bookssland.com Ā» Adventure Ā» Captains Courageous - Rudyard Kipling (the rosie project .TXT) šŸ“—

Book online Ā«Captains Courageous - Rudyard Kipling (the rosie project .TXT) šŸ“—Ā». Author Rudyard Kipling



1 ... 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ... 28
Go to page:
a minute all except Harvey, Penn, and the cook were overside and away. Presently a schoonerā€™s stump-foremast, snapped clean across, drifted past the bows. Then an empty green dory came by, knocking on the ā€˜Weā€™re Hereā€™sā€™ side, as though she wished to be taken in. Then followed something, face down, in a blue jersey, butā€”it was not the whole of a man. Penn changed colour and caught his breath with a click. Harvey pounded despairingly at the bell, for he feared they might be sunk at any minute, and he jumped at Danā€™s hail as the crew came back.

ā€œThe Jennie Cushman,ā€ said Dan, hysterically, ā€œcut clean in halfā€”graound up anā€™ trompled on at that! Not a quarter of a mile away. Dadā€™s got the old man. There ainā€™t any one else, andā€”there was his son, too. Oh, Harve, Harve, I canā€™t stand it! Iā€™ve seenā€”ā€ He dropped his head on his arms and sobbed while the others dragged a gray-headed man aboard.

ā€œWhat did you pick me up for?ā€ the stranger groaned. ā€œDisko, what did you pick me up for?ā€

Disko dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder, for the manā€™s eyes were wild and his lips trembled as he stared at the silent crew. Then up and spoke Pennsylvania Pratt, who was also Haskins or Rich or McVitty when Uncle Salters forgot; and his face was changed on him from the face of a fool to the countenance of an old, wise man, and he said in a strong voice: ā€œThe Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord! I wasā€”I am a minister of the Gospel. Leave him to me.ā€

ā€œOh, you be, be you?ā€ said the man. ā€œThen pray my son back to me! Pray back a nine-thousand-dollar boat anā€™ a thousand quintal of fish. If youā€™d left me alone my widow could haā€™ gone on to the Provident anā€™ worked fer her board, anā€™ never knownā€”anā€™ never known. Now Iā€™ll hev to tell her.ā€

ā€œThere ainā€™t nothinā€™ to say,ā€ said Disko. ā€œBetter lie down a piece, Jason Olley.ā€

When a man has lost his only son, his summerā€™s work, and his means of livelihood, in thirty counted seconds, it is hard to give consolation.

ā€œAll Gloucester men, wasnā€™t they?ā€ said Tom Platt, fiddling helplessly with a dory-becket.

ā€œOh, that donā€™t make no odds,ā€ said Jason, wringing the wet from his beard. ā€œIā€™ll be rowinā€™ summer boarders araound East Gloucester this fall.ā€ He rolled heavily to the rail, singing:

ā€œHappy birds that sing and fly Round thine altars, 0 Most High!ā€

ā€œCome with me. Come below!ā€ said Penn, as though he had a right to give orders. Their eyes met and fought for a quarter of a minute.

ā€œI dunno who you be, but Iā€™ll come,ā€ said Jason submissively. ā€œMebbe Iā€™ll get back some oā€™ theā€”some oā€™ the-nine thousand dollars.ā€ Penn led him into the cabin and slid the door behind.

ā€œThat ainā€™t Penn,ā€ cried Uncle Salters. ā€œItā€™s Jacob Boiler, anā€™ā€”heā€™s remembered Johnstown! I never seed stich eyes in any livinā€™ manā€™s head. Whatā€™s to do naow? Whatā€™ll I do naow?ā€

They could hear Pennā€™s voice and Jasonā€™s together. Then Pennā€™s went on alone, and Salters slipped off his hat, for Penn was praying. Presently the little man came up the steps, huge drops of sweat on his face, and looked at the crew. Dan was still sobbing by the wheel.

ā€œHe donā€™t know us,ā€ Salters groaned. ā€œItā€™s all to do over again, checkers and everythingā€”anā€™ whatā€™ll he say to me?ā€

Penn spoke; they could hear that it was to strangers. ā€œI have prayed,ā€ said he. ā€œOur people believe in prayer. I have prayed for the life of this manā€™s son. Mine were drowned before my eyesā€”she and my eldest andā€”the others. Shall a man be more wise than his Maker? I prayed never for their lives, but I have prayed for this manā€™s son, and he will surely be sent him.ā€

Salters looked pleadingly at Penn to see if he remembered.

ā€œHow long have I been mad?ā€ Penn asked suddenly. His mouth was twitching.

ā€œPshaw, Penn! You werenā€™t never mad,ā€ Salters began ā€œOnly a little distracted like.ā€

ā€œI saw the houses strike the bridge before the fires broke out. I do not remember any more. How long ago is that?ā€

ā€œI canā€™t stand it! I canā€™t stand it!ā€ cried Dan, and Harvey whimpered in sympathy.

ā€œAbaout five year,ā€ said Disko, in a shaking voice.

ā€œThen I have been a charge on some one for every day of that time. Who was the man?ā€

Disko pointed to Salters.

ā€œYe hainā€™tā€”ye hainā€™t!ā€ cried the sea-farmer, twisting his hands together. ā€œYeā€™ve moreā€™n earned your keep twice-told; anā€™ thereā€™s money owinā€™ you, Penn, besides haā€™af oā€™ my quarter-share in the boat, which is yours fer value received.ā€

ā€œYou are good men. I can see that in your faces. Butā€”ā€

ā€œMother av Mercy,ā€ whispered Long Jack, ā€œanā€™ heā€™s been wid us all these trips! Heā€™s clean bewitched.ā€

A schoonerā€™s bell struck up alongside, and a voice hailed through the fog: ā€œ0 Disko! ā€˜Heard abaout the Jennie Cushman?ā€

ā€œThey have found his son,ā€ cried Penn. ā€œStand you still and see the salvation of the Lord!ā€

ā€œGot Jason aboard here,ā€ Disko answered, but his voice quavered. ā€œThereā€”warnā€™t any one else?ā€

ā€œWeā€™ve fund one, though. ā€˜Run acrost him snarled up in a mess oā€™ lumber thet might haā€™ bin a focā€™sle. His headā€™s cut some.ā€

ā€œWho is he?ā€

The ā€˜Weā€™re Hereā€™sā€™ heart-beats answered one another.

ā€œGuess itā€™s young Olley,ā€ the voice drawled.

Penn raised his hands and said something in German. Harvey could have sworn that a bright sun was shining upon his lifted face; but the drawl went on: ā€œSa-ay! You fellers guyed us considā€™rable tā€™other night.ā€

ā€œWe donā€™t feel like guyinā€™ any now,ā€ said Disko.

ā€œI know it; but to tell the honest truth we was kinderā€”kinder driftinā€™ when we run agin young Olley.ā€

It was the irrepressible Carrie Pitman, and a roar of unsteady laughter went up from the deck of the ā€˜Weā€™re Hereā€™.

ā€œHednā€™t you ā€˜baoutā€™s well send the old man aboard? Weā€™re runninā€™ in fer more bait anā€™ graound-tackle. Guess you wonā€™t want him, anyway, anā€™ this blame windlass work makes us shorthanded. Weā€™ll take care of him. He married my womanā€™s aunt.ā€

ā€œIā€™ll give you anything in the boat,ā€ said Troop.

ā€œDonā€™t want nothinā€™, ā€˜less, mebbe, an anchor thatā€™ll hold. Say! Young Olleyā€™s gittinā€™ kinder baulky anā€™ excited. Send the old man along.ā€

Penn waked him from his stupor of despair, and Tom Platt rowed him over. He went away without a word of thanks, not knowing what was to come; and the fog closed over all.

ā€œAnd now,ā€ said Penn, drawing a deep breath as though about to preach. ā€œAnd nowā€ā€”the erect body sank like a sword driven home into the scabbard; the light faded from the overbright eyes; the voice returned to its usual pitiful little titterā€”ā€œand now,ā€ said Pennsylvania Pratt, ā€œdo you think itā€™s too early for a little game of checkers, Mr. Salters?ā€

ā€œThe very thingā€”the very thing I was goinā€™ to say myself,ā€ cried Salters promptly. ā€œIt beats all, Penn, how ye git on to whatā€™s in a manā€™s mind.ā€

The little fellow blushed and meekly followed Salters forward.

ā€œUp anchor! Hurry! Letā€™s quit these crazy waters,ā€ shouted Disko, and never was he more swiftly obeyed.

ā€œNow what in creation dā€™ye suppose is the meaninā€™ oā€™ that all?ā€ said Long Jack, when they were working through the fog once more, damp, dripping, and bewildered.

ā€œThe way I sense it,ā€ said Disko, at the wheel, ā€œis this: The Jennie Cushman business cominā€™ on an empty stummickā€”ā€

ā€œH-he saw one of them go by,ā€ sobbed Harvey.

ā€œAnā€™ that, oā€™ course, kinder hove him outer water, julluk runninā€™ a craft ashore; hove him right aout, I take it, to rememberinā€™ Johnstown anā€™ Jacob Boiler anā€™ such-like reminiscences. Well, consolinā€™ Jason there held him up a piece, sameā€™s shorinā€™ up a boat. Then, beinā€™ weak, them props slipped anā€™ slipped, anā€™ he slided down the ways, anā€™ naow heā€™s water-borne agin. Thatā€™s haow I sense it.ā€

They decided that Disko was entirely correct.

ā€œā€˜Twould haā€™ bruk Salters all up,ā€ said Long Jack, ā€œif Penn had stayed Jacob Boilerinā€™. Did ye see his face when Penn asked who heā€™d been charged on all these years? How is ut, Salters?ā€

ā€œAsleepā€”dead asleep. Turned in like a child,ā€ Salters replied, tiptoeing aft. ā€œThere wonā€™t be no grub till he wakes, natural. Did ye ever see sech a gift in prayer? He everlastinā€™ly hiked young Olley outer the ocean. Thetā€™s my belief. Jason was turā€™ble praoud of his boy, anā€™ I mistrusted all along ā€˜twas a jedgment on worshippinā€™ vain idols.ā€

ā€œThereā€™s others jes as sot,ā€ said Disko.

ā€œThatā€™s difrunt,ā€ Salters retorted quickly. ā€œPennā€™s not all caulked, anā€™ I ainā€™t only but doinā€™ my duty by him.ā€

They waited, those hungry men, three hours, till Penn reappeared with a smooth face and a blank mind. He said he believed that he had been dreaming. Then he wanted to know why they were so silent, and they could not tell him.

 

Disko worked all hands mercilessly for the next three or four days; and when they could not go out, turned them into the hold to stack the shipā€™s stores into smaller compass, to make more room for the fish. The packed mass ran from the cabin partition to the sliding door behind the focā€™sle stove; and Disko showed how there is great art in stowing cargo so as to bring a schooner to her best draft. The crew were thus kept lively till they recovered their spirits; and Harvey was tickled with a ropeā€™s end by Long Jack for being, as the Galway man said, ā€œsorrowful as a sick cat over fwhat couldnā€™t be helped.ā€ He did a great deal of thinking in those weary days, and told Dan what he thought, and Dan agreed with himā€”even to the extent of asking for fried pies instead of hooking them.

But a week later the two nearly upset the Hattie S. in a wild attempt to stab a shark with an old bayonet tied to a stick. The grim brute rubbed alongside the dory begging for small fish, and between the three of them it was a mercy they all got off alive.

At last, after playing blindmanā€™s-buff in the fog, there came a morning when Disko shouted down the focā€™sle: ā€œHurry, boys! Weā€™re in taown!ā€

CHAPTER VIII

To the end of his days, Harvey will never forget that sight. The sun was just clear of the horizon they had not seen for nearly a week, and his low red light struck into the riding-sails of three fleets of anchored schoonersā€”one to the north, one to the westward, and one to the south. There must have been nearly a hundred of them, of every possible make and build, with, far away, a square-rigged Frenchman, all bowing and courtesying one to the other. From every boat dories were dropping away like bees from a crowded hive, and the clamour of voices, the rattling of ropes and blocks, and the splash of the oars carried for miles across the heaving water. The sails turned all colours, black, pearly-gray, and white, as the sun mounted; and more boats swung up through the mists to the southward.

The dories gathered in clusters, separated, reformed, and broke again, all heading one way; while men hailed and whistled and cat-called and sang, and the water was speckled with rubbish thrown overboard.

ā€œItā€™s a town,ā€ said Harvey. ā€œDisko was right. It IS a town!ā€

ā€œIā€™ve seen smaller,ā€ said Disko. ā€œThereā€™s about a thousand men here; anā€™ yonderā€™s the Virgin.ā€ He pointed to a vacant space of greenish sea, where there were no dories.

The ā€˜Weā€™re Hereā€™ skirted round the northern squadron, Disko waving his hand to friend after friend, and anchored as nearly as a racing yacht

1 ... 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ... 28
Go to page:

Free e-book Ā«Captains Courageous - Rudyard Kipling (the rosie project .TXT) šŸ“—Ā» - read online now

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment