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Weeksandhiscompanionsdividedupastheyhadbeenorderedtodoincomingtothefort,anddepartedindifferentdirections.
Thelieutenantpointedouttothemthelocalityofthebivouacwherehehadpassedsomuchoftheevening,sothattheymightavoidit.
Itwasaboutoneo’clockinthemorningwhentheyleft,andChristycalculatedthattheywouldreachtheshipinanhourandahalf,whichwouldgivethecommanderampletimetogetupsteamfromthebankedfires,andmovedownfourorfivemilestothesouthwardofhispresentposition.
ThechiefoftheexpeditionhadsentnomessagetothecaptainoftheBelleviteinregardtohisownmovements,butsimplythathewouldreporttohimlater.
Hehadalreadygraspedanidea,thoughhehadhadnotimetoworkitupindetail.
Itlookedpracticabletohim,andhehadjumpedtoaconclusionassoonashewasinpossessionofthefactscoveringthesituationinthevicinityofFortMorgan.
Withonlyaplannotyetmaturedinhismind,perhapshehadbeenmorerashthanusualinsendingawaythewhaleboatbeforehehadprovidedforhisownretreatfromtheenemy’sterritory;buthehadconsideredthisdifficulty,andhadcometotheconclusionthattheTrafalgarmustbecapturedifpossible,evenifheandhisassociatesweresenttoaConfederateprison.
Buthedidnotanticipateanysuchresult.
Hehadthreepairsoftheseamenleft;andthepartystillconsistedofeightmen,allwellarmed.
Iftheplanhehadconsideredshouldfail,hehadforceenoughtocarryalightboatfromPilotTown,oranyotherpointontheinnershore,inwhichtheycouldmaketheirescapetotheBelleviteorsomeotherblockader.
Hedidnotfeel,therefore,thathehad“burnedhisbridges,”andleftopennomeansofretreatincaseofdisaster.
ChristyandGraineswereleftaloneinthedarknessandthefog,abankofwhichwasjustthensweepingoverthepoint;buttheycouldheartheviolenttalkofCaptainSullendineinthedistance,ashedeclaimedagainsttheperfidyofhismateandthethreeseamenjustatthepointwhereheneededthemmost.
EvidentlyhecouldnotreconcilehimselftotheideaofbeingleftbehindbytheTrafalgar,whichseemedtobeinevitableunderpresentcircumstances.
“TheskipperoftheWestWindseemstobeinanoceanoftrouble,andheisapparentlyresolvednottosubmittothemisfortunewhichhasovertakenhim,”saidChristy,asheledthewaytowardstheknotofmenwhoweretheauditorsoftherebelliouscaptain.
“Hemayjawasmuchashepleases,ifitmakeshimfeelanybetter,butIdon’tseehowhecanhelphimself,”repliedGraines.
“TheschoonerlookedlikearatherlargeonewhenIgotasightofherjustbeforeIcamebacktoyou,whichIdidassoonasIsawthefourmenleaveyou.”
“IsentWeeksasamessengertoCaptainBreaker,toinformhimthattheTrafalgarwouldsailatthreeinthemorning,”addedChristy.
“Iconcludedthatwasthemissionuponwhichyousenthim,”repliedtheengineer;and,whateverdoubtsthelieutenant’sactionmighthaveraisedinhismind,heaskednoquestions.
EverymanonboardoftheBellevitewaswellacquaintedwiththerecordandreputationoftheexecutiveofficer;andheconcludedatoncethatChristyhadalreadyarrangedhismethodofoperations.
Itwasnot“ingoodform”toaskhissuperioranyquestionsinregardtohisintentions.
“Didyougodowntotheshore,Charley?”askedChristy,astheywalkedinthatdirection.
“Ididnot,butIwentfarenoughtohearwhatthecaptainoftheWestWindwastalkingabout.
Ihadnoorders,andassoonasIsawthefourmenleaveyou,IthoughtIhadbetterrejoinyou,”answeredGraines.
“Quiteright,”saidthelieutenantashehalted;fortheywereasnearthegroupontheshoreasitwasprudenttogo,forthefogwaslifting.“Whatdidthecaptainsay?”
“Heofferedtendollarsapiecefortherecoveryofthemenwhohaddeserted,iftheywerebroughtbackwithintwohours,”repliedGraines.
“Hedidanimmenseamountofheavyswearing;anditwasplainthathewasmadallthewaythrough,fromthecrownofhisheadtothesoleofhisfoot.”
“Wasanyoneinclinedtoaccepthisoffer,andgoinsearchoftherunaways?”
“Ican’tsay,butIsawnooneleaveonthatoranyothermission.Iwastherebutafewminutes,andthefogdroppeddownonthepartysothatIcouldnotseethematall.”
“Wemustjointhatassemblage,andwemaybeabletohelpCaptainSullendineoutofhisdilemma,”saidChristy.
“Helphimoutofit!”exclaimedGraines.
“Notawordmore,Charley.Ihaveanideaortwoleft,butitisnotprudenttosayawordaboutithere,”repliedthelieutenantcautiously.
“Youknowthecutofmyjibinmypresentrig,andIwantyoutokeepaneyeonme,forwemustseparatenow.
Whenyouseemetakeoffthisoldsofthatwithmylefthand,andscratchmyheadwithmyright,movingoffaminutelater,youwillfollowme.
BythattimeIshallknowwhatwearetodo.”
“Allright,Christy;Iwillfollowthedirectiontotheletter,”addedGraines.
“Whileyougoofftotheleftofthatpileofrubbishyonder,Iwillgototherightofit.Ifyouspeaktoanyofourmen,dosowiththeutmostcaution.”
“Theyhavebeendowntheresometime,andtheyhavefullinformationinregardtowhatisgoingoninthislocality,”suggestedGraines.
“Useyourownjudgment,Charley,onlybecarefulnottogiveusaway,”repliedthelieutenant,ashemovedtowardsthepileofrubbish.
Awalkofafewminutesbroughthimtothegroupontheshore,whichconsistedofnotmorethanadozenpersons,andhalfofthembelongedtotheBellevite.
Christyhaltedbeforehereachedtheassemblage,inordertolistentotheeloquenceofthecaptainoftheWestWind.
Hetalkedveryglibly;anditdidnottakehisoutsideauditorlongtoperceivethathehadbeendrinkingsomewhatfreely,thoughhewasnotwhatnon-temperancemenwouldhavecalledintoxicated.
“Iusemymenwell,andgive‘emenoughtoeatanddrink,andwhat’sgoodenough,”thenauticaloratordeclaimedwithadouble-handedgesture.
“Why,myfriends,Igaveeachofthevillainsthatdesertedtheschoonerabottleofapple-jack.
Idon’tdrinkitmyself,butitisgoodenoughforniggersandsailors;infact,mymenlikeditbetter’nwhiskey,becauseit’sstronger.
Theyservedmeamightymeantrick,andI’llgivetendollarsapiecetohave‘emfetchedbacktome.
That’sagoodchanceforsomeonyoutomakesomemoneytonight.”
Hisaudiencelistenedtohimastheywouldhavedonetoapreacherwithwhomtheyhadnosympathy,andnoonewastemptedbytherewardtogoinsearchofthedeserters.Christymovedupnearertothespeaker.
Inhisdisguise,withhisfacesmoochedwithsomeofthecolorhehadreceivedasapresentfromMr.Gilfleur,theFrenchdetective,withwhomhehadbeenassociatedonhiscruisesomemonthsbefore,hedidnotappearatalldifferentfrommostofthosewholistenedtoCaptainSullendine.
Hehadlaidasidehisgentlemanlygaitandbearing,andactedasthoughhehadlatelyjoinedthe“awkwardsquad.”
“Howd’e?”calledtheoratortohim,ashesawhimjointhegroupoflisteners.“Iseeyoucomefromtheothersideofthep’int.”
“Well,isthataginthelawso’war?”demandedChristy.
“Notabiton’t,”repliedthecaptainpleasantly,asthoughhispotationsofwhiskeywerestillinfulleffectuponhim.
“Ifyoucomefromthatway,haveyouseenanythingofmyfourmenthatdesertedtheschooner?”
“Iwasn’tlookin’for‘em;didn’tknowye’dlostsomemen,”repliedChristy,staringwithhismouthhalfopenattheorator.“Wasoneon‘emthemate?”
“Yes!”exclaimedthecaptaineagerly.
“Well,Ihain’tseennothin’onem,”addedChristyinamumblingtone.
“I’llbetyouhave!”protestedtheskipperoftheWestWind.“How’dyouknowoneon‘emwasthemateifyoudidn’tsee‘em?”
“Ididn’tknowoneon‘emwasthemate;Ionlyaxedyerso’sterknow.”
“Ireckonyouknowsunthinaboutmymen,”persistedthecaptain;andbythistimetheattentionofallthepartyhadbeendirectedtohim.
“Idon’tknownothin’aboutyermen,andIhain’tbeeninterducedto‘em.Ifyouwanttoshipanewcrew,I’mreadytojinewithyer.”
“Onemanain’tenough,”addedtheskipper.
“Someo’thesemen’lljinetoo,Ireckon,”suggestedChristy,whohadproceededinthismannerinordertoattracttheattentionofthedisconsolatemasteroftheWestWind.
“Idon’treckontheycanship,’causemoston‘embelongstotheTallahatchie,andtheycan’tleave.”
“That’sso,”shoutedseveralofthegroup,includingsomeofthecrewoftheBellevite.
“What’stheTalla-what-you-call-her?”demandedChristy.
“She’sthesteameryoucanseewhenthefoglifts,”answeredCaptainSullendine.“TheTallahatchieishername.Areyouasailor,mylivelylad?”
“IreckonIknowthebobstayfromthemainmast.”
“Youknowsumthinaboutmymateandmen,myjollytar,andI’llgiveyoufivedollarsapieceforanynewson‘emthatwillhelpmetoketch‘em;andI’llshipyouintothebargain,forIwantmorehands,”thecaptainproceededinamorebusiness-likemanner,thoughattheexpenseofhisoratory.
Justatthismomentthreeshortandsharpwhistlessoundedfromofftheshore,andabouthalfoftheskipper’saudienceturnedupontheirheelsandwalkeddowntothewater,wheretheyembarkedinaboat.
Theywereevidentlymembersoftheship’scompanyoftheTallahatchie,onshoreonleave,andthewhistleswerethesignalfortheirreturn.
Theremainderofthegroup,withtwoorthreeexceptions,weretheseamenoftheblockader.
“Where’dyoucomefrom,myhearty?”demandedthecaptainoftheschooner,turningtoChristyagain.
“Iwastookeninablockader,eightonus.Wedonestoleawhaleboatandcomedashore,”repliedChristy,enlarginguponthestoryhehadtoldthebivouackers.
“Eightonyou!”exclaimedthemasteroftheschooner.“Where’stherestonye?”
“They’reallaboutheresomewhar,andIreckonIkinfindem.They’relookinforsunthint’eat.
Theyallwanttoship,andthemateoftheRattler’soneon‘em,”continuedChristy,guidinghimselfbythecircumstancesastheyweredevelopedtohim.
“What’syourname,myman?”
“Myname’sJerrySandman;andIain’tashamedon’t.”
“Areyourmenallsailors,Jerry?”
“Everyoneon‘em.”
“Iwanteightgoodmen,Jerry,thematebein’oneon‘em.”
“Thenwekinfixyoulikea’possuminahole.”
“I’vegottwoboatsontheshore;thedesertersstoleoneon‘em,andIcomeashoreint’otherarter‘em.
IreckonI’llgetasteamerinNassau,andIwantallthegoodmenIcanfindtomanher.I’llshipthewholeonyou.
Findyourmen,Jerry,andfetch‘emdowntotheboats.I’llgive‘emallsumthint’eat.
Nowbelivelyaboutit,”saidCaptainSullendine,ashewalkedawaytowardstheshore.
“I’llfind‘eminnotime,”repliedChristy,asheremovedhissofthatwithhislefthand,andscratchedhisheadwiththeother.
Therestofthepartyscattered,andGrainesjoinedthelieutenant.
“THEcanoesaregone!”criedWorth.
“Itlookslikeit,”repliedSumner,inanequallydismayedtone.
“Areyousurethisiswhereweleftthem?”“Yes;sure.ThereisthesternlinethatwemadefasttotheCupidorwhatisleftofit.”
Sureenough,therewasaportionofthelightlinestillfasttothetree,andasSumnerpulleditin,bothboysbentovertoexamineit.Ithadbeenbroken,andnotcut.
Fromitslengthitmustalsohavebeenbrokenclosetothecanoe.
“Oh,Sumner,whatshallwedo?”askedWorth,inatoneofsuchdespairthattheformeratoncerealizedthenecessityofsomeimmediateactiontodiverthiscomrade’sthoughts.
“Do?”hecried.“There’splentytodo.
First,we’llgodowntothatpointandtakealooktoseaward;for,asthetideisrunningout,theyaremorelikelytohavegoneinthatdirectionthananyother.
Itwouldbeacomforteventocatchaglimpseofthem.
Then,perhaps,theyhaveonlydriftedaway,andarestrandedonsomebarnearby.
Besideslookingforthecanoes,wemustbuildsomekindofashelterforthenight,cooksupper,anddiscussourplansforthefuture.Ohyes,we’veplentytodo!”
Whilehespoke,theboysweremakingtheirwaytothepointinquestion,andwhentheyreachedit,theyeagerlyscannedeveryfootofwaterinsight.
DiagonallytotherightfromwheretheystoodstretchedthelongreachofLowerMetacumba,desolateanduninhabitedastheyknew.
Almostdirectlyinfront,butseveralmilesaway,rosethepalm-crownedrocksofIndianKey,withitstwoorthreeoldshedlikebuildingsinplainview.
ThesehadbeenusedandabandonedyearsbeforebythebuildersofAlligatorLight,theslendertowerofwhichtheycouldseerisingfromthedistantwatersabovetheouterreef.
DiagonallyontheleftwasthetinygreenformofTeaTableKey,anddimlybeyondittheycouldmakeoutthecoastofUpperMetacumba,whichSumnersaidwasinhabited.
Inallthisfar-reachingview,however,therewerenosignsofthemissingcanoes.
“I’mgladofit!”saidSumner,afterhislongsearchinggazehadfailedtorevealthem.“Itwouldberoughtohavetheminsightbutoutofreach.”
AlreadythesunwassinkingbehindthetreetopsofLowerMetacumba,fishwereleapingintheplacidwaters,andafewpelicanweresoaringwithsteadypoiseabovethem.
Everynowandthenthesewouldswoopswiftlydown,withaheavysplashthatgenerallysealedthefateofoneormoremulletoffwhichthegreatbirdsweremakingtheireveningmeal.
Aflockofblackcormorants,utteringharshcries,flewoverheadwitharushingsound,returningfromaday’sfishingtotheirroostsinthedistantEverglades.
Withtheseexceptions,andthefaintboomofthesurfontheouterreef,allwassilenceanddesertion.
Besidesthelighthousetowertherewasnosignofhumanlife,noteventhedistantglimmerofasail.
Whiletheboysstilllookedlonginglyforsometraceoftheircanoes,thesunset,andaredflash,followedatshortintervalsbytwowhiteones,shotoutfromthevanishingformofAlligatorLight.
“Come!”criedSumner,heedfulofthiswarning.
“Nightisalmosthere,andwehavetoomuchtodoineverypreciousminuteoftwilighttobestandingidle.
I’lltakethebucketandruntothepondforwater,whileyoucutallthepalmettoleavesyoupossiblycan,andcarrythemtotheplacewherewelanded.”
“Thebucket?”repeatedWorth,loomingabouthiminquiringly.“Whereareyougoingtofindit?”
Withoutanswering,Sumnersprangdowntherockstothewater’sedge,wherehehadnoticedastrandedbamboo,andquicklycutoutashortsectionofitwiththehatchetthathehadthrustintohisbeltbeforeleavingthecanoes.
Ashemadethecutsjustbelowtwoofthejoints,hissectionwasahollowcylinder,openatoneend,buthavingatightbottomandcapableofholdingseveralquartsofwater.
Withthisheplungedintotheforestinthedirectionofthepond,handingWorththehatchetashepassed,andbiddinghimbesprywithhispalmettoleaves.
Afewminuteslater,asSumneremergedfromthetrees,carryinghisfullwaterbucket,andbreathlesswithhishaste,heindistinctlysawtheformofsomeanimalattheveryplacewheretheyhadlefttheirgunsandbirds.
Astheboydashedforward,utteringaloudcry,thealarmedanimalscuttledoffintothebushes.
“Oh,youvillain!”gaspedSumnerashereachedtheplace,“I’llsettlewithyoutomorrow,seeifIdon’t.
Fourofthedoveshaddisappeared,andtheheadwastornfromoneoftheducks.
“Whatisit?”criedWorth,inalarm,asheenteredtheclearingfromtheoppositeside,staggeringbeneathanimmenseloadofcabbagepalmleaves.
“Arascallythieving’coon,”answeredSumner,“andhehasgotawaywiththebestpartofourprovisions,too;butI’llgetevenwithhimyet.
Nowgivemethehatchet,andthenpickupallthedriftwoodyoucanfind,whileIbuildahouse.”
Worthwouldgladlyhavehelpederectthehouse,asSumnercalledit,forhewasverycuriousastowhatsortofastructurecouldbebuiltofleaves,butherealizedthenecessityofdoingashewasbidden,andatoncesettoworkgatheringwood.
Sumner,aftercarefullyproppinghiswaterbucketbetweentworocks,soastoinsurethesafetyofitscontents,begancuttinganumberofslendersaplings,andturningthemintopoles.
Thestoutestoftheseheboundwithwithestotwotreesthatstoodaboutsixfeetapart.
Hefastenedittotheirtrunksashighashecouldreach.
Thenheboundoneendofthelongerpolestoit,allowingthemtoslanttothegroundbehind.
Crosswiseofthese,andaboutafootapart,hetiedanumberofstillmoreslenderpoles,andovertheselaidthebroadleaves.
Hewouldhavetiedthesesecurelyinplaceifhehadhadtime.
Ashehadnot,foritwasquitedarkbeforehefinishedeventhisrudeshelter,hewasforcedtoleavethemso,andhopethatawindwouldnotariseduringthenight.
Forhimselfalonehewouldnothavebuiltanyshelter,butwouldhavefoundacomfortablerestingplaceunderatree.
Knowing,however,thatWorthhadneverinhislifesleptwithoutaroofofsomekindabovehim,hethoughtitbesttoprovideone,andtherebyrelievetheirsituationofaportionoftheterrorwithwhichthecity-bredboywasinclinedtoregardit.
Itwascuriousandinterestingtonotehowasenseofresponsibility,andthecareofoneyoungerandmuchmorehelplessthanhimself,wasdevelopingSumner’scharacter.
Alreadytheselfishnesstowhichhewasinclinedhadverynearlydisappeared,whilealmosteverythoughtwasforthecomfortandhappinessofhiscompanion.
Worth,accustomedtobeingcaredforandhavingeverywishgratified,hardlyappreciatedthisasyet;buttheemergenciesoftheirsituationwereteachinghimvaluablelessonsofpromptobedienceandselfreliancethathecouldhavegainedinnootherway.
AsSumnerfinishedhisrudelean-to,andplacedthegunswithinitsshelterforprotectionfromtheheavynightdews,WorthCameupfromthebeachwithhislastloadofdriftwood.
Itwasnowcompletelydark,andthenotesofchuckwills-widowswereminglingwiththe“whoo,whoo,whooah-h!”
ofagreathootowlintheforestbehindthem.
“’Nowforafireandsomesupper,”criedSumner,cheerily.You’vegotsomematches,haven’tyou?”
“Idon’tbelieveIhave,”repliedWorth,anxiouslyfeelinginhispockets.Ithoughtyoumusthavesome.”
“No,Ihaven’tasignofone!”exclaimedSumner,andanaccentofhopelessnesswasforthefirsttimeallowedtoenterhisvoice.
“Theyareallaboardthecanoes,andwithoutafireweareinaprettypicklesureenough.
Iwonderhowhungrywe’llgetbeforewemakeupourmindstoeatrawduckThisisworsethanlosingthecanoes.IdeclareIdon’tknowwhattodo.”
“Couldn’twesomehowmakeafirewithagun?SeemstomeIhavereadofsomethingofthatkind,”suggestedWorth.
“Ofcoursewecan!”shoutedSumner,springingtohisfeet.“WhatagumpIwasnottothinkofit!
Ifwecollectalotofdrystuffandshootintoit,thereisboundtobeasparkortwothatwecancaptureandcoaxintoaflame.”
So,withinfinitepains,theyfeltaroundinthedarkuntiltheyhadcollectedaconsiderablepileofdryleaves,sticks,andotherrubbishthattheyimaginedwouldeasilytakefire.
Then,throwingaloadedshellintoabarrelofhisgun,andplacingthemuzzleclosetothecollectedkindlings,Sumnerpulledthetrigger.
Therewasablindingflash,aloudreportthatrolledfarandwidethroughtheheavynightair,andtheheapofrubbishwasblownintospace.
Notaleafremainedtoshowwhereithadbeen,andnotthefaintestsparkrelievedthedarknessthatinstantlyshutinmoredensethanever.
“Onecartridgespentinbuyingexperience,”remarkedSumner,assoonashediscoveredtheattempttobeafailure.“Nowwe’lltryanother.
Ifyouwillkindlycollectanotherpileofkindling,I’llpreparesomefireworksonadifferentplan.”
Thussaying,hespreadhishandkerchiefontheground,cutoffthecrimpingofanothershellwithhispocketknife,carefullyextractedtheshotandhalfthepowder,andconfinedtheremainderinthebottomoftheshellwithoneofthewads.
Thenhemoistenedthepowderthathehadtakenout,andrubbeditthoroughlyintothehandkerchief,whichheplacedinthesecondpileofsticksandleavesthatWorthhadbythistimegathered.
Ashottakenatthiswiththelightlychargedblankcartridgeproducedthedesiredeffect.
Fiveminuteslaterthecheerfulblazeofacracklingfireilluminedthescene,andbanishedacloudofanxietyfromthemindsoftheyoungcastaways.
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