SIGNS OF TROUBLE.
Bob was decidedly disturbed by this desire of the men to be taken from
the key. If the story they told was true, he had every reason to expect
from the first that such would be their request; and yet, now that he
began to discern their true character, it was with considerable surprise
he learned that they wished to link their fortunes with his, at least to
the extent of leaving the island.
"I don't want sich as them around," he muttered as he left the cabin and
went forward to where Joe was sitting in the shade of the jib with his
chin in his hands, trying to devise some simple plan for pulling the
brig into deep water.
"There's no way it can be done except by setting the sheet anchor thirty
or forty fathoms toward the mouth of the harbor and working down to it
by sheer expenditure of muscle."
"Never mind that just now," Bob replied gloomily, "for there's another
question to be settled. What do you s'pose that crowd in the cabin
want?"
"I reckon they're counting on our taking them away," Joe replied
laughingly. "Most any fellow who had been marooned on this key would
like to leave."
"But I don't believe their yarn about bein' left behind, unless they
were up to some mischief an' the captain didn't know what else to do
with 'em."
"They ain't very pleasant-looking customers, for a fact; but yet they
may be honest sailors."
"I don't take any stock in it, or they'd never carry sail as they do.
The red-nosed fellow was heavin' plates at Harry when I went below, an'
they tried to make me believe the boy had been givin' 'em impudence. Now
they promise to do full work if we'll take them with us."
"And I reckon that's just about what you'll have to do, Bob. It would be
cruel to leave them here; and, besides, we shall need the whole crowd
before the Bonita can be floated. If I could repair the tug in any
reasonable length of time, it would be another matter; but since that
can't be done, on account of the damage to the steam-chest, there's a
good deal of heavy work ahead."
"Then your advice is to tell 'em they can stay aboard," Bob said
moodily.
"I don't see what else you can do, more especially since it might be
awkward if they should conclude to remain whether we wanted them or
not."
Bob was silent several moments, and then he said impatiently:
"I reckon you're right; but it goes mightily agin the grain to take sich
cattle as them along. Howsomever, 'what can't be cured must be
endured;' but I'll have my weather-eye liftin' all the time, so they'd
better keep out of mischief. The sooner we get an anchor over the
better, an' I'll call 'em, so's they can give us a sample of their
work."
He was spared the labor of going below again, for just at that moment
the three men came on deck, and at once made their way forward.
"I hope you ain't goin' to refuse us a chance to give you a lift," the
red-nosed man said in a whining tone; and Bob replied, without so much
as looking at his guests:
"Joe thinks we haven't got the right to say no; an', besides, we shall
need a pretty big force to work the brig off the sand. S'posin' you take
hold an' help us lay out an anchor astern?"
"All right! You boss the job an' we'll stand by for every pound of
strength we've got."
Since there was no possibility of using the tug, it would be necessary
to set about the task as Joe had said, and Bob explained to the
apparently willing workers exactly how it was to be performed.
"We've got to lay out the sheet-anchor, backin' it if the holdin'-ground
ain't good," he said, addressing his conversation to the strangers, but
looking directly at Joe. "She plumped on here pretty strong, I'll allow;
but it wasn't more'n half-tide when we struck, an' she oughter be worked
off in two or three floods. One of you get the boat around, an' I reckon
it won't take very long to make ready for the job."
The yawl was staunch enough to stand up under the weight of the
stream-anchor, and while the Mexican was pulling her to the port bow,
Bob rove a tackle on the yard-arm by which to raise the heavy mass of
metal.
Seeing that some important work was in progress the three boys came to
assist; but the old sailor quickly dispensed with their services.
"Stay aft, lads. There's force enough here for this job, an' by 'tendin'
to the grub I reckon you'll be doin' your full share."
Neither of the boys objected to this plan. They had good reason to
dislike the strangers, and were not desirous of coming in any closer
contact with them than was absolutely necessary.
By the aid of the tackle the five men soon had the anchor in the boat
with a manilla hawser, one end of which was made fast to the winch,
coiled on top.
Then the red-nosed man and Bob pulled the yawl straight away from the
brig's stern, while the Mexican hove the fakes overboard as the distance
was widened. This portion of the task was slow and wearisome, for the
weight of the hawser caused the boat to hang despite the vigorous
efforts at the oars; but the desired position was finally gained, and
after a great deal of tugging and straining the anchor was dropped.
Joe had two or three turns of the cable around the winch, and all hands
began heaving on the bars until the stout rope was fairly taut, after
which a sloper was put to it, and the laborers sat down in the shade
for a breathing spell.
The work was now completed until the tide should rise; and then, if the
brig could not be pulled off, it would be necessary to break out some of
the cargo in order to lighten her.
The most captious could have found no fault with the new members of the
crew while this portion of the task was being performed. They pulled and
hauled with a will, making no effort to shirk any particularly severe
duty, and striving earnestly to finish the job in the least possible
space of time.
When the heavy anchor was laid-out astern Joe congratulated himself on
this addition to their number, and said to Bob, as they were stretched
out on the deck while the strangers had gone toward the scuttle-butt:
"It seems as if our taking them aboard was a big piece of luck. I'll
admit that they are not over and above pleasant-looking; but think of
the difference in the work. With no one but the boys to help us, you and
I would have been all day setting the anchor. Now we've got a good crew
of five, and there's no question about our being able to sail the brig."
"You're right, Joe," Bob said thoughtfully; "an' I s'pose I'm a reg'lar
old woman. The way they acted at first riled me so much that I couldn't
see any good in 'em; but we'd be in a mighty tight place, now the tug is
disabled, if they wasn't here."
Then the two discussed matters relative to hauling the brig from her
bed of sand, and gave no heed to the strangers, who were amidships
conversing in low tones, as if fearful of being overheard.
Their consultation was evidently satisfactory to all concerned, for the
red-nosed man said, as the question under discussion was brought to a
close:
"She'll come away in a couple of tides at the longest. As near as I can
make out she only hangs from the waist up, and if the anchor holds, five
of us ought to yank her off without much trouble. We must be ready to
carry out our plans at a moment's notice."
Then the men separated to walk about the after part of the brig in an
apparently aimless manner; but all three met in the cabin a few moments
later, much to the discomfort of Walter, who was clearing off the table
and putting things to rights generally.
It seemed as if the strangers had not counted on finding any one below,
for they looked at each other questioningly a moment, and then the thin
man asked:
"Why don't you go into the galley, where you belong?"
"Because it's my turn to clear up the cabin," Walter replied as he
continued his work. "Harry is washing the dishes and Jim's cooking
dinner."
The boy had no fear of violence since Bob interrupted the scene at the
breakfast-table; and, besides, he was engaged in necessary work;
therefore after answering the question he paid no further attention to
the men, save that he noticed the Mexican walking to and fro, peeping
into such of the state-rooms as were open.
"Well, you needn't stay any longer," the thin man said gruffly. "If
you're goin' to live aboard ship the first thing to learn is that you've
got no business aft, when any one else is here, except while waiting on
the table."
"I can't go till the work is done," Walter replied innocently, as he
continued the task with no change of manner save to move more quickly.
"What do you mean by answering in that manner?" the red-nosed man asked
angrily as he seized the boy by the collar and dragged him toward the
companion-way. "If you don't know your place it's time somebody gave you
a few lessons."
Walter was both surprised and alarmed by this sudden attack. It had not
occurred to him that he was doing anything wrong by remaining; but the
grip on his neck was so strong, and seemingly vicious, that it was
certain some terrible punishment would follow, and he screamed loudly
for Harry.
Up to this moment it is hardly probable that the man had any idea of
doing more than eject him from the cabin, because he did not wish to
arouse Bob's anger again; but Walter's screams made him furious, and he
boxed the boy's ears half a dozen times with no gentle force.
Matters were in this condition when the other boys came running aft, and
one glance was sufficient to call forth all their anger.
"Hi! Bob!" Jim yelled, and Harry rushed boldly into the cabin as he
cried:
"If you touch him again I'll knock you down!"
Having been summoned from his labors so suddenly, he had not stopped
even to lay aside the coffee-pot he was cleaning, and this now served as
a weapon. Raising it above his head he ran forward to strike Walter's
assailant; but he had hardly taken half a dozen steps when a blow from
the red-nosed man felled him senseless to the floor.
Quickly as all this happened, Bob answered Jim's shrill appeal before
another move could be made, and Harry had but just fallen when the old
sailor leaped below.
"What mischief are you scoundrels up to now?" he cried angrily as he
assumed a position of defense after pulling Walter from the man's grasp.
"It seems to me you're playin' a pretty high hand for sailors who have
been saved from starvin'!"
"So far we've minded our own business and done all the work we could,"
he with the red nose said firmly; "but because you've helped us off the
key there's no reason why we should take all the airs these cubs choose
to put on. After you've heard their story an' cooled down a bit we'll
talk with you, but not before!"
Then with a swagger which was probably intended as a show of dignity the
man went on deck, followed by his companions, just as Joe came below to
see if his services were required.