A CLOSE SHAVE, BUT NO DAMAGE DONE.
"See any signs of a harbor, Jack?"
It was Nick who called this out, as he watched the skipper of the
_Tramp_ swing the pair of binoculars he was handling along the shore
ahead, while Jimmy had the wheel.
"Not that I could say for certain," replied the other, lowering the
glasses for a minute in order to rest his strained eyes. "I was trying
to get our bearings; and from several things about the shore, that
resemble the line of the chart, I begin to believe I know where we are."
"Not near that awful Murderkill Creek, I hope?" spoke up Nick,
shuddering.
"What's the matter with you?" called George. "Any port in a storm, say
I; and even if it happened to be Slaughter Creek, which I believe lies
further on toward Lewes, I'd grab it in a hurry, if it came along.
Don't you go to saying a single word against that sweet harbor. We'll
rename it Paradise Creek, if only it serves us this day."
As it was getting darker all the time, no wonder George had begun to
feel nervous. Even though he saved himself, and Nick, should he lose
his boat, it would almost break his heart; for in spite of her many and
serious faults the jaunty skipper of the erratic _Wireless_ fairly
loved the craft.
"Yes, we are not many miles above Murderkill; and that or Jones Creek
will have to be our destination; for we must have passed the Dona
opening by mistake. But perhaps the storm will kindly hold off until
we're all snug in a harbor."
While Jack said this, in order to buoy up the downcast chums, deep down
in his heart he believed that they were bound to be caught out on that
wide stretch of water, and have a fight for their lives, particularly
those who were manipulating the tricky speed boat.
But it was useless to ask George to come aboard the _Comfort_, and try
to tow his craft. That would seem too ignoble, worse than having a
farm wagon drag the broken-down bubble wagon into town, in fact.
They had gone in as near the western shore as prudence dictated. Jack
told everybody to be on the lookout for the first sign of an opening.
Beggars could not be choosers, and only too gladly would they welcome
any port, however ill-named or hard looking.
"She's coming, all right," declared Jimmy, as he crouched there, his
hair blowing in the rising wind, and his eyes taking in every sign of
approaching trouble.
"Yes, and I'm sorry to say from the one bad quarter, the southeast,"
Jack made out to answer, between his set teeth. "If it had only been
west, now, we'd have had the shelter of the land, and could have crept
along nicely until we got where we wanted to go."
The waves were surely increasing in size, and the small craft began to
heave in a very suggestive way. When they grew still larger, under the
influence of the rising wind, Jack expected that with the passing of
each billow the screw would flash out of water. That was the time to
be dreaded; for as resistance suddenly ceased with the passage of the
wave, the screw would revolve at lightning speed, and something was apt
to go wrong.
Let an accident occur when in such a bad predicament, and it would be
all over with the unlucky mariners who chanced to be on the disabled
boat.
"Be mighty careful, Herb and George," he called to the others. "Watch
each billow, and slow the engine before the screw is exposed. You know
what I mean. You've both done the same trick before."
Constant vigilance was to be the price of safety from this moment on.
Nothing must distract the attention of those who manipulated the motors
of the three boats caught in this sea in a storm.
Of course, George was accustomed to handling his narrow craft. Few
amateurs could have done better than the present skipper. He knew her
good qualities to a fraction, and was also acquainted with the bad
ones. Consequently, he was aware just how far he could allow her
quarter to face the sweep of wind and waves, without being thrown on
her beam-ends.
It was a ticklish business, very much like managing a treacherous mule,
loaded with kicks and bites at both ends. One little error of
judgment, and the result would be a spill that must toss the occupants
into the raging waters.
Jack had insisted that the owner of the _Wireless_ provide himself with
life preservers; each boat carried a couple, but in the case of George
and Nick, four had not been deemed too many.
Acting on the advice of Jack, George had fastened one of the cork
jackets on himself before the storm really broke; because afterwards he
would have no time to spare in attempting such a thing.
Nick had gone him one better; and seemed to be of huge proportions as
he crouched there, waiting for the worst to happen. He had also
secured his old White Wings, which had figured quite largely in
previous cruises, to his shoulders, as if he hoped and believed that
the bags filled with air would be of considerable assistance in keeping
him afloat.
Altogether Nick looked next door to a freak escaped from some side show
connected with a Barnum and Bailey's circus. Jack often remembered the
sight with more or less inward laughter. But it was no time for
merriment now, with that wind growing in violence, and the waves
assuming a most threatening appearance.
The minutes seemed like hours, so intense was the strain that held them
in its terrible grip. Jack had a double duty to perform, watching
those onsweeping waves, and at the same time keeping the shore under a
close supervision, so that he might discover when they came opposite
the mouth of a creek.
Such a place might be so narrow as to pass unnoticed unless one had
exceedingly keen eyes; and, moreover, kept up an unremitting watch.
Fortunately they were not fated to experience the worst that might have
happened to them; for the crux of the storm had not come along by any
means.
Jack suddenly uttered a yell that startled the others on the laboring
boats.
"I saw it, boys; it's all right! Just follow after me; you first,
George; and Herb bringing up the rear. Ready now! Here goes!"
As he shouted these words at the top of his voice, for the water was
making considerable racket by now, Jack began to head straight for the
shore, so that the boat was soon running with the spinning sea.
If he had made a mistake, and the opening failed them, there could be
nothing left but to beach their boats, and to try to save themselves
from the wreckage as best they might.
But Jack had not made an error of judgment, for presently the others
also saw the creek, with its inviting mouth. Even timorous Nick was
only too delighted to find a safe harbor from the wild gale to care
just then what the name of the creek might happen to be; one was just
as good as another to them all.
Jack made the shelter, and George managed to swing in, though his boat
did almost go over, being struck on the side by a counter sea, when the
pilot was not expecting it, so that she seemed to hang there for a
second or two, in the balance.
But Nick rolled to the other side, and this dead weight was sufficient
to keep the narrow craft from going completely over; she righted, and
swept into the mouth of the creek.
The steady going old _Comfort_ came rolling in like a big tub, with
Herb and Josh not at all alarmed, such was their faith in the reliable
qualities of the staunch craft under their feet. And it might be
noticed that Herb's pride in his possession increased in proportion as
George's faith decreased. What suited one did not please the other at
all, apparently.
Making their way into the creek they tied up, being careful lest they
find themselves high and dry at low tide. Jack kept tabs on the state
of the tide, and at its flood wanted several more feet under him than
while it was at ebb.
"Let us give thanks," said Nick, with due reverence, as they found
themselves safe. "That was a nasty little scare, all right. Our old
_Wireless_ kicked like a bucking broncho; I say that, even though I
never rode a cow pony, and only saw the breed at the circus. Oh! I'm
glad to be alive right now, and able to eat a few more camp meals!"
No one even called him down for mentioning such a thing as food; for as
they had not taken the time to more than munch a few bites at noon, it
stood to reason that everybody was feeling quite sharp set.
"No fire outdoors tonight, fellows, for here comes the rain," said
Jack; and even as he spoke the big drops did commence to fall, sending
them every one under shelter.
George was hustling in the endeavor to get his tent up, and succeeded
in doing so before the rain became very heavy. Both Jack and Herb had
had a hunting cabin placed on their boats since last they took a long
cruise, for they knew how comfortable such a cover must prove in time
of stress and foul weather. But George, believing that to do this
would keep his boat out of the speed class, had declined to follow
suit, using a tent instead, which was fastened to a ridge pole
stretched at night-time fore and aft at a certain height above the
cockpit.
Of course, once George had this waterproof canvas covering in place he
too was able to laugh at the rain that now poured down. It might not
be just as cozy under his flapping canvas as beneath the steady roofs
which the other boats boasted; but George would not complain, and Nick
dared not.
Of course, every pair now had to cook their own supper. But it was not
the first time this same thing had occurred by any means; and hence
they knew just how to go about it.
Each boat was supplied with one of those splendid Juwel kerosene
burning gas stoves, which burn common oil turned into a delightful blue
flame by the process of a generator. Once this was started, all manner
of cooking could be carried on. Indeed, it is simply astonishing how
much can be accomplished by means of this clever little device, which
most canoeists carry with them as a necessity, as well as a comfort.
The boys had tied up in such a way that they could call out to one
another, as the humor seized them. And hence, there was more or less
exchange of comments on the bill of fare for supper that evening.
When the meal had been finished night was at hand, though only for the
storm no doubt the sun might still have been seen shining in the low
west. Jimmy got out his banjo, and the musical plunkety-plunk of its
strings, now and then accompanying one of his jolly songs, did much to
cheer them up.
Jack busied himself with his charts meanwhile, for there was a nasty
little experience awaiting them when they reached Lewes, where they
must watch for a favorable opportunity to pass out upon the open
Atlantic, and cover ten miles or so like a covey of frightened
partridges, heading for the inlet to Rehoboth Bay, and actually passing
around Cape Henlopen, since boats the size of theirs could not well be
carted across the land to Love Creek, as if they were canoes.
Nick busied himself with the last of the oysters, which he had made
sure to throw aboard the _Wireless_, and had found no time up to now,
to tackle. George was tinkering with his motor, a customary amusement
with him; for his heart was bent on learning how to coax yet another
bit of speed from the engine that racked his boat so terribly when put
at full speed.
On the _Comfort_, Josh and Herb, with room to spare, were having a game
of dominoes, and enjoying themselves very much. This was the time when
the joy of having plenty of elbow room made itself manifest.
Later on, during a little lull in the rainfall, Jack crept out to take
observation, just as though he might have been an old salt, on board a
sea-going vessel.
The storm was raging quite furiously, and made a roar that must have
seemed more or less terrifying, had one been out on the big bay,
instead of having this snug harbor.
"Whether this is Murderkill Creek, or the one rejoicing in the
aristocratic name of Jones, it doesn't matter one cent," he declared,
as he turned to Jimmy, who had followed him outside for a breath of air
before laying down to sleep. "Just listen to that howl out yonder, and
then call this bully place a bad name, will you? Let her whoop it up
as she pleases, we can laugh, and sleep in peace; for there's good
ground between us and the raging sea. Hear the waves break on shore,
would you, Jimmy? Starting out by rescuing a poor chap from a watery
grave did bring us good luck, now, I'm thinking."