PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS.
“Well, how is it now?” inquired Rich, as Tom approached the spot
where all the Night-hawks were standing, listening to Miller’s
description of the letter that had just been written. “Have you
succeeded?”
“Of course,” replied the grand commander. “We are all right, so far.
The document is half-way to the post-office by this time.”
“That makes me feel a little easier,” said Miller. “But I shall shake
in my boots until we get an answer to it.”
“Humph!” exclaimed Tom, contemptuously. “I guess I know what I am
about. If you don’t think that I am able to manage this business, you
had better give it into the hands of some one else.”
“O, we are not afraid to trust you,” said one of the new members;
“but you don’t know the old colonel as well as we do. He knows a
thing or two, and if he don’t find out something about this business,
I shall be most agreeably surprised. So mind what you are about.”
“Now, never mind me,” replied Tom, confidently. “I tell you I know
just what I am doing. We’ll have an answer within forty-eight hours.
That’s not long to wait.”
But, on this point, Tom soon changed his mind. Two days, he found,
was a long time to wait, especially for one so impatient as he was.
The hours seemed lengthened into weeks; and, as if to make the time
hang more heavily on his hands, he failed in all his lessons, was
obliged to stand guard at night, and, on the second day, received
orders to remain in his dormitory during play-hours. This was very
provoking. He fully expected Johnny Harding would be on hand that
evening with an answer to his letter, and he wanted to meet him, in
order that he might have a long talk with him, and learn exactly what
the boys in the village thought of their scheme. But he had faithful
friends upon whom he could depend, and when dress-parade was over,
and he was about to ascend to his quarters, he found opportunity to
whisper to several of the Night-hawks to “keep an eye open,” which
they all readily promised to do.
Tom had not been mistaken in his calculations when he had selected
Johnny Harding as the most reliable member of the society, for,
about half-past four o’clock, the fifth captain, in obedience to the
instructions he had received from his chief, made his appearance on
the south side of the grounds. He walked rapidly along the road,
watching the games that were going on inside the inclosure, when a
ball, propelled by some vigorous striker, bounded over the fence and
fell into the road before him.
“I say, my friend!” shouted one of the students.
“Say it yourself!” replied Johnny, good-naturedly.
“Will you be kind enough to throw that ball back here? You were just
in time to be of assistance to us,” continued the student, as Johnny
pitched the ball back into the grounds. “We are not allowed to go
over this fence.”
“That’s all right,” said Johnny. “I don’t need any thanks. Perhaps
some of you can do as much for me now. Have any of you seen a large
bow-kite over this way?”
“No,” answered several of the students. “Have you lost one?”
“If you find one,” continued the messenger, “with the word Nantucket
painted on it in large capital letters, you may know that it is mine;
and I would be greatly obliged if you would keep it safe until I call
for it.”
“All right,” answered the students. “If we find it, we’ll return it
to you in good order.”
“That fellow must have been hard up for names to call his kite
Nantucket,” said one of the boys, as soon as Johnny was out of
hearing. “Nobody but a country chap would ever have thought of
calling a kite by that name.”
“No success thus far,” soliloquized Johnny, as he continued his walk.
“Not a Night-hawk among those fellows. I hope they won’t waste much
valuable time in looking for that kite. Hallo! here’s one of ’em, or
I am greatly mistaken.”
He had discovered a boy seated under one of the trees in the school
grounds, apparently deeply interested in a book which he held in his
hand.
“Ahem!” said Johnny, looking straight down the road, and hurrying
along faster than ever.
“Ahem,” answered the student.
Johnny stopped as suddenly as if the boy had called him by name, and,
walking up to the fence, inquired:
“Have you seen any thing of a large bow-kite over this way--”
And here the fifth captain stopped and looked at the student, as if
he expected him to finish the sentence. He had found the right man at
last, for the academy boy continued:
“With the word Nantucket painted on it in large capital letters?”
“That’s the one!” said Johnny, eagerly. “Have you seen it?”
“Yes, it’s safe,” replied the student, who arose to his feet, and,
after glancing about the grounds, to satisfy himself that no one
was observing his movements, he walked carelessly to the fence,
and handed Johnny a slip of paper. It was his “certificate of
membership,” and, when the fifth captain read it, he knew that he had
found a friend.
“That’s all right!” said Johnny. “Here’s a letter for Newcombe. I
haven’t done as well as I expected to do, and, unless I get new
orders, the whole expedition is hard and fast aground. Here’s the
rope?” he continued, pulling a bundle, tied up in a newspaper, from
under his coat. “So Tom has brought in new members? We’re glad of
it--the more the merrier, you know. Good-by! If you ever visit the
village, don’t fail to call on me.”
So saying, Johnny walked off, while the Night-hawk, after putting the
letter into his pocket, and concealing the rope under his coat, bent
his steps toward the academy, and presently entered the dormitory,
where the grand commander was confined. When the new member entered
the room, he gave his chief a significant wink, which told Tom as
plainly as words that the long-wished-for letter had at last arrived.
The latter could scarcely restrain himself, so impatient was he to
examine its contents. But it was necessary to be very careful, for
there were several students in the room, some, like Tom, confined for
misdemeanors, while others, having grown tired of play, were busy
with their books; and, to give any of these a hint of what was going
on, would endanger not only the success of the expedition, but the
liberties of all engaged in it.
Tom, however, played his part to perfection. Without appearing to
take any notice of the Night-hawks, he walked to the further end of
the room; and the new member, after loitering about, and conversing
with some of the students, found an opportunity to put the letter
and rope under the pillow on Tom’s bed. The movement was skillfully
executed, and no one but the grand commander noticed it. There was
now but little danger of discovery; but Tom, who still thought it
necessary to be very cautious, did not go near his bed for half
an hour. Then, after a little maneuvering, he managed to hide the
rope in his trunk and to read Johnny’s letter, which, brief and to
the point, told how the fifth captain had performed the business
intrusted to him. In the first place, he informed his chief that
he had been unable to charter a vessel; for, as the fifth captain
expressed it, “there was not a single ship-owner in the village who
would be foolish enough to allow a parcel of green boys to go off
alone in his vessel;” so, unless the boys at the academy changed
their programme, they might as well abandon the idea of escaping
their examination. Johnny wound up his letter by telling his chief
that the surest way to get a boat was to capture her; and by
informing him that he would be at the south side of the grounds on
the following afternoon, at five o’clock, to receive his answer.
On the whole, Tom was very well pleased with the letter. He had, in
the beginning, proposed to capture a vessel, or to “take her and
welcome,” which was the same thing, but his friends had opposed it.
Now they would be obliged to fall in with his plans, which would be
another feather in his cap, for it would, perhaps, serve to convince
the Night-hawks that they ought to pay more attention to what he said
to them. He was very anxious to escape the examination, but he did
not want any one to assist him in making the necessary arrangements.
He wanted the boys to obey all his orders, and he would rather the
enterprise should be defeated under his own management, than prove a
success under the control of any one else.
After a few moments’ consideration, Tom decided that he would not
write an answer to Johnny’s letter, but that he would behave himself
the next day so that he would be granted liberty with the others
during play-time. He could then see the fifth captain, and talk
the matter over with him. He felt greatly encouraged. If he had
entertained any doubts as to the ultimate success of the undertaking,
they were all gone now, for Johnny had shown that he could be
depended upon--that he would faithfully carry out all instructions he
might receive, which would render failure impossible.
When Miller and Rich marched down to supper that evening, Tom
succeeded in slipping the letter into their hands, and the wink which
they gave the chief, when they met in the school-room, told Tom that
his friends had read the letter and pondered upon its contents.
The next day Tom began work in earnest. He studied hard, although
that was a most difficult task, for his thoughts would sometimes
wander away from his books in spite of all he could do to prevent
it. He paid strict attention to all his duties, and was, of course,
allowed liberty at play-time. Then he could not help thinking how
much better he always felt, when he behaved himself so that he could
be allowed privileges with the others, than he did when he was
scolded and punished for his offenses.
“Now, boys,” said he, as the Night-hawks met on the ball-ground, “I
suppose you have all read that letter I gave to Miller last night; so
let’s hear from you. What have you got to say about it?”
A long and somewhat stormy debate followed Tom’s question, and the
point of difference was, the manner in which they ought to go to work
to secure a vessel. Among the Night-hawks there was scarcely one who
would hesitate to appropriate such small articles as apples, peaches,
or water-melons, “just for the fun of the thing;” but they were all
afraid to risk the serious matter of making off with a boat that did
not belong to them, no matter how much fun and excitement there might
be in it. Tom, however, had thought the matter over, and was ready
with an answer to this argument. Although they should take a vessel
without asking the owner’s permission, they would not steal her, for
it was their intention to return the boat in just as good order as
they found it. A sloop wasn’t worth more than a dollar a day; and
just before they got ready to start, they would mail a letter to the
owner of the boat, enclosing twelve or fourteen dollars; and, when
he found that his boat came back safe and sound, and that he had
received good pay for her, he wouldn’t grumble. This plan silenced
the fears of the timid members of the society, who finally agreed to
act according to Tom’s suggestion.
The next question that arose was in regard to the expenses of the
cruise. The chief demanded two dollars from each boy present, which
astonished the Night-hawks, who declared that Tom was altogether too
extravagant. But the latter again carried his point, and the sum of
twenty-eight dollars was collected, and placed in his hands, to be
given to Johnny Harding as their share of the expenses, and Tom was
instructed to meet the fifth captain, and make all the necessary
arrangements with him. All these questions being satisfactorily
settled, the boys separated, and, while the majority of them joined
in various games about the grounds, Tom seated himself under a tree,
near the fence, to await the arrival of Johnny Harding. Punctually
at the time appointed the latter was on hand, and, at the end
of a quarter of an hour, Tom returned to his companions, highly
elated with the result of the interview, while Johnny slowly and
thoughtfully retraced his steps toward the village.
With the exception of the escape from the academy building, which
the Night-hawks would be obliged to accomplish without assistance
from outsiders, Johnny now had the most difficult and dangerous task
to perform. His orders were to provision the Sweepstakes--a little
schooner that lay in the creek in front of the village--and get her
in readiness for the cruise; and, to accomplish this, without giving
the Philistines a hint of what was going on, was a feat requiring
all the skill and judgment the fifth captain could command. It was
rather out of his line of business; but Johnny, who had decided to
accompany the expedition, and who delighted in such exploits, was not
discouraged by the difficulties he found in his path. That there was
a way to successfully carry out his instructions, he did not, for a
moment, doubt; and, if any body could ascertain how it ought to be
done, he was the one.
Half an hour’s walk brought him to the village, through which he
passed to the creek where the Sweepstakes lay at her anchorage; and
here Johnny sat down on a pile of lumber, to take a view of the
situation, and to determine upon some course of action. His first
business must be to buy the provisions. Tom had told him to lay in
enough for twenty boys, and he had already made an estimate of the
amount that would be required. What would the grocer think when he
ordered two barrels of soda crackers, a kit of mackerel, a dozen
codfish, and a whole cheese? Then, after the provisions had been
purchased, how was he to get them on board of the schooner, which lay
in the creek, about fifty yards from the shore? This must be done
during the night, and, perhaps, they might be observed by some one
who would ask very disagreeable questions.
“Well, well!” said Johnny, taking off his hat and scratching his
curly head, “this is a bigger job than I bargained for. Nobody in the
world but Tom Newcombe would ever have thought of such a desperate
enterprise. I believe I would rather stand the examination, for there
wouldn’t be half so much danger in it. But if the others are willing
to risk it, I know I am. I’ll go on board the schooner, and see if
she is all ready for use!”
There were several skiffs in the creek, and Johnny, knowing that he
could carry out his resolution without exciting suspicion, walked
down the bank, stepped into one of the boats, and pushed off toward
the Sweepstakes. A few strokes of the oars brought him along-side,
and, after making the skiff fast to the fore-chains, he clambered
over the side, and began the examination. He had expected to find
that the little vessel had been partly dismantled, and that some
repairs would be necessary; but, to his delight, he found that
nothing had been removed. The sails were all there, neatly stowed
away, the handspikes were in their places, so that the anchor could
be hove-up with very little trouble, the hold was empty, and in a
condition to receive the provisions, and there were two large casks,
that would hold an ample supply of water. The cabin was in order, and
had bunks enough to accommodate six or eight boys. Of course there
were no beds in the bunks, but Johnny scarcely gave that a moment’s
thought. If want of beds was the only obstacle in his way, that could
have been easily overcome.
As the fifth captain walked about the vessel, several interesting
questions, which he had not before thought of, arose in his mind,
such as, Who would sleep in the cabin, and who in the forecastle?
Who would cook their meals, and what boys would be willing to act
as the crew? Was Rich, who, it was understood, was to be captain of
the vessel, seaman enough to take the schooner down the creek, and
through all the shipping that lay at the wharves, without accident?
Was he navigator enough to take them where they wished to go, or to
bring them back to the village, when their cruise was ended? Could
he manage the Sweepstakes if they should happen to be caught out
in a storm? Johnny, at first, had serious misgivings on all these
important points, and, for a time, he pondered upon the propriety
of suggesting to the academy boys that a “board of examiners” be
appointed, to inquire into Rich’s knowledge of seamanship and
navigation, and to decide whether or not he was the one that ought to
be the captain of the vessel. Had Johnny held to this resolution, it
might have saved the Night-hawks some trouble; but, after thinking
it over, the fifth captain came to the conclusion that he would say
nothing about the matter. If Captain Rich proved to be a humbug, it
was no business of his. He would faithfully attend to his part of the
work, and leave all disputes to be settled when they arose.
Johnny slept but little that night. Various plans, by which he
might carry out the instructions he had received from the grand
commander, suggested themselves to him, but in every one of them he
found numerous difficulties to be overcome. His great desire was to
accomplish his part of the business without being obliged to answer
any questions. At last he concluded that the best way was to go
about it openly and above board; for the more he tried to cover it
up, and to keep the affair a profound secret, the more certain he
became that it would “leak out somewhere.” About two miles outside
the harbor was Block Island, where the village boys often went to
fish and hunt, and Johnny thought he could buy his provisions, and
take them out there, without exciting the suspicion of any one.
The Sweepstakes could stop there and take them on board as she
went out, and it would not delay her a quarter of an hour. On the
following morning, he communicated this plan to some of the village
Night-hawks, (four of whom had agreed to accompany the students on
their cruise,) who readily agreed that it was the best, and promised
to lend all the assistance in their power in carrying it out.
When Saturday morning came, Johnny was up bright and early; and as
soon as he had eaten his breakfast, he borrowed a large yawl, and,
accompanied by half a dozen boys, sailed down the creek, until they
arrived at Mr. Newcombe’s wharf, which, they thought, would be the
most convenient place to load their provisions. They then went in a
body to Mr. Henry’s store, and, as Johnny had expected, the grocer
opened his eyes in astonishment when he received the order for the
provisions; but, thinking that the boys were about to start on one of
their hunting and fishing expeditions, he merely said:
“I suppose you don’t intend to shoot many squirrels, or catch many
fish, since you are laying in so large a stock of something to eat.”
Johnny replied that they did not intend to suffer for want of food,
if they could help it; and after he had paid for the provisions, they
were placed upon a dray and taken to the yawl, where they were soon
loaded by the boys, who set sail for Block Island. In due time they
arrived at their destination, and, after a short consultation with a
farmer who lived on the island, their cargo was stowed in his barn
for safe keeping.
“Now,” said Johnny, when they were ready to return to the village,
“if nothing happens, we shall be here after those goods next Monday
night. I suppose it doesn’t make any difference to you what time we
come?”
“O, none at all,” replied the farmer. “If you will call me when you
come, I’ll lend you a hand. I hope you will be successful.”
“Thank you, sir!” answered Johnny, with a sly wink at his companions;
“so do we.”
The man did not mean that he hoped the boys would be successful in
running away from the academy, or in making off with a boat that did
not belong to them, but that they might be fortunate in catching
fish, and shooting squirrels and quails; for he thought it was their
intention to camp somewhere on the island.
The Night-hawks then returned to the village, and Johnny, to his
delight, was not called upon to answer any unpleasant questions. The
very boldness of his plan had removed suspicion. His part of the work
was now done; it only remained for Tom and his companions to effect
their escape from the academy.