CHAPTER VI.
THE SCHOONER-YACHT.
There are some unfortunate children who seem fated to have theirholidays and special occasions drowned in rain. I, on the contrary,belonged to the favoured class, accustomed always to expect, and almostalways to enjoy, sunshine bright and glorious, whensoever birth-days,high days, and whole holidays made me specially prize and value it.
So it was by no means with surprise that I opened my eyes the nextmorning to find the sun's golden rays streaming in at my window, and toobserve, on jumping up and looking out, that there was not a cloud to beseen, save, indeed, the shadowy gray morning mist that was fastdispersing over the sea. I pattered hastily into Aleck's room beforeproceeding to the business of the toilet, to awaken him, and to urgeupon him the desirability of getting up as soon as possible, and comingdown with me into the garden to gather a nosegay for my mother, aninstitution of three years' standing, and which I would not upon anyaccount have dispensed with. Aleck murmured such a very sleepy assent tomy views, that I was constrained to resort to extreme measures, lest heshould "go off" again, and accordingly took to the gentle persuasion ofwater sprinkled on his face, the counterpane delicately withdrawn fromhis bed, and similar little attentions, which I felt to have beencompletely successful, when a pillow, wielded with the vigour ofself-defence, gave notice that hostilities were about to be returned,and I withdrew to my own room.
It was not long before we were both out in the garden busily engaged ina careful inspection of the flower-beds, preparatory to theflower-gathering. Any flowers I liked, I might gather on this particularmorning, but as the nosegay must not be too large, choice was difficult.Aleck made plenty of fun, but in reality gave little help.
"What's the use of my advising you," he said, not without reason; "younever take my advice when you get it?" And, in truth, I had uniformlytaken the opposite line to the one he suggested, choosing a scarletgeranium where he offered a light-coloured verbena, and a rose when hehad suggested mignonnette.
"You see," I explained, "mamma won't care for it unless I arrange it allmyself. Then Nurse has a lace paper ready which I shall put round it tomake it look better. If you like you can hold the flowers," I added,kindly.
But this did not meet my cousin's views.
"I think I'll make a nosegay for uncle," he said, presently; "I supposeI may--eh, Willie?"
I felt sure there could be no objection, and signified my opinion fromthe very centre of a geranium bed, in which I was making activeresearches, that would have turned the gardener's hair gray withconsternation had he not been safely off the premises at the time,comfortably engaged in discussing his breakfast. And Aleck set to work,and soon gathered a nosegay that almost, if not quite, equalled my own.
Which of our young readers who knows the delight of being let loose onsome fine morning in a garden, with full permission to pluck flowers attheir own sweet will, knows when to stop? We certainly did not, andshould have produced bouquets, at all events, quite unrivalled for size,had it not been for the sounding of the first gong, and the appearanceon the lawn of Nurse herself, still so called, although I was no longerher subject, in virtue of her unlimited right of jurisdiction over ourclothes.
"A fine sight you're making of yourselves, young gentlemen," she said,beginning with general statements, and then descending into details. "Ishould like to know what you call that style of hair-dressing whichmeans that every hair stands straight out in any direction but the rightone, and no two of them the same. And, Master Willie, if you think youcan go down into the dining-room with your tunic in its presentcondition, not to mention your boots, or Master Gordon's jacket, you'regreatly mistaken. And then to look at your collars! No wonder that thebills are as they are, with respect to French polish and blue for clearstarching; I know that boys, be they young gentlemen or others, cannotbe expected to act like creatures endowed with reason, but still itpasses me to understand their ways with respect to clothes well fittedtoo, and made in the most approved fashion."
"I think _we_ should be black and blue if nurse were not really verygood-natured, though she talks like that," I whispered to Aleck; feelingtoo much the cause she had for strictures upon my personal appearance atthe time, to take that opportunity of defending the general character ofboyhood. So we surrendered at discretion, and went up-stairs to makeourselves tidy, receiving before the second gong visits of inspectionfrom nurse, who had in the meantime tied up our nosegays for us, andplaced the lace paper round the one I had gathered for my mother.
Very important I felt myself as I went down-stairs, for two littlepackets, folded in white paper, had been entrusted to my care by myparents respectively, containing, as I well knew, their presents foreach other, which were to be delivered by me before breakfast.
Directly after prayers the presentation took place. First, the littleparcel addressed to my mother, with the message, which I delivereddemurely enough, that a gentleman who would not give his name, had leftit for Mrs. Grant yesterday, and--but here I broke down, and my appeal,"Oh, papa, I've forgotten what more it was I was to say," produced apeal of laughter, and put an end to our little pretence of mystery.
"Your packet is much the smallest, papa," I said; and watched to seewhat would come out of the white paper. My father's face lit up withpleasure as he opened a small case and discovered a beautifully executedminiature of my mother.
"Willie," he said, "I think the lady who left this for me yesterday musthave been very like mamma."
"Yes, papa, she was _very_ like indeed," I answered; and then weproceeded to inspect the contents of my mother's parcel, and admired, asmuch as it is in boys to admire jewelry, a beautiful bracelet, withwhich she seemed quite as much pleased as my father was with hispresent, and which had attached to it a locket in the form of a heart,containing, as we presently discovered, my hair twined with his.
Then Aleck and I had to present our nosegays, which were, of course,greatly praised.
"An unusual honour for me!" said my father merrily, when he receivedhis. "Willie generally cuts me off with a sprig for my button-hole."
"Aleck gathered it for you quite out of his own head, papa."
"Indeed!" said my father; "that is really the most wonderful thing Iever heard! Gathered the nosegay out of his own head! Well, I have beentold of flowers growing in many strange places before, but never in sostrange a place as a person's head. Aleck, my dear boy, you will be thewonder of the age, so prepare to be made a show of! a flower-garden inyour head! We must let the gardener know! We ought to place you underhis cultivation instead of Mr. Glengelly's!"
What a merry breakfast-table we had that morning. My father declaredthat he felt just like a boy, so happy in having his holiday; and Aleckand I thought him more amusing and pleasant than any boy, no one everseemed to make us laugh as he did.
"Of course, however," he suggested, "as it is going to be a wholeholiday, and no work, there need be no eating either."
But that was by no means our view of the matter; we declared ourselvesmore hungry than usual, and made such inroads on the honey that myfather asked at last whether he had not better send out for the hive.
After breakfast we had our Bible reading with my mother; that was atreat and not a lesson--we never missed it even on whole holidays--andthen my father joined us and took part in consulting over the plans forthe day.
"We shall dispose of these young gentlemen at once," he said, "for Ifind Groves is expecting them at the Cove, so soon as they can go; andthey may have the whole morning to employ as they like, in the boats, oron the rocks--anything short of being in the water, which I do _not_recommend. And for ourselves, Rickson is going to bring round the ponycarriage at twelve, when Mrs. Grant will be driven out by her humbleservant, the coachman, supposing always that she sees no just cause orimpediment." And my father playfully touched his forehead, as if waitingfor orders.
It was clear to read in my mother's eyes that she saw no difficulty inthe way of the drive with my father; and we boys were not les
s ready toavail ourselves of the permission to go out at once and for the wholemorning.
We flew off to the play-room, loaded our pockets with a miscellaneousstore of nails, string, and implements of one kind or another, such aswe were wont to use in our various undertakings, and, carrying themelancholy hulk which Aleck had not had time to pull to pieces, we setoff at express speed to the Cove, with Frisk barking at our heels.
There was not much talking during the first part of the scramble, butAleck contrived to get the contents of one of his pockets scattered by ahasty jump, and we had to stop and pick up the things, which was thesignal for our chatter to begin as usual.
"I wonder what surprise old George has for us?" I observedconfidentially to my cousin.
"Whatever it is, I think he must have been a long time at it," repliedAleck; "he's been shut up in the work-shop so often of late."
"Yes," I said; "and since that one peep I told you of, I've never had achance of looking in."
"Perhaps more ships," my cousin suggested, his thoughts running in thatline.
"Ever since I can remember he's always made me something," I said; "onceit was a pop-gun, and the next time it was a cart, and then, last time,the 'Fair Alice.'"
Aleck listened quietly to the catalogue of my presents, only remarkingthat, if they got better each time, he wondered what they'd come to beat last; thus suggesting such a pleasant subject for speculation that Idid not immediately find any occasion for further talk, but ruminated aswe pursued our way for a few moments in silence.
"It must be very nice," my cousin resumed presently, "having another dayfor presents besides Christmas-days and birth-days. I wonder where papaand mamma will be my next birth-day."
"Whatever it is that George has made for me," I said, "you shall playwith it too, Aleck. I like you to play with my things."
"You're very good about the 'Fair Alice,' I'm sure," answered my cousin."I wish I had anything to lend you that would give you half as muchpleasure. I'm afraid this--referring to the boat he was carrying--willnot come to much, in spite of George's promises."
It certainly did not look encouraging, but by this time we were gainingthe shingle, the fresh sea-breeze blowing in our faces seemed to quickenour steps, and the rest of our way was a race between us and Frisk untilwe reached the lodge.
We found old George on the watch for us, his kind cheery face all in apleasant glow of welcome. He was ready to start directly for the Cove,he told us, when the first salutations were over. But I did not feelquite so eager, as might have been expected, having a private desire toexplore the work-shop, of which I perceived the door to be open.
"May I go in now?" I asked, moving towards it.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered my old friend with a merry twinkle in his eye,which developed into a broad smile by the time we returned from ourfruitless inspection of bare benches and tools; and he took tosinging,--
"When she came there, the cupboard was bare."
"That Master Willie is a quotation from a celebrated poet. I reckonyou're ready enough now to come on to the Cove."
We sallied forth accordingly, I convinced that there was some secret instore for me still; Aleck full of thoughts about his ship, which he wasexhibiting to George as he went along, narrating its manymis-adventures, and incorrigible tendency to sail bottom upwards, andgaining from the old man nothing but a series of chuckles, together withassurances which seemed to afford to George himself infinite amusement,that "Master Gordon's boat should sail in the Cove as trim and tight asthe 'Fair Alice' herself."
It was a glorious morning. The sunshine was dancing and sparkling uponthe water with a thousand gleaming flashes; the little waves camelapping playfully upon the sand and shingle to our feet, and made sweetmusic in the recesses of the rocks. We used to call these warm Septemberdays our Indian summer, and were wont to fancy that they were never sobright and beautiful anywhere as at Braycombe.
Groves took a quick comprehensive look towards the offing, and roundagain towards the rocks, and finally off towards the west, and then, asif satisfied with the result of his observations, said to us: "It wouldbe a beautiful day for the White-Rock Cove, young gentlemen; the wind'sshifted a bit since early morning, and Ralph will be round in half anhour to give us a hand with the oars; if Mrs. Grant wouldn't mind yourbeing a bit late for luncheon, as you're to dine in the evening, wecould do it nicely."
Now if anything had been wanted to add to the zest of our enjoyment,this suggestion of Groves's was just the thing. No expedition in thewhole range of possibilities gave us so much pleasure as this one.First, it could only be accomplished in certain states of wind and tide;secondly, it occupied a longer time than could be usually availableexcept on very propitious half holidays; and, finally, its attractionswere of the most varied character. For what caverns were there in thewhole neighbourhood that could compete with those at the White-RockCove?--with their deep clear pools, in which the pink seaweed andgorgeous anemones seemed to find a more congenial home than in any otherplace; with mysterious dark recesses and wonderful natural arches, andminiature gulf streams, that offered irresistible attractions to thespirit of enterprise, in the way of crossings on slipperystepping-stones; and with a soft white beach, spread out at the foot ofthe rocks, abounding with such a wonderful variety of shells, that ourresearches rarely ended without the discovery of some fresh specimen forour collections. Nor must we omit to mention the only white rock of anysize which was to be found in our red sandstone district, which gave itsname to the Cove, and as to which there were numerous traditions currentin the neighbourhood.
To the near side of the Cove there was, indeed, a short way through thewoods, but unless we had a boat we could not reach the caverns, or findour way to the most attractive spots for shell gathering.
Groves's suggestion was met, as might be expected, with rapturousapplause, and by the time that we reached our own Cove, it was decidedthat one of us boys should go up to the house to obtain the necessarypermission, whilst, in the meantime, the boat should be got ready forthe sail.
The door of our boat-house was lying open as we came up, and somethingof unusual appearance was dimly visible inside.
"The secret!" I exclaimed, running eagerly forward and drawing to lighta beautiful large kite with a wondrous flying eagle depicted on it, anda tail of marvellous length, together with an apparently inexhaustiblelength of string. "Oh, George, this is what you've been making--howbeautiful it is!"
"But maybe you don't guess for whom it's intended, sir; I don't deny themaking of it," said the old man.
"I think I do though," I answered, looking up at his kind, cheery face;"I think you've made it for me, George."
"Well, you're about right there, sir, and it's been a real pleasure tome the making of it, being, as it were, somewhat of a sailor's craft, ithaving to be driven of the wind, even though it might be said to be morefor land than water."
I heard Aleck say that it belonged rather to the air than to earth orwater in his opinion. Then we took to a close inspection of the eagle,which we both agreed to be splendid, and became eager for an immediatetrial of its flying powers.
But here, to our surprise, old George did not at once agree. He wantedto see, he told us, whether he could not make Master Gordon's boat sailas well as mine. We could have a sailing match, and try which would gothe best, if only we would get out the "Fair Alice;" and so saying heled the way to my own little boat-house, whilst we followed inspeechless wonder at the absurdity of the proposition.
"As if he could set my boat to rights in a few minutes!" said Aleck tome incredulously.
"Here, Master Gordon," continued George, making pretended difficultiesat the lock; "you had better open the door yourself, sir."
Aleck stooped down to do so. "Why, George!" he exclaimed, "it's as easyas possible; what _did_ you make such a fuss about? But--oh--what abeauty! Willie--Willie--look!" and so saying, he drew forth abeautifully made little vessel, about the same size as my "Fair Alice,"but even, as I thought, mo
re perfectly finished, and with two masts.
"A schooner-yacht," my cousin continued, triumphantly. "Oh, Willie, Ilike it a great deal better than even the 'Fair Alice.' Is it yours,George?" he inquired.
"No, sir," answered Groves, quickly; "guess again."
"I don't know any one else, unless it's Willie."
"Near it, but not right; try again, sir; somebody else that's not veryfar off."
My cousin coloured with a wild flush of delight; but though he stoopeddown to finger the new yacht in a sort of tender way, as if he loved it,he hesitated to make another guess, and I broke in impatiently,--
"Aleck, why are you so nonsensical as to pretend you don't see it's foryou?"
"That's it indeed, Master Gordon; you'll understand what I meant aboutthe sailing match now;" and the old sailor's face lit up afresh withkind enjoyment, as he marked the absorbing pleasure which his presentwas giving.
Another moment, and Aleck was almost hugging the old man: "Oh, how very,very, very kind of you to make it for me; I like it better a great dealthan anything I have ever seen, better than the 'Fair Alice' even, and Idid think that nicer than anything else. May I have it out on the waterto-day; and couldn't we sail them both together as you said."
There was no time for answering him, as he ran on immediately into aminute individual examination of all the details of the little vessel,calling for attention and admiration in every case: "Look at thebowsprit, and then the rudder; see how delicately it moves; the royal isbeautiful, and there are three flags; do look, Willie, mine will be theadmiral's vessel, and I can signal to you."
I looked, but said very little, though Aleck was too much absorbed withhis own enjoyment to notice this, and kept appealing to me forsympathetic interest during the whole operation of unreefing the sailsand launching the yacht for a trial sail in the Cove.
Nothing certainly could look more graceful and pretty than did thelittle vessel, as it bent to the breeze, and steadily kept its courseout towards the mouth of the Cove. Aleck clapped his hands exultingly,and ran forward to slip the rope across, as the tide was already prettyhigh, and still rising. Then slowly brought the treasure back again, andsurveyed it at his leisure in one of the little creeks, where theshelter of the rocks prevented it from speeding off again on itsjourney. Frisk, too, took a great interest in the new acquisition,seeming to recognize in it an addition to his circle of friends. AndGeorge rubbed his hands, and chuckled with satisfaction, as he repeatedagain that Master Gordon's boat should sail on the Cove as tight andtrim as the "Fair Alice" herself.
And I--yes, I must confess it, found the old miserable feelings were allback again, and vainly tried to shake off the dead weight which hadsettled upon me from the moment that I had clearly understood thatAleck, and not I, was to possess the new vessel.
Perhaps George detected something of what was passing in my mind, for,when the question arose which of us boys should go up to the house toask permission for the expedition to the White-Rock Cove, he decided atonce that it should be Aleck, saying that he and I would have time fortrying the kite meanwhile; and, looking back at it now, I fancy I canunderstand his wanting to take off my thoughts from Aleck's present, andmake me think about my own.
So Aleck started off by the Zig-zag, and George and I would have set toflying the kite immediately, had not he discovered that one of the sailsof our own boat had been taken up to the lodge, and that he must go andlook for it first.
"I'll be back in less than a quarter of an hour, sir," he said, however,as he left; "and you can have the kite and be on the meadow ready."
I had taken up the kite in my hand, but I threw it aside again themoment George turned his back upon me, and sitting down upon the stonesnear the water's edge, with Frisk's fore-paws stretched across my lap,looked gloomily at the water and at Aleck's new boat. Evil feelings grewstronger and stronger within me as I looked. Though fascinated so that Icould not take my eyes off it, I hated the very sight of the prettylittle schooner, and wished heartily that George had never made it. AndI thought about Aleck, how happy he was this morning, and how miserableI was; and I thought it unfair of him to be happier in my own home thanI was; and then I wondered why George should care for him so much as totake all that trouble for him, forgetting how I had begged old George tolove my cousin who was to be like my brother, and forgetting, too, thatAleck's pleasant ways had won upon the old man during the past fewmonths, so that he had gained quite an established place in hisaffections.
These and countless other, but similar thoughts, chased each otherthrough my head in a far shorter time than they take to relate, whilstdreamily I kept watching the little vessel, and mechanically taking noteof its different points. The sails at first were flapping listlessly,the rocks, as I mentioned before, affording shelter from the breeze. Butpresently the breeze shifted a little, and this change, together withthat produced by the tide, now just at its full height, moved theschooner somewhat further from the rocks; then gradually the sailsfilled once again, and after stopping a minute at one point, and aminute at another, as, drifted by the motion of the waves, it finallyescaped from the little creek and stood steadily out into the openchannel of the Cove. I sprung to my feet and followed in pursuit,running or jumping from rock to rock towards the mouth of the Cove. Butthe little vessel got under the lee of a projecting rock, and wasstopped in its course for a while, so I sat down once more, not caringto find my way round to the other side and release it, according to myusual fashion, but finding a moody satisfaction in staring straightbefore me, and paying no attention to Frisk, who was flourishing aboutwith barks, and waggings of his tail and prickings of his ears, as ifhe thought he ought to be sent in pursuit of the new boat, andconsidered me deficient in public spirit for not stirring in the matter.Then, as I steadily refused to notice him, he took to playing with theend of the rope on which the rings were fastened, which slipped on tothe iron stake, as before-mentioned, and constituted our "harbour-bar;"seeming as pleased as a kitten with a ball of worsted, when he foundthat he could push the ring up and move it with his paws. In fact, thestake was so very short, and the ring so light, that I could see fiveminutes more of such play, and probably the rope would be unfastened,and the channel clear to the open sea.
Another moment and I noticed that the little vessel was clearing outfrom its shelter under the rock, the wind coming down into the Cove ingusts and draughts, so that it seemed to blow every way in succession,and was now standing straight towards the mouth of the harbour.
There was a quick, sharp conflict between the strong whisper oftemptation and the protesting voice of conscience, when I marked theposition of the boat, and saw also, that in another moment Frisk'santics would have unfastened the barrier between it and the wide watersbeyond. A quick, sharp conflict, and I came off defeated.
Hastily turning my back upon the harbour-bar, I ran to the head of theCove without disturbing Frisk, who was so taken up with his newly foundamusement, that he did not miss me; took up the kite and sped off to themeadow, which lay between the Cove and the lodge, where I was joined bythe dog, two or three minutes after, panting and breathless at my havingstolen a march upon him.
George, too, came a minute later from the other side into the meadow,which, although out of sight of the Cove, owing to the rise of theground, was as good a place to wait in as any, since Aleck would have topass through it on his way from the house.
Ralph appeared also, and through our united efforts, and to our unitedsatisfaction, my new kite was soon soaring higher than any kite everseen before by any member of our little party; great was my excitementin holding the string and letting it out, or taking it in as I ran fromone part to another, Frisk the while dashing about wildly, and barkingas though at some strange bird of which he entertained suspicions.
Old George looked as pleased as if he had been a boy of six, rather thana man of sixty, and Ralph rushed recklessly here and there andeverywhere, with his head thrown back and his eyes rivetted upon thesoaring kite, until, like Genius
in the fable, he was suddenly prostratethrough stumbling over an unnoticed stump.
"See what comes of not looking where you're going," moralized George, ashe picked him up and gave him a general shaking by way of seeing thatnothing had come loose in his tumble; a sentiment from which it ispossible the youngster might have derived more profit, had not hiselderly relative experienced a similar mishap almost immediatelyafterwards.
I was the only heavy-hearted one of the trio; and even I forgot my caresand anxieties in the glorious excitement of holding in the kite, whichtugged and tugged at the string as if it would carry me up to theskies, rather than give in.
"I wonder what's kept Master Aleck such a time?" said old George, afterwe had spent nearly three-quarters of an hour kite-flying.
The load at my heart came back again in a moment as I answeredhurriedly, that I did not mind Aleck's being detained, for the pleasureof flying the kite was as good as anything. And George, who inferredthat the cloud he had noticed before over me had passed away, rejoicedaccordingly.
It was more than an hour from the time of his leaving, when Aleckreappeared, holding one side of a small hamper, whilst one of themen-servants held the other.
"Lots of good things for luncheon," he said, by way of explanation, asthey deposited their burden on the grass. And then he proceeded tounfold how some one had been calling on his uncle and aunt, and he couldnot speak to them at first; and then how his uncle had told him thedrive would have to be later, and more distant than they had intended;and, finally, that the game of cricket being given up, we might haveour luncheon and picnic at the White-Rock Cove, returning anyreasonable time in the afternoon.
"Won't it be splendid?" Aleck continued, gleefully, whilst I drew inline, and my kite slowly descended; "we shall have time for the sailingmatch, and madrepore hunt, and the caverns--everything!"
I assented with as much of pleasure in my tone as was at command,thinking after all how very pleasant it would be if--there came the_if_--and I scarcely dared admit to myself, how sorry I began to feel atthe thought that my man[oe]uvre had probably succeeded, or how sorelythe disappointment to George and my cousin would mar our happiness! Ifonly I could know that what I had wished to happen an hour ago had nothappened, then how wonderfully light my heart would feel. A sickeningfeeling of anxiety, such as I had not dreamt of in my little happy lifebefore, came over me, and nervously I hurried on the winding up of mystring.
"What a noble kite it is," said my cousin, "I wish I could go up uponone!"
"'If wishes were horses'--you know the old saying, Master Gordon,"responded Groves. "I think you'd be sorry enough after getting up fivehundred feet into the air, to feel that a puff of wind might tumble youover, and make the coming down a trifle quicker, and less agreeable,than the going up."
"It was the going up, and not the coming down that I meant," rejoinedAleck, "though I have heard papa say that coming down from a greatheight does not hurt."
"Ugh!" I ejaculated, "you wouldn't have me believe that. Just a littlewhile before you came to us I had a bad fall off the table. I can tellyou it hurt!"
"I've fallen, too, off a tree," answered my cousin, not to be outdone,for boys are wont to brag of their honourable scars, "and it hurt agreat deal, but I mean falling from higher still. One of the sailors Italked to on board ship had fallen from a mast, and he told me that hewent over and over; the first time he went over seemed quite a longtime, and between that and the second time he seemed to remember almosteverything he had ever cared about much in all his life, but after thesecond going over he never knew anything until he found himself lying inthe cabin, and the doctor setting his arm, which had been broken in thefall, though he never felt it."
"I'll be bound he felt it enough when the doctor got to work upon him,"remarked George.
"Yes; but he didn't feel it when it broke," returned Aleck, who wishedto establish his point.
By this time the stately kite was lying on the grass. I lifted it up,and we started in procession for the Cove, Aleck acting train-bearer tothe long tail, and winding it up as he went along; and Groves and Ralphcarrying the hamper.
Another moment, and we were in sight of the Cove. My heart was beatingviolently, and I felt the crimson flush mount suddenly to my face, andthen leave it again; but no one else noticed it, and as yet I could notsee to the harbour-bar, so as to know whether the ship were safe or not.The little creek in which it had been left was, however, full in view,and Aleck instantly observed that his new treasure was not there.
But there was an entire absence of uneasiness in his tone, as he quietlyremarked,--
"I suppose you put it into the boat-house lest it should be blown aboutwhilst we were away;" and without waiting for an answer he placed therolled-up tail of the kite in my hand, and ran forwards to look into theboat-house for it.
It was in vain, however, that he searched first my miniature boat-house,and then every nook and corner of the real one.
"It's not there," he said. "I thought you must have put it away."
"I never said so," I answered; and then a bright thought coming to me,as to what would be an impregnable position to take up in all futureinquiry, I boldly added, "I never touched it after you went away."
"Where can it be, then?" said Aleck; and yet, though it was clearly ahopeless task, we once again looked carefully for the missing treasurein both boat-houses. There was the "Fair Alice," my own beautiful littlevessel, that had seemed the most perfect thing of its kind, until thearrival of the new one; but the other was nowhere to be found.
"Tell you what, Master Gordon," said old George, "the wind's beenuncommon shifting and fanciful this morning, and we left her with sailsset; depend upon it, sir, that she's been drifting out with the tide abit, and the wind so off shore, as it is now, she'd be up towards themouth of the Cove. We ought to have thought of the wind and the changeof the tide; it will be well if she's not out to sea."
"Oh, no fear of that!" exclaimed Aleck, joyfully, "because I myself putthe harbour-bar across this morning when I sailed her first;" and sosaying, he bounded off along the rocks towards the mouth of the Cove,the rest of us following almost as fast.
One hasty glance and I knew that what I had expected had taken place;the ring which tightened the rope across, so as to constitute a barrier,was now under water--the rope, it must be understood, being arranged tolie along the bottom when not specially adjusted--the channel out to seawas perfectly unimpeded, and there was no trace of the little vesselwhich, an hour and a half before, had been sailing so merrily upon thewater.
"O George!" exclaimed Aleck, "see the rope is down; it must have goneout to sea; it _can't_ be gone!"
But Aleck's face of sad conviction belied his words.
"It can't be gone!" he repeated; and yet the tears of disappointmentwere forcing themselves into his eyes, though he battled up bravelyagainst his trouble, and tried to believe still that there was somemistake.
Then we betook ourselves to searching in every nook and corner of theCove, exploring impossible places amongst the rocks, and once againreturning to look through the boat-house; I, hypocritically, as activeas others, lest there should be any suspicion raised.
"Master Willie," said Groves at last, as if a bright thought had struckhim, "I know what it must be, sir. You're up to a prank sometimes--infact, rather often--and you've hidden away the yacht, for there's beenno one else in the Cove but you; though where you can have put it I'mpuzzled to say, seeing there's not a place fit to hide a walnut-shell Ihaven't looked in, not to say a schooner yacht drawing half a foot ofwater."
All faces looked relieved by the idea--the three other faces I mean. Butas its tendency was to fasten a certain measure of responsibility uponmyself, I thought it better to become indignant.
"I don't know why you say I must have done it," I answered hastily. "Inever touched the boat; what should I touch it for, it wasn't mine; youdidn't make it for me. I told Aleck I hadn't touched it."
"Master Willie, Master Willie," expo
stulated Groves, "don't be angry; Ionly thought you might have been up to a bit of fun, and I wasmistaken."
"Then, George--O George!" exclaimed my cousin, grasping him by the arm,"she _must_ have gone out to sea;" and he tried hard to gulp down hisfeelings; "you know the harbour-bar is down."
"And I should like to know how it came to be down," said George,severely. A new idea evidently passed all in a moment through mycousin's mind. With a fiery flashing in his eyes that I had never seenin him before, he turned suddenly upon me.
"You naughty, wicked boy," he said.
"You didn't touch the boat you say; but you didn't like my having it;you didn't like its being mine, because it was better than yours, andhad two masts; and so you let down the bar, and--and she's got out tosea and is lost!" And so saying he burst into a passionate fit of tears.
It is difficult to say which of us was the most surprised by thisunlooked-for accusation of Aleck's. I had never seen my cousin in such atemper before, but was far too conscious of the wrong part I had actedto be able at once to answer with a protest of innocence. So that in thevery short space of time which was occupied by George telling Aleck thecase was not hopeless, and the vessel might be found yet, and that he'dbe sorry for the wrong words he had said to me, a rapid controversypassed silently between me and my conscience somewhat in this wise:--
_Conscience._--"You know that what he said is true about your not likinghis having the schooner, and you know you wanted it to get lost."_Answer._--"But I can say with perfect truth that I did not touch it _orthe rope_."
_Conscience._--"You know if you had called off Frisk the schooner wouldnot have been lost." _Answer._--"But I never _saw_ Frisk unloose thering; and I can say, with truth, that until just now I did not _know_that it was not safe."
_Conscience._--"That will be a lie all the same. You have often beentold that what makes a lie is the intention to deceive, and not thewords only." _Answer._--"What's the use of telling now that I really amvery sorry it has happened. It's not any good confessing to Aleck that Imight have prevented it. After all, it was Frisk who did it, and I didnot even see Frisk do it. And Aleck's in such a towering passion; Icould never face him and have him know the whole."
_Conscience_, more feebly.--"That's bad reasoning; you ought simply tofind out what is right, and do it." _Answer._--"And now that I come tothink of it, it's a great shame that Aleck should fly out so at me, andI won't stand it." And at this point the voice of conscience becameperfectly silenced, and, turning defiantly to my cousin, I exclaimed,--
"I don't know what you mean, Aleck, by accusing me of it; I nevertouched the rope, and I never touched the boat; I'm quite certain that Idid not, and it's a lie of yours to say that I did."
"O Master Willie, Master Aleck," gasped old George, in consternation."Young gentlemen, these words are not fit to come from such as you; whatwould your parents say?"
But our brows lowered angrily, and we made no response; whilst Georgecontinued, abandoning in his dismay the usual form of address, andspeaking as from age to youth, "My boys, children, have you not beentaught of Him 'who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when Hesuffered, He threatened not.' Christian boys should try to be like theirMaster, and such words as passed between you should never be heardamongst them. You've forgotten yourselves, young gentlemen, and you'llbe very sorry soon for what you have said to each other. Master Aleck,you're wrong, sir, to say that Master Willie did it when he denies it.I've known Master Willie since he was born, and he speaks the truth.He's told me with the greatest of honestness when he's done thingswhich was wrong, and no one else knowed of; as, for instance, when heate the cherries and swallowed the stones, and when he got the cat'stail all over pitch--I can remember a score of things he's told me of,quite frank and open, and I'm sure he's spoken the truth now."
I felt somewhat self-condemned whilst George thus enumerated theinstances of my candour in simple unconsciousness of the fact thatconfessions of scrapes were generally received by him with suchindulgence that it required the smallest possible amount of moralcourage to make them.
"Shake hands, young gentlemen," he added, after another pause, "and befriends, and let us all do what we can to find the schooner--she's costme many an hour's work."
And at this moment, for the first time, it flashed upon me painfully howgreat the disappointment was to George as well as to Aleck, and I wassorry, more sorry than I had hitherto felt.
The pair of small chubby hands that met in the old sailor's rugged palmwere unused to so ceremonious a meeting, and their owners were somewhatsolemnized at being treated like grown-up gentlemen. But a fierce lookof suspicion still lingered in Aleck's face, and I doubt not a glow ofanger and excitement in mine, which showed that Groves's peacemaking hadnot been thoroughly effectual--we _felt_ still as we had _spoken_before.