by Carol Norton
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE RESCUE.
THE castaways watched the distant sail with mingled feelings of joy andsuspense. Was it the boys, or was it merely a strange craft beating upthe coast? Would it pass near the island or would it go by too far outfor them to make their presence known? These were the questions theydebated as they strained their eyes on the distant patch of white.
One thing soon became evident to the eager watchers, the sail wassteadily growing larger. Although the storm had passed and the seasubsided there was still a brisk breeze blowing and each passing hourbrought the stranger craft visibly nearer. No thought of breakfastentered the castaways' minds, all their attention was fixed on theapproaching sail.
At last it became evident that the vessel was a small sloop, that itwas headed directly for the island and that it was rolling and pitchingfrightfully in the still heavy seas.
On it came, plunging and tossing like a frightened steed and sendingshowers of spray from its cut water. At last it was close enough todiscover two figures on its decks, one at the wheel, the other forward,tending the jib sheet.
"Hit's Massa Charley and Massa Walter," shouted the sharp-eyed Chris."Praise de Lawd, Praise de Lawd," and his over-joyed companions shouteda fervent "Amen."
The sloop came steadily on, passing the island and rounding up underits lee as near as its young captain dared to approach. Anchor wasdropped, sails lowered, and launching a small boat it carried on deck,its crew of two came sculling for the shore.
And what a demonstration of joy there was when it grounded on the sandsand the chums so long separated and so long beset with perils wereonce more reunited. Such hand-wringings and congratulations, and eagerquestions and chorused answers. All happy. All excited. All talking atonce, and no one making himself thoroughly understood in the generalclamor.
But Charley soon interrupted the talk-feast. "We will be here all dayat this rate," he said, laughing. "We had better get on board and getunder way. That sloop is pretty old and cranky for these waters andwe'd better get back as soon as we can for fear another squall willcome up. We can tell our stories on the way."
The suggestion was wise and as none cared to linger long on thedreary little island which had been the scene of so much anxiety andsuffering, there was no delay in carrying it out. All climbed into thelittle boat and were carried out to the sloop. Her sails were hoisted,her anchor weighed, and her bowsprit headed South for Tarpon. Down inthe sloop's cabin the castaways found a hot meal of ham, eggs, potatoesand coffee waiting for them, which Walter had prepared as a pleasantsurprise. In their excitement they had forgotten they were hungry, butthey remembered it now and fell upon the tasty food with appetites thatonly left bare dishes when satisfied, at last. The boys had brought apile of clothing with them, and after a wash-down in cool sea water,the castaways threw away their soiled, tattered garments, and, fed,washed, and freshly clothed, felt like new men.
The Captain's eyes danced with joy when Walter presented him with apipe and tobacco he had brought with him.
Later all gathered around the wheel and stories and experiences wereexchanged, but the reader is already familiar with the most of them.
"Even after the trouble was all over we couldn't get away at once,"Charley said, concluding his tale. "I can tell you we were worried tohave to lay around and wait for the storm to pass, knowing that you andChris must be in danger on the island. The people were awfully good tous after the feud was ended. They could not do enough for us. They evenwanted to give us money, but of course we couldn't take that. As soonas the wind went down we borrowed this boat of Mr. Turner and startedout. We are to leave her at Tarpon and he will get her from there."
"Well, all's well that ends well, I reckon," said the captain, puffingin supreme content. "We are safe an' well now an' while we ain't gotmuch money, we will have the 'Beauty' as soon as she comes into port,an' she's jes' the same as two thousand dollars in the bank."
"And we will have another try for that gold when we get her," Charleydeclared. "I figure that those fellows had to cast loose during thestorm and scud before it. They could not ride it out at anchor. Nowthat the buoy's gone, it will take them a long time to locate the goldagain. We, knowing the latitude and longitude can get back to the spotbefore they can find it and get all the gold removed, if we can get arevenue cutter at Tarpon, as I think we can."
The Captain's face was filled with dismay. "I've clean forgot thefigures, boys," he exclaimed. "I put it down in the log all ship-shape,the latitude and longitude, but I've clean forgot what it was. I ain'tgot no memory for figures."
It was a heavy blow for the golden-hopes of the two boys and a silenceof disappointment followed the old sailor's announcement.
"It's no use crying over spilt milk," said Charley, at last,cheerfully. "We have still got the schooner, and, with the money we getfrom her, we can make a good start at something else."
"You have still good cause for rejoicing," observed the spongercaptain. "You will still have your vessel, but I have lost my all."
The two chums were not the boys to give way to repining and they weresoon again as bright and cheerful spirits as if their brightest hopeshad been realized.
It was midnight when the little sloop at last crept into the harbor ofTarpon. It was useless to go ashore at such an hour so the little partymade everything snug aboard and turned in on deck for a few hours'sleep.
They were up early next morning, and, after a hasty breakfast, hurriedashore to notify the Commissioner of their arrival and get him to takesteps for the seizure of the "Beauty" as soon as she reached port.
Mr. Driver was standing out in front of his store as they came up thestreet. Amazement and incredulity filled his face when he sighted them.
"You!" he cried, "Why, I thought you were all at the bottom of theGulf."
"No, we are slightly disfigured but still in the ring," laughed Charleyas he shook hands. "Our schooner has not come in yet, has she?"
Mr. Driver stared at him for a second. "There's a mystery here," hedeclared. "Come on into the store, and let's hear your story."
Seated in the store's little back room, Charley recounted theiradventures while Mr. Driver listened attentively. When he hadconcluded, Mr. Driver remained silent for a moment.
"I hate to be the teller of bad news," he said, at last, "but you mustlearn it, and it had better come from a friend. Your schooner is lostwith all hands on board."
"Lost!" cried all together.
"Yes, she went down at anchor during the storm. The Greek sponger'Zenephone' was passing when she went under. Not a man was saved.Every one on the 'Zenephone' wondered why she did not scud before itinstead of hanging to her anchor. I understand now. They did not wantto leave the neighborhood of the gold."
It was a heavy blow. At one sweep they were robbed of their all. Thelittle band of chums sat paralyzed with grief, looking helplessly ateach other. Mr. Driver arose quietly and closed the door softly behindhim, leaving them alone with their grief.
For a few moments no one spoke. "It's hard, but it must be met," sighedWalter at last. "What are we going to do? We have nothing left now, noteven the clothes we wear."
"God knows," answered Charley, hopelessly, at a loss for once. "Isuppose we will have to hunt work at something or other."
"And likely be scattered and separated for the first time in years,"exclaimed the captain.
"That's the worst of it," agreed Walter, sadly. "I don't mind workingbut I hate for us all to have to drift apart."
"Me too," wailed Chris. "Golly! I don't want to be with no one butyou-alls."
"I don't believe the 'Beauty' is lost," Charley declared. "I believethis is just another of Manuel's tricks. He is as sharp a rascal asever lived. I'll bet she is safe and sound somewhere and that Manueljust bought the Greeks on the 'Zenephone' to tell that story."
"Maybe," admitted the captain, doubtfully. "The story rings true,though. It would have been likely for them to hang to their anchor bythe gold."
"And it would be just the kind of details Manuel would think of,knowing we would be more likely to believe the story if we escapedalive. He is an artist at rascality."
"Even if you're right, I reckon it won't help us much," said the oldsailor. "The story's tied our hands all right. The Commissioner won'tdo anything just on our suspicions, an' we ain't got any money to doanything ourselves."
"I feel that Charley is right," Walter declared, "but we've got onlyone chance to prove it. Get to work, get some money and hire a Greekdetective to look into the matter for us. The first question is, whatcan we do to earn money?"
They were engaged in a fruitless discussion on this point when Mr.Driver entered. He heard their discussion with sympathetic interest.
"There is no work around here," he declared. "The Greeks work cheaperthan an American can. It's hard for an American to earn a bare livinghere. I understand from what you say that you do not want to beseparated. I might find work for one of you, but I couldn't for all.There is only one suggestion I can make in such a case."
"Please give it to us," Walter requested.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
CONCLUSION.
"WELL," said Mr. Driver, "there is a large fish-house at Clearwater,twenty miles below here. You probably could get a job fishing for it.You could all work together then. It is hard, dirty work but there ispretty good money in it if a man works hard."
The chums exchanged glances.
"I believe we will try it," Charley said. "Of course we will have totalk it over before we decide, but there does not seem to be anythingelse we can do."
"Very well," said Mr. Driver, "I'll give you a letter to the fish boss,I know him personally. And you'll need a little money to pay your faresthere. You can return it when you get to earning."
The chums thanked the kind-hearted storekeeper for his advice andassistance and adjourned to the sidewalk where they discussed thematter earnestly. It did not take them long to decide to follow Mr.Driver's suggestion. They bid good-bye to the sponger captain, whodecided to remain in Tarpon and try to get service on one of Mr.Williams' schooners, and, accepting the loan of ten dollars, which Mr.Driver pressed upon them, they boarded the first train going South andsoon landed in the little town of Clearwater. And there, we must leavethem for the present.
THE END.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired. The original text had no table ofcontents. One was created to aid the reader. Chapter I is untitled.
Page 3, "tatooed" changed to "tattooed" (tattooed arms and rolling)
Page 10, two lines were transposed. The original read:
shouted, as the smiling Greek shrugged his shoul- up with the money by to-morrow night I'll close up ders. "You know what I say. If you don't come this place and have you prosecuted for obtaining
Page 14, "hundreth" changed "hundredth" (a hundredth part of)
Page 43, "alloted" changed to "allotted" (allotted to their boat)
Page 62, "along" changed to "alone" (worse than being alone)
Page 74, repeated word "see" removed from text Original read: (I don'tsee see what his object)
Page 78, "Manual" changed to "Manuel" (Manuel approached Captain)
Page 85, "blow" changed to "below" (been below for only)
Page 89, "exclaimation" changed to "exclamation" (an exclamation ofsurprise)
Page 93, "captian" changed to "captain" (the captain declared)
Page 100, "gapping" changed to "gaping" (gaping hole in her)
Page 101, "was" changed to "were" (There were no)
Page 102, "that" changed to "than" (time than it has)
Page 105, "aim" changed to "air" (working the air pump)
Page 109, "baton" changed to "beaten" (Greeks had been badly beaten)
Page 128, "averge" changed to "average" (better than average marksmen)
Page 164, "squaking" changed "squawking" (marsh hens, the squawking)
Page 190, "minues" changed to "minutes" (in a few minutes he)
Page 203, "taveling" changed to "traveling" (further travelingdangerous)
Page 231, repeated word "is" removed from text. Original read: (awhileeven it is is risky)
Page 231, "gapping" changed to "gaping" (up the gaping hole)
