before had he received so much attention, and for the first time in his
life did he understand what it meant to be loved and petted. It was the
belief of all the members of the family that he was growing fat very
rapidly, and Uncle Ben daily gave words to his regret that he had not
been sufficiently thoughtful to have weighed the little fellow before
leaving Southport, so they might know to a certainty how much Apple
Island agreed with him.
It must not be supposed, however, that while the "family" was thus being
amused by Joey as if he had been a veritable plaything, all the work was
neglected. As Mr. Rowe said, "they spent about half the time coddlin'
him, but managed to putter 'round the 'Sally D.' enough to show that
they were really bent on launchin' her."
Then came the time when it was agreed among all hands that the "baby"
must take care of himself, to a certain extent, and the work of wrecking
was pushed forward with a will, each member of the family doing his best
to make up the lost time.
The schooner's hull had been caulked and painted while yet she lay half
in the sand and half on the rude ways, and Mr. Rowe felt confident every
leak was stopped. Sam and Tom had taken it upon themselves to clean and
paint the interior of the cabin until it was as sweet as soap and water
could make it, and thus every token of Captain Doak had been cleared
away.
Uncle Ben had made two trips to Southport, but Joey had refused each
invitation to go with him, giving as his reason that Apple Island was
far too pleasant a place to leave even for a single hour, and this
refusal pleased the old man even more than to have had the lad all to
himself during an entire day.
Then, about five weeks from the day when Uncle Ben became the owner of
the "Sally D.," everything was made ready for the launching, and Mr.
Rowe announced that at high tide on the following morning he would be
able to prove to the family that his method of wrecking was without a
flaw.
"We'll make a reg'lar Fourth of July out of the day," Uncle Ben
declared, as he sat by the window with Joey on his knee, "an' even if we
did squander considerable time on the baby when he first came, I'm
allowin' that we've earned a little pleasurin', so Sammy an' Tommy shall
get up the finest dinner they know how to cook, an' we'll eat it in the
'Sally's' cabin after she's swingin' to her anchor in the cove."
As a matter of course, this was welcome news to the cooks, and they at
once set about deciding upon what particularly dainty dishes should be
served, until Mr. Rowe said half to himself:
"When I think that in all this time Eliakim Doak hasn't showed hisself,
I can't help fearin' he has been hatchin' some kind of mischief for
unless he's left Southport, which don't seem likely, it ain't reasonable
to think he'd be willin' to let us go on so smooth."
"Now, now, Reuben, don't go to crossin' bridges before you come to 'em,"
Uncle Ben said placidly, as he stroked Joey's hair affectionately. "I'm
allowin' that Eliakim has come to see the evil of his ways, an' hasn't
been givin' a thought to work us harm. Beside what call has he to do
anythin' agin us? We paid cash for the schooner, an' more than anybody
else would give, at a time when he wanted to sell her, so, as I've
figgered it, we did him a good turn."
"There's no goin' back of that, Uncle Ben," Mr. Rowe agreed, "but doin'
Eliakim Doak a good turn is much the same as if you'd kicked another man
black an' blue. He ain't built the right way to appreciate it. The
only time he can be made to understand is when somebody stands ready to
knock him down whenever he goes wrong, an' that'll keep him where he
belongs."
"Wa'al, Reuben, we won't bother our heads 'bout Eliakim jest now when
the 'Sally' is so near afloat. Let's have our launchin' in the mornin'
an' celebrate it the best we know how, without thinkin' of anythin' that
ain't pleasant," and once more Uncle Ben gave himself up to the
enjoyment of treating Joey as a veritable baby.
It is safe to say that at least once every five minutes during the
remaining time of daylight each member of the "family" looked out of the
window at the "Sally D." as she stood on the ways, looking every inch
fit for the launching, and more jaunty, so Uncle Ben declared, than on
the first day she made the acquaintance of the water.
There was no indication that the sun was near at hand when Mr. Rowe
awakened the inmates of the shanty next morning, but he insisted they
should be up and at work in order that, as he expressed it, "they might
have plenty of time to look at the 'Sally' before she went slidin' down
the well-greased ways."
Therefore it was that the sun had not yet risen when the family ate
breakfast, and Sam and Tom finished the morning's work at least three
hours before the tide would be at its height. They were intending to
cook a regular feast to be carried aboard the "Sally" after she was in
the water, but it would not be time to set about that for a long while
and the lads, having nothing else with which to occupy themselves,
strolled down to the beach when the shanty had been set to rights, where
were Uncle Ben, Mr. Rowe and Joey Sampson gazing at the schooner as
eagerly as if they had never seen her before.
"There's no use talkin', she'll make a snug little craft for this 'ere
family," Mr. Rowe was saying as the lads joined the party, "an' if she
don't bring in a good many more dollars than ever the lobster business
did it's 'cause I've forgotten how to handle a line!"'
"I'm hopin' she'll pay well," Uncle Ben replied thoughtfully, "but it
ain't on account of my hankerin' after the dollars for myself. I reckon
there's enough left in the bank to pay my funeral expenses, an' I'm
hopin' the Lord won't let me live after I can't take care of myself; but
it's the family that's makin' me want to have more money comin' in. If
I can see scraped together what's needed to buy the island an' have it
fixed by the lawyers so's it'll always be a home for decent boys who are
willin' to help themselves if they're given half a chance, then I'll
feel as if I'd done somethin' in this 'ere world that's worth countin'."
Mr. Rowe looked oddly out of the corner of his eye at the old lobster
catcher for a moment, and then said, half to himself:
"'Cordin' to the way I look at things, what you've already done is well
worth countin', Uncle Ben, an' if there are sich matters as harps in the
next world, yours oughter be the biggest an' have the most strings!"
"If that old heathen ain't comin' over here jest when we don't want him,
I'm a duffer!" Tom screamed at the full strength of his lungs as he
pointed across the water in the direction of Southport, and, turning
quickly to learn the cause of the alarm, the other members of the family
saw two dories heading for the island, one leading the other by a
considerable distance.
In an instant Uncle Ben and Mr. Rowe were on their feet, the old lobster
catcher showing by his face that he was seriously disturbed in mind, as
he asked of Mr. Rowe in a gentle whisper:
"Do you allow, Reuben, that Eliakim can really be comin' here after
havin' stayed away so long?"
"I'm ready to allow that there's nothin' too mean for him to do,
'specially when he's got one of his ugly spells. It strikes me that
we've got to handle him my way, instead of yours, for you're too soft to
deal with the likes of Eliakim Doak."
"We won't have any trouble, Reuben, unless he tries to do mischief, an'
then allow we're warranted in protectin' our own. Ain't there two men
in that first dory?"
"Yes, an' most like he's got some vagabond crony or another, with more
trailin' on behind, allowin' that they'll do jest about as they please.
Now see here, Uncle Ben," and Mr. Rowe spoke in an imploring tone. "You
ain't built the right way to tackle sich as them, so s'pose you toddle
up to the shanty with Joey, an' let the boys an' me 'tend to this 'ere
job? I'm willin' to agree that soft words are all right as a general
thing, but when it comes to throwin' 'em away on the likes of Eliakim,
it's a waste of time an' breath. This 'ere is the same as your own
island, an' if you'll crawl off somewhere, I'll see to it that Doak
don't do any funny business."
*CHAPTER XVII*
*THE LAUNCHING*
Uncle Ben lifted Joey in his arms, as if about to do exactly as Mr. Rowe
desired, and then remembering, most likely, that Reuben's methods of
dealing with men like Captain Doak were not such as he approved of, he
stood irresolute, gazing anxiously at the approaching boats as he said:
"It's too bad that our day of pleasurin' should be spoiled by Eliakim,
when he hasn't got the least little reason for makin' a row."
"Do as Mr. Rowe wants you to, Uncle Ben, an' there won't be much of
anythin' spoiled," Tommy said pleadingly, as he tried to drag the old
man toward the shanty. "The three of us can take care of the schooner
without tryin' very hard."
"But I'm afraid there'll be a fight, Tommy, an' that's a poor way of
celebratin' the launchin' of the 'Sally,'" the old man said mournfully.
"Don't you worry 'bout that, for we'll knock his head off before he gets
very far along in his funny business," Tom cried confidently, and this
assurance seemed to have the opposite effect from that intended.
"We won't stir up more of a row than can be helped, an' I'm certain
you'd rather we showed a little fight than let him do harm to the
schooner just when we've got her in sailin' trim," Sam pleaded, and Mr.
Rowe added, speaking as if to a child:
"Now do look at it in the right light, Uncle Ben! We're bound to take
care of the 'Sally,' else what'll come of your plan for makin' a home
here for them what ain't got any?"
In no other way could Mr. Rowe have presented the case to more speedily
insure Uncle Ben's obedience. The possibility that Captain Doak might
work such mischief as would prevent him from carrying out the scheme he
had so long in mind, and which was so well begun, caused the old man to
lose sight of everything else, and, as if escaping from some terrible
and immediate danger, he ran swiftly toward the shanty with Joey in his
arms.
"Now we're got rid of Uncle Ben, I reckon it won't take us long to
settle that old heathen's hash, no matter how many heelers he's got with
him," Tommy said, in a tone of satisfaction, and looking very much as if
the prospect of trouble with the former owner of the "Sally D." pleased
him greatly.
Mr. Rowe, however, was not inclined to look upon the situation as
affording many possibilities for enjoyment. The fact that Captain Doak
had such a large party with him seemed fairly good evidence that he had
come to do something more than make threats, and, regardless of the fact
that he had spoken so confidently of what he would be able to do in the
way of protecting the "family's" property, Reuben understood that he and
the two lads could not successfully oppose any determined attack.
Within five minutes after Uncle Ben and Joey had taken refuge in the
shanty, it was possible to make out that the second dory had as crew
three men, and these with the men in the first boat would make up a
force which would be able to carry out any plan agreed upon, however
bravely the defenders of the island might battle for their rights.
"That's Eliakim in the leadin' dory," Mr. Rowe said after a keen survey
of the approaching craft, "an' unless I'm way out of my reckonin', it's
Jim Coulson with him. 'Cordin' to my idee these two are about the most
worthless couple that can be found in the Port. It stands to reason
they've come to make trouble, an' I'm beginnin' to be afraid we'll have
our hands full."
"They'll have to work mighty lively if they get the best of us," Tom
said confidently as he searched about for something in the shape of a
club that would serve his purpose, and Sam, who was seriously disturbed
by the expression of anxiety on Mr. Rowe's face, added doubtfully:
"We can't hold out very long against five men, less Uncle Ben takes it
inter his head to lend a hand, an' I'm afraid he'd see 'em wreck the
'Sally' before thinkin' he oughter make a reg'lar fight."
"No, we can't count on him," and Mr. Rowe shook his head sorrowfully,
but seeming to recover his courage an instant later, as he added:
"Howsomever, we'll make it hot for a spell, no matter how many Eliakim
has got with him, an' then if we're downed it won't be our fault."
Tom had found such a weapon as would apparently serve his purpose, and
set about procuring something of the same kind for Sam; but Mr. Rowe
made no preparations whatever. He stood with his gaze fixed upon the
leading boat, as if by such close scrutiny he could determine what the
enemy's first move would be, and then walked slowly up the beach on
seeing that the dory would take the sand a short distance to the
eastward of where the "Sally" rested on the ways as if impatient to be
in the water once more.
It was evident that Captain Doak had come for some other purpose than to
indulge in empty threats, for he spoke not a word as the little craft
drifted shoreward, and when she was within fifty feet of the beach Mr.
Rowe cried warningly:
"Don't make the mistake of landin' on this island, Eliakim Doak, or
there'll be more trouble come of it than you're lookin' for! You've been
cautioned against trespassin', an' tellin' you that Uncle Ben counts on
doin' jest as he threatened."
"If I did my duty I'd have you in jail for mutiny!" Captain Doak cried
threateningly. "If you mix inter this matter, I'll have a warrant out
before you're a day older, Reuben Rowe!"
"Why don't you go ahead an' get your warrants, instead of makin' so much
talk about it?" the sailor cried angrily. "I count on mixin' in here
long enough to give you the strongest dose you ever got, an' don't you
forget it! If you come ashore here I'll see to it that you don't go
back in as good shape as you are now." Then in a whisper to Tom, who
stood close by his side, "You two lads are to jump on Jim Coulson the
minute he puts foot on the sand, without payin' any heed to me. If I
can't take care of Eliakim Doak single handed, it'll serve me right to
be used up."
Tom, repeating Reuben's words to Sam, ran forward to take his part in
the coming battle just as Captain Doak leaped ashore, evidently bent on
trying conclusions with Mr. Rowe at once, and just at this point, when
it seemed as if there was no longer any possibility a fight could be
averted, the second dory had come within hailing distance.
Until this moment none of those of the island had given any particular
heed to her, therefore, they were really startled by hearing a friendly
voice cry:
"Look out, Reuben! Don't get inter a mix-up when there's no real need
of it! We've come over to see that you ain't imposed on."
"It's Uncle Ben's friend, Billy Mansfield an' he must have had an
inklin' of what Eliakim was up to!" Mr. Rowe said to the lads in a tone
of relief. "I reckon there won't be any great amount of mischief done
this day!"
"What are you doin' here?" Captain Doak cried savagely, wheeling about
to face the newcomers as if he was only at this moment aware of their
neighborhood. "I'll have you understand that the man who comes agin' me
this day is like to get all that's needed!"
"Don't make the mistake of threatenin', Eliakim Doak!" Mr. Mansfield
cried warningly. "It may be that we've come over to have a share in the
launchin', seein's how there ain't much goin' on in the Port to-day, an'
then ag'in perhaps we tailed on knowin' you was bent on mischief, an'
countin' to lend Uncle Ben a hand. Since you've begun to threaten, it
may be well if I give you notice here an' now, that you're to keep away
from this island. We at the Port have made up our minds that you've got
to live somewhere near decent from this on, or leave our part of the
country."
By this time Mr. Mansfield and his friends had stepped ashore from their
dory and were standing between the former owner of the "Sally D." and
the defenders of the island, showing by their attitude that they were
ready to lend a hand against the two who were plotting mischief.
"I've come here for my schooner, an' count on havin' her," Captain Doak
cried in a voice hoarse with passion. "You an' half a dozen like you
did what you could to cheat me out of the vessel, an' it'll be a sorry
day when you go any further in sich fraud."
"You know as well as I do, Eliakim, that you were forced to sell the
'Sally' because you couldn't raise money enough to float her," and it
was evident that Mr. Mansfield was striving hard to speak in a calm
tone. "If any other than Uncle Ben had bought the craft you wouldn't
have dared to open your mouth about ownership; but on account of his
bein' a peaceable man who'd stand a good deal before raisin' a hand in
his own defense, you think it will be possible to bully him out of a few
more dollars. We at the Port heard last night of what you counted on
doin' to-day, an' we three have come, representin' the town, to give you
final warnin'. Behave yourself so far as the schooner an' this island
are concerned, or we'll send you out of the county on a rail!" Then,
turning to Mr. Rowe, as if believing there was no need of further
conversation with Captain Doak, the visitor asked, "Where is the old
man?"
"Up in the shanty. We sent him there, thinkin' we could handle Eliakim
better without him."
"Well, seein's Cap'en Doak is sober enough to understand that he'd
better not kick up any row while we're here, s'posen you go ahead with
your launchin'? We've come out to help celebrate, an' don't want any
hitch in the business."
"She shall come off the ways at high water," Mr. Rowe replied in a tone
of relief, and as Mr. Mansfield and his friends went toward the shanty
he set about the final arrangements for sending the "Sally" into the
water.
Captain Doak and his friend stood irresolutely near their boat, as if
trying to decide whether it would be safe for them to make any further
attempt at bullying the inhabitants of the island, while Mr. Rowe and
the lads went about their work as if the former owner of the "Sally" no
longer had an existence.
There was really very little remaining to be done before the schooner
was ready for the launching, but Mr. Rowe seemed eager to find something
with which to occupy himself, and his companions did their best at
seconding his efforts.
During five minutes or more Captain Doak stood near by the dory
conversing in whispers with his friend, and then the two went aboard,
Reuben calling after them as they slowly pulled away from the island:
"You've heard what Billy Mansfield said the folks at the Port would do
if you tried to be funny with Uncle Ben, an' it won't be a bad idee if
you bear in mind the fact that I'll be prepared for sich as you from
this time out."
"You wouldn't be crowin' so loud if folks at the Port had minded their
own business," Captain Doak growled. "My time will come some day, an'
when it does, you'll wish you'd never been born!"
Then the two men bent their backs to the oars, as if not eager for
further conversation, and Mr. Rowe said in a confident tone to his
companions:
"You can set it down as a fact that Eliakim won't dare to try any more
funny business, seein's he's roused the folks at the Port. We've had a
mighty lucky day of it, 'cordin' to my way of thinkin', for what he
might do has bothered me not a little."
"An' do you believe he's done for now?" Tommy asked incredulously.
"Ay, lad, you can set that down as a fact. Eliakim is a good deal of a
coward any time; but now that Billy Mansfield has read the riot act to
him, he'll give Apple Island a wide berth from this out. I reckon we
may as well pass the word that them as wants to see the launchin' had
best be gettin' their seats, for the tide's as high as it's likely to be
this day."
It was as if the lads had, during the excitement of a possible battle
with Captain Doak, forgotten that the moment was near at hand when it
was to be shown whether the many days of labor would be rewarded by
success, and now when Mr. Rowe made his announcement they were plunged
into a state of mingled joy and doubt such as would be difficult to
describe.
Sam ran at full speed toward the shanty to summon those who had taken
shelter there from the unpleasant scene which was presented by the
arrival of the former owner of the "Sally D.," and Tommy had no more
than hoisted the flags on the schooner's spars than the visitors, Uncle
Ben and Joey, came rapidly down to the beach.
"I'm allowin' that all of you will go on board the 'Sally,'" Reuben Rowe
said, taking it upon himself to act as master of ceremonies, as was
indeed his right after all he had done. "The lads an' I can start her, I
reckon. You'll find the anchor ready for lettin' go, so stand by to
bring her up with a sharp turn, for it'll be quick work once she's on
the move."
Uncle Ben tossed Joey aboard over the bow, while the guests followed as
best they might, and immediately the last one was on the deck Mr. Rowe
gave the word to his assistants.
Sam and Tom worked on one side of the hull, driving the starting wedge
home, while Reuben attended to the work immediately opposite them, and
it is safe to say that every member of the launching party was
astonished by the swiftness and ease with which this final portion of
the task was performed. To the two lads who were just under the bow
swinging the heavy sledges, it seemed as if no more than half a dozen
blows had been struck before the "Sally" began to slide down the ways
much as though eager to be in the water, sending the spray high over her
stern when the plunge was made.
Then what a shout went up! If Captain Doak had not made good use of his
time with the oars he must have heard the cries of rejoicing when the
little schooner was afloat once more, tossing on the swell she herself
had created and riding to her anchor much like a captive sea-gull.
"It's a great job you've done, Reuben!" Uncle Ben cried in a tone of
triumph when the cheering had subsided sufficiently to admit of his
making himself heard. "From this out, so long as it pleases you to stay
at Apple Island a member of the family, the 'Sally' shall be under your
command!"
"All right, Uncle Ben," Mr. Rowe replied, waving his arms as if it was
absolutely impossible for him to remain motionless. "I'll take
advantage of that promise by sayin' that if the folks from the Port will
stop over night here, so's we can get the ballast in, we'll carry 'em
home bright an' early to-morrow mornin' on board the 'Sally.'"
"You're right, Reuben, you're right," the old lobster catcher cried,
gleefully as any child. "I'll see that they stay, an' all hands of us
will turn to for gettin' the ballast in!"
*CHAPTER XVIII*
*THE TRIAL TRIP*
Sam and Tommy could not afford to spend very many moments in rejoicing
after the "Sally D." was afloat, because the work of preparing a dinner
which should really be a feast of thanksgiving had been intrusted to
them, and time was precious if the task was to be performed according to
their desires.
It was impossible, however, for the two lads not to devote a few moments
to admiring the jaunty little schooner as she rose and fell on the
gentle swell, tugging at the anchor cable as if coaxing to be allowed to
use her wings once more where the water was deep and the wind blew half
a gale.
"It seems almost as if we had built the whole of her," Sam said, half to
himself, as he gazed with critical eye upon the charming marine picture
before him.
"An' I allow we can take more credit for her looks than belongs to the
man who really did put her together," Mr. Rowe added quickly. "She was
what you might call a wreck when Uncle Ben bought her, an' now cast your
eyes over the beauty! I remember when she was first launched, an' am
free to say that she didn't come anywhere near bein' as handsome as at
this minute, for her spars never did have rake enough, while the
bowsprit allers made her look snub-nosed. We've changed all that; she's
as tight as a cup, an' if she can't outsail anythin' on this 'ere coast
I'll eat my hat, instead of the dinner you lads are allowin' to fix up
this day."
"An' it's time we got about the work, instead of standin' here lookin'
at the dandy of all schooners that ever floated," Tommy said with no
slight show of nervousness. "Here we've got to build a fire in the
cabin, cook all the stuff that has been made ready, set the table, an'
do more work than the law allows! Can't you make Uncle Ben an' his
visitors come ashore, Mr. Rowe?"