If Budd, as he walked along toward Mr. Wright's, was filled with secret
exultation at the happy turn in his affairs, it was, to say the least,
pardonable. Bruised and sore though he was from his struggle with Mr.
Benton, he had nevertheless, through the opportune interference of Mr.
Wright, come off victor. With two months' pay in his pocket, and ten
dollars more for the assault to which he had been subjected, he was not
disposed to grumble; in fact he was quite ready to forgive the miserable
man who had so ruthlessly attacked him. But there was one thing that
piqued his curiosity and led him soon to say:
"There is something I would like to have you explain, Mr. Wright."
"What is it?" Mr. Wright asked, pleasantly.
"Why was Mr. Benton so docile in your presence? I should never have
believed that he would have cowered down so to any man."
Mr. Wright laughed.
"There are several reasons for it," he said. "Tyrants are almost always
cowards at heart, and Mr. Benton is no exception to the rule. Ten years
ago, when I came here, I was continually in trouble with him. First it
was my cattle; then my children; at last our boundary line. I caught
him one day actually setting over my fence. I remonstrated with him,
and he, in his anger, struck me with his ox-lash. Snatching it from his
hand, I whipped him until he begged for mercy. Of course he brought
suit against me, and I brought a counter-suit. I was fortunate enough
to win both cases, and the costs and fines that he had to pay amounted
to over one hundred dollars. I also had him put under heavy bonds to
keep the peace, and from that time have had no serious trouble with him.
In fact he seems to both fear and respect me. Catching him to-night in
the very act of assaulting you gave me a decided advantage; and though I
have doubtless gone beyond any real right I possessed in my dealing with
him, he was not in a condition to dispute it. You and I will have no
further trouble with him."
But in this last assertion Mr. Wright was wrong, at least so far as Budd
was concerned.
On reaching the house, Mr. Wright opened the door and motioned Budd to
enter, at the same time saying to his wife:
"Here, Sarah, can you find a place for this lad for awhile? I've taken
him out of Benton's clutches," and he related to her, in substance, the
happenings at his neighbor's farm.
"Oh, yes, I think so," the lady replied, giving Budd a hearty and
motherly welcome, which at once caused him to feel at home.
Budd was shown to a chamber, where he deposited his bundle. Though no
larger than the one he had occupied when at Mr. Benton's, and containing
scarcely more furniture, there was nevertheless an air of comfort and
neatness about it that awakened old and sweet memories in the boy's
mind. A bright bit of carpet was on the floor, a white curtain was at
the open window, while snowy sheets and pillow-cases upon the bed
suggested sweet repose. Tears stood in the lad's eyes as he returned
down-stairs and tried to again thank Mr. Wright for the deep interest he
had shown in him, an entire stranger.
"Well, well," said Mr. Wright, not without some emotion; "I don't know
as I deserve any special thanks for what I have done. I couldn't leave
you over there and have any peace of conscience. I don't know, any more
than you do, what the outcome of my act will be, so far as your future
is concerned. I would gladly hire you, but have now all the help I
need. You are welcome, however, to stay here until you can find a
place. With what Benton has given you, you will be just as well off
should you not get work under a month. I've no fear but what you'll do
enough to pay your board, and we will both keep an eye out for something
suitable for you to do."
Though Budd regretted greatly that Mr. Wright could not hire him, he
gratefully accepted the arrangement proposed, and determined that his
benefactor should have no cause to complain of either his want of
gratitude or willingness to be of help.
With this idea in mind he followed Mr. Wright out to the barn, and
helped him and his man do the chores. He seemed almost intuitively to
know what was the next thing to be done; and so pleased was Mr. Wright
with his readiness and tact that he confided to his wife, that night,
that he didn't know but they had better try and keep the lad. The very
next day, however, there was destined to come to Budd an opening which
was to change measurably his life, and prove an important link in the
solution of the mystery which was apparently hanging over him.
He worked all the forenoon of the next day for Mr. Wright, but at that
gentleman's request went with him in the afternoon up to the village.
"Perhaps we shall be able to find some place for you," Mr. Wright had
said as they drove off.
Reaching the village, Mr. Wright left Budd to look out for the team
while he attended to some matters of business. As the lad sat in the
wagon holding the horses Judd Floyd came hurriedly down the street on
his way toward the wharf. He had a market-basket on his arm filled with
bundles, and had evidently been purchasing provisions to take over to
his island home. He readily espied Budd, and recognizing Mr. Wright's
team, suddenly stopped, remarking:
"Hello! changed masters, have you? Shows your wisdom. But tell us
about it."
Budd shook the speaker's extended hand warmly, and telling him to put
his basket into the wagon, and to get up on the seat, he gave him a
faithful account of himself from the time he had left Judd on "The
Hummocks" until he had now met him again.
"So you are out of a job," he remarked, as Budd concluded. "Now, isn't
that jolly! You can come over to the island with me, and we'll go into
the fish and clam business together. I'll guarantee as good wages as
you were getting, and you'll be your own boss at the same time."
"Is that so?" asked Budd, with some show of interest.
"Of course it's so," replied Judd, with remarkable emphasis on the first
two words. "I've averaged fifty cents for every day I've been on the
island; and so can you, if you'll come. We ought to do better, for with
two we can enlarge our business many ways."
"How's that?" asked Budd.
Before Judd could answer, Mr. Wright came back to the wagon. That lad
eyed him a little apprehensively at first, evidently fearing lest he
might, as a member of the Town Board, call him to an account for his
sudden disappearance from the shanty near the village a few days before.
But Mr. Wright's words at once re-assured him, for he said:
"How do you do, Judd? I'm glad to see you, and to hear so good an
account of you as Budd has given me." Then lowering his voice, so as
not to be heard by anyone passing, he added: "You need have no fear of
the Town Board, my lad, as long as you show a disposition to be
industrious and take care of yourself. We wish you every success."
"He was just asking me to go over to the island and enter into
partnership with him," explained Budd; "he says I can make as much as I
was getting from Mr. Benton."
"And not have half as rough an experience," Judd chimed in, with a
laugh.
"How do you expect to make it, Judd?" Mr. Wright asked, a little
doubtingly.
"Selling fish and clams; taking out fishing-parties; doing odd jobs at
the watering-places," answered Judd, pithily. "There's money in it."
"Do you think so?" asked Budd of Mr. Wright.
"There may be," he answered, musingly. "Judd knows better than I do.
Of course it is now a little late to hire out among the farmers. You
have some money as capital. I'm not sure but you could, if prudent and
industrious, do as well at this as at anything else for the summer
months."
"Come along over to the island with me and stay to-night. If I don't
convince you this thing is practicable, then I'll set you ashore at 'The
Hummocks' in the morning, and you can go back to Mr. Wright's until you
find another job," said Judd, enthusiastically.
Mr. Wright laughed a little.
"Go on, Budd," he advised; "and if I can be of any help to either of
you, call on me. All success to the new firm!"
Budd immediately leaped from the wagon, followed by Judd, and then the
two boys went hastily down to the wharf where their boat was tied.
Embarking therein, each took an oar and pulled for the island, their
minds brimful of the prospective partnership.
It was not, however, until the island was reached and supper eaten that
the lads settled themselves for what they called their "business" talk.
The sun was just setting; the air was soft and balmy; scarcely a ripple
was on the water. Taking seats upon the rocks south of the house, and
where they could look for miles down the bay, they began the
all-important conversation.
Budd was the first to speak.
"Here, Judd," he said, "let us begin at the very root of things. Who
does this island belong to?"
"Why, I believe there are two or three parties claiming it," replied
Judd. "But why do you ask? It has always been regarded as common
property. Even the fellow that built the house here paid no rent for the
island."
"That has nothing to do with our case," interposed Budd, promptly. "We
must have a right to be here--a right we can defend against all comers.
Who are the proper parties to see about leasing the island."
"A Mr. Fowler, who lives near Mr. Wright, and two men named Scott, over
in the western part of the town; but I don't believe they will object to
our staying here, if Mr. Wright will see them about it."
"We will find out in the morning," Budd said, decisively, "and I'll mark
that as the first item of business to attend to. Now as to our stock in
trade. I have thirty dollars that can go in as my part of the capital.
What can you furnish?"
Judd looked a little crestfallen, at his companion's words.
"Why," he said, "I can't put in much. I have the boat----"
"Which is worth how much?" interrupted Budd.
"Perhaps ten dollars," replied his partner, with a look of
encouragement. "It's a pretty good yawl; and then I have a little over
five dollars in money; that is all."
"No, it is not," Budd said. "How about the things over at the shanty?
They are yours, are they not?"
"Yes; and as the shanty don't belong to pop, they ought to be moved. If
we get the island, we can bring everything over here, and set up
housekeeping in pretty decent style."
"Exactly," went on Budd, smilingly; "and while they are yours, I shall
be having the benefit of them, and that is worth considerable. But
there is one thing you possess more valuable yet, and for which you
ought to have full allowance."
"What do you mean?" asked Judd, in wonder.
"Knowledge of the business," responded Budd. "I can row or sail a
boat--have been used to that all my life; but I know nothing of this
bay, its fishing or clamming-grounds, and I am almost a stranger in the
community, while you are well known. Now, I'll tell you what I'm willing
to do, though to my mind I shall have the best of the bargain. I'll put
in my thirty dollars against your boat, your household goods, and your
fuller knowledge of the grounds on which we are to operate, and we'll be
equal partners--provided, of course, we can hire the island. What do
you say?"
Judd arose from his seat with a sparkling face and crossed over to where
his chum was sitting.
"Here's my hand on it; and I say, Budd, you are a brick," was his rather
ambiguous but expressive answer.
Budd had caught something of his companion's enthusiasm, and with
intense eagerness he continued:
"Now as to our plan of operations. In this you must be the chief
adviser."
"Thirty-five dollars in money as a basis," said Judd, slowly. "If we
only had a hundred, I would say invest in a fish-pound. As it is, we
will have to content ourselves with smaller operations at first. A
gill-net would work nicely over in 'the narrows' at the south of 'The
Hummocks,' and would cost about eight dollars. We must have that."
"How do you work it?" inquired Budd.
"It has large meshes, and you can stretch it right across 'the narrows,'
fastening it to stakes on either side so as to keep it upright. The
leads on the lower edge keep that down to the bottom. We will set it at
night just at the turning of the tide to go out: then whatever fish are
up the cove will come down against it, and more or less of them will get
their heads through the meshes and be caught. Six hours after, the tide
will turn, and all fish going into the cove will come up against the
opposite side, and some of them will be caught. In the morning we will
pull it, and leave it up until the next night. We ought to get as many
fish that way as we can with our hooks--perhaps more; and thus we will
have a double quantity to dispose of," exclaimed Judd.
"Good!" exclaimed his comrade. "What next?"
"We must put in some lobster-pots also; but those we can make, and two
dollars will buy all the necessary lumber. That will take ten dollars,
and leave us twenty-five. With that we must buy the sloop Sea Witch,
and then we can take out sailing or fishing-parties in good shape, as
well as make the wind do a large part of our work for us. It will save
lots of time and labor, as well as add to our revenue."
"It can't be much of a boat for that money," remarked Budd.
"You wouldn't say so, if you had seen her," declared Judd. "She is
eighteen feet long, has a small cabin, is rigged with sail and jib, and
cost just seventy-five dollars last summer. She belongs to a rich man
who spent the summer here a year ago. He had her built for his son, who
knew no more about a boat than a two-year-old child. He capsized her
one day, and nearly lost his life, and now she is for sale. Nothing is
the matter with her, except she carries too much canvas. Cut off a foot
of her mast, trim down her sail and jib, ballast her a little more
heavily, and I'll warrant her to outsail anything of her length about
here, and to be a good boat in a heavy sea also. I've examined her a
dozen times, and talked with the man that made her. He'll tell you that
it's just as I say. Of course her misfortune has prejudiced people
against her, and that is why she can be bought so low. Once get her
fixed, and we can sail her under a reef until we have earned the money
to pay for the alterations. I wouldn't take a dollar less for her than
she originally cost."
"All right! I'm ready to accept your judgment, and we certainly will be
equipped better than I expected," remarked Budd.
"Then we must advertise our new firm and business by posters and in the
local paper. I guess the printer will do the work for us and take his
pay in trade, for I've sold him fish several times," went on Judd.
"Yes, we must do that," admitted his partner; "and we'll draw up our
advertisement to-night. In the morning you can set me over onto 'The
Hummocks,' and I will go up to Mr. Wright's, and consult with him about
the hiring of the island and get my things. I'll join you in the
village, where you can await my coming; and if we are successful in
getting the island, we will make the other purchases, and by night be in
readiness to begin moving your goods over here. By Monday next we can
be all equipped for business."
"Let us keep together through all the arrangements," suggested Judd.
"Very well," consented Budd; and they returned to the house for the
night.
Early the next morning the young partners set out upon the various
business enterprises necessary to complete their arrangements. Mr.
Wright willingly went with them to see the owners of the island, and
they secured it at a rental of two dollars per month, and took a written
lease to that effect. The sailboat, lumber and gill-net were purchased
in rapid succession, and the matter of advertising placed in the
printer's hands. The next day the household articles were removed from
the shanty to the island and arranged in the house. Only the three
rooms on the ground floor were needed by the lads, and were settled as
kitchen, sitting-room and bedroom. That day, also, posters were
scattered about the village, and an advertisement appeared in the
columns of the village weekly, as follows:
NEW FIRM! NEW FIRM!
BOYD & FLOYD.
We, the undersigned, would announce to the citizens of this community
that we have this day formed a partnership, to be known as Boyd & Floyd.
Our headquarters will be at Fox Island, which we have rented of the
owners. We shall have fish, oysters, clams, lobsters and scallops for
sale, each in their season. On Tuesdays and Fridays of each week we
shall be in the surrounding villages, ready to fill all orders in our
line. On the other days of the week all orders dropped in the village
post-office, Box 118, will secure prompt attention. Hotels and
boarding-houses will be supplied at wholesale rates. Sailing or
fishing-parties will be taken out in our sloop Sea Witch at reasonable
prices. This boat is to be remodeled, and made sea-worthy in every
respect. By honest dealing, fair charges, and prompt attention, we hope
to secure our share of your patronage.
BUDD BOYD.
JUDD FLOYD.
Fox Island, May 20, 18--.
It was late on Saturday evening when the lads got back to the island
after carrying around their posters. They were very tired from their
long tramp of the day and the other work their plans had necessitated;
but they were contented, for they felt that their firm was now fully
organized and launched out upon the world.