by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVII.
NIGHT ON THE RIVER.
Sim Gwynn had a voice like a bull, and I wondered that he had not usedit, as he was in the habit of doing in all cases of peril or emergency.The worst fear I had was, that he had fallen overboard; for it seemed tome that nothing else could have prevented him from halloing. But I hadstrong hopes that the next bend of the stream would remove my anxiety.
With the board I had torn from my raft I paddled with all my might; butit seemed like an hour to me, in my deep solicitude for the fate of mycompanions, before I reached the bend. At this point the stream made asharp turn, and I had the intense satisfaction of seeing the light onthe raft, on the right bank of the stream. The current set my craftdirectly towards it, and I had only to use my paddle in keeping it fromwhirling round.
A heavy load of anxiety was removed from my mind; but, as I approachedthe light, I wondered that Sim was not on the lookout for me. I ranalongside, and leaped upon the platform; but my clumsy assistant did notpresent himself to give me a welcome. A cold chill crept through myveins again, as I thought that he might have tumbled into the water, andbeen swept away by the current. The door of the house was closed, as Ihad left it, in order to keep the night air from Flora. Dreading lestsome mishap had overtaken her also, I pushed the door open and rushedin.
My fears had been vain and foolish. Flora sat in her arm-chair at thestove, just as I had so often seen her in the kitchen of CaptainFishley, as calm and composed as though she had been on the dry land.Opposite her Sim Gwynn sat on the floor, fat and happy, and whollyundisturbed.
"What are you about, Sim?" I demanded, sharply; for I was vexed to seehim taking it so coolly, while I had almost worried the life out of me.
"About nothin'; been waiting for you," replied my deck hand, with hiscustomary grin.
"What did you let the raft go adrift for?"
"I didn't let it go adrift."
"Why didn't you keep her up to the shore?"
"She kept herself there."
"No, she didn't."
"Well, she's here--isn't she?"
"She is here, just where she ought not to be," I added, puzzled by theapparent stupidity of Sim. "You ought to stay outside when I leave youto take care of her."
"Miss Flora called me in to have me tell her what the matter was, andshe kept talking to me ever since," pleaded Sim.
"Don't scold him, Buckland. It was my fault; but I did not know anythingwas wrong," interposed Flora.
"I'm not scolding him; but he should look out for the raft when I leaveher in his care."
"Well, I did look out for it. It didn't run away from me, and here itis."
"If it didn't run away from you, it ran away with you."
"No, it didn't; here it is just as you left it."
"But the raft has come down stream more than half a mile since I leftit."
"Hookie! What's that?" asked Sim, opening his eyes.
"Didn't you know the raft had broken loose, and travelled down streamhalf a mile or more?" I asked, filled with astonishment.
"I didn't know anything at all about it," protested Sim, vigorously.
"I'm sure I did not know that she had moved an inch," added Flora.
"That's strange," I continued, laughing. "When I came out of the swamp,I couldn't find the raft, and I was afraid you would get to New Orleansbefore I could catch you. Then I feared Sim had fallen overboard; and Isuffered a great deal in a very short time."
"I heven't been out of the house since you went away, and I heven't theleastest idee that we were goin' on," said Sim. "I'll stay outside nexttime."
"You must, Sim; for we shall never know where we are if you don't keepyour eyes wide open."
"What was it about the money, Buckland? Sim said you had forgotten yourmoney; but he did not know what you meant by it," asked Flora.
I explained what I meant, and that I had concealed my money in the swampto prevent the constable or the captain from finding it upon me.
"I am so sorry I called Sim!" pleaded poor Flora.
"It's no matter now. Perhaps it will be a good lesson for him and me tolearn at the start. Now we will push off and try again. It is lucky Ithought of the money when I did, for we could do nothing without that.Come, Sim, bear a hand!"
"Buckland, can't I step out and see the raft go?" asked Flora. "I don'tlike to stay in here."
"I'm afraid you will catch cold."
"No; I will wrap myself up in a blanket. I want to see how you managethe raft."
I could not refuse her; and, wrapping her up in a blanket, I carried herchair out to the side of the raised platform, and seated her in it. Simand I took the boards from the small raft, which had been so useful tous in the swamp, and let the logs go adrift.
"Now take your pole, Sim, and push her off."
"She won't come off," replied the deck hand, after he had used all hispower in the attempt to shove her off.
I went forward, and found the end of the raft had run upon the root of atree, which held it fast. I was very grateful for the service this roothad rendered me, for the raft might have gone down to Riverport beforeSim discovered that anything was the matter. Fixing the polesunderneath, we pried the raft off, and the current started it on itscourse again. I mounted the steering platform, and grasped the long oar.The voyage had actually commenced.
My position was a novel one, for I had yet to learn even the art ofmanaging a raft. I found she had the same tendency to whirl around inthe current which had characterized her smaller counterpart; but the oarwas long enough to give the steersman a tremendous purchase, and theerratic disposition of the craft could be overcome when taken inseason. I had to profit by experience, for before we reached the creekshe had whirled round three times, in spite of all my efforts to preventit. Before the raft was half way to Riverport, I had acquired the neededskill, and she indulged in no more gyrations while I had the helm.
As we approached the steeples of Riverport, I heard the clock strikeone. Flora still sat in her chair by the platform, wondering how I couldsee to steer the raft, and asked me a thousand questions. I tried tohave her go to bed, but she was not willing to do so till we had reachedthe Wisconsin River, which she desired to see.
We were all excited, and did not feel sleepy. Sim took a luncheon, anddeclared he never felt better in his life. It was the best fun he hadever known, and he enjoyed every moment of it. Flora said she liked itvery much, but thought it would be pleasanter in the daytime, when theever-changing scene could be viewed in the sunshine.
"I'm sure I shall be happy on the raft for a month," she added. "Therewill be something new to be seen every day."
"And we shall pass ever so many towns and cities, and the river will befull of steamers and flat-boats," I continued, as the raft glided roundthe bend into the great river. "Now we are in the Wisconsin, Flora; andthis is Riverport on the right of us."
"We can't see much of it."
"No; but you will find enough in the daytime to amuse you. I hope youwill sleep all night after this."
"I will go to bed now, Buckland," said she. "Good night."
"Good night, Flora."
She went into the house, and I heard nothing more from her till morning.I know that she prayed for me that night, as she always did; and Ilooked up to the shining stars, and commended her to the good Father.More than ever before did I love her then, when her life and happinesswere more directly the care and study of my existence.
We were now on the broad river--broad compared with the creek, but smallin contrast with the mighty Mississippi, which we were yet to see. Simwas forward, watching the dark outlines of the shores. Everything wasquiet without, though my bosom still bounded with excitement. I couldnot forget that I was navigating the clumsy craft in which I hadembarked my fortunes, and which held the being most dear to me on earth.I felt that a heavy responsibility rested upon me. Not a sound was to beheard except the gentle ripple of the waters against the sides of theraft; and the season was favorable to refle
ction.
But if the season was, Sim was not. He began to be weary of the solemnsilence and the deep gloom of the hour, and came aft to talk with me. Isaw that it would be necessary to keep him busy, in order to save himfrom his own reflections, and the dulness which was sure to follow.There was work enough on the raft to keep us both employed, and he wasin no danger of dying from inaction.
"Are you going to keep her a-going all night, Buck?" asked he, in a toneso loud that it seemed to reverberate over the broad prairies whichbounded the river.
"Hush, Sim! Don't talk so loud," I replied, in a whisper. "You will keepFlora awake if you do."
"Hookie! I didn't think of her," said he, slapping his great fist overhis mouth, in token of his intention to do better.
"We shall keep moving, night and day, Sim."
"Are you always going to set up all night?" he whispered.
"No; you must do it half the time. You must learn to steer, and you mayas well begin now."
"But I don't know how."
"You must learn."
"I don't think I can. I ain't much at anything except hard work."
"Take the oar, Sim, and try your hand at it. I had to learn, and youmust do the same."
He took hold of the oar with me, while I, in a low tone, explained tohim how to manage it. I then left it to his care. As I expected, hepermitted the raft to whirl around.
"I told you I couldn't do it," said he, in disgust.
"Keep trying. When you see her head going one way, put the oar in thesame direction. Don't wait till she is half round, but take her when shefirst begins to wabble," I added, assisting him to get the raft intoposition again.
But Sim did better than I had anticipated, and in half an hour hedeclared that he had "got the knack of the thing." I watched him for awhile, until I had entire confidence in his ability. He was not so wideawake as he had been earlier in the night, and some fearful gapessuggested what he needed most. I had fixed up a bed for him on the floorof the house, and I found that he was quite willing to turn in when Igave him permission to do so. His excitement had died out suddenly; butI had no doubt of his zeal when the time for the hard work should come.
I was not sleepy, or even tired, myself; and hour after hour, till thedaylight came, I stood at my post, solitary and alone, busy withthoughts of the present and the future. The steering of the raft wasmerely mechanical, after I became accustomed to it. I was glad to seethe morning light, and to hear the song of the spring birds. The sunrose bright and beautiful, but my fellow-voyagers still slept. I enjoyedthe scene, and I permitted them to slumber as long as they would.