CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
MASTER AND SLAVE.
"Eee! I say! Whatcher doing of!" roared Bob, beginning to struggle, asDexter contrived to get his feet once more.
"I--I couldn't help it, Bob," he said, in a shame-faced way.
"Couldn't help it! Here, don'tcher try to wake me again that way."
"I didn't. I--"
"Coming jumping on a fellow."
"I didn't, Bob. The boat stopped all at once, and I tumbled forward."
"Then just you tumble on to some one else next time," growled Bob,sitting up rubbing himself, and then yawning loudly. "Why, hulloa!Whatcher been doing of now?"
"I? Nothing Bob."
"Yes, you have. You've got the boat aground."
"I--I didn't indeed, Bob. It went like that all of itself," stammeredDexter.
"Went all of itself! You are a fellow to leave to manage a boat. Ijust shut my eyes a few minutes and you get up to them games. Here,give us holt!"
He snatched at the boat-hook, and began to thrust with all his might:but in vain.
"Don't stand staring like that," he cried, becoming all at once in aviolent hurry to get on. "Come and help. D'yer want them to come andketch us!"
Dexter went to his help, and by dint of thrusting together the boat waspushed off the shallows, and gliding once more into deep water began tofloat gently on.
There was a few minutes' silence, during which Bob took the sculls andbegan to pull, looking, with his eyes red and swollen up, anything but apleasant companion; and in spite of himself Dexter began to think thatBob as a conversational friend across the water was a very differentbeing to Bob as the captain of their little vessel, armed withauthority, and ready to tyrannise over his comrade to the fullestextent.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Dexter as he ran his eye over thehandsome cushions of the well-varnished boat.
"Bob!" he said.
There was no answer.
"Bob, did you take that parcel and drop it in Sir James's letter-box!"
"What parcel!" said Bob sourly.
"That one I threw over to you last night."
"Oh! that one as fell in the water?"
"Yes: did you take it?"
"Why, didn't you tell me to!"
"Yes: but did you?"
"Why, of course I did."
"That's right. I say, where are we now?"
"I d'know. Somewhere down the river."
"Hadn't we better begin to fish?"
"Fish? What for?"
"Because I'm getting so hungry, and want my breakfast."
"Yes, you're a nice fellow to wantcher bragfuss. Got no money and noclothes. I s'pose I shall have to keep yer."
"No, no, Bob. I'll work, or fish, or do anything."
"Yes, so it seems," said Bob sarcastically; "a-sitting there like agent, and letting me do everything."
"Well, let me pull one oar."
"No, I can do it, and you shall have some bragfuss presently. I don'twant to be took, because you've stole a boat."
Dexter turned pale, and then red with indignation, but he did not sayanything, only waited till his lord should feel disposed to see aboutgetting a meal.
This happened when they were about a couple of miles lower down thestream, which steadily opened out and became more beautiful, till atlast it seemed to be fully double the size it was at Coleby.
Here they came abreast of a cluster of cottages on the bank, one ofwhich, a long whitewashed stone building, hung out a sign such as showedthat it was a place for refreshment.
"There," said Bob, "we'll land there--I mean you shall, and go in andbuy some bread and cheese."
"Bread and cheese," faltered Dexter. "Shan't we get any tea or coffee,and bread and butter?"
"No! of course not. If we both get out they'll be asking us questionsabout the boat."
Bob backed the boat close to the shore, stern foremost, and then said--
"Now, look here, don't you make no mistake; but you jump out as soon asI get close in, and go and ask for four pen'orth o' bread and cheese.I'll row out again and wait till you come."
Dexter did not like the task, and he could not help thinking of thepleasant breakfast at the doctor's, but recalling the fact that afortune was not to be made without a struggle, he prepared to land.
"But I haven't got any money," he said. "No, you haven't got anymoney," said Bob sourly, as he tucked one oar under his knee, so as toget his hand free to plunge into his pocket. "There you are," he said,bringing out sixpence. "Look sharp."
Dexter took the money, leaped ashore, and walked up to the littlepublic-house, where a red-faced woman waited upon him, and cut the breadand cheese.
"Well," she said, looking wonderingly at her customer, "don't you wantno beer!"
Dexter shook his head, lifted up his change, and hurried out of theplace in alarm, lest the woman should ask him any more questions.
But she did not attempt to, only came to the door to watch the boy as hewent back to the boat, which was backed in so that Dexter could jumpaboard; but Bob, whose eyes were looking sharply to right and left insearch of danger, just as a sparrow scrutinises everything in dreadwhile it is eating a meal, managed so badly in his eagerness to getaway, that, as Dexter leaped in, he gave a tug with the sculls, makingthe boat jerk so sharply that Dexter's feet began to move faster thanhis body, and the said body came down in a sitting position that wasmore sudden than agreeable.
"Well, you are a fellow!" cried Bob, grinning. "Any one would think youhad never been in a boat before."
Dexter gathered together the portions of food which had been scatteredin the bottom of the boat, and then sat looking ruefully at hiscompanion.
"If any of that there's dirty, you've got to eat it," said Bob sourly."I shan't."
As he spoke he tugged as hard as he could at the sculls, rowing awaytill they were well round the next bend, and quite out of sight of thewoman who stood at the door watching them, and as Bob bent down, andpulled each stroke well home, Dexter sat watching him with a troubledfeeling which added to his hunger and discomfort. For once more itbegan to seem that Bob was not half so pleasant a companion as he hadpromised to be when he was out fishing, and they sat and chatted oneither side of the little river.
But he brightened up again as Bob suddenly began to pull harder with hisleft-hand scull, turning the boat's head in toward the shore where aclump of trees stood upon the bank with their branches overhanging, andalmost touching the water.
"Look out! Heads!" cried Bob, as the bow of the boat touched theleafage, and they glided on through the pliant twigs; and as the scullswere laid in, Bob rose up in his place, seized a good-sized bough, andholding on by it worked the boat beneath, and in a position whichenabled him to throw the chain over, and securely moor the little vesselin what formed quite a leafy arbour with the clear water for floor, andthe thwarts of the boat for seats.
"There," cried Bob, in a satisfied tone, and with a little of his oldmanner, "whatcher think o' that? Talk about a place for a bragfuss!Why, it would do to live in."
Dexter said it was capital, but somehow just then he began to thinkabout the pleasant room at the doctor's, with the white cloth and china,and the silver coffee-pot, and the odour from the covered dish whichcontained ham or bacon, or fried soles.
"Now then!" cried Bob; "I'm as hungry as you, and we're all safe here,so hand over."
Dexter gave him one of the portions of bread and cheese--the better ofthe two, but Bob turned it over and examined it in a dissatisfied way,scowling at it the while, and casting an occasional glance at that whichDexter had reserved for himself.
"What I says is--play fair," he growled. "I don't want no more thanhalf."
"But that's the bigger half, Bob."
"I dunno so much about that."
"And this is the one which seemed to be a little gritty."
"Oh, is it?" said Bob surlily; and he began eating in a wolfish fashion,making fierce snaps and bites at his foo
d, as he held the bread in onehand, the cheese in the other, and taking alternate mouthfuls.
"Hunger is sweet sauce," and Dexter was not long in following Bob'sexample, that is as to the eating, but as he sat there munching away atthe cakey home-made bread, and the strong cheese, in spite of its beinga glorious morning, and the sun showering down in silver pencils throughthe overhanging boughs--in spite of the novelty of the scene, and thefreedom, there did not seem to be so much romance in the affair as hadbeen expected; and try how he would he could not help longing for a goodhot cup of coffee.
This was not heroic, but the boy felt very miserable. He had been upall night, going through adventures that were, in spite of theirtameness, unusually exciting, and he was suffering from a nervousdepression which robbed him of appetite as much as did his companion'swords. For instead of being merry, confidential, and companionable, Bobscarcely opened his lips now without assuming the overbearing bullyingtone he had heard so often from his elders.
"Come, get on with your bragfuss," said Bob sharply. "We're going ond'rectly, and you've got to pull."
"I can't eat much this morning," said Dexter apologetically; "and I'mthirsty."
"Well, why don't yer drink!" said Bob, grinning, and pointing at theriver. "Here, I'll show you how."
He took off his cap, and placing his chest on the side of the boat,leant over till his lips touched the clear flowing stream.
"Hah!" he said at last, rising and passing his hand across his lips;"that's something like water, that is. Better than tea, or drinkingwater out of a mug."
"Doesn't it taste fishy?" Dexter ventured to say.
"Fishy! Hark at him!" cried Bob mockingly. "You try."
Dexter's mouth felt hot and dry, and laying aside what he had not eatenof his bread and cheese he followed his companion's example, and wasdrawing in the cool sweet water, when he suddenly felt Bob's hand on theback of his, neck, and before he could struggle up his head was thrustdown into the water over and over again.
"Don't, don't!" he panted, as he thrust against the side of the boat andgot free. "You shouldn't do that."
There was a flash of anger in his eyes as he faced Bob, and his fistswere clenched, but he did not strike out, he contented himself withrubbing the water from his eyes, and then wiping his face upon hishandkerchief.
"I shouldn't do that? Why shouldn't I do that?" said Bob threateningly."Serve yer right, sittin' down to bragfuss without washing yer face.Going to have any more?"
Dexter did not answer; but finished drying his face, and then took uphis bread and cheese.
"Oh, that's it, is it!" said Bob. "Sulky, eh? Don't you come none o'them games with me, young fellow, or it will be the worse for yer."
Dexter made no reply, but went on eating, having hard work to swalloweach mouthful.
Time back all this would not have made so much impression upon him, butthe social education he had been receiving in his intercourse with HelenGrayson had considerably altered him, and his breast swelled as he feltthe change in his companion, and began to wish more than ever that hehad not come.
Almost as he thought this he received a curious check.
"It won't do for you to be sulky with me," began his tyrant. "You'vegot to go along o' me now you have come. You couldn't go back afterstealing this boat."
"Stealing!" cried Dexter, flushing up. "I didn't steal it. We borrowedit together."
"Oh, did we?" said Bob mockingly; "I don't know nothing about no _we_.It was you stole it, and persuaded me to come."
"I didn't," cried Dexter indignantly. "I only borrowed it, and youhelped me do it."
"Oh, did I? We shall see about that. But you can't go back never nomore, so don't you think that."
Bob's guess at his companion's thoughts was pretty shrewd; and as Dextersat looking at him aghast, with the full extent of his delinquencydawning upon him, Bob began to unloose the chain.
"Now then," he said, "finish that there bread and cheese, or else put itin yer pocket. We're going on again, and I want to catch our dinner."
The idea of doing something more in accordance with the object of theirtrip roused Dexter into action, and, after helping to force the boatfrom among the branches, he willingly took one of the sculls; and inobedience to the frequently given orders, rowed as well as hisinexperience would allow, and they glided swiftly down the stream.
"What are you going to do first, Bob?" said Dexter, who felt more brightand cheerful now out in the sunshine, with the surface all ripple andglow.
"Why, I telled yer just now!" said the boy surlily. "Mind what yerdoing, or you'll catch a crab."
Dexter did catch one the next moment, thrusting his oar in so deeplythat he could hardly withdraw it, and bringing forth quite a littlestorm of bullying from his companion.
"Here, I shall never make nothing o' you," cried Bob. "Give's thatthere oar."
"No, no, let me go on pulling," said Dexter good-humouredly, for his fitof anger had passed off. "I'm not used to it like you are, but I shallsoon learn."
He tried to emulate Bob's regular rowing, and by degrees managed to helpthe boat along till toward midday, when, seeing an attractive bend wherethe river ran deep and dark round by some willows, Bob softly rowed theboat close up to the bank, moored her to the side, and then began to fittogether his tackle, a long willow wand being cut and trimmed to do dutyfor a rod.
This done, a very necessary preliminary had to be attended to, namely,the finding of bait.
Bob was provided with a little canvas bag, into which he thrust a fewgreen leaves and some scraps of moss, before leaping ashore, andproceeding to kick off patches of the bank in search of worms.
Dexter watched him attentively, and then his eyes fell upon agood-sized, greenish-hued caterpillar which had dropped from a willowbranch into the boat.
This seemed so suitable for a bait that Dexter placed it in one of Bob'stin boxes, and proceeded to search for more; the boughs upon beingshaken yielding six or seven.
"Whatcher doing of?" grumbled Bob, coming back to the boat, aftersecuring a few worms. "Yah! they're no use for bait."
All the same, though, the boy took one of the caterpillars, passed thehook through its rather tough skin, and threw out some distance in frontof the boat, and right under the overhanging boughs.
There was a quick bob of the float, and then it began to glide along thetop of the water, while, as Bob skilfully checked it, there was a quickrushing to and fro, two or three minutes' hard fight, and a half-poundtrout was drawn alongside, and hoisted into the boat.
"That's the way I doos it," said Bob, whose success suddenly turned himquite amiable. "Fish will take a caterpillar sometimes. Give usanother!"
The bait was passed along to the fisherman, who threw out, and in fiveminutes was again successful, drawing in, after a short struggle, a nicelittle chub.
After that, it was as if the disturbance of the water had driven thefish away, and though Bob tried in every direction, using thecaterpillar, a worm, a bit of bread paste, and a scrap of cheese, hecould not get another bite.
Bob tried after that till he was tired, but no fish would bite, so hehanded the rod to Dexter, who also fished for some time in vain, when aremoval was determined upon; but though they tried place after placethere were no more bites, and hunger having asserted itself once more,they landed to prepare their dinner.
The place chosen was very solitary, being where the river ran deeplybeneath a high limestone cliff, and landing, a few sticks were soongathered together ready for a fire.
"But we have no matches," said Dexter.
"You mean you ain't got none," sneered Bob, taking a box out of hispocket. "I'm captain, and captains always thinks of these things. Nowthen, clean them fish, while I lights this fire. Got a knife, ain'tyer!"
Dexter had a knife, and he opened it and proceeded to perform the ratherdisgusting task, while Bob lay down and began blowing at the fire to getit into a blaze.
That fish-cleaning was ver
y necessary, but somehow it did not add to thecharm of the _alfresco_ preparations; and Dexter could not help thinkingonce how uncomfortable it would be if it came on to rain and put out thefire.
But it did not come on to rain; the wood burned merrily, and after apiece of shaley limestone had been found it was placed in the fire wherethe embers were most clear, and the fish laid upon it to cook.
The success was not great, for when the fish began to feel the heat, andhissed and sputtered, the piece of stone began to send off splinters,with a loud crack, from time to time. Then a pocket-knife, thoughuseful, is not a convenient cooking implement, especially when, for wantof lard or butter, the fish began to stick to the stone, and refused tobe turned over without leaving their skins behind.
"Ain't it fun?" said Bob.
Dexter said it was. He did not know why, for at that moment a piece ofgreen wood had sent a jet of hot, steamy smoke in his eyes, which gavehim intense pain, and set him rubbing the smarting places in a way whichmade them worse.
"Here, don't make such a fuss over a bit o' smoke," said Bob. "You'llsoon get used to that. Mind, that one's tail's burning!"
Dexter did mind, but the fish stuck so close to the stone that its tailwas burned off before it could be moved, a mishap which drew from Bobthe remark--
"Well, you are a chap!"
Before the fish were done, more and more wood had to be collected; andas a great deal of this was green, a great smoke arose, and, whenever apuff of wind came, this was far from agreeable.
"How small they are getting!" said Dexter, as he watched the browningfish.
_Bang_!
A great piece of the stone splintered off with a report like that of agun, but, fortunately, neither of the boys was hurt.
"We shall have to buy a frying-pan and a kittle," said Bob, as soon asexamination proved that the fish were safe, but stuck all over splintersof stone, which promised ill for the repast. "Can't do everything atonce."
"I'm getting very hungry again," said Dexter; "and, I say, we haven'tgot any bread."
"Well, what o' that?"
"And no salt."
"Oh, you'll get salt enough as soon as we go down to the sea. You maythink yourself jolly lucky as you've got fish, and some one as knows howto kitch 'em. They're done now. I'll let you have that one. 'Tain'tso burnt as this is. There, kitch hold!"
A fish hissing hot and burnt on one side is not a pleasant thing to takein a bare hand, so Dexter received his upon his pocket-handkerchief, asit was pushed toward him with a piece of stick; and then, following hiscompanion's example, he began to pick off pieces with the blade of hispocket-knife, and to burn his mouth.
"'Lishus, ain't it?" said Bob, making a very unpleasant noise suggestiveof pigs.
Dexter made no reply, his eyes were watering, and he was in difficultieswith a bone.
"I said 'lishus, ain't it!" said Bob again, after more pig noise.
"Mine isn't very nice," said Dexter.
"Not nice? Well, you are a chap to grumble! I give you the best one,because this here one had its tail burnt off, and now you ain'tsatisfied."
"But it tastes bitter, and as if it wants some bread and salt."
"Well, we ain't got any, have we? Can't yer wait?"
"Yes," said Dexter; "but it's so full of bones."
"So are you full of bones. Go on, mate. Why, I'm half done."
Dexter did go on, wondering in his own mind whether his companion's fishwas as unpleasant and coarse eating as the one he discussed, giving himcredit the while for his disinterestedness, he being in happy ignoranceof the comparative merits of fresh-water fish when cooked; and thereforehe struggled with his miserable, watery, insipid, bony, ill-cooked chub,while Bob picked the fat flakes off the vertebra of his juicy trout.
"Wish we'd got some more," said Bob, as he licked his fingers, and thenwiped his knife-blade on the leg of his trousers.
"I don't," thought Dexter; but he was silent, and busy picking out thethin sharp bones which filled his fish.
"Tell you what," said Bob, "we'll--Look out!"
He leaped up and dashed to the boat, rapidly unfastening the chain fromwhere it was secured to a stump.
Dexter had needed no further telling, for he had caught sight of two menat the same time as Bob; and as it was evident that they were runningtoward the fire, and as Dexter knew intuitively that he was trespassing,he sprang up, leaving half his chub, and leaped aboard, just as Bobsprang from the bank, seized an oar, and thrust the boat away.
It was pretty close, for as the stern of the boat left the shore theforemost man made a dash at it, missed, and nearly fell into the water.
Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel Page 32