Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XI

  THE BOAT-HOUSE

  The boat-house for the Zephyr had been begun on Wednesday, the dayfollowing her arrival. All the carpenters that could work upon it wereengaged by Captain Sedley, so that by Saturday it was nearly finished.

  Its location was at one end of the beach, near the flat rock, and notfar from the moorings of the sailboat. It was sixty feet long, andextended out over the waters of the lake. It was built on piles, driveninto the sand on the bottom. The club hall was at the land end of thebuilding, and was about twenty feet square. From this apartment theboys passed into the boat-house proper, which was so arranged that theycould all take their places in the boat, and push out into the lakewithout confusion or inconvenience.

  But as my young friends undoubtedly feel a great desire to obtain anaccurate idea of the situation and arrangements of the boat-house, Ihave drawn a plan of it, which is here subjoined.

  If my young readers carefully examine the plan, and refer to theexplanations, they can understand the position of the rooms, and thesituation of everything connected with the boat-house.

  Explanations.--_a_, the outside door; _B_, the clubhall; _c_, stove; _d, d_, cases for the library; _e_, entrance to theboat hall; _f, f, f, f_, a platform; _g, g_, the boat; _h, h_, thewater in which the boat floats; _i_, the door through which the boatpasses out upon the lake.]

  Around the platform a railing was constructed with a gate at the bow,and one on each side of the boat, so that the members of the club couldget into it only at these three places.

  Frank and Charles protested against this railing at first, andmaintained that there was not the least danger of their falling intothe water; but Captain Sedley, knowing how prone boys are to scuffleand be careless, insisted upon having it.

  The boys watched the progress the carpenters made in erecting theboat-house with the deepest interest, and Uncle Ben got almost out ofpatience answering the innumerable questions they put to him in regardto what everything was for. Morning, noon, and night they visited thebuilding, and longed for Saturday afternoon, when they were to makeanother excursion in the Zephyr.

  Poor Tony's misfortunes had excited all their sympathy, and dividedtheir attention with the club. Some of them ventured to doubt theinnocence of their companion, though a large majority felt quite surehe would be cleared at the trial.

  Early on Saturday afternoon, Frank and Charles met at the boat-house.

  "Will Tony come, do you think?" asked the latter.

  "I told him this morning to be sure and come. I hope he will."

  "Do you think your father will let him continue to belong to the club?"asked Charles.

  "Certainly he will! Why not?"

  "Only think of it--taken up for stealing!"

  "Do you believe he is guilty?"

  "They wouldn't put him in jail if he wasn't, it isn't likely."

  "But he hasn't been tried yet."

  "No; but then to think that the wallet was found in his pocket."

  "I don't believe he is guilty any more than I believe I am," repliedFrank warmly.

  "Nor I; but----"

  "But what, Charley?"

  "Things look so against him."

  "I am afraid Tim Bunker knows more about it than he chooses to tell."

  "Don't you remember Tony didn't want us to meddle with it, and said wehad better tell Farmer Whipple it was there rather than touch itourselves?" added Charles, looking earnestly into the face of hiscompanion.

  "I _know_ Tony wouldn't steal it."

  "He might."

  "I am surprised to hear you say so, Charley," said Frank, hurt by thedoubts of his friend.

  "He might have thought that Farmer Whipple would never find him out."

  "That wouldn't have made any difference with Tony."

  "He might have thought, too, how much good the money would do hismother."

  "Tony never could have thought that stolen money would do his motherany good."

  "Perhaps he did not think anything about the wickedness of the act."

  "Is it possible, Charley, that you have so poor an opinion of Tony asthat? I shouldn't think you would wish to associate with him now."

  "I don't know," said Charles, apparently absorbed by his own thoughts."Do you think we ought to have him in the club till after this thing issettled?"

  "Why, Charley! You can't think how it hurts my feelings to hear youtalk so."

  "What do you suppose your father will say about it?"

  "I know what he will say; he believes Tony is entirely innocent."

  "Oh, if he does, _we_ ought not to say a word," replied Charlespromptly. "Only, you know, he said so much about the club being a meansof improvement as well as amusement."

  Frank could not understand the thoughts of his friend; but his father,who had been instructing the workmen in regard to the boat-house,joined them soon after, and the question was referred to him, with astatement of Charles's views.

  Captain Sedley looked into Charles's eye searchingly.

  "You think Tony ought to be excluded from the club, do you?" asked he.

  "No, sir; _I_ don't think so; but I didn't know but _you_ might thinkso," replied Charles, confused by the earnestness of Captain Sedley'sglance.

  "Charles, I am afraid you have not made your mind up in regard to thequestion. You are willing to believe anything that will please thosewhom you wish to conciliate."

  "I want to believe the truth."

  "You are not so particular about the truth as you are about suitingyour friends."

  Captain Sedley had had a great deal of experience in reading thecharacters of men; and he readily perceived that Charles desired to beforemost in condemning evil, for the purpose of getting the good willof others. It was a dangerous state of mind, for with the Bunkers hewould probably have been just as forward in a bad cause. His motive wasnot a worthy one. It was the same as that which sometimes induces menand women to go to church, to give money to the poor, or to assume avirtue they do not possess,--for the reputation it would give them. Itwas the same motive which had urged him to give his money to the widowWeston.

  Perhaps he was not fully conscious of his motive in thus being theforemost to condemn poor Tony; but Captain Sedley read his characterrightly, and understood the workings of his mind.

  "I am sure I feel kindly towards Tony; as kindly as any other fellow inthe club," said Charles.

  "I do not doubt it, but we must watch all our thoughts and actions."

  Captain Sedley returned to the boat-house to give further directionsconcerning the building. Before two o'clock all the boys, with theexception of Tony Weston, were gathered on the beach.

  "I hope he will come," said Frank, much concerned at the absence of hisfriend.

  "I hope so," added Charles.

  "Here is Uncle Ben. Hurrah!" shouted several of the boys.

  "I arn't goin' with you this afternoon," said the veteran, as he laidan armful of oars, boat-hooks, and other furniture belonging to theZephyr, which had been carried to the house for safe keeping, upon thebeach.

  "Not going with us, Uncle Ben?" asked Frank.

  "Your father is going," replied the old sailor, as he drew the boat inshore, and put the oars and other articles in their places on board.

  "Here he comes," added Frank.

  "Where is Tony?" asked Captain Sedley, as he discovered the absence ofthe widow's son.

  "He has not come."

  "I am sorry for that. We will go up and see where he is. Ben, take theboat over to the flat rock."

  "Ay, ay, sir."

  The boys scampered over to the place of embarkation, followed byCaptain Sedley.

  "Frank, you may take Tony's place," said his father when they hadreached the rock, "and I will steer."

  Frank leaped into the bow of the boat, and took the boat-hook.Steadying her, he called the numbers, and the club all took theirplaces in excellent order, and sat waiting for further commands.

  "Very well, boys; your discipline is mos
t excellent," said CaptainSedley. "Push off, Frank. Ready with the oars."

  "Up oars!" said Uncle Ben, who stood on the rock.

  The manoeuvre was executed with admirable precision.

  "Shove off!" which was done by the bow and stroke oarsmen.

  "Let fall!" said Ben.

  The oars fell altogether on the water, and the boys shipped them.

  "Give way together!" added Ben; and away went the Zephyr with the firststroke of the oars.

  Captain Sedley steered up the lake in the direction of the widowWeston's cottage. The Zephyr darted like an arrow through the water,her sharp bow cutting the tiny waves like a knife, making a mostmusical ripple as it dashed a clear jet of white foam as high as thegunwale.

  It was scarcely three minutes before Captain Sedley gave the command"Way enough!" The boat darted into a cove by the widow's house, andFrank and his father landed.

  Tony, it seemed, wished to join the club; but his mother, fearful lestsome of the boys should taunt him with the occurrences of the past fewdays, desired him to remain at home. Captain Sedley's request, however,was quite sufficient, and Tony followed Frank down to the boat.

  "Three cheers for Tony Weston!" exclaimed Charles Hardy, as they camein sight.

  The cheers were given, but Captain Sedley could not but question themotives of him who had proposed them.

  "Now, Frank, you are coxswain again," said Captain Sedley. "You will dobetter than I can; for I am not posted on man-of-war-boat tactics, andBen has trained you to naval discipline."

  Tony took his place at the bow oar, and Frank in the stern-sheets. Theformer was received with sympathy and kindness by the club, and thepoor boy felt how pleasant it was to have the good will of hiscompanions in the midst of his trials.

  "Up oars!" said Frank, when all was ready for a start. "Let fall! Giveway!"

  "Down the lake, Frank, towards the village," added Captain Sedley.

  Again the beautiful Zephyr bounded over the waters; but after pulling afew minutes, Captain Sedley directed Frank to cease rowing.

  "Boys, we are going to have a uniform for the club," said he.

  "A uniform!" repeated several of the boys.

  "Hurrah!" shouted Charles Hardy.

  "I have already spoken to Mr. Burlap, the tailor; and now we are goingdown to have him take your measures."

  "What will the uniform be, father?" asked Frank.

  "White sailors' trousers, a blue jacket, and a white shirt trimmed withblue. The hat will be a tarpaulin, with 'Zephyr' in gilt letters on thefront."

  The boys all clapped their hands, as the only means in their power toexpress their gratification.

  "Now pull for Rippleton."

  "Stand by! Give way!"

  The Zephyr parted the waters before her graceful bow, and sped like arocket on her way. The beautiful boat excited a great deal of attentionat the village; and when the boys returned from the tailor's, hundredshad collected on the bank to see them row.

  Captain Sedley gratified the curiosity of the people by requiring Frankto exercise the club for some time near the spot where they stood.After a row across the lake, they returned, and the Zephyr was mooredin her new house, much to the delight of her enthusiastic crew.