English
HowpleasantitwastobeindearoldNortonagain!andhowgladeverybodywastoseethem!
GoodoldMrs.Wingsaiditmadeherfeelyoungagaintohaveboysinthehouse.
Shecertainlyhadenoughofthemnow;fortheNortonboyscouldnotkeepawayfromMark.
Fromearlymorninguntileveningboyswalkedbackandforthinfrontofthehousewaitingforhimtoappear,orsatonthefence-postsandwhistledforhim.
Somewalkedboldlyuptothefrontdoor,rangthebell,andaskedifhewerein;whileothers,moreshy,butbraverthanthosewhowhistledsoalluringlyfromthefence-posts,stolearoundthroughthegardenatthesideofthehouse,andtriedtocatchaglimpseofhimthroughthewindows.
AllthiswasnotbecauseMarkkepthimselfshutupinthehouse.Ohno!hewasnotthatkindofaboy.
Heonlystayedinlongenoughtosleep,toeatthreemealsaday,andtowriteletterstohisfather,mother,andFrankMarch,tellingthemofeverythingthatwastakingplace.
Therestofthetimehedevotedtotheboys—andthegirls;forhewasoveratCaptainMay’shousealmostasmuchashewasattheWings’.
Hewasenjoyinghimselfimmensely,thoughitdidn’tseemasthoughhewasdoingmuchexcepttotalk.
Ifhewentfishingwiththeboys,theywouldmakehimtellhowheandFrankcaughtthealligator,orhowthealligatorcaughtFrank,andhowhekilledit;andwhenhefinisheditwastimetogohome,andnoneofthemhadeventhoughtoffishingsinceMarkbegantotalk.
Therewasnothingtheboysenjoyedmorethangoingoutintothewoods,makingbelievethatsomeofthegreatspreadingoakswerepalm-trees,andlyingdownunderthemandlistening,whileMark,attheirearnestrequest,toldoverandoveragainthestoriesofthewreckontheFloridareef,andthepicnichisfatherandmotherandRuthandhehadunderthepalm-trees,orofhuntingdeeratnightthroughthesolemn,moss-hung,Southernforests,oroftheburningoftheWildfire.
“Isay,Mark,”exclaimedTomEllis,afterlisteningwithbreathlessinteresttooneofthesestories,“you’rearegularbook,youare,andI’dratherhearyoutellstoriesthantoreadCaptainMarryatorPaulduChaillu.”
ButtherewasonestoryMarkneverwouldtell.
Itwasthatofhisterribleexperienceintheburiedriver.
Ofthishetriedtothinkaslittleaspossible,andwhentheboyssawthatitreallydistressedhimtotalkofittheyforboretourgehimtodoso.
OfcourseRuthdidnotfeelasMarkdidaboutit,andshetoldthestorymanytimes,andeverybodywhohearditdeclareditwasamostwonderfulexperience.
TheyalsoseemedtothinkthatinsomewaythemerefactthattheheroofsuchanadventurewasaNortonboyreflectedgreatcreditonthevillage.
BothMarkandRuthsawagreaterresemblanceintherealEdnaMaytoFrankMarchthanhadbeenshownbyherphotograph;buttheyrememberedtheirpromisetoCaptainBill,anddidnotspeakofitexcepttoeachother.
ItwasveryhardforRuthtokeepthispromise,forEdnahadbecomemuchinterestedinFrankthroughherletters,andnowaskedmanyquestionsabouthim.
Ruthtoldherallsheknew,excepttheonegreatsecretthatwasontheendofhertongueadozentimes,butwasneverallowedtogetanyfurther.
TwoweekshadbeenspentveryhappilybythechildreninNorton,when,onebeautifuleveninginJune,theoldstagerattleduptotheWings’frontgate,andfromitalightedUncleChristopherBangs.
“Halloo,Mark!”sungouttheoldgentleman,catchingsightofhisgrandnephewalmostthefirstthing.“Howareyou,myboy?Sakesalive,butyou’relookingwell!
SeemsasifMaineairwasthecorrectthingforFloridyboys,eh?”
“Yes,indeed,‘UncleChristmas,’”repliedMark,asheranouttomeetthedearoldman,“MaineairistheverythingforthisFloridaboy,atanyrate.”
“Soitis,soitis,”chuckledUncleChristopher.“Wal,Isupposeyou’reallreadytogotoworknow,eh?”
“TobesureIam,uncle;readytobeginrightoff.”
“That’sright,that’sright;buts’posingwejustlookinonMrs.Wingfirst,andseewhatshe’sgotforsupper,andthen,aftersleepingabit,andeatingagain,andsorto’shakingourselvestogether,we’llbegintoconsider.
Thereain’tnothingtobegainedbyhurryingandworryingthroughtheonlylifetimewe’vegotinthisworld,eh?”
TheDoctorandMrs.WingwelcomedUncleChristophermostwarmly,forhewasaverydearfriendoftheirs,andtheyneverallowedhimtostayanywhereinNortonbutattheirhouse,nowthattheElmershadmovedaway.
AftersupperRuthandtheMayscameovertoseehim,andheentertainedthemthewholeeveningwithhisfunnystoriesandquaintsayings.
Inthemorning,afterbreakfast,theybeganto“consider,”asUncleChristophercalledit.
FirsthemadeMarkstandinfrontofhim,lookedhimalloverfromheadtofootwithaquizzicalexpression,andfinallysaid,“Yes,youlookstrongandhearty,andIguessyou’lldo.
“Factis,Mark,I’vegottotakeatripdownintoAroostook,andasI’mgettingprettyoldandfeeble—Oh,youneedn’tsmile,youngster,IamoldandI’vemadesomanybadjokeslatelythatImustbegettingfeeble.
AsIwassaying,havingreachedanadvancedstateofinfirmity,ithasoccurredtomethatIneedatravelingcompanion,ayoung,able-bodiedfellowlikeyou,forinstance,toprotectmeagainstthedangersofthejourney.
Whoknowsbutwhatwemaymeetwithanalligator,eh?andsoIwantyoutogoalongwithme.”
OfcourseMarkagreedreadilytothisproposition,thoughhehadexpectedonefardifferent,andthenextmorningheandUncleChristophertookleaveoftheirNortonfriendsandstartedforBangor.
FromthereanothertraincarriedthemformilesalongtheupperPenobscotRiver,pasttheIndiansettlementatOldTown,pastthegreatsaw-millsandmillionsoflogsatMattawaumkeag,andfinallytoMcAdamJunctionin“Europe,”asUncleChristophercalledNewBrunswick.
Heretheytookanotherroad,andwerecarriedbackintoMainetoHoulton,thecountyseatofAroostookCounty.
Afterstayingovernightheretheytookastage,andforawholedaytraveledoverpleasantroads,throughsweet-scentedforestsofspruceandbalsam,brokenherebyclearingsandthriftyfarms,untilatlastthejourneyendedintheprettylittlebackwoodssettlementofPresqueIsle.
HereUncleChristopher’slumberbusinessdetainedhimforaweek,andhereheintroducedMarktoallhisfriendsas“Mygrandnephew,Mr.MarkElmer,Jun.,PresidentoftheElmerMillsdowninFloridy,”coveringMarkwithmuchconfusionthereby,andenjoyingthejokeimmenselyhimself.
Nowtherealobjectofbringingtheboyonthistripwasdisclosed.
Mr.BangsnotonlywantedMarktomeetwiththesepracticalmen,andbecomefamiliarwiththeirwaysofconductingabusinesswhichwasverysimilartothatwhichtheElmershadundertakeninFlorida,butheknewthatpinelumberwasbecomingscarceinthatNortherncountry,andthoughtperhapssomeofthesemencouldbepersuadedtoemigratetoanotherlandofpinesiftheideawaspresentedtothemproperly.
SoheencouragedMarktotalkofFlorida,andtogivethemalltheinformationhepossessedregardingitsforestsofpineanditsotherresources.
Asaresult,beforetheyagainturnedtheirfaceshomeward,halfadozenoftheseclear-headedMainemenhadpromisedthemtovisitFloridainthefall,takealookattheWakullacountry,andseeforthemselveswhatitofferedintheirlineofbusiness.
WhenUncleChristopherandMarkreturnedtoBangor,thelatterbegantoattendschoolregularly;notagrammar-school,norahigh-school,noraschoolofanykindwherebooksarestudied,butamill-school,wheremachinerytooktheplaceofbooks,wheretheteacherswereroughworkmen,andwhereeachlecturewasillustratedbypracticalexamples.
NordidMarkmerelygoandlistentotheselectures:hetookanactivepartinillustratingthemhimself;forUncleChristopherhadexplainedsoclearlytohimthatinordertobeatrulysuccessfulmillpresidenthemustthoroughlyunderstandtheusesofeverybitofmillmachinery,thattheboywasnowaseagertodothisashehadbeeninWakullatolearnhowtofishforalligators,orfire-huntfordeer.
Allthatsummerheworkedhard—twomonthsinasaw-mill,andtwomoreinagrist-mill—andthoughhedidnotreceiveacentofmoneyforallthislabor,hefeltamplyrepaidforwhathehadbeenthrough,byasatisfiedsenseofhaving,atleast,masteredtherudimentsofwhatheknewwastobeanimportantpartofhisworkinlifeforsomeyearstocome.
AbouttheendofSeptemberhisUncleChristophercalledMarkintohisstudyoneevening,andtellinghimtositdown,said,“Well,Mark,myboy,Isupposeyou’rebeginningtothinkofgoinghomeagaintoFloridy,eh?”
“Yes,uncle;fatherwritesthatbothRuthandIoughttocomehomeverysoonnow,andI,forone,amquitereadytogo.”
“Soyouought,soyouought.Whenboysandgirlscanhelptheirfathersandmothers,andbehelpingthemselvesatthesametime,theyoughttobedoingit,”assentedUncleChristopher,cheerfully.
“Well,Mark,I’vegotascheme,agreatschemeinmyhead,andIwantyoutotellmewhatyouthinkofit.
Inthefirstplace,IwantyouandtheotherdirectorstoincreasethecapitalstockoftheElmerMillandFerryCompany,andletmetaketheextrashares.”
“Oh,UncleChristopher!”
“Wait,myboy,Ihaven’tbegunyet.Yousee,asI’vetoldyoubefore,I’mgettingoldandfee—notaword,sir!
—feeble,andmyoldbonesbegintocomplainagooddealatthecoldoftheseMainewinters.
Besides,allthefolksthatIthinkmostofinthisworldhavegonetoFloridytolive,anditisn’taccordingtonaterthataman’sbodyshouldbeinoneplacewhilehisheart’sinanother.
ConsequentlyitlooksasifIhadaspecialcalltohaveabusinessthat’lltakemybodywheremyheartisonceinawhile.
Nowmybusinessisthelumberbusiness,andalwayswillbe;andfromwhatIknowandwhatyoutellme,itlooksasiftherewasenoughofthatsortofbusinesstobedoneinFloridytoamusemydecliningyears.”
“Yes,indeedthereis,uncle.”
“Well,thatp’intbeingsettled,andyou,asPresidentoftheElmerMills,beingwillingtouseyourinfluencetohavememadeapartnerinthatconcern—”
“Why,ofcourse,uncle—”
“No‘ofcourse’aboutit,youngman;rememberthere’saBoardofDirectorstobeconsulted.
Friendshipisfriendship,andbusinessisbusiness,andsometimeswhenonesays‘Gee’t’othersays‘Haw.’
Havingsecuredtheinfluenceofthepresidentofthecompany,however,I’mwillingtorisktherest.Andnowformyscheme.
“Supposing,forthesakeofargument,thatIammadeoneoftheproprietorsoftheElmerMills.
InthatcaseIwantthemtobebigmills.
I’mtoooldamantobefoolingmylimitedtimeawayonlittlemills;consequently,Iproposetobuyafirst-classoutfitofmachineryforabigsaw-mill,shipittoWakulla,Floridy,andletitrepresentmysharesofElmerMillCompanystock.
Moreover,astheschoonerNancyBell,ownedbythesubscriber,isjustnowwaitingforacharter,Iproposetoloadherwiththesaidmillmachinery,andwhateverarticlesyoumaythinktheWakullacolonytobemostinneedof,anddispatchhertotheSt.Mark’sRiver,Floridy.
“Moreover,yetagain,assheisnowwithoutacaptain,EliDrewhavinggoneintodeep-waternavigation,IproposetoofferthecommandoftheNancyBelltoCaptainBillMay,ashisshipwon’tbereadyforsomemonthsyet.
“And,moreover,forthethirdtime,IfurtherproposetoinviteMr.MarkElmer,Jun.,PresidentoftheElmerMillandFerryCompanyofFloridy,MissRuthElmer,Secretaryofthesame,MissEdnaMay,daughterofthecaptain,thatistobe,oftheschoonerNancyBell,andtheseveralgentlemenwhomwemetdowninAroostooklastJune,totakethisFloridytriponboardtheschoonerNancyBellwithme.”
“WithYOU,UncleChristopher!”exclaimedMark.“Areyougoingtoo?”
“Why,tobesureIam,”answeredUncleChristopher.
“Didn’tItellyouitwasmyintentiontoreunitethescatteredmembersofmybeingundermoresunnyskiesthanthese?Nowwhatdoyousaytomyscheme,eh?”
“Isayit’sthemostsplendidschemeIeverheardof,”criedMark,jumpingfromhischairinhisexcitement,“andIwishwecouldstartthisveryminute.”
“Wellwecan’t;butwecanstarttowardsbed,andinthemorningwe’lllookafterthatmillmachinery.”
Thenexttwowereindeedbusyweeksforourfriends.
InBangorUncleChristopherandMarkwerefullyoccupiedinselectingmillmachineryofthemostimprovedpatterns,andinpurchasingagreatvarietyoffarmutensils,groceries,andotherthingsthatMarkknewwouldproveverywelcomeinWakulla.
CaptainMay,whohadgladlyacceptedthecommandoftheNancyBellforthisvoyage,wasequallybusygettingherreadyforsea,andsuperintendingthestowageofherpreciousbutawkwardcargoofmachinery.
InNorton,RuthandEdnahadtheirhandsfullofdressmaking,packing,andpayingfarewellvisits,anddowninAroostookthesixfamiliesofthesixgentlemenwhohadacceptedMr.Bangs’sinvitationtovisitFloridawithhimwereinawhirlofexcitement,fortotheseuntraveledpeoplethejourneyfromMainetoFloridaseemedbutlittlelessofanundertakingthanajourneyaroundtheworld.
Atlengtheverythingwasready,andtheNancyBellonlyawaitedherpassengers.
CaptainMayandMarkranovertoNortononedaytobidthefriendstheregood-bye,andreturnedthenext,bringingthegirlswiththem.
Boththegirlswereasexcitedastheycouldbe;Ednaattheprospectofthisthefirstlongjourneythatshecouldremember,andRuthattheideaofsoonbeingathomewithherowndearparentsagain,andwithanticipatingallsheshouldhavetoshowandtellEdna.
AletterhadbeensenttoWakulla,sayingthatMarkandRuthwouldtakeadvantageofthefirstopportunitythatofferedtogohome,andthatEdnaMaywouldcomewiththem;butnothingwassaidofUncleChristopherandtherestoftheparty,noroftheschoonerandhercargo.
Allthiswasreservedasagrandsurprise.
HowdifferentwerethefeelingsthatfilledthemindsofMarkandRuthnow,fromthosewithwhichtheyhadsaileddownthePenobscotinthissameschoonerNancyBellelevenmonthsbefore.
Thentheywereleavingtheonlyhometheyhadeverknown,andgoinginsearchofanewoneinwhichtheirfathercouldrecoverhisshatteredhealth.
Eventheyhadrealizedthatitwasadesperateventure,andthatitssuccesswasverydoubtful.
Nowtheyweregoingtothathome,alreadywellestablishedandprosperous.
Theyknewthattheirfatherwasagainastrongandwellman,andtheyweretakingwiththemfriendsandmaterialthatweretoinsureincreasedhappinessandprosperitytothosewhomtheylovedmost.
ThefirstofOctoberwasacharmingseasonoftheyearforaSouthernvoyage,andwithfavoringwindstheNancyBellmadeaquickrundownthecoast.
InoneweekafterleavingBangorshehadroundedthewesternendoftheFloridaReef,andwasheadednorthwardacrossthegreenwatersoftheGulf.
Hereshemovedbutslowlybeforethelightwindsthatprevailed,butatlastthedistantlighthouseatthemouthoftheSt.Mark’sRiverwassighted.
Almostatthesametimeaslendercolumnofsmokewasseenrisingtotheeastofthelight,andapparentlyatsomedistanceinland.
Asthelampinthelighthouseshedforthitscheerfulgleamatsunsetthecolumnofsmokechangedtoadeepred,asthoughitwereapillaroffire.
Whiletheywerewonderingwhatitcouldbe,apilotcameonboard,andinanswertotheirquestionstoldthemthatitwasthelightfromtheWakullavolcano.
Hesaidthatnolivingsoulhadeverbeennearerthanfivemilestoit,onaccountofthehorribleandimpenetrableswampssurroundingit.
Hearingthis,UncleChristopherdeclaredthat,beforeleavingthatcountry,hemeanttogointhereandseehownighhecouldgettoit,andMarksaidhewouldgowithhim.
Asthebreezeandtidewerebothintheirfavor,itwasdecidedtorunuptoSt.Mark’sthatnight.
When,aboutnineo’clock,thispointwasreached,itwassuggestedthatallhandsshouldtaketotheboats,andtowtheschoonertherestofthewayuptoWakullathatsamenight,soastosurprisethefolksinthemorning.
Thechildrenwerewildtohavethisplancarriedout,andfinallyCaptainMayandUncleChristopherconsentedthatitshouldbetried.
Allnightlongtheschoonermovedslowlyupthesolemnriverthroughthedenseshadowsoftheoverhangingforests.
Theboats’crewswererelievedeveryhour,andshortlybeforesunrisethechildren,whohadbeenforcedbysleepinesstotakenapsintheirstate-rooms,werewakenedbyUncleChristopher,whosaid,
“Come,children,hurryupondeck.Theschoonerhasjustbeenmadefasttothe‘GoBang’pier,andwe’regoingtofireaguntowakeupthefolks—asortofa‘GoBang’good-morning,youknow.”
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