by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VI.
A LIVELY CHASE.
In a few minutes our bow and stern lines were fast to the wharf wherethe Shepards were waiting for their steam-yacht. Owen leaped ashorebefore the vessel was fairly alongside, though he had not yet come to afull comprehension of what had happened. He knew something was thematter, but he could not tell what it was.
As soon as the Sylvania was made fast I went on shore. Colonel Shepardseemed to be bewildered, for Owen had just told him the Islander hadgone down the river. The rest of the family were quite as muchastonished as the husband and father. Chloe, the colored servant, wasactually wringing her hands, as though she feared another conspiracywas about to be developed.
"Where is the Islander, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel, as Ipresented myself before him.
"She has gone down the river; and the last I saw of her, she wasshaking out her fore-topsail," I replied.
"But what does that mean?" added Colonel Shepard, with a frown.
"I'm sure I don't know, sir. She got under way about half-past six. Isupposed Captain Blastblow was about to take a turn or two in herbefore he ran up to the wharf. It is now quarter-past seven, and theIslander is still making her way down the river. You can see her acrossthe land, though only her spars are in sight."
I pointed out the tapering masts of our consort--if she was to be ourconsort--in the distance. Presently she disappeared behind a forest ofpine.
"I don't understand it at all," said the perplexed owner of the strayyacht. "What does Captain Blastblow mean by treating me in this manner,when I ordered him to be at this wharf precisely at seven?"
"I can't explain it, sir," I replied. "There is clearly somemisunderstanding about the matter."
"You saw me write the card at the post-office last night, CaptainAlick: and I sent it off by the young man who was with you."
"Yes, sir; Nick Boomsby took the card; and I have no doubt he deliveredit, for he came on board of the Sylvania towards night.
"I think Captain Blastblow intends to return soon," I added, for Icould not think of any explanation of his singular conduct. I certainlycould not reason out any plausible occasion for such a violation of hisorders as that in which he seemed to be engaged.
"Perhaps he has run off with the yacht, and intends to become a pirate,or something of that sort," suggested Gus Shepard.
"Nonsense, my son! The Islander is not an armed vessel, and CaptainBlastblow is not a pirate," replied Colonel Shepard. "Do you supposeanything was out of order on board of the steamer, Captain Alick?"
"It is possible; but if such was the case, the captain would hardlyhave gone so far down the river," I replied. "If the Islander hadneeded any more repairs, Captain Blastblow would have remained inJacksonville and attended to them."
"Perhaps he wishes to become better acquainted with the vessel beforehe takes her to sea," added the colonel.
"He might have done that yesterday. He would not have waited until youwere ready to sail, and then gone off on an experimental cruise," Ianswered.
"An experimental cruise!" exclaimed Owen. "What a terrible expression.I hope Captain Blastblow don't use such expressions. If he does, he hasgone out to sea where he can have room enough to unsnarl his tongue."
"Captain Blastblow is an American, and he is used to such littletrials," I replied.
"What shall be done?" asked Colonel Shepard.
"I think you had better go on board of the Sylvania, with your baggage,and we will stand down the river," I replied, promptly, for I had keptthis idea in my mind for some time. "We can at least follow theIslander, and when we come up with her you can go on board of her."
"Are you sure you can overtake her, Captain Alick?" asked ColonelShepard, with a smile, as though he had some doubts in regard to therelative speed of the two steam-yachts. "Captain Blastblow is confidentthat he can outsail the Sylvania."
"I don't say that he cannot; but if he does, he has learned a new trickin handling her," I answered, with energy. "I have sailed the Sylvaniaagainst the Islander on the Great Lakes more than once, and have notfound the time when I could not beat her."
"Her new captain claims to be a very skilful man in handling steamers,"added the colonel.
"If you and your family will come on board, sir, I will do the best Ican to overtake the Islander, and ascertain what the conduct of hercaptain means. If we have anything like fair play, we shall overhaulthe Islander sometime to-day," I continued, confidently. "We are bothwell down in the water, with our coal-bunkers and water-tanks full. Sheis nearly an hour ahead of us now, and her captain was hurrying her allhe could."
Owen was delighted with the decision of Colonel Shepard when heaccepted my invitation. He had regained his divinity, and he conductedher on board of the Sylvania, while the colonel assisted Mrs. Shepard.Owen escorted Miss Edith to the pilot-house, and her mother went downinto the cabin, for the morning was rather raw and chilly. Margie tookher dear friend to her heart, and hoped the Sylvania would neverovertake the Islander.
"You must let the other steamer keep ahead, Captain Alick," saidMargie, as I took my place at the wheel, when the baggage had been puton board.
"That would be treason to the Sylvania and treason to Colonel Shepard,"I replied, as I rang the bell to start the steamer.
I knew the river well enough to go ahead confidently, and I had giventhe chief-engineer a hint as to what I expected of him. In a fewminutes, the little steamer was buzzing along at the rate of elevenmiles an hour. The only thing I feared was fog, and there seemed to begreat banks of it off in the direction of the mouth of the river.
"Mr. Washburn," I called through the windows in front of me.
"On deck, sir," replied the mate.
"Call all hands, and set the fore-topsail."
"Ay, ay, sir," responded Washburn; and I knew there would be no lack ofzeal on his part when we came to an out-and-out race.
All hands usually consisted of the two deck hands; but Ben Bowman, thesecond fireman, and the cabin-waiter were available when there was anyextra work to be done. Buck Lingley and Hop Tossford, the deck hands,were sent aloft by the mate to loose sails, while the others manned thehalyard and the braces. In a very short time the topsail was drawingfull, and the speed of the vessel was sensibly increased.
"Mr. Washburn!" I called again.
"On deck, sir," responded the mate.
"Set the foresail."
The crew made quick work of it.
"Now the mainsail, Mr. Washburn," I continued.
The wind was quite fresh, and the fore and aft sails caused the steamerto heel over considerably when the puffs came, as they generally do ina south-westerly breeze.
"You will tip us over, Captain Alick!" cried Miss Margie, who had notbeen at sea in the Sylvania.
"I won't do anything of the kind, Miss Tiffany," I replied, with alaugh. "I shall not drown myself for the sake of drowning you, I amvery sure. Mr. Washburn!"
"On deck, sir."
"Set the fore to'gallant sail."
"Ay, ay, sir," chuckled the mate, who understood that I meant businessby this time.
"Pray, which is the fore top-gallant sail, Captain Alick?" asked MissMargie.
"It is the highest sail we set on the foremast, though larger vesselshave a royal above that, then a skysail," I replied. "Mr. Washburn!"
"On deck, sir."
"Now give us the fore squaresail, and run up the jib."
The last order was to set the main gaff-topsail; and then we had allsail on. We turned the bend of the river just after the last sail hadbeen set, which gave us the wind over the starboard quarter. I wasconfident we were making twelve knots an hour, and the skilful firingof Philander Perkins soon made her do even better than this. The waterfairly roared at the bow as the vessel cut through it. The young ladiesin the pilot-house ceased to talk, and Miss Margie held on at the wheelwith both hands. It was lively sailing, but there was no danger, and Itold the fair maiden so many times.
"Then we had all
sail on." _Page 78._]
We all kept a sharp lookout for the Islander, but as yet we saw nothingof her. She had, at least, ten miles the start of us, and it was likelyto be a long chase, if she continued on her course. I wanted very muchto get a sight of her when we reached the bar at the mouth of the St.Johns, so as to determine what course she took.
No progress whatever had been made in solving the problem of theIslander's sudden departure without her owner and passengers. We couldnot imagine any motive on the part of her captain for his singularconduct. My father and Colonel Shepard talked about the matter all thetime; but in the absence of any data they could not get ahead aparticle.
In an hour and a half by the watch we were in sight of the bar. Theweather looked thick and nasty outside, and there was not the slightestsign of the Islander. But we were still in the river, and our view tothe north and south was obstructed by the trees and shrubs on theshores. It was plain enough to me by this time that Captain Blastblowhad no intention of returning to Jacksonville for his passengers.
I kept the Sylvania on her course over the bar, and, as it was fulltide, I had no fear of taking the bottom. We kept on our course till wehad made a good offing. Though the fog had not settled down near thebar, vast piles of it were floating in the air. The question now waswhether the Islander had gone to the north or the south. I had giventhe wheel to Hop Tossford, and I was using the glass very industriouslyin all quarters of the horizon.
"Sail, ho!" shouted Buck Lingley, who had taken his station on the capof the foremast.
"Where away?" I shouted, sticking my head out the side window of thepilot-house.
"Right on the starboard beam," replied Buck.
As the fog lifted a minute later I got a glimpse of the sail.
"It is the Islander!" I shouted, not a little excited. "She is going tothe southward."
"I can't understand it," said Colonel Shepard, shaking his head. "DoesCaptain Blastblow mean to run away with the vessel?"
No one could tell what he meant.