CROSSING THE SHOALS.
"O now, I've seen some stirring times in my life, but I never before had
so many adventures crowded into the short space of one night!" panted
the captain of the Crusoe band, as he followed the chief up the cliff.
"I would give something handsome to know what is going to happen next!"
Tom had indeed enjoyed his full share of excitement since the sun went
down. He had been captured by the Philistines, and confined as a
prisoner of war in the farm-house; he had taken an active part in
storming the stronghold of the rebels; and was now toiling up the path
in pursuit of a spy, who, if he escaped, would return with a force
sufficient to surround and capture the Crusoe band. Nothing in his
experience with the Night-hawks could equal the adventures of this
night, and they were by no means ended. He would have been astonished
had he known that they were only just begun. If the events that were to
happen during the next few hours could have been revealed to him, he
might have been tempted to desert the band and return to his home. The
derision of his acquaintances, and the extra office duties that would,
no doubt, have been imposed upon him, would have been light punishment
indeed, compared with what was in store for him. The race up the cliff
was a short one. The Crusoe men had a decided advantage of the fugitive,
for they had traveled the path so often that they had but little
difficulty in following it; while the spy's progress was delayed by the
rocks and bushes, over which he stumbled in the dark, making noise
sufficient to guide his enemies in the pursuit.
"He aint fur off," whispered the governor, "an' he's alone, too. If
there were any fellers with him we could hear 'em. Hold on, up there!
You can't escape, an' you'll fare a heap better if you surrender to
onct."
But the spy was evidently not one of the kind who surrender upon demand.
He held steadily on his way, although his pursuers gained at every step,
and when they had accomplished about half the distance to the summit,
Sam was near enough to the fugitive to seize him by the collar.
"Surrender now--no foolin'!" said he, in a very savage tone of voice.
"We'll treat you like a man if you behave yourself."
Somewhat to the governor's surprise, the spy offered no resistance. The
darkness was so intense that he could not see how many enemies he had to
deal with, but, knowing that they were much too strong for him, he
suffered himself to be led down the path to the chasm. The fire kindled
by the mutineers was still burning brightly and by the aid of its
light, the Crusoe men were enabled to take a good survey of their
prisoner. He was a sturdy, bare-footed boy, about Tom's age, and might
have been a second Xury, so self-possessed was he. He looked at his
captors, one after the other, as if taking their exact measure, and
finally said:
"Well, I swan! If I had known that you were boys like myself, I wouldn't
have been caught so easy. I'd like to know what you are doing down
here?"
"Fellers, his name is Jed," said Xury, by way of introduction. "I know,
'cause I saw him up to the house, an' I heard his dad call him Jed. He
looked at me an' the cap'n mighty sassy then, but now he'll find out how
it seems to be a prisoner."
"Is there any one with you?" asked Tom.
"No, I came alone," replied Jed.
"How did you find us?"
"I saw the light of that fire shining above the cliff".
Upon hearing this the governor glared so savagely at the mutineers, that
those worthies, fearing that he was about to abandon his pacific policy,
retreated a step or two and began to look around for something with
which to defend themselves. But the wound caused by the mutiny was
nearly healed, and Sam, after a moment's reflection, concluded that he
could not afford to reopen it, or to stir up any new quarrels. He
believed that he would soon have need of the services of all his men,
and it was necessary to keep on good terms with them.
"I have lived on this farm all my life," continued Jed, "but I never
knew before that there was a way to get down here."
"Well, there is," said Xury; "an' some day, when you are a free man, you
can go down by this path to the rocks below, an' find the best fishing
grounds in Newport harbor."
"Who's talkin' about fishin'?" interrupted the governor, whose brain was
busy with more important matters. "What do you reckon your ole man will
do with us if he ketches us?"
"_If!_" repeated Jed. "He is bound to ketch you. When I go home I shall
bring him right down here."
"But mebbe you won't go back to the house in a hurry," said Sam.
"Well, then, father will know that something has happened to me, and he
will begin searching the island. He'll find you, you may depend upon
that; and, when he gets hold of you, he'll put you where you won't rob
any more potato-patches. Where do you fellows belong, anyhow? What are
you staying here for, and what are you going to do with me?"
The governor made no reply to these questions, for something his
prisoner had said excited a serious train of reflections in his mind.
The events of the last five minutes had sadly interfered with his
arrangements. His harboring place was broken up now, and by daylight the
island would be too hot to hold him. What should he do? That was a
question he could not answer at once; he must have time to think it
over. At a sign from him Atkins and Friday crossed the chasm; but, when
he ordered Jed to follow, he declined to move.
"What shall I go over there for?" he demanded.
"'Cause it's our orders. We're goin' to keep you here for awhile."
"Well, I swan to man!" said Jed.
"If we should let you go, you might tell on us, you know. Come, ketch
hold of the rope an' go on."
"Well--no; I guess I won't go of my own free will. If you want me over
there you must put me over."
"All right," replied the governor, pulling out his knife and cutting off
a piece of the rope; "we're just the fellers that can do it. Come back
here, men. Now," he added, when Atkins and Friday had recrossed the
chasm, "all hands pitch in, and tie him, hand and foot."
The Crusoe men knew, by Jed's looks, that he was all muscle and pluck,
and consequently they were not surprised at his stubborn resistance.
They "pitched in" with alacrity, and one of them did something that Sam
had not calculated on--he "pitched out" again, directly. It was Tom
Newcombe, who, the instant he laid his hand on the prisoner's collar,
was seized around the body and thrown heavily on the rocks. He gathered
himself up as quickly as possible, drew down the corners of his mouth,
rubbed his elbow, and stood off at a safe distance and looked on. Will
Atkins received a back-handed blow over his eye that caused him to see a
million of stars; but, as he had more pluck than Tom, and was anxious to
restore himself to the governor's favor, he merely stopped long enough
to say, "Jerusalem!" and then "pitched in" harder than ever. Of course;
Jed was conquered; but it was only after a protracted struggle.
"Now we're all right," exclaimed the governor, assisting his prisoner to
his feet and pulling him toward the edge of the chasm, "an' I reckon
you'll go over, won't you? Atkins, you and Friday go across ag'in an'
stand by to ketch him. Xury," he continued, when this order has been
obeyed, "pass the rope under his arms an' make it fast, while me an' the
cap'n hold him."
Jed, having by this time been fully convinced that it was idle to
resist, submitted to the Crusoe men, at the same time reminding them
that the chasm was deep, and that a fall upon the rocks below might
break his neck, and give Sam and his band something more serious than
the robbing of a potato-patch to answer for.
"Now, don't you be any ways oneasy," replied the governor. "You didn't
harm my men while you had 'em pris'ners, an' I won't harm you, neither.
Are you fellers over there all ready? If you are, look out fur him, fur
here he comes."
Jed's position just then was not a comfortable one. His hands were
confined behind his back, his feet bound close together, and he was to
be swung over the chasm as if he had been a sack of corn. The governor
seized him by the hips, pulled him back until his feet were clear of the
ground, and then let him go. He swung safely over the gully, and when he
came within reach of Atkins and Friday, he was caught and held by one,
while the other untied the rope. The Crusoe men followed after, and when
all had crossed, the governor ordered Atkins and Jack Spaniard to put
out the fire. As soon as this had been done, and the mutineers had
collected the articles of the outfit, which they had intended to take
back to the village with them, the governor lighted his lantern, and
turned to the prisoner.
"Have you found out, by this time, that we can do just what we please
with you?" he asked. "Now, will you walk down to the cove, or shall we
tote you?"
"Well, I guess I'd best walk, hadn't I?" replied Jed, who was sharp
enough to know that, however carefully he might be handled, he could not
escape some severe bruises while being carried down that steep path.
"Yes. I reckon I'll walk."
"All right; Xury, untie his feet, and you an' the cap'n look out fur
him, an' see that he don't fall down."
The governor led the way to the cove, and, after the prisoner had been
laid on one of the beds in the cabin, and the two mutineers had restored
the outfit to its place, the Crusoe men stretched themselves on the
grass near the spring, to hold a council of war. By the aid of the
lantern, which he had placed on the little knoll that served for the
table, the chief scanned the faces of his companions, and saw that on
every one of them were reflected the thoughts that had been busy in his
own brain. All his men believed as he did--that a crisis in their
affairs was at hand. Tom Newcombe, as usual, was the first to speak.
"O, now, what's to be done?" he drawled. "If we keep this prisoner here
his father will begin searching for him in the morning, and he will be
certain to discover our hiding-place sooner or later. If we release him,
he will go home and return immediately with help enough to capture us
all."
"Well, that might not be as easy a job as you think fur," replied the
governor. "If we are sharp, we can hold our own here against a dozen
fellers, for a day or two. But we don't want to fight. We want to get
away from here as easy as we can. Atkins, what have you and Jack
Spaniard got to say about it? Are you waitin' fur a chance to get up
another mutiny?"
"No, governor, I aint," replied the chief conspirator, quickly. "I'll
never do it again."
"Nor me, neither," said Jack Spaniard. "There's my hand on it--honor
bright."
"Of course I can't put as much faith in you as I did before," said the
chief, as he shook hands with the mutineers. "After a man has fooled me
once, I never like to trust him any more till he proves that he is all
right."
"Just tell us what you want done, governor," said Atkins, "an' if we
don't do it you needn't never believe us ag'in."
"Well, mebbe I shall have a chance to try you before mornin'. You've got
to stick to us now or be taken before the 'squire. If you should go back
to Newport an' begin ferryin' ag'in, that farmer's boy would come
across you some time, and then where would you be? We can't none of us
go back to the village, an' we can't live here, neither, so we must
start for our island at once--this very night. If we stay till mornin'
that farmer an all his men will be down here lookin' fur Jed; and if
they once discover us, an' get us surrounded, we're done fur. Cap'n,
stand by to get that yawl under way, an' the rest of us turn to an' pack
the outfit."
The Crusoe men obeyed these orders without making any comments upon
them. They had often discussed this very move. They had talked about it
bravely enough, and had even expressed their impatience at being obliged
to remain so long inactive, but, now that the time had arrived, and they
had heard the order given to break up their camp, more than half of them
felt like backing out. They knew that they were about to encounter the
real dangers that lay in their path, and which they had thus far viewed
at a distance. The Sweepstakes must be captured, the provisions secured,
and they must assist Tom in destroying the yacht. It was no wonder that
they looked into the future with doubtful eyes. Improbable as it may
seem, the governor had the least to say of any one in the band, while
Tom was as jolly as a boy could be. He obeyed his orders promptly,
shoving the yawl from the beach, and mooring her broadside to the bluff
bank in front of the cabin, so that the cargo could be easily stowed
away. After that he hoisted the sail, and was ready to lend assistance
in packing up the outfit. He stepped gayly about his work, joking and
laughing the while with his companions, who were astonished to see him
in such spirits.
"Cap'n," said the governor, who had for some time remained silent,
"don't you think that ar' little plan of your'n is just the least bit
risky? If I was you, I'd let them 'cademy swells keep their vessel an'
welcome."
"You would!" exclaimed Tom. "Well, _I_ won't, now I tell you! What! Give
up the very thing I have lived for, and thought of, and dreamed about
for so long? No, sir! That yacht has been the means of making me a
vagabond, an outcast from home, and a wanderer upon the face of the
earth, and she shall not stay above water any longer. If I can't enjoy
her, nobody shall. I'll destroy the last vestige of her--I'll blot the
academy navy out of existence. I'll abolish the offices of captain,
lieutenant, master, and midshipman, and turn Harry Green and his crowd
of spooneys back to the ranks, with as much ease as the principal could
do it himself. I'll start a bonfire in the harbor that will serve us as
a light-house, and show us our way out to sea. Those fellows have teased
and tormented me for months about that vessel, and now I am going to
have my revenge. You will not go back on me, governor?"
The Crusoe men had paused in their work to listen to Tom. His fiery
words and determined air, not only served to convince them that he was
thoroughly in earnest, and that he was resolved to carry out his plans
if within the bounds of possibility, but they also had the effect of
reviving the drooping spirits of the band. He spoke with such calmness
and confidence, and seemed to be so utterly regardless of all the
obstacles in his path, and so certain of success, that they could not
help feeling encouraged.
"No, sir, I'll not go back on you," said the chief, emphatically; and no
one who heard him speak imagined that he had been racking his brain in
the hope of hitting upon some excuse for declining to assist Tom in
destroying the yacht. "I said I'd stand by you, didn't I? I am a fellow
who never breaks his promise."
In a few minutes the outfit had been packed away in boxes, provided for
the purpose, and the Crusoe men began the work of stowing it in the
yawl--all except Tom Newcombe, who, being fully occupied with his grand
idea, was careful to see that nothing that could render it successful
was neglected. The governor had made his first journey to the island in
a skiff which he had stolen in the harbor, and it was in this skiff that
Tom intended to pay his visit to the Storm King. She could be handled so
much easier than the heavy yawl, that their chances for escape, in case
of pursuit, would be increased. After bailing all the water out of her,
and examining the rowlocks, Tom brought out of the cabin two pairs of
oars and a boat-hook, which he placed under the thwarts and tied fast,
so that they could not be lost overboard while crossing the shoals; and
next he produced, from some secret hiding-place, a suspicious-looking
black bottle, which he put into his coat pocket.
"What's that, cap'n?" asked the governor, who at that moment came up,
carrying a box of crackers on one arm, and a bundle of blankets under
the other.
"It's coal-oil," replied Tom, with a chuckle. "I am going to make sure
work of that yacht, if I succeed in getting into the galley. I'll
sprinkle the contents of this bottle over the wood-work, and on the pile
of kindling which I shall find under the stove; then I'll touch a match
to it, and--whew!"
Tom ended the sentence with a prolonged whistle, and by throwing his
arms about his head, indicating, no doubt, the rapidity with which the
flames would spread over the devoted vessel.
"I have only one cause for uneasiness," said Tom, to himself, when the
governor had gone on to the yawl. "This skiff is painted white, and can
be seen a long distance, dark as it is. If we are discovered before we
reach the yacht, my splendid idea is up stump; but if I can once get on
board, and make my way into the galley without being seen, I'll be all
right. Five minutes will do the work, and I won't care then if we are
pursued. The fellows are all good oarsmen, and we can show that
jolly-boat a clean pair of heels."
"Now, then," said the governor, picking up his lantern and peeping into
every corner of the cabin, to make sure that nothing had been
overlooked, "I reckon we're all ready. We're goin' to leave you here,"
he added, turning to the prisoner, who still lay bound and helpless on
the floor.
"Well, I swan!" exclaimed Jed. "Aint you goin' to let me loose?"
"Not much. That would be a smart trick in us, wouldn't it, now?"
"I'll do some good hollering the minute you go away."
"All right. You will be discovered by your friends sometime durin' the
day, most likely; but all the yellin' you can do won't help you none.
The surf roars over the shoals loud enough to drown the report of a
cannon. Good-by, Jed!"
"I'll see you again," said the prisoner, who did not seem to be at all
concerned. "I'll help take you before the 'squire yet--I swan to man if
I won't."
"You'll ketch us first, I reckon. Come on, fellers."
The Crusoe men left the cabin and clambered into the yawl. The governor
grasped the tiller, and the others picked up the oars and stood ready to
push the boat from the bank. Tom made the skiff's painter fast to a ring
in the stern of the yawl, and seated himself beside the chief, who,
seeing that every thing was ready for the start, gave the command to
shove off; whereupon the Crusoe men thrust their oars against the bank,
and the yawl moved slowly toward the rocks at the entrance of the cove,
dragging the skiff after her.
As we have before remarked, the Crusoe men were now about to brave the
real dangers incident to their undertaking. One of them was close at
hand, and it was the only one Tom Newcombe dreaded to encounter. It was
the crossing of the shoals. He had made the passage once in the Mystery,
and it had tried his nerves severely; although the water was then
comparatively quiet. He knew that it would be worse this time, for the
wind, which had been steadily increasing since sunset, was blowing
briskly, and the roar of the waves, as they dashed over the ledge that
formed the shoals, could be plainly heard in the cove. "It is a capital
sailing wind," said Tom, with a great show of indifference. "Don't I
wish that yacht was in flames, and we were on board the Sweepstakes,
standing down the harbor under a full press of canvas? I tell you,
fellows--"
"Jerusalem!" ejaculated Will Atkins.
The yawl at that moment glided out from among the rocks that concealed
the entrance to the cove, and the Crusoe men found themselves on the
edge of the shoals. They stood appalled at the sight before them.
Through the darkness could be seen the white waves, rolling in broken,
angry masses across the ledge, and sending the spray high in air. At the
further end of the shoals, and about two hundred yards distant, was a
single pyramid of foam that rose above the other waves, and which seemed
to be stationary. It was caused by the peculiar formation of the rocks
beneath it, and was the governor's guide-post. It pointed out the
channel that led across the shoals.
The Crusoe men took a hurried survey of the scene before them, and with
one accord sprang to their feet. "Governor," said Friday, "I wouldn't go
across there fur no money."
"You can just turn around and go back," chimed in Will Atkins. "Whenever
we get tired of livin' we'll let you know. This boat couldn't stand
them breakers two minutes."
"Much you know about it, I guess," returned the chief, angrily. "We want
to go to the village, don't we, an' we want to take our outfit with us?
Well, then, how are we goin' to get there, I'd like to know, if we don't
cross the shoals? Set down! Let no man move from his seat, or say a
word. I've run the channel a dozen times, an' I can do it ag'in."
Sam did not think it best to tell his trembling crew that he had never
attempted the passage in the face of such a breeze. Although he spoke
bravely enough, he was really frightened, and his hand trembled as it
rested on the tiller. Had there been any other way out of the cove, he
would have been the last one to dare the fury of the waves; but he knew
there was none, and, after he had succeeded in inducing his men to
resume their seats, he drew in a long breath, shut his teeth hard
against each other, and prepared for the work before him. He fastened
his eyes on his guide-post, brought the yawl before the wind, let out
the sheet, and the next moment the Crusoe men found themselves flying
through the breakers with almost railroad speed. In front of them, on
each side, and behind, the water was white with foam; and, when they got
out from the shelter of the bluffs on the island, they found that Tom
Newcombe's "capital sailing wind" was something very much like a gale.
The yawl rocked and plunged over the waves that leaped wildly around
her, sometimes almost grazing the rocks as she flew along the channel.
The Crusoe men held their breath in suspense, and their eyes were
directed anxiously toward the white pyramid which seemed to shut them
off from the still water beyond. It looked threatening, they discovered
as they approached it, and they trembled when the wave, subsiding for an
instant, revealed to them the black, ragged crest of the rock which lay
directly in their course, and toward which they were being driven with
terrific force. It was here the worst danger was to be encountered. The
channel ran close alongside this rock, to windward, and the governor
knew that it would require the exercise of all his skill to take the
yawl past it in safety.
"Xury," he exclaimed, yelling at the top of his voice, to make himself
heard above the roar of the wind and waves, "stand by the sheet and be
ready to haul in fur life when I give the word."
By the time the mate had placed himself in a position to obey this
order, the yawl had approached within a few yards of the ledge, and, to
the no small astonishment and alarm of the Crusoe men, the governor did
not change her course an inch. Suddenly her bow was buried beneath a
pile of foam, and the next instant she was lifted on the crest of a
tremendous billow, which carried her with redoubled speed toward the
rock. This was too much for Friday and Jack Spaniard, who uttered a
simultaneous cry of terror, and jumped to their feet, while Tom Newcombe
turned away his head and clutched his seat with a death-gripe, expecting
every moment to see the sides of the boat smashed in, and to find
himself struggling in the water.
"Set down!" thundered the governor. "Haul in, Xury!"
For a few seconds two opposing forces were at work upon the yawl. The
wind blew harder than ever, as if it sympathized with the Crusoe men,
and was doing its best to drive them out of reach of danger, while the
waves came thicker and faster, and dashed their spray furiously into the
faces of the yawl's crew, seemingly determined upon their destruction.
So evenly balanced was the power of the two elements, that, for a time,
it was a matter of uncertainty whether the wind would force them away
from the rock, or the waves hurl them upon it; but the wind began to
gain a little at last, the yawl glided slowly, inch by inch, around the
ledge into still water, and Tom, looking back, saw the pyramid of foam
leaping higher than ever into the air, as if enraged at being cheated of
its prey.
"Jerusalem!" ejaculated Will Atkins, gazing first at his companions, and
then at the angry waves behind, as if he could hardly believe that they
had passed them in safety. "_Jerusalem_, I say! Whew!"
"Well, I done it, didn't I?" exclaimed the governor, drawing a long
breath of relief. "I thank my lucky stars that I'll never have to do it
ag'in."
It would have been hard work for any one to convince the Crusoe men that
they would ever again attempt the passage of the shoals. They told one
another that they had seen quite enough of them, and that the dangers
yet before them were insignificant, compared with those they had just
encountered. But they did cross them a second time that night, and not a
single boy in the band raised any objections to it.
The governor now directed the yawl's course toward the head of the
island, and, as she flew along, he revealed to his crew some of the
plans he had determined upon. It was necessary, he said, that the work
before them should be performed with as little delay as possible;
consequently they would not take the yawl to the village with them, for
she might be in their way. They would leave her at the head of the
island, and stop for her when they came back. They would first secure
possession of the Sweepstakes, and moor her at the end of the pier; then
they would visit Mr. Henry's store, help themselves to what provisions
they needed, and after that assist the captain in carrying out his
"splendid idea." Tom listened attentively to all the governor had to
say, and something he had not before thought of came into his mind.
"Governor," said he, "why do you leave my work till the last? Don't you
remember I told you that Johnny Harding sleeps in the store every night?
Suppose that while you are effecting an entrance you awaken him! He will
give the alarm, and then, what will become of my idea?"
"I'll risk that," replied the chief, confidently. "If we get inside the
store he won't give no alarm. I know how to make him keep still. Now,
fellers," he added, turning the boat's head toward the island, "we'll
stop here."
He ran the yawl's bow upon the beach, and with the assistance of his men
moored her securely to the rocks, after which he ordered the band into
the skiff. Will Atkins and Xury seated themselves at the oars, and in
half an hour the skiff rounded the light-house pier, and moved up the
harbor toward the place where the Sweepstakes lay at her anchorage.