PREPARATIONS.
While it was not possible that those who had stolen the Bonita could
gain possession of the tug so long as her crew exercised ordinary care,
nor probable that they would make any very desperate effort to do so in
her disabled condition, every precaution was taken for the defense of
the steamer and the safety of the treasure.
Immediately after breakfast Bob, Joe and Harry went into the hold, and
the work of stowing the bags among the ballast where it would escape
observation was begun.
The gravel and rocks were first dug away until the keelson was exposed,
and on this timber the gold was packed, after which everything was
replaced as before, leaving the bags buried to the depth of six or eight
inches. The hoard was thus hidden so securely that there was little
chance that it would be found unless the searchers had positive
information of its being on board.
This work was hardly finished when Walter came below with the
information that the two men were leaving the key, and Bob and Joe
hurried on deck, for it was by no means certain some demonstrations
against the steamer would not be made.
In this, however, they were happily mistaken. Neither he with the red
nose nor the Mexican had any idea of trusting their precious bodies
within reach of possible harm; but they stopped the boat fifty or sixty
yards away while the leader shouted:
"Do you still say that you won't lift a hand toward helpin' the brig off
the shoal?"
"There's nothin' we're able to do," Bob replied. "The tug is as useless
as a raft, an' it'll be three weeks at the very soonest before the screw
can be turned. I'm willin', though, to say we wouldn't help you if we
could, so it's no use to do any chinnin'!"
The red-nosed man appeared to think that some vent for his anger was
absolutely necessary, and he catered to this feeling by shaking his fist
threateningly, after which the two rowed out of the cove.
"I don't reckon them kind of monkey-shines will do us much harm," Bob
said philosophically as he walked slowly aft to where Joe had
recommenced his long task of repairing the engine, as if time was too
precious to be wasted on such villains as those in the boat.
"If they're wise we sha'n't see so much as their noses again," the
engineer said. "This craft wouldn't be of any service if we should offer
to give her up, and the scoundrels ought to be in too much of a hurry to
leave the vicinity, where the schooner from Nassau may put in at any
moment, to waste much time on spite-work!"
"I reckon you're about right; but at the same time, it stands us in hand
to be ready if they should take it into their ugly heads to kick up a
row. After we've made sure they're really gone I'll take two of the boys
ashore an' bring off a cask of water. It's got to be done before we can
leave, an' now's as good a time as any."
There was nothing the remainder of the crew could do to help Joe,
however disposed they might be for the task, and he made no objection to
the plan.
The yawl was lowered, an empty cask put on board, and, with Harry in the
stern-sheets, Bob and Jim pulled the little craft out toward the open
water until it was possible to see the enemy fully a mile away as they
rowed around the key.
"We're all right now," Bob said after one glance at the two men.
"There's no chance of them villains getting back before we fill the
cask; so head her for the shore, lad."
It was a difficult job to get the water-butt, after it had been filled,
from the spring to the boat, and the forenoon was well-nigh spent when
the task had been accomplished. The only thing in the laborers' favor
was the fact that the sun no longer sent down such fervent rays upon the
parched land. At about ten o'clock clouds began to gather, and had
continued to do so until the entire heavens were covered as by a veil,
much to Bob's disquietude.
"There's more than rain in them, lads," he said with an ominous shake of
the head when they emerged from the thicket with the unwieldy burden.
"If I ain't 'way out of my reckonin' we'll get a capful of wind from the
east before mornin', an' the Sea Bird stands a slim chance of keepin'
off the shore."
"With both anchors down I don't see how any harm can come to her, no
matter how much of a gale we have," Harry replied as he gazed toward the
trim little steamer, which was moored so securely bow and stern.
"I'm afeared you'll have a chance of seein' how it can be done. This
sandy bottom ain't the best holdin'-ground for an anchor, an' once she
begins to drag nothin' can stop her. Howsomever," he added in a more
cheerful tone, "we needn't croak till the trouble comes; but it's best
to get aboard lively an' make preparations for a dirty night. It won't
take much of a wind to knock the brig to pieces if she's on the outer
edge of the shoal, so we can reckon on that red-nosed villain an' his
mates comin' ashore about sunset."
It was necessary for the rowers to exert all their skill and strength on
the oars to prevent the yawl from being swamped during the return to the
steamer. Already had the sea begun to rise, and the white-capped waves
which now beat heavily against the shore gave token of what force they
would exert when roused to fury by the east wind, which was causing the
trees to wave helplessly to and fro against the gray sky.
The little boat was loaded to the gunwales, and despite every effort
the green water rushed in over the rail very often, much to Harry's
alarm. By pulling around to the starboard bow of the steamer, where they
would be partially sheltered from both wind and wave, it was possible to
get the heavy cask on board without mishap, after which the yawl was
hooked on the falls and hoisted up; otherwise she would speedily have
been stove to pieces against the larger craft.
"It looks as if we were to have a bad night," Joe said when the work was
finished and all hands went aft once more.
"The worst we could have," Bob replied gloomily. "The chances are the
steamer will be driven ashore, and there's no question about those
villains leaving the brig; so unless this wind takes a different slant
before sunset we can count on bein' penned up on the island with them as
jolly companions. But we can't afford to moon 'round very long tellin'
what's goin' to happen, for there's plenty of work to be done. The
awnin' must be taken down an' the cables overhauled."
Then he called for the boys to "bear a hand," and soon all were busily
preparing for what was apparently the inevitable.
By the time the deck had been cleared and everything made snug the Sea
Bird was dancing about like a cork, flinging the spray fore and aft as
she came up on the cables with a thud that caused the timbers to creak,
or plunging her bow under until the deck was awash.
At five o'clock in the afternoon the gale was full upon them, coming
directly out of the east, and so furiously did the little craft toss and
pitch that Bob took the precaution of stretching life-lines fore and
aft. The cables had been slackened to give plenty of scope; but she
overrode the bow anchor until one would have fancied, from the savage
jerks which the steamer gave, that it had been hove short.
There was no thought of cooking. Jim could hardly have remained on his
feet in the galley, for the swell was shorter and more violent than it
would have been on the open ocean; therefore the anxious ones were
forced to eat dry ship's-biscuit with the poor consolation in mind that
before morning all their stores might be at the bottom of the sea.
The boys were in the pilot-house, where they could have a view of all
that was going on and yet be in a position to render immediate
assistance if it was needed. Joe and Bob remained on deck despite the
spray which fell like rain; and the former said to the old sailor toward
night, as he made his way forward after great difficulty:
"We can get some pleasure out of the fact that the men haven't come
ashore from the brig. There's no chance of their making harbor in the
teeth of this wind, and we can count on having got rid of them."
"That's where you make a mistake, my hearty. They most likely landed two
or three hours ago, runnin' down the western shore, where they'd find
sheltered water. Them men ain't fools if they are villains, an' by noon
knowed the brig couldn't hold together much longer. The chances are she
was bilged two hours ago, an' has gone to pieces by this time."
Joe went aft again, looking more disconsolate than ever. He had felt
positive the enemy had not abandoned the vessel, and his disappointment
was all the greater because this hope had been so strong.
When the gray light of day gave place to the darkness of night the
anchors still held; but the steamer was laboring so much on account of
the bow hawser that Bob decided it would be necessary to shift the
strain, despite the danger attendant upon such an undertaking.
"All hands on deck!" he shouted at the door of the pilot-house, adding
warningly, as the boys crept out, "keep a firm hold of the life-lines,
lads, for he who falls overboard will stand a poor chance of saving
himself."
To make the proposed change it was necessary to carry the cable astern
after it was cast off the bitt, for all the slack had long since been
let out, and rapidity of movement was as essential as strength.
"Wait till she buries her nose once more, an' then rush when she rises,"
Bob shouted as he threw off two or three turns of the rope.
Up, up the little craft rose as the great green waves swept beneath, and
then when the hawser chucked her and the fall began, the signal was
given:
"All hands with a will now!" the old sailor shouted; and in an instant
the crew were rushing madly aft, the heavy cable nearly dragging them
from their feet.
Bob had been correct as to the precise time when this maneuver should be
executed; but he failed to give due consideration to the force the
under-tow would exert in such shoal water. The hawser had but just been
loosened from the bitt when the drag of the waters began. All hands
clung with a force born of desperation; but their efforts were vain.
A crew of giants could not have resisted the strain upon the wet,
iron-like rope, and Bob shouted wildly when he was almost at the
taffrail:
"Let go! For your lives let go!"
Fortunately this order was obeyed before any one had been injured in the
rush, and as the hawser disappeared over the stern Joe muttered half to
himself, but so loud that Harry could distinguish the words:
"We've done all we could to wreck the little craft. It would have been
better to let her labor with the risk of chafing the rope apart, rather
than deliberately throw one anchor away when two hardly held her!"