Building the Yacht.--The Launch.--Great Crested Grebe's nest.--
A Floating Coot's nest.--Golden Crested Wrens.--
Their Migration.--The Flight of a Heron.
When Dick Carleton arrived at Mr. Merivale's to commence the visit which
was to initiate the friendship of the boys, Frank and Jimmy were at the
boat-house; and as soon as Dick had been welcomed by Mr. and Mrs.
Merivale, Mary took him off to the boat-house to introduce him to Frank
and Jimmy, and see that he was shown their collections. When they opened
the door they saw the two boys busy at the table, with sheets of paper
and drawing instruments before them. Dick felt and looked rather shy and
nervous, but Frank's hearty greeting put him at his ease. Mary proceeded
to do the honour of the place, and walked Dick about from side to side
of the room to show him their butterflies and birds' eggs, stuffed
birds, and the other natural history curiosities which the boys had
collected, while they were followed by Frank and Jimmy, who smiled at
her eagerness. They had a very fair collection of eggs, including most
of the common kinds, but their collection of butterflies was not so
good, as neither Frank nor Jimmy cared so much for entomology as they
did for ornithology.
"What are all these plans and drawings for?" said Mary, pointing to the
litter on the table.
"Shall we tell her Jimmy?" said Frank.
"Yes, why not? She will know some time, so she may as well know now.
Besides, she can help us to make the sails, you know. We sha'n't do the
sewing so well as the wood-work."
So the great project of the yacht was explained. Mary danced about the
room in glee, and already fancied herself sailing about the broad. Dick
said--
"If it can be done, it would be the nicest thing one could think of."
"It shall be done," said Frank decisively, and Dick looked up at him
with admiring envy, and replied--
"Then I will help you all I can, and go shares with you in the expense."
"You are a brick," said Frank; "come and look at our plans, and see if
you can make any suggestions."
Later on, when Frank and Jimmy were left alone, Frank said--
"He'll do, Jimmy."
Jimmy said, "Yes," but looked mournful.
"What's the matter, Jimmy?"
"Two are company, but three are none; and you may like him better than
me."
Frank's hand descended heavily on his friend's shoulder, and he shook
him roughly.
"Don't be a fool, Jimmy," was all that he said, but in spite of the rude
speech and the rough action, Jimmy saw a meaning beyond, and was quite
satisfied. His face grew bright again, and from that time forward a warm
friendship existed between the three boys, and was never broken or
disturbed by any twinge of jealousy.
[Illustration: BUILDING THE BOAT.]
They lost no time in commencing to build the boat. The first thing to be
done was to make two long pontoons or floats, on which to erect the
superstructure of the yacht. This was a comparatively easy matter. They
made two long wooden boxes of the following sizes and dimensions. Each
box was twenty-four feet long, four feet wide in the middle portion and
tapering off at each end to a fine point, and two feet six inches deep.
It was made of one-inch deal, and strongly supported and fastened
together by ribs and cross-pieces of wood in the interior. The seams
were caulked with tow and a mixture of red and white lead, and then
covered or protected by slips of wood nailed along them. These two
pontoons were then laid on the ground side by side with a space of three
feet six inches between their centres. They were then joined together by
strong pieces of wood fastened the whole way across, every two feet. On
the top of these again, a flooring of planks was laid, and neatly
finished off round the edges with a bulwark of rope stretched on iron
uprights. On this was erected a cabin three feet six inches in height,
nine feet long and seven feet wide. This was fitted with a door at the
aft end, and a row of little windows along each side. Inside were two
low broad seats, which were also intended to serve as beds when occasion
should require.
Each pontoon was fitted with a rudder and a helm, and these were
connected by a cross-piece of wood, so that both rudders were worked at
once. On this cross-piece were two iron loops, that the steersman,
holding on by them, might have greater power over the helm. Each pontoon
had a strong keel about two inches deep to protect its bottom from
injury. Such a keel was not sufficient to enable the boat to sail to
windward, so two drop-keels or centre-boards were added, each about
seven feet long and two feet six inches deep. These were fixed in a line
along the centre two-thirds of the boat, and worked on strong pivots at
their foremost corners, so that by means of chains attached to their aft
corners and passing through holes in the deck they could be let down to
any required depth, or hauled up in the space between the pontoons.
These were intended to give the yacht a greater hold on the water when
beating to windward. The main-mast was stepped close to the bows. Its
lower part was weighted with lead and iron, and was so arranged that if
it were requisite to pass under low bridges, the mast could be lowered
and raised with great facility, working on a fulcrum three feet six
inches from the deck. There was no bowsprit, but the fore-stay was made
fast to the cross-piece connecting the bows. The mizen-mast was attached
to a cross-piece at the stern, and the mizen-sail was worked by a sheet
rove through a block at the end of a fixed boom. The main-sail was a
lug-sail with a large boom, and did not require to be dipped every time
a tack was made.
The above is a description of the yacht when completed, but it must not
be supposed that it was made straight off with no labour. On the
contrary, it took an immensity of time and labour before it was
completed. The three boys worked at it manfully, Frank taking the lead
and doing the major portion of the work. Indeed, they would have given
it up many times had it not been for his pluck and determination.
Unforeseen difficulties fast presented themselves, and cost them no
little thought to overcome. When they had got the two pontoons and the
flooring done, they fell short of cash, and for two or three days they
went about very disconsolately, until Dick informed them that his
father's gardener was about to demolish a summer-house in the garden,
and that they might have the wood. This enabled them to make the cabin,
and by dint of keeping their eyes open, and picking up every scrap of
wood or iron, and every nail or screw which they came across, they got
along pretty well until Frank's quarter-day came, and he received his
allowance of pocket-money. Mr. Merivale, who of course soon found out
what they were after, laughingly said that they went about with such
greedy eyes, and looked so suspiciously at everything, that he was
afraid they might take a fancy to some part of him, as being useful for
some part of their boat.
[Illustration: A YARMOUTH YAWL.]
At last they had everything ready but the sails, and then they had an
unexpected stroke of good luck. Dick discovered in an old lumber loft, a
complete set of sails belonging to a yawl-rigged yacht which was
formerly the property of his grandfather. These his father willingly
gave to him. Although so old they were strong, and they were speedily
converted into sails for the yacht. Then the yacht was painted white,
and a small flat-bottomed punt with pointed bows was made to accompany
her, and all was ready for launching.
By this time the land was green with spring, and the boys had commenced
their studies with Mr. Meredith the Rector,--a clever, sensible
Welshman, just the man to attract and manage three such boys as ours.
Saturday, being a holiday, was fixed for the launching, and the boys
were at Bell's yard by six o'clock in the morning, getting everything in
readiness for the great event, and excited with the thought of a long
day's sail in a yacht of their own making.
It was a warm, bright morning. The hedges were shining with a most
brilliant green, and clothed in places with the creamy white of the
hawthorn blossoms. The broad lay still and placid in the sunlight, and
the pairing water-birds swam in and out of its reed-fringed margin, and
from one to another of its dense 'ronds,' or islands of reeds.
"There is not a breath of wind," said Frank, wetting his finger, and
holding it up, to feel if possible by the increased coldness on one side
or another, from which quarter the wind was blowing.
"I think there's a slight air from the south," he said.
"Yes," replied Bell, "it will blow from the south or west to-day, if it
blows at all, and I think from the look of those little fleecy clouds,
that there will be a breeze before long."
"Well, I am sure the ancient mariner never longed for a breeze as much
as we do now to try our beautiful boat with," said Frank; "but by the
way, what shall we call her? We have never thought of a name for her."
Dick replied:
"Call her the _Swan_, because like the Swan on 'sweet St. Mary's Lake,'
she will float _double_."
"Bravo! that is not bad. We will call her the _Swan_ then; but come, let
us launch her."
They set to work with a will, and, aided by Bell, they quickly had her
on the water. Jumping on board, they felt the delight of being on board
their own handiwork. They pushed the yacht along the narrow channel,
which was barely wide enough for it, until they came to its outlet into
the broad, and then they found their progress barred. A little
promontory of rushes ran out across the dyke, and on the end of this
promontory was a coot's nest containing eight eggs. It was necessary to
cut away the promontory before the boat could pass into the open broad.
They were loath to destroy the nest, so they carefully moved it from its
position; and as it was very large and substantial, they allowed it to
float, thinking the old bird would come and fix it herself. Then with
beating hearts they hoisted their sails. Frank went to the helm, Jimmy
took the main-sail sheet, and Dick the mizen sheet, while Bell sat on
the cabin and whistled for a wind.
"I am sure the leaves of the trees are rustling a little bit," said
Dick.
"And I think I see a ripple on the water," said Jimmy.
Frank looked back and saw that they were already fifty yards from the
shore, and that they were rapidly increasing the distance.
"Why, look! she sails fast, without any wind at all," he said; but then
they became sensible that there was a slight zephyr from the south,
which increased as they got out more into the open water. A ripple arose
on the water, and the yacht sailed faster. A cheer broke from the boys
as they saw their efforts were crowned with success. The breeze
increased, and they sped along more quickly, passing over acres of
shallow water that sparkled as clear as glass over the bright yellow
gravel. Immense shoals of bream and perch, and many large pike, darted
away from them as they sailed on, and the _Swan_ slipped as softly
through the water as they could desire. They went the whole length of
the broad, and then Frank cried out--
"Stand by, we are going about; haul in her sheet;" and putting the helm
over, the yacht swung round like a top, and went across on the port tack
up the broad.
They put about again across to the reed bed, and after one more tack
they came within hail of the boat-house, where they could see Mary and
Florrie waiting for them, and waving their handkerchiefs. Frank took his
"line" steadily, and ran her up in the wind's eye within ten yards of
the boat-house; and Dick took the punt ashore for the two girls, who
were loud in their expressions of delight and amazement. With this
addition to their party they cruised about the broad for some hours,
learning how to handle their craft, and gaining confidence in her.
Towards noon it came on to blow very hard, and they landed Mary and
Florrie, and set to work to enjoy themselves the more thoroughly as the
breeze grew stronger. The boat behaved admirably. She was as steady as a
rock, heeling over but very slightly even when the breeze blew strong on
her beam. She came about well, and if she hung fire or was in danger of
missing stays they had only to haul on the mizen-sheet, and her head
went round "in a jiffy." She drew little more than a foot of water, so
could, when her keels were drawn up, pass over the shallowest part of
the broad in safety.
"I say, this is fine," said Jimmy, rubbing his hands. Frank said
nothing, but his kindling eye and satisfied look showed how thoroughly
he enjoyed it all.
While making a long tack across the broad, they ran across a straggling
bed of rushes at a shallow portion. They offered but little resistance
to their passage, but as they charged through them, Frank cried out--
"I say, we passed over a great crested grebe's nest. I saw the eggs roll
out into the water;" and he ran the boat into the wind and let her drift
back stern foremost to the spot where the nest had been.
"It was only a lump of rotting weed, all broken and dirty," said Dick.
"That's what all grebe's nests look like," answered Frank; "they cover
them with reeds when they leave them, so that no one can see the eggs,
and few would think there were any there. Here's the place, drive the
boat-hook in and hold the boat steady while I get up the eggs. There
were five, but two are broken. What a pity! We don't want any for our
collection, and the birds look so pretty on the broad, that it is a
shame to disturb them, but we must take them now I suppose. Let's go
back and see how the coot's nest is getting on."
They sailed back some way, and then to their great surprise, they saw
the coot's nest floating across the broad, and the old bird swimming
round it, and evidently very much puzzled to know what to do.
"Let us tack near her and watch," said Jimmy. So they sailed round at a
distance and watched the poor bird, which followed its boat-like nest as
it drifted before the wind. At length the boys were pleased to see the
bird make an effort to get on the nest, and so strongly built was it
that it bore her weight well. There she sat, and sailed before the wind
at a fair pace.
"Did you ever see the like of that before?"
"No," answered Bell, "but I warrant you that the eggs must have been
hard set, and near to being hatched, or she would never have done that."
"She deserves to hatch them, at any rate. Had we better fix the nest or
leave it alone?"
"Better leave it alone; I think she will stick to it if it does not sink
below her."
[Illustration: THE COMMON COOT.]
On Monday evening the boys sailed about the broad in search of the
floating coot's nest, and found it among the reeds at the north end of
the broad, and from the broken egg-shells in it they had no doubt but
that the coot had hatched her young ones in safety, as she deserved to
do.
After landing Bell they ran the yacht into a 'rond' of reeds, and
proceeded to eat their dinner, which they had brought with them, and
very happy and comfortable they were. The sun shone brightly, the warm
wind rustled through the reeds and flags, the sky and the water were
blue, their boat was a success, and they sat and talked of cruises, and
planned expeditions, and were as merry and jolly as any boys need desire
to be.
While they were talking, half-a-dozen tiny little gold-crested wrens
alighted on the cordage of the mast. They seemed very tame and tired,
and descended to the deck to eat some crumbs which were thrown to them.
[Illustration: COMMON WREN AND EGG.]
"What pretty little things they are, with their fiery yellow heads,"
said Frank. "To think a tiny bird like that could make a long migration!
These birds have only just arrived, that's clear."
"Do gold crests migrate?" asked Jimmy.
"Yes, they go south for the winter, and come back again in the spring. I
don't know how far they go, but they have been taken some distance from
land. More probably, however, these have been blown from the coast, for
I don't think they cross the sea as a rule."
As they returned homeward, the boys in running round a point of reeds,
came upon a heron, which scuttled away in great haste, and in a very
undignified manner. It seemed at first as if they should catch him, as
they followed him so closely, but as he got fairly away, he rose in the
air and distanced them.
"How slowly he flaps his wings," said Dick.
"How many times a minute do you think he flaps them?" asked Jimmy.
[Illustration: HERON.]
"Just about forty, at the outside," replied Dick.
"Well, do you count, while I time you," and Jimmy took out his watch and
marked the time, while Dick counted one, two, three, &c.
When he had counted 120 Jimmy said--
"Stop, the minute is up. Aren't you astonished?"
"I am, and no mistake. How deceptive his flight is, and just fancy at
what a pace must the wings of the smaller birds go!"
They brought the yacht to anchor in front of the boat-house, and went
home to relate the adventures of their voyage.