THE BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE.
The governor and his band were certainly in a predicament. A half dozen
tugs were, by this time cruising about the bay in all directions; the
Storm King lay at the upper end of the shoals under the bluffs, her crew
kept constantly at quarters, in readiness to board the Sweepstakes if
she came out; and a strong force, under command of the midshipman, was
preparing to assault the pirates in their hiding-place. Harry thought he
had them surrounded; and there were few, indeed, among the Crusoe men
who did not believe that their voyage was at an end. It is true they had
a way of escape from the cove that the students knew nothing about--by
the channel that ran across the lower end of the shoals--but who among
them could promise that they would not meet a tug there when they went
out? Even Tom, who was generally expert at finding his way out of
difficulties, believed it was all over with the Crusoe band. He leaned
against the rail and looked down into the water; the governor
thoughtfully paced the deck, and the rest of the band stood in a group
in the waist, watching the movements of their officers, and waiting
impatiently for them to make known their plans.
"Come, skipper," said Sam, at length, "why don't you wake up and talk to
us?"
"O now, what shall I say?" drawled Tom. "I am the unluckiest boy in the
whole world!"
"We've heard that a thousand times," said the governor, impatiently.
"We're all of us unlucky, for the matter of that. But what shall we do?
Are we goin' to give up?"
"No, we are not. We have had a good many adventures to-night. I don't
believe that any other boys of our age ever came safely out of as many
scrapes as we have been into, and now we are not going to allow
ourselves to be cornered, like rats in an oat-bin. We must leave here at
once."
"I say, governor," suddenly exclaimed one of the robbers, who had made
the circuit of the cove without finding any way of egress, "how do you
get out of this hole?"
"We don't go out at all," replied the chief. "We stay in."
"We do not intend to remain here any longer. We have wasted time enough
with you, and now we are going off on our own hook."
"Well, then, why don't you go?" drawled the skipper
"Because we can't find any way out of the cove."
"We don't want nothing more to do with you two fellers, whatsomever,"
said Sam. "Go off about your business."
"Now see here, boys, this thing has gone about far enough. We've had
more than we want of this nonsense, and we'll teach you to give a civil
answer to a civil question. We are going out, and one of you must show
us the way," said the burglar; and, as he spoke, he came on board the
schooner, and, striding up to Sam, seized him by the collar.
"Let me be!" roared the chief.
"Will you guide us to the top of the cliff?"
"Will you pay us the thousand dollars you promised us for taking you out
to sea?" whined Tom. "If you go back from your word, you need not ask
favors of us."
"You have not taken us to sea yet."
"That's because you haven't given us a chance. We can do it, and we
will, too, if you will stay with us."
"Let go my collar, I say!" shouted Sam.
"Answer my question first," replied the robber.
"I don't know nothing about a way to the top of the cliff. Stand by,
here, fellers. Hit him with a handspike, somebody."
The Crusoe men began to bustle about in a state of intense excitement,
and the other burglar leaped over the rail to assist his companion.
There was a lively prospect for a fight, and, no doubt, if Tom Newcombe
had not interposed, the deck of the pirate vessel would have been the
scene of a desperate conflict. The governor and his men were very much
enraged at their passengers, and were fully determined that they should
not leave the cove until they had kept their promise, in regard to the
thousand dollars. Sam was a very stubborn fellow, and the robber would
have found it a much more difficult task than he had bargained for to
force the secret of the path from him. "It's no use, mister," said he,
doggedly. "You may shake me as much as you please, but I just ain't a
goin' to tell you what you want to know till I see the color of that
money. You promised to give it to us, an' we're bound to have it. Punch
him in the ribs with your boat-hook, Friday."
"O now, look here!" drawled the skipper. "I won't have any quarreling
and fighting on a vessel I command. Stand back, Friday. Put away that
handspike, Xury. If you are determined to leave us, I'll send a man to
show you the way up the cliff."
"No you won't, neither!" shouted Sam, indignant at the proposition.
"But if I do," continued Tom, without noticing the interruption, "you
won't gain any thing by it. On the contrary, you will find yourselves in
ten times the danger you are in now; for the prisoner we had confined in
that cabin has escaped, and of course he has alarmed every body on the
island. We are going to sea again, immediately, and, if you will remain
with us, and behave yourselves, we will take you to a place of safety.
You ought to remember that we don't want to be captured any more than
you do."
"But you have got the whole village after you," said the burglar.
"Look here, mister, be you goin' to let go my collar?" asked Sam.
"It is by no means certain that every man in Newport is after _us_,"
said Tom. "Don't you suppose there are some in pursuit of _you_? Your
best plan would be to remain with us; and, if we succeed in getting out
of the bay, we will land you on some island, out of reach of the police
officers and the telegraph. If we find our escape cut off, we will run
our vessel ashore and take to the woods."
The burglar seemed to be impressed with Tom's arguments, for he released
the governor, and turned to consult with his companion; while Sam, who
was utterly amazed at Tom, led him off on one side and inquired:
"Hain't you made a nice mess of it now? Do you intend to show them
fellers the way up the cliff?"
"Of course I do."
"Well now, skipper," said the governor, doubling his fist, and shaking
it in the air, "of all the mean things I ever knew you to do, this yere
is the beat. Have you forgot that we want to pay them for tryin' to
cheat us?"
"No, indeed," replied Tom, emphatically. "I am bound to carry out my new
idea, and you have seen enough of me to-night to know that I mean what I
say. We will guide them up the path as far as the chasm, and leave them.
We'll tell them that we had a bridge across there, but it is gone; and
that they'll have to get over the best way they can. In the meantime I
will turn the schooner around, and, when I am ready to sail, I'll send
you word; and I'll wager my share of the thousand dollars that the
robbers, rather than be left alone in the cove, will come with us."
"Humph!" grunted the chief. "You're trustin' a good deal to luck, 'pears
to me. Mebbe that plan will work, an' mebbe it won't. If we lose our
passage-money, we can thank you for it."
"What else can we do?" asked Tom. "It's the only way I know of to avoid
a fight."
"Well, captain," said the burglar, who had thus far done the most of the
talking, and who answered to the name of Sanders, "we've concluded that
we had better go. You can send a man to show us up the path."
"All right," replied Tom. "You have acted very meanly toward us, and you
may have the satisfaction of knowing that you take with you our best
wishes for your speedy capture. Governor, you and Atkins guide them up
the path, and the rest of us stand by to get the vessel under-way."
Sam thought that the skipper, in spite of his assertions to the
contrary, had either given up all hopes of carrying his new idea into
execution, or else, that the disappointment he had experienced in the
failure of his plans against the yacht, had turned his brain. This new
scheme of his for avoiding a fight with the robbers, the governor
regarded as a sure method of throwing away their last chance for
obtaining possession of the passage-money. If the burglars left the
cove, the Crusoe men would never see them again, and the only thing
that would prevent them from so doing, was the difficulty of bridging
the chasm; and that could be easily overcome.
"Good-by to them thousand dollars," growled the governor, as he lighted
his lantern and led the way toward the path. "I'd a heap sooner have a
fight with the bugglars, than let them off so easy. They can build a
bridge in five minutes."
There were other obstacles, however, besides the building of the bridge,
that stood in the way of the robbers leaving the cove, that neither Sam
nor Tom knew any thing about; but the former discovered them the instant
he came in sight of the chasm. He stopped, astonished at the scene
before him.
When Josh and Bill went into the cove to release Jed, they had built a
bridge of saplings, by the aid of which the storming party was about to
invade the governor's stronghold. Midshipman Richardson was half-way
across the bridge, and Johnny Harding, who had armed himself with a
heavy club, was preparing to follow the young officer as soon as he was
safely over. Behind Johnny stood the young tars, leaning on their
muskets, one of them holding a powerful dark lantern, which rendered
objects in the vicinity of the bridge as plainly visible as though it
had been broad daylight. The chief saw and comprehended, and a smile of
exultation lighted up his face, but speedily gave way to an expression
of alarm. There was some satisfaction in knowing that the robbers could
not leave the cove, and that he and his band might yet have an
opportunity to secure the valise and its contents; but there was little
to be found in the knowledge of the fact that he was on the point of
being attacked by a force that outnumbered his two to one. Sam
recognized the midshipman, and knew instinctively that something was
going to happen. The fight in the harbor had taught him that the young
officer was an unpleasant fellow to have about.
"Ah, Mr. Barton, we 're glad to see you," said Richardson, when he had
recovered from his surprise. "You are just the man we are looking for.
You may consider yourself a prisoner--you and your villainous companions
there. Your harboring place is completely surrounded, and you will save
yourselves trouble if you surrender at once."
"Jerusalem!" exclaimed Will Atkins, looking about him, as if seeking
some avenue of escape. As he did so, his eyes rested on the pile of
stones which he and Jack Spaniard had collected to defend their
breastwork against the assaults of the governor, and a bright idea
struck him. "Sam," he whispered, "let's heave them rocks at him, an'
drive him back, an' then throw down the bridge."
The chief was prompt to act upon the suggestion. He and Atkins sprang
behind the breastwork, and, before the midshipman could make up his mind
what they were going to do, the stones were flying about him in a
perfect shower. It would have been utter folly to stand longer upon the
bridge in that exposed position, and, without waiting for a second
volley, the officer turned and took to his heels.
"Hurrah for Governor Barton and the Crusoe men," shouted Sam. "You
needn't talk to us about surrenderin', 'cause we ain't them kind of
fellers, as I told you once before to-night. Chuck the bridge into the
gully, Atkins."
If the chief imagined that he had disposed of the attacking party, he
soon discovered his mistake. They were by no means defeated simply
because their commanding officer had been driven from his position on
the bridge. They had come there to capture the pirates, and they knew
that two of them carried revolvers in their pockets. If the knowledge of
that fact was not enough to turn them from their purpose, they were not
likely to be frightened away by such missiles as Sam and his man had
discharged at them. They were sharp enough to know that the bridge was
the key to the enemy's position, and that much depended upon their
ability to prevent Atkins from carrying out the governor's order. Stones
were plenty on their side of the chasm, and there was also nearly half a
bushel of potatoes left of those Sam had used against the mutineers.
They were prompt to follow the example set them by the enemy, and, when
Will Atkins ran forward to throw the bridge into the chasm, the order to
halt, which he disregarded, was enforced by a volley of stones and
potatoes that made the path in the vicinity of the bridge so
uncomfortable that the Crusoe man was glad to retreat.
"Go on," thundered the governor. "That bridge must come down."
"Well, you can throw it down yourself," retorted Atkins "I ain't in no
hurry to be hit by them taters an' rocks."
"Keep away from that bridge," said the midshipman. "Harding, if you and
your three friends will act as artillery-men, we'll charge across and
capture those fellows--the Crusoe men, I mean. Of course we can't arrest
the robbers unless we can take some advantage of them; but we can keep
them in here until we can send word to Mr. Grimes, and I don't think
they will dare use their revolvers on him. If they find that they are
fairly cornered, they won't have the courage to resist an officer of the
law."
"But how can we keep them in?" asked Bill.
"Easy enough. If they attempt to come across the bridge we'll pepper
them with stones. If they return to their vessel, and go out the other
way, we can't help it. That's Harry Green's business. Simmonds," he
added, "go down and report to the first lieutenant that we have found
the pirates, that the robbers are with them, and that we are preparing
to attack them."
The midshipman was almost on the point of adding: "And tell him that he
had better send for re-enforcements and keep a bright lookout for the
Sweepstakes, for she may try to run by him;" but he did not say it, for
he knew that it was no part of his business to instruct his superior
officer. Harry was smart enough to attend to all such matters, and
Richardson was sure that he would neglect no precautions to insure the
capture of all the schooner's crew.
"Now," continued the young officer, when Simmonds had started off to
obey the order, "open fire on them, and drive them into the bushes, so
that they can't throw at us."
Although Richardson spoke in a tone so low that the governor could not
catch his words, he knew what he was saying, and saw the necessity of
making some arrangements to offer a decided resistance to the advance of
the students. "Atkins," he whispered, "go down an' bring up the rest of
the fellers. That bridge must come away from there, or them spooneys
will be down on us like a hawk on a June bug."
"Suppose we point our revolvers at them," said Sanders.
"What good will that do? They ain't easy scared, an' they know you
wouldn't dare to shoot them as well as you know it yourself. What I am
afraid of is, that they will send off after more help. We must get out
of here to onct, but we must throw that bridge down first, or they will
catch us before we can get our vessel under-way."
Scarcely had Sam ceased speaking when the artillery-men opened fire on
him, and he and his companions were driven to the shelter of the bushes;
but not until a potato, thrown by Jed, his former prisoner, had smashed
his lantern and extinguished the light. The bull's-eye of the dark
lantern was turned full upon the place where he had taken refuge, and,
although the artillery-men could not see him, they kept up a continuous
shower of missiles, hoping to confine him so closely in his concealment
that he could not return the fire. In this they thought they were
successful, for not a single stone was thrown from Sam Barton's side of
the chasm, and the midshipman, believing that he had retreated to his
vessel, gave the order to advance, and led the way upon the bridge. The
governor, however, had never once thought of retreating. He was still in
a position to defend the cove, and, moreover, he had been re-enforced by
Tom Newcombe and the rest of the band. While the fire from the
artillery-men was the hottest, the Crusoe men and their allies had been
quietly collecting ammunition and patiently awaiting an opportunity to
use it. The burglars worked as hard as the rest, and Sanders, little
dreaming how closely his movements were watched by all the members of
the band, hid his valise in the bushes, and stood with his arms full of
stones, ready to fire upon the young tars when they came in sight. This
did not escape the notice of Sam Barton, who mentally resolved that, the
instant the bridge was thrown into the chasm, he would catch up the
valise and run for the vessel. He and his men were well enough
acquainted with the path to travel it rapidly in the dark, and they
might, perhaps, succeed in getting the Sweepstakes under-way before the
burglars could reach her. This plan he communicated in a whisper to Tom,
who declared himself strongly in favor of it, and watched his
opportunity to reveal it to the other members of the band. The Crusoe
men were all intensely excited, and heartily enjoyed their anticipated
triumph over the robbers.
The governor and his companions, who dared not show so much as the tops
of their hats above the bushes, could not see what was going on among
the students, but they had a plain view of about half the bridge, and
when the attacking party appeared they opened so hot a fire upon it that
the advance was speedily checked, the column thrown into confusion, and
the young tars, after expending all the ammunition they had brought with
them, in the vain attempt to dislodge the enemy, retreated precipitately
to the shelter of the trees on the opposite side of the chasm.
"Now's your time, governor," exclaimed Sanders, who entered as heartily
into the work, and was as much interested in what was going on, as
though he had been a boy himself; "rush out and throw down the bridge."
"Well, now, if you are in such a hurry to see that bridge come down, you
had better rush out there yourself," replied Sam. "I can't see any sense
in a feller's puttin' himself in the way of gettin' his head broke."
"We whipped 'em, didn't we?" said Xury.
"O yes, we did, but what good will it do?" drawled the captain. "They'll
keep on charging us as long as that bridge is there. All they want is to
employ us here till daylight, and by that time we must be out of the
bay, or we can just consider ourselves captured. I've got another idea,"
he added, suddenly. "Mr. Mate, send a man to the vessel after a rope."
"Will Atkins," said Xury, "go down and fetch up a rope."
"Will Atkins! Will Atkins!" repeated the owner of that name, angrily.
"It's always Will Atkins, if there is any thing to be done. Aint there
nobody in this band that can do nothing besides Will Atkins?"
"Go on, now, an' bring up that rope, an' quit your growlin'," commanded
the governor, sternly.
Atkins sullenly started down the path, grumbling to himself as he went,
and vowing vengeance against the officers of the band. The mutinous
spirit in him was as strong as ever, and only awaited a favorable
opportunity to break forth again in open opposition to the governor's
authority. He spent a good deal of time in searching for the rope, and,
before he returned to the chasm, the Crusoe men had successfully
resisted another attempt, on the part of the students, to charge across
the bridge.
"How are things in the village?" asked the governor, as Atkins
spitefully threw the rope down in front of Tom. "Did you see Mr. Henry?"
"I hain't been near the village for two hours," replied the discontented
member.
"Well, you might have been there and back two or three times, since you
went away. I concluded you couldn't find a rope on board the vessel, and
had gone over to Mr. Henry's store for one."
Some sharp words passed between the governor and his man, and while the
conversation was going on, Tom completed his arrangements for carrying
out his new idea, which were very simple. He coiled the rope on the
ground so that it would run out rapidly, and to one end of it fastened
a heavy stone. "I understand it all, now," said the chief. "That bridge
is bound to come down. Be ready to run, fellers, the minute I grab the
valise," he added, in a whisper.
Tom's first attempt to remove the bridge was successful. He threw the
stone over it, hauled in on the rope, and in a moment more the saplings
were lying at the bottom of the chasm. The yell of indignation which
arose from the students, mingled with the triumphant shouts of the
Crusoe men.
"That's the way to do it," cried Sanders. "We are all right now. I say!
Hold on, there, boy!" he continued, in quite a different tone of voice,
when he saw the governor, with the valise in his hand, disappear around
the bend in the path, closely followed by his men. "What do you mean?
Stop, I tell you."
The burglars looked as though they thought it was not all right with
them after all. They stood for an instant irresolute, and then started
in hot pursuit of the Crusoe men, dashing recklessly down the slippery
path, apparently all unconscious of the fact that a single misstep would
precipitate them upon the rocks forty feet below. They reached the cove
in safety, having made such good use of their time that, when the
governor sprang over the schooner's rail, they were close at his heels.
Sam was astonished, and highly enraged, but accepted the situation as
gracefully as he could. Seeing that his plan for "getting even" with the
robbers had failed, he placed the valise against the rail, and said,
innocently:
"There's your money, mister. Cap'n, get under-way, to onct."
Sanders looked sharply at the governor. He had nothing to say, but he
resolved that as long as he remained on board the Sweepstakes, he would
never for an instant release his hold upon the valise. He believed the
chief had some designs upon it.
"I reckon you'll stay with us now, won't you?" asked Sam.
"We must, I suppose," replied Sanders. "What are you going to do? Do you
intend to cross the breakers again?"
"Sartin; there aint no other way to get out of the cove."
The actions of the burglars very plainly indicated that they did not
like the idea of again attempting the passage of the shoals; and Sam
himself would have been very glad indeed if there had been some less
dangerous avenue of escape open to them. He could not forget the rock on
the outer edge of the breakers, nor the risk he had run there a few
hours before. Every thing being ready for the start, he went to the
wheel, the line with which the schooner was made fast to the bank was
cast off, and she moved slowly out of the cove. The skipper stationed
two men at the fore and main sheets, placed Xury in the waist to pass
orders, and then took his stand beside the governor. The latter would
have stoutly denied that he felt the least nervousness or timidity, but
his compressed lips and trembling hands told a different story. All the
Crusoe men were more or less alarmed, with the exception of the mate,
who was as careless and indifferent as ever. Nothing seemed to disturb
him. He stood leaning against the rail, whistling a lively tune, his
hands in his pockets, and his eyes fastened on the rock at the opposite
side of the shoals. He never moved a muscle when a huge wave carried the
schooner almost over the ledge, and, when the order was given to haul in
the sheets, he repeated it with as much calmness as he would have
exhibited had the Sweepstakes been in smooth water, and running before a
favorable breeze. The passage was safely accomplished, much to the
relief of every one on board; and again the Crusoe men told themselves
that they had dared the fury of the shoals for the last time. Where was
the Storm King all this while? She was still lying at the upper end of
the breakers, waiting for the Sweepstakes. Her commander did not know
there were two channels that led across the shoals.