by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER V.
CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK.
Donald seated himself on a rock, with his gaze directed towards Belfast.His particular desire just then was to see Samuel Rodman, in order tolearn whether he was to have the job of building the Maud. He felt ableto do it, and even then, as he thought of the work, he had in his mindthe symmetrical lines of the new yacht, as they were to be after thechange in the model which his father had explained to him. He recalled asuggestion of a small increase in the size of the mainsail, which hadoccurred to him when he sailed the Sea Foam. His first aspiration wasonly to build a yacht; his second was to build one that would beatanything of her inches in the fleet. If he could realize this lastambition, he would have all the business he could do.
The yacht fleet did not appear up the bay; but it was only nine o'clockin the morning, and possibly the meeting of the club would not takeplace till afternoon. If any one had told him the hour, he had forgottenit, but the former meeting had been in the forenoon. He was too nervousto sit still a great while, and, rising, he walked about, musing uponhis grand scheme. The place was an elevated platform of rock, a portionof it covered with soil to the depth of several feet, on which the grassgrew. It was not far above the water even at high tide, nor were thebluffs very bold. The plateau was on a peninsula, extending to the northfrom the island, which was not unlike the head of a turtle, and theshape had given it a name. Donald walked back and forth on the headland,watching for the fleet.
"I wonder if Laud Cavendish was digging for clams up here," thought he,as he observed a spot where the earth appeared to have been disturbed.
The marks of Laud's clam-digger were plainly to be seen in the loam, asmall quantity of which remained on the sod. Certainly the swell hadbeen digging there; but it could not have been for clams; and Donald wastrying to imagine what it was for, when he heard footsteps near him.Coming towards him, he discovered Captain Shivernock, of the city; andhe had two problems to solve instead of one; not very important ones, itis true, but just such as are suggested to everybody at times. Perhapsit did not make the least difference to the young man whether or not heascertained why Laud Cavendish had been digging on the Head, or whyCaptain Shivernock happened to be on the island, apparently without anyboat, at that time in the morning. I do not think Donald would havegiven a nickel five-cent piece to have been informed correctly uponeither point, though he did propose the question to himself in eachcase. Probably Laud had no particular object in view in digging--theground did not look as though he had; and Captain Shivernock was oddenough to do anything, or to be anywhere, at the most unseasonablehours.
"How are you, Don John?" shouted the captain, as he came within hailingdistance of Donald.
"How do you do, Captain Shivernock," replied the young man, rathercoldly, for he had no regard, and certainly no admiration, for the man.
"You are just the man I wanted to see," added the captain.
Donald could not reciprocate the sentiment, and, not being a hypocrite,he made no reply. The captain seemed to be somewhat fatigued and out ofbreath, and immediately seated himself on the flat rock which the youngman had occupied. He was not more than five feet and a half high, butwas tolerably stout. The top of his head was as bald as a winter squash;but extending around the back of his head from ear to ear was a heavyfringe of red hair. His whiskers were of the same color; but, as agebegan to bleach them out under the chin, he shaved this portion of hisfigure-head, while his side whiskers and mustache were very long. He wasdressed in a complete suit of gray, and wore a coarse braided straw hat.
Captain Shivernock, as I have more than once hinted, was an eccentricman. He had been a shipmaster in the earlier years of his life, and hadmade a fortune by some lucky speculations during the War of theRebellion, in which he took counsel of his interest rather than hispatriotism. He had a strong will, a violent temper, and an implacablehatred to any man who had done him an injury, either actually orconstructively. It was said that he was as faithful and devoted in hisfriendships as he was bitter and relentless in his hatreds; but no onein the city, where he was a very unpopular man, had any particularexperience of the soft side of his character. He was a native ofLincolnville, near Belfast, though he had left his home in his youth. Hehad a fine house in the city, and lived in good style. He was said to bea widower, and had no children. The husband of his housekeeper was theman of all work about his place, and both of them had come with theiremployer from New York.
He seldom did anything like other people. He never went to church, wouldnever put his name upon a subscription paper, however worthy the object,though he had been known to give a poor man an extravagant reward for aslight service. He would not pay his taxes till the fangs of the lawworried the money out of him, but would give fifty dollars for the firstsalmon or the first dish of peaches of the season for his table. He wasas full of contradictions as he was of oddities, and no one knew how totake him. One moment he seemed to be hoarding his money like a miser,and the next scattering it with insane prodigality.
"I'm tired out, Don John," added Captain Shivernock, as he seatedhimself, fanning his red face with his hat.
"Have you walked far, sir?" asked Donald, who was well acquainted withthe captain; for his father had worked on his boat, and he was often inthe shop.
"I believe I have hoofed it about ten miles this morning," repliedCaptain Shivernock with an oath; and he had a wicked habit ofornamenting every sentence he used with a profane expletive, which Ishall invariably omit.
"Then you have walked nearly the whole length of the island."
"Do you mean to tell me I lie?" demanded the captain.
"Certainly not, sir," protested Donald.
"My boat got aground down here. I started early this morning to go downto Vinal Haven; but I'm dished now, and can't go," continued CaptainShivernock, so interlarding with oaths this simple statement that itlooks like another thing divested of them.
"Where did you get aground?" asked Donald.
"Down by Seal Harbor."
"About three miles from here."
"Do you think I lied to you?"
"By no means, sir."
Donald could not divine how the captain had got aground near SealHarbor, if he was bound from Belfast to Vinal Haven, though it waspossible that the wind had been more to the southward early in themorning, compelling him to beat down the bay; but it was not prudent toquestion anything the captain said.
"I ran in shore pretty well, and took the ground. I tried for half anhour to get the Juno off, but I was soon left high and dry on the beach.I anchored her where she was, and I'm sorry now I didn't set her afire,"explained the captain.
"Set her afire!" exclaimed Donald.
"That's what I said. She shall never play me such a trick again,"growled the strange man.
"Why, it wasn't the fault of the boat."
"Do you mean to say it was my fault?" demanded the captain, ripping outa string of oaths that made Donald shiver.
"It was an accident which might happen to any one."
"Do you think I didn't know what I was about?"
"I suppose you did, sir; but any boat may get aground."
"Not with me! if she did I'd burn her or sell her for old junk. I neverwill sail in her again after I get home. I know what I'm about."
"Of course you do, sir."
"Got a boat here?" suddenly demanded the eccentric.
"Yes, sir; I have our sail-boat."
"Take me down to Seal Harbor in her," added the captain, rising from hisseat.
"I don't think I can go, sir."
"Don't you? What's the reason you can't?" asked the captain, with asneer on his lips.
"I have to meet the yacht club here."
Captain Shivernock cursed the yacht club with decided unction, andinsisted that Donald should convey him in his boat to the place wherethe Juno was at anchor.
"I have to measure the yachts when they come, sir."
"Measure--" but the place the captain suggested was
not capable ofmeasurement. "I'll pay you well for going."
"I should not ask any pay if I could go," added Donald, glancing up thebay to see if the fleet was under way.
"I say I will pay you well, and you will be a fool if you don't go withme."
"The yachts haven't started yet, and perhaps I shall have time to getback before they arrive."
"I don't care whether you get back or not; I want you to go."
"I will go, sir, and run the risk," replied Donald, as he led the waydown to the boat.
Shoving her off, he helped the captain into her, and hoisted the sail.
"What boat's that over there?" demanded Captain Shivernock, as hepointed at the craft sailed by Laud Cavendish, which was still standingon towards Searsport.
Donald told him who was in her.
"Don't go near her," said he, sternly. "I always want a good milebetween me and that puppy."
"He is bound to Camden, and won't get there for a week at that rate,"added Donald.
"Don't care if he don't," growled the passenger.
"I don't know that I do, either," added the skipper. "Laud wants to buya boat, and perhaps you can sell him yours, if you are tired of her."
"Shut up!"
Donald did "shut up," and decided not to make any more talk with thecaptain, only to give him civil answers. Ordinarily he would as soonhave thought of wrestling with a Bengal tiger as of carrying on aconversation with such a porcupine as his passenger, who scrupled not toinsult man or boy without the slightest provocation. In a few momentsthe skipper tacked, having weathered the Head, and stood into the littlebay west of it.
"Don John," said Captain Shivernock, sharply, fixing his gaze upon theskipper.
"Sir?"
The captain took his wallet from his pocket. It was well filled withgreenbacks, from which he took several ten-dollar bills--five or six ofthem, at least.
"I will pay you," said he.
"I don't ask any pay for this, sir. I am willing to do you a favor fornothing."
"Hold your tongue, you fool! A favor?" sneered the eccentric. "Do youthink I would ask a little monkey like you to do me a favor?"
"I won't call it a favor, sir."
"Better not. There! take that," and Captain Shivernock shoved the billshe had taken from his wallet into Donald's hand.
"No, sir! I can't take all that, if I do anything," protested theskipper, amazed at the generosity of his passenger. The captain, with asudden spring, grasped a short boat-hook which lay between the rail andthe wash-board.
"Put that money into your pocket, or I'll smash your head; and you won'tbe the first man I've killed, either," said the violent passenger.
Donald did not find the money hard to take on its own merits, and heconsiderately obeyed the savage order. His pride, which revolted at theidea of being paid for a slight service rendered to a neighbor, waseffectually conquered. He put the money in his pocket; but as soon asthe captain laid down the boat-hook, he took it out to count it, andfound there was fifty dollars. He deposited it carefully in his wallet.
"You don't mean to pay me all that money for this little job?" said he.
"Do you think I don't know what I mean?" snarled the passenger.
"I suppose you do, sir."
"You suppose I do!" sneered the cynic. "You know I do."
"Fifty dollars is a great deal of money for such a little job."
"That's none of your business. Don John, you've got a tongue in yourhead!" said Captain Shivernock, pointing his finger at the skipper, andglowering upon him as though he was charging him with some heinouscrime.
"I am aware of it, sir," replied Donald.
"Do you know what a tongue is for?" demanded the captain.
"It is of great assistance to one in talking."
"Don't equivocate, you sick monkey. Do you know what a tongue is for?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's a tongue for?"
"To talk with, and--"
"That's enough! I thought you would say so. You are an ignorant whelp."
"Isn't the tongue to talk with?"
"No!" roared the passenger.
"What is it for, then?" asked Donald, who did not know whether to bealarmed or amused at the manner of his violent companion.
"It's to keep still with, you canting little monkey! And that's what Iwant you to do with your tongue," replied Captain Shivernock.
"I don't think I understand you, sir."
"I don't think you do. How could you, when I haven't told you what Imean. Listen to me." The eccentric paused, and fixed his gaze earnestlyupon the skipper.
"Have you seen me this morning?" demanded he.
"Of course I have."
"No, you haven't!"
"I really thought I had."
"Thought's a fool, and you're another! You haven't seen me. If anybodyin Belfast asks you if you have seen me, tell 'em you haven't."
"If the tongue isn't to talk with, it isn't to tell a lie with," addedDonald.
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the captain; "you've got me there."
He produced his wallet again, and took a ten-dollar bill from the rollit contained, which he tendered to Donald.
"What's that for?" asked the skipper.
"Put it in your pocket, or I'll mash your empty skull!"
Donald placed it with the other bills in his wallet, more than everamazed at the conduct of his singular passenger.
"I never allow anyone to get ahead of me without paying for my ownstupidity. Do you go to Sunday School, and church, and missionarymeetings?" asked the captain, with a sneer.
"I do, sir."
"I thought so. You are a sick monkey. You don't let your tongue tell alie."
"No, sir; I don't mean to tell a lie, if I can help it, and I generallycan."
"You walk in the strait and narrow way which leads to the meeting-house.I don't. All right! Broad is the way! But one thing is certain, DonJohn, you haven't seen me to-day."
"But I have," persisted Donald.
"I say you have not; don't contradict me, if you want to take that headof yours home with you. Nobody will ask whether you have seen me or not;so that if a lie is likely to choke you, keep still with your tongue."
"I am not to say that I have seen you on the island?" queried Donald.
"You are not," replied the captain, with an echoing expletive.
"Why not, sir?"
"None of your business! Do as you are told, and spend the money I gaveyou for gingerbread and fast horses."
"But when my mother sees this money she will want to know where I gotit."
"If you tell her or anybody else, I'll hammer your head till it isn'tthicker than a piece of sheet-iron. Don't let her see the money. Hire afast horse, and go to ride next Sunday."
"I don't go to ride on Sunday."
"I suppose not. Give it to the missionaries to buy red flannel shirtsfor little niggers in the West Indies, if you like. I don't care whatyou do with it."
"You don't wish anybody to know you have been on the island thismorning--is that the idea, Captain Shivernock?" asked Donald, not alittle alarmed at the position in which his companion was placing him.
"That's the idea, Don John."
"I don't see why--"
"You are not to see why," interrupted the captain, fiercely. "That's mybusiness, not yours. Will you do as I tell you?"
"If there is any trouble--"
"There isn't any trouble. Do you think I've killed somebody?--No. Do youthink I've robbed somebody?--No. Do you think I've set somebody's houseon fire?--No. Do you think I've stolen somebody's chickens?--No. Nothingof the sort. I want to know whether you can keep your tongue still. Letus see. There's the Juno."
"Somebody will see your boat, and know that you have been here--"
"That's my business, not yours. Don't bother your head with what don'tconcern you," growled the passenger.
The Juno was afloat, but she could not have been so many minutes, whenDonald came alongside of her. It was now a
bout half tide on the flood,and she must have grounded at about half tide on the ebb. This factindicated that Captain Shivernock had left her at four o'clock in themorning. The owner of the Juno stepped into her, and Donald hoisted thesail for him. The boat was cat-rigged, and about twenty-four feet long.She was a fine craft, with a small cabin forward, furnished with everyconvenience the limited space would permit. The captain seated himselfin the standing-room, and began to heap maledictions upon the boat.
"I never will sail in her again," said he. "I will burn her, and get acentre-board boat."
"What will you take for her, sir?" asked Donald.
"Do you want her, Don John?" demanded the captain.
"I couldn't afford to keep her; but I will sell her for you."
"Sell--" it is no matter what; but Captain Shivernock suddenly leapedback into Donald's boat, and her skipper wondered what he intended to donext. "She is yours, Don John!" he exclaimed.
"To sell for you?"
"No! Sell her, if you like, but put the money in your own pocket. I willsail up in your boat, and you may go to Jerusalem in the Juno, if youlike. I will never get into her again," added the captain, spitefully.
"But, Captain Shivernock, you surely don't mean to _give_ me this boat."
"Do you think I don't know what I mean?" roared the strange man, after along string of expletives. "She is yours, now; not mine. I'll give you abill of sale as soon as I go ashore. Not another word, or I'll poundyour head. Don't tell anybody I gave her to you, or that you have seenme. If you do there will be a job for a coffin-maker."
The captain shoved off the boat, and laid her course across the bay,evidently to avoid Laud Cavendish, whose craft was a mile distant; forhe had probably put in at Searsport. Donald weighed the anchor of theJuno, and sailed for Turtle Head, hardly knowing whether he was himselfor somebody else, so amazed was he at the strange conduct of his latepassenger. He could not begin to comprehend it, and he did not have tostrain his logic very much in coming to the conclusion that the captainwas insane.