Ahoy, you chaps in that canoe, there! Come aboard here, lively now, if you dont want that cockle-shell blown out of water. Hurry up before we get the cannon trained on you! We know you, Tom Harris, and you, Bob White, and you cant escape.
Well, what do you think! exclaimed Tom Harris, raising himself up from his knees in the stem of the canoe, with a hand on either gunwale, if there isnt that old Henry Burns and Jack Harvey. Say, where in the world did you fellows steal that yacht, and where are you running off to with it? Dont tell us you own it. You know you dont.
Just hurry up and come alongside here and well show you, cried Henry Burns, joyfully. Our ships papers are all right, eh, Jack?
The boys in the canoe needed no urging. A few sharp thrusts with the paddles brought them under the lee of the Viking ; a line thrown aboard by Bob White was caught by Harvey and made fast; and the next moment, Bob White and Tom Harris were in the cockpit, mauling Henry Burns with mock ferocity a proceeding which was received by that young gentleman serenely, but with interest well returned and shaking hands with the other stalwart young skipper, Jack Harvey.
The bow-line of the canoe was carried astern by Harvey and tied, so that the canoe would tow behind; and the yacht was put on her course again.
You dont mind taking a spin for a way in the good ship Viking , do you? asked Harvey. I have hardly seen you since we got this yacht, you know, as my folks moved up to Boston the last of the summer.
We will go along a little way till we strike the worst of the chop, replied Tom Harris. Our canoe will not tow safely through that. That is, we will, if you allow Indians aboard.
Yes, and by the way, before anybody else has the chance to apply, said Bob White, you
dont want to hire a couple of foremast hands, do you, off and on during the summer? Id be proud to swab the decks of this boat, and wages of no account.
Well engage both of you at eighteen sculpins a week, answered Henry Burns. But of course you know that the laws against flogging seamen dont go, aboard here. Harvey there, he is my first mate; and I make it a rule to beat him with a belaying-pin three or four times a day, regular, to keep him up to his work. Of course you forecastle chaps will get it worse.
Harvey, surveying his more slender companion, saluted with great deference.
How do you fellows happen to be up here? he asked. Havent you gone to camping yet?
Yes, replied Bob. The old tent is down there on the point. We have had it set up for three days. We had an errand that brought us up here.
And the Warren boys? inquired Henry Burns.
Oh, they are down there in the cottage, sort of camping out, too; that is, the family hasnt arrived yet. George and Arthur are working like slaves trying to keep young Joe fed.
Hes a whole famine in himself, remarked Henry Burns.
Say, how is old Mrs. Newcomes cat, Henry, the one you saved from the fire? asked Tom Harris.
Why, the cat hasnt written me lately, answered Henry Burns. But I got a letter from Mrs. Newcome a few weeks ago; said she hoped we would have a good summer in the yacht, lots of fun, and all that.
My! but you are lucky, exclaimed Bob. I have been as polite as mice to every cat Ive seen all winter, but I havent received any presents for it.
Renewing old acquaintanceships in this manner, they were shortly in rougher water.
Here! cried Tom Harris at length, we must be getting out of this. That canoe will not stand towing in this chop much longer. We shall have to leave you.
Pull it in aboard, said Jack Harvey.
No, it would be in the way, replied Tom Harris. Just as much obliged to you. Well meet you at the camp. Say that you will come ashore and eat supper with us, and Bob will have one of those fine chowders waiting for you; wont you, Bob?
Ay, ay, sir, replied Bob.
You mean that you will cook one while we sit by and watch you, dont you? asked Harvey. We shall get there before you do.
Perhaps not, returned Bob. You have got to beat down, while we push right through. It is four oclock now, and theres some fourteen miles to go. We can do that in about three hours, because when we get across the bay we can go close alongshore under the lee, in smooth water; while you will have to stick to the rough part of the bay most of the time.
All right, said Harvey, we will have a race to see who gets there first. But well do it in half that time.
So saying, he luffed the Viking into the wind, while Bob White drew the dancing canoe alongside. The canoeists and the yachtsmen parted company, the Vikings sails filling with the breeze, as she quickly gathered headway, throwing the spray lightly from her bows; the canoe plunging stubbornly into the rough water, and forcing its way slowly ahead, propelled by the energy of strong young arms.
The Viking stood over on the starboard tack, while the canoe made a direct course for the island; and the two craft were soon far apart. In the course of a half-hour the canoe appeared from the deck of the Viking a mere dancing, foam-dashed object. But, in the meantime, another boat had appeared, some way ahead, that attracted the attention and interest of the yachtsmen. It was a small sailboat, carrying a mainsail and single jib. The smaller yacht was coming up to them from the direction of Grand Island, and was now running almost squarely before the wind, with its jib flapping to little purpose, save that it now and then filled for a moment on one side or the other, as the breeze happened to catch it.