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Little By Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway

by Oliver Optic · English · Gutenberg #22365 · 263,524 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: Little By Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway

Author: Oliver Optic


        
Release date: August 21, 2007 [eBook #22365]

Language: English

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Produced by David Garcia, Martin Pettit and the Online
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[Transcriber's Note: The text on pages 93 and 95 was
transposed - it has been placed in the correct order.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.]


LITTLE BY LITTLE

OR

The Cruise of the Flyaway

BY
WILLIAM TAYLOR ADAMS

(OLIVER OPTIC)

CHICAGO
UNION SCHOOL FURNISHING COMPANY
PUBLISHERS


TO

CHARLES LABAN ADAMS

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

BY HIS UNCLE.




PREFACE


In presenting to his young friends the sixth volume of the "Library for
Young People," the author cannot be unconscious of what the readers of
his former books require of him. They will turn the leaves of "Little by
Little," expecting to find an abundance of stirring incidents; and he
hopes they will not be disappointed. Some of the older readers and
sterner critics will look for romantic and rather exaggerated events;
but he thinks they will look in vain, for as we grow older we become
more reasonable, and do not expect showers of gold to fall upon every
seedy hero, or to see nice young gentlemen leap over lofty precipices
without sometimes being dashed to pieces.

But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents will be
found upon his pages; that, though he has seldom, if ever, gone out of
his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral quantity, of
the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not be found
wanting in a true Christian spirit.

Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and
most of the events of the story occur upon the water; but the author
hopes his young lady friends will not make faces at him on this
account. The boys insisted upon having a sea story, and being the "lords
of creation," of course they must be indulged; but the writer most
solemnly promises to remember the girls next time.

Thanking my young friends again for the continued kindness manifested
towards my pets, I give them "Little by Little," hoping that the
excellent spirit of Paul Duncan will pervade their minds and hearts, and
lead them forward to the material and moral triumphs which crowned his
useful life.

                                                      WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
DORCHESTER, August 28, 1860.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER                                                       PAGE

    I. Paul Duncan Disobeys Orders                               9

   II. Paul is Cool and Self-possessed                          19

  III. Paul Hears Bad News                                      28

   IV. Paul Becomes the Head of the Family                      38

    V. Paul Cooks His Own Breakfast, and Goes a-Fishing         49

   VI. Paul Makes a Good Speculation                            59

  VII. Paul Goes Into Business on His Own Account               69

 VIII. Paul Takes a Cold Bath                                   79

   IX. Paul Becomes the Skipper of the Fawn                     89

    X. Paul and John are Very Much Excited                      99

   XI. Paul's First Cruise in the Fawn                         109

  XII. Paul Sleeps on His Watch                                118

 XIII. Paul Makes a Night Run in the Storm                     127

  XIV. Paul Scolds the First Officer of the Fawn               137

   XV. Paul Goes on a Cruise in the Flyaway                    146

  XVI. Paul Witnesses a Mutiny                                 156

 XVII. Paul Discovers that Mischief is Brewing                 166

XVIII. Paul is Made a Prisoner                                 176

  XIX. Paul Takes Command of the Flyaway                       185

   XX. Paul Exercises a Strong Moral Influence                 194

  XXI. Paul Advances Little by Little, and the Story Ends      203




LITTLE BY LITTLE;

OR,

THE CRUISE OF THE FLYAWAY.




CHAPTER I.

PAUL DUNCAN DISOBEYS ORDERS.


"I'll give you a quarter, Paul, if you will take me down to the Point in
your boat," said Thomas Nettle, as he came down to the beach where the
boy addressed was baling out an old dingy-looking boat.

"It blows too hard," replied Paul Duncan.

"The club went down in their boat."

"But it didn't blow so hard then as it does now. It's a regular
sou'easter."

"What are you afraid of, Paul?"

"I'm not afraid; but there's no use of risking your life for a quarter."

"I'll give you a half, then."

Paul Duncan hesitated. Half a dollar was a great deal of money to him,
and more than often found its way into his exchequer. He glanced at the
white-capped waves in the bay, and then at Thomas.

"There's no ballast in her," said he.

"Put some rocks in, then."

"I think it's rather dangerous, and I don't believe your mother would
agree to have you go out in a boat in such a blow as this."

"My mother! Humph! Let me tell you I'm not tied to my mother's apron
string. I think I'm old enough to have a will of my own. Don't talk to
me about my mother," replied Thomas contemptuously. "I'm not a baby."

"Just as you please; but I think it blows too hard to go out."

"Let me have your boat, and I'll go alone then, if you are afraid to
go."

"I'm not afraid," answered Paul, stung by these repeated implications
upon his courage. "Jump in, and I'll give you enough of it before you
get half way to the Point."

Thomas got into the boat, which was anything but a beauty in her shape
and appointments. Paul pushed her off the beach upon which she had
grounded, and as she receded from the shore, leaped on board of her.
Placing an oar at the stern, he sculled her out a short distance from
the land, and then shook out the sail. The first flaw of wind that
struck it heeled the boat over so far that Thomas leaped with desperate
haste up to the windward side.

"Don't be afraid, Tom," said Paul, with a smile. "She has got the wind
now."

"Who's afraid?" demanded Thomas.

"I thought you were by the way you jumped."

"Well, the gunnel of your old craft went under."

"Not quite."

"I say it did; and you don't suppose I was going to sit there and be
spilled into the drink--do you?" continued Thomas, sharply.

"I won't dispute with you; she heeled over, as a boat always will when
she first gets the wind."

"You think you are an old salt, Paul, but you don't know enough to
navigate a herring pond."

"Just as you like," replied Paul, whose good nature was proof against
the assaults of his companion. "I don't pretend to know much; but I
think I understand this old boat pretty well."

"Paul! Paul!" cried a voice from the shore.

"That's my mother," said the young boatman, as he discovered a woman on
the beach. "What do you want, mother?"

"Come ashore," replied Mrs. Duncan, whose voice was almost drowned by
the noise of the waves as they beat against the boat.

Paul's mother seemed to think she had said enough, for her son was
generally a very obedient boy, and she turned to walk up the bluff
towards the house. But she knew enough about the management of a boat to
perceive that, in this instance, her order was not obeyed.

"Come ashore right off, Paul," she repeated with an emphasis that was
calculated to make an impression upon the rebellious party.

"Do you want me, mother?" asked Paul, as he put the boat about, and
brought her upon the home tack.

"No, I don't want you; but it blows too hard for you to be out there.
You'll capsize, as true as you're alive," replied Mrs. Duncan; and
seeing the boat headed towards the shore, she hastened home.

"Are you going to back out, Paul?" demanded Thomas, as the boat came
about.

"My mother won't let me go," replied Paul, rather sheepishly, for he was
not proof against the derision of his companion.

"Won't let you go!" sneered Thomas.

"You heard what she said."

"I did; my mother would no more dare to say as much as that to me than
she would dare to cut my head off. She knows her place better."

Paul was not a little shocked by this unfeeling speech, and could not
help seeing that Thomas had not much regard for his mother. For his own
part, he loved his mother very much, though he was not exactly willing
to confess the fact to a boy who entertained such opinions as those of
Thomas Nettle. He had been accustomed to obey his mother for the respect
and love he bore her, and it had never before occurred to him that she
overstepped the bounds of reason and propriety in presuming to command
him. Paul had the reputation of being a good boy, both at home and
among the neighbors; but it must not be inferred that he was perfect,
that he never disobeyed his father and mother,--though the instances
were very rare,--or that he never did what he knew to be wrong. He had
his faults and his weaknesses; but for the present I shall let my young
reader discover them from what he says and what he does. He was
disturbed by the derision of his friend, no less than by his impudent
self-possession. He even asked himself why he should be tied to his
mother's apron string, as Thomas expressed the subjection of the child
to the parent. He was only a year younger than his companion, and he
began to question whether it was not about time for him to assert his
own independence, and cut the apron string when it pulled too hard upon
his inclination.

Paul was the oldest of a family of six children, and was now in his
fourteenth year. His father was a journeyman ship carpenter--an honest,
temperate, hard-working man, who was obliged to struggle with the
realities of life in order to win a comfortable subsistence for his
large family. In the inoffensive sense of the term, he was a poor man;
that is, he lived from hand to mouth, and had not saved a single dollar
with which to meet the misfortunes of life. But he had brought up his
family as well as he could, and given the oldest the best education his
limited means would afford.

Thomas Nettle's father was a wealthy merchant, who had retired from
active business, and lived upon his beautiful estate in Bayville, in
which transpired the events of my story. Major Nettle, as his townsmen
called him,--for he had attained to the rank indicated by his military
title in the militia,--was an easy, careless man, and had but a very low
appreciation of the moral and religious duties and responsibilities of a
parent. It was a favorite theory with him that a boy would do well
enough if only let alone. It was of no use to cram his head or his heart
with notions, as he called them, about morality and religion; the boy
would find them out himself when he wanted them. In support of his
doctrine, he used to point to the minister's son who was in the state
prison, and the deacon's son who had run away to sea to avoid the house
of correction. Of course, then, Master Thomas Nettle's parental training
was never very severe, for he had no one to dispute his independence
when he chose to assert it.

Paul had seen enough of the world to find out that wealth commands a
certain respect, and he could not always keep down a sense of deference
with which his rich companions inspired him; and when they admitted him
to their friendship, he could not help being greatly influenced by their
words and their actions. Thomas was always dressed well, and always had
money in his pocket; and these things made Paul realize the difference
in their social positions. It is true, he tried to make himself believe
that he was as good as any one else, and would not bend his neck or his
knee to the smartest boy in Bayville; yet he could not but feel the
disparity between himself and the sons of his rich neighbors. He would
not go out of his way to court their favor, though it flattered his
vanity to be their chosen companion.

"Steady! why don't you luff her up, when the puffs come," said Thomas,
as a flaw of wind struck the sail, and careened her so far that she took
in a little water over the side.

"Oh, I don't mind a little dash of water over the side," replied Paul,
with a smile; for it must be owned that he was disposed to punish his
companion for the imputations he had cast upon his seamanship and his
courage.

"Well, are you going ashore?" continued Thomas. "Are you going to let
your mother domineer over you? If you do, I hope she will put you in the
cradle and rock you to sleep when you get ashore."

"We must get some ballast," answered Paul, who had not yet got far
enough to declare his independence of maternal authority.

"You are afraid to go!"

"I think I can stand it as long as you can."

"Then what are you going ashore for?"

"After more ballast," replied Paul, who, though deeply stung by the
sneers of Thomas, had not yet decided to disobey his mother.

"Will you take me down to the Point when you get the ballast?"

"I don't know; I'll see."

The old boat dashed on, and in a moment or two grounded upon the beach.
There was a great struggle in the soul of Paul. He did not like to go
contrary to the express command of his mother on the one hand, and he
did not like to incur the derision of Thomas on the other, for he would
tell it to all the boys who would call him "chickenish."

"There are two rocks that will just answer your purpose," said Thomas,
as they leaped out of the boat. "You take one and I will take the other.
Come, bear a hand, or I shall not get to the picnic till the fun is all
over."

The two large stones were placed in the boat, and still Paul was
undecided. He had not the courage to face the ridicule of his
independent friend, nor the heart to disobey the mother whom he loved
and respected.

"I guess I won't go, Tom," said he, as a momentary resolution supported
the better impulse of his nature.

"Chicken-hearted! Are you afraid of your mother or of the wind and
waves?" sneered Thomas, and his features curled up into an expression of
contempt which moved the hesitating boy quite as much as his words.

"Of neither. If you think I'm afraid to go any where that you dare go,
you are very much mistaken. It's a very easy thing for you to stand
there and talk, but when the boat takes in a pint of water over the
side, you jump as though an earthquake had taken you all aback," said
Paul, smartly.

"Humph. Get into the boat, and we'll soon see who's afraid; though
perhaps you had better go and get your mother to go with you."

"I have proved you to be a coward, and I don't think there is any use of
going now. I don't like to be in a boat with a fellow who is skittish
when the wind blows," continued Paul, who was determined to make the
most of their previous experience. "It isn't safe to have a fellow
jumping about in the boat when there's a heavy sea on. You might upset
her, cantering about over the thwarts like a frightened colt."

"You are smart, Paul; but your big talk sounds silly while I stand here
and stump you to carry me down to the Point. You are afraid of the sea,
and afraid of your mother. You dare not go!"

"Jump in!" cried Paul, desperately, as his failing resolution fled
before these taunts. "Jump in, Tom."

"Now don't back out if you happen to see one of your mother's aprons on
the clothes-line."

"Never fear me; and if you don't wish yourself ashore before you get
half way to Tenean Point, I lose my guess; that's all," answered Paul,
as he pushed the boat off into deep water. "The wind is dead ahead, and
we must beat all the way down."

"Put her through, Paul."

"Ay, ay, my hearty, I'll put her through, and you too," replied the
young boatman as he shook out the sail, and hauled the sheet home.

As she felt the strong blast, the old boat lay down before it, and a
large wave broke over her gunnel; but Paul luffed her up, so that she
did not fill. Whatever Thomas thought of this stirring experience, he
kept his seat upon the weather side, and appeared to be perfectly
unconcerned. As they came out from under the bluff, where the windows of
the house above commanded a view of their position, they were discovered
by Mrs. Duncan, who again hastened to the beach to repeat her command
more imperatively than before. Paul had steeled his heart to do wrong in
this instance, and he pretended not to see or hear her; and the boat
dashed on her course.




CHAPTER II.

PAUL IS COOL AND SELF-POSSESSED.


Bayville is situated about seven or eight miles from Boston, on the line
of one of the principal railroads. A large portion of the inhabitants,
even at the time of which I write, were gentlemen doing business in the
city, though the place had a shipyard and several wharves from which the
surrounding country was supplied with wood, coal, and lumber. The town
is located on both sides of Tenean River, the estuary of which forms a
very good harbor, though the place has not yet attained to any
considerable commercial importance.

The shipyard and the wharves were on the north side of the river, which
was known as Mercantile Point. On the south side a peninsula extended
about half a mile out into the sea, at the extremity of which was the
little cottage of Mr. Duncan, the ship carpenter. It was built upon the
high bluff, and below it was the beach, which had been formed by the
continued caving of the earth from the high bank. The cottage was over a
mile from the shipyard, by the road, and not more than half the distance
in a straight line across the water. As an easy and pleasant way to get
to his work, Mr. Duncan had purchased the old boat, in which Paul had
just embarked, for a few dollars, and in good weather generally went
over to the shipyard by water. He was a skilful boatman, and under his
tuition his son had learned all the mysteries of sailing a boat. Like
most boys, he was disposed to be more daring than was necessary, and it
was often that his father and mother found occasion to check him in the
pursuit of bold enterprises. Paul was passionately fond of the water,
and was proud of his nautical skill and knowledge.

Aquatic sports were all the rage at Bayville, and there were very few
gentlemen who had the means that did not own boats of some kind. In the
summer season the harbor always presented a brilliant display of yachts,
sail boats, and wherries. The largest of these was the Flyaway, a
splendid yacht of fifty-two tons, which was jointly owned by Major
Nettle and Captain Littleton. Even the boys of the High School had a
club boat, which in the warm season, not only afforded them fine sport,
but plenty of healthy exercise for the proper development of their
physical organization.

On the first day of May, when our story opens, the scholars of the High
School had a picnic at Tenean Point, and the boat club had gone down to
participate in the festivities of the occasion. Thomas Nettle had been
to the city in the morning, and had not returned in season to go down
with the club, of which he was a member. It was four miles to the Point
by the road, and only half that distance by water, when the wind
permitted the passage in a straight line. He did not like the idea of
walking so far, choosing rather to incur the danger of being drowned by
the upsetting of Paul's old boat.

In spite of the strong wind and the heavy sea, Paul kept the boat on her
course, though, as the tide was against her, she did not make much
headway.

"Can you weather South Point, Paul?" asked Thomas, who had been silent
for some time.

"I'm afraid I can't; this old boat makes about as much leeway as
headway."

"It is pretty rough out here--isn't it?"

"Rather," replied Paul, indifferently.

"She takes in a good deal of water."

"Mostly spray; you can bale her out, if you have a mind to do so."

Thomas was glad to have something in the shape of occupation, for it
required all his power to conceal a certain nervousness, which he would
not have had Paul see for all the world. He took the tin kettle, and
worked as though the safety of the craft depended entirely upon his
efforts.

The wind seemed to increase rather than diminish in force, and the sail
was becoming more exciting every moment; but Paul maintained his
self-possession, and though he had some doubts about his ability to keep
the old craft right side up, he did not permit his companion to know
that he had a single misgiving.

"We can't fetch by the Point," said he, when Thomas had done baling.

"Better come about then; we may get ashore on the rocks."

"Good!" exclaimed Paul, with a hearty laugh.

"What is the matter now?" demanded Thomas.

"The idea of striking a rock on the weather side!" laughed Paul.

"You are right; I didn't think."

The boat now came into comparatively still water, under the lee of Long
Island, as the outermost of three small islets, extending out in a line
from the mouth of the river, was called. The island was a mass of rocks,
rising from ten to twenty feet above high water mark, and as they got
behind it, they were sheltered from the force of the wind. In this
situation, Paul attempted to tack; but the old boat would not come round
in stays, for she had partially lost her headway, and the tide was
against her.

"That's bad," said Thomas; "we shall lose all we have gained by this."

"Take an oar and heave her head round, then," replied Paul.

"Ay, ay;" and Thomas took the oar, and brought her head up to the wind.

There was a coolness and self-possession in the demeanor of Paul which
filled his companion with confidence as well as admiration, though he
was in no humor to acknowledge it. If Thomas was not actually terrified
by the sweeping billows and the rude pitching of the boat, it was only
because he felt that he was in the charge of a skilful boatman. The old
craft soon caught the wind on the other tack, and drove out among the
big waves again.

Paul's mother was still on the beach watching the uneasy movements of
the boat, and in momentary expectation that she would be swamped. Her
earnest gestures were disregarded by her son, and she was prepared for
the worst fate that could befall him. Paul tried to keep his eyes away
from her; but he could not help stealing an occasional glance at her,
though his conscience reproached him for the pain and terror he was
giving her. But he felt that his courage and his reputation as a boatman
were at stake, and that, if he failed to achieve the purpose before him,
he would be the derision of Thomas Nettle and all his companions.

For two hours the boat labored heavily in the rough sea, and had
accomplished about two thirds of the distance to Tenean Point. The young
adventurers were now in the worst place in the bay, and the boat was
exposed to the full force of the wind and the sea, from which they had
before been partially protected by an island.

"What do you think, Paul?" said Thomas, suspending for a moment the work
of baling, in which he had been engaged for the last hour.

"What do I think?" replied Paul, coolly, as he wiped the spray from his
eyes; "I think it blows tremendous hard."

"So do I."

"Then we shan't quarrel about that, anyhow."

"Do you think you can make the Point?"

"Certainly I do; I'm in for it, at any rate."

"We don't make much headway."

"That's true."

"I shan't get to the picnic in any kind of season," continued Thomas,
crouching down under the weather rail, as a huge wave gave the boat a
slap that made her quiver like a leaf.

"I can't help that, Tom; I didn't want you to come this way."

"Don't you think we had better run for the shore, and give it up?"

"I don't think any such thing. If the old boat will only hold together
long enough, I'll put you ashore on Tenean Point."

"I'm afraid she won't hold together much longer."

"No matter; we will go it while she does hold together. Can you swim,
Tom?"

"You know very well I can swim, Paul."

"Better get your boots off, then."

"Who do you suppose could swim ashore in such a sea as this? Besides, it
is over a half a mile, and the surf on the beach would tear a fellow all
to pieces."

"You ought to have thought of these things before you came out here."

"It is a great deal worse than I had any idea of," answered Thomas, who
had proceeded far enough to be willing to yield a point. "For my part, I
am willing to be landed here;" and he pointed to a little cove on the
Tenean shore.

"You don't say you have got enough of it, Tom," said Paul, with a smile.

"Enough of it! I want to get to the picnic some time to-day. I hope you
don't think I am frightened."

"Of course I don't; you daresn't be frightened after all your big talk
before we came out."

"I'll give up on that, Paul. You are the spunkiest fellow with a boat I
ever saw. I am willing to say that and stick to it."

"That's saying a good deal."

"But you mustn't suppose I am afraid."

"Of course not; you're only in a hurry to get to the picnic; that's the
idea."

"That's just it, and if you will put me ashore at the cove, I will be
just as much obliged to you as though you carried me all the way to the
Point."

"Let's not back out, Tom."

"I don't back out; and I'm sure you don't."

"It looks a little like backing out to give up the chase."

"You ought to be satisfied, if I am."

"I shan't be satisfied till I land you at the Point."

"Come, come, Paul, don't carry the joke too far. The sea is getting
heavier and heavier, and the wind blows a young hurricane."

"O, well, if you really want to back out, I'm willing."

"I don't want to do anything of the sort. If you think I can't stand it
as long as you can, you are mistaken," replied Thomas, proudly; and
taking the dipper, he continued to bale out the water, whistling an air
to indicate his indifference to the perils that surrounded them.

"Put her through, then; we shan't be much longer if we don't get
swamped."

The boat was now standing out from the shore, and while Thomas was still
busy, whistling off his fears, a violent gust of wind struck the sail,
causing the boat to heel over so far that she drank up several buckets
of water, and would have filled if the sprit had not broken, thus
removing the pressure.

"Come, Paul, I have got enough of this," cried Thomas, uneasily.

"I don't think you will be able to get any more of it, for the sprit has
snapped, and we can't carry sail any longer," replied Paul, apparently
unmoved by the accident. "Bale her out as fast as you can, and I will
take an oar, and keep her head up to the sea".

"What will you do now?" asked Thomas, whose courage was sorely tried by
the perilous situation of the boat.

"Get the water out, and we will see what can be done," answered Paul,
who, though he had already decided this important question, would not
permit his passenger to enter into his counsels, preferring to
tantalize him by his mysterious manner.

"Let us get ashore, Paul, as soon as possible."

"Going to back out?"

"No; what's the use of talking in that way, about backing out, when you
can't carry sail?" replied Thomas, whose pride was still unconquered,
though his courage was rapidly failing him.

"I shall rig a new sprit; there's the boat-hook, which will make a very
good one; it is just the right length."

"I'll give up then, and back out," said Thomas, despairing of any relief
from the misfortunes that had befallen the boat.

"Don't back out on my account; I will put you ashore at the Point, if
you say the word," replied Paul, satisfied now that he had kept his
promise and given his friend enough of it.

"Run for the shore, Paul."

"Just as you say;" and the boatman, proud of the triumph he had won over
his boastful companion, turned the boat's head towards the shore.

The corner of the sail hung down for the want of a sprit to support it,
but as they had the wind free, there was canvas enough to drive her
rapidly towards the shore. While they were still half a mile from the
cove, Thomas called Paul's attention to a horse and chaise on the beach,
from which a man was making violent gestures for them to come ashore.




CHAPTER III.

PAUL HEARS BAD NEWS.


"Who is it, Tom?" asked Paul, very anxiously.

"I don't know; can't make him out."

"What can he want with us?"

"Perhaps your mother has sent him after her runaway boy; but whoever he
is, I will tell him you are a fellow of the right spunk."

"Who can it be?"

"What matter who it is? Your mother won't whip you--will she?"

"No, of course not. My mother don't whip me."

"I thought she did, you seem so much afraid of her."

"I am not afraid of her."

"If you are, there is nothing else that can frighten you."

"I mind my mother because she is my mother; because I like to do so, and
not because I am afraid of her. You had better not say much more about
being afraid, Tom."

"Do you mean to say I was afraid?" said Thomas, smartly.

"If you wasn't afraid, you was confoundedly scared," replied Paul,
whose paradox was fully appreciated by his companion.

"Look here, Paul; are you going to tell the fellows that I was scared?"
demanded Thomas, rather in a beseeching than an intimidating tone.

"That will depend on circumstances."

"What circumstances?"

"You may as well understand me first as last. You keep talking about my
being afraid of my mother, and all that sort of stuff. I'm not afraid of
her, and I don't like to be told that I am."

"I won't say it again, then."

"Fellows that live in glass houses mustn't throw stones."

"Do you really think I was frightened, Paul?"

"I really think you was. Didn't you back out?"

"Not till the sail broke down."

"I offered to fix that."

"It's no use to risk a fellow's life for nothing."

"That's the point exactly. Don't you say a word about my mother, and you
may talk as big as you please about this scrape."

"I'm not going to talk big about it. I shall give you all the credit you
deserve."

"Of course you will. The fellow that holds the bag can let the cat out
when he chooses. I don't like to have my mother spoken of as you speak
of your mother. She's my mother, and she has always been a good mother
to me, and I would do anything in the world for her. There's only one
thing about this scrape that I'm sorry for; and that is, that I didn't
mind her. It makes me feel bad."

"She won't say much to you; she will be so glad to have you safely home,
that she won't feel like jawing you," answered Thomas, in what he
intended for words of consolation, but which were really heartless and
offensive to the penitent.

"My mother don't jaw; it will make her feel bad that I didn't mind her;
and that is ten times worse than a scolding or a whipping.--That man
keeps shaking his hat to us. Who do you think it is?"

"It looks like Captain Littleton."

"What can he want of me?" said Paul, anxiously.

"If it is Captain Littleton, it is more like he wants me."

In a few moments more the boat darted into the cove, and the boys
recognized Captain Littleton in the gentleman who had been beckoning to
them.

"Come ashore, Paul, as quick as you can!" shouted he, as he jumped into
his chaise, and drove nearer to the point where the boat was to land.

"Do you want me, sir?" asked Paul.

"Yes; you are wanted at home."

Our hero was filled with terror and anxiety by this reply. He was sure
that something had happened, or a gentleman like Captain Littleton
would not have taken the trouble to come after him. As the boat struck
the bank, he brailed up the sail, and jumped ashore with the painter in
his hand.

"Come, Paul, never mind the boat; Thomas will take care of her. Get into
the chaise with me as quick as you can," said Captain Littleton.

"What is the matter, sir? What has happened?" demanded Paul, trembling
with the most painful solicitude.

"Get into the chaise first, and I will tell you as we return."

"Has anything happened to my mother, sir?" cried Paul, the tears rushing
to his eyes.

"Nothing has happened to your mother, Paul. She is quite well," answered
Captain Littleton, as he urged the horse to his utmost speed.

Paul was greatly relieved by this assurance, though it was still evident
from the manner of the gentleman, and the speed at which he drove the
horse, that some dreadful event had occurred. His conscience smote him
for his disobedience to his mother, and he was not in a fit moral
condition to meet the shock of adversity with courage and fortitude. He
would have given the world, in that anxious moment, to have undone the
work of the last three hours, and effaced their record from his
conscience.

"Tell me what has happened, if you please, sir," he continued. "Is any
of the folks dead? You say it is not my mother."

"Your mother is quite well, and none of your family are dead,
though----"

Captain Littleton paused, and looked at the boy's face, which was still
bathed in tears. He saw the misery that he was enduring, and he
hesitated to utter words which he knew must carry grief and woe to his
heart.

"You must be calm and firm, Paul," continued the kind gentleman. "It is
not so bad as you suppose, and we may hope for the best. Your father has
just met with a serious accident."

"Is he dead, sir?" gasped Paul. "You don't tell me the whole story,
sir."

"He is not dead, Paul; but he is very badly hurt."

"He is alive, then?"

"He is."

Paul closely scrutinized the expression of Captain Littleton, fearful
that he had not told him the whole truth.

"Are you sure he was not killed?" he asked, still unsatisfied.

"He was alive when I left him, but that was nearly an hour ago."

"I am thankful if he is alive. How did it happen, sir?"

"He fell from the bow of the ship upon which he was at work, and struck
a pile of timber. I am afraid he is very badly hurt. I happened to be
near the shipyard at the time, and assisted in carrying him home. He is
conscious, and asked for you. Your mother said you were out in the
boat."

Paul burst into tears again at these words, for he realized the nature
and depth of his mother's feelings when she had uttered them, and how
bitterly did he regret his act of disobedience! The dreadful event had
come to intensify the anguish of his penitence, and he felt that, if he
had not done wrong, he could have met the calamity with patience and
resolution. When children do wrong, they know not what event may occur
to increase a thousand fold the bitterness of their remorse.

"Do you think my father is alive now?" sobbed Paul.

"I hope so; but it is impossible to foretell the result. The doctors
spoke very despondingly of his case; but we must hope for the best."

"How does my mother bear it?"

"As well as could be expected, considering the suddenness of the
calamity."

"O, it will kill her," groaned Paul.

"I hope not; you must be calm, my boy. It is dreadful, I know; but we
must not add to the pain of the sufferer by useless lamentation."

"I will be as calm as I can, sir; but it is awful to have such a thing
happen just now."

"We know not what a day or an hour may bring forth, Paul."

"Yes, but to have it happen now. If it had been at any other time, I
could have borne it better," continued the penitent boy, wiping away the
tears that blinded him.

"We cannot choose the time for such an event to happen."

"If it had only come before I left home! O, dear."

"Be calm, Paul; we could not select a time when we should be prepared
for such a calamity. You must not suppose one time is better than
another for trials and sorrows."

"You do not understand me, Captain Littleton," replied Paul, earnestly.
"I disobeyed my mother in going out in the boat. She told me to come
ashore, and stood on the beach beckoning and calling to me not to go,
but I didn't mind her. That's what makes me feel so bad about it."

"I am sorry you disobeyed her, for you must suffer the more for your
disobedience."

"I was sorry I did so before I came ashore, and now I would give all the
world if I had minded mother, and let Tom Nettle laugh at me as much as
he pleased."

"Tom is a wild boy, and you must not heed his jeers."

"I will not, another time. You think my father is not dead?"

"I think not," replied Captain Littleton, as he increased the speed of
the horse.

Paul did not say much more, but wept in silence as the chaise dashed
along the road. Every moment seemed like an hour, till he came in sight
of the cottage of his father. There were the two sulkies of the doctors,
and a crowd of people at the gate, to enable him to realize the dreadful
calamity which had overtaken him. The panting horse stopped before the
door, and Paul's limbs almost failed him as he dragged himself into the
house.

"O Paul," sobbed his mother, who met him at the door, "I thought you
would never come. I'm afraid you won't have a father a great while
longer."

"Forgive me, mother, for what I did," cried Paul.

"I do forgive you, my son; but come, your poor father wants to see you
very much."

His mother took him by the hand, and led him into the chamber where his
father lay. He was shocked by the change which a few short hours had
produced, and he needed not the skill of the physicians to assure him
that Mr. Duncan had but a short time to live.

"Paul," said his father, faintly, "I shall soon be no more, and I leave
your mother and your brothers and sisters to your care. Take good care
of them, Paul, for they will soon have no one else to help them. Be a
good boy, and be an honest man, and everything will go well with you. Be
true to your God and true to yourself, and then all the world cannot
harm you. May God keep you in the path of duty as long as you live."

Mr. Duncan closed his eyes with an audible sigh, and Paul burst into
tears, realizing that he was about to lose the kindest and best of
fathers.

"Don't cry, my boy," said the sufferer; "be a man, and in a little while
the struggle will be over with me."

The whole family were gathered round the bed, and Mr. Duncan gave them
his blessing, for the doctors assured him his hour was at hand. We will
not dwell upon the painful scene. In an hour all was still in that room
save the sobs of the bereaved widow, who stood gazing in agony upon the
silent form which she had seen go out from her that morning in the full
vigor of health and strength. The angel of death was there, and had done
his work.

Paul was stupefied by the suddenness of the shock, and all the currents
of his existence seemed to stop in their flow. He spent the afternoon in
his chamber, trying to understand the nature of his situation. He had
dried his tears, but the deeper grief had gone in upon his heart. He
spent a wakeful night in thinking of the past, and in endeavoring to
make himself believe that his father was dead. All that he had ever done
for him, all that he had ever said to him, came up before him with a
vividness that made them seem like realities.

In this condition he moved about the house till after the funeral,
mechanically executing such duties as he was required to perform; but
everything was so unnatural to him that he could hardly persuade himself
of the reality of his being. The death of his father was an epoch in his
existence, a turning point in his career, and the wheels of time, the
current of events, stopped, soon to resume their course in a different
direction.

When the last rites of love and respect had been paid to the remains of
his father, Paul roused himself from his stupor, and began to examine
the future. At the death bed of his parent he had received a solemn
charge, and he carefully reviewed the words, and recalled the expression
with which it had been committed to him. His mother and his brothers and
sisters had been given into his care, and he felt the responsibility of
the position he had accepted. He determined, to the best of his ability,
to discharge his duty to them; but he was sorely troubled to think of
some way by which he could earn money enough to support them, for he had
put a literal construction upon the dying words of his father.




CHAPTER IV.

PAUL BECOMES THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.


For a week after the funeral Paul racked his brain in devising
expedients to supply the place of his father in a pecuniary point of
view, but without success. If he went into a store, or obtained such a
place as a boy can fill, it would pay him only two or three dollars a
week, and this would be scarcely anything towards the support of the
family, for his father had generally earned twelve dollars a week during
the greater portion of the year. He wanted to do something better. He
did not expect to make so much as his father had made, but was
determined, if possible, to earn at least half as much.

Thus far his reflection had been to little purpose, for it was no small
matter for a boy to charge himself with double the work of one of his
age. He had not yet consulted his mother, nor obtained her views in
regard to the support of the family. He did not know whether she
expected him to do the whole of it, but it did not appear reasonable to
him that she could do anything more than to keep house and take care of
the children. He wished that he could go to her and relieve her of all
responsibility in regard to the money affairs, and let her live just as
she had been accustomed to live before the death of his father; and he
almost cried with vexation, after he had vainly ransacked his brains for
the means, to think he could not do so. He could not hit upon any plan
that would meet his expectations, and he decided to have a talk with her
in relation to the future.

"What are we going to do, mother?" he asked, as he seated himself in the
kitchen where Mrs. Duncan was getting supper.

"That is what I have been thinking of myself," she replied. "I have been
talking with Captain Littleton to-day, and he gave me some good advice,
and offered me any assistance I might require."

"You surely don't mean to live on charity, mother," added Paul, proudly.

"Certainly not. Captain Littleton did not offer to give me anything;
only to assist me in getting work for myself and you."

"O, well, that's all right."

"While we have our health and strength, we shall not have to ask other
help of any one."

"Of course not."

"I hope I am above asking charity, or taking it either."

"I knew you were. What did Captain Littleton say?"

"Thanks to the goodness and forethought of your father, we are not left
entirely destitute," replied Mrs. Duncan, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I didn't know there was anything left."

"After paying all the funeral expenses and the doctor's bills, I shall
have fifty dollars in money. Your father had no debts."

"Fifty dollars isn't much, mother, towards supporting the family. It
wouldn't last two months."

"That is very true; we have more than that. Three years ago your father
had his life insured for a thousand dollars, and this sum will be paid
to me in a few days."

"I didn't know that," said Paul, greatly surprised to find they had what
seemed to him so vast a sum. "We shall get along very well."

"Your father used to calculate that it cost him about eight dollars a
week to live, or about four hundred dollars a year. If he had had work
all the year round, he might have saved a very handsome sum, he used to
tell me."

"It will not cost us eight dollars a week now."

"No; we must live very prudently; but if it cost us only five, a
thousand dollars would last but a few years, and what should we do
then?"

"We must not spend it then."

"Captain Littleton told me what he thought we had better do. This house
in which we live can be bought for fifteen hundred dollars, though the
owner has always asked eighteen hundred, and----"

"You don't really think of such a thing as buying the house?"
interrupted Paul, filled with amazement at the magnitude of the idea.

"That is what Captain Littleton advises me to do."

"But you haven't money enough."

"I can give a mortgage for five hundred dollars. The rent of the house
is one hundred and forty dollars, and Mr. Freeman says he cannot afford
to let it for any less. Now, if we buy it, we can pay a thousand dollars
down, and we shall owe five hundred, on which we shall have to pay the
interest, amounting to thirty dollars. By this plan, we should have to
pay out only about fifty dollars a year for interest and taxes, or about
a dollar a week. In this way we can get along on five dollars a week."

"Buy the house then, by all means, mother. Five dollars a week! Well, I
think I shall be able to support the family, after all."

"You, Paul?" exclaimed Mrs. Duncan, with a smile.

"I am sure I can."

"What do you intend to do?"

"I don't know yet."

"Your poor father intended that you should enter the High School this
fall; but I suppose that cannot be. Captain Littleton said he would get
you a place where you could have two or three dollars a week."

"I must make more than that, mother," replied Paul, shaking his head.

"You must not be too ambitious. If you get two or three dollars a week,
you will do very well, and that sum will be a great help to me."

"You heard what father said to me in his last moments?" said Paul, with
solemn earnestness. "He told me to take care of my mother and of my
brothers and sisters, and I mean to do so."

"But he never had a thought that you could earn money enough to support
the whole of us. You are a good boy, Paul, but you must not try to do
too much."

"If we can live on five dollars a week, I am almost sure I can earn
that."

"That is a good deal for a boy like you."

"I can do it, I know."

"Captain Littleton said he would find a place for you."

"I shall be very much obliged to him, and will take any place I can get;
but I am certain before long that I can make five dollars a week."

"Don't think of such a thing. There are a great many men who get no more
than that. You must work your way up, little by little, Paul, and one of
these days you will obtain a good situation."

"That's just what I mean to do. Little by little--that's my motto; and
if I can only get hold any where, you may leave the rest to me."

"You are a good boy, Paul, and you will succeed by and by," said Mrs.
Duncan, proudly. "I expect to get some work myself next week, and I have
no doubt we shall do very well."

"What work, mother?" asked Paul, a shadow of dissatisfaction passing
over his face.

"Captain Littleton thought he could get me a chance to make bags for the
flour mills."

"I don't mean to have you take in work, mother. You have enough to do to
take care of the house and the children."

"I can do a good deal besides. Sarah can help a great deal about the
house, and with what we can all do, we shall get along very well indeed.
We ought to be very thankful for all the blessings that surround us."

"We are enough sight better off than I thought," replied Paul; "but I
don't want to have you make a slave of yourself. You used to work hard
enough; and now, if you are going to take in work, you will wear
yourself out in a few years."

"I guess not, Paul. There is somebody knocking at the door; go and see
who it is."

Paul went to the door, and the visitor proved to be Captain Littleton.

"I was looking for you, Paul," said he. "I'm going to give a dinner
party to-morrow, and I want a mess of perch, fresh from the rocks, by
twelve o'clock. I want you should go down and catch them for me. You
always have good luck at fishing. Will you do this for me, Paul?"

"Yes, sir; certainly I will."

"I will speak to your mother about it."

Paul conducted Captain Littleton into the little parlor, and called his
mother. She was willing that he should go, and glad to have him do
something in return for the gentleman's repeated acts of kindness.

"I will give you twenty cents a dozen for them, Paul, and I want at
least five dozen," continued the captain.

"He will not charge anything, sir," added Mrs. Duncan.

"Not a cent, sir," repeated Paul.

"It's a fair trade, young man, and I won't take them unless I pay for
them."

"I don't want any pay from you, sir."

"But I choose to pay you, and you must take your orders from me in this
instance. Have you any clams for bait?"

"No, sir. I will get some to-night."

"Very well; you may go and get them now, and I will talk to your mother
about business."

Paul took his hat and went down to the beach. Embarking in the old boat,
he sailed over to Tenean, where plenty of clams were to be had, and a
bucket full was soon procured. Like a prudent fisherman, he made all his
arrangements for the next day. First he repaired the worn-out sail, then
made a new sprit, and refitted the tiller to the rudder head. When
everything was in ship-shape order about the boat, he took out his perch
lines, ganged on a new hook, and rigged an extra sinker for use in case
of accident.

"Going a fishing, Paul?" said John Duncan, his brother, a lad of ten,
who joined him when he had nearly completed his preparations.

"I'm going down in the morning to get a mess of perch for Captain
Littleton."

"Let me go with you, Paul?"

"You must go to school."

"It don't keep."

"Ask mother, then; if she is willing, I am."

"Have you got a line for me?"

"Yes."

John Duncan, for his years, was almost as much of a sailor and fisherman
as Paul. Both of them took to the water like ducks, and seemed to
understand all about a boat as if by instinct. The prospect of a day
down below fired the imagination of the "young salt," and he ran up the
bluff with all his might to obtain the desired permission.

"May I go a-fishing with Paul to-morrow, mother?" shouted he, as he
rushed into the parlor, without noticing the presence of Captain
Littleton.

"We will see about that by and by. Take off your cap."

"How do you do, John?" said Captain Littleton.

"Pretty well," replied John, whose head keeled over on the port side,
as he discovered the visitor, and three fingers found their way into his
mouth.

"You want to go a-fishing, do you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you think it is safe to let him go?" asked Mrs. Duncan.

"I ain't afraid, mother," interrupted the young hopeful.

"I know you are not, and that's one reason why I don't like to trust you
in the boat."

"Your boys take to the water in a natural way; and when boys have a
decided taste of that kind, it isn't of much use to thwart them."

"I know it isn't; but John has worried my life out since he was four
years old, for he is always in the water."

"I should use proper precaution with him; but Paul is so good a boatman
that I should not be afraid to trust him in his care."

"You may go, John," added Mrs. Duncan. "I have almost made up my mind to
let him live in the water; but I can't help going to the window when he
is out on the beach, at least twenty times a day, to see if he isn't in
trouble."

"To return to Paul," said Captain Littleton, resuming the remarks which
the entrance of John had interrupted. "I have the refusal of a place in
a lawyer's office, where the salary is two dollars and a half a week.
It is small pay, but it is better than nothing."

"He expects more than that. It would have astonished you to hear him
talk a little while ago. He is going to assume the whole burden of
supporting the family, and is not willing that I should do anything."

"He is a smart boy, and ought to have a good place."

"He says he means to make five dollars a week; but that is mere
boy-talk."

"I like his spirit, but he will hardly be expected to earn five dollars
a week at present. I hope I shall be able to find him a better place
than the one I spoke of."

"You are very good, sir; I shall never be able to repay you for your
kindness."

"Don't mention it, ma'am. I am very glad to do anything I can for you.
You have made up your mind then to purchase the house?"

"Yes, sir."

"I think that's the best thing you can do under the circumstances. The
property is rising in value, and in a few years, if you should want to
sell, it would bring two thousand dollars. I will see Freeman as I
return, and the papers shall be made out immediately."

"Thank you, sir."

Captain Littleton took his leave, and Mrs. Duncan was very grateful to
him for the friendly interest he manifested in her affairs. When Paul
returned to the house, his mother informed him that her friend had found
a place for him; but the young aspirant had got an idea, and made up his
mind to decline the situation.




CHAPTER V.

PAUL COOKS HIS OWN BREAKFAST, AND GOES A-FISHING.


About six miles east of Bayville was a rocky island, around which perch
were abundant. Paul had often been there with his father, and was
familiar with the locality. He knew just where to moor his boat to have
good luck in fishing; and was acquainted with all the channels,
currents, and bars in the bay. He was not only a skilful seaman, but a
good pilot, and felt as much at home on the bay as in the streets of
Bayville.

It would be low tide in the bay at seven o'clock, and Paul made his
calculations accordingly. The best time to fish was on the "young
flood," or soon after the tide had turned to come in; and, if the wind
should happen to be light or contrary, it would take him a long time to
run down to Rock Island, as the place was called; therefore he must go
down with the tide. To accomplish his purpose it was necessary that he
should start by five o'clock in the morning, which was an hour before
his usual breakfast time.

He did not sleep very well that night, for the great idea to which we
have alluded was creating an immense commotion in his mind. He had
reasoned out the certainty of his being able to support the family, and
he felt as proud of his great resolution as though he had achieved its
full fruits. When, at last, he dropped asleep, it was only to dream of
great speculations, and of the satisfaction he should have in giving his
mother money enough on Saturday night to pay all the expenses of the
family for a week.

He woke very early in the morning, and as he jumped out of bed he heard
the clock on the Town Hall strike four. He did not mean to disturb his
mother, and therefore cautioned John not to make any noise. He was not
like some boys, who growl and grumble at their mothers if their meals
are not ready when they want them. Stealing softly down stairs, he went
to the back kitchen, and made a fire in the stove.

"Now, John, you go down to the boat, and bale her out," said he to his
brother, as the latter joined him.

"Are you going without any breakfast?" asked John.

"No; breakfast will be ready by the time you have baled out the boat."

"You haven't called mother yet?"

"I don't mean to do so."

"Where will you get your breakfast, then?"

"I will get it myself."

"You don't know how to cook," replied John, incredulously.

"You see if I don't; now go ahead, and don't make a noise, or you will
wake mother."

Paul then went down cellar, and brought up a few potatoes, which he
washed and put into the kettle. A piece of pork and a slice of veal were
deposited in the frying pan, ready to be cooked at the proper time. The
coffee, not omitting the important bit of fish skin, was put in the
coffee-pot, and operations in that quarter were suspended till the water
in the tea-kettle should boil. Though our hero had never actually
performed these manoeuvres with his own hands, he had seen them
executed so many times that he was perfectly familiar with the routine.

Everything upon the stove was doing very well, and he pulled out the
table, which he proceeded to cover with the proper articles for the
morning meal. Each article was carefully disposed in its proper place,
for Paul had already learned that food tastes better in the midst of
order and neatness, than when taken in dirt and confusion. It is true,
he made some mistakes for the want of experience, and was frequently
obliged to stop and think what articles were required; but when the
table was set, he was satisfied with its cheerful and neat appearance.
By this time the tea-kettle was spouting out long jets of steam, and the
lid was rattling under the influence of the commotion beneath it. Paul
poured a little of the boiling water into the coffee-pot, and then came
an appalling difficulty--he did not know how much to put in, and was not
sure that he had taken the proper quantity of coffee. At a venture he
filled the pot half full, and then proceeded to cook the meat. After the
coffee had boiled ten or fifteen minutes, he tested its strength, and
added more water. He was delighted with his success, and when John
returned from the beach, he was putting the breakfast upon the table.

"Breakfast is ready," said Paul.

"Did you cook it, though?"

"I did; I told you I could."

"I'll give up now. Why don't you hire out for a cook?"

"Perhaps I shall, one of these days."

"Wouldn't mother's eyes stick out if she should happen in about this
time!"

"I guess not much."

But they did, for just as the boys were seating themselves at the table,
Mrs. Duncan entered the room.

"Why, boys! what have you been doing?" exclaimed she, astonished at the
regularity with which everything seemed to be proceeding in her absence.

"Only getting something to eat before we go," replied Paul.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I thought I wouldn't get you up so early; besides, I could get
breakfast just as well myself."

"I declare you are a good cook, Paul. Your potatoes and meat look as
nice as can be. How is your coffee? Did you put a piece of fish-skin in
the pot?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Did you put any salt on the meat?"

"I did; come, mother, sit down and eat your breakfast."

Mrs. Duncan accepted this polite invitation, and seating herself in her
accustomed place, began to pour out the coffee. It was clear, and of the
right strength, and she liberally praised Paul for his culinary skill,
and declared that her son was a jewel about the house. The breakfast
seemed even better than usual that morning, and our hero was as proud as
though he had built a meeting house.

"Come, John, we must bear a hand; there isn't a breath of wind, and it
will take us some time to make Rock Island," said Paul, as he rose from
the table. "Have you filled the jug with water?"

"No, but I will."

"Here is some gingerbread and cheese for luncheon," added Mrs. Duncan,
as she handed Paul a basket she had filled for their use. "Now, be very
careful, and don't run any risk. Look out for squalls, and don't carry
sail too long."

"I'll be very careful, mother. You may trust me to go round the world,"
replied Paul.

"But I wish you had a better boat."

"She'll do very well, mother, though I hope to have a better one some
time or other."

The jug was filled at the pump, and with their provisions and water the
boys set off with light hearts for the work of the day.

Paul felt the responsibility of the trust which Captain Littleton had
imposed upon him. He was going to make some money by the operation, and
upon this day's success depended the hopes which he had been cherishing
in regard to his new scheme.

There are always some drawbacks to disturb the best-laid plans, and when
Paul reached the bluff, he discovered the boat adrift at some distance
from the shore.

"You are a careless fellow, John," he cried. "You didn't make fast the
boat."

"That's too bad, Paul; I didn't mean to do that," replied John, vexed at
the accident.

"I don't suppose you did; but you are careless."

"I thought I made her fast. What shall we do, Paul? I would rather given
anything than had this happen."

"So would I; but there is no use of crying about it. There isn't a skiff
within half a mile of here."

"I'll tell you what I'll do, Paul," said John, putting down the jug and
throwing off his jacket. "I'll swim out to her and scull her in."

Paul made no objection to this plan, and in half a minute more, John
had stripped and was swimming with all his might after the boat, which
was perhaps fifty rods from the shore. He was a vigorous swimmer, as
self-possessed in the water as on the land, and his brother had no fears
in regard to his safety, or his ability to reach the boat.

It did not take the little fellow long to catch the boat, and the
accident did not make more than half an hour's delay. The stores were
taken on board, and before John had time to dress himself, the boat was
under sail, and working slowly down the bay. A light breeze from the
west had sprung up, and a gentle ripple at the bow assured the young
fisherman that everything was progressing in a satisfactory manner.

"I should like to be a fisherman, Paul," said John, who sat on the
bottom of the boat opening clams for bait.

"Perhaps you may be one of these days," replied Paul, moodily. "I think
I shall do something in that line right off."

"You, Paul?"

"Yes, but don't you say a word about it to anybody, above all, not to
mother. I have been thinking about it all night."

"What do you mean, Paul?"

The ambitious youth had a great idea in his mind, which was struggling
to be actualized. More than twenty times since the preceding evening had
the words of Captain Littleton crossed his imagination, and kindled up
a great blaze of possibilities and probabilities. "I will give you
twenty cents a dozen for them," the captain had said. If he would buy
perch others would buy them. He had a boat, and there would not be many
days when he could not catch as many as five or six dozen. Even at a
shilling a dozen he could make a dollar a day.

This was his scheme--to supply Bayville with fresh fish. He had as good
a chance to sell them as the men who went through the place blowing
their tin horns. He should have an advantage over them, for his fish
were certain to be fresh, and he was sure the people would be willing to
patronize him. The plan promised exceedingly well, and he wished to talk
it over with some one, though he was not quite ready to have it made
public. It was true, John was only ten years old, and didn't know much;
but he wanted to talk with somebody about it, and so he concluded to
take his brother into his confidence.

"What do I mean, John?" said he. "Why can't I catch perch every day, and
sell them in town?"

"Sure enough, why can't you?" replied John, delighted with the idea, and
perhaps bringing some selfish motives to bear upon it.

"We can haul 'em in as fast as we can throw over the line off the rocks,
and there are rich folks enough in Bayville to buy them."

"It's a first-rate idea," exclaimed John, with enthusiasm. "You might
go down farther, and catch cod and haddock."

"I would if I had a good boat."

"Father used to go out after cod and haddock in this boat."

"I know, but she is getting rather shaky."

The great idea was discussed in all its bearings till they reached Rock
Island, when Paul carefully selected his position, and let go the
anchor. The hooks were baited and the lines thrown over, and never
before had Paul taken his fishing apparatus when so much seemed to
depend upon the success of his efforts. His heart beat as the sinker
touched the bottom, and he pulled it up the proper distance. All his
fortunes for the future appeared to hang upon the result.

"Hurrah! I've got one!" shouted John, as with childish eagerness he
pulled in his line.

It was a sculpin!

Was this a type of his own success? Was he to watch his chance on the
great sea of life, and finally, after all his anxious watching and toil,
was he to pull in only a sculpin? These were painful thoughts to Paul,
and his heart almost sunk within him, as he considered the possible
failure of his favorite scheme. If he failed in this, he must accept the
paltry two dollars and a half a week, and let his mother drudge like a
slave. He could not tolerate the thought of failure, and----

A bite!

Paul did not whistle till he got out of the woods, and announced his
success to John by slapping a monster perch upon the bottom of the boat.
If that was a type of his success he was satisfied. Before he had time
to follow out the reflections suggested by the event, John hauled in the
mate to the big fish, and another had taken hold of his own hook.

By ten o'clock there were six dozen perch in the basket, besides three
handsome tautog and half a dozen sea flounders. The young fisherman was
satisfied, hauled up killock, and made sail for home. His heart was as
light as the upper air, and he was confident of the success of his grand
scheme.




CHAPTER VI.

PAUL MAKES A GOOD SPECULATION.


"Now, John you must steer, while I skin the perch," said Paul, as he
resigned the helm to his brother.

"That I will," replied he, with alacrity, for he did not often get a
chance to handle the boat, and was fond of the amusement.

"But you must be careful, and keep your eyes open, for we have no time
to spare," added the youthful skipper.

"Do you think I don't know how to steer a boat?" asked John, hurt by the
insinuation.

"You know how well enough, if you will pay attention to it, and not be
fooling with her."

"I'll keep her right."

Paul took from under the thwart an old shoe-knife which had been ground
down to one third of its original width. It had been well sharpened for
this important occasion, but he had provided an old whetstone as a
further precaution against a dull blade. To skin a perch neatly and
expeditiously is a nice operation; but Paul had had sufficient practice
in the art to render him a skilful hand. Seating himself on the lee
rail, he commenced work in earnest, occasionally glancing up to see that
the boat was doing her best in the way of sailing.

"How much will you make, Paul, if you sell all your fish?" asked John.

"The perch will bring a dollar and twenty cents, if I get twenty cents a
dozen for them."

"The tautog are worth something."

"They are worth a quarter apiece."

"You have done a good day's work then?"

"If I sell the fish, I shall," answered Paul, with a smile of
satisfaction. "Come, John, the sail is shaking, and you have lost the
wind," he added as his brother carelessly luffed her up.

"I was adding up the perch and the tautog."

"You must mind the boat; you must stop talking, if you can't do your
duty without."

John promised to be more careful, and Paul had no further occasion to
complain of his inattention. The younger fisherman was a good boy, but
he had not yet been trained to that steadiness of purpose which is
necessary to success. He was only ten years old, and it was not to be
expected that he should fully appreciate the earnestness of his
brother's purpose, though he was beginning to realize that close
attention was necessary in order to accomplish great deeds. He was fond
of trying experiments, just for the fun of the thing; and when he had
been permitted to take the helm on other occasions, he wanted to do
something besides keep her in a direct course--to see how close she
would lie to the wind without letting the sail shake, to run down a
floating mass of seaweed, or chase a stick of wood; but on this trip, he
was guilty of no greater indiscretion than carelessness.

Long before the boat reached Bayville, Paul had skinned and strung the
fish; and their appearance on the line was creditable to his skill.
Leaving John to secure the boat, he took the fish and hastened up to the
house of Captain Littleton. He found that gentleman in his garden with
his guests.

"Well, Paul, what luck?" asked he, as the young fisherman came in sight.

"First-rate, sir."

"How many have you got?"

"Six dozen."

"Just the number I want. Carry them into the kitchen, Paul. I declare,
you have dressed them very nicely."

"I tried to have them right, sir, and I am glad they suit you," replied
Paul, modestly, as he walked towards the rear of the house.

"Stop, Paul; what have you got there?" said Captain Littleton.

"Tautog, sir; and if you will permit me, I will leave them in the
kitchen with the perch."

"You are a lucky fisherman Paul; those are handsome fish, and if you
will leave them, I will make it all right when you come out. That is a
luxury I did not expect."

Paul was delighted by the commendation of his friend, and the splendid
scheme of his future operations increased in importance with every word
that was uttered. With a light heart he ran into the kitchen with his
stock, and then returned to Captain Littleton.

"Here is two dollars, Paul," said he, handing him a bill.

"That is too much, sir," stammered Paul, overwhelmed at the idea of
having made two dollars in one day.

"It is right, my boy; take it. You mustn't be bashful if you are going
to fight your way through the world."

"You are very kind, sir, but this is more than the fish come to,"
answered Paul, taking the bill.

"No, it isn't; the perch come to a dollar and twenty cents, the tautog
to seventy-five, which make a dollar and ninety-five cents. So we will
call it square, and I am very much obliged to you besides."

"I didn't mean to charge you any thing for the tautog, sir."

"Look here, Paul; when you get rich I will accept your gifts; but now,
my boy, I will take the will for the deed, and I feel just as grateful
to you as though you had presented me a service of plate. You have done
well, and I am glad of it."

"Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you for this, and for all you
have done for my mother," replied Paul, as he put the bank bill in his
pocket.

"By the way, how about that place in the lawyer's office, Paul?" said
Captain Littleton, as the young fisherman turned to go home.

"If you please, sir, I had rather not take the place."

"You are going to do better, then?"

"Yes, sir, I think I am. I am very much obliged to you for the trouble
you have taken."

"Not at all, my boy; I didn't think the situation would be large enough
to suit your ambition. What are you going to do, Paul?"

"I am going to catch fish, and sell them in town, sir," replied Paul,
boldly, though he could hardly keep down the emotions that swelled in
his bosom.

"Good, my boy! I like an enterprising spirit and I dare say you will do
very well. You may put me down for two dozen perch every Saturday."

"Thank you, sir."

"I will speak to my neighbors, and I have no doubt you will find a
market for all the fish you can catch."

"You are very kind."

"What does your mother say about the plan?"

"I haven't told her yet. It is a new idea. I am afraid she will not like
it very well."

"She will not object very strongly."

"If you would speak to her about it, if you please, sir; she will think
everything of what you say."

"I will, Paul. When you catch any more tautog, be sure and bring them to
me."

"I certainly will, Captain Littleton," answered Paul, as he bounded
towards home, his heart filled with gratitude to his friend, and with
hope for the success of his darling scheme.

Half a dozen times on the way, he put his hand into his pocket to feel
of the old black wallet, that contained the proceeds of his first day's
work. He had never done a job before which produced more than half a
dollar, and the immense sum in his pocket seemed enough to make or break
an ordinary bank. Such a run of luck was almost incredible. Wouldn't his
mother be astonished when he handed her that two dollar bill!

He had some misgivings in regard to his mother's consent; for like all
good mothers, who love their sons, she did not like to have him exposed
to danger. But that two dollar bill, and the brilliant promise of
success which the future held out to him, would be strong arguments in
favor of the scheme, and he hoped to triumph over every objection she
could present.

Before he reached the cottage, Paul contrived to subdue some of his
enthusiasm, and walked into the kitchen, where his mother was getting
dinner, as coolly and indifferently as though nothing extraordinary had
happened. It was hard work for him to keep down the excitement that was
raging within, but he had determined not to made a fool of himself.

"Well, Paul, have you had a good time," said Mrs. Duncan, as he entered
the room.

"First-rate, mother," he replied; though he was not exactly pleased to
find that she regarded the trip to Rock Island in the light of a
pleasure excursion.

"Did you get as many fish as Captain Littleton wanted?"

"Yes, more too; I left six dozen perch and three handsome tautog in his
kitchen just now."

"You were lucky."

"I am good for as many as that every day. Look here, mother;" and he
pulled out his wallet, and took therefrom the two dollar bill. "What do
you think of that?"

"Did he give you all that?"

"He did."

"He is very liberal."

"That he is; but the fish came to about that; the tautog are worth a
quarter apiece."

"You have done bravely, my boy. If you could make half as much money as
that every day, we should have all we want, and more too."

"I can, mother; and I mean to do so," replied Paul, thinking this a good
opportunity to announce his magnificent intentions.

"You mustn't be too confident, Paul."

"I know I can."

"And, pray, what do you mean to do?" inquired Mrs. Duncan, with an
incredulous smile.

"I am going into the fishing business, mother."

"Into what?"

"Into the fishing business."

"What in the world do you mean by that?"

"I mean just what I say, mother!"

"Is the boy crazy?" demanded Mrs. Duncan, suspending her culinary
operations, and looking with interest into the animated face of her son.

"I am as regular as I ever was in my life. I've thought it all over, and
spoken to Captain Littleton besides; and he says go ahead," replied
Paul, making an early use of the captain's encouraging words.

"But I don't understand what you mean? Going into the fishing business?"

"Yes, ma'am; we've got a boat, and I mean to go down to Rock Island
every day, Sundays excepted, and catch perch. I mean to sell them here
in Bayville, and Captain Littleton told me to put him down for two dozen
every Saturday. That's the idea, mother."

"But, Paul----"

"If I can get a shilling a dozen for them, I can make a dollar a day as
easy as you can turn your hand over," added Paul, who was not disposed
to let his mother speak upon impulse.

"You would have to be on the water every day."

"What of that, mother? The water is a good thing to be on, and just as
safe as the land, if you are only a mind to think so."

"Rather dangerous, I'm afraid."

"O, no, mother; it's only a notion some folks have, that the water
isn't safe."

"Hundreds of people are drowned every year."

"And hundreds smashed up and killed on the railroads. Why, Captain
Mitchell don't think it is safe to go about much on the land. He only
feels secure when he is in his old whale boat. He won't get into a
chaise or a wagon--don't think it is safe to ride in them; but he knocks
about the bay in all sorts of weather. Please don't object to it,
mother, for I've set my heart upon the business, and I'm satisfied I
shall do well," said Paul, with kindling enthusiasm.

"Well, if you are set upon it, I don't want to say too much against it,"
replied Mrs. Duncan, doubtfully.

"Captain Littleton will speak to you about it, and he understands these
things."

"I know he does; but after all, I would rather have you safe on land."

"I shall be safe enough, mother; and I shall be able to take care of the
family without your making bags."

"You are a good boy, Paul," added his mother, turning from him to wipe
away the tears that moistened her eyes, for in the loneliness of her
widowhood she realized what it was to have such a noble and devoted son.

Paul was delighted to think he had so easily smoothed over matters with
her. He had expected to have a hard beat to windward in reconciling her
to his plan, but she had proved much more reasonable than he
anticipated. He attributed his ready victory in a great measure to the
influence of Captain Littleton's name, and he was confident he would
remove any remaining doubts she might harbor.

After dinner Paul went up to his room, and taking from his drawer a
little account book, which had long been waiting to be used, he entered
the amount of the day's sales upon the first page.

"Little by little," said he, as he returned the book to the drawer, "and
one of these days I shall be rich."

This was a very comforting reflection, and notwithstanding the possible
slip between the cup and the lip, he enjoyed the full benefit of it.




CHAPTER VII.

PAUL GOES INTO BUSINESS ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.


Before night, all the arrangements for the next day's trip were
completed, and Paul retired at an early hour, so as to be up in season
in the morning. The excitement which his great project created in his
mind, however, would not let him sleep till he was actually exhausted
with thinking. He did not wake till five o'clock in the morning, which
made him so ashamed of himself, that he could hardly conceal his
vexation, especially as he found his mother was up, and his breakfast
was nearly ready, when he went down-stairs. But on reflection he found
he was early enough, for it would be low tide nearly an hour later than
on the preceding day.

While he was eating his breakfast, his brother John came down. It was an
unusually early hour for him to rise, and it was evident from the haste
with which he completed his toilet, after he found Paul had not gone,
that he had an idea of his own, as well as his brother.

"Mayn't I go with you, Paul?" asked he.

"You must go to school."

"Mayn't I stay away from school to-day, mother?" added he, turning
quickly to Mrs. Duncan.

"I'd rather you wouldn't, John."

"Why not, mother?" whined he.

"I don't want you to stay out of school a single day, when it can be
prevented."

"I should think I might go with Paul. I can catch as many fish as he
can."

"Paul is older than you are, and he always kept close to his school till
he left."

"I want to do something towards supporting the family, as well as he."

Mrs. Duncan laughed, and so did Paul; for however ambitious the young
gentleman might have been to bear his full share of the burden of the
family, it was too evident that his taste for boating and fishing was
the dominant motive for absenting himself from school.

"Let me go with you, Paul."

"Mother says you must go to school, and I think you had better be
there."

"Who will steer the boat while you skin the fish?" demanded John, who
had a proper idea of the value of his services, and was not at all
pleased at the thought of having them undervalued.

"I shall try to get along some way without you. I should like to have
you go, first rate, John; but I don't think you ought to stay out of
school. You will have a vacation next week, and you may go every day
then, if you want to."

"You ought to take me with you, Paul," continued John, resorting to the
persuasive, now that the argumentative had failed.

"I tell you I should like to have you go with me, if it were not for
your school."

John exhausted his store of arguments and persuasions without effect,
and then fled to his room to cry over his defeat. Paul sympathized with
his brother in his disappointment, but as the head of the family, he
could not, on principle, yield the point. Taking his jug of water and
his lunch, he left the house and hastened to the beach. The wind was
light, as on the preceding day, and it took him nearly two hours to run
down to Rock Island, for the old boat was a very heavy sailer even under
the most favorable circumstances.

Paul did not feel quite so nervous as on the day before, for he was so
confident of success that he did not feel uneasy even when he did not
get a bite for quarter of an hour. The perch were accommodating in the
main, and did not disappoint him, for at twelve o'clock--as he judged it
to be by the height of the tide--he had seven dozen in the boat, and
they were still biting as greedily as when he first commenced. He had
two lines on board, and he tried the experiment of using them both at
the same time, though without much success; for perch are fastidious,
and require a great deal of attention. While he was pulling in a fish
upon one line, the sly rogues in the brine stole his bait from the
other, and he came to the conclusion it was not best to have too many
irons in the fire at once.

Paul did not like to abandon the field while it was yielding such a rich
harvest; but he was a prudent fisherman, and not disposed to run any
risks. The tide would turn in less than two hours, and he knew it would
be impossible to run up to Bayville against both wind and tide. The old
boat was not equal to any such emergency, and he reluctantly wound up
his line and made sail for home.

The seven dozen perch were to be cleaned, and when he got fairly under
way he missed John, for it was difficult for him to skin fish and work
the boat at the same time. Seating himself in the stern he passed his
arm round the tiller,--for there was no comb to keep it in place,--and
commenced his labors. He soon found that he was working at a great
disadvantage, and he exerted his ingenuity to devise a plan for
overcoming the difficulty. Taking a small line, he made the middle of it
fast to the end of the tiller; then passing it round the cleets, he tied
the ends together. This apparatus kept the tiller in its place, and he
could change it to any required position by pulling the line. Resuming
his labors upon the fish, he found his plan worked very well, and the
perch were in readiness for market when he reached the shore. After
securing the boat, he hastened with the fish to the cottage, where his
dinner was waiting for him. His mother congratulated him upon his
success, and told him that Captain Littleton had been to see her during
his absence, and that she was entirely reconciled to his new occupation.

The most difficult part of the business, in Paul's estimation, was yet
to come--that of selling the fish. As he left the house with his
precious load of merchandise, he could not help feeling that the grand
scheme was still an experiment, for it had not been demonstrated that
Bayville would buy six or eight dozen of perch every day. It was a large
place, containing about six thousand inhabitants; and as he walked
along, he brought his mathematical knowledge into use in an attempt to
convince himself that the market was large enough to keep him busy
during the season. At the least calculation there were six hundred
families in the town, and probably a thousand. If each family would buy
a mess of perch once in ten days, it would make six hundred dozen in
that time, or sixty dozen a day; but, to make allowance for
over-estimates, he was willing to reduce the total one half, and call it
thirty dozen a day. The fisherman would supply a large portion of the
demand, but he concluded that he should have no difficulty in selling
all the perch he could catch.

Passing the house of Captain Littleton, the next was that of Major
Nettle, and he resolved to make his first attempt to sell. The
gentleman, was not at home, and the servants didn't know anything about
it; and he was just leaving when Thomas Nettle accosted him.

"What have you got, Paul?"

"Perch; do your folks want to buy any?"

"Yes, I guess they do. Where did you catch them?"

"Down at Rock Island; I am going down every day."

"Are you, though? I should like to go with you some time."

"I shall be glad to have you. I have gone into this business."

"What for?"

"Since my father died, I have to do something to help my mother,"
replied Paul, not caring to announce to his friend the whole of his
stupendous plan.

"Do you expect to do anything at this business?"

"Certainly I do; I made two dollars at it yesterday."

"Did you though?"

"Do your folks want any perch to-day?"

"I guess they do; how much a dozen?"

"Seventeen cents," replied Paul, who had decided to be moderate in his
prices.

"I will speak to my mother."

Thomas returned in a short time, and took two dozen of the fish, and
paid the money for them. Overjoyed at this success, he proceeded to the
next house; but though he was eloquent in regard to the freshness and
fineness of his wares, he could not make a trade. He met with no better
success at the next three or four places at which he called, and he
began to feel a little discouraged. But the next house in his way was a
large, genteel boarding-house, and he had the satisfaction of selling
four dozen at the price he had before fixed, though he had almost made
up his mind to let them go at ninepence. The gentleman who kept the
house was pleased to get the perch, and wanted the young fisherman to
bring him some three times a week for the present, for his boarders were
very fond of them.

Paul could scarcely contain himself for the joy he felt, as he glanced
at the only remaining dozen of his stock, and at the very next house he
disposed of them. With a dollar and nineteen cents in his pocket, he
walked towards home, proud as a lord of his success. The result of this
day's work afforded him far more satisfaction than that of the preceding
day, though the proceeds were considerably less; for he was conscious of
the influence of Captain Littleton's generosity in the transaction. But
the second day's triumph was achieved by his own unaided labor and
skill. What he had done this day was a fair specimen of what he might
hope to do in the future.

"Sold out so soon, Paul?" said his mother, as he entered the kitchen.

"Yes; I had good luck. They took four dozen at the boarding-house. I
think if I had had twenty dozen I could have sold them all. There is a
great deal of difference between perch just out of the water, fresh and
good, and perch which have been dragged about in a fish cart, under a
hot sun, for two or three days."

Mrs. Duncan fully agreed with this sage remark, and did not think it
improved any kind of fish to keep them a great while after they were
caught.

"One dollar and nineteen cents, mother; here is the money," continued
Paul, emptying the contents of the wallet into her lap. "What do you
think of the fishing business _now_, mother?"

"It has proved to be a very good business so far: but you must not
expect people to eat perch all the year round, Paul. They will get sick
of them after a while."

"Then I shall go farther off; but there are other fish besides perch,
and I don't intend to confine my operations to one kind. There are eels,
and smelts, and cod, and haddock; and if worse comes to worse, I can go
into the clam trade."

"What a boy!" laughed Mrs. Duncan. "You are so determined that I have no
doubt you will succeed."

"If I don't, it shall not be my fault," replied Paul, complacently.

"But you don't mean to follow this business all your life?"

"Why not?"

"The life of a fisherman is not the pleasantest in the world."

"That's according to one's taste. If I only had a good boat, I can't
think of anything that would suit me better."

"It is hard work."

"So much the better. You said that five dollars a week would support the
family. Now, if you have no objection, I will save up all I make over
that sum, till I get enough to buy a boat."

"Certainly, Paul; and if you give me three dollars a week, or even two,
I can get along very well."

"I shall not do that, mother. I am going to support the family, anyhow;
and I wish you wouldn't take any more bags to make."

"You mustn't think of doing too much, Paul."

"Too much! I shall be idle half the time, at this rate. Here I am, with
my day's work done at three o'clock in the afternoon. I don't want you
to do anything, mother, but take care of the house, as you always used
to do."

"There will certainly be no need of it, if you get along as well as you
expect. How much will such a boat as you want cost, Paul?"

"Well, I don't know; when I buy I want to get a first-rate one."

"How much do you think."

"Fifty to seventy-five dollars; but I won't think of such a thing yet a
while. The old one will do very well for the present. I can save up
something every week, and little by little, I shall make up enough to
get just such a boat as I want."

"You might take the money from the life insurance; for Mr. Freeman will
perhaps sell us the house, if we pay nine hundred dollars down."

"I won't do that, mother. My boat shall be bought with my own earnings."

"I will lend you the money, then."

"No, I won't get in debt."

"But a new boat would be safer."

"The old one is safe enough; all the fault I find with her is, that it
takes her so long to get down to the fishing ground."

Paul resolutely refused to run in debt, or to touch the money which had
been appropriated for the purchase of the house. He intended, when he
had time, to fix up the old boat, and rig a jib on, which he thought
would overcome his principal objection to her.

When he went to bed that night, he entered the proceeds of this day's
work in his book, and then with pardonable pride, he congratulated
himself on the sum total of the earnings of the two days.




CHAPTER VIII.

PAUL TAKES A COLD BATH.


The limits of our little volume do not permit us to follow Paul Duncan
into the minutiae of his prosperous business, and we are reminded that
great events in his experience are yet to be introduced. He was
successful in his undertaking, though, like all in this inconstant
world, he was subjected to trials and disappointments. There were some
days when it was so rough off the rocks that he could not fish; and
there were others when he had to travel many miles before he could sell
his fish. During John's vacation, his receipts amounted to about two
dollars a day, which went a great way in counter-balancing the ill luck
of the next week. On an average, he earned about a dollar a day.

He had won a reputation in Bayville which helped him a great deal in
disposing of his merchandise. People saw him working hard to supply the
place of his father, and they were glad to encourage him, as there are
always found enough who are willing to help those that help themselves.
The sympathy and kindness of his neighbors were a great assistance to
him, and no doubt without them his fish would have oftener been a drug
in the market.

Paul inherited some portion of his father's mechanical skill; and on the
first stormy day after he set up in business, he commenced his
contemplated improvements upon the old boat. She was a very poor subject
to work upon, but he got out the wood for building a half deck over her,
which he fitted on as he had opportunity. A short bowsprit was added to
her rig, and his mother made him a jib, which he cut out himself. Thus
refitted, the old boat, though her main defects could not be remedied,
was much improved, and worked better than before. She was far from
coming up to the young fisherman's ideal of a trim craft, and he
cherished a strong hope that before many years had passed away, he
should have the satisfaction of sailing such a boat as his fancy had
already clearly defined. The time was closer at hand than he suspected.

One day, early in the month of July, Paul was making his way home from
the rock in a smart blow. While he was fishing, the wind had hauled
round to the northeast, and continued to freshen till it became a
reefing breeze. He had got but a small fare of fish, for the heavy sea
had interfered with his operations. He disliked to leave the fishing
ground, but it was sufficiently evident to him that a storm was
approaching. He had often promised his mother that he would be very
careful, and the present seemed a proper time to exercise that caution.
John was with him, and in spite of this bold youth's most earnest
protest, he got up the anchor and made sail for home.

"What are you afraid of, Paul?" demanded John, with evident disgust.

"You are a pretty sailor! Don't you see it is going to blow a young
hurricane?"

"What if it does? I should like to be out in a blow once. I want to know
what it's like," replied the reckless boy.

"You may know now, before you get home. Don't you see the white caps on
the waves off to windward?"

"I like the looks of them, and it's fun to skip over them."

"I don't want to worry mother. She's at the window by this time, looking
out for the boat. Do you think there is any fun in making her uneasy?
Besides, I don't think it is safe to stay here any longer. There comes
the Flyaway under jib and mainsail."

"What of it?"

"She went down to be gone all day. What do you suppose she's coming back
for at this early hour?"

"I suppose Captain Littleton didn't want to make the women seasick,"
promptly replied John.

"Would the foresail make them sick? She has taken the bonnet off her jib
too. Captain Littleton knows when to expect a gale, and we shall have
it soon."

So it seemed by the working of the little boat, for she tossed up and
down on the waves like a feather, and thrust her bows under so far, that
John had to waste some of his enthusiasm upon the baling kettle. Paul
had not hoisted the jib, for the mainsail was all the old craft could
stagger under, and her youthful skipper expected soon to be obliged to
reef. The Flyaway was at the eastward of the island, driving over and
through the waves like a phantom. The spray was dashing over her bows,
and her jib was wet several feet above the boltrope. She was working to
windward till she could clear the island, when she would have the wind
free into Bayville Harbor. Perhaps some of my non-nautical young readers
will need to be informed that working to windward means sailing in a
zigzag line in the direction from which the wind blows.

The Flyaway ran close in to Rock Island, and tacked at the very spot
where Paul had just been lying at anchor, and his boat was not more than
the eighth of a mile distant from her. The boys could distinctly see the
ladies and gentlemen on board of her, and replied to signals of
recognition that were made to them. There were several children on her
deck, and Paul identified Carrie Littleton in a little girl of ten, who
was waving her handkerchief to him. As the yacht came up into the wind,
and before the boom swung over, the young lady jumped upon the taffrail
to obtain a better view of them. To the horror of all who saw the
accident, the heavy spar struck her on the shoulder, and she was knocked
overboard. The Flyaway, catching the wind, flew from the spot, and when
the little girl rose to the surface of the water, she was out of the
reach of those on board of her.

"Heavens and earth!" shouted Paul, jumping up from his seat, as he
beheld the catastrophe. "There is Carrie Littleton knocked overboard by
the boom!"

"O, dear! She will be drowned!" gasped John.

"Take the helm, John! Don't blubber! Quick!" cried Paul, as he leaped
forward, and brailed up the sail. "Now, hard down! Lively!"

The boat, which was making very good headway, came about, and was headed
towards the island. Shaking out the sail again, she bore down towards
the unfortunate girl. In the meantime, the Flyaway had luffed up; though
she was nearer to Carrie than Paul's boat, she was rapidly drifting to
leeward. Her tender, which was a light canoe, had been placed upon deck,
and the crew were launching her; but as they did so, by the clumsiness
of some one engaged in the operation, she filled as she struck the
water, and they were obliged to haul her up again with the halliards.

Before they had made fast to the painter of the canoe, Paul had reached
the scene of the disaster, but poor Carrie had sunk beneath the angry
waves. She had evidently been injured by the blow of the boom, and was
unable to make any exertion.

"Now mind your eye, John!" shouted Paul as he dashed off his coat and
shoes. "When I dive, throw her up into the wind."

"Look out, Paul; don't do that," remonstrated his brother. "You will be
drowned yourself. Fish her up with the boathook. Mother will----"

The intrepid youth, disregarding the terror of his brother, dived over
the bow of the boat the moment he saw the form of the poor girl, which
was revealed to him by the white dress she wore. John obeyed the
instructions he had received, but before Paul reappeared, with the
drowning child in his arms, the boat had drifted some distance from the
spot.

"Haul aft your sheet!" gasped Paul, when he had regained breath enough
to speak.

John obeyed, but his terror had almost paralyzed his arm, and his action
was not so prompt as it might have been; but the boat slowly gathered
headway, and moved towards the struggling youth. Paul battled manfully
with the big waves, which repeatedly swept him under, and determined to
die rather than drop his helpless burden.

As the boat came down upon him, Paul supported Carrie with one arm, and
grasped the gunwale with the other.

"Luff up!" said he. "Now, catch hold of her, and help haul her in," he
added, as the boat came up into the wind.

John did his best, but he was not strong enough to draw the lifeless
form into the boat. Bidding him hold on for his life, Paul leaped into
the boat, and drew her in.

"Keep her away for the yacht," cried Paul, as he placed the form of the
poor girl--for he was not certain that it was still animated by the
vital spark--in the bottom of the boat.

Turning her face down, in order to let the water run out of her mouth,
he used all the efforts his knowledge and his means would permit to
promote her restoration. In a few moments the boat came alongside the
Flyaway, though John, in the excitement of the moment, stove her gunwale
in, and had nearly added another calamity to the chapter of accidents.

Captain Littleton jumped into the boat as she struck the side, and
seizing the beloved child in his arms, leaped back upon deck, and then
rushed into the cabin.

"Hand up your painter, Paul, and come on board, both of you," said
Captain Gordon, the skipper of the Flyaway.

"Ay, ay, sir," replied Paul, too much interested in the fate of poor
Carrie to think of parting company with the yacht.

The fishing boat was made fast at the stern of the Flyaway, and she
stood off again to clear the rocks around the island. All the party on
board had followed Captain Littleton into the cabin, to learn the
condition of his child, or to render assistance in restoring her. It was
very fortunate that Dr. Lawrence was one of the company, for he was a
very skilful man, and under his direction the measures for the relief of
Carrie were conducted.

The Flyaway had reached her berth at the mouth of the river before the
efforts for the child's restoration promised to be effectual. It was
found that the blow of the boom had not seriously injured her. In an
hour after the yacht reached her moorings, she was able to speak, and
the doctor ordered her to be taken home.

Before the yacht reached her berth, a pair of anxious eyes, from the
chamber window of the cottage, had discovered the dingy old boat towing
at her stern. The mother's heart almost failed her, as her imagination
pictured some dreadful calamity that had happened to her boys. Filled
with dreadful forebodings, she seized her shawl and bonnet, and hastened
to the landing, in the rear of Captain Littleton's house. They were
bringing home the boat in which her boys had gone out, and she feared
that one or both of them had been lost. She tried to believe that the
yacht had overtaken them, and that Captain Littleton had invited them on
board; but her fears were stronger than her hopes.

When she reached the landing place, she saw that the gunwale of the old
boat was stove, and her heart sank within her. There were several
persons at the landing, and she told them what she feared. One of them
took a skiff and rowed out to the yacht. Paul and John were both in the
cabin, and when the messenger came alongside, the captain called them on
deck. Seeing Mrs. Duncan on the shore, they got into their boat, and
soon joined her.

"I never was so glad to see you before in my life!" exclaimed the
delighted mother, clasping them both to her bosom. "Why, Paul, you are
as wet as a drowned rat! You have been overboard; I know you have!"

"That's so, mother; but I didn't upset nor fall overboard. I went over
of my own free will."

"Yes, he did, mother," interrupted John. "Carrie Littleton was knocked
overboard by the boom, the Flyaway's boat got swamped, and she drifted
to leeward, and we came about, and bore down on her, and Paul dived
after her, and I worked the boat, and we hauled her in, and took her on
board the Flyaway--didn't we, Paul?" and John sputtered as though his
own mouth had been full of salt water.

"We did," replied Paul.

"You will catch your death a-cold, Paul. Do come home now."

"I must take the boat round."

One of the bystanders, all of whom had listened with eager interest to
the particulars of the accident, volunteered to perform this service for
him; and Paul, shivering with cold, ran home, followed by his mother
and John.

"Where is Paul Duncan?" demanded Captain Littleton, after the doctor had
ordered his daughter to be carried ashore.

"Gone, half an hour ago, sir," replied Captain Gordon.

"God bless him!" fervently ejaculated the grateful father; and he
proceeded to give directions for the removal of Carrie.




CHAPTER IX.

PAUL BECOMES SKIPPER OF THE FAWN.


The heroic act of Paul, in saving the life of Carrie Littleton, was the
principal topic of conversation in Bayville for the next week. Of course
it was the unanimous vote of the people that Paul was a hero, and there
was some talk of giving him a complimentary dinner, and making speeches
at him; but the good sense of the strong-minded men and women of the
place prevailed, and he was not treated with the honors that turn the
head of a third-rate politician. But everybody thought something ought
to be done, and after a full week had passed by, everybody wondered that
Captain Littleton did not do something; that he did not make Paul a
present of a gold medal, or give him a check for a hundred dollars. The
gossips could not find out that he had done anything more than thank
Paul, with tears of gratitude in his eyes, for the noble service he had
rendered him. The captain had the reputation of being a very liberal
man, but the glory of his good name seemed to be rapidly passing away.

Paul attended to his business as usual, and seemed to give but little
heed to the compliments that were showered upon him. When any one spoke
to him about his gallant deed, he tried to turn it off, declared he had
only done his duty, as sentimental heroes generally do, and he did not
think he had done any very great thing, after all. But notwithstanding
all this seeming indifference, Paul was proud of the act that had made
him famous. He was conscious that he had done a noble deed; and his own
heart assured him he deserved the praise which was so liberally bestowed
upon him.

Above all, he was grateful for the opportunity of serving Captain
Littleton, who had been so kind to him and to his mother. He was happy
in the thought of having saved that darling child from a watery grave,
and he had given the fond father a good reason for being his friend as
long as he lived. Paul never thought of any reward; he hoped Captain
Littleton would not give him anything, for that would deprive him of one
half the satisfaction the act had afforded him.

Another week passed by, and still, to the astonishment and disgust of
the gossips of Bayville, Captain Littleton took no further notice of
Paul's heroic deed. Mrs. Green, who was Mrs. Duncan's nearest neighbor,
ventured to suggest that the captain was a mean man, and she wouldn't
have thought it of him.

"What would you have him do?" asked Paul, to whom Captain Littleton's
reputation was as dear as that of his mother, or even of his dead
father.

"What would I have him do?" repeated the old lady. "Why, he ought to
give you a hundred dollar bill, all for your own. At least he ought to
give you fifty."

"I don't want anything, Mrs. Green," said Paul stoutly.

"That's nothing to do with it. He could just offer it--couldn't he? He
is a rich man, and a hundred dollars is no more to him than a hundred
cents to me. It is downright mean, there."

"I don't think so, marm. Captain Littleton has done everything he could
for mother and for me, and I'm sure I was glad to have a chance to do
something for him."

"That may be; but it don't look well for a rich man like him to let you
save his little daughter from drowning, and then only say thank'ee for
it."

"I think it does, Mrs. Green, and I hope he will let the matter rest
just where it is."

"There is no danger now but what he will. If he ever meant to do
anything for you, he would have done it before now."

"I am perfectly contented, marm, and I only wish the neighbors were as
easy about it as I am."

"It ain't none of the neighbors' business, I know," added Mrs. Green, a
little tartly; "but I can't look on and see such meanness without
speaking of it. It don't make no difference who I say it to, neither; I
had just as lief say it to Captain Littleton, as say it to you and your
mother. That is just what I think, and I may just as well speak it as
think it."

It was a remarkable fact, under the circumstances, that Mrs. Green never
did give Captain Littleton the benefit of her opinion on this subject.
Perhaps she wronged him by her silence, thus denying him the practical
advantage of her criticism for the direction of his future life. But
Paul never liked Mrs. Green so well after this, for she had spoken ill
of him whom he honored and esteemed.

Our young fisherman, apparently unmoved by the honors that clustered
around his name, pursued his humble avocation with pride and
pleasure--with pride, because he had been successful by his own unaided
exertions; with pleasure, because he was actually relieving his mother
from the entire burden of supporting the family. Since the rescue of
Carrie, perch, tom-cod, flounders, and tautog had been in greater demand
than ever, for many of the rich people bought fish, even when they did
not want them, just for the sake of patronizing the young hero; and the
poor people ate fish oftener than they would if their admiration for the
little fish merchant had been less.

The long summer vacation had commenced, and the boys were let loose from
school for six weeks. John felt as though he had been emancipated from a
dreadful drudgery. He could scarcely repress his exuberant joy, as he
carried home his books on the last day of the term. Paul reproved him
for his dislike of school, and told him he might see the day when he
would appreciate the advantages of a good education.

"I don't dislike school," growled John, though it was a good-natured
growl.

"Yes you do; you hate school," added Paul. "If you did not, you would
not be so glad to get away from it."

"'Not that I love Caesar less, but I love Rome more,'" replied John,
laughing.

"What do you mean by that?" demanded Paul, amused at the attitude into
which his brother threw himself as he uttered the quotation.

"Not that I love school less, but I love fishing more; that's the idea,"
replied John.

"I hope you will get enough of it in six weeks, then."

"I hope so, but I don't believe I shall. At any rate, I'm going every
day, and I'm going to be first mate of the Blowout."

"The what?"

"The Blowout; that's what I have christened the old boat."

"That's a very beautiful name."

"And she's a very beautiful boat," laughed John. "I wish you had a
better one."

"So do I; perhaps I may have, one of these days."

"Somebody's got a new one, Paul," added John.

"There is one moored off Mercantile Point. Did you see her?"

"No; whose is she?"

"I don't know; I saw her come up the bay as I came home from school.
She's a perfect beauty."

"We will go over and see her by and by," said Paul, for a new boat was
an object of interest to him, and he always improved the opportunity to
inspect any strange craft that visited the bay. "But, John, we must be
off early on Monday morning, and the jib of the Blowout, as you call
her, wants mending. We will go down and sew it up."

The brothers repaired to the beach, where the old boat was now high and
dry upon the sand and taking a little box containing the thread,
needles, and wax for mending the sail, they commenced their labors.
Their busy hands soon completed the task, and the Blowout was otherwise
prepared for duty on Monday, for Paul never went near the boat on
Sunday. They were now ready to visit the new craft; but when they had
pushed their boat down into the water, Paul saw a gentleman enter the
cottage of his mother.

It was Captain Littleton; and Paul delayed their departure, thinking
that he might want to see him. Presently his friend appeared on the
bluff.

"Are you busy, Paul?" he shouted.

"No, sir; I will be with you in a moment."

"Stay where you are;" and Captain Littleton descended the steep path
which led to the beach. "You were going out--were you?"

"We were, sir; but it is of no consequence," replied Paul. "John says
there is a new boat over by the Point, and we were about going to see
her."

"Very well, I will go with you;" and Captain Littleton stepped into the
boat.

"Our boat is not a very nice one for you to sail in," apologized Paul.

"I have been in worse ones than this, Paul; and I have seen the time
when I would have given all I had in the world for even so dingy a boat
as this."

"When was that, sir?" asked John, very promptly; for he stood his
ground, unawed by the dignity of the richest man in Bayville.

"Get your boat under way, and I will tell you about it," replied Captain
Littleton.

Paul shook out the mainsail, and then pushed off the boat, while John
hoisted the jib. The former then took his place at the helm, and the
latter seated himself amidships, both eager to hear the story of the
captain. It was fortunate for them that the old Blowout was a very heavy
sailer; otherwise they could not have obtained the whole of the story,
which was long and very interesting and exciting. We have not space to
repeat the story, but it was all about a shipwreck, and clinging to a
broken spar for forty-eight hours, without food or water, and being
rescued when life was nearly gone.

"So you see, Paul, I should have been very comfortable even in a worse
boat than yours," added the story-teller, as he completed his narrative.

"I should like to be shipwrecked once," said John, musing.

"Should you, my fine fellow?" exclaimed the captain.

"I should, sir, just to see how it would seem."

"It would seem very uncomfortable, my boy; and I recommend you never to
express such a wish again. Many shore people think there is something
very fine and romantic about the sea, or even about a wreck; but half a
day's experience would teach them better. For my part, I was very glad
when I escaped the necessity of going to sea, even as master of a
vessel."

"There is the new boat," interrupted Paul, as the Blowout rounded Dog
Island, which had before concealed the new craft from their sight.

"Isn't she a _ripper_!" exclaimed John.

"Don't use such words, John," added Paul, in a low tone.

"She's a very fine boat," said John.

"She has a broad beam, but she looks as though she would sail well;"
Paul continued.

"Keep her away a little; we will go on board of her if you like," said
Captain Littleton.

Paul, though he would not have ventured on board of the new craft if he
had been alone, ran the Blowout alongside of her, for he was satisfied
that the presence of his friend would free him from the charge of
trespass. John made fast the painter to the new boat, and the party
leaped on board.

"Isn't she a beauty!" ejaculated John.

"A perfect beauty," added Paul, with enthusiasm. "She will sail like a
bird."

"You see she has air chambers at the bow and stern," said Captain
Littleton. "You cannot sink her."

The boys examined her from stem to stern, and their eyes sparkled with
pleasure, as they rested upon her useful and elegant appurtenances. John
looked over her gracefully rounded stern, and found there the words,
FAWN--BAYVILLE, in raised gilt letters; and he immediately gave
utterance to his opinion that the Fawn of Bayville couldn't be beaten.

"How do you like her, Paul?" quietly asked Captain Littleton.

"First rate, sir; she is the finest boat I ever saw."

"Do you think she would sail well?"

"I know she would."

"Suppose we try her. You may hoist the fore and main sails."

"Does she belong to you, sir?"

"She belongs to a friend of mine; but we will try her."

Paul and John hoisted the sails, and got everything in readiness to slip
the moorings, when the captain wished John to take the Blowout over to
her berth, and they would take him on board again. He consented, and
the two boats were soon headed towards the beach; but the Fawn made
three rods as often as the Blowout made one.

At last John worked the clumsy old boat up to the beach, and jumped on
board the Fawn. The language with which he expressed his satisfaction at
her performance under sail was not very elegant or well chosen; but it
undoubtedly expressed his opinion, so that no mistakes in regard to his
meaning could have been excused.

"You like her, do you, Paul?" asked Captain Littleton for the tenth
time.

"Very much indeed. She is a beauty! Who owns her, sir?"

"She belongs to a young friend of mine--one Paul Duncan."

"Sir! What!"

"Exactly so, Paul. She belongs to you, and henceforth you are to be the
skipper of the Fawn."




CHAPTER X.

PAUL AND JOHN ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED.


Paul was overwhelmed with astonishment and delight at this unexpected
declaration. His eyes filled with tears, and he could not utter a word
to express the gratitude that filled his heart.

"Yes, Paul, you shall hereafter be the skipper of the Fawn," repeated
Captain Littleton.

"And I shall be first mate!" exclaimed John, jumping up and clapping his
hands with rapture.

"Yes, and you shall be first mate, John; for I have not forgotten that a
part of my debt of gratitude for the rescue of my daughter is in your
favor, my fine fellow. The Fawn shall be owned between you."

"Thank you, sir," replied John; "but it was Paul that saved Carrie."

"If you had not handled the old boat well, Paul could not have saved
her. You are fairly entitled to a share of the honor of that noble
exploit."

"But, Captain Littleton," interposed Paul, "I do not want to be paid for
what I did. It was only my duty to save Carrie."

"Everybody does not do his duty in such a trying time as that was,
Paul. But I have not said a word about paying you."

"I know you have not, sir; but I suppose that is what you mean."

"I mean nothing of the kind, my boy. I could not pay you. There lies the
Flyaway," continued the Captain, pointing to his beautiful yacht; "she
cost me six thousand dollars. If I were called upon to decide which I
would lose, Carrie or the Flyaway, which should I choose?"

"The Flyaway, of course."

"Then the Flyaway would have been but a small compensation for my child.
Nay, if I were called upon to decide between my child and all I am worth
in the world, I would sacrifice all my earthly possessions for her.
Then, if I paid you all I could pay you, it would be all I have, Paul.
You will not, therefore, consider this boat as a reward for saving
Carrie's life."

"I didn't mean that, sir," stammered Paul, "but----"

"But you thought I meant it. I did not. I shall never be able to
discharge the debt of gratitude I owe you."

"We will call it square, if you please, sir," said John.

"We will not, my fine fellow," added the Captain, laughing at John's
matter-of-fact speech. "I had been thinking of making you a present of a
boat before this event happened, Paul; but I confess, the gift was
hastened by your daring act. The long and the short of the whole matter
is, that we will consider the Fawn a memorial of the rescue of Carrie,
and not a reward. She is a strong, well-built, and safe boat, and I
think will just answer your purpose. By the way, how do you like her
name?"

"First rate, sir."

"I think I heard you suggest that name for a boat once."

"It is just the name I should have given her," replied Paul, so excited
by the extraordinary event of the hour, that he could hardly keep his
seat.

"I am glad, then, that she suits you in every respect. Now, if you will
put me ashore near my house, I will leave the Fawn and her owners to
their future destiny."

Paul landed Captain Littleton on the pier behind his house, and after
pouring out his thanks for the magnificent gift, they parted company.
The Fawn was headed away from the rocks, and again stood out into the
bay before the fresh breeze.

"I say, Paul, isn't this a stunner?" exclaimed John, suddenly jumping up
from his seat, after he had remained silent and motionless for the full
space of five minutes--a most extraordinary occurrence with him.

"What do you mean by a 'stunner,' John," asked Paul, with dignity.

"Well, what a--what a--what a thundering thing this is!" sputtered
John. "Only to think----"

"I wish you wouldn't use those slang phrases. You let them out before
Captain Littleton, just as though he were one of the fellows."

"He's one of 'em, anyhow. He's a trump!"

"Will you quit using slang words?"

"I'll try."

It must not be supposed that Paul was always so particular in regard to
the choice of words; but at the present time, the idea of being owner of
such a craft as the Fawn, and being the friend of such a man as Captain
Littleton, inspired him with a dignity he did not always possess.

"Talk like a gentleman, if you can, now there is some prospect of your
becoming one," continued Paul.

"I will try; but I want to talk about the boat now. Isn't she a--a
beauty! I should like to try her with the Snowbird."

"Very likely we may have a chance. She's too good to go a fishing with,"
said Paul, glancing around him at the cushioned seats in the standing
room.

"It won't hurt her any; we can take the cushions out when we fish."

"We must use her for that, I suppose. But Jack Starr lets his boat,
which is not half as good as this, for four dollars a day. Perhaps we
can do a little business of this kind."

"Very likely we can; folks always want to go down in the best boat."

"We can suit them, then. Where are you going now, Paul?"

"I am going to run in, and let mother see her."

"Good! Won't her eyes stick out?"

"She will be surprised," replied Paul, in tones of gentle rebuke.

The Fawn was run carefully upon the beach, and John was despatched for
his mother. While he is absent, we will improve the opportunity to give
our young readers a better idea of the new boat than they have yet
obtained. She was about eighteen feet long, and very broad for her
length. Her bow was very sharp, and her build combined the advantages of
being a safe boat and a fast sailer. She was schooner-rigged, carrying a
jib, foresail, and mainsail; and there was a staysail in the cuddy for
use when the wind was light.

The deck of the Fawn extended over about half her length, and under it
was a cuddy, or small cabin, containing two berths, both of which were
furnished with proper bedding. There were four lockers, or closets,
accessible from the standing room, where the boys could keep their fish
lines, knives, spare ropes, and other articles required on board.

The Fawn was rather large for a boy of Paul's age to handle, but as this
fault would be corrected in a year or two, Captain Littleton thought it
would be well to prepare for the future as well as the present. But the
rigging was so arranged that the new boat was hardly more difficult to
manage than the old one, and she was capable of saving at least one half
the time which the Blowout occupied in going to and returning from the
fishing ground.

While John was absent, Paul again examined every part of the Fawn. He
looked into all the lockers, sounded the copper air-chambers, lay down
upon each of the berths, and hoisted the mainsail, just to see how
easily it could be done. The examination was satisfactory in every
respect.

"Mother, mother!" shouted John, as he rushed breathless into the house,
where Mrs. Duncan was getting tea; "come down to the beach just as quick
as ever you can."

"What is the matter, John? What has happened?" asked Mrs. Duncan,
alarmed by his earnest manner.

"Come down quick, mother; don't stop a minute!"

"What has happened?"

"Nothing, mother; only come."

"Is anything the matter with Paul?" she inquired, as she hastily grasped
her sun-bonnet, and followed John out of the house.

The enthusiastic youth did not wait for the more tardy steps of age, but
tumbled recklessly down the steep path, and leaped into the boat.

"Where is mother?" demanded Paul.

"She is coming. I wish we had a cannon; we would fire a salute."

"No use of burning powder for nothing. There she comes."

But it was some time before Mrs. Duncan could reach the beach, and John
occupied the interim in various antics, such as running up the shrouds
of the Fawn, hoisting and lowering the jib, lying down on the bobstay,
and finally in tumbling overboard while attempting to perch himself on
the end of the bowsprit. This accident did not in the least disturb his
equanimity, and he had just shaken himself, like a Newfoundland dog,
when his mother reached the beach.

"Whose boat is that, Paul?" asked Mrs. Duncan, who, during the last
moments of her walk, had been gazing with admiration upon the trim
craft.

"Mine, mother," replied Paul, with assumed indifference.

"Mine, too," added John.

"We own her together," said Paul.

"Own her together? What do you mean by that? Haven't you learned better
than to make sport of your mother, boys?"

"It is ours, certain true, mother!" cried John.

"You don't mean so?"

"It is a fact, mother," replied Paul.

"Why, where, what in the world----"

"That's it, mother; I knew you'd come to it," interposed John. "To make
a long story short, Captain Littleton made us a present of her."

"Dear me!"

"Isn't she a beauty?"

"I should think she was."

"Come, mother, we are going to take you out to sail in her. You shall
try her right off," said John. "Jump aboard."

"But I can't jump aboard. The water is knee-deep around her. Besides,
supper is almost ready."

"Never mind the supper. Jump in."

"I can't jump in. Where _have_ you been, John? You are as wet as a
drowned rat!"

"I fell into the tub just now; but never mind that."

"But I do mind it; and you must go up and have on dry clothes before you
go anywhere."

"We will go up and have supper, and after that we will take you out,"
said Paul.

John was disposed to rebel at this step; but Paul was firm and decided,
and made fast the Fawn to the stake in the beach. When they reached the
house, the young rogue, sorely against his will, was compelled to retire
to his chamber and change his clothes. Even then, dripping as he was
from the effects of his cold bath, when Paul went up to call him to
supper, he found him standing at the window, in his wet garments, gazing
with intense interest upon the Fawn, as she lay moored at the beach.

Paul, notwithstanding the flutter of emotions in his bosom, ate his
supper with dignity and propriety, and several times admonished his
brother that he behaved more like a young monkey than a reasonable human
being. Yet Paul was excited, and so was his mother. The former talked of
the good times he should have down the bay, and the latter speaking of
the forethought of Captain Littleton in having the copper air chambers
placed in the boat. She was glad the Fawn was a lifeboat, and she could
feel a great deal easier, now, when her boys were away on the water.

Supper was finished, and John, in his impatience to get on board the
boat again, condescended to wipe the dishes, while Paul cleared off the
table. Matters thus expedited, the party were ready to embark, and
repaired to the beach for that purpose. John was absolutely frantic in
his efforts to perform his duty as the first officer of the Fawn, and in
his eagerness had nearly drowned his mother, and swamped the boat. If
the halliards of the new craft had not been new and strong, he would
certainly have broken them in hoisting the sails. Paul was disgusted at
his conduct, and it was only when he threatened to put him on shore that
the mate subsided into the appearance of a tolerable calm.

The party had a very pleasant sail; but John almost cried with vexation,
after the boat was properly secured at her moorings, to think he could
not go on board of her again till Monday morning. Paul was scarcely less
excited than his brother; but the consciousness of being the head of
the family restrained any outbreak of enthusiasm on his part.

His thoughts ran deeper and extended farther into the future.

As he retired that night, he examined the columns of his account book,
and had every reason to be satisfied with his success. His excitement
had moderated, and he looked upon the Fawn as a new blessing, and in his
heart thanked God, from whom all his blessings came.

He regarded his fortune as already made, for little by little, he felt
sure of achieving it.




CHAPTER XI.

PAUL'S FIRST CRUISE IN THE FAWN.


At breakfast time the next morning, John Duncan was among the missing.
His mother had charged him, when he first got up, to study his Sunday
school lesson, which, in the extraordinary excitement of the preceding
evening, had been neglected. Paul searched for him in their chamber, and
in all the other apartments of the house; but he was not to be found.

Neither Paul nor his mother had any fears that he had run away or
committed suicide; so that his absence produced more of indignation than
alarm.

"He must have gone down to the boat," suggested Mrs. Duncan.

"If he has, I will throw him overboard."

"O, no, my son! you would not do that."

"He has no business on board the boat on Sunday."

"That is very true, Paul; but I suppose he cannot keep his thoughts away
from her. I don't much wonder, either."

"I don't know as I am very much surprised myself," added Paul, whose
second thought was more reasonable than the first.

When he considered how many times his thoughts had wandered to the
beautiful Fawn, and how many times he had permitted himself to
anticipate the pleasure of the first cruise in her, during the morning,
he was more charitable towards his younger brother, who had only done
what he had thought.

"I will find him," said Paul, taking his cap.

"Don't be harsh with him, Paul, for he means right, only he has not so
much strength of mind as you have."

"I won't be hard upon him."

"Because you are older than he is."

"I won't be a hypocrite, mother, and I may as well own that, while
getting my lesson, I could not help thinking of the new boat. I don't
want you to believe I am better than I am."

"It is very natural that you should think of her; but you must try not
to do so. It is almost a pity the boat had not come on Monday, so that
you could have had a whole week to think about her before Sunday."

Paul ran down to the beach, and discovered that the door of the cuddy of
the Fawn was open. Jumping on board, he found John stretched out upon
one of the beds, apparently very busily engaged in studying his Sunday
school lesson.

"What are you doing here, John?" demanded Paul, though his tones were
very gentle.

"I am getting my lesson," replied John, as demurely as though he had
not chosen an unusual place for the exercise.

"Have you got it?"

"All but two questions."

"What made you come here?"

"I couldn't help thinking of the boat, and I made up my mind that I
could get my lesson here better than anywhere else."

"I'm afraid you haven't studied it much."

"Hear me say it, then," said John, jumping up, and handing Paul the
book.

"Not now; breakfast is ready. But I want to have an understanding with
you, as you are part owner of the Fawn, that neither of us go on board
of her on Sunday, unless there is some strong reason for it. Will you
agree to it?"

"I shan't want to after to-day."

"No matter; will you agree to it?"

"Yes; but there was a strong reason this morning."

"What was it?"

"Why, I wanted to see her."

"That's no reason at all. I have just as hard work as you have to keep
away from her; but we mustn't do everything we want to do. Come, lock
the cuddy, and let us go up to the house."

"That's honest, and not a bit like preaching," said John to himself, as
he locked the cuddy, and followed his brother up the hill.

"I am trying to make money, John, but I don't believe money is all we
have to live for."

"Of course not; there is a good deal of fun to be had in this world,
that costs money instead of bringing it in," answered John, very
soberly; and it was evident that his thoughts were not upon his Sunday
school lesson.

"I wasn't speaking of fun. Up to the time I went to sleep last night I
was thinking how I should make money; this morning, the first words I
saw when I opened the Testament to get my Sunday school lesson, were,
'For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?'"

"I guess you had the nightmare last night, and have got the blues this
morning," said John, trying to get up a laugh, in which, however, he did
not succeed very well, for it is hard, even for a tolerably
well-disposed boy, to make fun of serious things.

"I mean just what I say, John; you needn't laugh. I feel that we have
something else to live for besides money. It is a very pleasant thing to
make money----"

"Little by little," added John, adopting his brother's favorite motto.

"But I wouldn't be a rich man, if I had to be as mean and selfish as
old--no matter who. He is poorer than I am now, with his hundreds of
thousands. I mean to lay up good principles----"

"Little by little," interpolated John.

"Little by little, if you please; but even a little every day will make
a good man one of these days. A good thought every day will make a man
rich in good principles; at any rate, my book says so."

"How can a fellow help thinking of the boat, if it is Sunday?"

"We must try to think of our lesson, and when we go to church, of what
the minister says. I am going to try and not think of the Fawn again
till I wake up to-morrow morning."

"I am willing to try, but it's no use. I wish Sunday was over, and
Monday had come."

How many boys and girls have thought the same thing! That Sunday, whose
moments seemed so heavy, was a golden opportunity which may have passed
never to be recalled. We are indebted to the still hours of the quiet
Sabbath, to the leisure moments of our daily life, nay, to the sleepless
couch of pain and suffering, and to the bitter time of woe and
bereavement, for some of the best and truest thoughts which illuminate
our mortal pilgrimage, and which give birth to our good resolutions. A
single instant may produce an impression upon the heart which shall last
to the end of life.

The words of the Scripture which Paul had read and heard read a hundred
times, without feeling the tremendous truth they contain, were now full
of meaning. They seemed to connect themselves with his individual
future, and to have produced an impression which the excitement of
possessing the new boat could not overcome. He was in the right frame
of mind to receive such an impression, and it had an important influence
on all his subsequent career.

As the family seated themselves at the breakfast table, Mrs. Duncan
improved the opportunity to enlarge upon the duties we owe to ourselves
and to others, in connection with the Sabbath day. It is true that
John's levity occasionally detracted from the effect of the lessons; but
it was not wholly lost, even upon that wayward youth.

Paul struggled hard with his thoughts during the day, and he was
surprised, when night came, to find how successful he had been. It had
been a good day to him, and he had profited by the instruction it
afforded him; for the first step towards moral or spiritual improvement
is to fasten the mind earnestly upon some moral or religious topic.

Long before the sun rose the next morning, Paul and John were on the
beach. And when Mrs. Duncan rang the bell out of the window for them to
come to breakfast, they had dug a bucket of clams, and had prepared the
Fawn for her first trip down the bay.

"You won't be anxious about us now, mother, for we have a boat that
can't sink," said Paul, as he took the luncheon prepared for them.

"I shall feel easier now."

"Besides, you know we have two good berths on board the boat, and we
should be just as comfortable, if out all night, as though we were in
our own beds up-stairs."

"That may be, but I hope you will never stay out all night, when you can
help it."

"We shall not, mother; you may depend upon it; but we might get aground;
or the wind might die out, and the Fawn is too large to be rowed up."

"I shan't worry about you, if I can help it, for I know you are very
careful, Paul."

The boys hastened down to the boat, and Mrs. Duncan went out upon the
bluff to see them off. The wind blew fresh from the southwest when they
started, and the Fawn went out under jib and mainsail only; but even
with this sail, she flew like a racehorse over the waters.

"Shall I hoist the foresail, Paul?" asked John.

"I think not; she is doing very well."

"But she will do better with the foresail."

"Let well enough alone."

"I want to see her do her best."

"I have promised mother a hundred times that I would be careful; and if
she should see us put on all sail in this wind, though there might not
be any danger, she would think we were going straight to the bottom. We
will not hoist the foresail."

This answer satisfied the impatient boy, and in a short time they
reached the perch ground; but either there were no fish there, or they
had not got the hang of the new boat; for the fishermen could hardly
get a bite. After trying for an hour, and catching only half a dozen
small perch, the boys became disgusted with their ill luck, and it
required but little persuasion on the part of John to induce Paul to get
up the anchor, and go farther down the bay.

An hour's sail brought them to a reef of rocks, which was quite a noted
locality with the fishermen. The Fawn was anchored in a safe place, and
the young fishermen threw over their lines. Better success attended
their efforts here, and in three hours they had caught eight dozen fine
perch, besides ten handsome rock-cod.

While they were fishing under the lee of the rocks, they had scarcely
noticed that the wind had been steadily increasing, and that it was
producing a heavy sea in the bay.

"We shall have a chance to find out what kind of a sea boat the Fawn
is," said Paul, as he weighed the anchor.

"I am glad of it," replied John.

"The wind is freshening every moment," said Paul, casting an anxious
glance to windward.

"Hope it will blow a gale."

"I think we shall get more than we want."

"Not more than I want, at any rate."

Paul hoisted the jib, and the Fawn rushed out among the white-capped
waves; but she walked over them so majestically, that John declared she
could weather any gale that ever blew. For a time she breasted the foam
of the head sea in a most gallant manner; but the wind came in fearful
gusts, increasing in violence every moment till Paul came to the
conclusion that it was no longer safe to carry the jib and mainsail, and
proposed to set a reefed foresail. John scouted the idea, but he did not
want the mainmast blown out of her, and consented to the change.

John took the helm, and Paul, after lowering the jib and mainsail,
hoisted the reefed foresail. The boat rode easier then; but as the wind
and tide were both against them, it was soon discovered that she made no
headway. As the gale steadily increased in fury, Paul would not attempt
to carry any more sail, though John insisted that she could bear the jib
and a close-reefed mainsail.

It was evident to Paul that, unless he put on more sail, he could not
beat up to Bayville against the tide; but it was clearly imprudent to
carry any more sail, and for two hours more the Fawn struggled with her
hopeless task without making a single mile.

"What are you going to do, Paul?" asked John, impatient, but not
terrified by their situation.

"We can't beat up in this sea."

"I know that."

"We will run over to Farm Island, and anchor under the lee of the high
bluff;" and he headed the Fawn in the direction indicated.




CHAPTER XII.

PAUL SLEEPS ON HIS WATCH.


Farm Island was about two miles distant, and as the Fawn had the wind on
the quarter, it required but a short time for her to reach her haven of
safety. Under the high bluff on the seaward side of the island, the
water was comparatively tranquil; and here Paul anchored.

"We are all right now," said he, with a feeling of relief, as he took in
the foresail.

"When do you suppose we shall get home?" asked John.

"I don't know; we will not borrow any trouble, so long as we are in a
place of safety."

"Mother won't think we are in a place of safety," added John.

"Yes, she will: I have often told her that when a gale came on, I should
always get into a safe place, and keep quiet till it was prudent to run
home."

"It is lucky we are in the Fawn instead of the Blowout."

"We should not have gone down so far in the old boat. I felt so safe in
this craft that I did not mind much about the weather."

"We have been safe enough all the time; and if you would only have put
on the jib and reefed mainsail, we should have been at home by this
time."

"I did not think it was prudent to do so. I may have been mistaken; if I
was, I have erred on the safe side."

"I suppose we must sleep on board," said John.

"If you don't like the idea, you can go on shore, and sleep at the farm
house."

"But I do like the idea; we have good beds, and I had just as lief sleep
here as in my own bed at home. In fact, I am rather glad we are caught."

"I thought so," said Paul, laughing; "but there it one thing we are not
prepared for."

"What is that?"

"Supper."

"I wish we had a frying pan and a furnace; we could have some fried
perch for supper."

"As we have not those things, we must make the best of what we have. Our
luncheon is all gone; but there are two or three crackers in the locker,
which I threw in from the old boat."

"We shan't starve before morning," replied John, whose philosophy was
proof against an empty stomach.

"I know that; but it would be a good deal better to have some supper, if
we could get it."

"Can't we go on shore?"

"No, we can't land on this shallow beach. It wouldn't be safe to get
aground here."

Both boys were very hungry, for it was now nearly night and they had
taken their lunch in the middle of the day. The crackers were eaten, and
washed down with a drink of cold water from the jug; but it was a dry
and unsatisfactory supper and Paul resolved in future to keep the Fawn
provisioned for such an emergency as the present.

The wind still blew with undiminished violence, and the black clouds
indicated rain. By and by the darkness came on, and there was no longer
any prospect of getting home before the next day. Just before dark, a
man hailed them from the shore, and offered them a bed at the farm
house; but Paul thanked him and declined the offer, at the same time
hinting that they had nothing on board to eat.

"Come ashore, then, and get some supper," replied the man.

"We can't get ashore; we draw too much water," answered Paul.

"I will bring you off then."

The man pushed a skiff into the water, and soon came alongside the Fawn.

"You have got a fine boat here," said he.

"Yes, sir; she is a very nice boat."

"But this is pretty heavy weather for boys to be out. Whose boat is
she?"

"She belongs to us."

"To you?" replied the man, apparently much astonished.

"Yes, sir; she was given to us by Captain Littleton."

"O, ho! so you are Paul Duncan."

"Yes, sir."

"And I understand why he gave it to you. Come, boys, you must go up to
my house and stay with me to-night. I should rather have Paul Duncan
under my roof than the governor of the state."

"We must stay on board, sir, to look out for the boat. If anything
should happen to her in the night, I should never forgive myself for
deserting her. We have a nice place to sleep," continued Paul, opening
the doors of the cuddy, and pointing to the two berths.

"That looks very comfortable, but there is not much fun in sleeping on
board a small boat such a night as this will be. But come up to the
house, and have some supper."

"Thank you, sir; we will do that, for we are both very hungry. Stop a
moment. John, hand out two or three of those rock-cod. Won't you take
these, sir?"

"I am much obliged to you for them. Though we live so near the fish we
don't have much time to catch them," replied Mr. Drake,--for that was
the name of the farmer,--as he threw the fish into his skiff.

The two boys got into the boat with him, and he rowed them on shore.
They were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Drake and the children, and a nice
supper was soon placed before them; but all the arguments and
expostulations of the farmer and his wife could not induce them to spend
the night at the house. Paul was too fearful in regard to the safety of
the Fawn to leave her, and John was too deeply smitten with the romantic
idea of sleeping on board, to think of spending the night in any other
manner. Mr. Drake, therefore, reluctantly put them on board their boat
again.

"Now, Paul, we are in for it," said John, as he saw the farmer land, and
draw up his skiff upon the beach.

"Yes, and it is going to be a very dirty night. I think the wind has
shifted since we went ashore," replied Paul.

"So do I; we feel it as much again as we did."

"It blows full as hard as it has any time to-day."

The boys sat down in the standing room, and had a long talk about home
and mother, and wondered what she would think because they didn't come
home. It was now quite dark, and there was not a single star to relieve
the gloom of the scene. John even went so far as to admit that it
"looked kind of pokerish," and he was glad they were in so comfortable a
place.

"Come, Paul, isn't it time to turn in?" asked John, after they had come
to the unanimous conclusion that it was a decidedly stormy night.

"You can turn in, John, if you want to," replied Paul.

"Ain't you going to sleep any to-night?"

"I have no idea of leaving the Fawn to take care of herself in such
weather as this."

"Are you going to sit up all night?" asked John.

"It isn't customary, I believe, on board ship, for all hands to turn in,
and let the vessel take her chance."

"There is no danger here."

"If we both go to sleep, we may wake up and find ourselves nowhere.
Suppose the wind should change to the eastward; we should be fully
exposed to all the fury of the storm."

"I didn't think of that. Suppose we watch by turns, then."

"Very well; I will keep the first watch, and you may turn in as soon as
you please."

"What is that?" asked John as he heard three strokes of a bell.

"There is a large ship at anchor off there."

"But it isn't three o'clock yet. Her clocks must be out of order."

"Three bells; that is half-past nine o'clock."

"I don't understand it; how should three bells mean half-past nine?"
inquired John, who did not like to leave any nautical subject till it
had been fully investigated.

"It begins to rain, and we may as well sit in the cuddy;" and they both
retreated to the little cabin, and seated themselves on their berths.
"If we only had a lantern to hang up in here, we should be perfectly at
home."

"We will bring one next time; but about the bells, Paul?"

"Well, they have two watches on board ship, which are called the larbord
and the starbord watches. In large vessels, they are under the care of
the first and second mates. The twenty-four hours, on board ship, are
divided into five watches of four hours each, and two dog-watches of two
hours each. During these watches, the bell is struck every half hour;
that is, one bell at half past eight; two bells at nine, three bells at
half-past nine; and so on, till twelve, when it is eight bells, at which
time one watch goes below, and the other comes on deck. At half past
twelve the bell strikes one again; at one it strikes twice, and so on.
Do you understand me?"

"I think I do; but when are the dog-watches?'

"From four to six, and from six to eight in the evening. They always
strike the bells by twos, as you heard just now. But, John, it rains
like fury."

"So it does, but it is a dry place in this cabin."

"I wish we had a lantern, for it is as dark as a pocket in here. It
would make it so much pleasanter. But you must turn in now, or you will
not be able to stand your watch."

"I think I will."

John took off his boots, and placed himself under the blanket and
comforter of his berth, for there were no sheets. He gaped several
times, and tried to continue the conversation with Paul; but the poor
fellow, worn out with the fatigue and excitement of the day, was soon
fast asleep. Paul listened to the sound of his heavy breathing, between
the splashes of the waves as they broke upon the bow of the boat, till
he began to feel sleepy himself, and then, wrapping the greatcoat, which
he always carried with him, closely around his body, he went upon deck
to see if there was any change in the weather or the position of the
boat.

It was clear to him that the wind had been hauling round to the
eastward, for the Fawn tumbled about as she had done out upon the open
waters of the bay As he lay down upon the deck to examine the cable, so
as to assure himself that it was not chafing the boat, a huge wave broke
over the bowsprit, and he would have been drenched to the skin, if his
coat had not been water-proof.

The rain continued to pour down, and Paul retired to the cuddy again. It
was a weary, lonely watch, and he was so tired he could hardly keep his
eyes open. But it seemed to him that the violence of the gale was
subsiding, and he again went upon deck to satisfy himself on this point.
There was still a heavy sea, but he was satisfied that the wind had very
sensibly abated. Six bells sounded from the ship as he returned to the
cuddy.

Throwing himself on his berth, he listened for a while to John's
sonorous snores, and before he was sensible of the danger of his
position, he was sound asleep himself. Worn out by the labors of the
day, he could no longer keep his eyes open.

He woke with a start,--for he was conscious that he had forsaken the
post of duty,--and hastened upon deck. Eight bells from the ship told
him it was midnight. The wind had nearly subsided, but it rained very
hard, and the heavy sea continued to break over the bow of the Fawn.

John was still sleeping like a log, and Paul, though it was time for the
larboard watch to be called, had not the heart to wake up his brother.
As the gale had subsided, the boat seemed to be no longer in danger, and
he decided to turn in and finish his nap. But while he slept, the wind,
which had abated only to come with still greater violence from another
quarter, steadily increased in fury, till it blew a gale from the
northeast.

The pitching of the boat soon startled Paul from his slumbers, and he
rushed out into the standing room to find that the Fawn was rapidly
dragging her anchor, and was in imminent peril of being dashed to pieces
on the rocky shore.




CHAPTER XIII.

PAUL MAKES A NIGHT RUN IN THE STORM.


"John, John!" shouted Paul, when he realized the dangerous situation of
the Fawn.

But the first mate of the craft slept too soundly to be disturbed by
mere words, and the skipper had to shake him before he came to his
senses.

"What is the matter, Paul?" asked he, as soon as he could get his eyes
open and realize where he was.

"Put on your greatcoat and shoes, and come out here and be lively about
it," cried Paul.

John obeyed, and before he was ready to join Paul in the standing room,
he began to apprehend the state of affairs on board, for the furious
wind and the angry waves that stormed against the hull and rigging of
the Fawn told their own story.

"What's the trouble?" he asked, as he joined his brother.

"Don't you see there is a gale of wind down upon us?" replied Paul,
sharply.

"Well, what of it?" demanded the young salt, with provoking
indifference.

"A good deal of it; the boat has dragged her anchor, and at this rate
will be upon the rocks in fifteen minutes! Come, be alive, and don't
stand there like a log."

"What shall I do? You are the skipper, and I am ready to do anything you
say," replied John, who was by this time fully awake.

"Can we pay out any more cable?"

But this was a useless question, for Paul knew very well that the cable
was all out. Our young readers may not all understand the meaning of
Paul's question. If the vessel rides at anchor with a short cable, her
motion, as she rises and falls with the sea, raises up the shaft of the
anchor, which has a tendency to detach the flukes, or points from the
bottom. But Paul had been careful the night before to give the Fawn all
the cable he could spare; and it was evident, therefore, that the anchor
was not heavy enough, or that there was no holding-ground at the bottom.

"There is only one thing we can do, John," said Paul, desperately, after
he had fully examined the situation of the boat.

"Say on, then," replied John; "I am ready for anything that you say."

"We must get up the anchor, and leave this place."

"Up it is, then."

"But this is an awful bad time, and an awful bad place to hoist a sail."

"Let her drive; we shall go it well enough. It blows like
all-possessed: but what's the use of having a life boat, if you can't go
out in her when it blows?"

"Stand by the fore halliards, then," cried Paul. "The sail is
close-reefed, just as we used it yesterday."

The foresail was hoisted, and slammed with tremendous fury in the fresh
gale. The boys then grasped the cable, and it required the full effort
of their united strength to weigh the anchor; but the task was
accomplished at last, and Paul leaped to his place at the helm. Laying
her course parallel with the shore of the island, the Fawn dashed over
the furious waves, within ten rods' distance from the breakers on the
beach. In a few moments she passed beyond the reach of this peril, and
rushed out among the billows of the open bay.

It was a fearful night even for strong men to venture upon the stormy
sea; it was doubly perilous for these two boys; yet they had no choice,
for to avoid a greater danger they had chosen the less. But the Fawn
behaved in a very gallant manner, and her noble bearing promised to
achieve all that could be done for the safety of the young fishermen.
Notwithstanding the violence of the gale, she rested buoyantly on the
top of the waves, and did not seem to labor in her course.

"Do you know where you are, Paul?" asked his brother, after they had sat
in silence for half an hour.

"Certainly I do; there is South Point light dead ahead."

"Yes; but there is any quantity of rocks between us and the light."

"I know that; but I know where they are just as well as I know where the
kitchen is, when I get into the house. Don't talk to me now, John; go
below and turn in, if you like."

"Don't you want me?"

"No."

Paul did not think that John could act upon this suggestion, in such a
storm and in the midst of so many perils; but he did, and as the young
skipper heard no more from him, he concluded he was asleep.

"What a fellow!" thought Paul. "He could sleep in the midst of an
earthquake or a tornado. Well, let him sleep; he is tired enough."

The Fawn dashed madly on, yet under perfect control, and the gallant
skipper, when he saw through the deep darkness, the white breakers on
Rock Island, felt entirely relieved from the responsibility which had
before almost crushed his spirits, for it was plain sailing after he had
passed that point and the dangerous reefs which environed it. If the
Fawn could stand such a sea as that, she could stand anything, and her
character was fully established for the future.

His spirits rose as he neared South Point light, which was not more than
a mile and a half from his mother's house. He whistled merrily, to give
expression to his satisfaction, as he passed the light, for he and the
boat were now safe beyond a peradventure. Taking an extra turn in the
foresheet, he laid the course of the boat a little closer to the wind,
which soon brought her into the comparatively still water behind Long
Island.

He saw the cottage of his mother now, and a light was burning in her
chamber. He was grieved to see this, for he feared she might be sick, or
that in her anxiety for the safety of her boys, she had sat up all night
thinking of them. But in a few moments, he let go the anchor off the
beach, and lowered the foresail. After making everything secure on
board, he hauled the old boat, which he had moored there in the morning,
alongside. John was still asleep; neither the paying out of the cable,
nor the noise of Paul's feet, as he furled the foresail, had roused him
from his deep slumbers, and the skipper decided to let him finish his
night's rest on board.

Sculling the old boat ashore, he ran up the hill, and knocked at the
side door of the cottage.

"Who's there?" asked his mother.

"Paul."

The door was opened, and the fond mother clasped her son to her heart,
while the great tears coursed down her furrowed cheeks.

"I am so glad you have got back!" exclaimed she; "I was sure you were
drowned. Where is John? He isn't with you, Paul! O, he is----"

"Fast asleep on board the Fawn, mother."

"Then he is safe."

"Yes; safe--yes."

"You have had a terrible time of it--haven't you?"

"Not very bad, mother; the wind and tide were against us, and we
couldn't get up without carrying more sail than I thought it was safe to
carry; so I ran under the lee of an island, and anchored."

"But what did you start back in the night for?"

"The wind hauled round to the northeast, and blew so that we dragged our
anchor, and had to make sail to keep off the rocks."

"And John is safe, you say?"

"Perfectly safe. But why are you not in bed, mother?"

"I couldn't sleep in such a tempest as this, when I knew my boys were on
the water."

"Well, go to bed now, then, for I must go on board again and clean my
fish."

"You shall do nothing of the kind! I will warrant you haven't had a wink
of sleep all night long."

"Yes; I slept two or three hours."

"Go right up-stairs, and go to bed, then. You will kill yourself,
working all night, and losing your sleep."

"But John is asleep in the cabin of the Fawn. Shall I leave him there?
Suppose the boat should go adrift?"

"Well, then, go down to the boat, and go to bed there. You needn't clean
your fish yet."

Paul decided to adopt this suggestion, and in a few moments he was
snoring with his brother in the little cabin of the boat.

It was six o'clock when the first officer of the Fawn began to show
signs of life, and it was fully quarter past six before he realized, in
the fullest sense, that he was still in the land of the living. An
unpleasant dream that the gallant craft had been dashed in pieces on
Rock Island reef, and that he, the before mentioned first officer of the
schooner Fawn, had been thrown upon the rocks, where an enormous green
lobster, about the size of a full-grown elephant, had seized him in one
of his huge claws, and borne him down among the rock weed and devil's
aprons for his breakfast, happily proved to be a mere fantasy of his
slumbering faculties.

John sat upon his berth and congratulated himself upon his escape from
the claw of the lobster. Then the occurrences of the night, the run off
the lee shore, and the white-capped billows that had growled so in the
gloom, began to come to his recollection, and he realized that they had
had a tough time of it. But it was all right now, for though the rain
pattered upon the deck above him, the boat did not pitch much. And there
was Paul fast asleep in the other berth; of course it was all right, or
he would not be there.

"But where are we?" thought John. "That's the next question. The last
thing I remember was, that we were driving like mad over the rough sea.
Then Paul told me to turn in; and I did, but I could hardly keep in my
berth, the boat rolled and pitched so. Of course Paul couldn't get up
while the wind blew so, and he must have anchored under some island. I
wonder where we are."

At last John came to the conclusion that he could find out by simply
walking out of the cuddy into the standing room. Acting upon this
brilliant idea, he soon ascertained that the Fawn was at anchor near the
beach of Bayville. He was somewhat astonished at the fact, and then paid
a very high, though inaudible, compliment to the sleeping accommodations
of the Fawn, whereof he was first mate.

He then returned to the cuddy,--he and Paul invariably dignified the
little place as the _cabin_,--and found that Paul still slumbered. He
was considerate enough not to wake him, for he knew that he had had a
hard time of it; but it occurred to him that their mother might be
desirous of knowing whether they were still in the land of the living or
not, and he decided to go up to the house and reveal that important
fact. It was very affectionate of him to think of his mother, after he
had been snoring like a trooper all night; but John, in spite of his
waywardness, was a kindhearted boy, and he came to the unanimous
conclusion--he and John--that it was not right to let his mother worry
any longer about them. She would be astonished to see him alone, and
would immediately make up her mind that Paul was drowned; and he should
have the pleasure of informing her that his brother still lived, and was
fast asleep in the cabin of the Fawn, whereof he was captain, and he,
the speaker, was first mate.

John, on his arrival at the house, walked into the kitchen where Mrs.
Duncan was getting breakfast; walked in as he who does the ghost in
Hamlet walks in--with the confident assurance that he is about to create
a sensation.

"Well, John, you have got back. Did you sleep well, my son?"

"First rate," growled John. "Why the deuce isn't she astonished?"
thought he. "She ought to be astonished to see me come home after being
on the briny deep all night."

"You had a hard time of it--didn't you, John?"

"Well, rather hard; I slept like a log all night--except about half an
hour. You didn't expect to see us back--did you?"

"I was a good deal worried till Paul came up and told me you were safe,
and that you were asleep in the cabin."

"O, ho! so Paul has been home--has he? That accounts for it. Paul is
asleep in the cabin now."

"Let him sleep--he needs rest," replied Mrs. Duncan; and it was after
nine o'clock when the family breakfasted that morning.




CHAPTER XIV.

PAUL SCOLDS THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE FAWN.


After breakfast the young fishermen cleaned their perch and cod, and
before dinner had disposed of the lot. From the proceeds of the sale,
Paul purchased a small lantern, which was suspended in the cabin of the
Fawn, for the darkness of that gloomy night was not soon to be
forgotten.

The next day was clear and pleasant, and the boat went down as usual,
and for more than a fortnight, no event worthy of a place in the history
of Paul's fortunes occurred. The new boat worked admirably in every
respect, and the boys were as proud of her as England has ever been of
the Great Eastern. During these two weeks Paul had taken down three
fishing parties, and had given them so good satisfaction, that his
services in this line promised to be in demand. As he received four
dollars a day for her, including the wages of himself and the first
officer, he always welcomed such jobs, and John liked the fun of it even
better than fishing, especially when there were any ladies in the party,
for it was very amusing to him to see them in the agonies of sea
sickness. He took a malicious delight in stowing them away in the
berths in the cabin; yet in spite of the fun he made of them John would
do all he could to assist them.

Just before the arrival of the Fawn in the waters of Bayville harbor,
Paul had been unanimously elected a member of the Tenean Boat Club. He
was very grateful for the honor conferred upon him, but his business was
such that he could not often pull an oar in the boat. The members of the
club all treated him with a great deal of consideration, though they
were all the sons of rich men; and Paul felt that, if he was not their
equal in worldly possessions, he could hold his head up with the best of
them in the management of a boat.

One day, when the young fisherman called at the house of Major Kettle to
sell fish, he met Thomas in the garden, who unfolded to him a
magnificent project in which the Teneans--as the members of the Boat
Club were generally called--were about to engage.

"We think of going on a cruise in the Flyaway," said Thomas.

"Where?"

"I don't know where yet; but we mean to be gone a week or ten days."

"Who is going with you?"

"Captain Littleton, I suppose, though I had just as lief he would stay
at home."

"Of course he wouldn't let a lot of boys go off for a week in the
yacht, without some one to take care of them," said Paul, with a smile.

"We can take care of ourselves; we don't want any one to take care of
us."

"How many of you are going?"

"Ten or twelve; we want you with us."

"But I can't go."

"Yes you can; why not?"

"I have to attend to my business."

"You can afford to take a vacation of a week or two, I should think."

Paul shook his head. He was delighted with the idea, and would have been
very glad to go, but he could not think of neglecting his business to go
away upon a pleasure excursion.

"You must go, Paul; the fellows all want you to go, and we shall have a
first-rate time."

"I have no doubt you will; and I should be very glad to go with you if I
could; but it is of no use for me to think of such a thing."

"It is not fully decided that we are to go yet; but Captain Littleton
and my father have consented to let us have the Flyaway. We shall know
all about it next week."

Paul continued his walk, but the project of the excursion in the Flyaway
haunted his imagination, and it required a great deal of self-denial for
him to forego the anticipated pleasure. He felt that the summer season
was the harvest time of his business, and he could not afford to waste a
week or two in idle play. "Little by Little," was his motto, and he was
not willing that any of those "littles" should slip through his fingers.

When they went down in the Fawn the next day, he told John about the
excursion, and that he had been invited to form one of the party.

"But I can't afford to go," he added.

"Why not? It won't cost you anything."

"I shall lose my time, for the Fawn will lie idle at her moorings while
I am gone."

"No, she won't. I will go a fishing in her every day."

"I think not, John."

"Do you think I can't manage her?" demanded the first officer, indignant
that such an aspersion should be cast upon his nautical skill.

"She's too heavy a boat for you to manage alone."

"I will get a couple of fellows to help me; they will be glad enough of
the chance."

"I dare say they will; but you are not quite old enough yet to run the
boat yourself."

"What odds does it make how old I am, if I only know how to handle her?
Could you work her any better if you were a hundred years old?"

"But you are reckless, careless, John; you know you are."

"I don't think I am; but I will promise to be very careful. You may take
the foresail off, if you please, before you go; then you will be sure I
shall not carry too much sail."

"I don't intend to go; so it is of no use to talk about it."

"You are a fool if you don't; that's all I have to say."

"You have a right to your own opinion, John."

"I wish I had a chance to go. I would give all my old shoes, if I could
only be one of the party. What a glorious time they will have!"

Paul was of precisely the same opinion, but the idea of letting John run
the Fawn during his absence was not for a moment to be tolerated. He
would certainly run her on the rocks, or carry sail till the wind took
the masts out of her.

As it was a very pleasant day, Paul decided to run down below, and try
his luck among the cod and haddock; and they went farther out than they
had ever been before. A fine lot of fish, including a mammoth cod, that
had required the strength of both of them to pull out of the water,
rewarded their enterprise.

The wind was very light, and instead of getting home before the tide
turned, as Paul had calculated, they were two miles below Rock Island,
when the ebb tide set in against them. To add to this misfortune, the
wind entirely died out, and they were forced to come to anchor, to
prevent drifting down with the tide. With a good wind they were only two
hours' sail from home; but, as it was, there was a prospect of spending
another night in the cabin of the Fawn--not a very unpleasant
alternative, John thought, especially as they had a lantern, and plenty
of provisions on board.

The cod and haddock had all been dressed, and there was nothing for the
boys to do; so Paul went into the cabin and stretched himself on his
berth. He had placed two or three books on board for such an emergency
as the present, and he was soon absorbed in the contents of one of them.
He did not read long, for a hard day's work is not a good preparation
for literary labors. The book fell from his hand, and to the music of
the flapping sails he dropped asleep.

It is a noticeable fact that fishermen can sleep twenty-four hours on a
stretch. Many years ago, we went down a-fishing in one of the
pinky-stern schooners, which were much more common then in the waters of
Massachusetts Bay than at the present time. The crew consisted of the
skipper and three men, the former of whom was an old, weather-beaten
fisherman, who had roughed it on the coast from his boyhood. We went
down one night intending to fish the next day, and return by sunset; but
unfortunately a heavy rain kept us at our anchorage off Spectacle Island
for twenty-four hours. The old skipper got out of his berth and ate his
breakfast about ten, and after going half way up the companion ladder,
to smell the weather, turned in again, and slept till four, when he was
called to partake of a greasy chowder. As soon as he had disposed of a
reasonable allowance for four hearty men, he tumbled into his berth once
more, and was not visible again till the next morning. The rest of the
crew slept about two thirds of the time. They were the sleepiest men we
ever encountered during their leisure; but even the old skipper suddenly
joined the "wide-awakes" when we reached the fishing grounds.

Paul had already contracted this fisherman's habit, and while the Fawn
lay at anchor, he slept like a rock. After amusing himself for an hour
on deck, John went below to take an observation, and to announce the
prospect of "a breeze from the south-ward," for he had discovered a
gentle ripple on the water at a distance. But when he saw that Paul was
"having his watch below," he quickly returned to the standing room,
closing the cabin doors behind him.

"There is a capful of wind," said he to himself, "and I will just show
the skipper of the Fawn that I can handle her as well as he can."

He waited till the breeze reached her, and then, with as little noise as
possible, he weighed the anchor, and took his place at the helm.

"All right, Captain Duncan; you can finish your snooze at your leisure,"
muttered he, congratulating himself upon the fact that he had got off
without waking Paul.

The wind freshened into a nice little breeze, and the Fawn,
close-hauled rippled merrily through the water. Still Paul slept on,
unconscious of the progress she was making, while John was jubilant over
the success of his trick. He was obliged to tack so as to go to the
windward of Rock Island, but he twice accomplished this manoeuvre
without disturbing the sleeper.

The boat was now up with Rock Island, and John, who could never see why
Paul always wanted to keep half a mile away from this dangerous reef,
laid her course very near the rocks.

"All right, my boy," said John, who had a bad habit of talking to
himself when there was no one present to whom he could address his
remarks; "won't Captain Duncan be astonished when he comes out of the
cabin?"

And Captain Duncan was astonished when he came out, for just as the rash
first officer arrived to the conclusion that the boat had run clear of
all the dangers of the navigation in that quarter,--

Bump! went the Fawn on a hidden ledge.

"What are you about?" cried Paul, angrily, as he rushed out of the
cabin.

"About got aground, I should say," replied John, a good deal more
astonished than he had calculated Paul would be.

"Let go your sheets! Take the boat hook, and let us push her off, if we
can," cried Paul.

Both the boys went to work, and after a few moments of hard labor,
succeeded in pushing the Fawn off the ledge upon which she had struck.

"I suppose this is a specimen of your management," said Paul, as he
hauled the sheets home, and seated himself at the helm.

"Rather bad management, I am willing to own," replied John, who felt
that his reputation as a skilful navigator had departed in the twinkling
of an eye.

"Next time, when you undertake to sail the Fawn without me, don't you do
it. You would be a pretty fellow to run the boat if I were away a week;
there wouldn't be a board left on her ribs in three days."

"It hasn't hurt her any, Paul."

"I suppose it hasn't; but it would have been just the same if it had
been blowing a ten-knot breeze."

But John felt that, if it hadn't hurt the Fawn any, it had hurt himself
a great deal; and he made a tremendous great resolution to be more
careful in the future. The boat reached her mooring in good season,
notwithstanding the detention.




CHAPTER XV.

PAUL GOES ON A CRUISE IN THE FLYAWAY.


"There has been a gentleman here to see you," said Mrs. Duncan, when
Paul went to the house.

"Who was he?"

"He left his name and residence on a piece of paper, and wants you to
call and see him this evening," replied Mrs. Duncan, handing him the
address of the gentleman.

"Charles Morrison, Chestnut Street, third house from the depot," said
Paul, reading the paper. "What does he want?"

"He said something about hiring your boat next week."

"What, the Fawn?"

"I suppose so; but he wants to see you, at any rate."

"Does he want me to go with her?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

After supper Paul went to see Mr. Morrison, and found that he wanted the
Fawn for the whole of the following week, and that he did not want a
skipper. He was going down to Bleakport to spend a week, and he wanted
a good boat, which he could not procure at the place. He offered to pay
fifteen dollars for the use of her, and to restore her in as good
condition as when he took her.

This was certainly a good offer, and Paul concluded that he could not do
better; but he was not prepared to give a decided answer, and promised
to see the gentleman again the next evening.

On his return home he found Henry Littleton and Thomas Nettle waiting
for him. The arrangements in regard to the excursion in the Flyaway had
been completed, and the two boys had come to urge Paul to join them.

"When do you sail?" asked Paul.

"Next Friday."

"And how long shall you be gone?"

"About eight or ten days," replied Henry Littleton. "My father is going
with us."

"I have got a good offer for the use of my boat next week," answered
Paul, musing, "and I don't know but I will go."

"That's right, Paul; we must have you with us, at all events."

"Father says we ought to have you with us," said Henry.

"I will talk with my mother about it, and if she is willing, I think I
will go."

"We have talked with your mother already, and she is perfectly willing
you should go."

"I will let you know to-morrow."

The boys left him, saying he must certainly go with them, and Paul went
into the house to talk over the matter with his mother.

"Do you think I can go, mother?"

"To be sure you can go," interposed John. "What is the use of talking
about it?"

"I didn't ask you John," said Paul, with a smile.

"I don't see why you can't go," replied Mrs. Duncan. "I suppose there is
no more danger of your getting drowned than there would be if you stayed
at home."

"He will certainly be drowned, mother," added John.

"We shall be safe enough."

"Then you had better go."

"I have got a chance to let the Fawn for fifteen dollars; and that would
be about as much as I should make if I stayed."

"And if you let her, I shall go skipper. Shan't I?" demanded John.

"I think not; Mr. Morrison will be his own skipper."

"Then I won't agree to it. I am part owner of the Fawn," said the first
mate, pouting like a school-girl.

"You agreed to let me manage the Fawn at the beginning," added Paul.
"You can't do anything with her alone, except run her on the rocks."

"I don't want you to manage me out of her in that manner," growled
John. "I have as good a right in her as you have, and I don't mean to
stay on shore here a whole week, sucking my fingers, when there is fun
to be had."

While they were discussing this important question, which even
threatened a rupture in the partnership between the young fishermen,
Captain Littleton was admitted by Mrs. Duncan.

"What's the matter, boys? You are not quarrelling, I hope," said Captain
Littleton, as he entered the room, for he had heard a portion of one of
John's excited speeches while at the door.

"O, no, sir," replied Paul. "I have got a chance to let the Fawn for a
week, and John is opposed to my doing so."

"Is he? I am sorry for that. Mr. Morrison spoke to me about a boat for
the week, and I recommended him to you. I had a motive for doing so, for
I want you to join the excursion in the Flyaway. I thought you would
like to go, if you could do so without any loss."

"Thank you, sir. I should like to go very much; and when I got this
chance to let the Fawn, I about made up my mind to go."

"Then it is all right; but I am sorry John will not consent to the
arrangement."

"I don't want to stay on shore a whole week," pouted the first mate of
the Fawn. "If they would only take me as skipper, I should like it first
rate. What shall I do with myself for a whole week on shore?"

"I don't see as I can go, then," added Paul.

"Well, I don't want to keep you from going, Paul;" and a better feeling
seemed to be roused in John's bosom.

"I can't afford to let the Fawn lie idle for a week, in the busy
season," continued Paul.

"Can't I go a-fishing in her while you are gone?"

"Certainly not; you can't have my share to smash up on the rocks," said
Paul, a little tartly. "You know you ran the boat on the rocks this very
afternoon."

John felt a little lame here, and he did not venture a reply. He had
sacrificed his reputation as a navigator by carelessly attempting to run
too near the reef, and he felt that his brother's conclusions were
correct.

"Well, at any rate, I won't keep you from going in the Flyaway, whatever
I do. I will agree to let her to Mr. Morrison."

"That's generous, John. You have got the right kind of a heart beneath
your jacket, though you have an odd way of showing it sometimes," said
Captain Littleton.

"John means right, sir," added Paul.

"I like to have a little fun myself, as well as the rest of the
fellows," continued John, "but I am willing to stay at home for Paul's
sake."

"That's the right feeling, my boy," replied Captain Littleton; "and if
your mother is willing, you may go in the Flyaway."

"Hoo-ray!" shouted John, jumping out of his chair, and performing some
gymnastic feats that astonished the visitor and the family. "I may
go--mayn't I, mother?"

"I have no objection, if Captain Littleton thinks it is safe."

"He will be as safe as my own son, Mrs. Duncan," added the captain.

"Hoo-ray!" shouted John again.

"Come, my son, behave yourself, or they won't want such an unmannerly
fellow in the company."

"I will be as polite as a French dancing-master."

John was in luck again, and for the following three days he talked of
nothing but the cruise of the Flyaway. Even sailing in the Fawn seemed
tame to the idea of going off one or two hundred miles, and visiting
towns and cities he had never seen, and had never before expected to
see. He could hardly sleep nights, and when he did sleep, it was only to
dream of being out of sight of land, or of occupying a berth in the
cabin of the yacht.

Paul concluded his bargain with Mr. Morrison, and made all his
preparations for an absence of a week or ten days--a longer time than he
had ever been away from home before. He cleaned up the Fawn for Mr.
Morrison, and split wood enough to last his mother a fortnight. It had
already been decided that the yacht should go to the eastward, and
visit Gloucester, the Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth, and Portland; and to
be prepared for the excursion, he carefully studied all the maps and
books he could procure, which gave any information in regard to these
places.

The Flyaway was to sail on Friday at high water. For more than a
fortnight, Captain Gordon had been training the boys of the Tenean Club
to serve as "able seamen" on board the yacht. There were twelve of them,
including Paul, who were to join the party. More than half of them were
sixteen or seventeen years old; so that they were strong enough to do
all the work required in the management of the vessel. They were all
well trained, and every one of them knew his duty on board.

Besides Captain Gordon, who was to command the yacht, there was Captain
Briskett, who had for many years been the master of a coasting vessel,
and knew every rock and shoal between Boston and Eastport. Dick, the
colored steward, was to retain his place during the cruise. Captain
Littleton was to go as a passenger. John Duncan was nominally appointed
cabin boy.

Friday came, and the officers and crew of the Flyaway were all on board.
The anchor had been hove short, and the mainsail hoisted; the hour for
sailing had arrived, and she only waited the coming of Captain
Littleton. He had gone to Boston that morning, and his return was
momentarily expected.

When the amateur crew had grown very impatient at his non-arrival, he
appeared; but only to inform them that he had just received a
telegraphic despatch from New York, which would compel him to start for
that city in the afternoon.

"Now, boys, what is to be done?" asked he. "Will you postpone the trip
for a week?"

"I suppose we must," replied Henry; but the faces of the whole crew were
wofully elongated.

"I must give it up altogether, then," added Paul, bitterly disappointed;
and John was ready to howl at the idea of not going.

"I will see what can be done," continued Captain Littleton, as he called
Captain Gordon.

For a few moments they were engaged in earnest conversation together,
and the boys waited with anxious interest for the result of the
conference.

"Captain Gordon thinks he can take care of you, and I have concluded to
let you go without me."

"Hurrah!" shouted several of the boys.

"But, boys, I must put you on honor to behave well during the cruise.
Will you do it?"

"We will."

"And obey the orders of Captain Gordon in all things, whether you are on
board or on shore?"

"We will," replied all the boys at once.

"Very well; I shall trust you. If I return soon enough to join you at
Portsmouth, I shall do so. Good-by, now, and a pleasant cruise to you;"
and Captain Littleton went over the side.

"Good-by, sir," replied the crew.

"That's first rate--isn't it?" whispered Tom Nettle, as the captain
departed. "I am glad he isn't going."

"So am I," replied Frank Thompson.

"We shall not have him watching us all the time. Let me tell you, there
is fun ahead now," added Thomas.

Captain Briskett, who was to be first officer of the Flyaway, as well as
pilot, summoned them to the windlass to heave up the anchor; and in a
few minutes the yacht was standing down the harbor under all sail. The
Teneans gave three rousing cheers, and then distributed themselves in
various parts of the deck to enjoy the exciting scene.

"All hands aft," said Captain Gordon, when the yacht had reached the
open bay.

"Ay, ay, sir," replied several, as the crew took their places in the
standing room.

"Now, boys, we must make our arrangements. When a ship goes to sea, it
is customary to divide the crew into two watches. I shall take the
starboard watch, and Captain Briskett the larboard. Each of us will
choose a man in his turn till all are taken."

"Go on," said Captain Briskett.

"Henry Littleton," replied the skipper.

"Paul Duncan," added the pilot.

And so they proceeded till all the boys were chosen, except John, who
resented the slight thus put upon him. To satisfy him, therefore, he
was taken into the captain's watch.

"There are only eight berths in the cabin, boys, and you must draw lots
for them," continued the master; "but they are all wide enough to hold
two each. Now, if you want to pair off, you can do so."

Lots were drawn, and Paul and Henry were to occupy the same berth. Again
John found himself thrown out of the calculation; but the captain said
he would make a bed for him on a locker, and he was satisfied. The boys
then went below to see their berths, which had all been numbered for the
occasion.




CHAPTER XVI.

PAUL WITNESSES A MUTINY.


When the Flyaway had passed Farm Island, and reached the fishing ground,
she lay to, for the purpose of enabling the crew to catch a few cod and
haddock, for the chowder and fry. But cod and haddock are singularly
obstinate at times, and persistently refuse to appreciate the angler's
endeavors in their behalf. They were so on the present occasion, and it
was two hours before the chief of the culinary department could say
there were enough to satisfy the ravenous appetites of the sixteen
persons on board. Some of the boys had actually decided that fishing was
a nuisance, but they were just as fond of chowder as those who enjoyed
the fun even of catching only one fish per hour.

As fast as they were caught, Dick dressed them and prepared them for the
chowder pot or the frying pan. There were some queer fish caught,
including quite a number of sculpins, "a wolfer eel,"--so Captain
Briskett called him,--and a large catfish. The latter was an ugly
monster, having dangerous-looking teeth, with which he laid hold of
everything that came in his way. There was also in the collection a
large skate, or ray, which called forth some rather large fish stories
from the two experienced skippers on board.

As the culinary department was now supplied, the yacht stood away for
Gloucester, which was to be her first port. They had a fine wind, and
before the chowder was ready, the Flyaway was in sight of the Reef of
Norman's Woe.

"Dinner is ready," said Dick, at last, for the stomachs of the boys had
been in a state of rebellion for two hours.

There was a grand rush for the cabin; but, to the astonishment of the
hungry crew, Captain Gordon placed himself at the companion way, and
would not permit a single one of them to go below.

"That's not the way to do on board ship," said he. "Are you all going
below at once?"

"Why not?" asked Tom Nettle.

"Suppose we should have occasion to tack, or to take in sail in a hurry?
Have we got to wait for you to finish your plate of chowder?"

"We are all as hungry as bears, Captain Gordon," added Frank Thompson.
"We can't stand it any longer."

"Part of you must stand it half an hour longer. Captain Briskett has the
helm, and the larboard watch will remain on deck, the starboard watch go
below."

The captain's watch tumbled down the companion way, ranged themselves
round the table, and went to work as though they had not eaten anything
for a month. As they are doing very well, we will return to the deck,
and listen a few moments to the remarks of the mate's watch.

Paul had seated himself by the side of the helmsman, and was asking
questions in regard to the reef, the depth of water in the harbor, and
other questions of interest only to nautical persons. The rest of the
watch had gathered in a group on the forecastle. It was unfortunate that
so many of the refractory spirits had been chosen into the same watch;
but there were Tom Kettle, Frank Thompson, and Samuel Nason, all three
of whom had once been expelled from the club for misconduct, and only
been readmitted on their solemn promise to mend their manners, and
behave like gentlemen in future.

"I don't like it," said Tom; "and if the rest of the fellows will back
me up, I will go below and have dinner with the crowd."

"I will back you up, for one," said Frank.

"And I, for another," added Samuel.

"But Captain Gordon gave a good reason why some of us should remain on
deck," suggested one of the boys.

"No, he didn't. What is there to do? We shan't have to touch a sail this
hour--see if we do," retorted Tom.

"But we might have occasion to do so, and for one, I am willing to
observe the discipline of the vessel," said Charles Lawrence.

"I don't like the idea of having old Gordon domineering over us for a
week," added Frank. "I don't care so much about the dinner as I do the
spirit the old fellow exhibited. He placed himself before the companion
way, just as though he had been the captain of a ship, and we were all
common sailors."

"We will cure him of that before we have been with him many days," added
Tom.

"I'll bet we will," answered Frank; "and I think the present is the best
time to begin. How many of you will make a grand rush into the cabin?"

There were only four of them who were willing to take this rash step.

"Come on, then," said Tom, "I will go if there is only one fellow to
back me up."

"We will follow you," added Frank. "Go ahead, Tom!"

"You had better count the cost before you go any farther," interposed
Charles Lawrence. "You know we all promised to obey Captain Gordon in
everything he directed, whether on shore or on board."

"We didn't expect he was going to treat us like servants--like dogs."

"Captain Littleton wouldn't let him domineer over us in that style if he
were here. Come on, boys," said Tom, as he led the way aft.

"Where are you going, boys?" demanded Captain Briskett, as the
rebellious watch appeared in the standing room.

"Going below to get our dinner."

"Not yet; you must wait till the watch is relieved. You heard the
captain's orders."

"We don't care for the captain's orders. We are not going to be treated
like dogs."

"But it is necessary that one watch should be on deck all the time."

"Can you tell me why it was necessary to have the starboard watch go to
dinner first?"

"I cannot; it is the captain's business to order, and mine to obey,"
replied the mate.

"It isn't our business to obey any such orders as that," said Tom.
"Come, Paul, let us all go below, and have our dinner."

"I shall obey orders," replied Paul, decidedly.

"On deck, there! What's the matter?" called Captain Gordon, from the
cabin.

"There is a mutiny in the larboard watch," replied the mate, with a
smile.

Tom and Frank did not wait for any more explanations, and began to
descend the ladder into the cabin.

"Stop, boys! what does this mean?" demanded Captain Gordon, rising from
the table.

"It means that we are going to have our dinners; that is all," replied
Tom, who had by this time reached the cabin floor.

"But my orders were, that the larboard watch should remain on deck."

"We don't care for that."

"You don't, eh?" And Captain Gordon was evidently very much surprised,
for whatever he had expected, he certainly had not anticipated a mutiny
the first day out.

"Wasn't my order a reasonable one?" he continued.

"No, sir! It was not."

"It is necessary that one watch should be on deck while the vessel is
under sail."

"That may be; but it wasn't necessary that _your_ watch should go to
dinner first," replied Tom.

"Will you return to your duty, or not?"

"No, _sir_!"

"You had better consider well what you are doing, Tom, before you go any
farther. Captain Littleton placed me in command of the yacht, and
expressly directed me to do everything I have done, so far; and
especially to keep one watch on deck all the time, while we are under
sail. Now, those of you who are willing to return to your duty and obey
orders, as you promised Captain Littleton, go on deck again."

Not one of the four boys accepted this polite invitation.

"Then I am to settle this question with these four," added the captain.

"There's no settling about it; we are going to have our dinner; that's
all," said Tom, pushing forward towards the table; but Captain Gordon
placed himself before him, and prevented his farther progress.

"I have asked you to return to your duty; now I order you to do so; and
I am going to be obeyed, even if there are some broken heads to bind up
afterwards," replied the captain. "Briskett, let Paul take the helm and
come below."

"Stand back, and let me pass" cried Tom, his face flushed with anger.

But instead of standing back, Captain Gordon seized him by the collar
and threw him down. This was the signal for Frank to step in, and do
battle for his friend. He was a stout fellow, and there was, for a
moment, a prospect of a smart little battle but the brawny pilot
suddenly destroyed this prospect by laying both hands on the second
mutineer, and dragging him on deck. Captain Gordon followed him with
Tom, the two other refractory spirits not deeming it prudent to keep the
promises they had made on deck only a few moments before.

Captain Gordon tied Tom's hands behind him, and Frank was presently
reduced to the same ignominious condition. The other two were ordered to
take their places by the side of the prisoners, and they deemed it
prudent to obey.

"All hands on deck!" shouted the captain, as he took the helm from Paul.
"Ready to go about!"

All the boys wondered what was to be done next; but the orders were
promptly obeyed, and they took their stations as they had been
instructed to do when the yacht was to go about. In a few moments the
Flyaway, which had by this time passed the reef, and was standing up the
harbor, was put about, and headed towards the open sea. No one ventured
to ask any questions; but as soon as the mate had been restored to the
helm, he fastened the prisoners to the rail, and gave the starboard
watch orders to finish their dinners, and led the way to the cabin.

"He will have to pay dearly for this," growled Tom, when the captain had
gone below. "My father is half owner of the Flyaway, and if he doesn't
get turned off, it won't be his fault."

But Frank did not make any reply. His father did not own half the yacht,
and he began to think he had "barked up the wrong tree," as he
afterwards expressed it. He did not exactly know what to make of things,
and couldn't understand why the yacht had been put about, and headed
towards home. It was rather ominous, and he wished himself out of the
scrape, or rather that he had not embarked in such a stupid enterprise.

Captain Gordon finished his dinner in silence, and as his brow looked as
stormy as a thundercloud, not one of the boys in his watch cared to
question him in regard to his future course.

When the starboard watch had finished their dinner, they went on deck;
and the captain ordered Dick to carry some of the chowder up for the
rebellious portion of the other watch, while the mate, and those of his
party who "stuck by the ship," went below.

When dinner was over, and all hands had returned to the deck, Captain
Gordon announced his intention to return to Bayville at once.

"We haven't been gone a week yet," said Henry Littleton.

"Your father told me, if any serious difficulty occurred on board, to
return home without delay. These fellows have chosen to disobey orders
the first day out; and I think that is a serious matter."

"Do you hear that, Tom?" said Frank, in a whisper, to his
fellow-prisoner.

"I don't care; the sooner he goes home the sooner will he be
discharged."

"But we shall lose all our fun, any way."

"Can't help it; I won't be treated like a servant by my father's
servant," replied Tom, loud enough to be heard by the captain.

"Your father can do what he thinks best when I get home, but while I
command a vessel all hands obey orders."

"Come, Tom, don't let us spoil all the fun. We will pay him off at
another time. Don't let us break up the cruise," whispered Frank. "He's
got us where the hair is short, and we can't help ourselves."

Tom at first refused to "back down," as he and his party elegantly
expressed it; but Frank's suggestion to pay him off at another time at
last prevailed with him, and he consented to join with his companions in
trouble in an apology to Captain Gordon, and a promise to obey orders
without grumbling in future. Frank therefore made overtures for a
capitulation; but the captain at first declined to listen to them, and
it was only upon the urgent request of the rest of the party that he
finally consented to pardon the offenders and continue the cruise. It
was only because he did not like to punish the innocent with the guilty,
he declared, that he reversed his former decision; but if any further
difficulty occurred, they would know what to expect.




CHAPTER XVII.

PAUL DISCOVERS THAT MISCHIEF IS BREWING.


It was with more than the usual alacrity that the crew flew to their
stations when the order was given to come about, and the Flyaway was
soon retracing her course towards Gloucester. It was about sunset when
this step was taken, and the yacht was some ten or twelve miles from
Norman's Reef. She would have made a quick run of this distance, but the
wind had all died out, and there was a perfect calm upon the sea. There
was but little prospect of their getting to Gloucester that night, and
they were too far out to anchor.

Before dark the captain had some misgivings as to the propriety of his
course in continuing the cruise, for Tom and his companions seemed to be
sulky, and he had several times observed them in close communication on
the forecastle. But he felt perfectly competent to manage them, however
refractory they might prove to be; yet he feared their misconduct would
destroy all the pleasure of the trip. He resolved to treat them as well
as though nothing had happened, but at the same time to keep a sharp
lookout upon them.

"All hands aft," called Captain Gordon; and the crew, including the
mutineers, promptly obeyed the summons. "Boys," he continued, when they
had all assembled in the standing room, "I propose, during this trip, at
the suggestion of Captain Littleton, who would have carried out the plan
if he had come with us,--I propose to instruct you a little in the
practical duties of seamanship to give you something to think about,
while we are idling around the decks. You see that bell, over the
windlass?"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"That's a very important thing on board a ship, for by it is regulated
everything that takes place, especially the watches. As we are likely to
be out to-night, or at least a part of the night, I intend to keep a
regular watch on board, just as they do in any well-regulated vessel.
Indeed, it is absolutely necessary to do so. We can't all turn in and
sleep while the vessel is on her course; some of us must be on deck all
the time. Therefore we had better have things done up in shipshape
order."

"That is just what we want," said Henry--a sentiment which was responded
to by a majority of the crew.

"Very well," continued the captain, consulting his watch; "it wants a
few minutes of eight o'clock, at which time we will strike eight bells,
and set the watch."

"Which watch, captain?" asked Tom Nettle, in rather surly tones.

"There is a rule about this matter, my lad, as there is about everything
aboard ship. I shall follow this rule," replied Captain Gordon, without
even looking at the speaker.

"What is the rule?" asked Henry, rather because he wished to turn the
captain's attention away from Tom, than because he was impatient to know
the rule.

"The captain's watch, which is the second mate's in ships, takes the
first, and the first officer's the second, on the outward voyage; on the
homeward voyage the order is reversed. The starboard watch is the
captain's; therefore it is my first watch to-night. It will be from
eight to twelve; when the larboard watch will come on deck, and remain
till four; then the starboard again till eight."

"That isn't fair," said Edward Freeman.

"Why not, my boy?" asked the captain, with a smile; for he readily
perceived the objection the speaker was about to urge.

"The starboard watch will be on deck eight hours of the night, while the
other watch will be up only four hours."

"Just so, my lad; but to-morrow night the order of the watches will be
reversed. Give me your attention for a moment, and I will explain the
matter. Continuing from the point where I left off, the starboard watch
will be on duty from eight to twelve; the larboard from twelve to four;
when the starboard will come on deck; but----"

"That will bring things just as they were the preceding night, and the
starboard watch will be on duty eight hours, as before," interrupted
Edward, thinking he had caught the captain this time.

"To avoid this difficulty, the watch from four to eight in the afternoon
is divided into two, called the _dog-watches_."

"That makes it all right."

At this moment, Captain Briskett, who had gone forward for the purpose,
struck the bell eight times.

"Eight bells! All the starboard watch, ahoy!" shouted Captain Gordon.
"All the rest of you had better go below and turn in; while you sleep,
pay attention to it, for when we call you, we shall want you."

The mate and his watch all went below; but, though they took to their
berths, the excitement of the occasion was too great to permit them to
sleep. There was a great deal of "skylarking" done in the cabin, as well
as on deck, during the next hour, but one by one the boys below dropped
asleep, and those on deck were soon tired of play, and called upon
Captain Gordon to "spin a yarn." He was good-natured enough to comply
with their request.

The watch on deck soon came to the conclusion that "sailoring" was not
particularly funny at night, for there was a good deal of gaping, and
not a little impatience for the eight bells that would relieve them for
a while. At six bells there was a prospect of a little wind, and the
yacht began to ripple through the water. The wind increased steadily
till they had quite a lively breeze.

"All the larboard watch, ahoy!" shouted the captain down the
companionway, at eight bells.

"Ay, ay," replied Briskett.

But it was no easy task to rouse the sleepers, and even when they were
awoke, some of them declared they were not going on deck again that
night. They concluded, however, after the experience of the first day,
that it would be better to fall in with the discipline of the vessel.
They found the Flyaway making good progress through the water, which in
some measure waked them up, and reconciled them to their situation. In
two hours more, she came to anchor in Gloucester harbor, and the watch
were permitted to go below. A lantern was hoisted on the forestay, and
all hands were soon asleep.

Our limited space does not permit us to transfer the log of the Flyaway
to our pages, and we must hasten on to more exciting events than the
ordinary working of the vessel. The party spent the forenoon at
Gloucester, and after dinner made sail for Portsmouth, arriving there at
about nine o'clock in the evening; or rather at the mouth of the river,
for they anchored off Kittery Point. On Monday morning, the Tenean,
which lay upon deck, was put into the water, and the club pulled up to
the city.

While they were absent, the wind veered round to the 

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