diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-8.txt | 4502 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 91432 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 223185 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-h/26714-h.htm | 6272 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-h/images/img-044.jpg | bin | 0 -> 46205 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714-h/images/img-cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 82625 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714.txt | 4502 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26714.zip | bin | 0 -> 91412 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 15292 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26714-8.txt b/26714-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f088fd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4502 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Captain's Bunk + A Story for Boys + +Author: M. B. Manwell + +Release Date: September 28, 2008 [EBook #26714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK + + +A STORY FOR BOYS + + +BY + +M. B. MANWELL + + + +AUTHOR OF 'THE BENTS OF BATTERSBY,' ETC. + + + +WITH COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS + + + +LONDON + +THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY + +4 BOUVERIE STREET AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + + I. A PLAGUEY PAIR + II. A NOVEL TRADE + III. 'MISS THEEDORY' + IV. BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN' + V. BREAKERS AHEAD + VI. THE LITTLE MOTHER + VII. MUTINY AT THE BUNK + VIII. THEO'S HAVEN + IX. COMING EVENTS + X. UNDER ARREST + XI. A TANGLED WEB + XII. IN THE FAR NORTH + XIII. IN PERIL ON THE SEA + XIV. A DOOR OF ESCAPE + XV. THE BIRD-SCHOOL + XVI. THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE + XVII. IN THE MIRE + XVIII. IN MULLINER'S RENTS + XIX. NO PLACE LIKE HOME + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK + + +CHAPTER I + +A PLAGUEY PAIR + + 'Do the thing that's nearest, + Though it's dull at whiles.' + + +If anybody wanted to go down and have a look round Northbourne for +himself, it would be necessary to take a railway journey as far as +Brattlesby town, and then tramp the rest of the road, unless a friendly +chance befell the traveller of a lift in some passing vehicle. + +There had never been so much as a talk of extending the railway line to +Northbourne, which was a quaint little fishing village tucked away +under the shelter of a long stretch of downs. It consisted of a few +small thatched cottages that had seated themselves, as it were, in a +semicircle round the tiny bay, to peep out from its shelter at the far, +open ocean, the highway of waters on which the outward-bound liners +loomed like grey ghostly shadows as they passed. + +There were but two of what is known as gentry's houses in Northbourne. +Oddly enough, each of them finished off the half-circle of cottages, +and in that way they stared across the bay at one another, face to face. + +One of the two, the Bunk, had been for some years inhabited by an +elderly half-pay naval officer, Captain Carnegy, and his motherless +boys and girls. The other house was the Vicarage, the habitation of +Mr. Vesey, the good old vicar, his invalid wife, and a pair of +excitable Yorkshire terriers, Splutters and Shutters, thus curiously +named for the sake of rhyme, it is to be presumed. They were brothers, +and as tricky a pair as one could meet, ever up to their eyes in +mischief from morning until night. Indeed, Splutters and Shutters kept +what would have been a still, staid household in nearly as great a +ferment as did the captain's crew the Bunk across the bay. + +'They two dogs, they be summat like a couple o' wild b'ys; they keeps +the passon and the mistress in, not for to say hot water, but bilin' +water, for the livelong day!' constantly declared Binks, who was the +handy-man at the Vicarage, and, in fact, handy-man at the little church +as well, he being both factotum and sexton. Binks was a worthy old +soul whom the terriers led a troubled life by their destructive capers +in the garden and lawn, which he vainly tried to keep trim. Still, on +the whole, Binks, harassed as he was by the dogs, was apt to thank his +stars that Splutters and Shutters were not actually boys; such boys, +for instance, as those of the captain at the Bunk across the bay, who +were a sore handful, as any one could see for themselves, without the +prompt testimony of all Northbourne to that effect. + +'You be a plaguey pair, you b'ys!' was the unfailing greeting of Binks, +when he encountered Geoff and Alick Carnegy. + +'Come, you shut up, Binks! You surely would not have us a couple of +mincing girls peacocking round in this fashion, would you now?' And +the captain's boys affectedly pirouetted up and down on the shingle +below the low wall of the Vicarage garden, laughing boisterously the +while. + +'I dunno, young musters!' rejoined Binks, contemplating the ridiculous +spectacle with much the same gravity as he would have regarded a +funeral. 'P'raps it'd be a sight better if so be as you _was_ gells. +That is, gells after the pattern of your sister, Miss Theedory!' + +'Oh, Theo! Well, she's different!' and Geoff sobered down his antics, +and stood still to retort. 'That just reminds me I've brought a note +for Mrs. Vesey from Theo. I'll run up to the house with it. I don't +remember if it wants an answer; but don't you go away, Alick. Wait for +me!' + +'All right!' Alick nodded, and swinging himself up on the wall, he +watched Binks, who was patiently pottering over the carrot-beds. The +ceaseless tussel he had to induce these refractory vegetables to make a +fair show was one of the minor crosses of the old man's life. + +Of the two Carnegys, Alick was the least reasonable, if the word +reasonable could be applied to either of 'them young limbs,' as +Northbourne privately called the captain's boys. He, however, managed +to sit still for the space of five minutes or so on the wall, whistling +vigorously. + +'I 'opes as you be a-gittin' on brisk with your book-larnin', Muster +Alick?' Binks lifted his head, after the prolonged silence, to regard, +with a critical air, the boy who sat dangling his feet above. Binks +had a fashion peculiar to himself of staring at most people in a +reproving manner, as though he had just found them out in some dark +transgression. It was possibly a habit due to a lifelong experience of +the faults and the failings of human nature, and it was one which stood +Binks in good stead, giving him an austere and awe-inspiring +appearance. Especially on Sundays did this detective air prove +helpful, when he did duty as parish clerk in the quaint, old-time +church on the shore, where it served to keep the small fisher-folk in +proper order. + +'Oh, bother!' said Alick shortly. 'We have enough of that sort of talk +from old Price. He pegs away at us to get on, get on, until I'm sick +of the sight of books, and pen and ink!' + +'Ay?' Binks leaned on his spade, and, resting, stared fixedly up into +the face of the boy-speaker. 'Sick of it, be you? And what be you +supposin' as Muster Price feels? A deal sicker, I make no doubt, +toiling and moiling every week-day as the sun rises on, a-tryin' to +till sich unprofitable ground as your b'y-brains! I dunnot 'spose as +you ever looked at it from his pint of view, did ye?' + +Certainly Alick never had. It was a new idea to him to wonder how poor +Philip Price, the tutor, liked walking every day, rain or shine, over +from Brattlesby, the little inland town some three miles off, in order +to teach Geoff and himself just so much and no more as either of the +unruly brothers chose to learn; for the Carnegy boys were 'kittle +cattle,' as the North-country folk say, to deal with. Their father, +though he had been, in the old days, skilled at commanding men, knew +little or nothing of managing children. When his wife died and he +retired from the service, he found his hands full, with the most unruly +crew that he had ever encountered in his long naval career. Not gifted +with much patience, he soon gave up trying to guide the helm of that +unmanageable ship, his own home. Betaking himself to his special +hobby, which was the compiling an epitome of all the naval engagements +that have taken place within the memory of man, he left his boys and +girls to grow up anyhow or, to put it more exactly, just as they +pleased. His conscience was satisfied when he had placed his young +folk in the hands of one whom he knew to be a genuinely upright +Christian gentleman, Philip Price, the tutor from Brattlesby town. + +The boys themselves were no fools. They knew in their hearts that it +was but a slack rein that guided them. There was a good deal of +forcibly put justice in the suggestive question of Binks, and for a few +seconds Alick, nonplussed, kept silence, swinging his feet a little +faster under the fire of the sharp, light eyes that glinted from +beneath the old man's bushy eyebrows. + +'But--but, I say, it's Price's business to teach. That's what he has +got to do, you know!' he stammered out at last, rather uneasily. + +'P'raps you was a-goin' to say as it was what he was made for, +purpose-like!' observed Binks ironically. 'Well, maybe so! And, maybe +also, who can tell, it's what the Lord has made you for likewise, +Muster Alick. Time may come as you'll be tramping every day, wet or +dry, to teach ongrateful, onruly b'ys according to their station.' + +What d'ye mean?' A furious red flush rose on Alick's cheeks, and he +glared back into the face of the bent old man, who stood still so +fixedly regarding himself. + +'Mean? Why, just what I'm a-sayin' of!' was the calm rejoinder. 'I've +heard tell,' went on Binks, undisturbed by Alick's wrathful looks, 'as +Muster Price is the son of a reverend genelman as was pretty high up in +the Church. When the poor soul was took off, suddent, his fam'ly had +to help theirselves in the world, and this one, bein' the youngest, and +enjying terrible poor health, ain't fit for nothin' but teachin' b'ys. +That's how he keeps the old lady and hisself in bread I've heard say. +And if so be'--Binks straightened himself, and drew out his spade from +the earth--'as I was him, I'd a deal rather break stones, or else try +to grow them plaguey carrits in damp clay! But,' he added +sardonically, as his outburst calmed down, 'in course if, as you think, +it's what he was made a-purpose for---- Well, I say no more. I never +was one to hinterfere with, or so much as even to question, the will of +the Almighty in aught. I'm not like some in that.' + +'How you do run on, Binks!' sulkily put in Alick. He felt rather +cornered by the old man's plain speaking. 'And it's all very fine for +you to talk; you and Theo say the same things. But if you'd to grind +away, when the sun's shining and the sea dancing before your eyes, at +rubbishy old Latin grammars and arithmetic, and all the rest of it, +you'd be the first to grumble. Oh, I wish a hundred times in the day +that I was only Ned Dempster, who's out all hours, free as any lark!' +ended Alick, with a sudden burst of energy that nearly sent him +toppling off the sea-wall. + +'Ned Dempster!' echoed Binks in amaze. Then, after turning over a few +spadefuls of earth, he looked up to say epigrammatically, 'Well, young +muster, what Ned is, I was. And what I am, Ned will be! There! D'ye +take my meaning? 'Cos I, when a b'y, was like Ned, free as any lark in +the air, so when I came to be a man without no book-larnin' in the +pockets o' my brain, I had to grope my way about in the world. Many's +the time it's bin all dark, round and round, 'cept in the faces of +other folk where I seed the light o' understanding shinin' about them +things as I couldn't make out. 'Tain't so to say comforable for a +grown man to feel that; but it's what you'll come to, young muster, if +you gits your will to go free as free!' and Binks set to work on his +refractory carrots with renewed energy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A NOVEL TRADE + +There was something so quaint about Binks, the old handy-man, that +nobody resented his preachings at them. Not the Carnegy boys, at +least, not even Alick, who was no fool. He knew, if he had allowed +himself to say so fairly and squarely, that a man without education +must of necessity make but a poor show in the world among his +fellow-men. But Alick was incorrigibly lazy, and he had grown up so +far without attempting to get the reins of his idle, pleasure-loving +self between his own fingers. Geoff, on the other hand, though a +regular pickle of a boy, did manage to scramble through his lessons, +and to present a more decent appearance therein, doubtful as it was if +he thoroughly digested what learning he took in. + +He was a greater favourite in the neighbourhood than Alick; and as he +came rushing, helter-skelter, along the garden-path, cramming Mrs. +Vesey's answer into one of his crowded pockets, one could not be +surprised at his popularity, for a merrier-faced boy than Geoff did not +exist. And his looks did not belie his laughter-loving nature. The +boy overflowed with mischief and good-humour. His was one of those +natures that never fail to take their colour from their surroundings. +Geoff was influenced this way and that by every wind that blew. Had it +not been for Alick's bad example, the boy would have been as orderly +and obedient a pupil as even his tutor could desire. As matters stood, +however, Geoff trod on the heels of his mutinous elder brother in every +mischief hatched at the Bunk. There was this distinct difference +between the rebels, however: Alick's tricks and practical jokes, as +well as his rebellion against authority, had in them the strain of +_malice prepense_ which made of them blacker faults, while Geoff's +misdemeanours were committed in the name of, and for the sake of, pure +mischief. Splutters and Shutters instinctively recognised this kindred +spirit in the boy, as they tore madly after him through the garden, +barking vociferously their affectionate admiration. + +'Binks, I say!' Geoff almost yelled in his endeavour to drown the +terriers' voices. 'Who do you think has come back to the village? +Why, Jerry Blunt, with one arm, poor chap, from that North Pole +expedition. He has given up the sea; and you'll never guess the land +trade he means to take up, not if you sat down for six weeks to think +it out. You couldn't, so I may as well tell you. Training young +bullfinches to sing tunes. Ho! ho! He! ho!' Geoff Carnegy had a most +extraordinary laugh of his own, and it rang out on the crisp salt air. + +'Who told you? How did you hear?' shouted Alick from above. + +'Why, Jerry himself has just been up to the Vicarage to tell Mr. Vesey +all about it, and---- But, wait a bit, I'll come up beside you and +finish the story!' and Geoff clambered up alongside of his brother. + +'Whatever's that you're a-sayin' of, Muster Geoff?' Binks, with spade +in mid air, was open-mouthed. + +'Jerry Blunt--you remember old Jerry, Binks, don't you? He has come +back from the North Pole.' + +'Oh, comed back, has he? Jes' so! Well, I ain't surprised.' + +'No, you never are, Binks!' Alick drily observed. 'Take an earthquake +to wake you up!' he added under his breath. + +'And do'ee say as the lad's left an arm behind?' inquired Binks. + +'Yes, I did,' rejoined Geoff. 'He's up at the house yonder, in the +study, telling the vicar how it was done. Mrs. Vesey didn't know; she +told me about the bullfinches, but she couldn't say how the arm was +lost. I should say it must have been nipped off by a Polar bear, +shouldn't you, Binks?' Geoff's eyes protruded excitedly as he mentally +pictured the suggested nip. + +'Polar bear? Hum! Well, it might ha' bin. I never fancied bears. +There's a deal o' low cunning about a bear; no slapdash courage, so to +say, same's there's in a lion or a leopard, but jes' a cruel, slow, +deliberate intention to kill, like a nor'-east wind as blights and +nips, sure as sure. Once, I remember, there was a travellin' bear came +Northbourne way. 'Twas when I was a b'y, same's your two selves. This +yere bear had a man with it, a mounseer, to judge from his tongue. He +wasn't a bad chap, and couldn't well help bein' a Frenchy. He wasn't +never unkind to the bear; he fed him, and saw to his straw bed o' +nights, same's the creature was his own child. But as I've said, there +ain't no nice feelin' about a bear; you can't win 'em, nohow.' + +'Well, but what happened?' impatiently broke in Alick. 'Did the bear +do anything?' + +'I'm a-comin' to that, muster, if you'll give me time; but you're the +hurryin' sart, you are. I should think as the teacher-genelman must +have his work laid out to keep up with you, you be so mortal anxious to +learn.' + +Alick reddened, and glared down at Binks's unruffled countenance; but +he forbore to retort, recognising that the old man's powers of repartee +were superior to his own. + +'Oh, come on, please do!' persuasively said Geoff, thrilling to hear +the sequel of Binks's story. + +'Well, as I was sayin',' Binks relented and went on, ''twas when I was +a b'y, and a rare fuss it did make. I was one as saw the thing with my +own eyes. That mounseer chap had divided his dinner with the bear one +day; the greedy baste had swallowed his own share, and was watching his +master out of them cunning eyes bears has. Of a suddent he clawed away +the victuals and bolted them; then there was a shriek from poor +Frenchy, and we all saw as the bear had him in a grim death-hug. I +tell you it took a few Northbourne men to separate them two, and when +'twas done, I don't forget the sorry sight the unfortunit' man was. +There warn't no hospitals nor nothin' in them days, and the doctor he +had a tough job to bring the poor furriner to, and patch him up, I tell +you!' + +'And the bear?' struck in Geoff. 'Did they do anything to the bear?' + +'Only shot him dead; nothin' else. 'Twas the doctor hisself as shot +him; we didn't want no savage wild beasts round Northbourne woods. +But, as I was sayin', there's no nice feelin' about bears, and I make +no doubt 'twas owin' to one of them Polar beasts as Jerry lost his arm, +but we'll hear about that from hisself. Poor lad, he wasn't a bad +sort, Jerry. You could always take his word for whatever 'twas. I +never knowed Jerry tell a lie, and you can't say more'n that for a +genelman born. B'ys, I'd rather, when my own time comes to be laid by +in the churchyard yonder, have it in writin' over me, _He never telled +a lie_, than I'd have anything on arth writ there.' + +'Well,' said Alick reflectively, 'there's one thing I can't make out, +and that is, what brought Jerry Blunt back to Northbourne? If I'd his +chances, and got free away from this stupid hole, catch me ever coming +back, that's all!' + +'Ah, so you say, muster!' Binks had returned to the refractory carrots +once again. 'But you'll find out, one of these days, that there's +summat in each of us like cords that draws a man to the old home. 'Tis +nature, as the Almighty 'as planted deep in our hearts, a-workin' in +the wust of us and in the best of us alike. Why, 'tis the same thing, +that hankering, we--some of us--has for a further-away home still, the +homeland beyond.' + +As Binks leant on his spade, and pushed back his straw hat to gaze over +the blue waters to the misty, far-off horizon, a softer look stole over +the wrinkled face. He had forgotten, the mischievous boys perched on +the wall above, forgotten Jerry, the returned wanderer, in the thought +of that home to which he would willingly enough depart, where the old +man's human treasures were already housed, and where they awaited +himself. + +'I say, let's get down, and slip round to the lane; perhaps we might +catch Jerry, and walk home with him.' + +It was Geoff's suggestion; and the brothers slid down from the wall to +the beach on the other side to make off, amid a distracting volley of +heart-rending howls from the betrayed Splutters and Shutters. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +'MISS THEEDORY' + +'Oh dear! I wish I could make it come right!' + +The speaker was a tall girl of eighteen or so, who sat with her thumbs +pressing her ears, and her fingers shading her eyes, to shut out the +sights and sounds of the blue waters that rolled up and broke in crisp +waves on the stretch of yellow sands under the windows of the Bunk +dining-room. + +Theo Carnegy had been trying her hardest for a couple of hours to add +up the housekeeping bills for the week. It was a task the girl dreaded +always, and on this particular day the figures seemed unusually +contrary and obstinate to cope with. Somehow, they utterly refused to +come straight and tally with the money she had been entrusted with to +lay out. The bristling difficulties seemed all the more unmanageable +because the sunshine that afternoon was so bright, and the wind so +fresh; while the boat that belonged to the Carnegy family lay tossing +at anchor within sight, as if inviting the girl down for the greatest +enjoyment of her life--a pull across the bay. + +But there was good stuff in Theo, gentle and yielding though she +looked, with her sweet, soft face, and the fair waving hair surrounding +it. She was the one of all the Carnegys who had deliberately given her +heart to God's service. That she had done so spoke out of her clear, +steadfast eyes, and in the peaceful lines of her mouth, and more than +all, in her unflagging determination to keep on straight at what she +knew to be her duty, without allowing herself to be beguiled to this +side or to that of the narrow path. Eighteen is not a very advanced +age, even regarded from the point of view of her brothers and little +sister; and Theo, who passionately loved the sea, had a great struggle +to keep her blue eyes fixed on the tiresome figures, which would not +come right, struggle as she might to make them. It never occurred to +her to shirk a difficulty in any sense; her nature was such that she +must grapple with a duty, however distasteful, once she felt she was +appointed to fulfil it. Her mother had died when Theo, the eldest +Carnegy, was fifteen, and Queenie, the younger, only two years old. +So, already, she had been for three years her father's housekeeper. A +certain sum of money was given into her hands every week by the +captain, and there was an end of the matter as regarded him. He wanted +to hear nothing about ways and means, certainly no details regarding +household management. All such was forbidden sternly; the captain's +time was valuable, he imagined, it being dedicated to the great object +which he hoped to achieve before he died. Distinctly, the naval +battles of the world throughout the ages were more important than the +everyday skirmishes in his own household. Theo, therefore, knew that +on no pretext whatever might she venture to appeal to her preoccupied +father in her difficulties; but she was faithful to her charge, and +gallantly enough fought with the distracting items and their +corresponding figures, which should have agreed, but didn't. It was +uphill work, however, for the youthful housekeeper. + +'Can't you come out yet, Theo? The boys are across the bay at the +Vicarage, and we could have the boat all to ourselves, if you would +only leave those nasty sums!' + +It was a patient little voice that interrupted the distracted girl. +Its owner had been into the room three times already, with the same +object, to ask the pathetic question. + +'Oh, don't worry me, Queenie dear! I'm just as anxious as yourself to +go on the water; but there's three halfpence gone astray, and I--I +can't find it out!' half sobbed Theo, who was getting nervous over the +troublesome figures. + +Queenie, a small, sedate maiden of five, a miniature of Theo in face, +stood silent in the doorway for a few seconds, wistfully piecing out +the possible meaning of her tall sister's bewildered grief. Then she +disappeared. + +'Theo, look!' + +Theo glanced through her fingers, and Queenie, who had been struggling +with the clasp of what looked like a doll-purse, proudly spread out +three halfpennies so remarkably clean and bright that they had +unmistakably been carefully washed by their small owner. + +'You may have these, Theo, 'stead of the three you've lost. Please +take them. I don't weally want them, for I've still got five +ha'pennies left!' The small woman spoke urgently. + +'Oh, my darling Queenie, you don't understand! I could have done that +myself--I could have put in three halfpence, and made all right, but it +would have been all wrong in another way. Listen now, and I shall try +to explain to you.' + +Placing her arm round Queenie's little neck, Theo tried to make the +child understand that such a proceeding would not be fair, nor upright, +nor honest. It would not be getting out of the difficulty; it would +rather be making it a deeper one. + +'What's difficulties?' abruptly asked Queenie, with her round, solemn +eyes gazing into her sister's face. + +'Difficulties are things made on purpose to be conquered in the right +way,' said Theo, after a pause of consideration. 'I think,' she added, +'that God puts them in our way, very often, just to try us.' + +'Oh, if God makes difficulties, they must be quite right, mustn't they, +Theo?' + +'Yes, yes!' was the quick response; and Theo, fired afresh, shut out +the fair picture of the tiny speaker whose grave, sweet face looked out +of a tangle of fine-spun, golden hair. Covering her eyes, she applied +herself with renewed vigour to the detested task before her. + +Queenie, who had oftentimes witnessed such struggles before, knew +better than to utter another word; the child stood perfectly still. +There was no sound in the room but the ticking of the clock and the +cracking of the seeds with which Miss Pollina, the old grey parrot in +the cage by the window, amused herself unceasingly from morn until +night. Even Miss Pollina seemed to be aware that perfect quietness was +necessary for the present, and she had hushed her usual chatter. + +'I've got them! I've got them!' cried out Theo, suddenly throwing up +her pencil in the air, and showing all her white teeth in a joyous +laugh over her triumph. Pollina instantly lifted up her head and +raised her voice also in a succession of deafening screams of +congratulation, while Queenie, always sedate as regards laughter and +chatter, silently performed, with a quaint gravity, a careful, slow +minuet round and round the room. + +'I lent three halfpence to Geoff to make up his sixpence for the +hospital-cot collection at the children's service last Sunday. He had +only fourpence halfpenny. I remember it all now. Oh, how stupid I've +been, to be sure!' It was an intense relief to have chased +successfully the truant halfpence. 'Now, Queenie,' went on Theo +gleefully, 'in five minutes I shall be ready for you, and we are going +to have a good time in the boat. Get your hat on, deary.' + +'May I bring some of my doll-people, Theo?' Queenie turned as she was +disappearing through the doorway to ask anxiously. + +'Oh dear, yes! As many as you can carry!' Theo called back absently, +for she was finishing the column of figures, with a flourish of triumph. + +In five minutes more 'Miss Theedory,' as all Northbourne called the +captain's eldest daughter, was rowing across the bay with Queenie +sedately facing her in the Bunk boat. Queenie had seated several +members of her waxen family on either side of her, and taking them an +airing was a serious responsibility for their anxious little parent. +She was in truth over-burdened with family cares, being the owner of no +less than thirteen dolls of various sizes and degrees of beauty. 'Miss +Queenie's baker's dozen,' the boys Geoff and Alick loved to tease her +by calling them. + +At the Bunk there was a tiny, three-cornered room overlooking the bay, +too small for any purpose whatever, even for a storeroom. This niche +had been given up to Queenie as a play-room. In it the child kept her +thirteen children; and, in addition, all the accumulated toys of the +family which had come down to herself, the youngest Carnegy, were +therein hoarded and stored by that most staid and careful of little +maids. + +'Where is us going to, Theo?' sedately inquired Queenie, after she had +settled her family to her mind in the boat. + +'Across to the Vicarage, first. We are going to have tea with Mrs. +Vesey. I wrote this morning to say that we should come. And then, on +our way back, I shall pull round to old Mrs. Dempster's; I want to have +a talk with her about Ned. You won't mind sitting in the boat if I tie +her to the old punt, will you, deary?' + +'Oh no!' tranquilly said Queenie. The little maid was quite as much at +home on the sea as on the land, for the Carnegy young folk took to the +water like ducklings, from the time they could walk. The family boat, +'The Theodora,' christened after Theo herself, was in daily use in the +bay, which was generally well sheltered, no matter how fierce the +storms that raged out their fury in the deep waters beyond. 'Is Ned a +naughty boy?' inquired the little girl presently, her watchful eyes +fixed on the waxen ladies and gentlemen who lay back languidly when +they did not abruptly slide altogether down to the bottom of the boat. + +'Well, Ned's not a bad boy exactly!' said Theo slowly. 'He's not quite +satisfactory, though. I'm afraid our Alick is too much with Ned; they +are putting mischief into each other's heads, if I'm not mistaken!' +Theo had a trick of talking confidentially to her little sister, as if +she were grown-up enough to understand that this world is not made of +play-days. Possibly that was one of the reasons why Queenie seemed so +sedate and solemn. + +'Alick's going to be a sailor, and find the North Pole,' observed +Queenie, administering a quiet box on the ear to an ill-behaved doll +that wobbled with the motion of the boat in a manner that was enough to +render anybody who watched her quite sea-sick. 'Who lost the North +Pole, Theo?' demanded the child. + +Queenie's questions were usually of a most unexpected nature, and were +occasionally comical enough. + +'Oh, nobody, of course!' laughed Theo. 'What a queer mite you are, +deary!' Then she went on gravely, 'Finding the North Pole means trying +to reach and to see, with human eyes, what I, for one, don't believe +human beings will ever live to behold. It is one of God's mysteries +which man has never yet penetrated, perhaps never was meant to +penetrate.' + +'What's mysteries?' Queenie of course thirsted to know. + +'Dark, wonderful things; possibly things that it might hurt us to see +or to know. I've heard Mr. Vesey say that when the fever to find the +North Pole gets into the blood it never leaves a man until life +perishes. That's why so many have been already lost in the attempt. +They will persist, and nature gives out. But here we are at the +Vicarage pier. Jump out, dear, and I'll tie "The Theodora" safely up.' + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN' + +An uproarious welcome awaited the captain's daughters as they stepped +out of their boat on the little pier belonging to the Vicarage. +Splutters and Shutters scrambled to meet the visitors, barking out +hospitality in their customary violent fashion. Behind them hobbled +Binks, eager to help 'Miss Theedory' fasten up the boat, privately +sceptical of the young lady's capacity to do so. + +'Oh, Binks! How d'ye do?' politely asked Queenie, who, having +disembarked her waxen family, was endeavouring to protect them from the +frantic welcome of the terriers, both of which seemed ready to eat up +the doll-guests, so glad were they to see them. + +'Sadly, missy; I'm but proper sadly!' + +'What is it, Binks?' sympathetically asked Theo, shaking out her +blue-cotton skirts, and drawing on a pair of gloves, for Mrs. Vesey was +peculiarly dainty and sensitive about trifles. Though an invalid +herself, the poor lady was always exquisitely dressed, maintaining as a +reason that if the human body be the temple of Christ, then it must be +the bounden duty of the Christian owner not only to keep it wholesome, +but also to adorn it, making it fair without, to match the fairness +within. Not only in her own person did this dainty gentlewoman carry +out her theory, but she looked for it in the persons of her visitors. +Theo invariably respected her wishes by appearing before her trim and +trig. + +'Tis jes' they rheumatics, Miss Theedory!' answered Binks cheerfully, +for all the world as if his aches and pains were so many honours. 'But +there, what's 'ee to expec' at sixty-seven? People's jints bain't made +to hold out for ever-'n-ever. Will 'um now?' + +'No, they won't!' joined in Queenie comprehendingly. 'Miss Muffet's +jints are giving way, too. Just look, Binks!' She held up for +inspection an elaborately dressed lady, whose arms and legs were in +such a tremulous condition that their total lapse from the body to +which they belonged would have been no surprise. + +'I shall ask father for some of that famous liniment of his, Binks,' +said Theo. 'I could send you over some in a little bottle; the boys +shall bring it this evening.' + +'If you ask me candid, I should say that glue would be the best +liniment to patch _them_ jints!' Binks was stolidly contemplating the +loose condition of Miss Muffet's limbs. + +'We're at cross purposes!' laughed Theo. 'Come along, Queenie; there's +Mrs. Vesey standing at the drawing-room window waving to us. We must +not keep her waiting. Can't you leave your doll-people in the boat, +dear? Binks will see that the dogs don't worry them to bits.' + +'Ay, ay! That I will, missy. Bless 'em both, they're picters, they +two, as taut and trig as you please. God give 'em smooth seas to sail +over!' added the old man under his breath, as he watched the captain's +daughters cross the lawn above. + +Time was, far back in years, when Binks had watched with pride such +another maiden as 'Miss Theedory,' the daughter God had given, or, +rather, had lent, for a little while, to the parents who idolised her. +The frosts of death nipped the human flower. Slowly, surely, it faded, +until the little home it had gladdened and made fair was empty and +dark, like the hearts left sorrowing. Long years ago though it was +since the blow had fallen, still not yet was the wound healed over. +Behind the austere front and grim temper of old Binks, the memory of +his maid Bessie lived fresh and fragrant as the girl herself had been. +There are some of us who, loyal ever to the love rooted deep in our +hearts, thus keep green the memory of those 'faces we have loved long +since, and lost awhile!' + +'She's rare and sweet, is Miss Theedory,' murmured the weather-beaten +old man, when the sisters had disappeared, and he turned to fasten the +boat to the pier-head. 'But I make no doubt she've her peck o' +troubles, too, what with them limbs of young brothers, and the captain +so uplifted-like that he can't give a hand to help her rule 'em. Yes, +Miss Theedory has no easy life of it, though she be a born lady. 'Tis +a world o' ups and downs, this is.' + +'Hilloa, Binks! Oh, I say!' + +The old man wheeled round to find Geoff and Alick had unexpectedly +returned. + +'Whatever's ado now? What's brought 'ee both back?' snapped the old +man crustily. The boys were anything but pleasant interruptions in his +eyes. + +'Oh, we got tired waiting about for Jerry. He hasn't come yet. And +we've just seen our boat come into the pier, and we want it to go for a +row,' both boys spoke at once. + +'Ye want the boat, do 'ee now? Well, then, ye can't get it, that's +all!' Binks faced round upon the boys, who were trying to push past +him and jump into the boat. 'Miss Theedory, she says, says she, +"Binks, I looks to you to see arter that boat for me!" and with that +she stepped up to the house, she and little missy, to see the mistress. +'Tain't likely I'm a-goin' to 'low her to find no boat waitin' for her, +bym-bye, when she's ready to go back 'ome. You jes' be off, young +musters!' + +'That's all nonsense! It's no use of you showing fight. We mean to +have the boat. It's our boat, and Theo can walk home; do her good, +too.' + +Alick spoke sullenly, and pushed past Binks on the slippery little +pier. But he reckoned without counting the cost. Binks, though +rheumatic and a trifle bent, still retained some of the strength that +had made him a byword as an athlete in his young days. With a touch of +angry red in his brown, wrinkled cheek, and a spark of wrath in his +deep-set eyes, he seized the boy neatly by the back of the collar and +the band of his Norfolk tweed jacket. It was useless for Alick to +splutter and howl and threaten. Old Binks swung him, as though he were +a kitten, over the edge of the pier, while Geoff fairly doubled up in a +wild ecstasy of laughter. + +[Illustration: SWUNG HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE A KITTEN.] + +'Tis this way I'll serve 'ee, if so be as you wants to, interfere wi' +me doin' of my dooty, young sir!' croaked out the sturdy old veteran. + +'Let me down, I say, let me down! Oh, I'll pay you out!' screamed +Alick, maddened more by a sense of humiliation than of terror, for none +of the Carnegy name dreaded a ducking in the sea. + +'There ye be, then!' Binks at last deposited his wriggling burden flat +on the pier. 'Now, p'raps ye'll understand the way an honest man +dispoges of obstructions in the path o' dooty! You're an obstruction, +you are, muster; and if so be as you lay the lesson to heart, the bit +o' teachin' on my part will be wuth while.' + +'I'll pay you out. See if I don't!' repeated Alick, sidling hurriedly +off, with a parting shot in the shape of the coward's favourite threat. + +'Oh, come!'--Geoff was at his heels,--'the old chap is very game. You +must allow, too, that he was in the right, Alick, and we were wrong.' + +Clear-sighted Geoff never hesitated to render justice to others. But +Alick was different. Baffled and furious, he slouched away, hatching +secret revenge upon the old man who had so determinedly baulked his +will. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BREAKERS AHEAD + +Ned Dempster was certainly the sharpest of all the boys in Northbourne. +Naturally sharp, that is to say, for he, in common with Alick Carnegy, +was incorrigibly idle, and Ned's talent of ability was therefore +allowed to rust from disuse. + +The Carnegy boys and Ned were in the same class at Sunday school, a +class taught by Theo. The rest of the boys comprising it being dull +and lumpish, it was only to be expected that a sharp-witted lad like +Ned stood out brilliantly from his neighbours, attracting by his +intelligence the attention of his teacher as well as her young brothers. + +Ned Dempster was an orphan who had been brought up by his grandmother, +Goody Dempster, the oldest inhabitant of the little fishing-village, an +aged woman whose skin was baked brown by the sun and the salt +sea-breezes until she had more the appearance of a New Zealander than +an Englishwoman. Pitying the boy, as well as being considerably +interested in his intelligent answers in class, Theo began to have him +a good deal at the Bunk. She found many little offices there for him, +such as to look after and keep tidy 'The Theodora,' the family boat, +and to help in the obstinately unproductive garden. In this way the +acquaintance between the three boys became a week-day as well as a +Sunday one. Alick and Ned, in particular, rapidly found themselves to +be kindred spirits. In each was ingrained a powerful love of +adventure. Alick, a great reader, who had devoured already his +father's little library, which was made up for the most part of books +on seafaring subjects, found in Ned Dempster a listener who hungered +for as much of that exciting fare as Alick could manage to retail +second-hand. + +For a long time the darling topic that absorbed their individual +attention was pirates. The boys were never weary of rehearsing all the +thrilling scenes of pirate-life which Alick had either read or heard +of. In these lively pastimes Geoff willingly shared, lending a hand +and a stentorian throat to the exciting work, though his tastes did not +lie in that direction to the same extent as did those of his brother +and Ned Dempster. Still, to be dressed in fierce red sashes, to wear +elaborately corked moustaches, to be armed with clumsy, antique weapons +which represented cutlasses, and to board, with ringing shouts, the +beached-up fishing-boats in search of slaves, was a delightsome +diversion. And perhaps to Geoff its greatest charm was that there was +plenty of noise about it. + +In course of time the joys of pirate-life palled. Next, there set in +an extended course of terrible shipwrecks to order; these catastrophes +being altogether independent of the weather. Into this game, which was +not so exclusively manly, the many dolls belonging to Queenie were +pressed. Time after time, these waxen ladies were bravely rescued and +ceremoniously restored, dripping from the waves, to their anxious +little owner, who, truth to tell, caught more colds than one in tending +the shipwrecked doll-people. + +But, in after days, Alick and Ned struck out quite a new line. Late +and early they were found poring over atlases; drawing charts upon +everything and anything, promiscuously, in the Northbourne landscape. +Their daily conversation consisted of mysterious whispers about +marching Polewards; about dangerous floes, and about camping out on the +ice. At this juncture Geoff threw up his partnership in the games, +which had become over-serious for his light-hearted, fun-loving nature. +Not for him was there any attraction in the great mystery of the North +Pole. + +The imagination of Ned Dempster, on the other hand, took fire over the +marvellous adventures, the awe-inspiring dangers and hardships of those +explorers who, hitherto, have failed to attain the great object. This, +in truth, was an aim to live for, to perish for, if need be; and as +time went on, the boys became closer intimates than ever, particularly +as nobody else took any interest in the one topic that had seized, with +iron grip, their youthful imaginations. Perhaps the fact of the +indifference of others bound the two closer together. + +Alick grew worse and worse over the preparation of his lessons for the +tutor. The routine and discipline of the schoolroom became too irksome +to be borne. Consequently, punishments and detentions and complaints +were the order of the day at the Bunk, to the despair of their tutor, +Philip Price, a quiet, not over robust-looking young man, who had +qualified for the Church, but as yet had failed in getting a living. +Meantime he taught the young Carnegys every morning, and made up a +slender income by giving afternoon lessons elsewhere. + +The young man and his widowed mother, after their home was broken up by +death, had sought a hiding-place far from the summer-friends, who fell +away so quickly in the 'day of trouble.' + +'I'll work for you, mother dear; never you fear about the future!' +Philip had bravely declared. Poor lad, he had gallantly striven to do +so, but sometimes he felt as though every man's hand was against him, +so fruitless were his struggles. It is hard work to force one's way +inside the world's pitilessly closed doors. + +Certainly, Philip Price might have had his chances, as they are called, +if he had not been so bent upon entering the clerical profession. His +mother's relatives were City men of some repute, and a sure footing +among them might have been gained by the young man, had he chosen to +relinquish his dream. But Philip did not so choose. Even after he had +fully qualified, and the living he had made so sure of stepping into +passed into the hands of others, and it seemed as if the labourer were +not 'worthy of his hire,' Philip did not regret his choice of a career. + +'It will come right, mother, don't you doubt it,' he persisted. +Meanwhile something else came. Failing health was the cross that +Philip Price was required to shoulder. He grew painfully thin as time +went on; his tall, elastic figure acquired a stoop; and there came, to +stay, an anxious, upright line between his eyebrows, that spoke of +mental worry. + +'Philip dear,' his watchful mother, quick to note these signs, laid her +hand on his shoulder to say, 'these pupils try you overmuch. I know +they do!' + +'Nonsense, dear old mater!' evaded Philip, imprisoning the wrinkled +hand. He had come in looking unusually spent, and thrown himself on +the hard, slippery sofa of the cheap lodging the Prices called, +nowadays, their home. + +The truth was the young tutor had begun to tire woefully of the daily +grind he had taken up so blithely. It was the incorrigible Carnegy +boys who were his special worry. His other pupils, a meek, small boy +and his shy sister, though they would never set the Thames on fire by +their wit, at the same time would never goad their teacher to +desperation by mutinous, unruly ways. But Philip Price never carried +tales out of school. Not from himself did his mother learn how tried +the tutor was, but, with a woman's instinct, she divined the cause. + +'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys,' she said +plaintively. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up +alert. + +'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day,' went on the +widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting +in the twilight, and knitting needed no spectacles. 'It seems they are +an ill-governed pack, the young people, neglected by their father, and +allowed to grow up anyhow, people say. Philip, I feel quite positive +that they try you beyond your strength. Is it not so? Tell me, my +dear.' + +'Mother,'--Philip's thin face flushed as he spoke hurriedly,--'is it +quite fair of you to quote "they say" about people whom you don't know? +The Carnegys are not an "ill-governed pack," I assure you. The +boys--my pupils--are, I grant you, unmanageable young rebels; but the +others--Miss Carnegy and her little sister--they are----' Philip +stopped abruptly. + +'Well, Phil?' His mother raised her head quickly to glance at the +troubled face opposite. + +'They are as sweet and gentle-natured as they are fair!' said Philip in +a low voice. + +'I should like very well to see and know these Misses Carnegy for +myself,' presently observed Mrs. Price; and Philip noted the faint, +jealous displeasure in her voice. + +'Mother,' he laughed in a boyish way, 'one of those Misses Carnegy, as +you call them, is so charming that you could not resist taking her in +your arms and setting her on your lap!' + +'Oh, they are only children, these girls?' + +'One of them is,' rejoined Philip, after a hesitating pause. 'She is a +child of five. But the other Miss Carnegy is grown up; she is the +eldest, and the mainstay of the family. There is no mother, you see.' + +'Ah! Poor dear young things! Well, but, my boy, the thing troubling +me most is that you should be condemned to such poor work as teaching, +when, by rights, you ought to be filling a far different position. Oh, +Philip, to think with your fine abilities you should be nothing better +than a mere drudge! I often wish, dear, that you had not been so +obstinate. You might have had a capital position by this time, with +one or other of your uncles in the City.' + +'Hush, mother, please!' Philip raised his thin hand. 'You know that +from my childhood I've desired to be a soldier of Christ. If there be +no opening prepared for me as yet, it must be that I am not fit for the +work. In God's own good time He will point the way. I am content to +wait that time, mother; and,' added the young man softly under his +breath, 'if it be that the opening never come in this life, well, we +know that all things are possible to Him, without any feeble help from +us weak mortals.' + +'Dear boy,' sighed the widow, 'your patience shames my discontent. +But, you see, it tries a mother's heart sorely to see her child +stranded high and dry, while others, not half so fit, rush in and win +the prizes of life.' + +'Bide a wee, mater, bide a wee! Everything comes to the man who can +wait, as the old proverb says. But I must confess I am at the end of +my patience with those young scamps, the Carnegy boys.' + +'Speak to their father, Philip. Rouse him up to rule in his own +house,' said Mrs. Price energetically. + +'I really think I must,' assented Philip; and he did. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE LITTLE MOTHER + +The next day the harassed tutor bearded the lion in his den. + +'I really must have a few words with you, captain!' he began nervously +enough. + +'What on earth's the matter, Price? What's wrong now?' testily +demanded the captain, grievously annoyed at being disturbed over his +ponderous literary labours. + +'It's the old story,' said Philip dejectedly. 'The fact is, the boys +are getting beyond me, Alick especially so.' + +'Well,' said the captain, fidgeting impatiently with his pen as he sat +surrounded by waves of MSS., 'thrash them, can't you?' + +'I'd rather try any other means than that!' was the quietly spoken +answer. + +'Hasn't the pluck in him for it!' was the thought that passed through +the fiery old sailor's mind. But if he had noted the calm smile of a +self-controlled nature that flitted across the face of the young man +standing opposite him, the captain would have rapidly changed his +opinion as to the lack of pluck in Philip Price. + +'Oh, well, what do you want me to do, eh? You really can't expect me +to come into the schoolroom and horsewhip the young scamps for you! +You see for yourself how my time is occupied on a most important +subject.' The captain waved his pen over the closely-written sheets +before him. + +'Perhaps not. But I really must ask you to reason with Alick, if not +to punish him. It is imperative that something of the sort must be +done. It comes to this, captain, I don't feel that it's quite honest +to be taking your money for the mockery of teaching the boys, +particularly Alick!' As he forced himself to speak thus, a dark-red +flush rose to Philip Price's brow, for he was one of the over-sensitive +folk. + +'Pshaw, man! What a fool you must be!' The blunt captain was at the +end of his patience. He was quivering to get back to his work. +'Besides, boys will be boys all the world over. Alick is no worse than +others, I suppose. You're too conscientious. It's absurd!' ended the +sailor in a more kindly tone, after he had pushed his spectacles up +into the roots of his iron-grey hair, to take a leisurely look at the +earnest, agitated face confronting him. + +'Now, I'll tell you what, Price!' he began again--'the best thing you +can do is to go and talk the matter over with Theo. That girl can do +anything with her brothers. She's got a way that some women are born +with--not all women, mind you, but my Theo has it. Just go and consult +her, and let me get on with my work, I beg of you. I am going over my +MSS. for the fifth time, young man! That will give you an idea of my +perseverance with difficulties. Follow the example, and you'll soon +conquer those young limbs. Now, good morning to you, Price, good +morning!' and Philip was hastily bowed out of the stuffy little +sanctum, with its piles of MSS. and its odours of stale tobacco. + +'Theo's the one to settle it all!' cheerfully muttered the captain, as +the tutor's footsteps died away. 'She's such a sensible little woman, +and has such a talent for managing and organising; she takes after me!' +he added, with a complacence that would have received a rude shock by a +little plain speaking as to those duties close at hand in his home that +he was daily neglecting, in order to follow a will-o'-the-wisp in the +shape of literary success. + +'Miss Carnegy, the captain has referred me to you about a matter I have +been forced to mention to him.' + +Philip Price was standing in the doorway of the tea-house, as the +Carnegys called the rustic erection at the end of the long, +unproductive garden, hanging sheer over the little rocky headland on +which the captain had built his bunk, when he came to settle at +Northbourne. A large part of the Carnegys' lives was spent in the +tea-house, for as a family they loved the open air. + +It was Queenie's schoolroom, in spring, summer, and autumn. The two +fair heads raised at the sound of Philip's voice belonged to Theo and +her pupil. They were busy over the Monday Bible-lessons, it being a +wise rule of the young teacher to follow up the lessons of Sunday while +they were still fresh in the childish memory of her little charge. + +'What a contrast!' inwardly groaned the tutor as he took in the +peaceful scene, and compared it with the one he had so recently +quitted, in despair, where Geoff and Alick had that morning well-nigh +goaded him to frenzy by their rebellious conduct. Alick had been in +one of his worst moods, and Geoff had caught the infection. Books had +been flung up to the ceiling; the ink-bottles deliberately emptied; and +the rebels daringly shouted 'Rule Britannia!' from the top of the table +on which they had leaped, brandishing the fire-irons. The tutor knew +that he could have severely chastised one of the boys, and conquered +him with ease, but he could hardly cope at once, single-handed, with +the two. He therefore felt it to be the most dignified thing to leave +the schoolroom in silence. All this he told, in a few brief words, to +Theo, unwilling as he was to burden her youthful shoulders, already +overweighted with many cares. + +'I'm sorry, Mr. Price, so sorry!' Theo spoke humbly, and her sweet +face coloured from chin to brow with vexation. 'It's hard for you to +be subjected to such treatment. The boys are truly unmanageable. But, +indeed, they have good hearts; they will be so repentant for their +shocking behaviour by and by.' + +'They must say so, if they are,' said Philip, firmly, his pale face +growing set. 'I must have an apology from them before I can resume the +lessons, whatever may be the cost.' + +'Of course! oh, of course!' hurriedly assented Theo, her fingers +working nervously. There were breakers ahead, she foresaw. The idea +of Alick, or Geoff either, apologising! 'I shall go to them, and do my +best to bring them to reason,' she said presently. + +'Thank you! I am sorry that the matter should vex _you_!' was the +grave reply; and lifting his hat, the tutor departed home. + +'Vex me!' murmured Theo, leaning her head out of one of the open +windows of the tea-house, and staring absently down upon the waves +leaping over the black rocks below. 'Vex me! It's more than that. +Oh, it's too bad that all the burden should fall on me! Father _ought_ +to look after the boys. It's too bad!' she repeated. + +Then the sea and sky were blurred, and a vision took their place--a +vision of a sweet, fading face; hands outstretched in pleading; and a +loved voice, long since dumb, rang in her ears: 'You will promise, +Theo, to be a little mother to the boys, and help them over the rough +places in life's journey, as I should have tried to do? God will help +you, dear. He will ever be ready with His aid!' + +How vividly it all came back to the girl, that dark time in her young +life when the dear, tender mother was called from out their midst. +When all things, in heaven and earth alike, were shrouded in the +pitiless gloom which hid the face of her Heavenly Father from the +despairing daughter. What a chill, empty, rudderless home it was for +the terror-struck children, with no one to look to for guidance! +Father was away at the far ends of the world on his good ship, and +mother--ah, farther off still was the mother, who had slipped out of +the little home. Theo remembered, with a pang, the clinging hands of +the desolate boys and the baby, Queenie, which had stirred her out of +her own stupor of sorrow. It was borne in upon her, then, that she +must step into the dead mother's empty place; and, frail, weak girl +though she was, she had done her brave best to fill it ever since. She +knew well, none better, that God had indeed helped her daily in her +efforts hitherto. Lifting her tear-stained face, Theo told herself +that He would do so still, for 'His mercies never fail.' With a silent +little prayer for strength and patience, she left Queenie in the +tea-house while she went indoors to confront the rebels as courageously +as she could. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MUTINY AT THE BUNK + +'Boys!' Theo's clear treble voice rang through the din that was +shaking the very pictures on the walls of the Bunk dining-room. + +'Why, it's Theo, I declare!' shouted Geoff, the first to hear his +sister. 'We're in a state of mutiny, Theo! Isn't it fun?' He +shrieked in his glee. + +'We've turned on old Price, and completely routed him off the decks, +and we've seized the ship. We're in sole command of the Bunk--hooray!' +Alick, his face flushed with triumph, his eyes dancing with wicked +mischief, executed a hornpipe in the middle of the dining-table in +furious style and making a hideous clatter, shouting the while-- + + 'Will ye hear of Captain Kidd, + And the deeds of which he did, + All upon the Spanish main, + Where so many men were slain?' + + +'Won't you get down, boys dear, and tell me quietly what has maddened +you so this morning?' Theo, who had been standing transfixed, spoke at +last, looking calmly at her excited brothers, and her voice, so evenly +modulated and gentle, had an instantaneous effect. The dreadful din +and noisy dancing abruptly ceased, while the rebels regarded her with +much the same sullen stare as one encounters from a drove of Highland +cattle when molested. + +'Where's Price? Have you seen him?' suspiciously asked Geoff. 'Has he +been reporting us?' + +'He'd better not try on that game, I tell you, the coward that he is!' +growled Alick. + +'I don't know about Mr. Price being the coward,' pointedly said Theo. +'It isn't usually the fashion among brave men for two to set on one, is +it, boys dear?' she added tranquilly. + +Geoff gasped. Then his mouth, opening to sharply retort, shut with a +click. He knew that his sister, though only a girl, was perfectly +right. It had been an unfair, uneven conflict. Theo put her finger on +the blot with remarkable accuracy for a girl; two to one must always be +unfair, and a rush of shame tingled over him. + +Not so Alick. He would not allow himself to be convinced. + +'I'd like to know what right has Price to grind us down?' he muttered, +gloomily frowning at Theo. 'He's an oppressor, that's what he is! But +I'll soon let him see; I'll pitch into him, if he dares to show his +white face here again, I tell you! Down with tyrants!' + +'He isn't likely to show his face here,' said Theo, loftily regarding +the inflamed countenance of her brother. 'That is,' she continued, +'not unless he receives an ample apology from each of you for this +morning's work.' + +'Apology!' shouted--almost yelled--Alick. 'Never! Don't you believe +it, Miss Theo! You think you can do most things, but you won't bend us +to that!' Rub-a-dub on the dining-table hammered the furious boy's +toes and heels, as he broke out into another hornpipe. + +'Won't you come down, dears?' again pleaded Theo as gently as before. +'Come to the tea-house, and tell me exactly what the trouble was from +the very beginning,' she said persuasively. + +'Oh, we'll tell you!' eagerly assented the boys, with one voice; and +scrambling down from the table, each slipped an arm through Theo's, and +walked away with her, both talking at once, excitedly endeavouring to +make the best of their case in her eyes. They were genuinely fond of +their elder sister; principally, it may have been, because she never +scolded or flouted them, however badly they behaved. Theo's way was +different. It was by gentle means she sought to lead, not drive, her +rebellious, hot-headed young brothers back to the path of duty from +which they were so constantly straying. + +'What did you want, did you say?' she asked, bewildered by the two +angry voices full of complaint on either side of her. + +'You be quiet, Geoff, and let me tell her, said Alick, in a domineering +tone. 'I'm the eldest!' That being a fact, Geoff could not well +contradict it, and Alick triumphantly went on, 'You see, Theo, this is +how it all began. We asked Price, civilly enough, this morning to +allow us a whole day off on Wednesday next, instead of the usual +half-holiday. And I'll tell you why we were so anxious for a whole +day. You know Jerry Blunt?' + +Theo nodded. Everybody had heard of the wanderer's return to +Northbourne. + +'Of course you do. Well, but perhaps you didn't know that he has set +up as a bird-trainer, because he can't do any work since he lost his +right arm, and he is bound to make a living somehow. Jerry told Ned +Dempster that he was going to Brattlesby Woods all day Wednesday to +seek for young bullfinches, and he also said that we might go with him, +if we cared to, and help search the nests. Wouldn't that have been +splendid? Now, wouldn't it?' + +Theo nodded again--emphatically. She thoroughly sympathised with all +the boys' pleasures and pursuits, even when she could not join them. + +'But that cantankerous old Price refused us flat. He said we'd been +far too idle, me especially, to yield us one single hour extra; and he +hammered away about his responsibilities as he has the cheek to call +_us_. Now, I ask you, wasn't that enough to make a fellow just mad? +Wouldn't you have done exactly as we did yourself, Theo?' Alick gave +his sister's arm an impatient shake. + +'Well, no. I don't think I should have danced so madly on the table to +the horrible music of the fire-irons. And I _do_ know I should not +have insulted a gentleman. Another thing'--Theo skilfully reserved her +best shot for the last--'I also am quite sure I shouldn't have set on +him when he was single-handed and I had a partner, as I said before.' + +Geoff slid his hand quickly out of Theo's arm; her shot had gone home, +and his face took on a look of hot shame. Alick, on the other hand, +only frowned the more deeply. + +'Let us sit down and talk it all over reasonably,' went on Theo. +'Queenie dear, it is one o'clock; you may take your lesson-book, and +make yourself and your doll-people tidy for dinner.' Queenie +obediently trotted off to the house, and the speaker continued. +'What's all this about Jerry Blunt, boys? I thought he was a sailor? +What in the world has a sailor to do with training bullfinches, I want +to know?' + +'Why,' glibly began Alick, his face clearing, for the subject was one +specially dear to him, 'you know Jerry was away on that expedition to +find the North Pole--the one that went so far north. They got to the +Franz Josef Land, the very farthest anybody has ever yet penetrated. +But they failed that time, and Jerry got a frost-bite all through his +own carelessness--he admits that. His right hand and arm above the +elbow had to be taken off. Oh, you needn't shudder, Theo; a man can't +both venture and go scot-free. When the expedition came back they gave +Jerry the sack--turned him off, you know. So he has come back to +Northbourne to settle with his old mother, and of course he is anxious +to turn an honest penny for a living. It seems he knows a rare lot +about training young bullfinches to pipe real tunes. He learned the +trick from a cunning old Frenchman's yarns--a man who was on the +expedition.' + +'Yes, and just fancy, Theo!' cut in Geoff excitedly, and forgetting all +his recent twinges of compunction. 'Jerry trains the bullfinches with +a queer little musical instrument, a bird organ it is called. The +notes are as like their own as they can possibly be, Jerry says so. He +is going to show us the one he has got of his own. Old Frenchy, who +taught him how to train, gave him one for himself.' + +'What's Jerry Blunt's object in training the birds? How can it be a +living for him?' asked Theo wonderingly. For the moment she, too, had +forgotten the disagreeable events of the morning in the novelty of the +subject. + +'Why, he will sell them, of course--sell them to a chap in London who +sells them again. They fetch a good price, I can tell you. And oh, +Theo, listen, _we_ are going to have a trained finch, Alick and I. +We're going to save up, and Jerry has promised to keep a young bird to +train for us. We shall pay him, you know.' Geoff in his elation +jumped up and down on the seat. + +'Yes, we are!' said Alick; adding wrathfully, 'and wasn't it a mean, +low trick of Price to refuse us leave to go with Jerry?' He was quite +ready to blaze up again, volcanic-wise, in another fury. + +'Well, boys,' Theo spoke quietly and simply, but there was that in her +face and voice that forced both other brothers to listen, 'you know, +each of you, that father is too busy to look after you; so Mr. Price is +set over you, and he is on honour--being a gentleman, you +understand--not to take advantage of father's preoccupation to give you +such holidays as you have no right to have. Already they say your work +is far too light, and I know Mr. Vesey has again and again urged father +to send you both to a public school. When the book is done, and sent +to the publishers, father means to see about it seriously. You've +called Mr. Price a great many bad names to-day, but you can't call him +dishonourable; that's one point in his favour, and it's but fair that +we should allow him what we can. It would have been so easy for him to +grant this favour----' + +'Humph!' interrupted Alick, as if to say, 'Oh, you're coming round to +our view, are you? I thought you would!' + +'Quite easy!' repeated the young girl gravely. 'And there's another +thing: if it would have been such a pleasure to you, think what it +would have been to Mr. Price to get rid of such tiresome plagues as +yourselves for a whole day!' + +In a flash Alick remembered the recent words of old Binks to the same +effect. For the second time the novel idea of how irksome he and Geoff +must be to their much-tried tutor presented itself, to the resentful +boy's secret astonishment. + +'I am sure,' Theo began again, and still more gravely, 'you boys must +remember that the Bible tells us to respect those appointed to be +rulers over us.' + +'Don't preach!' Alick rudely cut her short; but Geoff bit his lip. He +was already bitterly ashamed of his morning's exploit, and tender, +serious words from Theo never failed to touch him to the heart. + +Left to himself, Geoff was undoubtedly one of those who, amid good +surroundings, would have kept on the straight path easily enough. So +could many. But human nature is, for the most part, made up of Alicks +as well as Geoffs--of boys who wilfully choose to do wrong and to stray +from duty. Like the genuine wheat and the tares, all must grow +together side by side--in the meantime. + +'I didn't intend to preach, Alick,' rejoined Theo gently. 'I only want +to ask you boys to show that you also are gentlemen, in the true sense +of the word, by frankly begging Mr. Price's pardon, when he comes +to-morrow, for your rude outbreak of this morning. It is the least you +can do, to make amends for an almost unpardonable insult.' + +There was a silence. The waves below dashed and broke on the rocks, +and the hoarse voices from a belated, heavy-laden fishing-boat stole +across the water in shouts to the women, who had been anxiously +awaiting them for some hours on the shore. + +'Well, boys dear, have you decided? Are you to act as father's sons, +as Carnegys of the old stock, or, to put it in another way, as +Christians who have given offence, and know that there is but one way +of making up for it? Will you apologise?' Theo spoke with urgent +persuasiveness. + +'I shall!' Geoff stood up straight, and his face was pale and set, as +he confronted Theo bravely. + +'I shan't!' Alick's head sunk lower and lower; on his brow a gloomy +scowl deepened, and his eyes refused to meet those of his sister +wistfully seeking his. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THEO'S HAVEN + +'Oh, mother, mother, it's too hard for me! You have asked too much, +and I have failed, miserably failed!' + +The wind from the sea was blowing fresh and free over the village, and +beyond it to the little churchyard, the God's acre of Northbourne. +Kneeling beside one of the grassy mounds therein was Theo Carnegy, +tears rolling down her earnest face. The girl was overwrought by +home-worries, for Theo was none of the crying sort, as a rule. But +there are times in the lives of each of us when all things seem too +difficult for our feeble hands to smooth out; the knots, the +difficulties, become hopelessly entangled; we sit down dismayed in +stony despair, or we weep helplessly, according to our several +temperaments. From the beginning of the sorrow that shaded her young +days, Theo had a trick, in times when harassing troubles crowded upon +her, of secretly slipping away to the churchyard, and whispering her +trials to that grassy mound, the most sacred spot of earth to the girl. + +It was so still, so unutterably peaceful, in the hallowed enclosure, +where the green grass grew tangled among the grey headstones that +elbowed each other in the cramped space. During the week the little +churchyard was deserted. On Sundays the simple fisher-folk wandered in +and out among the Northbourne sleepers, talking softly of their old +neighbours; but it never occurred to them to do anything towards +keeping the graves neat and straight. Theo's loving care kept the +quiet corner where her mother slept in perfect order; but for the rest +an air of dreary neglect prevailed. + +Bewildered and harassed by her brothers' mad outbreak, Theo had sought +her usual consolation, and was sitting leaning her cheek against the +stone that told the last chapter in the life-history of the gentle +mother who had risen at the Master's call to go up higher. And as she +so sat, a peace, born of the surrounding silence, brooded down over her +troubled soul. Her anger at the boys' mutiny died out. Somehow, among +the silent sleepers round about her, it seemed small and paltry to fume +over the wranglings of the schoolroom. The wind that stole up from the +bay dried the tears on Theo's cheek. New resolves stirred her heart. +She would pluck up courage and try, once again, to move Alick's +stubborn will. Not that she had much hope of inducing him to apologise +to his justly offended tutor. She knew that Philip Price had created +an insurmountable rock in the path of reconciliation by his insistence +on such a thing. + +'I don't blame him, of course not,' she said half aloud. 'It's due to +him that the boys should apologise. Dear old Geoff is already willing +to do it; but Alick never will!' + +'Who is you talking to, Theo?' A sweet, shrill voice made Theo jump, +and turn quickly. + +'Queenie! Oh, my deary, how did you know where to find me?' she cried +in her surprise. + +'Oh, I could find you nowhere, Theo. I asked everybody, even father. +Then I knewed you must have gone to see mother, and so I comed too.' +Queenie, armed as usual with a couple of dolls, proceeded to seat +herself and them on the other side of the green mound. 'Tell me about +mother an' me, Theo, when I was a very little girl, will you?' she +soberly begged, when she had established herself and her infants to her +satisfaction. + +In this little one there was an utter lack of dread of death. Nobody +had filled her childish mind with vague fears of the unknown life +beyond. Her simple faith was that unlimited trustful belief that our +Lord alluded to when He said, 'Except ye be converted and become as +little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.' + +The mother whom Queenie only knew by hearsay had gone home first--gone +to Paradise beyond the blue skies. Theo said so. This dear mother +would be waiting, with wistful welcomes, for each one of her dear ones +when they, too, went to that other far-off home. Theo said so. +Queenie, therefore, came, with happy, childish trust, to her mother's +quiet resting-place much as she would have trotted into that mother's +room, had God not called His meek servant away out of her earthly home. + +'I don't think I could tell you stories to-day, dear.' Theo rose +slowly from the grass, and looked down upon the fair little face under +its straw hat. 'I am too troubled.' + +'Is it the horrid figures, Theo?' Queenie asked, half-sympathetically, +half-absently, her attention being attracted by a bold thrush hopping +across the graves. + +'No, it's worse than figures; it's the boys,' mournfully rejoined Theo. + +'The boys are going shrimping this evening, with Ned,' said Queenie +importantly. 'I wish you and I was boys, Theo!' the little one +plaintively added. Queenie was beginning to discover the fact that +dolls were not, perhaps, the highest joys of life. + +Going out shrimping with Ned! Theo started. Then things were hopeless +indeed. There would be no evening preparation. Perhaps even Geoff had +changed his mind, and would refuse to say he was sorry. + +'I must take you home now, at once, deary. Come! I have to go and see +old Goody Dempster before tea. Say good-bye, and come.' + +Queenie's fresh little mouth was pressed against the grey headstone, +and she softly whispered, 'Good-bye, mother darlin'!' + +Theo stooped and did the same. The touching little ceremony was never +omitted by either. Then hand in hand they soberly left the quiet +resting-place, the missel-thrush peering out of its bold eye at their +retreating figures. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +COMING EVENTS + +'May I come in, Goody?' + +A sweet voice penetrated the dim recesses of the little thatched +cottage which, with its weather-stained front, was the centre one of +the half-circle of homely dwelling-places that huddled together looking +out on the world of waters. Sitting by the smoky fire, watching, as +she knitted busily, the iron pot of potatoes boiling for her supper and +that of her grandson Ned, was Goody Dempster. Her face, as she lifted +it, was brown and wrinkled--indeed, it was not unlike in hue the +kippered herrings hanging on a stick outside. But a pleased surprise +sprang into her eyes as she recognised her visitor's voice. + +'Is that yourself, Miss Theedory? Come along in, deary! You're always +a sight for sore eyes, as ye know well. Sit ye down on the little +stool as ye've set on sin' ye were a tiny toddler. It's kep' dusted +careful, case you should drop in; and nobody, not even Ned, sits on +Miss Theedory's stool.' + +'I know that, Goody dear. I shouldn't mind if they did; but you mean +it for kindness to keep a stool specially for me. Well, you see I've +come again to have another talk with you about Ned. Indeed, I hoped to +see himself, but he doesn't seem to be in the way.' + +'No, Miss Theedory, he ain't. And reason why's this. He's bin out +with the Fletchers' boat all the day. There's a great take o' +mackerrow expected shortly, and the Fletchers they're on the look out; +they're always that spry to the main-chance, as you know, deary. Not +as I'm one to blame they; people has got to be sharp in their bis'ness.' + +'Yes, of course,' assented Theo absently. She was staring into the +fire, wondering what tack would be best to take with Ned, when she did +get hold of the boy. 'Have you been talking to Ned, Goody, as you +promised you would?' she turned her head to ask presently. + +'Ay; I've talked a bit to he. But b'ys is a handful, Miss Theedory, as +nobody should know better than yourself. Now, my Ned his heart's in +the right place; it's his head as is the trouble. He has crammed +hisself with trash of foring travel until the b'y is fair crazed to be +off and out into the world. That's what it is!' + +'I shouldn't call books of travels trash,' said Theo slowly. 'It +wouldn't be quite fair--nor true. But it's exactly the same at home +with our boys, especially with Alick. He reads exciting books of +adventure constantly. Of course I know some folk must go out into the +world, and do all the wonderful things; everybody can't be +stay-at-homes for life. But the worst thing about it is that Alick +won't wait his time. He wants to shirk his education and rush off, in +his ignorance, to do things that it takes full-grown men, and +well-instructed men, to even attempt. Oh dear!' + +'Same wi' Ned, set 'em both up!' angrily exclaimed Goody, dropping the +stocking she was knitting into her lap. 'And as for wanting to find +the North Pole, did anybody ever hear tell o' sich impident +presumption! If the Lord had meant as we should find the North Pole, +He'd ha' showed the way to it, straight as straight, and made it easy +as easy. But seein' as time arter time men have giv' up their lives, +bein' lost in the ice and snows, and still, to my thinking, if not to +others, the North Pole is shrouded from their reach, why, a body can +see, plain as plain, that 'tain't meant as man should ever compass it. +Not that I can say as it's forbid special in the Book; I won't say +that, nohow. At least,' added Goody cautiously, 'I've never come +across it in my readin's.' + +'Oh, well,' said Theo heavily, 'it would not really so very much +signify what the boys' day-dreams of the future were, if they would +only do their duty meantime. I was trying so hard last Sunday, in the +class, to make them all understand that God Himself leads always, and +that until He points the way we have no right to set out upon it. But +it is questionable whether they took in my meaning.' + +Goody nodded. There was a little silence in the cottage. The potatoes +bubbled gaily in the pot, and the clock in the corner ticked in +measured dignity. + +'There's one thing, deary, that I think you had ought to be telled.' +Goody broke the stillness, at last, with an effort. 'I've had it on my +mind for some weeks back to let 'ee know; but somehow I dursn't. Them +b'ys is plannin' mischief. They've a notion to run away--to sea!' + +The old woman spoke the last words in a whisper, though there was +nobody to hear, save the sleepy old tortoiseshell cat by the fender, +which opened one lazy eye, winked as if she, too, were in the secret, +then, shutting it, purred off to sleep. + +'Run away!' Theo's fresh face turned chalky pale, and her eyes widened +into a terrified stare. + +'True, deary, quite true! Night arter night I could hear Ned a-talkin' +in his sleep in his little bed yonder, same's if somethin' was on his +mind. So, at last, I got out o' my bed one night a-purpose to listen +careful, and there, if Ned wasn't ravin' away to hisself, in his sleep, +and 'twas all about gettin' away up to the docks at Lunnon, and hidin' +in some ship bund for the North, him and Muster Alick. It giv' me a +turn, as I see it's done the same to you this minnit, my dear. So I +thought I'd best tell 'ee private, when I'd the chance; for nobody +knows what a b'y won't dare to do. P'raps you could speak to the +captain, and git him to make a stir. Eh, deary?' + +'Father? Oh, it would be no use. He wouldn't care, nor even listen. +He's too busy with his stupid old writings to mind any of us, or what +trouble we are in. It's too bad the way we are left to ourselves!' +Theo in her excitement lost her self-control, and spoke with a +bitterness not belonging to her sweet nature. In truth, the girl was +becoming a great deal harassed by the cares that were pressing upon her +so heavily of late. + +'Deary!' A wrinkled brown finger was raised, and Goody looked over her +horn spectacles in grieved surprise. ''Tain't for me to pint out to +one so good and gentle as our Miss Theedory that one of the great God's +commandments is to "Honour thy father and thy mother"! Ain't that so?' + +'Yes; but--but,' sobbed Theo, who, tired out and ashamed of herself as +well, suddenly broke down, as much to her own astonishment as to that +of Goody, 'that means a father and a mother who take a real interest in +their children, who----' + +'It don't say so special, if so be as it means that!' rejoined Goody +dryly. 'It don't mention any sort in pertikler. It just says "thy +father an' thy mother"; and that's all you and I've got to do with it. +Let's look to our part, and perform it. But folks is always in such a +hurry to settle other people's bis'ness that they lose sight of their +own.' + +'Oh, Goody, you're right! What a monster, what a bad girl you must +think me!' Theo sat up straight. 'I am ashamed of myself. To think I +should grumble at my own father, my good father, who was such a brave +sailor, as everybody knows, and who never has been unkind to one of us +children in all our lives!' + +'That's it, deary! That's it. 'Tain't what your father isn't, but +what he is, that you've got to look at, and to be grateful for. +Remember what I'm a-goin' to say, and don't 'ee take offence at an old +body's words. We never, none of us, has but one father on earth, +same's we've but one Father in heaven, who commands us so special to +honour our earthly parents. And another thing, deary; them things as +seem mountains in your young eyes seems but trifles to the captain's +eyes. If the time comes as there's real need for him to interfere, and +bring about order in his own home, he will be safe to do it, never ye +fear. The captain he was one of them as England expec's every man to +do his dooty, and he did it in battle, so I've heard tell. And he will +do it by you and the b'ys, don't 'ee fear!' + +'I'm sure he will,' said Theo humbly. She had come full of the spirit +of putting everything and everybody to rights, and she told herself +that her own pride and self-sufficiency had earned its well-merited +fall. Theo Carnegy's heart was too gentle and single in thought to +harbour arrogant pride. Her quick repentance for the ill-advised words +she had suffered to spring off her lips gave ample proof that it was +so, and that in her the Christian spirit reigned. + +'Here's Ned a-comin'!' Granny lifted her head sharply to listen to a +prolonged, familiar whistle, and the cat, uncurling herself, rose up +into an arch. There was a rush past the little window, and then Ned +bustled into the room, bringing with him a breath of strong sea air and +also of the odours of the mackerel-boat. + +'They've comed, granny! The mackerrow has comed into our bay, and +we're goin' out agin---- Evenin', miss! I--I didn't see you before.' +Ned's cap was off, and he stood, colouring up, before the young lady +sitting on the stool and looking at him out of her clear, earnest eyes. + +'Ned,' said Theo, somewhat gravely, 'I want a quiet talk with you, one +of these days soon.' + +'Yes, miss.' + +'Not to-morrow,' went on Theo. And Ned gave a gasp of relief, +unobserved by her. He was secretly thankful that Miss Theedory had not +fixed on the morrow, seeing it was the day of the proposed bird-hunt in +Brattlesby Woods. 'We are all going across to the Vicarage to tea +to-morrow,' continued the young lady; and Ned's relief changed to +dismay. 'By the way, Ned, we shall be so glad to see you at the +schoolroom tea at six o'clock. To-morrow will be Mrs. Vesey's +birthday; and there's to be a little treat at the schoolhouse, as well +as our tea at the Vicarage. You'll come?' + +Ned fidgeted and turned all colours. He was a straightforward, honest +boy, and his nature would have enjoined him to speak out and frankly +say that his word had been already passed to go with Jerry Blunt to the +woods on Wednesday, but his tongue was tied for Alick's sake. He could +see that Theo was ignorant of her brother Alick's determination to +carry out his rebellious mutiny. A fierce struggle raged in Ned's +mind. 'His honour rooted in dishonour stood.' Should he be outspoken, +or should he be faithful to his chum, Master Alick? + +'Better be true,' said the clear voice of conscience. + +'No. Better still stick to your friend through thick and thin,' +contradicted a louder voice. How well the last specious suggestion +sounded! So did the whispers of the serpent in Eden in Eve's ears. + +'You will come to the tea-party, then?' said Theo, rising from her +stool to depart. + +'Thank ye, Miss Theedory; yes, I'll come,' was the mumbled reply; and +in an agony of shame Ned shambled out of the cottage, making believe to +be busy over the tangled brown nets lying in front of the door. + +He was a capable lad enough, was Ned, and the Fletchers looked upon him +as a promising hand already in the boat. Loving the sea passionately, +he had been gay as a lark all day, watching keenly for the expected +coming of the swarm of 'mackerrow.' But though the take had been +abundantly successful, and the boat came home heavily laden; though the +bay and the encircling cottages were bathed in the cheery red light of +a gorgeous sunset, and supper-time was at hand, somehow the spring of +happiness had died out of everything. Ned hated deceit with the +vigorous hatred of an outspoken, truthful nature. He wriggled +mentally, full of guilty discomfort, as he watched Theo's straight, +slim figure rapidly stepping round to the Bunk, and told himself +ashamedly that he had wilfully deceived the 'young miss' who was always +so kind, so civil-spoken, to himself. + +'Ned! Ned, my lad!' called out Goody's cracked voice from within. +'Whatever's ado that 'ee don't come to supper? The taters is coolin'.' + +'All right, granny! I be turnin' over the nets, that's all.' + +Goody's ears--her sharpest sense was hearing--detected the heaviness in +Ned's voice. + +'What's come to 'ee, Ned, so suddent?' she asked anxiously, as she +heaped a plate with potatoes, and poured out a mug of butter-milk. + +Perhaps it was the smoking supper that proved too much for the hungry +fisher-boy, or perhaps Ned's conscience still troubled him, but the boy +was unusually silent. Goody, try as she might, could get nothing out +of him. + +'I'm off again, granny, soon's ever the moon's up,' Ned at length broke +silence to say, when his supper was finished. + +'Are ye, lad? Well, good luck to 'ee! The wind's fair and the water +calm.' Goody stepped to the open door, and peered out at the darkening +bay. 'Ay! There's Fletcher's folk makin' ready in the boat, Ned.' +She returned to the house-place, and reaching down the thick woollen +muffler, stained with salt water, but a valued heirloom for its warmth, +she handed it to the boy. 'See you don't forgit to put it round your +throat,' she enjoined. 'Neither don't 'ee forgit the bit o' a prayer, +my boy, that I taught ye to say out on the deep by night. Folks is apt +to think as prayers belongs to a night spent in a comfortable bed +ashore. But God listens as ready to bits of prayers that goes up to +Him in the black silence o' night, out on the waters, same's He listens +to them as is put up in church o' Sundays, with parson for mouthpiece. +Will 'ee remember, Ned?' + +'I'll remember, granny; I do always!' quietly replied Ned, throwing the +muffler across his shoulders. To do the boy justice, he always did +remember the 'bit o' a prayer' Goody had taught his father before him. + +The Fletchers, three generations of whom manned the fishing-trawler, +were decent folk, with a keen eye to the main-chance, or what some +people consider to be such--namely, making as much money as possible. +The sky had clouded over somewhat, and it was darkish as the +'Aurora'--known locally as the 'Roarer'--the chief of the Northbourne +fishing-boats, put out for the night's work. Ned, glancing at the +Bunk, could see the twinkling lights from its several windows reflected +in the calm waters below. He wondered what Muster Alick was up to at +that time of evening. 'He ain't learnin' of his lessons, that's sure,' +thought Ned, with an uneasy recollection of the story of the rebellious +outbreak in the schoolroom; for Alick had poured his indignant version +of the same into the ears of his humble comrade. 'Happen he've got +hold of a fresh travel-book.' Then Ned's thoughts easily slipped off +to the subject of other 'travel-books' devoured by Alick and retailed +to himself. He pictured vividly, as the 'Roarer' swished through the +dark waters, a far different scene to that of the quiet Northbourne +bay. A scene made up of dangers by land and dangers by sea; of wide, +lonely floes of ice, their white gleam darkening into the gloom of the +mysterious distance as yet untrodden by human feet. Ned's pulses never +failed to beat like hammers when such thought-pictures dangled +themselves before his mind's vision. He forgot in the entrancing dream +the outbreak at the Bunk; forgot the holiday to be stolen on the morrow +in Brattlesby Woods, and the deception practised on Miss Theedory; +forgot, for the first time, the 'bit o' a prayer' taught him by +faithful old Goody to say when his nights were passed on the deep. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +UNDER ARREST + +Tuesday morning had come and gone. Philip Price, the tutor, sat in the +dining-room of the Bunk with but one pupil facing him at the table. +Geoff, faithful to his promise, had apologised in a manly, +straightforward fashion for his unruly behaviour on the day of the +'Great Rebellion,' as the Carnegys had secretly christened their +outbreak. No sooner had the boy so done than he was freely forgiven. +But Alick flatly refused to sue for pardon, when confronted with his +offended tutor, spite of Theo's tearful entreaties. Stubbornly the +wrong-headed, wrong-hearted boy held out. + +'Very good!' dryly said Mr. Price, after waiting in vain. 'Then, until +you see fit to do so, I must dispense with your attendance here, Alick, +otherwise our positions as master and pupil would be reversed. +Good-morning to you!' Philip had risen, and was holding the door open. +A great struggle had been going on in the young man's mind. It would +be easier, he knew, far easier, for him to gloss over Alick's obstinate +refusal to repent, and just to let things go on in the old way. The +temptation to do so was great, particularly to one whose days were +shadowed by much physical suffering, which made it the harder for him +to rise up and energetically quell such a rebellious rising as he had +had lately to cope with. But Philip owned a lion's heart as well as +clear, well-defined notions of right and wrong. Also he had learned +not to lean on his own strength. There was, he knew by experience, a +higher help always ready for those who seek it, and Philip had long +made it a habit to do that in all things, small or great. He was, +therefore, enabled to deal with the young rebel in a dignified and +temperate yet firm manner. + +Muttering savagely Alick withdrew with slouching gait. He knew well +that he was no match in regard to words with his tutor, who had +preserved _his_ temper admirably. Master Alick consequently felt it to +be the best policy to hold his tongue. + +'Has you got a holiday, Alick? Or has you got the toothache?' asked +Queenie innocently, surprised when Alick sauntered into her playroom, +an hour after, feeling rather like a fish out of water without his +inseparable companion Geoff, and without his usual employment. Ned +Dempster was also out of the way, he being absent with the +fishing-boats; for the bay was alive with the shoals of mackerel, over +which intense excitement simmered throughout Northbourne. + +'Yes, I _has_ got a holiday, miss!' was Alick's grim rejoinder. 'A +pretty long one too, I expect.' Then he added in a curt, sharp tone, +as though to stop further questions, 'Now, look here, Queenie! Have +you got any of your family that wants mending, eh? Any sick and +wounded? Any broken legs or heads lying about? Because if you have, I +can undertake to put them right this morning. I've got nothing else on +hand.' + +'Oh, can you, will you?' delightedly said Queenie. Then, suddenly +recollecting herself, she quickly added, 'But, Alick--oh, I couldn't +get out all my sick dollies this minute, 'cos, you see, it is nearly +'leven o'clock, and Theo will be waiting for me in the tea-house, to +begin my lessons.' + +'Lessons! Never you mind rubbishy old lesson-books, Queenie! I don't +mean to, never again!' + +'Has you learnt up everything then, Alick?' asked the child, gazing +respectfully at her brother, with all the wondering admiration one +often sees in little girls for big brothers. + +'What has that got to do with it?' roughly answered the boy. He was in +that volcanic condition of mind that every word spoken was as a match, +and set up a blaze of ill-temper. 'Give me over that one-legged doll, +and I'll "fix" her up, as the Yankees say. Hand her ladyship over.' +Alick Carnegy had one tender spot in his heart. Most of us have. And +that in Alick was occupied by Queenie. He was passionately fond of the +innocent-faced, round-eyed little sister, and he was always ready to +mend her sick and damaged properties. + +'That's poor Miss Muffet. She felled out of my arms on the beach, and +Splutters and Shutters worried her, Alick, before I could pull her +away. Ah, it was dreadful!' chattered Queenie. + +'You shouldn't pull things away from dogs. Never, never do such a +thing. Do you understand, Queenie? They might snap, you know, and +then where would you be?' + +Down on the floor Alick sat himself, and fell to work to repair as best +he could the interesting cripple. But Queenie, eager enough though she +was to watch the surgical operation, had a conscience hidden away in +her small person, as her restlessness showed. + +'I mustn't stay, Alick. I mus' go! Theo will be waiting, for the hall +clock has struck. I counted 'leven strokes just now!' + +Away to her lessons bustled the little maid, and Alick, unhappy, sullen +and forlorn, was left to himself in the play-room. The boy was +distinctly most miserable. Indeed, he could not be otherwise; it is +unnatural for the young to be in a state of rebellion against those set +in authority over them. They suffer hotly for it, with the measureless +capacity for suffering belonging to the young. + +In spite of his wretchedness, Alick was, however, fully determined to +go bird-hunting on the morrow in Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt. +Equally determined was the boy also that he would never beg his tutor's +pardon--if he could possibly help it, that was. Alick knew that if his +continued insubordination came to his father's ears the certain result +would be a thrashing, similar to one of which he still had a most vivid +recollection. It occurred on the only occasion that the captain had +been roused to administer punishment to both Geoff and Alick. That was +when the brothers had strangled several of Widow Dempster's hens by +lassoing them, on the pretext that the unfortunate fowls were +prairie-horses, the boys being prairie-hunters. This was a heinous +misdemeanour in the upright old sailor's eyes. Alick winced still at +the remembrance of the captain's wrath, and also of the captain's whip, +which he by no means spared on his boys' backs. + +'I certainly hope that father won't get to know about this row!' he +muttered uneasily, as he finished screwing on Miss Muffet's leg, and +set her up as proud as the best. Then looking round for more surgical +needs to operate upon, and finding a hapless horse minus a tail, Alick +ingeniously supplied the unbecoming deficiency with bristles out of the +hearth-brush. He was a remarkably handy boy; his fingers were skilful, +and he possessed a certain amount of invention. As he prowled about +the shelves, setting a good many of Queenie's infirm toys on their +feet, and making all things taut, the morning wore on apace. He was +glad enough of any occupation to pass the time, which seemed strangely +lagging, as he glanced impatiently at his silver watch. + +'I suppose Price and old Geoff are as thick as thieves, palavering away +over that awful Latin,' he soliloquised between the tunes he was +whistling. 'Price will be buttering up Geoff at my expense, no doubt. +Well, I don't care; why should I? I've made up my mind not to give in, +and nobody--not Price, at least--shall make me. Hilloa!' Lifting up +his eyes to the light, to see if he had glued on the wooden canary's +head quite straight on its neck, Alick caught sight, through the +window, of a couple of fishing-smacks making steadily for the bay. + +'That one to the left is Fletcher's boat, or I'm blind, and Ned's on +board, I know. I'd better just run down to the beach, and have a +private word in his ears, as soon as he lands, about to-morrow. What a +day we shall have in Brattlesby Woods! Oh my, shan't we just!' + +In a short time Alick, his morning's misery all forgotten, was down on +the shore, vigourously helping to haul in the heavy nets, and sharing +in the tumultuous excitement never failing to greet any and every boat +that put in to Northbourne beach. + +'Can you come along with me, Ned?' he took the opportunity of +whispering in Ned's ear. 'I've got something to tell you about +_to-morrow_. You know what I mean.' + +Yes, Ned could give Muster Alick five minutes before he sped home to +Goody's for a warm meal, and likewise a bit of sleep; for the boy was +stiff, as well as starving, after his long, chill night on the water. + +'I only wanted to say,' Alick hastily announced, 'that I'm game to go +with Jerry Blunt to-morrow morning, if you will let me know the hour +you mean to set off.' + +'We thought of going pretty early,' said Ned slowly, after a pause of +hesitation. 'We wants to make a good long day of it. But--but, Muster +Alick, have ye told them up at the Bunk that ye're set on going with +us? I thought as ye said the tootor wouldn't 'low ye, and that Miss +Theedory backed him up. Didn't ye?' Ned eyed his companion with a +certain amount of stern suspicion as he put the questions. + +One of Theo's class-boys himself, he had a genuine reverence for his +gentle teacher. There was nothing, the poor fisher-lad was wont to +tell himself, that he would not have dared or done for the sweet young +lady's sake. Her very gentleness and soft speech seemed to attract and +also subdue his rough nature, by force of contrast possibly. + +'What on earth is that to you?' loftily demanded Alick, resenting both +the questions and the mention of his sister's name, as brothers will. + +'Why, 'tis this to me!' rejoined Ned grimly, and standing square. 'I +ain't a-goin' to have Miss Theedory lookin' at me through an' through, +an' a-sayin', "Ned," she'll say, "why ever did'ee lead away my brother +to do wrong?" I couldn't stand that, muster!' + +'What a born idiot you are, to talk in that way!' said Alick grandly. +'It's quite enough for you that I tell you I'm coming to-morrow; that's +all you've got to do with it. Oh, I say, Ned!'--he descended from his +pinnacle of dignity all in a hurry--'it has been such a lark! I told +you what a row we have had with old Price, and that I bowled him over. +But Geoff has actually given in. Theo--I mean my sister--talked him +into an apology--begging pardon, you know. But I stuck out, and held +my own. So old Price bowed me off the premises. You should have +really seen him do it!' ended Alick, with a laugh that had no merriment +whatever in it. Ned nodded. He readily comprehended that 'Muster +Alick' had held his own. + +'And did he, did Muster Geoff reely ask parding?' he inquired +wonderingly, presently. + +'Yes, he did!' Alick spoke shortly, for he resented strongly his +brother's disaffection from a bad cause. 'But what's more to the +purpose, _I_ didn't knock under. So I'm coming with you; for old Price +won't, he says firmly, give me another lesson until I apologise too. +You may guess, old chap, that I'll have a fine long holiday at that +rate, if--if the governor don't get to hear about it, of course!' ended +Alick rather lamely. + +'Oh!' Ned gasped understandingly. He could readily enough picture the +result of the captain's taking up the matter. Fireworks would be +nothing to the general flare-up, in that case, the fisher-lad privately +told himself. + +Alick next proceeded to plan out the morrow's campaign, and by the time +the Dempsters' cottage was reached, it was agreed that Alick should +make his escape as early as possible from the Bunk, in order that he +might start with Jerry Blunt and Ned before anybody was astir to +prevent him. Then, with mutual promises of secrecy, the two parted. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A TANGLED WEB + +When the Carnegys sat down to dinner that day there was that subtle air +of constraint which is the result of family jars--an electric +disturbance in the home atmosphere which each and all feel. Theo, at +the head of the table, looked grave and pained. Geoff was +uncomfortable also, and, in his awkwardness, overtalked himself, in a +frantic desire to smooth matters. Queenie and the captain himself were +the only members of the family at their ease; while as for Alick, he +sat sullen and dumb, brooding over his self-made wrongs. + +'Well,' said the master of the house towards the end of the meal, 'have +you boys come to your senses yet, hey? Has order been restored on the +decks? I strongly advised Price to read the Riot Act; I hope he did +so, hey?' The captain began dimly to be aware of the prevailing +constraint, and then suddenly he recollected the tutor's complaining +report, which had dropped out of his mind two minutes after it was +spoken. + +Nobody spoke in answer. The captain glared, over the top of his +glasses, round the party; but Theo and Geoff would not for worlds have +told tales. Each felt that silence was the best policy under the +circumstances. + +Queenie at last, observing, with some surprise, the unusual hush, took +it upon her small self to reply. + +'Alick's been so good! He has mended all my doll-ladies' broken legs, +and the canary's head, too; and he has made such a bewful new tail for +the old horse--the grey horse, you remember, father, what lost his tail +when he was quite young. And Alick's tidied all the toy-shelves. He +has got such a long holiday, Alick has! Did you know, father?' she +said importantly. + +'Ah!' the captain observed gravely, looking his youngest calmly over, +and losing her last words. 'The toy-shelves are _your_ decks, I +suppose, my little woman; the play-room your ship, hey? Well, well, +history repeats itself. Oh, by the way, what a wretched memory I've +got! Dear, dear! why, it has only just come into my mind! Theo, my +dear, I had occasion to go across the bay the other day, last week I +think it was, about some references I wanted from the Vicarage library, +and I just looked in to have a chat with Mrs. Vesey in her +morning-room. What a sweet woman that is! If ever there were a saint +permitted to remain on earth, it is herself. But what I had to say was +about a special message she gave me for you. To-morrow will be her +birthday, and she wants all you young folk to go over early, to have +tea and strawberries and cream. You will like that, my dear, and so +will Queenie. As for you boys, there's to be a special treat for you, +in honour of the occasion. I was to be sure and tell you so, I +remember now. You are to have the key of the museum for yourselves, +and spend the evening there. But mind, no tricks with the specimens, +which are a valuable collection. Remember you are on honour, and being +gentlemen, I presume that will suffice to prevent any mischief. Stupid +of me to forget the message! However, it's not too late, fortunately; +to-morrow has not yet come.' + +There was an involuntary shout of delight from the boys when the +captain finished. A treat indeed, and a rare one, it was to be +permitted to pass an evening in the curiosity-room of the Vicarage. +From their childhood this museum had been the most interesting spot to +the young Carnegys. It was packed from floor to ceiling with a +collection of foreign monsters, weapons, and rarities, gathered +together, during a long life on foreign stations in different quarters +of the globe, by the venerable vicar, who, in his heyday, had been an +army chaplain. A more entrancing treat for Alick and Geoff could not +possibly have been devised. Suddenly, however, Alick's face gloomed +over. He remembered that the morrow, the birthday, was Wednesday, and +it was on that day he had bound himself to go to Brattlesby Woods with +Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, defying his tutor in the teeth to do so. +Even Alick felt a spasm of regret. If he had not been so perversely +obstinate in refusing to yield to Mr. Price, here would have been his +reward--a whole evening among the wonders of the Vicarage museum. It +was maddening! But the misguided boy felt that he had gone too far to +retrace his steps. It was too late, he ignorantly told himself; for +Alick knew not that it is never, it can be never, too late to confess +and make amends for a fault--so long as there is breath to bravely +speak out the remorseful confession. + +'We know, father, about it,' Theo's quiet voice was saying. 'Mrs. +Vesey guessed you might just possibly forget the message, so she sent +me a note, next day. It's all arranged, and we are all going. Father, +dear, wouldn't it be possible for you to come with us too?' The girl +had left her seat at the head of the table, and came round to lean on +the back of her father's chair. It seemed to Theo that if the captain +could be induced to join his family's life-pleasures, he would come, in +time, to be a refuge and a help in their life-troubles also; so she +pleaded. + +'Tut! tut! tut! Don't be absurd, my dear Theo. It's quite unlike you. +I thought you, at least, understood what a life full of urgent +importance mine is, until the _magnum opus_ is achieved. After +that--well, well, we'll see!' + +'Yes, but, dear, just one little holiday! I know the book is a great +labour, but you might take one afternoon from your work, and come with +us--just for once!' + +'No, no, child! When a man has put his hand to the plough he has no +right to turn back. And you ought to know better than tempt me, I say. +But with regard to you young people it is very different; you haven't a +care, so you can't do better than be happy, that is, at the appointed +time. There's a time for everything, the Book says, doesn't it? Now +then, my dear, let me get away back to my work, if you please.' + +The fiery old sailor held a firm conviction that he had an imperative +duty to perform in this world, in the shape of his proposed literary +work. Duty had been, hitherto, the sailor's god through thick and +thin. To do him justice, the captain had not the faintest notion of +the gusts of rebellious discontent that often enough swept over the +little household he imagined to be so well ordered. Deeply attached to +his boys and girls, one and all, though he was, he took no heed of the +fact that the minds of the mere children, as he considered them to be, +were fast awaking up--growing apace with their youthful bodies. The +truth was, the young folk were utter strangers and foreigners to the +man who had married late in life. So long as his gentle, tender +wife--a woman eminently fitted for her niche in life by her sweet +nature and her heart filled with Christian grace--lived, the captain's +children were well cared for indeed. Their needs both of body and soul +were alike looked after. But the mother who was so qualified by her +rare sweetness to bring up the children God had given her 'in the +nurture and admonition of the Lord,' was called away to a higher, +fuller life 'beyond these voices'; and the sailor, taking the reins of +the household in his unaccustomed fingers, held them over-slackly. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN THE FAR NORTH + +It was June, the 'leafy month': Nature was dressed out in her newest +and freshest of robes, and the homes of her feathered children were +peopled with tiny birdlings, all agape with hunger and curiosity. + +Through the shady Brattlesby Woods, and along the hedgerows, stealing +softly, stepping cautiously, crept Jerry Blunt, with his empty sleeve +flapping against his right side, and as he went he peered here and +there where leaves grew thickest. In his wake followed, on tip-toe, +Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, all three intent on seeking for young +bullfinches. + +When Jerry Blunt ran away to sea from his native village, Northbourne, +with his soul athirst for adventure, his body was furnished with as +many limbs as other folk. Little did he dream that the golden future +he panted to grasp would make of him a cripple. As time went by, and +he became a full-grown man, Jerry had his fill of hairbreadth escapes, +his last exploit of all being to join an enterprising American +expedition got up in the name of science to find the North Pole. This +venture, one of many, proved the most unfortunate of all for Jerry +Blunt. Through his own heedless carelessness in refusing to listen to +the advice of his experienced betters, he neglected a severe +frost-bite; in consequence, he lost his arm, which had to be amputated +by the ship's surgeon. After this catastrophe, Jerry as a man on that +expedition was worth little or nothing. So he returned, in course of +time, to his native place, 'like a bad shilling,' said Northbourne--and +with an empty coat-sleeve. + +'The right arm, too, worse luck!' was all the sympathy he got, and +Jerry, therefore, began to look round for himself. He knew it was +imperative on him to do something for a living to help out his good old +mother's feeble efforts, and to keep a roof over their two heads. He +set his wits to work to puzzle out a way. Without a right arm he was +of little or no use in the fishing-boats, which constituted the sole +trade of Northbourne. So fishing was out of the question. + +Now people don't go the length of Franz Josef Land without picking up a +few odds and ends of information. Therefore it was not long before +Jerry did hit upon a trade, and it was one thoroughly to his mind. +From his boyhood he had been a passionate lover of the open, and Mother +Nature had shared her secrets with him in no niggard fashion. + +He was tolerably well acquainted with the ways and the haunts of his +winged neighbours, and could, perhaps, have 'given points' to many a +scientifically educated naturalist. And it came to pass that he +bethought himself of certain valuable hints he had got anent the +artificial training of the inhabitants of the air from an astute old +Frenchman, one of those curiosities to be met with but rarely, whose +minds are human museums--treasure-houses in which are stored scraps of +varied knowledge. + +'You may keep school, my lad,' dryly commented his mother when she had +carefully digested Jerry's plan, 'but you won't find it easy to keep +scholars.' + +'Well, you'll see!' was the quietly spoken prediction; for Jerry Blunt +had fully determined to be a bird-trainer, and the pupils he was in +search of were young bullfinches. + +Of course when this remarkable intention became known among the +fisher-folk it was derisively condemned by the elders. On the other +hand, Jerry's younger neighbours, particularly Ned Dempster, were +immediately fired with an eager desire to assist him in the novel +enterprise. Ned's enthusiasm naturally infected both the Carnegy boys; +they also would fain become bird-trainers on the spot, lacking all +knowledge of the matter though they, naturally, did. With the frenzy +that possesses boys in regard to every absolutely new amusement, the +two Carnegys slept, ate, drank, and, as it were, breathed to the tune +of one thought--the determination that they also would be bird-teachers. + +This all-powerful, novel freak was at the bottom of the furious meeting +at the Bunk. Philip Price, the tutor, sympathising fully with the +ardent pursuits of boyhood, had been over-indulgent in the matter of +granting whole Wednesdays, instead of half-holidays. Any excuse +sufficed. Skating on inland ponds in the winter; fishing in the bay, +as the year wore on; and, latterly, digging for primrose or fern roots +in Brattlesby Woods. But Philip Price was beginning to find out by +results that too much play and not enough work was making dull scholars +of his pupils, and he had determined to stand out firmly against any +more indulgences in the future. It was high time that Alick and Geoff +should realise that 'life is real, life is earnest'; put their +shoulders to the wheel they must and should. The boys knew this, and +in their hearts admitted the determination to be a just one enough. +But the entrancing novelty of Jerry Blunt's proposed trade carried them +away; they were extravagantly crazed to join in it, by fair means or by +foul. Hence the outburst of rebellion, and Alick's stubborn refusal to +sue for pardon. + +When Wednesday morning arrived, he set off in company with Jerry and +Ned before the early sun had dried the dew on the grass. + +As they trudged at Jerry's heels he had explained to them, before +entering the woods, the mode of operation to be carried out. In order +to pipe tunes as bullfinches so marvellously do, they have to go +through a period of training, and downright severe training the hapless +mites find it. But, as Jerry tersely put it to his hearers, one of +whom winced secretly, what is training but 'keeping the body under +subjection'--a period of toilsome effort that any degree of perfection +necessitates? + +Taken from the nest at the age, say, of ten days or so--the most +suitable to begin operations--the callow young things are carefully +tended by one person solely, who accustoms the birds to himself, the +sound of his voice and his cautiously tender touch, before he attempts +anything approaching to training. + +This treatment Jerry Blunt intended to carry out with his timid pupils, +of which he gathered a goodly number, with the assistance of Ned and +Alick, long before sunset came round again. The trainer explained his +proposed code of education still more fully as he and the hungry boys +sat enjoying the picnic repast they had brought with them. Alick, +whose spirits were at their highest, thought it a delightful experience +to be eating cold chunks of pork and dry bread, which each guest carved +for himself with a clasp-knife. Infinitely superior was this +delightfully natural, manly style of feeding, than all the rubbishy +artificial formality of the decently appointed meals served at the +Bunk, thought he scornfully. The only drawback to his sense of +exhilarating pride was the fact that Geoff was not a witness of his +emancipation from society rules. + +'Do you actually mean to tell us, Jerry, that in time you will be able +to teach those wretched young shavers to whistle real, proper tunes?' +Alick asked presently, pointing with his knife, in careful imitation of +the manners and customs of his company, to the shivery mites, each +wrapped in a wisp of cotton-wool, which thoughtful Jerry had not +forgotten to bring for the purpose of protecting the birdlings on their +debut into the world out of their warm nest-homes. + +'Yes; you bide a wee, Muster Alick!' rejoined Jerry confidently, if +indistinctly, seeing his mouth was full at the moment. 'Before the +summer's out I'll engage that my scholards will sing "The Blue Bells of +Scotland" without a single false note! And when they do, I'll get a +good price for each on 'em from a chap I knows of in London, who trades +in singin' birds, and is always ready to buy 'em. But I was a-goin' to +say, Muster Alick, that I'll want some help from you boys. I can't do +the whole thing single-handed. I shall have to board out the birds, +after a bit; so there will be plenty of work for each of you, if so be +you're agreeable.' + +Of course the boys were more than ready with their promises of help in +the labour of teaching, as soon as they understood how it was to be set +about. + +'You will have to put us up to the trick first; how it's to be done, +you know, Jerry,' said Alick. + +'All right, muster! But there's no trick in the matter, and no secret, +'cept it be kindness and firmness. Them's the two great rulin' powers +with dumb animals, same's with we humans. 'Tain't no good tryin' to +train a child by lettin' him do jes' whatever he pleases. You wouldn't +call that training, now, would you? Say!' Jerry looked up from the +pipe he was filling to put the question, with some little earnestness. + +A strange flush stole up into Alick Carnegy's cheeks; for the life of +him he could not help applying Jerry's excellent logic to himself. The +stern, high-minded face of the tutor he had insulted floated before the +boy's eyes, and he winced, for the second time that day, at Jerry's +words, as he remembered how he had fought with and rebelled against the +authority set over him. Alick's conscience was by no means altogether +deadened, and his triumph was dashed. + +'Yes,' continued Jerry reflectively, as he watched the smoke curling +upward in the air, 'and 'tis the very same wi' ourselves, after we're +growed up to manhood. That's how the Almighty deals with us. He's +firm--none firmer; and He's kinder to us than we knows on--none +kinder--if so be as we would but trust ourselves to His way.' + +Jerry Blunt, exposed to temptations many and varied, had always been a +right-thinking, honest kind of lad. In spite of his wanderings to and +fro over the earth, he retained his early faith intact. + +'Many's the time in my life,' he went on, speaking in a gravely +reverent tone, 'I've fought to get my will in some things--struck out +blindly, as you might say; but there was always the firm Hand guiding +me in His way, not my own. Even when this mishap befell me'--Jerry +touched his empty sleeve--'though I couldn't see it at the time, bein' +so ignorant-like, it was all a-purpose for my good.' + +'How, Jerry? What on earth do you mean? To lose your right arm must +have been a frightful bit of bad luck!' Alick spoke in astonishment, +but with a certain amount of respect for one who had had such a large +experience as the bird-trainer. + +'There ain't no such thing as luck, either good or bad,' Jerry took out +his pipe to say. ''Tis God's will; that's the properest word +for't--not luck. As for my own misfortin', as everybody called it, +why, after all it didn't turn out so bad, when you come to think it +out.' + +'Why? Do tell us all about it, Jerry, will you?' urged Alick, to whom +the topic of the North Pole expedition was always attractive; and he +threw himself back on the mossy ground to listen in rapt attention. + +'Well, muster, I make no doubt that you've heard tell fifty times over +how I got a frost-bite when I was in Franz Josef Land with the +expedition. It all came about with me bein' in such a hurry like to +finish a job I'd to do, that I put off rubbin' my hands with snow, as +is the right thing to do, remember, if so be as you boys ever get +frostbit. Well, the long and the short of that neglect was, they was +forced to take off my arm--there wasn't no chice in the matter--above +the elbow too. We happened at the moment to be at a fixed camping +dépôt--not one of them nasty movin' floes, but on a good sound +spot--and the expedition was under orders to march norrards when the +thing happened to me. Well, in course, they nat'rally said as they +didn't want to be saddled with a one-handed man, and I was turned +back--me and old Pierre Lacroix, the Frenchman who taught me how to +train them little customers.' Jerry pointed with his pipe to the +infant finches under his handkerchief. 'Old Pierre was too rheumatic, +they soon found out, to be any use, in spite of his long head, which +was as full of wisdom as an egg's full of meat. None but sound, +able-bodied men will do for that work, I tell you. He was a queer old +fish, Pierre was. Poor chap, he was a Roming, you know; but for all +that he was, in his mistaken way, a pious, God-fearing man. It was +kind o' queer to see him, when we two were on our way back through all +them ice-plains; if we so much as heard the howl of a hungry wolf, +Pierre would pull out his beads and rattle off a prayer. But I didn't +so much wonder at his fright, for the cries of them wolves certainly +did freeze one's marrow through and through. And we once came to +pretty close quarters with the brutes. It was one night, a starless, +cloudy night, with a storm brewing, and we heard behind us a faint +sound that struck us dumb with horror. The wolves had scented us from +afar, and were giving chase. We took to our heels, as the sayin' is; +but you don't make much way on that there ground. The awful baying +voices gained on us, minute by minute. On, on, we breathlessly fought +our way, desperate to escape. At last, so close was the pack behind +us, that I could count 'em, half a dozen or so, and by the light of the +torches we carried I could plainly see their red tongues lolling out of +their hungry jaws. So did Pierre, and out came his beads. But reely, +boys, there are more wonderful escapes in real life than ever folks +read of in books. Now, what do you suppose saved us that night? Under +Providence, of course, I means. We might have turned at bay and shot +one or two, and there was a knife apiece. But we should have been +doomed men had we done so. However, help was close, just as hope was +dying out in our hearts. Running for our lives we had reached the +land,--before that, you understand, we'd been traversing an +ice-floe,--we knew 'twas land by the low bank sheering down. As we set +foot on it a mighty roaring crack sounded, breaking up into a thousand +echoes in the white silence. It was the ice parting from the shore, +through the wind-storm that had risen. Between us and our savage +hunters the cold black waves boiled up instantly, released from their +prison, and the baffled wolves howled furiously at the fissure growing +wider each second. We were saved; and, boys, never did I see the +finger of God more plainly than at that moment! I am glad I wasn't +ashamed to throw myself on my knees and thank Him aloud, and Frenchy +joined me with all his heart.' + +'But,' began Alick wonderingly, after a long pause, 'how on earth did +you find your way back, you two, through all that frozen white country +with no landmarks?' + +'How? Why, I s'pose you don't know the watchword of all Arctic +expeditions, young master? 'Tain't likely as you should, so I'll tell +you. The law out yonder is: keep your line of retreat open; and a +better rule couldn't be. It so be as you take heed to it keerful, you +can't be cut off from the world. So Pierre an' me, in due time, found +our way back to the ship, which was stationed in the Spitzbergen Sea.' + +'And what about t'others, the rest of the expedition? They pushed on, +didn't they?' asked Ned eagerly. + +'Ah! that's the queer thing that I be a-comin' to,' said Jerry, +speaking solemnly. 'In course they pushed on. But never a man of the +lot came back to tell the story of what they'd seen. They was too +venturesome; they went too far ahead, and must have perished of sheer +cold; leastways that's what I've heard. If you don't see a meanin' +under that, well, I do! And real grateful I feel to the Almighty. I +lost an arm, but them poor lads they lost their lives.' + +There was another silence. Jerry industriously puffed away; Alick +stared up unblinkingly into a chink of blue between the tree-tops; and +Ned gravely whittled away at a tiny boat of wood, one of a fleet with +which he kept Miss Queenie so numerously supplied that it bade fair to +develop into a Lilliputian navy in time. + +'Did you ever use any dogs on the expedition, Jerry?' asked Alick, +whose thoughts had been travelling along the silent white expanse of +the far-away North. + +'Dogs? No, muster, we didn't in them days. But Frenchy used to talk +away, I remember, o' nights round the camp-fires, about the proper use +dogs would be on an expedition. There was one breed in pertikler he +spoke well off--the West Siberian, I think he called 'em.' + +'Yes,' eagerly put in Alick, 'they're the ones, the West Siberian. +Father was speaking about them. They're considered to be awfully +useful.' + +'I dessay!' assented Jerry, knocking the ashes out of his pipe before +carefully stowing it away in one of his many pockets. 'But 'pears to +me we've got to be thinking of going home. The trunks o' the trees are +reddening, which tells us the sun's slantin'; and these little shavers +must be fed and bedded before sundown. Come, musters, rouse +yourselves; we must be steppin' Northbourne way!' + +Picking up the shivering, quaking mites in their cotton-wool wrappings, +Jerry lodged them in his several pockets and even in his cap. But he +firmly refused to suffer the two boys to share his burdens. + +'We can't be too keerful for the first day or so after takin' of 'em +out of the nest; so you leave 'em to me,' he persisted; and presently +the trio were trudging on their way back to Northbourne village. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN PERIL ON THE SEA + +While Alick Carnegy was absent, enjoying his forbidden pleasure in +Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, and Ned Dempster, +strange things were happening in the quiet little bay at home--things +that will be talked of for years to come in the long winter nights, +when the fisher-wives sit mending their husband's nets round the +peat-fires, and the children crowd close to listen with all their ears +to the story. + +'The Theodora,' the boat belonging to the Bunk, had been getting out of +repair for some time back. At first the young folk--even Theo +herself--being a happy-go-lucky, reckless set in most things, +disregarded the leak, never dreaming it to be a serious one, and +laughed at their wet feet; for who ever heard of salt water hurting +anybody? It is just, however, those neglected little things, evils +that are suffered to go on, which increase sometimes, with a sudden +rush, into big mischiefs. That week Theodora, who had not been in the +boat for a few days, was struck afresh with the damage; she saw that it +was high time something should be done to mend matters, if only for the +sake of keeping dry feet. She therefore gave Ned Dempster a few +directions how to remedy the leak. Of course Ned, being a born +fisher-lad, was quite capable of doing the piece of work in his spare +moments. This Theo knew. But, unfortunately, her orders, and +everything else as well, went clean out of Ned's head, owing to the +excitement he had imbibed from Alick about the expedition to Brattlesby +Woods after the finches. + +When Theo and Queenie, consequently, got into the boat in the afternoon +to pull across to the little birthday festival at the Vicarage, they +speedily found, to their discomfort, but by no means to their dismay, +that the leak was considerably worse than usual. + +'Oh,' screamed Queenie, 'my bestest new shoes is quite wetted, Theo! +Look!' + +Queenie certainly was right; the shiny little toes that, dangling, did +not reach the bottom of the boat even, were already wet. Theo's fresh +blue print also was fringed round with sea-water when she looked down +at it. + +'I think we might manage to get across, though,' said Theo hopefully. +'It's a pity to turn back. We shouldn't get much wetter than we are +already, should we?' + +'Not much wetterer,' acquiesced Queenie equably, as she dipped first +the tip of one shoe, then the other, into the water. Of course, if +Theo didn't mind, it was nothing to Queenie. + +The afternoon was a glorious one, with a faint touch of north in the +wind, just enough to bring out colour intensely. The blue of the sea +and the blue of the sky were alike sapphire in hue, against which the +gulls that darted and skimmed hither and thither showed white. It was, +in truth, an afternoon when the world seemed so passing fair, so +secure, that the mind was lured into believing that it was +all-sufficient. + +Thus it is with ourselves. When we are getting on too smoothly at +school, or at our work, it all begins to feel such easy plain-sailing, +that we rest on our oars and grow over-confident. We are, in a sense, +off guard. And so it was with the occupants of 'The Theodora,' as it +gradually made its way to the middle of the bay. Of course they would +get across in safety, as Theo declared; they had done it a hundred +times already, since the leak was first sprung. + +Nothing had ever happened in the girl's eighteen years of life in the +shape of any serious accident either by land or by sea. It was +difficult to realise that mishaps could possibly occur, and, with her +eyes fixed on the wondrous blue above and below, Theo rowed on, calling +herself lazy because she did not seem, somehow, able to get so fast +through the water as usual. + +'Theo! oh, Theo!' + +'Queenie!' + +Two affrighted shrieks rang out simultaneously; for, suddenly, the +sisters each became aware that 'The Theodora' had shipped a quantity of +water. The boat was so heavy that Theo's oars could hardly move it. + +'Oh, what have I done?' cried the elder girl, ashy pale, and stunned +with the shock. 'Oh, my darling Queenie!' + +It was for the beloved little sister that the thrill of anxious terror +rushed over Theo. She herself could swim, in a fashion, if the worst +came to the worst; but Queenie, the baby-sister, how was the helpless +little one to be saved? Wildly Theo gazed over the blue, rippling +water. + +There, yonder, on the stretch of sands in front of the fisher-folk's +dwellings, her long sight could distinguish the women at their usual +monotonous employment, mending their nets in the doorways, all unaware +of her peril and that of the child in the sunlit bay. + +'Help! help!' she shrieked in the agony of fear that encompassed her, +and in her own ears her voice sounded thin and feebly small, as when in +some horrid nightmare we, all in vain, try to scream aloud, and fail. +Would they sit there, those fisher-women, and never so much as raise +their eyes to glance at the distinctly sinking boat? + +It was maddening to the distraught girl, simply maddening. + +'What is it, Theo?' quavered the frightened child opposite her in the +boat. 'Is we going to be drowned in the water, Theo?' + +'Oh, my darling Queenie! what shall we do?' cried out Theo in a frenzy +of helpless terror. The oars were lying helpless in the bottom of the +rapidly filling boat. 'What are we to do?' She fairly shrieked out +the question again. + +'Say "Our Father,"' said Queenie promptly; and she clasped her tiny +hands together in Theodora's. The child was too ignorant to realise +their danger. It was only the terror in Theo's face that frightened +her--Theo, the sister who was so strong, so tall, so all-wise, in the +trustful little one's innocent eyes. But though unconscious of all +their peril, the child's unerring instinct pointed to the true, +unfailing Refuge for all human trouble. + +'Our Father in heaven, help me to save Queenie!' + +The cry, strong and vibrating, floated over the solitary water. Theo, +in the sudden and unexpected approach of great danger, had forgotten +that God's ears are listening always to catch our prayers, even when +belated and half despairing. + +But when the little sister's simple words brought back to her mind the +remembrance of the one great Shelter for us all in the 'day of +trouble,' Theo threw her whole soul into the imploring, impassioned cry +for help. + +Then, knowing that God is most ready to aid those who aid themselves, +she rapidly collected her scattered wits to plan out what she had best +do in the extremity she found herself. Untying the long, soft, red +sash Queenie wore round her waist, she hastily, but firmly, fastened +the child to herself, never ceasing, meanwhile, to cry her loudest for +help, though her voice grew hoarse and weak under the terrible strain. +Then Theo proceeded to free her own skirts from her feet, lest, being +entangled, she might be sucked down under, when the boat settled down, +as she knew, now, it undoubtedly must. + +And overhead, flecking with white the blue glitter of the sky, the busy +gulls skimmed hither and thither, wheeling round in circles. On the +shore the fisher-wives, with bent heads, were still too intent on their +mending to raise their eyes for one moment, and the chatter of their +own high-pitched voices dulled their ears to the despairing cries +floating across the waters. So the tragedy went on. + +It was cool and shady in the Vicarage old-fashioned drawing-room. Mrs. +Vesey, the invalid mistress, frail and sweet, was lying, as usual, on +her couch, her dim, patient eyes watching the bay for the boat bringing +over her expected guests from the Bunk. + +In the next room tea was spread out: piles of sweet cakes and brown +bread-and-butter; strawberries gleamed ripe and red in large, heaped-up +dishes, and jugs of rich yellow cream stood about. Mrs. Vesey knew +what a feast should be like for hungry boys and girls, and ordered a +lavish repast to be prepared. Nor had she forgotten to provide for +other guests who were bidden to celebrate her birthday. Down in the +village schoolroom, tea and plum-cake, with piles of fruit, were all in +readiness to be laid out the moment that the little scholars departed +from afternoon school--a feast which they would return in due time to +demolish. + +Mrs. Vesey was a great sufferer; she had been house-ridden for years of +her life, but she bore her cross of bodily ailments bravely and with +soldierly courage. It was never thrust forward as an excuse to shelter +its bearer from what she felt to be her duty. Although she was totally +unable to preside in person at the treat for the fisher-children, she +had arranged to be represented by Theo Carnegy, when the Vicarage tea +was over. That young lady, after helping the little ones to make merry +over their feast, was finally to marshal a procession up to the +Vicarage, where the children intended to present to Mrs. Vesey such +posies as their busy little fingers had managed to gather in the woods +behind the village. + +As Mrs. Vesey lay watching the bay from her open windows, Binks, the +old handy-man, moved about on the lawn outside, now and again +exchanging remarks with his mistress as he passed and repassed. + +'Muster Geoff, he've come, ma'am!' said he presently, peering in the +room. + +'Oh, has he? Where is he, Binks?' + +'He've stepped round to the stable for Splutters and Shutters, ma'am, +that's where he be. B'ys is never content without the dogs arter them. +I dunno where t'other young muster is, but the ladies is on their way +across in their boat,' added Binks, shading his eyes to gaze out over +the water. + +'I know they are,' said Mrs. Vesey; 'I've been watching them. I saw +them start from the Bunk pier. The boat's pretty well into the middle +of the bay, now. Can't you see them, Binks?' + +There was no answer. + +Perhaps Binks resented the question, or perhaps he objected to admit +that his eyesight was not so good as that of his mistress. Anyhow, he +continued perfectly silent as he gazed, with a fixed stare, at some +distant object. + +'Hi, Splutters! Heel, Shutters! Come back, sir! Oh, Binks, really I +couldn't prevent them coming round on the lawn; they were too much for +me when I opened the stable door. Oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Vesey! I +didn't know you were at the window.' Polite Geoff, heated and flushed +with his chase after the excitable terriers, stood hat in hand under +the window while Splutters and Shutters tore madly up and down and +across the lawn. Strangely enough, Binks took no notice of their +capers, which, for once, were allowed to go unrebuked. His eyes, +shaded by his wrinkled hand, were still intent on the distant boat. + +'Theo and Queenie are on their way, Mrs. Vesey,' continued Geoff. 'I +see the Bunk boat creeping over; they seem in no particular hurry. +Don't you see them, Binks?' demanded the boy, rather astonished at the +old man's stillness. 'Why, I can see them waving something--a long red +thing. They certainly don't get on very fast, though, do they? +Why--why, Binks! Oh, what on earth's the matter? Something's wrong +with the boat; they're so still and---- Binks, _what_ is it?' Geoff +ended with a shout that was almost a scream, as he clutched the old +man's arm wildly. + +'Come along, Muster Geoff!' Binks roughly shook off the boy's hand. +'Run for your life; you're fleeter than me. Shove down our boat into +the water, and I'll folly ye quick's ever I can!' roared the old man. +'They're sinkin' out there fast as fast. God help us all!' + +Faster than ever he ran in his life tore Geoff, with a face blanched +and drawn, to seize the Vicarage boat, and push her to the water's +edge, putting forth all the strength of his young body to do so +single-handed. To jump on board and take up an oar was the work of +half a minute, and Geoff was pushing off without a thought of anybody +else when a hoarse shout stayed him. + +'Stay, muster!' panted Binks, hurrying to the edge. 'Two's better than +one; two oars will reach 'em quicker!' and in scrambled the breathless +old man, drops of perspiration rolling unheeded down his wrinkled +cheeks. + +Not another word was spoken by either as the man and boy tore through +the water, with all the strength they possessed. Geoff silently +watched Binks's face, trying to read, in its strained lines, the fate +of those behind his back. But the boy's white, dry lips refused to +utter the terrible question, 'Are they still above water?' Geoff's +brain seemed too paralysed to think. Every sense was merged in the mad +race of trying to cut still faster through the water to the rescue. +The hard, brown visage of Binks was a dead wall as he pulled and puffed +and panted. From it Geoff could gain no information, and, somehow, for +his life, the boy dare not turn his head to see over his shoulder for +himself. + +On the shore the women-workers had at last awoke to the fact of the +tragedy being enacted on the blue waters, and in the full blaze of the +summer sunshine, almost within their reach. Wild cries of affright +arose; the brown nets were flung aside this way and that. Bewildered +groups stood close down to the water's edge tremblingly wringing their +hands in miserable helplessness, and their eyes starting out of their +heads as their gaze clung, glued, to the little craft slowly, slowly +settling down. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A DOOR OF ESCAPE + +It was a spell of long-drawn-out anguish for the watchers on shore, the +while that Theo Carnegy and little Queenie sank helplessly in their +rapidly filling boat. From one to another of the cottages round the +bay the news had flown like wild-fire that the captain's boat, with the +captain's daughters, was going down within sight, and not a man nor a +boy in Northbourne village but was out at sea since daybreak, for the +'mackerrow' were proving a little gold-mine to the community, and the +fishermen grudged to sleep or eat, so eager were they to make hay while +the sun was shining. + +The women would not have thought twice of taking to the boats +themselves and attempting a rescue, but all the decent crafts were at +sea; the few that were beached were useless, being out of repair. +There was, accordingly, nothing to do but stand in huddled groups +wringing the hands that, perforce, were helpless. Some--the timid +ones--covered their eyes from the sight. Others, fascinated, found it +impossible to turn their gaze for a single second from the hapless boat +which their practised sight noted was now perceptibly lower in the +water. One or two among them, old Goody Dempster conspicuously, stood +with white lips that moved silently as they prayed God to have pity, to +stretch out His mighty hand and save those in dire danger. + +And while the women watched breathlessly, or prayed, Geoff, with old +Binks, struggled on, a nightmare feeling weighing them down all the +time, that they were standing still, instead of making way. + +At last, when the watchers on the shore could no longer see aught but +the rim of the top of the boat, and only the two clinging figures in +it, for 'The Theodora' had settled down almost under water, the +Vicarage boat pulled up alongside, with a final long sweep, into which +Geoff, half fainting, put his sole remaining strength. + +How the rescue was achieved, then, none of the four could ever +afterwards tell or picture with any clearness. It was as if other +hands than those of Geoff and Binks did the work, while Queenie and +then Theo were half lifted, half dragged in by the two. + +More dead than alive, the rescued sisters were, with considerable +difficulty, laid at the bottom of the boat. Theo had swooned away the +moment she realised that they were saved, and the women watchers on the +shore sobbed loudly in hysterical relief. + +'Shall we take 'em over to the Vicarage?' hoarsely asked Binks, +handling his oar for the return. + +'No, no! Home--home to father!' whispered back Geoff, whose voice +seemed to have died away into a feeble sort of whistle. + +Then the two, exhausted as they were already, pulled their hardest over +the blue waters to the tiny pier under the Bunk. + +The catastrophe, next door to a terrible tragedy, had happened in the +space of about fifteen minutes, and it seemed strangely impossible that +the sun should be still shining, and the light wind curling the +rippling waves as if nothing had happened. + +The captain, who had been, as usual, absorbed in his manuscript, +sitting with his back to the window, knew nothing of it until he was +hastily called to carry up the senseless Theo. It was a considerable +time before his efforts to restore the unconscious girl were +successful; and it would not be easy to tell how the father, whom Theo +Carnegy had allowed herself to think and pronounce indifferent to his +children's welfare, suffered as he hung over the senseless form of his +best-beloved child. Her peril stirred up all the love that, though +undoubtedly existing, had been dormant. From that fateful hour, +however, the old sea-captain was an altered man. His heart awoke to +the fact that the chief place in it should be filled by his motherless +children, instead of, as it had been, by a mere hobby. + +All through the hours of the anxious night that followed he went from +one bed to the other, tending the occupants with that gentleness, +almost womanly, which a sailor possesses in no ordinary degree. For +Queenie there were no apprehensions, save dread of a chill from the +wetting she received; the child was tranquil, and appeared to have +sustained no shock. + +'We said "Our Father," me and Theo,' she whispered innocently to the +captain, as he sat by her little bed holding her hands, 'and He sent +Geoff and Binks directly to pick us out of the water; and then Theo +went off to sleep in the boat, and my new shoes is spoilt most +dreadful!' + +With Theo it was otherwise. She had sustained a severe mental shock, +as well as the bodily strain, in her fruitless efforts to pull the +heavy boat through the water. And it had been a terrible spasm of +terror to sink slowly, helplessly, in the yawning waves, trying all the +time to hold up the precious little sister. When the doctor from +Brattlesby arrived, he looked grave enough over his elder patient; and +next day he was even more serious. + +'She is in for brain fever!' he said briefly. He was a man of few +words, leaving the burden of conversation, as a rule, to his patients. +Hence, perhaps, it was that little Dr. Cobbe was the most popular +being, man or doctor, for miles round Northbourne. + +And with regard to Theo it was as he said. For many weeks Theo Carnegy +lay battling for her life in the cruel clutches of the fever, +unconscious that her most devoted and tenderest nurse was the father +whom she had bitterly imagined thought more of his hobby than of his +boys and girls. All Northbourne, as with one heart, sorrowed aloud for +their favourite Miss Theedory; her grave condition was the sole theme +of talk in the cottages round the bay. + +'Happen she was too good to live!' croaked Jerry Blunt's mother, with +an appropriate melancholy in her voice; and the gossips nodded +approvingly at a sentiment which fitted in with their own views of life. + +'Nothin' o' the sort!' struck in a dissentient voice, which belonged to +Goody Dempster herself. 'There's none too good to live, seein' as life +is a great gift that can only come from the Lord Himself. He gives, +and He takes away, that's how we've got to look at things. And, please +God, He will see fit to raise up Miss Theedory among us again, hale and +sound. She's one as could be ill spared.' + +'Amen!' assented more than one voice among the listeners, in ready +response. + +But there was one heart that felt heavier than all others--too heavy to +hold a ray of hope--and that belonged to Alick Carnegy. When he +returned home from his stolen holiday, and found what had happened +during his absence, the remorse of the boy was uncontrollable. He +could not but feel it to be true, what others did not scruple to tell +him bluntly, for plain-speaking was a distinguishing feature of the +fishing village, that had he and Ned Dempster been at home, they could +have reached his sisters in far less time than Geoff, younger and +weaker of muscle, and Binks, long past his heyday of strength and +stiffened with rheumatism, had done. + +With cold shivers of dread, he heard how Theo, though delivered from +one perilous strait, lay in jeopardy of her life in the new peril of +fever. + +She would die, he was convinced, and voices seemed to be incessantly +crying in his ears: 'It will be your fault, all your fault! You fought +to have your own way, in spite of her pleadings, and now she will die +because you were not here to help her in such sore peril. She was +deserted, so she will die, our Theo!' + +Alick, a boy of strong feelings, became maddened by despair, and +exaggerated the calamity. As time went on--and brain fever rarely +hurries itself--Theo grew no better, but rather weaker, and Alick +secretly called himself her murderer. He was distraught. + +'Oh, Ned, if we had been at home, you and I, we could have reached them +in half the time Geoff and old Binks took! We could have rescued them +before "The Theodora" began to settle down!' he blurted out when he +found Ned sobbing helplessly in a corner of the tea-house, The latter, +though not possessed of Alick's torturing powers of imagination, was +overcome with remorse for his own share in the transaction. + +Oh, Muster Alick, it ain't "we" it's me, only me, as is to blame!' he +hoarsely said, in a voice choked with sobs. + +'What do you mean?' asked Alick heavily; and he stared down at the +crouching speaker. + +'Miss Theedory telled I to mend the leak,' moaned Ned. 'And she +thought I'd done it, I expec', for she showed how 'twas to be mended; +but I knowed how as well as she did, for I've seed a-many done. But I +put off the doin' of it to go to Brattlesby Woods along with you, +Muster Alick, and Jerry Blunt, an' I deceived her; an' now she's +drowned, Miss Theedory is! Leastways, 'tis the same thing; for all +Northbourne's a-sayin' as she's bound to die of it all!' The boy, +burying his head, broke down into a loud, irrepressible fit of crying. + +Ned too! Alick's lips quivered as he turned abruptly away. He himself +it was who tempted Ned away, and caused the boy to neglect his duty, +bringing down all this misfortune. He had been thinking himself the +only person in fault for being wilfully absent, but it was worse and +worse! He had lured away, and placed another in the same position, so +wide-spreading can a single evil step be in its results. Even through +his sinking fears about Theo, Alick could not but feel pathetically +sorry for poor Ned, whose grief grew wilder in its abandon after his +confession was out. + +'Have you told any one about not mending the leak, Ned? Does my father +know?' he came back to Ned's side to ask anxiously. + +'I dussn't!' was the choking reply. 'But I feels bound, somehow, to +tell you,' he added. 'If Miss Theedory dies, 'twill be me as did it; +an' you can tell 'em all so, if you like! They'll put me in gaol, o' +course; p'raps they'll hang me. They may bring it in manslaughter. I +dunno what they haven't the power to do!' ended Ned desperately. + +Alick stared through the window out to sea, with an equally woebegone +face with that of his companion in misery. Two more unhappy boys one +could not have well beheld. And this grievous state of affairs had +revengefully trodden on the heels of the delightfully fascinating +expedition to the woods, which had been forbidden to the one boy, and +which the other boy had shirked his duty to join in! + +'What would be the end of it all?' Alick dully asked himself. + +'Ned,' he said aloud, and there was a passionate ring of regret in his +voice, 'it wasn't worth it!' + +'No, muster, it warn't!' assented Ned, fully understanding that Alick +would have given his right hand to have put back the clock of time, +that he might again have the chance of apologising as Geoff had done, +and returning to his duty in the schoolroom. Both boys felt positively +assured that had they been on the spot the catastrophe could not +possibly have occurred. + +There was a spell of silence in the tea-house. Now and again the echo +of a sob shook Ned from head to foot. Alick leaned his forehead +against the window jamb, and stared sullenly at the leaping waves +below. As he gazed, a strange resolve came into the boy's mind, born +of the deepening despair consuming him. + +In the black gloom that environed him, came Satan's opportunity. + +'You will never be forgiven if Theo dies,' whispered the tempting +voice. 'Perhaps you also will be put in prison, who knows, with Ned as +an accomplice!' Alick Carnegy, it will be seen, had but confused +notions as to what manslaughter meant. He shivered and cowered at the +terrifying notions of being shut up for life, perhaps, in some gloomy +gaol. Better-informed boys may jeer at Alick's ignorance of things in +general, but Northbourne was an out-of-the-way, stand-still spot, with +few or no opportunities of smartening the wits, of keeping up with the +times. + +'The best way out of the difficulty would be to run away, wouldn't it?' +as he brooded, somebody seemed to suddenly and swiftly whisper in his +ear. And Alick, when the sense of the suggestion penetrated his mind, +abruptly lifted his hanging head. He gasped aloud in relief. A door +of escape opened in the black, impenetrable wall that was closing in +round him. + +'Ned,' he said softly, nudging the other boy, 'listen to me! Be done +with that cry-baby business! We two, you and I, have got ourselves +into an awful scrape, and there's only one thing for us. Can't you +guess what that is? Rouse up! Can't you guess?' he repeated +impatiently. + +'Me guess? No! I can't make Miss Theedory get well; and what else +matters?' Ned lifted a tear-stained face to say brokenly. + +'You've often said you'd be game to run away to sea, if I made up my +mind to do it, haven't you? Well, all the blame of whatever happens +comes on us--you and me. We are bound to suffer the penalty.' Alick +spoke slowly, and with the air of weighing his words, while Ned +listened in awe. 'Now, then, it seems to me, is our chance to do it. +Let's set out this very night; they'd never miss us in all the--the +worry about Theo, until it would be too late to overtake us. We could +walk to London in about three days, I expect; and once at the Docks it +would be queer if you and I couldn't slip quietly on board some +North-bound vessel, as we've often planned to do. Speak up! Will you +come?' + +And Alick breathlessly waited for Ned's long-of-coming answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BIRD-SCHOOL + +Meantime, while all Northbourne, in its genuine affection for Miss +Theedory, hung expectantly on the issues of life or death--for who +could say which it might be?--Jerry Blunt was quietly making his +preparations for pursuing his new calling of bird-trainer. + +Although he had said nothing about it, one of the new pupils had been +specially set apart to be given to Theo, if it pleased God to spare her +young life. Theo, gentle and sweet-spoken to all, had won the +reverence and loyal regard of the disabled sailor, when he returned +home a cripple, by her friendly welcome to him. + +Jerry Blunt was not one to forget a kind word. He had not come across +so many, in his up-and-down life, that they had become cheapened. + +It was not, however, until the young finches were about two months old, +and showed symptoms of whistling powers, that Jerry could really begin +the labour of educating them in real earnest. His first step was to +systematically separate his pupils into small classes, so to say, or +groups of birds, lodging them in wicker cages. The next proceeding was +to shut them up in a darkened room and keep them without food for a +given time. + +The skilful teacher then began the singing-lessons by slowly playing +over and over the special tune he had selected--'The Blue Bells of +Scotland'--for the finches to learn. He performed the melody upon a +small instrument given him by Pierre Lacroix, his comrade on the +expedition, the notes of which were curiously like the birds' own. +Jerry truly had marvellous need of patience. But he knew--none +better--that it is only by slow means that perfect trust is gained. +His pupils sat for a considerable time sulking, perhaps with deeply +injured feelings, being dinnerless; and they were, doubtless, +bewildered by the darkness of the room. They were not deceived into +thinking that the night had fallen, not they! As a proof, they made no +attempt to sleep. They simply sat puzzling out, with suspicion, the +mystery that surrounded them. + +By and by, some sharper, brighter wit among his fellows began to listen +to the music, so curiously familiar, with his tiny head on one side; +and he was won over! Presently he tried, timidly and cautiously, to +pipe a few faint notes in imitation--just a few. Then he halted. + +'Not so bad for a beginning!' delightedly murmured Jerry, under his +breath. + +Bully, on his part, rather seemed to like the sound of his own voice. +With a vain perk and a flutter, he tried again, his note more assured. +Lo! there was a duet. A neighbour finch had joined in; another bully +was won over, and Jerry chuckled softly. Old Pierre had been perfectly +correct, then! The thing was possible. It was Jerry's own first +attempt, and he had been careful to follow out the Frenchman's +directions, though, until he heard with his own ears the result, he had +been secretly somewhat sceptical. + +In a few moments more there was a feeble chorus piping in unison with +the tiny bird-organ which Jerry continued to softly play. The other +finches had summoned up courage to join their brethren. + +As an instantaneous reward the teacher let a flood of light into the +dark room, in accordance with Pierre's code. More, he proceeded to +give his hungry pupils a little--only a little--food, enough, in fact, +to make them ravenous for more. Then he plunged the little room in +sudden darkness again by shutting out the light. Thus Jerry gradually +educated the birds into connecting the idea of food and light with the +sound of his little instrument's melody. + +After two or three repetitions of this performance, it followed that +the finches, kept on short commons, no sooner heard the notes of the +bird-organ always playing the one unvarying tune, than they, too, +attempted to sing it, in the sheer hope of being fed, and of seeing the +hated darkness disappear. Jerry being ever careful not to disappoint +their expectations, the result came to pass that the particular melody +was committed to memory--the tune was learned, more or less correctly; +for the feathered pupils were like human scholars, in that the few, not +the many, arrive at perfection. + +After this reward for his enormous patience, Jerry Blunt's next move +was to board out his pupils in the village with trustworthy boys who +were selected for the posts of pupil-teachers. One boy was appointed +to each bird, in order to carry out the business of teaching _the_ tune +by whistling it incessantly until the air was firmly fixed in those +tiny memories, which, if they had not been exactly 'wax to receive,' +proved 'marble to retain.' As the finches grew perfect in their one +life-lesson, the Scottish ditty resounded sweetly all over the village +of Northbourne. After that, the pupils being pronounced 'finished,' +Jerry Blunt set forth, with his batch of performers, to London, where +he got a fairly good price for his well-trained songsters. His birds +sold off rapidly, each of them going off to be the pride and joy of +some girl or boy's heart with the tuneful old melody-- + + 'O where and O where has my Hieland laddie gane?' + +and Jerry returned home with orders for many more bullfinches as he +could procure. + +These orders, however, he was doubtful of executing; the finches were +getting too advanced in age to prove docile pupils. Still, Jerry would +do his best, and he set off to trap some young birds that had already +left the parent-nests. The work of training these advanced birds was +quite as difficult. However, Jerry was a persevering individual, +gifted with wondrous patience, an untiring teacher. He succeeded +beyond his hopes, and as time went on was enabled to earn what he +called a 'tidy' sum. + +''Tis wonderful strange, Jerry, my son, that ye can train the morsels +o' critters to sing what we may call human tunes! Nobody, of course, +could do it but yer own self, I'm sure,' grudgingly admitted his +mother, when success became sure. + +'The idea! That's so like you, mother!' laughed Jerry, as he softly +tickled the head of the bullfinch he had retained as a gift for Miss +Theedory out of the first and best batch. 'You're that conceited, you +think that your own son can do all things better than other folk. But +I could tell you a true story, now, of what others have done.' + +And in his own words Jerry related, while his mother knitted in the +firelight, how a great musician had, as a youth, trained a young +bullfinch to pipe 'God save the King.' The musician was much attached +to the bird, and the bird to him. Love begets love, with the animal +creation at least, which is, undoubtedly, the simple secret of the +strange power possessed by some human beings over birds and beasts. If +you desire to be their masters, you must, first of all, love the dumb +creatures. Where love is, all things are possible. Bull-finches, in +particular, have a strongly developed faculty for attaching themselves. +And the simple logic is easy to follow out. In the training already +described, music and pleasure--that is, the food and sunlight, which +constitute Bully's pleasure--are inseparably connected. Hence it +follows soon, that the bird, to show his joy at the sight of his owner, +learns to greet him with the one tune his little life has been spent in +learning. + +The musician, having cause to go abroad, left his petted bird in charge +of his sister. On his return to this country, his first visit was to +that lady, who told him, sorrowfully, that Bully had pined himself into +a serious illness, evidently in the grief he felt at his master's +absence. The grieved owner went hastily into the room where the cage +was, and spoke gently to the ailing bird, which stood huddled up into +what looked like a ball of feathers on his perch. Instantly, at the +sound of the loved master's voice, the dim, closed eyes were opened +wide. There was a feeble flutter of the faded plumage; the drooping +head was raised. Half creeping, half staggering, the little creature +attained the outstretched finger, on which he had barely strength to +steady himself. With a supreme effort, as it seemed, he piped out +feebly, in low, half-muffled notes, 'God save the King.' And +then--Bully fell dead! + +Jerry's voice had a slight choke in it as he finished his pathetic +little story. As for his old mother, she had thrown her apron over her +head, and was quietly sobbing under its shelter. + +'Well, my lad,' she said, by and by, when her tears were dried, 'I've +aye said that you were the best son mother ever had, and for the same a +blessing will, no doubt, rest upon your head. And as for the bits o' +birds an' beasts well, I've heard the old passon--Mr. Vesey +himself--say, an' I never forget the words, as-- + + '"He prayeth best who loveth best + All men and bird and beast;" + +so, to my thinkin', that's how 'tis wi' you. Ye love the mites, and ye +can do all things wi' them. That's yer secret!' + +And undoubtedly Jerry's old mother was right. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE + +It was a still, dark night when two short figures, each carrying a +bundle, stole away from Northbourne, skirting Brattlesby Woods, and +making for the old London road. + +The fugitives were Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, and each was trying +his hardest to prevent his companion from hearing the choking sobs that +could not be kept down. + +All boys, of course, secretly believe that it is a fine, manly thing to +run away to sea. From time immemorial it has sounded so well--in +fiction. Is there a boy breathing who has not pictured himself, free +as a bird on the wing, shaking off the trammels of home in this +fashion? But the grim reality was an altogether different matter to +the couple of friends who were setting forth under cover of darkness. +For one thing, Alick, who hated anything underhand, was thoroughly +ashamed of sneaking away in the night. That in itself distinctly took +away from the dash and glory of the affair. + +In addition, he felt himself groping in a fog of misery. Nevermore, he +felt convinced, would he see his gentle, loving sister in this life; +and he shivered uncontrollably as he thought that, but for his absence +in her hour of peril, Theo would be as well and strong as anybody--as, +for instance, little Queenie, upon whom the accident had left no evil +effects. + +Before and behind, life was grim and stripped of hope for both the +boy-adventurers as they plunged along the high road. They were too +intensely miserable to look forward to the future. All they were +intent on was to escape from the dreaded consequences of their +misdoings. + +It is hard work travelling with a heart of lead in one's bosom-- + + 'A merry heart goes all the day, + Your sad tires in a mile-a.' + + +Still, the two trudged on, mile after mile, until when the dawn stole +up the sky they found themselves on the outskirts of a country town at +a considerable distance from Northbourne. Having but a few shillings, +belonging to Alick, they had decided to walk every step of the road to +London Docks. In the dim grey light from the east they saw, to their +astonishment, large looming vans and many blurred forms, all in busy +motion. There seemed to be, as it were, a commotion of shadows. + +'What on earth is it, Ned? They look like ghosts flitting about!' +Alick said, half fearfully. + +'No! They ain't ghosts!' slowly rejoined Ned, after a prolonged stare. +'I'll tell you what it means. Tis a circus, or mayhap a wild-beast +show, or somethin' of that sort. They're carryvans, leastways, and +they're makin' an early start. Depend on it, that's what 'tis, Muster +Alick!' + +Alick whistled. + +'I shouldn't wonder, Ned. You've just hit it. It's a circus! Let's +go closer. Who knows but they might give us a lift on the road to +London!' + +Ned shook his head; he was extremely doubtful as to that. Such +civility was not by any means the rule of the road. + +As the boys drew nearer, they felt sure it must be a wild-beast show, +from the rumble of subdued roars, as if from pent-up animals, and the +chatter of birds that resounded from the depths of the caravans in +which the inmates were, evidently, disturbed from their slumbers by the +early move. Horses were being put to, and men were running to and fro, +but Alick and Ned felt shy of accosting any one of them. + +They hung back and watched eagerly. + +'Hilloa, you two shavers! Whatever do you want loafing round here at +this time o' morning? Say, can't yer?' + +The shrill, loud voice came from the window of a house-caravan, and a +woman's head, stuck all over with curl-papers, was thrust out to stare +intently at the new-comers. + +'We are going up to London--on business,' said Alick, mustering up +courage, and speaking as manfully as he could. 'And,' he moved up +closer to say, 'we thought that, perhaps, you would give us a lift as +far as you could. I'll give you a shilling!' + +The boy spoke with the air as though shillings were plentiful enough. +But, in truth, he had only two half-crowns of his own in the world; +they were the entire amount of his savings, which he had brought on +setting forth in life. + +The woman with the curl-papers stared hard down at the two young +strangers before she answered, not so ill-naturedly-- + +'Well, I don't much mind, if so be as one of you gits on these yer +steps, and has a ride along of us. The t'other can git on to one of +the beasteses' vans at the back. 'Twon't break no bones if you do, as +I can see.' With a reassuring nod, she then withdrew her curl-papers +into the interior of her moving home. + +'You'd best go aside her, I suppose, Muster Alick,' whispered Ned. +'I'll hang on to that van yonder;' and he took himself off in the +direction to which the woman had seemed to point. + +'The missus said as I might have a ride on the back of this van,' said +he, meekly enough, to a man in his shirt-sleeves, who was too busy with +the bars of the van to look up at the speaker. + +'All right! If so be as she says so, it's got to be, I reckon!' he +growled; and Ned swung himself up behind, trying hard to make out, as +the procession moved off slowly and ponderously at last, what sort of +beasts were on the other side of the boards he was leaning against. +Suppose they were lions, or suppose the boards got loose? The +fisher-lad, whom storm and tempest on the deep could not dismay, felt a +bit creepy. Setting his ear close to the wood, he could distinctly +hear hideous growls, as if some savage creature, maddened by hunger, +were ready to break out and leap upon him. What would granny say if +she could dream of his situation? But dashing his hand across his +sleepy eyes, Ned hastily told himself there must be no harking back, no +thinking of what granny or anybody else at Northbourne would say or do. +It must be good-bye, for ever, to the old life. The motion of the van, +the rest after the long tramp, alike caused the country-bred boy to nod +sleepily as he clung to his perch. + +Presently, he was back again in Northbourne. It was Sunday afternoon, +and, dressed in his best, the fisher-boy stood up straight in class to +repeat his hymn to his earnest-eyed, sweet-faced teacher, 'Miss +Theedory.' And the words he fought sleepily to remember must have been +born of his nearness to the growling monsters within the caravan-- + + 'Christian, dost thou see them + On the holy ground, + How the troops of Midian + Prowl and prowl around?' + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN THE MIRE + +It was still darkish as the array of vans filed along the London road, +and, in the confusion, Ned lost sight of the van in which Alick had got +a lift beside the lady in curl-papers. And no wonder! for the fact +was, the show had parted in two divisions--one going to be stationed in +the East End, somewhere about Whitechapel, the other portion to +traverse the suburbs south of the Thames. + +It thus happened that the two Northbourne boys were separated, as they +each discovered when the day wore on. Worse still: they found, to +their dismay, that they had been entrapped artfully. A couple of +useful boys were desperately needed, as a fever had been hanging about +the show, breaking out at fitful intervals, and the chief victims had +been the boy-helpers, who, one after another, dropped off, some to +hospitals, others to die, like rats in the holes that were all the +homes they knew. + +The welcome accorded to Alick and Ned was thus explained. The +showwoman was secretly overjoyed to give the strangers a lift on their +journey. But before the first day closed in the pair of adventurers +found out what real hard work meant. Even Ned Dempster, accustomed to +the dilatory, easy-going life of sea-fishing, knew nothing indeed of +the drudgery and hustling and flurry of such everyday work as he had +stepped into, unawares, among the rough caravan folk. + +Alick, of course, was thunderstruck and stupefied to find himself at +everybody's rude beck and call. And to have his awkward, bewildered +movements hurried on by hard cuffs and violent language was an +unpleasantly new experience for a Carnegy to endure. His indignant +attempts at rebelling were treated with loud jeers, and by savage +threats of a horse-whipping. The latter menace was carried out before +the week was over, on the unhappy boy obstinately refusing to clean out +the animals' cages, to fetch and carry the food for birds and beasts, +and to perform a hundred other distasteful offices. + +'I'll teach ye; I'll conduct your education, young sir!' shouted the +ring-master. 'And here's the lesson-book!' he sneered, flourishing a +cruel-looking whip. + +Stunned and crushed, Alick had asked repeatedly to see Ned, and also +entreated to be permitted to leave the show at once. His requests +were, of course, harshly refused. In addition, he was sternly warned +that if he attempted to escape he would be horse-whipped again, and +next-door to death. + +'They're a catch for us, them two!' the brutal ring-master remarked to +his wife, as he and she sat at their supper after the performance was +over one evening. 'That tallest youngster's a swell as has run away +from 'ome, judging from his looks and clothes. He's just what we've +bin wantin' for a long time back. The fust thing to do is to break +that 'igh speerit of his, and then we'll set to work to train him to +show off with the leopards. That would draw famous with the public.' + +'Not with the leopards! Not with them beasts! They're the worst and +the fiercest in the show. 'Tis next-door to impossible to tame a +leopard. I won't 'ave it, I tell you, so there!' the woman broke in, +with a high-pitched voice. + +'Well, well, we're not going to 'ave words about it!' The first +speaker yielded; for his wife, the widow of the former proprietor, was +the real owner of the circus. 'We needn't say no more about the +leopards--for a bit. But I'll tell you what. 'Ee can do tricks with +little Mike, the new pony, and the monkeys. We'll make up a sort of +little performance a-purpose for 'im and them. I must invent a little +somethink that would be taking.' + +'I 'ope 'ee won't catch the fever, like the rest on 'em, that's all!' +muttered the mistress, shaking her head doubtfully. + +That, however, was just what Alick Carnegy managed to do. After some +weeks' slaving and knocking about at the hands of the ring-master, such +as fairly stunned him, he fell sick. At once the poor, gaunt, dirty +lad, whom Northbourne would have refused to recognise as the smart +Alick Carnegy, always trig and trim, was hustled off to the squalid +room of an old Whitechapel crone who, for the five shillings in the +pocket of his torn coat, agreed to nurse him through his trouble. If +he had the luck to live through it, the show-folk intended to have him +back. If he died--well, there was the parish ready to bury him. + +Ned, on the other hand, was by no means in such evil plight. He was +still in the division of the show moving from one suburb to another, so +he had, at least, fresh air to breathe. True, he had brought on +himself one brutal thrashing by running away from the show on the first +opportunity. He was easily enough traced to the Docks, where he had +sped, hoping against hope to find Alick loitering there. Instead, he +was captured by the ring-master himself, who had been informed of the +boy's flight, and who thought it quite worth his while to look up such +an intelligent, hard-working little chap as Ned. The truth was, Ned +had made himself far too useful among the animals to be thus let slip. +All this time the dejected lad had been purposely kept in ignorance of +the whereabouts of his companion. It was only by pure accident that he +at last heard of Alick's collapse and speedy removal from the show--to +die, for what anyone cared. One of the showmen had been despatched +from the head-quarters of the establishment on an errand, and, knocking +up against Ned, exclaimed-- + +'Hilloa! You ain't got the fever yet, then? Your chum has distanced +you; for he's down with it.' Then the man told Ned that Alick was +lying 'as ill as ill' in the house of an old crone who once belonged to +the show herself. + +It was a relief to hear even that much of his companion; it was better +than the mystery of silence. But Ned's panic was pretty severe when he +thought of Alick's perilous and deserted condition. A rush of mingled +feelings came over the Northbourne lad. He felt as the prodigal son +must have felt in the far country. + +Yes, it was exactly like the Bible story which 'Miss Theedory' seemed +to like best. At least, she told it to her class-boys more often than +any other, and Ned, listening to her, had grown to realise the unhappy +youth's condition in that far-off land where he had 'wasted his +substance in riotous living,' and to sympathise cordially with him when +he 'came to himself.' + +But Ned, hustled, driven, sworn at, from morning to night, could now, +in those scanty moments allowed him to swallow his rough food, or +before his tired eyes closed in sleep, still more vividly picture the +prodigal's desolation and despair. + +Then he remembered the outcome of that despair: the unhappy youth in +the parable suddenly determined to arise and go to his father, to +confess, with bitter remorse, his own mad wrong-doings. Would it not +be well for himself to arise and return to Northbourne, and to confess +the terrible folly of which he and Alick had been guilty? Again and +again Ned imagined himself so doing. But the cruel whip which he had +already tasted was another side to the question. No, he dare not again +attempt to escape! He writhed still when he recollected the stinging +lashes of the long, serpent-like whip. At last came an inspiration. +He could, and he would, write to the captain at the Bunk, entreating +him to come and rescue his son, and also Ned himself. This resolve, +however, was a work of no small difficulty. To procure an envelope and +a postage-stamp were next door to impossible for the lad who was +watched so keenly. Fortunately, some body coming out of the +performance one evening, in pity for his unhappy looks, threw Ned a +penny. A day or so after, when sweeping out the ring, he found in the +sawdust an envelope unwritten upon, and tolerably clean. It was a +prize: and that evening, when the public were shrieking with laughter +over the capers of a clown arm-in-arm with a tame bear, followed by a +couple of monkeys skilfully mimicking their very strut, Ned was behind +one of the vans scribbling with pencil a few frantic, ill-spelt words +that, when the crumpled envelope arrived at the Bunk, were wept over +and laughed over in tumultuous joy. The penny thrown him went for a +stamp; the letter was pushed, with trembling haste, into a letter-box, +and Ned had returned to his post among the squalid back-scenes of the +gay performance before anybody had time to miss him. + +His heart beat in mad throbs, so that the boy was scarce able to sleep +a wink that night. Hopes and fears jostled themselves in his excited +brain. If the postman, old 'Uncle Dan,' who trudged from Brattlesby +town every day at noon with the Northbourne post-bag, only safely +delivered the letter Ned had posted, all would be well. With the +captain himself to the fore, every difficulty must, and would, be swept +away. Then---- But with a sobbing catch in his breath Ned put aside +the after. He was too weak from misery and ill-usage to finish the +blissful result. So, over and over, he murmured, 'I have sinned +against heaven and before thee!' until that refrain of all true +penitence lulled him to sleep. + + +'Alick is found! My boy is alive!' The captain had been able to utter +no more as he pushed the crumpled wisp of a letter into a thin hand +eagerly outstretched to receive it. The tears were running unheeded +down the old man's cheeks. + +'Oh, father!' There was a glad cry. 'God is good indeed! He has +heard our prayers.' + +It was Theo--or was it Theo's ghost?--who sat by the open window +drinking in the sea breezes she was still too weak to go out of doors +and meet. Yes, Theo was, day by day, coming back to her old sweet +self, after a long spell of illness. There was only weakness left to +fight--weakness and anxiety about Alick. As long as possible the fact +of Alick having run away from home was kept from the prostrate girl. +But in the end it abruptly leaked out, and nearly pushed her back +through the gates of death. + +Every means that the captain knew of had been set in motion to find the +pair of runaways. But the searchers were checkmated at the outset by +failing to find the boys at the Docks. The police in the end convinced +themselves and the captain that the pair had stolen on board some +foreign vessel on the eve of its departure, and, as stowaways, were +already far off on the deep. + +But which of the many hundreds of ships that had set sail since might +the boys possibly be aboard? Again and again had the half-distracted +father asked himself the maddening question as he paced the busy Docks. +He would return then to Northbourne, where his other beloved child lay +in jeopardy of her young life. Through the anxious night-watches by +her bed, the old sailor pictured his boy on board some barque ploughing +the seas, the stormy winds roaring through the rigging, the decks wet +and slippery, the rough sailors cuffing and jostling the unwelcome +intruders who had stolen their passages. + +None knew better than the captain what the boys who had hidden +themselves in some dark corner of an outward-bound vessel would be +called upon to endure, when discovered; none knew better than he the +hourly dangers to which they would be exposed in the perils of the +deep--the risks of foundering, of collision, of tempests. + +As the days wore on, and no word came of the runaways, the old sailor's +heart sank to the lowest depths. + +'Father, we must trust him to God; it's all we can do,' a low, weak +voice whispered; and the old man took heart again. He would trust his +boy to that-- + + 'Eternal Father, strong to save, + Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.' + + +Perhaps of all mankind a sailor has experienced most signal proofs of +the omnipotence of God. Throughout the daily dangers they are exposed +to is the underlying, as well as the overruling, sense of the Almighty +Power that holds the heavens in the hollow of His hand. + +The captain knew that his girl was right. What he and she had to do +was simply trust Alick to his Father in heaven. + +Then came Ned's missive with its startling news. + +'You will go, father, and fetch him home?' + +'Yes, yes! If I can find him. Please God I may!' + +That same day the captain started for London, and with him went Philip +Price, who insisted on joining in the search for the hapless Alick. +The young tutor had proved himself a very friend in need in 'the day of +trouble' that had befallen the Bunk. What more natural then that he +should persist in helping the captain in what would be a ticklish piece +of work, as both men knew? + +Before the two set out, Philip Price brought his mother over from +Brattlesby to establish her in Theo's sick-room. It was not the +widow's first visit to the Bunk. The woman who never had a daughter of +her own found in the serious, gentle Theo a realisation of those +dream-daughters who had never been in real life. + +And Theo, on her part, welcomed the quiet, soft-spoken widow--another +bit of Philip Price, so similar were mother and son. It was a relief +to the overwrought girl to restfully watch the household reins gathered +up in other and abler hands than her own. As for the widow, she grew +alert and brisk; so good is a little wholesome activity for others. + +'We must have no fretting, no repining, dear Miss Carnegy,' she +persisted cheerfully. 'Your young brother is sure to be found. The +captain can't fail, now he has got my Philip to aid him in the search!' + +The widow's text for every sermon was 'my Philip'; and it was one of +which Theo Carnegy never tired, to judge by her intent listening to the +subject-matter it produced. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN MULLINER'S RENTS + +It was a hot, stifling summer day, and perhaps Whitechapel never looked +more grimy, more squalid, more sorrowful, perforce from its pathetic +contrast to the summer beauty of the skies. + +The pavement was so hot that the heat seemed to rise up, flouting +itself in your very face. + +In one particular alley, known as Mulliner's Rents, the heat seemed +almost tropical. Possibly the dense overcrowding of this quarter with +human life enhanced the burning sensation of the thick air breathed out +and breathed in again, unrefreshed, by multitudes of lungs. Here, +there, and everywhere human beings stood about idly. Groups of untidy +women, in twos and threes, gossiped; lazy men lolled against the +houses, smoking in sullen silence; and for every grown-up person there +were fully a dozen of squalid children playing, shouting, staring, and +squabbling with a vigour no heat could abate. + +There was little traffic, so to say, in Mulliner's Rents; it was quite +select in that one single respect. Nothing on wheels penetrated the +unlovely quarter save a coster's barrow of fruit; unwholesome little +yellow pears and cruelly green apples of the lowest type of apple-kind +being the wares of the moment. It was truly a sad and sorrowful haunt, +this of the man-made town; and so it seemed to the two travellers fresh +from the God-made country--from the wholesome breezes of the _caller_ +salt air of Northbourne--when they plunged into its midst. + +'Courage, captain!' said Philip Price, when he noticed the blanching of +the elder man's brown face and the unutterable loathing of horror that +spoke out of every feature. 'We've got to put our shoulder to the +wheel, and leave no stone unturned to find Alick, and carry him out of +this pestilent hole.' + +Philip Price, before his health broke down, had been for a few months +doing duty as curate in a still more squalid colony of human nests than +even this. When the sailor flinched, and hung back, Philip strode +forward, determined to conquer, unheeding the battery of stares turned +upon himself and his companion by the inhabitants, and the +free-and-easy comments, of which they were by no means chary. + +Already the captain and Philip had that day spent many fruitless hours +in the search, when they hit on a fresh clue and an address in +Mulliner's Rents. But here, even, difficulties bristled, and the tide +of hopelessness was setting in upon both men when a wretched old crone +was dragged out of a public-house to confront them, with dazed eyes and +with a hateful odour of gin oozing from her whole person. + +'Yes--well, yes,' she grudgingly admitted, in answer to the eager +questions of the searchers; 'I does know a boy down with fever. What +o' that? I ain't done no harm to him! He's 'ad the best I could +offer; and five shillin's don't go far when there's sickness,' she +ended, with a whimper, for she was maudlin with drink. + +'Take us to that boy at once!' commanded Philip Price; for the +captain's agitation unmanned him for the moment. + +The wretched woman, awed by Philip's tone, complied. Perhaps, also, +she obeyed, half in fear of the policeman, who had stepped up to join +the gentlemen, and half in hope of getting more silver to spend on more +drink. + +Before half an hour was over Alick Carnegy was found. It was a +terrible shock to the captain to recognise his boy in the squalid, +dirty, delirious sufferer tossing wearily on a heap of sacks, on the +grimy floor of an attic at the top of an evil-smelling, dilapidated +house, to which the crone stumblingly conducted them. + +'Merciful powers!' he groaned in dismayed horror. + +'Hush!' enjoined Philip. 'Be as calm as you can. I believe the poor +little chap is off his head; but, if there's a gleam of consciousness, +it would send him over the precipice again to witness your agitation.' + +There was small fear of the captain doing any further mischief; he was +stunned into helplessness, and stood mute, trying to force himself to +believe that the huddled heap of squalid misery was his very own +son--smart, manly-looking Alick Carnegy. Though the captain was thus +helpless, Philip Price seemed to know exactly what to do, and how to do +it. + +Getting the address of a doctor, he rushed off, in the first place, to +fetch him. Then a bedstead and clean bedding were hired in. In an +hour or two more the grimy room was swept and tidied as far as +possible; the window propped up to stay open; the hapless, dirty +sufferer cleansed and made straight; and beside his bed sat a +gentle-faced, trained nurse, whose wholesome presence seemed to +transform the room. + +'Now, captain,' cheerily said Philip, who looked another man in the +excitement, 'you are going to take a bit of advice from me, I hope. +You will go straight back to Brattlesby by the night train. Your +invalid at home must not be forgotten; anxiety is not the best sort of +tonic for her. And I mean to remain here with your boy.' + +'God bless you, Price!' The old sailor's voice trembled as he wrung +Philip's hand. 'I never knew it was in you! Man, how one can be +deceived! I thought your head was in the clouds, and that you didn't +know your right hand from your left, practically speaking. Yes, yes! +I'll run down to-night, and to-morrow I can return. I can trust my boy +to you. Let nothing be spared; there's my purse. The doctor seemed a +downright good sort of chap and _she_ is worth a gold-mine!' He +pointed to the nurse, who was deftly bathing Alick's burning brow. + +'What a splendid lad that Price is! He's the very salt of the earth!' +murmured the old captain, as he threaded his way later through the +unsavoury streets, now ablaze with lights that enticed and beckoned +forth misery to stalk out from every dark corner. 'He is a true +Christian--that's what it is! To think how my boys have ill-treated +him, and here he is caring for Alick so tenderly that the poor boy's +mother couldn't have done more, had she been spared! That's what you +call returning good for evil, with a vengeance! Well, well, please +God, I'll mend my own ways too! If I have my girl and my boy both +restored to me, I'll be a different father to them from what I have +been.' + +It had been borne in upon the captain's mind, during the cloud of +sorrow overshadowing his home, that he had, somehow, failed in his +duty. And, with the courage that belongs only to the brave heart, he +admitted his shortcomings. + +There was tremendous excitement in Northbourne when it was known that +Alick had actually been found. The Bunk was besieged by an +ever-growing crowd, anxious to have the news verified. And where was +Ned Dempster? The captain himself had to assure them his next step +would be to discover the hapless Ned. Yes, yes; Ned also should be +found and brought back. Not a stone should be left unturned until he +rescued Ned likewise. + +And the old sailor kept his word. On his return to London he and +Philip Price took it in turn, between their spells of watching beside +Alick's sick-bed, to seek out the wandering half of the show-circus. +Time went on, but they were still unsuccessful, however. Not until the +fever died out, and Alick, weak and exhausted, almost beyond building +up, began to show faint signs of interest in his surroundings, could +any questions be put to him. It was Philip Price who managed, without +agitating the sufferer, to win from his feeble lips the name of the +show. After that it was a tolerably easy matter to unearth its +whereabouts. + +On demanding Ned's release, a series of denials met them as to the boy +being with the establishment at all. A storm of furious resistance +which followed had to be quelled by the stern detective who accompanied +the captain in his raid upon the show. Back in triumph to the +Whitechapel attic they carried the trembling Ned, who had to be scoured +and fed and clothed into his 'right mind' once again. + +And this was running away secretly! thought each humiliated adventurer +as they gazed, stony-eyed, at one another. + +Shortly after, when Alick had crept sufficiently far out of the fever, +looking a white shadow of his former self, the two boys were conveyed +back to Northbourne, where a genuinely hearty welcome awaited them from +the fisher-folk. Jerry Blunt, indeed, had suggested a triumphal arch +with WELCOME in letters tall and wide. But that notion was instantly +quashed by wiser heads. + +'We be thankful to see 'em back,' judicially said Northbourne; 'but we +ain't a-goin' to make "conquerin' heroes" of such young limbs!' + +So it came to pass that the boys who thought it such a fine, manly +thing to run away to sea, as boys will think, returned meekly, with +shamed eyes, and hearts bounding joyfully at sight of the homes they +had not dreamed were so dear until they had forfeited them, as they +thought, for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +NO PLACE LIKE HOME + +'Oh, Alick! + +'Oh, Theo!' + +After the first cries of greeting there was a silence. Theo's arms +were tight round her restored brother's neck, and Alick rested his +tear-stained cheek against his sister's. They were alone in the room, +but, in truth, the boy would not have cared if all Northbourne had been +looking on. + +'Theo,' he sobbed out presently, 'it was awful!' + +'Yes, dear, it must have been,' whispered Theo sympathetically, +tightening her arms. 'It was not what you expected?' + +'It was _awful_!' repeated Alick. As yet he could find no words to +picture his experience of life out in the hard world. 'And,' he went +on, lifting up his tear-stained face, 'I am more sorry than I can ever +tell that I did it, Theo--sorry and ashamed.' + +'Have you told God that, Alick?' asked Theo softly, in his ear. + +'Yes, I have,' was the grave, equally low reply. 'I've put it on to +the end of my prayers, night and morning. And--perhaps He will forgive +me some day, if I--if I can do something, work out something, you know, +to show that I _am_ really and truly sorry. Don't you think I could +manage something of the sort, Theo?' asked Alick earnestly, if +awkwardly. + +'No, Alick, I don't!' said Theo abruptly; and the boy's face fell. Of +late the boy had been full of this new desire to efface his wrong-doing +by some means or other himself. 'Most certainly, dear old boy,' went +on his sister, more gently, 'you cannot "blot out" your transgression +by your own efforts. Don't you know that we have, each and every one +of us, in the heavens, that great High Priest who is interceding for us +always, always? He, our dear Lord, has already done that "something" +which you are groping to do in your weak, small way. _He_ has worked +out your redemption--yours and mine. What you have to do is to carry +your sins to the foot of the cross, where the great "something" was +accomplished for us. You remember the hymn-- + + '"I lay my sins on Jesus, + The spotless Lamb of God." + +Oh, Alick! I'm only a girl, and I can't say the words right; but you +must lay _your_ sin on Jesus, who has promised to bear it. Tell Him of +your sorrowing repentance. That's all you have got to do; He does the +rest!' + +'And, Theo, there's Price,' Alick lifted his head to say presently. +'Oh, I can't tell you what he has done for me! He nursed me all +through in that slum of a Whitechapel--me, of all people! And when I +begged his pardon for all my bad conduct you should have seen his face! +Theo, if you'll give me your word never to tell it to any one, I cried +like a baby; for Price looked for all the world like Stephen looked +when they were stoning him. But you'll never tell I said so? I was a +cowardly wretch to insult him as I did; and to think how he has paid me +back--"coals of fire" are nothing to it!' + +'Well, I always told you, Alick, that he was a true Christian +gentleman; I was sure of it.' + +'I know you did. I've found it out for myself, now. Theo!' +energetically added Alick, 'I shall never be the same again, I hate my +old self! I mean to be so different. I shall work, and study, and----' + +'And try "to do your duty in that state of life unto which it has +pleased God to call you," I hope,' put in Theo quietly. 'But, Alick, +you must ask His help to hold you up, and to prevent your footsteps +from sliding,' she added reverently. 'You can't do it in your own +strength, dear!' As Theo ceased there were tears on her face, and +Alick's also. For a long time no other words were spoken--none were +needed. + +The sun was setting over the bay, and the fisher-folk, busy with their +preparations for the coming night's work, were cheerily shouting from +one boat to another. It was good indeed, Alick felt, his heart +throbbing with gratitude, to be once again in the dear old home, in the +clean, wholesome country. + + +By and by the rest of the family crowded in, and, bit by bit, Alick's +tale was told to his wondering hearers. + +'Well, well, boy,' said the captain, putting his arms round the neck of +his prodigal son, 'your precious escapade has taught you one stern +lesson among others, and that is, there's no place like home as yet.' + +Alick hung his head to hide his shamed face. How good everybody was to +him! The kindness seemed to stab him through and through. Father's +arm round his neck; one hand clasped by Theo's, and the other hugged up +in both of Queenie's fat, warm little hands; and Geoff devouring him +with eyes dilated with joyful pride over his brother's safe return. +And never a harsh word had passed any one's lips! Such treatment to a +character of Alick's type was the keenest of punishment. + + +Under another Northbourne roof another penitent was confessing his +folly that same evening. + +'No, granny, never, never will I stir out o' Northbourne, now I've had +the luck to get back to it!' ended Ned, after relating his adventures +in his absence. + +'Not even if so be as they can't find the North Pole without 'ee to +help 'em, eh, my lad?' asked granny slyly, across the supper-table. +The old woman had much ado to hide her joy over Ned's return. + +Ned coloured, and hung his head abashed. 'Oh, well, I expec' they can +manage without me and Muster Alick!' he stammered at last. + +'That's true enough! Depend upon it, Ned, if the Lord needs you, He +will shape the way for you, plain as plain. Meantime, it looks as if +He meant you to bide here, seein' as how in His goodness He has bringed +you back to us. And you just try to remember all your life through, my +lad, what the Book tells us--that "Godliness with contentment is great +gain."' + + +It is a year ago exactly since 'The Theodora' sank to the bottom of the +blue waters in the bay where she still lies. Time has wrought and +brought many changes in Northbourne, as time will. Over at the +Vicarage is the greatest change, for the good old parson has gone home +to-- + + That sweet and blessed country + That eager hearts expect'; + +and his frail, ailing widow has been taken away to dwell with distant +relatives. But Binks, under a new master, is still the handy-man; +while Splutters and Shutters have become sedate members of society, for +their new proprietor is Philip Price, than whom few know better the +true secret of ruling. + +Yes, the young tutor is now restored to health and strength. The fine +Northbourne air, the restfulness of country life, and God's goodness, +have combined to set up Philip Price as a robust man. He had been +ailing so long in the old days, that he had got well-nigh accustomed to +being a semi-invalid. But, nowadays, he has become so strong that he +has forgotten what ailing means--in his own person that is, for he is a +man of keen sympathies with all concerning his fellow-men. + +With renewed health he had thrown himself more vigorously than ever +into his work of teaching; but other things were in store for him. + +On Mr. Vesey's unexpected death, the living of Northbourne was vacant, +of course. Philip Price did not dream of more than a fleeting wish +than it might have fallen to himself. + +Other people, however, went a step further than wishing. The captain, +it so happened, was a cousin of the patron of the parish. With all his +energy he set about procuring the living for one to whom he would ever +feel bound by ties of gratitude. + +'If he be a thorough gentleman, a Christian through and through, and an +honourable man, why--let him have it!' said the patron testily. This +unexpected compliance was so astounding that the old sailor felt thrown +back on himself, as it were, and returned slightly bewildered by his +own success. + +In due time the new vicar and his mother, two proud and happy people, +settled down in the Vicarage house which stares across the bay at the +Bunk. + +In the Carnegys' home the only changes are most happy ones. Since the +captain gave up allowing his hobby to be his master, and has taken a +keener interest in his boys' and girls' daily life, all things are +brighter at the Bunk. The old naval officer is never happier than when +on the water with his family-crew, and has presented each of his boys +with a canoe, to the pride and glory of not only themselves, but the +entire fishing community. + +Theo still pulls Queenie and Queenie's ever-increasing doll-family +about the bay, but in a new 'Theodora.' But the tall, sweet-faced +sister, of whom the Carnegy boys are so proud, seldom rows across to +the Vicarage nowadays. Some folk wonder why. Others, who are wiser, +smile and say that perhaps 'Miss Theedory' will go across some day and +land for life at the Vicarage. And less likely things have happened. +Indeed, Jerry Blunt is engaged in training a young bullfinch as a +wedding-present, though nobody can induce him to say for whom. But +people cannot help shrewdly guessing, when they remember that Theo gave +away the first bird-singer Jerry presented to her to Mrs. Vesey, as a +Northbourne keepsake, when she left the Vicarage. + +And the Carnegy boys? + +Well, they are making the most of their freedom this summer, as next +term they set out on a public-school career. They have not been idle +this past year, and Philip Price knows they will not disgrace him when +confronted with more strict examiners than himself. Alick, in +particular, has been diligent, and being endowed with plenty of brains, +his father and Theo are full of hope regarding his future. + +Better still, Alick's heart is a changed one. By God's grace his +footsteps are set in the right path. No more rebellious outbursts will +there be against those whom the will of God has set over him. A sharp +lesson taught him the world's cruel hardness to the defenceless, and +showed the true value of a good father and a pure home. + +Geoff, ready as ever to take his colour from his surroundings, has been +treading steadily on his altered brother's heels in the 'narrow way.' + +And now our sojourn in breezy little Northbourne is over, and we must +say farewell to its fisher-folk. Some of us may, perchance, meet the +Carnegy boys on life's journey; who can say? But the +stay-at-homes--the stalwart, active Ned Dempster, now one of Fletcher's +boat-crew; the bird-trainer, Jerry Blunt; the families of the Bunk and +the Vicarage,--to one and all we must say good-bye, which is 'God be +with them!' + + + + +THE END + + + + +EVERY BOY'S BOOKSHELF. + + +Frank Lester's Fortunes. By Frederick Arnold. + +A Boy's Adventures Round the World, By John Andrew Higginson. + +In Mortal Peril: A Story of the Great Armada. By E. E. Crake. + +Bush Luck. By W. H. Timperley. + +Schooldays at Highfield House. By A. N. Malan. + +Under Fire. By H. Frederick Charles. + +The Young Nor'-Wester. By J. Macdonald Oxley. + + + +THE BOY'S LIBRARY OF ADVENTURE & HEROISM. + + +ALLAN ADAIR; or Here and There in Many Lands. By Dr. GORDON STABLES, +R.N., author of "In the Land of the Lion and the Ostrich." With Ten +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +A HERO IN WOLF-SKIN. A Story of Pagan and Christian. By TOM BEVAN. +With Seven Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE ADVENTURES OF VAL DAINTRY IN THE GRAECO-TURKISH WAR. By V. L. +GOING. With Seven Illustrations by FRANK FELLER. + +THE HEROES OF MOSS HALL SCHOOL. By E. C. KENYON, author of "Little +Robin Grey," etc. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE LOST EARLDOM: A Tale of Scotland's Reign of Terror. By CYRIL GREY, +author of "For Crown and Covenant." With Three Illustrations by +RAYMOND POTTER. + +A TROOPER OF THE FINNS: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. By TOM BEVAN, +author of "A Hero in Wolf-skin," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations +by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +WILD LIFE IN SUNNY LANDS. A Romance of Butterfly Hunting. By GORDON +STABLES, M.D., R.N., author of "The Shell Hunters." With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE BLUE VEGA. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., R.N. With Six +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +COMRADES UNDER CANVAS. A Story of Boys' Brigade Life. By FREDERICK P. +GIBBON. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +BOB MARCHANT'S SCHOLARSHIP. By ERNEST PROTHEROE. With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE BOY SETTLER; or, The Adventures of Sydney Bartlett. By H. C. +STORER. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +FROM SCAPEGRACE TO HERO; or, The Adventures and Triumphs of Jem Blake. +By ERNEST PROTHEROE, author of "Bob Marchant's Scholarship." With +Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. + + + +STORIES FOR BOYS. + +By TALBOT BAINES REED. + + +THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE-GUINEA WATCH. With Seven Full-page and +Sixteen other Illustrations in the Text. + +THE COCK HOUSE AT FELLSGARTH. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE FIFTH FORMAT ST. DOMINIC'S. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. + +A DOG WITH A BAD NAME. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED +PEARSE. + +ROGER INGLETON, MINOR. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by J. +FINNEMORE, R.I. + +SIR LUDAR: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess. With Eleven +Full-page Illustrations. + +PARKHURST BOYS, and other Stories of School Life. With Seven Full-page +and many other Illustrations. + +THE MASTER OF THE SHELL. With Seven Full-page and Five other +Illustrations in the Text. + +MY FRIEND SMITH. A Story of School and City Life. With Eleven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. + +REGINALD CRUDEN. A Tale of City Life. With Seven Illustrations by +ALFRED PEARSE. + +TOM, DICK, AND HARRY. With Fifteen Full-page Illustrations. + + + +THE BOY'S OWN SERIES. + + +A GREAT MISTAKE. A Story of Adventure. By T. S. MILLINGTON, author of +"The Latch Key," "The Shadow on the Hearth," etc. Illustrated. + +ALL FOR NUMBER ONE; or, Charlie Russell's Ups and Downs. By HENRY +JOHNSON, author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. + +MAX VICTOR'S SCHOOLDAYS: The Friends he made and the Foes he conquered. +By S. S. PUSH, author of "Rights and Wrongs," "My School-fellow, Val +Bownser," etc. Illustrated. + +THE MARTYR'S VICTORY. A Tale of Danish England. By EMMA LESLIE, author +of "That Scholarship Boy," "Glaucia, the Greek Slave," etc. Illustrated. + +THE DOCTOR'S EXPERIMENT; or, The Adventures of One of Dr. Reade's +Pupils, as narrated by Himself. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of +"The Boys of Highfield," "Gentleman Jackson," etc. Illustrated. + +GENTLEMAN JACKSON. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of "The Doctor's +Experiment," "The Boys of Highfield," etc. Illustrated. + +TOM WALLIS. A Tale of the South Seas. By LOUIS BECKE, author of "By +Reef and Palm," "Admiral Philip," etc. Illustrated. + +THE STORY OF A CITY ARAB. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "Frank Layton," +"Boys will be Boys," etc. Illustrated. + +THE SHELL-HUNTERS: Their Wild Adventures by Land and Sea. By GORDON +STABLES, author of "Allan Adair," etc. Illustrated. + +HAROLD, THE BOY EARL. A Story of Old England. By J. F. HODGETTS, +author of "Kormak the Viking," etc. Illustrated. + +ILDERIM, THE AFGHAN. A Tale of the Indian Border. By DAVID KEE. +Illustrated. + +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. By ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE, author of +"Annie Carr," etc. Illustrated. + +THE STORY OF A POCKET BIBLE. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "The Story of +a City Arab," "Frank Layton," etc. Illustrated. + +NORTH OVERLAND WITH FRANKLIN. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, author of "Archie +Mackenzie," etc. Illustrated. + +THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, Jamaica Sixty Years Since. By Captain +BROOKE-KNIGHT. Illustrated. + +CAPTAIN COOK; His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries. By W. H. G. +KINGSTON, author of "Little Peter the Ship Boy," "Ben Hadden," etc. +Illustrated. + +THE HEIR OF BRAGWELL HALL. By ALFRED BEER. With Seven Illustrations by +J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE WALLABY MAN. By Dr. A. N. MALAN, F.G.S., author of "School Days at +Highfield House," etc. With Seven Illustrations. + +GEOFF BLAKE: His Chums and His Foes. By S. S. PUGH. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. + +CAVE PERILOUS. By L. T. MEADE. With Seven Illustrations by S. T. DADD. + +FOR CROWN AND COVENANT. By CYRIL GREY, author of "The Lost Earldom." +With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +UNTRUE TO HIS TRUST; or, Plotters and Patriots. By HENRY JOHNSON, +author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. With Five +Illustrations. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE STORMY PETREL. By W. C. METCALF. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. + +DUCK-LAKE. Stories of the Canadian Backwoods. By E. RYERSON YOUNG. +With Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. + +KORMAK, THE VIKING. By J. FREDERICK HODGETTS. With Fifteen +Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +CYRIL'S QUEST; or, O'er Vale and Hill in the Land of the Inca. By +ANNIE GRAY. With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE BRIGANDS' PREY; A Strange Story of Adventure. By A. M. JACKSON. +With Five Illustrations by G. E. ROBERTSON. + +THE SETTLERS OF KAROSSA CREEK. and Other Stories of Australian Bush +Life. + +By Louis BECKE, author of "Tom Wallis," "Wild Life in the Southern +Seas," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, P. A., author of "North +Overland with Franklin," "Archie Mackenzie." Illustrated. + +THE ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY. By E. C. KENYON. With Four Illustrations. + + + +STORIES FOR BOYS. + +THROUGH FIRE and THROUGH WATER. A Story of Adventure and Peril. By T. +S. MILLINGTON, author of "Straight to the Mark," etc. With Sixteen +Illustrations. + +TAMATE: The Life and Adventures of a Christian Hero. By RICHARD +LOVETT, M.A., author of "James Chalmers: his Autobiography and +Letters," etc. With Two Maps and Fifteen Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, +R.I. + +CONDEMNED TO THE GALLEYS. The Adventures of a French Protestant. By +JEAN MARTEILHE. With Seven Illustrations by E. BARNARD LINTOTT. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + +***** This file should be named 26714-8.txt or 26714-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/1/26714/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26714-8.zip b/26714-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b122ce6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-8.zip diff --git a/26714-h.zip b/26714-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7f8487 --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-h.zip diff --git a/26714-h/26714-h.htm b/26714-h/26714-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..896afa0 --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-h/26714-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6272 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.salutation {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.closing {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.index {font-size: small ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-top: 0% ; + margin-bottom: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.dedication {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 15%; + text-align: justify } + +P.published {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 15% } + +P.quote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report2 {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { font-size: medium; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +H3.h3left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H3.h3right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H3.h3center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgleft { float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 1%; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgright {float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1%; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + +.sidenote { left: 0%; + font-size: 65%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0%; + width: 17%; + float: left; + clear: left; + padding-left: 0%; + padding-right: 2%; + padding-top: 2%; + padding-bottom: 2%; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + + + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Captain's Bunk + A Story for Boys + +Author: M. B. Manwell + +Release Date: September 28, 2008 [EBook #26714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="504" HEIGHT="769"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 504px"> +Cover art +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +A STORY FOR BOYS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +M. B. MANWELL +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF 'THE BENTS OF BATTERSBY,' ETC. +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WITH COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +LONDON +<BR> +THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY +<BR> +4 BOUVERIE STREET AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD +<BR> +1898 +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAP.</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A PLAGUEY PAIR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">A NOVEL TRADE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">'MISS THEEDORY'</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN'</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">BREAKERS AHEAD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">THE LITTLE MOTHER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">MUTINY AT THE BUNK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">THEO'S HAVEN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">COMING EVENTS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">UNDER ARREST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">A TANGLED WEB</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">IN THE FAR NORTH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">IN PERIL ON THE SEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">A DOOR OF ESCAPE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">THE BIRD-SCHOOL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">IN THE MIRE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">IN MULLINER'S RENTS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">NO PLACE LIKE HOME</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A PLAGUEY PAIR +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Do the thing that's nearest,<BR> +Though it's dull at whiles.'<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +If anybody wanted to go down and have a look round Northbourne for +himself, it would be necessary to take a railway journey as far as +Brattlesby town, and then tramp the rest of the road, unless a friendly +chance befell the traveller of a lift in some passing vehicle. +</P> + +<P> +There had never been so much as a talk of extending the railway line to +Northbourne, which was a quaint little fishing village tucked away +under the shelter of a long stretch of downs. It consisted of a few +small thatched cottages that had seated themselves, as it were, in a +semicircle round the tiny bay, to peep out from its shelter at the far, +open ocean, the highway of waters on which the outward-bound liners +loomed like grey ghostly shadows as they passed. +</P> + +<P> +There were but two of what is known as gentry's houses in Northbourne. +Oddly enough, each of them finished off the half-circle of cottages, +and in that way they stared across the bay at one another, face to face. +</P> + +<P> +One of the two, the Bunk, had been for some years inhabited by an +elderly half-pay naval officer, Captain Carnegy, and his motherless +boys and girls. The other house was the Vicarage, the habitation of +Mr. Vesey, the good old vicar, his invalid wife, and a pair of +excitable Yorkshire terriers, Splutters and Shutters, thus curiously +named for the sake of rhyme, it is to be presumed. They were brothers, +and as tricky a pair as one could meet, ever up to their eyes in +mischief from morning until night. Indeed, Splutters and Shutters kept +what would have been a still, staid household in nearly as great a +ferment as did the captain's crew the Bunk across the bay. +</P> + +<P> +'They two dogs, they be summat like a couple o' wild b'ys; they keeps +the passon and the mistress in, not for to say hot water, but bilin' +water, for the livelong day!' constantly declared Binks, who was the +handy-man at the Vicarage, and, in fact, handy-man at the little church +as well, he being both factotum and sexton. Binks was a worthy old +soul whom the terriers led a troubled life by their destructive capers +in the garden and lawn, which he vainly tried to keep trim. Still, on +the whole, Binks, harassed as he was by the dogs, was apt to thank his +stars that Splutters and Shutters were not actually boys; such boys, +for instance, as those of the captain at the Bunk across the bay, who +were a sore handful, as any one could see for themselves, without the +prompt testimony of all Northbourne to that effect. +</P> + +<P> +'You be a plaguey pair, you b'ys!' was the unfailing greeting of Binks, +when he encountered Geoff and Alick Carnegy. +</P> + +<P> +'Come, you shut up, Binks! You surely would not have us a couple of +mincing girls peacocking round in this fashion, would you now?' And +the captain's boys affectedly pirouetted up and down on the shingle +below the low wall of the Vicarage garden, laughing boisterously the +while. +</P> + +<P> +'I dunno, young musters!' rejoined Binks, contemplating the ridiculous +spectacle with much the same gravity as he would have regarded a +funeral. 'P'raps it'd be a sight better if so be as you <I>was</I> gells. +That is, gells after the pattern of your sister, Miss Theedory!' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Theo! Well, she's different!' and Geoff sobered down his antics, +and stood still to retort. 'That just reminds me I've brought a note +for Mrs. Vesey from Theo. I'll run up to the house with it. I don't +remember if it wants an answer; but don't you go away, Alick. Wait for +me!' +</P> + +<P> +'All right!' Alick nodded, and swinging himself up on the wall, he +watched Binks, who was patiently pottering over the carrot-beds. The +ceaseless tussel he had to induce these refractory vegetables to make a +fair show was one of the minor crosses of the old man's life. +</P> + +<P> +Of the two Carnegys, Alick was the least reasonable, if the word +reasonable could be applied to either of 'them young limbs,' as +Northbourne privately called the captain's boys. He, however, managed +to sit still for the space of five minutes or so on the wall, whistling +vigorously. +</P> + +<P> +'I 'opes as you be a-gittin' on brisk with your book-larnin', Muster +Alick?' Binks lifted his head, after the prolonged silence, to regard, +with a critical air, the boy who sat dangling his feet above. Binks +had a fashion peculiar to himself of staring at most people in a +reproving manner, as though he had just found them out in some dark +transgression. It was possibly a habit due to a lifelong experience of +the faults and the failings of human nature, and it was one which stood +Binks in good stead, giving him an austere and awe-inspiring +appearance. Especially on Sundays did this detective air prove +helpful, when he did duty as parish clerk in the quaint, old-time +church on the shore, where it served to keep the small fisher-folk in +proper order. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, bother!' said Alick shortly. 'We have enough of that sort of talk +from old Price. He pegs away at us to get on, get on, until I'm sick +of the sight of books, and pen and ink!' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay?' Binks leaned on his spade, and, resting, stared fixedly up into +the face of the boy-speaker. 'Sick of it, be you? And what be you +supposin' as Muster Price feels? A deal sicker, I make no doubt, +toiling and moiling every week-day as the sun rises on, a-tryin' to +till sich unprofitable ground as your b'y-brains! I dunnot 'spose as +you ever looked at it from his pint of view, did ye?' +</P> + +<P> +Certainly Alick never had. It was a new idea to him to wonder how poor +Philip Price, the tutor, liked walking every day, rain or shine, over +from Brattlesby, the little inland town some three miles off, in order +to teach Geoff and himself just so much and no more as either of the +unruly brothers chose to learn; for the Carnegy boys were 'kittle +cattle,' as the North-country folk say, to deal with. Their father, +though he had been, in the old days, skilled at commanding men, knew +little or nothing of managing children. When his wife died and he +retired from the service, he found his hands full, with the most unruly +crew that he had ever encountered in his long naval career. Not gifted +with much patience, he soon gave up trying to guide the helm of that +unmanageable ship, his own home. Betaking himself to his special +hobby, which was the compiling an epitome of all the naval engagements +that have taken place within the memory of man, he left his boys and +girls to grow up anyhow or, to put it more exactly, just as they +pleased. His conscience was satisfied when he had placed his young +folk in the hands of one whom he knew to be a genuinely upright +Christian gentleman, Philip Price, the tutor from Brattlesby town. +</P> + +<P> +The boys themselves were no fools. They knew in their hearts that it +was but a slack rein that guided them. There was a good deal of +forcibly put justice in the suggestive question of Binks, and for a few +seconds Alick, nonplussed, kept silence, swinging his feet a little +faster under the fire of the sharp, light eyes that glinted from +beneath the old man's bushy eyebrows. +</P> + +<P> +'But—but, I say, it's Price's business to teach. That's what he has +got to do, you know!' he stammered out at last, rather uneasily. +</P> + +<P> +'P'raps you was a-goin' to say as it was what he was made for, +purpose-like!' observed Binks ironically. 'Well, maybe so! And, maybe +also, who can tell, it's what the Lord has made you for likewise, +Muster Alick. Time may come as you'll be tramping every day, wet or +dry, to teach ongrateful, onruly b'ys according to their station.' +</P> + +<P> +What d'ye mean?' A furious red flush rose on Alick's cheeks, and he +glared back into the face of the bent old man, who stood still so +fixedly regarding himself. +</P> + +<P> +'Mean? Why, just what I'm a-sayin' of!' was the calm rejoinder. 'I've +heard tell,' went on Binks, undisturbed by Alick's wrathful looks, 'as +Muster Price is the son of a reverend genelman as was pretty high up in +the Church. When the poor soul was took off, suddent, his fam'ly had +to help theirselves in the world, and this one, bein' the youngest, and +enjying terrible poor health, ain't fit for nothin' but teachin' b'ys. +That's how he keeps the old lady and hisself in bread I've heard say. +And if so be'—Binks straightened himself, and drew out his spade from +the earth—'as I was him, I'd a deal rather break stones, or else try +to grow them plaguey carrits in damp clay! But,' he added +sardonically, as his outburst calmed down, 'in course if, as you think, +it's what he was made a-purpose for—— Well, I say no more. I never +was one to hinterfere with, or so much as even to question, the will of +the Almighty in aught. I'm not like some in that.' +</P> + +<P> +'How you do run on, Binks!' sulkily put in Alick. He felt rather +cornered by the old man's plain speaking. 'And it's all very fine for +you to talk; you and Theo say the same things. But if you'd to grind +away, when the sun's shining and the sea dancing before your eyes, at +rubbishy old Latin grammars and arithmetic, and all the rest of it, +you'd be the first to grumble. Oh, I wish a hundred times in the day +that I was only Ned Dempster, who's out all hours, free as any lark!' +ended Alick, with a sudden burst of energy that nearly sent him +toppling off the sea-wall. +</P> + +<P> +'Ned Dempster!' echoed Binks in amaze. Then, after turning over a few +spadefuls of earth, he looked up to say epigrammatically, 'Well, young +muster, what Ned is, I was. And what I am, Ned will be! There! D'ye +take my meaning? 'Cos I, when a b'y, was like Ned, free as any lark in +the air, so when I came to be a man without no book-larnin' in the +pockets o' my brain, I had to grope my way about in the world. Many's +the time it's bin all dark, round and round, 'cept in the faces of +other folk where I seed the light o' understanding shinin' about them +things as I couldn't make out. 'Tain't so to say comforable for a +grown man to feel that; but it's what you'll come to, young muster, if +you gits your will to go free as free!' and Binks set to work on his +refractory carrots with renewed energy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NOVEL TRADE +</H3> + +<P> +There was something so quaint about Binks, the old handy-man, that +nobody resented his preachings at them. Not the Carnegy boys, at +least, not even Alick, who was no fool. He knew, if he had allowed +himself to say so fairly and squarely, that a man without education +must of necessity make but a poor show in the world among his +fellow-men. But Alick was incorrigibly lazy, and he had grown up so +far without attempting to get the reins of his idle, pleasure-loving +self between his own fingers. Geoff, on the other hand, though a +regular pickle of a boy, did manage to scramble through his lessons, +and to present a more decent appearance therein, doubtful as it was if +he thoroughly digested what learning he took in. +</P> + +<P> +He was a greater favourite in the neighbourhood than Alick; and as he +came rushing, helter-skelter, along the garden-path, cramming Mrs. +Vesey's answer into one of his crowded pockets, one could not be +surprised at his popularity, for a merrier-faced boy than Geoff did not +exist. And his looks did not belie his laughter-loving nature. The +boy overflowed with mischief and good-humour. His was one of those +natures that never fail to take their colour from their surroundings. +Geoff was influenced this way and that by every wind that blew. Had it +not been for Alick's bad example, the boy would have been as orderly +and obedient a pupil as even his tutor could desire. As matters stood, +however, Geoff trod on the heels of his mutinous elder brother in every +mischief hatched at the Bunk. There was this distinct difference +between the rebels, however: Alick's tricks and practical jokes, as +well as his rebellion against authority, had in them the strain of +<I>malice prepense</I> which made of them blacker faults, while Geoff's +misdemeanours were committed in the name of, and for the sake of, pure +mischief. Splutters and Shutters instinctively recognised this kindred +spirit in the boy, as they tore madly after him through the garden, +barking vociferously their affectionate admiration. +</P> + +<P> +'Binks, I say!' Geoff almost yelled in his endeavour to drown the +terriers' voices. 'Who do you think has come back to the village? +Why, Jerry Blunt, with one arm, poor chap, from that North Pole +expedition. He has given up the sea; and you'll never guess the land +trade he means to take up, not if you sat down for six weeks to think +it out. You couldn't, so I may as well tell you. Training young +bullfinches to sing tunes. Ho! ho! He! ho!' Geoff Carnegy had a most +extraordinary laugh of his own, and it rang out on the crisp salt air. +</P> + +<P> +'Who told you? How did you hear?' shouted Alick from above. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, Jerry himself has just been up to the Vicarage to tell Mr. Vesey +all about it, and—— But, wait a bit, I'll come up beside you and +finish the story!' and Geoff clambered up alongside of his brother. +</P> + +<P> +'Whatever's that you're a-sayin' of, Muster Geoff?' Binks, with spade +in mid air, was open-mouthed. +</P> + +<P> +'Jerry Blunt—you remember old Jerry, Binks, don't you? He has come +back from the North Pole.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, comed back, has he? Jes' so! Well, I ain't surprised.' +</P> + +<P> +'No, you never are, Binks!' Alick drily observed. 'Take an earthquake +to wake you up!' he added under his breath. +</P> + +<P> +'And do'ee say as the lad's left an arm behind?' inquired Binks. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, I did,' rejoined Geoff. 'He's up at the house yonder, in the +study, telling the vicar how it was done. Mrs. Vesey didn't know; she +told me about the bullfinches, but she couldn't say how the arm was +lost. I should say it must have been nipped off by a Polar bear, +shouldn't you, Binks?' Geoff's eyes protruded excitedly as he mentally +pictured the suggested nip. +</P> + +<P> +'Polar bear? Hum! Well, it might ha' bin. I never fancied bears. +There's a deal o' low cunning about a bear; no slapdash courage, so to +say, same's there's in a lion or a leopard, but jes' a cruel, slow, +deliberate intention to kill, like a nor'-east wind as blights and +nips, sure as sure. Once, I remember, there was a travellin' bear came +Northbourne way. 'Twas when I was a b'y, same's your two selves. This +yere bear had a man with it, a mounseer, to judge from his tongue. He +wasn't a bad chap, and couldn't well help bein' a Frenchy. He wasn't +never unkind to the bear; he fed him, and saw to his straw bed o' +nights, same's the creature was his own child. But as I've said, there +ain't no nice feelin' about a bear; you can't win 'em, nohow.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, but what happened?' impatiently broke in Alick. 'Did the bear +do anything?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm a-comin' to that, muster, if you'll give me time; but you're the +hurryin' sart, you are. I should think as the teacher-genelman must +have his work laid out to keep up with you, you be so mortal anxious to +learn.' +</P> + +<P> +Alick reddened, and glared down at Binks's unruffled countenance; but +he forbore to retort, recognising that the old man's powers of repartee +were superior to his own. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, come on, please do!' persuasively said Geoff, thrilling to hear +the sequel of Binks's story. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, as I was sayin',' Binks relented and went on, ''twas when I was +a b'y, and a rare fuss it did make. I was one as saw the thing with my +own eyes. That mounseer chap had divided his dinner with the bear one +day; the greedy baste had swallowed his own share, and was watching his +master out of them cunning eyes bears has. Of a suddent he clawed away +the victuals and bolted them; then there was a shriek from poor +Frenchy, and we all saw as the bear had him in a grim death-hug. I +tell you it took a few Northbourne men to separate them two, and when +'twas done, I don't forget the sorry sight the unfortunit' man was. +There warn't no hospitals nor nothin' in them days, and the doctor he +had a tough job to bring the poor furriner to, and patch him up, I tell +you!' +</P> + +<P> +'And the bear?' struck in Geoff. 'Did they do anything to the bear?' +</P> + +<P> +'Only shot him dead; nothin' else. 'Twas the doctor hisself as shot +him; we didn't want no savage wild beasts round Northbourne woods. +But, as I was sayin', there's no nice feelin' about bears, and I make +no doubt 'twas owin' to one of them Polar beasts as Jerry lost his arm, +but we'll hear about that from hisself. Poor lad, he wasn't a bad +sort, Jerry. You could always take his word for whatever 'twas. I +never knowed Jerry tell a lie, and you can't say more'n that for a +genelman born. B'ys, I'd rather, when my own time comes to be laid by +in the churchyard yonder, have it in writin' over me, <I>He never telled +a lie</I>, than I'd have anything on arth writ there.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said Alick reflectively, 'there's one thing I can't make out, +and that is, what brought Jerry Blunt back to Northbourne? If I'd his +chances, and got free away from this stupid hole, catch me ever coming +back, that's all!' +</P> + +<P> +'Ah, so you say, muster!' Binks had returned to the refractory carrots +once again. 'But you'll find out, one of these days, that there's +summat in each of us like cords that draws a man to the old home. 'Tis +nature, as the Almighty 'as planted deep in our hearts, a-workin' in +the wust of us and in the best of us alike. Why, 'tis the same thing, +that hankering, we—some of us—has for a further-away home still, the +homeland beyond.' +</P> + +<P> +As Binks leant on his spade, and pushed back his straw hat to gaze over +the blue waters to the misty, far-off horizon, a softer look stole over +the wrinkled face. He had forgotten, the mischievous boys perched on +the wall above, forgotten Jerry, the returned wanderer, in the thought +of that home to which he would willingly enough depart, where the old +man's human treasures were already housed, and where they awaited +himself. +</P> + +<P> +'I say, let's get down, and slip round to the lane; perhaps we might +catch Jerry, and walk home with him.' +</P> + +<P> +It was Geoff's suggestion; and the brothers slid down from the wall to +the beach on the other side to make off, amid a distracting volley of +heart-rending howls from the betrayed Splutters and Shutters. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +'MISS THEEDORY' +</H3> + +<P> +'Oh dear! I wish I could make it come right!' +</P> + +<P> +The speaker was a tall girl of eighteen or so, who sat with her thumbs +pressing her ears, and her fingers shading her eyes, to shut out the +sights and sounds of the blue waters that rolled up and broke in crisp +waves on the stretch of yellow sands under the windows of the Bunk +dining-room. +</P> + +<P> +Theo Carnegy had been trying her hardest for a couple of hours to add +up the housekeeping bills for the week. It was a task the girl dreaded +always, and on this particular day the figures seemed unusually +contrary and obstinate to cope with. Somehow, they utterly refused to +come straight and tally with the money she had been entrusted with to +lay out. The bristling difficulties seemed all the more unmanageable +because the sunshine that afternoon was so bright, and the wind so +fresh; while the boat that belonged to the Carnegy family lay tossing +at anchor within sight, as if inviting the girl down for the greatest +enjoyment of her life—a pull across the bay. +</P> + +<P> +But there was good stuff in Theo, gentle and yielding though she +looked, with her sweet, soft face, and the fair waving hair surrounding +it. She was the one of all the Carnegys who had deliberately given her +heart to God's service. That she had done so spoke out of her clear, +steadfast eyes, and in the peaceful lines of her mouth, and more than +all, in her unflagging determination to keep on straight at what she +knew to be her duty, without allowing herself to be beguiled to this +side or to that of the narrow path. Eighteen is not a very advanced +age, even regarded from the point of view of her brothers and little +sister; and Theo, who passionately loved the sea, had a great struggle +to keep her blue eyes fixed on the tiresome figures, which would not +come right, struggle as she might to make them. It never occurred to +her to shirk a difficulty in any sense; her nature was such that she +must grapple with a duty, however distasteful, once she felt she was +appointed to fulfil it. Her mother had died when Theo, the eldest +Carnegy, was fifteen, and Queenie, the younger, only two years old. +So, already, she had been for three years her father's housekeeper. A +certain sum of money was given into her hands every week by the +captain, and there was an end of the matter as regarded him. He wanted +to hear nothing about ways and means, certainly no details regarding +household management. All such was forbidden sternly; the captain's +time was valuable, he imagined, it being dedicated to the great object +which he hoped to achieve before he died. Distinctly, the naval +battles of the world throughout the ages were more important than the +everyday skirmishes in his own household. Theo, therefore, knew that +on no pretext whatever might she venture to appeal to her preoccupied +father in her difficulties; but she was faithful to her charge, and +gallantly enough fought with the distracting items and their +corresponding figures, which should have agreed, but didn't. It was +uphill work, however, for the youthful housekeeper. +</P> + +<P> +'Can't you come out yet, Theo? The boys are across the bay at the +Vicarage, and we could have the boat all to ourselves, if you would +only leave those nasty sums!' +</P> + +<P> +It was a patient little voice that interrupted the distracted girl. +Its owner had been into the room three times already, with the same +object, to ask the pathetic question. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, don't worry me, Queenie dear! I'm just as anxious as yourself to +go on the water; but there's three halfpence gone astray, and I—I +can't find it out!' half sobbed Theo, who was getting nervous over the +troublesome figures. +</P> + +<P> +Queenie, a small, sedate maiden of five, a miniature of Theo in face, +stood silent in the doorway for a few seconds, wistfully piecing out +the possible meaning of her tall sister's bewildered grief. Then she +disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +'Theo, look!' +</P> + +<P> +Theo glanced through her fingers, and Queenie, who had been struggling +with the clasp of what looked like a doll-purse, proudly spread out +three halfpennies so remarkably clean and bright that they had +unmistakably been carefully washed by their small owner. +</P> + +<P> +'You may have these, Theo, 'stead of the three you've lost. Please +take them. I don't weally want them, for I've still got five +ha'pennies left!' The small woman spoke urgently. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, my darling Queenie, you don't understand! I could have done that +myself—I could have put in three halfpence, and made all right, but it +would have been all wrong in another way. Listen now, and I shall try +to explain to you.' +</P> + +<P> +Placing her arm round Queenie's little neck, Theo tried to make the +child understand that such a proceeding would not be fair, nor upright, +nor honest. It would not be getting out of the difficulty; it would +rather be making it a deeper one. +</P> + +<P> +'What's difficulties?' abruptly asked Queenie, with her round, solemn +eyes gazing into her sister's face. +</P> + +<P> +'Difficulties are things made on purpose to be conquered in the right +way,' said Theo, after a pause of consideration. 'I think,' she added, +'that God puts them in our way, very often, just to try us.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, if God makes difficulties, they must be quite right, mustn't they, +Theo?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, yes!' was the quick response; and Theo, fired afresh, shut out +the fair picture of the tiny speaker whose grave, sweet face looked out +of a tangle of fine-spun, golden hair. Covering her eyes, she applied +herself with renewed vigour to the detested task before her. +</P> + +<P> +Queenie, who had oftentimes witnessed such struggles before, knew +better than to utter another word; the child stood perfectly still. +There was no sound in the room but the ticking of the clock and the +cracking of the seeds with which Miss Pollina, the old grey parrot in +the cage by the window, amused herself unceasingly from morn until +night. Even Miss Pollina seemed to be aware that perfect quietness was +necessary for the present, and she had hushed her usual chatter. +</P> + +<P> +'I've got them! I've got them!' cried out Theo, suddenly throwing up +her pencil in the air, and showing all her white teeth in a joyous +laugh over her triumph. Pollina instantly lifted up her head and +raised her voice also in a succession of deafening screams of +congratulation, while Queenie, always sedate as regards laughter and +chatter, silently performed, with a quaint gravity, a careful, slow +minuet round and round the room. +</P> + +<P> +'I lent three halfpence to Geoff to make up his sixpence for the +hospital-cot collection at the children's service last Sunday. He had +only fourpence halfpenny. I remember it all now. Oh, how stupid I've +been, to be sure!' It was an intense relief to have chased +successfully the truant halfpence. 'Now, Queenie,' went on Theo +gleefully, 'in five minutes I shall be ready for you, and we are going +to have a good time in the boat. Get your hat on, deary.' +</P> + +<P> +'May I bring some of my doll-people, Theo?' Queenie turned as she was +disappearing through the doorway to ask anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh dear, yes! As many as you can carry!' Theo called back absently, +for she was finishing the column of figures, with a flourish of triumph. +</P> + +<P> +In five minutes more 'Miss Theedory,' as all Northbourne called the +captain's eldest daughter, was rowing across the bay with Queenie +sedately facing her in the Bunk boat. Queenie had seated several +members of her waxen family on either side of her, and taking them an +airing was a serious responsibility for their anxious little parent. +She was in truth over-burdened with family cares, being the owner of no +less than thirteen dolls of various sizes and degrees of beauty. 'Miss +Queenie's baker's dozen,' the boys Geoff and Alick loved to tease her +by calling them. +</P> + +<P> +At the Bunk there was a tiny, three-cornered room overlooking the bay, +too small for any purpose whatever, even for a storeroom. This niche +had been given up to Queenie as a play-room. In it the child kept her +thirteen children; and, in addition, all the accumulated toys of the +family which had come down to herself, the youngest Carnegy, were +therein hoarded and stored by that most staid and careful of little +maids. +</P> + +<P> +'Where is us going to, Theo?' sedately inquired Queenie, after she had +settled her family to her mind in the boat. +</P> + +<P> +'Across to the Vicarage, first. We are going to have tea with Mrs. +Vesey. I wrote this morning to say that we should come. And then, on +our way back, I shall pull round to old Mrs. Dempster's; I want to have +a talk with her about Ned. You won't mind sitting in the boat if I tie +her to the old punt, will you, deary?' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh no!' tranquilly said Queenie. The little maid was quite as much at +home on the sea as on the land, for the Carnegy young folk took to the +water like ducklings, from the time they could walk. The family boat, +'The Theodora,' christened after Theo herself, was in daily use in the +bay, which was generally well sheltered, no matter how fierce the +storms that raged out their fury in the deep waters beyond. 'Is Ned a +naughty boy?' inquired the little girl presently, her watchful eyes +fixed on the waxen ladies and gentlemen who lay back languidly when +they did not abruptly slide altogether down to the bottom of the boat. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, Ned's not a bad boy exactly!' said Theo slowly. 'He's not quite +satisfactory, though. I'm afraid our Alick is too much with Ned; they +are putting mischief into each other's heads, if I'm not mistaken!' +Theo had a trick of talking confidentially to her little sister, as if +she were grown-up enough to understand that this world is not made of +play-days. Possibly that was one of the reasons why Queenie seemed so +sedate and solemn. +</P> + +<P> +'Alick's going to be a sailor, and find the North Pole,' observed +Queenie, administering a quiet box on the ear to an ill-behaved doll +that wobbled with the motion of the boat in a manner that was enough to +render anybody who watched her quite sea-sick. 'Who lost the North +Pole, Theo?' demanded the child. +</P> + +<P> +Queenie's questions were usually of a most unexpected nature, and were +occasionally comical enough. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, nobody, of course!' laughed Theo. 'What a queer mite you are, +deary!' Then she went on gravely, 'Finding the North Pole means trying +to reach and to see, with human eyes, what I, for one, don't believe +human beings will ever live to behold. It is one of God's mysteries +which man has never yet penetrated, perhaps never was meant to +penetrate.' +</P> + +<P> +'What's mysteries?' Queenie of course thirsted to know. +</P> + +<P> +'Dark, wonderful things; possibly things that it might hurt us to see +or to know. I've heard Mr. Vesey say that when the fever to find the +North Pole gets into the blood it never leaves a man until life +perishes. That's why so many have been already lost in the attempt. +They will persist, and nature gives out. But here we are at the +Vicarage pier. Jump out, dear, and I'll tie "The Theodora" safely up.' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN' +</H3> + +<P> +An uproarious welcome awaited the captain's daughters as they stepped +out of their boat on the little pier belonging to the Vicarage. +Splutters and Shutters scrambled to meet the visitors, barking out +hospitality in their customary violent fashion. Behind them hobbled +Binks, eager to help 'Miss Theedory' fasten up the boat, privately +sceptical of the young lady's capacity to do so. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Binks! How d'ye do?' politely asked Queenie, who, having +disembarked her waxen family, was endeavouring to protect them from the +frantic welcome of the terriers, both of which seemed ready to eat up +the doll-guests, so glad were they to see them. +</P> + +<P> +'Sadly, missy; I'm but proper sadly!' +</P> + +<P> +'What is it, Binks?' sympathetically asked Theo, shaking out her +blue-cotton skirts, and drawing on a pair of gloves, for Mrs. Vesey was +peculiarly dainty and sensitive about trifles. Though an invalid +herself, the poor lady was always exquisitely dressed, maintaining as a +reason that if the human body be the temple of Christ, then it must be +the bounden duty of the Christian owner not only to keep it wholesome, +but also to adorn it, making it fair without, to match the fairness +within. Not only in her own person did this dainty gentlewoman carry +out her theory, but she looked for it in the persons of her visitors. +Theo invariably respected her wishes by appearing before her trim and +trig. +</P> + +<P> +'Tis jes' they rheumatics, Miss Theedory!' answered Binks cheerfully, +for all the world as if his aches and pains were so many honours. 'But +there, what's 'ee to expec' at sixty-seven? People's jints bain't made +to hold out for ever-'n-ever. Will 'um now?' +</P> + +<P> +'No, they won't!' joined in Queenie comprehendingly. 'Miss Muffet's +jints are giving way, too. Just look, Binks!' She held up for +inspection an elaborately dressed lady, whose arms and legs were in +such a tremulous condition that their total lapse from the body to +which they belonged would have been no surprise. +</P> + +<P> +'I shall ask father for some of that famous liniment of his, Binks,' +said Theo. 'I could send you over some in a little bottle; the boys +shall bring it this evening.' +</P> + +<P> +'If you ask me candid, I should say that glue would be the best +liniment to patch <I>them</I> jints!' Binks was stolidly contemplating the +loose condition of Miss Muffet's limbs. +</P> + +<P> +'We're at cross purposes!' laughed Theo. 'Come along, Queenie; there's +Mrs. Vesey standing at the drawing-room window waving to us. We must +not keep her waiting. Can't you leave your doll-people in the boat, +dear? Binks will see that the dogs don't worry them to bits.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ay, ay! That I will, missy. Bless 'em both, they're picters, they +two, as taut and trig as you please. God give 'em smooth seas to sail +over!' added the old man under his breath, as he watched the captain's +daughters cross the lawn above. +</P> + +<P> +Time was, far back in years, when Binks had watched with pride such +another maiden as 'Miss Theedory,' the daughter God had given, or, +rather, had lent, for a little while, to the parents who idolised her. +The frosts of death nipped the human flower. Slowly, surely, it faded, +until the little home it had gladdened and made fair was empty and +dark, like the hearts left sorrowing. Long years ago though it was +since the blow had fallen, still not yet was the wound healed over. +Behind the austere front and grim temper of old Binks, the memory of +his maid Bessie lived fresh and fragrant as the girl herself had been. +There are some of us who, loyal ever to the love rooted deep in our +hearts, thus keep green the memory of those 'faces we have loved long +since, and lost awhile!' +</P> + +<P> +'She's rare and sweet, is Miss Theedory,' murmured the weather-beaten +old man, when the sisters had disappeared, and he turned to fasten the +boat to the pier-head. 'But I make no doubt she've her peck o' +troubles, too, what with them limbs of young brothers, and the captain +so uplifted-like that he can't give a hand to help her rule 'em. Yes, +Miss Theedory has no easy life of it, though she be a born lady. 'Tis +a world o' ups and downs, this is.' +</P> + +<P> +'Hilloa, Binks! Oh, I say!' +</P> + +<P> +The old man wheeled round to find Geoff and Alick had unexpectedly +returned. +</P> + +<P> +'Whatever's ado now? What's brought 'ee both back?' snapped the old +man crustily. The boys were anything but pleasant interruptions in his +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, we got tired waiting about for Jerry. He hasn't come yet. And +we've just seen our boat come into the pier, and we want it to go for a +row,' both boys spoke at once. +</P> + +<P> +'Ye want the boat, do 'ee now? Well, then, ye can't get it, that's +all!' Binks faced round upon the boys, who were trying to push past +him and jump into the boat. 'Miss Theedory, she says, says she, +"Binks, I looks to you to see arter that boat for me!" and with that +she stepped up to the house, she and little missy, to see the mistress. +'Tain't likely I'm a-goin' to 'low her to find no boat waitin' for her, +bym-bye, when she's ready to go back 'ome. You jes' be off, young +musters!' +</P> + +<P> +'That's all nonsense! It's no use of you showing fight. We mean to +have the boat. It's our boat, and Theo can walk home; do her good, +too.' +</P> + +<P> +Alick spoke sullenly, and pushed past Binks on the slippery little +pier. But he reckoned without counting the cost. Binks, though +rheumatic and a trifle bent, still retained some of the strength that +had made him a byword as an athlete in his young days. With a touch of +angry red in his brown, wrinkled cheek, and a spark of wrath in his +deep-set eyes, he seized the boy neatly by the back of the collar and +the band of his Norfolk tweed jacket. It was useless for Alick to +splutter and howl and threaten. Old Binks swung him, as though he were +a kitten, over the edge of the pier, while Geoff fairly doubled up in a +wild ecstasy of laughter. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-044"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-044.jpg" ALT="SWUNG HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE A KITTEN." BORDER="2" WIDTH="413" HEIGHT="631"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 413px"> +SWUNG HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE A KITTEN. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +'Tis this way I'll serve 'ee, if so be as you wants to, interfere wi' +me doin' of my dooty, young sir!' croaked out the sturdy old veteran. +</P> + +<P> +'Let me down, I say, let me down! Oh, I'll pay you out!' screamed +Alick, maddened more by a sense of humiliation than of terror, for none +of the Carnegy name dreaded a ducking in the sea. +</P> + +<P> +'There ye be, then!' Binks at last deposited his wriggling burden flat +on the pier. 'Now, p'raps ye'll understand the way an honest man +dispoges of obstructions in the path o' dooty! You're an obstruction, +you are, muster; and if so be as you lay the lesson to heart, the bit +o' teachin' on my part will be wuth while.' +</P> + +<P> +'I'll pay you out. See if I don't!' repeated Alick, sidling hurriedly +off, with a parting shot in the shape of the coward's favourite threat. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, come!'—Geoff was at his heels,—'the old chap is very game. You +must allow, too, that he was in the right, Alick, and we were wrong.' +</P> + +<P> +Clear-sighted Geoff never hesitated to render justice to others. But +Alick was different. Baffled and furious, he slouched away, hatching +secret revenge upon the old man who had so determinedly baulked his +will. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BREAKERS AHEAD +</H3> + +<P> +Ned Dempster was certainly the sharpest of all the boys in Northbourne. +Naturally sharp, that is to say, for he, in common with Alick Carnegy, +was incorrigibly idle, and Ned's talent of ability was therefore +allowed to rust from disuse. +</P> + +<P> +The Carnegy boys and Ned were in the same class at Sunday school, a +class taught by Theo. The rest of the boys comprising it being dull +and lumpish, it was only to be expected that a sharp-witted lad like +Ned stood out brilliantly from his neighbours, attracting by his +intelligence the attention of his teacher as well as her young brothers. +</P> + +<P> +Ned Dempster was an orphan who had been brought up by his grandmother, +Goody Dempster, the oldest inhabitant of the little fishing-village, an +aged woman whose skin was baked brown by the sun and the salt +sea-breezes until she had more the appearance of a New Zealander than +an Englishwoman. Pitying the boy, as well as being considerably +interested in his intelligent answers in class, Theo began to have him +a good deal at the Bunk. She found many little offices there for him, +such as to look after and keep tidy 'The Theodora,' the family boat, +and to help in the obstinately unproductive garden. In this way the +acquaintance between the three boys became a week-day as well as a +Sunday one. Alick and Ned, in particular, rapidly found themselves to +be kindred spirits. In each was ingrained a powerful love of +adventure. Alick, a great reader, who had devoured already his +father's little library, which was made up for the most part of books +on seafaring subjects, found in Ned Dempster a listener who hungered +for as much of that exciting fare as Alick could manage to retail +second-hand. +</P> + +<P> +For a long time the darling topic that absorbed their individual +attention was pirates. The boys were never weary of rehearsing all the +thrilling scenes of pirate-life which Alick had either read or heard +of. In these lively pastimes Geoff willingly shared, lending a hand +and a stentorian throat to the exciting work, though his tastes did not +lie in that direction to the same extent as did those of his brother +and Ned Dempster. Still, to be dressed in fierce red sashes, to wear +elaborately corked moustaches, to be armed with clumsy, antique weapons +which represented cutlasses, and to board, with ringing shouts, the +beached-up fishing-boats in search of slaves, was a delightsome +diversion. And perhaps to Geoff its greatest charm was that there was +plenty of noise about it. +</P> + +<P> +In course of time the joys of pirate-life palled. Next, there set in +an extended course of terrible shipwrecks to order; these catastrophes +being altogether independent of the weather. Into this game, which was +not so exclusively manly, the many dolls belonging to Queenie were +pressed. Time after time, these waxen ladies were bravely rescued and +ceremoniously restored, dripping from the waves, to their anxious +little owner, who, truth to tell, caught more colds than one in tending +the shipwrecked doll-people. +</P> + +<P> +But, in after days, Alick and Ned struck out quite a new line. Late +and early they were found poring over atlases; drawing charts upon +everything and anything, promiscuously, in the Northbourne landscape. +Their daily conversation consisted of mysterious whispers about +marching Polewards; about dangerous floes, and about camping out on the +ice. At this juncture Geoff threw up his partnership in the games, +which had become over-serious for his light-hearted, fun-loving nature. +Not for him was there any attraction in the great mystery of the North +Pole. +</P> + +<P> +The imagination of Ned Dempster, on the other hand, took fire over the +marvellous adventures, the awe-inspiring dangers and hardships of those +explorers who, hitherto, have failed to attain the great object. This, +in truth, was an aim to live for, to perish for, if need be; and as +time went on, the boys became closer intimates than ever, particularly +as nobody else took any interest in the one topic that had seized, with +iron grip, their youthful imaginations. Perhaps the fact of the +indifference of others bound the two closer together. +</P> + +<P> +Alick grew worse and worse over the preparation of his lessons for the +tutor. The routine and discipline of the schoolroom became too irksome +to be borne. Consequently, punishments and detentions and complaints +were the order of the day at the Bunk, to the despair of their tutor, +Philip Price, a quiet, not over robust-looking young man, who had +qualified for the Church, but as yet had failed in getting a living. +Meantime he taught the young Carnegys every morning, and made up a +slender income by giving afternoon lessons elsewhere. +</P> + +<P> +The young man and his widowed mother, after their home was broken up by +death, had sought a hiding-place far from the summer-friends, who fell +away so quickly in the 'day of trouble.' +</P> + +<P> +'I'll work for you, mother dear; never you fear about the future!' +Philip had bravely declared. Poor lad, he had gallantly striven to do +so, but sometimes he felt as though every man's hand was against him, +so fruitless were his struggles. It is hard work to force one's way +inside the world's pitilessly closed doors. +</P> + +<P> +Certainly, Philip Price might have had his chances, as they are called, +if he had not been so bent upon entering the clerical profession. His +mother's relatives were City men of some repute, and a sure footing +among them might have been gained by the young man, had he chosen to +relinquish his dream. But Philip did not so choose. Even after he had +fully qualified, and the living he had made so sure of stepping into +passed into the hands of others, and it seemed as if the labourer were +not 'worthy of his hire,' Philip did not regret his choice of a career. +</P> + +<P> +'It will come right, mother, don't you doubt it,' he persisted. +Meanwhile something else came. Failing health was the cross that +Philip Price was required to shoulder. He grew painfully thin as time +went on; his tall, elastic figure acquired a stoop; and there came, to +stay, an anxious, upright line between his eyebrows, that spoke of +mental worry. +</P> + +<P> +'Philip dear,' his watchful mother, quick to note these signs, laid her +hand on his shoulder to say, 'these pupils try you overmuch. I know +they do!' +</P> + +<P> +'Nonsense, dear old mater!' evaded Philip, imprisoning the wrinkled +hand. He had come in looking unusually spent, and thrown himself on +the hard, slippery sofa of the cheap lodging the Prices called, +nowadays, their home. +</P> + +<P> +The truth was the young tutor had begun to tire woefully of the daily +grind he had taken up so blithely. It was the incorrigible Carnegy +boys who were his special worry. His other pupils, a meek, small boy +and his shy sister, though they would never set the Thames on fire by +their wit, at the same time would never goad their teacher to +desperation by mutinous, unruly ways. But Philip Price never carried +tales out of school. Not from himself did his mother learn how tried +the tutor was, but, with a woman's instinct, she divined the cause. +</P> + +<P> +'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys,' she said +plaintively. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up +alert. +</P> + +<P> +'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day,' went on the +widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting +in the twilight, and knitting needed no spectacles. 'It seems they are +an ill-governed pack, the young people, neglected by their father, and +allowed to grow up anyhow, people say. Philip, I feel quite positive +that they try you beyond your strength. Is it not so? Tell me, my +dear.' +</P> + +<P> +'Mother,'—Philip's thin face flushed as he spoke hurriedly,—'is it +quite fair of you to quote "they say" about people whom you don't know? +The Carnegys are not an "ill-governed pack," I assure you. The +boys—my pupils—are, I grant you, unmanageable young rebels; but the +others—Miss Carnegy and her little sister—they are——' Philip +stopped abruptly. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, Phil?' His mother raised her head quickly to glance at the +troubled face opposite. +</P> + +<P> +'They are as sweet and gentle-natured as they are fair!' said Philip in +a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +'I should like very well to see and know these Misses Carnegy for +myself,' presently observed Mrs. Price; and Philip noted the faint, +jealous displeasure in her voice. +</P> + +<P> +'Mother,' he laughed in a boyish way, 'one of those Misses Carnegy, as +you call them, is so charming that you could not resist taking her in +your arms and setting her on your lap!' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, they are only children, these girls?' +</P> + +<P> +'One of them is,' rejoined Philip, after a hesitating pause. 'She is a +child of five. But the other Miss Carnegy is grown up; she is the +eldest, and the mainstay of the family. There is no mother, you see.' +</P> + +<P> +'Ah! Poor dear young things! Well, but, my boy, the thing troubling +me most is that you should be condemned to such poor work as teaching, +when, by rights, you ought to be filling a far different position. Oh, +Philip, to think with your fine abilities you should be nothing better +than a mere drudge! I often wish, dear, that you had not been so +obstinate. You might have had a capital position by this time, with +one or other of your uncles in the City.' +</P> + +<P> +'Hush, mother, please!' Philip raised his thin hand. 'You know that +from my childhood I've desired to be a soldier of Christ. If there be +no opening prepared for me as yet, it must be that I am not fit for the +work. In God's own good time He will point the way. I am content to +wait that time, mother; and,' added the young man softly under his +breath, 'if it be that the opening never come in this life, well, we +know that all things are possible to Him, without any feeble help from +us weak mortals.' +</P> + +<P> +'Dear boy,' sighed the widow, 'your patience shames my discontent. +But, you see, it tries a mother's heart sorely to see her child +stranded high and dry, while others, not half so fit, rush in and win +the prizes of life.' +</P> + +<P> +'Bide a wee, mater, bide a wee! Everything comes to the man who can +wait, as the old proverb says. But I must confess I am at the end of +my patience with those young scamps, the Carnegy boys.' +</P> + +<P> +'Speak to their father, Philip. Rouse him up to rule in his own +house,' said Mrs. Price energetically. +</P> + +<P> +'I really think I must,' assented Philip; and he did. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LITTLE MOTHER +</H3> + +<P> +The next day the harassed tutor bearded the lion in his den. +</P> + +<P> +'I really must have a few words with you, captain!' he began nervously +enough. +</P> + +<P> +'What on earth's the matter, Price? What's wrong now?' testily +demanded the captain, grievously annoyed at being disturbed over his +ponderous literary labours. +</P> + +<P> +'It's the old story,' said Philip dejectedly. 'The fact is, the boys +are getting beyond me, Alick especially so.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said the captain, fidgeting impatiently with his pen as he sat +surrounded by waves of MSS., 'thrash them, can't you?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'd rather try any other means than that!' was the quietly spoken +answer. +</P> + +<P> +'Hasn't the pluck in him for it!' was the thought that passed through +the fiery old sailor's mind. But if he had noted the calm smile of a +self-controlled nature that flitted across the face of the young man +standing opposite him, the captain would have rapidly changed his +opinion as to the lack of pluck in Philip Price. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, well, what do you want me to do, eh? You really can't expect me +to come into the schoolroom and horsewhip the young scamps for you! +You see for yourself how my time is occupied on a most important +subject.' The captain waved his pen over the closely-written sheets +before him. +</P> + +<P> +'Perhaps not. But I really must ask you to reason with Alick, if not +to punish him. It is imperative that something of the sort must be +done. It comes to this, captain, I don't feel that it's quite honest +to be taking your money for the mockery of teaching the boys, +particularly Alick!' As he forced himself to speak thus, a dark-red +flush rose to Philip Price's brow, for he was one of the over-sensitive +folk. +</P> + +<P> +'Pshaw, man! What a fool you must be!' The blunt captain was at the +end of his patience. He was quivering to get back to his work. +'Besides, boys will be boys all the world over. Alick is no worse than +others, I suppose. You're too conscientious. It's absurd!' ended the +sailor in a more kindly tone, after he had pushed his spectacles up +into the roots of his iron-grey hair, to take a leisurely look at the +earnest, agitated face confronting him. +</P> + +<P> +'Now, I'll tell you what, Price!' he began again—'the best thing you +can do is to go and talk the matter over with Theo. That girl can do +anything with her brothers. She's got a way that some women are born +with—not all women, mind you, but my Theo has it. Just go and consult +her, and let me get on with my work, I beg of you. I am going over my +MSS. for the fifth time, young man! That will give you an idea of my +perseverance with difficulties. Follow the example, and you'll soon +conquer those young limbs. Now, good morning to you, Price, good +morning!' and Philip was hastily bowed out of the stuffy little +sanctum, with its piles of MSS. and its odours of stale tobacco. +</P> + +<P> +'Theo's the one to settle it all!' cheerfully muttered the captain, as +the tutor's footsteps died away. 'She's such a sensible little woman, +and has such a talent for managing and organising; she takes after me!' +he added, with a complacence that would have received a rude shock by a +little plain speaking as to those duties close at hand in his home that +he was daily neglecting, in order to follow a will-o'-the-wisp in the +shape of literary success. +</P> + +<P> +'Miss Carnegy, the captain has referred me to you about a matter I have +been forced to mention to him.' +</P> + +<P> +Philip Price was standing in the doorway of the tea-house, as the +Carnegys called the rustic erection at the end of the long, +unproductive garden, hanging sheer over the little rocky headland on +which the captain had built his bunk, when he came to settle at +Northbourne. A large part of the Carnegys' lives was spent in the +tea-house, for as a family they loved the open air. +</P> + +<P> +It was Queenie's schoolroom, in spring, summer, and autumn. The two +fair heads raised at the sound of Philip's voice belonged to Theo and +her pupil. They were busy over the Monday Bible-lessons, it being a +wise rule of the young teacher to follow up the lessons of Sunday while +they were still fresh in the childish memory of her little charge. +</P> + +<P> +'What a contrast!' inwardly groaned the tutor as he took in the +peaceful scene, and compared it with the one he had so recently +quitted, in despair, where Geoff and Alick had that morning well-nigh +goaded him to frenzy by their rebellious conduct. Alick had been in +one of his worst moods, and Geoff had caught the infection. Books had +been flung up to the ceiling; the ink-bottles deliberately emptied; and +the rebels daringly shouted 'Rule Britannia!' from the top of the table +on which they had leaped, brandishing the fire-irons. The tutor knew +that he could have severely chastised one of the boys, and conquered +him with ease, but he could hardly cope at once, single-handed, with +the two. He therefore felt it to be the most dignified thing to leave +the schoolroom in silence. All this he told, in a few brief words, to +Theo, unwilling as he was to burden her youthful shoulders, already +overweighted with many cares. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm sorry, Mr. Price, so sorry!' Theo spoke humbly, and her sweet +face coloured from chin to brow with vexation. 'It's hard for you to +be subjected to such treatment. The boys are truly unmanageable. But, +indeed, they have good hearts; they will be so repentant for their +shocking behaviour by and by.' +</P> + +<P> +'They must say so, if they are,' said Philip, firmly, his pale face +growing set. 'I must have an apology from them before I can resume the +lessons, whatever may be the cost.' +</P> + +<P> +'Of course! oh, of course!' hurriedly assented Theo, her fingers +working nervously. There were breakers ahead, she foresaw. The idea +of Alick, or Geoff either, apologising! 'I shall go to them, and do my +best to bring them to reason,' she said presently. +</P> + +<P> +'Thank you! I am sorry that the matter should vex <I>you</I>!' was the +grave reply; and lifting his hat, the tutor departed home. +</P> + +<P> +'Vex me!' murmured Theo, leaning her head out of one of the open +windows of the tea-house, and staring absently down upon the waves +leaping over the black rocks below. 'Vex me! It's more than that. +Oh, it's too bad that all the burden should fall on me! Father <I>ought</I> +to look after the boys. It's too bad!' she repeated. +</P> + +<P> +Then the sea and sky were blurred, and a vision took their place—a +vision of a sweet, fading face; hands outstretched in pleading; and a +loved voice, long since dumb, rang in her ears: 'You will promise, +Theo, to be a little mother to the boys, and help them over the rough +places in life's journey, as I should have tried to do? God will help +you, dear. He will ever be ready with His aid!' +</P> + +<P> +How vividly it all came back to the girl, that dark time in her young +life when the dear, tender mother was called from out their midst. +When all things, in heaven and earth alike, were shrouded in the +pitiless gloom which hid the face of her Heavenly Father from the +despairing daughter. What a chill, empty, rudderless home it was for +the terror-struck children, with no one to look to for guidance! +Father was away at the far ends of the world on his good ship, and +mother—ah, farther off still was the mother, who had slipped out of +the little home. Theo remembered, with a pang, the clinging hands of +the desolate boys and the baby, Queenie, which had stirred her out of +her own stupor of sorrow. It was borne in upon her, then, that she +must step into the dead mother's empty place; and, frail, weak girl +though she was, she had done her brave best to fill it ever since. She +knew well, none better, that God had indeed helped her daily in her +efforts hitherto. Lifting her tear-stained face, Theo told herself +that He would do so still, for 'His mercies never fail.' With a silent +little prayer for strength and patience, she left Queenie in the +tea-house while she went indoors to confront the rebels as courageously +as she could. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MUTINY AT THE BUNK +</H3> + +<P> +'Boys!' Theo's clear treble voice rang through the din that was +shaking the very pictures on the walls of the Bunk dining-room. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, it's Theo, I declare!' shouted Geoff, the first to hear his +sister. 'We're in a state of mutiny, Theo! Isn't it fun?' He +shrieked in his glee. +</P> + +<P> +'We've turned on old Price, and completely routed him off the decks, +and we've seized the ship. We're in sole command of the Bunk—hooray!' +Alick, his face flushed with triumph, his eyes dancing with wicked +mischief, executed a hornpipe in the middle of the dining-table in +furious style and making a hideous clatter, shouting the while— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Will ye hear of Captain Kidd,<BR> +And the deeds of which he did,<BR> +All upon the Spanish main,<BR> +Where so many men were slain?'<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +'Won't you get down, boys dear, and tell me quietly what has maddened +you so this morning?' Theo, who had been standing transfixed, spoke at +last, looking calmly at her excited brothers, and her voice, so evenly +modulated and gentle, had an instantaneous effect. The dreadful din +and noisy dancing abruptly ceased, while the rebels regarded her with +much the same sullen stare as one encounters from a drove of Highland +cattle when molested. +</P> + +<P> +'Where's Price? Have you seen him?' suspiciously asked Geoff. 'Has he +been reporting us?' +</P> + +<P> +'He'd better not try on that game, I tell you, the coward that he is!' +growled Alick. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't know about Mr. Price being the coward,' pointedly said Theo. +'It isn't usually the fashion among brave men for two to set on one, is +it, boys dear?' she added tranquilly. +</P> + +<P> +Geoff gasped. Then his mouth, opening to sharply retort, shut with a +click. He knew that his sister, though only a girl, was perfectly +right. It had been an unfair, uneven conflict. Theo put her finger on +the blot with remarkable accuracy for a girl; two to one must always be +unfair, and a rush of shame tingled over him. +</P> + +<P> +Not so Alick. He would not allow himself to be convinced. +</P> + +<P> +'I'd like to know what right has Price to grind us down?' he muttered, +gloomily frowning at Theo. 'He's an oppressor, that's what he is! But +I'll soon let him see; I'll pitch into him, if he dares to show his +white face here again, I tell you! Down with tyrants!' +</P> + +<P> +'He isn't likely to show his face here,' said Theo, loftily regarding +the inflamed countenance of her brother. 'That is,' she continued, +'not unless he receives an ample apology from each of you for this +morning's work.' +</P> + +<P> +'Apology!' shouted—almost yelled—Alick. 'Never! Don't you believe +it, Miss Theo! You think you can do most things, but you won't bend us +to that!' Rub-a-dub on the dining-table hammered the furious boy's +toes and heels, as he broke out into another hornpipe. +</P> + +<P> +'Won't you come down, dears?' again pleaded Theo as gently as before. +'Come to the tea-house, and tell me exactly what the trouble was from +the very beginning,' she said persuasively. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, we'll tell you!' eagerly assented the boys, with one voice; and +scrambling down from the table, each slipped an arm through Theo's, and +walked away with her, both talking at once, excitedly endeavouring to +make the best of their case in her eyes. They were genuinely fond of +their elder sister; principally, it may have been, because she never +scolded or flouted them, however badly they behaved. Theo's way was +different. It was by gentle means she sought to lead, not drive, her +rebellious, hot-headed young brothers back to the path of duty from +which they were so constantly straying. +</P> + +<P> +'What did you want, did you say?' she asked, bewildered by the two +angry voices full of complaint on either side of her. +</P> + +<P> +'You be quiet, Geoff, and let me tell her, said Alick, in a domineering +tone. 'I'm the eldest!' That being a fact, Geoff could not well +contradict it, and Alick triumphantly went on, 'You see, Theo, this is +how it all began. We asked Price, civilly enough, this morning to +allow us a whole day off on Wednesday next, instead of the usual +half-holiday. And I'll tell you why we were so anxious for a whole +day. You know Jerry Blunt?' +</P> + +<P> +Theo nodded. Everybody had heard of the wanderer's return to +Northbourne. +</P> + +<P> +'Of course you do. Well, but perhaps you didn't know that he has set +up as a bird-trainer, because he can't do any work since he lost his +right arm, and he is bound to make a living somehow. Jerry told Ned +Dempster that he was going to Brattlesby Woods all day Wednesday to +seek for young bullfinches, and he also said that we might go with him, +if we cared to, and help search the nests. Wouldn't that have been +splendid? Now, wouldn't it?' +</P> + +<P> +Theo nodded again—emphatically. She thoroughly sympathised with all +the boys' pleasures and pursuits, even when she could not join them. +</P> + +<P> +'But that cantankerous old Price refused us flat. He said we'd been +far too idle, me especially, to yield us one single hour extra; and he +hammered away about his responsibilities as he has the cheek to call +<I>us</I>. Now, I ask you, wasn't that enough to make a fellow just mad? +Wouldn't you have done exactly as we did yourself, Theo?' Alick gave +his sister's arm an impatient shake. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, no. I don't think I should have danced so madly on the table to +the horrible music of the fire-irons. And I <I>do</I> know I should not have +insulted a gentleman. Another thing'—Theo skilfully reserved her best +shot for the last—'I also am quite sure I shouldn't have set on him +when he was single-handed and I had a partner, as I said before.' +</P> + +<P> +Geoff slid his hand quickly out of Theo's arm; her shot had gone home, +and his face took on a look of hot shame. Alick, on the other hand, +only frowned the more deeply. +</P> + +<P> +'Let us sit down and talk it all over reasonably,' went on Theo. +'Queenie dear, it is one o'clock; you may take your lesson-book, and +make yourself and your doll-people tidy for dinner.' Queenie +obediently trotted off to the house, and the speaker continued. +'What's all this about Jerry Blunt, boys? I thought he was a sailor? +What in the world has a sailor to do with training bullfinches, I want +to know?' +</P> + +<P> +'Why,' glibly began Alick, his face clearing, for the subject was one +specially dear to him, 'you know Jerry was away on that expedition to +find the North Pole—the one that went so far north. They got to the +Franz Josef Land, the very farthest anybody has ever yet penetrated. +But they failed that time, and Jerry got a frost-bite all through his +own carelessness—he admits that. His right hand and arm above the +elbow had to be taken off. Oh, you needn't shudder, Theo; a man can't +both venture and go scot-free. When the expedition came back they gave +Jerry the sack—turned him off, you know. So he has come back to +Northbourne to settle with his old mother, and of course he is anxious +to turn an honest penny for a living. It seems he knows a rare lot +about training young bullfinches to pipe real tunes. He learned the +trick from a cunning old Frenchman's yarns—a man who was on the +expedition.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, and just fancy, Theo!' cut in Geoff excitedly, and forgetting all +his recent twinges of compunction. 'Jerry trains the bullfinches with +a queer little musical instrument, a bird organ it is called. The +notes are as like their own as they can possibly be, Jerry says so. He +is going to show us the one he has got of his own. Old Frenchy, who +taught him how to train, gave him one for himself.' +</P> + +<P> +'What's Jerry Blunt's object in training the birds? How can it be a +living for him?' asked Theo wonderingly. For the moment she, too, had +forgotten the disagreeable events of the morning in the novelty of the +subject. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, he will sell them, of course—sell them to a chap in London who +sells them again. They fetch a good price, I can tell you. And oh, +Theo, listen, <I>we</I> are going to have a trained finch, Alick and I. +We're going to save up, and Jerry has promised to keep a young bird to +train for us. We shall pay him, you know.' Geoff in his elation +jumped up and down on the seat. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, we are!' said Alick; adding wrathfully, 'and wasn't it a mean, +low trick of Price to refuse us leave to go with Jerry?' He was quite +ready to blaze up again, volcanic-wise, in another fury. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, boys,' Theo spoke quietly and simply, but there was that in her +face and voice that forced both other brothers to listen, 'you know, +each of you, that father is too busy to look after you; so Mr. Price is +set over you, and he is on honour—being a gentleman, you +understand—not to take advantage of father's preoccupation to give you +such holidays as you have no right to have. Already they say your work +is far too light, and I know Mr. Vesey has again and again urged father +to send you both to a public school. When the book is done, and sent +to the publishers, father means to see about it seriously. You've +called Mr. Price a great many bad names to-day, but you can't call him +dishonourable; that's one point in his favour, and it's but fair that +we should allow him what we can. It would have been so easy for him to +grant this favour——' +</P> + +<P> +'Humph!' interrupted Alick, as if to say, 'Oh, you're coming round to +our view, are you? I thought you would!' +</P> + +<P> +'Quite easy!' repeated the young girl gravely. 'And there's another +thing: if it would have been such a pleasure to you, think what it +would have been to Mr. Price to get rid of such tiresome plagues as +yourselves for a whole day!' +</P> + +<P> +In a flash Alick remembered the recent words of old Binks to the same +effect. For the second time the novel idea of how irksome he and Geoff +must be to their much-tried tutor presented itself, to the resentful +boy's secret astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +'I am sure,' Theo began again, and still more gravely, 'you boys must +remember that the Bible tells us to respect those appointed to be +rulers over us.' +</P> + +<P> +'Don't preach!' Alick rudely cut her short; but Geoff bit his lip. He +was already bitterly ashamed of his morning's exploit, and tender, +serious words from Theo never failed to touch him to the heart. +</P> + +<P> +Left to himself, Geoff was undoubtedly one of those who, amid good +surroundings, would have kept on the straight path easily enough. So +could many. But human nature is, for the most part, made up of Alicks +as well as Geoffs—of boys who wilfully choose to do wrong and to stray +from duty. Like the genuine wheat and the tares, all must grow +together side by side—in the meantime. +</P> + +<P> +'I didn't intend to preach, Alick,' rejoined Theo gently. 'I only want +to ask you boys to show that you also are gentlemen, in the true sense +of the word, by frankly begging Mr. Price's pardon, when he comes +to-morrow, for your rude outbreak of this morning. It is the least you +can do, to make amends for an almost unpardonable insult.' +</P> + +<P> +There was a silence. The waves below dashed and broke on the rocks, +and the hoarse voices from a belated, heavy-laden fishing-boat stole +across the water in shouts to the women, who had been anxiously +awaiting them for some hours on the shore. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, boys dear, have you decided? Are you to act as father's sons, +as Carnegys of the old stock, or, to put it in another way, as +Christians who have given offence, and know that there is but one way +of making up for it? Will you apologise?' Theo spoke with urgent +persuasiveness. +</P> + +<P> +'I shall!' Geoff stood up straight, and his face was pale and set, as +he confronted Theo bravely. +</P> + +<P> +'I shan't!' Alick's head sunk lower and lower; on his brow a gloomy +scowl deepened, and his eyes refused to meet those of his sister +wistfully seeking his. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THEO'S HAVEN +</H3> + +<P> +'Oh, mother, mother, it's too hard for me! You have asked too much, +and I have failed, miserably failed!' +</P> + +<P> +The wind from the sea was blowing fresh and free over the village, and +beyond it to the little churchyard, the God's acre of Northbourne. +Kneeling beside one of the grassy mounds therein was Theo Carnegy, +tears rolling down her earnest face. The girl was overwrought by +home-worries, for Theo was none of the crying sort, as a rule. But +there are times in the lives of each of us when all things seem too +difficult for our feeble hands to smooth out; the knots, the +difficulties, become hopelessly entangled; we sit down dismayed in +stony despair, or we weep helplessly, according to our several +temperaments. From the beginning of the sorrow that shaded her young +days, Theo had a trick, in times when harassing troubles crowded upon +her, of secretly slipping away to the churchyard, and whispering her +trials to that grassy mound, the most sacred spot of earth to the girl. +</P> + +<P> +It was so still, so unutterably peaceful, in the hallowed enclosure, +where the green grass grew tangled among the grey headstones that +elbowed each other in the cramped space. During the week the little +churchyard was deserted. On Sundays the simple fisher-folk wandered in +and out among the Northbourne sleepers, talking softly of their old +neighbours; but it never occurred to them to do anything towards +keeping the graves neat and straight. Theo's loving care kept the +quiet corner where her mother slept in perfect order; but for the rest +an air of dreary neglect prevailed. +</P> + +<P> +Bewildered and harassed by her brothers' mad outbreak, Theo had sought +her usual consolation, and was sitting leaning her cheek against the +stone that told the last chapter in the life-history of the gentle +mother who had risen at the Master's call to go up higher. And as she +so sat, a peace, born of the surrounding silence, brooded down over her +troubled soul. Her anger at the boys' mutiny died out. Somehow, among +the silent sleepers round about her, it seemed small and paltry to fume +over the wranglings of the schoolroom. The wind that stole up from the +bay dried the tears on Theo's cheek. New resolves stirred her heart. +She would pluck up courage and try, once again, to move Alick's +stubborn will. Not that she had much hope of inducing him to apologise +to his justly offended tutor. She knew that Philip Price had created +an insurmountable rock in the path of reconciliation by his insistence +on such a thing. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't blame him, of course not,' she said half aloud. 'It's due to +him that the boys should apologise. Dear old Geoff is already willing +to do it; but Alick never will!' +</P> + +<P> +'Who is you talking to, Theo?' A sweet, shrill voice made Theo jump, +and turn quickly. +</P> + +<P> +'Queenie! Oh, my deary, how did you know where to find me?' she cried +in her surprise. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, I could find you nowhere, Theo. I asked everybody, even father. +Then I knewed you must have gone to see mother, and so I comed too.' +Queenie, armed as usual with a couple of dolls, proceeded to seat +herself and them on the other side of the green mound. 'Tell me about +mother an' me, Theo, when I was a very little girl, will you?' she +soberly begged, when she had established herself and her infants to her +satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +In this little one there was an utter lack of dread of death. Nobody +had filled her childish mind with vague fears of the unknown life +beyond. Her simple faith was that unlimited trustful belief that our +Lord alluded to when He said, 'Except ye be converted and become as +little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.' +</P> + +<P> +The mother whom Queenie only knew by hearsay had gone home first—gone +to Paradise beyond the blue skies. Theo said so. This dear mother +would be waiting, with wistful welcomes, for each one of her dear ones +when they, too, went to that other far-off home. Theo said so. +Queenie, therefore, came, with happy, childish trust, to her mother's +quiet resting-place much as she would have trotted into that mother's +room, had God not called His meek servant away out of her earthly home. +</P> + +<P> +'I don't think I could tell you stories to-day, dear.' Theo rose +slowly from the grass, and looked down upon the fair little face under +its straw hat. 'I am too troubled.' +</P> + +<P> +'Is it the horrid figures, Theo?' Queenie asked, half-sympathetically, +half-absently, her attention being attracted by a bold thrush hopping +across the graves. +</P> + +<P> +'No, it's worse than figures; it's the boys,' mournfully rejoined Theo. +</P> + +<P> +'The boys are going shrimping this evening, with Ned,' said Queenie +importantly. 'I wish you and I was boys, Theo!' the little one +plaintively added. Queenie was beginning to discover the fact that +dolls were not, perhaps, the highest joys of life. +</P> + +<P> +Going out shrimping with Ned! Theo started. Then things were hopeless +indeed. There would be no evening preparation. Perhaps even Geoff had +changed his mind, and would refuse to say he was sorry. +</P> + +<P> +'I must take you home now, at once, deary. Come! I have to go and see +old Goody Dempster before tea. Say good-bye, and come.' +</P> + +<P> +Queenie's fresh little mouth was pressed against the grey headstone, +and she softly whispered, 'Good-bye, mother darlin'!' +</P> + +<P> +Theo stooped and did the same. The touching little ceremony was never +omitted by either. Then hand in hand they soberly left the quiet +resting-place, the missel-thrush peering out of its bold eye at their +retreating figures. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +COMING EVENTS +</H3> + +<P> +'May I come in, Goody?' +</P> + +<P> +A sweet voice penetrated the dim recesses of the little thatched +cottage which, with its weather-stained front, was the centre one of +the half-circle of homely dwelling-places that huddled together looking +out on the world of waters. Sitting by the smoky fire, watching, as +she knitted busily, the iron pot of potatoes boiling for her supper and +that of her grandson Ned, was Goody Dempster. Her face, as she lifted +it, was brown and wrinkled—indeed, it was not unlike in hue the +kippered herrings hanging on a stick outside. But a pleased surprise +sprang into her eyes as she recognised her visitor's voice. +</P> + +<P> +'Is that yourself, Miss Theedory? Come along in, deary! You're always +a sight for sore eyes, as ye know well. Sit ye down on the little +stool as ye've set on sin' ye were a tiny toddler. It's kep' dusted +careful, case you should drop in; and nobody, not even Ned, sits on +Miss Theedory's stool.' +</P> + +<P> +'I know that, Goody dear. I shouldn't mind if they did; but you mean +it for kindness to keep a stool specially for me. Well, you see I've +come again to have another talk with you about Ned. Indeed, I hoped to +see himself, but he doesn't seem to be in the way.' +</P> + +<P> +'No, Miss Theedory, he ain't. And reason why's this. He's bin out +with the Fletchers' boat all the day. There's a great take o' +mackerrow expected shortly, and the Fletchers they're on the look out; +they're always that spry to the main-chance, as you know, deary. Not +as I'm one to blame they; people has got to be sharp in their bis'ness.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, of course,' assented Theo absently. She was staring into the +fire, wondering what tack would be best to take with Ned, when she did +get hold of the boy. 'Have you been talking to Ned, Goody, as you +promised you would?' she turned her head to ask presently. +</P> + +<P> +'Ay; I've talked a bit to he. But b'ys is a handful, Miss Theedory, as +nobody should know better than yourself. Now, my Ned his heart's in +the right place; it's his head as is the trouble. He has crammed +hisself with trash of foring travel until the b'y is fair crazed to be +off and out into the world. That's what it is!' +</P> + +<P> +'I shouldn't call books of travels trash,' said Theo slowly. 'It +wouldn't be quite fair—nor true. But it's exactly the same at home +with our boys, especially with Alick. He reads exciting books of +adventure constantly. Of course I know some folk must go out into the +world, and do all the wonderful things; everybody can't be +stay-at-homes for life. But the worst thing about it is that Alick +won't wait his time. He wants to shirk his education and rush off, in +his ignorance, to do things that it takes full-grown men, and +well-instructed men, to even attempt. Oh dear!' +</P> + +<P> +'Same wi' Ned, set 'em both up!' angrily exclaimed Goody, dropping the +stocking she was knitting into her lap. 'And as for wanting to find +the North Pole, did anybody ever hear tell o' sich impident +presumption! If the Lord had meant as we should find the North Pole, +He'd ha' showed the way to it, straight as straight, and made it easy +as easy. But seein' as time arter time men have giv' up their lives, +bein' lost in the ice and snows, and still, to my thinking, if not to +others, the North Pole is shrouded from their reach, why, a body can +see, plain as plain, that 'tain't meant as man should ever compass it. +Not that I can say as it's forbid special in the Book; I won't say +that, nohow. At least,' added Goody cautiously, 'I've never come +across it in my readin's.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, well,' said Theo heavily, 'it would not really so very much +signify what the boys' day-dreams of the future were, if they would +only do their duty meantime. I was trying so hard last Sunday, in the +class, to make them all understand that God Himself leads always, and +that until He points the way we have no right to set out upon it. But +it is questionable whether they took in my meaning.' +</P> + +<P> +Goody nodded. There was a little silence in the cottage. The potatoes +bubbled gaily in the pot, and the clock in the corner ticked in +measured dignity. +</P> + +<P> +'There's one thing, deary, that I think you had ought to be telled.' +Goody broke the stillness, at last, with an effort. 'I've had it on my +mind for some weeks back to let 'ee know; but somehow I dursn't. Them +b'ys is plannin' mischief. They've a notion to run away—to sea!' +</P> + +<P> +The old woman spoke the last words in a whisper, though there was +nobody to hear, save the sleepy old tortoiseshell cat by the fender, +which opened one lazy eye, winked as if she, too, were in the secret, +then, shutting it, purred off to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +'Run away!' Theo's fresh face turned chalky pale, and her eyes widened +into a terrified stare. +</P> + +<P> +'True, deary, quite true! Night arter night I could hear Ned a-talkin' +in his sleep in his little bed yonder, same's if somethin' was on his +mind. So, at last, I got out o' my bed one night a-purpose to listen +careful, and there, if Ned wasn't ravin' away to hisself, in his sleep, +and 'twas all about gettin' away up to the docks at Lunnon, and hidin' +in some ship bund for the North, him and Muster Alick. It giv' me a +turn, as I see it's done the same to you this minnit, my dear. So I +thought I'd best tell 'ee private, when I'd the chance; for nobody +knows what a b'y won't dare to do. P'raps you could speak to the +captain, and git him to make a stir. Eh, deary?' +</P> + +<P> +'Father? Oh, it would be no use. He wouldn't care, nor even listen. +He's too busy with his stupid old writings to mind any of us, or what +trouble we are in. It's too bad the way we are left to ourselves!' +Theo in her excitement lost her self-control, and spoke with a +bitterness not belonging to her sweet nature. In truth, the girl was +becoming a great deal harassed by the cares that were pressing upon her +so heavily of late. +</P> + +<P> +'Deary!' A wrinkled brown finger was raised, and Goody looked over her +horn spectacles in grieved surprise. ''Tain't for me to pint out to +one so good and gentle as our Miss Theedory that one of the great God's +commandments is to "Honour thy father and thy mother"! Ain't that so?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes; but—but,' sobbed Theo, who, tired out and ashamed of herself as +well, suddenly broke down, as much to her own astonishment as to that +of Goody, 'that means a father and a mother who take a real interest in +their children, who——' +</P> + +<P> +'It don't say so special, if so be as it means that!' rejoined Goody +dryly. 'It don't mention any sort in pertikler. It just says "thy +father an' thy mother"; and that's all you and I've got to do with it. +Let's look to our part, and perform it. But folks is always in such a +hurry to settle other people's bis'ness that they lose sight of their +own.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Goody, you're right! What a monster, what a bad girl you must +think me!' Theo sat up straight. 'I am ashamed of myself. To think I +should grumble at my own father, my good father, who was such a brave +sailor, as everybody knows, and who never has been unkind to one of us +children in all our lives!' +</P> + +<P> +'That's it, deary! That's it. 'Tain't what your father isn't, but +what he is, that you've got to look at, and to be grateful for. +Remember what I'm a-goin' to say, and don't 'ee take offence at an old +body's words. We never, none of us, has but one father on earth, +same's we've but one Father in heaven, who commands us so special to +honour our earthly parents. And another thing, deary; them things as +seem mountains in your young eyes seems but trifles to the captain's +eyes. If the time comes as there's real need for him to interfere, and +bring about order in his own home, he will be safe to do it, never ye +fear. The captain he was one of them as England expec's every man to +do his dooty, and he did it in battle, so I've heard tell. And he will +do it by you and the b'ys, don't 'ee fear!' +</P> + +<P> +'I'm sure he will,' said Theo humbly. She had come full of the spirit +of putting everything and everybody to rights, and she told herself +that her own pride and self-sufficiency had earned its well-merited +fall. Theo Carnegy's heart was too gentle and single in thought to +harbour arrogant pride. Her quick repentance for the ill-advised words +she had suffered to spring off her lips gave ample proof that it was +so, and that in her the Christian spirit reigned. +</P> + +<P> +'Here's Ned a-comin'!' Granny lifted her head sharply to listen to a +prolonged, familiar whistle, and the cat, uncurling herself, rose up +into an arch. There was a rush past the little window, and then Ned +bustled into the room, bringing with him a breath of strong sea air and +also of the odours of the mackerel-boat. +</P> + +<P> +'They've comed, granny! The mackerrow has comed into our bay, and +we're goin' out agin—— Evenin', miss! I—I didn't see you before.' +Ned's cap was off, and he stood, colouring up, before the young lady +sitting on the stool and looking at him out of her clear, earnest eyes. +</P> + +<P> +'Ned,' said Theo, somewhat gravely, 'I want a quiet talk with you, one +of these days soon.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, miss.' +</P> + +<P> +'Not to-morrow,' went on Theo. And Ned gave a gasp of relief, +unobserved by her. He was secretly thankful that Miss Theedory had not +fixed on the morrow, seeing it was the day of the proposed bird-hunt in +Brattlesby Woods. 'We are all going across to the Vicarage to tea +to-morrow,' continued the young lady; and Ned's relief changed to +dismay. 'By the way, Ned, we shall be so glad to see you at the +schoolroom tea at six o'clock. To-morrow will be Mrs. Vesey's +birthday; and there's to be a little treat at the schoolhouse, as well +as our tea at the Vicarage. You'll come?' +</P> + +<P> +Ned fidgeted and turned all colours. He was a straightforward, honest +boy, and his nature would have enjoined him to speak out and frankly +say that his word had been already passed to go with Jerry Blunt to the +woods on Wednesday, but his tongue was tied for Alick's sake. He could +see that Theo was ignorant of her brother Alick's determination to +carry out his rebellious mutiny. A fierce struggle raged in Ned's +mind. 'His honour rooted in dishonour stood.' Should he be outspoken, +or should he be faithful to his chum, Master Alick? +</P> + +<P> +'Better be true,' said the clear voice of conscience. +</P> + +<P> +'No. Better still stick to your friend through thick and thin,' +contradicted a louder voice. How well the last specious suggestion +sounded! So did the whispers of the serpent in Eden in Eve's ears. +</P> + +<P> +'You will come to the tea-party, then?' said Theo, rising from her +stool to depart. +</P> + +<P> +'Thank ye, Miss Theedory; yes, I'll come,' was the mumbled reply; and +in an agony of shame Ned shambled out of the cottage, making believe to +be busy over the tangled brown nets lying in front of the door. +</P> + +<P> +He was a capable lad enough, was Ned, and the Fletchers looked upon him +as a promising hand already in the boat. Loving the sea passionately, +he had been gay as a lark all day, watching keenly for the expected +coming of the swarm of 'mackerrow.' But though the take had been +abundantly successful, and the boat came home heavily laden; though the +bay and the encircling cottages were bathed in the cheery red light of +a gorgeous sunset, and supper-time was at hand, somehow the spring of +happiness had died out of everything. Ned hated deceit with the +vigorous hatred of an outspoken, truthful nature. He wriggled +mentally, full of guilty discomfort, as he watched Theo's straight, +slim figure rapidly stepping round to the Bunk, and told himself +ashamedly that he had wilfully deceived the 'young miss' who was always +so kind, so civil-spoken, to himself. +</P> + +<P> +'Ned! Ned, my lad!' called out Goody's cracked voice from within. +'Whatever's ado that 'ee don't come to supper? The taters is coolin'.' +</P> + +<P> +'All right, granny! I be turnin' over the nets, that's all.' +</P> + +<P> +Goody's ears—her sharpest sense was hearing—detected the heaviness in +Ned's voice. +</P> + +<P> +'What's come to 'ee, Ned, so suddent?' she asked anxiously, as she +heaped a plate with potatoes, and poured out a mug of butter-milk. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps it was the smoking supper that proved too much for the hungry +fisher-boy, or perhaps Ned's conscience still troubled him, but the boy +was unusually silent. Goody, try as she might, could get nothing out +of him. +</P> + +<P> +'I'm off again, granny, soon's ever the moon's up,' Ned at length broke +silence to say, when his supper was finished. +</P> + +<P> +'Are ye, lad? Well, good luck to 'ee! The wind's fair and the water +calm.' Goody stepped to the open door, and peered out at the darkening +bay. 'Ay! There's Fletcher's folk makin' ready in the boat, Ned.' +She returned to the house-place, and reaching down the thick woollen +muffler, stained with salt water, but a valued heirloom for its warmth, +she handed it to the boy. 'See you don't forgit to put it round your +throat,' she enjoined. 'Neither don't 'ee forgit the bit o' a prayer, +my boy, that I taught ye to say out on the deep by night. Folks is apt +to think as prayers belongs to a night spent in a comfortable bed +ashore. But God listens as ready to bits of prayers that goes up to +Him in the black silence o' night, out on the waters, same's He listens +to them as is put up in church o' Sundays, with parson for mouthpiece. +Will 'ee remember, Ned?' +</P> + +<P> +'I'll remember, granny; I do always!' quietly replied Ned, throwing the +muffler across his shoulders. To do the boy justice, he always did +remember the 'bit o' a prayer' Goody had taught his father before him. +</P> + +<P> +The Fletchers, three generations of whom manned the fishing-trawler, +were decent folk, with a keen eye to the main-chance, or what some +people consider to be such—namely, making as much money as possible. +The sky had clouded over somewhat, and it was darkish as the +'Aurora'—known locally as the 'Roarer'—the chief of the Northbourne +fishing-boats, put out for the night's work. Ned, glancing at the +Bunk, could see the twinkling lights from its several windows reflected +in the calm waters below. He wondered what Muster Alick was up to at +that time of evening. 'He ain't learnin' of his lessons, that's sure,' +thought Ned, with an uneasy recollection of the story of the rebellious +outbreak in the schoolroom; for Alick had poured his indignant version +of the same into the ears of his humble comrade. 'Happen he've got +hold of a fresh travel-book.' Then Ned's thoughts easily slipped off +to the subject of other 'travel-books' devoured by Alick and retailed +to himself. He pictured vividly, as the 'Roarer' swished through the +dark waters, a far different scene to that of the quiet Northbourne +bay. A scene made up of dangers by land and dangers by sea; of wide, +lonely floes of ice, their white gleam darkening into the gloom of the +mysterious distance as yet untrodden by human feet. Ned's pulses never +failed to beat like hammers when such thought-pictures dangled +themselves before his mind's vision. He forgot in the entrancing dream +the outbreak at the Bunk; forgot the holiday to be stolen on the morrow +in Brattlesby Woods, and the deception practised on Miss Theedory; +forgot, for the first time, the 'bit o' a prayer' taught him by +faithful old Goody to say when his nights were passed on the deep. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNDER ARREST +</H3> + +<P> +Tuesday morning had come and gone. Philip Price, the tutor, sat in the +dining-room of the Bunk with but one pupil facing him at the table. +Geoff, faithful to his promise, had apologised in a manly, +straightforward fashion for his unruly behaviour on the day of the +'Great Rebellion,' as the Carnegys had secretly christened their +outbreak. No sooner had the boy so done than he was freely forgiven. +But Alick flatly refused to sue for pardon, when confronted with his +offended tutor, spite of Theo's tearful entreaties. Stubbornly the +wrong-headed, wrong-hearted boy held out. +</P> + +<P> +'Very good!' dryly said Mr. Price, after waiting in vain. 'Then, until +you see fit to do so, I must dispense with your attendance here, Alick, +otherwise our positions as master and pupil would be reversed. +Good-morning to you!' Philip had risen, and was holding the door open. +A great struggle had been going on in the young man's mind. It would +be easier, he knew, far easier, for him to gloss over Alick's obstinate +refusal to repent, and just to let things go on in the old way. The +temptation to do so was great, particularly to one whose days were +shadowed by much physical suffering, which made it the harder for him +to rise up and energetically quell such a rebellious rising as he had +had lately to cope with. But Philip owned a lion's heart as well as +clear, well-defined notions of right and wrong. Also he had learned +not to lean on his own strength. There was, he knew by experience, a +higher help always ready for those who seek it, and Philip had long +made it a habit to do that in all things, small or great. He was, +therefore, enabled to deal with the young rebel in a dignified and +temperate yet firm manner. +</P> + +<P> +Muttering savagely Alick withdrew with slouching gait. He knew well +that he was no match in regard to words with his tutor, who had +preserved <I>his</I> temper admirably. Master Alick consequently felt it to +be the best policy to hold his tongue. +</P> + +<P> +'Has you got a holiday, Alick? Or has you got the toothache?' asked +Queenie innocently, surprised when Alick sauntered into her playroom, +an hour after, feeling rather like a fish out of water without his +inseparable companion Geoff, and without his usual employment. Ned +Dempster was also out of the way, he being absent with the +fishing-boats; for the bay was alive with the shoals of mackerel, over +which intense excitement simmered throughout Northbourne. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, I <I>has</I> got a holiday, miss!' was Alick's grim rejoinder. 'A +pretty long one too, I expect.' Then he added in a curt, sharp tone, +as though to stop further questions, 'Now, look here, Queenie! Have +you got any of your family that wants mending, eh? Any sick and +wounded? Any broken legs or heads lying about? Because if you have, I +can undertake to put them right this morning. I've got nothing else on +hand.' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, can you, will you?' delightedly said Queenie. Then, suddenly +recollecting herself, she quickly added, 'But, Alick—oh, I couldn't +get out all my sick dollies this minute, 'cos, you see, it is nearly +'leven o'clock, and Theo will be waiting for me in the tea-house, to +begin my lessons.' +</P> + +<P> +'Lessons! Never you mind rubbishy old lesson-books, Queenie! I don't +mean to, never again!' +</P> + +<P> +'Has you learnt up everything then, Alick?' asked the child, gazing +respectfully at her brother, with all the wondering admiration one +often sees in little girls for big brothers. +</P> + +<P> +'What has that got to do with it?' roughly answered the boy. He was in +that volcanic condition of mind that every word spoken was as a match, +and set up a blaze of ill-temper. 'Give me over that one-legged doll, +and I'll "fix" her up, as the Yankees say. Hand her ladyship over.' +Alick Carnegy had one tender spot in his heart. Most of us have. And +that in Alick was occupied by Queenie. He was passionately fond of the +innocent-faced, round-eyed little sister, and he was always ready to +mend her sick and damaged properties. +</P> + +<P> +'That's poor Miss Muffet. She felled out of my arms on the beach, and +Splutters and Shutters worried her, Alick, before I could pull her +away. Ah, it was dreadful!' chattered Queenie. +</P> + +<P> +'You shouldn't pull things away from dogs. Never, never do such a +thing. Do you understand, Queenie? They might snap, you know, and +then where would you be?' +</P> + +<P> +Down on the floor Alick sat himself, and fell to work to repair as best +he could the interesting cripple. But Queenie, eager enough though she +was to watch the surgical operation, had a conscience hidden away in +her small person, as her restlessness showed. +</P> + +<P> +'I mustn't stay, Alick. I mus' go! Theo will be waiting, for the hall +clock has struck. I counted 'leven strokes just now!' +</P> + +<P> +Away to her lessons bustled the little maid, and Alick, unhappy, sullen +and forlorn, was left to himself in the play-room. The boy was +distinctly most miserable. Indeed, he could not be otherwise; it is +unnatural for the young to be in a state of rebellion against those set +in authority over them. They suffer hotly for it, with the measureless +capacity for suffering belonging to the young. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of his wretchedness, Alick was, however, fully determined to +go bird-hunting on the morrow in Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt. +Equally determined was the boy also that he would never beg his tutor's +pardon—if he could possibly help it, that was. Alick knew that if his +continued insubordination came to his father's ears the certain result +would be a thrashing, similar to one of which he still had a most vivid +recollection. It occurred on the only occasion that the captain had +been roused to administer punishment to both Geoff and Alick. That was +when the brothers had strangled several of Widow Dempster's hens by +lassoing them, on the pretext that the unfortunate fowls were +prairie-horses, the boys being prairie-hunters. This was a heinous +misdemeanour in the upright old sailor's eyes. Alick winced still at +the remembrance of the captain's wrath, and also of the captain's whip, +which he by no means spared on his boys' backs. +</P> + +<P> +'I certainly hope that father won't get to know about this row!' he +muttered uneasily, as he finished screwing on Miss Muffet's leg, and +set her up as proud as the best. Then looking round for more surgical +needs to operate upon, and finding a hapless horse minus a tail, Alick +ingeniously supplied the unbecoming deficiency with bristles out of the +hearth-brush. He was a remarkably handy boy; his fingers were skilful, +and he possessed a certain amount of invention. As he prowled about +the shelves, setting a good many of Queenie's infirm toys on their +feet, and making all things taut, the morning wore on apace. He was +glad enough of any occupation to pass the time, which seemed strangely +lagging, as he glanced impatiently at his silver watch. +</P> + +<P> +'I suppose Price and old Geoff are as thick as thieves, palavering away +over that awful Latin,' he soliloquised between the tunes he was +whistling. 'Price will be buttering up Geoff at my expense, no doubt. +Well, I don't care; why should I? I've made up my mind not to give in, +and nobody—not Price, at least—shall make me. Hilloa!' Lifting up +his eyes to the light, to see if he had glued on the wooden canary's +head quite straight on its neck, Alick caught sight, through the +window, of a couple of fishing-smacks making steadily for the bay. +</P> + +<P> +'That one to the left is Fletcher's boat, or I'm blind, and Ned's on +board, I know. I'd better just run down to the beach, and have a +private word in his ears, as soon as he lands, about to-morrow. What a +day we shall have in Brattlesby Woods! Oh my, shan't we just!' +</P> + +<P> +In a short time Alick, his morning's misery all forgotten, was down on +the shore, vigourously helping to haul in the heavy nets, and sharing +in the tumultuous excitement never failing to greet any and every boat +that put in to Northbourne beach. +</P> + +<P> +'Can you come along with me, Ned?' he took the opportunity of +whispering in Ned's ear. 'I've got something to tell you about +<I>to-morrow</I>. You know what I mean.' +</P> + +<P> +Yes, Ned could give Muster Alick five minutes before he sped home to +Goody's for a warm meal, and likewise a bit of sleep; for the boy was +stiff, as well as starving, after his long, chill night on the water. +</P> + +<P> +'I only wanted to say,' Alick hastily announced, 'that I'm game to go +with Jerry Blunt to-morrow morning, if you will let me know the hour +you mean to set off.' +</P> + +<P> +'We thought of going pretty early,' said Ned slowly, after a pause of +hesitation. 'We wants to make a good long day of it. But—but, Muster +Alick, have ye told them up at the Bunk that ye're set on going with +us? I thought as ye said the tootor wouldn't 'low ye, and that Miss +Theedory backed him up. Didn't ye?' Ned eyed his companion with a +certain amount of stern suspicion as he put the questions. +</P> + +<P> +One of Theo's class-boys himself, he had a genuine reverence for his +gentle teacher. There was nothing, the poor fisher-lad was wont to +tell himself, that he would not have dared or done for the sweet young +lady's sake. Her very gentleness and soft speech seemed to attract and +also subdue his rough nature, by force of contrast possibly. +</P> + +<P> +'What on earth is that to you?' loftily demanded Alick, resenting both +the questions and the mention of his sister's name, as brothers will. +</P> + +<P> +'Why, 'tis this to me!' rejoined Ned grimly, and standing square. 'I +ain't a-goin' to have Miss Theedory lookin' at me through an' through, +an' a-sayin', "Ned," she'll say, "why ever did'ee lead away my brother +to do wrong?" I couldn't stand that, muster!' +</P> + +<P> +'What a born idiot you are, to talk in that way!' said Alick grandly. +'It's quite enough for you that I tell you I'm coming to-morrow; that's +all you've got to do with it. Oh, I say, Ned!'—he descended from his +pinnacle of dignity all in a hurry—'it has been such a lark! I told +you what a row we have had with old Price, and that I bowled him over. +But Geoff has actually given in. Theo—I mean my sister—talked him +into an apology—begging pardon, you know. But I stuck out, and held +my own. So old Price bowed me off the premises. You should have +really seen him do it!' ended Alick, with a laugh that had no merriment +whatever in it. Ned nodded. He readily comprehended that 'Muster +Alick' had held his own. +</P> + +<P> +'And did he, did Muster Geoff reely ask parding?' he inquired +wonderingly, presently. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, he did!' Alick spoke shortly, for he resented strongly his +brother's disaffection from a bad cause. 'But what's more to the +purpose, <I>I</I> didn't knock under. So I'm coming with you; for old Price +won't, he says firmly, give me another lesson until I apologise too. +You may guess, old chap, that I'll have a fine long holiday at that +rate, if—if the governor don't get to hear about it, of course!' ended +Alick rather lamely. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh!' Ned gasped understandingly. He could readily enough picture the +result of the captain's taking up the matter. Fireworks would be +nothing to the general flare-up, in that case, the fisher-lad privately +told himself. +</P> + +<P> +Alick next proceeded to plan out the morrow's campaign, and by the time +the Dempsters' cottage was reached, it was agreed that Alick should +make his escape as early as possible from the Bunk, in order that he +might start with Jerry Blunt and Ned before anybody was astir to +prevent him. Then, with mutual promises of secrecy, the two parted. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A TANGLED WEB +</H3> + +<P> +When the Carnegys sat down to dinner that day there was that subtle air +of constraint which is the result of family jars—an electric +disturbance in the home atmosphere which each and all feel. Theo, at +the head of the table, looked grave and pained. Geoff was +uncomfortable also, and, in his awkwardness, overtalked himself, in a +frantic desire to smooth matters. Queenie and the captain himself were +the only members of the family at their ease; while as for Alick, he +sat sullen and dumb, brooding over his self-made wrongs. +</P> + +<P> +'Well,' said the master of the house towards the end of the meal, 'have +you boys come to your senses yet, hey? Has order been restored on the +decks? I strongly advised Price to read the Riot Act; I hope he did +so, hey?' The captain began dimly to be aware of the prevailing +constraint, and then suddenly he recollected the tutor's complaining +report, which had dropped out of his mind two minutes after it was +spoken. +</P> + +<P> +Nobody spoke in answer. The captain glared, over the top of his +glasses, round the party; but Theo and Geoff would not for worlds have +told tales. Each felt that silence was the best policy under the +circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +Queenie at last, observing, with some surprise, the unusual hush, took +it upon her small self to reply. +</P> + +<P> +'Alick's been so good! He has mended all my doll-ladies' broken legs, +and the canary's head, too; and he has made such a bewful new tail for +the old horse—the grey horse, you remember, father, what lost his tail +when he was quite young. And Alick's tidied all the toy-shelves. He +has got such a long holiday, Alick has! Did you know, father?' she +said importantly. +</P> + +<P> +'Ah!' the captain observed gravely, looking his youngest calmly over, +and losing her last words. 'The toy-shelves are <I>your</I> decks, I +suppose, my little woman; the play-room your ship, hey? Well, well, +history repeats itself. Oh, by the way, what a wretched memory I've +got! Dear, dear! why, it has only just come into my mind! Theo, my +dear, I had occasion to go across the bay the other day, last week I +think it was, about some references I wanted from the Vicarage library, +and I just looked in to have a chat with Mrs. Vesey in her +morning-room. What a sweet woman that is! If ever there were a saint +permitted to remain on earth, it is herself. But what I had to say was +about a special message she gave me for you. To-morrow will be her +birthday, and she wants all you young folk to go over early, to have +tea and strawberries and cream. You will like that, my dear, and so +will Queenie. As for you boys, there's to be a special treat for you, +in honour of the occasion. I was to be sure and tell you so, I +remember now. You are to have the key of the museum for yourselves, +and spend the evening there. But mind, no tricks with the specimens, +which are a valuable collection. Remember you are on honour, and being +gentlemen, I presume that will suffice to prevent any mischief. Stupid +of me to forget the message! However, it's not too late, fortunately; +to-morrow has not yet come.' +</P> + +<P> +There was an involuntary shout of delight from the boys when the +captain finished. A treat indeed, and a rare one, it was to be +permitted to pass an evening in the curiosity-room of the Vicarage. +From their childhood this museum had been the most interesting spot to +the young Carnegys. It was packed from floor to ceiling with a +collection of foreign monsters, weapons, and rarities, gathered +together, during a long life on foreign stations in different quarters +of the globe, by the venerable vicar, who, in his heyday, had been an +army chaplain. A more entrancing treat for Alick and Geoff could not +possibly have been devised. Suddenly, however, Alick's face gloomed +over. He remembered that the morrow, the birthday, was Wednesday, and +it was on that day he had bound himself to go to Brattlesby Woods with +Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, defying his tutor in the teeth to do so. +Even Alick felt a spasm of regret. If he had not been so perversely +obstinate in refusing to yield to Mr. Price, here would have been his +reward—a whole evening among the wonders of the Vicarage museum. It +was maddening! But the misguided boy felt that he had gone too far to +retrace his steps. It was too late, he ignorantly told himself; for +Alick knew not that it is never, it can be never, too late to confess +and make amends for a fault—so long as there is breath to bravely +speak out the remorseful confession. +</P> + +<P> +'We know, father, about it,' Theo's quiet voice was saying. 'Mrs. +Vesey guessed you might just possibly forget the message, so she sent +me a note, next day. It's all arranged, and we are all going. Father, +dear, wouldn't it be possible for you to come with us too?' The girl +had left her seat at the head of the table, and came round to lean on +the back of her father's chair. It seemed to Theo that if the captain +could be induced to join his family's life-pleasures, he would come, in +time, to be a refuge and a help in their life-troubles also; so she +pleaded. +</P> + +<P> +'Tut! tut! tut! Don't be absurd, my dear Theo. It's quite unlike you. +I thought you, at least, understood what a life full of urgent +importance mine is, until the <I>magnum opus</I> is achieved. After +that—well, well, we'll see!' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, but, dear, just one little holiday! I know the book is a great +labour, but you might take one afternoon from your work, and come with +us—just for once!' +</P> + +<P> +'No, no, child! When a man has put his hand to the plough he has no +right to turn back. And you ought to know better than tempt me, I say. +But with regard to you young people it is very different; you haven't a +care, so you can't do better than be happy, that is, at the appointed +time. There's a time for everything, the Book says, doesn't it? Now +then, my dear, let me get away back to my work, if you please.' +</P> + +<P> +The fiery old sailor held a firm conviction that he had an imperative +duty to perform in this world, in the shape of his proposed literary +work. Duty had been, hitherto, the sailor's god through thick and +thin. To do him justice, the captain had not the faintest notion of +the gusts of rebellious discontent that often enough swept over the +little household he imagined to be so well ordered. Deeply attached to +his boys and girls, one and all, though he was, he took no heed of the +fact that the minds of the mere children, as he considered them to be, +were fast awaking up—growing apace with their youthful bodies. The +truth was, the young folk were utter strangers and foreigners to the +man who had married late in life. So long as his gentle, tender +wife—a woman eminently fitted for her niche in life by her sweet +nature and her heart filled with Christian grace—lived, the captain's +children were well cared for indeed. Their needs both of body and soul +were alike looked after. But the mother who was so qualified by her +rare sweetness to bring up the children God had given her 'in the +nurture and admonition of the Lord,' was called away to a higher, +fuller life 'beyond these voices'; and the sailor, taking the reins of +the household in his unaccustomed fingers, held them over-slackly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE FAR NORTH +</H3> + +<P> +It was June, the 'leafy month': Nature was dressed out in her newest +and freshest of robes, and the homes of her feathered children were +peopled with tiny birdlings, all agape with hunger and curiosity. +</P> + +<P> +Through the shady Brattlesby Woods, and along the hedgerows, stealing +softly, stepping cautiously, crept Jerry Blunt, with his empty sleeve +flapping against his right side, and as he went he peered here and +there where leaves grew thickest. In his wake followed, on tip-toe, +Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, all three intent on seeking for young +bullfinches. +</P> + +<P> +When Jerry Blunt ran away to sea from his native village, Northbourne, +with his soul athirst for adventure, his body was furnished with as +many limbs as other folk. Little did he dream that the golden future +he panted to grasp would make of him a cripple. As time went by, and +he became a full-grown man, Jerry had his fill of hairbreadth escapes, +his last exploit of all being to join an enterprising American +expedition got up in the name of science to find the North Pole. This +venture, one of many, proved the most unfortunate of all for Jerry +Blunt. Through his own heedless carelessness in refusing to listen to +the advice of his experienced betters, he neglected a severe +frost-bite; in consequence, he lost his arm, which had to be amputated +by the ship's surgeon. After this catastrophe, Jerry as a man on that +expedition was worth little or nothing. So he returned, in course of +time, to his native place, 'like a bad shilling,' said Northbourne—and +with an empty coat-sleeve. +</P> + +<P> +'The right arm, too, worse luck!' was all the sympathy he got, and +Jerry, therefore, began to look round for himself. He knew it was +imperative on him to do something for a living to help out his good old +mother's feeble efforts, and to keep a roof over their two heads. He +set his wits to work to puzzle out a way. Without a right arm he was +of little or no use in the fishing-boats, which constituted the sole +trade of Northbourne. So fishing was out of the question. +</P> + +<P> +Now people don't go the length of Franz Josef Land without picking up a +few odds and ends of information. Therefore it was not long before +Jerry did hit upon a trade, and it was one thoroughly to his mind. +From his boyhood he had been a passionate lover of the open, and Mother +Nature had shared her secrets with him in no niggard fashion. +</P> + +<P> +He was tolerably well acquainted with the ways and the haunts of his +winged neighbours, and could, perhaps, have 'given points' to many a +scientifically educated naturalist. And it came to pass that he +bethought himself of certain valuable hints he had got anent the +artificial training of the inhabitants of the air from an astute old +Frenchman, one of those curiosities to be met with but rarely, whose +minds are human museums—treasure-houses in which are stored scraps of +varied knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +'You may keep school, my lad,' dryly commented his mother when she had +carefully digested Jerry's plan, 'but you won't find it easy to keep +scholars.' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, you'll see!' was the quietly spoken prediction; for Jerry Blunt +had fully determined to be a bird-trainer, and the pupils he was in +search of were young bullfinches. +</P> + +<P> +Of course when this remarkable intention became known among the +fisher-folk it was derisively condemned by the elders. On the other +hand, Jerry's younger neighbours, particularly Ned Dempster, were +immediately fired with an eager desire to assist him in the novel +enterprise. Ned's enthusiasm naturally infected both the Carnegy boys; +they also would fain become bird-trainers on the spot, lacking all +knowledge of the matter though they, naturally, did. With the frenzy +that possesses boys in regard to every absolutely new amusement, the +two Carnegys slept, ate, drank, and, as it were, breathed to the tune +of one thought—the determination that they also would be bird-teachers. +</P> + +<P> +This all-powerful, novel freak was at the bottom of the furious meeting +at the Bunk. Philip Price, the tutor, sympathising fully with the +ardent pursuits of boyhood, had been over-indulgent in the matter of +granting whole Wednesdays, instead of half-holidays. Any excuse +sufficed. Skating on inland ponds in the winter; fishing in the bay, +as the year wore on; and, latterly, digging for primrose or fern roots +in Brattlesby Woods. But Philip Price was beginning to find out by +results that too much play and not enough work was making dull scholars +of his pupils, and he had determined to stand out firmly against any +more indulgences in the future. It was high time that Alick and Geoff +should realise that 'life is real, life is earnest'; put their +shoulders to the wheel they must and should. The boys knew this, and +in their hearts admitted the determination to be a just one enough. +But the entrancing novelty of Jerry Blunt's proposed trade carried them +away; they were extravagantly crazed to join in it, by fair means or by +foul. Hence the outburst of rebellion, and Alick's stubborn refusal to +sue for pardon. +</P> + +<P> +When Wednesday morning arrived, he set off in company with Jerry and +Ned before the early sun had dried the dew on the grass. +</P> + +<P> +As they trudged at Jerry's heels he had explained to them, before +entering the woods, the mode of operation to be carried out. In order +to pipe tunes as bullfinches so marvellously do, they have to go +through a period of training, and downright severe training the hapless +mites find it. But, as Jerry tersely put it to his hearers, one of +whom winced secretly, what is training but 'keeping the body under +subjection'—a period of toilsome effort that any degree of perfection +necessitates? +</P> + +<P> +Taken from the nest at the age, say, of ten days or so—the most +suitable to begin operations—the callow young things are carefully +tended by one person solely, who accustoms the birds to himself, the +sound of his voice and his cautiously tender touch, before he attempts +anything approaching to training. +</P> + +<P> +This treatment Jerry Blunt intended to carry out with his timid pupils, +of which he gathered a goodly number, with the assistance of Ned and +Alick, long before sunset came round again. The trainer explained his +proposed code of education still more fully as he and the hungry boys +sat enjoying the picnic repast they had brought with them. Alick, +whose spirits were at their highest, thought it a delightful experience +to be eating cold chunks of pork and dry bread, which each guest carved +for himself with a clasp-knife. Infinitely superior was this +delightfully natural, manly style of feeding, than all the rubbishy +artificial formality of the decently appointed meals served at the +Bunk, thought he scornfully. The only drawback to his sense of +exhilarating pride was the fact that Geoff was not a witness of his +emancipation from society rules. +</P> + +<P> +'Do you actually mean to tell us, Jerry, that in time you will be able +to teach those wretched young shavers to whistle real, proper tunes?' +Alick asked presently, pointing with his knife, in careful imitation of +the manners and customs of his company, to the shivery mites, each +wrapped in a wisp of cotton-wool, which thoughtful Jerry had not +forgotten to bring for the purpose of protecting the birdlings on their +debut into the world out of their warm nest-homes. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes; you bide a wee, Muster Alick!' rejoined Jerry confidently, if +indistinctly, seeing his mouth was full at the moment. 'Before the +summer's out I'll engage that my scholards will sing "The Blue Bells of +Scotland" without a single false note! And when they do, I'll get a +good price for each on 'em from a chap I knows of in London, who trades +in singin' birds, and is always ready to buy 'em. But I was a-goin' to +say, Muster Alick, that I'll want some help from you boys. I can't do +the whole thing single-handed. I shall have to board out the birds, +after a bit; so there will be plenty of work for each of you, if so be +you're agreeable.' +</P> + +<P> +Of course the boys were more than ready with their promises of help in +the labour of teaching, as soon as they understood how it was to be set +about. +</P> + +<P> +'You will have to put us up to the trick first; how it's to be done, +you know, Jerry,' said Alick. +</P> + +<P> +'All right, muster! But there's no trick in the matter, and no secret, +'cept it be kindness and firmness. Them's the two great rulin' powers +with dumb animals, same's with we humans. 'Tain't no good tryin' to +train a child by lettin' him do jes' whatever he pleases. You wouldn't +call that training, now, would you? Say!' Jerry looked up from the +pipe he was filling to put the question, with some little earnestness. +</P> + +<P> +A strange flush stole up into Alick Carnegy's cheeks; for the life of +him he could not help applying Jerry's excellent logic to himself. The +stern, high-minded face of the tutor he had insulted floated before the +boy's eyes, and he winced, for the second time that day, at Jerry's +words, as he remembered how he had fought with and rebelled against the +authority set over him. Alick's conscience was by no means altogether +deadened, and his triumph was dashed. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' continued Jerry reflectively, as he watched the smoke curling +upward in the air, 'and 'tis the very same wi' ourselves, after we're +growed up to manhood. That's how the Almighty deals with us. He's +firm—none firmer; and He's kinder to us than we knows on—none +kinder—if so be as we would but trust ourselves to His way.' +</P> + +<P> +Jerry Blunt, exposed to temptations many and varied, had always been a +right-thinking, honest kind of lad. In spite of his wanderings to and +fro over the earth, he retained his early faith intact. +</P> + +<P> +'Many's the time in my life,' he went on, speaking in a gravely +reverent tone, 'I've fought to get my will in some things—struck out +blindly, as you might say; but there was always the firm Hand guiding +me in His way, not my own. Even when this mishap befell me'—Jerry +touched his empty sleeve—'though I couldn't see it at the time, bein' +so ignorant-like, it was all a-purpose for my good.' +</P> + +<P> +'How, Jerry? What on earth do you mean? To lose your right arm must +have been a frightful bit of bad luck!' Alick spoke in astonishment, +but with a certain amount of respect for one who had had such a large +experience as the bird-trainer. +</P> + +<P> +'There ain't no such thing as luck, either good or bad,' Jerry took out +his pipe to say. ''Tis God's will; that's the properest word +for't—not luck. As for my own misfortin', as everybody called it, +why, after all it didn't turn out so bad, when you come to think it +out.' +</P> + +<P> +'Why? Do tell us all about it, Jerry, will you?' urged Alick, to whom +the topic of the North Pole expedition was always attractive; and he +threw himself back on the mossy ground to listen in rapt attention. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, muster, I make no doubt that you've heard tell fifty times over +how I got a frost-bite when I was in Franz Josef Land with the +expedition. It all came about with me bein' in such a hurry like to +finish a job I'd to do, that I put off rubbin' my hands with snow, as +is the right thing to do, remember, if so be as you boys ever get +frostbit. Well, the long and the short of that neglect was, they was +forced to take off my arm—there wasn't no chice in the matter—above +the elbow too. We happened at the moment to be at a fixed camping +dépôt—not one of them nasty movin' floes, but on a good sound +spot—and the expedition was under orders to march norrards when the +thing happened to me. Well, in course, they nat'rally said as they +didn't want to be saddled with a one-handed man, and I was turned +back—me and old Pierre Lacroix, the Frenchman who taught me how to +train them little customers.' Jerry pointed with his pipe to the +infant finches under his handkerchief. 'Old Pierre was too rheumatic, +they soon found out, to be any use, in spite of his long head, which +was as full of wisdom as an egg's full of meat. None but sound, +able-bodied men will do for that work, I tell you. He was a queer old +fish, Pierre was. Poor chap, he was a Roming, you know; but for all +that he was, in his mistaken way, a pious, God-fearing man. It was +kind o' queer to see him, when we two were on our way back through all +them ice-plains; if we so much as heard the howl of a hungry wolf, +Pierre would pull out his beads and rattle off a prayer. But I didn't +so much wonder at his fright, for the cries of them wolves certainly +did freeze one's marrow through and through. And we once came to +pretty close quarters with the brutes. It was one night, a starless, +cloudy night, with a storm brewing, and we heard behind us a faint +sound that struck us dumb with horror. The wolves had scented us from +afar, and were giving chase. We took to our heels, as the sayin' is; +but you don't make much way on that there ground. The awful baying +voices gained on us, minute by minute. On, on, we breathlessly fought +our way, desperate to escape. At last, so close was the pack behind +us, that I could count 'em, half a dozen or so, and by the light of the +torches we carried I could plainly see their red tongues lolling out of +their hungry jaws. So did Pierre, and out came his beads. But reely, +boys, there are more wonderful escapes in real life than ever folks +read of in books. Now, what do you suppose saved us that night? Under +Providence, of course, I means. We might have turned at bay and shot +one or two, and there was a knife apiece. But we should have been +doomed men had we done so. However, help was close, just as hope was +dying out in our hearts. Running for our lives we had reached the +land,—before that, you understand, we'd been traversing an +ice-floe,—we knew 'twas land by the low bank sheering down. As we set +foot on it a mighty roaring crack sounded, breaking up into a thousand +echoes in the white silence. It was the ice parting from the shore, +through the wind-storm that had risen. Between us and our savage +hunters the cold black waves boiled up instantly, released from their +prison, and the baffled wolves howled furiously at the fissure growing +wider each second. We were saved; and, boys, never did I see the +finger of God more plainly than at that moment! I am glad I wasn't +ashamed to throw myself on my knees and thank Him aloud, and Frenchy +joined me with all his heart.' +</P> + +<P> +'But,' began Alick wonderingly, after a long pause, 'how on earth did +you find your way back, you two, through all that frozen white country +with no landmarks?' +</P> + +<P> +'How? Why, I s'pose you don't know the watchword of all Arctic +expeditions, young master? 'Tain't likely as you should, so I'll tell +you. The law out yonder is: keep your line of retreat open; and a +better rule couldn't be. It so be as you take heed to it keerful, you +can't be cut off from the world. So Pierre an' me, in due time, found +our way back to the ship, which was stationed in the Spitzbergen Sea.' +</P> + +<P> +'And what about t'others, the rest of the expedition? They pushed on, +didn't they?' asked Ned eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'Ah! that's the queer thing that I be a-comin' to,' said Jerry, +speaking solemnly. 'In course they pushed on. But never a man of the +lot came back to tell the story of what they'd seen. They was too +venturesome; they went too far ahead, and must have perished of sheer +cold; leastways that's what I've heard. If you don't see a meanin' +under that, well, I do! And real grateful I feel to the Almighty. I +lost an arm, but them poor lads they lost their lives.' +</P> + +<P> +There was another silence. Jerry industriously puffed away; Alick +stared up unblinkingly into a chink of blue between the tree-tops; and +Ned gravely whittled away at a tiny boat of wood, one of a fleet with +which he kept Miss Queenie so numerously supplied that it bade fair to +develop into a Lilliputian navy in time. +</P> + +<P> +'Did you ever use any dogs on the expedition, Jerry?' asked Alick, +whose thoughts had been travelling along the silent white expanse of +the far-away North. +</P> + +<P> +'Dogs? No, muster, we didn't in them days. But Frenchy used to talk +away, I remember, o' nights round the camp-fires, about the proper use +dogs would be on an expedition. There was one breed in pertikler he +spoke well off—the West Siberian, I think he called 'em.' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes,' eagerly put in Alick, 'they're the ones, the West Siberian. +Father was speaking about them. They're considered to be awfully +useful.' +</P> + +<P> +'I dessay!' assented Jerry, knocking the ashes out of his pipe before +carefully stowing it away in one of his many pockets. 'But 'pears to +me we've got to be thinking of going home. The trunks o' the trees are +reddening, which tells us the sun's slantin'; and these little shavers +must be fed and bedded before sundown. Come, musters, rouse +yourselves; we must be steppin' Northbourne way!' +</P> + +<P> +Picking up the shivering, quaking mites in their cotton-wool wrappings, +Jerry lodged them in his several pockets and even in his cap. But he +firmly refused to suffer the two boys to share his burdens. +</P> + +<P> +'We can't be too keerful for the first day or so after takin' of 'em +out of the nest; so you leave 'em to me,' he persisted; and presently +the trio were trudging on their way back to Northbourne village. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN PERIL ON THE SEA +</H3> + +<P> +While Alick Carnegy was absent, enjoying his forbidden pleasure in +Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, and Ned Dempster, +strange things were happening in the quiet little bay at home—things +that will be talked of for years to come in the long winter nights, +when the fisher-wives sit mending their husband's nets round the +peat-fires, and the children crowd close to listen with all their ears +to the story. +</P> + +<P> +'The Theodora,' the boat belonging to the Bunk, had been getting out of +repair for some time back. At first the young folk—even Theo +herself—being a happy-go-lucky, reckless set in most things, +disregarded the leak, never dreaming it to be a serious one, and +laughed at their wet feet; for who ever heard of salt water hurting +anybody? It is just, however, those neglected little things, evils +that are suffered to go on, which increase sometimes, with a sudden +rush, into big mischiefs. That week Theodora, who had not been in the +boat for a few days, was struck afresh with the damage; she saw that it +was high time something should be done to mend matters, if only for the +sake of keeping dry feet. She therefore gave Ned Dempster a few +directions how to remedy the leak. Of course Ned, being a born +fisher-lad, was quite capable of doing the piece of work in his spare +moments. This Theo knew. But, unfortunately, her orders, and +everything else as well, went clean out of Ned's head, owing to the +excitement he had imbibed from Alick about the expedition to Brattlesby +Woods after the finches. +</P> + +<P> +When Theo and Queenie, consequently, got into the boat in the afternoon +to pull across to the little birthday festival at the Vicarage, they +speedily found, to their discomfort, but by no means to their dismay, +that the leak was considerably worse than usual. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh,' screamed Queenie, 'my bestest new shoes is quite wetted, Theo! +Look!' +</P> + +<P> +Queenie certainly was right; the shiny little toes that, dangling, did +not reach the bottom of the boat even, were already wet. Theo's fresh +blue print also was fringed round with sea-water when she looked down +at it. +</P> + +<P> +'I think we might manage to get across, though,' said Theo hopefully. +'It's a pity to turn back. We shouldn't get much wetter than we are +already, should we?' +</P> + +<P> +'Not much wetterer,' acquiesced Queenie equably, as she dipped first +the tip of one shoe, then the other, into the water. Of course, if +Theo didn't mind, it was nothing to Queenie. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon was a glorious one, with a faint touch of north in the +wind, just enough to bring out colour intensely. The blue of the sea +and the blue of the sky were alike sapphire in hue, against which the +gulls that darted and skimmed hither and thither showed white. It was, +in truth, an afternoon when the world seemed so passing fair, so +secure, that the mind was lured into believing that it was +all-sufficient. +</P> + +<P> +Thus it is with ourselves. When we are getting on too smoothly at +school, or at our work, it all begins to feel such easy plain-sailing, +that we rest on our oars and grow over-confident. We are, in a sense, +off guard. And so it was with the occupants of 'The Theodora,' as it +gradually made its way to the middle of the bay. Of course they would +get across in safety, as Theo declared; they had done it a hundred +times already, since the leak was first sprung. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing had ever happened in the girl's eighteen years of life in the +shape of any serious accident either by land or by sea. It was +difficult to realise that mishaps could possibly occur, and, with her +eyes fixed on the wondrous blue above and below, Theo rowed on, calling +herself lazy because she did not seem, somehow, able to get so fast +through the water as usual. +</P> + +<P> +'Theo! oh, Theo!' +</P> + +<P> +'Queenie!' +</P> + +<P> +Two affrighted shrieks rang out simultaneously; for, suddenly, the +sisters each became aware that 'The Theodora' had shipped a quantity of +water. The boat was so heavy that Theo's oars could hardly move it. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, what have I done?' cried the elder girl, ashy pale, and stunned +with the shock. 'Oh, my darling Queenie!' +</P> + +<P> +It was for the beloved little sister that the thrill of anxious terror +rushed over Theo. She herself could swim, in a fashion, if the worst +came to the worst; but Queenie, the baby-sister, how was the helpless +little one to be saved? Wildly Theo gazed over the blue, rippling +water. +</P> + +<P> +There, yonder, on the stretch of sands in front of the fisher-folk's +dwellings, her long sight could distinguish the women at their usual +monotonous employment, mending their nets in the doorways, all unaware +of her peril and that of the child in the sunlit bay. +</P> + +<P> +'Help! help!' she shrieked in the agony of fear that encompassed her, +and in her own ears her voice sounded thin and feebly small, as when in +some horrid nightmare we, all in vain, try to scream aloud, and fail. +Would they sit there, those fisher-women, and never so much as raise +their eyes to glance at the distinctly sinking boat? +</P> + +<P> +It was maddening to the distraught girl, simply maddening. +</P> + +<P> +'What is it, Theo?' quavered the frightened child opposite her in the +boat. 'Is we going to be drowned in the water, Theo?' +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, my darling Queenie! what shall we do?' cried out Theo in a frenzy +of helpless terror. The oars were lying helpless in the bottom of the +rapidly filling boat. 'What are we to do?' She fairly shrieked out +the question again. +</P> + +<P> +'Say "Our Father,"' said Queenie promptly; and she clasped her tiny +hands together in Theodora's. The child was too ignorant to realise +their danger. It was only the terror in Theo's face that frightened +her—Theo, the sister who was so strong, so tall, so all-wise, in the +trustful little one's innocent eyes. But though unconscious of all +their peril, the child's unerring instinct pointed to the true, +unfailing Refuge for all human trouble. +</P> + +<P> +'Our Father in heaven, help me to save Queenie!' +</P> + +<P> +The cry, strong and vibrating, floated over the solitary water. Theo, +in the sudden and unexpected approach of great danger, had forgotten +that God's ears are listening always to catch our prayers, even when +belated and half despairing. +</P> + +<P> +But when the little sister's simple words brought back to her mind the +remembrance of the one great Shelter for us all in the 'day of +trouble,' Theo threw her whole soul into the imploring, impassioned cry +for help. +</P> + +<P> +Then, knowing that God is most ready to aid those who aid themselves, +she rapidly collected her scattered wits to plan out what she had best +do in the extremity she found herself. Untying the long, soft, red +sash Queenie wore round her waist, she hastily, but firmly, fastened +the child to herself, never ceasing, meanwhile, to cry her loudest for +help, though her voice grew hoarse and weak under the terrible strain. +Then Theo proceeded to free her own skirts from her feet, lest, being +entangled, she might be sucked down under, when the boat settled down, +as she knew, now, it undoubtedly must. +</P> + +<P> +And overhead, flecking with white the blue glitter of the sky, the busy +gulls skimmed hither and thither, wheeling round in circles. On the +shore the fisher-wives, with bent heads, were still too intent on their +mending to raise their eyes for one moment, and the chatter of their +own high-pitched voices dulled their ears to the despairing cries +floating across the waters. So the tragedy went on. +</P> + +<P> +It was cool and shady in the Vicarage old-fashioned drawing-room. Mrs. +Vesey, the invalid mistress, frail and sweet, was lying, as usual, on +her couch, her dim, patient eyes watching the bay for the boat bringing +over her expected guests from the Bunk. +</P> + +<P> +In the next room tea was spread out: piles of sweet cakes and brown +bread-and-butter; strawberries gleamed ripe and red in large, heaped-up +dishes, and jugs of rich yellow cream stood about. Mrs. Vesey knew +what a feast should be like for hungry boys and girls, and ordered a +lavish repast to be prepared. Nor had she forgotten to provide for +other guests who were bidden to celebrate her birthday. Down in the +village schoolroom, tea and plum-cake, with piles of fruit, were all in +readiness to be laid out the moment that the little scholars departed +from afternoon school—a feast which they would return in due time to +demolish. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Vesey was a great sufferer; she had been house-ridden for years of +her life, but she bore her cross of bodily ailments bravely and with +soldierly courage. It was never thrust forward as an excuse to shelter +its bearer from what she felt to be her duty. Although she was totally +unable to preside in person at the treat for the fisher-children, she +had arranged to be represented by Theo Carnegy, when the Vicarage tea +was over. That young lady, after helping the little ones to make merry +over their feast, was finally to marshal a procession up to the +Vicarage, where the children intended to present to Mrs. Vesey such +posies as their busy little fingers had managed to gather in the woods +behind the village. +</P> + +<P> +As Mrs. Vesey lay watching the bay from her open windows, Binks, the +old handy-man, moved about on the lawn outside, now and again +exchanging remarks with his mistress as he passed and repassed. +</P> + +<P> +'Muster Geoff, he've come, ma'am!' said he presently, peering in the +room. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, has he? Where is he, Binks?' +</P> + +<P> +'He've stepped round to the stable for Splutters and Shutters, ma'am, +that's where he be. B'ys is never content without the dogs arter them. +I dunno where t'other young muster is, but the ladies is on their way +across in their boat,' added Binks, shading his eyes to gaze out over +the water. +</P> + +<P> +'I know they are,' said Mrs. Vesey; 'I've been watching them. I saw +them start from the Bunk pier. The boat's pretty well into the middle +of the bay, now. Can't you see them, Binks?' +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps Binks resented the question, or perhaps he objected to admit +that his eyesight was not so good as that of his mistress. Anyhow, he +continued perfectly silent as he gazed, with a fixed stare, at some +distant object. +</P> + +<P> +'Hi, Splutters! Heel, Shutters! Come back, sir! Oh, Binks, really I +couldn't prevent them coming round on the lawn; they were too much for +me when I opened the stable door. Oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Vesey! I +didn't know you were at the window.' Polite Geoff, heated and flushed +with his chase after the excitable terriers, stood hat in hand under +the window while Splutters and Shutters tore madly up and down and +across the lawn. Strangely enough, Binks took no notice of their +capers, which, for once, were allowed to go unrebuked. His eyes, +shaded by his wrinkled hand, were still intent on the distant boat. +</P> + +<P> +'Theo and Queenie are on their way, Mrs. Vesey,' continued Geoff. 'I +see the Bunk boat creeping over; they seem in no particular hurry. +Don't you see them, Binks?' demanded the boy, rather astonished at the +old man's stillness. 'Why, I can see them waving something—a long red +thing. They certainly don't get on very fast, though, do they? +Why—why, Binks! Oh, what on earth's the matter? Something's wrong +with the boat; they're so still and—— Binks, <I>what</I> is it?' Geoff +ended with a shout that was almost a scream, as he clutched the old +man's arm wildly. +</P> + +<P> +'Come along, Muster Geoff!' Binks roughly shook off the boy's hand. +'Run for your life; you're fleeter than me. Shove down our boat into +the water, and I'll folly ye quick's ever I can!' roared the old man. +'They're sinkin' out there fast as fast. God help us all!' +</P> + +<P> +Faster than ever he ran in his life tore Geoff, with a face blanched +and drawn, to seize the Vicarage boat, and push her to the water's +edge, putting forth all the strength of his young body to do so +single-handed. To jump on board and take up an oar was the work of +half a minute, and Geoff was pushing off without a thought of anybody +else when a hoarse shout stayed him. +</P> + +<P> +'Stay, muster!' panted Binks, hurrying to the edge. 'Two's better than +one; two oars will reach 'em quicker!' and in scrambled the breathless +old man, drops of perspiration rolling unheeded down his wrinkled +cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +Not another word was spoken by either as the man and boy tore through +the water, with all the strength they possessed. Geoff silently +watched Binks's face, trying to read, in its strained lines, the fate +of those behind his back. But the boy's white, dry lips refused to +utter the terrible question, 'Are they still above water?' Geoff's +brain seemed too paralysed to think. Every sense was merged in the mad +race of trying to cut still faster through the water to the rescue. +The hard, brown visage of Binks was a dead wall as he pulled and puffed +and panted. From it Geoff could gain no information, and, somehow, for +his life, the boy dare not turn his head to see over his shoulder for +himself. +</P> + +<P> +On the shore the women-workers had at last awoke to the fact of the +tragedy being enacted on the blue waters, and in the full blaze of the +summer sunshine, almost within their reach. Wild cries of affright +arose; the brown nets were flung aside this way and that. Bewildered +groups stood close down to the water's edge tremblingly wringing their +hands in miserable helplessness, and their eyes starting out of their +heads as their gaze clung, glued, to the little craft slowly, slowly +settling down. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A DOOR OF ESCAPE +</H3> + +<P> +It was a spell of long-drawn-out anguish for the watchers on shore, the +while that Theo Carnegy and little Queenie sank helplessly in their +rapidly filling boat. From one to another of the cottages round the +bay the news had flown like wild-fire that the captain's boat, with the +captain's daughters, was going down within sight, and not a man nor a +boy in Northbourne village but was out at sea since daybreak, for the +'mackerrow' were proving a little gold-mine to the community, and the +fishermen grudged to sleep or eat, so eager were they to make hay while +the sun was shining. +</P> + +<P> +The women would not have thought twice of taking to the boats +themselves and attempting a rescue, but all the decent crafts were at +sea; the few that were beached were useless, being out of repair. +There was, accordingly, nothing to do but stand in huddled groups +wringing the hands that, perforce, were helpless. Some—the timid +ones—covered their eyes from the sight. Others, fascinated, found it +impossible to turn their gaze for a single second from the hapless boat +which their practised sight noted was now perceptibly lower in the +water. One or two among them, old Goody Dempster conspicuously, stood +with white lips that moved silently as they prayed God to have pity, to +stretch out His mighty hand and save those in dire danger. +</P> + +<P> +And while the women watched breathlessly, or prayed, Geoff, with old +Binks, struggled on, a nightmare feeling weighing them down all the +time, that they were standing still, instead of making way. +</P> + +<P> +At last, when the watchers on the shore could no longer see aught but +the rim of the top of the boat, and only the two clinging figures in +it, for 'The Theodora' had settled down almost under water, the +Vicarage boat pulled up alongside, with a final long sweep, into which +Geoff, half fainting, put his sole remaining strength. +</P> + +<P> +How the rescue was achieved, then, none of the four could ever +afterwards tell or picture with any clearness. It was as if other +hands than those of Geoff and Binks did the work, while Queenie and +then Theo were half lifted, half dragged in by the two. +</P> + +<P> +More dead than alive, the rescued sisters were, with considerable +difficulty, laid at the bottom of the boat. Theo had swooned away the +moment she realised that they were saved, and the women watchers on the +shore sobbed loudly in hysterical relief. +</P> + +<P> +'Shall we take 'em over to the Vicarage?' hoarsely asked Binks, +handling his oar for the return. +</P> + +<P> +'No, no! Home—home to father!' whispered back Geoff, whose voice +seemed to have died away into a feeble sort of whistle. +</P> + +<P> +Then the two, exhausted as they were already, pulled their hardest over +the blue waters to the tiny pier under the Bunk. +</P> + +<P> +The catastrophe, next door to a terrible tragedy, had happened in the +space of about fifteen minutes, and it seemed strangely impossible that +the sun should be still shining, and the light wind curling the +rippling waves as if nothing had happened. +</P> + +<P> +The captain, who had been, as usual, absorbed in his manuscript, +sitting with his back to the window, knew nothing of it until he was +hastily called to carry up the senseless Theo. It was a considerable +time before his efforts to restore the unconscious girl were +successful; and it would not be easy to tell how the father, whom Theo +Carnegy had allowed herself to think and pronounce indifferent to his +children's welfare, suffered as he hung over the senseless form of his +best-beloved child. Her peril stirred up all the love that, though +undoubtedly existing, had been dormant. From that fateful hour, +however, the old sea-captain was an altered man. His heart awoke to +the fact that the chief place in it should be filled by his motherless +children, instead of, as it had been, by a mere hobby. +</P> + +<P> +All through the hours of the anxious night that followed he went from +one bed to the other, tending the occupants with that gentleness, +almost womanly, which a sailor possesses in no ordinary degree. For +Queenie there were no apprehensions, save dread of a chill from the +wetting she received; the child was tranquil, and appeared to have +sustained no shock. +</P> + +<P> +'We said "Our Father," me and Theo,' she whispered innocently to the +captain, as he sat by her little bed holding her hands, 'and He sent +Geoff and Binks directly to pick us out of the water; and then Theo +went off to sleep in the boat, and my new shoes is spoilt most +dreadful!' +</P> + +<P> +With Theo it was otherwise. She had sustained a severe mental shock, +as well as the bodily strain, in her fruitless efforts to pull the +heavy boat through the water. And it had been a terrible spasm of +terror to sink slowly, helplessly, in the yawning waves, trying all the +time to hold up the precious little sister. When the doctor from +Brattlesby arrived, he looked grave enough over his elder patient; and +next day he was even more serious. +</P> + +<P> +'She is in for brain fever!' he said briefly. He was a man of few +words, leaving the burden of conversation, as a rule, to his patients. +Hence, perhaps, it was that little Dr. Cobbe was the most popular +being, man or doctor, for miles round Northbourne. +</P> + +<P> +And with regard to Theo it was as he said. For many weeks Theo Carnegy +lay battling for her life in the cruel clutches of the fever, +unconscious that her most devoted and tenderest nurse was the father +whom she had bitterly imagined thought more of his hobby than of his +boys and girls. All Northbourne, as with one heart, sorrowed aloud for +their favourite Miss Theedory; her grave condition was the sole theme +of talk in the cottages round the bay. +</P> + +<P> +'Happen she was too good to live!' croaked Jerry Blunt's mother, with +an appropriate melancholy in her voice; and the gossips nodded +approvingly at a sentiment which fitted in with their own views of life. +</P> + +<P> +'Nothin' o' the sort!' struck in a dissentient voice, which belonged to +Goody Dempster herself. 'There's none too good to live, seein' as life +is a great gift that can only come from the Lord Himself. He gives, +and He takes away, that's how we've got to look at things. And, please +God, He will see fit to raise up Miss Theedory among us again, hale and +sound. She's one as could be ill spared.' +</P> + +<P> +'Amen!' assented more than one voice among the listeners, in ready +response. +</P> + +<P> +But there was one heart that felt heavier than all others—too heavy to +hold a ray of hope—and that belonged to Alick Carnegy. When he +returned home from his stolen holiday, and found what had happened +during his absence, the remorse of the boy was uncontrollable. He +could not but feel it to be true, what others did not scruple to tell +him bluntly, for plain-speaking was a distinguishing feature of the +fishing village, that had he and Ned Dempster been at home, they could +have reached his sisters in far less time than Geoff, younger and +weaker of muscle, and Binks, long past his heyday of strength and +stiffened with rheumatism, had done. +</P> + +<P> +With cold shivers of dread, he heard how Theo, though delivered from +one perilous strait, lay in jeopardy of her life in the new peril of +fever. +</P> + +<P> +She would die, he was convinced, and voices seemed to be incessantly +crying in his ears: 'It will be your fault, all your fault! You fought +to have your own way, in spite of her pleadings, and now she will die +because you were not here to help her in such sore peril. She was +deserted, so she will die, our Theo!' +</P> + +<P> +Alick, a boy of strong feelings, became maddened by despair, and +exaggerated the calamity. As time went on—and brain fever rarely +hurries itself—Theo grew no better, but rather weaker, and Alick +secretly called himself her murderer. He was distraught. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Ned, if we had been at home, you and I, we could have reached them +in half the time Geoff and old Binks took! We could have rescued them +before "The Theodora" began to settle down!' he blurted out when he +found Ned sobbing helplessly in a corner of the tea-house, The latter, +though not possessed of Alick's torturing powers of imagination, was +overcome with remorse for his own share in the transaction. +</P> + +<P> +Oh, Muster Alick, it ain't "we" it's me, only me, as is to blame!' he +hoarsely said, in a voice choked with sobs. +</P> + +<P> +'What do you mean?' asked Alick heavily; and he stared down at the +crouching speaker. +</P> + +<P> +'Miss Theedory telled I to mend the leak,' moaned Ned. 'And she +thought I'd done it, I expec', for she showed how 'twas to be mended; +but I knowed how as well as she did, for I've seed a-many done. But I +put off the doin' of it to go to Brattlesby Woods along with you, +Muster Alick, and Jerry Blunt, an' I deceived her; an' now she's +drowned, Miss Theedory is! Leastways, 'tis the same thing; for all +Northbourne's a-sayin' as she's bound to die of it all!' The boy, +burying his head, broke down into a loud, irrepressible fit of crying. +</P> + +<P> +Ned too! Alick's lips quivered as he turned abruptly away. He himself +it was who tempted Ned away, and caused the boy to neglect his duty, +bringing down all this misfortune. He had been thinking himself the +only person in fault for being wilfully absent, but it was worse and +worse! He had lured away, and placed another in the same position, so +wide-spreading can a single evil step be in its results. Even through +his sinking fears about Theo, Alick could not but feel pathetically +sorry for poor Ned, whose grief grew wilder in its abandon after his +confession was out. +</P> + +<P> +'Have you told any one about not mending the leak, Ned? Does my father +know?' he came back to Ned's side to ask anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +'I dussn't!' was the choking reply. 'But I feels bound, somehow, to +tell you,' he added. 'If Miss Theedory dies, 'twill be me as did it; +an' you can tell 'em all so, if you like! They'll put me in gaol, o' +course; p'raps they'll hang me. They may bring it in manslaughter. I +dunno what they haven't the power to do!' ended Ned desperately. +</P> + +<P> +Alick stared through the window out to sea, with an equally woebegone +face with that of his companion in misery. Two more unhappy boys one +could not have well beheld. And this grievous state of affairs had +revengefully trodden on the heels of the delightfully fascinating +expedition to the woods, which had been forbidden to the one boy, and +which the other boy had shirked his duty to join in! +</P> + +<P> +'What would be the end of it all?' Alick dully asked himself. +</P> + +<P> +'Ned,' he said aloud, and there was a passionate ring of regret in his +voice, 'it wasn't worth it!' +</P> + +<P> +'No, muster, it warn't!' assented Ned, fully understanding that Alick +would have given his right hand to have put back the clock of time, +that he might again have the chance of apologising as Geoff had done, +and returning to his duty in the schoolroom. Both boys felt positively +assured that had they been on the spot the catastrophe could not +possibly have occurred. +</P> + +<P> +There was a spell of silence in the tea-house. Now and again the echo +of a sob shook Ned from head to foot. Alick leaned his forehead +against the window jamb, and stared sullenly at the leaping waves +below. As he gazed, a strange resolve came into the boy's mind, born +of the deepening despair consuming him. +</P> + +<P> +In the black gloom that environed him, came Satan's opportunity. +</P> + +<P> +'You will never be forgiven if Theo dies,' whispered the tempting +voice. 'Perhaps you also will be put in prison, who knows, with Ned as +an accomplice!' Alick Carnegy, it will be seen, had but confused +notions as to what manslaughter meant. He shivered and cowered at the +terrifying notions of being shut up for life, perhaps, in some gloomy +gaol. Better-informed boys may jeer at Alick's ignorance of things in +general, but Northbourne was an out-of-the-way, stand-still spot, with +few or no opportunities of smartening the wits, of keeping up with the +times. +</P> + +<P> +'The best way out of the difficulty would be to run away, wouldn't it?' +as he brooded, somebody seemed to suddenly and swiftly whisper in his +ear. And Alick, when the sense of the suggestion penetrated his mind, +abruptly lifted his hanging head. He gasped aloud in relief. A door +of escape opened in the black, impenetrable wall that was closing in +round him. +</P> + +<P> +'Ned,' he said softly, nudging the other boy, 'listen to me! Be done +with that cry-baby business! We two, you and I, have got ourselves +into an awful scrape, and there's only one thing for us. Can't you +guess what that is? Rouse up! Can't you guess?' he repeated +impatiently. +</P> + +<P> +'Me guess? No! I can't make Miss Theedory get well; and what else +matters?' Ned lifted a tear-stained face to say brokenly. +</P> + +<P> +'You've often said you'd be game to run away to sea, if I made up my +mind to do it, haven't you? Well, all the blame of whatever happens +comes on us—you and me. We are bound to suffer the penalty.' Alick +spoke slowly, and with the air of weighing his words, while Ned +listened in awe. 'Now, then, it seems to me, is our chance to do it. +Let's set out this very night; they'd never miss us in all the—the +worry about Theo, until it would be too late to overtake us. We could +walk to London in about three days, I expect; and once at the Docks it +would be queer if you and I couldn't slip quietly on board some +North-bound vessel, as we've often planned to do. Speak up! Will you +come?' +</P> + +<P> +And Alick breathlessly waited for Ned's long-of-coming answer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BIRD-SCHOOL +</H3> + +<P> +Meantime, while all Northbourne, in its genuine affection for Miss +Theedory, hung expectantly on the issues of life or death—for who +could say which it might be?—Jerry Blunt was quietly making his +preparations for pursuing his new calling of bird-trainer. +</P> + +<P> +Although he had said nothing about it, one of the new pupils had been +specially set apart to be given to Theo, if it pleased God to spare her +young life. Theo, gentle and sweet-spoken to all, had won the +reverence and loyal regard of the disabled sailor, when he returned +home a cripple, by her friendly welcome to him. +</P> + +<P> +Jerry Blunt was not one to forget a kind word. He had not come across +so many, in his up-and-down life, that they had become cheapened. +</P> + +<P> +It was not, however, until the young finches were about two months old, +and showed symptoms of whistling powers, that Jerry could really begin +the labour of educating them in real earnest. His first step was to +systematically separate his pupils into small classes, so to say, or +groups of birds, lodging them in wicker cages. The next proceeding was +to shut them up in a darkened room and keep them without food for a +given time. +</P> + +<P> +The skilful teacher then began the singing-lessons by slowly playing +over and over the special tune he had selected—'The Blue Bells of +Scotland'—for the finches to learn. He performed the melody upon a +small instrument given him by Pierre Lacroix, his comrade on the +expedition, the notes of which were curiously like the birds' own. +Jerry truly had marvellous need of patience. But he knew—none +better—that it is only by slow means that perfect trust is gained. +His pupils sat for a considerable time sulking, perhaps with deeply +injured feelings, being dinnerless; and they were, doubtless, +bewildered by the darkness of the room. They were not deceived into +thinking that the night had fallen, not they! As a proof, they made no +attempt to sleep. They simply sat puzzling out, with suspicion, the +mystery that surrounded them. +</P> + +<P> +By and by, some sharper, brighter wit among his fellows began to listen +to the music, so curiously familiar, with his tiny head on one side; +and he was won over! Presently he tried, timidly and cautiously, to +pipe a few faint notes in imitation—just a few. Then he halted. +</P> + +<P> +'Not so bad for a beginning!' delightedly murmured Jerry, under his +breath. +</P> + +<P> +Bully, on his part, rather seemed to like the sound of his own voice. +With a vain perk and a flutter, he tried again, his note more assured. +Lo! there was a duet. A neighbour finch had joined in; another bully +was won over, and Jerry chuckled softly. Old Pierre had been perfectly +correct, then! The thing was possible. It was Jerry's own first +attempt, and he had been careful to follow out the Frenchman's +directions, though, until he heard with his own ears the result, he had +been secretly somewhat sceptical. +</P> + +<P> +In a few moments more there was a feeble chorus piping in unison with +the tiny bird-organ which Jerry continued to softly play. The other +finches had summoned up courage to join their brethren. +</P> + +<P> +As an instantaneous reward the teacher let a flood of light into the +dark room, in accordance with Pierre's code. More, he proceeded to +give his hungry pupils a little—only a little—food, enough, in fact, +to make them ravenous for more. Then he plunged the little room in +sudden darkness again by shutting out the light. Thus Jerry gradually +educated the birds into connecting the idea of food and light with the +sound of his little instrument's melody. +</P> + +<P> +After two or three repetitions of this performance, it followed that +the finches, kept on short commons, no sooner heard the notes of the +bird-organ always playing the one unvarying tune, than they, too, +attempted to sing it, in the sheer hope of being fed, and of seeing the +hated darkness disappear. Jerry being ever careful not to disappoint +their expectations, the result came to pass that the particular melody +was committed to memory—the tune was learned, more or less correctly; +for the feathered pupils were like human scholars, in that the few, not +the many, arrive at perfection. +</P> + +<P> +After this reward for his enormous patience, Jerry Blunt's next move +was to board out his pupils in the village with trustworthy boys who +were selected for the posts of pupil-teachers. One boy was appointed +to each bird, in order to carry out the business of teaching <I>the</I> tune +by whistling it incessantly until the air was firmly fixed in those +tiny memories, which, if they had not been exactly 'wax to receive,' +proved 'marble to retain.' As the finches grew perfect in their one +life-lesson, the Scottish ditty resounded sweetly all over the village +of Northbourne. After that, the pupils being pronounced 'finished,' +Jerry Blunt set forth, with his batch of performers, to London, where +he got a fairly good price for his well-trained songsters. His birds +sold off rapidly, each of them going off to be the pride and joy of +some girl or boy's heart with the tuneful old melody— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'O where and O where has my Hieland laddie gane?'<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +and Jerry returned home with orders for many more bullfinches as he +could procure. +</P> + +<P> +These orders, however, he was doubtful of executing; the finches were +getting too advanced in age to prove docile pupils. Still, Jerry would +do his best, and he set off to trap some young birds that had already +left the parent-nests. The work of training these advanced birds was +quite as difficult. However, Jerry was a persevering individual, +gifted with wondrous patience, an untiring teacher. He succeeded +beyond his hopes, and as time went on was enabled to earn what he +called a 'tidy' sum. +</P> + +<P> +''Tis wonderful strange, Jerry, my son, that ye can train the morsels +o' critters to sing what we may call human tunes! Nobody, of course, +could do it but yer own self, I'm sure,' grudgingly admitted his +mother, when success became sure. +</P> + +<P> +'The idea! That's so like you, mother!' laughed Jerry, as he softly +tickled the head of the bullfinch he had retained as a gift for Miss +Theedory out of the first and best batch. 'You're that conceited, you +think that your own son can do all things better than other folk. But +I could tell you a true story, now, of what others have done.' +</P> + +<P> +And in his own words Jerry related, while his mother knitted in the +firelight, how a great musician had, as a youth, trained a young +bullfinch to pipe 'God save the King.' The musician was much attached +to the bird, and the bird to him. Love begets love, with the animal +creation at least, which is, undoubtedly, the simple secret of the +strange power possessed by some human beings over birds and beasts. If +you desire to be their masters, you must, first of all, love the dumb +creatures. Where love is, all things are possible. Bull-finches, in +particular, have a strongly developed faculty for attaching themselves. +And the simple logic is easy to follow out. In the training already +described, music and pleasure—that is, the food and sunlight, which +constitute Bully's pleasure—are inseparably connected. Hence it +follows soon, that the bird, to show his joy at the sight of his owner, +learns to greet him with the one tune his little life has been spent in +learning. +</P> + +<P> +The musician, having cause to go abroad, left his petted bird in charge +of his sister. On his return to this country, his first visit was to +that lady, who told him, sorrowfully, that Bully had pined himself into +a serious illness, evidently in the grief he felt at his master's +absence. The grieved owner went hastily into the room where the cage +was, and spoke gently to the ailing bird, which stood huddled up into +what looked like a ball of feathers on his perch. Instantly, at the +sound of the loved master's voice, the dim, closed eyes were opened +wide. There was a feeble flutter of the faded plumage; the drooping +head was raised. Half creeping, half staggering, the little creature +attained the outstretched finger, on which he had barely strength to +steady himself. With a supreme effort, as it seemed, he piped out +feebly, in low, half-muffled notes, 'God save the King.' And +then—Bully fell dead! +</P> + +<P> +Jerry's voice had a slight choke in it as he finished his pathetic +little story. As for his old mother, she had thrown her apron over her +head, and was quietly sobbing under its shelter. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, my lad,' she said, by and by, when her tears were dried, 'I've +aye said that you were the best son mother ever had, and for the same a +blessing will, no doubt, rest upon your head. And as for the bits o' +birds an' beasts well, I've heard the old passon—Mr. Vesey +himself—say, an' I never forget the words, as— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'"He prayeth best who loveth best<BR> +All men and bird and beast;"<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +so, to my thinkin', that's how 'tis wi' you. Ye love the mites, and ye +can do all things wi' them. That's yer secret!' +</P> + +<P> +And undoubtedly Jerry's old mother was right. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE +</H3> + +<P> +It was a still, dark night when two short figures, each carrying a +bundle, stole away from Northbourne, skirting Brattlesby Woods, and +making for the old London road. +</P> + +<P> +The fugitives were Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, and each was trying +his hardest to prevent his companion from hearing the choking sobs that +could not be kept down. +</P> + +<P> +All boys, of course, secretly believe that it is a fine, manly thing to +run away to sea. From time immemorial it has sounded so well—in +fiction. Is there a boy breathing who has not pictured himself, free +as a bird on the wing, shaking off the trammels of home in this +fashion? But the grim reality was an altogether different matter to +the couple of friends who were setting forth under cover of darkness. +For one thing, Alick, who hated anything underhand, was thoroughly +ashamed of sneaking away in the night. That in itself distinctly took +away from the dash and glory of the affair. +</P> + +<P> +In addition, he felt himself groping in a fog of misery. Nevermore, he +felt convinced, would he see his gentle, loving sister in this life; +and he shivered uncontrollably as he thought that, but for his absence +in her hour of peril, Theo would be as well and strong as anybody—as, +for instance, little Queenie, upon whom the accident had left no evil +effects. +</P> + +<P> +Before and behind, life was grim and stripped of hope for both the +boy-adventurers as they plunged along the high road. They were too +intensely miserable to look forward to the future. All they were +intent on was to escape from the dreaded consequences of their +misdoings. +</P> + +<P> +It is hard work travelling with a heart of lead in one's bosom— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'A merry heart goes all the day,<BR> +Your sad tires in a mile-a.'<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Still, the two trudged on, mile after mile, until when the dawn stole +up the sky they found themselves on the outskirts of a country town at +a considerable distance from Northbourne. Having but a few shillings, +belonging to Alick, they had decided to walk every step of the road to +London Docks. In the dim grey light from the east they saw, to their +astonishment, large looming vans and many blurred forms, all in busy +motion. There seemed to be, as it were, a commotion of shadows. +</P> + +<P> +'What on earth is it, Ned? They look like ghosts flitting about!' +Alick said, half fearfully. +</P> + +<P> +'No! They ain't ghosts!' slowly rejoined Ned, after a prolonged stare. +'I'll tell you what it means. Tis a circus, or mayhap a wild-beast +show, or somethin' of that sort. They're carryvans, leastways, and +they're makin' an early start. Depend on it, that's what 'tis, Muster +Alick!' +</P> + +<P> +Alick whistled. +</P> + +<P> +'I shouldn't wonder, Ned. You've just hit it. It's a circus! Let's +go closer. Who knows but they might give us a lift on the road to +London!' +</P> + +<P> +Ned shook his head; he was extremely doubtful as to that. Such +civility was not by any means the rule of the road. +</P> + +<P> +As the boys drew nearer, they felt sure it must be a wild-beast show, +from the rumble of subdued roars, as if from pent-up animals, and the +chatter of birds that resounded from the depths of the caravans in +which the inmates were, evidently, disturbed from their slumbers by the +early move. Horses were being put to, and men were running to and fro, +but Alick and Ned felt shy of accosting any one of them. +</P> + +<P> +They hung back and watched eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +'Hilloa, you two shavers! Whatever do you want loafing round here at +this time o' morning? Say, can't yer?' +</P> + +<P> +The shrill, loud voice came from the window of a house-caravan, and a +woman's head, stuck all over with curl-papers, was thrust out to stare +intently at the new-comers. +</P> + +<P> +'We are going up to London—on business,' said Alick, mustering up +courage, and speaking as manfully as he could. 'And,' he moved up +closer to say, 'we thought that, perhaps, you would give us a lift as +far as you could. I'll give you a shilling!' +</P> + +<P> +The boy spoke with the air as though shillings were plentiful enough. +But, in truth, he had only two half-crowns of his own in the world; +they were the entire amount of his savings, which he had brought on +setting forth in life. +</P> + +<P> +The woman with the curl-papers stared hard down at the two young +strangers before she answered, not so ill-naturedly— +</P> + +<P> +'Well, I don't much mind, if so be as one of you gits on these yer +steps, and has a ride along of us. The t'other can git on to one of +the beasteses' vans at the back. 'Twon't break no bones if you do, as +I can see.' With a reassuring nod, she then withdrew her curl-papers +into the interior of her moving home. +</P> + +<P> +'You'd best go aside her, I suppose, Muster Alick,' whispered Ned. +'I'll hang on to that van yonder;' and he took himself off in the +direction to which the woman had seemed to point. +</P> + +<P> +'The missus said as I might have a ride on the back of this van,' said +he, meekly enough, to a man in his shirt-sleeves, who was too busy with +the bars of the van to look up at the speaker. +</P> + +<P> +'All right! If so be as she says so, it's got to be, I reckon!' he +growled; and Ned swung himself up behind, trying hard to make out, as +the procession moved off slowly and ponderously at last, what sort of +beasts were on the other side of the boards he was leaning against. +Suppose they were lions, or suppose the boards got loose? The +fisher-lad, whom storm and tempest on the deep could not dismay, felt a +bit creepy. Setting his ear close to the wood, he could distinctly +hear hideous growls, as if some savage creature, maddened by hunger, +were ready to break out and leap upon him. What would granny say if +she could dream of his situation? But dashing his hand across his +sleepy eyes, Ned hastily told himself there must be no harking back, no +thinking of what granny or anybody else at Northbourne would say or do. +It must be good-bye, for ever, to the old life. The motion of the van, +the rest after the long tramp, alike caused the country-bred boy to nod +sleepily as he clung to his perch. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, he was back again in Northbourne. It was Sunday afternoon, +and, dressed in his best, the fisher-boy stood up straight in class to +repeat his hymn to his earnest-eyed, sweet-faced teacher, 'Miss +Theedory.' And the words he fought sleepily to remember must have been +born of his nearness to the growling monsters within the caravan— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Christian, dost thou see them<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">On the holy ground,</SPAN><BR> +How the troops of Midian<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Prowl and prowl around?'</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE MIRE +</H3> + +<P> +It was still darkish as the array of vans filed along the London road, +and, in the confusion, Ned lost sight of the van in which Alick had got +a lift beside the lady in curl-papers. And no wonder! for the fact +was, the show had parted in two divisions—one going to be stationed in +the East End, somewhere about Whitechapel, the other portion to +traverse the suburbs south of the Thames. +</P> + +<P> +It thus happened that the two Northbourne boys were separated, as they +each discovered when the day wore on. Worse still: they found, to +their dismay, that they had been entrapped artfully. A couple of +useful boys were desperately needed, as a fever had been hanging about +the show, breaking out at fitful intervals, and the chief victims had +been the boy-helpers, who, one after another, dropped off, some to +hospitals, others to die, like rats in the holes that were all the +homes they knew. +</P> + +<P> +The welcome accorded to Alick and Ned was thus explained. The +showwoman was secretly overjoyed to give the strangers a lift on their +journey. But before the first day closed in the pair of adventurers +found out what real hard work meant. Even Ned Dempster, accustomed to +the dilatory, easy-going life of sea-fishing, knew nothing indeed of +the drudgery and hustling and flurry of such everyday work as he had +stepped into, unawares, among the rough caravan folk. +</P> + +<P> +Alick, of course, was thunderstruck and stupefied to find himself at +everybody's rude beck and call. And to have his awkward, bewildered +movements hurried on by hard cuffs and violent language was an +unpleasantly new experience for a Carnegy to endure. His indignant +attempts at rebelling were treated with loud jeers, and by savage +threats of a horse-whipping. The latter menace was carried out before +the week was over, on the unhappy boy obstinately refusing to clean out +the animals' cages, to fetch and carry the food for birds and beasts, +and to perform a hundred other distasteful offices. +</P> + +<P> +'I'll teach ye; I'll conduct your education, young sir!' shouted the +ring-master. 'And here's the lesson-book!' he sneered, flourishing a +cruel-looking whip. +</P> + +<P> +Stunned and crushed, Alick had asked repeatedly to see Ned, and also +entreated to be permitted to leave the show at once. His requests +were, of course, harshly refused. In addition, he was sternly warned +that if he attempted to escape he would be horse-whipped again, and +next-door to death. +</P> + +<P> +'They're a catch for us, them two!' the brutal ring-master remarked to +his wife, as he and she sat at their supper after the performance was +over one evening. 'That tallest youngster's a swell as has run away +from 'ome, judging from his looks and clothes. He's just what we've +bin wantin' for a long time back. The fust thing to do is to break +that 'igh speerit of his, and then we'll set to work to train him to +show off with the leopards. That would draw famous with the public.' +</P> + +<P> +'Not with the leopards! Not with them beasts! They're the worst and +the fiercest in the show. 'Tis next-door to impossible to tame a +leopard. I won't 'ave it, I tell you, so there!' the woman broke in, +with a high-pitched voice. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, well, we're not going to 'ave words about it!' The first +speaker yielded; for his wife, the widow of the former proprietor, was +the real owner of the circus. 'We needn't say no more about the +leopards—for a bit. But I'll tell you what. 'Ee can do tricks with +little Mike, the new pony, and the monkeys. We'll make up a sort of +little performance a-purpose for 'im and them. I must invent a little +somethink that would be taking.' +</P> + +<P> +'I 'ope 'ee won't catch the fever, like the rest on 'em, that's all!' +muttered the mistress, shaking her head doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +That, however, was just what Alick Carnegy managed to do. After some +weeks' slaving and knocking about at the hands of the ring-master, such +as fairly stunned him, he fell sick. At once the poor, gaunt, dirty +lad, whom Northbourne would have refused to recognise as the smart +Alick Carnegy, always trig and trim, was hustled off to the squalid +room of an old Whitechapel crone who, for the five shillings in the +pocket of his torn coat, agreed to nurse him through his trouble. If +he had the luck to live through it, the show-folk intended to have him +back. If he died—well, there was the parish ready to bury him. +</P> + +<P> +Ned, on the other hand, was by no means in such evil plight. He was +still in the division of the show moving from one suburb to another, so +he had, at least, fresh air to breathe. True, he had brought on +himself one brutal thrashing by running away from the show on the first +opportunity. He was easily enough traced to the Docks, where he had +sped, hoping against hope to find Alick loitering there. Instead, he +was captured by the ring-master himself, who had been informed of the +boy's flight, and who thought it quite worth his while to look up such +an intelligent, hard-working little chap as Ned. The truth was, Ned +had made himself far too useful among the animals to be thus let slip. +All this time the dejected lad had been purposely kept in ignorance of +the whereabouts of his companion. It was only by pure accident that he +at last heard of Alick's collapse and speedy removal from the show—to +die, for what anyone cared. One of the showmen had been despatched +from the head-quarters of the establishment on an errand, and, knocking +up against Ned, exclaimed— +</P> + +<P> +'Hilloa! You ain't got the fever yet, then? Your chum has distanced +you; for he's down with it.' Then the man told Ned that Alick was +lying 'as ill as ill' in the house of an old crone who once belonged to +the show herself. +</P> + +<P> +It was a relief to hear even that much of his companion; it was better +than the mystery of silence. But Ned's panic was pretty severe when he +thought of Alick's perilous and deserted condition. A rush of mingled +feelings came over the Northbourne lad. He felt as the prodigal son +must have felt in the far country. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, it was exactly like the Bible story which 'Miss Theedory' seemed +to like best. At least, she told it to her class-boys more often than +any other, and Ned, listening to her, had grown to realise the unhappy +youth's condition in that far-off land where he had 'wasted his +substance in riotous living,' and to sympathise cordially with him when +he 'came to himself.' +</P> + +<P> +But Ned, hustled, driven, sworn at, from morning to night, could now, +in those scanty moments allowed him to swallow his rough food, or +before his tired eyes closed in sleep, still more vividly picture the +prodigal's desolation and despair. +</P> + +<P> +Then he remembered the outcome of that despair: the unhappy youth in +the parable suddenly determined to arise and go to his father, to +confess, with bitter remorse, his own mad wrong-doings. Would it not +be well for himself to arise and return to Northbourne, and to confess +the terrible folly of which he and Alick had been guilty? Again and +again Ned imagined himself so doing. But the cruel whip which he had +already tasted was another side to the question. No, he dare not again +attempt to escape! He writhed still when he recollected the stinging +lashes of the long, serpent-like whip. At last came an inspiration. +He could, and he would, write to the captain at the Bunk, entreating +him to come and rescue his son, and also Ned himself. This resolve, +however, was a work of no small difficulty. To procure an envelope and +a postage-stamp were next door to impossible for the lad who was +watched so keenly. Fortunately, some body coming out of the +performance one evening, in pity for his unhappy looks, threw Ned a +penny. A day or so after, when sweeping out the ring, he found in the +sawdust an envelope unwritten upon, and tolerably clean. It was a +prize: and that evening, when the public were shrieking with laughter +over the capers of a clown arm-in-arm with a tame bear, followed by a +couple of monkeys skilfully mimicking their very strut, Ned was behind +one of the vans scribbling with pencil a few frantic, ill-spelt words +that, when the crumpled envelope arrived at the Bunk, were wept over +and laughed over in tumultuous joy. The penny thrown him went for a +stamp; the letter was pushed, with trembling haste, into a letter-box, +and Ned had returned to his post among the squalid back-scenes of the +gay performance before anybody had time to miss him. +</P> + +<P> +His heart beat in mad throbs, so that the boy was scarce able to sleep +a wink that night. Hopes and fears jostled themselves in his excited +brain. If the postman, old 'Uncle Dan,' who trudged from Brattlesby +town every day at noon with the Northbourne post-bag, only safely +delivered the letter Ned had posted, all would be well. With the +captain himself to the fore, every difficulty must, and would, be swept +away. Then—— But with a sobbing catch in his breath Ned put aside +the after. He was too weak from misery and ill-usage to finish the +blissful result. So, over and over, he murmured, 'I have sinned +against heaven and before thee!' until that refrain of all true +penitence lulled him to sleep. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +'Alick is found! My boy is alive!' The captain had been able to utter +no more as he pushed the crumpled wisp of a letter into a thin hand +eagerly outstretched to receive it. The tears were running unheeded +down the old man's cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, father!' There was a glad cry. 'God is good indeed! He has +heard our prayers.' +</P> + +<P> +It was Theo—or was it Theo's ghost?—who sat by the open window +drinking in the sea breezes she was still too weak to go out of doors +and meet. Yes, Theo was, day by day, coming back to her old sweet +self, after a long spell of illness. There was only weakness left to +fight—weakness and anxiety about Alick. As long as possible the fact +of Alick having run away from home was kept from the prostrate girl. +But in the end it abruptly leaked out, and nearly pushed her back +through the gates of death. +</P> + +<P> +Every means that the captain knew of had been set in motion to find the +pair of runaways. But the searchers were checkmated at the outset by +failing to find the boys at the Docks. The police in the end convinced +themselves and the captain that the pair had stolen on board some +foreign vessel on the eve of its departure, and, as stowaways, were +already far off on the deep. +</P> + +<P> +But which of the many hundreds of ships that had set sail since might +the boys possibly be aboard? Again and again had the half-distracted +father asked himself the maddening question as he paced the busy Docks. +He would return then to Northbourne, where his other beloved child lay +in jeopardy of her young life. Through the anxious night-watches by +her bed, the old sailor pictured his boy on board some barque ploughing +the seas, the stormy winds roaring through the rigging, the decks wet +and slippery, the rough sailors cuffing and jostling the unwelcome +intruders who had stolen their passages. +</P> + +<P> +None knew better than the captain what the boys who had hidden +themselves in some dark corner of an outward-bound vessel would be +called upon to endure, when discovered; none knew better than he the +hourly dangers to which they would be exposed in the perils of the +deep—the risks of foundering, of collision, of tempests. +</P> + +<P> +As the days wore on, and no word came of the runaways, the old sailor's +heart sank to the lowest depths. +</P> + +<P> +'Father, we must trust him to God; it's all we can do,' a low, weak +voice whispered; and the old man took heart again. He would trust his +boy to that— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Eternal Father, strong to save,<BR> +Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.'<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Perhaps of all mankind a sailor has experienced most signal proofs of +the omnipotence of God. Throughout the daily dangers they are exposed +to is the underlying, as well as the overruling, sense of the Almighty +Power that holds the heavens in the hollow of His hand. +</P> + +<P> +The captain knew that his girl was right. What he and she had to do +was simply trust Alick to his Father in heaven. +</P> + +<P> +Then came Ned's missive with its startling news. +</P> + +<P> +'You will go, father, and fetch him home?' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, yes! If I can find him. Please God I may!' +</P> + +<P> +That same day the captain started for London, and with him went Philip +Price, who insisted on joining in the search for the hapless Alick. +The young tutor had proved himself a very friend in need in 'the day of +trouble' that had befallen the Bunk. What more natural then that he +should persist in helping the captain in what would be a ticklish piece +of work, as both men knew? +</P> + +<P> +Before the two set out, Philip Price brought his mother over from +Brattlesby to establish her in Theo's sick-room. It was not the +widow's first visit to the Bunk. The woman who never had a daughter of +her own found in the serious, gentle Theo a realisation of those +dream-daughters who had never been in real life. +</P> + +<P> +And Theo, on her part, welcomed the quiet, soft-spoken widow—another +bit of Philip Price, so similar were mother and son. It was a relief +to the overwrought girl to restfully watch the household reins gathered +up in other and abler hands than her own. As for the widow, she grew +alert and brisk; so good is a little wholesome activity for others. +</P> + +<P> +'We must have no fretting, no repining, dear Miss Carnegy,' she +persisted cheerfully. 'Your young brother is sure to be found. The +captain can't fail, now he has got my Philip to aid him in the search!' +</P> + +<P> +The widow's text for every sermon was 'my Philip'; and it was one of +which Theo Carnegy never tired, to judge by her intent listening to the +subject-matter it produced. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN MULLINER'S RENTS +</H3> + +<P> +It was a hot, stifling summer day, and perhaps Whitechapel never looked +more grimy, more squalid, more sorrowful, perforce from its pathetic +contrast to the summer beauty of the skies. +</P> + +<P> +The pavement was so hot that the heat seemed to rise up, flouting +itself in your very face. +</P> + +<P> +In one particular alley, known as Mulliner's Rents, the heat seemed +almost tropical. Possibly the dense overcrowding of this quarter with +human life enhanced the burning sensation of the thick air breathed out +and breathed in again, unrefreshed, by multitudes of lungs. Here, +there, and everywhere human beings stood about idly. Groups of untidy +women, in twos and threes, gossiped; lazy men lolled against the +houses, smoking in sullen silence; and for every grown-up person there +were fully a dozen of squalid children playing, shouting, staring, and +squabbling with a vigour no heat could abate. +</P> + +<P> +There was little traffic, so to say, in Mulliner's Rents; it was quite +select in that one single respect. Nothing on wheels penetrated the +unlovely quarter save a coster's barrow of fruit; unwholesome little +yellow pears and cruelly green apples of the lowest type of apple-kind +being the wares of the moment. It was truly a sad and sorrowful haunt, +this of the man-made town; and so it seemed to the two travellers fresh +from the God-made country—from the wholesome breezes of the <I>caller</I> +salt air of Northbourne—when they plunged into its midst. +</P> + +<P> +'Courage, captain!' said Philip Price, when he noticed the blanching of +the elder man's brown face and the unutterable loathing of horror that +spoke out of every feature. 'We've got to put our shoulder to the +wheel, and leave no stone unturned to find Alick, and carry him out of +this pestilent hole.' +</P> + +<P> +Philip Price, before his health broke down, had been for a few months +doing duty as curate in a still more squalid colony of human nests than +even this. When the sailor flinched, and hung back, Philip strode +forward, determined to conquer, unheeding the battery of stares turned +upon himself and his companion by the inhabitants, and the +free-and-easy comments, of which they were by no means chary. +</P> + +<P> +Already the captain and Philip had that day spent many fruitless hours +in the search, when they hit on a fresh clue and an address in +Mulliner's Rents. But here, even, difficulties bristled, and the tide +of hopelessness was setting in upon both men when a wretched old crone +was dragged out of a public-house to confront them, with dazed eyes and +with a hateful odour of gin oozing from her whole person. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes—well, yes,' she grudgingly admitted, in answer to the eager +questions of the searchers; 'I does know a boy down with fever. What +o' that? I ain't done no harm to him! He's 'ad the best I could +offer; and five shillin's don't go far when there's sickness,' she +ended, with a whimper, for she was maudlin with drink. +</P> + +<P> +'Take us to that boy at once!' commanded Philip Price; for the +captain's agitation unmanned him for the moment. +</P> + +<P> +The wretched woman, awed by Philip's tone, complied. Perhaps, also, +she obeyed, half in fear of the policeman, who had stepped up to join +the gentlemen, and half in hope of getting more silver to spend on more +drink. +</P> + +<P> +Before half an hour was over Alick Carnegy was found. It was a +terrible shock to the captain to recognise his boy in the squalid, +dirty, delirious sufferer tossing wearily on a heap of sacks, on the +grimy floor of an attic at the top of an evil-smelling, dilapidated +house, to which the crone stumblingly conducted them. +</P> + +<P> +'Merciful powers!' he groaned in dismayed horror. +</P> + +<P> +'Hush!' enjoined Philip. 'Be as calm as you can. I believe the poor +little chap is off his head; but, if there's a gleam of consciousness, +it would send him over the precipice again to witness your agitation.' +</P> + +<P> +There was small fear of the captain doing any further mischief; he was +stunned into helplessness, and stood mute, trying to force himself to +believe that the huddled heap of squalid misery was his very own +son—smart, manly-looking Alick Carnegy. Though the captain was thus +helpless, Philip Price seemed to know exactly what to do, and how to do +it. +</P> + +<P> +Getting the address of a doctor, he rushed off, in the first place, to +fetch him. Then a bedstead and clean bedding were hired in. In an +hour or two more the grimy room was swept and tidied as far as +possible; the window propped up to stay open; the hapless, dirty +sufferer cleansed and made straight; and beside his bed sat a +gentle-faced, trained nurse, whose wholesome presence seemed to +transform the room. +</P> + +<P> +'Now, captain,' cheerily said Philip, who looked another man in the +excitement, 'you are going to take a bit of advice from me, I hope. +You will go straight back to Brattlesby by the night train. Your +invalid at home must not be forgotten; anxiety is not the best sort of +tonic for her. And I mean to remain here with your boy.' +</P> + +<P> +'God bless you, Price!' The old sailor's voice trembled as he wrung +Philip's hand. 'I never knew it was in you! Man, how one can be +deceived! I thought your head was in the clouds, and that you didn't +know your right hand from your left, practically speaking. Yes, yes! +I'll run down to-night, and to-morrow I can return. I can trust my boy +to you. Let nothing be spared; there's my purse. The doctor seemed a +downright good sort of chap and <I>she</I> is worth a gold-mine!' He +pointed to the nurse, who was deftly bathing Alick's burning brow. +</P> + +<P> +'What a splendid lad that Price is! He's the very salt of the earth!' +murmured the old captain, as he threaded his way later through the +unsavoury streets, now ablaze with lights that enticed and beckoned +forth misery to stalk out from every dark corner. 'He is a true +Christian—that's what it is! To think how my boys have ill-treated +him, and here he is caring for Alick so tenderly that the poor boy's +mother couldn't have done more, had she been spared! That's what you +call returning good for evil, with a vengeance! Well, well, please +God, I'll mend my own ways too! If I have my girl and my boy both +restored to me, I'll be a different father to them from what I have +been.' +</P> + +<P> +It had been borne in upon the captain's mind, during the cloud of +sorrow overshadowing his home, that he had, somehow, failed in his +duty. And, with the courage that belongs only to the brave heart, he +admitted his shortcomings. +</P> + +<P> +There was tremendous excitement in Northbourne when it was known that +Alick had actually been found. The Bunk was besieged by an +ever-growing crowd, anxious to have the news verified. And where was +Ned Dempster? The captain himself had to assure them his next step +would be to discover the hapless Ned. Yes, yes; Ned also should be +found and brought back. Not a stone should be left unturned until he +rescued Ned likewise. +</P> + +<P> +And the old sailor kept his word. On his return to London he and +Philip Price took it in turn, between their spells of watching beside +Alick's sick-bed, to seek out the wandering half of the show-circus. +Time went on, but they were still unsuccessful, however. Not until the +fever died out, and Alick, weak and exhausted, almost beyond building +up, began to show faint signs of interest in his surroundings, could +any questions be put to him. It was Philip Price who managed, without +agitating the sufferer, to win from his feeble lips the name of the +show. After that it was a tolerably easy matter to unearth its +whereabouts. +</P> + +<P> +On demanding Ned's release, a series of denials met them as to the boy +being with the establishment at all. A storm of furious resistance +which followed had to be quelled by the stern detective who accompanied +the captain in his raid upon the show. Back in triumph to the +Whitechapel attic they carried the trembling Ned, who had to be scoured +and fed and clothed into his 'right mind' once again. +</P> + +<P> +And this was running away secretly! thought each humiliated adventurer +as they gazed, stony-eyed, at one another. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after, when Alick had crept sufficiently far out of the fever, +looking a white shadow of his former self, the two boys were conveyed +back to Northbourne, where a genuinely hearty welcome awaited them from +the fisher-folk. Jerry Blunt, indeed, had suggested a triumphal arch +with WELCOME in letters tall and wide. But that notion was instantly +quashed by wiser heads. +</P> + +<P> +'We be thankful to see 'em back,' judicially said Northbourne; 'but we +ain't a-goin' to make "conquerin' heroes" of such young limbs!' +</P> + +<P> +So it came to pass that the boys who thought it such a fine, manly +thing to run away to sea, as boys will think, returned meekly, with +shamed eyes, and hearts bounding joyfully at sight of the homes they +had not dreamed were so dear until they had forfeited them, as they +thought, for ever. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NO PLACE LIKE HOME +</H3> + +<P> +'Oh, Alick! +</P> + +<P> +'Oh, Theo!' +</P> + +<P> +After the first cries of greeting there was a silence. Theo's arms +were tight round her restored brother's neck, and Alick rested his +tear-stained cheek against his sister's. They were alone in the room, +but, in truth, the boy would not have cared if all Northbourne had been +looking on. +</P> + +<P> +'Theo,' he sobbed out presently, 'it was awful!' +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, dear, it must have been,' whispered Theo sympathetically, +tightening her arms. 'It was not what you expected?' +</P> + +<P> +'It was <I>awful</I>!' repeated Alick. As yet he could find no words to +picture his experience of life out in the hard world. 'And,' he went +on, lifting up his tear-stained face, 'I am more sorry than I can ever +tell that I did it, Theo—sorry and ashamed.' +</P> + +<P> +'Have you told God that, Alick?' asked Theo softly, in his ear. +</P> + +<P> +'Yes, I have,' was the grave, equally low reply. 'I've put it on to +the end of my prayers, night and morning. And—perhaps He will forgive +me some day, if I—if I can do something, work out something, you know, +to show that I <I>am</I> really and truly sorry. Don't you think I could +manage something of the sort, Theo?' asked Alick earnestly, if +awkwardly. +</P> + +<P> +'No, Alick, I don't!' said Theo abruptly; and the boy's face fell. Of +late the boy had been full of this new desire to efface his wrong-doing +by some means or other himself. 'Most certainly, dear old boy,' went +on his sister, more gently, 'you cannot "blot out" your transgression +by your own efforts. Don't you know that we have, each and every one +of us, in the heavens, that great High Priest who is interceding for us +always, always? He, our dear Lord, has already done that "something" +which you are groping to do in your weak, small way. <I>He</I> has worked +out your redemption—yours and mine. What you have to do is to carry +your sins to the foot of the cross, where the great "something" was +accomplished for us. You remember the hymn— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'"I lay my sins on Jesus,<BR> +The spotless Lamb of God."<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Oh, Alick! I'm only a girl, and I can't say the words right; but you +must lay <I>your</I> sin on Jesus, who has promised to bear it. Tell Him of +your sorrowing repentance. That's all you have got to do; He does the +rest!' +</P> + +<P> +'And, Theo, there's Price,' Alick lifted his head to say presently. +'Oh, I can't tell you what he has done for me! He nursed me all +through in that slum of a Whitechapel—me, of all people! And when I +begged his pardon for all my bad conduct you should have seen his face! +Theo, if you'll give me your word never to tell it to any one, I cried +like a baby; for Price looked for all the world like Stephen looked +when they were stoning him. But you'll never tell I said so? I was a +cowardly wretch to insult him as I did; and to think how he has paid me +back—"coals of fire" are nothing to it!' +</P> + +<P> +'Well, I always told you, Alick, that he was a true Christian +gentleman; I was sure of it.' +</P> + +<P> +'I know you did. I've found it out for myself, now. Theo!' +energetically added Alick, 'I shall never be the same again, I hate my +old self! I mean to be so different. I shall work, and study, and——' +</P> + +<P> +'And try "to do your duty in that state of life unto which it has +pleased God to call you," I hope,' put in Theo quietly. 'But, Alick, +you must ask His help to hold you up, and to prevent your footsteps +from sliding,' she added reverently. 'You can't do it in your own +strength, dear!' As Theo ceased there were tears on her face, and +Alick's also. For a long time no other words were spoken—none were +needed. +</P> + +<P> +The sun was setting over the bay, and the fisher-folk, busy with their +preparations for the coming night's work, were cheerily shouting from +one boat to another. It was good indeed, Alick felt, his heart +throbbing with gratitude, to be once again in the dear old home, in the +clean, wholesome country. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +By and by the rest of the family crowded in, and, bit by bit, Alick's +tale was told to his wondering hearers. +</P> + +<P> +'Well, well, boy,' said the captain, putting his arms round the neck of +his prodigal son, 'your precious escapade has taught you one stern +lesson among others, and that is, there's no place like home as yet.' +</P> + +<P> +Alick hung his head to hide his shamed face. How good everybody was to +him! The kindness seemed to stab him through and through. Father's +arm round his neck; one hand clasped by Theo's, and the other hugged up +in both of Queenie's fat, warm little hands; and Geoff devouring him +with eyes dilated with joyful pride over his brother's safe return. +And never a harsh word had passed any one's lips! Such treatment to a +character of Alick's type was the keenest of punishment. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Under another Northbourne roof another penitent was confessing his +folly that same evening. +</P> + +<P> +'No, granny, never, never will I stir out o' Northbourne, now I've had +the luck to get back to it!' ended Ned, after relating his adventures +in his absence. +</P> + +<P> +'Not even if so be as they can't find the North Pole without 'ee to +help 'em, eh, my lad?' asked granny slyly, across the supper-table. +The old woman had much ado to hide her joy over Ned's return. +</P> + +<P> +Ned coloured, and hung his head abashed. 'Oh, well, I expec' they can +manage without me and Muster Alick!' he stammered at last. +</P> + +<P> +'That's true enough! Depend upon it, Ned, if the Lord needs you, He +will shape the way for you, plain as plain. Meantime, it looks as if +He meant you to bide here, seein' as how in His goodness He has bringed +you back to us. And you just try to remember all your life through, my +lad, what the Book tells us—that "Godliness with contentment is great +gain."' +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +It is a year ago exactly since 'The Theodora' sank to the bottom of the +blue waters in the bay where she still lies. Time has wrought and +brought many changes in Northbourne, as time will. Over at the +Vicarage is the greatest change, for the good old parson has gone home +to— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +That sweet and blessed country<BR> +That eager hearts expect';<BR> +</P> + +<P> +and his frail, ailing widow has been taken away to dwell with distant +relatives. But Binks, under a new master, is still the handy-man; +while Splutters and Shutters have become sedate members of society, for +their new proprietor is Philip Price, than whom few know better the +true secret of ruling. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, the young tutor is now restored to health and strength. The fine +Northbourne air, the restfulness of country life, and God's goodness, +have combined to set up Philip Price as a robust man. He had been +ailing so long in the old days, that he had got well-nigh accustomed to +being a semi-invalid. But, nowadays, he has become so strong that he +has forgotten what ailing means—in his own person that is, for he is a +man of keen sympathies with all concerning his fellow-men. +</P> + +<P> +With renewed health he had thrown himself more vigorously than ever +into his work of teaching; but other things were in store for him. +</P> + +<P> +On Mr. Vesey's unexpected death, the living of Northbourne was vacant, +of course. Philip Price did not dream of more than a fleeting wish +than it might have fallen to himself. +</P> + +<P> +Other people, however, went a step further than wishing. The captain, +it so happened, was a cousin of the patron of the parish. With all his +energy he set about procuring the living for one to whom he would ever +feel bound by ties of gratitude. +</P> + +<P> +'If he be a thorough gentleman, a Christian through and through, and an +honourable man, why—let him have it!' said the patron testily. This +unexpected compliance was so astounding that the old sailor felt thrown +back on himself, as it were, and returned slightly bewildered by his +own success. +</P> + +<P> +In due time the new vicar and his mother, two proud and happy people, +settled down in the Vicarage house which stares across the bay at the +Bunk. +</P> + +<P> +In the Carnegys' home the only changes are most happy ones. Since the +captain gave up allowing his hobby to be his master, and has taken a +keener interest in his boys' and girls' daily life, all things are +brighter at the Bunk. The old naval officer is never happier than when +on the water with his family-crew, and has presented each of his boys +with a canoe, to the pride and glory of not only themselves, but the +entire fishing community. +</P> + +<P> +Theo still pulls Queenie and Queenie's ever-increasing doll-family +about the bay, but in a new 'Theodora.' But the tall, sweet-faced +sister, of whom the Carnegy boys are so proud, seldom rows across to +the Vicarage nowadays. Some folk wonder why. Others, who are wiser, +smile and say that perhaps 'Miss Theedory' will go across some day and +land for life at the Vicarage. And less likely things have happened. +Indeed, Jerry Blunt is engaged in training a young bullfinch as a +wedding-present, though nobody can induce him to say for whom. But +people cannot help shrewdly guessing, when they remember that Theo gave +away the first bird-singer Jerry presented to her to Mrs. Vesey, as a +Northbourne keepsake, when she left the Vicarage. +</P> + +<P> +And the Carnegy boys? +</P> + +<P> +Well, they are making the most of their freedom this summer, as next +term they set out on a public-school career. They have not been idle +this past year, and Philip Price knows they will not disgrace him when +confronted with more strict examiners than himself. Alick, in +particular, has been diligent, and being endowed with plenty of brains, +his father and Theo are full of hope regarding his future. +</P> + +<P> +Better still, Alick's heart is a changed one. By God's grace his +footsteps are set in the right path. No more rebellious outbursts will +there be against those whom the will of God has set over him. A sharp +lesson taught him the world's cruel hardness to the defenceless, and +showed the true value of a good father and a pure home. +</P> + +<P> +Geoff, ready as ever to take his colour from his surroundings, has been +treading steadily on his altered brother's heels in the 'narrow way.' +</P> + +<P> +And now our sojourn in breezy little Northbourne is over, and we must +say farewell to its fisher-folk. Some of us may, perchance, meet the +Carnegy boys on life's journey; who can say? But the +stay-at-homes—the stalwart, active Ned Dempster, now one of Fletcher's +boat-crew; the bird-trainer, Jerry Blunt; the families of the Bunk and +the Vicarage,—to one and all we must say good-bye, which is 'God be +with them!' +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +EVERY BOY'S BOOKSHELF. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Frank Lester's Fortunes. By Frederick Arnold. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A Boy's Adventures Round the World, By John Andrew Higginson. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +In Mortal Peril: A Story of the Great Armada. By E. E. Crake. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Bush Luck. By W. H. Timperley. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Schooldays at Highfield House. By A. N. Malan. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Under Fire. By H. Frederick Charles. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Young Nor'-Wester. By J. Macdonald Oxley. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOY'S LIBRARY OF ADVENTURE & HEROISM. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +ALLAN ADAIR; or Here and There in Many Lands. By Dr. GORDON STABLES, +R.N., author of "In the Land of the Lion and the Ostrich." With Ten +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A HERO IN WOLF-SKIN. A Story of Pagan and Christian. By TOM BEVAN. +With Seven Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE ADVENTURES OF VAL DAINTRY IN THE GRAECO-TURKISH WAR. By V. L. +GOING. With Seven Illustrations by FRANK FELLER. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE HEROES OF MOSS HALL SCHOOL. By E. C. KENYON, author of "Little +Robin Grey," etc. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE LOST EARLDOM: A Tale of Scotland's Reign of Terror. By CYRIL GREY, +author of "For Crown and Covenant." With Three Illustrations by +RAYMOND POTTER. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A TROOPER OF THE FINNS: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. By TOM BEVAN, +author of "A Hero in Wolf-skin," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations +by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +WILD LIFE IN SUNNY LANDS. A Romance of Butterfly Hunting. By GORDON +STABLES, M.D., R.N., author of "The Shell Hunters." With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE VOYAGE OF THE BLUE VEGA. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., R.N. With Six +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +COMRADES UNDER CANVAS. A Story of Boys' Brigade Life. By FREDERICK P. +GIBBON. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +BOB MARCHANT'S SCHOLARSHIP. By ERNEST PROTHEROE. With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE BOY SETTLER; or, The Adventures of Sydney Bartlett. By H. C. +STORER. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +FROM SCAPEGRACE TO HERO; or, The Adventures and Triumphs of Jem Blake. +By ERNEST PROTHEROE, author of "Bob Marchant's Scholarship." With +Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STORIES FOR BOYS. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By TALBOT BAINES REED. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE-GUINEA WATCH. With Seven Full-page and +Sixteen other Illustrations in the Text. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE COCK HOUSE AT FELLSGARTH. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE FIFTH FORMAT ST. DOMINIC'S. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A DOG WITH A BAD NAME. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED +PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +ROGER INGLETON, MINOR. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by J. +FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +SIR LUDAR: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess. With Eleven +Full-page Illustrations. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +PARKHURST BOYS, and other Stories of School Life. With Seven Full-page +and many other Illustrations. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE MASTER OF THE SHELL. With Seven Full-page and Five other +Illustrations in the Text. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +MY FRIEND SMITH. A Story of School and City Life. With Eleven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +REGINALD CRUDEN. A Tale of City Life. With Seven Illustrations by +ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TOM, DICK, AND HARRY. With Fifteen Full-page Illustrations. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOY'S OWN SERIES. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A GREAT MISTAKE. A Story of Adventure. By T. S. MILLINGTON, author of +"The Latch Key," "The Shadow on the Hearth," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +ALL FOR NUMBER ONE; or, Charlie Russell's Ups and Downs. By HENRY +JOHNSON, author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +MAX VICTOR'S SCHOOLDAYS: The Friends he made and the Foes he conquered. +By S. S. PUSH, author of "Rights and Wrongs," "My School-fellow, Val +Bownser," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE MARTYR'S VICTORY. A Tale of Danish England. By EMMA LESLIE, author +of "That Scholarship Boy," "Glaucia, the Greek Slave," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE DOCTOR'S EXPERIMENT; or, The Adventures of One of Dr. Reade's +Pupils, as narrated by Himself. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of +"The Boys of Highfield," "Gentleman Jackson," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +GENTLEMAN JACKSON. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of "The Doctor's +Experiment," "The Boys of Highfield," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TOM WALLIS. A Tale of the South Seas. By LOUIS BECKE, author of "By +Reef and Palm," "Admiral Philip," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE STORY OF A CITY ARAB. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "Frank Layton," +"Boys will be Boys," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE SHELL-HUNTERS: Their Wild Adventures by Land and Sea. By GORDON +STABLES, author of "Allan Adair," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +HAROLD, THE BOY EARL. A Story of Old England. By J. F. HODGETTS, +author of "Kormak the Viking," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +ILDERIM, THE AFGHAN. A Tale of the Indian Border. By DAVID KEE. +Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. By ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE, author of +"Annie Carr," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE STORY OF A POCKET BIBLE. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "The Story of +a City Arab," "Frank Layton," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +NORTH OVERLAND WITH FRANKLIN. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, author of "Archie +Mackenzie," etc. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, Jamaica Sixty Years Since. By Captain +BROOKE-KNIGHT. Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CAPTAIN COOK; His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries. By W. H. G. +KINGSTON, author of "Little Peter the Ship Boy," "Ben Hadden," etc. +Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE HEIR OF BRAGWELL HALL. By ALFRED BEER. With Seven Illustrations by +J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE WALLABY MAN. By Dr. A. N. MALAN, F.G.S., author of "School Days at +Highfield House," etc. With Seven Illustrations. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +GEOFF BLAKE: His Chums and His Foes. By S. S. PUGH. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CAVE PERILOUS. By L. T. MEADE. With Seven Illustrations by S. T. DADD. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +FOR CROWN AND COVENANT. By CYRIL GREY, author of "The Lost Earldom." +With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +UNTRUE TO HIS TRUST; or, Plotters and Patriots. By HENRY JOHNSON, +author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. With Five +Illustrations. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE VOYAGE OF THE STORMY PETREL. By W. C. METCALF. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +DUCK-LAKE. Stories of the Canadian Backwoods. By E. RYERSON YOUNG. +With Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +KORMAK, THE VIKING. By J. FREDERICK HODGETTS. With Fifteen +Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CYRIL'S QUEST; or, O'er Vale and Hill in the Land of the Inca. By +ANNIE GRAY. With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE BRIGANDS' PREY; A Strange Story of Adventure. By A. M. JACKSON. +With Five Illustrations by G. E. ROBERTSON. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE SETTLERS OF KAROSSA CREEK. and Other Stories of Australian Bush +Life. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By Louis BECKE, author of "Tom Wallis," "Wild Life in the Southern +Seas," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, P. A., author of "North +Overland with Franklin," "Archie Mackenzie." Illustrated. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY. By E. C. KENYON. With Four Illustrations. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STORIES FOR BOYS. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THROUGH FIRE and THROUGH WATER. A Story of Adventure and Peril. By T. +S. MILLINGTON, author of "Straight to the Mark," etc. With Sixteen +Illustrations. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TAMATE: The Life and Adventures of a Christian Hero. By RICHARD +LOVETT, M.A., author of "James Chalmers: his Autobiography and +Letters," etc. With Two Maps and Fifteen Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, +R.I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +CONDEMNED TO THE GALLEYS. The Adventures of a French Protestant. By +JEAN MARTEILHE. With Seven Illustrations by E. BARNARD LINTOTT. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + +***** This file should be named 26714-h.htm or 26714-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/1/26714/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</BODY> + +</HTML> + diff --git a/26714-h/images/img-044.jpg b/26714-h/images/img-044.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..580212e --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-h/images/img-044.jpg diff --git a/26714-h/images/img-cover.jpg b/26714-h/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fff06b --- /dev/null +++ b/26714-h/images/img-cover.jpg diff --git a/26714.txt b/26714.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e97dcb --- /dev/null +++ b/26714.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4502 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Captain's Bunk + A Story for Boys + +Author: M. B. Manwell + +Release Date: September 28, 2008 [EBook #26714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK + + +A STORY FOR BOYS + + +BY + +M. B. MANWELL + + + +AUTHOR OF 'THE BENTS OF BATTERSBY,' ETC. + + + +WITH COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS + + + +LONDON + +THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY + +4 BOUVERIE STREET AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + + I. A PLAGUEY PAIR + II. A NOVEL TRADE + III. 'MISS THEEDORY' + IV. BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN' + V. BREAKERS AHEAD + VI. THE LITTLE MOTHER + VII. MUTINY AT THE BUNK + VIII. THEO'S HAVEN + IX. COMING EVENTS + X. UNDER ARREST + XI. A TANGLED WEB + XII. IN THE FAR NORTH + XIII. IN PERIL ON THE SEA + XIV. A DOOR OF ESCAPE + XV. THE BIRD-SCHOOL + XVI. THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE + XVII. IN THE MIRE + XVIII. IN MULLINER'S RENTS + XIX. NO PLACE LIKE HOME + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK + + +CHAPTER I + +A PLAGUEY PAIR + + 'Do the thing that's nearest, + Though it's dull at whiles.' + + +If anybody wanted to go down and have a look round Northbourne for +himself, it would be necessary to take a railway journey as far as +Brattlesby town, and then tramp the rest of the road, unless a friendly +chance befell the traveller of a lift in some passing vehicle. + +There had never been so much as a talk of extending the railway line to +Northbourne, which was a quaint little fishing village tucked away +under the shelter of a long stretch of downs. It consisted of a few +small thatched cottages that had seated themselves, as it were, in a +semicircle round the tiny bay, to peep out from its shelter at the far, +open ocean, the highway of waters on which the outward-bound liners +loomed like grey ghostly shadows as they passed. + +There were but two of what is known as gentry's houses in Northbourne. +Oddly enough, each of them finished off the half-circle of cottages, +and in that way they stared across the bay at one another, face to face. + +One of the two, the Bunk, had been for some years inhabited by an +elderly half-pay naval officer, Captain Carnegy, and his motherless +boys and girls. The other house was the Vicarage, the habitation of +Mr. Vesey, the good old vicar, his invalid wife, and a pair of +excitable Yorkshire terriers, Splutters and Shutters, thus curiously +named for the sake of rhyme, it is to be presumed. They were brothers, +and as tricky a pair as one could meet, ever up to their eyes in +mischief from morning until night. Indeed, Splutters and Shutters kept +what would have been a still, staid household in nearly as great a +ferment as did the captain's crew the Bunk across the bay. + +'They two dogs, they be summat like a couple o' wild b'ys; they keeps +the passon and the mistress in, not for to say hot water, but bilin' +water, for the livelong day!' constantly declared Binks, who was the +handy-man at the Vicarage, and, in fact, handy-man at the little church +as well, he being both factotum and sexton. Binks was a worthy old +soul whom the terriers led a troubled life by their destructive capers +in the garden and lawn, which he vainly tried to keep trim. Still, on +the whole, Binks, harassed as he was by the dogs, was apt to thank his +stars that Splutters and Shutters were not actually boys; such boys, +for instance, as those of the captain at the Bunk across the bay, who +were a sore handful, as any one could see for themselves, without the +prompt testimony of all Northbourne to that effect. + +'You be a plaguey pair, you b'ys!' was the unfailing greeting of Binks, +when he encountered Geoff and Alick Carnegy. + +'Come, you shut up, Binks! You surely would not have us a couple of +mincing girls peacocking round in this fashion, would you now?' And +the captain's boys affectedly pirouetted up and down on the shingle +below the low wall of the Vicarage garden, laughing boisterously the +while. + +'I dunno, young musters!' rejoined Binks, contemplating the ridiculous +spectacle with much the same gravity as he would have regarded a +funeral. 'P'raps it'd be a sight better if so be as you _was_ gells. +That is, gells after the pattern of your sister, Miss Theedory!' + +'Oh, Theo! Well, she's different!' and Geoff sobered down his antics, +and stood still to retort. 'That just reminds me I've brought a note +for Mrs. Vesey from Theo. I'll run up to the house with it. I don't +remember if it wants an answer; but don't you go away, Alick. Wait for +me!' + +'All right!' Alick nodded, and swinging himself up on the wall, he +watched Binks, who was patiently pottering over the carrot-beds. The +ceaseless tussel he had to induce these refractory vegetables to make a +fair show was one of the minor crosses of the old man's life. + +Of the two Carnegys, Alick was the least reasonable, if the word +reasonable could be applied to either of 'them young limbs,' as +Northbourne privately called the captain's boys. He, however, managed +to sit still for the space of five minutes or so on the wall, whistling +vigorously. + +'I 'opes as you be a-gittin' on brisk with your book-larnin', Muster +Alick?' Binks lifted his head, after the prolonged silence, to regard, +with a critical air, the boy who sat dangling his feet above. Binks +had a fashion peculiar to himself of staring at most people in a +reproving manner, as though he had just found them out in some dark +transgression. It was possibly a habit due to a lifelong experience of +the faults and the failings of human nature, and it was one which stood +Binks in good stead, giving him an austere and awe-inspiring +appearance. Especially on Sundays did this detective air prove +helpful, when he did duty as parish clerk in the quaint, old-time +church on the shore, where it served to keep the small fisher-folk in +proper order. + +'Oh, bother!' said Alick shortly. 'We have enough of that sort of talk +from old Price. He pegs away at us to get on, get on, until I'm sick +of the sight of books, and pen and ink!' + +'Ay?' Binks leaned on his spade, and, resting, stared fixedly up into +the face of the boy-speaker. 'Sick of it, be you? And what be you +supposin' as Muster Price feels? A deal sicker, I make no doubt, +toiling and moiling every week-day as the sun rises on, a-tryin' to +till sich unprofitable ground as your b'y-brains! I dunnot 'spose as +you ever looked at it from his pint of view, did ye?' + +Certainly Alick never had. It was a new idea to him to wonder how poor +Philip Price, the tutor, liked walking every day, rain or shine, over +from Brattlesby, the little inland town some three miles off, in order +to teach Geoff and himself just so much and no more as either of the +unruly brothers chose to learn; for the Carnegy boys were 'kittle +cattle,' as the North-country folk say, to deal with. Their father, +though he had been, in the old days, skilled at commanding men, knew +little or nothing of managing children. When his wife died and he +retired from the service, he found his hands full, with the most unruly +crew that he had ever encountered in his long naval career. Not gifted +with much patience, he soon gave up trying to guide the helm of that +unmanageable ship, his own home. Betaking himself to his special +hobby, which was the compiling an epitome of all the naval engagements +that have taken place within the memory of man, he left his boys and +girls to grow up anyhow or, to put it more exactly, just as they +pleased. His conscience was satisfied when he had placed his young +folk in the hands of one whom he knew to be a genuinely upright +Christian gentleman, Philip Price, the tutor from Brattlesby town. + +The boys themselves were no fools. They knew in their hearts that it +was but a slack rein that guided them. There was a good deal of +forcibly put justice in the suggestive question of Binks, and for a few +seconds Alick, nonplussed, kept silence, swinging his feet a little +faster under the fire of the sharp, light eyes that glinted from +beneath the old man's bushy eyebrows. + +'But--but, I say, it's Price's business to teach. That's what he has +got to do, you know!' he stammered out at last, rather uneasily. + +'P'raps you was a-goin' to say as it was what he was made for, +purpose-like!' observed Binks ironically. 'Well, maybe so! And, maybe +also, who can tell, it's what the Lord has made you for likewise, +Muster Alick. Time may come as you'll be tramping every day, wet or +dry, to teach ongrateful, onruly b'ys according to their station.' + +What d'ye mean?' A furious red flush rose on Alick's cheeks, and he +glared back into the face of the bent old man, who stood still so +fixedly regarding himself. + +'Mean? Why, just what I'm a-sayin' of!' was the calm rejoinder. 'I've +heard tell,' went on Binks, undisturbed by Alick's wrathful looks, 'as +Muster Price is the son of a reverend genelman as was pretty high up in +the Church. When the poor soul was took off, suddent, his fam'ly had +to help theirselves in the world, and this one, bein' the youngest, and +enjying terrible poor health, ain't fit for nothin' but teachin' b'ys. +That's how he keeps the old lady and hisself in bread I've heard say. +And if so be'--Binks straightened himself, and drew out his spade from +the earth--'as I was him, I'd a deal rather break stones, or else try +to grow them plaguey carrits in damp clay! But,' he added +sardonically, as his outburst calmed down, 'in course if, as you think, +it's what he was made a-purpose for---- Well, I say no more. I never +was one to hinterfere with, or so much as even to question, the will of +the Almighty in aught. I'm not like some in that.' + +'How you do run on, Binks!' sulkily put in Alick. He felt rather +cornered by the old man's plain speaking. 'And it's all very fine for +you to talk; you and Theo say the same things. But if you'd to grind +away, when the sun's shining and the sea dancing before your eyes, at +rubbishy old Latin grammars and arithmetic, and all the rest of it, +you'd be the first to grumble. Oh, I wish a hundred times in the day +that I was only Ned Dempster, who's out all hours, free as any lark!' +ended Alick, with a sudden burst of energy that nearly sent him +toppling off the sea-wall. + +'Ned Dempster!' echoed Binks in amaze. Then, after turning over a few +spadefuls of earth, he looked up to say epigrammatically, 'Well, young +muster, what Ned is, I was. And what I am, Ned will be! There! D'ye +take my meaning? 'Cos I, when a b'y, was like Ned, free as any lark in +the air, so when I came to be a man without no book-larnin' in the +pockets o' my brain, I had to grope my way about in the world. Many's +the time it's bin all dark, round and round, 'cept in the faces of +other folk where I seed the light o' understanding shinin' about them +things as I couldn't make out. 'Tain't so to say comforable for a +grown man to feel that; but it's what you'll come to, young muster, if +you gits your will to go free as free!' and Binks set to work on his +refractory carrots with renewed energy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A NOVEL TRADE + +There was something so quaint about Binks, the old handy-man, that +nobody resented his preachings at them. Not the Carnegy boys, at +least, not even Alick, who was no fool. He knew, if he had allowed +himself to say so fairly and squarely, that a man without education +must of necessity make but a poor show in the world among his +fellow-men. But Alick was incorrigibly lazy, and he had grown up so +far without attempting to get the reins of his idle, pleasure-loving +self between his own fingers. Geoff, on the other hand, though a +regular pickle of a boy, did manage to scramble through his lessons, +and to present a more decent appearance therein, doubtful as it was if +he thoroughly digested what learning he took in. + +He was a greater favourite in the neighbourhood than Alick; and as he +came rushing, helter-skelter, along the garden-path, cramming Mrs. +Vesey's answer into one of his crowded pockets, one could not be +surprised at his popularity, for a merrier-faced boy than Geoff did not +exist. And his looks did not belie his laughter-loving nature. The +boy overflowed with mischief and good-humour. His was one of those +natures that never fail to take their colour from their surroundings. +Geoff was influenced this way and that by every wind that blew. Had it +not been for Alick's bad example, the boy would have been as orderly +and obedient a pupil as even his tutor could desire. As matters stood, +however, Geoff trod on the heels of his mutinous elder brother in every +mischief hatched at the Bunk. There was this distinct difference +between the rebels, however: Alick's tricks and practical jokes, as +well as his rebellion against authority, had in them the strain of +_malice prepense_ which made of them blacker faults, while Geoff's +misdemeanours were committed in the name of, and for the sake of, pure +mischief. Splutters and Shutters instinctively recognised this kindred +spirit in the boy, as they tore madly after him through the garden, +barking vociferously their affectionate admiration. + +'Binks, I say!' Geoff almost yelled in his endeavour to drown the +terriers' voices. 'Who do you think has come back to the village? +Why, Jerry Blunt, with one arm, poor chap, from that North Pole +expedition. He has given up the sea; and you'll never guess the land +trade he means to take up, not if you sat down for six weeks to think +it out. You couldn't, so I may as well tell you. Training young +bullfinches to sing tunes. Ho! ho! He! ho!' Geoff Carnegy had a most +extraordinary laugh of his own, and it rang out on the crisp salt air. + +'Who told you? How did you hear?' shouted Alick from above. + +'Why, Jerry himself has just been up to the Vicarage to tell Mr. Vesey +all about it, and---- But, wait a bit, I'll come up beside you and +finish the story!' and Geoff clambered up alongside of his brother. + +'Whatever's that you're a-sayin' of, Muster Geoff?' Binks, with spade +in mid air, was open-mouthed. + +'Jerry Blunt--you remember old Jerry, Binks, don't you? He has come +back from the North Pole.' + +'Oh, comed back, has he? Jes' so! Well, I ain't surprised.' + +'No, you never are, Binks!' Alick drily observed. 'Take an earthquake +to wake you up!' he added under his breath. + +'And do'ee say as the lad's left an arm behind?' inquired Binks. + +'Yes, I did,' rejoined Geoff. 'He's up at the house yonder, in the +study, telling the vicar how it was done. Mrs. Vesey didn't know; she +told me about the bullfinches, but she couldn't say how the arm was +lost. I should say it must have been nipped off by a Polar bear, +shouldn't you, Binks?' Geoff's eyes protruded excitedly as he mentally +pictured the suggested nip. + +'Polar bear? Hum! Well, it might ha' bin. I never fancied bears. +There's a deal o' low cunning about a bear; no slapdash courage, so to +say, same's there's in a lion or a leopard, but jes' a cruel, slow, +deliberate intention to kill, like a nor'-east wind as blights and +nips, sure as sure. Once, I remember, there was a travellin' bear came +Northbourne way. 'Twas when I was a b'y, same's your two selves. This +yere bear had a man with it, a mounseer, to judge from his tongue. He +wasn't a bad chap, and couldn't well help bein' a Frenchy. He wasn't +never unkind to the bear; he fed him, and saw to his straw bed o' +nights, same's the creature was his own child. But as I've said, there +ain't no nice feelin' about a bear; you can't win 'em, nohow.' + +'Well, but what happened?' impatiently broke in Alick. 'Did the bear +do anything?' + +'I'm a-comin' to that, muster, if you'll give me time; but you're the +hurryin' sart, you are. I should think as the teacher-genelman must +have his work laid out to keep up with you, you be so mortal anxious to +learn.' + +Alick reddened, and glared down at Binks's unruffled countenance; but +he forbore to retort, recognising that the old man's powers of repartee +were superior to his own. + +'Oh, come on, please do!' persuasively said Geoff, thrilling to hear +the sequel of Binks's story. + +'Well, as I was sayin',' Binks relented and went on, ''twas when I was +a b'y, and a rare fuss it did make. I was one as saw the thing with my +own eyes. That mounseer chap had divided his dinner with the bear one +day; the greedy baste had swallowed his own share, and was watching his +master out of them cunning eyes bears has. Of a suddent he clawed away +the victuals and bolted them; then there was a shriek from poor +Frenchy, and we all saw as the bear had him in a grim death-hug. I +tell you it took a few Northbourne men to separate them two, and when +'twas done, I don't forget the sorry sight the unfortunit' man was. +There warn't no hospitals nor nothin' in them days, and the doctor he +had a tough job to bring the poor furriner to, and patch him up, I tell +you!' + +'And the bear?' struck in Geoff. 'Did they do anything to the bear?' + +'Only shot him dead; nothin' else. 'Twas the doctor hisself as shot +him; we didn't want no savage wild beasts round Northbourne woods. +But, as I was sayin', there's no nice feelin' about bears, and I make +no doubt 'twas owin' to one of them Polar beasts as Jerry lost his arm, +but we'll hear about that from hisself. Poor lad, he wasn't a bad +sort, Jerry. You could always take his word for whatever 'twas. I +never knowed Jerry tell a lie, and you can't say more'n that for a +genelman born. B'ys, I'd rather, when my own time comes to be laid by +in the churchyard yonder, have it in writin' over me, _He never telled +a lie_, than I'd have anything on arth writ there.' + +'Well,' said Alick reflectively, 'there's one thing I can't make out, +and that is, what brought Jerry Blunt back to Northbourne? If I'd his +chances, and got free away from this stupid hole, catch me ever coming +back, that's all!' + +'Ah, so you say, muster!' Binks had returned to the refractory carrots +once again. 'But you'll find out, one of these days, that there's +summat in each of us like cords that draws a man to the old home. 'Tis +nature, as the Almighty 'as planted deep in our hearts, a-workin' in +the wust of us and in the best of us alike. Why, 'tis the same thing, +that hankering, we--some of us--has for a further-away home still, the +homeland beyond.' + +As Binks leant on his spade, and pushed back his straw hat to gaze over +the blue waters to the misty, far-off horizon, a softer look stole over +the wrinkled face. He had forgotten, the mischievous boys perched on +the wall above, forgotten Jerry, the returned wanderer, in the thought +of that home to which he would willingly enough depart, where the old +man's human treasures were already housed, and where they awaited +himself. + +'I say, let's get down, and slip round to the lane; perhaps we might +catch Jerry, and walk home with him.' + +It was Geoff's suggestion; and the brothers slid down from the wall to +the beach on the other side to make off, amid a distracting volley of +heart-rending howls from the betrayed Splutters and Shutters. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +'MISS THEEDORY' + +'Oh dear! I wish I could make it come right!' + +The speaker was a tall girl of eighteen or so, who sat with her thumbs +pressing her ears, and her fingers shading her eyes, to shut out the +sights and sounds of the blue waters that rolled up and broke in crisp +waves on the stretch of yellow sands under the windows of the Bunk +dining-room. + +Theo Carnegy had been trying her hardest for a couple of hours to add +up the housekeeping bills for the week. It was a task the girl dreaded +always, and on this particular day the figures seemed unusually +contrary and obstinate to cope with. Somehow, they utterly refused to +come straight and tally with the money she had been entrusted with to +lay out. The bristling difficulties seemed all the more unmanageable +because the sunshine that afternoon was so bright, and the wind so +fresh; while the boat that belonged to the Carnegy family lay tossing +at anchor within sight, as if inviting the girl down for the greatest +enjoyment of her life--a pull across the bay. + +But there was good stuff in Theo, gentle and yielding though she +looked, with her sweet, soft face, and the fair waving hair surrounding +it. She was the one of all the Carnegys who had deliberately given her +heart to God's service. That she had done so spoke out of her clear, +steadfast eyes, and in the peaceful lines of her mouth, and more than +all, in her unflagging determination to keep on straight at what she +knew to be her duty, without allowing herself to be beguiled to this +side or to that of the narrow path. Eighteen is not a very advanced +age, even regarded from the point of view of her brothers and little +sister; and Theo, who passionately loved the sea, had a great struggle +to keep her blue eyes fixed on the tiresome figures, which would not +come right, struggle as she might to make them. It never occurred to +her to shirk a difficulty in any sense; her nature was such that she +must grapple with a duty, however distasteful, once she felt she was +appointed to fulfil it. Her mother had died when Theo, the eldest +Carnegy, was fifteen, and Queenie, the younger, only two years old. +So, already, she had been for three years her father's housekeeper. A +certain sum of money was given into her hands every week by the +captain, and there was an end of the matter as regarded him. He wanted +to hear nothing about ways and means, certainly no details regarding +household management. All such was forbidden sternly; the captain's +time was valuable, he imagined, it being dedicated to the great object +which he hoped to achieve before he died. Distinctly, the naval +battles of the world throughout the ages were more important than the +everyday skirmishes in his own household. Theo, therefore, knew that +on no pretext whatever might she venture to appeal to her preoccupied +father in her difficulties; but she was faithful to her charge, and +gallantly enough fought with the distracting items and their +corresponding figures, which should have agreed, but didn't. It was +uphill work, however, for the youthful housekeeper. + +'Can't you come out yet, Theo? The boys are across the bay at the +Vicarage, and we could have the boat all to ourselves, if you would +only leave those nasty sums!' + +It was a patient little voice that interrupted the distracted girl. +Its owner had been into the room three times already, with the same +object, to ask the pathetic question. + +'Oh, don't worry me, Queenie dear! I'm just as anxious as yourself to +go on the water; but there's three halfpence gone astray, and I--I +can't find it out!' half sobbed Theo, who was getting nervous over the +troublesome figures. + +Queenie, a small, sedate maiden of five, a miniature of Theo in face, +stood silent in the doorway for a few seconds, wistfully piecing out +the possible meaning of her tall sister's bewildered grief. Then she +disappeared. + +'Theo, look!' + +Theo glanced through her fingers, and Queenie, who had been struggling +with the clasp of what looked like a doll-purse, proudly spread out +three halfpennies so remarkably clean and bright that they had +unmistakably been carefully washed by their small owner. + +'You may have these, Theo, 'stead of the three you've lost. Please +take them. I don't weally want them, for I've still got five +ha'pennies left!' The small woman spoke urgently. + +'Oh, my darling Queenie, you don't understand! I could have done that +myself--I could have put in three halfpence, and made all right, but it +would have been all wrong in another way. Listen now, and I shall try +to explain to you.' + +Placing her arm round Queenie's little neck, Theo tried to make the +child understand that such a proceeding would not be fair, nor upright, +nor honest. It would not be getting out of the difficulty; it would +rather be making it a deeper one. + +'What's difficulties?' abruptly asked Queenie, with her round, solemn +eyes gazing into her sister's face. + +'Difficulties are things made on purpose to be conquered in the right +way,' said Theo, after a pause of consideration. 'I think,' she added, +'that God puts them in our way, very often, just to try us.' + +'Oh, if God makes difficulties, they must be quite right, mustn't they, +Theo?' + +'Yes, yes!' was the quick response; and Theo, fired afresh, shut out +the fair picture of the tiny speaker whose grave, sweet face looked out +of a tangle of fine-spun, golden hair. Covering her eyes, she applied +herself with renewed vigour to the detested task before her. + +Queenie, who had oftentimes witnessed such struggles before, knew +better than to utter another word; the child stood perfectly still. +There was no sound in the room but the ticking of the clock and the +cracking of the seeds with which Miss Pollina, the old grey parrot in +the cage by the window, amused herself unceasingly from morn until +night. Even Miss Pollina seemed to be aware that perfect quietness was +necessary for the present, and she had hushed her usual chatter. + +'I've got them! I've got them!' cried out Theo, suddenly throwing up +her pencil in the air, and showing all her white teeth in a joyous +laugh over her triumph. Pollina instantly lifted up her head and +raised her voice also in a succession of deafening screams of +congratulation, while Queenie, always sedate as regards laughter and +chatter, silently performed, with a quaint gravity, a careful, slow +minuet round and round the room. + +'I lent three halfpence to Geoff to make up his sixpence for the +hospital-cot collection at the children's service last Sunday. He had +only fourpence halfpenny. I remember it all now. Oh, how stupid I've +been, to be sure!' It was an intense relief to have chased +successfully the truant halfpence. 'Now, Queenie,' went on Theo +gleefully, 'in five minutes I shall be ready for you, and we are going +to have a good time in the boat. Get your hat on, deary.' + +'May I bring some of my doll-people, Theo?' Queenie turned as she was +disappearing through the doorway to ask anxiously. + +'Oh dear, yes! As many as you can carry!' Theo called back absently, +for she was finishing the column of figures, with a flourish of triumph. + +In five minutes more 'Miss Theedory,' as all Northbourne called the +captain's eldest daughter, was rowing across the bay with Queenie +sedately facing her in the Bunk boat. Queenie had seated several +members of her waxen family on either side of her, and taking them an +airing was a serious responsibility for their anxious little parent. +She was in truth over-burdened with family cares, being the owner of no +less than thirteen dolls of various sizes and degrees of beauty. 'Miss +Queenie's baker's dozen,' the boys Geoff and Alick loved to tease her +by calling them. + +At the Bunk there was a tiny, three-cornered room overlooking the bay, +too small for any purpose whatever, even for a storeroom. This niche +had been given up to Queenie as a play-room. In it the child kept her +thirteen children; and, in addition, all the accumulated toys of the +family which had come down to herself, the youngest Carnegy, were +therein hoarded and stored by that most staid and careful of little +maids. + +'Where is us going to, Theo?' sedately inquired Queenie, after she had +settled her family to her mind in the boat. + +'Across to the Vicarage, first. We are going to have tea with Mrs. +Vesey. I wrote this morning to say that we should come. And then, on +our way back, I shall pull round to old Mrs. Dempster's; I want to have +a talk with her about Ned. You won't mind sitting in the boat if I tie +her to the old punt, will you, deary?' + +'Oh no!' tranquilly said Queenie. The little maid was quite as much at +home on the sea as on the land, for the Carnegy young folk took to the +water like ducklings, from the time they could walk. The family boat, +'The Theodora,' christened after Theo herself, was in daily use in the +bay, which was generally well sheltered, no matter how fierce the +storms that raged out their fury in the deep waters beyond. 'Is Ned a +naughty boy?' inquired the little girl presently, her watchful eyes +fixed on the waxen ladies and gentlemen who lay back languidly when +they did not abruptly slide altogether down to the bottom of the boat. + +'Well, Ned's not a bad boy exactly!' said Theo slowly. 'He's not quite +satisfactory, though. I'm afraid our Alick is too much with Ned; they +are putting mischief into each other's heads, if I'm not mistaken!' +Theo had a trick of talking confidentially to her little sister, as if +she were grown-up enough to understand that this world is not made of +play-days. Possibly that was one of the reasons why Queenie seemed so +sedate and solemn. + +'Alick's going to be a sailor, and find the North Pole,' observed +Queenie, administering a quiet box on the ear to an ill-behaved doll +that wobbled with the motion of the boat in a manner that was enough to +render anybody who watched her quite sea-sick. 'Who lost the North +Pole, Theo?' demanded the child. + +Queenie's questions were usually of a most unexpected nature, and were +occasionally comical enough. + +'Oh, nobody, of course!' laughed Theo. 'What a queer mite you are, +deary!' Then she went on gravely, 'Finding the North Pole means trying +to reach and to see, with human eyes, what I, for one, don't believe +human beings will ever live to behold. It is one of God's mysteries +which man has never yet penetrated, perhaps never was meant to +penetrate.' + +'What's mysteries?' Queenie of course thirsted to know. + +'Dark, wonderful things; possibly things that it might hurt us to see +or to know. I've heard Mr. Vesey say that when the fever to find the +North Pole gets into the blood it never leaves a man until life +perishes. That's why so many have been already lost in the attempt. +They will persist, and nature gives out. But here we are at the +Vicarage pier. Jump out, dear, and I'll tie "The Theodora" safely up.' + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BINKS'S BIT O' TEACHIN' + +An uproarious welcome awaited the captain's daughters as they stepped +out of their boat on the little pier belonging to the Vicarage. +Splutters and Shutters scrambled to meet the visitors, barking out +hospitality in their customary violent fashion. Behind them hobbled +Binks, eager to help 'Miss Theedory' fasten up the boat, privately +sceptical of the young lady's capacity to do so. + +'Oh, Binks! How d'ye do?' politely asked Queenie, who, having +disembarked her waxen family, was endeavouring to protect them from the +frantic welcome of the terriers, both of which seemed ready to eat up +the doll-guests, so glad were they to see them. + +'Sadly, missy; I'm but proper sadly!' + +'What is it, Binks?' sympathetically asked Theo, shaking out her +blue-cotton skirts, and drawing on a pair of gloves, for Mrs. Vesey was +peculiarly dainty and sensitive about trifles. Though an invalid +herself, the poor lady was always exquisitely dressed, maintaining as a +reason that if the human body be the temple of Christ, then it must be +the bounden duty of the Christian owner not only to keep it wholesome, +but also to adorn it, making it fair without, to match the fairness +within. Not only in her own person did this dainty gentlewoman carry +out her theory, but she looked for it in the persons of her visitors. +Theo invariably respected her wishes by appearing before her trim and +trig. + +'Tis jes' they rheumatics, Miss Theedory!' answered Binks cheerfully, +for all the world as if his aches and pains were so many honours. 'But +there, what's 'ee to expec' at sixty-seven? People's jints bain't made +to hold out for ever-'n-ever. Will 'um now?' + +'No, they won't!' joined in Queenie comprehendingly. 'Miss Muffet's +jints are giving way, too. Just look, Binks!' She held up for +inspection an elaborately dressed lady, whose arms and legs were in +such a tremulous condition that their total lapse from the body to +which they belonged would have been no surprise. + +'I shall ask father for some of that famous liniment of his, Binks,' +said Theo. 'I could send you over some in a little bottle; the boys +shall bring it this evening.' + +'If you ask me candid, I should say that glue would be the best +liniment to patch _them_ jints!' Binks was stolidly contemplating the +loose condition of Miss Muffet's limbs. + +'We're at cross purposes!' laughed Theo. 'Come along, Queenie; there's +Mrs. Vesey standing at the drawing-room window waving to us. We must +not keep her waiting. Can't you leave your doll-people in the boat, +dear? Binks will see that the dogs don't worry them to bits.' + +'Ay, ay! That I will, missy. Bless 'em both, they're picters, they +two, as taut and trig as you please. God give 'em smooth seas to sail +over!' added the old man under his breath, as he watched the captain's +daughters cross the lawn above. + +Time was, far back in years, when Binks had watched with pride such +another maiden as 'Miss Theedory,' the daughter God had given, or, +rather, had lent, for a little while, to the parents who idolised her. +The frosts of death nipped the human flower. Slowly, surely, it faded, +until the little home it had gladdened and made fair was empty and +dark, like the hearts left sorrowing. Long years ago though it was +since the blow had fallen, still not yet was the wound healed over. +Behind the austere front and grim temper of old Binks, the memory of +his maid Bessie lived fresh and fragrant as the girl herself had been. +There are some of us who, loyal ever to the love rooted deep in our +hearts, thus keep green the memory of those 'faces we have loved long +since, and lost awhile!' + +'She's rare and sweet, is Miss Theedory,' murmured the weather-beaten +old man, when the sisters had disappeared, and he turned to fasten the +boat to the pier-head. 'But I make no doubt she've her peck o' +troubles, too, what with them limbs of young brothers, and the captain +so uplifted-like that he can't give a hand to help her rule 'em. Yes, +Miss Theedory has no easy life of it, though she be a born lady. 'Tis +a world o' ups and downs, this is.' + +'Hilloa, Binks! Oh, I say!' + +The old man wheeled round to find Geoff and Alick had unexpectedly +returned. + +'Whatever's ado now? What's brought 'ee both back?' snapped the old +man crustily. The boys were anything but pleasant interruptions in his +eyes. + +'Oh, we got tired waiting about for Jerry. He hasn't come yet. And +we've just seen our boat come into the pier, and we want it to go for a +row,' both boys spoke at once. + +'Ye want the boat, do 'ee now? Well, then, ye can't get it, that's +all!' Binks faced round upon the boys, who were trying to push past +him and jump into the boat. 'Miss Theedory, she says, says she, +"Binks, I looks to you to see arter that boat for me!" and with that +she stepped up to the house, she and little missy, to see the mistress. +'Tain't likely I'm a-goin' to 'low her to find no boat waitin' for her, +bym-bye, when she's ready to go back 'ome. You jes' be off, young +musters!' + +'That's all nonsense! It's no use of you showing fight. We mean to +have the boat. It's our boat, and Theo can walk home; do her good, +too.' + +Alick spoke sullenly, and pushed past Binks on the slippery little +pier. But he reckoned without counting the cost. Binks, though +rheumatic and a trifle bent, still retained some of the strength that +had made him a byword as an athlete in his young days. With a touch of +angry red in his brown, wrinkled cheek, and a spark of wrath in his +deep-set eyes, he seized the boy neatly by the back of the collar and +the band of his Norfolk tweed jacket. It was useless for Alick to +splutter and howl and threaten. Old Binks swung him, as though he were +a kitten, over the edge of the pier, while Geoff fairly doubled up in a +wild ecstasy of laughter. + +[Illustration: SWUNG HIM AS THOUGH HE WERE A KITTEN.] + +'Tis this way I'll serve 'ee, if so be as you wants to, interfere wi' +me doin' of my dooty, young sir!' croaked out the sturdy old veteran. + +'Let me down, I say, let me down! Oh, I'll pay you out!' screamed +Alick, maddened more by a sense of humiliation than of terror, for none +of the Carnegy name dreaded a ducking in the sea. + +'There ye be, then!' Binks at last deposited his wriggling burden flat +on the pier. 'Now, p'raps ye'll understand the way an honest man +dispoges of obstructions in the path o' dooty! You're an obstruction, +you are, muster; and if so be as you lay the lesson to heart, the bit +o' teachin' on my part will be wuth while.' + +'I'll pay you out. See if I don't!' repeated Alick, sidling hurriedly +off, with a parting shot in the shape of the coward's favourite threat. + +'Oh, come!'--Geoff was at his heels,--'the old chap is very game. You +must allow, too, that he was in the right, Alick, and we were wrong.' + +Clear-sighted Geoff never hesitated to render justice to others. But +Alick was different. Baffled and furious, he slouched away, hatching +secret revenge upon the old man who had so determinedly baulked his +will. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BREAKERS AHEAD + +Ned Dempster was certainly the sharpest of all the boys in Northbourne. +Naturally sharp, that is to say, for he, in common with Alick Carnegy, +was incorrigibly idle, and Ned's talent of ability was therefore +allowed to rust from disuse. + +The Carnegy boys and Ned were in the same class at Sunday school, a +class taught by Theo. The rest of the boys comprising it being dull +and lumpish, it was only to be expected that a sharp-witted lad like +Ned stood out brilliantly from his neighbours, attracting by his +intelligence the attention of his teacher as well as her young brothers. + +Ned Dempster was an orphan who had been brought up by his grandmother, +Goody Dempster, the oldest inhabitant of the little fishing-village, an +aged woman whose skin was baked brown by the sun and the salt +sea-breezes until she had more the appearance of a New Zealander than +an Englishwoman. Pitying the boy, as well as being considerably +interested in his intelligent answers in class, Theo began to have him +a good deal at the Bunk. She found many little offices there for him, +such as to look after and keep tidy 'The Theodora,' the family boat, +and to help in the obstinately unproductive garden. In this way the +acquaintance between the three boys became a week-day as well as a +Sunday one. Alick and Ned, in particular, rapidly found themselves to +be kindred spirits. In each was ingrained a powerful love of +adventure. Alick, a great reader, who had devoured already his +father's little library, which was made up for the most part of books +on seafaring subjects, found in Ned Dempster a listener who hungered +for as much of that exciting fare as Alick could manage to retail +second-hand. + +For a long time the darling topic that absorbed their individual +attention was pirates. The boys were never weary of rehearsing all the +thrilling scenes of pirate-life which Alick had either read or heard +of. In these lively pastimes Geoff willingly shared, lending a hand +and a stentorian throat to the exciting work, though his tastes did not +lie in that direction to the same extent as did those of his brother +and Ned Dempster. Still, to be dressed in fierce red sashes, to wear +elaborately corked moustaches, to be armed with clumsy, antique weapons +which represented cutlasses, and to board, with ringing shouts, the +beached-up fishing-boats in search of slaves, was a delightsome +diversion. And perhaps to Geoff its greatest charm was that there was +plenty of noise about it. + +In course of time the joys of pirate-life palled. Next, there set in +an extended course of terrible shipwrecks to order; these catastrophes +being altogether independent of the weather. Into this game, which was +not so exclusively manly, the many dolls belonging to Queenie were +pressed. Time after time, these waxen ladies were bravely rescued and +ceremoniously restored, dripping from the waves, to their anxious +little owner, who, truth to tell, caught more colds than one in tending +the shipwrecked doll-people. + +But, in after days, Alick and Ned struck out quite a new line. Late +and early they were found poring over atlases; drawing charts upon +everything and anything, promiscuously, in the Northbourne landscape. +Their daily conversation consisted of mysterious whispers about +marching Polewards; about dangerous floes, and about camping out on the +ice. At this juncture Geoff threw up his partnership in the games, +which had become over-serious for his light-hearted, fun-loving nature. +Not for him was there any attraction in the great mystery of the North +Pole. + +The imagination of Ned Dempster, on the other hand, took fire over the +marvellous adventures, the awe-inspiring dangers and hardships of those +explorers who, hitherto, have failed to attain the great object. This, +in truth, was an aim to live for, to perish for, if need be; and as +time went on, the boys became closer intimates than ever, particularly +as nobody else took any interest in the one topic that had seized, with +iron grip, their youthful imaginations. Perhaps the fact of the +indifference of others bound the two closer together. + +Alick grew worse and worse over the preparation of his lessons for the +tutor. The routine and discipline of the schoolroom became too irksome +to be borne. Consequently, punishments and detentions and complaints +were the order of the day at the Bunk, to the despair of their tutor, +Philip Price, a quiet, not over robust-looking young man, who had +qualified for the Church, but as yet had failed in getting a living. +Meantime he taught the young Carnegys every morning, and made up a +slender income by giving afternoon lessons elsewhere. + +The young man and his widowed mother, after their home was broken up by +death, had sought a hiding-place far from the summer-friends, who fell +away so quickly in the 'day of trouble.' + +'I'll work for you, mother dear; never you fear about the future!' +Philip had bravely declared. Poor lad, he had gallantly striven to do +so, but sometimes he felt as though every man's hand was against him, +so fruitless were his struggles. It is hard work to force one's way +inside the world's pitilessly closed doors. + +Certainly, Philip Price might have had his chances, as they are called, +if he had not been so bent upon entering the clerical profession. His +mother's relatives were City men of some repute, and a sure footing +among them might have been gained by the young man, had he chosen to +relinquish his dream. But Philip did not so choose. Even after he had +fully qualified, and the living he had made so sure of stepping into +passed into the hands of others, and it seemed as if the labourer were +not 'worthy of his hire,' Philip did not regret his choice of a career. + +'It will come right, mother, don't you doubt it,' he persisted. +Meanwhile something else came. Failing health was the cross that +Philip Price was required to shoulder. He grew painfully thin as time +went on; his tall, elastic figure acquired a stoop; and there came, to +stay, an anxious, upright line between his eyebrows, that spoke of +mental worry. + +'Philip dear,' his watchful mother, quick to note these signs, laid her +hand on his shoulder to say, 'these pupils try you overmuch. I know +they do!' + +'Nonsense, dear old mater!' evaded Philip, imprisoning the wrinkled +hand. He had come in looking unusually spent, and thrown himself on +the hard, slippery sofa of the cheap lodging the Prices called, +nowadays, their home. + +The truth was the young tutor had begun to tire woefully of the daily +grind he had taken up so blithely. It was the incorrigible Carnegy +boys who were his special worry. His other pupils, a meek, small boy +and his shy sister, though they would never set the Thames on fire by +their wit, at the same time would never goad their teacher to +desperation by mutinous, unruly ways. But Philip Price never carried +tales out of school. Not from himself did his mother learn how tried +the tutor was, but, with a woman's instinct, she divined the cause. + +'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys,' she said +plaintively. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up +alert. + +'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day,' went on the +widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting +in the twilight, and knitting needed no spectacles. 'It seems they are +an ill-governed pack, the young people, neglected by their father, and +allowed to grow up anyhow, people say. Philip, I feel quite positive +that they try you beyond your strength. Is it not so? Tell me, my +dear.' + +'Mother,'--Philip's thin face flushed as he spoke hurriedly,--'is it +quite fair of you to quote "they say" about people whom you don't know? +The Carnegys are not an "ill-governed pack," I assure you. The +boys--my pupils--are, I grant you, unmanageable young rebels; but the +others--Miss Carnegy and her little sister--they are----' Philip +stopped abruptly. + +'Well, Phil?' His mother raised her head quickly to glance at the +troubled face opposite. + +'They are as sweet and gentle-natured as they are fair!' said Philip in +a low voice. + +'I should like very well to see and know these Misses Carnegy for +myself,' presently observed Mrs. Price; and Philip noted the faint, +jealous displeasure in her voice. + +'Mother,' he laughed in a boyish way, 'one of those Misses Carnegy, as +you call them, is so charming that you could not resist taking her in +your arms and setting her on your lap!' + +'Oh, they are only children, these girls?' + +'One of them is,' rejoined Philip, after a hesitating pause. 'She is a +child of five. But the other Miss Carnegy is grown up; she is the +eldest, and the mainstay of the family. There is no mother, you see.' + +'Ah! Poor dear young things! Well, but, my boy, the thing troubling +me most is that you should be condemned to such poor work as teaching, +when, by rights, you ought to be filling a far different position. Oh, +Philip, to think with your fine abilities you should be nothing better +than a mere drudge! I often wish, dear, that you had not been so +obstinate. You might have had a capital position by this time, with +one or other of your uncles in the City.' + +'Hush, mother, please!' Philip raised his thin hand. 'You know that +from my childhood I've desired to be a soldier of Christ. If there be +no opening prepared for me as yet, it must be that I am not fit for the +work. In God's own good time He will point the way. I am content to +wait that time, mother; and,' added the young man softly under his +breath, 'if it be that the opening never come in this life, well, we +know that all things are possible to Him, without any feeble help from +us weak mortals.' + +'Dear boy,' sighed the widow, 'your patience shames my discontent. +But, you see, it tries a mother's heart sorely to see her child +stranded high and dry, while others, not half so fit, rush in and win +the prizes of life.' + +'Bide a wee, mater, bide a wee! Everything comes to the man who can +wait, as the old proverb says. But I must confess I am at the end of +my patience with those young scamps, the Carnegy boys.' + +'Speak to their father, Philip. Rouse him up to rule in his own +house,' said Mrs. Price energetically. + +'I really think I must,' assented Philip; and he did. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE LITTLE MOTHER + +The next day the harassed tutor bearded the lion in his den. + +'I really must have a few words with you, captain!' he began nervously +enough. + +'What on earth's the matter, Price? What's wrong now?' testily +demanded the captain, grievously annoyed at being disturbed over his +ponderous literary labours. + +'It's the old story,' said Philip dejectedly. 'The fact is, the boys +are getting beyond me, Alick especially so.' + +'Well,' said the captain, fidgeting impatiently with his pen as he sat +surrounded by waves of MSS., 'thrash them, can't you?' + +'I'd rather try any other means than that!' was the quietly spoken +answer. + +'Hasn't the pluck in him for it!' was the thought that passed through +the fiery old sailor's mind. But if he had noted the calm smile of a +self-controlled nature that flitted across the face of the young man +standing opposite him, the captain would have rapidly changed his +opinion as to the lack of pluck in Philip Price. + +'Oh, well, what do you want me to do, eh? You really can't expect me +to come into the schoolroom and horsewhip the young scamps for you! +You see for yourself how my time is occupied on a most important +subject.' The captain waved his pen over the closely-written sheets +before him. + +'Perhaps not. But I really must ask you to reason with Alick, if not +to punish him. It is imperative that something of the sort must be +done. It comes to this, captain, I don't feel that it's quite honest +to be taking your money for the mockery of teaching the boys, +particularly Alick!' As he forced himself to speak thus, a dark-red +flush rose to Philip Price's brow, for he was one of the over-sensitive +folk. + +'Pshaw, man! What a fool you must be!' The blunt captain was at the +end of his patience. He was quivering to get back to his work. +'Besides, boys will be boys all the world over. Alick is no worse than +others, I suppose. You're too conscientious. It's absurd!' ended the +sailor in a more kindly tone, after he had pushed his spectacles up +into the roots of his iron-grey hair, to take a leisurely look at the +earnest, agitated face confronting him. + +'Now, I'll tell you what, Price!' he began again--'the best thing you +can do is to go and talk the matter over with Theo. That girl can do +anything with her brothers. She's got a way that some women are born +with--not all women, mind you, but my Theo has it. Just go and consult +her, and let me get on with my work, I beg of you. I am going over my +MSS. for the fifth time, young man! That will give you an idea of my +perseverance with difficulties. Follow the example, and you'll soon +conquer those young limbs. Now, good morning to you, Price, good +morning!' and Philip was hastily bowed out of the stuffy little +sanctum, with its piles of MSS. and its odours of stale tobacco. + +'Theo's the one to settle it all!' cheerfully muttered the captain, as +the tutor's footsteps died away. 'She's such a sensible little woman, +and has such a talent for managing and organising; she takes after me!' +he added, with a complacence that would have received a rude shock by a +little plain speaking as to those duties close at hand in his home that +he was daily neglecting, in order to follow a will-o'-the-wisp in the +shape of literary success. + +'Miss Carnegy, the captain has referred me to you about a matter I have +been forced to mention to him.' + +Philip Price was standing in the doorway of the tea-house, as the +Carnegys called the rustic erection at the end of the long, +unproductive garden, hanging sheer over the little rocky headland on +which the captain had built his bunk, when he came to settle at +Northbourne. A large part of the Carnegys' lives was spent in the +tea-house, for as a family they loved the open air. + +It was Queenie's schoolroom, in spring, summer, and autumn. The two +fair heads raised at the sound of Philip's voice belonged to Theo and +her pupil. They were busy over the Monday Bible-lessons, it being a +wise rule of the young teacher to follow up the lessons of Sunday while +they were still fresh in the childish memory of her little charge. + +'What a contrast!' inwardly groaned the tutor as he took in the +peaceful scene, and compared it with the one he had so recently +quitted, in despair, where Geoff and Alick had that morning well-nigh +goaded him to frenzy by their rebellious conduct. Alick had been in +one of his worst moods, and Geoff had caught the infection. Books had +been flung up to the ceiling; the ink-bottles deliberately emptied; and +the rebels daringly shouted 'Rule Britannia!' from the top of the table +on which they had leaped, brandishing the fire-irons. The tutor knew +that he could have severely chastised one of the boys, and conquered +him with ease, but he could hardly cope at once, single-handed, with +the two. He therefore felt it to be the most dignified thing to leave +the schoolroom in silence. All this he told, in a few brief words, to +Theo, unwilling as he was to burden her youthful shoulders, already +overweighted with many cares. + +'I'm sorry, Mr. Price, so sorry!' Theo spoke humbly, and her sweet +face coloured from chin to brow with vexation. 'It's hard for you to +be subjected to such treatment. The boys are truly unmanageable. But, +indeed, they have good hearts; they will be so repentant for their +shocking behaviour by and by.' + +'They must say so, if they are,' said Philip, firmly, his pale face +growing set. 'I must have an apology from them before I can resume the +lessons, whatever may be the cost.' + +'Of course! oh, of course!' hurriedly assented Theo, her fingers +working nervously. There were breakers ahead, she foresaw. The idea +of Alick, or Geoff either, apologising! 'I shall go to them, and do my +best to bring them to reason,' she said presently. + +'Thank you! I am sorry that the matter should vex _you_!' was the +grave reply; and lifting his hat, the tutor departed home. + +'Vex me!' murmured Theo, leaning her head out of one of the open +windows of the tea-house, and staring absently down upon the waves +leaping over the black rocks below. 'Vex me! It's more than that. +Oh, it's too bad that all the burden should fall on me! Father _ought_ +to look after the boys. It's too bad!' she repeated. + +Then the sea and sky were blurred, and a vision took their place--a +vision of a sweet, fading face; hands outstretched in pleading; and a +loved voice, long since dumb, rang in her ears: 'You will promise, +Theo, to be a little mother to the boys, and help them over the rough +places in life's journey, as I should have tried to do? God will help +you, dear. He will ever be ready with His aid!' + +How vividly it all came back to the girl, that dark time in her young +life when the dear, tender mother was called from out their midst. +When all things, in heaven and earth alike, were shrouded in the +pitiless gloom which hid the face of her Heavenly Father from the +despairing daughter. What a chill, empty, rudderless home it was for +the terror-struck children, with no one to look to for guidance! +Father was away at the far ends of the world on his good ship, and +mother--ah, farther off still was the mother, who had slipped out of +the little home. Theo remembered, with a pang, the clinging hands of +the desolate boys and the baby, Queenie, which had stirred her out of +her own stupor of sorrow. It was borne in upon her, then, that she +must step into the dead mother's empty place; and, frail, weak girl +though she was, she had done her brave best to fill it ever since. She +knew well, none better, that God had indeed helped her daily in her +efforts hitherto. Lifting her tear-stained face, Theo told herself +that He would do so still, for 'His mercies never fail.' With a silent +little prayer for strength and patience, she left Queenie in the +tea-house while she went indoors to confront the rebels as courageously +as she could. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +MUTINY AT THE BUNK + +'Boys!' Theo's clear treble voice rang through the din that was +shaking the very pictures on the walls of the Bunk dining-room. + +'Why, it's Theo, I declare!' shouted Geoff, the first to hear his +sister. 'We're in a state of mutiny, Theo! Isn't it fun?' He +shrieked in his glee. + +'We've turned on old Price, and completely routed him off the decks, +and we've seized the ship. We're in sole command of the Bunk--hooray!' +Alick, his face flushed with triumph, his eyes dancing with wicked +mischief, executed a hornpipe in the middle of the dining-table in +furious style and making a hideous clatter, shouting the while-- + + 'Will ye hear of Captain Kidd, + And the deeds of which he did, + All upon the Spanish main, + Where so many men were slain?' + + +'Won't you get down, boys dear, and tell me quietly what has maddened +you so this morning?' Theo, who had been standing transfixed, spoke at +last, looking calmly at her excited brothers, and her voice, so evenly +modulated and gentle, had an instantaneous effect. The dreadful din +and noisy dancing abruptly ceased, while the rebels regarded her with +much the same sullen stare as one encounters from a drove of Highland +cattle when molested. + +'Where's Price? Have you seen him?' suspiciously asked Geoff. 'Has he +been reporting us?' + +'He'd better not try on that game, I tell you, the coward that he is!' +growled Alick. + +'I don't know about Mr. Price being the coward,' pointedly said Theo. +'It isn't usually the fashion among brave men for two to set on one, is +it, boys dear?' she added tranquilly. + +Geoff gasped. Then his mouth, opening to sharply retort, shut with a +click. He knew that his sister, though only a girl, was perfectly +right. It had been an unfair, uneven conflict. Theo put her finger on +the blot with remarkable accuracy for a girl; two to one must always be +unfair, and a rush of shame tingled over him. + +Not so Alick. He would not allow himself to be convinced. + +'I'd like to know what right has Price to grind us down?' he muttered, +gloomily frowning at Theo. 'He's an oppressor, that's what he is! But +I'll soon let him see; I'll pitch into him, if he dares to show his +white face here again, I tell you! Down with tyrants!' + +'He isn't likely to show his face here,' said Theo, loftily regarding +the inflamed countenance of her brother. 'That is,' she continued, +'not unless he receives an ample apology from each of you for this +morning's work.' + +'Apology!' shouted--almost yelled--Alick. 'Never! Don't you believe +it, Miss Theo! You think you can do most things, but you won't bend us +to that!' Rub-a-dub on the dining-table hammered the furious boy's +toes and heels, as he broke out into another hornpipe. + +'Won't you come down, dears?' again pleaded Theo as gently as before. +'Come to the tea-house, and tell me exactly what the trouble was from +the very beginning,' she said persuasively. + +'Oh, we'll tell you!' eagerly assented the boys, with one voice; and +scrambling down from the table, each slipped an arm through Theo's, and +walked away with her, both talking at once, excitedly endeavouring to +make the best of their case in her eyes. They were genuinely fond of +their elder sister; principally, it may have been, because she never +scolded or flouted them, however badly they behaved. Theo's way was +different. It was by gentle means she sought to lead, not drive, her +rebellious, hot-headed young brothers back to the path of duty from +which they were so constantly straying. + +'What did you want, did you say?' she asked, bewildered by the two +angry voices full of complaint on either side of her. + +'You be quiet, Geoff, and let me tell her, said Alick, in a domineering +tone. 'I'm the eldest!' That being a fact, Geoff could not well +contradict it, and Alick triumphantly went on, 'You see, Theo, this is +how it all began. We asked Price, civilly enough, this morning to +allow us a whole day off on Wednesday next, instead of the usual +half-holiday. And I'll tell you why we were so anxious for a whole +day. You know Jerry Blunt?' + +Theo nodded. Everybody had heard of the wanderer's return to +Northbourne. + +'Of course you do. Well, but perhaps you didn't know that he has set +up as a bird-trainer, because he can't do any work since he lost his +right arm, and he is bound to make a living somehow. Jerry told Ned +Dempster that he was going to Brattlesby Woods all day Wednesday to +seek for young bullfinches, and he also said that we might go with him, +if we cared to, and help search the nests. Wouldn't that have been +splendid? Now, wouldn't it?' + +Theo nodded again--emphatically. She thoroughly sympathised with all +the boys' pleasures and pursuits, even when she could not join them. + +'But that cantankerous old Price refused us flat. He said we'd been +far too idle, me especially, to yield us one single hour extra; and he +hammered away about his responsibilities as he has the cheek to call +_us_. Now, I ask you, wasn't that enough to make a fellow just mad? +Wouldn't you have done exactly as we did yourself, Theo?' Alick gave +his sister's arm an impatient shake. + +'Well, no. I don't think I should have danced so madly on the table to +the horrible music of the fire-irons. And I _do_ know I should not +have insulted a gentleman. Another thing'--Theo skilfully reserved her +best shot for the last--'I also am quite sure I shouldn't have set on +him when he was single-handed and I had a partner, as I said before.' + +Geoff slid his hand quickly out of Theo's arm; her shot had gone home, +and his face took on a look of hot shame. Alick, on the other hand, +only frowned the more deeply. + +'Let us sit down and talk it all over reasonably,' went on Theo. +'Queenie dear, it is one o'clock; you may take your lesson-book, and +make yourself and your doll-people tidy for dinner.' Queenie +obediently trotted off to the house, and the speaker continued. +'What's all this about Jerry Blunt, boys? I thought he was a sailor? +What in the world has a sailor to do with training bullfinches, I want +to know?' + +'Why,' glibly began Alick, his face clearing, for the subject was one +specially dear to him, 'you know Jerry was away on that expedition to +find the North Pole--the one that went so far north. They got to the +Franz Josef Land, the very farthest anybody has ever yet penetrated. +But they failed that time, and Jerry got a frost-bite all through his +own carelessness--he admits that. His right hand and arm above the +elbow had to be taken off. Oh, you needn't shudder, Theo; a man can't +both venture and go scot-free. When the expedition came back they gave +Jerry the sack--turned him off, you know. So he has come back to +Northbourne to settle with his old mother, and of course he is anxious +to turn an honest penny for a living. It seems he knows a rare lot +about training young bullfinches to pipe real tunes. He learned the +trick from a cunning old Frenchman's yarns--a man who was on the +expedition.' + +'Yes, and just fancy, Theo!' cut in Geoff excitedly, and forgetting all +his recent twinges of compunction. 'Jerry trains the bullfinches with +a queer little musical instrument, a bird organ it is called. The +notes are as like their own as they can possibly be, Jerry says so. He +is going to show us the one he has got of his own. Old Frenchy, who +taught him how to train, gave him one for himself.' + +'What's Jerry Blunt's object in training the birds? How can it be a +living for him?' asked Theo wonderingly. For the moment she, too, had +forgotten the disagreeable events of the morning in the novelty of the +subject. + +'Why, he will sell them, of course--sell them to a chap in London who +sells them again. They fetch a good price, I can tell you. And oh, +Theo, listen, _we_ are going to have a trained finch, Alick and I. +We're going to save up, and Jerry has promised to keep a young bird to +train for us. We shall pay him, you know.' Geoff in his elation +jumped up and down on the seat. + +'Yes, we are!' said Alick; adding wrathfully, 'and wasn't it a mean, +low trick of Price to refuse us leave to go with Jerry?' He was quite +ready to blaze up again, volcanic-wise, in another fury. + +'Well, boys,' Theo spoke quietly and simply, but there was that in her +face and voice that forced both other brothers to listen, 'you know, +each of you, that father is too busy to look after you; so Mr. Price is +set over you, and he is on honour--being a gentleman, you +understand--not to take advantage of father's preoccupation to give you +such holidays as you have no right to have. Already they say your work +is far too light, and I know Mr. Vesey has again and again urged father +to send you both to a public school. When the book is done, and sent +to the publishers, father means to see about it seriously. You've +called Mr. Price a great many bad names to-day, but you can't call him +dishonourable; that's one point in his favour, and it's but fair that +we should allow him what we can. It would have been so easy for him to +grant this favour----' + +'Humph!' interrupted Alick, as if to say, 'Oh, you're coming round to +our view, are you? I thought you would!' + +'Quite easy!' repeated the young girl gravely. 'And there's another +thing: if it would have been such a pleasure to you, think what it +would have been to Mr. Price to get rid of such tiresome plagues as +yourselves for a whole day!' + +In a flash Alick remembered the recent words of old Binks to the same +effect. For the second time the novel idea of how irksome he and Geoff +must be to their much-tried tutor presented itself, to the resentful +boy's secret astonishment. + +'I am sure,' Theo began again, and still more gravely, 'you boys must +remember that the Bible tells us to respect those appointed to be +rulers over us.' + +'Don't preach!' Alick rudely cut her short; but Geoff bit his lip. He +was already bitterly ashamed of his morning's exploit, and tender, +serious words from Theo never failed to touch him to the heart. + +Left to himself, Geoff was undoubtedly one of those who, amid good +surroundings, would have kept on the straight path easily enough. So +could many. But human nature is, for the most part, made up of Alicks +as well as Geoffs--of boys who wilfully choose to do wrong and to stray +from duty. Like the genuine wheat and the tares, all must grow +together side by side--in the meantime. + +'I didn't intend to preach, Alick,' rejoined Theo gently. 'I only want +to ask you boys to show that you also are gentlemen, in the true sense +of the word, by frankly begging Mr. Price's pardon, when he comes +to-morrow, for your rude outbreak of this morning. It is the least you +can do, to make amends for an almost unpardonable insult.' + +There was a silence. The waves below dashed and broke on the rocks, +and the hoarse voices from a belated, heavy-laden fishing-boat stole +across the water in shouts to the women, who had been anxiously +awaiting them for some hours on the shore. + +'Well, boys dear, have you decided? Are you to act as father's sons, +as Carnegys of the old stock, or, to put it in another way, as +Christians who have given offence, and know that there is but one way +of making up for it? Will you apologise?' Theo spoke with urgent +persuasiveness. + +'I shall!' Geoff stood up straight, and his face was pale and set, as +he confronted Theo bravely. + +'I shan't!' Alick's head sunk lower and lower; on his brow a gloomy +scowl deepened, and his eyes refused to meet those of his sister +wistfully seeking his. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THEO'S HAVEN + +'Oh, mother, mother, it's too hard for me! You have asked too much, +and I have failed, miserably failed!' + +The wind from the sea was blowing fresh and free over the village, and +beyond it to the little churchyard, the God's acre of Northbourne. +Kneeling beside one of the grassy mounds therein was Theo Carnegy, +tears rolling down her earnest face. The girl was overwrought by +home-worries, for Theo was none of the crying sort, as a rule. But +there are times in the lives of each of us when all things seem too +difficult for our feeble hands to smooth out; the knots, the +difficulties, become hopelessly entangled; we sit down dismayed in +stony despair, or we weep helplessly, according to our several +temperaments. From the beginning of the sorrow that shaded her young +days, Theo had a trick, in times when harassing troubles crowded upon +her, of secretly slipping away to the churchyard, and whispering her +trials to that grassy mound, the most sacred spot of earth to the girl. + +It was so still, so unutterably peaceful, in the hallowed enclosure, +where the green grass grew tangled among the grey headstones that +elbowed each other in the cramped space. During the week the little +churchyard was deserted. On Sundays the simple fisher-folk wandered in +and out among the Northbourne sleepers, talking softly of their old +neighbours; but it never occurred to them to do anything towards +keeping the graves neat and straight. Theo's loving care kept the +quiet corner where her mother slept in perfect order; but for the rest +an air of dreary neglect prevailed. + +Bewildered and harassed by her brothers' mad outbreak, Theo had sought +her usual consolation, and was sitting leaning her cheek against the +stone that told the last chapter in the life-history of the gentle +mother who had risen at the Master's call to go up higher. And as she +so sat, a peace, born of the surrounding silence, brooded down over her +troubled soul. Her anger at the boys' mutiny died out. Somehow, among +the silent sleepers round about her, it seemed small and paltry to fume +over the wranglings of the schoolroom. The wind that stole up from the +bay dried the tears on Theo's cheek. New resolves stirred her heart. +She would pluck up courage and try, once again, to move Alick's +stubborn will. Not that she had much hope of inducing him to apologise +to his justly offended tutor. She knew that Philip Price had created +an insurmountable rock in the path of reconciliation by his insistence +on such a thing. + +'I don't blame him, of course not,' she said half aloud. 'It's due to +him that the boys should apologise. Dear old Geoff is already willing +to do it; but Alick never will!' + +'Who is you talking to, Theo?' A sweet, shrill voice made Theo jump, +and turn quickly. + +'Queenie! Oh, my deary, how did you know where to find me?' she cried +in her surprise. + +'Oh, I could find you nowhere, Theo. I asked everybody, even father. +Then I knewed you must have gone to see mother, and so I comed too.' +Queenie, armed as usual with a couple of dolls, proceeded to seat +herself and them on the other side of the green mound. 'Tell me about +mother an' me, Theo, when I was a very little girl, will you?' she +soberly begged, when she had established herself and her infants to her +satisfaction. + +In this little one there was an utter lack of dread of death. Nobody +had filled her childish mind with vague fears of the unknown life +beyond. Her simple faith was that unlimited trustful belief that our +Lord alluded to when He said, 'Except ye be converted and become as +little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.' + +The mother whom Queenie only knew by hearsay had gone home first--gone +to Paradise beyond the blue skies. Theo said so. This dear mother +would be waiting, with wistful welcomes, for each one of her dear ones +when they, too, went to that other far-off home. Theo said so. +Queenie, therefore, came, with happy, childish trust, to her mother's +quiet resting-place much as she would have trotted into that mother's +room, had God not called His meek servant away out of her earthly home. + +'I don't think I could tell you stories to-day, dear.' Theo rose +slowly from the grass, and looked down upon the fair little face under +its straw hat. 'I am too troubled.' + +'Is it the horrid figures, Theo?' Queenie asked, half-sympathetically, +half-absently, her attention being attracted by a bold thrush hopping +across the graves. + +'No, it's worse than figures; it's the boys,' mournfully rejoined Theo. + +'The boys are going shrimping this evening, with Ned,' said Queenie +importantly. 'I wish you and I was boys, Theo!' the little one +plaintively added. Queenie was beginning to discover the fact that +dolls were not, perhaps, the highest joys of life. + +Going out shrimping with Ned! Theo started. Then things were hopeless +indeed. There would be no evening preparation. Perhaps even Geoff had +changed his mind, and would refuse to say he was sorry. + +'I must take you home now, at once, deary. Come! I have to go and see +old Goody Dempster before tea. Say good-bye, and come.' + +Queenie's fresh little mouth was pressed against the grey headstone, +and she softly whispered, 'Good-bye, mother darlin'!' + +Theo stooped and did the same. The touching little ceremony was never +omitted by either. Then hand in hand they soberly left the quiet +resting-place, the missel-thrush peering out of its bold eye at their +retreating figures. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +COMING EVENTS + +'May I come in, Goody?' + +A sweet voice penetrated the dim recesses of the little thatched +cottage which, with its weather-stained front, was the centre one of +the half-circle of homely dwelling-places that huddled together looking +out on the world of waters. Sitting by the smoky fire, watching, as +she knitted busily, the iron pot of potatoes boiling for her supper and +that of her grandson Ned, was Goody Dempster. Her face, as she lifted +it, was brown and wrinkled--indeed, it was not unlike in hue the +kippered herrings hanging on a stick outside. But a pleased surprise +sprang into her eyes as she recognised her visitor's voice. + +'Is that yourself, Miss Theedory? Come along in, deary! You're always +a sight for sore eyes, as ye know well. Sit ye down on the little +stool as ye've set on sin' ye were a tiny toddler. It's kep' dusted +careful, case you should drop in; and nobody, not even Ned, sits on +Miss Theedory's stool.' + +'I know that, Goody dear. I shouldn't mind if they did; but you mean +it for kindness to keep a stool specially for me. Well, you see I've +come again to have another talk with you about Ned. Indeed, I hoped to +see himself, but he doesn't seem to be in the way.' + +'No, Miss Theedory, he ain't. And reason why's this. He's bin out +with the Fletchers' boat all the day. There's a great take o' +mackerrow expected shortly, and the Fletchers they're on the look out; +they're always that spry to the main-chance, as you know, deary. Not +as I'm one to blame they; people has got to be sharp in their bis'ness.' + +'Yes, of course,' assented Theo absently. She was staring into the +fire, wondering what tack would be best to take with Ned, when she did +get hold of the boy. 'Have you been talking to Ned, Goody, as you +promised you would?' she turned her head to ask presently. + +'Ay; I've talked a bit to he. But b'ys is a handful, Miss Theedory, as +nobody should know better than yourself. Now, my Ned his heart's in +the right place; it's his head as is the trouble. He has crammed +hisself with trash of foring travel until the b'y is fair crazed to be +off and out into the world. That's what it is!' + +'I shouldn't call books of travels trash,' said Theo slowly. 'It +wouldn't be quite fair--nor true. But it's exactly the same at home +with our boys, especially with Alick. He reads exciting books of +adventure constantly. Of course I know some folk must go out into the +world, and do all the wonderful things; everybody can't be +stay-at-homes for life. But the worst thing about it is that Alick +won't wait his time. He wants to shirk his education and rush off, in +his ignorance, to do things that it takes full-grown men, and +well-instructed men, to even attempt. Oh dear!' + +'Same wi' Ned, set 'em both up!' angrily exclaimed Goody, dropping the +stocking she was knitting into her lap. 'And as for wanting to find +the North Pole, did anybody ever hear tell o' sich impident +presumption! If the Lord had meant as we should find the North Pole, +He'd ha' showed the way to it, straight as straight, and made it easy +as easy. But seein' as time arter time men have giv' up their lives, +bein' lost in the ice and snows, and still, to my thinking, if not to +others, the North Pole is shrouded from their reach, why, a body can +see, plain as plain, that 'tain't meant as man should ever compass it. +Not that I can say as it's forbid special in the Book; I won't say +that, nohow. At least,' added Goody cautiously, 'I've never come +across it in my readin's.' + +'Oh, well,' said Theo heavily, 'it would not really so very much +signify what the boys' day-dreams of the future were, if they would +only do their duty meantime. I was trying so hard last Sunday, in the +class, to make them all understand that God Himself leads always, and +that until He points the way we have no right to set out upon it. But +it is questionable whether they took in my meaning.' + +Goody nodded. There was a little silence in the cottage. The potatoes +bubbled gaily in the pot, and the clock in the corner ticked in +measured dignity. + +'There's one thing, deary, that I think you had ought to be telled.' +Goody broke the stillness, at last, with an effort. 'I've had it on my +mind for some weeks back to let 'ee know; but somehow I dursn't. Them +b'ys is plannin' mischief. They've a notion to run away--to sea!' + +The old woman spoke the last words in a whisper, though there was +nobody to hear, save the sleepy old tortoiseshell cat by the fender, +which opened one lazy eye, winked as if she, too, were in the secret, +then, shutting it, purred off to sleep. + +'Run away!' Theo's fresh face turned chalky pale, and her eyes widened +into a terrified stare. + +'True, deary, quite true! Night arter night I could hear Ned a-talkin' +in his sleep in his little bed yonder, same's if somethin' was on his +mind. So, at last, I got out o' my bed one night a-purpose to listen +careful, and there, if Ned wasn't ravin' away to hisself, in his sleep, +and 'twas all about gettin' away up to the docks at Lunnon, and hidin' +in some ship bund for the North, him and Muster Alick. It giv' me a +turn, as I see it's done the same to you this minnit, my dear. So I +thought I'd best tell 'ee private, when I'd the chance; for nobody +knows what a b'y won't dare to do. P'raps you could speak to the +captain, and git him to make a stir. Eh, deary?' + +'Father? Oh, it would be no use. He wouldn't care, nor even listen. +He's too busy with his stupid old writings to mind any of us, or what +trouble we are in. It's too bad the way we are left to ourselves!' +Theo in her excitement lost her self-control, and spoke with a +bitterness not belonging to her sweet nature. In truth, the girl was +becoming a great deal harassed by the cares that were pressing upon her +so heavily of late. + +'Deary!' A wrinkled brown finger was raised, and Goody looked over her +horn spectacles in grieved surprise. ''Tain't for me to pint out to +one so good and gentle as our Miss Theedory that one of the great God's +commandments is to "Honour thy father and thy mother"! Ain't that so?' + +'Yes; but--but,' sobbed Theo, who, tired out and ashamed of herself as +well, suddenly broke down, as much to her own astonishment as to that +of Goody, 'that means a father and a mother who take a real interest in +their children, who----' + +'It don't say so special, if so be as it means that!' rejoined Goody +dryly. 'It don't mention any sort in pertikler. It just says "thy +father an' thy mother"; and that's all you and I've got to do with it. +Let's look to our part, and perform it. But folks is always in such a +hurry to settle other people's bis'ness that they lose sight of their +own.' + +'Oh, Goody, you're right! What a monster, what a bad girl you must +think me!' Theo sat up straight. 'I am ashamed of myself. To think I +should grumble at my own father, my good father, who was such a brave +sailor, as everybody knows, and who never has been unkind to one of us +children in all our lives!' + +'That's it, deary! That's it. 'Tain't what your father isn't, but +what he is, that you've got to look at, and to be grateful for. +Remember what I'm a-goin' to say, and don't 'ee take offence at an old +body's words. We never, none of us, has but one father on earth, +same's we've but one Father in heaven, who commands us so special to +honour our earthly parents. And another thing, deary; them things as +seem mountains in your young eyes seems but trifles to the captain's +eyes. If the time comes as there's real need for him to interfere, and +bring about order in his own home, he will be safe to do it, never ye +fear. The captain he was one of them as England expec's every man to +do his dooty, and he did it in battle, so I've heard tell. And he will +do it by you and the b'ys, don't 'ee fear!' + +'I'm sure he will,' said Theo humbly. She had come full of the spirit +of putting everything and everybody to rights, and she told herself +that her own pride and self-sufficiency had earned its well-merited +fall. Theo Carnegy's heart was too gentle and single in thought to +harbour arrogant pride. Her quick repentance for the ill-advised words +she had suffered to spring off her lips gave ample proof that it was +so, and that in her the Christian spirit reigned. + +'Here's Ned a-comin'!' Granny lifted her head sharply to listen to a +prolonged, familiar whistle, and the cat, uncurling herself, rose up +into an arch. There was a rush past the little window, and then Ned +bustled into the room, bringing with him a breath of strong sea air and +also of the odours of the mackerel-boat. + +'They've comed, granny! The mackerrow has comed into our bay, and +we're goin' out agin---- Evenin', miss! I--I didn't see you before.' +Ned's cap was off, and he stood, colouring up, before the young lady +sitting on the stool and looking at him out of her clear, earnest eyes. + +'Ned,' said Theo, somewhat gravely, 'I want a quiet talk with you, one +of these days soon.' + +'Yes, miss.' + +'Not to-morrow,' went on Theo. And Ned gave a gasp of relief, +unobserved by her. He was secretly thankful that Miss Theedory had not +fixed on the morrow, seeing it was the day of the proposed bird-hunt in +Brattlesby Woods. 'We are all going across to the Vicarage to tea +to-morrow,' continued the young lady; and Ned's relief changed to +dismay. 'By the way, Ned, we shall be so glad to see you at the +schoolroom tea at six o'clock. To-morrow will be Mrs. Vesey's +birthday; and there's to be a little treat at the schoolhouse, as well +as our tea at the Vicarage. You'll come?' + +Ned fidgeted and turned all colours. He was a straightforward, honest +boy, and his nature would have enjoined him to speak out and frankly +say that his word had been already passed to go with Jerry Blunt to the +woods on Wednesday, but his tongue was tied for Alick's sake. He could +see that Theo was ignorant of her brother Alick's determination to +carry out his rebellious mutiny. A fierce struggle raged in Ned's +mind. 'His honour rooted in dishonour stood.' Should he be outspoken, +or should he be faithful to his chum, Master Alick? + +'Better be true,' said the clear voice of conscience. + +'No. Better still stick to your friend through thick and thin,' +contradicted a louder voice. How well the last specious suggestion +sounded! So did the whispers of the serpent in Eden in Eve's ears. + +'You will come to the tea-party, then?' said Theo, rising from her +stool to depart. + +'Thank ye, Miss Theedory; yes, I'll come,' was the mumbled reply; and +in an agony of shame Ned shambled out of the cottage, making believe to +be busy over the tangled brown nets lying in front of the door. + +He was a capable lad enough, was Ned, and the Fletchers looked upon him +as a promising hand already in the boat. Loving the sea passionately, +he had been gay as a lark all day, watching keenly for the expected +coming of the swarm of 'mackerrow.' But though the take had been +abundantly successful, and the boat came home heavily laden; though the +bay and the encircling cottages were bathed in the cheery red light of +a gorgeous sunset, and supper-time was at hand, somehow the spring of +happiness had died out of everything. Ned hated deceit with the +vigorous hatred of an outspoken, truthful nature. He wriggled +mentally, full of guilty discomfort, as he watched Theo's straight, +slim figure rapidly stepping round to the Bunk, and told himself +ashamedly that he had wilfully deceived the 'young miss' who was always +so kind, so civil-spoken, to himself. + +'Ned! Ned, my lad!' called out Goody's cracked voice from within. +'Whatever's ado that 'ee don't come to supper? The taters is coolin'.' + +'All right, granny! I be turnin' over the nets, that's all.' + +Goody's ears--her sharpest sense was hearing--detected the heaviness in +Ned's voice. + +'What's come to 'ee, Ned, so suddent?' she asked anxiously, as she +heaped a plate with potatoes, and poured out a mug of butter-milk. + +Perhaps it was the smoking supper that proved too much for the hungry +fisher-boy, or perhaps Ned's conscience still troubled him, but the boy +was unusually silent. Goody, try as she might, could get nothing out +of him. + +'I'm off again, granny, soon's ever the moon's up,' Ned at length broke +silence to say, when his supper was finished. + +'Are ye, lad? Well, good luck to 'ee! The wind's fair and the water +calm.' Goody stepped to the open door, and peered out at the darkening +bay. 'Ay! There's Fletcher's folk makin' ready in the boat, Ned.' +She returned to the house-place, and reaching down the thick woollen +muffler, stained with salt water, but a valued heirloom for its warmth, +she handed it to the boy. 'See you don't forgit to put it round your +throat,' she enjoined. 'Neither don't 'ee forgit the bit o' a prayer, +my boy, that I taught ye to say out on the deep by night. Folks is apt +to think as prayers belongs to a night spent in a comfortable bed +ashore. But God listens as ready to bits of prayers that goes up to +Him in the black silence o' night, out on the waters, same's He listens +to them as is put up in church o' Sundays, with parson for mouthpiece. +Will 'ee remember, Ned?' + +'I'll remember, granny; I do always!' quietly replied Ned, throwing the +muffler across his shoulders. To do the boy justice, he always did +remember the 'bit o' a prayer' Goody had taught his father before him. + +The Fletchers, three generations of whom manned the fishing-trawler, +were decent folk, with a keen eye to the main-chance, or what some +people consider to be such--namely, making as much money as possible. +The sky had clouded over somewhat, and it was darkish as the +'Aurora'--known locally as the 'Roarer'--the chief of the Northbourne +fishing-boats, put out for the night's work. Ned, glancing at the +Bunk, could see the twinkling lights from its several windows reflected +in the calm waters below. He wondered what Muster Alick was up to at +that time of evening. 'He ain't learnin' of his lessons, that's sure,' +thought Ned, with an uneasy recollection of the story of the rebellious +outbreak in the schoolroom; for Alick had poured his indignant version +of the same into the ears of his humble comrade. 'Happen he've got +hold of a fresh travel-book.' Then Ned's thoughts easily slipped off +to the subject of other 'travel-books' devoured by Alick and retailed +to himself. He pictured vividly, as the 'Roarer' swished through the +dark waters, a far different scene to that of the quiet Northbourne +bay. A scene made up of dangers by land and dangers by sea; of wide, +lonely floes of ice, their white gleam darkening into the gloom of the +mysterious distance as yet untrodden by human feet. Ned's pulses never +failed to beat like hammers when such thought-pictures dangled +themselves before his mind's vision. He forgot in the entrancing dream +the outbreak at the Bunk; forgot the holiday to be stolen on the morrow +in Brattlesby Woods, and the deception practised on Miss Theedory; +forgot, for the first time, the 'bit o' a prayer' taught him by +faithful old Goody to say when his nights were passed on the deep. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +UNDER ARREST + +Tuesday morning had come and gone. Philip Price, the tutor, sat in the +dining-room of the Bunk with but one pupil facing him at the table. +Geoff, faithful to his promise, had apologised in a manly, +straightforward fashion for his unruly behaviour on the day of the +'Great Rebellion,' as the Carnegys had secretly christened their +outbreak. No sooner had the boy so done than he was freely forgiven. +But Alick flatly refused to sue for pardon, when confronted with his +offended tutor, spite of Theo's tearful entreaties. Stubbornly the +wrong-headed, wrong-hearted boy held out. + +'Very good!' dryly said Mr. Price, after waiting in vain. 'Then, until +you see fit to do so, I must dispense with your attendance here, Alick, +otherwise our positions as master and pupil would be reversed. +Good-morning to you!' Philip had risen, and was holding the door open. +A great struggle had been going on in the young man's mind. It would +be easier, he knew, far easier, for him to gloss over Alick's obstinate +refusal to repent, and just to let things go on in the old way. The +temptation to do so was great, particularly to one whose days were +shadowed by much physical suffering, which made it the harder for him +to rise up and energetically quell such a rebellious rising as he had +had lately to cope with. But Philip owned a lion's heart as well as +clear, well-defined notions of right and wrong. Also he had learned +not to lean on his own strength. There was, he knew by experience, a +higher help always ready for those who seek it, and Philip had long +made it a habit to do that in all things, small or great. He was, +therefore, enabled to deal with the young rebel in a dignified and +temperate yet firm manner. + +Muttering savagely Alick withdrew with slouching gait. He knew well +that he was no match in regard to words with his tutor, who had +preserved _his_ temper admirably. Master Alick consequently felt it to +be the best policy to hold his tongue. + +'Has you got a holiday, Alick? Or has you got the toothache?' asked +Queenie innocently, surprised when Alick sauntered into her playroom, +an hour after, feeling rather like a fish out of water without his +inseparable companion Geoff, and without his usual employment. Ned +Dempster was also out of the way, he being absent with the +fishing-boats; for the bay was alive with the shoals of mackerel, over +which intense excitement simmered throughout Northbourne. + +'Yes, I _has_ got a holiday, miss!' was Alick's grim rejoinder. 'A +pretty long one too, I expect.' Then he added in a curt, sharp tone, +as though to stop further questions, 'Now, look here, Queenie! Have +you got any of your family that wants mending, eh? Any sick and +wounded? Any broken legs or heads lying about? Because if you have, I +can undertake to put them right this morning. I've got nothing else on +hand.' + +'Oh, can you, will you?' delightedly said Queenie. Then, suddenly +recollecting herself, she quickly added, 'But, Alick--oh, I couldn't +get out all my sick dollies this minute, 'cos, you see, it is nearly +'leven o'clock, and Theo will be waiting for me in the tea-house, to +begin my lessons.' + +'Lessons! Never you mind rubbishy old lesson-books, Queenie! I don't +mean to, never again!' + +'Has you learnt up everything then, Alick?' asked the child, gazing +respectfully at her brother, with all the wondering admiration one +often sees in little girls for big brothers. + +'What has that got to do with it?' roughly answered the boy. He was in +that volcanic condition of mind that every word spoken was as a match, +and set up a blaze of ill-temper. 'Give me over that one-legged doll, +and I'll "fix" her up, as the Yankees say. Hand her ladyship over.' +Alick Carnegy had one tender spot in his heart. Most of us have. And +that in Alick was occupied by Queenie. He was passionately fond of the +innocent-faced, round-eyed little sister, and he was always ready to +mend her sick and damaged properties. + +'That's poor Miss Muffet. She felled out of my arms on the beach, and +Splutters and Shutters worried her, Alick, before I could pull her +away. Ah, it was dreadful!' chattered Queenie. + +'You shouldn't pull things away from dogs. Never, never do such a +thing. Do you understand, Queenie? They might snap, you know, and +then where would you be?' + +Down on the floor Alick sat himself, and fell to work to repair as best +he could the interesting cripple. But Queenie, eager enough though she +was to watch the surgical operation, had a conscience hidden away in +her small person, as her restlessness showed. + +'I mustn't stay, Alick. I mus' go! Theo will be waiting, for the hall +clock has struck. I counted 'leven strokes just now!' + +Away to her lessons bustled the little maid, and Alick, unhappy, sullen +and forlorn, was left to himself in the play-room. The boy was +distinctly most miserable. Indeed, he could not be otherwise; it is +unnatural for the young to be in a state of rebellion against those set +in authority over them. They suffer hotly for it, with the measureless +capacity for suffering belonging to the young. + +In spite of his wretchedness, Alick was, however, fully determined to +go bird-hunting on the morrow in Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt. +Equally determined was the boy also that he would never beg his tutor's +pardon--if he could possibly help it, that was. Alick knew that if his +continued insubordination came to his father's ears the certain result +would be a thrashing, similar to one of which he still had a most vivid +recollection. It occurred on the only occasion that the captain had +been roused to administer punishment to both Geoff and Alick. That was +when the brothers had strangled several of Widow Dempster's hens by +lassoing them, on the pretext that the unfortunate fowls were +prairie-horses, the boys being prairie-hunters. This was a heinous +misdemeanour in the upright old sailor's eyes. Alick winced still at +the remembrance of the captain's wrath, and also of the captain's whip, +which he by no means spared on his boys' backs. + +'I certainly hope that father won't get to know about this row!' he +muttered uneasily, as he finished screwing on Miss Muffet's leg, and +set her up as proud as the best. Then looking round for more surgical +needs to operate upon, and finding a hapless horse minus a tail, Alick +ingeniously supplied the unbecoming deficiency with bristles out of the +hearth-brush. He was a remarkably handy boy; his fingers were skilful, +and he possessed a certain amount of invention. As he prowled about +the shelves, setting a good many of Queenie's infirm toys on their +feet, and making all things taut, the morning wore on apace. He was +glad enough of any occupation to pass the time, which seemed strangely +lagging, as he glanced impatiently at his silver watch. + +'I suppose Price and old Geoff are as thick as thieves, palavering away +over that awful Latin,' he soliloquised between the tunes he was +whistling. 'Price will be buttering up Geoff at my expense, no doubt. +Well, I don't care; why should I? I've made up my mind not to give in, +and nobody--not Price, at least--shall make me. Hilloa!' Lifting up +his eyes to the light, to see if he had glued on the wooden canary's +head quite straight on its neck, Alick caught sight, through the +window, of a couple of fishing-smacks making steadily for the bay. + +'That one to the left is Fletcher's boat, or I'm blind, and Ned's on +board, I know. I'd better just run down to the beach, and have a +private word in his ears, as soon as he lands, about to-morrow. What a +day we shall have in Brattlesby Woods! Oh my, shan't we just!' + +In a short time Alick, his morning's misery all forgotten, was down on +the shore, vigourously helping to haul in the heavy nets, and sharing +in the tumultuous excitement never failing to greet any and every boat +that put in to Northbourne beach. + +'Can you come along with me, Ned?' he took the opportunity of +whispering in Ned's ear. 'I've got something to tell you about +_to-morrow_. You know what I mean.' + +Yes, Ned could give Muster Alick five minutes before he sped home to +Goody's for a warm meal, and likewise a bit of sleep; for the boy was +stiff, as well as starving, after his long, chill night on the water. + +'I only wanted to say,' Alick hastily announced, 'that I'm game to go +with Jerry Blunt to-morrow morning, if you will let me know the hour +you mean to set off.' + +'We thought of going pretty early,' said Ned slowly, after a pause of +hesitation. 'We wants to make a good long day of it. But--but, Muster +Alick, have ye told them up at the Bunk that ye're set on going with +us? I thought as ye said the tootor wouldn't 'low ye, and that Miss +Theedory backed him up. Didn't ye?' Ned eyed his companion with a +certain amount of stern suspicion as he put the questions. + +One of Theo's class-boys himself, he had a genuine reverence for his +gentle teacher. There was nothing, the poor fisher-lad was wont to +tell himself, that he would not have dared or done for the sweet young +lady's sake. Her very gentleness and soft speech seemed to attract and +also subdue his rough nature, by force of contrast possibly. + +'What on earth is that to you?' loftily demanded Alick, resenting both +the questions and the mention of his sister's name, as brothers will. + +'Why, 'tis this to me!' rejoined Ned grimly, and standing square. 'I +ain't a-goin' to have Miss Theedory lookin' at me through an' through, +an' a-sayin', "Ned," she'll say, "why ever did'ee lead away my brother +to do wrong?" I couldn't stand that, muster!' + +'What a born idiot you are, to talk in that way!' said Alick grandly. +'It's quite enough for you that I tell you I'm coming to-morrow; that's +all you've got to do with it. Oh, I say, Ned!'--he descended from his +pinnacle of dignity all in a hurry--'it has been such a lark! I told +you what a row we have had with old Price, and that I bowled him over. +But Geoff has actually given in. Theo--I mean my sister--talked him +into an apology--begging pardon, you know. But I stuck out, and held +my own. So old Price bowed me off the premises. You should have +really seen him do it!' ended Alick, with a laugh that had no merriment +whatever in it. Ned nodded. He readily comprehended that 'Muster +Alick' had held his own. + +'And did he, did Muster Geoff reely ask parding?' he inquired +wonderingly, presently. + +'Yes, he did!' Alick spoke shortly, for he resented strongly his +brother's disaffection from a bad cause. 'But what's more to the +purpose, _I_ didn't knock under. So I'm coming with you; for old Price +won't, he says firmly, give me another lesson until I apologise too. +You may guess, old chap, that I'll have a fine long holiday at that +rate, if--if the governor don't get to hear about it, of course!' ended +Alick rather lamely. + +'Oh!' Ned gasped understandingly. He could readily enough picture the +result of the captain's taking up the matter. Fireworks would be +nothing to the general flare-up, in that case, the fisher-lad privately +told himself. + +Alick next proceeded to plan out the morrow's campaign, and by the time +the Dempsters' cottage was reached, it was agreed that Alick should +make his escape as early as possible from the Bunk, in order that he +might start with Jerry Blunt and Ned before anybody was astir to +prevent him. Then, with mutual promises of secrecy, the two parted. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A TANGLED WEB + +When the Carnegys sat down to dinner that day there was that subtle air +of constraint which is the result of family jars--an electric +disturbance in the home atmosphere which each and all feel. Theo, at +the head of the table, looked grave and pained. Geoff was +uncomfortable also, and, in his awkwardness, overtalked himself, in a +frantic desire to smooth matters. Queenie and the captain himself were +the only members of the family at their ease; while as for Alick, he +sat sullen and dumb, brooding over his self-made wrongs. + +'Well,' said the master of the house towards the end of the meal, 'have +you boys come to your senses yet, hey? Has order been restored on the +decks? I strongly advised Price to read the Riot Act; I hope he did +so, hey?' The captain began dimly to be aware of the prevailing +constraint, and then suddenly he recollected the tutor's complaining +report, which had dropped out of his mind two minutes after it was +spoken. + +Nobody spoke in answer. The captain glared, over the top of his +glasses, round the party; but Theo and Geoff would not for worlds have +told tales. Each felt that silence was the best policy under the +circumstances. + +Queenie at last, observing, with some surprise, the unusual hush, took +it upon her small self to reply. + +'Alick's been so good! He has mended all my doll-ladies' broken legs, +and the canary's head, too; and he has made such a bewful new tail for +the old horse--the grey horse, you remember, father, what lost his tail +when he was quite young. And Alick's tidied all the toy-shelves. He +has got such a long holiday, Alick has! Did you know, father?' she +said importantly. + +'Ah!' the captain observed gravely, looking his youngest calmly over, +and losing her last words. 'The toy-shelves are _your_ decks, I +suppose, my little woman; the play-room your ship, hey? Well, well, +history repeats itself. Oh, by the way, what a wretched memory I've +got! Dear, dear! why, it has only just come into my mind! Theo, my +dear, I had occasion to go across the bay the other day, last week I +think it was, about some references I wanted from the Vicarage library, +and I just looked in to have a chat with Mrs. Vesey in her +morning-room. What a sweet woman that is! If ever there were a saint +permitted to remain on earth, it is herself. But what I had to say was +about a special message she gave me for you. To-morrow will be her +birthday, and she wants all you young folk to go over early, to have +tea and strawberries and cream. You will like that, my dear, and so +will Queenie. As for you boys, there's to be a special treat for you, +in honour of the occasion. I was to be sure and tell you so, I +remember now. You are to have the key of the museum for yourselves, +and spend the evening there. But mind, no tricks with the specimens, +which are a valuable collection. Remember you are on honour, and being +gentlemen, I presume that will suffice to prevent any mischief. Stupid +of me to forget the message! However, it's not too late, fortunately; +to-morrow has not yet come.' + +There was an involuntary shout of delight from the boys when the +captain finished. A treat indeed, and a rare one, it was to be +permitted to pass an evening in the curiosity-room of the Vicarage. +From their childhood this museum had been the most interesting spot to +the young Carnegys. It was packed from floor to ceiling with a +collection of foreign monsters, weapons, and rarities, gathered +together, during a long life on foreign stations in different quarters +of the globe, by the venerable vicar, who, in his heyday, had been an +army chaplain. A more entrancing treat for Alick and Geoff could not +possibly have been devised. Suddenly, however, Alick's face gloomed +over. He remembered that the morrow, the birthday, was Wednesday, and +it was on that day he had bound himself to go to Brattlesby Woods with +Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, defying his tutor in the teeth to do so. +Even Alick felt a spasm of regret. If he had not been so perversely +obstinate in refusing to yield to Mr. Price, here would have been his +reward--a whole evening among the wonders of the Vicarage museum. It +was maddening! But the misguided boy felt that he had gone too far to +retrace his steps. It was too late, he ignorantly told himself; for +Alick knew not that it is never, it can be never, too late to confess +and make amends for a fault--so long as there is breath to bravely +speak out the remorseful confession. + +'We know, father, about it,' Theo's quiet voice was saying. 'Mrs. +Vesey guessed you might just possibly forget the message, so she sent +me a note, next day. It's all arranged, and we are all going. Father, +dear, wouldn't it be possible for you to come with us too?' The girl +had left her seat at the head of the table, and came round to lean on +the back of her father's chair. It seemed to Theo that if the captain +could be induced to join his family's life-pleasures, he would come, in +time, to be a refuge and a help in their life-troubles also; so she +pleaded. + +'Tut! tut! tut! Don't be absurd, my dear Theo. It's quite unlike you. +I thought you, at least, understood what a life full of urgent +importance mine is, until the _magnum opus_ is achieved. After +that--well, well, we'll see!' + +'Yes, but, dear, just one little holiday! I know the book is a great +labour, but you might take one afternoon from your work, and come with +us--just for once!' + +'No, no, child! When a man has put his hand to the plough he has no +right to turn back. And you ought to know better than tempt me, I say. +But with regard to you young people it is very different; you haven't a +care, so you can't do better than be happy, that is, at the appointed +time. There's a time for everything, the Book says, doesn't it? Now +then, my dear, let me get away back to my work, if you please.' + +The fiery old sailor held a firm conviction that he had an imperative +duty to perform in this world, in the shape of his proposed literary +work. Duty had been, hitherto, the sailor's god through thick and +thin. To do him justice, the captain had not the faintest notion of +the gusts of rebellious discontent that often enough swept over the +little household he imagined to be so well ordered. Deeply attached to +his boys and girls, one and all, though he was, he took no heed of the +fact that the minds of the mere children, as he considered them to be, +were fast awaking up--growing apace with their youthful bodies. The +truth was, the young folk were utter strangers and foreigners to the +man who had married late in life. So long as his gentle, tender +wife--a woman eminently fitted for her niche in life by her sweet +nature and her heart filled with Christian grace--lived, the captain's +children were well cared for indeed. Their needs both of body and soul +were alike looked after. But the mother who was so qualified by her +rare sweetness to bring up the children God had given her 'in the +nurture and admonition of the Lord,' was called away to a higher, +fuller life 'beyond these voices'; and the sailor, taking the reins of +the household in his unaccustomed fingers, held them over-slackly. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN THE FAR NORTH + +It was June, the 'leafy month': Nature was dressed out in her newest +and freshest of robes, and the homes of her feathered children were +peopled with tiny birdlings, all agape with hunger and curiosity. + +Through the shady Brattlesby Woods, and along the hedgerows, stealing +softly, stepping cautiously, crept Jerry Blunt, with his empty sleeve +flapping against his right side, and as he went he peered here and +there where leaves grew thickest. In his wake followed, on tip-toe, +Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, all three intent on seeking for young +bullfinches. + +When Jerry Blunt ran away to sea from his native village, Northbourne, +with his soul athirst for adventure, his body was furnished with as +many limbs as other folk. Little did he dream that the golden future +he panted to grasp would make of him a cripple. As time went by, and +he became a full-grown man, Jerry had his fill of hairbreadth escapes, +his last exploit of all being to join an enterprising American +expedition got up in the name of science to find the North Pole. This +venture, one of many, proved the most unfortunate of all for Jerry +Blunt. Through his own heedless carelessness in refusing to listen to +the advice of his experienced betters, he neglected a severe +frost-bite; in consequence, he lost his arm, which had to be amputated +by the ship's surgeon. After this catastrophe, Jerry as a man on that +expedition was worth little or nothing. So he returned, in course of +time, to his native place, 'like a bad shilling,' said Northbourne--and +with an empty coat-sleeve. + +'The right arm, too, worse luck!' was all the sympathy he got, and +Jerry, therefore, began to look round for himself. He knew it was +imperative on him to do something for a living to help out his good old +mother's feeble efforts, and to keep a roof over their two heads. He +set his wits to work to puzzle out a way. Without a right arm he was +of little or no use in the fishing-boats, which constituted the sole +trade of Northbourne. So fishing was out of the question. + +Now people don't go the length of Franz Josef Land without picking up a +few odds and ends of information. Therefore it was not long before +Jerry did hit upon a trade, and it was one thoroughly to his mind. +From his boyhood he had been a passionate lover of the open, and Mother +Nature had shared her secrets with him in no niggard fashion. + +He was tolerably well acquainted with the ways and the haunts of his +winged neighbours, and could, perhaps, have 'given points' to many a +scientifically educated naturalist. And it came to pass that he +bethought himself of certain valuable hints he had got anent the +artificial training of the inhabitants of the air from an astute old +Frenchman, one of those curiosities to be met with but rarely, whose +minds are human museums--treasure-houses in which are stored scraps of +varied knowledge. + +'You may keep school, my lad,' dryly commented his mother when she had +carefully digested Jerry's plan, 'but you won't find it easy to keep +scholars.' + +'Well, you'll see!' was the quietly spoken prediction; for Jerry Blunt +had fully determined to be a bird-trainer, and the pupils he was in +search of were young bullfinches. + +Of course when this remarkable intention became known among the +fisher-folk it was derisively condemned by the elders. On the other +hand, Jerry's younger neighbours, particularly Ned Dempster, were +immediately fired with an eager desire to assist him in the novel +enterprise. Ned's enthusiasm naturally infected both the Carnegy boys; +they also would fain become bird-trainers on the spot, lacking all +knowledge of the matter though they, naturally, did. With the frenzy +that possesses boys in regard to every absolutely new amusement, the +two Carnegys slept, ate, drank, and, as it were, breathed to the tune +of one thought--the determination that they also would be bird-teachers. + +This all-powerful, novel freak was at the bottom of the furious meeting +at the Bunk. Philip Price, the tutor, sympathising fully with the +ardent pursuits of boyhood, had been over-indulgent in the matter of +granting whole Wednesdays, instead of half-holidays. Any excuse +sufficed. Skating on inland ponds in the winter; fishing in the bay, +as the year wore on; and, latterly, digging for primrose or fern roots +in Brattlesby Woods. But Philip Price was beginning to find out by +results that too much play and not enough work was making dull scholars +of his pupils, and he had determined to stand out firmly against any +more indulgences in the future. It was high time that Alick and Geoff +should realise that 'life is real, life is earnest'; put their +shoulders to the wheel they must and should. The boys knew this, and +in their hearts admitted the determination to be a just one enough. +But the entrancing novelty of Jerry Blunt's proposed trade carried them +away; they were extravagantly crazed to join in it, by fair means or by +foul. Hence the outburst of rebellion, and Alick's stubborn refusal to +sue for pardon. + +When Wednesday morning arrived, he set off in company with Jerry and +Ned before the early sun had dried the dew on the grass. + +As they trudged at Jerry's heels he had explained to them, before +entering the woods, the mode of operation to be carried out. In order +to pipe tunes as bullfinches so marvellously do, they have to go +through a period of training, and downright severe training the hapless +mites find it. But, as Jerry tersely put it to his hearers, one of +whom winced secretly, what is training but 'keeping the body under +subjection'--a period of toilsome effort that any degree of perfection +necessitates? + +Taken from the nest at the age, say, of ten days or so--the most +suitable to begin operations--the callow young things are carefully +tended by one person solely, who accustoms the birds to himself, the +sound of his voice and his cautiously tender touch, before he attempts +anything approaching to training. + +This treatment Jerry Blunt intended to carry out with his timid pupils, +of which he gathered a goodly number, with the assistance of Ned and +Alick, long before sunset came round again. The trainer explained his +proposed code of education still more fully as he and the hungry boys +sat enjoying the picnic repast they had brought with them. Alick, +whose spirits were at their highest, thought it a delightful experience +to be eating cold chunks of pork and dry bread, which each guest carved +for himself with a clasp-knife. Infinitely superior was this +delightfully natural, manly style of feeding, than all the rubbishy +artificial formality of the decently appointed meals served at the +Bunk, thought he scornfully. The only drawback to his sense of +exhilarating pride was the fact that Geoff was not a witness of his +emancipation from society rules. + +'Do you actually mean to tell us, Jerry, that in time you will be able +to teach those wretched young shavers to whistle real, proper tunes?' +Alick asked presently, pointing with his knife, in careful imitation of +the manners and customs of his company, to the shivery mites, each +wrapped in a wisp of cotton-wool, which thoughtful Jerry had not +forgotten to bring for the purpose of protecting the birdlings on their +debut into the world out of their warm nest-homes. + +'Yes; you bide a wee, Muster Alick!' rejoined Jerry confidently, if +indistinctly, seeing his mouth was full at the moment. 'Before the +summer's out I'll engage that my scholards will sing "The Blue Bells of +Scotland" without a single false note! And when they do, I'll get a +good price for each on 'em from a chap I knows of in London, who trades +in singin' birds, and is always ready to buy 'em. But I was a-goin' to +say, Muster Alick, that I'll want some help from you boys. I can't do +the whole thing single-handed. I shall have to board out the birds, +after a bit; so there will be plenty of work for each of you, if so be +you're agreeable.' + +Of course the boys were more than ready with their promises of help in +the labour of teaching, as soon as they understood how it was to be set +about. + +'You will have to put us up to the trick first; how it's to be done, +you know, Jerry,' said Alick. + +'All right, muster! But there's no trick in the matter, and no secret, +'cept it be kindness and firmness. Them's the two great rulin' powers +with dumb animals, same's with we humans. 'Tain't no good tryin' to +train a child by lettin' him do jes' whatever he pleases. You wouldn't +call that training, now, would you? Say!' Jerry looked up from the +pipe he was filling to put the question, with some little earnestness. + +A strange flush stole up into Alick Carnegy's cheeks; for the life of +him he could not help applying Jerry's excellent logic to himself. The +stern, high-minded face of the tutor he had insulted floated before the +boy's eyes, and he winced, for the second time that day, at Jerry's +words, as he remembered how he had fought with and rebelled against the +authority set over him. Alick's conscience was by no means altogether +deadened, and his triumph was dashed. + +'Yes,' continued Jerry reflectively, as he watched the smoke curling +upward in the air, 'and 'tis the very same wi' ourselves, after we're +growed up to manhood. That's how the Almighty deals with us. He's +firm--none firmer; and He's kinder to us than we knows on--none +kinder--if so be as we would but trust ourselves to His way.' + +Jerry Blunt, exposed to temptations many and varied, had always been a +right-thinking, honest kind of lad. In spite of his wanderings to and +fro over the earth, he retained his early faith intact. + +'Many's the time in my life,' he went on, speaking in a gravely +reverent tone, 'I've fought to get my will in some things--struck out +blindly, as you might say; but there was always the firm Hand guiding +me in His way, not my own. Even when this mishap befell me'--Jerry +touched his empty sleeve--'though I couldn't see it at the time, bein' +so ignorant-like, it was all a-purpose for my good.' + +'How, Jerry? What on earth do you mean? To lose your right arm must +have been a frightful bit of bad luck!' Alick spoke in astonishment, +but with a certain amount of respect for one who had had such a large +experience as the bird-trainer. + +'There ain't no such thing as luck, either good or bad,' Jerry took out +his pipe to say. ''Tis God's will; that's the properest word +for't--not luck. As for my own misfortin', as everybody called it, +why, after all it didn't turn out so bad, when you come to think it +out.' + +'Why? Do tell us all about it, Jerry, will you?' urged Alick, to whom +the topic of the North Pole expedition was always attractive; and he +threw himself back on the mossy ground to listen in rapt attention. + +'Well, muster, I make no doubt that you've heard tell fifty times over +how I got a frost-bite when I was in Franz Josef Land with the +expedition. It all came about with me bein' in such a hurry like to +finish a job I'd to do, that I put off rubbin' my hands with snow, as +is the right thing to do, remember, if so be as you boys ever get +frostbit. Well, the long and the short of that neglect was, they was +forced to take off my arm--there wasn't no chice in the matter--above +the elbow too. We happened at the moment to be at a fixed camping +depot--not one of them nasty movin' floes, but on a good sound +spot--and the expedition was under orders to march norrards when the +thing happened to me. Well, in course, they nat'rally said as they +didn't want to be saddled with a one-handed man, and I was turned +back--me and old Pierre Lacroix, the Frenchman who taught me how to +train them little customers.' Jerry pointed with his pipe to the +infant finches under his handkerchief. 'Old Pierre was too rheumatic, +they soon found out, to be any use, in spite of his long head, which +was as full of wisdom as an egg's full of meat. None but sound, +able-bodied men will do for that work, I tell you. He was a queer old +fish, Pierre was. Poor chap, he was a Roming, you know; but for all +that he was, in his mistaken way, a pious, God-fearing man. It was +kind o' queer to see him, when we two were on our way back through all +them ice-plains; if we so much as heard the howl of a hungry wolf, +Pierre would pull out his beads and rattle off a prayer. But I didn't +so much wonder at his fright, for the cries of them wolves certainly +did freeze one's marrow through and through. And we once came to +pretty close quarters with the brutes. It was one night, a starless, +cloudy night, with a storm brewing, and we heard behind us a faint +sound that struck us dumb with horror. The wolves had scented us from +afar, and were giving chase. We took to our heels, as the sayin' is; +but you don't make much way on that there ground. The awful baying +voices gained on us, minute by minute. On, on, we breathlessly fought +our way, desperate to escape. At last, so close was the pack behind +us, that I could count 'em, half a dozen or so, and by the light of the +torches we carried I could plainly see their red tongues lolling out of +their hungry jaws. So did Pierre, and out came his beads. But reely, +boys, there are more wonderful escapes in real life than ever folks +read of in books. Now, what do you suppose saved us that night? Under +Providence, of course, I means. We might have turned at bay and shot +one or two, and there was a knife apiece. But we should have been +doomed men had we done so. However, help was close, just as hope was +dying out in our hearts. Running for our lives we had reached the +land,--before that, you understand, we'd been traversing an +ice-floe,--we knew 'twas land by the low bank sheering down. As we set +foot on it a mighty roaring crack sounded, breaking up into a thousand +echoes in the white silence. It was the ice parting from the shore, +through the wind-storm that had risen. Between us and our savage +hunters the cold black waves boiled up instantly, released from their +prison, and the baffled wolves howled furiously at the fissure growing +wider each second. We were saved; and, boys, never did I see the +finger of God more plainly than at that moment! I am glad I wasn't +ashamed to throw myself on my knees and thank Him aloud, and Frenchy +joined me with all his heart.' + +'But,' began Alick wonderingly, after a long pause, 'how on earth did +you find your way back, you two, through all that frozen white country +with no landmarks?' + +'How? Why, I s'pose you don't know the watchword of all Arctic +expeditions, young master? 'Tain't likely as you should, so I'll tell +you. The law out yonder is: keep your line of retreat open; and a +better rule couldn't be. It so be as you take heed to it keerful, you +can't be cut off from the world. So Pierre an' me, in due time, found +our way back to the ship, which was stationed in the Spitzbergen Sea.' + +'And what about t'others, the rest of the expedition? They pushed on, +didn't they?' asked Ned eagerly. + +'Ah! that's the queer thing that I be a-comin' to,' said Jerry, +speaking solemnly. 'In course they pushed on. But never a man of the +lot came back to tell the story of what they'd seen. They was too +venturesome; they went too far ahead, and must have perished of sheer +cold; leastways that's what I've heard. If you don't see a meanin' +under that, well, I do! And real grateful I feel to the Almighty. I +lost an arm, but them poor lads they lost their lives.' + +There was another silence. Jerry industriously puffed away; Alick +stared up unblinkingly into a chink of blue between the tree-tops; and +Ned gravely whittled away at a tiny boat of wood, one of a fleet with +which he kept Miss Queenie so numerously supplied that it bade fair to +develop into a Lilliputian navy in time. + +'Did you ever use any dogs on the expedition, Jerry?' asked Alick, +whose thoughts had been travelling along the silent white expanse of +the far-away North. + +'Dogs? No, muster, we didn't in them days. But Frenchy used to talk +away, I remember, o' nights round the camp-fires, about the proper use +dogs would be on an expedition. There was one breed in pertikler he +spoke well off--the West Siberian, I think he called 'em.' + +'Yes,' eagerly put in Alick, 'they're the ones, the West Siberian. +Father was speaking about them. They're considered to be awfully +useful.' + +'I dessay!' assented Jerry, knocking the ashes out of his pipe before +carefully stowing it away in one of his many pockets. 'But 'pears to +me we've got to be thinking of going home. The trunks o' the trees are +reddening, which tells us the sun's slantin'; and these little shavers +must be fed and bedded before sundown. Come, musters, rouse +yourselves; we must be steppin' Northbourne way!' + +Picking up the shivering, quaking mites in their cotton-wool wrappings, +Jerry lodged them in his several pockets and even in his cap. But he +firmly refused to suffer the two boys to share his burdens. + +'We can't be too keerful for the first day or so after takin' of 'em +out of the nest; so you leave 'em to me,' he persisted; and presently +the trio were trudging on their way back to Northbourne village. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN PERIL ON THE SEA + +While Alick Carnegy was absent, enjoying his forbidden pleasure in +Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt, the bird-trainer, and Ned Dempster, +strange things were happening in the quiet little bay at home--things +that will be talked of for years to come in the long winter nights, +when the fisher-wives sit mending their husband's nets round the +peat-fires, and the children crowd close to listen with all their ears +to the story. + +'The Theodora,' the boat belonging to the Bunk, had been getting out of +repair for some time back. At first the young folk--even Theo +herself--being a happy-go-lucky, reckless set in most things, +disregarded the leak, never dreaming it to be a serious one, and +laughed at their wet feet; for who ever heard of salt water hurting +anybody? It is just, however, those neglected little things, evils +that are suffered to go on, which increase sometimes, with a sudden +rush, into big mischiefs. That week Theodora, who had not been in the +boat for a few days, was struck afresh with the damage; she saw that it +was high time something should be done to mend matters, if only for the +sake of keeping dry feet. She therefore gave Ned Dempster a few +directions how to remedy the leak. Of course Ned, being a born +fisher-lad, was quite capable of doing the piece of work in his spare +moments. This Theo knew. But, unfortunately, her orders, and +everything else as well, went clean out of Ned's head, owing to the +excitement he had imbibed from Alick about the expedition to Brattlesby +Woods after the finches. + +When Theo and Queenie, consequently, got into the boat in the afternoon +to pull across to the little birthday festival at the Vicarage, they +speedily found, to their discomfort, but by no means to their dismay, +that the leak was considerably worse than usual. + +'Oh,' screamed Queenie, 'my bestest new shoes is quite wetted, Theo! +Look!' + +Queenie certainly was right; the shiny little toes that, dangling, did +not reach the bottom of the boat even, were already wet. Theo's fresh +blue print also was fringed round with sea-water when she looked down +at it. + +'I think we might manage to get across, though,' said Theo hopefully. +'It's a pity to turn back. We shouldn't get much wetter than we are +already, should we?' + +'Not much wetterer,' acquiesced Queenie equably, as she dipped first +the tip of one shoe, then the other, into the water. Of course, if +Theo didn't mind, it was nothing to Queenie. + +The afternoon was a glorious one, with a faint touch of north in the +wind, just enough to bring out colour intensely. The blue of the sea +and the blue of the sky were alike sapphire in hue, against which the +gulls that darted and skimmed hither and thither showed white. It was, +in truth, an afternoon when the world seemed so passing fair, so +secure, that the mind was lured into believing that it was +all-sufficient. + +Thus it is with ourselves. When we are getting on too smoothly at +school, or at our work, it all begins to feel such easy plain-sailing, +that we rest on our oars and grow over-confident. We are, in a sense, +off guard. And so it was with the occupants of 'The Theodora,' as it +gradually made its way to the middle of the bay. Of course they would +get across in safety, as Theo declared; they had done it a hundred +times already, since the leak was first sprung. + +Nothing had ever happened in the girl's eighteen years of life in the +shape of any serious accident either by land or by sea. It was +difficult to realise that mishaps could possibly occur, and, with her +eyes fixed on the wondrous blue above and below, Theo rowed on, calling +herself lazy because she did not seem, somehow, able to get so fast +through the water as usual. + +'Theo! oh, Theo!' + +'Queenie!' + +Two affrighted shrieks rang out simultaneously; for, suddenly, the +sisters each became aware that 'The Theodora' had shipped a quantity of +water. The boat was so heavy that Theo's oars could hardly move it. + +'Oh, what have I done?' cried the elder girl, ashy pale, and stunned +with the shock. 'Oh, my darling Queenie!' + +It was for the beloved little sister that the thrill of anxious terror +rushed over Theo. She herself could swim, in a fashion, if the worst +came to the worst; but Queenie, the baby-sister, how was the helpless +little one to be saved? Wildly Theo gazed over the blue, rippling +water. + +There, yonder, on the stretch of sands in front of the fisher-folk's +dwellings, her long sight could distinguish the women at their usual +monotonous employment, mending their nets in the doorways, all unaware +of her peril and that of the child in the sunlit bay. + +'Help! help!' she shrieked in the agony of fear that encompassed her, +and in her own ears her voice sounded thin and feebly small, as when in +some horrid nightmare we, all in vain, try to scream aloud, and fail. +Would they sit there, those fisher-women, and never so much as raise +their eyes to glance at the distinctly sinking boat? + +It was maddening to the distraught girl, simply maddening. + +'What is it, Theo?' quavered the frightened child opposite her in the +boat. 'Is we going to be drowned in the water, Theo?' + +'Oh, my darling Queenie! what shall we do?' cried out Theo in a frenzy +of helpless terror. The oars were lying helpless in the bottom of the +rapidly filling boat. 'What are we to do?' She fairly shrieked out +the question again. + +'Say "Our Father,"' said Queenie promptly; and she clasped her tiny +hands together in Theodora's. The child was too ignorant to realise +their danger. It was only the terror in Theo's face that frightened +her--Theo, the sister who was so strong, so tall, so all-wise, in the +trustful little one's innocent eyes. But though unconscious of all +their peril, the child's unerring instinct pointed to the true, +unfailing Refuge for all human trouble. + +'Our Father in heaven, help me to save Queenie!' + +The cry, strong and vibrating, floated over the solitary water. Theo, +in the sudden and unexpected approach of great danger, had forgotten +that God's ears are listening always to catch our prayers, even when +belated and half despairing. + +But when the little sister's simple words brought back to her mind the +remembrance of the one great Shelter for us all in the 'day of +trouble,' Theo threw her whole soul into the imploring, impassioned cry +for help. + +Then, knowing that God is most ready to aid those who aid themselves, +she rapidly collected her scattered wits to plan out what she had best +do in the extremity she found herself. Untying the long, soft, red +sash Queenie wore round her waist, she hastily, but firmly, fastened +the child to herself, never ceasing, meanwhile, to cry her loudest for +help, though her voice grew hoarse and weak under the terrible strain. +Then Theo proceeded to free her own skirts from her feet, lest, being +entangled, she might be sucked down under, when the boat settled down, +as she knew, now, it undoubtedly must. + +And overhead, flecking with white the blue glitter of the sky, the busy +gulls skimmed hither and thither, wheeling round in circles. On the +shore the fisher-wives, with bent heads, were still too intent on their +mending to raise their eyes for one moment, and the chatter of their +own high-pitched voices dulled their ears to the despairing cries +floating across the waters. So the tragedy went on. + +It was cool and shady in the Vicarage old-fashioned drawing-room. Mrs. +Vesey, the invalid mistress, frail and sweet, was lying, as usual, on +her couch, her dim, patient eyes watching the bay for the boat bringing +over her expected guests from the Bunk. + +In the next room tea was spread out: piles of sweet cakes and brown +bread-and-butter; strawberries gleamed ripe and red in large, heaped-up +dishes, and jugs of rich yellow cream stood about. Mrs. Vesey knew +what a feast should be like for hungry boys and girls, and ordered a +lavish repast to be prepared. Nor had she forgotten to provide for +other guests who were bidden to celebrate her birthday. Down in the +village schoolroom, tea and plum-cake, with piles of fruit, were all in +readiness to be laid out the moment that the little scholars departed +from afternoon school--a feast which they would return in due time to +demolish. + +Mrs. Vesey was a great sufferer; she had been house-ridden for years of +her life, but she bore her cross of bodily ailments bravely and with +soldierly courage. It was never thrust forward as an excuse to shelter +its bearer from what she felt to be her duty. Although she was totally +unable to preside in person at the treat for the fisher-children, she +had arranged to be represented by Theo Carnegy, when the Vicarage tea +was over. That young lady, after helping the little ones to make merry +over their feast, was finally to marshal a procession up to the +Vicarage, where the children intended to present to Mrs. Vesey such +posies as their busy little fingers had managed to gather in the woods +behind the village. + +As Mrs. Vesey lay watching the bay from her open windows, Binks, the +old handy-man, moved about on the lawn outside, now and again +exchanging remarks with his mistress as he passed and repassed. + +'Muster Geoff, he've come, ma'am!' said he presently, peering in the +room. + +'Oh, has he? Where is he, Binks?' + +'He've stepped round to the stable for Splutters and Shutters, ma'am, +that's where he be. B'ys is never content without the dogs arter them. +I dunno where t'other young muster is, but the ladies is on their way +across in their boat,' added Binks, shading his eyes to gaze out over +the water. + +'I know they are,' said Mrs. Vesey; 'I've been watching them. I saw +them start from the Bunk pier. The boat's pretty well into the middle +of the bay, now. Can't you see them, Binks?' + +There was no answer. + +Perhaps Binks resented the question, or perhaps he objected to admit +that his eyesight was not so good as that of his mistress. Anyhow, he +continued perfectly silent as he gazed, with a fixed stare, at some +distant object. + +'Hi, Splutters! Heel, Shutters! Come back, sir! Oh, Binks, really I +couldn't prevent them coming round on the lawn; they were too much for +me when I opened the stable door. Oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Vesey! I +didn't know you were at the window.' Polite Geoff, heated and flushed +with his chase after the excitable terriers, stood hat in hand under +the window while Splutters and Shutters tore madly up and down and +across the lawn. Strangely enough, Binks took no notice of their +capers, which, for once, were allowed to go unrebuked. His eyes, +shaded by his wrinkled hand, were still intent on the distant boat. + +'Theo and Queenie are on their way, Mrs. Vesey,' continued Geoff. 'I +see the Bunk boat creeping over; they seem in no particular hurry. +Don't you see them, Binks?' demanded the boy, rather astonished at the +old man's stillness. 'Why, I can see them waving something--a long red +thing. They certainly don't get on very fast, though, do they? +Why--why, Binks! Oh, what on earth's the matter? Something's wrong +with the boat; they're so still and---- Binks, _what_ is it?' Geoff +ended with a shout that was almost a scream, as he clutched the old +man's arm wildly. + +'Come along, Muster Geoff!' Binks roughly shook off the boy's hand. +'Run for your life; you're fleeter than me. Shove down our boat into +the water, and I'll folly ye quick's ever I can!' roared the old man. +'They're sinkin' out there fast as fast. God help us all!' + +Faster than ever he ran in his life tore Geoff, with a face blanched +and drawn, to seize the Vicarage boat, and push her to the water's +edge, putting forth all the strength of his young body to do so +single-handed. To jump on board and take up an oar was the work of +half a minute, and Geoff was pushing off without a thought of anybody +else when a hoarse shout stayed him. + +'Stay, muster!' panted Binks, hurrying to the edge. 'Two's better than +one; two oars will reach 'em quicker!' and in scrambled the breathless +old man, drops of perspiration rolling unheeded down his wrinkled +cheeks. + +Not another word was spoken by either as the man and boy tore through +the water, with all the strength they possessed. Geoff silently +watched Binks's face, trying to read, in its strained lines, the fate +of those behind his back. But the boy's white, dry lips refused to +utter the terrible question, 'Are they still above water?' Geoff's +brain seemed too paralysed to think. Every sense was merged in the mad +race of trying to cut still faster through the water to the rescue. +The hard, brown visage of Binks was a dead wall as he pulled and puffed +and panted. From it Geoff could gain no information, and, somehow, for +his life, the boy dare not turn his head to see over his shoulder for +himself. + +On the shore the women-workers had at last awoke to the fact of the +tragedy being enacted on the blue waters, and in the full blaze of the +summer sunshine, almost within their reach. Wild cries of affright +arose; the brown nets were flung aside this way and that. Bewildered +groups stood close down to the water's edge tremblingly wringing their +hands in miserable helplessness, and their eyes starting out of their +heads as their gaze clung, glued, to the little craft slowly, slowly +settling down. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A DOOR OF ESCAPE + +It was a spell of long-drawn-out anguish for the watchers on shore, the +while that Theo Carnegy and little Queenie sank helplessly in their +rapidly filling boat. From one to another of the cottages round the +bay the news had flown like wild-fire that the captain's boat, with the +captain's daughters, was going down within sight, and not a man nor a +boy in Northbourne village but was out at sea since daybreak, for the +'mackerrow' were proving a little gold-mine to the community, and the +fishermen grudged to sleep or eat, so eager were they to make hay while +the sun was shining. + +The women would not have thought twice of taking to the boats +themselves and attempting a rescue, but all the decent crafts were at +sea; the few that were beached were useless, being out of repair. +There was, accordingly, nothing to do but stand in huddled groups +wringing the hands that, perforce, were helpless. Some--the timid +ones--covered their eyes from the sight. Others, fascinated, found it +impossible to turn their gaze for a single second from the hapless boat +which their practised sight noted was now perceptibly lower in the +water. One or two among them, old Goody Dempster conspicuously, stood +with white lips that moved silently as they prayed God to have pity, to +stretch out His mighty hand and save those in dire danger. + +And while the women watched breathlessly, or prayed, Geoff, with old +Binks, struggled on, a nightmare feeling weighing them down all the +time, that they were standing still, instead of making way. + +At last, when the watchers on the shore could no longer see aught but +the rim of the top of the boat, and only the two clinging figures in +it, for 'The Theodora' had settled down almost under water, the +Vicarage boat pulled up alongside, with a final long sweep, into which +Geoff, half fainting, put his sole remaining strength. + +How the rescue was achieved, then, none of the four could ever +afterwards tell or picture with any clearness. It was as if other +hands than those of Geoff and Binks did the work, while Queenie and +then Theo were half lifted, half dragged in by the two. + +More dead than alive, the rescued sisters were, with considerable +difficulty, laid at the bottom of the boat. Theo had swooned away the +moment she realised that they were saved, and the women watchers on the +shore sobbed loudly in hysterical relief. + +'Shall we take 'em over to the Vicarage?' hoarsely asked Binks, +handling his oar for the return. + +'No, no! Home--home to father!' whispered back Geoff, whose voice +seemed to have died away into a feeble sort of whistle. + +Then the two, exhausted as they were already, pulled their hardest over +the blue waters to the tiny pier under the Bunk. + +The catastrophe, next door to a terrible tragedy, had happened in the +space of about fifteen minutes, and it seemed strangely impossible that +the sun should be still shining, and the light wind curling the +rippling waves as if nothing had happened. + +The captain, who had been, as usual, absorbed in his manuscript, +sitting with his back to the window, knew nothing of it until he was +hastily called to carry up the senseless Theo. It was a considerable +time before his efforts to restore the unconscious girl were +successful; and it would not be easy to tell how the father, whom Theo +Carnegy had allowed herself to think and pronounce indifferent to his +children's welfare, suffered as he hung over the senseless form of his +best-beloved child. Her peril stirred up all the love that, though +undoubtedly existing, had been dormant. From that fateful hour, +however, the old sea-captain was an altered man. His heart awoke to +the fact that the chief place in it should be filled by his motherless +children, instead of, as it had been, by a mere hobby. + +All through the hours of the anxious night that followed he went from +one bed to the other, tending the occupants with that gentleness, +almost womanly, which a sailor possesses in no ordinary degree. For +Queenie there were no apprehensions, save dread of a chill from the +wetting she received; the child was tranquil, and appeared to have +sustained no shock. + +'We said "Our Father," me and Theo,' she whispered innocently to the +captain, as he sat by her little bed holding her hands, 'and He sent +Geoff and Binks directly to pick us out of the water; and then Theo +went off to sleep in the boat, and my new shoes is spoilt most +dreadful!' + +With Theo it was otherwise. She had sustained a severe mental shock, +as well as the bodily strain, in her fruitless efforts to pull the +heavy boat through the water. And it had been a terrible spasm of +terror to sink slowly, helplessly, in the yawning waves, trying all the +time to hold up the precious little sister. When the doctor from +Brattlesby arrived, he looked grave enough over his elder patient; and +next day he was even more serious. + +'She is in for brain fever!' he said briefly. He was a man of few +words, leaving the burden of conversation, as a rule, to his patients. +Hence, perhaps, it was that little Dr. Cobbe was the most popular +being, man or doctor, for miles round Northbourne. + +And with regard to Theo it was as he said. For many weeks Theo Carnegy +lay battling for her life in the cruel clutches of the fever, +unconscious that her most devoted and tenderest nurse was the father +whom she had bitterly imagined thought more of his hobby than of his +boys and girls. All Northbourne, as with one heart, sorrowed aloud for +their favourite Miss Theedory; her grave condition was the sole theme +of talk in the cottages round the bay. + +'Happen she was too good to live!' croaked Jerry Blunt's mother, with +an appropriate melancholy in her voice; and the gossips nodded +approvingly at a sentiment which fitted in with their own views of life. + +'Nothin' o' the sort!' struck in a dissentient voice, which belonged to +Goody Dempster herself. 'There's none too good to live, seein' as life +is a great gift that can only come from the Lord Himself. He gives, +and He takes away, that's how we've got to look at things. And, please +God, He will see fit to raise up Miss Theedory among us again, hale and +sound. She's one as could be ill spared.' + +'Amen!' assented more than one voice among the listeners, in ready +response. + +But there was one heart that felt heavier than all others--too heavy to +hold a ray of hope--and that belonged to Alick Carnegy. When he +returned home from his stolen holiday, and found what had happened +during his absence, the remorse of the boy was uncontrollable. He +could not but feel it to be true, what others did not scruple to tell +him bluntly, for plain-speaking was a distinguishing feature of the +fishing village, that had he and Ned Dempster been at home, they could +have reached his sisters in far less time than Geoff, younger and +weaker of muscle, and Binks, long past his heyday of strength and +stiffened with rheumatism, had done. + +With cold shivers of dread, he heard how Theo, though delivered from +one perilous strait, lay in jeopardy of her life in the new peril of +fever. + +She would die, he was convinced, and voices seemed to be incessantly +crying in his ears: 'It will be your fault, all your fault! You fought +to have your own way, in spite of her pleadings, and now she will die +because you were not here to help her in such sore peril. She was +deserted, so she will die, our Theo!' + +Alick, a boy of strong feelings, became maddened by despair, and +exaggerated the calamity. As time went on--and brain fever rarely +hurries itself--Theo grew no better, but rather weaker, and Alick +secretly called himself her murderer. He was distraught. + +'Oh, Ned, if we had been at home, you and I, we could have reached them +in half the time Geoff and old Binks took! We could have rescued them +before "The Theodora" began to settle down!' he blurted out when he +found Ned sobbing helplessly in a corner of the tea-house, The latter, +though not possessed of Alick's torturing powers of imagination, was +overcome with remorse for his own share in the transaction. + +Oh, Muster Alick, it ain't "we" it's me, only me, as is to blame!' he +hoarsely said, in a voice choked with sobs. + +'What do you mean?' asked Alick heavily; and he stared down at the +crouching speaker. + +'Miss Theedory telled I to mend the leak,' moaned Ned. 'And she +thought I'd done it, I expec', for she showed how 'twas to be mended; +but I knowed how as well as she did, for I've seed a-many done. But I +put off the doin' of it to go to Brattlesby Woods along with you, +Muster Alick, and Jerry Blunt, an' I deceived her; an' now she's +drowned, Miss Theedory is! Leastways, 'tis the same thing; for all +Northbourne's a-sayin' as she's bound to die of it all!' The boy, +burying his head, broke down into a loud, irrepressible fit of crying. + +Ned too! Alick's lips quivered as he turned abruptly away. He himself +it was who tempted Ned away, and caused the boy to neglect his duty, +bringing down all this misfortune. He had been thinking himself the +only person in fault for being wilfully absent, but it was worse and +worse! He had lured away, and placed another in the same position, so +wide-spreading can a single evil step be in its results. Even through +his sinking fears about Theo, Alick could not but feel pathetically +sorry for poor Ned, whose grief grew wilder in its abandon after his +confession was out. + +'Have you told any one about not mending the leak, Ned? Does my father +know?' he came back to Ned's side to ask anxiously. + +'I dussn't!' was the choking reply. 'But I feels bound, somehow, to +tell you,' he added. 'If Miss Theedory dies, 'twill be me as did it; +an' you can tell 'em all so, if you like! They'll put me in gaol, o' +course; p'raps they'll hang me. They may bring it in manslaughter. I +dunno what they haven't the power to do!' ended Ned desperately. + +Alick stared through the window out to sea, with an equally woebegone +face with that of his companion in misery. Two more unhappy boys one +could not have well beheld. And this grievous state of affairs had +revengefully trodden on the heels of the delightfully fascinating +expedition to the woods, which had been forbidden to the one boy, and +which the other boy had shirked his duty to join in! + +'What would be the end of it all?' Alick dully asked himself. + +'Ned,' he said aloud, and there was a passionate ring of regret in his +voice, 'it wasn't worth it!' + +'No, muster, it warn't!' assented Ned, fully understanding that Alick +would have given his right hand to have put back the clock of time, +that he might again have the chance of apologising as Geoff had done, +and returning to his duty in the schoolroom. Both boys felt positively +assured that had they been on the spot the catastrophe could not +possibly have occurred. + +There was a spell of silence in the tea-house. Now and again the echo +of a sob shook Ned from head to foot. Alick leaned his forehead +against the window jamb, and stared sullenly at the leaping waves +below. As he gazed, a strange resolve came into the boy's mind, born +of the deepening despair consuming him. + +In the black gloom that environed him, came Satan's opportunity. + +'You will never be forgiven if Theo dies,' whispered the tempting +voice. 'Perhaps you also will be put in prison, who knows, with Ned as +an accomplice!' Alick Carnegy, it will be seen, had but confused +notions as to what manslaughter meant. He shivered and cowered at the +terrifying notions of being shut up for life, perhaps, in some gloomy +gaol. Better-informed boys may jeer at Alick's ignorance of things in +general, but Northbourne was an out-of-the-way, stand-still spot, with +few or no opportunities of smartening the wits, of keeping up with the +times. + +'The best way out of the difficulty would be to run away, wouldn't it?' +as he brooded, somebody seemed to suddenly and swiftly whisper in his +ear. And Alick, when the sense of the suggestion penetrated his mind, +abruptly lifted his hanging head. He gasped aloud in relief. A door +of escape opened in the black, impenetrable wall that was closing in +round him. + +'Ned,' he said softly, nudging the other boy, 'listen to me! Be done +with that cry-baby business! We two, you and I, have got ourselves +into an awful scrape, and there's only one thing for us. Can't you +guess what that is? Rouse up! Can't you guess?' he repeated +impatiently. + +'Me guess? No! I can't make Miss Theedory get well; and what else +matters?' Ned lifted a tear-stained face to say brokenly. + +'You've often said you'd be game to run away to sea, if I made up my +mind to do it, haven't you? Well, all the blame of whatever happens +comes on us--you and me. We are bound to suffer the penalty.' Alick +spoke slowly, and with the air of weighing his words, while Ned +listened in awe. 'Now, then, it seems to me, is our chance to do it. +Let's set out this very night; they'd never miss us in all the--the +worry about Theo, until it would be too late to overtake us. We could +walk to London in about three days, I expect; and once at the Docks it +would be queer if you and I couldn't slip quietly on board some +North-bound vessel, as we've often planned to do. Speak up! Will you +come?' + +And Alick breathlessly waited for Ned's long-of-coming answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BIRD-SCHOOL + +Meantime, while all Northbourne, in its genuine affection for Miss +Theedory, hung expectantly on the issues of life or death--for who +could say which it might be?--Jerry Blunt was quietly making his +preparations for pursuing his new calling of bird-trainer. + +Although he had said nothing about it, one of the new pupils had been +specially set apart to be given to Theo, if it pleased God to spare her +young life. Theo, gentle and sweet-spoken to all, had won the +reverence and loyal regard of the disabled sailor, when he returned +home a cripple, by her friendly welcome to him. + +Jerry Blunt was not one to forget a kind word. He had not come across +so many, in his up-and-down life, that they had become cheapened. + +It was not, however, until the young finches were about two months old, +and showed symptoms of whistling powers, that Jerry could really begin +the labour of educating them in real earnest. His first step was to +systematically separate his pupils into small classes, so to say, or +groups of birds, lodging them in wicker cages. The next proceeding was +to shut them up in a darkened room and keep them without food for a +given time. + +The skilful teacher then began the singing-lessons by slowly playing +over and over the special tune he had selected--'The Blue Bells of +Scotland'--for the finches to learn. He performed the melody upon a +small instrument given him by Pierre Lacroix, his comrade on the +expedition, the notes of which were curiously like the birds' own. +Jerry truly had marvellous need of patience. But he knew--none +better--that it is only by slow means that perfect trust is gained. +His pupils sat for a considerable time sulking, perhaps with deeply +injured feelings, being dinnerless; and they were, doubtless, +bewildered by the darkness of the room. They were not deceived into +thinking that the night had fallen, not they! As a proof, they made no +attempt to sleep. They simply sat puzzling out, with suspicion, the +mystery that surrounded them. + +By and by, some sharper, brighter wit among his fellows began to listen +to the music, so curiously familiar, with his tiny head on one side; +and he was won over! Presently he tried, timidly and cautiously, to +pipe a few faint notes in imitation--just a few. Then he halted. + +'Not so bad for a beginning!' delightedly murmured Jerry, under his +breath. + +Bully, on his part, rather seemed to like the sound of his own voice. +With a vain perk and a flutter, he tried again, his note more assured. +Lo! there was a duet. A neighbour finch had joined in; another bully +was won over, and Jerry chuckled softly. Old Pierre had been perfectly +correct, then! The thing was possible. It was Jerry's own first +attempt, and he had been careful to follow out the Frenchman's +directions, though, until he heard with his own ears the result, he had +been secretly somewhat sceptical. + +In a few moments more there was a feeble chorus piping in unison with +the tiny bird-organ which Jerry continued to softly play. The other +finches had summoned up courage to join their brethren. + +As an instantaneous reward the teacher let a flood of light into the +dark room, in accordance with Pierre's code. More, he proceeded to +give his hungry pupils a little--only a little--food, enough, in fact, +to make them ravenous for more. Then he plunged the little room in +sudden darkness again by shutting out the light. Thus Jerry gradually +educated the birds into connecting the idea of food and light with the +sound of his little instrument's melody. + +After two or three repetitions of this performance, it followed that +the finches, kept on short commons, no sooner heard the notes of the +bird-organ always playing the one unvarying tune, than they, too, +attempted to sing it, in the sheer hope of being fed, and of seeing the +hated darkness disappear. Jerry being ever careful not to disappoint +their expectations, the result came to pass that the particular melody +was committed to memory--the tune was learned, more or less correctly; +for the feathered pupils were like human scholars, in that the few, not +the many, arrive at perfection. + +After this reward for his enormous patience, Jerry Blunt's next move +was to board out his pupils in the village with trustworthy boys who +were selected for the posts of pupil-teachers. One boy was appointed +to each bird, in order to carry out the business of teaching _the_ tune +by whistling it incessantly until the air was firmly fixed in those +tiny memories, which, if they had not been exactly 'wax to receive,' +proved 'marble to retain.' As the finches grew perfect in their one +life-lesson, the Scottish ditty resounded sweetly all over the village +of Northbourne. After that, the pupils being pronounced 'finished,' +Jerry Blunt set forth, with his batch of performers, to London, where +he got a fairly good price for his well-trained songsters. His birds +sold off rapidly, each of them going off to be the pride and joy of +some girl or boy's heart with the tuneful old melody-- + + 'O where and O where has my Hieland laddie gane?' + +and Jerry returned home with orders for many more bullfinches as he +could procure. + +These orders, however, he was doubtful of executing; the finches were +getting too advanced in age to prove docile pupils. Still, Jerry would +do his best, and he set off to trap some young birds that had already +left the parent-nests. The work of training these advanced birds was +quite as difficult. However, Jerry was a persevering individual, +gifted with wondrous patience, an untiring teacher. He succeeded +beyond his hopes, and as time went on was enabled to earn what he +called a 'tidy' sum. + +''Tis wonderful strange, Jerry, my son, that ye can train the morsels +o' critters to sing what we may call human tunes! Nobody, of course, +could do it but yer own self, I'm sure,' grudgingly admitted his +mother, when success became sure. + +'The idea! That's so like you, mother!' laughed Jerry, as he softly +tickled the head of the bullfinch he had retained as a gift for Miss +Theedory out of the first and best batch. 'You're that conceited, you +think that your own son can do all things better than other folk. But +I could tell you a true story, now, of what others have done.' + +And in his own words Jerry related, while his mother knitted in the +firelight, how a great musician had, as a youth, trained a young +bullfinch to pipe 'God save the King.' The musician was much attached +to the bird, and the bird to him. Love begets love, with the animal +creation at least, which is, undoubtedly, the simple secret of the +strange power possessed by some human beings over birds and beasts. If +you desire to be their masters, you must, first of all, love the dumb +creatures. Where love is, all things are possible. Bull-finches, in +particular, have a strongly developed faculty for attaching themselves. +And the simple logic is easy to follow out. In the training already +described, music and pleasure--that is, the food and sunlight, which +constitute Bully's pleasure--are inseparably connected. Hence it +follows soon, that the bird, to show his joy at the sight of his owner, +learns to greet him with the one tune his little life has been spent in +learning. + +The musician, having cause to go abroad, left his petted bird in charge +of his sister. On his return to this country, his first visit was to +that lady, who told him, sorrowfully, that Bully had pined himself into +a serious illness, evidently in the grief he felt at his master's +absence. The grieved owner went hastily into the room where the cage +was, and spoke gently to the ailing bird, which stood huddled up into +what looked like a ball of feathers on his perch. Instantly, at the +sound of the loved master's voice, the dim, closed eyes were opened +wide. There was a feeble flutter of the faded plumage; the drooping +head was raised. Half creeping, half staggering, the little creature +attained the outstretched finger, on which he had barely strength to +steady himself. With a supreme effort, as it seemed, he piped out +feebly, in low, half-muffled notes, 'God save the King.' And +then--Bully fell dead! + +Jerry's voice had a slight choke in it as he finished his pathetic +little story. As for his old mother, she had thrown her apron over her +head, and was quietly sobbing under its shelter. + +'Well, my lad,' she said, by and by, when her tears were dried, 'I've +aye said that you were the best son mother ever had, and for the same a +blessing will, no doubt, rest upon your head. And as for the bits o' +birds an' beasts well, I've heard the old passon--Mr. Vesey +himself--say, an' I never forget the words, as-- + + '"He prayeth best who loveth best + All men and bird and beast;" + +so, to my thinkin', that's how 'tis wi' you. Ye love the mites, and ye +can do all things wi' them. That's yer secret!' + +And undoubtedly Jerry's old mother was right. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE SEAMY SIDE OF LIFE + +It was a still, dark night when two short figures, each carrying a +bundle, stole away from Northbourne, skirting Brattlesby Woods, and +making for the old London road. + +The fugitives were Alick Carnegy and Ned Dempster, and each was trying +his hardest to prevent his companion from hearing the choking sobs that +could not be kept down. + +All boys, of course, secretly believe that it is a fine, manly thing to +run away to sea. From time immemorial it has sounded so well--in +fiction. Is there a boy breathing who has not pictured himself, free +as a bird on the wing, shaking off the trammels of home in this +fashion? But the grim reality was an altogether different matter to +the couple of friends who were setting forth under cover of darkness. +For one thing, Alick, who hated anything underhand, was thoroughly +ashamed of sneaking away in the night. That in itself distinctly took +away from the dash and glory of the affair. + +In addition, he felt himself groping in a fog of misery. Nevermore, he +felt convinced, would he see his gentle, loving sister in this life; +and he shivered uncontrollably as he thought that, but for his absence +in her hour of peril, Theo would be as well and strong as anybody--as, +for instance, little Queenie, upon whom the accident had left no evil +effects. + +Before and behind, life was grim and stripped of hope for both the +boy-adventurers as they plunged along the high road. They were too +intensely miserable to look forward to the future. All they were +intent on was to escape from the dreaded consequences of their +misdoings. + +It is hard work travelling with a heart of lead in one's bosom-- + + 'A merry heart goes all the day, + Your sad tires in a mile-a.' + + +Still, the two trudged on, mile after mile, until when the dawn stole +up the sky they found themselves on the outskirts of a country town at +a considerable distance from Northbourne. Having but a few shillings, +belonging to Alick, they had decided to walk every step of the road to +London Docks. In the dim grey light from the east they saw, to their +astonishment, large looming vans and many blurred forms, all in busy +motion. There seemed to be, as it were, a commotion of shadows. + +'What on earth is it, Ned? They look like ghosts flitting about!' +Alick said, half fearfully. + +'No! They ain't ghosts!' slowly rejoined Ned, after a prolonged stare. +'I'll tell you what it means. Tis a circus, or mayhap a wild-beast +show, or somethin' of that sort. They're carryvans, leastways, and +they're makin' an early start. Depend on it, that's what 'tis, Muster +Alick!' + +Alick whistled. + +'I shouldn't wonder, Ned. You've just hit it. It's a circus! Let's +go closer. Who knows but they might give us a lift on the road to +London!' + +Ned shook his head; he was extremely doubtful as to that. Such +civility was not by any means the rule of the road. + +As the boys drew nearer, they felt sure it must be a wild-beast show, +from the rumble of subdued roars, as if from pent-up animals, and the +chatter of birds that resounded from the depths of the caravans in +which the inmates were, evidently, disturbed from their slumbers by the +early move. Horses were being put to, and men were running to and fro, +but Alick and Ned felt shy of accosting any one of them. + +They hung back and watched eagerly. + +'Hilloa, you two shavers! Whatever do you want loafing round here at +this time o' morning? Say, can't yer?' + +The shrill, loud voice came from the window of a house-caravan, and a +woman's head, stuck all over with curl-papers, was thrust out to stare +intently at the new-comers. + +'We are going up to London--on business,' said Alick, mustering up +courage, and speaking as manfully as he could. 'And,' he moved up +closer to say, 'we thought that, perhaps, you would give us a lift as +far as you could. I'll give you a shilling!' + +The boy spoke with the air as though shillings were plentiful enough. +But, in truth, he had only two half-crowns of his own in the world; +they were the entire amount of his savings, which he had brought on +setting forth in life. + +The woman with the curl-papers stared hard down at the two young +strangers before she answered, not so ill-naturedly-- + +'Well, I don't much mind, if so be as one of you gits on these yer +steps, and has a ride along of us. The t'other can git on to one of +the beasteses' vans at the back. 'Twon't break no bones if you do, as +I can see.' With a reassuring nod, she then withdrew her curl-papers +into the interior of her moving home. + +'You'd best go aside her, I suppose, Muster Alick,' whispered Ned. +'I'll hang on to that van yonder;' and he took himself off in the +direction to which the woman had seemed to point. + +'The missus said as I might have a ride on the back of this van,' said +he, meekly enough, to a man in his shirt-sleeves, who was too busy with +the bars of the van to look up at the speaker. + +'All right! If so be as she says so, it's got to be, I reckon!' he +growled; and Ned swung himself up behind, trying hard to make out, as +the procession moved off slowly and ponderously at last, what sort of +beasts were on the other side of the boards he was leaning against. +Suppose they were lions, or suppose the boards got loose? The +fisher-lad, whom storm and tempest on the deep could not dismay, felt a +bit creepy. Setting his ear close to the wood, he could distinctly +hear hideous growls, as if some savage creature, maddened by hunger, +were ready to break out and leap upon him. What would granny say if +she could dream of his situation? But dashing his hand across his +sleepy eyes, Ned hastily told himself there must be no harking back, no +thinking of what granny or anybody else at Northbourne would say or do. +It must be good-bye, for ever, to the old life. The motion of the van, +the rest after the long tramp, alike caused the country-bred boy to nod +sleepily as he clung to his perch. + +Presently, he was back again in Northbourne. It was Sunday afternoon, +and, dressed in his best, the fisher-boy stood up straight in class to +repeat his hymn to his earnest-eyed, sweet-faced teacher, 'Miss +Theedory.' And the words he fought sleepily to remember must have been +born of his nearness to the growling monsters within the caravan-- + + 'Christian, dost thou see them + On the holy ground, + How the troops of Midian + Prowl and prowl around?' + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN THE MIRE + +It was still darkish as the array of vans filed along the London road, +and, in the confusion, Ned lost sight of the van in which Alick had got +a lift beside the lady in curl-papers. And no wonder! for the fact +was, the show had parted in two divisions--one going to be stationed in +the East End, somewhere about Whitechapel, the other portion to +traverse the suburbs south of the Thames. + +It thus happened that the two Northbourne boys were separated, as they +each discovered when the day wore on. Worse still: they found, to +their dismay, that they had been entrapped artfully. A couple of +useful boys were desperately needed, as a fever had been hanging about +the show, breaking out at fitful intervals, and the chief victims had +been the boy-helpers, who, one after another, dropped off, some to +hospitals, others to die, like rats in the holes that were all the +homes they knew. + +The welcome accorded to Alick and Ned was thus explained. The +showwoman was secretly overjoyed to give the strangers a lift on their +journey. But before the first day closed in the pair of adventurers +found out what real hard work meant. Even Ned Dempster, accustomed to +the dilatory, easy-going life of sea-fishing, knew nothing indeed of +the drudgery and hustling and flurry of such everyday work as he had +stepped into, unawares, among the rough caravan folk. + +Alick, of course, was thunderstruck and stupefied to find himself at +everybody's rude beck and call. And to have his awkward, bewildered +movements hurried on by hard cuffs and violent language was an +unpleasantly new experience for a Carnegy to endure. His indignant +attempts at rebelling were treated with loud jeers, and by savage +threats of a horse-whipping. The latter menace was carried out before +the week was over, on the unhappy boy obstinately refusing to clean out +the animals' cages, to fetch and carry the food for birds and beasts, +and to perform a hundred other distasteful offices. + +'I'll teach ye; I'll conduct your education, young sir!' shouted the +ring-master. 'And here's the lesson-book!' he sneered, flourishing a +cruel-looking whip. + +Stunned and crushed, Alick had asked repeatedly to see Ned, and also +entreated to be permitted to leave the show at once. His requests +were, of course, harshly refused. In addition, he was sternly warned +that if he attempted to escape he would be horse-whipped again, and +next-door to death. + +'They're a catch for us, them two!' the brutal ring-master remarked to +his wife, as he and she sat at their supper after the performance was +over one evening. 'That tallest youngster's a swell as has run away +from 'ome, judging from his looks and clothes. He's just what we've +bin wantin' for a long time back. The fust thing to do is to break +that 'igh speerit of his, and then we'll set to work to train him to +show off with the leopards. That would draw famous with the public.' + +'Not with the leopards! Not with them beasts! They're the worst and +the fiercest in the show. 'Tis next-door to impossible to tame a +leopard. I won't 'ave it, I tell you, so there!' the woman broke in, +with a high-pitched voice. + +'Well, well, we're not going to 'ave words about it!' The first +speaker yielded; for his wife, the widow of the former proprietor, was +the real owner of the circus. 'We needn't say no more about the +leopards--for a bit. But I'll tell you what. 'Ee can do tricks with +little Mike, the new pony, and the monkeys. We'll make up a sort of +little performance a-purpose for 'im and them. I must invent a little +somethink that would be taking.' + +'I 'ope 'ee won't catch the fever, like the rest on 'em, that's all!' +muttered the mistress, shaking her head doubtfully. + +That, however, was just what Alick Carnegy managed to do. After some +weeks' slaving and knocking about at the hands of the ring-master, such +as fairly stunned him, he fell sick. At once the poor, gaunt, dirty +lad, whom Northbourne would have refused to recognise as the smart +Alick Carnegy, always trig and trim, was hustled off to the squalid +room of an old Whitechapel crone who, for the five shillings in the +pocket of his torn coat, agreed to nurse him through his trouble. If +he had the luck to live through it, the show-folk intended to have him +back. If he died--well, there was the parish ready to bury him. + +Ned, on the other hand, was by no means in such evil plight. He was +still in the division of the show moving from one suburb to another, so +he had, at least, fresh air to breathe. True, he had brought on +himself one brutal thrashing by running away from the show on the first +opportunity. He was easily enough traced to the Docks, where he had +sped, hoping against hope to find Alick loitering there. Instead, he +was captured by the ring-master himself, who had been informed of the +boy's flight, and who thought it quite worth his while to look up such +an intelligent, hard-working little chap as Ned. The truth was, Ned +had made himself far too useful among the animals to be thus let slip. +All this time the dejected lad had been purposely kept in ignorance of +the whereabouts of his companion. It was only by pure accident that he +at last heard of Alick's collapse and speedy removal from the show--to +die, for what anyone cared. One of the showmen had been despatched +from the head-quarters of the establishment on an errand, and, knocking +up against Ned, exclaimed-- + +'Hilloa! You ain't got the fever yet, then? Your chum has distanced +you; for he's down with it.' Then the man told Ned that Alick was +lying 'as ill as ill' in the house of an old crone who once belonged to +the show herself. + +It was a relief to hear even that much of his companion; it was better +than the mystery of silence. But Ned's panic was pretty severe when he +thought of Alick's perilous and deserted condition. A rush of mingled +feelings came over the Northbourne lad. He felt as the prodigal son +must have felt in the far country. + +Yes, it was exactly like the Bible story which 'Miss Theedory' seemed +to like best. At least, she told it to her class-boys more often than +any other, and Ned, listening to her, had grown to realise the unhappy +youth's condition in that far-off land where he had 'wasted his +substance in riotous living,' and to sympathise cordially with him when +he 'came to himself.' + +But Ned, hustled, driven, sworn at, from morning to night, could now, +in those scanty moments allowed him to swallow his rough food, or +before his tired eyes closed in sleep, still more vividly picture the +prodigal's desolation and despair. + +Then he remembered the outcome of that despair: the unhappy youth in +the parable suddenly determined to arise and go to his father, to +confess, with bitter remorse, his own mad wrong-doings. Would it not +be well for himself to arise and return to Northbourne, and to confess +the terrible folly of which he and Alick had been guilty? Again and +again Ned imagined himself so doing. But the cruel whip which he had +already tasted was another side to the question. No, he dare not again +attempt to escape! He writhed still when he recollected the stinging +lashes of the long, serpent-like whip. At last came an inspiration. +He could, and he would, write to the captain at the Bunk, entreating +him to come and rescue his son, and also Ned himself. This resolve, +however, was a work of no small difficulty. To procure an envelope and +a postage-stamp were next door to impossible for the lad who was +watched so keenly. Fortunately, some body coming out of the +performance one evening, in pity for his unhappy looks, threw Ned a +penny. A day or so after, when sweeping out the ring, he found in the +sawdust an envelope unwritten upon, and tolerably clean. It was a +prize: and that evening, when the public were shrieking with laughter +over the capers of a clown arm-in-arm with a tame bear, followed by a +couple of monkeys skilfully mimicking their very strut, Ned was behind +one of the vans scribbling with pencil a few frantic, ill-spelt words +that, when the crumpled envelope arrived at the Bunk, were wept over +and laughed over in tumultuous joy. The penny thrown him went for a +stamp; the letter was pushed, with trembling haste, into a letter-box, +and Ned had returned to his post among the squalid back-scenes of the +gay performance before anybody had time to miss him. + +His heart beat in mad throbs, so that the boy was scarce able to sleep +a wink that night. Hopes and fears jostled themselves in his excited +brain. If the postman, old 'Uncle Dan,' who trudged from Brattlesby +town every day at noon with the Northbourne post-bag, only safely +delivered the letter Ned had posted, all would be well. With the +captain himself to the fore, every difficulty must, and would, be swept +away. Then---- But with a sobbing catch in his breath Ned put aside +the after. He was too weak from misery and ill-usage to finish the +blissful result. So, over and over, he murmured, 'I have sinned +against heaven and before thee!' until that refrain of all true +penitence lulled him to sleep. + + +'Alick is found! My boy is alive!' The captain had been able to utter +no more as he pushed the crumpled wisp of a letter into a thin hand +eagerly outstretched to receive it. The tears were running unheeded +down the old man's cheeks. + +'Oh, father!' There was a glad cry. 'God is good indeed! He has +heard our prayers.' + +It was Theo--or was it Theo's ghost?--who sat by the open window +drinking in the sea breezes she was still too weak to go out of doors +and meet. Yes, Theo was, day by day, coming back to her old sweet +self, after a long spell of illness. There was only weakness left to +fight--weakness and anxiety about Alick. As long as possible the fact +of Alick having run away from home was kept from the prostrate girl. +But in the end it abruptly leaked out, and nearly pushed her back +through the gates of death. + +Every means that the captain knew of had been set in motion to find the +pair of runaways. But the searchers were checkmated at the outset by +failing to find the boys at the Docks. The police in the end convinced +themselves and the captain that the pair had stolen on board some +foreign vessel on the eve of its departure, and, as stowaways, were +already far off on the deep. + +But which of the many hundreds of ships that had set sail since might +the boys possibly be aboard? Again and again had the half-distracted +father asked himself the maddening question as he paced the busy Docks. +He would return then to Northbourne, where his other beloved child lay +in jeopardy of her young life. Through the anxious night-watches by +her bed, the old sailor pictured his boy on board some barque ploughing +the seas, the stormy winds roaring through the rigging, the decks wet +and slippery, the rough sailors cuffing and jostling the unwelcome +intruders who had stolen their passages. + +None knew better than the captain what the boys who had hidden +themselves in some dark corner of an outward-bound vessel would be +called upon to endure, when discovered; none knew better than he the +hourly dangers to which they would be exposed in the perils of the +deep--the risks of foundering, of collision, of tempests. + +As the days wore on, and no word came of the runaways, the old sailor's +heart sank to the lowest depths. + +'Father, we must trust him to God; it's all we can do,' a low, weak +voice whispered; and the old man took heart again. He would trust his +boy to that-- + + 'Eternal Father, strong to save, + Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.' + + +Perhaps of all mankind a sailor has experienced most signal proofs of +the omnipotence of God. Throughout the daily dangers they are exposed +to is the underlying, as well as the overruling, sense of the Almighty +Power that holds the heavens in the hollow of His hand. + +The captain knew that his girl was right. What he and she had to do +was simply trust Alick to his Father in heaven. + +Then came Ned's missive with its startling news. + +'You will go, father, and fetch him home?' + +'Yes, yes! If I can find him. Please God I may!' + +That same day the captain started for London, and with him went Philip +Price, who insisted on joining in the search for the hapless Alick. +The young tutor had proved himself a very friend in need in 'the day of +trouble' that had befallen the Bunk. What more natural then that he +should persist in helping the captain in what would be a ticklish piece +of work, as both men knew? + +Before the two set out, Philip Price brought his mother over from +Brattlesby to establish her in Theo's sick-room. It was not the +widow's first visit to the Bunk. The woman who never had a daughter of +her own found in the serious, gentle Theo a realisation of those +dream-daughters who had never been in real life. + +And Theo, on her part, welcomed the quiet, soft-spoken widow--another +bit of Philip Price, so similar were mother and son. It was a relief +to the overwrought girl to restfully watch the household reins gathered +up in other and abler hands than her own. As for the widow, she grew +alert and brisk; so good is a little wholesome activity for others. + +'We must have no fretting, no repining, dear Miss Carnegy,' she +persisted cheerfully. 'Your young brother is sure to be found. The +captain can't fail, now he has got my Philip to aid him in the search!' + +The widow's text for every sermon was 'my Philip'; and it was one of +which Theo Carnegy never tired, to judge by her intent listening to the +subject-matter it produced. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN MULLINER'S RENTS + +It was a hot, stifling summer day, and perhaps Whitechapel never looked +more grimy, more squalid, more sorrowful, perforce from its pathetic +contrast to the summer beauty of the skies. + +The pavement was so hot that the heat seemed to rise up, flouting +itself in your very face. + +In one particular alley, known as Mulliner's Rents, the heat seemed +almost tropical. Possibly the dense overcrowding of this quarter with +human life enhanced the burning sensation of the thick air breathed out +and breathed in again, unrefreshed, by multitudes of lungs. Here, +there, and everywhere human beings stood about idly. Groups of untidy +women, in twos and threes, gossiped; lazy men lolled against the +houses, smoking in sullen silence; and for every grown-up person there +were fully a dozen of squalid children playing, shouting, staring, and +squabbling with a vigour no heat could abate. + +There was little traffic, so to say, in Mulliner's Rents; it was quite +select in that one single respect. Nothing on wheels penetrated the +unlovely quarter save a coster's barrow of fruit; unwholesome little +yellow pears and cruelly green apples of the lowest type of apple-kind +being the wares of the moment. It was truly a sad and sorrowful haunt, +this of the man-made town; and so it seemed to the two travellers fresh +from the God-made country--from the wholesome breezes of the _caller_ +salt air of Northbourne--when they plunged into its midst. + +'Courage, captain!' said Philip Price, when he noticed the blanching of +the elder man's brown face and the unutterable loathing of horror that +spoke out of every feature. 'We've got to put our shoulder to the +wheel, and leave no stone unturned to find Alick, and carry him out of +this pestilent hole.' + +Philip Price, before his health broke down, had been for a few months +doing duty as curate in a still more squalid colony of human nests than +even this. When the sailor flinched, and hung back, Philip strode +forward, determined to conquer, unheeding the battery of stares turned +upon himself and his companion by the inhabitants, and the +free-and-easy comments, of which they were by no means chary. + +Already the captain and Philip had that day spent many fruitless hours +in the search, when they hit on a fresh clue and an address in +Mulliner's Rents. But here, even, difficulties bristled, and the tide +of hopelessness was setting in upon both men when a wretched old crone +was dragged out of a public-house to confront them, with dazed eyes and +with a hateful odour of gin oozing from her whole person. + +'Yes--well, yes,' she grudgingly admitted, in answer to the eager +questions of the searchers; 'I does know a boy down with fever. What +o' that? I ain't done no harm to him! He's 'ad the best I could +offer; and five shillin's don't go far when there's sickness,' she +ended, with a whimper, for she was maudlin with drink. + +'Take us to that boy at once!' commanded Philip Price; for the +captain's agitation unmanned him for the moment. + +The wretched woman, awed by Philip's tone, complied. Perhaps, also, +she obeyed, half in fear of the policeman, who had stepped up to join +the gentlemen, and half in hope of getting more silver to spend on more +drink. + +Before half an hour was over Alick Carnegy was found. It was a +terrible shock to the captain to recognise his boy in the squalid, +dirty, delirious sufferer tossing wearily on a heap of sacks, on the +grimy floor of an attic at the top of an evil-smelling, dilapidated +house, to which the crone stumblingly conducted them. + +'Merciful powers!' he groaned in dismayed horror. + +'Hush!' enjoined Philip. 'Be as calm as you can. I believe the poor +little chap is off his head; but, if there's a gleam of consciousness, +it would send him over the precipice again to witness your agitation.' + +There was small fear of the captain doing any further mischief; he was +stunned into helplessness, and stood mute, trying to force himself to +believe that the huddled heap of squalid misery was his very own +son--smart, manly-looking Alick Carnegy. Though the captain was thus +helpless, Philip Price seemed to know exactly what to do, and how to do +it. + +Getting the address of a doctor, he rushed off, in the first place, to +fetch him. Then a bedstead and clean bedding were hired in. In an +hour or two more the grimy room was swept and tidied as far as +possible; the window propped up to stay open; the hapless, dirty +sufferer cleansed and made straight; and beside his bed sat a +gentle-faced, trained nurse, whose wholesome presence seemed to +transform the room. + +'Now, captain,' cheerily said Philip, who looked another man in the +excitement, 'you are going to take a bit of advice from me, I hope. +You will go straight back to Brattlesby by the night train. Your +invalid at home must not be forgotten; anxiety is not the best sort of +tonic for her. And I mean to remain here with your boy.' + +'God bless you, Price!' The old sailor's voice trembled as he wrung +Philip's hand. 'I never knew it was in you! Man, how one can be +deceived! I thought your head was in the clouds, and that you didn't +know your right hand from your left, practically speaking. Yes, yes! +I'll run down to-night, and to-morrow I can return. I can trust my boy +to you. Let nothing be spared; there's my purse. The doctor seemed a +downright good sort of chap and _she_ is worth a gold-mine!' He +pointed to the nurse, who was deftly bathing Alick's burning brow. + +'What a splendid lad that Price is! He's the very salt of the earth!' +murmured the old captain, as he threaded his way later through the +unsavoury streets, now ablaze with lights that enticed and beckoned +forth misery to stalk out from every dark corner. 'He is a true +Christian--that's what it is! To think how my boys have ill-treated +him, and here he is caring for Alick so tenderly that the poor boy's +mother couldn't have done more, had she been spared! That's what you +call returning good for evil, with a vengeance! Well, well, please +God, I'll mend my own ways too! If I have my girl and my boy both +restored to me, I'll be a different father to them from what I have +been.' + +It had been borne in upon the captain's mind, during the cloud of +sorrow overshadowing his home, that he had, somehow, failed in his +duty. And, with the courage that belongs only to the brave heart, he +admitted his shortcomings. + +There was tremendous excitement in Northbourne when it was known that +Alick had actually been found. The Bunk was besieged by an +ever-growing crowd, anxious to have the news verified. And where was +Ned Dempster? The captain himself had to assure them his next step +would be to discover the hapless Ned. Yes, yes; Ned also should be +found and brought back. Not a stone should be left unturned until he +rescued Ned likewise. + +And the old sailor kept his word. On his return to London he and +Philip Price took it in turn, between their spells of watching beside +Alick's sick-bed, to seek out the wandering half of the show-circus. +Time went on, but they were still unsuccessful, however. Not until the +fever died out, and Alick, weak and exhausted, almost beyond building +up, began to show faint signs of interest in his surroundings, could +any questions be put to him. It was Philip Price who managed, without +agitating the sufferer, to win from his feeble lips the name of the +show. After that it was a tolerably easy matter to unearth its +whereabouts. + +On demanding Ned's release, a series of denials met them as to the boy +being with the establishment at all. A storm of furious resistance +which followed had to be quelled by the stern detective who accompanied +the captain in his raid upon the show. Back in triumph to the +Whitechapel attic they carried the trembling Ned, who had to be scoured +and fed and clothed into his 'right mind' once again. + +And this was running away secretly! thought each humiliated adventurer +as they gazed, stony-eyed, at one another. + +Shortly after, when Alick had crept sufficiently far out of the fever, +looking a white shadow of his former self, the two boys were conveyed +back to Northbourne, where a genuinely hearty welcome awaited them from +the fisher-folk. Jerry Blunt, indeed, had suggested a triumphal arch +with WELCOME in letters tall and wide. But that notion was instantly +quashed by wiser heads. + +'We be thankful to see 'em back,' judicially said Northbourne; 'but we +ain't a-goin' to make "conquerin' heroes" of such young limbs!' + +So it came to pass that the boys who thought it such a fine, manly +thing to run away to sea, as boys will think, returned meekly, with +shamed eyes, and hearts bounding joyfully at sight of the homes they +had not dreamed were so dear until they had forfeited them, as they +thought, for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +NO PLACE LIKE HOME + +'Oh, Alick! + +'Oh, Theo!' + +After the first cries of greeting there was a silence. Theo's arms +were tight round her restored brother's neck, and Alick rested his +tear-stained cheek against his sister's. They were alone in the room, +but, in truth, the boy would not have cared if all Northbourne had been +looking on. + +'Theo,' he sobbed out presently, 'it was awful!' + +'Yes, dear, it must have been,' whispered Theo sympathetically, +tightening her arms. 'It was not what you expected?' + +'It was _awful_!' repeated Alick. As yet he could find no words to +picture his experience of life out in the hard world. 'And,' he went +on, lifting up his tear-stained face, 'I am more sorry than I can ever +tell that I did it, Theo--sorry and ashamed.' + +'Have you told God that, Alick?' asked Theo softly, in his ear. + +'Yes, I have,' was the grave, equally low reply. 'I've put it on to +the end of my prayers, night and morning. And--perhaps He will forgive +me some day, if I--if I can do something, work out something, you know, +to show that I _am_ really and truly sorry. Don't you think I could +manage something of the sort, Theo?' asked Alick earnestly, if +awkwardly. + +'No, Alick, I don't!' said Theo abruptly; and the boy's face fell. Of +late the boy had been full of this new desire to efface his wrong-doing +by some means or other himself. 'Most certainly, dear old boy,' went +on his sister, more gently, 'you cannot "blot out" your transgression +by your own efforts. Don't you know that we have, each and every one +of us, in the heavens, that great High Priest who is interceding for us +always, always? He, our dear Lord, has already done that "something" +which you are groping to do in your weak, small way. _He_ has worked +out your redemption--yours and mine. What you have to do is to carry +your sins to the foot of the cross, where the great "something" was +accomplished for us. You remember the hymn-- + + '"I lay my sins on Jesus, + The spotless Lamb of God." + +Oh, Alick! I'm only a girl, and I can't say the words right; but you +must lay _your_ sin on Jesus, who has promised to bear it. Tell Him of +your sorrowing repentance. That's all you have got to do; He does the +rest!' + +'And, Theo, there's Price,' Alick lifted his head to say presently. +'Oh, I can't tell you what he has done for me! He nursed me all +through in that slum of a Whitechapel--me, of all people! And when I +begged his pardon for all my bad conduct you should have seen his face! +Theo, if you'll give me your word never to tell it to any one, I cried +like a baby; for Price looked for all the world like Stephen looked +when they were stoning him. But you'll never tell I said so? I was a +cowardly wretch to insult him as I did; and to think how he has paid me +back--"coals of fire" are nothing to it!' + +'Well, I always told you, Alick, that he was a true Christian +gentleman; I was sure of it.' + +'I know you did. I've found it out for myself, now. Theo!' +energetically added Alick, 'I shall never be the same again, I hate my +old self! I mean to be so different. I shall work, and study, and----' + +'And try "to do your duty in that state of life unto which it has +pleased God to call you," I hope,' put in Theo quietly. 'But, Alick, +you must ask His help to hold you up, and to prevent your footsteps +from sliding,' she added reverently. 'You can't do it in your own +strength, dear!' As Theo ceased there were tears on her face, and +Alick's also. For a long time no other words were spoken--none were +needed. + +The sun was setting over the bay, and the fisher-folk, busy with their +preparations for the coming night's work, were cheerily shouting from +one boat to another. It was good indeed, Alick felt, his heart +throbbing with gratitude, to be once again in the dear old home, in the +clean, wholesome country. + + +By and by the rest of the family crowded in, and, bit by bit, Alick's +tale was told to his wondering hearers. + +'Well, well, boy,' said the captain, putting his arms round the neck of +his prodigal son, 'your precious escapade has taught you one stern +lesson among others, and that is, there's no place like home as yet.' + +Alick hung his head to hide his shamed face. How good everybody was to +him! The kindness seemed to stab him through and through. Father's +arm round his neck; one hand clasped by Theo's, and the other hugged up +in both of Queenie's fat, warm little hands; and Geoff devouring him +with eyes dilated with joyful pride over his brother's safe return. +And never a harsh word had passed any one's lips! Such treatment to a +character of Alick's type was the keenest of punishment. + + +Under another Northbourne roof another penitent was confessing his +folly that same evening. + +'No, granny, never, never will I stir out o' Northbourne, now I've had +the luck to get back to it!' ended Ned, after relating his adventures +in his absence. + +'Not even if so be as they can't find the North Pole without 'ee to +help 'em, eh, my lad?' asked granny slyly, across the supper-table. +The old woman had much ado to hide her joy over Ned's return. + +Ned coloured, and hung his head abashed. 'Oh, well, I expec' they can +manage without me and Muster Alick!' he stammered at last. + +'That's true enough! Depend upon it, Ned, if the Lord needs you, He +will shape the way for you, plain as plain. Meantime, it looks as if +He meant you to bide here, seein' as how in His goodness He has bringed +you back to us. And you just try to remember all your life through, my +lad, what the Book tells us--that "Godliness with contentment is great +gain."' + + +It is a year ago exactly since 'The Theodora' sank to the bottom of the +blue waters in the bay where she still lies. Time has wrought and +brought many changes in Northbourne, as time will. Over at the +Vicarage is the greatest change, for the good old parson has gone home +to-- + + That sweet and blessed country + That eager hearts expect'; + +and his frail, ailing widow has been taken away to dwell with distant +relatives. But Binks, under a new master, is still the handy-man; +while Splutters and Shutters have become sedate members of society, for +their new proprietor is Philip Price, than whom few know better the +true secret of ruling. + +Yes, the young tutor is now restored to health and strength. The fine +Northbourne air, the restfulness of country life, and God's goodness, +have combined to set up Philip Price as a robust man. He had been +ailing so long in the old days, that he had got well-nigh accustomed to +being a semi-invalid. But, nowadays, he has become so strong that he +has forgotten what ailing means--in his own person that is, for he is a +man of keen sympathies with all concerning his fellow-men. + +With renewed health he had thrown himself more vigorously than ever +into his work of teaching; but other things were in store for him. + +On Mr. Vesey's unexpected death, the living of Northbourne was vacant, +of course. Philip Price did not dream of more than a fleeting wish +than it might have fallen to himself. + +Other people, however, went a step further than wishing. The captain, +it so happened, was a cousin of the patron of the parish. With all his +energy he set about procuring the living for one to whom he would ever +feel bound by ties of gratitude. + +'If he be a thorough gentleman, a Christian through and through, and an +honourable man, why--let him have it!' said the patron testily. This +unexpected compliance was so astounding that the old sailor felt thrown +back on himself, as it were, and returned slightly bewildered by his +own success. + +In due time the new vicar and his mother, two proud and happy people, +settled down in the Vicarage house which stares across the bay at the +Bunk. + +In the Carnegys' home the only changes are most happy ones. Since the +captain gave up allowing his hobby to be his master, and has taken a +keener interest in his boys' and girls' daily life, all things are +brighter at the Bunk. The old naval officer is never happier than when +on the water with his family-crew, and has presented each of his boys +with a canoe, to the pride and glory of not only themselves, but the +entire fishing community. + +Theo still pulls Queenie and Queenie's ever-increasing doll-family +about the bay, but in a new 'Theodora.' But the tall, sweet-faced +sister, of whom the Carnegy boys are so proud, seldom rows across to +the Vicarage nowadays. Some folk wonder why. Others, who are wiser, +smile and say that perhaps 'Miss Theedory' will go across some day and +land for life at the Vicarage. And less likely things have happened. +Indeed, Jerry Blunt is engaged in training a young bullfinch as a +wedding-present, though nobody can induce him to say for whom. But +people cannot help shrewdly guessing, when they remember that Theo gave +away the first bird-singer Jerry presented to her to Mrs. Vesey, as a +Northbourne keepsake, when she left the Vicarage. + +And the Carnegy boys? + +Well, they are making the most of their freedom this summer, as next +term they set out on a public-school career. They have not been idle +this past year, and Philip Price knows they will not disgrace him when +confronted with more strict examiners than himself. Alick, in +particular, has been diligent, and being endowed with plenty of brains, +his father and Theo are full of hope regarding his future. + +Better still, Alick's heart is a changed one. By God's grace his +footsteps are set in the right path. No more rebellious outbursts will +there be against those whom the will of God has set over him. A sharp +lesson taught him the world's cruel hardness to the defenceless, and +showed the true value of a good father and a pure home. + +Geoff, ready as ever to take his colour from his surroundings, has been +treading steadily on his altered brother's heels in the 'narrow way.' + +And now our sojourn in breezy little Northbourne is over, and we must +say farewell to its fisher-folk. Some of us may, perchance, meet the +Carnegy boys on life's journey; who can say? But the +stay-at-homes--the stalwart, active Ned Dempster, now one of Fletcher's +boat-crew; the bird-trainer, Jerry Blunt; the families of the Bunk and +the Vicarage,--to one and all we must say good-bye, which is 'God be +with them!' + + + + +THE END + + + + +EVERY BOY'S BOOKSHELF. + + +Frank Lester's Fortunes. By Frederick Arnold. + +A Boy's Adventures Round the World, By John Andrew Higginson. + +In Mortal Peril: A Story of the Great Armada. By E. E. Crake. + +Bush Luck. By W. H. Timperley. + +Schooldays at Highfield House. By A. N. Malan. + +Under Fire. By H. Frederick Charles. + +The Young Nor'-Wester. By J. Macdonald Oxley. + + + +THE BOY'S LIBRARY OF ADVENTURE & HEROISM. + + +ALLAN ADAIR; or Here and There in Many Lands. By Dr. GORDON STABLES, +R.N., author of "In the Land of the Lion and the Ostrich." With Ten +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +A HERO IN WOLF-SKIN. A Story of Pagan and Christian. By TOM BEVAN. +With Seven Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE ADVENTURES OF VAL DAINTRY IN THE GRAECO-TURKISH WAR. By V. L. +GOING. With Seven Illustrations by FRANK FELLER. + +THE HEROES OF MOSS HALL SCHOOL. By E. C. KENYON, author of "Little +Robin Grey," etc. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE LOST EARLDOM: A Tale of Scotland's Reign of Terror. By CYRIL GREY, +author of "For Crown and Covenant." With Three Illustrations by +RAYMOND POTTER. + +A TROOPER OF THE FINNS: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. By TOM BEVAN, +author of "A Hero in Wolf-skin," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations +by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +WILD LIFE IN SUNNY LANDS. A Romance of Butterfly Hunting. By GORDON +STABLES, M.D., R.N., author of "The Shell Hunters." With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE BLUE VEGA. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., R.N. With Six +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +COMRADES UNDER CANVAS. A Story of Boys' Brigade Life. By FREDERICK P. +GIBBON. With Seven Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +BOB MARCHANT'S SCHOLARSHIP. By ERNEST PROTHEROE. With Seven +Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE BOY SETTLER; or, The Adventures of Sydney Bartlett. By H. C. +STORER. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +FROM SCAPEGRACE TO HERO; or, The Adventures and Triumphs of Jem Blake. +By ERNEST PROTHEROE, author of "Bob Marchant's Scholarship." With +Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. + + + +STORIES FOR BOYS. + +By TALBOT BAINES REED. + + +THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE-GUINEA WATCH. With Seven Full-page and +Sixteen other Illustrations in the Text. + +THE COCK HOUSE AT FELLSGARTH. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE FIFTH FORMAT ST. DOMINIC'S. A Public School Story. With Seven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. + +A DOG WITH A BAD NAME. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by ALFRED +PEARSE. + +ROGER INGLETON, MINOR. With Seven Full-page Illustrations by J. +FINNEMORE, R.I. + +SIR LUDAR: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess. With Eleven +Full-page Illustrations. + +PARKHURST BOYS, and other Stories of School Life. With Seven Full-page +and many other Illustrations. + +THE MASTER OF THE SHELL. With Seven Full-page and Five other +Illustrations in the Text. + +MY FRIEND SMITH. A Story of School and City Life. With Eleven +Full-page and Eight other Illustrations in the Text. + +REGINALD CRUDEN. A Tale of City Life. With Seven Illustrations by +ALFRED PEARSE. + +TOM, DICK, AND HARRY. With Fifteen Full-page Illustrations. + + + +THE BOY'S OWN SERIES. + + +A GREAT MISTAKE. A Story of Adventure. By T. S. MILLINGTON, author of +"The Latch Key," "The Shadow on the Hearth," etc. Illustrated. + +ALL FOR NUMBER ONE; or, Charlie Russell's Ups and Downs. By HENRY +JOHNSON, author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. + +MAX VICTOR'S SCHOOLDAYS: The Friends he made and the Foes he conquered. +By S. S. PUSH, author of "Rights and Wrongs," "My School-fellow, Val +Bownser," etc. Illustrated. + +THE MARTYR'S VICTORY. A Tale of Danish England. By EMMA LESLIE, author +of "That Scholarship Boy," "Glaucia, the Greek Slave," etc. Illustrated. + +THE DOCTOR'S EXPERIMENT; or, The Adventures of One of Dr. Reade's +Pupils, as narrated by Himself. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of +"The Boys of Highfield," "Gentleman Jackson," etc. Illustrated. + +GENTLEMAN JACKSON. By H. FREDERICK CHARLES, author of "The Doctor's +Experiment," "The Boys of Highfield," etc. Illustrated. + +TOM WALLIS. A Tale of the South Seas. By LOUIS BECKE, author of "By +Reef and Palm," "Admiral Philip," etc. Illustrated. + +THE STORY OF A CITY ARAB. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "Frank Layton," +"Boys will be Boys," etc. Illustrated. + +THE SHELL-HUNTERS: Their Wild Adventures by Land and Sea. By GORDON +STABLES, author of "Allan Adair," etc. Illustrated. + +HAROLD, THE BOY EARL. A Story of Old England. By J. F. HODGETTS, +author of "Kormak the Viking," etc. Illustrated. + +ILDERIM, THE AFGHAN. A Tale of the Indian Border. By DAVID KEE. +Illustrated. + +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. By ONE WHO WAS BORN THERE, author of +"Annie Carr," etc. Illustrated. + +THE STORY OF A POCKET BIBLE. By G. E. SARGENT, author of "The Story of +a City Arab," "Frank Layton," etc. Illustrated. + +NORTH OVERLAND WITH FRANKLIN. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, author of "Archie +Mackenzie," etc. Illustrated. + +THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, Jamaica Sixty Years Since. By Captain +BROOKE-KNIGHT. Illustrated. + +CAPTAIN COOK; His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries. By W. H. G. +KINGSTON, author of "Little Peter the Ship Boy," "Ben Hadden," etc. +Illustrated. + +THE HEIR OF BRAGWELL HALL. By ALFRED BEER. With Seven Illustrations by +J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE WALLABY MAN. By Dr. A. N. MALAN, F.G.S., author of "School Days at +Highfield House," etc. With Seven Illustrations. + +GEOFF BLAKE: His Chums and His Foes. By S. S. PUGH. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. + +CAVE PERILOUS. By L. T. MEADE. With Seven Illustrations by S. T. DADD. + +FOR CROWN AND COVENANT. By CYRIL GREY, author of "The Lost Earldom." +With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +UNTRUE TO HIS TRUST; or, Plotters and Patriots. By HENRY JOHNSON, +author of "Turf and Table," "A Book of Heroes," etc. With Five +Illustrations. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE STORMY PETREL. By W. C. METCALF. With Three +Illustrations by LANCELOT SPEED. + +DUCK-LAKE. Stories of the Canadian Backwoods. By E. RYERSON YOUNG. +With Seven Illustrations by J. MACFARLANE. + +KORMAK, THE VIKING. By J. FREDERICK HODGETTS. With Fifteen +Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +CYRIL'S QUEST; or, O'er Vale and Hill in the Land of the Inca. By +ANNIE GRAY. With Three Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. + +THE BRIGANDS' PREY; A Strange Story of Adventure. By A. M. JACKSON. +With Five Illustrations by G. E. ROBERTSON. + +THE SETTLERS OF KAROSSA CREEK. and Other Stories of Australian Bush +Life. + +By Louis BECKE, author of "Tom Wallis," "Wild Life in the Southern +Seas," etc., etc. With Three Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, R.I. + +THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS. By J. MACDONALD OXLEY, P. A., author of "North +Overland with Franklin," "Archie Mackenzie." Illustrated. + +THE ADVENTURES OF TIMOTHY. By E. C. KENYON. With Four Illustrations. + + + +STORIES FOR BOYS. + +THROUGH FIRE and THROUGH WATER. A Story of Adventure and Peril. By T. +S. MILLINGTON, author of "Straight to the Mark," etc. With Sixteen +Illustrations. + +TAMATE: The Life and Adventures of a Christian Hero. By RICHARD +LOVETT, M.A., author of "James Chalmers: his Autobiography and +Letters," etc. With Two Maps and Fifteen Illustrations by J. FINNEMORE, +R.I. + +CONDEMNED TO THE GALLEYS. The Adventures of a French Protestant. By +JEAN MARTEILHE. With Seven Illustrations by E. BARNARD LINTOTT. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Captain's Bunk, by M. B. Manwell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAPTAIN'S BUNK *** + +***** This file should be named 26714.txt or 26714.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/1/26714/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26714.zip b/26714.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9901bb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26714.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5f6396 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #26714 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26714) |
