HASTE AND WASTE
Lawry, satisfied that his father had come to his senses, and would
restore the pocketbook to Mr. Randall, hastened into the boat, and
pulled toward the _Woodville_. He was afraid Mr. Sherwood had
been too venturesome in attempting to pilot the little steamer in
waters with which he was entirely unfamiliar; but he hoped for the
best, and rowed as hard as he could, in order to give him timely
warning of the perils which lay in the path of the beautiful craft.
About half a mile above the landing at Port Rock there was a
dangerous ledge, called the Goblins, some of whose sharp points were
within a foot of the surface of the water when the lake was low. They
were some distance from the usual track of steamers, and there was no
buoy, or other mark, on them. The _Woodville_ was headed toward
the rocks, as the ferryman had said, and it was impossible for Lawry
to get within hailing distance of her before she reached them. He
pulled with all his strength, and had hoped to overhaul her in season
to avert a catastrophe.
Occasionally, as he rowed, he looked behind him to observe the
course of the steamer. She was almost up to the Goblins, while he was
too far off to make himself heard in her wheel-house. He was appalled
at her danger, and the cold sweat stood on his brow, as he saw her
hastening to certain destruction. He could no longer hope to reach
her, and he ceased rowing.
Standing up in his boat, he waved his hat, and made other signs to
warn the imprudent pilot of his danger. With one of the oars he tried
to signify to him that he must keep off; but no notice was taken of
his warning. On the forward deck of the little craft stood three
ladies, who, taking the boatman's energetic gestures for friendly
salutations, were waving their handkerchiefs to him.
"Hard aport your helm!" shouted Lawry.
Mr. Sherwood sounded the whistle, evidently taking the shout as a
cheer of congratulation at his safe arrival.
"Keep off!" roared Lawry.
Again the whistle sounded, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs
more vigorously than before. The young pilot was in despair. The
_Woodville_ was going at full speed directly upon the rocks,
whose sharp points would grind her to powder if she struck upon them.
"Hard aport!" repeated Lawry desperately.
Once more the supposed cheer was answered by the whistle and the
waving of the ladies' handkerchiefs, and still the fairy craft dashed
on toward the rocks.
"By gracious! she's on them, as sure as the world!" exclaimed Lawry
to himself, hardly able to breathe.
He had hardly uttered the words before he heard the crash which
announced the doom of the _Woodville_. Her sharp bow slid upon
the ledge, and she suddenly stopped in her mad flight.
Lawry bent on his oars again, horrified by the accident. He pulled
as he had never pulled before. A moment or two after the steamer
struck, he was startled by a succession of shrill shrieks from the
ladies, and he turned to see what had happened. The _Woodville_
had filled, rolled off the rock, and sank in deep water, leaving her
passengers floating helplessly on the lake. The upper half of her
smokestack was all that remained in sight of the beautiful craft
which three minutes before had been a thing of beauty.
The young pilot did not pause an instant to contemplate the scene of
destruction. He saw only the helpless persons struggling for life in
the water, and he renewed his labors with a vigor and skill which
soon brought him to the sufferers. Mr. Sherwood was supporting his
wife; but both of them were nearly exhausted. Lawry helped Bertha
into the boat, and told her husband to hold on at the rail.
Ethan French, with his arm around the waist of Fanny Jane, was
holding on at the smokestack, where also the fireman of the boat was
supporting himself.
"Where is Fanny?" gasped Mr. Sherwood.
"I'm afraid she has gone down," replied Ethan French. "I saw her
just there a moment since."
"I see her!" said Lawry, as he dived into the lake.
Fanny, exhausted by her struggles, had sunk, and Lawry, with a
strong arm, bore her to the surface again; but she was too large and
heavy for him, and he could not support her.
Before the arrival of the boat, Ethan was in the act of transferring
his helpless burden to the arms of the fireman, that he might go to
the assistance of Miss Fanny; and, as soon as Lawry appeared, he swam
out to help him. With the aid of the young engineer, the exhausted
lady was lifted into the boat. Fanny Jane was next taken in, but
there was no room for any more.
Though Miss Fanny was in a worse condition than the other ladies,
she still had her senses; and none of the party was in danger. Mr.
Sherwood, Ethan, and the fireman were still in the water, holding on
at the rail of the boat. Lawry took the oars and pulled toward the
ferry-landing.
"Thank God, we are all safe!" said Mr. Sherwood.
"Some of us must have been drowned if Lawry had not come to our
assistance," added Miss Fanny. "I had given up, and was sinking to
the bottom. My senses were leaving me, when I felt his grasp on my
arm."
"You have done bravely, Lawry," added Bertha.
But the party did not feel much like talking. They were all grateful
to God, who had, through the agency of the young pilot, saved them
from their perilous situation. When the boat reached the landing-place,
the ladies were conducted to the cottage of John Wilford,
where everything was done by Mrs. Wilford to promote their comfort.
Lawry hastened up to Mr. Sherwood's house to procure the carriage,
which had fortunately just returned from Port Henry, and the party
were soon conveyed to their home.
Dry clothing and a little rest soon restored Mr. Sherwood and the
ladies to their wonted spirits, and all of them wished to see their
brave deliverer. He was sent for, and presented himself to the ladies
in the drawing-room. Lawry, anxious to learn the condition of the
ladies after their cold bath, and their terrible fright, had followed
the carriage up to the house, and was telling the coachman the
particulars of the catastrophe when he was summoned to the presence
of the family.
Never was a young man more earnestly and sincerely thanked for a
brave and noble deed; and Mr. Sherwood hinted that something more
substantial than thanks would be bestowed upon him.
"Thank you, sir; I don't need anything more," replied Lawry,
blushing. "What will be done with the steamer, now?" he asked.
"I have got enough of her," said Mr. Sherwood. "She has given me a
shock I shall never forget."
"I don't think it was the fault of the boat, sir," suggested Lawry.
"I did all I could to have you keep off the rocks."
"We all thought you were crazy, you shook so in your boat."
"I was trying to warn you of your danger."
"Was that what you meant? We thought you were cheering the
_Woodville_."
"I saw you were going on the rocks, and I shouted and made signs for
you to keep off."
"You certainly did all you could for us, both before and after the
accident," added Mr. Sherwood. "When did you get home, Lawry?"
"To-day noon, just after you went to the house for me. I came right
up to see you; but I found you had gone."
"Yes; I was so impatient to get that little steamer up here, that I
couldn't wait any longer."
"And what a waste your haste has made!" laughed Mrs. Sherwood.
"There is our fine little steamer at the bottom of the lake."
"She may lie there, for all me," added Mr. Sherwood.
"I should not dare to put my foot on board of her again," said Miss
Fanny.
"Nor I," chimed in Fanny Jane.
"She isn't to blame, Mr. Sherwood," interposed Ethan French. "She
worked as though she had been alive."
"No steamer could stand such a thump on the Goblins," added Lawry.
"I don't blame the boat, of course," replied Mr. Sherwood; "but this
adventure has cured me of my love for steamboating. I don't want to
see another one."
"Shall you let the _Woodville_ lie there?" asked Lawry.
"She's a wreck now, stove in and ruined."
"But she can be raised and repaired, and be as good as ever, or
nearly so," continued Lawry.
"She is good for nothing to me now. I will give her to any one who
wants her."
"There are plenty who will want her," said Lawry.
"It will cost them a fortune to raise and repair her--almost as much
as she is worth, if she is to be used as a plaything. But I have come
to the conclusion that she is a dangerous machine for me, and I don't
want anything more to do with her. I came very near drowning my wife
and my friends with her; and this fills me with disgust for the boat
and for myself."
"Just now you spoke of a reward for what I had the good luck to do
for you, Mr. Sherwood," continued Lawry.
"I did; and you may be assured I shall never forget your noble
conduct," replied Mr. Sherwood warmly.
"If you are going to give the _Woodville_ away, sir--"
"Well, what?" asked Mr. Sherwood, as the young pilot paused.
"I don't know as I ought to say what I was going to say."
"Say it, Lawry, say it," added Mr. Sherwood kindly.
"You said you would give the steamer to any one who wanted her,"
continued Lawry, hesitating.
"And you want her?" laughed the wealthy gentleman.
"Yes, sir; that is what I was going to say."
"Then she is yours, Lawry; but I might as well give you the fee
simple of a farm in Ethiopia. I don't feel as though I had given you
anything, my boy."
"Indeed you have, sir! I feel as though you had made my fortune for
me; and I am very much obliged to you, sir."
"I don't believe you have anything to thank me for, Lawry. As I
understand it, the _Woodville_ lies on the bottom of the lake,
with her bow stove in, and her hull as useless as though the parts
had never been put together. The engine and the iron and brass work
are worth a good deal of money, I know; but it will cost all they
will bring to raise them."
"I don't think the steamer is ruined, sir. I hope you are not giving
her away believing that she is not worth anything," said Lawry.
"I don't think she is worth much."
"I think she stove a great hole in her bow, and that is all that
ails her. If we can get her on the ways, she can be made as good as
ever she was in a week."
"Whatever her condition, Lawry, she is yours. I will give you a bill
of sale of her at once."
Mr. Sherwood executed the paper in due form, affixed the stamp, and
gave the document to the young pilot.
"I can hardly help weeping when I think of the beautiful little
steamer," said Mrs. Sherwood. "She was a perfect little fairy. How
elated we were as we moved up the lake in her! What fine times we
were promising ourselves on board of her! Now the dear little craft
lies on the bottom of the lake, broken and spoiled!"
"I shouldn't dare to put my foot in her again," added Miss Fanny. "I
shudder when I think of her."
"I shudder when I think of you, Fanny. You were sinking when Lawry
dived down after you," said Mr. Sherwood.
"We ought all to be grateful to God for His mercy in saving us,"
added Fanny Jane.
"I trust we are grateful to Him; and I am sure we shall never forget
what Lawry has done to-day," responded the gentleman.
"Never!" exclaimed Fanny warmly.
"It was all my fault," continued Mr. Sherwood. "I am ashamed of
myself, and disgusted with the boat."
"The boat is not to blame, sir," said Ethan French. "She behaved
like a lady."
"I know she is not to blame. It was my silly impatience. I was in
such a hurry to try the steamer that I could not wait for a pilot.
Bertha, do you know what your father used to say to me when I was in
a hurry?"
"I don't know; but I have heard him say that you were too impatient
for your own good."
"'Haste and Waste' was his maxim, when I was not disposed to wait
the natural development of events. By neglecting this precept, I have
nearly sacrificed the lives of my best friends. Lawry, if you are
going to be a steamboat man, let me give you this maxim for your
government--'Haste and Waste.'"