NASSAU.
The three boys and Joe were given quarters in the yacht's cabin, but
nothing Mr. Vandyne could say would induce Bob to remain aft.
"For an old shell-back like me the only place is the fo'castle," he said
in reply to all their arguments. "It don't stand to reason that a sailor
would be comfortable anywhere else, an' I'd be like a fish out of water
if I couldn't go on watch with the others of my kind."
"But what's the use of working when father expects you to be his guest?"
Harry asked; and Bob replied, with a hearty laugh:
"Workin'? Why it's nothin' more'n the rarest kind of a lark to help
handle a craft like this! She's fitter for a gold frame an' hung up as
a' ornament than to carry sich old barnacles as me! Bless you, lad, I
wouldn't miss my trick at the wheel on a beauty like this any sooner'n
I'd lose the gold we've had so much trouble in the savin'!"
Mr. Vandyne recognized the fact that the voyage would indeed be a
disagreeable one to the old sailor if he was forced to play the part of
passenger, and nothing more was said on the subject, although both
Harry and Walter tried in vain many times afterward to coax him into the
cabin at meal time.
It may be supposed that the boys had experienced so many trials on the
sea that they simply looked forward to being on land once more,
surrounded by the comforts of home; but this was not so. The Lorlie was
in every respect a beautiful craft, and sailing in her was so different
from what it had been on the brig that it seemed almost like another
kind of traveling. This, in connection with the fact that all mental
troubles were banished, served to make the short trip to Nassau most
enjoyable.
It would be necessary for Mr. Vandyne to remain at this port two or
three days in order to complete the preparations for saving the Bonita's
cargo; but no one thought of taking up quarters on shore when it was
possible to live so comfortably aboard the yacht.
And now a word is necessary to explain why Harry's father interested
himself in this work, which at first thought would seem too trifling to
cause an extension of the cruise when Mrs. Vandyne and Mrs. Morse were
anxiously waiting to greet once more the sons whom they had mourned as
dead. This explanation seems to be the final link in the chain of
mysterious or unaccountable occurrences which went to make up the career
of the runaway brig.
Mr. Vandyne owned one-third of the Bonita, and the first intimation he
had of her abandonment was through the newspaper article which apprised
him of his son's safety; therefore his business in Nassau was
concerning the saving of his own property. It did seem remarkable,
however, that Harry had been carried off by one of his father's vessels
which at the time was supposed to be half-way across the Atlantic.
"I am confident that Bob's theory as to the reason for her abandonment
is the correct one," Mr. Vandyne said shortly after leaving the key,
when they were discussing the matter, "and my reason for the belief is
founded on a similar accident which happened to one of the first vessels
I ever owned. She was bound to Genoa from New Orleans, also with a cargo
of alcohol. One day during moderately fine weather there was a sudden
explosion in the hold, which burst the tarpaulin and shattered the
hatch. The captain saw dense volumes of what he thought smoke, and
ordered all hands to abandon ship. They did get into the boats, but
before casting off had the same experience you had, and the ship was
saved. In the Bonita's case I have no doubt but that the boats foundered
shortly after the crew left, although possibly they were picked up by
some outward-bound craft, and we shall hear from them later."
It was necessary for those who had been taken from the key to spend no
small amount of time on shore giving evidence concerning the loss of the
brig, that there might be no delay regarding payment of the insurance;
and while attending to these matters they met an old acquaintance to
whom they were deeply indebted.
This was none other than the captain of the schooner which had visited
the island in search of the murderers, and who gave the information
leading to their rescue.
"I was jes' thinkin' I'd run across the shoals an' see how you was
gettin' on," he said, after a hearty greeting; "but I reckoned you had
the steamer patched up before I got back from the States."
Joe related briefly their misadventures on the key, and also the
particulars of the rescue, concluding by asking if the red-nosed man and
his companions had been captured.
"I'm mighty glad that what we did in Savannah brought your friends on.
I'd been blamin' myself for not stoppin' here when we come back; but as
things turned out, a delay of two hours would 'a' given them villains
the chance of showin' us their heels."
"Then you caught 'em?" Bob asked eagerly.
"That's jes' what we did, an' no mistake, though it was a close shave.
We was comin' down past Egg Key, with a full breeze, when I saw a yawl
edgin' inshore, like as if her crew wanted to get out of sight. None of
us expected that gang was aboard, knowin' as how they'd stole your brig;
but I thought it wouldn't do any harm to cut in between them and the
land. Two hours later an' they'd 'a' been on the shoals, where we
couldn't follow."
"Did they show fight?" Bob asked.
"They attempted to, but we was fixed for jes' sich a crowd. When we
hove-to not fifty yards off, an' showed the muzzles of half a dozen
rifles, every one of 'em quieted down like lambs. We clapped irons on
the gang, an' next day they were here in jail. It was hard work to prove
the murder on 'em, although everybody knew they did it. They were
sentenced yesterday to twenty years' imprisonment, an' us who live
around here feel a good deal more easy in mind, because it wasn't safe
for a man to travel very far alone while they were free."
Then the captain insisted on the boys going with him to the coral-reefs,
where the spongers were at work, and a very pleasant afternoon did they
spend.
There were to be seen, by aid of a glass, sponges of all varieties, from
the "sheep's wool" and "velvet" to the bright scarlet "gloves," which
grow in the shape of huge hands, and owe their peculiar color to the
insects which build them. Reef-sponges, yet covered with their
manufacturers and black as a coal; wire sponges, and gray ones,
fashioned in the form of a cup; sponges of all shapes and hues, until
the shoal looked like a garden of brilliantly-colored flowers which had
been suddenly inundated.
The boys collected a huge store of curious things, among which was no
small amount of purple and yellow fans, stars and trees of coral, which
is so much more beautiful when living, and in the sea, than the dried
specimens we see on land.
The day's pleasuring was brought to a close by a visit to the
sponge-yard, where the Captain's guests learned very much about this
branch of industry, which in the Bahamas alone gives employment to
several thousand persons and five or six hundred vessels.
It was very like a revelation to them when the hospitable Captain
explained that there were several grades of each variety of sheep-wool,
white-reef, dark-reef, abaco, velvet, grass, boat, hard-head, yellow and
glove sponges, all worth from five to ten cents per pound by the
quantity; and, also, that when first taken from the water a sponge is
useless for mechanical or domestic purposes.
Probably every boy knows that a sponge, as we see it, is only the
skeleton of an organism. When first gathered it is covered with a thick,
black, gelatinous substance which must be removed. Then it is sorted,
clipped, soaked in lime-water, and dried in the sun before being
compressed into hundred-pound packages.
It would be impossible to learn all that is really interesting
concerning the sponge in one short article, or during a single visit to
the yards; and Jim was so impressed with this fact that he said to
Harry, when the latter hurried him away because the yacht's boat was
waiting for them:
"The first thing I buy out of my share of the money will be a book about
these things, an' then I'll know a good deal more than I do now."
On the third day after their arrival the boys saw a freighting-schooner,
with a large crew of men, set sail for the key on which they had lived
so long, to save what was left of the Bonita and her cargo.
This completed the business for which they had visited Nassau--the
wreckers being instructed to carry their find to New York--and word was
given that every one should be ready for an early start homeward next
morning.
"You've had adventures enough for one year, and can well afford to study
hard until next summer," Mr. Vandyne said as he announced the early
departure of the Lorlie; and, hearing the words, a troubled look came
over Jim's face.
"We're ready for any amount of work at school after our accidental
cruise," Harry replied promptly; "but what is to become of Jim?"
"He will go home, of course, after receiving his share of the pirates'
treasure."
"But he hasn't a relative in the world, and it seems too bad for him to
go on board the Mary Walker now that he has money enough to pay for a
good education."
Mr. Vandyne questioned the young fisherman at great length, and then he
said:
"You will be able to do as you choose, because the accidental cruise has
made all hands moderately wealthy; therefore I am not offering anything
like charity when I say you can live with Harry until some permanent
arrangement is made. We will have a legal guardian appointed, that the
money shall not be squandered, and you need not feel much anxiety as to
the future until the time comes when you decide upon an occupation."
Jim tried to thank Mr. Vandyne, but failed signally; and to hide his
confusion he scuttled off to the forecastle, where he told Bob the good
news, concluding by saying:
"I'm through bein' rope's-ended by a crew of fishermen whenever they
feel a little grouty, an' you jes' bet I'll study hard, now I've got a
chance. But how will I ever see you ag'in?"
"Why, bless you, lad, I'm goin' to stay close 'round there--sorter in
the same family. Mr. Vandyne is a ship-owner, an' has plenty of work for
an old shell-back like me. Joe an' I have both signed with him, an'
whenever you want to know anything what can't be found in books, jes'
shape a course for the docks an' ask Bob Brace."