English
“AuntEmily,”asthechildrencalledheratonce,becauseshewasEdnaMay’saunt,welcomedthemaswarmlyasCaptainMayhaddone,andeverythinginthecabinoftheWildfirewassocomfortablethattheyfeltathomeatonce.
Supperwasreadyassoonastheywere,andastheysatdowntoitMarksaidhewished“AuntClo”couldseeit,forhethoughtitwouldgivehersomenewideasofwhatYankeeshadtoeat.
Aftersuppereachofthechildrenwrotealetterhome,andMarkandCaptainMaywalkeduptothepost-officetomailthem.
Aboutnineo’clockatugcamefortheship,andverysoontheyhadbidgood-byetoSavannah,andweredroppingdownthemuddyrivertowardsthesea.
Asitwasafinemoonlitnight,thechildrenstayedondeckwithMrs.Coburntoseewhattheycouldoftheriver,whichhereformstheboundarylinebetweentheStatesofGeorgiaandSouthCarolina.
Onbothsides,asfarastheycouldsee,themarsheswerecoveredwithfieldsofgrowingrice,andeverynowandthentheyheardthesoundofmusiccomingfromthefunnylittlenegrocabinswhichwerescatteredhereandtherealongthebanks.
TheypassedtheoldfortsJacksonandPulaski,bothonthesouthsideoftheriver,andbothdesertedandfallingtoruin,andverysoonhadleftbehindTybeeIsland,withitsflashinglight,atthemouthoftheriver.
Thetugleftthemwhentheyreachedthesirenbuoythatkeepsupaconstantmoaningontheouterbar;oneafteranotheroftheship’ssailswereloosedand“sheetedhome,”andthenCaptainMaysaiditwas“hightimeforthewatchbelowtoturnin.”
TheseawassocalmandbeautifulthenextdaythatevenMarkdidnotfeelill,norwasheduringthevoyage.
AsforRuth,sheknew,fromherexperienceonthelastvoyagetheyhadtaken,thatsheshouldnotbeseasick,andsoeverybodywasashappyandjollyaspossible.
Duringtheafternoon,aftertheyhadallbeensittingondeckforsometime,talkingofthedearonesleftathome,andofthemanyfriendswhomtheyhopedsoontomeet,RuthsaidshewasgoingdowntoopenhertrunkandgetoutthealbumcontainingthepicturesofhergirlfriendsinNorton,andseeiftheylookedassherememberedthem.
Itwassolongsinceshehadopenedthisalbumthatshehadalmostforgottenwhosepictureswereinit.
Shesoonreturnedwithitinherhand,andwithaverypuzzledexpressiononherface.
“Mark,”shesaid,“didyoueverthinkthatFrankMarchlookedlikeanybodyelsewhomweknow?”
“Idon’tknow,”answeredMark.“Yes,cometothinkofit,Ihavethoughttwoorthreetimesthathisfacehadafamiliarlook,butInevercouldthinkwhoitwasheresembled.Why?”
Placingthealbuminhishand,andopeningittothefirstpage,onwhichwasthephotographofEdnaMay,Ruthsaid,“Doyouthinkhelooksanythinglikethat?”
“Why,yes!ofcoursehedoes,”exclaimedMark,startledattheresemblancehesaw.“HelooksenoughlikethepicturetobeEdna’sbrother.”
“AuntEmily,”saidRuth,turningtoMrs.Coburn,whosatnearthem,“doyouknowinwhatSoutherncityCaptainMayfoundEdna?”
“Yes,itwasintheonewehavejustleft—Savannah.”
“AndFrankcamefromSavannah,andhelosthismotherandlittlesisterthere,andEdna’sownmotherwasdrownedthere.Oh,Mark,ifitshouldbe!”criedRuth,muchexcited.
“Wouldn’titbejusttoojolly?”saidMark.
Mrs.Coburnbecamealmostasinterestedasthechildrenwhenthematterwasexplainedtoher;butCaptainMaywasquiteprovokedwhenheheardofit.
Hesaiditwasonlyachanceresemblance,andtherecouldn’tbeanythinginit.
HehadmadeinquiriesinSavannahatthetime,andneverheardanythingofanyfatherorbrothereither,andatanyratehewasnotgoingtolosehisEdnanowforallthebrothersandfathersintheworld.
HefinallysaidthatunlesstheygavehimasolemnpromisenottomentionawordofallthistoEdna,heshouldnotlethervisitthemnextwinter.
Sothechildrenpromised,andthecaptainwassatisfied;buttheytalkedthematteroverbetweenthemselves,andbecamemoreandmoreconvincedthatFrankMarchandEdnaMaywerebrotherandsister.
Afterthisthevoyageproceededwithoutincidentuntiltheeveningofthethirdday,whentheyweresittingatsupperinthecabin.
Theskylightsandportholeswereallwideopen,forinspiteofthefreshbreezethatwasblowing,thecabinwasuncomfortablycloseandhot.
Marksaidthefurthernorththeywentthehotteritseemedtoget,andtheothersagreedwithhim.
CaptainMaysaidthatifthebreezeheld,andtheywereluckyinmeetingapilot,theywouldbeatanchorinNewYorkHarborbeforeanothersupper-time,andhehopedthehotspellwouldbeoverbeforetheywereobligedtogoashore.
Whilehewasspeakingthemateputhisheaddownthecompanion-wayandsaid,
“CaptainMay,willyoubegoodenoughtostepondeckamoment,sir?”
Asthecaptainwentondeckhenoticedthatallthecrewweregatheredabouttheforecastle,andweretalkingearnestly.
“What’sinthewindnow,Mr.Gibbs?”heaskedofthemate,whoatthatmomentsteppeduptohim.
“Why,sir,onlythis,thatIbelievetheship’sonfire.
Afewminutesagothewholewatchbelowcameondeckvowingtherewasnosleepinginthefo’k’sle;thatitwasareg’larfurnace.
Iwenttoseewhattheywasgrowlingat,and‘twassohotdownthereitmademyheadswim.
Therewasn’tanyflamenoranysmoke,buttherewasapowerfulsmellofburning,andI’mafraidthere’sfireinthecargo.”
WithoutawordCaptainMaywentforwardanddownintotheforecastle,themenrespectfullymakingwayforhimtopass.
Inlessthanaminutehecameup,bathedinperspiration,andturningtothecrew,said,“Mymen,there’snodoubtbutthatthisshipisonfire.
It’sinamongthecotton;butifwecankeepitsmotheredawhilelonger,Ithink,withthisbreeze,wecanmakeourportbeforeitbreaksout.
Iwantyoutokeepcoolandsteady,andrememberthere’snodanger,forwecanmakelandanytimeintheboatsifworsecomestoworse.
Mr.Gibbs,havethemengettheirdunnageupoutoftheforecastle,andthenclosethehatchandbattenit.”
Goingaft,thecaptainfoundhispassengersondeckwaitinganxiouslytolearnthecauseofthecommotiontheyhadalreadynoticed.
Hetoldthemtheworstatonce,andadvisedthemtogobelowandpackuptheirthingsreadyforinstantremovalincaseitbecamenecessary.
“Oh,William,”exclaimedhissister,“can’twetaketotheboatsnowwhilethereistime?
ItseemsliketemptingProvidencetostayontheshipandwaitforthefiretobreakout.Whatifsheshouldblowup?”
“Now,don’tbefoolish,Emily,”answeredthecaptain.
“There’snothingonboardthatcanblowup,anditwouldbeworsethancowardlytoleavetheshipwhilethere’sachanceofsavingher.
Theboatsareallreadytobeloweredinstantly,andatpresentthereisnomoredangerherethantherewouldbeinthem.”
NotasoulonboardtheWildfirewenttobedorundressedthatnight,andMarkandRuthweretheonlyoneswhoclosedtheireyes.
Theystayedondeckuntilmidnight,butthen,inspiteoftheexcitement,theybecametoosleepytoholdtheireyesopenanylonger,andMrs.Coburnpersuadedthemtotakeanaponthecabinsofas.
Allnighttheshipflewlikeafrightenedbirdtowardsherport,undersuchapressofcanvasasCaptainMaywouldnothavedaredcarryhadnotthenecessityforspeedbeensogreat.
Asthenightworeonthedecksgrewhotterandhotter,untilthepitchfairlybubbledfromtheseams,andastrongsmellofburningpervadedtheship.
AtdaylighttheAmericanflagwasrunhalf-wayuptothemizzenpeak,uniondown,asasignalofdistress.
BysunrisetheHighlandsofNavesinkwereinsight,andtheyalsosawapilot-boatbearingrapidlydownuponthemfromthenorthward.
AssoonashesawthisboatCaptainMaytoldhispassengersthathewasgoingtosendthemonboardofit,ashefearedthefiremightnowbreakoutatanyminute,andhewasgoingtoaskitscaptaintorunintoSandyHook,andsenddispatchestotherevenue-cutterandtotheNewYorkfire-boatHavemeyer,beggingthemtocometohisassistance.
Mrs.CoburnandRuthreadilyagreedtothisplan,butMarkbeggedsohardtobeallowedtostay,andsaidheshouldfeelsomuchlikeacowardtoleavetheshipbeforeanyoftheothermen,thatthecaptainfinallyconsentedtoallowhimtoremain.
Theship’sheadwaywascheckedasthepilot-boatdrewnear,inorderthatheryawl,bringingthepilot,mightrunalongside.
“Halloo,Cap’nBill,”sangoutthepilot,whohappenedtobeanoldacquaintanceofCaptainMay’s.“What’sthemeaningofallthat?”
andhepointedtothesignalofdistress.“GotYellowJackaboard,oramutiny?”
“Neither,”answeredCaptainMay,“butI’vegotavolcanostowedunderthehatches,andI’mexpectinganeruptioneveryminute.”
“Youdon’ttellme?”saidthepilot,asheclamberedupovertheside.“Ship’safire,isshe?”
Thestateofaffairswasquicklyexplainedtohim,andhereadilyconsentedthathisswiftlittleschoonershouldrunintotheHookandsenddispatchesforhelp.
Healsosaidtheyshouldbeonlytooproudtohavetheladiescomeaboard.
WithoutfurtherdelayMrs.CoburnandRuth,withtheirbaggage,wereplacedintheship’slong-boat,loweredovertheside,andinafewminutesweresafeonthedeckofthepilot-boat,whichseemedtoRuthalmostassmallasMark’scanoeincomparisonwiththebigshiptheyhadjustleft.
Assoonastheywereonboard,theschoonerspreadherwhitewingsandstoodinforSandyHook,whiletheshipwasheadedtowardsthe“SwashChannel.”
AsshepassedtheRomerBeaconCaptainMaysawthepilot-boatcomingoutfrombehindtheHook,andknewthedispatcheshadbeensent.
WhenhisshipwasofftheHospitalIslandshesawtherevenue-cuttersteamingdownthroughtheNarrowstowardsthem,trailingablackcloudbehindher,andevidentlymakingallpossiblespeed.
Bythistimelittleeddiesofsmokewerecurlingupfromaroundthecloselybattenedhatches,andCaptainMaysawthattheshipcouldnotlivetoreachtheupperbay,andfearedshewouldbeamassofflamesbeforethefire-boatcouldcometoherrelief.
InthisemergencyhetoldthepilotthathethoughttheyhadbetterleavethechannelandrunoverontheflatstowardstheLongIslandshore,soastobepreparedtoscuttleher.
“Ay,ay,Cap;Icanputherjustwhereveryouwanther.Onlygivetheword,”answeredthepilot.
“Idogiveit,”saidCaptainMay,asacloudofsmokepuffedoutfromtheedgeofoneofthehatches.“Putherthere,forshe’llbeablazenowbeforemanyminutes.”
Astheship’sheadwasturnedtowardstheflatstherevenue-cutterranalongside.
Hercaptain,followedbyadozenbluejackets,boardedtheship,andtheformer,takinginherdesperatesituationataglance,saidtoCaptainMay,“Youmustscuttleheratonce,captain;it’syouronlychancetosaveher.”
“Verywell,sir,”answeredCaptainMay.“Ithinksomyself,butamgladtohaveyourauthorityfordoingso.”
Astheship’sanchorswereletgo,hercarpenterandasquadofmenfromthecutter,armedwithaxesandaugurs,tumbleddownintohercabin,andbeganwhatseemedlikeamostfuriousworkofdestruction.
Theaxescrashedthroughthecarvedwoodwork,furniturewashurledtooneside,greatholeswerecutinthecabinfloor,andtheship’splankingwaslaidbareinadozenplacesbelowthewater-line.
Thentheaugursweresettowork,andinafewminutesadozenstreamsofwater,spurtinguplikefountains,wererushingandgurglingintotheship.
Whilethiswasgoingoninthecabin,theship’screw,assistedbyothersoftherevenuemen,wereremovingeverythingofvalueonwhichtheycouldlaytheirhandstothedeckofthecutter.
Suddenlythoseinthecabinheardagreatcryandaroaringnoiseondeckandastheyrushedupthecompanion-waytheysawacolumnofflameshootingupfromthefore-hatch,half-masthigh.
Halfthepeoplehadsprungonboardtherevenue-cutterasshesheeredoff,whichshedidatthefirstburstofflame,andnowtheothersfilledtheboats,whichwerequicklyloweredandshovedoff.
Astheboatswerebeingloweredasecondburstofflamecamefromthemain-hatch,andalreadytonguesoffirewerelappingthesailsandloftyspars.
Markhadworkedwiththerestinsavingwhateverhecouldlift,anddidnotthinkofleavingtheshipuntilCaptainMaysaid,
“Come,Mark,it’stimetogo.Jumpintothisboat.”
Markdidashewastold,andasCaptainMayspranginafterhim,andshouted“Loweraway!”notalivingsoulwasleftonboardtheunfortunatevessel.
Asthemenintheboatsrestedontheiroars,andlayatasafedistancefromtheship,watchingthegrandspectacleofherdestruction,theysawthatshewassettlingrapidlybythestern.
Lowerandlowershesank,andhigherandhighermountedthefierceflames,until,allatonce,herbowsliftedhighoutofthewater,hersternseemedtoshootunderit,thenthegreathullplungedoutofsight,andamightycloudofsmokeandsteamrosetothesky.
Throughthiscloudtheflamesalongtheuppermastsandyardsshonewithaluridred.
Atthispointthefire-boatarrived;acoupleofwell-directedstreamsofwaterfromherpowerfulenginessoonextinguishedtheseflames,andthethreeblackenedmasts,pointingvaguelyupward,wereallthatremainedtoshowwhere,soshortatimebefore,thegreatshiphadfloated.
Thepilot-boathadalreadytransferredMrs.CoburnandRuthandtheirbaggagetothecutter,andshenowsteamedupthebay,carryingthepassengers,crew,andallthathadbeensavedfromthegoodshipWildfire.
Thisdisastertohisship,whichwouldhavebeensoterriblehadithappenedoutatseainsteadofalmostinport,asitdid,obligedCaptainMaytoremaininNewYorkseveraldays.
OfthisMarkandRuthwereveryglad,foritgavethemanopportunitytoseesomeofthewondersofthegreatcityofwhichtheyhadreadsomuch,andwhichtheyhadlongedsooftentovisit.
Mrs.Coburn,whohadatonetimelivedinNewYork,andsoknewjustwhatwasbestworthseeing,tookthemtosomenewplaceeveryday.
TheysawthegreatEastRiverBridgethatconnectsNewYorkandBrooklyn,theytooktheelevatedrailroad,andwentthewholelengthofManhattanIslandtoHighBridge,onwhichtheCrotonAqueductcrossestheHarlemRiver,andonthewaybackstoppedandwalkedthroughCentralParktotheMenagerie,wheretheyweremoreinterestedinthealligatorsthananythingelse,becausetheyremindedthemsoofoldfriends,orratherenemies.
Theyvisitedmuseumsandnotedbuildingsandstores,untilRuthdeclaredthatshewantedtogetawaywhereitwasquiet,andshedidn’tseehowpeoplewholivedinNewYorkfoundtimetodoanythingbutgoroundandseethesights.
TheywereallgladwhenCaptainMaywasreadytoleave,andafterthenoiseandbustleofthegreatcitytheythoroughlyenjoyedthequietnight’ssailupLongIslandSoundonthesteamerPilgrim.
AtFallRivertheytookcarsforBoston,wheretheystayedoneday.
FromtheretheytookthesteamerCambridgeforBangor,wheretheyarrivedinthemorning,andwhere“UncleChristmas,”asjollyandheartyasever,metthematthewharf.
“Sakesalive,children,howyouhavegrowed!”hesaid,holdingthemoffatarm’s-lengthinfrontofhim,andlookingatthemadmiringly.“Why,Mark,you’reprettynighastallasaFloridypine.”
Heinsistedontakingthewholepartytodinewithhimatthehotel,andatdinnertoldMarkthatthatlittlebusinessoftheirshadgottowaitawhile,andmeantimehewantedhimtorunovertoNorton,andstayatDr.Wing’suntilhecameforhim.
ThiswasjustwhatMarkhadbeenwishing,aboveallthings,thathecoulddo,andhealmosthugged“UncleChristmas”forhisthoughtfulkindness.
Afterdinnerthehappypartybadetheoldgentlemangood-bye,andtookthetrainforSkowhegan,wheretheyfoundthesameoldrattlety-bangstagewaitingtocarrythemtoNorton.
Aswithaflourishofthedriver’shornandacrackingofhiswhiptheyrolledintothewell-knownNortonstreet,acrowdofboysandgirls,whoseemedtohavebeenwatchingforthem,gavethreerousingcheersforMarkElmer,andthreemoreforRuthElmer,andthenthreetimesthreeforbothofthem.
Thestagestopped,andinanotherinstantRuthwashuggingandkissing,andbeinghuggedandkissed,byher“verydearest,darlingestfriend”EdnaMay,andMarkwasbeingslappedonthebackandhauledthiswayandthat,andwasshakinghandswithalltheboysinNorton.
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