by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XV.
THE "ROVERS."
After Charles Hardy had joined the "Rovers" band, which was composed ofthe original Bunkers, with others whom Tim had collected together, hisconscience proved less troublesome. The first wrong step taken, thesecond follows with less compunction, and so on, till the moral sense iscompletely blunted.
At the meeting he was informed by Tim that he had been admitted to thesociety on account of his knowledge of boats. They could not get alongwithout such a fellow; and he was accordingly appointed "master ofmarine," and second in command to Tim himself. These honors andcompliments reconciled him to the society of the Rovers, and he began toexhibit his energy of purpose in directing the details of the nextweek's operations.
Saturday was appointed as the day for stocking the island withprovisions and other necessaries, ready for the reception of the entireparty on Sunday night. Tim and Charles were to attend to this duty inperson.
"Meet me at eight o'clock in the morning over by Joe Braman's landing,Charley, and--"
"But school keeps; I can't go till afternoon."
"And then the Zephyrs will see what we are about."
"I can't help it."
"Yes you can; can't you 'hook Jack'?"
"I dare not."
"Humph! You are an idiot! Tell the fellows to-morrow that you are goingover to your uncle's, and they will tell the master."
Charles consented, after some argument.
"I will get Joe's boat, and we can pull off to the island and get themoney."
"Where will you buy the things?"
"We must go down to Rippleton. You must get some, and I will get some.We will buy them at different stores, so no one will know but what theyare for the folks."
"And the tent?"
"We will get a piece of cotton cloth for that, and some needles andthread. Leave all that to me. Now, be on hand in season."
"One thing, Tim: I may be seen in Rippleton."
"No matter if you are. Bluff 'em off if they say anything."
The Rovers were to "rendezvous"--Tim had found this word in the"Adventures of the Bold Buccaneer"--at nine o'clock on Sunday evening atthe wood. The arrangements were all completed, and the band dispersed.
On Saturday Charles was true to his appointment, and met Tim on thenorth side of the lake. The money was procured, and the provisions weresafely deposited in the boat. It is true, Charles was so muchembarrassed that he well-nigh betrayed the existence of the plot to theshopkeepers; and he was very glad when this part of the business wasdone.
Then a new difficulty presented itself. Suppose the Zephyrs shouldvisit Center Island that afternoon and discover the stores! They had notthought of this before, and the risk was too great to be incurred. Theydecided to conceal their stores on the main shore till night, and thencarry them off. A convenient place was found for this purpose, and thearticles were landed.
They then repaired to the island to mature their plans.
"Now, where shall we pitch the tent?" asked Charles, when they landed.
"On the high ground near the beach."
"We have no poles. Here is the May-pole; that will do for one."
"We can't pitch the tent, soldier fashion. We must drive down fourforked stakes; then put poles on the forks, and cover the whole withcloth."
"But where are the stakes and the poles?"
"We can cut them in the woods. We will get Joe Braman's ax, and do itthis forenoon."
"Suppose they should make a raft, and come off to us?" suggestedCharles.
"We have two fast boats, and can easily keep out of their way," repliedTim. "If they want to fight we can beat them off."
Charles did not approve of fighting, and thought it would be bad policy.Tim was tolerably tractable now that he was having his own way, and wasnot very strenuous in support of his own pugnacious views. When theirplans were fully digested they left the island to prepare the stakes.Before noon they separated, and the truant returned home about the usualtime.
That afternoon he joined the Zephyrs in an excursion up the lake, andanother lighthouse was erected in the vicinity of a dangerous reef.
"What shall we do next week?" asked Charles, as they were returninghome.
"We are going up the river," replied Frank. "My father has consented toit."
"Has he? That will be first rate."
"And so has George Weston."
Charles relapsed into deep thought. He was thinking how much better hecould enjoy himself with good boys than with such fellows as the Rovers;for, though he was "master of marine" among them, he could not helpacknowledging to himself that they were not pleasant companions. Theyused profane and vulgar language; were always disposed to quarrel.Disputes which were settled peaceably in the clubs were decided by afight among the Rovers; and the ambitious "master" had many misgivingsas to his ability to control them. Tim could manage them very well; for,if one was turbulent, he struck him and knocked him down; and Charleshad not the brute courage to do this.
"What are you thinking about, Charley?" asked Frank, pleasantly.
"Nothing," replied Charles, promptly, as he tried to laugh.
"You act rather queerly this afternoon; just as though you had somethingon your mind."
"O, no; nothing of the kind."
"I hope you don't regret the expulsion of Tim Bunker."
"Certainly not."
Charles tried to be gay after that; but he could not. There was a weightupon his soul which bore him down, and he felt like a criminal in thepresence of his companions. He was glad when the club landed, and themembers separated--glad to get away from them, for their happy, innocentfaces were a constant reproach to him.
Sunday was a day of rest; but every moment of it was burdened with a sinagainst God and against himself. Every moment that he delayed to repentwas plunging him deeper and deeper in error and crime. Strangely enough,the minister preached a sermon about the Prodigal Son; and the vividpicture he drew of the return of the erring wanderer so deeply affectedthe youthful delinquent that he fully resolved to do his duty, andexpose the Rovers' scheme.
The money had been spent in part; but, if they sent him to jail, itwould be better than to continue in wickedness. Then he thought whatCaptain Sedley would say to him; that the club would despise him; andthat he would not be permitted to join the sports of the coming week--tosay nothing of being put in prison.
But his duty was plain, and he had resolved to do it. He had decided tosuffer the penalty of his transgression, whatever it might be, and getback again into the right path as soon as he could.
Happy would it have been for him had he done so. On his way home fromchurch he unfortunately met Tim Bunker, who had evidently placed himselfin his way to confirm his fidelity to the Rovers.
Tim saw that he was meditating something dangerous to the success of hisscheme. Charles was cold and distant. He appeared to have lost hisenthusiasm.
"If you play us false, it will be all up with you," said Tim, in a low,determined tone. "I can prove that you stole the purse. That's all."
It was enough to overthrow all Charles's good resolution. His ficklemind, his shallow principle, gave way. Stifling his convictions of duty,and silencing the "still small voice," he went home: and there was nojoy in heaven over the returning prodigal.
"Charles," said his father, sternly, as he entered the house, "you werenot at school yesterday!"
"I got late, and did not like to go," whined he.
"Where were you?"
"Down at the village."
"Go to your room, and don't leave it without permission."
Charles obeyed. The consequences of his error were already beginning toovertake him. His father joined him soon after, and talked to him veryseverely. He was really alarmed, for Captain Sedley had given him a hintconcerning his son's intimacy with Tim Bunker.
Charles was not permitted to leave his room that afternoon, and hissupper was sent up to him; but his mother brought it, and consoled himin his troubles
--promising to prevent his father from punishing him anymore.
"Now, go to bed, Charley; never do so again, and it will be all rightto-morrow," said the weak mother, as she took her leave.
But Charles did not go to bed. The family retired early; and, taking hisgreat-coat on his arm, he stole noiselessly out of the house. At nineo'clock he was at the rendezvous of the Rovers.
It was not deemed prudent to put their plans in execution till a laterhour; and the band dispersed, with instructions to meet again in an hourat Flat Rock, where the boats would be in readiness to take them off tothe island.
Tim and Charles, with four others, immediately repaired to the placewhere Joe Braman's boat, which had been hired for the enterprise, wasconcealed. Seating themselves in it, they waited till the hour hadexpired, and then, with muffled oars, pulled up to the Butterfly'shouse.
The doors which opened out upon the lake were not fastened, and anentrance was readily effected. The boat was loosed, pushed out into thelake without noise, and towed down to the Zephyr's house. But here thedoors were found to be fastened; and one of the boys had to enter by awindow, and draw the bolt. The boat was then secured without difficulty.
"Now, Charley, you get into the Zephyr with two fellows, and tow theSylph off," said Tim, in a whisper.
"Shan't I get my crew first?"
"Just as you like."
Charles and his two companions got into the Zephyr and worked her downto the rock, where he received his crew. It was found then that some ofthe Rovers had not yet made their appearance, so that there were onlyten boys to each boat.
Although the success of the criminal undertaking required the utmostcaution, Charles found his command were disposed to be very boisterous,and all his efforts would hardly keep them quiet. After some trouble hegot away from the shore; but his crew, from the want of discipline,were utterly incapable of pulling in concert. They had not taken threestrokes before they were all in confusion--tumbling off the thwarts,knocking each other in the back, and each swearing at and abusing hiscompanions.
"Hold your jaw, there!" called Tim Bunker, in a low tone, from theButterfly.
"Cease rowing!" said Charles.
But they would not "cease rowing," and the prospect was that a generalfight would soon ensue in spite of all the coxswain's efforts to restoreorder. At last Tim came alongside, and rapping two or three of theturbulent Rovers over the head with a boathook, he succeeded in quietingthem.
After several attempts Charles got them so they could pull withoutknocking each other out of the boat; but he was heartily disgusted withhis crew, and would gladly have escaped from them, even if RippletonJail had yawned to receive him. After half a dozen trials he placed theZephyr alongside the Sylph, let go her moorings, and took her in tow.The Rovers then pulled for the island; but the passage thither was longand difficult.
