CHAPTER XI
THE "EAGLE" SAILS
Bob had often been on railroad journeys, so there was nothingespecially interesting about the first part of his trip. But hismind was so taken up with what was to follow that even the familiarscenes as the train sped on out of the village seemed full ofdelight to him.
"Well, I s'pose you've been pretty steady since I've been gone,haven't you, Bob?" asked the captain, following a rather long pause.
"Well, pretty good, I guess. I only played one joke."
"What was It?"
Bob related the circumstances of the step-ladder, the cook and thehired man.
"Hum," remarked the commander of the _Eagle_ reflectively. "So theycame down in a heap, eh, and the water splashed all over 'em?"
"Yes," replied Bob, trying not to chuckle at the recollection.
"Hum," remarked the captain again, and he seemed to be having somedifficulty with his breathing. Bob wondered if his friend waschoking, he was so very red in the face, but he did not know thatthe mariner was trying hard not to laugh. The thought of the sightof the pair tangled up in the step-ladder was too much for him,though he did not want to encourage Bob in his reckless ways byshowing enough interest to laugh.
"By the way," went on the captain suddenly, becoming rather solemn,"I s'pose you've learned the principal parts of the ship by now?"
"By names, yes, sir. But I'm afraid I've got lots yet to learn."
"I should say you had. You know about as much how to sail a ship asI would how to run a steam-engine from seeing a tea-kettle boil."
Captain Spark believed in making boys know their place, and he madeup his mind he had a hard subject in Bob. Still, he was determinedto reform him if it was possible.
"When do you expect to get into the Southern Pacific?" asked Bob, ashe thought of the secret map Captain Obed had given him.
"It all depends on what weather we have. Why?"
"Here's something a friend of mine gave me," said Bob, pulling outthe wrinkled piece of parchment. "He says there is treasure buriedon an island in the Southern Pacific."
"Treasure? Let me see."
Captain Spark looked critically at the rather faint tracing of lineson the yellow sheet.
"I'm afraid somebody has been playing a joke on you, or on CaptainObed," he remarked, handing the parchment back, after Bob had toldhim how he became possessed of it.
"A joke?"
"Yes. That's a map, sure enough, but no sailor could ever find theisland by those directions."
"Why not?"
"I said he never could. Perhaps I should have said he might byaccident. Why, look, Bob. Whoever made this map only marked thelocation of the Island by degrees; that is the degree of longitudeand that of latitude. Every circle is divided into three hundredand sixty degrees, and as the earth is round. It follows that acircle drawn around it would be the same. Each degree thereforemeans a distance at the equator of about seventy miles. So unlesswhoever drew this map is positive that the island is exactly at theintersection of the degrees of latitude and longitude which you havegiven me, it might be seventy miles one way or the other off fromthe location given here. And seventy miles is a good distance onthe water. Besides, the map only states that the location is'about' right. I guess we'll never find that treasure, Bob. Idon't believe it's there."
"Would you think it worth trying for?"
"I don't believe I would. I might have to sail around for a weekmerely to locate the island, and the chances would be I'd miss it.Then if I did find it, it would be very unlikely that anything wouldbe buried there. I don't take any stock in those Captain Kiddyarns. There's too many of 'em being spun by retired sailors. IfCaptain Kidd had any money, he took good care of it, you can wager.Besides, I haven't any time to fool around looking for an island. Ihave to get my cargo to port on time."
Bob was a little disappointed that he could not take part in asearch for Captain Obed's treasure, but he reflected that whatCaptain Spark said was probably right, resides, no one ever believedthe stories Captain Obed told. The aged man's mind was not to bedepended on.
During the remainder of the journey by rail Captain Spark gave Bobsome good advice as to how to conduct himself while aboard the ship.He imparted some useful information concerning navigation, andpromised to show Bob more about it after they had sailed.
"I'm anxious to get out on deep water," said the mariner. "I don'tlike this city life. There are too many risks in it."
In due time they arrived at the seaport town, and, having seen thatBob's baggage would be transported to the dock, Captain Spark ledthe way to where the _Eagle_ was waiting the hoisting of her whitesails to catch the ocean breezes.
The ship was a large one, square-rigged, and had three masts, itbeing of good tonnage. As the voyage was a long one great care hadto be taken in loading the cargo, and this had caused a littledelay. Not all the freight was aboard yet.
"Well, Mr. Carr, how are things moving?" asked the captain of atall, thin man who stood near the gangway as he and Bob went up theplank.
"Very well, sir. I think we shall be loaded by to-morrow."
"I hope so. This lying at dock doesn't suit me. By the way, let meintroduce a friend of mine. This is Bob Henderson. His mother is arelative of mine, and Bob is taking a voyage for his health. Bob,this is my first mate, Mr. Carr."
"He looks healthy enough," remarked the first mate as he cordiallyshook hands with Bob.
"Things are not always what they look like," replied the captainwith a smile. "Bob found matters rather too lively for him ashore,and his folks think it will quiet him down to go with me."
"I see," replied Mr. Carr in answer to his commander's sly wink. Henow understood something of the situation.
"I'll leave you here a while," went on the commander to the boy."You can look about a bit while I go below and work on my manifest.Mr. Carr will tell you anything you want to know."
But Bob was so interested in watching the sailors at work stowingaway the cargo, while others were cleaning various parts of theship, that he did not ask many questions.
All the rest of that day the loading went on. Bob and the captainwent ashore for their meals, as the commander had some business toattend to in the port, but Bob spent that night in his bunk. It wasthe first time he had ever slept in a ship's berth, and he ratherliked the novelty.
The next day the loading was rapidly proceeded with, and by noon allthe cargo was stowed away.
Captain Spark was below in his cabin, making out the final papersand waiting for his clearance documents from the harbor master. Mr.Carr and his assistants were busy getting the _Eagle_ ready to sail,while Bob stood near the rail, watching with curious eyes everythingthat was going on.
While he stood there he saw a short, stout, pale-faced man coming upthe gangplank. The man carried a valise in each hand, while behindhim walked a 'longshoreman with a trunk on his shoulder.
"Now, my man, be very careful of that trunk," urged the short,stout, pale man. "Don't drop it for the world."
"I'm not going to, sir," and the 'longshoreman attempted to touchhis hat as a mark of respect.
"Don't do that!" exclaimed the nervous man. "You might drop it, andsomething would break."
"All right, sir. Very well, sir," and once more the 'longshoremanmade as if to touch his hat. It was a habit of his to do thiswhenever spoken to by those who employed him.
"There you go again!" cried the man in rather whining tones. "Don'tdo it, I say! There! Keep your hands on the trunk!"
Seeing that this last order was obeyed, the nervous man advanced upthe gangplank. He came on deck, set his two valises very carefullydown, watched the 'longshoreman place the trunk on end, as if itcontained eggs, and then he asked of Bob:
"Is this ship the _Eagle_?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you sure now? I don't want any mistake made. I don't see thename on it anywhere."
"It is on the bows and under the stern
."
Bob rather prided himself on this nautical knowledge.
"Hum! Well, perhaps it may be. You are positive it is the _Eagle_?"
"Yes, sir. Positive. A distant relative of my mother is thecaptain."
"Is it Captain Spark?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you sure? I don't want to be on the wrong ship."
"Yes, sir, I am very sure, I came on board with him. Are you goingto sail on the ship?" asked Bob politely.
"I expect to, if this is the right vessel. I wish I was sure.Perhaps you might be mistaken," and he glanced nervously around.
"No, I am positive. There is Captain Spark now," he added as thecommander came up a companionway.
"Oh, yes. I shall speak to him."
The nervous man started off. Just then Captain Spark, havingreceived his clearance papers by messenger, gave orders to cast off.The _Eagle_ was about to sail.
"All ashore that's going ashore!" called the first mate.
The 'longshoreman started down the gangplank which was about to behauled in.
"Wait, I must pay you!" called the nervous passenger, turning backtoward the man who had brought his trunk aboard.
The 'longshoreman waited.
"Cast off that stern line!" shouted the captain.
"Oh, dear! I wish I was sure this was the _Eagle_!" spoke thenervous passenger.
"It is," Bob assured him, smiling at the man's manner. First hewould advance a little way toward the captain, intending to ask himthe momentous question; then he would turn toward the 'longshoreman,who was waiting for his money.
"Lively with that gangplank now!" ordered the commander.
"Oh, if I have made a mistake and gotten on the wrong ship it willbe terrible," murmured the man.
"Why don't you throw off that stern line?" again shouted the captain.
"What shall I do?" exclaimed the nervous man.
"If you're goin' t' pay me, your honor, you'll have t' hustle,"advised the 'longshoreman.
"I will, my man. Never mind touching your hat. Oh, you are notcarrying my trunk now; I forgot. Here's a dollar. Never mind thechange."
"All ashore that's going ashore!" yelled Mr. Carr again.
Up came the gangplank. The 'longshoreman leaped over the side ofthe ship and landed on the dock. There was a puffing from the tugthat had been engaged to pull the _Eagle_ out into the channel.
"Are you sure this is the right ship?" appealed the man to Bob oncemore.
"Positively yes, sir. Anyhow, it's too late now."
"Too late? How? What do you mean?"
"I mean that we're under way now."
The nervous passenger ran to the side and looked over. True enough,the _Eagle_ was some distance from the wharf. The tug was strainingon the big hawser. The ship had begun her long voyage around CapeHorn.