AN ENTERTAINMENT ON THE KEY.
How Quorum managed to tumble out of the _Psyche_ without upsetting her
is a mystery, but he did it somehow. Seeing that he was easily making
his way to the land, Worth continued on his course to the _Transit_,
which he reached a minute later. The moment he stepped abroad, Sumner
threw his arms about the boy with what was intended for a joyful hug.
Worth returned it with interest. For a few seconds the two staggered
about the deck in what looked decidedly like a wrestling match to the
amused spectators of the scene, who had been attracted from below by
Sumner's shout. Finally they tripped and rolled with a crash into the
cockpit, where they scrambled to their feet, greeted by shouts of
laughter from Lieutenant Carey and Ensign Sloe, while even the men
forward were chuckling with ill-suppressed mirth.
Had Sumner and Worth been a few years older, they would probably have
expressed their joy over this happy and unexpected meeting with a
cordial hand-shake, and a few inquiries after each other's welfare
during their separation. That would have been a man's way. Happily, all
boys are not men, nor are their ways men's ways. Any genuine boy will
understand that nothing short of a wrestling match would have served to
express the joy with which these two young hearts were relieved of the
load of anxiety that had weighed so heavily upon them during the past
three days.
"But how did you know the canoes were out at the light, Worth?"
inquired Sumner, after the first boisterous greeting was over. "Excuse
me! Let me introduce you to Lieutenant Carey and Ensign Sloe. And how
did you get there? And how did you know that we were here?" exclaimed
Sumner, in a breath, as soon as he had regained his feet.
"The keeper told us," answered Worth, shaking hands with those to whom
he had just been introduced. "And I didn't know you were here. How did
you get here, and what became of the raft? Did you ever see anything
so absurd as Quorum? I don't believe he has opened his eyes since we
left the light, and I actually thought he was turning white, he was so
scared. Oh, Sumner, I never was so happy in my life!"
"Nor I," answered Sumner; "and if I ever leave you again, you young
scamp, before delivering you safe and sound to your lawful guardians,
you'll know it."
"And you may be mighty sure I won't be left again," answered Worth.
"No, siree! From this time on, you'll think I'm your shadow, I'll stick
to you so close."
By this time Quorum had been brought aboard, and Sumner, shaking hands
with him, gravely congratulated him upon having formed the habit of
taking a plunge bath before breakfast. With a reproachful look at the
lad, and without deigning to reply to his banter, Quorum turned away
and dived into the little forward galley. Here he quickly made himself
at home, and all the time he was drying by the galley stove he could be
heard entertaining the colored cook of the _Transit_ with a thrilling
description of his recent voyage in "dat ar tickly nutshell. Mo' like
er wash-basin dan er 'spectible boat; an' ef I don't hole her down wif
bofe han's till dey done achin', she flop ober like er flapjack. I tell
yo', chile, hit's er sperience sich as I don't want no mo' ob in all my
sailin'."
Around the breakfast-table in the tiny after-saloon Sumner and Worth
were comparing experiences and discussing their plans for the future.
"I tell you what it is, Sumner," exclaimed Worth, "I don't know about
cruising any farther up this reef, where we are likely at any time
to be seized and carried off to sea by some Jew-fish or other marine
monster. Seems to me it's taking a big risk."
"Then why not come with us through the 'Glades?" laughed Lieutenant
Carey. "There aren't any Jew-fish there. It will be almost the same
as cruising on dry land all the way, and we'll bring you out at Cape
Florida, the very point you are aiming for."
"I think that would be fine," answered Worth, who had no more idea of
the nature of the Everglades than he had of the moon. "What do you say,
Sumner?"
"It's the very thing I should most love to do," replied Sumner.
"Then you will go with us?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Yes, sir, we will," answered both the boys.
"Good! That settles it. Now do you suppose we can persuade your old
darkey to go along as cook? I think you said he was a good one, Sumner?"
"Indeed he is!" exclaimed Worth; "the very best I ever knew. Oh yes, we
must have Quorum along by all means."
When the plan was laid before him, Quorum shook his head doubtfully,
and said:
"I allus hear dem Ebberglades is a ter'ble place. Dey's full ob lions
an' tigers, sayin' nuffin' ob wild Injuns an' cannon-balls" (probably
Quorum meant cannibals). "But ef dem two chilluns boun' ter go, I spec'
ole Quor'm hab ter go 'long ter look after um, an' see dat dey's kep'
outen danger. Hit's er mighty owdacious undertaking fer de ole man;
but dish yere er peart-looking wessel, an' maybe she take us troo all
right."
"But we are not going in this vessel," laughed Sumner. "We couldn't
take her through the 'Glades."
"How yo go, den?" asked the negro, looking up quickly. "Not in them
tickly li'l' cooners?"
"Yes, some of us will go in the canoes, but you will have a much larger
boat; one that you can't possibly upset."
"When I see him, den I tell yo' ef I er gwine." And this was the only
promise that Quorum could be induced to give.
"Very well," said Lieutenant Carey, when this was reported to him; "we
will rig up the cruisers, and let Quorum sail one of them in to Lignum
Vitæ. One of the men shall take the other, you two will sail your own
canoes, and I will sail mine, while Mr. Sloe shall follow with the
_Transit_. When Mr. Haines sees us coming he'll think he is looking at
a regatta of the Reef Yacht Club."
This plan suited the boys perfectly, and the next two hours were spent
in getting all the boats into the water, overhauling sails, spars,
etc. When Quorum saw the Barnegat cruiser that was assigned to him,
he declared, "Hit done look like er punkin seed, an' I don't beliebe
hit fit fer sailin' nohow." It was only with the greatest difficulty
that he could be persuaded to try the strange-looking craft. When he
finally did so, his eyes opened wide with astonishment at her speed and
stiffness, and the ease with which she was handled.
Each of the cruisers carried a large sprit-sail, and was fitted with a
pair of oars. They were provided with centre-boards, were fair sailers,
easy to row, practically non-capsizable, and capable of carrying heavy
loads without materially increasing their draught.
Quorum was a good sailor, and as soon as he became somewhat accustomed
to his craft he began to handle her in a way that showed an
appreciation of her qualities. When he shot ahead, after a little brush
with the other cruiser, the _Melon Seed_--as he termed her--his black
face fairly beamed with delight.
"Your man is as tickled with that boat as a child with a new toy,"
remarked Lieutenant Carey to Sumner, "and I guess there is no doubt now
but what he will go with us."
The Lieutenant's open paddling canoe was fitted with a leg-of-mutton
sail, but no centre-board. Thus the sail was only available for running
before the wind, which on this occasion happened to be fair. The three
canoes and the two cruisers, starting on their race to Lignum Vitæ,
formed a very pretty sight. As they were followed by the _Transit_,
and by the schooner that had carried Worth and Quorum to Indian Key,
which came along on her return trip just then, it is no wonder that Mr.
Haines regarded the approaching fleet with astonishment.
The race was won by Sumner in the _Psyche_, with Quorum in his _Punkin
Seed_, and wildly excited, close behind. The other three were well
bunched, and the two schooners were worked under foresails only, to
keep from running them down.
All hands were made heartily welcome by the proprietor of Lignum Vitæ,
who was made happy by the information that they proposed to stay there
that night. On hearing this he immediately began to plan a grand dinner
to which everybody was invited, and an entertainment for the evening.
He and Lieutenant Carey spent the afternoon in arranging for the
entertainment, the four cooks, with Quorum at their head, spent it in
preparing a most elaborate dinner, and the others spent it fishing and
sailing match races between the various small boats. As the hours flew
busily and happily by, Sumner and Worth wondered how they could ever
have felt wretched and forlorn in such a pleasant place.
The dinner, which was served shortly before sunset, was a veritable
feast. On its bill of fare appeared oysters, green-turtle soup, fish
chowder, turtle steaks, baked kingfish, stewed ducks, roasted 'possum,
a variety of canned vegetables, an immense plum duff, canned fruits,
crackers, cheese, and coffee; while the whole was seasoned with the
sauce of hearty appetites and capital digestions. It was a substantial
meal, as well as a merry one, and it gave Worth Manton a new insight
into the possibilities of life on the Florida Keys.
By hard work Mr. Haines had succeeded in raising the frame of the
little one-story house that he intended to occupy, and in getting the
floor laid. This was to be the scene of the entertainment, and an
hour or so after dinner all hands were collected here. Several large
bonfires shed a cheerful light on the circle of expectant faces, and
cast wavering shadows over the platform.
The first number on the programme was an overture by the Lignum Vitæ
Band, which consisted of Mr. Haines's banjo, Lieutenant Carey's guitar,
Ensign Sloe's violin, and a flute played by one of the _Transit's_
men. Then Worth danced a clog, and was received with immense applause.
He was followed by Sumner, who performed a number of sleight-of-hand
tricks that drew forth exclamations of astonishment from the negroes.
A mouth-organ quartet by four of the negro hands, was followed by Mr.
Haines's banjo solo. This was of such an inspiring character that all
the negroes patted time to it, and finally Quorum sprang upon the
platform and, with his beloved pipe still held tightly between his
teeth, began to shuffle a breakdown in such a comical manner that it
was received with tumultuous applause and roars of laughter. Solo
and chorus singing followed, and the entertainment wound up with the
singing of "Annie Laurie" by a quartet of sailors.
Both Sumner and Worth were certain that they had never passed a more
enjoyable evening, and were almost sorry that they had promised to
leave there and start for the Everglades on the following morning.
[Illustration: QUORUM DANCES A BREAK-DOWN.]