such a snail's pace before, and Uncle Ben was barely within hailing
distance when, unable longer to restrain his patience, Sam cried:
"Who owns her, Uncle Ben? Who owns the 'Sally'?"
Then in a shrill, but triumphant tone, came the reply:
"Uncle Ben's family bought her for four hundred and seventy dollars, an'
I've got the papers in my pocket!"
Instantly it was as if the three on the beach had taken leave of their
senses. They shouted, sang, and Tommy even danced a hornpipe, after
which Mr. Rowe, having learned all he wished to know, ran over to the
stranded schooner, where he began making calculations for the work he
had already determined should be begun on the morrow.
The two boys acted much as if they wanted to hug the old lobster catcher
when finally he stepped ashore; at all events, they each took one of his
hands, shaking it so vigorously that he was forced to cry for mercy.
"I reckon I've got a pretty good idee of how you've been feelin'," he
said when the whirlwind of their congratulations had subsided somewhat.
"Goin' over to the Port I got all worked up over thinkin' that p'rhaps
somebody might jump in an' offer more'n we could afford to pay, till I
was jest as limp as a rag. We needn't be worried very much, though,
'cause nobody seemed to think she was worth a great deal after layin' in
the sand so long. 'Siah Fernald allowed that he'd give four hundred, an'
that's what he started her at. I said four-twenty-five, an' he jumped
ten more; then I made it four-fifty, an' he sung out 'sixty, an' that's
a good bit more'n she's worth as she lays.' I made it four-seventy, an'
the auctioneer hung on for another bid till I begun to think he didn't
want me to have her, when he shouted, 'Sold to Uncle Ben Johnson, an' I
wish him good luck with her.'"
"But I thought Mr. Mansfield was goin' to buy her for you?" Sam cried.
"So he was, lad, so he was. Leastways, that's what he'd agreed to do;
but I got so worked up over the business on the way across, that I clean
forgot everythin' except how much we wanted to own her an' went to
biddin' on my own account."
"Was Pirate Doak there?" Tommy asked.
"Ay, lad, an' glum enough he looked. One spell I thought he was goin'
to break the sale up rather'n let me have her; but by hook or by crook
he held his tongue, after growlin' out that whoever bought her would be
called on to pay cash down. When the auctioneer said she was mine I got
the money from William Mansfield, for I'd fixed things when I was in the
Port before, so's he could get six hundred outer the bank for me.
Eliakim signed the bill of sale, but he never looked my way once. For a
wonder he was sober, an' so contrived to act pretty nigh decent. Now
we'll go over an' have a squint at the family's property!"
*CHAPTER XIII*
*WRECKING*
When Uncle Ben and the two boys arrived at the stranded schooner Mr.
Rowe was there, bustling around as if it was his intention to begin the
task of launching her at once, and Uncle Ben said with a laugh, which at
the same time was much like a chuckle of satisfaction:
"Wa'al, Reuben, are you countin' on havin' her in deep water before we
turn in?"
"I ain't allowin' to let any grass grow under my feet, an' that's a
fact," Mr. Rowe replied in a tone of decision. "This 'ere is a longish
job, an' I want to get the whole thing figgered out in my head so's we
won't have to do any of the work over ag'in."
"Ain't you in any way curious to know how I fixed up the trade?"
"I reckon news like that will keep, seein's how the schooner is yours
past all chance of Cap'en Doak's backin' out, eh?"
"The money has been paid, an' I've got a clean bill of sale in my
pocket. William Mansfield looked things up, so's to make certain there
wasn't a mortgage or lien on her, consequently, seein's how Eliakim
signed the documents of his own free will, an' was mighty glad to get
hold of my four hundred and seventy dollars, I don't see any show for
him to back down on the bargain."
"Come on board, Tommy, an' see what she looks like!" Sam cried as he
clambered up over the bow, and Master Falonna followed close at his
heels, the older members of the "family" paying no attention to what the
lads did, so intent was Reuben on explaining to Uncle Ben exactly how he
proposed to begin work on the following morning.
"I'm wonderin' if the boys can't 'tend to the traps alone, to-morrow,
so's to give you an' me all the time we want. It ain't that there'll be
sich a dreadful sight of work; but we'll need to do a pile of figgerin',
an' at that sort of thing two heads are better'n one."
"I reckon they can get along all right," Uncle Ben replied thoughtfully.
"Both of 'em have tried it often enough, an' that 'ere Tommy takes hold
as if he was born to be a lobster catcher. I was thinkin', though, that
there'd be a lot of things needed, an' I'd be called on to go to the
Port."
"Unless you've got business of your own, I reckon you'd better stay
'round here one day so's to make certain I don't go astray on my
calculatin'. You see, I didn't get all the schoolin' I mighter had, an'
when it comes to shakin' up figgers, I ain't over-strong."
"Hello, Uncle Ben!" Sam cried from the deck of the schooner. "Cap'en
Doak has left all his things in the cabin--gun an' everythin'. Do you
s'pose he allowed to throw the whole lot inter the trade?"
"The 'Sally' was sold jest as she laid, with everythin' aboard, 'cordin'
to what the auctioneer said, an' he allowed there was considerable
fishin' gear in the hold: but it don't seem likely Eliakim would leave
sich as a gun to go inter the bargain."
"Come up here an' look your property over, so's to know jest what you
did buy," and Sam passed down the bight of a rope that the old man might
come up without too great exertion.
Mr. Rowe dropped his "calculations" in order to aid in the examination
of the new property, and night was fully come before either member of
the party had satisfied his curiosity. There were many articles in the
cabin such as blankets, oilskins, cooking utensils, the rusty gun, and
crockery, which would be of service to the "family"; but the collection
was so large that it did not seem possible Captain Doak had intended all
should be sold with the schooner, and Uncle Ben said with a long-drawn
sigh as he led the way over the rail:
"Dear, dear, I did hope that we'd seen the last of Eliakim; but now I
s'pose he'll be fritterin' 'round here pretty nigh all summer, makin'
mischief, an' allowin' he's only gettin' his things away."
"If you bought the schooner jest as she lays, I wouldn't trouble my head
'bout Eliakim Doak. I'd tell him flat-flooted that what things was
aboard belonged to the man who bought her, an' that he'd get himself
filled so full of holes that he could let hisself out for a
milk-strainer, if he ever stepped foot on the island ag'in," and Mr.
Rowe shook his fist in the direction of Southport, as if by so doing he
could frighten the man who might possibly attempt to work mischief.
"We won't have any words with Eliakim, Reuben," Uncle Ben replied
placidly. "If he comes here claimin' what's in the cabin, I shall tell
him to take it an' be off; but he must be made to understand that I
won't have him whifflin' 'round this island any longer than's necessary
to pack his dunnage inter a boat. Now then, Sammy, if you're goin' to
give us any supper this night, it's time you began to stir yourself
right lively."
Sam did not need to be reminded of the task to be performed. He was
already in advance of the others on the way to the shanty when Uncle Ben
spoke, and immediately quickened his pace to a run, followed closely by
Tom.
If it is true that "too many cooks spoil the broth," then the supper
should have been ruined beyond redemption on this first night after the
family had become shipowners, for each member insisted on "bearing a
hand," until, as Sam declared, it was hard work to find the stove.
Uncle Ben's prayer was one of thanksgiving, when supper had finally been
made ready, and even a stranger might have understood from the words how
rejoiced the old man was at having thus come into possession of the
"Sally D.," for by the purchase of the vessel it seemed to him as if
there could no longer be any question as to the success of his plan
relating to the gathering of a family.
There was very little sleeping done by the inmates of the shanty on this
night. So great was the excitement that each one got up two or three
times to look out of the door for some signs of a new day, and it yet
lacked a full hour of sunrise when Uncle Ben said in a tone of positive
relief:
"I reckon we may as well turn out, lads. There's a good deal to be done
before nightfall, an' precious little chance that we can sleep while all
hands are on edge 'bout the schooner."
Mr. Rowe ate breakfast hurriedly, as soon as it had been made ready, and
then, in persuance of the plan already formed in his mind, went, in
company with Uncle Ben, to the grove of fir trees in the middle of the
island, it having already been arranged that Sam and Tommy should attend
to the traps alone.
The boys were proud at thus being entrusted with the labor, yet it would
have been more to their liking had the task assigned them been on shore,
for they were feverishly eager to see the work of launching the "Sally
D." begun. As it was, they set about the job with a will, and it is
safe to say that never before had Uncle Ben's traps been hauled and
reset in such a short time. What pleased them better than all was the
fact that the catch was unusually large, and Tom said in a tone of
satisfaction as the last captive was thrown into the car:
"At this rate Uncle Ben won't have to take very much more of his money
out of the bank to pay for outfittin' the schooner, 'cause the lobsters
will pay all the bills. I'm glad we've got so many, an' a good deal
better pleased because now we can turn to an' help Mr. Rowe with his
work. Let's get ashore lively. I'll help cook dinner, so's not to be
gettin' any more of the fun than you."
When the boys went ashore they were disappointed at not seeing any
evidences of Mr. Rowe's work. They had expected much would have been
done toward floating the schooner, and yet it was as if she had not been
visited since they set out to haul the traps.
Not until the two men had answered the summons to dinner did the lads
understand the meaning of this seeming neglect, and then Mr. Rowe
explained that until the timbers, of which the ways were to be made, had
been cut and dragged to the shore nothing could be done.
"We'll give you a job as soon as these 'ere vittles have been ate," he
said with a laugh. "Uncle Ben an' I have got three trees ready, an'
while you're makin' horses out of yourselves by haulin' 'em to the beach
we'll trim up as many more."
Sam would have left the dishes unwashed on this day, in order to get at
what seemed more important work the sooner; but Uncle Ben insisted that
the housework must go on as usual, whether the "Sally" was floated or
not, therefore the shanty was set to rights, hastily but thoroughly,
before the boys began their share of the wrecking.
It was exhausting labor to get a pair of wheels under each of the heavy
timbers in turn, and drag it across the island, but neither Sam nor Tom
counted the cost, so that their portion of the task was accomplished.
When night came again Mr. Rowe announced that it was his purpose to
"make a showin'" next day, promising that when the sun had set once more
his companions should see that which would make plain his method of
floating the schooner.
"I've got timbers enough for the ways on the port side," he said, "an'
there won't be need of cuttin' more till she's on her beam-ends. The
only question is whether we can do it in one tide; for if we can't, all
our work will be wasted."
"If it wasn't for pullin' the pots, Tommy an' I could put in some mighty
big licks at shovelin' sand," Sam suggested, and much to his surprise
Uncle Ben added placidly:
"I've been thinkin' of jest that same thing, lad. You see I ain't used
to anythin' but fishin', an' can't do more'n half a man's work at other
jobs, so I'm allowin' to pull the pots alone to-morrow, same's I've done
year in an' year out ever since settlin' down here. That will leave you
boys free to help Reuben, an' I'm countin' on seein' a big pile of work
done when I get back."
"That's what will happen," Tommy replied confidently, and then he began
to help the cook that they might get to bed the earlier.
There were no laggards in the shanty next morning. It would not be time
to attend to the traps until about the middle of the forenoon, because
of the tide, therefore Uncle Ben took it upon himself to do the
housework. Thus there was nothing to prevent the boys from getting at
the task of wrecking as soon as breakfast was eaten, and the meal had
been prepared before sunrise.
A hard master was Reuben Rowe. His desire to see the "Sally D." in a
seaworthy condition was so great that it seemed as if neither himself
nor any other could do as much work in a given time as he wished to see
done, and the consequence was that he drove his assistants to the utmost
of their powers, until Sam laughingly declared that he "begrudged the
time it took them to draw their breath."
The plan was to excavate the sand from beneath the port side of the
schooner, doing it in such a manner that the timbers could be set in
place before she heeled over, and this was, as he said, "quite a nice
piece of work."
Uncle Ben shoveled industriously until it was time for him to visit the
traps, and then said cheerily as he pushed off in the dory:
"I'm allowin' to come back as soon as may be, an' I'm not sorry to get a
breathin' spell. Pullin' lobster-pots is child's play 'longside of what
Reuben expects his helpers to do, an' I'll be havin' what you might call
a vacation. Keep steady at it, lads, for that's the way to win in a long
race."
"An' you can make up your mind that we're counting on that same thing!"
Reuben replied emphatically. "After we get the schooner on what you
might call ways, so's there's no chance of her sinkin' any deeper in the
sand, it'll be all right to take things a little easier, but till that's
done it's a case of hustle all the time."
Then Uncle Ben pulled off from the shore, and the three laborers
shoveled sand as if their very lives depended upon it, until Reuben
finally announced:
"I'm thinkin' half an hour more will see us well along with this job,
an' it hasn't been done any too quick, for the tide is beginnin' to
come. If it catches us before the timbers are down all the work will go
for nothin', 'cause it wouldn't take long for the sea to wash every
grain of sand back where we've taken it from."
As he spoke the lads straightened up for an instant to relieve the
painful strain on their backs, and at the same time Sam chanced to look
seaward, when he saw that which caused him to cry in dismay:
"There comes a dory from Southport way! It can't be anybody but Cap'en
Doak, an' he wouldn't pull all the distance over here except it was to
make mischief!"
There was an expression of anxiety on Reuben Rowe's face as he gazed
intently in the direction indicated by Sam, and after what seemed like a
very long time of silence he said slowly, and with somewhat of menace in
his tones:
"I'm allowin' that's him for sure, an' there's likely to be the biggest
kind of a row if he tries to be funny. If we lay still half an hour
jest now, this day's work is spoiled, an' he shan't be the man to waste
our time like that!"
"I wish Uncle Ben was here," Sam said half to himself, and Reuben added:
"I ain't certain but it's a good idee he's away. The old man is too
soft-hearted to deal with the likes of Eliakim Doak, an' I ain't given
that way a little bit, seein's I know him root an' branch."
"What will you do if he tries to kick up a row?" Tommy asked anxiously,
and one might have believed that he would be pleased to see the former
owner of the "Sally D." meet with a person who was not very careful to
avoid hurting his feelings.
"I'll give him all he's lookin' for, an' a little more! Dig the best
you know how, lads, an' p'rhaps we can get the timbers in place before
he makes the cove. Then we'll have time to look after his case," and
Mr. Rowe set the example by throwing out sand from the trench in a
regular stream.
*CHAPTER XIV*
*A WAR OF WORDS*
"I want you boys to know that I ain't afraid of Eliakim Doak, when it's
only my own skin that's to be hurt, nor of any four men like him," Mr.
Rowe said as he continued to throw up the sand. "It's only 'cause I'm
afraid he may contrive to keep us on edge till the tide comes up an'
puts things in bad shape. If we can get these 'ere timbers down
shipshape, before he pulls in, I'll be ready to give him a full dose.
Jump to it, lads, for every shovelful counts jest now!"
There was little need to urge the boys to further exertions; they could
understand full well how important it was, unless they were willing to
lose what had already been done, to push the work to the utmost, and
never for a single instant did they even look seaward, although both
were curious to know how rapidly the enemy was approaching.
It was fortunate for Uncle Ben's "family" that Captain Doak did not take
it into his head to leave Southport any earlier in the day, for he was
nearly half a mile from the cove when, with a cry of triumph, Mr. Rowe
laid the last timber in place, as he said grimly:
"Now let the old heathen come; we're ready for him," and he literally
scraped the perspiration from his face.
"It'll be quite a spell yet before he gets here," and Tom straightened
himself slowly, as if with difficulty after remaining in a bent position
so long. "What I'm keen to know is, how much better off we are after
puttin' these logs down? The schooner lays jest as she did before."
"Ay, lad, an' lucky for you she didn't heel over while we were workin'
so far under the hull. I'll admit that it don't look now as if we'd
done very much for her comfort; but after the tide comes up, an' the
water swashes back an' forth for a spell, you'll see her lay over like a
tired man, an' unless I'm way out of my reckonin', she'll be restin' the
biggest part of her weight on the logs by mornin'. Then it's only a
matter of workin' the other side like this. After that's been done, we
know for a fact that she can't settle any further inter the sand, an'
it'll only need a couple of smooth planks with a few wedges, to slide
her off when we're ready."
"I hope it'll work; but I can't figger out how," Sam said in perplexity,
and before Mr. Rowe's mirth, which had been aroused by the expression on
the boy's face, was abated, Captain Doak ran his dory up on the shore
within a dozen yards of where the "Sally D." lay.
"What's goin' on here?" he cried angrily, and as if it surprised him to
see any one at work near the schooner.
"We're tryin' to stop the old hooker from buryin' herself in the sand,"
Mr. Rowe replied without any show of anger; but Tom noted with no little
satisfaction that the former "crew" of the "Sally" held his shovel
firmly in his right hand, as if thinking it might be needed for a
weapon.
"What right have you to be foolin' 'round her?" and Captain Doak rose to
his feet threateningly, whereupon Mr. Rowe stepped a few paces nearer
the bow of the vessel to where he could clamber on board without
difficulty.
"I haven't turned her over to Ben Johnson, an' p'rhaps I shall change my
mind 'bout lettin' her go, 'specially at the ridiculous price he bid."
"You gave him a clear bill of sale!" Mr. Rowe cried angrily, and the two
boys ranged themselves on either side of him, as if believing they would
soon be called upon to take part in defending the property of the
"family."
"I may have been crazy enough to give a bill of sale, but till I say the
word he ain't got any right to fool 'round her. An' I warn you here an'
now, Rube Rowe, that if you so much as lay your hand on that craft I'll
sue you for trespass, if so be I ain't on the spot to knock your two
eyes inter one!" and Captain Doak stepped out from the dory in what both
Sam and Tom thought was a threatening manner.
"Hold on, Eliakim Doak, an' don't take the chance of makin' the biggest
mistake of your life!" Mr. Rowe said impressively. "You haven't got old
Uncle Ben here to deal with. I don't keep soft words for sich as I know
you to be. I'm in charge of this 'ere island, likewise the schooner
that has been bought an' paid for, an' it'll be the sickest day's work
you ever did to kick up a row jest now. What'er you here for, anyhow?"
"I came to get my things outer the cabin, an' to settle on whether I'd
let her go at any price----"
"The last part of it has been settled already, an' that you know very
well, Eliakim Doak, 'less you're willin' to admit you're a bigger dummy
than I ever allowed you was. Uncle Ben has said that you could have
what things are in the cabin, though if I'd bought the schooner as she
lays, it would be a long, cold day before you'd take the value of a
fish-scale away from her."
"We'll see 'bout that part of it," said Captain Doak.
"We've seen about it already! I'll throw out what stuff Uncle Ben
allowed you could take away, an' then you'll make a quick move from this
'ere island, or I'll know the reason why," and with the agility of a
monkey Mr. Rowe clambered aboard the stranded vessel.
Captain Doak stepped forward as if about to make an attack, but seeing
Sam and Tom near the bow with shovels ready to be used as weapons, he
wisely concluded to remain on the beach, contenting himself by shouting:
"I'll have the law on you if a single thing in that 'ere cabin is
touched!"
In reply to this threat came a shower of oilskins, followed by the rusty
musket and a quantity of battered tin dishes.
"Shove that stuff aboard your craft, an' I'll send down some more," Mr.
Rowe cried with a grin as he leaned over the rail. "It's a certain
thing, Eliakim, that you ain't to be allowed to board this 'ere
schooner, for I wouldn't trust you as far as I could sling a mule by the
ear, if there was any chance to do mischief!"
"I'll stay where I am till I get good an' ready, an' you ain't the man
who can make me move! I've got rights that I'm goin' to have----"
"The only rights you've got 'round here is to get inter that dory, an'
keep beyond low water mark!" Mr. Rowe cried as if in a fury of rage, and
the two lads were actually frightened when they saw him leap over the
rail with an oar raised over his shoulder threateningly. "Now take that
dunnage inter yer boat, or get in without it, else----"
"Reuben! Reuben!" came in placid tones from over the water, and,
looking up, the lads saw Uncle Ben pulling slowly toward the island.
"If he hadn't got back quite so soon I declare I'd have damaged you some
with this oar!" Mr. Rowe cried savagely, as he swung the weapon
menacingly in front of Captain Doak until he could do no less than beat
a slow retreat toward his boat.
Then the war of words ceased until the old lobster catcher ran his dory
ashore and stepped out on the beach as if it was the most natural thing
in the world to see Captain Doak on Apple Island.
"Have you been havin' any trouble with the cap'en, Reuben?" he asked,
and Mr. Rowe, so angry that the words came like a torrent, replied by
repeating what the former owner of the "Sally D." had said.
"There is no reason, Reuben, why you should get so disturbed over it,
for the sale was open an' legal. Eliakim took from me the money I bid,
and gave a lawful bill of sale. It is only right that he should have
what belongings are in the cabin, for I didn't count them as goin' with
the schooner."
"Wa'al, he's got 'em, hasn't he?" Mr. Rowe cried, pointing to the
assortment of goods on the sand. "I don't allow that he shall step his
foot on board the 'Sally,' for nobody knows how much mischief sich as
he'd be willin' to do when he's in one of his ugly tantrums."
"I'm not allowin' he shall go on board," Uncle Ben said in such a firm
tone that the boys looked at him in surprise. "He can name over what he
claims, an' then leave the island, else I'll start for the Port.
What'll be done after I get there he knows full well."
Captain Doak appeared to be quite as much surprised as were the boys;
but it was not in his nature to give in beaten until absolutely obliged
so to do, and he cried hotly:
"I'll do as I please----"
"We'll see about that!" and Reuben advanced with upraised oar. "I
didn't think it was in Uncle Ben to take sich a strong stand; but it
seems that he's got considerable backbone after all, which is apt to be
the way with these soft-spoken folks. You're to leave, an' do it mighty
quick, without another word, or I'll let this oar drop!"