The week following the important consultation described in the last
chapter was one of serious excitement to at least seven boys at
Swishford.
Other fellows could not make out what was the matter, and as long as
Bowler did not shirk the football match, and Gayford stuck up as usual
for his house, they did not particularly care. It was certainly a
novelty to see Braintree diligently reading a book in his odd moments,
but when it transpired that the book was _Wobinson Cwusoe_, that wonder
ceased. And even the surprise of seeing Crashford the lion lying down,
so to speak, with Tubbs the lamb, wore away in time, and the
conspirators were, on the whole, left undisturbed by Swishford to
develop their plans for the eventful emigration of the coming spring.
The three last elected members of the band had fallen in promptly with
the scheme, and were not a little elated at the honour conferred upon
them. Crashford became quite mellow towards his old enemy Gayford, and
actually paid back Bowler a half-crown which he had borrowed three terms
ago. Tubbs, though less demonstrative, was equally delighted, and upset
the inkpot over the chart, in his eagerness to exhibit to Wester their
new home. [It was hardly worth noticing that Tubbs put his finger not
on New Swishford at all, but into the centre of Peru, which he said he
believed was one of the healthiest countries in all Asia.] Wester, who
always made a point of agreeing with the majority, found no difficulty
in rejoicing, wherever the place might be, and only wished they had not
to wait so long as next spring.
"Why should we wait till then?" asked Crashford.
"Oh, it's better weather," said Gayford; "besides, Wallas is in for his
Oxford local."
"Oh, that doesn't matter tremendously," said Wallas, who was beginning
to think the world might after all go on if he did not pass.
"We can give him an exam, on the ship going out," said Bowler, "a
Swishford local exam., you know, and offer a slice of the island if he
passes."
"It strikes me," said Braintree, "a square mile of tewwitowy is warthah
a wum pwize for a chap."
"But, I say," said Wester, "isn't our winter the same as their summer?
so if we start now, we shall just get out in the warm weather."
"Never thought about that," said Bowler; "what do you say, Gay?"
"I know my uncle generally likes those parts not in the warm weather,"
said Gayford. "But then, he's been at sea all his life."
"By the way, when does his ship start?" inquired Wallas; "something
depends on that, doesn't it?"
"So it does," said Gayford. "I forgot that. He got home a fortnight
ago, and he gets six weeks at home. That'll bring it to the end of
November."
"Just the very ticket; we must start then, I say."
"But how about my wifle if we don't go home at Cwistmas?" asked
Braintree.
"Oh, bother! Couldn't you get it sent up somehow, or couldn't you fetch
it next Monday?--that's the term holiday, you know."
"Hold hard," said Bowler, "I've got another plan for Monday. You know
we ought to get our hands in a bit before we start, and try and find out
what we really want and all that sort of thing. Now, my idea is for us
to get the coastguard's boat for the day at Sound Bay (you know there's
never any one there to look after it), and sail across to Long Stork
Island, and knock about there for the day, just to see how we get on.
Of course, we shall have to come back before six; but we must make
believe we've landed there for good, and see how we manage. And, of
course, if we get on there, we're bound to get on at New Swishford, for
it's a far jollier place than the Long Stork."
Bowler's proposition was hailed with acclamation. His hearers were just
in the humour to put their enthusiasm to the test, and the notion of a
picnic on the Long Stork as a sort of full-dress rehearsal of the
capture of New Swishford suited them exactly.
They proceeded immediately to discuss ways and means, and found that by
putting their pocket-moneys together they could raise the very
respectable sum of forty-one shillings. Reserving the odd shilling for
the possible contingency of having to "square" a coastguard for the use
of the boat, they had two pounds to devote to the purchase of stores,
weapons, and other necessaries; and, as Gayford pointed out, of course
anything they got that wasn't eatable would come in for New Swishford.
A sub-committee, consisting of Bowler, Braintree and Wester, was
appointed to expend the funds of the adventurers to the best advantage,
and meanwhile each member was asked to report what else he could
contribute in the way of stores to the general need. Before the end of
the week the list was handed in, and as the documents might some day be
of immense value to the future historian of New Swishford, I quote them
here.
_Bowler_.--A waterproof, a hat-box, a pair of cricket bails, and a fold-
up chair.
_Gayford_.--The chart, a compass, jam-pots for baling out boats, an
eight-blade knife, a hammer and tacks, and a chessboard.
_Braintree_.--The wifle (pwaps), _Wobinson Cwusoe_, gloves, and
umbwellah.
_Tubbs_.--A crib to Sallust (sorry that's all I've got).
_Crashford_.--Clay pipe, pack of cards, a corkscrew, a strap, and _Hal
Hiccup the Boy Demon_.
_Wester_.--Three tumblers, bottle of ginger-beer, and a bat.
_Wallas_.--A saucepan and two eggs, a rope, and Young's _Night
Thoughts_.
At the same time the sub-committee reported the purchase of the
following stores:--
Fourteen tins of potted shrimps, 14 shillings;
Ditto ditto peaches, 14 shillings;
Ditto bottles of lemonade, 3 shillings 6 pence;
(1 penny each allowed on returned bottles.)
Four of Stodge's spice-cakes, 4 shillings;
A fishing-rod, 2 shillings 6 pence;
Flies for ditto, 1 shilling;
One kettle, 6 pence;
One crumb-brush, 6 pence;
Total, 2 pounds.
This admirable selection of stores met with universal approval. Indeed,
as regards the first four items, every one so highly approved that they
wanted to take every man his share for safe custody to his own study.
It was, however, thought undesirable to put them to this trouble, and
the sub-committee were directed to continue in charge of these and the
other voluntary contributions until the eventful day.
That was not long in coming round, though to the anxious voyagers it
seemed long enough. The interval was spent in deep deliberation and
solemn preparation. Braintree had his boots most carefully blacked, and
Crashford practised boxing all Saturday afternoon with Rubble of the
Fifth; Bowler and Gayford strolled casually round to Sound Bay, to see
that the boat was safe in its usual place, and prospected the distant
dim outline of the Long Stork from the cliffs. Tubbs, feeling he must
do something to contribute to the success of the undertaking, wrote a
long letter home, which he forgot to post, asking the forgiveness of his
second sister, and adding, "Address for Monday, Long Stork Island."
Wallas amused himself by reading over the directions for restoring life
to the apparently drowned, and Wester tidied up Bowler's study and
helped him make up the stores into seven equal brown-paper packages,
writing the name of the owner of each on the outside.
This done, the preparations were pronounced as complete as they could be
till Monday dawned.
The town holiday was an absolutely free day for the Swishford boys.
There was no call-over in the morning, and, indeed, until the evening at
eight o'clock they were their own masters.
Most of the boys availed themselves of their liberty by lying in bed an
hour later than usual on the November morning, a practice which greatly
favoured our heroes in their design of escaping a little before dawn.
Bowler was the first up, and went round to wake the rest.
"Howwid gwind," said Braintree, sitting up for a moment in bed and
rubbing his eyes, and then subsiding again under the clothes. "Needn't
get up yet, Bowler, it's long before cockcrow."
"It's just on six o'clock, I tell you, and it'll spoil it all if we
don't get away by a quarter past. Do get up, there's a good fellow."
"Howwid waw morning," groaned Braintree. "I'd warthah--oh, vewy well,
I'll get up."
And with a great effort he struggled out of bed and began to array
himself. Bowler had a similar task with each of the other adventurers,
and any leader less sanguine or eager might have felt his ardour damped
by the evident want of alacrity on the part of his confederates to
respond to the call to action.
However, once up, the spirits of the party rose, and they assembled in
good-humour in Bowler's study, where by the dim light of a candle the
seven brown-paper parcels were solemnly doled out, and a final review of
the preparations made.
A few more articles, such as a whistle, a bottle of hair-oil
(contributed by Braintree), a shut-up inkpot and pen from Wester, and a
guide to the environs of Tunbridge Wells from Tubbs, were thrown into
the common lot at the last moment, and stuffed into the pockets of the
ulsters in which the boys had armed themselves against a rainy day.
All this being done, Bowler gave the order to march, which the party
obeyed by taking off their boots and crawling downstairs on tiptoe to
the front door. As silently as possible the great lock was turned and
the bolts drawn, and next moment the adventurers, with their boots in
one hand and their brown-paper parcels in the other, stood under the
stars.
"Now stick your boots on sharp and step out," said Bowler. The order
was promptly obeyed, and the dim gables of Swishford soon vanished
behind them as they sped along the cliffs towards Sound Bay.
It was a good three miles, and in their ulsters, and weighted with their
brown-paper parcels, the boys made slow progress. It was already dawn
when, rather fagged and not quite sure how they were enjoying it, they
reached the top of the path which led down to Sound Bay. The near
approach to their journey's end revived them, and they stumbled down the
stony path cheerily but cautiously, until at last they had the
satisfaction of seeing the boat bobbing up and down in the little
natural harbour close among the rocks.
The wily Bowler and Gayford had marked where the oars and sail were
kept, and fetched them in triumph from their hiding-place. The seven
brown-paper parcels were solemnly embarked and stowed away under the
seats, and then one by one the heroes of New Swishford stepped on board,
the painter was thrown loose, silent adieux were waved to the land of
their birth, and their gallant boat, nimbly propelled by Gayford and the
boat-hook, threaded its way through the rocks and made for the boundless
ocean.