The Swan and Her Crew

by Burt L. Standish

  CHAPTER V.

  Building the Yacht.--The Launch.--Great Crested Grebe's nest.-- A Floating Coot's nest.--Golden Crested Wrens.-- Their Migration.--The Flight of a Heron.

  When Dick Carleton arrived at Mr. Merivale's to commence the visit whichwas to initiate the friendship of the boys, Frank and Jimmy were at theboat-house; and as soon as Dick had been welcomed by Mr. and Mrs.Merivale, Mary took him off to the boat-house to introduce him to Frankand Jimmy, and see that he was shown their collections. When they openedthe door they saw the two boys busy at the table, with sheets of paperand drawing instruments before them. Dick felt and looked rather shy andnervous, but Frank's hearty greeting put him at his ease. Mary proceededto do the honour of the place, and walked Dick about from side to sideof the room to show him their butterflies and birds' eggs, stuffedbirds, and the other natural history curiosities which the boys hadcollected, while they were followed by Frank and Jimmy, who smiled ather eagerness. They had a very fair collection of eggs, including mostof the common kinds, but their collection of butterflies was not sogood, as neither Frank nor Jimmy cared so much for entomology as theydid for ornithology.

  "What are all these plans and drawings for?" said Mary, pointing to thelitter on the table.

  "Shall we tell her Jimmy?" said Frank.

  "Yes, why not? She will know some time, so she may as well know now.Besides, she can help us to make the sails, you know. We sha'n't do thesewing so well as the wood-work."

  So the great project of the yacht was explained. Mary danced about theroom in glee, and already fancied herself sailing about the broad. Dicksaid--

  "If it can be done, it would be the nicest thing one could think of."

  "It shall be done," said Frank decisively, and Dick looked up at himwith admiring envy, and replied--

  "Then I will help you all I can, and go shares with you in the expense."

  "You are a brick," said Frank; "come and look at our plans, and see ifyou can make any suggestions."

  Later on, when Frank and Jimmy were left alone, Frank said--

  "He'll do, Jimmy."

  Jimmy said, "Yes," but looked mournful.

  "What's the matter, Jimmy?"

  "Two are company, but three are none; and you may like him better thanme."

  Frank's hand descended heavily on his friend's shoulder, and he shookhim roughly.

  "Don't be a fool, Jimmy," was all that he said, but in spite of the rudespeech and the rough action, Jimmy saw a meaning beyond, and was quitesatisfied. His face grew bright again, and from that time forward a warmfriendship existed between the three boys, and was never broken ordisturbed by any twinge of jealousy.

  BUILDING THE BOAT.]

  They lost no time in commencing to build the boat. The first thing to bedone was to make two long pontoons or floats, on which to erect thesuperstructure of the yacht. This was a comparatively easy matter. Theymade two long wooden boxes of the following sizes and dimensions. Eachbox was twenty-four feet long, four feet wide in the middle portion andtapering off at each end to a fine point, and two feet six inches deep.It was made of one-inch deal, and strongly supported and fastenedtogether by ribs and cross-pieces of wood in the interior. The seamswere caulked with tow and a mixture of red and white lead, and thencovered or protected by slips of wood nailed along them. These twopontoons were then laid on the ground side by side with a space of threefeet six inches between their centres. They were then joined together bystrong pieces of wood fastened the whole way across, every two feet. Onthe top of these again, a flooring of planks was laid, and neatlyfinished off round the edges with a bulwark of rope stretched on ironuprights. On this was erected a cabin three feet six inches in height,nine feet long and seven feet wide. This was fitted with a door at theaft end, and a row of little windows along each side. Inside were twolow broad seats, which were also intended to serve as beds when occasionshould require.

  Each pontoon was fitted with a rudder and a helm, and these wereconnected by a cross-piece of wood, so that both rudders were worked atonce. On this cross-piece were two iron loops, that the steersman,holding on by them, might have greater power over the helm. Each pontoonhad a strong keel about two inches deep to protect its bottom frominjury. Such a keel was not sufficient to enable the boat to sail towindward, so two drop-keels or centre-boards were added, each aboutseven feet long and two feet six inches deep. These were fixed in a linealong the centre two-thirds of the boat, and worked on strong pivots attheir foremost corners, so that by means of chains attached to their aftcorners and passing through holes in the deck they could be let down toany required depth, or hauled up in the space between the pontoons.

  These were intended to give the yacht a greater hold on the water whenbeating to windward. The main-mast was stepped close to the bows. Itslower part was weighted with lead and iron, and was so arranged that ifit were requisite to pass under low bridges, the mast could be loweredand raised with great facility, working on a fulcrum three feet sixinches from the deck. There was no bowsprit, but the fore-stay was madefast to the cross-piece connecting the bows. The mizen-mast was attachedto a cross-piece at the stern, and the mizen-sail was worked by a sheetrove through a block at the end of a fixed boom. The main-sail was alug-sail with a large boom, and did not require to be dipped every timea tack was made.

  The above is a description of the yacht when completed, but it must notbe supposed that it was made straight off with no labour. On thecontrary, it took an immensity of time and labour before it wascompleted. The three boys worked at it manfully, Frank taking the leadand doing the major portion of the work. Indeed, they would have givenit up many times had it not been for his pluck and determination.Unforeseen difficulties fast presented themselves, and cost them nolittle thought to overcome. When they had got the two pontoons and theflooring done, they fell short of cash, and for two or three days theywent about very disconsolately, until Dick informed them that hisfather's gardener was about to demolish a summer-house in the garden,and that they might have the wood. This enabled them to make the cabin,and by dint of keeping their eyes open, and picking up every scrap ofwood or iron, and every nail or screw which they came across, they gotalong pretty well until Frank's quarter-day came, and he received hisallowance of pocket-money. Mr. Merivale, who of course soon found outwhat they were after, laughingly said that they went about with suchgreedy eyes, and looked so suspiciously at everything, that he wasafraid they might take a fancy to some part of him, as being useful forsome part of their boat.

  A YARMOUTH YAWL.]

  At last they had everything ready but the sails, and then they had anunexpected stroke of good luck. Dick discovered in an old lumber loft, acomplete set of sails belonging to a yawl-rigged yacht which wasformerly the property of his grandfather. These his father willinglygave to him. Although so old they were strong, and they were speedilyconverted into sails for the yacht. Then the yacht was painted white,and a small flat-bottomed punt with pointed bows was made to accompanyher, and all was ready for launching.

  By this time the land was green with spring, and the boys had commencedtheir studies with Mr. Meredith the Rector,--a clever, sensibleWelshman, just the man to attract and manage three such boys as ours.

  Saturday, being a holiday, was fixed for the launching, and the boyswere at Bell's yard by six o'clock in the morning, getting everything inreadiness for the great event, and excited with the thought of a longday's sail in a yacht of their own making.

  It was a warm, bright morning. The hedges were shining with a mostbrilliant green, and clothed in places with the creamy white of thehawthorn blossoms. The broad lay still and placid in the sunlight, andthe pairing water-birds swam in and out of its reed-fringed margin, andfrom one to another of its dense 'ronds,' or islands of reeds.

  "There is not a breath of wind," said Frank, wetting his finger, andholding it up, to feel if possible by the increased coldness on one sideor another, from which quarter the wind was blowing.

  "I think there's a sl
ight air from the south," he said.

  "Yes," replied Bell, "it will blow from the south or west to-day, if itblows at all, and I think from the look of those little fleecy clouds,that there will be a breeze before long."

  "Well, I am sure the ancient mariner never longed for a breeze as muchas we do now to try our beautiful boat with," said Frank; "but by theway, what shall we call her? We have never thought of a name for her."Dick replied:

  "Call her the _Swan_, because like the Swan on 'sweet St. Mary's Lake,'she will float _double_."

  "Bravo! that is not bad. We will call her the _Swan_ then; but come, letus launch her."

  They set to work with a will, and, aided by Bell, they quickly had heron the water. Jumping on board, they felt the delight of being on boardtheir own handiwork. They pushed the yacht along the narrow channel,which was barely wide enough for it, until they came to its outlet intothe broad, and then they found their progress barred. A littlepromontory of rushes ran out across the dyke, and on the end of thispromontory was a coot's nest containing eight eggs. It was necessary tocut away the promontory before the boat could pass into the open broad.They were loath to destroy the nest, so they carefully moved it from itsposition; and as it was very large and substantial, they allowed it tofloat, thinking the old bird would come and fix it herself. Then withbeating hearts they hoisted their sails. Frank went to the helm, Jimmytook the main-sail sheet, and Dick the mizen sheet, while Bell sat onthe cabin and whistled for a wind.

  "I am sure the leaves of the trees are rustling a little bit," saidDick.

  "And I think I see a ripple on the water," said Jimmy.

  Frank looked back and saw that they were already fifty yards from theshore, and that they were rapidly increasing the distance.

  "Why, look! she sails fast, without any wind at all," he said; but thenthey became sensible that there was a slight zephyr from the south,which increased as they got out more into the open water. A ripple aroseon the water, and the yacht sailed faster. A cheer broke from the boysas they saw their efforts were crowned with success. The breezeincreased, and they sped along more quickly, passing over acres ofshallow water that sparkled as clear as glass over the bright yellowgravel. Immense shoals of bream and perch, and many large pike, dartedaway from them as they sailed on, and the _Swan_ slipped as softlythrough the water as they could desire. They went the whole length ofthe broad, and then Frank cried out--

  "Stand by, we are going about; haul in her sheet;" and putting the helmover, the yacht swung round like a top, and went across on the port tackup the broad.

  They put about again across to the reed bed, and after one more tackthey came within hail of the boat-house, where they could see Mary andFlorrie waiting for them, and waving their handkerchiefs. Frank took his"line" steadily, and ran her up in the wind's eye within ten yards ofthe boat-house; and Dick took the punt ashore for the two girls, whowere loud in their expressions of delight and amazement. With thisaddition to their party they cruised about the broad for some hours,learning how to handle their craft, and gaining confidence in her.Towards noon it came on to blow very hard, and they landed Mary andFlorrie, and set to work to enjoy themselves the more thoroughly as thebreeze grew stronger. The boat behaved admirably. She was as steady as arock, heeling over but very slightly even when the breeze blew strong onher beam. She came about well, and if she hung fire or was in danger ofmissing stays they had only to haul on the mizen-sheet, and her headwent round "in a jiffy." She drew little more than a foot of water, socould, when her keels were drawn up, pass over the shallowest part ofthe broad in safety.

  "I say, this is fine," said Jimmy, rubbing his hands. Frank saidnothing, but his kindling eye and satisfied look showed how thoroughlyhe enjoyed it all.

  While making a long tack across the broad, they ran across a stragglingbed of rushes at a shallow portion. They offered but little resistanceto their passage, but as they charged through them, Frank cried out--

  "I say, we passed over a great crested grebe's nest. I saw the eggs rollout into the water;" and he ran the boat into the wind and let her driftback stern foremost to the spot where the nest had been.

  "It was only a lump of rotting weed, all broken and dirty," said Dick.

  "That's what all grebe's nests look like," answered Frank; "they coverthem with reeds when they leave them, so that no one can see the eggs,and few would think there were any there. Here's the place, drive theboat-hook in and hold the boat steady while I get up the eggs. Therewere five, but two are broken. What a pity! We don't want any for ourcollection, and the birds look so pretty on the broad, that it is ashame to disturb them, but we must take them now I suppose. Let's goback and see how the coot's nest is getting on."

  They sailed back some way, and then to their great surprise, they sawthe coot's nest floating across the broad, and the old bird swimminground it, and evidently very much puzzled to know what to do.

  "Let us tack near her and watch," said Jimmy. So they sailed round at adistance and watched the poor bird, which followed its boat-like nest asit drifted before the wind. At length the boys were pleased to see thebird make an effort to get on the nest, and so strongly built was itthat it bore her weight well. There she sat, and sailed before the windat a fair pace.

  "Did you ever see the like of that before?"

  "No," answered Bell, "but I warrant you that the eggs must have beenhard set, and near to being hatched, or she would never have done that."

  "She deserves to hatch them, at any rate. Had we better fix the nest orleave it alone?"

  "Better leave it alone; I think she will stick to it if it does not sinkbelow her."

  THE COMMON COOT.]

  On Monday evening the boys sailed about the broad in search of thefloating coot's nest, and found it among the reeds at the north end ofthe broad, and from the broken egg-shells in it they had no doubt butthat the coot had hatched her young ones in safety, as she deserved todo.

  After landing Bell they ran the yacht into a 'rond' of reeds, andproceeded to eat their dinner, which they had brought with them, andvery happy and comfortable they were. The sun shone brightly, the warmwind rustled through the reeds and flags, the sky and the water wereblue, their boat was a success, and they sat and talked of cruises, andplanned expeditions, and were as merry and jolly as any boys need desireto be.

  While they were talking, half-a-dozen tiny little gold-crested wrensalighted on the cordage of the mast. They seemed very tame and tired,and descended to the deck to eat some crumbs which were thrown to them.

  COMMON WREN AND EGG.]

  "What pretty little things they are, with their fiery yellow heads,"said Frank. "To think a tiny bird like that could make a long migration!These birds have only just arrived, that's clear."

  "Do gold crests migrate?" asked Jimmy.

  "Yes, they go south for the winter, and come back again in the spring. Idon't know how far they go, but they have been taken some distance fromland. More probably, however, these have been blown from the coast, forI don't think they cross the sea as a rule."

  As they returned homeward, the boys in running round a point of reeds,came upon a heron, which scuttled away in great haste, and in a veryundignified manner. It seemed at first as if they should catch him, asthey followed him so closely, but as he got fairly away, he rose in theair and distanced them.

  "How slowly he flaps his wings," said Dick.

  "How many times a minute do you think he flaps them?" asked Jimmy.

  HERON.]

  "Just about forty, at the outside," replied Dick.

  "Well, do you count, while I time you," and Jimmy took out his watch andmarked the time, while Dick counted one, two, three, &c.

  When he had counted 120 Jimmy said--

  "Stop, the minute is up. Aren't you astonished?"

  "I am, and no mistake. How deceptive his flight is, and just fancy atwhat a pace must the wings of the smaller birds go!"

  They brought the yacht to anchor in front of the boat-house, and wenthome to
relate the adventures of their voyage.