*CHAPTER XVIII.*
*THE GREETING.*
On the fishing excursion the day before, David had taken cold, and wasawake with toothache half the night.
He did not arouse his friend, however, and it was not till daylight thatJoe discovered his condition.
"I'll go over to Mr. Bernard's tent and get something to stop it. Whydidn't you call me before?" asked Joe, dressing as quickly as possible.
"Oh, I didn't like, you were so sound asleep. Besides, I kept thinkingit would get easier; but it aches now worse than ever."
"I'll go over immediately," said Joe, pulling on his boots. "Mr.Bernard keeps a lot of stuff in his tent, and I guess he'll findsomething to help you."
"Likely as not he will offer to come over with his nippers to pull thething out, but tell him, 'No, thank you.'"
"Good-bye, old fellow; I'm off. Keep your head under the blanket."
Joe lifted the flap of the tent and stepped outside. Everything wasquiet; the camp was asleep. The sky in the east was all aglow with thecoming sun. Joe drew a long breath of the fresh morning air, and lookedaround as he ran toward Mr. Bernard's tent.
Suddenly his eyes fell on the little vessel at anchor. In a moment heunderstood it all, and, turning quickly, he rushed back to his own tent,and seizing Dave by the shoulder he shook him till the blanket droppedoff, and then he performed a dance around the tent, adapting his motionsto the narrow quarters.
"Are you crazy, Joe Chester?" asked David, sitting up and looking verymuch dazed after having been rolled so snugly in the blanket.
He held his hand over his aching face, and felt rather cross at Joe'sunseemly antics.
"I believe I am, Dave. Just get up and peep out; it will do yourtoothache good," whispered Joe. "But don't let the other fellows hear."
"What's the matter now?" grumbled Dave; but he jumped out of bed andlooked out of the tent in the direction indicated by Joe's finger."What's that,--a vessel?"
"It looks like one, doesn't it?"
"What's she doing there?"
"She's at anchor. But hush! don't talk so loud."
"That's queer; but what's that to us that you should go on at that rate?I thought you had made some great discovery," said Dave, preparing toretreat.
"Well, I should like to know if I haven't. I tell you, Dave, that's the_Una_," cried Joe in a triumphant whisper.
"The _Una_?" asked Dave, letting go his cheek, and looking up withincreased interest.
"Yes, sir, the _Una_; and of course Ralph and Ben are there, too."
Dave gave a prolonged whistle below his breath, but Joe hushed him.
"I'll run to Mr. Bernard's tent and see if he knows. You'd better dressand come down if your tooth doesn't ache too hard."
"I don't care if it does; I'll go," said Dave, seizing his clothes andbeginning to dress in haste.
"Well, tie up your head in something, and come on."
Joe darted out of the tent, and ran noiselessly to Mr. Bernard's.
In vain he rapped on the canvas, as little Max, the only occupant, wasstill soundly sleeping.
"Mr. Bernard knows it," thought Joe, as he ran like a greyhound down tothe rocks, followed by Dave, who came only half dressed and wrapped in ablanket like a young savage.
Jonas and the captain's man were throwing the fish from the boat up onthe rocks, and they did not hear the boys until they rushed upon themwith a suppressed whoop.
"Where are they, Jonas? Have they come ashore?" demanded Joe.
Jonas raised himself slowly from his work, and stared at the speaker, ashe answered with provoking slowness, "Where's who?"
"Oh, you know. The boys--Ralph and Ben. Have they come ashore?"
"Not as I know of; I haven't seen 'em."
Marcus had thrown out the last fish, and was about to push off his boat,when Joe leaped in, and Dave followed, blanket and all.
"That's cool, I must say. What business have you got in here?" growledMarcus; but Joe saw that it was a good-natured growl, and he onlylaughed as he seated himself.--"Now, what shall I do?" asked Marcus,appealing to the cook. "I don't believe these chaps are wanted overthere."
"Yes, let them come," called Mr. Bernard, who, having heard the voices,appeared at the vessel's side.
"All right, sir--just as you say," answered Marcus.
In a few moments the boat had reached the vessel; and Joe, nimble as amonkey, was up the side in a twinkling.
David, having his blanket to manage, crawled up more slowly; and when hereached the deck, Joe had disappeared down in the little cabin, where hewas shaking hands, and bringing a welcome that set Ralph and Ben at easeimmediately.
"And who is this?" asked Mr. Bernard, as Dave came stumbling down thesteps, trailing his blanket.
"Dave Winter."
Then the hand-shaking was renewed, and Captain Dare received his shareof welcome and thanks for returning the boys to them.
"This is the most like the prodigal son of any story I ever got mixed upin," Captain Dare remarked, as soon as there was a lull in theconversation.
"Only there are two of us," said Ben laughing.
"Cap'n, the whole pack's comin'," shouted Marcus in a tone of dismay,looking down into the crowded cabin. "If they board us, we'll beswamped."
They all laughed, and Mr. Bernard protested that they would spare the_Una_ from such a fate.
"Now, captain, if you will put us ashore, you will make us still moreyour debtors."
"I'll do that, Mr. Bernard, although I would like to keep you aboardtill I sail."
"Don't talk of sailing yet. You must come ashore, and see our quarters,and at least take breakfast with us,--you and Marcus too."
"Oh yes, captain," cried Ralph and Ben, eagerly seconding theinvitation. "We want all the fellows to know you."
The captain laughed, and allowed himself to be pushed up the cabinsteps, where loud cheers from the crowd on shore greeted the party.
The news had spread from tent to tent that the _Una_ had arrived, andthe runaways returned to them; and with whoops and hurrahs thehalf-dressed crowd rushed to the beach.
Some unfastened the boats moored there and pushed off in them, andothers stood on the rocks and shouted, as Mr. Bernard, followed by thecaptain, Ralph, Ben, Joe, and Dave, came on deck.
There was no mistaking the warmth of the greeting from theirschool-mates. Hats were waved and cheer after cheer given as the boatreached the shore, and the boys climbed up the rocks, followed by Mr.Bernard and Captain Dare. It was so different from the reception theyhad imagined when they thought of a return to school.
If they had been received coldly or with sneers and taunts, they wouldnot have wondered; but this welcome seemed wholly unaccountable, andRalph and Ben received it very modestly, feeling that it was entirelyundeserved.
Captain Dare and Marcus were introduced to the crowd of boys, and wereescorted to the tents, while the _Una_ was left to swing to and fro onthe rising tide.
The half-dressed boys hastened to finish their toilets, and had barelytime for this before the bell for prayers rang, and they all gathered inthe large tent, where Mr. Bernard gave hearty thanks for their newhappiness. The prayer was suited to the occasion, and it touched everyheart.
When it ended, Ralph, who stood by Mr. Bernard, said in a manly way,though his lips trembled as he spoke, and his face was pale, "I want youall to know, boys, that I don't deserve this welcome from you and theteacher. I was a mean fellow, and a wicked fellow, and a sneak to boot;but I've made up my mind that I'll lead a different life, with God'shelp."
There was perfect silence after Ralph ceased speaking and stepped back alittle.
Ben did not know that Ralph intended to say anything of the kind, andindeed the boy himself had not thought of it until, touched by theprayer offered in his behalf, he was moved to speak.
"I suppose I ought to say something too," he thought; "but I declare I'drather be back in the _Una_ with a
gale blowing." Red and awkward, hegot up and said, "I'm sure I don't deserve it either. You are all awfulkind about it, and I hope you'll never have to be ashamed of us again.I mean to be honest and true after this."
As soon as he had spoken he got behind Mr. Bernard, and fanned himselfwith his cap to get the flame from his face.
Ralph whispered to the master, and to the delight of the captain thewhole school began the chant he liked so much--"The Lord is my Shepherd,I shall not want."
With his hands behind him, and his huge frame swaying to and fro, hejoined with unbounded comfort, as well as with spirit and understanding,in the music.
Knowing his fondness for singing, Ralph asked Mr. Bernard to have more;and the boyish voices sang hymn after hymn, and some of the schoolglees, that they had practised many times, and had even given in concertin the town of Massillon, where the Academy Glee Club was looked upon assomething to be proud of.
When they ceased, Captain Dare said, "It's good to be here. I wouldn'thave missed it for all the world. I shall hear that singing above theroar of the wind and the sea,--I know I shall."
Jonas had prepared quite a sumptuous repast in honour of the event--thatis, considering the fact that there was no market within four or fivemiles. There was fish broiled and fish fried, mackerel, cod, and hake,hot biscuits, and bread; best of all, coffee that scented the air withodours from "Araby the blest."
Captain Dare was given the place of honour at Mr. Bernard's right hand,and Marcus sat among the boys, listening to the stories of theiraccidents and adventures, as they were detailed to Ralph and Ben, whowere not anxious to talk of their own experience, acknowledging that thedays that had been spent on the _Una_ were wretched days to them.
"The fact is," said Ralph, with sudden frankness when urged to give anaccount of himself, "we were scared and sea-sick the worst way. Atleast I was. Ben was braver than I: he did his best to keep jolly, untilthe storm came,--then he gave in; didn't you, Benjamin?"
Ben nodded laughingly. "I'll never deny that. You were the braver ofthe two then; but I believe any 'land-lubber,' as Captain Dare calls us,would be scared with such a commotion of wind, sea, and thunder andlightning, to say nothing of rain that came down by the tubful."
Ben shrugged his shoulders as he ended his account of affairs, andsought consolation in another of Jonas's biscuits. After breakfastCaptain Dare said: "My man Marcus is looking at me, as much as to say,'Come, you are wasting time;' but, Marcus boy, we ain't. I believe I'vegot pleasure enough out of this time to last till I'm an old man. Isuppose you think I'm that now; but, bless your hearts, my lads, whenyou get as old as I am you'll think old age a long way off. But we mustbe going now. My little vessel there is as restless as a colt. She cannever bear to be tied up. See her dancing and tossing around! She wantsto be off. I must be getting her in port for repairs."
"Oh, don't go yet, captain!"
"Stay all day," cried the boys.
"No, don't tempt me. I must get my load of fish, and go home to see mygrand-baby. When you go back to Massillon, be sure to visit my folksand see that baby; he's a fine fellow, if I do say it. I set a heap byhim, and he does by me too, strange to say. But good-bye, all of you."
"Ralph," said Ben, pulling his friend's sleeve, "we haven't paid him forour passage yet."
"Sure enough; and there are our valises aboard the vessel--we must getthem."
The entire company of teachers and scholars went down to the beach tosee the visitors off; and Ralph and Ben went over to the vessel in oneof the boats to have a few last words with Captain Dare, and to bringaway their goods and chattels.
When they had brought the valises from the cabin, and had come to give afinal shake of the hand, Ben took his purse from his pocket and said,"Now, captain, how much shall we pay you?"
"Off with you, boy! Not a penny. You are welcome to that trip, I amsure. It turned out better than any of us expected, didn't it? I shallalways like to think it over."
"But, captain--" began Ralph.
"No 'but' about it. The vessel is mine, every timber of it, and if I'vea mind to take passengers, it's nobody's business. So off with you.Keep your promises. Be good boys, and that's all I'll ask. God blessyou. Good-bye."
Ralph and Ben returned to the shore, and stood with the crowd waving andcheering as the _Una_, with all sails set, glided away.
As long as they could see the two men, they stood on the rocks and wavedhats and handkerchiefs; and Marcus gave a return salute by flourishinghis dish-towel and blowing his fog-horn--the same horn that had soundedso dismally in the fog when Ralph and Ben were at sea.
"There goes a man worth knowing!" exclaimed Ralph. "He is rough enoughoutside, but he is pure gold through and through. Where would we havebeen if we hadn't fallen into his hands?"
Ben shrugged his shoulders as he said, "Not here, surely."
"Indeed we wouldn't; and when school begins in September we wouldn'thave been there either."
"We didn't cheer him half loud enough," cried Joe Chester in a freshspasm of gratitude. "I wonder if they could hear if we all gave onetremendous yell. Let's try it. All together now. One, two, three."Then followed a shout that succeeded in bringing the two men to thevessel's side for one more salute.
"There, that will do for this time, boys; I think they know that youappreciate their kindness," said Mr. Bernard, laughingly uncovering hisears, after protecting them from the roar of the crowd. Leaving them onthe beach planning the day's pleasure, he returned to the tent to readand rest.