Read Billy Topsail & Company: A Story for Boys Page 17
CHAPTER XV
_In Which it Appears to Jimmie Grimm and Master Bagg That Sixty Seconds Sometimes Make More Than a Minute_
Ruddy Cove is deep--vastly deep--except in one part. That is in BurntCove within the harbour. There at low tide it is shallow. Rocksprotrude from the water--dripping and covered with a slimy seaweed.And Burnt Cove lies near the tickle to the sea. You pass between thetickle rocks, bear sharply to the right and are presently in the cove.It is a big expanse, snugly sheltered; and it shallows so slowly thatthere are many acres of quiet water in which the little fellows ofRuddy Cove learn to swim.
Ezekiel Rideout's cottage was by Burnt Cove; and Bagg wished mostheartily that he were there.
* * * * *
But Bagg was at sea. And the punt was a small one. It was not JimmieGrimm's fishing punt; it was a shallow little rodney, which Jimmie'sfather used for going about in when the ice and seals were off thecoast. It was so small and light that it could be carried over thepans of ice from one lane of open water to another. And being smalland light it was cranky. It was no rough weather boat; nor was it aboat to move very much about in, as both boys were quite well aware.
Bagg heard Jimmie's oars rattle in the row-locks and the blades strikethe water. The boat moved forward. Jimmie began to row with all hisstrength--almost angrily. It was plain that he was losing his temper.And not only did he lose his temper; he had grown tired before heregained it.
"Here, Bagg," said he; "you have a go at it."
"I'll 'ave a try," Bagg agreed.
Jimmie let the oars swing to the side and Bagg made ready to steadythe little boat. Bagg heard him rise. The boat rocked a little.
"Steady!" Bagg gasped.
"Steady, yourself!" Jimmie retorted. "Think I don't know how t' getaround in a rodney?"
It was now so dark, what with night and fog, that Bagg could not seeJimmie. But presently he understood that Jimmie was on his feetwaiting for him to rise in his turn. They were to exchange places.Bagg got to his feet, and, with all the caution he could command,advanced a step, stretching out his hands as he did so. But Bagg hadnot been born on the coast and was not yet master of himself in aboat. He swayed to the left--fairly lurched.
"Have a care!" Jimmie scolded.
Have you never, in deep darkness, suddenly felt a loss of power tokeep your equilibrium? You open your eyes to their widest. Nothing isto be seen. You have no longer a sense of perpendicularity. You swaythis way and that, groping for something to keep you from falling. Andthat is just what happened to Bagg. He was at best shaky on his legsin a boat; and now, in darkness and fear, his whole mind was fixed onfinding something to grasp with his hands.
"Is you ready?" asked Jimmie.
"Uh-huh!" Bagg gasped.
"Come on," said Jimmie; "but mind what you're about."
Bagg made a step forward. Again the boat rocked; again the darknessconfused him, and he had to stop to regain his balance. In the pauseit struck him with unpleasant force that he could not swim. He wassure, moreover, that the boat would sink if she filled. He wished hehad not thought of that. A third half-crawling advance brought himwithin reach of Jimmie. He caught Jimmie's outstretched hand and drewhimself forward until they were very close.
"Look out!" he cried.
He had crept too far to the right. The boat listed alarmingly. Theycaught each other about the middle, and crouched down, waiting, rigid,until she had come to an even keel.
Presently they were ready to pass each other.
"Now," said Jimmie.
Bagg made the attempt to pass him. The foothold was uncertain; thedarkness was confusing. He moved to the side, but so great was hisagitation that he miscalculated, and the boat tipped suddenly underhis weight. The water swept over the gunwale. Bagg would have fallenbodily from the punt had it not been for Jimmie's clutch on his arm.In the light they might have steadied themselves; in the dark theycould not.
Jimmie drew Bagg back--but too hurriedly, too strongly, too far. Theside of the boat over which he had almost fallen leaped high in theair and the opposite gunwale was submerged. Jimmie released him, andBagg collapsed into a sitting posture in the bottom. Instinctively hegrasped the gunwales and frantically tried to right the boat. He feltthe water slowly curling over.
"She's goin' down," said Jimmie.
"Sinkin'!" Bagg sobbed.
The boat sank very slowly, gently swaying from side to side. Bagg andJimmie could see nothing, and all they could hear was the gurgle andhissing of the water as it curled over the gunwales and eddied in thebottom of the boat. Bagg felt the water rise over his legs--creep tohis waist--rise to his chest--and still ascend. Through those secondshe was incapable of action. He did not think; he just waited.
Jimmie wondered where the shore was. A yard or a mile away? In whichdirection would it be best to strike out? How could he help Bagg? Hemust not leave Bagg to drown. But how could he help him? What was theuse of trying, anyhow? If he could not row ashore, how could he manageto swim ashore? And if he could not get ashore himself, how could hehelp Bagg ashore?
Nothing was said. Neither boy breathed. Both waited. And it seemed toboth that the water was slow in coming aboard. But the water came. Itcame slowly, perhaps--but surely. It rose to Bagg's shoulders--to hischin--it seemed to be about to cover his mouth and nostrils. Baggalready had a stifled sensation--a frantic fear of smothering; a wishto breathe deep. But he did not stir; he could not rise.
The boys felt a slight shock. The water rose no more. There was amoment of deep silence.
"Wh-wh-where 'ave we got to?" Bagg gasped, his teeth chattering withthe fright that was not yet passed.
Silence again.
"Ahoy, there!" came a voice from near at hand in the foggy night."What you boys doin' out there?"
"We're in Burnt Cove," said Jimmie, in amazement, to Bagg. "'TisUncle Zeke's voice--an', ay, look!--there's the cottage light on thehill."
"We're comin' ashore, Uncle Zeke," Bagg shouted.
The boat had grounded in less than three feet of water. Jimmie hadbrought her through the tickle without knowing it. The boys emptiedher and dragged her ashore just as the rain and wind came rushing fromthe open sea.
That's why Jimmie used to say with a laugh:
"Sixty seconds sometimes makes more than a minute."