THE CHUMS TO THE RESCUE
Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal were greatly interested in the story Rod had
to tell them that evening of his experiences during the day. It seemed
hardly possible that cranky Captain Josh could become such an
interesting companion to a little boy. They discussed it for some time
after Rod had gone to bed.
"It is quite evident that the captain has taken a great fancy to
Rodney," Mrs. Royal remarked, as she bent her head over some needlework
she had in her hands. "But are you not a little anxious, Daniel?"
"Anxious! About what?" the parson inquired, as he took his pipe from
his mouth and looked questioningly at his wife.
"Oh, about the influence he might exert upon our boy. Will it be for
his good, do you think?"
"Umph!" and the clergyman blew a cloud of smoke into the air. "Don't
let that worry you, Martha. No harm will come to Rodney from this
friendship. It will be just the opposite, I believe, and he will
influence the captain for good."
"But Captain Josh never comes to church, Daniel, so what will people
say?"
"Let them say, Martha. They will talk, anyway, and they might as well
have something to talk about. It will create a little diversion. No
doubt Miss Arabella Simpkins will consider it her bounden duty to come
right here, and express her views. And suppose the captain doesn't
come to church, is that any reason why a little boy should shun him?
It may be the means of making Captain Josh see things in a different
light. Perhaps the Lord has a hand in this, and who am I to interfere
with His plans? He has often used children to lead men back to Him,
and it may be that he is using Rodney now."
As the weeks and months passed, Captain Josh and Rod became firmer
friends than ever, and scarcely a day passed that they were not
together for a while. There were so many things for the boy to see and
learn that his interest never waned. He was so happy when out on the
river in the _Roaring Bess_, and ere long he knew all about the boat,
and could steer her almost as well as the captain himself.
When the fall settled in, and the weather became cold, the water was
abandoned, and so the yacht was pulled out upon the stocks by means of
a rude windlass. Here, covered with a large canvas, she remained
during the long winter months, safe from the driving storms which often
raged over the land.
Then it was that the captain turned his attention to trapping, which he
had followed for several years. There were several big brooks flowing
into the river, draining a large area of country, principally wooded,
and these abounded with mink, raccoon, and other fur-bearing animals.
The captain was an expert, and knew the most likely places where game
could be best taken. Rod at times went with him on his regular rounds
to visit the traps, and it was always a great joy to the boy when he
was allowed to carry back some furry prize which had been secured.
Next to these trips, Rod's chief delight was to sit before the big open
fire on a cold or stormy Saturday afternoon, and listen to the captain
as he told stories of his sea life, while he worked fixing up his
traps, making stretchers for the pelts, or doing other odd jobs. How
the boy's heart would thrill, and his eyes sparkle with animation as
Captain Josh told of furious seas he had encountered, the dangers he
had escaped, and the races he had made with other sailing-vessels.
Sometimes he would tell an amusing tale, at which the boy would laugh
in high glee. Often Rod would ask questions about the sailors, the
sea-monsters, and the various ports the captain had visited. Sometimes
they would pore over an old geography, while the captain pointed out
with his big fore-finger the countries he had visited, and the routes
he had taken. Rod was thus so well acquainted with certain countries
that his teacher was much surprised at his knowledge.
It was only natural that people should talk about this strange
friendship between the rough old sea-captain and the little boy. How
their tongues did wag, and many were the visits of protest paid to the
rectory. The principal discussion, however, always took place at the
regular meetings of the Ladies' Aid Society. This was done most of all
for Mrs. Royal's benefit. She knew this, and with much self-restraint
she resisted making any reply for some time. But at one meeting, when
the criticism became extremely severe, she could stand it no longer.
Mrs. Harmon had just been indulging in one of her long dissertations,
and finished by asking the rector's wife if she did not consider it
very unbecoming for a small boy, and a waif at that, with no doubt bad
blood in his veins, to be so much in the company of a rough creature
like Captain Josh. He should be at home, studying his lessons and
learning the Catechism.
"Mrs. Harmon," Mrs. Royal replied as calmly as possible, "I have
listened for some time to the criticisms which you and others have made
about our allowing Rodney to associate with Captain Josh, and I think
it is about time for me to say a word. Mr. Royal and I have talked
over the matter very carefully, and we can see no harm in what is
taking place. The captain has taken a remarkable fancy to the boy, and
I know for certain that Rodney has received no harm from him. On the
contrary, he has been benefited, for the captain has taught him many
useful things.
"As for his lessons, I wish to inform you all that Rodney has never
neglected them, and you know as well as I do that he stands at the head
of his class. He studies his Catechism, as well, which is more than I
can say of most of the boys in this parish. I ought to know, as I have
taught a class in the Sunday school for years. We had one boy of our
own, remember," here her voice became low, "and in our mistaken zeal
for his welfare we intended to make him a model of perfection. Instead
of studying him, we studied ourselves. We never considered the nature
of the child at all. We looked upon him as mere clay in our hands, and
we tried to mould him in our own way. When, alas, it was too late we
found that he had a will of his own, and when he became old enough he
rebelled at our restrictions, and, oh, well, you know the rest. Now,
we do not intend to make the same mistake with Rodney. He is a boy,
with all the strange impulses of a boy's restless nature. What you
have called evil in him, is merely childish enthusiasm. He is bubbling
over with energy. It is our earnest desire to guide him along right
channels, and not to break his will. Whether we shall do that or not,
remains to be seen. Most of you women here are mothers, and know the
responsibility of bringing up children. I do not interfere with you,
and I now ask you to be as considerate toward us. I trust that
henceforth all criticism will cease, especially at these meetings,
where we are gathered together to carry on the Lord's work."
When Mrs. Royal finished there was intense silence, and for once
garrulous tongues were still. All felt that the rebuke was just,
though it made them very angry. They were greatly surprised at Mrs.
Royal's boldness, as they had never heard her speak in such a decided
way before. When at last they did find their voices, they talked of
other things, and during the rest of the afternoon they never alluded
to what the rector's wife had said. But when once away from the
meeting some of the women gave their tongues free scope, especially
Mrs. Harmon, who felt keenly what Mrs. Royal had said.
"I was never so mortified and offended in all my life," she confided to
Miss Arabella, as they walked along the road together. "Just think of
her talking that way, and she a clergyman's wife, too."
"Umph!" and Miss Arabella tilted her nose higher than ever, "she talked
mighty big to-day, but she'll find out her mistake sooner than she
expects. Just think what she said about that horrid old captain, who
can't speak a civil word to any one. Why, he swears awful. I heard
him say 'dang hang it' one time, and a man who uses such language as
that is not a fit companion for a little boy."
Little did Captain Josh and Rod care what people said. Though months
had now passed into years, their friendship was as firm as ever. Happy
were they in each other's company, and many were the trips they made up
and down the river in the _Roaring Bess_. The captain had sturgeon
nets in a cove five miles away from his own shore. Twice a day he
visited these, and when Rod was on hand he went with him. The boy was
always interested in the big fish which were often caught, and when
they were sometimes tethered in the shallow water near the Anchorage he
felt sorry for the poor creatures.
"I wonder if they mind it," he once remarked to the captain. "Do you
suppose they think of their little baby sturgeons, and how they are
getting along?"
"Guess they don't bother much about it, lad," was the reply. "They
haven't enough sense fer that. They are like a lot of people who are
willin' to be led around by the nose jist like that big feller out
there. He is always swimmin' around, but he gits nowhere. He soon
comes to the end of his rope, and yet he keeps on swimmin' the same as
before."
The day this conversation took place, the wind was blowing in strong
from the northwest, and the captain was making ready for a trip to his
nets. Soon the boat was speeding up the river, with her sail full
spread to the stiff breeze. Having reached the cove and taken a number
of fish from the nets, they began to beat homeward. By this time the
wind had increased in strength, and as they ran backwards and forwards
across the river, they were continually washed by the waves which raced
to meet them.
"Isn't this great!" Rod exclaimed, as he nestled in the cock-pit, and
held on firmly lest he should be swept overboard. "I was never out in
such a breeze as this before."
The captain made no reply, though he gave a quick glance at the boy's
animated face. If Rod had been frightened, the old seaman would have
been terribly disappointed. As for himself he was in his element, and
he was reminded of the many times he had faced rough weather out on the
mighty deep. The howling of the wind, and the dashing waves made the
sweetest of music in his ears, and he was delighted that the boy, on
whom he had set his affections, should feel as he did.
They had just tacked and begun beating to the left, when the captain,
glancing down the river, gave a start of surprise, and pointed with his
finger to a small yacht in mid-stream, which was having a hard time in
the wind.
"She's got too much sail fer a breeze like this," he remarked. "If she
isn't well managed, she'll go over. Now, look at that!" he cried,
grasping the tiller with a firmer grip, so as to be ready for any
sudden emergency. "My, that was a close call. A little more and she'd
a been on her beam ends."
Hardly had he finished speaking, when a furious squall struck the
staggering yacht, and like a wounded eagle she reeled, and flopped her
big sail into the rough water. With a roar which might have been heard
a long distance off, the captain brought the _Roaring Bess_ almost up
to the teeth of the wind, and headed her for the wreck. How her sharp
prow did tear through the waves, and at times she was almost smothered
by the leaping water. But this course would not bring them to the
overturned boat. It was necessary for them to tack once more, and as
they drew near they could see people clinging frantically to the
half-submerged yacht. The captain gave a loud shout of encouragement
when he came within speaking distance. With much skill he handled his
boat, and told Rod to be ready to give a hand when needed. With the
_Roaring Bess_ brought right up to the wind, she soon drifted alongside
of the overturned yacht. There were five persons in the water, three
men and two women. With much difficulty the latter were dragged on
board, and then the men followed. This accomplished, without a word
the captain headed his boat for the shore, while the drenched persons
huddled in the cock-pit close to Rod.
The latter had not been idle during this exciting rescue. He had taken
a prominent part in helping the women on board, as the captain had been
busy managing the yacht. But now he crouched back in his corner,
somewhat abashed in the presence of the strangers. He watched them,
nevertheless, especially the younger of the two women, a girl with a
very beautiful face. Her long golden hair was tossed wildly about, and
at times a shiver shook her body. But her eyes attracted him more than
anything else. They were dark eyes, filled with an expression of
tenderness and sympathy. When she turned them upon Rod his heart gave
a bound such as he had never experienced before. At that moment there
was nothing he would not have done for her sake. He longed for
something to happen that he might show her how brave he was, and that
he might seem a hero in her eyes.
Nothing unusual happened, however, for Captain Josh steered the boat
through all dangers, and drew up at last near the shore in front of his
own house. Then to Rod's surprise the strange men lifted the girl
carefully out of the yacht into the tender, and when they had reached
the shore, one of the men carried her in his arms up to the Anchorage.
"Too bad she got hurt," Rod mused, as he walked home, for it was
getting late. "I wonder what happened to her."
That evening he told Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal all about his experience
that afternoon, the wreck, and the girl who had been carried into the
house.
"I must go over in the morning and learn all about it," the clergyman
remarked when he had heard the story. "There may be something that I
can do to help."
Rod lay awake for a long time that night. He could not get the girl
with the golden hair and wonderful eyes out of his mind. When at last
he did go to sleep, he dreamed that she was struggling in the water,
and that he had jumped off the _Roaring Bess_ to save her.