CRIPPLED BY THE STRANGER
With a lunge the Fortuna struck a dark object riding the crest of an
oncoming wave. Jack stood against the switchboard scarcely daring to
look while Arnold came crowding up the companion-way his face blanched
and eyes staring. Harry and Tom were on the forward deck looking along
either side of the plunging boat.
"What did we hit?" queried Arnold in a shaking tone.
"I don't know," replied Jack. "Whatever it was, we don't seem to be sunk
yet, though. Maybe it was just a few floating boards washed adrift from
some vessel."
"What did you see, boys?" Arnold called out to his companions on deck.
"Did we hit something or did it hit us?"
"Looks to me as if we had run down a row boat and cut her right in two!"
declared Tom. "I was sure I saw the stern of a boat just sinking here on
the starboard side."
Jack reeled against the wheel, covering his face with his hands. Despite
his efforts a groan escaped him. Arnold sprang toward his chum and put
an arm about his shoulders with a friendly air.
"What's the matter, Jack? Are you hurt?" he asked solicitously.
"Only inside" replied Jack. "I'm sure I saw a man in a row boat loom up
out of the fog just before we struck. The shudder that ran through the
Fortuna told me only too plainly that we had hit something more than a
mere board or two. I can't bear to think that we've run down a man out
here in the Gulf! It's too bad!"
"Maybe it was only an empty boat, Jack," comforted Arnold. "Did you hear
anyone cry out or see anything of a man overboard?"
"No," was Jack's answer, "I didn't. I just felt that something was going
to happen and then we struck the boat. I guess it's all right and we'd
better get the Fortuna with her nose into it or we'll roll the engines
off their beds. This is surely a choppy sea!"
Suiting the action to the words Jack reached for the levers on the
switchboard just as Tom and Harry returned to the shelter of the pilot
house dripping from the sheets of spray that had come aboard while the
vessel lay rolling in the trough of the sea.
"Great Wiggling Pollywogs!" exclaimed Tom, "this is sure a nasty piece
of weather! I'm glad I'm on top and not sloshing around in the Gulf
right now. Bet that fellow in the boat is wet all right."
"Hark, Tom!" cautioned Harry. "You mustn't talk like that."
"I'm going back to finish my cooking," announced Arnold. "We'll all be
hungry enough to eat a raw dog. And speaking of dogs," he continued
pointing at the white bulldog still holding his position at the pilot
house window, "what's the matter with Rowdy?"
"Rowdy scents something he doesn't like," explained Tom.
"I wonder," began Jack and then without finishing his half begun
sentence he dashed madly from the pilot house and flung himself into the
bow of the yacht now gaining headway under the impetus of the engines.
Flat on deck he fell and crawling to the rail peered eagerly over the
side. His friends saw him turn an agonized and pleading glance in their
direction and then reach far over the rail of the vessel. In an instant
Tom and Harry were by his side eager to be of any possible assistance to
their chum.
"What is it?" began Tom, but Harry motioned him to silence.
"Sit on his legs!" he commanded and Tom with a flash of comprehension
obeyed unquestioningly. His weight on Jack's feet enabled the captain to
lean far over the rail and grasp the wrists of a clinging figure
gripping with the tenacity of despair the links of the cable that still
hung from the hawse pipes.
Harry, too, leaned far out and in his eagerness to be of help nearly
lost his balance and all but plunged into the sea.
"Steady!" gasped Jack. "Slow and steady now or he's gone!"
With a mighty heave the two boys dragged the figure to a level with the
rail and then Tom left his post and came to their help.
It was now but a short task to get the rescued person on deck, but he
was so chilled and exhausted that he could not stand.
"Let's put him below as quickly as we can, boys," Jack suggested.
"Arnold has some hot coffee already cooking and that'll help him as much
as anything we can do. Easy with him, now, maybe he's hurt."
With tenderness and skill the boys who had been trained to care for
injured persons helped the visitor who had boarded their vessel so
strangely and all unannounced down the companion-way into the cabin
where he was speedily given a change of clothing followed by a steaming
cup of fragrant coffee.
Jack again assumed command in the pilot house while Arnold took up his
interrupted preparations for the meal.
"Be sure you fry an extra big piece of that Red Snapper for the new
lad," directed Tom as he prepared to go again to the pilot house. "He's
about half starved and pretty near used up, I guess!"
"You know I'll take care of him all right!" replied Arnold. "I'm sorry
we broke his boat up like that but I guess we can all take a knot out of
our neckties today. Wasn't it lucky he caught the cable, though? I'm
delighted that we were able to save him!"
"Of course, we couldn't be blamed for running into him," said Tom. "I'm
glad we rescued him from his awful predicament and now we'll have to be
extra good to him to make up for it!"
So saying he passed up the companion-way and into the pilot house
joining Harry and Jack at their ceaseless vigil.
Busily engaged with his work in the kitchenette, Arnold was quite
surprised to observe the door leading into the after cabin open softly.
It admitted the newly found stranger. He had been given spare clothes
belonging to the boys and looked little the worse for his rough
experience of only a short time before. His eyes were black and piercing
and might have been pleasant were it not for his disagreeable habit of
not looking directly at the one with whom he was talking. His glance
roved about the place taking in every detail yet never resting long in
any one place.
"How do you do?" pleasantly queried Arnold resolving to be congenial in
spite of his instant distrust of the other. "I'm sorry we ran you down
and ruined your boat, but I'm glad we got you aboard in time to save
your life. It was a lucky accident."
Advancing in his frank and friendly manner he held out his hand in
greeting. The stranger at first drew back, then as if thinking better of
his resolve, he thrust forth his hand for a quick handshake, almost
instantly releasing Arnold's grasp.
"What is your name, may I ask?" questioned Arnold.
"Carlos Madero is my right name, but they call me Charley," was the
lad's almost surly response. "I live at Pass Christian and work on a
shrimping schooner. My boat is gone now."
Arnold busied himself with the operation of the stove for a moment to
regain his composure, for the fellow's manner had angered him
immediately. Presently he turned and said:
"My name is Arnold Poysor. I am from Chicago and so are my chums. We are
down here for a vacation and pleasure trip. We're sorry we smashed your
boat, but if you'll accept it, we'll give you the one we're towing
behind us. We bought it in Mobile."
"All right!" replied Carlos. "You ought to do that much."
Arnold now prepared the table for dinner and calling his companions to
eat he introduced them to Carlos as they entered the cabin. Jack
remained at the wheel while the others ate.
All the boys tried to make pleasant conversation for the newcomer but he
greedily devoured the food set before him in a ravenous manner. His
conversation was little better than monosyllables. At last the boys in
despair gave up the effort of entertainment and fell to discussing their
situation amongst themselves. They recounted the incidents of their trip
down the Great Lakes, through the Erie Canal and down the Hudson River,
their pleasant run down the east coast of the United States to the
Florida Keys, past the Dry Tortugas and up to Mobile.
To all of their conversation Carlos listened intently, eating in
silence, but keenly alert to every word that was said. Finally as the
talk lulled to an occasional remark he looked up and said:
"What are you here for, anyway?"
"I told you," replied Arnold, "we're here for a pleasant vacation trip.
We'll be joined later by the father of the boy at the wheel and then we
expect to go on up the Mississippi to our home at Chicago. Didn't you
believe me at first?"
"No," bluntly replied Carlos, "I didn't."
"All right," laughed Arnold, "we'll forgive you this time."
To relieve the tense situation Tom sprang to his feet saying that he
would go and relieve Jack at the wheel while his friend ate.
Once in the pilot house he was met with a questioning look from Jack who
was holding the wheel with one hand and Rowdy with the other. The dog
was struggling wildly to free himself.
"What's the matter with Rowdy?" questioned Tom wonderingly.
"I'll never tell you," Jack panted, "he's been trying to get down into
the cabin like all possessed ever since dinner was called. I've had my
own sweet time to keep him here."
"Maybe the poor tyke is getting hungry like the rest of us human
beings," ventured Tom. "Rowdy, are you hungry?" he asked.
Rowdy's reply was a glance from bloodshot eyes toward his friend, then
he launched himself against the door leading to the cabin emitting
growls that were unmistakably vicious.
"That's pretty near talking, Jack!" Tom stated.
With a knowing look Jack assented and pointing with his thumb toward the
newcomer's direction nodded his head once or twice. Securing a length of
small line Jack made Rowdy fast to a ring bolt in the pilot house floor
and then went into the cabin for his dinner.
He had no better success in his effort at conversation with the stranger
than his chums had met and shortly gave over trying to be pleasant.
Making a hurried meal he again hastened to the pilot house where he
assumed charge of the craft, for the fog was still thick.
Arnold in an effort to be friendly asked Carlos to inspect the Fortuna
from the interior, which offer was quickly accepted.
"Here," explained Arnold, standing near the bulkhead separating the
pilot house from the cabin, "is the forward part of the vessel. I
suppose you'd call it the forecastle, but we have the fuel tanks, chain
locker and lazarette here. On occasion we can use this space for extra
bunks, but with the Pullman berths in the cabins we don't often need the
room for anything but storage."
"Where is your gasoline?" asked Carlos displaying some interest.
"In tanks right up in the eyes of her," replied Arnold glad that he was
interesting his visitor. "Then you see the engines amidships here with a
berth on each side. The switchboard is in the center of the pilot house
so the stairways are on each side of the engines. In the next
compartment aft are more berths. Then still further aft, you see are the
kitchenette on one side and the wash room on the other. Abaft of that is
the after cabin that we use as a dining room. With the folding berths we
can accommodate twelve people easily. It makes a fine home, all right."
"Can I go to sleep?" inquired Carlos. "I'm right tired."
"Sure you may," declared Arnold. "Take the after cabin and make yourself
comfortable. I'll go up forward and let you sleep."
So saying he joined his companions in the pilot house and reported to
them the result of his effort to placate their visitor.
For half an hour the Fortuna breasted the waves plunging through the
thick fog. Anxiously the boys peered ahead ever alert.
Directly the vibrations of the motors grew fainter. The boys glanced at
each other wonderingly. Rowdy tugged at the rope that confined him and
growled savagely. Jack's face went white as he reached for the switch.
He looked at the other boys in wonder.
The Fortuna's engines came to a dead stop!