by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XIV
THE COLLISION
Joe Braman, the alleged proprietor of the Thunderbolt, was an idle,dissolute fellow, who employed his time in gunning, fishing, andloitering about the dramshops of Rippleton. He lived on the northshore. How he obtained his living, it would have been difficult todetermine.
Tim Bunker was an especial favorite with Braman, and people said it wasbecause there was a natural sympathy between them. Joe's boat was along, flat-bottomed affair, not very graceful in its form orconstruction. With the exception of Captain Sedley's sailboat and theclub boat, it was, perhaps, the only boat on the lake; and smallparties occasionally engaged Joe to take them out fishing in it.
The history of its present appearance was sufficiently plain to theZephyrs. It had been lengthened out, a sharp, false bow attached to it,painted, and such other improvements made as would fit it for thepurposes of a club boat.
"Isn't she one of the boats?" laughed Charles.
"Silence, forward!" said Frank, shaking his head as a gesture ofwarning to the boys not to provoke any ill nature.
"Who yer lookin' at?" cried Tim Bunker, as the Thunderbolt came nearthe Zephyr.
"Good-morning, Tim," said Frank pleasantly.
"Why don't yer pull, yer lubbers?" shouted Tim.
"You have a new boat, I see."
"I'll bet we have," replied Tim, bringing the Thunderbolt round thestern of the Zephyr.
"Isn't that Joe Braman's boat?" asked Charles.
"No, sir-ee! It's my boat," answered Tim.
"Did you buy it off him?"
"Didn't do nothin' else."
"What did you give?"
"Ten dollars, and five for fixin' her up," replied Tim with a greatdeal of importance.
"She looks very well," continued Charles.
"She'll go some, you better believe."
Tony Weston could not help smiling at this conversation, and Tim Bunkerunfortunately perceived the funny expression on his face. It roused hisanger.
"Who stole the wallet?" said he.
This taunt roused a feeling of indignation in the soul of Fred Harper;and he so far forgot the requirements of the constitution as toreply,--
"Tim Bunker."
"Le's lick 'em," said one of the Bunkers.
"Give way!" exclaimed Frank with energy, when he saw the storm brewing.
Mindful of the discipline of the club, every member obeyed the order,and the Zephyr darted away from the belligerent Thunderbolts.
"Pooh! Frank, I wouldn't run away from them," said Charles.
"I have no desire to quarrel with such fellows," replied Frank; "and Ihope none of you will say anything to provoke them. That was verythoughtless of you, Fred."
"I know it; but somehow I couldn't help it; the taunt was so mean andcontemptible. If I had been on shore, I should have knocked him over."
"Article six," said Frank.
"Here they come after us," added Tony.
The boys all laughed involuntarily at the idea of the old "gundelow,"as Fred called it, chasing them.
"They can't catch us," continued Frank.
"I guess not," said Charles.
"But I am sorry we provoked them, for I had a little plan in my head."
"What is it, Frank?"
"Way enough! Never mind it now; we are a quarter of a mile from them,and we can easily keep out of their way."
"Frank, we are running too near the shore," interposed Tony. "The wateris shoal here, you know."
"Stern all! Give way!" exclaimed the coxswain. "I was watching theBunkers so closely that I did not mind where we were going."
But it was too late. The Zephyr had not lost her headway, and dartedforward, burying her keel in the mud-bank at the bottom of the lake,off the mouth of a brook.
"By gracious!" exclaimed Charles Hardy; "we are in for it now."
"And the Bunkers are upon us," added Frank, very much perplexed by thedifficulties which suddenly surrounded them.
"What shall be done?" asked Tony.
"Let them come on," replied Fred. "We can't get rid of them now."
"I don't want to fight with them," added Frank.
The Thunderbolt was approaching them, not very rapidly, it was true;but a few minutes would involve them in a quarrel, which Frank and alarge majority of the club were very anxious to avoid. Tim Bunker wasstanding up in the stern-sheets of his boat, watching them withmalignant interest.
"Hurrah! they are aground!" cried Tim, as soon as he understood thenature of the calamity which had befallen the Zephyr. "We have themnow; they can't run away, the cowardly long faces!"
"Come aft, some of you," said Frank, when he heard these threateningwords. "The water is deep enough under the stern. We have only run intoa mud-bank."
On the starboard side of the boat there was plenty of water, and ifthey could move her back a rod they could easily escape.
The boys obeyed the order of the coxswain; but the Zephyr had beenforced so deeply into the mud that her bow still stuck fast.
"Half a dozen of you set your oars in the mud, and push!" continuedFrank, highly excited by the danger that menaced them.
But it was of no use, they could not start her.
"They are upon us," said Tony.
"What shall we do?" asked Frank, sadly perplexed.
"We must fight," said Fred.
"No; I am not willing to do that."
"Shall we sit here and let them pound us as much as they have a mindto?" demanded Fred. "But you are coxswain, Frank; and I, for one, shalldo just what you say."
"So shall I!" said another.
"And I!"
And so they all said.
Frank was more and more embarrassed as the circumstances multiplied thedifficulties around him. He was charged with the direction of the wholeclub, and the responsibility of his position rested heavily upon hismind. He had been taught at the fireside of his pious home to avoid aquarrel at almost any sacrifice; and he was painfully conscious thatthe indiscreet words of Fred Harper had provoked the anger of theBunkers. Poor fellow! What could he do? He was not willing to orderthem to fight, even in self-defence; and he knew that their foes wouldwhip them severely if they did not. The Thunderbolt was within a fewrods of them, and five minutes more would decide the question.
"We are in a bad fix!" said Charles nervously. "What are you going todo, Frank?"
"Tony, take your boat-hook, and see how deep the water is on themud-bank."
"Only about a foot," replied Tony, as he obeyed the order.
"Is the mud deep?"
"Not very," replied Tony, pushing the boat-hook down.
"I want two volunteers," said Frank hurriedly.
"I!" cried Tony.
"I!" repeated half a dozen others.
"Tony and Fred, roll up your trousers, and jump into the water. You caneasily push her off."
"Agreed!" cried the two volunteers, as they hastened to execute theorder.
"Six of you take your oars; back her as they push; the other four stayin the stern-sheets to settle her down aft."
"Ay, ay!" exclaimed the boys.
"Now for it! Stern all! Give way!"
The effect was instantly perceived; the boat was moved back about afoot.
"Once more, all together!" said Frank.
Another effort backed her about two feet more, and the case began tolook hopeful.
"Again, quick! they are upon us! Leap in, Tony and Fred, when she isfree."
"Heave again!" said Tony.
Their exertions were now crowned with entire success, and the Zephyrdarted back into deep water; but an unfortunate occurrence rendered alltheir labor futile. As the boat slid off the mud-bank, Tony and Fred,in their attempt to spring on board, embarrassed each other'smovements, so that the former lost his hold, and remained standing inthe mud and water.
At this instant the Thunderbolt reached the spot; and Tim steereddirectly for poor Tony, whose situation he discovered the moment theZephyr was free.
"Hit him!" screamed Tim. "Pound him with yer oars! Drownd him!"
Frank's blood seemed to freeze in his veins, as he perceived theimminent peril of his friend. He knew the Bunkers would not spare him,and that his life was even in danger.
Fortunately the Thunderbolt grounded, or Tony would inevitably havebeen borne under her bottom. Tim seized an oar, and with the ferocityof a madman sprang forward to execute his vengeance on the helplessboy.
"Let him alone!" shouted Frank with frantic earnestness. "Up oars! Letfall! Give way!"
Frank was fully roused, and his orders were delivered with rapidity andenergy. Seizing the tiller-ropes, he steered the boat as she gatheredheadway, so that her sharp bow struck the Thunderbolt on her broadside,staving in her gunwale, and upsetting her.
The Bunkers thought this was rather sharp practice, as they flounderedabout in the water. They had not given Frank Sedley credit for half somuch determination. They had never seen anything in him that indicated"grit" before. He was a peaceable boy, always avoiding a quarrel; butwhen the very life of his friend was in peril, he was found to be asbold and courageous as the best of them.
The bow of the Zephyr was swung round so that Tony could get in.Washing off the mud from his legs, he adjusted his trousers.
In the meantime the Bunkers had righted their boat, and resumed theirplaces. The bath they had had quite cooled their belligerent heat;though, if it had not, Frank had taken the precaution to back theZephyr out of their reach.
"You'll catch it for this!" exclaimed Tim Bunker, as his crew werebailing out the Thunderbolt with their hats.
"I am sorry for what has happened, Tim," replied Frank, "but I couldnot help it."
"Couldn't help it, yer----" I will not soil the pages of my book bywriting the expression that Tim made use of. "Yes, yer could help it.What d'yer run inter me for?"
"You threatened to drown Tony, and if your boat had not got aground youwould have run him down."
"That I would, long face! If ever I catch either of yer, I will lickyer within an inch of yer life--mind that!"
"I am sorry for it, Tim."
"Yer lie, yer ain't!"
"It was all my fault, Tim," interposed Fred; "and I will pay for thedamage done your boat."
"I guess yer better."
"How much will you take, and call it square?"
"Dollar and a half," growled Tim, glancing at the fractured gunwale.
Fred had not so much money with him, but the sum was immediately raisedin the club.
"Now, Tim, we will forgive and forget; what do you say?" asked Fred.
"I don't want nothin' on yer; give me the money, and I don't care whatyer do."
Frank ordered the crew to pull up to the Thunderbolt, and Fred handedTim the money.
"I'll pay yer for this; see 'f I don't," said the unforgiving Bunker asthe Zephyr backed away.