NIGHT ON THE HASTY.
After the sail was rigged and the rudder lashed in position, we took our
first meal on the raft. I was hungry, but fearful of exhausting our
stock of provisions before we reached land or help of some kind, I ate
no more than was absolutely necessary, and the cabin boy did the same.
"What will we name the raft?" asked Phil, as he held a cup of water
aloft.
I thought an instant.
"How would the Hasty do?"
"Just the thing!" he cried. "We were mighty hasty in building her. The
Hasty she is."
And by drinking the water he so named the raft upon which we passed so
many anxious hours.
It must have been near eleven o'clock before the morning meal was
concluded. By this time the sun was almost overhead, and poured down
hotly upon us.
"This won't do," I said, feeling my face nearly burning up. "We must
rig a covering of some kind."
There was a small part of the sail that was not used. This I cut off,
and putting the center of it over the box of provisions as it rested
above the cask, I fastened the four ends to the corners of the doors,
and that gave us a miniature cabin, in which we took turns in resting.
By good fortune there was a stiff breeze blowing directly from the east,
so by skillful management, we kept the head of the raft pointed in the
direction we wanted to go.
As we sailed along Phil Jones told me much concerning himself.
"I've lived with Captain Hannock ever since I can remember," he began.
"My father was a sailor, and he died on board the Spitfire, leaving me
in charge of those on board. My father was mate, and I've heard that
Captain Hannock was a better man in those days."
"Wasn't your mother living?"
"No: she died when I was a little baby. That's the reason, I suppose,
the captain took me in charge."
"Then perhaps he had no legal right to do so."
"I don't know about that. But I'm sure he had no legal right to bang me
around the way he did."
"Certainly not. And he shall not do so in the future."
Then Phil asked me about myself, and I told him much of my history. He
was not very old, but the sharp knocks he had received had given him a
wisdom beyond his years.
Talking made the time pass more swiftly, and before we knew it the sun
was sinking in the west. It would not be long ere the night would be
upon us.
"Let us lose no time, but sail along as far as we can," I said.
"How about sailing by the stars?"
"I don't know anything about that."
"I know a little."
"Then we won't lower the sail until it is absolutely necessary. Come,
you take a nap if you can, and I will steer as long as the sun lasts,
and then you can take the rudder."
To this the cabin boy readily agreed. He was soon asleep, and I was
virtually left alone.
As the evening shadows deepened I realized for the first time our
forlorn condition. Here we were, afloat on the bosom of the broad
Atlantic, with no land or sail in sight. What would the outcome of this
adventure be?
From the present my mind drifted to what had been left behind. I had no
doubt but that my Uncle Felix was searching for me in every direction.
Perhaps he had even made offers of reward for my discovery. Six thousand
dollars was no mean sum to lose, and I knew him well enough to
understand that he would well-nigh turn the metropolis upside down ere
he would submit to it.
I could understand that my running away made it look bad for me. Every
one would say, if I was innocent why had I not stood my ground? Even Mr.
Banker and Mr. Mason might shake their heads and have their doubts.
Then I thought of the evidence I held in my pocket against Mr. Stillwell
and Captain Hannock. If I reached shore in safety, what a sensation it
would produce! Had my uncle treated me with more consideration I would
have had some hesitation about exposing him even though he deserved it
and justice demanded it. But not for an instant had he thought of how he
was ruining my good name for all time. And I had been innocent while he
was guilty. He must suffer the penalty of his misdeeds.
I could not help but think of Mr. Ranson and Tony Dibble. What had
become of the two? Would they watch for Captain Hannock's return and
expose him at once?
Slowly the evening wore on, until the last trace of sunshine had gone
and only the stars shone down upon the Hasty. Phil was fast asleep, and
I did not like to wake him, so much did he appear to enjoy the nap. Poor
boy! for once he knew that he would not be aroused by a kick or blow!
It must have been ten o'clock when Phil did awaken. He rubbed his eyes
and sat up.
"Where am I? Oh, I remember! How good of you, Luke, to let me sleep so
long!"
"It's getting pretty dark now, Phil. Are you sure you can steer?"
"I think so."
I handed him the rudder and lay down under the canvas. At first I was
too restless to sleep; but after awhile tired nature could stand it no
longer, and I dropped into a heavy slumber.
"Wake up, Luke, wake up!"
"What's the matter?" I exclaimed.
"I can't say, but something is wrong," he returned.
At once alarmed, I tried to crawl from under the bit of canvas. When I
had accomplished this feat--which was not easy, considering how the
Hasty rolled and pitched--I gazed at Phil and saw that he was trembling
violently.
"What is it, Phil--what scared you?" I went on.
"We struck something," he cried. "I most believe it was part of a boat."
"Something from the Spitfire most likely," I returned.
"I don't know--but--but----"
"But what, Phil--what ails you?"
"I believe there was a man on it!" he said, in an awful whisper. "I
couldn't see very well. It gave me a fearful scare."
"A man! Are you sure?"
"No, but it looked like a man. My, it was terrible!"
"You look it. In what direction was it?"
Phil pointed over his left shoulder. I peered through the gloom as best
I could, but could see nothing.
"Well, it's gone now, whatever it was," I said. "Are you quite sure you
didn't fall asleep and dream it?"
"Oh, I wasn't asleep. I'm not a bit sleepy after my long nap. I am sorry
I disturbed you, but--but I couldn't help it."
"That's all right," said I, with a yawn. "Well I might as well turn in
again, eh?"
"Yes, turn in by all means."
Once more I crawled beneath the canvas. I had not heard a single cry,
and I was inclined to think that Phil had been mistaken concerning a
person on the wreckage he had seen.
My short nap had only made me more sleepy and it was not long before I
dropped off into a sound slumber, which even the fitful motion of the
raft did not disturb.
"Luke! Luke!"
It was Phil's voice again, louder than ever before.
"Now what's up?" I replied, not in the best of humor.
"We must be careful. We have struck----"
The cabin boy did not have time to finish the sentence for at that
instant the Hasty received a terrific shock which nearly split her in
two.
"Oh, Luke, what shall we do?" cried Phil, in alarm, as soon as he could
catch his breath.
Before I could answer there came another shock. A moment later Phil and
I were struggling in the dark waters!