The Wreck of the Red Bird: A Story of the Carolina Coast

by George Cary Eggleston

  CHAPTER V.

  THE SAILING OF THE "RED BIRD."

  The boys were out of bed not long after daylight the next morning. Thesky was clear, but there was not a particle of breeze, and even beforethe sun rose the air was hot and stifling to a degree never beforeexperienced by either of Ned's visitors.

  "I say, Ned, this is a frightful morning," said Jack. "I feel myselfmelting as I stand here in my clothes. I'm already as weak as a pound ofbutter looks in the sun. How we're going to breathe when the sun comesup, I'm at a loss to determine. Whew!" and with that Jack sat downexhausted.

  "A nice time we'll have rowing," said Charley. "I move we swim and pushthe boat. It'll be cooler, and not much harder work. Does it ever rainhere? because if it does I'm waiting for a shower. I'm wilted down, andnothing short of a drenching will revive me."

  "Well," said Ned, "come, let's take a drenching. I'm going to take aheader off the boat-house pier. It's low-water now, and there's a clearjump of ten feet. A plunge will wake us up, and by that time breakfastwill be ready, and what is more to the point, the tide will turn. That'sa comfort."

  "Why?" asked Charley.

  "Because when it turns a sea-breeze will come with it. This sort of heatis what we'd have here all summer long if it wasn't for land- andsea-breezes. As it is we never have it except at dead low water, and itis always followed by a good stiff sea-breeze when the tide turns. We'llbe able to sail instead of swimming over to the island. But come, let'shave our plunge now."

  After breakfast the boys went to the boat house to bestow their freightin the boat. The tide had turned, and, as Ned had predicted, a cool,stimulating breeze had begun to blow, so that the strength returned toJack's knees and Charley's resolution.

  "It will be best to fill the boat's water kegs," said Ned; "partlybecause we'll want water on the way, partly because we'll want water onthe island, while we're digging for a permanent supply."

  "By the way," said Jack, "what are we going to dig with?"

  "Well, there's another blunder," said Ned. "If Robinson Crusoe hadforgotten things in that way, he never would have lived through hisisland experiences. We must have a shovel and a pick. I'll run up to thehouse and look for them while you boys fill the water kegs."

  When Ned got back to the boat he was confronted by Maum Sally with a bigbundle.

  "What is it, Maum Sally?"

  "Oh nothin', on'y I spose you young gentlemen is a gwine to sleep jes alittle now an' then o' nights, an' so, as you hasn't thought on ityerse'fs, I's done brung you some bedclo'es."

  "Now look here, boys," said Ned; "we'll go off without our heads yet.We've lost our heads several times already, in fact. There's nothing forit except just to imagine ourselves at the island, and run through awhole day and night in our minds to see what we're going to need."

  "That's a good idea," said Charley. "I'll begin. I'll need my motherthe first thing, because here's a button off my collar."

  The party laughed, of course, but there was force in the suggestion. Afew buttons, a needle or two, and some stout thread were straightwayadded to the ship's stores.

  "Now let's see," said Ned. "We'll need to build a shelter first thing,and we've all the tools necessary for that, because I've thought it outcarefully. Then we have our digging tools. Very well. Now, for breakfastwe need, let me see," and he ran over the materials and utensils alreadyenumerated. Going on in this way through an imaginary day on the island,the boys found their list of stores now reasonably complete. From MaumSally's bundle they selected three blankets, which they rolled up tightand bestowed behind the water keg at the stern. Maum Sally had broughtpillows, sheets, and a large mattress, which she earnestly besought themto take, but they declined to add to their cargo any thing which couldbe dispensed with. At the very last moment one of the boys thought ofmatches. It was decided that three small boxes would be sufficient, asthey could keep fire by the exercise of a little caution.

  Thus equipped, they bade Maum Sally good-by, and cast the boat loose.The sail filled, the _Red Bird_ lay a little over upon one side, withthe wind nearly abeam, and the boys settled themselves into theirplaces.

  "I say, young Ned," called Maum Sally, "how long's ye mean to be gone?"

  "Oh, I don't know. May be a month," was the reply.

  "Well, not a day longer 'n dat, now mind."