*CHAPTER XVII.*
*A SURPRISE.*
At the earliest dawn of day the captain and Marcus stole quietly fromthe cabin, closing the door carefully that the boys might sleepundisturbed. "I don't want to miss a mite of the fun I've got plannedout, Marcus. I tell you I feel like a boy myself this morning."
They kept very quiet, fearing that Ralph and Ben might appear too soonupon the scene. After a while they saw Jonas emerge from his tent witha fishing-rod over his shoulder. Intent on business only, thinkingabout the breakfast he was to prepare, he had gone nearly out to the endof the point of rocks at the side of the beach, before he discovered thefishing-smack anchored within speaking distance. The captain had alreadystepped into his boat, and with a few strokes of the oars he reached therocks where Jonas stood rubbing his eyes to make sure he was notdreaming.
"Well, I never! Where did you come from all of a sudden?" was Jonas'sgreeting.
"Hush! Don't talk loud. I've got a couple of passengers I don't wantwaked up."
"Who are you, anyhow?" asked Jonas, his curiosity getting the better ofany politeness he might have used.
"I am Captain Dare of the _Una_."
"You are the fellow that carried off two of our boys," exclaimed Jonas,with a sudden increase of interest.
"They took passage with me," said the captain with dignity. "Is thehead-master over yonder?"
"Mr. Bernard? Yes, asleep still."
"I want to see him."
"About the boys?"
"Yes."
"All right. How glad he'll be!"
"Go call him then, but don't let any one else know,--that's a goodfellow."
"I'll do it; but just tell me one thing. Have you got those chapsaboard?"
Captain Dare nodded and laughed. Without waiting to hear more, Jonasrushed over the rocks, and made his way to Mr. Bernard's tent. Theteacher was a light sleeper, and in camp he was ready at any time for asummons, so he lifted the flap of the tent at once in answer to Jonas'srap, and saw the cook making motions of secrecy. He beckoned himinside, and Jonas began, almost breathless after his run--"The _Una_ isanchored off here, and the captain wants to see you before the othersget astir."
Mr. Bernard uttered an exclamation of surprise and delight, and withoutwaiting to ask any more questions, hastily donned his clothes andhurried after the messenger, leaving little Max asleep in the tent.Jonas led the way to the point of rocks, and there in the boat sat thecaptain.
"Captain Dare!" exclaimed Mr. Bernard.
"Yes, sir, that's my name."
"I am Mr. Bernard."
The two men shook hands most cordially.
"He's all right! I'll risk _him_!" was the mental exclamation as thecaptain's twinkling eyes surveyed the teacher from head to foot. "I'vegot two of your boys in my cabin yonder, Mr. Bernard."
"Alive and well?" asked the teacher eagerly.
"Yes, alive and well. Better boys, too, than when you saw them last,Mr. Bernard."
"God be praised! This gives me joy," was the fervent response.
"And, Mr. Bernard, they've had pretty heavy punishment. I really hopeyou'll call it enough and forgive 'em. They are ashamed and sorry, Iknow. I'll answer for that."
The teacher's eyes were moist, and he took off his glasses to wipe themas he said, "May I go on board with you?"
"That's just what I want. I told those chaps you'd forgive 'em; butthey said I didn't know you, and you'd never trust 'em again. You may,though. I'll answer for 'em you may--both on 'em. You'll never catcheither of 'em in a lie again."
"Are the boys expecting me?"
"Bless you, sir, no; they don't know no more about it than your boys upyonder asleep in their tents. No, it's all a surprise;" and the oldcaptain chuckled with delight.
"Say nothing about this, Jonas, and keep quiet, so the boys will sleeptill we get our arrangements made."
"All right, sir; I've got my fish to catch yet," answered Jonas, baitinghis hook.
"Never mind those fish--that's slow work. I'll send my man ashore withmackerel and cod enough to last you a while."
The teacher seated himself in the boat, and Captain Dare pulled quicklyback to the vessel.
"Marcus, pick out some of the No. 1 mackerel and the best cod and hake,and pull over where that fellow is waiting," said the captain, as hestepped on the deck of the _Una_; then turning to his guest, he saidgleefully, "Those boys are still asleep, I reckon, but there they aresafe and well down in my cabin," and he opened the door a little to lookin. "Yes, sound asleep, the young rascals; won't they be surprised! Isaid I'd go out of my way to do 'em a favour to pay 'em for learnin' methat hymn tune, but they hadn't no idea what I meant to do."
The door moved by sliding, and when the captain pushed it open Ralphopened his eyes.
Was he dreaming, or was that Mr. Bernard's face looking down upon him,full of kindness and forgiveness?
No, it was no dream. Mr. Bernard was coming down the steps, and Ralphsprang from the berth to meet him, knowing before a word had been spokenthat he was forgiven.
Just then Ben opened his eyes, and sleepily looked around.
What was that? Mr. Bernard with his arm around Ralph's shoulder.
Surely he was still asleep, and still in dreamland.
"O Ben, he forgives us--he has come for us," cried Ralph with quiveringlips. "Isn't it too good to believe?"
Mr. Bernard held out his other hand to Ben, and drew him to his side.
"Where are we, Mr. Bernard, that we found _you_?" asked Ralph with apuzzled look.
"Ask your good captain. He has gone out of his course, in the kindnessof his heart, to do us all a favour."
"No favour at all," said the captain earnestly, waving his hand in tokenof disclaiming any obligation on their part,--"no favour at all. I liketo see things get righted, and I like to have a hand in doingit.--Besides, didn't you two chaps teach me that chant that's going tohelp me through many a long night at the helm?"
"You will allow us to _feel_ thankful to you, captain, if we keep quietabout it, won't you?" asked the teacher laughing. "We have beenanxiously watching for your vessel ever since we heard from you.
"Heard from us! when?" asked the captain with a puzzled look.
"We heard by the vessel you hailed the night before the storm."
"Well, now, where did you see _her_?"
"On the rocks just off the lighthouse."
"What! cast away?"
"Yes: she went on the rocks the night of the storm; but the crew weresaved, all but one man. They have been over at the lighthouse, waitingto see the last of the wreck, after rescuing all the cargo they could."
The captain turned to the boys, and said: "That was an escape for you.If we had had our way, you would have been on that wreck too. Howlittle we know what's best for us! I'd rather not have the ordering ofthings if I could. I'd be sure to make a mess of things. God knowsbest, and that's true every time."
"It was fortunate indeed," added Mr. Bernard. "But we have been moreanxious than ever, since Captain Melrose reported you."
"We didn't think you would care," said Ralph with a flushed face.
"Why, Ralph, have you been in my school all this time and know me nobetter than that? There has been no time since the trouble began that Iwould not have received you gladly if I had known you to be honestlysorry for your fault. You know me better now, I hope."
Ralph put his hand in the outstretched palm of the teacher, and said,"Yes, Mr. Bernard, I could never be afraid of you again; but I mean withall my heart never to do anything again that I shall be ashamed to tellyou."
Ralph put his hand in the outstretched palm of theteacher.]
"God grant you his help to keep this resolution. We need his help, myboy; you know that."
"Yes, I know. I am very sure that _I_ do."
"And you, Ben?" asked the teacher, turning to the other boy, who hadkept in the background,--"you m
ean to be honest and true, too."
"Yes, sir, I mean to be true like Joe Chester; and I think you are verygood to give us another chance. It is what neither of us expected. Wethought our days at your school were over."
"Not yet, I hope,--not till you are ready for college.--Now, how shallwe tell your friends you have come?"
"Don't any of them know it?" asked the boys quickly. "I have beenwondering that we heard no noise."
"No, indeed, no one knows it; but they will soon be astir, and thenthere will be noise enough, for camp-life has not quieted them down atall.--Captain Dare, if my boys spy the _Una_ they will make an attackupon us that will frighten you, unless you are used to war-whoops."
"I'm not easily scared at a noise," said the captain laughing.
"Joe Chester would make nothing of swimming across here," said Ben.
"No, indeed, and in his delight at your return he would be sure to dosomething rash," added Mr. Bernard.
"How can he be glad to have us back?" asked Ralph with reddening face."I am sure I am ashamed to see him, I treated him so shabbily."
"You may be sure he remembers nothing against you. He has been yourwarmest friend in camp, and most anxious for your welfare. If I hadbeen ever so harshly inclined toward you, I should have been won by hisintercession in your behalf. He was sure all the time that youregretted your course."
"Joe is a good fellow, and he judged me by himself," answered Ralphwarmly, "and that was more than I deserved."
"Joe is a noble boy, true to the very core; but we must decide quicklyhow to manage your return to camp."
Before they had proceeded further, however, the question decided itself.