CHAPTER XVI ARTIE JENKINS COMES ABOARD
Early in the afternoon, on the day of the events just related, a bug-eyehad turned in at a little cove at a place some ten miles up the Patuxentriver called Sotterly. The sails were dropped and a boat was lowered. Atall, sharp featured, keen-eyed man, who had been giving orders, calledout to one of the sailors. "Get into this skiff, Sam Black," he said; "Iwant you to row me ashore."
"Aye, aye, Cap'n Bill," responded the man. He shuffled to the side of thevessel, stepped into the boat alongside, and took his seat at the oars.
When the skiff had reached shore and had been drawn up on land, "Cap'nBill" tossed an empty gunny sack to the sailor.
"Going back up to Hollywood," he remarked. "I reckon you won't cut andrun on me, eh?"
"I reckon not, with the season's wages coming to me from Haley,"responded the sailor, and added, gruffly, "It's the third winter I'vebeen oystering with Haley. He and I get along. He don't bother me none.When he growls at me, I give it back to him, I do. That's the way to getalong with him. There ain't many as dares do it, though."
Captain Bill gave a chuckle.
"You're shrewder than you look," he said. "But you're all right. HamHaley says you're the best man he's got aboard. When you get sick of theBrandt, you come and sign with me. Good men are sure enough scarce."
"I reckon we'd get along, too," assented Sam Black.
With this somewhat unusual exchange of cordiality, captain and sailorwent on together up the road leading back inland from the shore. Afterwalking about a mile, they turned off on a cross-road that led more tothe southward, and proceeded along that for a distance of some threemiles. They passed a score of houses on either side of the road, and cameat length to a settlement comprising about twenty houses at the junctionof cross-roads.
Fetching up at a building which, by its display of dusty boxes seenthrough still more dusty windows, proclaimed itself to be a countrystore, Captain Bill entered, followed by Sam Black. The latter, seatinghimself on an up-ended cracker box at the farther end of the store,proceeded to solace himself with a black, short-stemmed pipe, whileCaptain Bill entered into conversation with the proprietor.
Their negotiations were interrupted presently by the entrance of a youngman, who sauntered in, with an air of importance as befitting one who wasevidently from the city and impressed with his own superior worldliness.His dress, though of a flashy character and glazed by wear at elbows andknees, was yet distinctly of a city cut, and he displayed certain tawdryjewelry to the most advantage. He nodded patronizingly to the keeper ofthe store.
"How'd do, Artie," said the storekeeper. "When are you going back?"
"About as soon as I can get there now, Ben," replied the youth, yawning."I like to come up and see the folks, all right, but it's deadly dullhere. I want a little bit more of the electric lights and something goingon at night. Not much like Baltimore down here."
"No, I guess not," admitted the other. "I hear you're doing pretty wellup there--let's see, what is it you're in?"
The youth paused a moment, then replied, "Oh, I'm running things for acontractor. Expect I'll go in with him some day, when I get a couple ofthousand more put away."
Captain Bill, turning to observe the youth who was speaking, gave a startof astonishment. He turned away again, but cast several sharp glances atthe young man from the corners of his eyes.
"Well, I'm blest if it isn't Artie Jenkins," he muttered. "The measlylittle crimp!"
Which term, be it known, is that applied to those engaged in thatpeculiar calling in which young Artie Jenkins was a bright and shininglight--the trapping of unfortunate victims and selling them to thedredgers and such other craft as could make use of them.
Some time later, Captain Bill followed the youth outside the store andhailed him, as the latter was walking away.
"Hello," he said, "wait a minute."
The young man turned and stared at the stranger in surprise.
"You don't know me, I reckon," ventured Captain Bill, extending a hand,which the other took carelessly.
"Can't say I do," was the reply.
"Well, I know you, just the same," continued Captain Bill. "You're name'sJenkins, if I'm not mistaken. The fact is, Jenkins, you may not rememberit, but you did a little business for me once in your line up inBaltimore, and I may say, I never did see such good fellows as youshipped down to me--every one of them good for dredging and willingenough to work, when they got used to the business."
Artie Jenkins's manner became more friendly. It was not his fortune tomeet, usually, with a captain who had a good word of this kind to say tohim. He smiled affably.
"Well, I try to suit my clients, the captains, as best I can, and be fairand square with them," he said. "But I can't say as I remember you."
"It was some time ago that we did business," explained Captain Bill. Hemade an inward comment, also, that it was a bargain he had neverforgotten, in which three men already ill had been shipped down to him bythe clever Mr. Jenkins, causing him a total loss of thirty dollars,besides the trouble of getting rid of the men again, before they all diedaboard.
"See here, Jenkins," he went on, "I'm right glad I fell in with you.Here's a chance for you to turn a dollar down here. I need a man. Can youget him for me?"
Artie Jenkins's eyes lighted up with cunning; then an expression of doubtovercast his face.
"I sort of hate to do it down here," he said. "They all know me, and mostof 'em know what the dredgers are like. I might do something if astranger happened along, but that isn't very likely this time of year.Still, I'll be on the lookout; something might turn up. You're down atSotterly, eh? Be there till to-morrow noon? All right, I'll look around,anyway. If I do anything I'll be down. Will fix you, anyway, soon as Iget back to Baltimore. Good day."
"Good day," responded Captain Bill.
Watching until he saw Artie Jenkins turn off on the road and disappear,Captain Bill returned to the store, and beckoned to Sam Black. The sailorcame forward.
"Did you see that young chap I was talking to?" inquired Captain Bill.
Sam Black nodded. "The little dude," he said, contemptuously.
"Did he get a look at you, think?" asked Captain Bill.
"Why, no, he didn't see me, I reckon," said the sailor, with surprise.
"Good!" exclaimed Captain Black. "Pick up that sack and come on. I'lltell you what I want, on the way."
Sam Black shouldered the sack, and they started back in the direction ofthe shore.
"That little rascal, Artie Jenkins, is the meanest crimp in Baltimore!"exclaimed Captain Bill. "Fools us, right along," he added, with virtuousindignation. "What's the use of crimping a man as won't be any good whenhe's down the bay? That's what I want to know. He does it right along. Isay as how it's a shame to knock a man out and use him like they do,unless he's going to be some good to us, when we get him. That's why HamHaley and I have got it in for Artie Jenkins."
"Now," continued Captain Bill, "I'm going to send you back there again,to ship with him aboard my bug-eye. Do you understand? He'll come downwith you here to-night, and we'll attend to the rest. You don't knowanything about me nor my dredger--understand?"
Sam Black grinned.
"I'll fix him," he said. "I'm against all crimps."
It was three o'clock when captain and man went aboard the dredger atSotterly. A half-hour later, there emerged from the cabin an individualresembling Sam Black only in face and form; he was dressed in "shore"clothes, furnished from the captain's own supply. Save for a bit of aroll in his gait, he might have passed for a farmhand. He went rapidly,with long strides, up the road he had come shortly before.
At five o'clock that afternoon, Artie Jenkins stepped from a dooryard inthe town and walked slowly down the road in the direction of the store.He toyed with a lighted cigarette, and seemed thinking, deeply.
"I'm afraid I can't make it," he murmured. "My own town, too. Stillbusiness is business-
-there's Tom Carver--no, I couldn't get him. Hangthe luck--"
He was interrupted, unexpectedly. A man suddenly appeared from the sideof the road, and waited for him to come up. It was dusk, but ArtieJenkins perceived that the man was a stranger in the town. He noted hisappearance. Could this be a stroke of luck?
"What might the name of this place be?" inquired the stranger.
"Hollywood," replied Artie Jenkins. "Never 'round these parts before?"
"No," said the man. "I come from up yonder, Hillville. Lost my job on afarm there. Nothing doing now. Know of anyone that would like a good manto work around a place?"
Artie Jenkins puffed at his cigarette, while his sallow cheeks, unhealthyand pale, showed a tinge of colour. He turned to the man and put a handon his shoulder, patronizingly.
"Well, if you're not in luck!" he cried. "You hit on the one man in allHollywood that can help you out. There isn't a job in town for a farmhand now, but I can get you a nice, easy berth on an oysterman for therest of the season. Ever on one?"
"Never was off land but once on a steamer," replied the man. "Alwaysthought as how I'd like to go a voyage, too. Kind of hard work, though,isn't it?"
"A sight easier than farming," answered Artie Jenkins. "Easiest in theworld, if you get the right captain. Funny how you happened along. Why,it wasn't but a few hours ago that I met a captain I know, that wanted aman. He'll pay twenty-five a month, and everyone says Captain Bill feedshis men like aldermen. Fresh meats and vegetables and a bit extra onSundays and holidays."
"He does that, eh, this ere Cap'n Bill you speaks of?" said the stranger.
"That's his reputation," assured Artie Jenkins.
The man turned his head away, to hide a grin.
"I guess I'll try it," he said, "if you'll go along and fix it up forme."
"Sure," said Artie Jenkins. "I like to oblige a man when I see he's inhard luck. You wait down there at the store for me, till I get my bigcoat. I'll be along soon. By the way, what's your name?"
"Sam Black," replied the stranger.
Sam Black, seating himself discreetly outside the store, on a step, notto be observed from within, allowed his grin to expand and give vent in ahoarse guffaw, as Artie Jenkins was lost to view.
"Reckon I'll like them extras on Sundays and holidays," he muttered, androared again. "And p'raps somebody else will like 'em too--if he gets'em."
Half an hour later, Artie Jenkins and his prize went along down the roadin the dark of early nightfall, in the direction of Sotterly landing. Itwas nearly eight o'clock when they arrived at the shore of a cove somedistance across from the wharf, and made out the masts and hull of thebug-eye. It lay a little off from shore, with a lantern in thefore-shrouds.
Artie Jenkins put his fingers to his lips and gave forth several shrillwhistles. The figure of a man presently appeared, in the light thatgleamed from the cabin, and stepped on deck.
"Hello, hello, Captain Bill," called Artie Jenkins.
The man replied; they saw him step into a small skiff alongside and rowtoward them. He drew the skiff to shore, a few minutes later, andapproached.
"Good evening, Mr. Jenkins," he said. "Who's this--somebody that wants toship?"
"Yes, and a good man, too," replied Artie Jenkins. "He's been farming,and thinks he'd like oystering with you better. I've known him two years;he's been at work up in Hillville. His name is Sam Black."
Captain Bill's chuckle was unheard by Artie Jenkins.
"You'll know him a lot better," he said to himself; and added, aloud,"All right. Kind of you to fetch him down. Come out aboard and havesomething."
The three got into the skiff, and Captain Bill rowed them out to thebug-eye.
"I'll see you in a minute or two," he said to Sam Black, motioning to himto go forward. "Come on down, Mr. Jenkins;" and he whispered, "I've gotthe ten dollars ready for you, and a drop of something for the cold."
The two descended into the cabin.
A moment later, Captain Bill's mate quietly drew the anchor off bottom,took a turn with the rope about the bitts, then stepped to the halyardsand raised the foresail a little. The bug-eye drifted out into thecurrent, caught the tide and was carried a way up-stream. The foresailwas run up till it was all set. Sam Black had crept cautiously aft to thewheel, and the craft now turned, under headway, and began creepingdownstream, slowly.
"Here's the money," said Captain Bill, fumbling about in a wallet that hehad produced. "Sit down. Make yourself at home. You've had a long walk--"
Artie Jenkins suddenly sprang to his feet.
"You're drifting, aren't you, Captain Bill?" he said. "You're draggingyour anchor, I think."
"No, I guess not," replied the other. "Sit down. I'll ask the mate,anyway."
He stepped to the companion and called out.
"Give her a bit more scope, mate," he cried. "Guess she is dragging abit."
"Aye, aye, sir," responded the mate, and went on cautiously and quietlyraising the foresail. The bug-eye was nearly in mid-stream.
Artie Jenkins suddenly sprang from his seat again, and started for thecompanion. A powerful hand on his shoulder restrained him.
"Let me go!" he cried, fiercely. "What kind of a trick do you call this?"He wrenched, to free himself from the other's grasp; but he was drawnback. Captain Bill seized him by the throat and forced him down on one ofthe bunks.
"You're not going ashore this trip," he said, sharply. "Captain Ham Haleyand I have got a bone to pick with you."
Trapped at last, Artie Jenkins fought with all his strength; but he wasno match for the stalwart captain. Exhausted, battered and thoroughlyterrified, he sank back on the bunk and begged for mercy.
"It isn't right, Bill," he pleaded. "You ain't playing the game fair. Howare you going to get men, if you go and nab a man that's in the businesswith you? Nobody ever did that before? Haven't I always used you right?"
"No, you haven't," exclaimed Captain Bill; "and you're going down thebay. Now you just keep below and stay quiet. You know what they get ifthey holler."
Captain Bill, with this parting injunction, went on deck. The bug-eye'ssails were all set and she was going down the river.
Several hours later, a forlorn figure appeared at the companion-way,cautiously, ready to dodge a blow from Captain Bill's boot.
"Bill," said Artie Jenkins, plaintively, "Haley won't stand for this. Heknows it isn't the way to play the game."
"No?" queried Captain Bill, contemptuously, "you can ask Haley, yourself.Here he comes now."
The bug-eye, Brandt, was indeed coming up the river, near at hand,standing out from behind a point of land. The two vessels were soon sideby side, drifting for a moment up with the tide.
Jack Harvey's Adventures; or, The Rival Campers Among the Oyster Pirates Page 17