HOW PAUL AND DAN MADE GOOD
What a journey of joyous anticipation, of wondrous realization, that
was for the two lads! There was the home-coming in view, with all its
plans; there was the present, a wholly novel experience for Dan, who
had never before ridden upon a railway train, and it was little less
enjoyed by Paul, who assumed the position of a traveler of experience,
and directed their affairs between sleeper and dining car--they never
failed to respond to the first call to meals, and they invariably
astonished the waiters with the quantities of good things they
consumed.
Between meals they reclined luxuriously in their seats in the sleeping
car, while they talked and planned, and enjoyed the fleeting vista of
landscape.
“A train’s sure a strange craft,” remarked Dan one morning. “She can
beat a vessel for goin’, but for steady cruisin’, now, I’m thinkin’ I
likes a vessel most. I’d like wonderful well t’ have a bit of a walk,
but they ain’t no deck.”
“You’ll have a chance to walk when we reach Toronto, and we’ll be
there pretty soon,” promised Paul. “Father’ll meet us there, and I do
hope Mother will too. I’m crazy to see them. Don’t it give you a dandy
feeling to know how near home we are and getting nearer every minute!”
“I’m wantin’ wonderful bad t’ get home too,” admitted Dan. “How
long’ll it be takin’ me, now, from New York?”
“I don’t know exactly, but three or four days, I guess. Why, Dan, this
must be Toronto now,” said Paul. “The porter’s coming with his brush
to clean us up.”
It was Toronto, and the lads, in a state of suppressed excitement,
were the first to leave the train. Densmore and Remington were in the
front line of those awaiting arriving friends. They had left Mrs.
Densmore in the motor car that had brought them from the hotel, but
her impatience got the better of her, and she came rushing down to
join them and was the first to see Paul.
“Oh, my boy!” she cried, as he ran to her open arms, and, laughing and
crying, she hugged him to her quite unconscious of the gaping crowd.
Then Densmore and Remington greeted him and he introduced Dan to his
father and mother.
The motor car carried them to the King Edward Hotel, and in the
privacy of their apartment Mrs. Densmore had to cry some more over
Paul.
“How brown you are,” she said finally, holding him at arm’s length and
looking at him admiringly, “and how big and strong and healthy you
look! I actually believe it’s done you good.”
“It has,” admitted Paul. “I’m a lot stronger than I used to be, and
I’ve learned to do things, too. But I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t
for Dan,” and he proceeded to tell briefly the story of their
adventures, heaping upon Dan so much credit that the latter’s modesty
forced him to interject stammering objections now and again. Mrs.
Densmore was highly incensed at Factor MacTavish’s treatment of them,
and the fact that Paul had actually been forced to work at manual
labor for his living shocked her terribly, but brought a twinkle of
downright satisfaction to Densmore’s eyes.
It was a happy party that boarded the train that evening for New York.
Dan was exceedingly shy at first, but he was soon made to feel that he
was one of them and presently felt quite at ease. Remington, entirely
forgiven by Mrs. Densmore, was jolly as he could be, and declared that
Paul had far outstripped him as a sportsman, and when Paul and he went
together again on an expedition, as they surely must, Paul would be
the teacher and he the pupil.
Densmore’s big touring car was waiting for them when the train drew
into the Grand Central Station at eight o’clock in the morning. Here
Dr. Philpot bade them adieu as they sped away toward Riverside Drive.
“It’s great to be back in New York!” declared Paul. “Lots of times I
wondered if I’d ever get home again.”
His mother pressed his hand but did not trust herself to speak.
“Here we are! That’s our house, Dan!” said Paul gaily, as the car drew
in behind a cab standing at the curb. A man, his back turned toward
them, stood on the sidewalk engaged in a heated controversy with the
cabman. When the car stopped they heard him saying, in loud, gruff
tones:
“You’re a pirate, sir! Yes, sir, a pirate! You deserve to have your
neck wrung! By the imps of the sea! You deserve to have your neck
wrung! But here’s your money! Take it! Take it! Take it! Four times
what the cruise were worth! Yes, four times! Get away with your old
craft! Get away!”
“’Tis the skipper! ’Tis the skipper, sure!” exclaimed Dan, highly
excited.
The two boys sprang from the car without ceremony and ran to Captain
Bluntt, who, indeed, it was, as he turned to survey his surroundings,
his bushy red beard bristling in indignation.
“By the imps of the sea!” he exclaimed. “’Tis the youngsters!” He
grasped a hand of each, the look of indignation in his face giving
place to one of high pleasure. “You rascals! You rascals! Is this two
o’clock? Weren’t I telling you scamps t’ be aboard at two o’clock?
Yes, two o’clock sharp! Two o’clock!”
“How’s Mother an’ Dad?” asked Dan anxiously.
“Well. Very well, last I heard from un. Gone in mournin’ for you. Yes,
you rascal! Gone in mournin’ for you! Hard blow, your death was to un!
Hard blow! Yes, you rascal! How do, Mr. Remington? How do? Glad to see
you! Happier times than when we sees each other last!”
“Captain Bluntt, this is my mother and this is my father,” broke in
Paul, introducing them.
“Glad to know you, Madam,” and the Captain bowed low. “Glad to know
you, sir. Had to come on when I got your telegram! Had to see the
young rascals! Had to see ’em, and take Dan to his folks myself!”
“It’s a very great pleasure to meet you, Captain Bluntt,” said Mrs.
Densmore, extending her hand to him. “Paul has been telling me a
great deal of you since yesterday.”
Densmore shook the Captain’s hand cordially.
“You’ll have to remain with us a few days, Captain. Paul won’t part
from Dan, you know, until he shows him something of the city!”
And as Captain Bluntt would not think of enduring a return journey by
train, and he was compelled to wait three days for the St. Johns
steamer, he accepted their hospitality. Every day during their stay
was filled with sightseeing, with evenings at the theater, and a new
world was opened for Dan.
Paul declined to permit Dan to bear any part of the expense incurred
after their arrival in Winnipeg, and Densmore supplied both Dan and
Captain Bluntt with their transportation home, and upon Paul’s
suggestion presented Dan with a new rifle and shotgun just like
Paul’s.
Finally, when sailing day arrived, Densmore, Paul and Remington saw
them off, and the lads parted regretfully.
“You’re the best fellow I ever knew,” declared Paul, as they shook
hands, “and we’ll always be chums.”
“An’ I hopes,” said Dan, “we may be takin’ a cruise together again
sometime.”
The lines were thrown off, the active little tugs began puffing and
sputtering, and slowly the steamer drew away from her wharf, Paul and
Dan waving their caps as long as they could see each other.
Paul and his father were together a good deal in the days that
followed. Densmore would frequently take an afternoon off, and
together they would go to the Polo grounds, and father and son would
yell and cheer together. Densmore had suddenly developed into a
full-fledged baseball fan, and taught Paul his first appreciation of
the game. They had long walks in the park these summer evenings, and
discussed many things dear to a boy’s heart. They became, in fact,
inseparable chums.
“Father,” said Paul one evening, as they strolled up Riverside Drive
toward Grant’s Tomb. “I wish I had something to do. I’ve spent about
all the money I got for my furs, and I hate to have to call on you for
money that I don’t earn. It makes me feel--well, just useless--a
sissy.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Oh, I don’t know--but something. It made me feel so independent to
earn my own living while I was away, and to know I earned the money I
had when I came back, and I’d like to feel that way all the time. I’m
ashamed when I remember how I used to waste money I never earned. Dan
always earned his own way.”
“You’d better keep at school for awhile, my son. You can’t invest your
time to better advantage than in obtaining an education.”
“Do you think so? It seems to me I’m just wasting time. I might be
working the way Dan is and making my own way. I’m sure I could do
something.”
“What do you think you could do?”
“Oh, I don’t know. If it wasn’t so far from you and Mother I’d like to
spend the winters trapping with Mr. Amesbury. Of course, though, I
can’t do that. Couldn’t I have a job in your office, or get a berth
on one of the ships?”
“You might. You could start in at five or six dollars a week. That’s
the usual thing. In a few years you’d probably be advanced to twenty
or twenty-five dollars, and if you were very attentive to business,
even more, say fifteen hundred or two thousand a year--and that’s a
pretty high estimate, for the supply of untrained men is larger than
the demand. You’d better keep at school, my son. The college-bred man
has a much better chance of success in life than the man who has never
been to college. What your future is to be, however, depends upon your
own efforts and yourself.”
They walked in silence for a while before Paul spoke.
“Of course you’re right, Father. If you wish I’ll keep at school and
go through college. But I’ve been ashamed of myself a good many times.
I’ve been so selfish. I never thought of anybody but myself and my own
pleasure before I went away. Being with Dan and Mr. Amesbury, and
working, myself, has made me want to be more like them and do
something worth while. Life would be pretty tiresome without anything
to do but just loaf around.”
Densmore placed his hand on Paul’s shoulder.
“I’m glad to hear you say that, Paul. That’s the spirit that makes a
real man. I’m afraid we coddled and indulged you until you were
becoming spoiled.”
“I failed in my examinations at school, too,” continued Paul, “but I
won’t fail again. I’ll study now.”
“That’s the way to talk, my son. Stick to it, and when you’re
graduated from college you’ll be prepared, with a little training and
experience, to take my place. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
“All right, Father. You’ve got my promise to do my best, and here’s my
hand on it. It’s my chance and I’m going to make the most of it. But I
wish--I wish Dan had a chance too.”
“What kind of a chance do you want him to have?”
“I--I don’t just know. Dan’s pretty independent. He wouldn’t take
money from you unless he worked for it, and he has to work to help his
folks. He wants to be a skipper some day.”
“Do you think he’d like a berth on one of our steamers?”
“Yes, I guess so--if he could go home sometimes to see his folks.”
“That can be arranged.”
And it was arranged. Dan was given a berth on a steamer plying between
New York and South American ports, which he gratefully accepted.
Paul was graduated from Princeton six years later, and after a year’s
apprenticeship in his father’s office was appointed General
Superintendent of the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company.
It was arranged to celebrate the occasion with a dinner at Mr.
Densmore’s club. Dan’s ship was in port, and he, too, was to share in
the honors. Paul insisted that the dinner would be incomplete without
Captain Bluntt, and after many persuasive letters and cablegrams the
Captain was prevailed upon to journey again to New York, and to bring
with him Skipper Rudd o’ the _Ready Hand_, Dan’s “Dad,” ostensibly to
pay Dan a brief visit.
It was a jolly dinner, free from formality. Remington, Ainsworth and a
half dozen of Paul’s college friends were there. Densmore at the head
of the table acted as toastmaster, with Dan at his right and Paul at
his left, which was in accordance with Paul’s wish.
When coffee was served, Densmore, after extending a welcome to the
guests, announced that they had been asked to join not simply in the
celebration of Paul’s advancement to the superintendency of the
Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company, but also in the celebration of
his first official act as an officer of the company. Of this, he said,
Paul would speak for himself.
Paul began with a humorous description of his introduction to Captain
Bluntt and the _North Star_, which pleased the Captain wondrously, and
created much merriment. Then he passed on to the days when he and Dan
were cast away, of how Dan’s resourcefulness and optimism, leavened
with the philosophy of Skipper Rudd, had kept up his spirits; of Dan’s
courage and high ability; of the strong and enduring friendship
between him and Dan, a friendship akin to brotherly affection.
“Not alone the high esteem in which I hold Dan Rudd, but his marked
efficiency as a navigator, as shown by his record while in the employ
of our company, has induced me, as my first act as an official, to
appoint him first officer of the steamship _Amazonian_, and to
announce that he is also first in line for advancement to a
captaincy.”
Dan was quite overcome. He had received no hint of the proposed
appointment, and when he arose to express his thanks, emotion choked
his voice.
“I can’t get words to thank you, Paul,” said he. Then after a pause,
lapsing, under emotion, into the old vernacular, he continued: “I were
not expectin’ this. I hopes I’ll prove worthy. You’re wonderful good,
Paul--sayin’ all those things. But I want t’ say, Paul, you’re th’
grittiest mate I ever cruised with, an’ you were doin’ more than I did
t’ work us out of the bush when we were cast away. I’m just a sailor,
not used to talkin’, an’ I can’t get th’ words t’ say what I wants
to--but--but--I’m wonderful thankful.”
The moment Dan sat down Captain Bluntt was on his feet.
“That’s it! That’s it!” he blurted. “Told you so, Mr. Remington! Yes,
sir! Told you Dan Rudd would be a skipper some day! Had the makin’ of
a skipper! Yes, sir, he had! Lad of his parts sure to come to it! I’m
proud! Proud!”
Then Dan’s “Dad” was called upon for a word. The rough, kindly old
sailor-trapper, tanned and weather-beaten, was plainly laboring under
embarrassment.
“I’m a wonderful proud man this night--wonderful proud an’ wonderful
thankful,” he began. “An’ I’m thinkin’ I has fair reason t’ be proud
an’ thankful. On my knees before I sleeps I’ll thank th’ Lard for His
blessin’s. Standin’ here before you all I has too few words t’ thank
th’ gentlemen as I wants to for their kindness t’ Dan.
“But Dan’s deservin’ o’ un. He were always a rare true lad. He were
never shirkin’ duty as he seen it. When he were just a wee lad I says
t’ he, ‘Dan,’ says I, ‘when you has work t’ do, do un th’ best you
knows how, an’ you’ll always be findin’ th’ Lard standin’ back o’ ye’
t’ help, but don’t go askin’ th’ Lard t’ do things for ye what ye can
do yourself. I’m thinkin’ ’t is always Dan’s way t’ foller them
precepts, an’ t’ do things he has t’ do th’ best he knows how. Dan’s
been a rare good son t’ me an’ his mother--a rare good son--always.”
“Dan,” suggested Paul, when Remington and Ainsworth had each said a
word of congratulation, “before we go let’s have some music. I’m sure
you have a harmonica somewhere in your pockets.”
“That mouth organ!” exploded Captain Bluntt. “Don’t blow that mouth
organ, you rascal, or I’ll wring your neck! By the imps of the sea I
will!”
“Captain Bluntt let you play it once at our request,” said Remington,
when the laugh that followed the Captain’s outburst had subsided, “and
I’m sure he will again.”
“And you wants! And you wants!” consented Captain Bluntt, his eyes
twinkling with merriment.
“What shall it be, Paul?” asked Dan, producing the harmonica.
“You remember what you were playing that Christmas day when poor old
Amesbury surprised us at our campfire above Fort Reliance? Play that.”
And Dan struck up,
“Over the hills and far away.”
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Wilderness Castaways, by Dillon Wallace