her life, Noddy; that's plain +enough," said Captain McClintock, as he rose and +went to his state-room.</p> + +<p>"You were smart, my boy, and you deserve a +great deal of credit," added Mr. Watts.</p> + +<p>"I don't mind that; I was too glad to get her out +of the water to think of anything else."</p> + +<p>"Well, Noddy, you did good work that time, and +you have won a great deal of honor by it."</p> + +<p>"You shall win something better than that, +Noddy," said the captain, as he returned to the cabin +with a little bag in his hand. "Here are ten gold +pieces, my boy—one hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>He handed Noddy the bright coins; but the little +hero's face flushed, and he looked as discontented as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +though he had been robbed of the honor of his +exploit.</p> + +<p>"You shall win a hundred dollars by the operation," +continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir, but I don't want any money for +that," replied Noddy, whose pride revolted at the +idea, however tempting the money looked to him.</p> + +<p>"Take it, Noddy. You have done a good piece of +work, and you ought to win something for it," added +the captain.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to win any money for a job like that, +Captain McClintock. I am already well paid for +what I have done. I can't take any money for it. I +feel too good already; and I am afraid if I take your +gold I should spoil it all."</p> + +<p>"You are as proud as a lord, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure, if we had lost Miss Mollie, I should +have missed her as much as anybody, except her +father. I shouldn't feel right to be paid for doing +such a thing as knocking a shark in the head. I +hated the monster bad enough to kill him, if he +hadn't been going to do any mischief."</p> + +<p>"Then you won't take this money, Noddy?" continued +the captain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd rather not, sir. I shouldn't feel right if I +did."</p> + +<p>"And I shouldn't feel right if you didn't. You +don't quite understand the case, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"I think I do, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't. Let me tell you about it. You +have done something which fills me with gratitude +to you. I want to do something to express that +gratitude. I don't know that I can do it in any +other way just now than by making you a little +present. I don't mean to pay you."</p> + +<p>"It looks like that."</p> + +<p>"No it don't look a bit like it. Do you think I +value my daughter's life at no more than a hundred +dollars?"</p> + +<p>"I know you do, captain."</p> + +<p>"If I expected to pay you for what you have done, +I should give you every dollar I have in the world, +and every dollar which my property would bring if +it were sold; and then I should feel that you had not +half got your due."</p> + +<p>"I don't care about any money, sir," persisted +Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Let me make you a present, then. It would +make me feel better to do something for you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm sure I would do anything to accommodate +you."</p> + +<p>"Then take the money."</p> + +<p>Noddy took it very reluctantly, and felt just as +though he was stealing it. Mr. Watts joined with +the captain in arguing the matter, and he finally felt +a little better satisfied about it. When he realized +that he was the honest possessor of so large a sum, +he felt like a rich man, and could not help thinking +of the pleasure it would afford him to pour all these +gold coins into Bertha's lap, and tell how he had +won them.</p> + +<p>Mollie had something to say about the matter, +and of course she took her father's side of the question; +and the captain concluded the debate by assuring +Noddy, if his daughter had to die, he would give +more than a hundred dollars to save her from the +maw of a shark, that she might die less horribly by +drowning. On the whole, the cabin-boy was pretty +well satisfied that he had won the money honestly, +and he carefully bestowed it with his clothing in his +berth.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning Mr. Watts went on shore +with a boat's crew, to commence bringing off the +water casks. It required the whole forenoon to re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>move +the old casks, and stow the new ones in the +hold. About eleven o'clock the mate complained of +a chilly sensation, and a pain in his back, which was +followed up by a severe headache. He was soon compelled +to leave his work, and take to his berth in the +cabin. The next boat from the shore brought off a +surgeon, who promptly pronounced the disease the +yellow fever.</p> + +<p>Before the Roebuck could get off, two of the sailors +were attacked by the terrible malady. The only +safety for the rest was in immediate flight; and the +schooner got under way, and stood out to sea. The +doctor had left ample directions for the treatment +of the disease, but the medicines appeared to do no +good. Mr. Watts was delirious before night. The +two men in the forecastle were no better, and the +prospect on board the vessel was as gloomy as it could +be.</p> + +<p>Mollie stood by the sufferer in the cabin, in spite +of the protest of her father. She knew what the +fever was; but she seemed to be endued with a courage +which was more than human. She nursed the +sick man tenderly, and her simple prayer for his +recovery ascended every hour during the long night. +One of the men forward died before morning, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +was committed to the deep by his terrified messmates, +without even a form of prayer over his plague-stricken +remains.</p> + +<p>Towards night, on the second day out of Barbadoes, +Mr. Watts breathed his last. By the light of +the lanterns, his cold form was placed on a plank +extended over the rail. Mollie would not permit him +to be buried in his watery grave without a prayer, +and Captain McClintock read one. Many tears were +shed over him, as his body slid off into the sea. +Noddy and Mollie wept bitterly, for they felt that +they had lost a good friend.</p> + +<p>There was only one more patient on board, and +he seemed to be improving; but before the morning +sun rose, red and glaring on the silent ocean, there +were three more. Captain McClintock was one of +them. There was none to take care of him but Mollie +and Noddy; and both of them, regardless of the +demands of their own bodies, kept vigil by his couch. +More faithful nurses a sick man never had. They +applied the remedies which had been used before.</p> + +<p>On the following day two more of the crew were +committed to their ocean graves, and despair reigned +throughout the vessel. The captain grew worse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +every hour, and poor Mollie was often compelled to +leave the bedside that he might not see her weeping +over him. He soon became delirious, and did not +even know her.</p> + +<p>"O, Noddy," exclaimed she, when she fully realized +the situation of her father, "I shall soon be +alone."</p> + +<p>"Don't give up, Mollie," replied the cabin-boy +sadly.</p> + +<p>"I have prayed till I fear my prayers are no +longer heard," sobbed she.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are, Mollie. Don't stop praying," +said Noddy, who knew that the poor girl had derived +a great deal of hope and comfort from her +prayers.</p> + +<p>He had seen her kneel down when she was almost +overcome by the horrors which surrounded them, and +rise as calm and hopeful as though she had received +a message direct from on high. Perhaps he had no +real faith in her prayers, but he saw what strength +she derived from them. Certainly they had not +warded off the pestilence, which was still seeking new +victims on board. But they were the life of Mollie's +struggling existence; and it was with the utmost sincerity +that he had counselled her to continue them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My father will die!" groaned the poor girl. +"Nothing can save him now."</p> + +<p>"No, he won't die. He isn't very bad yet, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"O, yes, he is. He does not speak to me; he does +not know me."</p> + +<p>"He is doing very well, Mollie. Don't give it up +yet."</p> + +<p>"I feel that he will soon leave me."</p> + +<p>"No, he won't, Mollie. I <i>know</i> he will get well," +said Noddy, with the most determined emphasis.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"I feel that he will. He isn't half so bad as Mr. +Watts was. Cheer up, and he will be all right in +a few days."</p> + +<p>"But think how terrible it would be for my poor +father to die, away here in the middle of the +ocean," continued Mollie, weeping most bitterly, as +she thought of the future.</p> + +<p>"But he will not die; I am just as sure that he +will get well, as I am that I am alive now."</p> + +<p>Noddy had no reason whatever for this strong +assertion, and he made it only to comfort his friend. +It was not made in vain, for the afflicted daughter +was willing to cling to any hope, however slight, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +the confident words of the boy made an impression +upon her. The morrow came, and the captain was +decidedly better; but from the forecastle came the +gloomy report that two more of the men had been +struck down by the disease.</p> + +<p>There were but three seamen left who were able to +do duty, and Mr. Lincoln, the second mate, was +nearly exhausted by watching and anxiety. Fortunately, +the weather had been fine, and the Roebuck +had been under all sail, with a fair wind. Noddy +had obtained a little sleep during the second night +of the captain's illness, and he went on deck to report +to the mate for duty. He was competent to +steer the vessel in a light breeze, and he was permitted +to relieve the man at the wheel.</p> + +<p>He stood his trick of two hours, and then went below, +to ascertain the condition of the captain. As +he descended the ladder, he discovered the form of +Mollie extended on one of the lockers. Her face +was flushed, and she was breathing heavily. Noddy +was appalled at this sight, for he knew too well +what these indications meant.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Mollie?" asked he, hardly +able to speak the words from the violence of his emotion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is my turn now, Noddy," replied she, in +faint tones. "Who will pray for me?"</p> + +<p>"I will, Mollie; but what ails you?"</p> + +<p>"I am burning up with heat, and perishing with +cold. My back feels as if it was broken, and the +pain darts up through my neck into my head. I +know very well what it means. You will take care +of my poor father—won't you, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I will. You must turn in, Mollie, +and let me take care of you, too," said he, trying to +be as calm as the terrible situation required of +him.</p> + +<p>He assisted the stricken maiden to her state-room, +and placed her in her berth. Taking from the medicine +chest the now familiar remedy, he gave her the +potion, and tenderly ministered to all her wants. +She was very sick, for she had struggled with the destroying +malady for hours before she yielded to its +insidious advances.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Noddy. I feel better now, and I +shall soon be happy. Go now and see to my father; +don't let him want for anything."</p> + +<p>"I will not, Mollie; I will take first-rate care of +him," answered Noddy, as he smoothed down the +clothing around her neck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My father is the captain of the ship, you know," +added she, with a smile. "He is a great man; bigger +than any shark you ever saw."</p> + +<p>Her mind had begun to wander already; and her +patient nurse could hardly keep down his tears, as he +gazed at her flushed cheeks, and smoothed down the +curls upon her neck. She was beautiful to him—too +beautiful to die there in mid ocean, with none +but rude men to shed great tears over her silent form. +How he wished that Bertha was there, to watch over +that frail little form, and ward off the grim tyrant +that was struggling to possess it! She would not +fear the pangs of the pestilence; she would be an +angel in the little state-room, and bring down peace +and hope, if not life, to the lovely sufferer.</p> + +<p>Noddy felt as he had never felt before, not even +when the dread monster of the deep had almost +snapped up the slight form before him. All the good +lessons he had ever learned in his life came to him +with a force they had never possessed in the sunny +hour of prosperity. He wanted to pray. He felt the +need of a strength not his own. Mollie could not +pray now. Her mind was darkened by the shadows +of disease. He went out into the cabin. It looked +as cheerless, and cold, and gloomy, as the inside of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +a tomb. But God was there; and though Noddy +could not speak the words of his prayer, his heart +breathed a spirit which the infinite Father could understand. +He prayed, as he had promised the sick +girl he would, and the strength which prayer had +given to her was given to him.</p> + +<p>"Here is work for me," said he, as he approached +the door of the captain's state-room. "But I am +able to do it. I will never give up this work."</p> + +<p>He did not know what he was to win by this work +of love, amid trials and tribulation. He had struggled +with the disposition to despond; he had worked +like a hero to keep his spirits up; and that which he +was called upon to do with his hands was small and +trivial compared with that which was done by his +mind and heart. He had conquered fear and +despair.</p> + +<p>Thus prepared to battle with the giant ills which +surrounded him, he entered Captain McClintock's +room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEMON OF THE CUP.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Is</span> that you, Noddy?" asked the captain, +faintly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. How do you feel, captain?"</p> + +<p>"I think I'm a little better. I wish you would +ask Mollie to come in; I want to see her."</p> + +<p>"Does your head ache now, sir?" asked Noddy, +who did not like to tell him that his daughter had +just been taken with the fever.</p> + +<p>"Not so bad as it did. Just speak to Mollie."</p> + +<p>"I think you are ever so much better, sir. You +will be out in a day or two."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I'm certain you will," answered the +boy, who knew that faith was life in the present instance.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you think so. I certainly feel a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +deal better," replied the captain, as though he was already +cheered by the inspiration of hope.</p> + +<p>"You must be careful, and keep still; and you +will be all right in a week, at the most."</p> + +<p>"I hope so; for I couldn't help thinking, when +I was taken down, what a bitter thing it would be to +poor Mollie if I should die so far from home and +friends."</p> + +<p>"You have got over the worst of it now, captain."</p> + +<p>"Is Mollie out in the cabin?" asked the sufferer, +persistently returning to the subject near his +heart.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; she is not, just now."</p> + +<p>"Has she gone on deck?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Where is she, Noddy?" demanded he, earnestly, +as he attempted to raise himself up in his cot.</p> + +<p>"Don't stir, captain; it will make you worse, if +you do."</p> + +<p>"Tell me where Mollie is at once, or I shall jump +out of my berth. Is she—is she—"</p> + +<p>"She is in her room, captain. Don't be worried +about her," replied Noddy, who was afraid that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +truth would have a bad effect upon the devoted +father. "She laid down a little while ago."</p> + +<p>"Is she dead?" gasped the captain, with a mighty +effort to utter the appalling word.</p> + +<p>"O, no, sir! She was taken sick a little while +ago."</p> + +<p>"O, mercy!" groaned the sick man. "I know it +all now."</p> + +<p>"It's no use to deny it, sir. She has got the +fever."</p> + +<p>"And I lay here helpless!"</p> + +<p>"She said she felt a little better when I came out. +I gave her the medicine, and did everything for her."</p> + +<p>"I must go to her."</p> + +<p>"You will worry her to death, if you do, captain. +She is more troubled about you than she is about +herself. If you lay still, so I can report that you are +doing well, it will be the best thing in the world +for her. It will do her more good than the medicine."</p> + +<p>"Tell her I am well, Noddy!"</p> + +<p>"It won't do to tell her too much; she won't believe +anything, if I do," said Noddy, sorely troubled +about the moral management of the cases.</p> + +<p>"Tell her I am well, Noddy; and I will go and sit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +by her," replied the sufferer, who was no more able +to get out of his bed than he was to cure the fearful +disease.</p> + +<p>"I can't do anything, captain, if you don't keep +still in your bed. She is a little out just now; but +I think she will do very well, if you only let her +alone."</p> + +<p>Captain McClintock was in an agony of suspense; +but Noddy succeeded in consoling him so that he +promised to remain quietly in his bed. As physician +and nurse, as well as friend and comforter, the +cabin-boy found his hands full; but he had a heart +big enough for the occasion; and all day and all night +he went from one patient to another, ministering to +their wants with as much skill and judgment as +though he had been trained in a sick room.</p> + +<p>Mollie grow worse as the hours wore heavily +away; but this was to be expected, and the patient +nurse was not discouraged by the progressive indications +of the disease. Towards morning the captain +went to sleep; but it required all the faithful boy's +energies to keep Mollie in her bed, as she raved with +the heated brain of the malady.</p> + +<p>In the morning one of the seamen was reported out +of danger, and the others in a hopeful condition.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +Noddy was completely exhausted by his labors and +his solicitude. Mr. Lincoln saw that he could endure +no more; and as he had obtained a few hours' +sleep on deck during the night, he insisted that the +weary boy should have some rest, while he took care +of the sick. Noddy crawled into his berth, and not +even his anxiety for poor Mollie could keep him +awake any longer. He slept heavily, and the considerate +mate did not wake him till dinner-time, +when he sprang from his berth and hastened to the +couch of the sick girl.</p> + +<p>Another day passed, and Mollie began to exhibit +some hopeful symptoms. Her father was still improving. +The patients in the forecastle were also +getting better. Noddy felt that no more of the Roebuck's +people were to be cast into the sea. Hope +gave him new life. He was rested and refreshed by +the bright prospect quite as much as by the sleep +which the kindness of Mr. Lincoln enabled him to +obtain.</p> + +<p>The schooner still sped on her course with favoring +breezes; while Noddy, patient and hopeful, performed +the various duties which the fell disease imposed +upon him. He had not regarded the danger +of taking the fever himself. He had no thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +now for any one but poor Mollie, who was daily improving. +One by one the crew, who had been +stricken down with the malady, returned to the deck; +but it was a long time before they were able to do +their full measure of duty. In a week after Mollie +was taken sick, her father was able to sit a portion of +the day by her side; and a few days later, she was +able to sit up for a few moments.</p> + +<p>The terrible scourge had wasted itself; but the +chief mate and three of the crew had fallen victims +to the sad visitation. Yellow fever patients convalesce +very slowly; and it was a fortnight before Captain +McClintock was able to go on deck; but at the +same time, Mollie, weak and attenuated by her sufferings, +was helped up the ladder by her devoted friend +and nurse. The cloud had passed away from the +vessel, and everybody on board was as happy as +though disease and death had never invaded those +wooden walls. But the happiness was toned to the +circumstances. Hearts had been purified by suffering. +Neither the officers nor the men swore; they +spoke to each other in gentle tones, as though the +tribulations through which they had passed had +softened their hearts, and bound them together in a +holier than earthly affection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Mr. Watts and three sailors had died, the vessel +was short-handed, but not crippled; and the captain +decided to prosecute his voyage without putting +into any port for assistance. Mr. Lincoln was appointed +chief mate, and a second mate was selected +from the forecastle. Everything went along as before +the storm burst upon the devoted vessel.</p> + +<p>"How happy I am, Noddy!" exclaimed Mollie, +as they sat on deck one afternoon, when she had +nearly recovered her strength. "My father was +saved, and I am saved. How grateful I am!"</p> + +<p>"So am I, Mollie," replied Noddy.</p> + +<p>"And how much we both owe to you! Wasn't it +strange you didn't take the fever?"</p> + +<p>"I think it was."</p> + +<p>"Were you not afraid of it?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't think anything about it, any way; but I +feel just as though I had gone through with the fever, +or something else."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; everything looks odd and strange +to me. I don't feel like the same fellow."</p> + +<p>Mollie persisted in her desire to know how the +cabin-boy felt, and Noddy found it exceedingly difficult +to describe his feelings. Much of the religious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +impressions which he had derived from the days of +tribulation still clung to him. His views of life and +death had changed. Many of Bertha's teachings, +which he could not understand before, were very +plain to him now. He did not believe it would be +possible for him to do anything wrong again. Hopes +and fears had been his incentives to duty before; +principle had grown up in his soul now. The experience +of years seemed to be crowded into the few +short days when gloom and death reigned in the +vessel.</p> + +<p>The Roebuck sped on her way, generally favored +with good weather and fair winds. She was a stanch +vessel, and behaved well in the few storms she encountered. +She doubled Cape Horn without subjecting +her crew to any severe hardships, and sped +on her way to more genial climes. For several weeks +after his recovery, Captain McClintock kept very +steady, and Mollie hoped that the "evil days" had +passed by. It was a vain hope; for when the +schooner entered the Pacific, his excesses were again +apparent. He went on from bad to worse, till he was +sober hardly a single hour of the day. In vain did +Mollie plead with him; in vain she reminded him +of the time when they had both lain at death's door;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +in vain she assured him that she feared the bottle +more than the fever. He was infatuated by the +demon of the cup, and seemed to have no moral +power left.</p> + +<p>The Roebuck was approaching the thick clusters +of islands that stud the Pacific; and it was important +that the vessel should be skilfully navigated. +Mr. Lincoln was a good seaman, but he was not a +navigator; that is, he was not competent to find the +latitude and longitude, and lay down the ship's position +on the chart. The captain was seldom in +condition to make an observation, and the schooner +was in peril of being dashed to pieces on the rocks. +The mate was fully alive to the difficulties of his +position; and he told Mollie what must be the consequences +of her father's continued neglect. The sea +in which they were then sailing was full of islands +and coral reefs. There were indications of a storm, +and he could not save the vessel without knowing +where she was.</p> + +<p>"Noddy," said the troubled maiden, after Mr. Lincoln +had explained the situation to her, "I want you +to help me."</p> + +<p>"I'm ready," replied he, with his usual promptness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are going to ruin. My poor father is in a +terrible state, and I am going to do something."</p> + +<p>"What can you do?"</p> + +<p>"You shall help me, but I will bear all the +blame."</p> + +<p>"You would not do anything wrong, and I am +willing to bear the blame with you."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that; we are going to do what's +right, and we will not say a word about the blame. +Now come with me," she continued, leading the way +to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to do anything that is right, wherever +the blame falls."</p> + +<p>"We must save the vessel, for the mate says she is +in great danger. There is a storm coming, and Mr. +Lincoln don't know where we are. Father hasn't +taken an observation for four days."</p> + +<p>"Well, are you going to take one?" asked Noddy, +who was rather bewildered by Mollie's statement of +the perils of the vessel.</p> + +<p>"No; but I intend that father shall to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>She opened the pantry door, and took from the +shelf a bottle of gin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take this, Noddy, and throw it overboard," said +she, handing him the bottle.</p> + +<p>"I'll do that;" and he went to the bull's eye, in +Molli's state-room, and dropped it into the sea.</p> + +<p>"That's only a part of the work," said she, as she +opened one of the lockers in the cabin, which was +stowed full of liquors.</p> + +<p>She passed them out, two at a time, and Noddy +dropped them all into the ocean. Captain McClintock +was lying in his state-room, in a helpless state +of intoxication, so that there was no fear of interruption +from him. Every bottle of wine, ale, and +liquor which the cabin contained was thrown overboard. +Noddy thought that the sharks, which swallow +everything that falls overboard, would all get +"tight;" but he hoped they would break the bottles +before they swallowed them. The work was done, +and everything which could intoxicate was gone; at +least everything which Mollie and the cabin-boy +could find. They did not tell Mr. Lincoln what +they had done, for they did not wish to make him a +party to the transaction.</p> + +<p>They were satisfied with their work. The vessel +would be saved if the storm held off twelve hours +longer. The captain rose early the next morning,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +and Noddy, from his berth, saw him go to the pantry +for his morning dram. There was no bottle there. +He went to the locker; there was none there. He +searched, without success, in all the lockers and +berths of the cabin. While he was engaged in the +search, Mollie, who had heard him, came out of +her room.</p> + +<p>The captain's hand shook, and his whole frame +trembled from the effects of his long-inebriation. +His nerves were shattered, and nothing but liquor +could quiet them. Mollie could not help crying +when she saw to what a state her father had been reduced. +He was pale and haggard; and when he +tried to raise a glass of water to his lips his trembling +hand refused its office, and he spilled it on the +floor.</p> + +<p>"Where is all the liquor, Mollie?" he asked, in +shaken, hollow tones.</p> + +<p>"I have thrown it all overboard," she replied, +firmly.</p> + +<p>He was too weak to be angry with her; and she +proceeded to tell him what must be the fate of the +vessel, and of all on board, if he did not attend to +his duty. He listened, and promised not to drink +another drop; for he knew then, even when his shat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>tered +reason held but partial sway, that he would be +the murderer of his daughter and of his crew, if the +vessel was wrecked by his neglect. He meant to keep +his promise; but the gnawing appetite, which he had +fostered and cherished until it became a demon, +would not let him do so. In the forenoon, goaded +by the insatiate thirst that beset him, he went into +the hold, which could be entered from the cabin, and +opened a case of liquors, forming part of the cargo. +He drank long and deep, and lay down upon the +merchandise, that he might be near this demon.</p> + +<p>Twelve o'clock came, and no observation could be +taken. Mollie looked for her father, and with +Noddy's help she found him in the hold, senseless +in his inebriation. Mr. Lincoln was called down, +and he was conveyed to his berth. The liquor was +thrown overboard, but it was too late; before dark +the gale broke upon the Roebuck, and fear and trembling +were again in the vessel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>NIGHT AND STORM.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sudden</span> and severe was the gale which came down +upon the Roebuck, while her captain was besotted +and helpless in his berth. Mr. Lincoln did all that +a skilful seaman could do, and while the wind and +the waves were the only perils against which the +schooner had to contend, there was no serious alarm +for her safety. The night had come, and the time +had passed by when even Captain McClintock could +do anything more than the mate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln had kept the "dead reckoning" as +well as he could without any knowledge of the currents; +and it was evident that the vessel was in a +perilous situation, and not far distant from the +region of islands and coral reefs. The first hours of +the stormy night wore gloomily away, for none +knew at what moment the schooner might be dashed +to pieces upon some hidden rock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the captain revived a little from the stupor +of intoxication, he seemed not to heed the situation +of the vessel. Taking the cabin lantern, he went +into the hold again. His only thought seemed to +be of the liquor on which he lived. All the cases +that Mollie and Noddy could find had been thrown +overboard; but the drunkard overhauled the cargo +till he found what he wanted, and taking a bottle +of gin to his state-room, he was soon as senseless as +the fiery fluid could make him.</p> + +<p>Mollie did all that she could do under these trying +circumstances; she prayed that the good Father +who had saved them before, would be with them +now; and she knew that the strong arm of Omnipotence +could move far from them the perils with +which they were surrounded. She felt better every +time she prayed. But the storm increased in fury, +and she knew not the purposes of the Infinite in regard +to them.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we shall never see the light of +another day, Noddy," said she, as the great seas +struck with stunning force against the side of the +vessel.</p> + +<p>"Why not? We have been out in a worse gale +than this," replied Noddy, who felt that it was his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +peculiar office to keep hope alive in the heart of his +gentle companion.</p> + +<p>"But we may be in the midst of the rocks and +shoals."</p> + +<p>"We shall do very well, Mollie. Don't give it +up."</p> + +<p>"I don't give it up; but I am ready for anything. +I want to be resigned to my fate whenever it comes."</p> + +<p>"Don't be so blue about it, Mollie. It will be all +right with us in the morning."</p> + +<p>"You heard what Mr. Lincoln said, and you know +we are in great danger."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we are."</p> + +<p>"You know we are, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"Well, we are; but for all that, the vessel will ride +out the gale, and to-morrow you will laugh to think +how scared you were."</p> + +<p>"I am not scared; I am ready to die. Promise me +one thing, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"Anything," answered he, promptly.</p> + +<p>"You will not blame my father if the vessel is +lost. He is insane; he can't help what he does. He +never did so before, and I know he don't mean to do +wrong."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose he don't, and I won't blame him, whatever +happens," replied he, willing to comfort the +poor girl in any way he could.</p> + +<p>"I should not care so much if it didn't look as +though it was all father's fault."</p> + +<p>"It will be all right to-morrow. We will throw +the rest of the liquor overboard. We will search +through the hold, and not leave a single bottle of anything +there. Then we shall be safe."</p> + +<p>"It will be too late then," sighed Mollie.</p> + +<p>"No, it won't; the vessel will be saved. I <i>know</i> +it will," added Noddy, resolutely.</p> + +<p>"You don't know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do; I am just as certain of it as I am of +my own existence."</p> + +<p>Noddy had hardly uttered these confident words, +before a tremendous shock threw them upon the cabin +floor. It was followed by a terrible crashing sound, +as though every timber in the vessel had been rent +and broken; and they could hear the rush of waters, +as the torrents poured in through the broken sides. +Noddy, without stopping to think of the vain prophecy +he had made, seized the light form of Mollie, +and bore her to the deck. The sea was running riot +there; the great waves swept over the deck with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +force which no human strength could resist, and +Noddy was compelled to retreat to the cabin again.</p> + +<p>The lantern still swung from a deck beam, but the +water had risen in the cabin so that his descent was +prevented. The Roebuck had run upon a reef or +shoal in such a manner that her bow was projected +far out of the water, while her stern was almost submerged +in the waves. Noddy's quick perception enabled +him to comprehend the position of the vessel, +and he placed his charge on the companion ladder, +which was protected in a measure from the force of +the sea by the hatch, closed on the top, and open only +on the front.</p> + +<p>"My father!" gasped Mollie. "Save him, +Noddy!"</p> + +<p>"I will try," replied Noddy. "Hold on tight," +added he, as a heavy volume of water rolled down the +companion-way.</p> + +<p>"Save him, and don't mind me," groaned the poor +girl, unselfish to the last.</p> + +<p>The brave boy stepped down to the cabin floor, +where the water was up to his hips. Creeping on +the top of the lockers, and holding on to the front of +the berths, he reached the door of the captain's state-room. +In this part of the vessel the water had risen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +nearly to the top of the door, and the berth in which +the unfortunate inebriate lay was entirely beneath +its surface. He crawled into the room, and put +his hand into the berth. The captain was not +there.</p> + +<p>The water was still rising, and Noddy had no +doubt that the poor man had already perished. The +shock of the collision when the schooner struck, or +the rising waters, had forced him from his position +on the bed. The water was over Noddy's head in +the state-room; but the agony of Mollie induced him +to make a desperate effort to save her father. He +dropped down on the floor, and felt about with his +feet, till he found the body. The question was settled. +Captain McClintock was dead. He was one +of the first victims of his criminal neglect.</p> + +<p>It was not safe to remain longer in the state-room, +even if there had been any motive for doing +so, and Noddy worked his way forward again as he +had come. He found Mollie still clinging to the +ladder, suffering everything on account of her father, +and nothing for herself.</p> + +<p>"My poor father!" said she, when she discovered +her friend coming back without him. "Where is he, +Noddy?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I couldn't do anything for him, Mollie," +replied he.</p> + +<p>"Is he lost?"</p> + +<p>"He is gone, Mollie; and it was all over with him +before I got there. Don't cry. He is out of trouble +now."</p> + +<p>"Poor father," sobbed she. "Couldn't you save +him? Let me go and help you."</p> + +<p>"No use, Mollie," added Noddy, as he climbed +up the ladder, and looked out through the aperture +at the hatch.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure we can't do anything for him?" she +asked, in trembling tones.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Mollie. He was dead when I opened +the door of his room. I found him on the floor, and +had to go down over my head to find him. He did +not move or struggle, and I'm sure he is dead. I +am sorry, but I can't help it."</p> + +<p>"O, dear, dear!" groaned she, in her anguish.</p> + +<p>She heeded not the cracking timbers and the roaring +sea. Her heart was with the unfortunate man +who lay cold and still beneath the invading waters. +She was ready to go with him to the home in the +silent land.</p> + +<p>"You hold on tight a little while, and I will go on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +deck, and see if I can make out where we are," said +Noddy.</p> + +<p>"It matters little to me where we are. I shall +soon be with my father," replied Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Don't say that. Your father is at rest now."</p> + +<p>"And I shall soon be at rest with him. Do you +hear those terrible waves beat against the vessel? +They will break her in pieces in a few moments +more."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will, and perhaps they won't. You +mustn't give up, Mollie. If I should lose you now, +I shouldn't care what became of me."</p> + +<p>"You have been very good to me, Noddy; and I +hope God will bless you."</p> + +<p>"I want to save you if I can."</p> + +<p>"You cannot, Noddy, in this terrible storm. We +are poor weak children, and we can do nothing."</p> + +<p>"But I am bound to work and win. I shall not +give it up yet, Mollie. We have struck upon a rock +or a shoal, and the land can't be a great ways off."</p> + +<p>"Such an awful sea! We could never reach the +land."</p> + +<p>"We can try—can't we?"</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr. Lincoln?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I have not heard a sound but the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +noise of the sea since the vessel struck. I suppose +he and the rest of the men were washed overboard."</p> + +<p>"How horrible!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. They may have left in one of the +boats."</p> + +<p>"I haven't any courage, Noddy. My poor father +is gone, and I don't feel as though it made any difference +what became of me."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so, Mollie. Save yourself for my +sake, if you don't for your own."</p> + +<p>"What can we do?" asked she, blankly, for the +situation seemed utterly hopeless.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I will see," replied Noddy, as he +crawled through the aperture, and reached the +deck.</p> + +<p>A huge wave struck him as he rose upon his feet, +and bore him down to the lee side of the vessel; but +he grasped the shrouds, and saved himself from +being hurled into the abyss of waters that boiled +in the fury of the storm on both sides of the +stranded schooner. He ran up the shrouds a short +distance, and tried to penetrate the gloom of the +night. He could see nothing but the white froth on +the waves, which beat on all sides. There was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +land to be seen ahead, as he had expected, and it was +evident that the Roebuck had struck on a shoal, at +some distance from any shore.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to walk forward on the deck, for +the savage waves that broke over the vessel would +have carried him overboard. The sight suggested +the manner in which the men had so suddenly disappeared. +They had probably been swept away the +moment the vessel struck. The rigging of the +schooner was all standing, and Noddy decided to go +forward to ascertain if there was any comfortable +position there for Mollie. He went to the main-mast +head, and, by the spring-stay, reached the fore-mast. +Descending by the fore-shrouds, he reached the forecastle +of the schooner.</p> + +<p>The bow had been thrown up so high on the +shoal that the sea did not break over this part of the +vessel with anything like the force it did farther aft. +The hatch was on the fore-scuttle, and it was possible +that the men had taken refuge in the forecastle. +Removing the hatch, he called the names of Mr. Lincoln +and others; but there was no response. He +then went down, and attempted to make his way aft +through the hold. This was impossible, and he was +obliged to return by the way he had come.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My poor father!" sighed Mollie, as Noddy +reached the ladder to which she was clinging; "I +shall never see you again."</p> + +<p>"Come, Mollie. I want you to go with me now," +said he, taking her by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Did you find any of the crew?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a single one."</p> + +<p>"Poor men!"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid they are all drowned; but we may be +saved if we only work. If we stay here we shall certainly +be lost. If the sea should carry off the companion-hatch, +we should be drowned out in spite of +all we could do."</p> + +<p>"What can we do?"</p> + +<p>"We must go forward."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible for me, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't."</p> + +<p>"Save yourself, Noddy, if you can. I do not feel +like doing anything."</p> + +<p>"I shall stay by you, and if you are lost I shall be +lost with you."</p> + +<p>"Then I will go with you, and do anything you +say," said she, earnestly; for when the life of another +was at stake, she was willing to put forth any exertion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The vessel holds together first-rate, and if we +stick by her till morning, we may find some way to +save ourselves. Don't give it up, Mollie. Work and +win; that's my motto, you know."</p> + +<p>"I am ready to work with you, Noddy, whether +you win or not."</p> + +<p>The persevering boy got a rope, which he made +fast around the little girl's body, and watching his +time, at the intervals of the breaking waves, he bore +her to the main shrouds. She went up to the mast +head without much difficulty, though the force of the +wind was so great that Noddy had to hold on to her, +to keep her from being blown from the ropes.</p> + +<p>At this point he made a sling for her on the +spring-stay, in which she sat as a child does in a +swing. It was adjusted to the big rope so that it +would slip along, and permit her to hold on to the +stay with her hands. The vessel seemed to be so +wedged in the rocks or sand, on which she had struck, +that she did not roll, and the only obstacle to a safe +passage from one mast to the other, was the violence +of the gale. By Noddy's careful and skilful management, +the transit was made in safety through +the most imminent peril. The descent to the deck, +forward, was more easily accomplished, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +heroic youth soon had the pleasure of seeing his gentle +charge safe, for the present, in the forecastle.</p> + +<p>He had worked and won, so far. He was satisfied +with the past, and hopeful of the future. Having +conducted Mollie to a safe place, he turned his +attention once more to the situation of the vessel. +Looking over the bow, he discovered the dark, ragged +rocks, rising a few feet above the water, on which +she had struck, but he could not see any land.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>AFTER THE STORM.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Roebuck had been built, under the direction +of Captain McClintock, for the voyage around Cape +Horn. She was a new vessel, and of extra strength, +and she held together in spite of the hard thumping +she received on the rocks. As she struck, a hole was +knocked in her bottom; but her bow had been forced +so far up on the rocks that the water which she made +all settled aft.</p> + +<p>With tender care Noddy had wrapped up his frail +companion in a pea jacket he found in the forecastle, +and together they waited anxiously for the +morning light. The waves beat fiercely against the +side of the vessel, pounded on the decks as they +rolled over the bulwarks; and the survivors were in +continual fear that each moment would witness the +destruction of their ark of safety. Noddy had made +the best arrangements he could for a speedy exit, in +case the worst should be realized.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the first signs of daylight Noddy was on +deck endeavoring to obtain a better knowledge of the +location of the wreck. It seemed to him then that +the force of the gale had abated, though the sea was +hardly less savage than it had been during the night. +As the day dawned, he discovered the outline of +some dark object, apparently half a mile distant. +He watched this sombre pile till there was light +enough to satisfy him that it was an island.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Noddy,—forgetting, in the +joy of this discovery, that death and destruction had +reigned on board the Roebuck.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Mollie, hardly moved by the +gladness of her companion.</p> + +<p>"Land ho!" replied he, as he descended the ladder +to the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" said she, languidly, as though she +did not feel much interested in the announcement.</p> + +<p>"Right over here, about half a mile off."</p> + +<p>"It might as well be a thousand miles off; for we +can never get there."</p> + +<p>"O, yes, we can. We have the boat on deck. I'm +afraid you are discouraged, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"I can't help thinking of poor father," said she, +bursting into tears again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>Noddy comforted her as well as he could. He +told her she ought not to repine at the will of God, +who had saved her, though he had permitted her +father to be lost; that she ought to be grateful for +her own preservation; and, what seemed to be the +strongest argument to him, that weeping and "taking +on" would do no good. He was but a poor +comforter, and only repeated what he had often heard +her say in the dark hours of their former tribulation. +Her father was dead, and she could not help weeping. +Whatever were his faults, and however great had +been the error which had brought her to the present +extremity, he was her father. In his sober days he +had loved her tenderly and devotedly; and it seemed +like sacrilege to her to dry the tears which so readily +and so freely flowed. They were the natural tribute +of affection from a child to a lost parent.</p> + +<p>Noddy did not dare to say all he believed, for he +was convinced that the death of the captain was a +blessing to himself and to his daughter. He was so +besotted by the demon that life could henceforth be +only a misery to him, and a stumbling-block to her. +It required no great faith for him to believe, in the +present instance, that the good Father doeth all +things well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>The daylight came, and with it the hope of +brighter hours. The clouds were breaking away, +and the winds subsided almost as suddenly as they +had risen. Still the waves broke fiercely over the +wreck, and it was impossible to take any steps towards +reaching the land, whose green hills and bright +valleys gladdened the heart of the storm-tossed sailor-boy. +With an axe which he found in the forecastle, +he knocked away a couple of the planks of the bulkhead +which divided the seamen's quarters from the +hold. He passed through, by moving a portion of +the miscellaneous cargo, to the cabin, where he obtained +some water, some ship bread, and boiled +beef.</p> + +<p>Poor Mollie had no appetite; but to please her anxious +friend, she ate half a biscuit. They passed the +forenoon in the forecastle, talking of the past and +the future; but the thoughts of the bereaved daughter +continually reverted to her father. She talked +of him; of what he had been to her, and of the bright +hopes which she had cherished of the future. She +was positive she should never be happy again. After +much persuasion, Noddy induced her to lie down in +one of the bunks, and being thoroughly exhausted +by anxiety and the loss of rest, she went to sleep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +which gave her patient friend a great deal of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>She slept, and Noddy went on deck again. The +waves had now subsided, so that he could go aft. +He found that the jolly-boat was gone from the +stern davits. At first he supposed it had been washed +away by the heavy sea; but a further examination +convinced him that it had been lowered by the men. +It was possible, if not probable, the crew had taken +to the boat, and he might find them on the island, or +a portion of them, for it was hardly to be expected +that the whole crew had escaped.</p> + +<p>From the deck he went below. He had anticipated +that the fall of the tide would enable him to +enter the state-room of the captain; but there was +no perceptible change in the height of the water. +In this locality the whole range of the tide was not +more than a foot. There were many things which +might be of great value to Mollie, if they ever escaped +from this region, and he was anxious to save +them for her use. The captain had a considerable +sum of money in gold and silver. The cabin-boy, +knowing where it was, set himself at work to obtain +it. He was obliged to dive several times before he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +succeeded; but at last he brought it up, and deposited +it in the safest place he could find.</p> + +<p>Other articles of value were saved in the same manner, +including the captain's chronometer and sextant, +the sad neglect of which had caused the terrible disaster. +Towards night a change in the wind +"knocked down" the sea, and the waves no longer +dashed against the shattered vessel. The galley had +been washed away; but the boat on deck, though +thrown from the blocks, was still uninjured; and +Noddy was sorely perplexed to find a means of getting +it overboard. It was too late, and he was too +tired to accomplish anything that night.</p> + +<p>Mollie was awake when he went to the forecastle +again; and rest and refreshment had made her more +cheerful and more hopeful. She spoke with greater +interest of the future, and dwelt less mournfully on +the sad event which had made her an orphan. +Noddy told her his plans for the morrow; that he intended +to launch the long-boat, and visit the island +the next day; that he would build a house for her; +and that they would be happy there till some passing +whaler picked them up. The tired boy, now secure +of life, went to sleep. His fair companion wept +again, as she thought of the pleasant days when her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +father had been a joy to every hour of her existence; +but she, too, went to sleep, with none to watch over +her but the good Father who had saved her in all the +perils through which she had passed.</p> + +<p>The sun rose clear and bright the next morning, +and Noddy went on deck to prepare their simple +breakfast. He had constructed a fireplace of iron +plates, and he boiled some water to make tea. Mollie +soon joined him; and sad as she still was, she insisted +that the cooking was her duty. She performed +it, while Noddy employed himself in devising +some plan by which, with his feeble powers, he +could hoist the heavy boat into the water. The +bulwarks had been partially stove on one side, and +he cleared away the wreck till there was nothing to +obstruct the passage of the boat over the side.</p> + +<p>They sat down on the deck to eat their breakfast; +and during the meal Noddy was very quiet and +thoughtful. Occasionally he cast his eyes up at the +rigging over their heads. Mollie could not help +looking at him. She had a great admiration for +him; he had been so kind to her, and so brave and +cheerful in the discharge of the duties which the +awful catastrophe imposed upon him. Besides, he +was her only friend—her only hope now.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about, Noddy?" asked +she, perplexed by his unusually meditative mood.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking how I should get the boat into +the water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can't get it into the water. What can a +small boy like you do with a great boat like +that?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can manage it somehow."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not."</p> + +<p>"Don't give it up, Mollie; our salvation depends +on that boat. I found out something more, when I +went aloft this morning."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"There is another island off here to the northward, +just as far as you can see. We may wish to go there, +and the boat would be wanted then."</p> + +<p>"Noddy, perhaps there are savages on those islands, +who will kill us if we go on shore."</p> + +<p>"Two can play at that game," replied Noddy, in +his confident tone.</p> + +<p>"What could a boy like you do against a mob of +Indians?"</p> + +<p>"There are two or three pistols in the cabin, +and I think I know how to use them; at any rate I +shall not be butchered, nor let you be, without showing +them what I am made of," answered Noddy, as +he rose from the planks, and turned his attention once +more to the moving of the boat.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't shoot them—would you?"</p> + +<p>"Not if I could help it. I shouldn't want to shoot +them; and I won't do it, if they behave themselves. +But I must go to work on the boat now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me help you, Noddy, I am real strong, +and I can do a great deal."</p> + +<p>"I will tell you when you can help me, Mollie, +for I may need a little assistance."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you are going to do this job."</p> + +<p>"I will show you in a moment," replied Noddy, +as he ran up the main shrouds.</p> + +<p>He carried a small hatchet in his belt, with which +he detached the starboard fore-brace from the mast. +This was a rope, the end of which was tied to the +main-mast, and extended through a single sheaf-block +at the starboard fore-yard-arm. After passing +through this block, the brace returned to the +main-mast, passed through another block, and led +down upon the deck. There was another rope of +the same kind on the port side of the vessel. They +were used to swing round the yard, in order to place +the sail so that it would draw in the wind.</p> + +<p>When Noddy cut it loose, the brace dropped to the +deck. It was now simply a rope passing through a +single block at the end of the yard. The little engineer +made fast one end of the brace to the ring in +the bow of the boat. He then unhooked the peak +halliards of the fore-sail, and attached them to the +ring in the stern of the boat. Now, if he had had +the strength, he would have pulled on the yard-arm +rope till he dragged the bow out over the water; +the stern line being intended merely to steady the +boat, if necessary, and keep it from jamming against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +the mast. When he had drawn the bow out as far as +he could with the brace, he meant to attach the same +rope to the stern, and complete the job.</p> + +<p>"That's all very pretty," said Mollie, who had +carefully noticed all her companion's proceedings; +"but you and I can't hoist the boat up with that rigging."</p> + +<p>"I know that, Mollie," replied Noddy, wiping the +perspiration from his brow. "I haven't done yet."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you won't make out, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I shall. Work and win; that's the +idea."</p> + +<p>"You are working very hard, and I hope you will +win."</p> + +<p>"Did you know I made an improvement on Miss +Bertha's maxim?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed! What?"</p> + +<p>"He that works shall win."</p> + +<p>"That's very encouraging; but it isn't always +true."</p> + +<p>"It is when you work in the right way," answered +Noddy, as he took the end of the yard-arm rope, +and, after passing it through a snatch-block, began +to wind it around the barrel of the small capstan on +the forecastle.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you haven't got the right way."</p> + +<p>"If I haven't I shall try again, and keep trying +till I do get it," replied Noddy, as he handed Mollie +the end of the rope which he had wound four times<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +round the capstan. "Do you think you can hold +this rope and take in the slack?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid there will not be any to take in; but +I can hold it, if there is," said she, satirically, but +without even a smile.</p> + +<p>Noddy inserted one of the capstan bars, and attempted +to "walk round;" but his feeble powers +were not sufficient to move the boat a single inch. +He tightened up the rope, and that was all he could +accomplish.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid you could not stir it," said Mollie; +but her tones were full of sympathy for her companion +in his disappointment.</p> + +<p>He struggled in vain for a time; but it required +a little more engineering to make the machinery +move. Taking a "gun-tackle purchase," or "tackle +and fall," as it is called on shore, he attached one +hook to the extreme end of the capstan bar, and the +other to the rail. This added power accomplished +the work; and he made the capstan revolve with +ease, though the business went on very slowly. He +was obliged to shift back the bar four times for every +revolution of the barrel. But the boat moved forward, +and that was success. He persevered, and +skill and labor finally accomplished the difficult task. +The boat floated in the water alongside the wreck. +He had worked; he had won.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND.</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">There</span>, Mollie, what do you think now!" exclaimed +the youthful engineer, as he made fast the +painter of the boat to a ring in the deck of the +schooner.</p> + +<p>"You have worked very hard, Noddy, but you +have succeeded. You must be very tired."</p> + +<p>"I am tired, for I have done a hard day's work."</p> + +<p>"You ought to rest now."</p> + +<p>"I think I will. We are in no hurry, for we are +very comfortable here, and storms don't come very +often."</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when the work of +getting out the boat was finished. Noddy had labored +very hard, and he was perfectly willing to +rest during the remainder of the day. Mollie made +some tea, and they had supper at an early hour. It +was a remarkably pleasant day, and the air was as +soft and balmy as a poet's dream. Both the young +workers were very much fatigued, and they sat upon +the deck till dark.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where is my father now?" asked Mollie, as +she cast a nervous glance towards the beautiful island +which they hoped to reach on the following day.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" repeated Noddy, surprised at the +question, and not knowing what she meant.</p> + +<p>"I mean his remains."</p> + +<p>"In his state-room," answered Noddy, very reluctant +to have the subject considered.</p> + +<p>"Will you do one thing more for me, Noddy?" +demanded she, earnestly and impressively.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I will, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"It shall be the last thing I shall ask you to do +for me."</p> + +<p>"Don't say that, for I've always been ready to +do everything you wished me to do."</p> + +<p>"I know you have, Noddy; and you work so hard +that I don't feel like asking you to do any extra +labor."</p> + +<p>"I will do anything you wish, Mollie. You +needn't be afraid to ask me, either. If you knew +how much pleasure it gives me to work for you, I'm +sure you would keep me busy all the time."</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to wear you out, and you may think +this is useless work."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I shall not, if you want it done."</p> + +<p>"If you knew how sad it makes me feel to think +of my poor father lying in the water there, you +would understand me," added she, bursting into +tears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know what you mean, Mollie, and it shall be +done the first thing to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Noddy. You are so good and so +kind! I hope I shall see Miss Bertha, some time, +and tell her what you have done for me," continued +she, wiping away her tears.</p> + +<p>They retired to the forecastle soon after dark; +and when Mollie had said her simple prayer for +both of them, they lay down in the bunks, and were +soon asleep.</p> + +<p>Noddy's first work the next morning was to rig +a mast and sail for the long-boat. In this labor +he was assisted by Mollie, who sewed diligently on +the sail all the forenoon. While she was thus engaged, +Noddy, without telling her what he was going +to do, went into the cabin, carrying a boat-hook, and, +with a feeling of awe amounting almost to superstitious +terror, proceeded to fish up the body of Captain +McClintock. He knew just where it lay, and +had no difficulty in accomplishing the task. He +dragged the remains out into the cabin, and floated +the corpse in the water to the foot of the ladder. It +was an awful duty for him to perform; and when he +saw the ghastly, bloated face, he was disposed to flee +in terror from the spot.</p> + +<p>Noddy was strong for his years, or he could not +have placed the body on the locker, out of the reach +of the water. He prepared the remains for burial +precisely as those of Mr. Watts had been. The most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +difficult part of the task was yet to be performed—to +get the corpse on deck, and lower it into the boat. +He procured a long box in the hold, from which he +removed the merchandise, and found that it would +answer the purpose of a coffin. By much hard +lifting, and by resorting to various expedients, he +placed the remains in the box and nailed down the +lid. He felt easier now, for the face of the corpse +no longer glared at him.</p> + +<p>When he had bent on the sail, and shipped the +rudder, he contrived to set Mollie at work in the +forecastle, where she could not see what he was +doing; for he thought his work must be revolting +to her feelings, especially as it would be very clumsily +performed. Having put a sling on the box, he rigged +a purchase, and hoisted it out of the cabin. Then, +with suitable rigging, he lowered it into the boat, +placing it across the thwarts, amidships.</p> + +<p>"Come, Mollie," said he, in a gentle, subdued +tone, at the fore-scuttle.</p> + +<p>"What, Noddy?" asked she, impressed by his +voice, and by his manner, as she came up from below.</p> + +<p>"We will go on shore now."</p> + +<p>"To-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we will return. The boat is ready, +and I have done what you asked me to do."</p> + +<p>"What?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your father."</p> + +<p>She was awed by his manner, and did not readily +understand what he meant. He pointed to the +long box in the boat, and she comprehended the +loving labor he had performed. She did not inquire +how he had accomplished the task, and did not +think of the difficulties which attended it. Noddy +did not allude to them.</p> + +<p>"I am ready, Noddy; but can you get me the +prayer-book?" said she, her eyes filling with tears, +as she prepared to perform the pious duty which +the exigencies of the occasion required of her.</p> + +<p>The book was fortunately on a shelf to which the +water had not risen, and he brought it up and gave +it to her. He had before placed a pick and shovel, +an axe, a couple of boards and some cords in the +boat. He helped her to a seat in the stern-sheets, +and shoved off. There was hardly a breath of wind, +and Noddy sculled the boat towards an opening in +the reef, which was of coral, and surrounded the +island. The afflicted daughter gazed in silent grief +at the box, and did not speak a word till the boat +entered a little inlet, which Noddy had chosen as +a landing-place.</p> + +<p>He stepped on shore, and secured the boat to a +bush which grew on the bank. Mollie followed him +in silence, and selected a place for the grave. It +was at the foot of a cocoa palm. The spot was as +beautiful as the heart could desire for such a holy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +purpose; and Noddy commenced his work. The soil +was light and loose, and after much severe labor, he +made a grave about three feet deep. It would be +impossible for him to lower the box into the grave; +and, from one end, he dug out an inclined plane, +down which he could roll the corpse to its final resting-place.</p> + +<p>It required all his skill, strength, and ingenuity to +disembark the box; but this was finally accomplished, +with such assistance as the weeping daughter could +render. The rude coffin was then moved on rollers to +the foot of the tree, and deposited in the grave. +Mollie opened the book to the funeral prayer, and +handed it to her companion. Severe as the labor +he had performed had been, he regarded this as far +more trying. He could not refuse, when he saw the +poor girl, weeping as though her heart would break, +kneel down at the head of the grave. Fortunately +he had read this prayer many times since it had been +used at the obsequies of Mr. Watts, and it was familiar +to him. Awed and impressed by the solemn +task imposed upon him, he read the prayer in <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tremling'">trembling</ins>, +husky tones. But he was more earnest and sincere +than many who read the same service in Christian +lands. It touched his own heart, and again the +good Father seemed to be very near to him.</p> + +<p>The reading was finished, and the loving girl, not +content with what had been done, gathered wild +flowers, rich and luxuriant in that sunny clime, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +showered them, as a tribute of affection, on the +rough coffin. Noddy filled up the trench first, and +then, amid the sobs of the poor child, covered all +that remained of her father. With what art he +possessed he arranged the green sods, as he had seen +them in the graveyard at Whitestone. Mollie +covered the spot with flowers, and then seemed +loath to leave the grave.</p> + +<p>From the beginning, Noddy had trembled lest she +should ask to look once more on the face of the departed. +He had been horrified at the sight himself, +and he knew that the distorted visage would haunt +her dreams if she was permitted to gaze upon it; +but she did not ask to take that last look. Though +she said nothing about it, she seemed to feel, instinctively, +that the face was not that she had loved, +which had smiled upon her, and which was still present +in her remembrance.</p> + +<p>"Come, Mollie, it is almost dark, and we must go +now," said he, tenderly, when he had waited some +time for her.</p> + +<p>"I am ready, Noddy; and you cannot tell how +much better I feel now that my poor father sleeps +in a grave on the land—on the beautiful island!" +replied she, as she followed him to the boat. "You +have been very kind to do what you have. It has +cost you a whole day's labor."</p> + +<p>"It is the best day's work I have done, Mollie, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +it makes you feel better," replied Noddy, as he +hoisted the sail.</p> + +<p>They did not reach the wreck till it was quite +dark, for the wind was light. Mollie was more +cheerful than she had been since the vessel struck. +She had performed a religious duty, which was very +consoling to her feelings in her affliction; and Noddy +hoped that even her sadness would wear away amid +the active employments which would be required of +her.</p> + +<p>In the morning, Noddy loaded the boat with provisions, +and such useful articles as they would need +most on the island, and in the middle of the forenoon +they again sailed for the land. They entered the +little inlet, and moored the boat in a convenient +place, for it was decided that they should explore the +island before the goods were landed.</p> + +<p>"We are real Robinson Crusoes now, Noddy," +said Mollie, as they stepped on shore.</p> + +<p>"Who's he?"</p> + +<p>She told him who Crusoe was, and some of the +main features of his residence on the lonely island. +She was surprised to learn that he had never read the +story.</p> + +<p>"But we have everything we can possibly need, +while Crusoe had scarcely anything. We have provisions +enough in the vessel to last us a year," added +she.</p> + +<p>"We shall do very well. I don't think we shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +have to stay here long. There are whale ships in all +parts of the South Seas, and if they don't come to +us, we can go to them, for we have a first-rate +boat."</p> + +<p>They walked up the hill which rose from the little +plain by the sea-side, where they found a small table-land. +But it did not take them long to explore the +island, for it was hardly a mile in diameter. Portions +of it were covered with trees, whose shape and +foliage were new and strange to the visitors. No +inhabitants dwelt in this little paradise; but the +reason was soon apparent to Noddy; for, when Mollie +was thirsty, their search for water was unavailing. +There was none on the island.</p> + +<p>This was an appalling discovery, and Noddy began +to consider the situation of the water casks on board +the wreck. They returned to the boat, and having +selected a suitable spot, the goods were landed, and +carefully secured under a sail-cloth brought off for +the purpose. For two weeks Noddy labored diligently +in bringing off the most serviceable goods from +the wreck. He had constructed a tent on shore, and +they made their home on the island. For the present +there was nothing but hard work, for a storm +might come and break up the schooner.</p> + +<p>Noddy rigged a series of pulleys, which enabled +him to handle the water casks with ease. Other +heavy articles were managed in the same way. Farther +up the inlet than his first landing-place he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +found a tree near the shore, to which he attached +his ropes and blocks, to hoist the barrels out of the +boat. We are sorry that our space does not permit +a minute description of these contrivances, for many +of them were very ingenious. The labor was hard, +and the progress often very slow; but Noddy enjoyed +the fruit of his expedients, and was happy in +each new triumph he achieved. He had found a joy +in work which did not exist in play.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mollie, we must build a house," said he, +when he had brought off sufficient supplies from the +wreck.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can make a house, Noddy?"</p> + +<p>"I know I can."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you can. I think you can do +anything you try to do."</p> + +<p>"I have brought off all the boards I could get out +of the wreck, and I am sure I can build a very nice +house."</p> + +<p>The work was immediately commenced. Near the +spot selected for the mansion of the exiles there was +a grove of small trees. The wood was light and +soft, and Noddy found that he could fell the trees +with his sharp hatchet quickly and easily. Four +posts, with a crotch in the top of each, were set in +the ground, forming the corners of the house. The +frame was secured with nails and with ropes. The +sides and the roof were then covered with the hibiscus +from the grove. Noddy worked like a hero at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +his task, and Mollie watched him with the most intense +interest; for he would not permit her to perform +any of the hard labor.</p> + +<p>The frame was up, and covered, but the house +was like a sieve. It was the intention of the master +builder to cover the roof with tough sods, and plaster +up the crevices in the sides with mud. But Mollie +thought the fore-topsail of the schooner would be +better than sods and mud, though it was not half so +romantic. They had whole casks of nails, small +and large, and the sail was finally chosen, and securely +nailed upon the roof and sides. A floor was +made of the boards, and the house banked up so as +to turn the water away from it when it rained. Two +rooms, one for each of the exiles, were partitioned off +with sail-cloth. A bunk was made in each, which +was supplied with a berth-sack and bed-clothes from +the schooner. Besides these two rooms, there was +one apartment for general purposes.</p> + +<p>This important work occupied three weeks; but it +was perfectly luxurious when completed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE VISITORS.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> house was finished, and the satisfaction which +it afforded to the young exiles cannot be expressed +in words. Noddy had exercised his ingenuity in the +construction of a fireplace, a chimney, and a table. +The stern-lights of the Roebuck furnished the windows +of the principal apartment; while single panes +of glass, obtained from the assorted cargo of the +vessel, admitted the light to the sleeping-rooms. +They had knives, forks, spoons, dishes, and cooking +utensils in abundance. Everything they wanted was +at hand; and in this respect they differed from all +the Crusoes of ancient and modern times.</p> + +<p>The miscellaneous cargo of the schooner supplied +the house with all the comforts and many of the luxuries +of civilization; and if Noddy had been familiar +with the refinements of social life, he would probably +have added the "modern improvements" to the mansion. +If the house had been an elegant residence on +Fifth Avenue or Blackstone Square, the occupants +could not have enjoyed it more. Day after day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +Noddy added some new feature of comfort, until he +was as proud of the dwelling as though he had been +the architect of St. Peter's.</p> + +<p>The work was done, and they had nothing to do +but sit down under their "own vine and fig-tree," +and enjoy themselves. They had provisions and +water enough to last them six months. But Noddy +had discovered that idleness was the sum of all miseries; +and after he had thoroughly explored the +island, and amused himself for a few days among the +novelties of the place, he realized that work was a +positive luxury. Even patient, plodding labor, without +any excitement, was better than doing nothing.</p> + +<p>Though there had been a storm, the Roebuck still +held together; and the most profitable employment +that presented itself was bringing off the rest of the +cargo from the wreck; and everything which it was +possible for him to move was transferred to the shore. +He built a storehouse of sail-cloth, in which all the +merchandise and provisions were carefully secured, +though it was not probable that any considerable +portion of it would ever be of any value to the +islanders.</p> + +<p>Noddy had built a fence around the grave of Captain +McClintock, and on a smooth board had cut the +name and age of the deceased. Every day Mollie +visited the spot, and placed fresh flowers on the green +sod. The sharp pangs of her great affliction had +passed away, and she was cheerful, and even hopeful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +of the future, while she fondly cherished the memory +of her father.</p> + +<p>The islands which were just visible in the distance +were a source of interest and anxiety to the +sailor-boy and his gentle companion. Noddy had +carefully examined them through the spy-glass a +great many times; and once he had seen a large +canoe, under sail, with a ponderous "out-rigger" to +keep it from upsetting; but it did not come near the +home of the exiles. This proved that the other +islands were inhabited, and he was in constant +dread of a visit from the savages. He put all the +pistols he had found in the cabin in readiness for +use, and practised firing at a mark, that he might +be able to defend himself and his fair charge if occasion +required. They did not come, and there were +no signs on the island that they ever visited it, +and he hoped to avoid the necessity of fighting them.</p> + +<p>There were plenty of fish in the waters which surrounded +the island, and Noddy had no difficulty in +catching as many of them as he wanted. There +were no animals to be seen, except a few sea-fowl. +He killed one of these, and roasted him for dinner +one day; but the flesh was so strong and so fishy that +salt pork and corned beef were considered better.</p> + +<p>A two months' residence on the island had accustomed +both the boy and the girl to the novelties of +the situation; and though, as might be reasonably +expected, they were anxious to return to the great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +world from which they had been banished, they were +tolerably contented with the life they led. Noddy +was continually planning some new thing to add to +the comfort of their daily life, and to provide supplies +for the future. As in many large cities, a supply +of pure water was a question, of momentous importance +to him, and he early turned his attention to the +subject. He made spouts of canvas for the "mansion" +and the storehouse, by which the water, when +it rained, was conducted to barrels set in the ground, +so as to keep it cool. This expedient promised a +plentiful supply, for the rains were heavy and frequent, +and the quality was much better than that of +the water casks.</p> + +<p>When all the necessary work had been accomplished, +and when the time at last hung heavily on +his hands, Noddy began to consider the practicability +of a garden, to keep up the supply of peas, beans, and +potatoes, of which a considerable quantity had been +obtained from the wreck. Mollie was delighted with +the idea of a "farm," as she called it, and the ground +was at once marked off. Noddy went to work; but +the labor of digging up the soil, and preparing it for +the seed, was very hard. There was no excitement +about this occupation, and the laborer "punished" +himself very severely in performing it; but work had +become a principle with him, and he persevered until +an incident occurred which suspended further opera<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>tions +on the garden, and gave him all the excitement +his nature craved.</p> + +<p>"What's that, Noddy?" said Mollie, one day, +when he was industriously striving to overcome his +dislike to plodding labor.</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked he, dropping his shovel, for the +manner of his companion betrayed no little +alarm.</p> + +<p>"On the water," replied she, pointing in the direction +of the islands which had given them so much +anxiety.</p> + +<p>"It is a native canoe loaded with savages," said +Noddy, hastening to the house for his spy-glass and +pistols.</p> + +<p>He examined the canoe long and attentively. It +was only four or five miles distant, and looked like +quite a large boat.</p> + +<p>"They are coming here," said Noddy.</p> + +<p>"O, what shall we do?" exclaimed the timid +maiden, recalling all she knew about cannibals and +fierce savages found on the South Sea Islands.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will not come here," added Noddy; +but it was more to cheer up his friend, than from +any hope he cherished of avoiding the issue.</p> + +<p>"I hope they will not. What do you think they +will do to us, if they do?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can manage them, Mollie. Don't be +alarmed."</p> + +<p>"How many are there in the canoe?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A dozen or fifteen, I should think," replied he, +after he had again examined the object with the +glass.</p> + +<p>"What can you do with so many as that?" asked +she, in despair.</p> + +<p>"They are savages, you know; and they are afraid +of powder. If I should shoot one of them, the rest +would run away."</p> + +<p>"Can't we hide?"</p> + +<p>"That will do no good. They would certainly +find us. The best way is to face the music."</p> + +<p>"And they will steal all our things, Noddy."</p> + +<p>"I won't let them steal anything," said he, examining +his pistol.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't have to shoot any of them. It +would be awful to kill the poor creatures."</p> + +<p>"I won't fire if I can help it. They are all looking +this way, and I'm sure they can see the house and +the tent."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" cried Mollie, who certainly +felt that the end of all things had come.</p> + +<p>"We can do nothing; and we may as well take it +easy. I can't tell what to do now; but I think I +will go down and hide the boat, for they may carry +that off."</p> + +<p>Mollie went with him to the inlet, and the boat +was moved up among the bushes where the savages +would not be likely to find it. The wind was light, +and the great canoe advanced but slowly. The men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +on board of her appeared to be watching the island +with as much interest as its occupants regarded the +approach of the intruders.</p> + +<p>Off the reef the big canoe came up into the wind, +and the savages appeared to be debating what they +should do next. They could see the remains of the +wrecked schooner now; and the question appeared to +be, whether they should visit that or the shore. But +she soon filled away again, and passed through the +opening in the reef. Noddy had three pistols, all +of which he put in his belt, and finished this hostile +array by adding a huge butcher-knife to the collection. +He looked formidable enough to fight a whole +army; but he intended only to make a prudent display +of force. Mollie thought it was rather ridiculous +for a small boy like him to load himself down +with so many weapons, which could not avail him, +if a conflict became necessary, against sixteen savages, +full grown, and accustomed to fighting. But +Noddy was general-in-chief of the forces, and she did +not remonstrate any further than to beg him to be +prudent.</p> + +<p>The canoe slowly approached the shore. Those in +her seemed to be familiar with the land, for they +steered directly up the little inlet which Noddy had +chosen as his landing-place. The "lord of the isle," +as our sailor-boy felt himself to be, moved down to +the shore, followed by Mollie. The savages could +now be distinctly seen. They were horribly tattooed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +and they did not look very friendly. As the canoe +touched the shore, they sprang to their feet, and +Noddy's calculations were set at nought by the discovery +that several were armed with guns.</p> + +<p>One of them stepped on shore. There was a +broad grin on his ugly face, which was intended for +a conciliatory smile. The savage walked towards +Noddy with his hand extended, and with his mouth +stretched open from ear to ear, to denote the friendly +nature of his mission. The boy took the hand, and +tried to look as amiable as the visitor; but as his +mouth was not half so large, he probably met with +only a partial success.</p> + +<p>"Americals?" said the savage, in tones so loud +that poor Mollie was actually frightened by the +sound.</p> + +<p>He spoke in a nasal voice, as a man does who has +a cold in the head; but the lord of the isle was surprised +and pleased to hear even a single word of his +mother tongue. He pointed impressively to the +American flag, which had been hoisted on a pole, as +he had seen Captain McClintock do when he had a +slight difficulty with a custom-house officer at Barbadoes, +and politely replied that he and Mollie were +Americans.</p> + +<p>"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to +the tent filled with stores and merchandise.</p> + +<p>"They are mine," said Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Americals—yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Big wreck," said the visitor, pointing over to +the schooner. "Big lot mel ol the other islal."</p> + +<p>"Americans?" asked Noddy, clearly understanding +the speaker, whose enunciation was principally +defective in the substitution of l's for n's.</p> + +<p>"Four Americals; big storm; come in boat."</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that, Mollie?" exclaimed Noddy. +"He says that four Americans came to the other +island in a boat."</p> + +<p>"They must be some of the crew of the Roebuck."</p> + +<p>"Big wreck; log time; fild it low," said the savage, +pointing to the schooner again.</p> + +<p>They had been looking for the wreck from which +the four men had been saved, but had not been able +to find it before.</p> + +<p>"Whale ship over there," added he. "Take four +mel off."</p> + +<p>"Is she there now?" asked Noddy, breathless with +interest.</p> + +<p>"Go sool—to-morrow—lext week."</p> + +<p>This was not very definite; but the way to his +native land seemed to be open to him, and he listened +with deep emotion to the welcome intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Can we go over there?" asked Noddy, pointing +to his companion.</p> + +<p>"Go with we."</p> + +<p>"We will."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to +the storehouse again. "Walt to trade?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; what will you give for the lot?" asked +Noddy, facetiously.</p> + +<p>"Big heap thigs," replied the man, not comprehending +the wholesale trade.</p> + +<p>It was of no use to attempt to bargain with these +people; they had no money, and they could help +themselves to what they pleased. Noddy gave them +heavy articles enough to load their boat, for he felt +that he had no further use for them, if there was a +whale ship at the other island. He questioned the +savage very closely in regard to the vessel, and was +satisfied that he spoke the truth. The welcome intelligence +that a portion of the Roebuck's crew had +been saved, rendered the exiles the more anxious to +visit the island.</p> + +<p>The savages all landed and gazed at Mollie with +the utmost interest and curiosity. Probably they +had never before seen an American girl. But they +were respectful to her, and she soon ceased to be +afraid of them. She laughed with them, and soon +became quite intimate with the whole party. They +treated her like a superior being; and certainly her +pretty face and her gentle manners were quite +enough to inspire them with such an idea.</p> + +<p>The savages had loaded their goods into the canoe, +and were ready to return. The man who spoke +English offered them a passage in his craft; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +Noddy decided that it would be better and safer for +them to go over in their own boat. He proceeded to +secure all his valuables, including all his own money +and that he had saved from the state-room of the +captain, which he concealed about his clothes. The +boat was well loaded with such articles as he thought +would be useful to Mollie, or would sell best when +a chance offered. He had quite a cargo, and the +savages began to be impatient before his preparations +were completed.</p> + +<p>While he was thus employed, Mollie gathered fresh +flowers, and paid her last visit, as she supposed, to the +grave of her father. She wept there, as she thought +of leaving him in that far-off, lonely island; but she +was consoled by the belief that her father's spirit +dwelt in the happy land, where spring eternal ever +reigns.</p> + +<p>The boat was ready; she wiped away her tears, +and stepped on board. Both of them felt sad at the +thought of leaving the island; but home had hopes +which reconciled them to the change.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>HOMEWARD BOUND.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Noddy</span> shook out the sail of the boat, and pushing +her off, followed the canoe. Though the exiles +had been on the island but little over two months, +they had become much attached to their new home, +and it was with a feeling of sadness that they bade +adieu to it. The house and other improvements had +cost Noddy so much hard labor that he was sorry +to leave them before he had received the full benefit +of all the comfort and luxury which they were capable +of affording.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we ought to live on the island +for a year or so, after all the work we have done +there?" said Noddy, as the boat gathered headway, +and moved away from the shore.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I should be very happy there, if we had +to stay," replied Mollie, "But I don't think I should +care to remain just for the sake of living in the house +you built."</p> + +<p>"Nor I; but it seems to me just as though I had +done all the work for nothing."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You worked very hard."</p> + +<p>"But I enjoyed my work, for all that."</p> + +<p>"And you think you did not win anything by it," +added she, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I don't think that. I used to hate to work when +I was at Woodville. I don't think I do hate it now."</p> + +<p>"Then you have won something."</p> + +<p>"I think I have won a great deal, when I look the +matter over. I have learned a great many things."</p> + +<p>Noddy had only a partial appreciation of what he +had "won," though he was satisfied that his labor had +not been wasted. He had been happy in the occupation +which the necessities of his situation demanded +of him. Many a boy, wrecked as he had been, with +no one but a weak and timid girl to support him, +would have done nothing but repine at his hard lot; +would have lived "from hand to mouth" during +those two months, and made every day a day of misery. +Noddy had worked hard; but what had he won? +Was his labor, now that he was to abandon the house, +the cisterns, the stores, and the garden,—was it +wasted?</p> + +<p>Noddy had won two months of happiness.</p> + +<p>He had won a knowledge of his own powers, mental +and physical.</p> + +<p>He had won a valuable experience in adapting +means to ends, which others might be years in obtaining.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>He had won a vast amount of useful information +from the stubborn toil he had performed.</p> + +<p>He had won the victory over idleness and indifference, +which had beset him for years.</p> + +<p>He had won a cheerful spirit, from the trials and +difficulties he had encountered.</p> + +<p>He had won a lively faith in things higher than +earth, from the gentle and loving heart that shared +his exile, for whom, rather than for himself, he had +worked.</p> + +<p>His labor was not lost. He had won more than +could be computed. He had won faith and hope, +confidence in himself, an earnest purpose, which were +to go through life with him, and bless him to the +end of his days, and through the endless ages of +eternity. He had worked earnestly; he had won untold +riches.</p> + +<p>The wind was tolerably fresh after the boats passed +the reef, and in two hours they were near enough to +a large island to enable the young voyagers to see the +objects on the shore. But they followed the canoe +beyond a point of the land; and, after a run of several +miles more, they rounded another point, and discovered +the tall masts of a ship, at anchor in a small +bay.</p> + +<p>"It may be many months before we can get home. +This ship may have to cruise a year or two before she +obtains her full cargo of oil."</p> + +<p>"I hope not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But we may find some way to get home. I have +all the money I saved from the vessel, and we can +pay our passage home."</p> + +<p>The money reminded the orphan girl of her father, +and she mused upon the past. The boat sped on its +way, and in a short time reached the ship.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Noddy!" shouted Mr. Lincoln, as the +boat approached. "And Mollie too!"</p> + +<p>The mate was overjoyed to see them, and to find +that they had been saved from the wreck. He leaped +into the boat, took Mollie in his arms, and kissed her +as though she had been his own child. He grasped +the hand of Noddy, and wrung it till the owner +thought it would be crushed in his grip.</p> + +<p>"I was sure you were lost," said Mr. Lincoln.</p> + +<p>"And we were sure you were lost," replied Noddy.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen? The cabin was full of water +when we left the schooner."</p> + +<p>"You didn't wait long, Mr. Lincoln."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't wait long. The sea made a clean +breach over the wreck. Only four of us were saved; +the rest were washed away, and we never saw anything +more of them!"</p> + +<p>Noddy and Mollie were conducted to the deck of +the whale ship, where they were warmly welcomed +by the captain and his officers. The three sailors +who had been saved from the wreck of the Roebuck +were rejoiced to see them alive and well. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +presence of the large group gathered around himself +and Mollie, Noddy told his story.</p> + +<p>"Captain McClintock was lost, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Noddy, breaking through the +crowd, for he did not like to tell the particulars of +his death in poor Mollie's presence.</p> + +<p>At a later hour he found an opportunity to inform +his late shipmates of the manner in which the corpse +of the captain had been found, and of its burial on +the island. In return, Mr. Lincoln told him that +he had cast off the boat a moment after the schooner +struck the reef. The men who happened to be on the +quarter-deck with him had been saved; the others +were not seen after the shock. With the greatest +difficulty they had kept the boat right side up, for she +was often full of water. For hours they had drifted +in the gale, and in the morning, when the storm subsided, +they had reached the island.</p> + +<p>They had been kindly treated by natives, who were +partially civilized by their intercourse with vessels +visiting the island, and with which they carried on +commerce, exchanging the products of the island for +guns, ammunition, and other useful and ornamental +articles. The savages knew that, if they killed or injured +any white men, the terrible ships of war would +visit them with the severest punishment.</p> + +<p>"What ship is this?" asked Noddy, when the past +had been satisfactorily explained by both parties.</p> + +<p>"The Atlantic, of New Bedford," replied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +mate. "She is full of oil, and is homeward bound."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Noddy. "I suppose I have +nothing further to do in this part of the world, and +I may as well go in her."</p> + +<p>"This hasn't been a very profitable cruise to me," +added Mr. Lincoln.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose there is no help for it; and I +hope you will have better luck next time."</p> + +<p>"I don't grumble; these things can't always be +helped. We were lucky to escape with our lives, and +we won't say a word about the wages we have lost."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you won't lose them," added Mollie; +and there was a slight flush on her fair cheeks, for +her pride and her filial affection were touched by +the reflection that these men had suffered from her +father's infirmity.</p> + +<p>The captain of the whale ship was entirely willing +to take the exiles as passengers; and Noddy told +him he had saved a great many articles, which might +be of service to him. The next day, when the vessel +had taken in her water, she sailed for the beautiful +island. Outside the reef she lay to, and the boats +were sent on shore to bring off such of the goods as +would be useful on the voyage.</p> + +<p>Noddy and Mollie had an opportunity to visit their +island home once more; and, while the former assisted +the men in selecting and loading the goods, +the latter gathered fresh flowers, and for the last +time strewed them on the grave of her father.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>The "big heap thigs" was very much reduced by +the visit of the boats; but there was still enough left +to reward the natives who had befriended the young +islanders for the service they had rendered. According +to the captain's estimate,—which was rather +low,—he took about four hundred dollars' worth of +goods from the island. Mollie, as her father's heir, +was the owner of the property, subject to Noddy's +claim for salvage. With Mr. Lincoln's aid the accounts +were settled. Mollie insisted upon paying the +mate and the three seamen their wages up to the time +they would reach their native land. This, with their +own passage, consumed nearly the whole sum.</p> + +<p>Besides the property saved from the island, there +were about sixteen hundred dollars in gold and silver, +and the valuable nautical instruments of Captain +McClintock, making a total of over two thousand +dollars. Though the disposition of this property +was properly a subject for the maritime courts to settle, +Mr. Lincoln and the officers of the ship talked it +over, and decided that one half belonged to Mollie, +in right of her father, and the other half to Noddy, +as salvage,—which is the part of property saved from +a wrecked imperilled ship, awarded to those who +save it.</p> + +<p>Noddy at first positively objected to this decree, +and refused to take a dollar from the poor orphan +girl; but when the captain told him that a court +would probably award him a larger share, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +Mollie almost cried because he refused, he consented +to take it; but it was with a determination to have +it applied to her use when he got home. The whale +ship filled away when the goods had been taken on +board, and weeks and months she stood on her +course, till the welcome shores of their native land +gladdened the sight of the exiled children. Mollie +had been a great favorite with the officers and crew +during the voyage, and many of them were the wiser +and the better for the gentle words she spoke to them. +The captain sold the nautical instruments, and the +money was divided according to the decision of the +council and officers. Noddy was now the possessor +of about twelve hundred dollars, which was almost +a fortune to a boy of twelve. It had been "work +and win" to some purpose, in spite of the disastrous +conclusion of the voyage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE CLERGYMAN AND HIS WIFE.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> captain of the whale ship very kindly took +the young voyagers to his own house until their +affairs were settled up. He had dealt fairly and +justly by them in all things, and both were grateful +to him for the interest he had manifested in their +welfare.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do now, Noddy?" asked +Mollie, after the instruments had been sold and the +proceeds paid over to them.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to Woodville, now, to face the music," +replied Noddy. "I suppose they will take me to the +court-house; but I have made up my mind to submit +to the penalty, whatever it may be, for setting +the boat-house afire."</p> + +<p>"Fanny has told all about it before this time, you +may be certain," added Mollie, to whom he had related +the story of the fire.</p> + +<p>"I hope she has not; for I think I am the guilty +one. She wouldn't have set the fire if it hadn't been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +for me. I am going to stand right up to it, and take +the consequences, even if they send me to prison; +but I hope they won't do that."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure they won't. But, Noddy, suppose Miss +Fanny has not told the truth yet. Will you still deceive +your kind friends? You told me you had been +made over new since you left Woodville, and I know +you have. You said you meant to live a good life, +and not lie, or steal, or get angry, or do anything +that is bad."</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean so, Mollie. I intend to stick to it. +They won't know anything about that. They won't +believe anything I say."</p> + +<p>"They must believe you. I'll go with you, +Noddy!" exclaimed she, smiling at the happy +thought. "I will tell them all about you."</p> + +<p>"That will be jolly; and the sooner we go the +better."</p> + +<p>Their good friend the captain found a gentleman +who was going to New York, and they accompanied +him, though Noddy felt abundantly able to take care +of himself and his fair charge. They arrived the +next morning, and took an early train for Woodville.</p> + +<p>Noddy conducted Mollie down the road to the lawn +in front of the house. His heart bounded with emotion +as he once more beheld the familiar scenes +of the past. As he walked along he pointed out +to his interested companion the various objects which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +were endeared to him by former associations. +He talked because he could not help it; for he was +so agitated he did not know whether he was on his +head or his heels. He heard a step on one of the +side paths. He turned to see who it was, and Bertha +Grant rushed towards him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Noddy! It that you?" cried she, grasping +him with both hands. "I am so glad to see +you!"</p> + +<p>"You'd better believe I'm glad to see you again," +said he, trying to keep from crying.</p> + +<p>The poor fellow actually broke down, he was so +much affected by the meeting.</p> + +<p>"I didn't expect to see you again for years, after +the letter you wrote me."</p> + +<p>"Been cast away, Miss Bertha, and lived two +months on an island where nobody lived," blubbered +Noddy.</p> + +<p>"Who is this little girl with you? Is this Mollie, +of whom you spoke in your letter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss Bertha, that's Mollie; and she is the +best girl in the world, except yourself."</p> + +<p>"I'm very glad to see you, Mollie," said Bertha, +taking her hand, and giving her a kind reception. +"Now, come into the house."</p> + +<p>Bertha, finding Noddy so completely overcome by +his emotions, refrained from asking him any more +questions, though she was anxious to hear the sad +story of the shipwreck. Mr. Grant had not yet gone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +to the city, and he received the returned exiles as +though they had been his own children.</p> + +<p>"I've come back, Mr. Grant, to settle up old affairs, +and you can send me to the court-house or the +prison now. I did wrong, and I am willing to suffer +for it."</p> + +<p>"I have told them all about it, Noddy," interrupted +Miss Fanny, blushing. "I couldn't stand it +after you went away."</p> + +<p>"It was my fault," said Noddy. "I said so then, +and I say so now."</p> + +<p>"We won't say anything about that until after +breakfast. We are very glad you have come back; +and we don't care about thinking of anything else, +at present," said Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was provided for the wanderer and his +friend, and Mollie was soon made quite at home by +the kind attentions of Bertha and Fanny. When the +meal was ended, Noddy insisted upon "settling up +old affairs," as he called it. He declared that the +blame ought to rest on him, and he was willing to +suffer. Mr. Grant said that he was satisfied. Fanny +was to blame, and she had already been severely punished +for her fault.</p> + +<p>"You will not send poor Noddy to prison—will +you?" interposed Mollie. "He is a good boy now. +He saved my life, and took care of me for months. +You will find that he is not the same Noddy, he used +to be. He is made over new."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear that," replied Mr. Grant. "But +Noddy, did you really think I intended to send you +to jail?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; what was the constable after me for, +if not for that?"</p> + +<p>"It's a mistake, and I told you so in Albany. +Didn't I say you would be a rich man?"</p> + +<p>"You did, sir; but I thought that was only to +catch me. All of them said something of that sort. +I knew I couldn't be a rich man, because my father +never had a cent to leave me. That's what they told +me."</p> + +<p>"But you had an uncle."</p> + +<p>"Never heard of him," replied Noddy, bewildered +at the prospect before him.</p> + +<p>"Your father's only brother died in California +more than a year ago. He had no family; but an +honest man who went with him knew where he came +from; and Squire Wriggs has hunted up all the evidence, +which fully proves that all your uncle's property, +in the absence of other heirs, belongs to you. +He left over thirty thousand dollars, and it is all +yours."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" exclaimed Noddy, utterly confounded +by this intelligence.</p> + +<p>"This sum, judiciously invested, will produce at +least fifty thousand when you are of age. I have +been appointed your guardian."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't think I'm Noddy Newman after this," +added the heir, in breathless excitement.</p> + +<p>"I know you are not," added Bertha, laughing. +"Your real name is Ogden Newman."</p> + +<p>"How are you, Ogden?" said Noddy, amused at +his new name.</p> + +<p>"I suppose Noddy came from Ogden," said Mr. +Grant.</p> + +<p>"If that's what's the matter, I don't see what you +wanted to take me to court for."</p> + +<p>"As you have come to years of discretion, you +might have had the privilege of naming your own +guardian; and we were going to take you to the court +for that purpose. As you were not here to speak for +yourself, I was appointed. If you are not satisfied, +the proceedings can be reviewed."</p> + +<p>"I'm satisfied first rate," laughed Noddy. "But +you said something about sending me off."</p> + +<p>"My plan was to send you to the Tunbrook +Military Institute, where Richard is, and make a +man of you."</p> + +<p>"I should like that—perhaps."</p> + +<p>"You gave me a great deal of trouble to find you; +and I did not succeed, after all," added Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know what you was after. If I had, I +shouldn't have been in such a hurry. But I guess it +was all for the best. I've been at work, Miss Bertha, +since I went away," said Noddy, turning to his +teacher and friend.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you win?"</p> + +<p>"I rather think I did," replied he, depositing his +twelve hundred dollars on the table. "That's rather +better than being a tinker, I reckon, Miss Bertha."</p> + +<p>"O, if you had seen him work. He did things +which a great man could not have done," said Mollie, +with enthusiasm. "And he's real good, too. +He'll never do anything wrong again."</p> + +<p>"We must hear all about it now, Ogden," continued +Mr. Grant.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Ogden; that's your name now."</p> + +<p>Between Noddy and Mollie the story was told; +and there was hardly a dry eye in the room when the +parts relating to the yellow fever and the funeral of +Captain McClintock were narrated. Noddy told the +burden of the story; but he was occasionally interrupted +by Mollie, who wanted to tell how her friend +watched over her and her father when they were sick +with the fever, and what kindness and consideration +he had used in procuring and burying the remains +of her father. Noddy only told facts; she +supplied what she regarded as very important omissions.</p> + +<p>When the narrative was finished, Mr. Grant, and +Bertha were willing to believe that Noddy had been +made over new; that he had worked, morally as well +as physically, and won, besides the treasure on the +table, good principles enough to save him from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +errors which formerly beset him; had won a child's +faith in God, and a man's confidence in himself. +The whole family were deeply interested in Mollie; +they pitied and loved her; and as she had no near +relatives, they insisted upon her remaining at Woodville.</p> + +<p>"This is your money, Ogden, and I suppose I am +to invest it with the rest of your property," said Mr. +Grant.</p> + +<p>"No, sir;" replied Noddy, promptly. "You +know how I got that money, and I don't think it +belongs to me. Besides, I'm rich, and don't want +it. Mollie must have every dollar of it."</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Noddy," exclaimed Mr. Grant. "I approve +of that with all my heart."</p> + +<p>"Why, no, Noddy. You earned it all," said Mollie. +"One hundred dollars of it was yours before the +wreck."</p> + +<p>"I don't care for that. Mr. Grant shall take care +of the whole of it for you, or you may take it, as you +please."</p> + +<p>Mollie was in the minority, and she had to yield +the point; and Mr. Grant was instructed to invest +all she had, being the entire net proceeds of what was +saved from the wreck.</p> + +<p>After the story had been told, all the young people +took a walk on the estate, during which Noddy +saw Ben and the rest of the servants. The old man +was delighted to meet him again, and the others were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +hardly less rejoiced. The boat-house had been rebuilt. +It was winter, and every craft belonging to +the establishment was housed.</p> + +<p>In the spring, Noddy, or Ogden, as he was now +called, was sent to the Tunbrook Institute; while +Bertha found a faithful pupil, and Fanny a devoted +friend, in Mollie.</p> + +<p>Three months at Woodville convinced Mr. Grant +and Bertha that the change in Noddy was radical +and permanent. Though not now required to work, +he was constantly employed in some useful occupation. +He was no longer an idler and a vagabond, but +one of the most industrious, useful, and reliable persons +on the estate.</p> + +<p>He did not work with his hands only. There was +a work for the mind and the heart to do, and he +labored as perseveringly and as successfully in this +field as in the other. At Tunbrook he was a hard +student, and graduated with the highest intellectual +honors. From there he went to college.</p> + +<p>The influence of those scenes when the yellow fever +was raging around him, when the stormy ocean +threatened to devour him, and perhaps more than +all others, when he stood at the open, grave of Captain +McClintock, was never obliterated from his +mind. They colored his subsequent existence; and +when he came to choose a profession, he selected that +of a minister of the gospel.</p> + +<p>The Rev. Ogden Newman is not, and never will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +be, a brilliant preacher; but he is a faithful and devoted +"shepherd of the sheep." The humble parish +over whose moral and spiritual welfare he presides +is not more rejoiced and comforted by his own +ministrations than by the loving words and the pure +example of the gentle being who now walks hand in +hand with him in the journey of life, cheered by his +presence and upheld by his strong arm, as she was +in the days of the storm and the pestilence. Mollie +McClintock is Mrs. Ogden Newman; and as together +they work, together they shall win.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/ill-263.png" width="285" height="400" alt="Boys playing tennis" title="Boys playing tennis" /> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/ill-264.png" width="278" height="400" alt="Girls playing golf" title="Girls playing golf" /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_28">Page 28</a>, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:</p> + +<div class='blockquot'> +except so far as their words went to convince his<br /> +mistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?<br /> +mistress of his guilt. What would she do to him?<br /> +</div> + +<p><a href="#Page_220">Page 220</a>, a line of repeated text was deleted. The original text read:</p> + +<div class='blockquot'> +"Come, Mollie," said he, in a gentle, subdued<br /> +tone, at the fore-scuttle.<br /> +tone; at the fore-scuttle.<br /> +</div> + +<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 Work and Win, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORK AND WIN *** + +***** This file should be named 23758-h.htm or 23758-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/7/5/23758/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + +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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