CHAPTER XVI--WITNESSES A DEFEAT FOR THE _VAGABOND_
Breakfast was over and the crew of the _Vagabond_ were gathered aroundthe chart which lay spread open on the cabin roof. It was foggy againthis morning, but the sunlight filtered through the gray mist, lendingwarmth and color and promise of better things.
"She'll clear up before noon," Nelson had oracularly declared a momentbefore. "We'll clean up the launch this morning and go on to Newportafter luncheon."
"There seems to be two ways of going," said Bob. "We can go throughbetween the mainland and Nonamesset Island or we can run down and aroundthe end of Cuttihunk. It looks like an even thing as far as distance isconcerned."
"Well, if it clears up nicely," answered Nelson, "suppose we take theoutside route. We don't have to go around Cuttihunk, though, Bob; ifyou'll look at the chart you'll find there's a fair passage for smallboats between Naushon and Pasque, and between Pasque and Nashawenathere's a good mile of clear water called Quicks Hole."
"Yes, I see," said Bob. "Let's go through Quicks Hole."
"Nonsense," exclaimed Dan, pushing Bob aside. "What we want to do is tomake for Nonamesset, leaving Uncatena on the starboard bow, headso'so'west for Penikese, keeping Woepecket on the weather rail, whateverthat is, bear south off the no'east corner of Nashawena, give Cuttihunkthe cold shoulder, dip our colors to Naushon, run through Canapitset Cutand drop anchor in Quamquisset for five o'clock tea!"
"Help!" yelled Nelson.
"Great Scott, what names!" laughed Bob.
"Well, now you know your route," said Dan gravely. "I guess you fellowsare pretty glad you've got me with you to show you the way. Talk aboutyour Navigating Officers!"
"Tommy, do you think you could find the wharf?" asked Bob.
"Huh, I can see it," said Tom.
"Then suppose you drop lightly into the tender and row ashore and buy ussome provisions. Dan's finished the butter, and we need some fresh meatand bread, don't we?"
"Yep, and eggs. You fellows needn't wait for me to get back before youstart on the brass. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves."
"That's all right, Tommy," Dan answered. "We'll save your share foryou."
"Well, let's get at it," said Nelson. "We want the launch looking herbest when we reach Newport. It won't do to put into a swell place likethat with dirty paint."
"No," said Dan. "I think we might even insist on Tommy's washing hisface."
"It's as clean as yours," retorted Tom from the tender.
"Of course, we don't want to be fussy, Tommy, and if it was any placebut Newport we wouldn't say a word. But as the Four Hundred willprobably be down at the wharf to welcome us----"
Dan's further remarks were interrupted by a shower of water impelledtoward him by an oar blade. When he had regained his eyesight Tommy wastoo far distant to allow of reprisals and Dan contented himself withthreats of future revenge.
Then house cleaning began in earnest, and it was no small task thatconfronted them. The decks were to scrub, the hull to wash, the portlights to be cleaned and the brasswork to be shined. And the brass wasthe biggest part of the undertaking. There was, as Dan complained later,altogether too much of it; stern cleat and chocks, bow cleat and chocks,gasoline and water-tank caps, wheel, deck rail, whistle, search light,lanterns, flag-pole sockets, and numerous bits of hardware such as hatchfastening, door knobs, and locker buttons. Oh, yes, there was plenty ofwork, and Dan, assisted later by all the others, rubbed and rubbed untillong past the usual luncheon hour. But when it was all done they had thesatisfaction of knowing that no cleaner, brighter, smarter craft wasafloat.
They ate luncheon at a quarter past one, by which time the sun was outin full strength and what little breeze came in through the open portsfelt very grateful to four very warm mariners.
At two o'clock to the minute the _Vagabond's_ anchor came up over thebow, and very dirty it was, to Dan's disgust, and the propeller began torevolve. Out around West Chop Lighthouse and the stone jetty went the_Vagabond_, white paint glistening in the sunlight and bright-worksparkling gayly, while from the flag poles the launch's buntingfluttered in the little westerly breeze. Then Dan, at the wheel, turnedthe boat's head southwest and they met the waters of the Sound on thequarter as they sped for Quicks Hole. It was a glorious afternoon andthe Four, protected from the sun by the awning, found life veryenjoyable. The engine was doing her very best, taking kindly to the lastlot of gasoline. They had about forty miles ahead of them and meant tocover it by half-past five. At a little after three they were in QuicksHole, bobbing about gayly in the wake of a steamer.
"Wonder why they called these the Elizabeth Islands?" said Tom.
"After Queen Elizabeth, maybe," hazarded Bob.
"And do you suppose Nonamesset, Uncatena, Naushon, and the rest of themwere her children?" asked Tom.
"Well," laughed Bob, "I never heard that she had any children."
"Oh, that's so," murmured Tom sheepishly, "I forgot."
"I hope," remarked Nelson solicitously, "that English History wasn'tamong the subjects in which you were examined for admission to Erskine,Tommy."
"Say!" cried Tom. "I'd ought to hear pretty soon about that exam. Maybethe letter will be at Newport!"
"Want to turn back?" asked Bob.
"I--I'd almost like to," admitted Tom.
"Oh, you've made it all right, Tommy," Dan consoled. "The cheek oftrying to get from third year at Hillton to Erskine so flabbergastedthem that they passed you before they recovered."
"I hope so," said Tom anxiously. "If I've missed it I'll----"
But they were alongside the steamer by that time and Tom forgot thesubject of admission to Erskine College in the excitement of passing thebig boat. There were not many persons aboard her, but what there wereflocked to the rail and waved their handkerchiefs or caps. Bob gave ablast on the whistle and Dan peered out from the edge of the awning andblew a kiss. Ten minutes later the steamer was far behind and the_Vagabond_ was churning her way across the waters of Buzzard's Bay, withSakonnet Point beckoning them ahead. Before five they were inNarragansett Bay and at twenty-two minutes past were tied up at thelanding of the New York Yacht Club House.
They made hurriedly for the post office and were rewarded with a wholebundle of mail.
"Bear up bravely, Tommy," said Nelson, who was sorting it over. "Here'san epistle postmarked 'Centerport.'"
"Oh, gosh!" muttered Tom as he took it.
The others were too much interested in receiving and outwardly examiningtheir own letters to think further of Tom for several minutes. Then, asthey turned to leave the office, Dan remembered.
"What's the verdict, Tommy?" he asked.
Tommy shook his head silently.
"What? Missed it? Turned down?" cried Dan.
"I--I don't know," stammered Tom. "You--you read it."
He held out the letter to Dan.
"Why, you haven't opened it!" exclaimed the other. "What do you think ofthat, fellows? Tommy hasn't the nerve to read it!"
"Oh ... well...." murmured Tom, tearing the envelope. "I didn't expectto get through, anyway." The others watched anxiously as he unfolded thesingle sheet which the envelope contained. Tom's face flushed suddenlyas he read. Then a wonderful, all-encompassing smile started at thecorners of his mouth and grew and grew until it became an expansivegrin. The others howled as they looked. There was no need to ask theverdict.
"Pu-pu-pu-pu-pu--" stuttered Tom.
"Good for you, Tommy!" cried Dan, whacking him on the back.
"----Pu-pu-passed!"
"Hurrah for Thomas Ferris, 1910!" cried Nelson.
"How many conditions, Tommy?" asked Bob. Tom chuckled.
"Only three," he answered. "How do you suppose I ever did it?"
"Can't imagine," laughed Bob, "unless you hypnotized 'em."
"I'm jealous," said Dan. "You've got one more condition than I have. Ishall appeal to the Faculty."
"Oh, th-th-th-that's all right," said Tom eagerly, "you can have one ofmine!"
There were many letters to be read and each fellow found a corner forhimself and soon became immersed in his mail. Now and then one oranother would break out with an ejaculatory announcement of news, aswhen Nelson exclaimed: "Of course! I never thought of it! Say, fellows,dad says if we'd strained that gasoline through chamois skin therewouldn't have been any water in it!" Or when Dan remarked: "The governorgot a letter from Jerry Hinckley the other day, and Mr. Cozzens is goingto coach him this summer himself and let him try for Hillton in theFall!" Or when Tom announced impressively: "Ben Hur's got four kittensand they're all white."
Not very important news to us, of course, but of vital interest to them.
They went ashore at half-past six and had what Tom called "swell grub."Afterwards they explored the town and stayed up very late on deck,watching the lights and listening to the music of a far-off orchestra.There was a good moon and Dan wanted to weigh anchor and go on along theshore to the next harbor. But Nelson and Bob, mindful of Mr. Tilford'sinstructions, vetoed the plan. Just as they were preparing to turn in,the Fall River Line steamer came into sight down the harbor, a hugeblack hulk pricked out with thousands of lights, and they had to returnto the deck to watch her float past on her way to the pier.
The next day dawned almost cloudless and very warm. The Four were out oftheir bunks early and into their bathing suits. Then followed a gloriousplunge from the deck into the gleaming blue water of the harbor, a briskrub-down in the engine room and some of Tom's good coffee and eggs andcrisp bacon. By the time breakfast was over the heat had become intenseand the awning, put away overnight, was rigged up again. Tom, whoexhibited symptoms of an inclination to go to sleep in one of the chairsin the cockpit, was routed out and compelled to give assistance.
They had the water tank filled and then pulled up anchor and turned the_Vagabond_ toward the Sound, where white sails moved slowly along andgave promise of a cooling breeze. Tom was allowed to take the wheel, butBob kept beside him in case, as the latter explained, Tom should fallasleep. But in justice to Tom it should be said that he really didn'tshow any tendency toward sleepiness. On the contrary he stuck out hischest pompously, twirled the wheel in an important way and did his bestto look like a master mariner. Halfway down the harbor they overtook astrange looking craft containing a single occupant, a young chap who wassquatted uncomfortably in a diminutive cockpit surrounded by a veritabletangle of pipes and wires. The boat, a gasoline launch, was abouteighteen feet long, very slender and was painted a vivid crimson. On thebow they read, as they drew abreast, the inscription _So Long_. Theforward two thirds of the launch was covered by a crown cabin. Betweenthat and the after deck was a four-foot space in which were crowded theengine and the crew. The crew was in his shirt sleeves and was smoking apipe. The launch was ambling along at about six miles an hour and makinga frightful noise about it; the reports from her exhaust pipe weredeafening.
"Some one ought to make him a present of a muffler," said Nelson as theydrew alongside.
The occupant of the _So Long_ glanced up as they approached and studiedthe _Vagabond_ idly and, as it seemed to Tom, somewhat superciliously.Tom leaned over the corner of the cabin roof.
"Hello!" he shouted. "Want to race?"
The crew of the little launch puffed at his pipe and looked calmly away,but made no answer. Bob laughed.
"He doesn't know you, Tommy," he said. "Never's been introduced."
"Conceited ass!" growled Tom. Then, "Hey there, you in the red tub!" hecalled. "Do you want a race?"
The crew of the _So Long_ turned and viewed Tom silently. And quite assilently, and without a change of expression, he nodded his headindifferently.
"Come on then!" cried Tom.
The man in the "red tub" removed the pipe from his mouth, knocked theashes out on the edge of the washboard, dropped it into his pocket, andbegan leisurely to busy himself with valves and switches.
"Turn her on, Nel," said Tom. "Give her full speed."
"All right," laughed Nelson, "but I don't believe we'll need quite fullspeed to walk away from that boat." He disappeared into the cabin.
"He's a sport, anyhow," declared Dan. "I like a chap that's not afraidof being beaten."
The _Vagabond_ began to move through the water at a faster pace and Tomallowed himself a final gibe at the rival boat.
"So long!" he shouted.
The smaller boat was already several lengths behind and her crew wasstill bending over the engine.
"It takes him long enough to get her started," said Bob. "I wonder----"
But what Bob wondered was never disclosed. For at that moment there camea series of pistol-like reports from the _So Long's_ exhaust and the"red tub" suddenly dug her straight, sharp nose into the water, threw itaway from her on each side in two long green waves and came alongside.
"Gosh!" exclaimed Bob.
They had a fleeting view of the placid countenance of the youth in shirtsleeves, a momentary impression of a brilliant crimson streak along thewater and then they were gazing bewilderedly at each other. The _SoLong_ was lengths and lengths away and getting smaller every instant.
Nelson put his head out of the door, glanced toward where the other boathad been a minute before, looked puzzled, came out on deck and searchedthe neighborhood.
"Where is she?" he asked. "Sunk?"
For answer three hands pointed ahead. Nelson gazed a moment. Then hewent silently below and slowed down the engine.
"How fu-fu-fast do you su-su-su-suppose she wu-wu-went?" asked Tom.
"About a mile a minute," answered Bob gravely.
"I don't believe she's a launch at all," said Dan. "I'll bet she's ablamed old automobile."
"What was that remark you addressed to him just before she walked away,Tommy?" asked Bob.
"Shut up," answered Tom sheepishly. "How did I know he had a streak ofred lu-lu-lu-lightning? Where is she now?"
"Oh, about a mile ahead," answered Nelson sadly. "Next time let's pickout a chap our own size."
"Well, she's certainly a dandy!" said Bob. "She must do about thirtymiles."
"Maybe twenty-five," said Nelson. "But that'll hold us for awhile. Isn'tthat her coming back?"
It was. They looked at each other inquiringly. Dan began to whistle. Tomglanced at Bob.
"You take the wheel," he said finally. "I--I want to get something out ofmy locker."
A shout of laughter went up.
"No, you'll stay right where you are, Tommy," said Bob, "and take yourmedicine. You're to blame for it, anyhow."
The _So Long_ approached at full speed, cutting the water like a knife.The Four watched silently. When a little distance away the chap in shirtsleeves bent forward out of sight behind the arch of the cabin and the_So Long's_ speed decreased. But even so when the two boats met it waslike an express train passing a freight on a siding. The chap in shirtsleeves looked across the twenty feet of water that separated the twoboats and viewed the Four as calmly as ever, but there was a twinkle inhis eye. As the "red tub" dashed by he waved his hand.
"So long!" he called politely.
"Hope you ch-ch-ch-choke!" sputtered Tom.
The others laughed at Tom's discomfiture.
"Stung!" murmured Dan.
"He had you there, Tommy," said Bob.
"I'll bet Tommy won't challenge any one else in a hurry," Nelsonlaughed.
"Oh, well, what's the good of having a boat like that, anyway?" askedTom disgustedly. "Even if it does go fast there isn't room to sit downin it comfortably. It's a fool thing!"
Shortly afterwards they were off Point Judith, and in spite of the factthat the weather was calm and the ocean smiling there was a sea therethat made the _Vagabond_ cut all sorts of capers. Barry, who had beenasleep on the cabin roof since breakfast, now descended to morecomfortable quarters. But even in Bob's lap he didn't seem wholly happyand after a while he jumped down and disappeared into the cabin. Tenminutes later Nelson, who had been below to lo
ok at the engine, cameback smiling broadly.
"Have we any lemons, Tommy?" he asked.
"Yes," was the reply. "In the cupboard. Want one?"
"Not for myself, but Barry needs one."
"Barry!" exclaimed Bob. "What's the matter with him?"
"Well, you might just go down and see for yourself," chuckled Nelson.
"Oh, get out! You can't make me believe that Barry's seasick! Who everheard of a dog being seasick?"
"Well, you can't get up an argument with me," laughed Nelson. "But justthe same, I'm glad it's not my berth!"
Then Bob hurried below.
Ten minutes later Bob's blanket was fluttering from the awning rod andBarry, curled up in a patch of sunlight and looking somewhat woe-begone,was striving to forget his recent discomfiture. They were past the pointnow and Block Island, which was their destination, was looming upclearly across the water some ten miles distant. They reached it at alittle after eleven, found anchorage off the village and went ashore forwhat Bob called "an old-fashioned fish dinner." Tom said he guessedthey'd got it all right, because his fish was just about asold-fashioned as he'd ever found. But the others declared that it wasall right and so Tom, declaring feelingly that he didn't want to livewithout the others, ate his too. Later on Tom declared that he felt veryuncomfortable and that he was certain he had ptomaine poisoning. But theothers laughed at him and told him that any fellow who had eaten as muchas he had ought to expect to feel uncomfortable. At two o'clock theywere on their way again and making for New London, a matter ofthirty-five miles distant.
Four Afloat: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Water Page 17