"When them come Jerry and I get scared, and crawl down to father's
room."
"Don't you get lonesome here?" asked Joe, glancing around at the rocks
and water forming the landscape.
"Not very. We don't get lonesome at all in the summer."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Oh, we build towers on the cliff. We've got a big one now. Come over
and see it;" and both boys scampered off over the rough rocks with their
bare feet, leaving the others to pick their way more carefully.
The tower was as high as Jerry's head, and large enough for four boys to
stand upon comfortably. In the centre was a fir-tree from which the
boys had trimmed every branch, until it was like a flag-staff.
"Some time we are going to have a flag of our own to fly atop there,"
said Jerry with pride.
"I've got a good-sized flag over in camp that you may have; it will do
till you can get a bigger," said Walter Martin.
"What else do you do besides build stone things?" asked Dave curiously.
"Oh, lots of things."
"You fish off the rocks, I suppose."
"Yes, plenty of fish round here. We go off in the boat with father,
too, to tend the lobster-pots."
"Lobster-pots! what are they?" asked Joe.
"What you catch lobsters in. Didn't you ever see a lobster-pot?
There's some there on the grass."
"What! these cages? How do you catch them with these?"
The boys gathered around the "cages" and examined them.
"See, this hole grows small at the back of it, and the lobster is so
anxious to get the bait inside that he squeezes through; but after he is
in he doesn't know how to double his claws back and get out, so he just
don't; he stays."
"And you catch him?"
"He catches himself," laughed John.
"All we do is to set the pot,--that is, we bait it,--and then we anchor
it off somewhere, and after a while we go back for it and get the
lobsters."
"How do you get them out?"
"See these little doors up above? We open them, and reach in there."
"Don't they bite?" asked Dan.
"If you don't know where to catch 'em they nip, I tell you."
"Of course you swim like fish, both of you," said Joe, who was quite a
famous swimmer himself.
"Can't swim."
"Can't swim? What fellows you are! Why don't you learn? What if you
should tumble overboard? what would you do then?"
"Go to the bottom," answered John with a broad smile, as if that were a
funny thing to do.
The boys exclaimed over this lack of knowledge, and Joe finally said,
"See here, you two fellows; get your father to let you come over to our
camp every day, and before our camp-life is over we will teach you so
you can swim like fish."
This was a delightful proposal to the boys, not only because they wanted
to swim, but because it would take them among other boys.
As soon as the party returned to the lighthouse, John and Jerry
whispered the invitation to their father, and asked if they might
accept.
He consented willingly.
"May we learn to swim?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so. I want ye to learn. I suppose it's time you
did; and there ain't no chance at this end o' the island."
"There is a good beach where we are camping, and we shall fasten a rope
across to show the boys how far they can go safely."
During the boys' absence Mr. Andrews had been negotiating with the
light-keeper for all the milk he could spare, and also for a supply of
lobsters; and it was now arranged that John and Jerry were to bring milk
every morning to camp, and remain as long as they liked during the day.
"Come, boys; it will be nearly dark before we get back!" said Mr.
Andrews, bidding the keeper's family good-bye.
"And we shall lose our supper.--Good-bye, John and Jerry. Come over
early." As if there were any need to tell the eager boys that.
They kept near the shore on the way back; and though it was a rocky road
to travel, they saved a half-mile thereby, and arrived with very keen
appetites just as their comrades had finished supper.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a whale, Joe," exclaimed Dave.
"A whale! why, I could eat a brick house," was the quick response.
"Jonas, did you save us anything?" asked a chorus of voices.
Jonas waved a frying-pan for answer, and presently set before them fried
fish, crisp and brown, bread hot from the oven, and warm gingerbread,
all of which won the unbounded approbation of the famished boys.
After supper the various events of the day were recounted, and all
united in declaring that it had been the jolliest twelve hours they had
ever known--a remark that Mr. Bernard had heard every summer on the
first day in camp.
"Now, boys," said Mr. Bernard, "you are tired and will want to retire
early. Come into my tent, and we will have prayers together."
This tent was divided unequally into two parts; the larger devoted to
general assemblages--for morning and evening devotions, and for a resort
in wet weather; for sleeping-tents were crowded with beds and baggage.
Besides the large apartment in Mr. Bernard's tent, there was one
smaller--a tiny affair, where he slept and wrote or read.
The boys gathered now in the large tent, and sat down on the ground
while Mr. Bernard read the Bible to them and explained the portion
selected in a brief and interesting way that held the attention of the
listeners. After the reading he offered a prayer, asking a blessing
upon them all, and praying that none but good influences might prevail
with any of them.
Then the "good-nights" were exchanged, many of the boys crowding around
the teacher to thank him for the pleasure they were having; and as they
scattered to their tents, many boyish words of hearty admiration were
spoken of the teacher who had planned this vacation treat for them.
"I tell you, Dave, there ain't many teachers like him!" exclaimed Joe
Chester, as he and his friend crept under their blankets on their
mattress of fir-boughs.
"No, _sir_, not many."
The boys were too tired to talk much, and they were soon lulled to sleep
by the dash of the ocean against the beach, and the rattle of the
pebbles as they followed the receding water only to be tossed up by the
next incoming wave.
*CHAPTER V.*
*THE SWIMMING-POOL.*
No bell was needed to awaken the boys in the morning; and one tent after
another was thrown open to the breeze as the boys in undress ran down
the beach for a plunge.
"Colder than Greenland's icy mountains," shouted Joe, as he met some of
the boys on their way to the water when he was returning to his tent.
"Yes, colder than the north-east side of the pole," added David, who
followed close behind.
"But jump in all of a sudden and it isn't bad," continued Joe.
The boys returned one after another, racing and jumping and exclaiming
over their icy bath; and presently all were rosy and glowing with the
exercise, ready for anything in the line of work or fun.
They found it hard to calm down at once, as they gathered in Mr.
Bernard's tent for morning prayers; but at the first quiet reminder of
the teacher the boys ceased their joking and listened to the Scripture
reading and the fervent prayer that they all might be helped to live
noble, Christian lives. He asked that they might not be contented to go
through life selfishly, seeking only their own comfort and happiness;
but that they might watch for opportunities to be helpful to others, and
that they might be kept from all meanness of word or act.
When they came from the tent the savoury odour of breakfast was wafted
to them from the cook-tent.
Jonas and Freitag had been fishing off the point as soon as daylight,
and now the victims of their hooks--only an hour ago swimming in the
broad ocean--were served up on tin trenchers, set at intervals along the
table.
John and Jerry arrived in time to furnish the milk for the coffee, and
room was made for them at the table, although they had already eaten
breakfast.
During the meal the boys were discussing plans for the day, and probably
the fishermen in their vessels a mile away heard the noise, and wondered
at the babel of voices sounding across the waters.
The archery club announced that they intended to set up their targets in
the pasture and practise.
The rifle club were asking permission to use their rifles in the woods,
knowing that they were only to do so under the supervision of one of the
teachers.
Some wanted to fish, and were discussing the relative advantages of the
different shores of the island.
"If you want rock-cod I'd advise ye to go out on the point that juts out
alongside the beach," said Jonas, throwing in a suggestion as he brought
a fresh supply of bread.
"I am going to hunt for crystal quartz; who wants to go with me? I
found quite a lump yesterday. See here," and little Fred Wurden
displayed his treasure.
"My! where did you find that?"
"Oh, I've seen plenty of that! I know where there's plenty of it--a big
hole in the rocks, where them shiny things are all hanging down!" said
John, the light-keeper's son, with shining eyes.
"Where?"--"Show us!" cried a number of voices; and even Mr. Andrews made
inquiries, and said he would go to the place after breakfast.
"As soon as the tide is right, I move we have a swimming match," said
Joe Chester.
"When _will_ the tide be right, I'd like to know?" asked Dave.
"It is on the ebb now, and by the time our breakfast is done it will be
quite low," said another grumblingly.
"Don't you worry; there's water enough in the ocean for you to swim in,
if the tide is down!" said Jonas. "Yes, water enough, forty fathoms
deep!"
Jonas shook his head knowingly.
"I've been out on the point more than once, and sometimes the water is
still, and I can see bottom. I sounded with that long fishin'-rod o'
mine, and, allowing for the tide, I reckoned there must be about as nice
a pool left there at low tide as you'd want to see."
"Good!"--"Good for you, Jonas."
"Mr. Bernard, did you hear Jonas?" asked Joe.
"I think I heard, but there are so many talking at once I am not sure.
If it is about a swimming-place, I assure you I will investigate the
matter this morning, and find a safe place for you to go."
"Thank you, sir," answered Joe for himself and the others.
"I shall stretch ropes across, showing how far I am willing you should
go out; and I expect you to obey me strictly. You know we have promised
your parents to run no risk. We have camped out three summers, and have
never met with an accident; and I sincerely trust our record may not be
changed through any carelessness of ours."
The boys agreed to follow his wishes in every particular.
Then, having finished their breakfast, they scattered about the island,
some going to the rocks to fish, some to pick berries, and others to
practise with bows or rifles.
Mr. Bernard and two other teachers went to the beach with drills, iron
staples, cement, and ropes, to make the bath-beach as safe as possible.
As it was ebb-tide, it was easy to see by the wet sea-weed on the sides
of the little cove the height of the water when the tide was in; so
there was no delay in locating the position of the first rope to be used
at high-water.
Holes were drilled in the rocks, and strong iron staples cemented in, in
which the rope was fastened.
After that was accomplished they sat on the rocks and watched the sea,
or read until the tide was at its lowest, and the boys began to gather
around, anxiously questioning whether there was "a chance yet."
"That looks like a first-rate swimming-pool, Mr. Bernard, just as Jonas
said," remarked Joe, coming to stand by his favourite teacher.
"So it does, Joe; but wait till I make sure. The water is much deeper
than it looks. I will get my bathing-suit and try."
"Hurrah! be all ready, boys; Mr. Bernard is going to try the water."
Led by Joe, the crowd scampered away for their trunks, and returned
before Mr. Bernard appeared.
He came at length from the bath-tent, and went down into the water amid
the cheers of the boys; and probably their applause prevented a hasty
retreat when he learned from experience the temperature of the water.
"I am not taking this plunge for my own pleasure, boys!" he said,
shivering and laughing. "I hope you will appreciate the act, for I am a
martyr in your behalf."
The first six or eight feet from the edge sloped gradually from one to
three feet in depth; beyond that the water deepened rapidly until he was
floated from his feet and forced to swim; but everywhere the gravelly
bottom could be seen, and he was sure there were no treacherous holes to
trap the unskilful.
"Is it all right, Mr. Bernard?" asked Joe, standing on the rocks and
swinging his arms, impatient for the leap.
"Yes, I think it is."
"May I come?" and Joe's body was thrown into a diving position.
"Any of you who are accustomed to dive may come here. The others must
come in by the beach, where the water is shallower."
Before he had finished the sentence, some dozen boys dropped or dived
into the pool, and presently he found himself surrounded by a circle of
seal-like heads as the young swimmers came to the surface one after
another.
"It is too cold for me," he said, as the boys challenged him to swim a
match. "I must get dressed and warmed.--Mr. Andrews, look out for the
boys. I will send Freitag and Jonas to drill the rocks for the other
staples," and Mr. Bernard hastened away, inwardly determined that he had
taken his last plunge in that pool. The more timid boys and those who
could not swim at all stood at the edge, thrusting in a foot, and then
dancing and shrieking at the cold.
John and Jerry stood looking on in open-mouthed amazement or admiration,
Joe could not decide which.
"I promised to teach you to swim, didn't I?" cried Joe, coming through
the water towards them, grasshopper fashion.
"But you needn't," said both boys retreating, as if fearing that he
would seize them and force them in.
"But it's fun!"
John shrugged his shoulders.
Joe swam to and fro with his mouth open at the surface of the water, and
blowing like a young sea-lion; then suddenly, to the horror of the two
brothers, he disappeared beneath the waves.
"Oh, he's drowned!" shrieked both boys.
No one paid any attention to their cry, and John fairly danced into the
water in his fright.
"He's gone under! can't somebody get him?"
"Who?" asked one of the swimmers, looking around.
"Why, that boy Joe. I saw him go under!"
"Oh ho, Joe Chester! You couldn't drown him if you should try. There
he is away over there by the rocks. He's a regular water-rat."
And the speaker disappeared under the waves himself.
"I mean to learn to do that myself, Jerry," said John in a confidential
tone.