Harvey glanced rather contemptuously at the lean, attenuated arm that the other displayed, where he had rolled his cuffs back.
Well, you dont have to smoke them if you dont want to, said the other, surlily. But dont preach. Im as old as you are. My smoking is my business.
Of course it is, said Harvey. I dont care whether you smoke or not. But what I object to is your doing the smoking and letting me do the work. Your smoking is your business, and so is bailing out your own boat your business that is, your share of it is. Now, if you want any more help from me, you just break up this smoking party and take that pail and go to bailing. Ive got enough to keep me busy while you are doing that.
The youth glanced angrily at Harvey, but made no reply. Harveys stalwart figure forbade any unpleasant retort. Sullenly, he tossed away the half-finished cigarette, slumped down once more into the cockpit, took up the pail that Harvey had dropped, and went to work.
He looks like a real man now, called out Henry Burns.
The youth, with eyes flashing, shot one glance at the smiling face of Henry Burns, but deigned no reply.
Harvey, without further notice of his companion, proceeded to hoist the sail a little so that he could take two reefs in it. This brought the sail down so small as to include the torn part in that tied in. The sail would, therefore, answer for the continuation of the trip.
Say, asked Harvey finally, why didnt you reef before, when it began to blow up fresh and the sea got a bit nasty? You might have saved all this.
The youth hesitated, glanced at Harvey sheepishly, and mumbled something that sounded like he didnt know why he hadnt.
Hm! said Harvey, under his breath. He didnt know enough.
Well, he continued, after a little time, youre all right to start off again, if you think you can get along. That sail is down so small it wont give you any more trouble, and there is plenty of it to keep headway on the boat; that is, if you are going on up the bay. Where are you bound for, anyway?
Up to Springton, replied the other. Straight ahead.
All right, said Harvey, you can get there if you will only be a little more careful. Dont try to run straight for the town. Keep off either way do you see? And Harvey designated how the other could run in safety.
Run on one course a way, he said, continuing, and then put her about and run on the other. But look out and dont jibe her. Let her come about into the wind. Now do you think you can get along?
Yes, answered the youth, shortly. He had by this time finished his bailing, and the cockpit floor was fairly free of water.
Well, then, Ill bid you an affectionate farewell, said Harvey, who had taken mental note of the fact that the youth had not offered to thank him for all his trouble. Sorry to leave you, but the best of friends must part, you know. Good day.
Good day, answered the youth, without offering even to shake hands.
Harvey lost little time in regaining the deck of the Viking . Henry Burns was still smiling as Harvey took the wheel from him.
We seem to have made a very pleasant acquaintance, he said.
Havent we though! exclaimed Harvey. If we were only in some nice, quiet harbour, where the water wasnt very deep, Id just see whether that young chap can swim or not. Hed get one ducking
Oh, by the way, called Henry Burns, as the two boats were separating, youre entirely welcome to our assistance, you know. You neednt write us a letter thanking us. We know your feelings are just too deep for thanks.
Little thanks I owe you, snarled the other boy. Twas all your fault, anyway. If you had kept off, my boat wouldnt have gone over.
Jack Harvey sprang from his seat and shook his fist in the direction of the disappearing boat.
Hold on there, Jack, said Henry Burns, catching him by the arm. Dont get excited. Do you know the answer to what he just said? Well, there isnt any. Just smile and wave your hand to him, as I do. Hes really funnier than Squire Brackett.
Oh, yes, it is funny, answered Jack Harvey, scowling off astern. Its so funny it makes me sick. But perhaps youd think it was funnier still, if you had gone at that bailing the way I did, and had looked up all of a sudden and seen that chap sitting back there at his ease, smoking. Ill just laugh about
it for the rest of the week. Thats what I will.
Jack Harvey certainly did not appear to be laughing.
Above all things, he said at length, what do you suppose he meant by saying it was our fault? Thats the last straw for me. We didnt jibe his boat for him.
No, said Henry Burns, but he probably owns the bay, and was mad to see us sailing on it. He acted that way.
Well, it has cost us about an hour and a half good time, exclaimed Harvey though I should not begrudge it if he hadnt acted the way he did. We wont win that race in to Southport, by a long shot. Its about half-past six oclock, and we cannot make it in less than two hours and a half, even if the wind holds.
This latter condition expressed by Harvey was, indeed, to prove most annoying. With the dropping of the sun behind the far-distant hills, the wind perceptibly and rapidly diminished. They set their club-topsail to catch the upper airs, but the last hour was sluggish sailing. It was a few minutes to ten oclock when the Viking rounded the bluff that guards the northeastern entrance to the snug harbour of Southport.