A Runaway Brig; Or, An Accidental Cruise

by James Otis

  CHAPTER III.

  A SMALL CREW.

  As they searched for the flag-locker Jim did his best to keep hope alivein the hearts of his companions by talking as if it was impossible theycould run many hours longer without meeting some craft from whichassistance could be procured; but even as he spoke he knew it would notbe strange if a week, or even more, elapsed before anything larger thana sea-bird's wing came within their range of vision. He had been in theMary Walker on the fishing banks when it was known there were manyvessels in the vicinity, and yet not a sail was seen for ten days. Whilethe wind held in the same direction the Bonita would be too far north tosight any of the coastwise traders, and Jim was well aware that it mightbe a long while before they could summon aid.

  The flag-locker was found after a short search, and when the stars andstripes were hoisted as a signal of distress the bright colors appearedto afford Harry and Walter no slight amount of relief.

  "If a vessel comes within sight that must attract attention," Harry saidhopefully. "I don't suppose any captain would pass us by without atleast asking what was the matter."

  "It would be a pretty mean sailor who wouldn't try to help us," Jimreplied; and then, as the thought came that it might be many days beforethe flag would be seen by any one save themselves, he added in a voicewhich was far from steady, "Now let's try to hoist the Sally inboard.She'll be knocked to pieces if we tow her, an' there's no knowin' howsoon she may be needed."

  "Tell us what to do and we'll obey orders," Harry said cheerily. "I'mnot sure but we can run this craft as well as a full crew could, so longas you know enough to be captain."

  Jim was thoroughly well aware of his own ignorance; but no good could begained by admitting such a fact, and he began to give commands in a veryloud tone, as if the noise would drive away his dismal forebodings.

  There was no lack of blocks which could be used, and by fastening a whipto the Sally's bow she was soon hauled in over the rail minus her cargoof water.

  "If we stay here long enough we must calk the seams," Jim said as hewiped the perspiration from his face. "It won't be a hard job, an' wemay need her pretty bad."

  "Why not do it now?" Walter asked.

  "Because we ought to got some of this canvas in before it blows anyharder; but it would puzzle a better sailor than I am to know how it'sto be done unless we leave everything loose."

  Neither Harry nor Walter could give any advice, and Jim was forced towork out the problem unaided.

  "I'll tell you what it is," he said, after studying the matter insilence several moments. "It won't do to strip her entirely, for then wecouldn't keep steerage-way on. The jib, foretopsail, and mainsail won'tbe more'n enough to steady her, and if the wind don't come any stronger,I reckon we can take care of the helm."

  "Do you mean that we're to pull down them big pieces of canvas?" Walterasked in dismay.

  "If I did mean that, it couldn't be done. By carrying the halyards toone of the winches, though, we can clew them up after awhile; but it'llbe kinder hard work."

  Then Jim set about the task which at first sight appeared to beimpossible, and, incredible though it may seem, had before dark strippedthe brig of all the canvas save what he proposed to keep her under whilethe weather remained fair. His slight knowledge of seamanship wassufficient to show him how work should be performed, and with the winchas a very material aid the huge squares of canvas were clewed up afterrather a clumsy fashion.

  When this had been done Jim went to the helm, which he lashed in oneposition when the task of shortening sail was first begun, and soon theBonita was sailing properly dead before the wind, but in a lazy manner,as if sulking because deprived of so many of her white wings.

  "That's a good job well over," he said with a long-drawn sigh ofrelief. "Now, if it blows very hard, we can soon get rid of the mainsailand jib."

  "Where are we heading for?" Harry asked, the severe labor having in acertain measure dulled the grief in his heart.

  "I don't know--straight across the ocean I reckon," Jim replied; andthen observing that his companions had noted the look of anxiety on hisface, he added in a lighter tone, "It seems kinder funny that we threeboys should be sailin' this craft like as if she was our own--don't it?"

  "I wish we'd never seen her nor the Sally Walker," Walter criedpassionately. "Nobody knows when we can get back, and our parents willthink we meant to run away!"

  "Now, don't get to feelin' bad ag'in," Jim said soothingly. "It won't doany good, an' you'll be jes' so much the worse off. We've got to havesupper, an' who'll be cook?"

  "I'll do what I can toward it; but I don't believe I'd know how to makeeven so much as a cup of tea," and Harry rose to his feet.

  "Jes' bring up a lot of grub from the pantry; that'll be enough.To-morrow I'll show you how to steer, an' take a turn in the galleymyself."

  Harry beckoned Walter to follow him; for, if the truth must be told, hefelt rather nervous about going into the cabin alone. Now that they wereon the open ocean, at the mercy of wind and wave, the deserted saloonseemed peopled with things none the less horrible because unseen. Everyinanimate object had suddenly taken on a most sinister appearance; andthe rusty sword on the floor seemed to bear witness of the tragedy whichhad caused a sound, well-found vessel to be abandoned in such haste.

  Neither of the boys cared to look around the saloon in which the shadowsof night were gathering. They walked swiftly through into the pantry,selected such articles of food as were nearest at hand, and then went ondeck very quickly.

  Jim had lashed the helm again and was in the maintop looking seaward inthe vain hope of seeing a sail, and his apparent calmness, together withthe warm breeze, the water sparkling under the rays of the setting sun,and the regular movement of the brig as she rose and fell on the swell,served to banish the fears caused by that desolate-looking cabin.

  When twilight came, that time when homesickness always appears withredoubled violence, the three involuntary voyagers were eating a mealcomposed chiefly of delicacies, and Jim understood that his companionsmust be prevented from dwelling upon their own condition; therefore, asa means of cheering all hands, himself included, he proposed to spin ayarn in true sailor fashion.

  From the number of so-called ghost stories which the crew of the MaryWalker were wont to relate during their leisure moments he chose themost horrible, and some time before it was concluded he understood thathe had succeeded in banishing homesickness at the expense of aninvitation to fear. Even he himself began to be afraid because of hisown "yarn," when it was told on the deck of a vessel so mysteriouslyabandoned as had been the Bonita, and the sighing of the night-windthrough the rigging sounded very "ghostly" in his ears.

  The three boys huddled close together, neither speaking above a whisperuntil after the moon rose, and then matters began to seem more cheerful.Jim changed the unpleasant current of thought by speculating upon thestrange sights they might see if it was possible for them to keep thebrig on the same course until they made land, and by ten o'clock allhands had so far gained the mastery over fear that the young captainproposed an arrangement for the night.

  "We can't stay awake all the time," he said sagely, "so s'posin' youfellers go below an' turn in. If the wind dies out much more I'll lashthe wheel an' join you; but if it don't one of you will have to spell me'long toward mornin'."

  "I don't care about going below," Walter replied in a half-whisper. "Whycan't we sleep out here on deck?"

  "There's nothin' to prevent it; but you'll be cold before mornin' if youdon't get some blankets from the cabin."

  Even Harry was timid about venturing into the saloon since thatparticularly horrible ghost story had been told; and very likely Jimunderstood this fact, for he said, after a brief pause:

  "If you'll hold the wheel, Walter, an' Harry will come with me, I'll getthe bedclothes."

  This proposition was accepted, and a few moments later a mattress andhalf a dozen blankets were spread out on the deck aft, the whole formingsuch a bed as even les
s tired boys would not have despised.

  There was yet sufficient food remaining from the supply brought forsupper to serve as a lunch in case any of the party grew hungry beforedaylight; therefore, as Jim said, "they were pretty well fixed for thenight." The wind was decreasing each moment, and, regardless of thepossibility that it might spring up again from a different quarter, thehelm was lashed amidships that all hands might sleep.

  "I reckon some of us will wake up if it blows hard, an' considering thatwe don't know where we're goin', it can't make much difference whetheranybody is at the wheel or not."

  The young fisherman laid down as he ceased speaking, and his companions,in blissful ignorance of the possible danger to be incurred by thisunseamanlike proceeding, seeing nothing rash or strange in thus leavingthe brig to care for herself, followed the example of their commander.

  The bed was hardly as soft as Harry and Walter had been accustomed tosleeping on, perhaps; but it was not uncomfortable, and in a few momentsall three were in dreamland.