THE SCHOONER-YACHT.
There are some unfortunate children who seem fated to have their
holidays and special occasions drowned in rain. I, on the contrary,
belonged to the favoured class, accustomed always to expect, and almost
always to enjoy, sunshine bright and glorious, whensoever birth-days,
high days, and whole holidays made me specially prize and value it.
So it was by no means with surprise that I opened my eyes the next
morning to find the sun's golden rays streaming in at my window, and to
observe, on jumping up and looking out, that there was not a cloud to be
seen, save, indeed, the shadowy gray morning mist that was fast
dispersing over the sea. I pattered hastily into Aleck's room before
proceeding to the business of the toilet, to awaken him, and to urge
upon him the desirability of getting up as soon as possible, and coming
down with me into the garden to gather a nosegay for my mother, an
institution of three years' standing, and which I would not upon any
account have dispensed with. Aleck murmured such a very sleepy assent to
my views, that I was constrained to resort to extreme measures, lest he
should "go off" again, and accordingly took to the gentle persuasion of
water sprinkled on his face, the counterpane delicately withdrawn from
his bed, and similar little attentions, which I felt to have been
completely successful, when a pillow, wielded with the vigour of
self-defence, gave notice that hostilities were about to be returned,
and I withdrew to my own room.
It was not long before we were both out in the garden busily engaged in
a careful inspection of the flower-beds, preparatory to the
flower-gathering. Any flowers I liked, I might gather on this particular
morning, but as the nosegay must not be too large, choice was difficult.
Aleck made plenty of fun, but in reality gave little help.
"What's the use of my advising you," he said, not without reason; "you
never take my advice when you get it?" And, in truth, I had uniformly
taken the opposite line to the one he suggested, choosing a scarlet
geranium where he offered a light-coloured verbena, and a rose when he
had suggested mignonnette.
"You see," I explained, "mamma won't care for it unless I arrange it all
myself. Then Nurse has a lace paper ready which I shall put round it to
make it look better. If you like you can hold the flowers," I added,
kindly.
But this did not meet my cousin's views.
"I think I'll make a nosegay for uncle," he said, presently; "I suppose
I may--eh, Willie?"
I felt sure there could be no objection, and signified my opinion from
the very centre of a geranium bed, in which I was making active
researches, that would have turned the gardener's hair gray with
consternation had he not been safely off the premises at the time,
comfortably engaged in discussing his breakfast. And Aleck set to work,
and soon gathered a nosegay that almost, if not quite, equalled my own.
Which of our young readers who knows the delight of being let loose on
some fine morning in a garden, with full permission to pluck flowers at
their own sweet will, knows when to stop? We certainly did not, and
should have produced bouquets, at all events, quite unrivalled for size,
had it not been for the sounding of the first gong, and the appearance
on the lawn of Nurse herself, still so called, although I was no longer
her subject, in virtue of her unlimited right of jurisdiction over our
clothes.
"A fine sight you're making of yourselves, young gentlemen," she said,
beginning with general statements, and then descending into details. "I
should like to know what you call that style of hair-dressing which
means that every hair stands straight out in any direction but the right
one, and no two of them the same. And, Master Willie, if you think you
can go down into the dining-room with your tunic in its present
condition, not to mention your boots, or Master Gordon's jacket, you're
greatly mistaken. And then to look at your collars! No wonder that the
bills are as they are, with respect to French polish and blue for clear
starching; I know that boys, be they young gentlemen or others, cannot
be expected to act like creatures endowed with reason, but still it
passes me to understand their ways with respect to clothes well fitted
too, and made in the most approved fashion."
"I think _we_ should be black and blue if nurse were not really very
good-natured, though she talks like that," I whispered to Aleck; feeling
too much the cause she had for strictures upon my personal appearance at
the time, to take that opportunity of defending the general character of
boyhood. So we surrendered at discretion, and went up-stairs to make
ourselves tidy, receiving before the second gong visits of inspection
from nurse, who had in the meantime tied up our nosegays for us, and
placed the lace paper round the one I had gathered for my mother.
Very important I felt myself as I went down-stairs, for two little
packets, folded in white paper, had been entrusted to my care by my
parents respectively, containing, as I well knew, their presents for
each other, which were to be delivered by me before breakfast.
Directly after prayers the presentation took place. First, the little
parcel addressed to my mother, with the message, which I delivered
demurely enough, that a gentleman who would not give his name, had left
it for Mrs. Grant yesterday, and--but here I broke down, and my appeal,
"Oh, papa, I've forgotten what more it was I was to say," produced a
peal of laughter, and put an end to our little pretence of mystery.
"Your packet is much the smallest, papa," I said; and watched to see
what would come out of the white paper. My father's face lit up with
pleasure as he opened a small case and discovered a beautifully executed
miniature of my mother.
"Willie," he said, "I think the lady who left this for me yesterday must
have been very like mamma."
"Yes, papa, she was _very_ like indeed," I answered; and then we
proceeded to inspect the contents of my mother's parcel, and admired, as
much as it is in boys to admire jewelry, a beautiful bracelet, with
which she seemed quite as much pleased as my father was with his
present, and which had attached to it a locket in the form of a heart,
containing, as we presently discovered, my hair twined with his.
Then Aleck and I had to present our nosegays, which were, of course,
greatly praised.
"An unusual honour for me!" said my father merrily, when he received
his. "Willie generally cuts me off with a sprig for my button-hole."
"Aleck gathered it for you quite out of his own head, papa."
"Indeed!" said my father; "that is really the most wonderful thing I
ever heard! Gathered the nosegay out of his own head! Well, I have been
told of flowers growing in many strange places before, but never in so
strange a place as a person's head. Aleck, my dear boy, you will be the
wonder of the age, so prepare to be made a show of! a flower-garden in
your head! We must let the gardener know! We ought to place you under
his cultivation instead of Mr. Glengelly's!"
What a merry breakfast-table we had that morning. My father declared
that he felt just like a boy, so happy in having his holiday; and Aleck
and I thought him more amusing and pleasant than any boy, no one ever
seemed to make us laugh as he did.
"Of course, however," he suggested, "as it is going to be a whole
holiday, and no work, there need be no eating either."
But that was by no means our view of the matter; we declared ourselves
more hungry than usual, and made such inroads on the honey that my
father asked at last whether he had not better send out for the hive.
After breakfast we had our Bible reading with my mother; that was a
treat and not a lesson--we never missed it even on whole holidays--and
then my father joined us and took part in consulting over the plans for
the day.
"We shall dispose of these young gentlemen at once," he said, "for I
find Groves is expecting them at the Cove, so soon as they can go; and
they may have the whole morning to employ as they like, in the boats, or
on the rocks--anything short of being in the water, which I do _not_
recommend. And for ourselves, Rickson is going to bring round the pony
carriage at twelve, when Mrs. Grant will be driven out by her humble
servant, the coachman, supposing always that she sees no just cause or
impediment." And my father playfully touched his forehead, as if waiting
for orders.
It was clear to read in my mother's eyes that she saw no difficulty in
the way of the drive with my father; and we boys were not less ready to
avail ourselves of the permission to go out at once and for the whole
morning.
We flew off to the play-room, loaded our pockets with a miscellaneous
store of nails, string, and implements of one kind or another, such as
we were wont to use in our various undertakings, and, carrying the
melancholy hulk which Aleck had not had time to pull to pieces, we set
off at express speed to the Cove, with Frisk barking at our heels.
There was not much talking during the first part of the scramble, but
Aleck contrived to get the contents of one of his pockets scattered by a
hasty jump, and we had to stop and pick up the things, which was the
signal for our chatter to begin as usual.
"I wonder what surprise old George has for us?" I observed
confidentially to my cousin.
"Whatever it is, I think he must have been a long time at it," replied
Aleck; "he's been shut up in the work-shop so often of late."
"Yes," I said; "and since that one peep I told you of, I've never had a
chance of looking in."
"Perhaps more ships," my cousin suggested, his thoughts running in that
line.
"Ever since I can remember he's always made me something," I said; "once
it was a pop-gun, and the next time it was a cart, and then, last time,
the 'Fair Alice.'"
Aleck listened quietly to the catalogue of my presents, only remarking
that, if they got better each time, he wondered what they'd come to be
at last; thus suggesting such a pleasant subject for speculation that I
did not immediately find any occasion for further talk, but ruminated as
we pursued our way for a few moments in silence.
"It must be very nice," my cousin resumed presently, "having another day
for presents besides Christmas-days and birth-days. I wonder where papa
and mamma will be my next birth-day."
"Whatever it is that George has made for me," I said, "you shall play
with it too, Aleck. I like you to play with my things."
"You're very good about the 'Fair Alice,' I'm sure," answered my cousin.
"I wish I had anything to lend you that would give you half as much
pleasure. I'm afraid this--referring to the boat he was carrying--will
not come to much, in spite of George's promises."
It certainly did not look encouraging, but by this time we were gaining
the shingle, the fresh sea-breeze blowing in our faces seemed to quicken
our steps, and the rest of our way was a race between us and Frisk until
we reached the lodge.
We found old George on the watch for us, his kind cheery face all in a
pleasant glow of welcome. He was ready to start directly for the Cove,
he told us, when the first salutations were over. But I did not feel
quite so eager, as might have been expected, having a private desire to
explore the work-shop, of which I perceived the door to be open.
"May I go in now?" I asked, moving towards it.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered my old friend with a merry twinkle in his eye,
which developed into a broad smile by the time we returned from our
fruitless inspection of bare benches and tools; and he took to
singing,--
"When she came there, the cupboard was bare."
"That Master Willie is a quotation from a celebrated poet. I reckon
you're ready enough now to come on to the Cove."
We sallied forth accordingly, I convinced that there was some secret in
store for me still; Aleck full of thoughts about his ship, which he was
exhibiting to George as he went along, narrating its many
mis-adventures, and incorrigible tendency to sail bottom upwards, and
gaining from the old man nothing but a series of chuckles, together with
assurances which seemed to afford to George himself infinite amusement,
that "Master Gordon's boat should sail in the Cove as trim and tight as
the 'Fair Alice' herself."
It was a glorious morning. The sunshine was dancing and sparkling upon
the water with a thousand gleaming flashes; the little waves came
lapping playfully upon the sand and shingle to our feet, and made sweet
music in the recesses of the rocks. We used to call these warm September
days our Indian summer, and were wont to fancy that they were never so
bright and beautiful anywhere as at Braycombe.
Groves took a quick comprehensive look towards the offing, and round
again towards the rocks, and finally off towards the west, and then, as
if satisfied with the result of his observations, said to us: "It would
be a beautiful day for the White-Rock Cove, young gentlemen; the wind's
shifted a bit since early morning, and Ralph will be round in half an
hour to give us a hand with the oars; if Mrs. Grant wouldn't mind your
being a bit late for luncheon, as you're to dine in the evening, we
could do it nicely."
Now if anything had been wanted to add to the zest of our enjoyment,
this suggestion of Groves's was just the thing. No expedition in the
whole range of possibilities gave us so much pleasure as this one.
First, it could only be accomplished in certain states of wind and tide;
secondly, it occupied a longer time than could be usually available
except on very propitious half holidays; and, finally, its attractions
were of the most varied character. For what caverns were there in the
whole neighbourhood that could compete with those at the White-Rock
Cove?--with their deep clear pools, in which the pink seaweed and
gorgeous anemones seemed to find a more congenial home than in any other
place; with mysterious dark recesses and wonderful natural arches, and
miniature gulf streams, that offered irresistible attractions to the
spirit of enterprise, in the way of crossings on slippery
stepping-stones; and with a soft white beach, spread out at the foot of
the rocks, abounding with such a wonderful variety of shells, that our
researches rarely ended without the discovery of some fresh specimen for
our collections. Nor must we omit to mention the only white rock of any
size which was to be found in our red sandstone district, which gave its
name to the Cove, and as to which there were numerous traditions current
in the neighbourhood.
To the near side of the Cove there was, indeed, a short way through the
woods, but unless we had a boat we could not reach the caverns, or find
our way to the most attractive spots for shell gathering.
Groves's suggestion was met, as might be expected, with rapturous
applause, and by the time that we reached our own Cove, it was decided
that one of us boys should go up to the house to obtain the necessary
permission, whilst, in the meantime, the boat should be got ready for
the sail.
The door of our boat-house was lying open as we came up, and something
of unusual appearance was dimly visible inside.
"The secret!" I exclaimed, running eagerly forward and drawing to light
a beautiful large kite with a wondrous flying eagle depicted on it, and
a tail of marvellous length, together with an apparently inexhaustible
length of string. "Oh, George, this is what you've been making--how
beautiful it is!"
"But maybe you don't guess for whom it's intended, sir; I don't deny the
making of it," said the old man.
"I think I do though," I answered, looking up at his kind, cheery face;
"I think you've made it for me, George."
"Well, you're about right there, sir, and it's been a real pleasure to
me the making of it, being, as it were, somewhat of a sailor's craft, it
having to be driven of the wind, even though it might be said to be more
for land than water."
I heard Aleck say that it belonged rather to the air than to earth or
water in his opinion. Then we took to a close inspection of the eagle,
which we both agreed to be splendid, and became eager for an immediate
trial of its flying powers.
But here, to our surprise, old George did not at once agree. He wanted
to see, he told us, whether he could not make Master Gordon's boat sail
as well as mine. We could have a sailing match, and try which would go
the best, if only we would get out the "Fair Alice;" and so saying he
led the way to my own little boat-house, whilst we followed in
speechless wonder at the absurdity of the proposition.
"As if he could set my boat to rights in a few minutes!" said Aleck to
me incredulously.
"Here, Master Gordon," continued George, making pretended difficulties
at the lock; "you had better open the door yourself, sir."
Aleck stooped down to do so. "Why, George!" he exclaimed, "it's as easy
as possible; what _did_ you make such a fuss about? But--oh--what a
beauty! Willie--Willie--look!" and so saying, he drew forth a
beautifully made little vessel, about the same size as my "Fair Alice,"
but even, as I thought, more perfectly finished, and with two masts.
"A schooner-yacht," my cousin continued, triumphantly. "Oh, Willie, I
like it a great deal better than even the 'Fair Alice.' Is it yours,
George?" he inquired.
"No, sir," answered Groves, quickly; "guess again."
"I don't know any one else, unless it's Willie."
"Near it, but not right; try again, sir; somebody else that's not very
far off."
My cousin coloured with a wild flush of delight; but though he stooped
down to finger the new yacht in a sort of tender way, as if he loved it,
he hesitated to make another guess, and I broke in impatiently,--
"Aleck, why are you so nonsensical as to pretend you don't see it's for
you?"
"That's it indeed, Master Gordon; you'll understand what I meant about
the sailing match now;" and the old sailor's face lit up afresh with
kind enjoyment, as he marked the absorbing pleasure which his present
was giving.
Another moment, and Aleck was almost hugging the old man: "Oh, how very,
very, very kind of you to make it for me; I like it better a great deal
than anything I have ever seen, better than the 'Fair Alice' even, and I
did think that nicer than anything else. May I have it out on the water
to-day; and couldn't we sail them both together as you said."
There was no time for answering him, as he ran on immediately into a
minute individual examination of all the details of the little vessel,
calling for attention and admiration in every case: "Look at the
bowsprit, and then the rudder; see how delicately it moves; the royal is
beautiful, and there are three flags; do look, Willie, mine will be the
admiral's vessel, and I can signal to you."
I looked, but said very little, though Aleck was too much absorbed with
his own enjoyment to notice this, and kept appealing to me for
sympathetic interest during the whole operation of unreefing the sails
and launching the yacht for a trial sail in the Cove.
Nothing certainly could look more graceful and pretty than did the
little vessel, as it bent to the breeze, and steadily kept its course
out towards the mouth of the Cove. Aleck clapped his hands exultingly,
and ran forward to slip the rope across, as the tide was already pretty
high, and still rising. Then slowly brought the treasure back again, and
surveyed it at his leisure in one of the little creeks, where the
shelter of the rocks prevented it from speeding off again on its
journey. Frisk, too, took a great interest in the new acquisition,
seeming to recognize in it an addition to his circle of friends. And
George rubbed his hands, and chuckled with satisfaction, as he repeated
again that Master Gordon's boat should sail on the Cove as tight and
trim as the "Fair Alice" herself.
And I--yes, I must confess it, found the old miserable feelings were all
back again, and vainly tried to shake off the dead weight which had
settled upon me from the moment that I had clearly understood that
Aleck, and not I, was to possess the new vessel.
Perhaps George detected something of what was passing in my mind, for,
when the question arose which of us boys should go up to the house to
ask permission for the expedition to the White-Rock Cove, he decided at
once that it should be Aleck, saying that he and I would have time for
trying the kite meanwhile; and, looking back at it now, I fancy I can
understand his wanting to take off my thoughts from Aleck's present, and
make me think about my own.
So Aleck started off by the Zig-zag, and George and I would have set to
flying the kite immediately, had not he discovered that one of the sails
of our own boat had been taken up to the lodge, and that he must go and
look for it first.
"I'll be back in less than a quarter of an hour, sir," he said, however,
as he left; "and you can have the kite and be on the meadow ready."
I had taken up the kite in my hand, but I threw it aside again the
moment George turned his back upon me, and sitting down upon the stones
near the water's edge, with Frisk's fore-paws stretched across my lap,
looked gloomily at the water and at Aleck's new boat. Evil feelings grew
stronger and stronger within me as I looked. Though fascinated so that I
could not take my eyes off it, I hated the very sight of the pretty
little schooner, and wished heartily that George had never made it. And
I thought about Aleck, how happy he was this morning, and how miserable
I was; and I thought it unfair of him to be happier in my own home than
I was; and then I wondered why George should care for him so much as to
take all that trouble for him, forgetting how I had begged old George to
love my cousin who was to be like my brother, and forgetting, too, that
Aleck's pleasant ways had won upon the old man during the past few
months, so that he had gained quite an established place in his
affections.
These and countless other, but similar thoughts, chased each other
through my head in a far shorter time than they take to relate, whilst
dreamily I kept watching the little vessel, and mechanically taking note
of its different points. The sails at first were flapping listlessly,
the rocks, as I mentioned before, affording shelter from the breeze. But
presently the breeze shifted a little, and this change, together with
that produced by the tide, now just at its full height, moved the
schooner somewhat further from the rocks; then gradually the sails
filled once again, and after stopping a minute at one point, and a
minute at another, as, drifted by the motion of the waves, it finally
escaped from the little creek and stood steadily out into the open
channel of the Cove. I sprung to my feet and followed in pursuit,
running or jumping from rock to rock towards the mouth of the Cove. But
the little vessel got under the lee of a projecting rock, and was
stopped in its course for a while, so I sat down once more, not caring
to find my way round to the other side and release it, according to my
usual fashion, but finding a moody satisfaction in staring straight
before me, and paying no attention to Frisk, who was flourishing about
with barks, and waggings of his tail and prickings of his ears, as if
he thought he ought to be sent in pursuit of the new boat, and
considered me deficient in public spirit for not stirring in the matter.
Then, as I steadily refused to notice him, he took to playing with the
end of the rope on which the rings were fastened, which slipped on to
the iron stake, as before-mentioned, and constituted our "harbour-bar;"
seeming as pleased as a kitten with a ball of worsted, when he found
that he could push the ring up and move it with his paws. In fact, the
stake was so very short, and the ring so light, that I could see five
minutes more of such play, and probably the rope would be unfastened,
and the channel clear to the open sea.
Another moment and I noticed that the little vessel was clearing out
from its shelter under the rock, the wind coming down into the Cove in
gusts and draughts, so that it seemed to blow every way in succession,
and was now standing straight towards the mouth of the harbour.
There was a quick, sharp conflict between the strong whisper of
temptation and the protesting voice of conscience, when I marked the
position of the boat, and saw also, that in another moment Frisk's
antics would have unfastened the barrier between it and the wide waters
beyond. A quick, sharp conflict, and I came off defeated.
Hastily turning my back upon the harbour-bar, I ran to the head of the
Cove without disturbing Frisk, who was so taken up with his newly found
amusement, that he did not miss me; took up the kite and sped off to the
meadow, which lay between the Cove and the lodge, where I was joined by
the dog, two or three minutes after, panting and breathless at my having
stolen a march upon him.
George, too, came a minute later from the other side into the meadow,
which, although out of sight of the Cove, owing to the rise of the
ground, was as good a place to wait in as any, since Aleck would have to
pass through it on his way from the house.
Ralph appeared also, and through our united efforts, and to our united
satisfaction, my new kite was soon soaring higher than any kite ever
seen before by any member of our little party; great was my excitement
in holding the string and letting it out, or taking it in as I ran from
one part to another, Frisk the while dashing about wildly, and barking
as though at some strange bird of which he entertained suspicions.
Old George looked as pleased as if he had been a boy of six, rather than
a man of sixty, and Ralph rushed recklessly here and there and
everywhere, with his head thrown back and his eyes rivetted upon the
soaring kite, until, like Genius in the fable, he was suddenly prostrate
through stumbling over an unnoticed stump.
"See what comes of not looking where you're going," moralized George, as
he picked him up and gave him a general shaking by way of seeing that
nothing had come loose in his tumble; a sentiment from which it is
possible the youngster might have derived more profit, had not his
elderly relative experienced a similar mishap almost immediately
afterwards.
I was the only heavy-hearted one of the trio; and even I forgot my cares
and anxieties in the glorious excitement of holding in the kite, which
tugged and tugged at the string as if it would carry me up to the
skies, rather than give in.
"I wonder what's kept Master Aleck such a time?" said old George, after
we had spent nearly three-quarters of an hour kite-flying.
The load at my heart came back again in a moment as I answered
hurriedly, that I did not mind Aleck's being detained, for the pleasure
of flying the kite was as good as anything. And George, who inferred
that the cloud he had noticed before over me had passed away, rejoiced
accordingly.
It was more than an hour from the time of his leaving, when Aleck
reappeared, holding one side of a small hamper, whilst one of the
men-servants held the other.
"Lots of good things for luncheon," he said, by way of explanation, as
they deposited their burden on the grass. And then he proceeded to
unfold how some one had been calling on his uncle and aunt, and he could
not speak to them at first; and then how his uncle had told him the
drive would have to be later, and more distant than they had intended;
and, finally, that the game of cricket being given up, we might have
our luncheon and picnic at the White-Rock Cove, returning any
reasonable time in the afternoon.
"Won't it be splendid?" Aleck continued, gleefully, whilst I drew in
line, and my kite slowly descended; "we shall have time for the sailing
match, and madrepore hunt, and the caverns--everything!"
I assented with as much of pleasure in my tone as was at command,
thinking after all how very pleasant it would be if--there came the
_if_--and I scarcely dared admit to myself, how sorry I began to feel at
the thought that my man[oe]uvre had probably succeeded, or how sorely
the disappointment to George and my cousin would mar our happiness! If
only I could know that what I had wished to happen an hour ago had not
happened, then how wonderfully light my heart would feel. A sickening
feeling of anxiety, such as I had not dreamt of in my little happy life
before, came over me, and nervously I hurried on the winding up of my
string.
"What a noble kite it is," said my cousin, "I wish I could go up upon
one!"
"'If wishes were horses'--you know the old saying, Master Gordon,"
responded Groves. "I think you'd be sorry enough after getting up five
hundred feet into the air, to feel that a puff of wind might tumble you
over, and make the coming down a trifle quicker, and less agreeable,
than the going up."
"It was the going up, and not the coming down that I meant," rejoined
Aleck, "though I have heard papa say that coming down from a great
height does not hurt."
"Ugh!" I ejaculated, "you wouldn't have me believe that. Just a little
while before you came to us I had a bad fall off the table. I can tell
you it hurt!"
"I've fallen, too, off a tree," answered my cousin, not to be outdone,
for boys are wont to brag of their honourable scars, "and it hurt a
great deal, but I mean falling from higher still. One of the sailors I
talked to on board ship had fallen from a mast, and he told me that he
went over and over; the first time he went over seemed quite a long
time, and between that and the second time he seemed to remember almost
everything he had ever cared about much in all his life, but after the
second going over he never knew anything until he found himself lying in
the cabin, and the doctor setting his arm, which had been broken in the
fall, though he never felt it."
"I'll be bound he felt it enough when the doctor got to work upon him,"
remarked George.
"Yes; but he didn't feel it when it broke," returned Aleck, who wished
to establish his point.
By this time the stately kite was lying on the grass. I lifted it up,
and we started in procession for the Cove, Aleck acting train-bearer to
the long tail, and winding it up as he went along; and Groves and Ralph
carrying the hamper.
Another moment, and we were in sight of the Cove. My heart was beating
violently, and I felt the crimson flush mount suddenly to my face, and
then leave it again; but no one else noticed it, and as yet I could not
see to the harbour-bar, so as to know whether the ship were safe or not.
The little creek in which it had been left was, however, full in view,
and Aleck instantly observed that his new treasure was not there.
But there was an entire absence of uneasiness in his tone, as he quietly
remarked,--
"I suppose you put it into the boat-house lest it should be blown about
whilst we were away;" and without waiting for an answer he placed the
rolled-up tail of the kite in my hand, and ran forwards to look into the
boat-house for it.
It was in vain, however, that he searched first my miniature boat-house,
and then every nook and corner of the real one.
"It's not there," he said. "I thought you must have put it away."
"I never said so," I answered; and then a bright thought coming to me,
as to what would be an impregnable position to take up in all future
inquiry, I boldly added, "I never touched it after you went away."
"Where can it be, then?" said Aleck; and yet, though it was clearly a
hopeless task, we once again looked carefully for the missing treasure
in both boat-houses. There was the "Fair Alice," my own beautiful little
vessel, that had seemed the most perfect thing of its kind, until the
arrival of the new one; but the other was nowhere to be found.
"Tell you what, Master Gordon," said old George, "the wind's been
uncommon shifting and fanciful this morning, and we left her with sails
set; depend upon it, sir, that she's been drifting out with the tide a
bit, and the wind so off shore, as it is now, she'd be up towards the
mouth of the Cove. We ought to have thought of the wind and the change
of the tide; it will be well if she's not out to sea."
"Oh, no fear of that!" exclaimed Aleck, joyfully, "because I myself put
the harbour-bar across this morning when I sailed her first;" and so
saying, he bounded off along the rocks towards the mouth of the Cove,
the rest of us following almost as fast.
One hasty glance and I knew that what I had expected had taken place;
the ring which tightened the rope across, so as to constitute a barrier,
was now under water--the rope, it must be understood, being arranged to
lie along the bottom when not specially adjusted--the channel out to sea
was perfectly unimpeded, and there was no trace of the little vessel
which, an hour and a half before, had been sailing so merrily upon the
water.
"O George!" exclaimed Aleck, "see the rope is down; it must have gone
out to sea; it _can't_ be gone!"
But Aleck's face of sad conviction belied his words.
"It can't be gone!" he repeated; and yet the tears of disappointment
were forcing themselves into his eyes, though he battled up bravely
against his trouble, and tried to believe still that there was some
mistake.
Then we betook ourselves to searching in every nook and corner of the
Cove, exploring impossible places amongst the rocks, and once again
returning to look through the boat-house; I, hypocritically, as active
as others, lest there should be any suspicion raised.
"Master Willie," said Groves at last, as if a bright thought had struck
him, "I know what it must be, sir. You're up to a prank sometimes--in
fact, rather often--and you've hidden away the yacht, for there's been
no one else in the Cove but you; though where you can have put it I'm
puzzled to say, seeing there's not a place fit to hide a walnut-shell I
haven't looked in, not to say a schooner yacht drawing half a foot of
water."
All faces looked relieved by the idea--the three other faces I mean. But
as its tendency was to fasten a certain measure of responsibility upon
myself, I thought it better to become indignant.
"I don't know why you say I must have done it," I answered hastily. "I
never touched the boat; what should I touch it for, it wasn't mine; you
didn't make it for me. I told Aleck I hadn't touched it."
"Master Willie, Master Willie," expostulated Groves, "don't be angry; I
only thought you might have been up to a bit of fun, and I was
mistaken."
"Then, George--O George!" exclaimed my cousin, grasping him by the arm,
"she _must_ have gone out to sea;" and he tried hard to gulp down his
feelings; "you know the harbour-bar is down."
"And I should like to know how it came to be down," said George,
severely. A new idea evidently passed all in a moment through my
cousin's mind. With a fiery flashing in his eyes that I had never seen
in him before, he turned suddenly upon me.
"You naughty, wicked boy," he said.
"You didn't touch the boat you say; but you didn't like my having it;
you didn't like its being mine, because it was better than yours, and
had two masts; and so you let down the bar, and--and she's got out to
sea and is lost!" And so saying he burst into a passionate fit of tears.
It is difficult to say which of us was the most surprised by this
unlooked-for accusation of Aleck's. I had never seen my cousin in such a
temper before, but was far too conscious of the wrong part I had acted
to be able at once to answer with a protest of innocence. So that in the
very short space of time which was occupied by George telling Aleck the
case was not hopeless, and the vessel might be found yet, and that he'd
be sorry for the wrong words he had said to me, a rapid controversy
passed silently between me and my conscience somewhat in this wise:--
_Conscience._--"You know that what he said is true about your not liking
his having the schooner, and you know you wanted it to get lost."
_Answer._--"But I can say with perfect truth that I did not touch it _or
the rope_."
_Conscience._--"You know if you had called off Frisk the schooner would
not have been lost." _Answer._--"But I never _saw_ Frisk unloose the
ring; and I can say, with truth, that until just now I did not _know_
that it was not safe."
_Conscience._--"That will be a lie all the same. You have often been
told that what makes a lie is the intention to deceive, and not the
words only." _Answer._--"What's the use of telling now that I really am
very sorry it has happened. It's not any good confessing to Aleck that I
might have prevented it. After all, it was Frisk who did it, and I did
not even see Frisk do it. And Aleck's in such a towering passion; I
could never face him and have him know the whole."
_Conscience_, more feebly.--"That's bad reasoning; you ought simply to
find out what is right, and do it." _Answer._--"And now that I come to
think of it, it's a great shame that Aleck should fly out so at me, and
I won't stand it." And at this point the voice of conscience became
perfectly silenced, and, turning defiantly to my cousin, I exclaimed,--
"I don't know what you mean, Aleck, by accusing me of it; I never
touched the rope, and I never touched the boat; I'm quite certain that I
did not, and it's a lie of yours to say that I did."
"O Master Willie, Master Aleck," gasped old George, in consternation.
"Young gentlemen, these words are not fit to come from such as you; what
would your parents say?"
But our brows lowered angrily, and we made no response; whilst George
continued, abandoning in his dismay the usual form of address, and
speaking as from age to youth, "My boys, children, have you not been
taught of Him 'who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He
suffered, He threatened not.' Christian boys should try to be like their
Master, and such words as passed between you should never be heard
amongst them. You've forgotten yourselves, young gentlemen, and you'll
be very sorry soon for what you have said to each other. Master Aleck,
you're wrong, sir, to say that Master Willie did it when he denies it.
I've known Master Willie since he was born, and he speaks the truth.
He's told me with the greatest of honestness when he's done things
which was wrong, and no one else knowed of; as, for instance, when he
ate the cherries and swallowed the stones, and when he got the cat's
tail all over pitch--I can remember a score of things he's told me of,
quite frank and open, and I'm sure he's spoken the truth now."
I felt somewhat self-condemned whilst George thus enumerated the
instances of my candour in simple unconsciousness of the fact that
confessions of scrapes were generally received by him with such
indulgence that it required the smallest possible amount of moral
courage to make them.
"Shake hands, young gentlemen," he added, after another pause, "and be
friends, and let us all do what we can to find the schooner--she's cost
me many an hour's work."
And at this moment, for the first time, it flashed upon me painfully how
great the disappointment was to George as well as to Aleck, and I was
sorry, more sorry than I had hitherto felt.
The pair of small chubby hands that met in the old sailor's rugged palm
were unused to so ceremonious a meeting, and their owners were somewhat
solemnized at being treated like grown-up gentlemen. But a fierce look
of suspicion still lingered in Aleck's face, and I doubt not a glow of
anger and excitement in mine, which showed that Groves's peacemaking had
not been thoroughly effectual--we _felt_ still as we had _spoken_
before.