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diff --git a/32606.txt b/32606.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b37b33c --- /dev/null +++ b/32606.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7369 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dorothy on a House Boat, by Evelyn Raymond + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dorothy on a House Boat + +Author: Evelyn Raymond + +Release Date: May 30, 2010 [EBook #32606] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOROTHY ON A HOUSE BOAT *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + DOROTHY + ON A HOUSE-BOAT + + _By_ + + EVELYN RAYMOND + + ILLUSTRATED + + New York + + THE PLATTE & PECK CO. + + + + +THE + +DOROTHY BOOKS + +By EVELYN RAYMOND + + +These stories of an American girl by an American author have made +"Dorothy" a household synonym for all that is fascinating. Truth and +realism are stamped on every page. The interest never flags, and is +ofttimes intense. No more happy choice can be made for gift books, so +sure are they to win approval and please not only the young in years, +but also "grown-ups" who are young in heart and spirit. + + Dorothy + Dorothy at Skyrie + Dorothy's Schooling + Dorothy's Travels + Dorothy's House Party + Dorothy in California + Dorothy on a Ranch + Dorothy's House Boat + Dorothy at Oak Knowe + Dorothy's Triumph + Dorothy's Tour + + _Illustrated, 12mo, Cloth + Price per Volume, 50 Cents_ + + COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY + THE PLATT & PECK CO. + + + + +[Illustration: "EPHRAIM, DID YOU EVER LIVE IN A HOUSE-BOAT?"--P 15 +_Dorothy's House-Boat_] + + + + +FOREWORD. + + +Those who have followed the story of Dorothy Calvert's life thus +far will remember that it has been full of interest and many +adventures--pleasant and otherwise. Beginning as a foundling left upon +the steps of a little house in Brown street, Baltimore, she was +adopted by its childless owners, a letter-carrier and his wife. When +his health failed she removed with them to the Highlands of the +Hudson. There followed her "Schooling" at a fashionable academy; her +vacation "Travels" in beautiful Nova Scotia; her "House Party" at the +home of her newly discovered great aunt, Mrs. Betty Calvert; their +winter together "In California"; a wonderful summer "On a Ranch" in +Colorado; and now the early autumn has found the old lady and the +girl once more in the ancestral home of the Calverts. Enjoying their +morning's mail in the pleasant library of old Bellvieu, they are both +astonished by the contents of one letter which offers for Dorothy's +acceptance the magnificent gift of a "House-Boat." What follows the +receipt of this letter is now to be told. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + FOREWORD 9 + + I. A BIG GIFT FOR A SMALL MAID 11 + + II. INVITATIONS TO A CRUISE OF LOVING KINDNESS 25 + + III. THE DIFFICULTIES OF GETTING UNDER WAY 44 + + IV. MATTERS ARE SETTLED 62 + + V. THE STORM AND WHAT FOLLOWED 76 + + VI. A MULE AND MELON TRANSACTION 92 + + VII. VISITORS 105 + + VIII. THE COLONEL'S REVELATION 121 + + IX. FISH AND MONKEYS 138 + + X. A MERE ANNE ARUNDEL GUST 154 + + XI. A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS 165 + + XII. UNDER THE PERSIMMON TREE 180 + + XIII. WHAT LAY UNDER THE WALKING FERN 195 + + XIV. THE REDEMPTION OF A PROMISE 213 + + XV. IN THE HEART OF AN ANCIENT WOOD 229 + + XVI. WHEN THE MONKEYS' CAGE WAS CLEANED 243 + + XVII. CONCLUSION 254 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A BIG GIFT FOR A SMALL MAID. + + +"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Mrs. Betty Calvert, shaking her white +head and tossing her hands in a gesture of amazement. Then, as the +letter she had held fell to the floor, her dark eyes twinkled with +amusement and she smilingly demanded: "Dorothy, do you want an +elephant?" + +The girl had been reading her own letters, just come in the morning's +mail, but she paused to stare at her great-aunt and to ask in turn: + +"Aunt Betty, what do you mean?" + +"Because if you do here's the chance of your life to get one!" +answered the old lady, motioning toward the fallen letter. + +Dolly understood that she was to pick it up and read it, and, having +done so, remarked: + +"Auntie dear, this doesn't say anything about an elephant, as I can +see." + +"Amounts to the same thing. The idea of a house-boat as a gift to a +girl like you! My cousin Seth Winters must be getting into his dotage! +Of course, girlie, I don't mean that fully, but isn't it a queer +notion? What in the world can you, could you, do with a house-boat?" + +"Live in it, sail in it, have the jolliest time in it! Why not, +Auntie, darling?" + +Dorothy's face was shining with eagerness and she ran to clasp Mrs. +Calvert with coaxing arms. "Why not, indeed, Aunt Betty? You've been +shut up in this hot city all summer long; you haven't had a bit of an +outing, anywhere; it would do you lots of good to go sailing about on +the river or bay; and--and--do say 'yes,' please, to dear Mr. Seth's +offer! Oh! do!" + +The old lady kissed the uplifted face, merrily exclaiming: + +"Don't pretend it's for my benefit, little wheedler! The idea of such +a thing is preposterous--simply preposterous! Run away and write the +silly man that we've no use for house-boats, but if he does happen to +have an elephant on hand, a white elephant, we might consider +accepting it as a gift! We could have it kept at the park Zoo, maybe, +and some city youngsters might like that." + +Dorothy's face clouded. She had become accustomed to receiving rich +gifts, during her Summer on a Ranch, as the guest of the wealthy +Fords, and now to have a house-boat offered her was only one more of +the wonderful things life brought to her. + +Going back to her seat beside the open window she pushed her own +letters aside, for the moment, to re-read that of her old teacher +and guardian, during her life on the mountain by the Hudson. She had +always believed Mr. Winters to be the wisest of men, justly entitled +to his nickname of the "Learned Blacksmith." He wasn't one to do +anything without a good reason and, of course, Aunt Betty's remarks +about him had been only in jest. That both of them understood; and +Dorothy now searched for the reason of this surprising gift. This was +the letter: + + "Dear Cousin Betty: + + "Mr. Blank has failed in business, just as you warned me he + would, and all I can recover of the money I loaned him is + what is tied up in a house-boat, one of his many + extravagances--though, in this case, not a great one. + + "Of course, I have no use for such a floating structure on + top of a mountain and I want to give it to our little + Dorothy. As she has now become a shareholder in a mine with + a small income of her own, she can afford to accept the boat + and I know she will enjoy it. I have forwarded the deed of + gift to my lawyers in your town and trust your own tangled + business affairs are coming out right in the end. All well + at Deerhurst. Jim Barlow came down to say that Dr. Sterling + is going abroad for a few months and that the manse will be + closed. I wish the boy were ready for college, but he isn't. + Also, that he wasn't too proud to accept any help from Mr. + Ford--but he is. He says the discovery of that mine on that + gentleman's property was an 'accident' on his own part, and + he 'won't yet awhile.' He wants 'to earn his own way + through the world' and, from present appearances, I think + he'll have a chance to try. He's on the lookout now for + another job." + +There followed a few more sentences about affairs in the highland +village where the writer lived, but not a doubt was expressed as to +the fitness of his extraordinary gift to a little girl, nor of its +acceptance by her. Indeed, it was a puzzled, disappointed face which +was now raised from the letter and an appealing glance that was cast +upon the old lady in the chair by the desk. + +Meanwhile Aunt Betty had been doing some thinking of her own. She +loved novelty with all the zest of a girl and she was fond of the +water. Mr. Winters's offer began to seem less absurd. Finally, she +remarked: + +"Well, dear, you may leave the writing of that note for a time. I'm +obliged to go down town on business, this morning, and after my +errands are done we will drive to that out-of-the-way place where this +house-boat is moored and take a look at it. Are all those letters from +your summer-friends? For a small person you have established a big +correspondence, but, of course, it won't last long. Now run and tell +Ephraim to get up the carriage. I'll be ready in twenty minutes." + +Dorothy hastily piled her notes on the wide window-ledge and skipped +from the room, clapping her hands and singing as she went. To her +mind Mrs. Calvert's consent to visit the house-boat was almost proof +that it would be accepted. If it were--Ah! glorious! + +"Ephraim, did you ever live in a house-boat?" she demanded, bursting +in upon the old colored coachman, engaged in his daily task of +"shinin' up de harness." + +He glanced at her over his "specs," then as hastily removed them and +stuffed them into his pocket. It was his boast that he could see as +"well as evah" and needed no such aids to his sight. He hated to grow +old and those whom he served so faithfully rarely referred to the +fact. + +So Dorothy ignored the "specs," though she couldn't help smiling to +see one end of their steel frame sticking out from the pocket, while +she repeated to his astonished ears her question. + +"Evah lib in a house-boat? Evah kiss a cat's lef' hind foot? Nebah +heered o' no such contraption. Wheah's it at--dat t'ing?" + +"Away down at some one of the wharves and we're going to see it +right away. Oh! I forget. Aunt Betty wants the carriage at the door +in twenty minutes. In fifteen, now, I guess because 'time flies' +fairly away from me. But, Ephy, dear, try to put your mind to the +fact that likely, I guess, maybe, you and I and everybody will go +and live on the loveliest boat, night and day, and every day go +sailing--sailing--sailing--on pretty rivers, between green banks +and heaps of flowers, and----" + +Ephraim rose from his stool and waved her away. + +"Gwan erlong wid yo' foolishness honey gell! Yo' dreamin', an' my Miss +Betty ain' gwine done erlow no such notionses. My Miss Betty done got +sense, she hab, bress her! She ain' gwine hab not'in' so scan'lous +in yo' raisin' as dat yeah boat talk. Gwan an' hunt yo' bunnit, if +you-all 'spects to ride in ouah bawoosh." + +Dorothy always exploded in a gale of laughter to hear Ephraim's +efforts to pronounce "barouche," as he liked to call the old carriage; +and she now swept a mocking curtsey to his pompous dismissal, as she +hurried away to put on her "bunnit" and coat. To Ephraim, any sort of +feminine headgear was simply a "bunnit" and every wrap was a "shawl." + +Soon the fat horses drew the glistening carriage through the gateway +of Bellvieu, the fine old residence of the Calverts, and down through +the narrow, crowded streets of the business part of old Baltimore. To +loyal Mrs. Betty, who had passed the greater part of her long life +in the southern city, it was very dear and even beautiful; but to +Dorothy's young eyes it seemed, on that early autumn day, very +"smelly" and almost squalid. Her mind still dwelt upon visions of +sunny rivers and green fields, and she was too anxious for her aunt's +acceptance of Mr. Winters's gift to keep still. + +Fidgetting from side to side of the carriage seat, where she had been +left to wait, the impatient girl felt that Aunt Betty's errands were +endless. Even the fat horses, used to standing quietly on the street, +grew restless during a long delay at the law offices of Kidder and +Kidder, Mrs. Calvert's men of business. This, the lady had said, would +be the last stop by the way; and when she at length emerged from the +building, she moved as if but half conscious of what she was doing. +Her face was troubled and looked far older than when she had left the +carriage; and, with sudden sympathy and pity, Dorothy's mood changed. + +"Aunt Betty, aren't you well? Let's go straight home, then, and not +bother about that boat." + +Mrs. Calvert smiled and bravely put her own worries behind her. + +"Thank you, dear, for your consideration, but 'the last's the best of +all the game,' as you children say. I've begun to believe that this +boat errand of ours may prove so. Ephraim, drive to Halcyon Point." + +If his mistress had bidden him drive straight into the Chesapeake, the +old coachman would have attempted to obey; but he could not refrain +from one glance of dismay as he received this order. He wouldn't have +risked his own respectability by a visit to such a "low down, ornery" +resort, alone; but if Miss Betty chose to go there it was all right. +Her wish was "sutney cur'us" but being hers not to be denied. + +And now, indeed, did Dorothy find the city with its heat a "smelly" +place, but a most interesting one as well. The route lay through the +narrowest of streets, where tumble-down old houses swarmed with +strange looking people. To her it all seemed like some foreign +country, with its Hebrew signs on the walls, its bearded men of many +nations, and its untidy women leaning from the narrow windows, +scolding the dirty children in the gutters beneath. + +But after a time, the lane-like streets gave place to wider ones, the +air grew purer, and soon a breath from the salt water beyond refreshed +them all. Almost at once, it seemed, they had arrived; and Dorothy +eagerly sought to tell which of the various craft clustered about the +Point was her coveted house-boat. + +The carriage drew up beside a little office on the pier and a man came +out. He courteously assisted Aunt Betty to descend, while he promptly +pointed out a rather squat, but pretty, boat which he informed her was +the "Water Lily," lately the property of Mr. Blank, but now consigned +to one Mr. Seth Winters, of New York, to be held at the commands of +Miss Dorothy Calvert. + +"A friend of yours, Madam?" he inquired, concluding that this stately +old lady could not be the "Miss" in question and wholly forgetting +that the little maid beside her might possibly be such. + +Aunt Betty laid her hand on Dolly's shoulder and answered: + +"This is Miss Dorothy Calvert and the 'Water Lily' is a gift from Mr. +Winters to her. Can we go on board and inspect?" + +The gentleman pursed his lips to whistle, he was so surprised, but +instead exclaimed: + +"What a lucky girl! The 'Water Lily' is the most complete craft of its +kind I ever saw. Mr. Blank spared no trouble nor expense in fitting +her up for a summer home for his family. She is yacht-shaped and +smooth-motioned; and even her tender is better than most house-boats +in this country. Blank must be a fanciful man, for he named the tender +'The Pad,' meaning leaf, I suppose, and the row-boat belonging is 'The +Stem.' Odd, isn't it, Madam?" + +"Rather; but will just suit this romantic girl, here," she replied; +almost as keen pleasure now lighting her face as was shining from +Dorothy's. At her aunt's words she caught the lady's hand and kissed +it rapturously, exclaiming: + +"Then you do mean to let me accept it, you precious, darling dear! You +do, you do!" + +They all laughed, even Ephraim, who was close at his lady's heels, +acting the stout body-guard who would permit nothing to harm her in +this strange place. + +The Water Lily lay lower in the water than the dock and Mrs. Calvert +was carefully helped down the gang plank to its deck. Another plank +rested upon the top of the cabin, or main room of the house-boat, and +Dorothy sped across this and hurried down the steep little winding +stair, leading from it to the lower deck, to join in her aunt's +inspection of the novel "ship." + +Delighted astonishment hushed for the time her nimble tongue. Then her +exclamations burst forth: + +"It's so big!" + +"About one hundred feet long, all told, and eighteen wide;" the wharf +master explained. + +"It's all furnished, just like a really, truly house!" + +"Indeed, yes; with every needful comfort but not one superfluous +article. See this, please. The way the 'bedrooms' are shut off;" +continued the gentleman, showing how the three feet wide window-seats +were converted into sleeping quarters. Heavy sail cloth had been +shaped into partitions, and these fastened to ceiling and side wall +separated the cots into cosy little staterooms. Extra seats, pulled +from under the first ones, furnished additional cots, if needed. + +The walls of the saloon had been sunk below the deck line, giving +ample head room, and the forward part was of solid glass, while +numerous side-windows afforded fine views in every direction. The roof +of this large room could be covered by awnings and became a charming +promenade deck. + +Even Aunt Betty became speechless with pleasure as she wandered over +the beautiful boat, examining every detail, from the steam-heating +arrangements to the tiny "kitchen," which was upon the "tender" +behind. + +"I thought the tug, or towing boat was always in front," she remarked +at length. + +"Mr. Blank found this the best arrangement. The 'Pad' has a steam +engine and its prow fastened to the stern of the Lily propels it +ahead. None of the smoke comes into the Lily and that, too, was why +the galley, or kitchen, was built on the smaller boat. A little bridge +is slung between the two for foot passage and--Well, Madam, I can't +stop admiring the whole affair. It shows what a man's brain can do +in the way of invention, when his heart is in it, too. I fancy that +parting with his Water Lily was about the hardest trial poor old Blank +had to bear." + +Silence fell on them all and Dorothy's face grew very sober. It was a +wonderful thing that this great gift should come to her but it grieved +her to know it had so come by means of another's misfortune. Aunt +Betty, too, grew more serious and she asked the practical question: + +"Is it a very expensive thing to run? Say for about three months?" + +The official shrugged his shoulders, replying: + +"That depends on what one considers expensive. It would smash my +pocket-book to flinders. The greatest cost would be the engineer's +salary. One might take the job for three dollars a day and keep. +He might--I don't know. Then the coal, the power for the electric +lights--the lots of little things that crop up to eat up cash as if it +were good bread and butter. Ah! yes. It's a lovely toy--for those who +can afford it. I only wish I could!" + +The man's remarks ended in a sigh and he looked at Dorothy as if he +envied her. His expression hurt her, somehow, and she turned away her +eyes, asking a practical question of her own: + +"Would three hundred dollars do it?" + +"Yes--for a time, at least. But----" + +He broke off abruptly and helped Aunt Betty to ascend the plank to +the wharf, while Dorothy followed, soberly, and Ephraim with all +the pomposity he could assume. + +There Methuselah Bonaparte Washington, the small colored boy who had +always lived at Bellvieu and now served as Mrs. Betty's page as well +as footman, descended from his perch and untied the horses from the +place where careful Ephraim had fastened them. His air was a perfect +imitation of the old man's and sat so funnily upon his small person +that the wharf master chuckled and Dorothy laughed outright. + +"Metty," as he was commonly called, disdained to see the mirth he +caused but climbed to his seat behind, folded his arms as well as he +could for his too big livery, and became as rigid as a statue--or as +all well-conducted footmen should be. + +Then good-byes were exchanged, after the good old Maryland fashion +and the carriage rolled away. + +As it vanished from view the man left behind sighed again and clenched +his fists, muttering: + +"This horrible, uneven world! Why should one child have so much and my +Elsa--nothing! Elsa, my poor, unhappy child!" + +Then he went about his duties and tried to forget Dorothy's beauty, +perfect health, and apparent wealth. + +For some time neither Mrs. Calvert nor Dorothy spoke; then the girl +said: + +"Aunt Betty, Jim Barlow could tend that engine. And he's out of a +place. Maybe----" + +"Yes, dear, I've been thinking of him, too. Somehow none of our plans +seem quite perfect without good, faithful James sharing them." + +"And that poor Mr. Blank----" + +"A very dishonest scoundrel, my child, according to all accounts. +Don't waste pity on him." + +"But his folks mayn't be scoundrels. He loved them, too, same as +we love or he wouldn't have built such a lovely Water Lily. Auntie, +that boat would hold a lot of people, wouldn't it?" + +"I suppose so," answered the lady, absently. + +"When we go house-boating may I invite anybody I choose to go with +us?" + +"I haven't said yet that we would go!" + +"But you've looked it and that's better." + +Just then an automobile whizzed by and the horses pretended to be +afraid. Mrs. Calvert was frightened and leaned forward anxiously till +Ephraim had brought them down to quietness again. Then she settled +back against her cushions and became once more absorbed in her own +sombre thoughts. She scarcely heard and wholly failed to understand +Dorothy's repeated question: + +"May I, dear Aunt Betty?" + +She answered carelessly: + +"Why, yes, child. You may do what you like with your own." + +But that consent, so rashly given, was to bring some strange +adventures in its train. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +INVITATIONS TO A CRUISE OF LOVING KINDNESS. + + +"Huh! Dolly's caught the Ford fashion of sending telegrams where a +letter would do!" exclaimed Jim Barlow, after he had opened the yellow +envelope which Griselda Roemer gave him when he came in from work. + +He was back at Deerhurst, living with old Hans and Griselda, the +caretakers, and feeling more at home in his little room above the +lodge doorway than anywhere else. He had come to do any sort of labor +by which he might earn his keep, and to go on with his studies +whenever he had leisure. Mr. Seth Winters, the "Learned Blacksmith," +and his faithful friend, would give him such help as was needed; and +the lad had settled down in the prospect of a fine winter at his +beloved books. After his long summer on the Colorado mountains he felt +rested and keener for knowledge than ever. + +Now as he held the telegram in his hand his face clouded, so that +Griselda, watching, anxiously inquired: + +"Is something wrong? Is our good lady sick?" + +"It doesn't say so. It's from Dorothy. She wants me to come to +Baltimore and help her fool away lots more time on a house-boat! I +wish she'd mind her business!" + +The friendly German woman stared. She had grown to look upon her +lodger, Jim, very much as if he were her own son. He wasn't often so +cross as this and never had been so against Dorothy. + +"Well, well! Ah so! Well!" + +With this brief comment she made haste to set the dinner on the table +and to call Hans from his own task of hoeing the driveway. Presently +he had washed his face and hands at the little sink in the kitchen, +rubbed them into a fine glow with the spotless roller-towel, and was +ready for the great meal of the day--his generous "Dutch dinner." + +Usually Jim was as ready as Hans to enjoy it; but, to-day, he left his +food untasted on his plate while he stared gloomily out of the window, +and for so long that Griselda grew curious and went to see what might +be happening without. + +"What seest thou, lad? Is aught wrong beyond already?" + +"No. Oh! come back to table, Mrs. Roemer. I'll tell you. I'd just got +fixed, you know, to do a lot of hard work--both kinds. Now comes this +silly thing! I suppose Mrs. Calvert must have let Dolly ask me else +she wouldn't have done it. It seems some simpleton or other, likely +as not that Mr. Ford----" + +"Call no names, son!" warned Hans, disposing of a great mouthful, to +promptly reprimand the angry youth. Hans was a man of peace. He hated +nothing so much as ill temper. + +Jim said no more, but his wrath cooling began to eat his dinner with a +zeal that made up for lost time. Having finished he went out saying: + +"I'll finish my job when I come back. I'm off now for the Shop." + +He always spoke of the smithy under the Great Balm of Gilead Tree as +if it began with a capital letter. The old man who called himself a +"blacksmith"--and was, in fact, a good one--and dwelt in the place +stood to eager James Barlow as the type of everything good and great. +He was sure, as he hurried along the road, that Mr. Seth would agree +with him in regard to Dorothy's telegram. + +"Hello, Jim! What's up? You look excited," was the blacksmith's +greeting as the lad's shadow darkened the smithy entrance. + +"Read that, will you, Mr. Winters?" + +The gentleman put on his "reading specs," adjusted the yellow slip of +paper conveniently, and exclaimed: + +"Good enough! Mistress Betty has allowed the darling to accept it +then! First rate. Well?" + +Then he looked up inquiringly, surprised by the impatience of the +boy's expression. + +"Well--of course I sha'n't go. The idea of loafing for another two, +three months is--ridiculous! And what fool would give such a thing as +a house-boat to a chit of a girl like our Dorothy?" + +Mr. Seth laughed and pointed to the settee. + +"Sit down, chap, and cool off. The world is as full of fools as it is +of wise men. Which is which depends upon the point of view. I'm sorry +to have you number me amongst the first; because I happen to be the +stupid man who gave the 'Water Lily' and its belongings to little +Dorothy. I knew she'd make good use of it, if her aunt would let her +accept the gift, and she flatters you, I think, by inviting you to +come and engineer the craft. You'll go, of course." + +Jim did sit down then, rather suddenly, while his face reddened with +shame, remembering what he had just called the wise man before him. +Finally, he faltered: + +"I know next to nothing about a steam engine." + +"I thought you had a good idea of the matter. Not as a trained expert, +of course, but enough to manage a simple affair like the one in +question. Dr. Sterling told me that you were often pottering about the +machine shops in Newburgh and had picked up some good notions about +steam and its force. He thought you might, eventually, turn your +attention to such a line of work. From the beginning I had you in mind +as helping Dolly to carry out her pleasant autumn plans." + +"I'd likely enough blow up the whole concern--through dumb ignorance. +And--and--I was going to study double hard. I do want to get to +college next year!" + +"This trip will help you. I wish I could take it myself, though I +couldn't manage even a tiny engine. Besides, lad, as I understand, the +'Water Lily' doesn't wholly depend upon steam for her 'power.' +She--but you'll find out in two minutes of inspection more than I can +suggest in an hour. If you take the seven-thirty train to New York, +to-morrow morning, you can reach Baltimore by three in the afternoon, +easily enough. 'James Barlow. Been given house-boat. You're engineer. +Be Union Station, three, Wednesday.' Signed: 'Dorothy.'" + +This was the short dispatch which Mr. Winters now re-read, aloud, with +the comment: + +"The child is learning to condense. She's got this message down to the +regulation ten-words-for-a-quarter." + +Then he crossed to the bookcase and began to select certain volumes +from its shelves, while Jim watched eagerly, almost hungrily. One +after another, these were the beloved books whose contents he had +hoped to master during the weeks to come. To see them now from the +outside only was fresh disappointment and he rose to leave, saying: + +"Well, if I must I must an' no bones about it. I wouldn't stir hand +nor foot, 'cept it's Mrs. Calvert and----" + +"Don't leave out Dolly Doodles, boy! She was your first friend among +us all, and your first little teacher in the art of spelling. Oh! I +know. Of course, such a boy as you would have learned, anyway, but +'Praise the bridge that carries you safe over.' Dorothy was the first +'bridge' between you and these volumes, in those far-back days when +you both picked strawberries on Miranda Stott's truck-farm. There. I +think these will be all you can do justice to before you come back. +There's an old 'telescope' satchel of mine in the inner closet that +will hold them nicely. Fetch it and be off with you." + +"Those--why, those are your own best beloved books! Would you trust +them with me away from home? Will they be of any use on a house-boat?" + +"Yes, yes, you 'doubting Thomas.' Now--how much money have you on +hand?" + +"Ten dollars. I'd saved it for a lexicon and some--some other things." + +"This bulky fellow is a lexicon I used in my youth; and since Latin is +a 'dead language' it's as much alive and as helpful now as ever. That +book is my parting gift to you; and ten dollars is sufficient for your +fare and a day's needs. Good-bye." + +All the time he had been talking Mr. Winters had been deftly packing +the calf-bound volumes in the shabby "telescope," and now strapped it +securely. Then he held out his hand with a cheerful smile lighting +his fine face, and remarking: + +"When you see my dear ones just say everything good to them and say I +said it. Good-bye." + +Jim hurried away lest his friend should see the moisture that suddenly +filled his eyes. He "hated good-byes" and could never get used to +partings. So he fairly ran over the road to the gates of Deerhurst and +worked off his troublesome emotion by hoeing every vestige of a weed +from the broad driveways on its grounds. He toiled so swiftly and so +well that old Hans felt himself relieved of the task and quietly went +to sleep in his chair by the lodge door. + +Gradually, too, the house-boat idea began to interest him. He had but +a vague notion of what such a craft was like and found himself +thinking about it with considerable pleasure. So that when, at three +o'clock the next afternoon, he stepped down from the train at Union +Station he was his old, eager, good-natured self. + +"Hello, Doll!" + +"O Jim! The three weeks since I saw you seems an age! Isn't it just +glorious? I'm so glad!" + +With that the impulsive girl threw her arms around the lad's neck and +tip-toed upwards to reach his brown cheek with her lips. Only to find +her arms unclasped and herself set down with considerable energy. + +"Quit that, girlie. Makes me look like a fool!" + +"I should think it did. Your face is as red--as red! Aren't you glad +to see me, again?" demanded Miss Dorothy, folding her arms and +standing firmly before him. + +She looked so pretty, so bewitching, that some passers-by smiled, at +which poor Jim's face turned even a deeper crimson and he picked up +his luggage to go forward with the crowd. + +"But aren't you glad, Jim?" she again mischievously asked, playfully +obstructing his progress. + +"Oh! bother! Course. But boys can be glad without such silly kissin'. +I don't know what ails girls, anyway, likin' so to make a feller look +ridic'lous." + +Dorothy laughed and now marched along beside him, contenting herself +by a clasp of his burdened arms. + +"Jim, you're a dear. But you're cross. I can always tell when you're +that by your 'relapsing into the vernacular,' as I read in Aunt +Betty's book. Never mind, Jim, I'm in trouble!" + +"Shucks! I'd never dream it!" + +They had climbed the iron stairway leading to the street above and +were now waiting for a street-car to carry them to Bellvieu. So Jim +set down his heavy telescope and light bag of clothing to rest his +arms, while old Ephraim approached from the rear. He had gone with his +"li'l miss" to meet the newcomer but had kept out of sight until now. + +"Howdy, Marse Jim. Howdy." + +Then he picked up the bag of books and shrugged his shoulders at its +weight. Setting it back on the sidewalk he raised his hand and +beckoned small Methuselah, half-hiding behind a pillar of the +building. That youngster came tremblingly forward. He was attired in +his livery, that he had been forbidden to wear when "off duty," or +save when in attendance upon "Miss Betty." But having been so recently +promoted to the glory of a uniform he appeared in it whenever +possible. + +On this trip to the station he had lingered till his grandfather had +already boarded the street-car and too late for him to be sent home to +change. Now he cowered before Ephraim's frown and fear of what would +happen when they two were alone together in the "harness room" of the +old stable. On its walls reposed other whips than those used for Mrs. +Calvert's horses. + +"Yeah, chile. Tote dem valeeshes home. Doan' yo let no grass grow, +nudder, whiles yo' doin' it. I'll tend to yo' case bimeby. I ain' +gwine fo'get." + +Then he put the little fellow aboard the first car that came by, +hoisted the luggage after him, and had to join in the mirth the +child's appearance afforded--with his scrawny body half-buried beneath +the livery "made to grow in." + +Jim was laughing, too, yet anxious over the disappearance of his +books, and explained to Dorothy: + +"That gray telescope's full of Mr. Seth's books. We better get the +next car an' follow, else maybe he'll lose 'em." + +"He'll not dare. And we're not going home yet. We're going down to the +Water Lily. Oh! she's a beauty! and think that we can do just what we +like with her! No, not that one! This is our car. It runs away down to +the jumping-off place of the city and out to the wharves beyond. Yes, +of course, Ephraim will go with us. That's why Metty was brought +along. To take your things home and to let Aunt Betty know you had +come. O Jim, I'm so worried!" + +He looked and laughed his surprise, but she shook her head, and when +they were well on their way disclosed her perplexities, that were, +indeed, real and serious enough. + +"Jim Barlow, Aunt Betty's got to give up Bellvieu--and it's just +killing her!" + +"Dolly Doodles--what you sayin'?" + +It sounded very pleasant to hear that old pet name again and proved +that this was the same loving, faithful Jim, even if he did hate +kissing. But then he'd always done that. + +"I mean just what I say and I'm so glad to have you to talk it over +with. I daren't say a word to her about it, of course, and I can't +talk to the servants. They get just frantic. Once I said something to +Dinah and she went into a fit, nearly. Said she'd tear the house down +stone by stone 'scusin' she'd let her 'li'l Miss Betty what was +borned yeah be tu'ned outen it.' You see that dear Auntie, in the +goodness of her heart, has taken care of a lot of old women and old +men, in a big house the family used to own down in the country. +Something or somebody has 'failed' whatever that means and most of +Aunt Betty's money has failed too. If she sells Bellvieu, as the +'city' has been urging her to do for ever so long, she'll have enough +money left to still take care of her 'old folks' and keep up their +Home. If she doesn't--Well there isn't enough to do everything. And, +though she doesn't say a word of complaint, it's heart-breaking to see +the way she goes around the house and grounds, laying her old white +hand on this thing or that in such a loving way--as if she were saying +good-bye to it! Then, too, Jim, did you know that poor Mabel Bruce has +lost her father? He died very suddenly and her mother has been left +real poor. Mabel grieves dreadfully; so, of course, she must be one of +our guests on the Water Lily. She won't cheer up Aunt Betty very well, +but you must do that. She's very fond of _you_, Jim, Aunt Betty is, +and it's just splendid that you're free from Dr. Sterling now and can +come to manage our boat. Why, boy, what's the matter? Why do you look +so 'sollumcolic?' Didn't you want to come? Aren't you glad that 'Uncle +Seth' gave me the 'Water Lily'?" + +"No. I didn't want to come. And if Mrs. Betty's so poor, what you +doing with a house-boat, anyway?" + +Promptly, they fell into such a heated argument that Ephraim +felt obliged to interfere and remind his "li'l miss" that she +was in a public conveyance and must be more "succumspec' in yo' +behavesomeness." But she gaily returned that they were now the +only passengers left in the car and she must make stupid Jim +understand--everything. + +Finally, she succeeded so far that he knew the facts: + +How and why the house-boat had become Dorothy's property; that she +had three hundred dollars in money, all her own; and that, instead of +putting it in the bank as she had expected, she was going to use it +to sail the Water Lily and give some unhappy people a real good time; +that Jim was expected to work without wages and must manage the craft +for pure love of the folks who sailed in it; that Aunt Betty had said +Dorothy might invite whom she chose to be her guests; and that, first +and foremost, Mrs. Calvert herself must be made perfectly happy and +comfortable. + +"Here we are! There she is! That pretty thing all white and gold, with +the white flag flying her own sweet name--Water Lily! Doesn't she look +exactly like one? Wasn't it a pretty notion to paint the tender green +like a real lily 'Pad?' and that cute little row-boat a reddish brown, +like an actual 'Stem?' Aren't you glad you came? Aren't we going to be +gloriously happy? Does it seem it can be true that it's really, truly +ours?" demanded Dorothy, skipping along the pier beside the soberer +Jim. + +But his face brightened as he drew nearer the beautiful boat and a +great pride thrilled him that he was to be in practical charge of her. + +"Skipper Jim, the Water Lily. Water Lily, let me introduce you to +your Commodore!" cried Dorothy, as they reached the gang-plank and +were about to go aboard. Then her expression changed to one of +astonishment. Somebody--several somebodies, indeed--had presumed to +take possession of the house-boat and were evidently having "afternoon +tea" in the main saloon. + +The wharf master came out of his office and hastily joined the +newcomers. He was evidently annoyed and hastened to explain: + +"Son and daughter of Mr. Blank with some of their friends. Come down +here while I was off duty and told my helper they had a right to do +that. He didn't look for you to come, to-day, and anyway, he'd hardly +have stopped them. Sorry. Ah! Elsa! Afraid to stay alone back there?" + +A girl, about Dorothy's age, had followed the master and now slipped +her hand about his arm. She was very thin and sallow, with eyes that +seemed too large for her face, and walked with a painful limp. There +was an expression of great timidity on her countenance, so that she +shrank half behind her father, though he patted her hand to reassure +her and explained to Dorothy: + +"This is my own motherless little girl. She's not very strong and +rather nervous. I brought her down here this afternoon to show her +your boat, but we haven't been aboard. Those people--they had no +right--I regret--" + +Dolly, vexatious with the "interlopers," as she considered the party +aboard the Water Lily, gave place to a sudden, keen liking for the +fragile Elsa. She looked as if she had never had a good time in her +life and the more fortunate girl instantly resolved to give her one. +Taking Elsa's other hand in both of hers, she exclaimed: + +"Come along with Jim and me and pick out the little stateroom you'll +have for your own when we start on our cruise--next Monday morning! +You'll be my guest, won't you? The first one invited." + +Elsa's large eyes were lifted in amazed delight; then as quickly +dropped, while a fit of violent trembling shook her slight frame. She +was so agitated that her equally astonished father put his arm about +her to support her, and the look he gave Dorothy was very keen as he +said: + +"Elsa has always lived alone. She isn't used to the jests of other +girls, Miss Calvert." + +"Isn't she? But I wasn't jesting. My aunt has given me permission to +choose my own guests and I choose Elsa, first, if she will come. Will +you, dear?" and again Dolly gave the hand she held an affectionate +squeeze. "Come and help us make our little cruise a perfectly +delightful one." + +Once more the great, dark eyes looked into Dorothy's brown ones and +Elsa answered softly: "Ye-es, I'll come. If--if you begin like +this--with a poor girl like me--it should be called 'The Cruise of +Loving Kindness.' I guess--I know--God sent you." + +Neither Dorothy nor Jim could find anything to say. It was evident +that this stranger was different from any of their old companions, and +it scarcely needed the father's explanation to convince them that +"Elsa is a deeply religious dreamer." Jim hoped that she wouldn't +prove a "wet blanket" and was provoked with Dorothy's impulsive +invitation; deciding to warn her against any more such as soon as he +could get her alone. + +Already the lad was feeling as if he, too, were proprietor of this +wonderful Water Lily, and carried himself with a masterful air which +made Dolly smile, as he now stepped across the little deck into the +main cabin. + +It was funny, too, to see the "How-dare-you" sort of expression with +which he regarded the "impudent" company of youngsters that filled the +place, and he was again annoyed by the graciousness with which "Doll" +advanced to meet them. In her place--hello! what was that she was +saying? + +"Very happy to meet you, Miss Blank--if I am right in the name." + +A tall girl, somewhat resembling Helena Montaigne, though with less +refinement of appearance, had risen as Dorothy moved forward and stood +defiantly awaiting what might happen. Her face turned as pink as her +rose-trimmed hat but she still retained her haughty pose, as she +stiffly returned: + +"Quite right. I'm Aurora Blank. These are my friends. That's my +brother. My father owns--I mean--he ought--We came down for a farewell +lark. We'd all expected to cruise in her all autumn till--. Have a cup +of tea, Miss--Calvert, is it?" + +"Yes, I'm Dorothy. This is Elsa Carruthers and this--James Barlow. You +seem to be having a lovely time and we won't disturb you. We're going +to inspect the tender. Ephraim, please help Elsa across when we come +to the plank." + +The silence which followed proved that the company of merrymakers was +duly impressed by Dolly's treatment of their intrusion. Also, the +dignity with which the old colored man followed and obeyed his small +mistress convinced these other Southerners that his "family" was +"quality." Dorothy's simple suit, worn with her own unconscious +"style," seemed to make the gayer costumes of the Blank party look +tawdry and loud; while the eager spirituality of Elsa's face became a +silent reproof to their boisterous fun, which ceased before it. + +Only one member of the tea-party joined the later visitors. This was +the foppish youth whom Aurora had designated as "my brother." Though +ill at ease he forced himself to follow and accost Dorothy with the +excuse: + +"Beg pardon, Miss Calvert, but we owe you an apology. We had no +business down here, you know, and I say--it's beastly. I told Rora +so, but--I mean, I'm as much to blame as she. And I say, you know, +I hope you'll have as good times in the Lily as we expected to +have--and--I'll bid you good day. We'll clear out, at once." + +But Dorothy laid her hand on his arm to detain him a moment. + +"Please don't. Finish your stay--I should be so sorry if you didn't, +and you've saved me a lot of trouble." + +Gerald Blank stared and asked: + +"In what way, please? I'm glad to think it." + +"Why, I was going to hunt up your address, or that of your family. I'd +like to have you and your sister go with us next week on our cruise. +We mayn't take the same route you'd have chosen, but--will you come? +It's fair you should and I'd be real glad. Talk it over with your +sister and let me know, to-morrow, please, at this address. Good-bye." + +She had slipped a visiting-card into his hand and while he stood +still, surprised by her unexpected invitation, she hurried after her +own friends--and to meet the disgusted look on Jim Barlow's face. + +"I say, Dolly Calvert, have you lost your senses?" + +"I hope not. Why?" + +"Askin' that fellow to go with us! The idea! Well, I'll tell you right +here and now, there won't be room enough on this boat for that +popinjay an' me at the same time. I don't like his cut. Mrs. Calvert +won't, either, and you'd ought to consult your elders before you +launch out promiscuous, this way. All told, it's nothing but a boat. +Where you going to stow them all, child?" + +"Oh, there'll be room enough, and you should be studying your engine +instead of scolding me. You're all right, though, Jimmy-boy, so I +don't mind telling you that whatever invitations I've given so far, +were planned from the very day I was allowed to accept the Lily. Now +get pleasant right away and find out how much or little you know about +that engine." + +Jim laughed. Nobody could be offended with happy Dorothy that day, and +he was soon deep in exploration of his new charge; his pride in his +ability to handle such a perfect bit of machinery increasing every +moment. + +When they returned from the tender to the main saloon they found it +empty and in order. Everything was as shipshape as possible, the +young Blanks having proudly demonstrated their father's skill +in arrangement, and then quietly departing. Gerald's whispered +announcement to his sister had secured her prompt help in breaking +up their tea-party, and she now felt as ashamed of the affair as he +had been. + +At last, even Jim was willing to leave the Water Lily, reminded by +hunger that he'd eaten nothing since his early breakfast; and +returning the grateful Elsa to her father's care, he and Dorothy +walked swiftly down the pier to the car line beyond, to take the first +car which came. It was full of workmen returning from the factories +beyond and for a time Dorothy found no seat, while Jim went far +forward and Ephraim remained on the rear platform, whence, by peering +through the back window, he could still keep a watchful eye over his +beloved "li'l miss." + +Somebody left the car and he saw the girl pushed into a vacant place +beside a rough, seafaring man with crutches, and poorly clad. He +resented the "old codger's" nearness to his dainty darling and his +talking to her. Next he saw that the talk was mostly on Dorothy's side +and that when the cripple presently left the car it was with a cordial +handshake of his little lady, and a smiling good-bye from her. Then the +"codger" limped to the street and Ephraim looked after him curiously. +Little did he guess how much he would yet owe that vagrant. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE DIFFICULTIES OF GETTING UNDER WAY. + + +How that week flew! How busy was everybody concerned in the cruise of +the wonderful Water Lily! + +Early on the morning after his arrival, Jim Barlow repaired to Halcyon +Point, taking an expert engineer with him, as Aunt Betty had insisted, +and from that time till the Water Lily sailed he spent every moment of +his waking hours in studying his engine and its management. At the end +he felt fully competent to handle it safely and was as impatient as +Dorothy herself to be off; and, at last, here they all were waiting on +the little pier for the word of command or, as it appeared, for one +tardy arrival. + +From her own comfortable steamer-chair, Aunt Betty watched the +gathering of the company and wondered if anybody except Dolly could +have collected such a peculiar lot of contrasts. But the girl was +already "calling the roll" and she listened for the responses as they +came. + +"Mrs. Elisabeth Cecil Somerset Calvert?" + +"Present!" + +"Mrs. Charlotte Bruce?" + +"Here." + +"Mabel Bruce?" + +"Present!" + +"Elsa Carruthers?" + +"Oh! I--don't know--I guess--." But a firm voice, her father's, +answered for the hesitating girl, whose timidity made her shrink from +all these strangers. + +"Aurora Blank? Gerald Blank?" + +"Oh, we're both right on hand, don't you know? Pop's pride rather +stood in the way, but--Present!" + +"Mr. Ephraim Brown-Calvert?" + +The old man bowed profoundly and answered: + +"Yeah 'm I, li'l miss!" + +"That ends the passengers. Now for the crew. Captain Jack Hurry?" + +Nobody responded. Whoever owned the rapid name was slow to claim it. +But Dorothy smiled and proceeded. "Cap'n Jack" was a surprise of her +own. He would keep for a time. + +"Engineer James Barlow?" + +"At his post!" + +"Master Engineer, John Stinson?" + +"Present!" called that person, laughing. He was Jim's instructor and +would see them down the bay and into the quiet river where they would +make their first stop. + +"Mrs. Chloe Brown, assistant chef and dishwasher?" + +"Yeah 'm I?" returned the only one of Aunt Betty's household-women who +dared to trust herself on board a boat "to lib." She was Methuselah's +mother and as his imposing name was read, answered for him; while the +"cabin boy and general utility man" ducked his woolly head beneath her +skirts, for once embarrassed by the attention he received. + +"Miss Calvert, did you know that you make the thirteenth person?" +asked Aurora Blank, who had kept tally on her white-gloved fingers. + +"I hope I do--there's 'luck in odd numbers' one hears. But I'm +not--I'm not! Auntie, Jim, look yonder--quick! It's Melvin! It surely +is!" + +With a cry of delight Dorothy now rushed down the pier to where a +street-car had just stopped and a lad alighted. She clasped his hands +and fairly pumped them up and down in her eagerness, but she didn't +offer to kiss him though she wanted to do so. She remembered in time +that the young Nova Scotian was even shyer than James Barlow and +mustn't be embarrassed. But her questions came swiftly enough, though +his answers were disappointing. + +However, she led him straight to Mrs. Calvert, his one-time hostess at +Deerhurst, and there was now no awkward shyness in his respectful +greeting of her, and the acknowledgment he made to the general +introductions which followed. + +Seating himself on a rail close to Mrs. Betty's chair he explained his +presence. + +"The Judge sent me to Baltimore on some errands of his own, and after +they were done I was to call upon you, Madam, and say why her father +couldn't spare Miss Molly so soon again. He missed her so much, I +fancy, while she was at San Leon ranch, don't you know, and she is to +go away to school after a time--that's why. But----" + +The lad paused, colored, and was seized by a fit of his old +bashfulness. He had improved wonderfully during the year since he had +been a member of "Dorothy's House Party" and had almost conquered that +fault. No boy could be associated for so long a time with such a man +as Judge Breckenridge and fail to learn much; but it wasn't easy to +offer himself as a substitute for merry Molly, which he had really +arrived to do. + +However, Dolly was quick to understand and caught his hands again, +exclaiming: + +"You're to have your vacation on our Water Lily! I see, I see! Goody! +Aunt Betty, isn't that fine? Next to Molly darling I'd rather have +you." + +Everybody laughed at this frank statement, even Dolly herself; yet +promptly adding the name of Melvin Cook to her list of passengers. +Then as he walked forward over the plank to where Jim Barlow smilingly +awaited him, carrying his small suit-case--his only luggage, she +called after him: + +"I hope you brought your bugle! Then we can have 'bells' for time, as +on the steamer!" + +He nodded over his shoulder and Dorothy strained her eyes toward the +next car approaching over the street line, while Mrs. Calvert asked: + +"For whom are we still waiting, child? Why don't we go aboard and +start?" + +"For dear old Cap'n Jack! He's coming now, this minute." + +All eyes followed hers and beheld an old man approaching. Even at +that distance his wrinkled face was so shining with happiness and +good nature that they smiled too. He wore a very faded blue uniform +made dazzlingly bright by scores of very new brass buttons. His white +hair and beard had been closely trimmed, and the discarded cap of a +street-car conductor crowned his proudly held head. The cap was +adorned in rather shaky letters of gilt: "Water Lily. Skipper." + +Though he limped upon crutches he gave these supports an airy +flourish between steps, as if he scarcely needed them but carried +them for ornaments. Nobody knew him, except Dorothy; not even Ephraim +recognizing in this almost dapper stranger the ragged vagrant he had +once seen on a street car. + +But Dorothy knew and ran to meet him--"last but not least of all our +company, good Cap'n Jack, Skipper of the Water Lily." + +Then she brought him to Aunt Betty and formally presented him, +expressing by nods and smiles that she would "explain him" later on. +Afterward, each and all were introduced to "our Captain," at whom some +stared rather rudely, Aurora even declining to acknowledge the +presentation. + +"Captain Hurry, we're ready to embark. Is that the truly nautical way +to speak? Because, you know, we long to be real sailors on this cruise +and talk real sailor-talk. We cease to be 'land lubbers' from this +instant. Kind Captain, lead ahead!" cried Dorothy, in a very gale of +high spirits and running to help Aunt Betty on the way. + +But there was no hurry about this skipper, except his name. With an +air of vast importance and dignity he stalked to the end of the pier +and scanned the face of the water, sluggishly moving to and fro. Then +he pulled out a spy glass, somewhat damaged in appearance, and tried +to adjust it to his eye. This was more difficult because the lens was +broken; but the use of it, the old man reckoned, would be imposing on +his untrained crew, and he had expended his last dollar--presented him +by some old cronies--in the purchase of the thing at a junk shop by +the waterside. Indeed, the Captain's motions were so deliberate, and +apparently, senseless, that Aunt Betty lost patience and indignantly +demanded: + +"Dorothy, who is this old humbug you've picked up? You quite +forgot--or didn't forget--to mention him when you named your guests." + +"No, Auntie, I didn't forget. I kept him as a delightful surprise. I +knew you'd feel so much safer with a real captain in charge." + +"Humph! Who told you he was a captain, or had ever been afloat?" + +"Why--he did;" answered the girl, under her breath. "I--I met him on a +car. He used to own a boat. He brought oysters to the city. I think it +was a--a bugeye, some such name. Auntie, don't you like him? I'm so +sorry! because you said, you remember, that I might choose all to go +and to have a real captain who'll work for nothing but his +'grub'--that's food, he says----" + +"That will do. For the present I won't turn him off, but I think his +management of the Water Lily will be brief. On a quiet craft--Don't +look so disappointed. I shall not hurt your skipper's feelings though +I'll put up with no nonsense." + +At that moment the old man had decided to go aboard and leading the +way with a gallant flourish of crutches, guided them into the cabin, +or saloon, and made his little speech. + +"Ladies and gents, mostly ladies, welcome to my new ship--the Water +Lily. Bein' old an' seasoned in the knowledge of navigation I'll do my +duty to the death. Anybody wishin' to consult me will find me on the +bridge." + +With a wave of his cap the queer old fellow stumped away to the +crooked stairway, which he climbed by means of the baluster instead of +the steps, his crutches thump-thumping along behind him. + +By "bridge" he meant the forward point of the upper deck, or roof of +the cabin, and there he proceeded to rig up a sort of "house" with +pieces of the awning in which there had been inserted panes of glass. + +But the effect of his address was to put all these strangers at ease, +for none could help laughing at his happy pomposity, and after people +laugh together once stiffness disappears. + +Gerald Blank promptly followed Melvin Cook to Jim's little engine-room +on the tender, and the colored folks as promptly followed him. Their +own bunks were to be on the small boat and Chloe was anxious to see +what they were like. + +Then Mrs. Bruce roused from her silence and asked Aunt Betty about the +provisions that had been brought on board and where she might find +them. She had been asked to join the party as housekeeper, really for +Mabel's sake, from whom she couldn't be separated now, and because +Dorothy had argued: + +"That dear woman loves to cook better than anything else. She always +did. Now she hasn't anybody left to cook for, 'cept Mabel, and she'll +forget to cry when she has to get a dinner for lots of hungry +sailors." + +The first sight of Mrs. Bruce's sad face, that morning, had been most +depressing; and she was relieved to find a change in its aspect as the +woman roused to action. There hadn't been much breakfast eaten by +anybody and Dorothy had begged her old friend to: + +"Just give us lots of goodies, this first meal, Mrs. Bruce, no matter +if we have to do with less afterwards. You see--three hundred dollars +isn't so very much----" + +"It seems a lot to me, now," sighed the widow. + +But Dorothy went on quickly: + +"And it's every bit there is. When the last penny goes we'll have to +stop, even if the Lily is right out in the middle of the ocean." + +"Pshaw, Dolly! I thought you weren't going out of sight of land!" + +"Course, we're not. That is--we shall never go anywhere if my skipper +doesn't start. I'll run up to his bridge and see what's the matter. +You see I don't like to offend him at the beginning of things and +though Jim Barlow is really to manage the boat, I thought it would +please the old gentleman to be put in charge, too." + +"Foolish girl, don't you know that there can't be two heads to any +management?" returned the matron, now really smiling. "It's an odd +lot, a job lot, seems to me, of widows and orphans and cripples and +rich folks all jumbled together in one little house-boat. More 'n +likely you'll find yourself in trouble real often amongst us all. That +old chap above is mighty pleasant to look at now, but he's got too +square a jaw to be very biddable, especially by a little girl like +you." + +"But, Mrs. Bruce, he's so poor. Why, just for a smell of salt +water--or fresh either--he's willing to sail this Lily; just for the +sake of being afloat and--his board, course. He'll have to eat, but he +told me that a piece of sailor's biscuit and a cup of warmed over tea +would be all he'd ever 'ax' me. I told him right off then I couldn't +pay him wages and he said he wouldn't touch them if I could. Think of +that for generosity!" + +"Yes, I'm thinking of it. Your plans are all right--I hope they'll +turn out well. A captain for nothing, an engineer the same, a +housekeeper who's glad to cook for the sake of her daughter's +pleasure, and the rest of the crew belonging--so no more wages to earn +than always. Sounds--fine. By the way, Dorothy, who deals out the +provisions on this trip?" + +"Why, you do, of course, Mrs. Bruce, if you'll be so kind. Aunt Betty +can't be bothered and I don't know enough. Here's a key to the +'lockers,' I guess they call the pantries; and now I _must_ make that +old man give the word to start! Why, Aunt Betty thought we'd get as +far as Annapolis by bed-time. She wants to cruise first on the Severn +river. And we haven't moved an inch yet!" + +"Well, I'll go talk with Chloe about dinner. She'll know best what'll +suit your aunt." + +Dorothy was glad to see her old friend's face brighten with a sense +of her own importance, as "stewardess" for so big a company of +"shipmates," and slipping her arm about the lady's waist went with her +to the "galley," or tiny cook-room on the tender. There she left her, +with strict injunctions to Chloe not to let her "new mistress" +overtire herself. + +It was Aunt Betty's forethought which had advised this, saying: + +"Let Chloe understand, in the beginning, that she is the helper--not +the chief." + +Leaving them to examine and delight in the compact arrangements of the +galley she sped up the crooked stair to old Captain Jack. To her +surprise she found him anything but the sunny old fellow who had +strutted aboard, and he greeted her with a sharp demand: + +"Where's them papers at?" + +"Papers? What papers?" + +"Ship's papers, child alive? Where's your gumption at?" + +Dorothy laughed and seated herself on a camp-stool beside him. + +"Reckon it must be 'at' the same place as the 'papers.' I certainly +don't understand you." + +"Land a sissy! 'Spect we'd be let to sail out o' port 'ithout showin' +our licenses? Not likely; and the fust thing a ship's owner ought to +'tend to is gettin' a clean send off. For my part, I don't want to hug +this dock no longer. I want to take her out with the tide, I do." + +Dorothy was distressed. How much or how little this old captain of an +oyster boat knew about this matter, he was evidently in earnest and +angry with somebody--herself, apparently. + +"If we had any papers, and we haven't--who'd we show them to, anyway?" + +Captain Hurry looked at her as if her ignorance were beyond belief. +Then his good nature made him explain: + +"What's a wharf-master for, d'ye s'pose? When you hand 'em over I'll +see him an' up anchor." + +But, at that moment, Mr. Carruthers himself appeared on the roof of +the cabin, demanding: + +"What's up, Cap'n Jack? Why don't you start--if it's you who's to +manage this craft, as you claim? If you don't cut loose pretty quick, +my Elsa will get homesick and desert." + +The skipper rose to his feet, or his crutches, and retorted: + +"Can't clear port without my dockyments, an' you know it! Where they +at?" + +"Safe in the locker meant for them, course. Young Barlow has all that +are necessary and a safe keeper of them, too. Better give up this +nonsense and let him go ahead. Easier for you, too, Cap'n, and +everything's all right. Good-bye, Miss Dorothy. I'll slip off again +without seeing Elsa, and you understand? If she gets too homesick for +me, or is ill, or--anything happens, telegraph me from wherever you +are and I'll come fetch her. Good-bye." + +He was off the boat in an instant and very soon the Water Lily had +begun her trip. The engineer, Mr. Stinson, was a busy man and made +short work of Captain Hurry's fussiness. He managed the start +admirably, Jim and the other lads watching him closely, and each +feeling perfectly capable of doing as much--or as little--as he. For +it seemed so very simple; the turning of a crank here, another there, +and the thing was done. + +However, they didn't reach Annapolis that night, as Mrs. Calvert had +hoped. Only a short distance down the coast they saw signs of a storm +and the lady grew anxious at once. + +"O Dolly! It's going to blow, and this is no kind of a boat to face a +gale. Tell somebody, anybody, who is real captain of this Lily, to get +to shore and anchor her fast. She must be tied to something strong. I +never sailed on such a craft before nor taken the risk of caring for +so many lives. Make haste." + +This was a new spirit for fearless Aunt Betty to show and, although +she herself saw no suggestions of a gale in the clouding sky, +Dorothy's one desire was to make that dear lady happy. So, to the +surprise of the engineers, she gave her message, that was practically +a command, and a convenient beach being near it was promptly obeyed. + +"O, Mr. Captain, stop the ship--I want to get out and walk!" chanted +Gerald Blank, in irony; "Is anybody seasick? Has the wild raging of +the Patapsco scared the lady passengers? I brought a lemon in my +pocket----" + +But Dorothy frowned at him and he stopped. + +"It is Mrs. Calvert's wish," said the girl, with emphasis. + +"But Pop would laugh at minding a few black clouds. He built the Water +Lily to stand all sorts of weather. Why, he had her out in one of the +worst hurricanes ever blew on the Chesapeake and she rode it out as +quiet as a lamb. Fact. I wasn't with him, course, but I heard him +tell. I say, Miss Dolly, Stinson's got to leave us, to-night, anyway, +or early to-morrow morning. I wish you'd put me in command. I do +so, don't you know. I understand everything about a boat. Pop has +belonged to the best clubs all his life and I'm an 'Ariel' myself--on +probation; that is, I've been proposed, only not voted on yet, and +I could sail this Lily to beat the band. Aw, come! Won't you?" he +finished coaxingly. + +John Stinson was laughing, yet at the same time, deftly swinging both +boats toward the shore; while Jim Barlow's face was dark with anger, +Cap'n Jack was nervously thumping his crutches up and down, and even +gentle Melvin had retreated as far from the spot as the little tender +allowed. His shoulders were hunched in the fashion which showed him, +also, to be provoked and, for an instant Dorothy was distressed. Then +the absurdity of the whole matter made her laugh. + +"Seems if everybody wants to be captain, on this bit of a ship that +isn't big enough for one real one! Captain Hurry, Captain Barlow, +Captain Blank, Captain Cook----" + +"What do Barlow and Cook know about the water? One said he was a +'farmer,' and the other a 'lawyer's clerk'----" + +"But a lawyer's clerk that's sailed the ocean, mind you, Gerald. +Melvin's a sailor-lad in reality, and the son of a sailor. You needn't +gibe at Melvin. As for Jim, he's the smartest boy in the world. He +understands everything about engines and machinery, and--Why, he can +take a sewing-machine to pieces, all to pieces, and put it together as +good as new. He did that for mother Martha and Mrs. Smith back home on +the mountain, and at San Leon, last summer, he helped Mr. Ford decide +on the way the new mine should be worked, just by the books he'd +studied. Think of that! And Mr. Ford's a railroad man himself and is +as clever as he can be. He knows mighty well what's what and he trusts +our Jim----" + +"Dorothy, shut up!" + +This from Jim, that paragon she had so praised! The effect was a +sudden silence and a flush of anger on her own face. If the lad had +struck her she couldn't have been more surprised, nor when Melvin +faced about and remarked: + +"Better stow this row. If Captain Murray, that I sailed under on the +'Prince,' heard it he'd say there'd be serious trouble before we saw +land again. If we weren't too far out he'd put back to port and set +every wrangler ashore and ship new hands. It's awful bad luck to fight +at sea, don't you know?" + +Sailors are said to be superstitious and Melvin had caught some of +their notions and recalled them now. He had made a longer speech than +common and colored a little as he now checked himself. Fortunately he +just then caught Mrs. Bruce's eye and understood from her gestures +that dinner was ready to serve. Then from the little locker he had +appropriated to his personal use, he produced his bugle and hastily +blew "assembly." + +The unexpected sound restored peace on the instant. Dorothy clapped +her hands and ran to inform Aunt Betty: + +"First call for dinner; and seats not chosen yet!" + +All unknown to her two tables had been pulled out from somewhere in +the boat's walls and one end of the long saloon had been made a +dining-room. The tables were as neatly spread as if in a stationary +house and chairs had been placed beside them on one side, while the +cushioned benches which ran along the wall would seat part of the +diners. + +With his musical signals, Melvin walked the length of the Water +Lily and climbed the stairs to cross the "promenade deck," as the +awning-covered roof was always called. As he descended, Aunt Betty +called him to the little room off one end the cabin, which was her +own private apartment, and questioned him about his bugle. + +"Yes, Madam, it's the one you gave me at Deerhurst, at the end of +Dorothy's house-party. My old one I gave Miss Molly, don't you know? +Because she happened to fancy--on account of her hearing it in the +Nova Scotia woods, that time she was lost. It wasn't worth anything, +but she liked it. Yours, Madam, is fine. I often go off for a walk and +have a try at it, just to keep my hand in and to remind me of old +Yarmouth. Miss Molly begged me to fetch it. She said Miss Dolly would +be pleased and I fancy she is." + +Then again conquering his shyness, he offered his arm to the lady and +conducted her to dinner. There was no difficulty in seeing what place +was meant for her, because of the fine chair that was set before it +and the big bunch of late roses at her plate. These were from the +Bellvieu garden, and were another of Dolly's "surprises." + +As Melvin led her to her chair and bowed in leaving her, old Ephraim +placed himself behind it and stood ready to serve her as he had +always done, wherever she might happen to be. + +Then followed a strange thing. Though Mrs. Bruce and Chloe had +prepared a fine meal, and the faces of all in the place showed +eagerness to enjoy it, not one person moved; but each stood as rigid +as possible and as if he or she would so remain for the rest of the +day. + +Only Dorothy. She had paused between the two tables and was +half-crying, half-laughing over the absurd dilemma which had presented +itself. + +"Why, good people, what's the matter?" asked Mrs. Calvert, glancing +from one to another. But nobody answered; and at this mark of +disrespect she colored and stiffened herself majestically in her +chair. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MATTERS ARE SETTLED + + +"Aunt Betty, it's Captain Hurry, again!" explained Dorothy, close to +her aunt's ear. "He claims that the captain of any boat always has +head table. He's acted so queer even the boys hate to sit near him, +and the dinner's spoiling and--and I wish I'd never seen him!" + +"Very likely. Having seen him it would have been better for you to ask +advice before you invited him. He was the picture of happiness when he +appeared but--we must get rid of him right away. He must be put ashore +at once." + +"But, Aunt Betty, I invited him. _Invited_ him, don't you see? How can +a Calvert tell a guest to go home again after that?" + +Mrs. Calvert laughed. This was quoting her own precepts against +herself, indeed. But she was really disturbed at the way their trip +was beginning and felt it was time "to take the helm" herself. So she +stood up and quietly announced: + +"This is my table. I invite Mrs. Bruce to take the end chair, opposite +me. Aurora and Mabel, the wall seats on one side; Dorothy and Elsa, +the other side, with Elsa next to me, so that she may be well looked +after. + +"Captain Hurry, the other table is yours. Arrange it as you choose." + +She reseated herself amid a profound silence; but one glance into her +face convinced the old Captain that here was an authority higher than +his own. The truth was that he had been unduly elated by Dorothy's +invitation and her sincere admiration for the cleverness he boasted. +He fancied that nobody aboard the Water Lily knew anything about +"Navigation" except himself and flattered himself that he was very +wise in the art. He believed that he ought to assert himself on all +occasions and had tried to do so. Now, he suddenly resumed his +ordinary, sunshiny manner, and with a grand gesture of welcome +motioned the three lads to take seats at the second table. + +Engineer Stinson was on the tender and would remain there till the +others had finished; and the colored folks would take their meals in +the galley after the white folks had been served. + +"Well, that ghost is laid!" cried Dorothy, when dinner was over and +she had helped Aunt Betty to lie down in her own little cabin. "But +Cap'n Jack is so different, afloat and ashore!" + +"Dolly, dear, I allowed you to invite whom you wished, but I'm rather +surprised by your selections. Why, for instance, the two Blanks?" + +"Because I was sorry for them." + +"They're not objects of pity. They're quite the reverse and the girl's +manners are rude and disagreeable. Her treatment of Elsa is heartless. +Why didn't you choose your own familiar friends?" + +"Elsa! Yes, indeed, Auntie, dear, without her dreaming of it, Elsa +changed all my first plans for this house-boat party. I fell in love +with her gentle, sad little face the first instant I saw it and I just +wanted to see it brighten. She looked as if she'd never had a good +time in her life and I wanted that she should have. Then she said it +would be 'A cruise of loving kindness' and I thought that was +beautiful. I just longed to give every poor, unhappy body in the world +some pleasure. The Blanks aren't really poor, I suppose, for their +clothes are nice and Aurora has brought so many I don't see where +she'll keep them. But she seemed poor in one way--like this: If you'd +built the Water Lily for me and had had to give it up for debt I +shouldn't have felt nice to some other girl who was going to get it. I +thought the least I could do was ask them to come with us and that +would be almost the same thing as if they still owned the house-boat +themselves. They were glad enough to come, too; and I know--I mean, I +hope--they'll be real nice after we get used to each other. You know +we asked Jim because we were sort of sorry for him, too, and because +he wouldn't charge any wages for taking care the engine! Mrs. Bruce +and Mabel--well, sorry for them was their reason just the same. You +don't mind, really, do you, Auntie, darling? 'Cause----" + +Dorothy paused and looked anxiously into the beloved face upon the +pillow. + +Aunt Betty laughed and drew the girl's own face down to kiss it +fondly. Dorothy made just as many mistakes as any other impulsive girl +would make, but her impulses were always on the side of generosity and +so were readily forgiven. + +"How about me, dear? Were you sorry for me, along with the rest?" + +Dorothy flushed, then answered frankly: + +"Yes, Aunt Betty, I was. You worried so about that horrid 'business,' +of the Old Folks' Home and Bellvieu, that I just wanted to take you +away from everything you'd ever known and let you have everything new +around you. They are all new, aren't they? The Blanks and Elsa, and +the Bruces; yes and Captain Jack, too. Melvin's always a dear and he +seems sort of new now, he's grown so nice and friendly. I'd rather +have had dear Molly, course, but, since I couldn't, Melvin will do. +He'll be company for Jim--he and Gerald act like two pussy cats +jealous of one another. But isn't it going to be just lovely, living +on the Water Lily? I mean, course, after everybody gets used to each +other and we get smoothed off on our corners. I guess it's like the +engine in the Pad. Mr. Stinson says it'll run a great deal better +after it's 'settled' and each part gets fitted to its place. + +"There! I've talked you nearly to sleep, so I'll go on deck with the +girls. It isn't raining yet, and doesn't look as if it were going to. +Sleep well, dear Aunt Betty, and don't you dare to worry a single +worry while you're aboard the Lily. Think of it, Auntie! You are my +guest now, my really, truly guest of honor! Doesn't that seem queer? +But you're mistress, too, just the same." + +Well, it did seem as if even this brief stay on the house-boat were +doing Mrs. Calvert good, for Dorothy had scarcely slipped away before +the lady was asleep. No sound came to her ears but the gentle lapping +of the water against the boat's keel and a low murmur of voices from +the narrow deck which ran all around the sides. + +When she awoke the craft was in motion and the sun shining far in the +west. She was rather surprised at this, having expected the Lily to +remain anchored in that safe spot which had been chosen close to +shore. However, everything was so calm and beautiful when she stepped +out, the smooth gliding along the wooded banks was so beautiful, that +she readily forgave anybody who had disobeyed her orders. Indeed, she +smilingly assured herself that she was now: + +"Nothing and nobody but a guest and must remember the fact and not +interfere. Indeed, it will be delightful just to rest and idle for a +time." + +Dorothy came to meet her, somewhat afraid to explain: + +"I couldn't help it this time, Aunt Betty. Mr. Stinson says he must +leave at midnight and he wants to 'make' a little town a few miles +further down the shore, where he can catch a train back to city. That +will give him time to go on with his work in the morning. Old Cap'n +Jack, too, says we'd better get along. The storm passed over, to-day, +but he says we're bound to get it soon or late." + +Mrs. Calvert's nap had certainly done her good, for she was able now +to laugh at her own nervousness and gaily returned: + +"It would be strange, indeed, if we didn't get a storm sometime or +other. But how is the man conducting himself now?" + +"Why, Aunt Betty, he's just lovely. Lovely!" + +"Doesn't seem as if that adjective fitted very well, but--Ah! yes. +Thank you, my child, I will enjoy sitting in that cosy corner and +watching the water. How low down upon it the Water Lily rides." + +Most of this was said to Elsa, who had timidly drawn near and silently +motioned to a sheltered spot on the deck and an empty chair that +waited there. She had never seen such a wonderful old lady as this; a +person who made old age seem even lovelier than youth. + +Aunt Betty's simple gown of lavender suited her fairness well, and she +had pinned one of Dorothy's roses upon her waist. Her still abundant +hair of snowy whiteness and the dark eyes, that were yet bright as a +girl's, had a beauty which appealed to the sensitive Elsa's spirit. A +fine color rose in the frail girl's face as her little attention was +so graciously accepted, and from that moment she became Aunt Betty's +devoted slave. + +Her shyness lessened so that she dared to flash a look of scorn upon +Aurora, who shrugged her shoulder with annoyance at the lady's +appearance on deck and audibly whispered to Mabel Bruce that: + +"She didn't see why an old woman like that had to join a house-boat +party. When _we_ had the Water Lily we planned to have nobody but the +jolliest ones we knew. We wouldn't have had _my_ grandmother along, no +matter what." + +Mabel looked at the girl with shocked eyes. She had been fascinated by +Aurora's dashing appearance and the stated fact that she had only worn +her "commonest things," which to Mabel's finery-loving soul seemed +really grand. But to hear that aristocratic dame yonder spoken of as +an "old woman," like any ordinary person, was startling. + +"Why Aurora--you said I might call you that----" + +"Yes, you may. While we happen to be boatmates and out of the city, +you know. At home, I don't know as Mommer would--would--You see she's +very particular about the girls I know. I shall be in 'Society' +sometime, when Popper makes money again. But, what were you going to +say?" + +"I was going to say that maybe you don't know who that lady is. She is +Mrs. Elisabeth Cecil-Somerset-Calvert!" + +"Well, what of it? Anybody can tie a lot of names on a string and wear +'em that way. Even Mommer calls herself Mrs. Edward Newcomer-Blank of +R." + +"Why 'of R?' What does it mean?" asked Mabel, again impressed. + +"Doesn't mean anything, really, as far as I know. But don't you know a +lot of Baltimoreans, or Marylanders, write their names that way? +Haven't you seen it in the papers?" + +"No. I never read a paper." + +"You ought. To improve your mind and keep you posted on--on current +events. I'm in the current event class at school--I go to the Western +High. I was going to the Girls' Latin, this year, only--only--Hmm. So +I have to keep up with the times." + +Aurora settled her silken skirts with a little swagger and again Mabel +felt it a privilege to know so exalted a young person, even if their +acquaintance was limited to a few weeks of boat life. Then she +listened quite humbly while Aurora related some of her social +experiences and discussed with a grown-up air her various +flirtations. + +But after a time she tired of all this, and looked longingly across to +the tender, on whose rail Dorothy was now perched, with the three lads +clustered about her, and all intently listening to the "yarns" with +which Cap'n Jack was entertaining them. + +All that worthy's animation had returned to him. He had eaten the best +of dinners in place of the "ship's biscuit" he had suggested to his +small hostess: he was relieved of care--which he had pretended to +covet; and the group of youngsters before him listened to his +marvellous tales of the sea with perfect faith in his truthfulness. + +Some of the tales had a slight foundation in fact; but even these were +so embellished by fiction as to be almost incredible. In any case, the +shouts of laughter or the cries of horror that rose from his audience +so attracted Mabel that, at last, she broke away from Aurora's tamer +recitals, saying: + +"I'm getting stiff, sitting in one place so long. I'll go over to +Dolly. She and me have been friends ever since time was. Good-bye. +Or, will you come, too?" + +In her heart, Aurora wished to do so. But hoping to impress her new +acquaintance by her magnificence, she had put on a fanciful white silk +frock, wholly unfitted for her present trip and, indeed, slyly packed +in her trunk without her mother's knowledge. The deck of the Pad +wasn't as spotless as this of the Lily. Even at that moment small +Methuselah was swashing it with a great mop, which dripped more water +than it wiped up. His big eyes were fairly bulging from his round +black face and, having drawn as near the story-teller as he could, he +mopped one spot until Dolly called out: + +"That'll do, Metty, boy! Tackle another board. Mustn't wear out the +deck with your neatness!" + +Whereupon old Captain Hurry swung his crutch around and caught the +youngster with such suddenness that he pitched head-first into his own +big bucket. Freeing himself with a howl, he raised his mop as high as +his strength would allow and brought it down upon the captain's +glittering cap. + +It was the seaman's turn to howl and an ill-matched fight would have +followed if Jim hadn't caught the pickaninny away and Dorothy seized +the cripple's headgear before it suffered any great harm. Gently +brushing it with her handkerchief she restored it to its owner's head, +with the remark: + +"Don't mind Metty, Cap'n Jack. He means well, every time, only he has +a little too hasty a temper. He never heard such wonderful stories +before--nor I, either, for that matter. Did you, boys?" + +She had believed them wholly, but Jim had begun to doubt; and Melvin +was bold enough to say: + +"I've sailed a good many times between New York and Yarmouth, Nova +Scotia, but I never saw--I mean, I haven't happened, don't you know? I +wouldn't fancy being out alone in a cat-boat and having a devil-fish +rise up alongside that way. I----" + +"Young man, do you doubt my word, sir?" demanded the Captain, rising +with all the dignity his lameness and the dropping of his crutch would +allow. + +"Oh! no, sir. I doubt nothing--nothing, sir. The Judge says the world +is full of marvels and I fancy, your encounter with that giant squid +is one of them. You should have that story published, Captain. You +should, don't you know?" + +Melvin's blue eyes twinkled but the otherwise gravity of his face +harmlessly deceived the old seaman and brought back his good temper. + +"Reckon I'll go aloft and make out my log," he remarked, with an air +of importance, and stumped forward to his "bridge" above stairs. These +he ascended, as before, by a hand-over-hand climb of the baluster, his +crutches dragging behind; and it was this nimbleness of arm which +convinced the watchers, far more than his impossible yarns had done, +that he had indeed once been a sailor and could ascend the rigging of +a ship. + +Then soon came supper and again such hearty appetites were brought to +it that Mrs. Bruce wondered how so much good food could disappear at +one meal. Also, she remembered that the sum of three hundred dollars +had a limit, large as it seemed; and while she sat silent in her place +she was inwardly computing whether it would possibly furnish board for +all these people for six long weeks. + +Then she proceeded to "count noses," and suddenly perceived that after +Mr. Stinson's departure there would be left the "unlucky number" of +thirteen souls aboard the Water Lily. + +This time the engineer was at table and Jim had taken his place on the +tender; but after this, he had assured everybody that the engine did +not need such constant attention and could be left to itself during +meal-time at least. + +However, nobody tarried long at table that night. There was to follow +the first arrangement of the "staterooms," as the canvas-partitioned +spaces for each one of the party were called. + +"Cute little cubby-holes," Mabel named them, and promptly selected her +own between her mother's and Aurora's. Dorothy was next to Aurora and +Elsa between her and Mrs. Calvert's bigger room. + +Politely giving Elsa her choice, Dorothy couldn't help a keen +disappointment that it separated herself from Aunt Betty. Then she +reflected that she had offered this choice as far back as on the day +of their first meeting; and that she would herself serve as shield +between Aurora's haughtiness and Elsa's timidity. + +Those two guests didn't hit it off at all well. Elsa shivered and +shrank before Aurora's boisterous high spirits and the look of +contempt the elder girl bestowed upon her plain attire. + +Poor little Elsa had done her best to honor the occasion. She had +forced herself to go with her loving father to a department store and +had suffered real distress in being fitted at the hands of a kindly, +but too outspoken, saleswoman. + +The suit selected had been of an ugly blue which brought out all the +sallowness of the poor child's complexion. It had been padded on one +shoulder, "'cause she's crooked in them shoulders," and had been +shortened on one side, "to suit the way she limps." A hat of the same +vicious blue had been purchased, and this trimmed with red roses, "to +sort of set her up like." + +Thus attired, Mr. Carruthers had looked with pride upon his motherless +darling, and felt himself amply justified in the expense he had +incurred. The girl's own better taste had rebelled and she would +rather have worn the old gray frock that was at least modest and +unobtrusive; but she saw the pride and tenderness in her father's eyes +and said nothing save fervent thanks. + +However, all the varied emotions of the travellers were soon +forgotten in the healthy slumber which came to them. The Water Lily +glided quietly along, forced onward by the tender where the trio of +lads sat long, exchanging experiences and, under cover of the friendly +darkness, growing natural and familiar. + +But after a time even they grew drowsy and "turned in," finding their +new "bunks" as snug as comfortable. The chug-chug of the small engine +chimed in with the snores of the colored folks, in their own quarters +beyond the galley and formed a soothing lullaby. + +So deeply they slept that none knew how a storm was gathering thick +and fast, except the alert engineer, who made all speed possible to +reach the shelter of the little cove and wharf where he hoped to tie +up; and from whence he could cross the swampy fields to the station +and the midnight train for home. + +It proved a race of steam and storm, with the latter victor; for at +almost boat's length from the pier there came a blinding flash of +lightning and a peal of thunder most terrific. At the same moment a +whirlwind shook the Water Lily like a feather, it seemed, and the +shrieks of the awaking negroes startled every soul awake. + +"'Tis de yend o' de worl'! 'Tis de Jedgmen' Day! Rise up, sinnahs, +rise to yo' jedgmen'!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE STORM AND WHAT FOLLOWED + + +In an instant a crowd of terrified people had gathered in the cabin, +clasping one another's hands, sobbing and shivering as gust after gust +shook the Water Lily so that it seemed its timbers must part. + +"We mought ha' knowed! Thirteen po' creatures shet up in dis yeah +boat! Oh! My----" + +The greatest outcry was from poor Chloe, now kneeling, or crouching, +at the feet of her Miss Betty, and clutching the lady's gown so that +she could not move. But if her feet were hindered her tongue was not. +In her most peremptory manner she bade: + +"Chloe, get up and be still! This is no time for nonsense. Close those +windows. Stop the rain pouring in. Call back your common sense. +Do----" + +"O, Ole Miss! I'se done dyin'! I'se gwine----" + +"No, you're not. You couldn't screech like that if you were anywhere's +near death. Shut--those--windows--or--let--me!" + +Habit was stronger than fear. The idea of her mistress doing Chloe's +own task roused the frightened creature to obey, scarce knowing that +she did so. Seeing her at work restored the calmness of the others, in +a measure, and Dorothy and Mabel rushed each to the sliding panels of +glass, which had been left open for the night and pushed them into +place. + +This lessened the roar of the tempest and courage returned as they +found themselves still unhurt, though the constant flashes of light +revealed a group of very white faces, and bodies still shaking with +terror of nature's rage. Mrs. Bruce had always been a coward during +thunderstorms, but even she rallied enough to run for a wrap and fold +it about Mrs. Calvert, who was also shaking; but from cold rather than +fear. + +Then between claps, they could hear the scurrying of feet on the roof +overhead, the stumping of Captain Jack's crutches, and the issuing of +sharp orders in tones that were positively cheerful! + +"Hark! What are they doing? Can anybody see the tender?" asked +Dorothy, excitedly. + +Strangely enough, it was frail, timid Elsa who answered: + +"I've been listening. They're taking off the canvas. The boys are up +there. The other boat is away out--yonder. See? Oh! it's grand! grand! +Doesn't it make us all seem puny! If it would only last till everyone +was humble and--adoring!" + +Even while she answered, the slender girl turned again to the window +and gazed through it as if she could not have enough of the scene so +frightful to her mates. These watched her, astonished, yet certainly +calmed by her own fearless behavior; so that, presently, all were +hastily dressing. + +Mabel had set the example in this, saying quaintly: + +"If I've got to be drowned I might as well look decent when I'm picked +up." + +"Mabel and her clothes! The 'ruling passion strong in death'!" cried +Dorothy, in a tone meant to be natural but was still rather shaky. +Somebody laughed and that lessened the excitement, so that even Chloe +remembered she had appeared without her white turban and hastily put +her hands smoothing her wool, as if afraid now only of her mistress's +reprimand. + +But that lady had joined Elsa at the glass; and standing with her arm +about the girl, drew the slight figure within the folds of her own +roomy wrapper, with a comforting warmth and pressure. For it had +turned icy cold and the unusual heat of the evening before seemed like +a dream. + +"Dear little girl, I am glad you came. Brave soul and frail +body, you're stronger than even my healthy Dorothy. And it is +magnificent--magnificent. Only, I dread what the morning will reveal. +If we are damaged much it will mean the end of our trip--at its very +beginning." + +"Dear lady; it won't mean that. Even if it had to do it would be all +right--for me, at least. I should have some beautiful things to +remember always." + +Then the cheerfulest of whistling was heard; Cap'n Jack's warning that +he was coming down the stairs and that any feminines in night attire +might take warning and flee. + +But nobody fled, and Dorothy tried to turn on the electric light which +had been one of the fine features of this palatial house-boat. No +radiance followed, and, watching from the doorway, Cap'n Jack +triumphantly exclaimed: + +"Didn't I know it? What's them new-fangled notions wuth in a case o' +need? Taller's the stuff, or good, reli'ble whale-ile. Well, ship's +comp'ny, how'd ye like it? Warn't that the purtiest leetle blow 't +ever you see? Didn't I warn ye 'twas comin'? Yet ye went an' allowed I +warn't no real captain and couldn't run a boat like this easy as +George Washin'ton! Now you're wiser. That there leetle gale has larnt +ye all somethin'. And 'nough said. Give old Jack a couple o' sail or +so an' a man to climb the riggin' an' he'll beat all the steam engines +ever was hatched. Oh! I'm just feelin' prime. That bit o' wind has +blowed all the land-fog out o' my head an' left it clear as glass. + + "'A life on the ocean wave, + A home on the rolling de-e-ep.'" + +The old man's rich voice trailed off toward the tender--or where the +tender should have been--while a clear and boyish one took up the +ditty from the roof above, with: + + "'Where the scattered waters rave + And the wi-i-inds their vigils ke-e-ep!'" + +"Melvin! Jim! Gerald! Are you all up there? Come down, come down!" + +"Yes, Captain Dolly! Coming! Here!" shouted Melvin, rattling down the +crooked stair, while Jim's voice responded: "Present!" and Gerald +finished with a merry: "Accounted for!" + +Then Aurora ran to meet her brother and to kiss him with an unexpected +affection. To his credit it was that he gently returned her caress, +but laughed at her statement that she had feared he was drowned. + +"Not a bit of it! But this doesn't look much like mourning, if you +did!" he jested, pointing at the white silk frock she had again put +on. + +"Well, it was the first one I got hold of. That's why. But, +tell--tell--how came you up there?" + +"Yes, everything, tell everything!" begged Dorothy, fairly dancing +about them in her eagerness. + +"Melvin--Melvin did it!" said Jim. "We might all be at the bottom of +the sea----" + +"Hush!" almost screamed Aurora, beginning to tremble. "It was so +horrible--I----" + +With more of sympathy than had been between them before, Dolly slipped +her arm around Aurora's shoulders and playfully ordered: + +"If you boys don't tell how you came on our promenade deck, when you +belonged on the tender, you sha'n't have any breakfast!" + +"Melvin. I tell you it was Melvin. He's the only one of us didn't +sleep like a log. He felt the hurricane coming, right through his +dreams, and waked the lot of us, as soon as the first clap came. So he +rushed us over the plank to take off the awnings----" + +"With such a wind sucking under them might have made the boat turn +turtle, Mrs. Calvert, don't you know? At sea--that's why I presumed to +give orders without----" + +"Oh, my dear lad, I now 'order' you to 'give orders' whenever you +think best. We can trust you, and do thank you. But how dark it seems +now the lightning has stopped. Isn't there any sort of light we can +get?" said Aunt Betty, sitting down with Elsa and folding a steamer +rug around them both. + +Cap'n Jack came stumping back from the rear of the boat in a high +state of excitement and actual glee. + +"Clean gone! Plank a-swingin' loose--caught it a-board just in +time--t'other boat flip-floppin' around like she was all-possessed. +Reckon she is. The idee! A reg'lar steam engine on a craft not much +bigger 'n itself! What this house-boat needs isn't steam engines but +a set of stout sails an' a few fust-class poles. Come, lads, let's +anchor her--if the fool that built her didn't put them on the tender, +too, alongside his other silly contraptions." + +Mrs. Calvert wondered if the old fellow knew what he was talking +about, but found the resolute tones of his voice a comfort. Whoever +else was frightened he was not and she liked him better at that moment +than she would have thought possible. All his whining discontent was +gone and he was honestly happy. What the others felt to be a terrible +misfortune was his opportunity to prove himself the fine "skipper" he +had boasted of being. + +But now that the roar of the storm had subsided, there came across the +little space of water between the Lily and its Pad the outcries of +Ephraim and Methuselah, mingled with halloes of the engineer, John +Stinson. + +"They want to come alongside! They're signallin'!" cried Cap'n Jack, +promptly putting his hands before his mouth, trumpet-fashion, and +returning such a lusty answer that those near him clapped hands over +ears. + +Then came Melvin, more sea-wise than the other lads, saying: + +"I've been fumbling around and there are some poles lashed outside the +rail. Let's unsheath 'em, but it'll take us all to keep them from +tumbling over." + +"That's so! You're right! When Pop had this boat built he was told to +provide for all sorts of things. The engine going broke was the last +notion he had, but he had the poles made to please Mommer. I know--I +mean--I guess I do--how they use 'em, but they're mighty heavy." + +It was Captain Hurry who again came to the front. In a twinkling he +had inspected the stout poles and explained, that by putting one end +of each down through the water till it reached the bottom, the +house-boat could not only be held steady but could be propelled. + +"It's slow but it's safe an' easy, Ma'am," he informed Mrs. Calvert. + +"Then it's the very thing, the only thing, we want," she answered, +promptly. "I never did believe in that engine in the hands of an +amateur." + +Jim didn't fancy this reflection on his skill, believing that he +already knew as much about machinery as an expert did and that he had +mastered all that John Stinson could teach him. However, he was beyond +reach of the beloved little engine now and the first thing to do was +to bring the two boats together again. + +Under Cap'n Jack's direction this was promptly done; and great was old +Ephraim's rejoicing when, at last, the familiar gang-plank was once +more in place and he had crossed over it to his beloved mistress's +presence. + +"T'ank de Lord, Miss Betty, you didn't get sca'ed to death! I sutney +beliebed we was all gwine to de bottom of de ribbah! An' I was plumb +scan'lized ter t'ink o' yo' po' li'l white body all kivvered wid mud, +stidder lyin' in a nice, clean tomb lak yo' oughter. I----" + +"That'll do, Ephraim. I'll take all the rest you were going to say for +granted. Here, Metty, sit down in that corner and keep still. You're +safe now and--are you hungry?" + +The morning light was rapidly increasing and seen by it the little +black face looked piteous indeed. But there were few troubles of +Methuselah's which "eatings" couldn't cure; so his mistress promptly +dispatched Dorothy to her stateroom for a big box of candy, brought +along "in case of need." Never would need be more urgent than now, and +not only did the little page's countenance brighten, when the box +appeared, but everybody else dipped into it as eagerly--it seemed such +a relief to do such an ordinary thing once more. + +The sun rose and shone as if to make them forget the night of storm; +and after a breakfast, hastily prepared on the little oil stove in the +tender, a feeling of great content spread through the little company. +Engineer Stinson had missed his train, but was now glad of it; for he +had gained time to examine the engine, though disappointed at the +report he had to make. + +"Useless, for the present, Madam, I regret to say. Owing to the sudden +jar against the end of the wharf, or the wind's dashing the tender +about, some parts are broken. To get it repaired will take some time. +Shall I send down a tug to tow you back to the city? And have a man +from the shop attend to it? My own job will keep me from doing it +myself, though I'd like to." + +"Thank you," said Aunt Betty, and, for a moment, said nothing more. +But she looked from one to another of the eager young faces about her +and read but one desire on all. This was so evident that she smiled as +she asked: + +"Who thinks best to give up this trip? Or, rather, to go back and +start over again--if we dare?" + +Nobody spoke but a sort of groan ran around the little company. + +"All in favor of going on, with some other sort of 'power,' or of +anchoring the Water Lily at some pleasant point near shore and staying +there, say 'Aye'." + +So lusty a chorus of "Ayes" answered that Aunt Betty playfully covered +her ears, till the clamor had subsided. Then a council of ways and +means was held, in which everyone took part, and out of which the +decision came: + +That Cap'n Jack should rig up the sails which was another one of Mr. +Blank's provisions against just such a dilemma, and instruct the three +lads how to use them; that when they didn't want to sail they should +use the poles; or using neither, should remain quietly at rest in the +most delightful spot they could find; that the Lily and its Pad should +be fastened together in the strongest way, so that no more separation +by wind or storm could be possible. + +"The tender adds a great weight to your 'power' in such a case," +suggested Mr. Stinson. "Without it you could move much faster." + +"And without it, where could Ephy sleep and Chloe cook? The boys, too, +will need their warm bunks if it happens to be cold," said Dolly. +"Besides--the kitchen is out there. Oh! we can't possibly spare the +tender." + +"Most house-boats get along without one," explained the engineer. + +"What about a horse, or a mule? I've seen such a thing somewhere, on +some of our little trips with Mr. Bruce," suggested the widow, then +touched by her own reference to the dead relapsed into silence. + +"Many of the little rivers of the Western Shore have banks as level as +those of a canal," said Mrs. Calvert. The idea had approved itself to +her. "I'm afraid you lads would get very tired of the poling, even if +the water was shallow enough. Without wind, sails wouldn't help us; so +Mrs. Bruce's notion is the best one yet." + +"A mule would be nice and safe!" commented Mabel. + +"First catch your mule," cried Gerald. + +"And who'd ride it?" asked Jim. + +"You would," promptly answered Melvin, laughing. + +"Not all the time, sir!" retorted Jim, yet with an expression which +showed he was really considering the subject. "Turn and turn about's +fair play." + +"All right. I'll stand my turn and call it my 'watch.' I could fancy I +was still on shipboard, don't you know?" + +"I'd do my third--if we didn't keep it up all the time. A fellow wants +a little chance to fish and have some fun," added Gerald. Now that +they had all been in danger together he was acting like the really +fine lad he was and had dropped the silly affectations of his first +manner. + +Aurora, too, seemed more sensible, and, breakfast over, had shut +herself in her tiny stateroom to put on the plainest frock she had. An +approving smile from Mrs. Calvert greeted her reappearance and the +girl began to think it wasn't so bad after all have an old lady +aboard. + +"Really, Mabel, there doesn't seem anything old about her except a few +of her looks. I mean her white hair and some wrinkles. I guess it was +all right she came, anyway." + +"It surely was all right. Why, what would any of us have done if she +hadn't been here? Mamma was scared worse than I was, even. You know +she saw a person killed by lightning once and has never got over it. +You'll find, if you watch out, that Mrs. Calvert will help us have a +good time, rather than spoil it; if--if--we don't go back. I guess +Mamma wishes we'd have to do that." + +Aurora did not answer, for just then the others were eagerly +discussing the situation. They were to "up anchor," run up the sails +to catch the stiff breeze that was rising with the sun, and proceed +down the coast as far as they could while the engineer remained, as he +had agreed to do for a few hours longer, because of Mrs. Calvert's +earnest request. + +"Get us safe into some snug harbor, please Mr. Stinson, and I will see +that you lose nothing by the delay." + +"That is all right, Madam. I only wish I could join your cruise for +all its length. I'm sure you're bound to have a grand trip, despite +the bad beginning--which should bring the proverbial good ending." + +"I wish you could. Oh! I do wish you could," said Aunt Betty. She was +somewhat surprised to find the engineer a man of culture, but was +delighted by the fact. She felt that the presence of such a man would +keep her three boys straight, for she was a little afraid of "pranks" +should they indulge in any. + +She had hoped, too, to make the most of their trip up and down the +Severn, with which lovely river her earliest memories lingered. +However, they were not to reach it yet. The friendly wind forsook them +and both Cap'n Jack and Mr. Stinson felt that it would be wise to +enter a little bay further north; and making their slow way between +some islands come to anchor on the shores of the Magothy. + +"The Maggotty! That's where the best cantaloupes come from!" cried +Mabel. "Who'll buy my fine wattymillyouns, growed on de Maggotty, down +in An'erunnel! Wattymillyouns! Cant-e-lopes! Oh! I want one this +minute!" + +"What a dreadful name for a river! Who'd eat melons full of maggots!" +demanded Aurora, with a little shiver. Evidently, though she must +often have heard them, she had paid scant attention to the cries of +the negro hucksters through her own city's streets. + +"It isn't 'Maggotty' but 'Magothy'," explained Dorothy. "I used to +think just as you do until I learned better. I'm bad as Mabel. I just +can't wait. I must have a 'cantaloupe' for supper, I must! Scooped out +and filled with ice--sweet and juicy----" + +"Hold on! Hold on! Wait till I fetch it!" returned Gerald, with a +smack of his own lips. Then leaving the others to follow as they chose +he ran to the stern of the tender which the men had brought close to a +grassy bank, and leaped ashore. + +"Wheah's he gwine at?" demanded Ephraim, who had been in the way and +unceremoniously pushed aside. + +"Wattymillyouns!" yelled Jim, following the other boy's lead. + +"Wattymillyouns? Wat-ty-mill-youns? My hea't o' grace! I'se done gwine +get some fo' my Miss Betty!" + +"For yo'se'f you-all means, yo' po' triflin' ornery ole niggah! Ain't +it de trufe?" laughed Chloe, coming to the old man's side, and laying +a restraining hand upon his shoulder, while all her white teeth showed +in a wide grin. + +Safely anchored, the engineer gone, the old Captain bustling about on +the roof of the boat, making all snug and shipshape for the coming +night, every heart was light. None more so than those of the colored +folks, always in the habit of leaving care to "their white" friends +and like children in their readiness to forget the past. + +Ephraim didn't leap the plank, his "roomaticals" prevented; but he +displayed a marvelous agility in getting ashore and speed in following +the vanishing lads. + +"What's up?" demanded Melvin, running to where Chloe stood, holding +her sides and shaking with laughter, "where have they gone?" + +"Maggotty millyouns! Spyed a millyoun patch ovah yondah an'--Lan' ob +Goshen! If he ain' done gwine, too! Well, my sake! Mebbe Chloe doan' +lub millyouns same's anuddah, mebbe!" + +As Melvin disappeared over the side, his own mouth watering for the +southern delicacies so rare to his own northern home, mistress Chloe +gathered up her petticoats and sprang ashore. + +Little Methuselah called after her but she did not pause. She meant to +get her own share from that distant melon-patch, and her maternal ears +were deaf to his outcries. + +Sharing the common feeling of repose and safety which had fallen upon +all the company when the Water Lily had been tied up for the night, +Metty had felt it a fine time to don his livery and show off his +finery before the white folks. Clad in its loose misfit, but proud as +ever, he clung to the stern-rail of the Pad and gazed after his +departing parent. + +What had happened? Why were all those people running away so fast? Was +another frightful tempest coming? + +"Mammy! Mam-my! Lemme! Lemme come! Mammy, Mammy, wait--I'se com----" + +A point on the water side of the Pad commanded a better view of the +fleeing figures, climbing the gentle rise of ground beyond. Thither +the little fellow rushed; gave one glance downward into the water and +another upon his gorgeous attire; then upward and onward where a fold +of scarlet calico fluttered like a signal; shut his great eyes, and +leaped. + +Alas! The fat little legs couldn't compass that space! and Methuselah +Bonaparte Washington Brown sank beneath the waves his own impact had +created. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A MULE AND MELON TRANSACTION. + + +The five melon-hungry deserters from the Water Lily came breathlessly +to the "snake" rail-fence which bordered the "patch" and paused with +what Gerald called "neatness and dispatch." + +Suddenly there rose from behind the fence a curious figure to confront +them. Two figures, in fact, a man's and a mule's. Both were of a dusty +brown color, both were solemn in expression, and so like one another +in length of countenance that Melvin giggled and nudged Jim, declaring +under his breath: + +"Look like brothers, don't you know?" + +Ephraim was the first to recover composure as, removing his hat, he +explained: + +"We-all's trabellers an' jes' natchally stopped to enquiah has yo' +wattymillyouns fo' sale." + +Chloe sniggered at the old man's deft turn of the matter, for she knew +perfectly well that the idea of buying the melons hadn't entered his +mind until that moment. He was an honest creature in general, but no +southern negro considers it a crime to steal a water-melon--until he +is caught at it! + +The air with which Ephy bowed and scraped sent the boys into roars of +laughter but didn't in the least lessen the gloom of the farmer's +face. At last he opened his lips, closed them, reopened them and +answered: + +"Ye-es. I have. But--I cayn't sell 'em. They ain't never no sale for +_my_ truck. Is they, Billy?" + +The mournfulness of his voice was absurd. As absurd as to call the +solemn-visaged mule by the frivolous name of "Billy." Evidently the +animal understood human speech, for in response to his owner's appeal +the creature opened his own great jaws in a prodigious bray. Whereupon +the farmer nodded, gravely, as if to say: + +"You see. Billy knows." + +"How much yo' tax 'em at?" asked Chloe, gazing over the fence with +longing eyes and mentally selecting the ripest and juiciest of the +fruit. + +"I ain't taxin' 'em. I leave it to you." + +Then he immediately sat down upon the rock beside the fence where he +had been "resting" for most of that afternoon, or "evenin'" as he +called it. Billy doubled himself up and sprawled on the ground near +his master, to the injury of the vines and one especially big melon. + +"O, suh! _Doan'_ let him squush it!" begged Chloe; while Ephraim +turned upon her with a reproving: + +"You-all min' yo' place! _Ah_ 'm 'tendin' to dis yeah business." + +"Va'y well. Jes' gimme mah millyoun ter tote home to Miss Betty. Ah +mus' ha' left mah pocket-book behin' me!" she jeered. Then, before +they knew what she was about, she had sprung over the fence and picked +up the melon she had all along selected as her own. + +Nobody interfered, not even the somber owner of the patch; and with +amazing lightness Chloe scrambled back again, the great melon held in +the skirt of her red gown, and was off down the slope at the top of +her speed. + +Ephraim put on his "specs" and gravely stared after her; then shook +his head, saying: + +"Dat yeah gell's de flightiest evah! Ain't it de trufe?" + +But now a new idea had come to Jim, and laying a hand on the collars +of the other lads, he brought their heads into whispering nearness of +his own: + +"Say, fellows, _let's buy Billy_! A mule that understands English is +the mule to draw the Water Lily!" + +A pause, while the notion was considered, then Melvin exclaimed: + +"Good enough! If he doesn't ask too much. Try him!" + +"Yes, ask him. I'll contribute a fiver, myself," added Gerald. + +Ephraim had now struggled over the fence and was pottering about among +the melons, with the eye of a connoisseur selecting and laying aside a +dozen of the choicest. Those which were not already black of stem he +passed by as worthless, as he did those which did not yield a peculiar +softness to the pressure of his thumb. His face fairly glittered and +his "roomaticals" were wholly forgotten; till his attention was +suddenly arrested by the word "money," spoken by one of the boys +beyond the fence. At that he stood up, put his hands on his hips, and +groaned; then keenly listened to what was being said. + +"Ye-es. I _might_ want to sell Billy, but I cayn't. I cayn't never +sell anything." + +"Well, we're looking for a mule, a likely mule. One strong enough to +haul a house-boat. Billy's pretty big; looks as if he could." + +"Billy can do anything he's asked to. Cayn't you, Billy?" + +It was funny to see the clever beast rise slowly to his feet, shake +the dust from his great frame, turn his sorrowful gaze upon his +master's face, and utter his assenting bray. + +Melvin flung himself on the grass and laughed till his sides ached; +then sprang up again wild with eagerness to possess such a comical +creature: + +"Oh! Buy him--buy him--no matter the price! He'd be the life of the +whole trip! I'll give something, too, as much as I can spare!" + +Jim tried to keep his face straight as he inquired: + +"What is the price of Billy, sir?" + +The farmer sighed, so long and deeply, that the mule lay down again +as if pondering the matter. + +"Young man, that there Billy-mule is beyond price. There ain't another +like him, neither along the Magothy nor on the Eastern Sho'. I cayn't +sell Billy." + +During his life upon the mountains James Barlow had seen something of +"horse-traders" and he surmised that he had such an one to deal with +now. He expected that the man would name a price, after a time, much +higher than he really would accept, and the boy was ready for a +"dicker." He meant to show the other lads how clever and astute he +could be. So he now returned: + +"Oh, yes. I think you can if you get your price. Everything has its +price, I've read somewhere--even mules!" + +"Young man, life ain't no merry jest. I've found that out and so'll +you. _I cayn't sell Billy._" + +"Ten dollars?" + +No reply, but the man sat down again beside his priceless mule and +reopened the old book he had been reading when interrupted by these +visitors. + +"Fifteen?" + +"Twenty?" volunteered Gerald. + +"Twenty-five?" asked Melvin. Then in an aside to the other boys: "I +wonder if Dorothy will help pay for him!" + +"Sure. This is her racket, isn't it? It was Mrs. Calvert, or somebody, +said we could be towed along shore, as if the Lily were a canal-boat. +Sure! We'll be doing her a kindness if we buy it for her and save her +all the trouble of looking for one;" argued Gerald, who had but a +small stock of money and wasn't eager to spend it. + +Jim cast one look of scorn upon him, then returned to his "dickering." +He had so little cash of his own that he couldn't assume payment, but +he reasoned that, after he had written an account of their predicament +to Mr. Winters, the generous donor of the Lily would see that she was +equipped with the necessary "power," even if that power lay in the +muscles of a gigantic mule. + +"Oh! sir, please think it over. Hark, I'll tell you the whole story, +then I'm sure you'll want to help a lady--several ladies--out of a +scrape," argued Jim, with such a persuasive manner that Melvin was +astonished. This didn't seem at all like the rather close-tongued +student he had known before. + +But the truth was that Jim had become infatuated with the idea of +owning at least a share in Billy. He was used to mules. He had handled +and lived among them during his days upon Mrs. Stott's truck-farm. He +was sure that the animal could be made useful in many ways and--in +short, he wanted, he must have Billy! + +In a very few moments he had told the whole tale of the house-boat and +its misfortunes, laying great stress upon the "quality" of its owners, +and thus shrewdly appealing to the chivalry of this southern gentleman +who was playing at farming. + +For a time his only apparent listener was old Ephraim, who had +picked up a hoe somewhere and now leaned upon it, resting from his +selection of the melons. But, though he didn't interfere with the glib +narrative, he confirmed it by nods of his gray head, and an occasional +"Dat's so, Cunnel." + +Evidently, the farmer was impressed. He stopped pretending to read and +folding his arms, leaned back against the rails, his eyes closed, an +expression of patient, sad endurance upon his long face. His manner +said as plainly as words: + +"If this young gabbler _will_ talk I suppose I must listen." + +But gradually this manner changed. His eyes opened. The book slid to +the ground. In spite of his own unwillingness he was interested. A +house-boat! He'd never heard of such a thing; but, if the tale were +true, it would be something new to see. Besides, ladies in distress? +That was an appeal no gentleman could deny, even though that gentleman +were as poor as himself. He might well have added "as shiftless;" for +another man in his position would have been stirring himself to get +that fine crop of melons into market. + +Jim finished his recital with the eager inquiry: + +"Now, sir, don't you think you can sell Billy and put a reasonable +price on him?" + +The lad rose to his feet as he asked this and the man slowly followed +his example. Then laying his hand on heart he bowed, saying: + +"I cayn't sell Billy. I give you my word. But, a southern planter is +never beyond the power, sir, to bestow a gift. Kindly convey said +Billy to Miss Calvert with the compliments of Colonel Judah Dillingham +of T. Yonder are the bars. They are down. They are always down. So are +my fortunes. Billy, old friend, farewell." + +This strange gentleman then solemnly reseated himself and again picked +up his book. A deeper gloom than ever had settled upon him and a sigh +that was almost a sob shook him from head to foot. + +Billy, also, slowly and stiffly rose, regarded the reader with what +seemed like grieved amazement and dismally brayed. There was an old +harness upon him, half-leather, half-rope, with a few wisps of +corn-husk, and without delay Jim laid his hand on the bit-ring and +started away. + +"Of course, sir, we will pay for the mule. My folks wouldn't, I mean +couldn't, accept such a gift from a stranger. Our house-boat is tied +up at the little wharf down yonder and we'll likely be there for +awhile. I'll come back soon and tell what they say." + +Colonel Dillingham made no motion as if he heard and James was too +afraid he would repent of the bargain to tarry. But Billy wasn't easy +to lead. He followed peaceably enough as far as the designated bars, +even stepped over the fallen rails into the grassy fields beyond. But +there he firmly planted his fore-feet and refused to go further. + +Left behind and scarcely believing his own eyes, Ephraim now +respectfully inquired, with pride at having guessed the man's title: + +"How much dese yeah millyouns wuth, Cunnel?" + +The question was ignored although the gentleman seemed listening to +something. It was the dispute now waging in the field beyond, where +Jim was trying to induce Billy to move and the other lads were +offering suggestions in the case. At last something akin to a smile +stole over the farmer's grim features and he roughly ordered: + +"Shut up, you nigger! Huh! Just as I thought. I couldn't sell Billy +and Billy won't be given. Eh? what? Price of melons? You black idiot, +do you reckon a gentleman who can afford to give away a mule's goin' +to take money for a few trumpery water-melons? Go on away. Go to the +packin'-house yonder and find a sack. Fill it. Take the whole field +full. Eat enough to kill yourself. I wish you would!" + +Far from being offended by this outbreak, Ephraim murmured: + +"Yes, suh, t'ank yo', suh," and hobbled over the uneven ground toward +the whitewashed building in the middle of the patch. Some more thrifty +predecessor had built this for the storing and packing of produce, but +under the present owner's management it was fast tumbling to ruin. But +neither did this fact surprise Ephy, nor hinder him from choosing the +largest sack from a pile on the floor. With this in hand he hurried +back to the goodly heap of melons he had made ready and hastily loaded +them into the sack. + +Not till then did he consider how he was to get that heavy load to the +Water Lily. Standing up, he took off his hat, scratched his wool, +hefted the melons, and finally chuckled in delight. + +"'Mo' ways 'an one to skin a cat'! Down-hill's easier 'an up!" + +With that he began to drag the sack toward the fence and, having +reached it, took out its contents and tossed them over the fence. When +the bag was empty he rolled and tucked it into the back of his coat, +then climbed back to the field outside. The controversy with Billy was +still going lustily on, but Ephy had more serious work on hand than +that. Such a heap of luscious melons meant many a day's feast, if they +could be stored in some safe, cool place. + +"Hello! Look at old Eph!" suddenly cried Gerald, happening to turn +about. + +"Huh! Now ain't that clever? Wonder I never thought o' that myself!" +cried the Colonel, with some animation. "Clever enough for a white +man. Billy, you'd ought have conjured that yourself. But that's always +the way. I cayn't think a thought but somebody else has thought it +before me. I cayn't never get ahead of the tail end of things. Oh! +hum!" + +The Colonel might be sighing but the three lads were laughing heartily +enough to drown the sighs, for there was the old negro starting one +after another of the great melons a-roll down the gentle slope, to +bring up on the grassy bank at the very side of the Water Lily. If a +few fell over into the water they could easily be fished out, reasoned +Ephraim, proud of his own ingenuity. + +But the group beside the bars didn't watch to see the outcome of that +matter, nor Ephraim's reception. They were too busy expostulating with +Billy, and lavishing endearments upon him. + +"'Stubborn as a mule'," quoted Melvin, losing patience. + +"Or fate," responded the Colonel, drearily. + +"Please, sir, won't you try to make him go?" pleaded Gerald. "I think +if you just started him on the right way he'd keep at it." + +"Billy is--Billy!" said the farmer. He was really greatly interested. +Nothing so agreeable as this had happened in his monotonous life since +he could remember. Here were three lads, as full of life as he had +been once, jolly, hearty, with a will to do and conquer everything; +and--here was Billy. A great, awkward, inert mass of bone and muscle, +merely, calmly holding these clever youngsters at bay. + +"Can he be ridden?" demanded Jim, at length. + +"He might. Try;" said the man, in heart-broken accents. + +Jim tried. Melvin tried. Gerald tried. With every attempt to cross his +back the animal threw up his heels and calmly shook the intruder off. + +The Colonel folded his arms and sorrowfully regarded these various +attempts and failures; then dolefully remarked: + +"It seems I cayn't even _give_ Billy away. Ah! hum." + +Jim lost his temper. + +"Well, sir, we'll call it off and bid you good night. Somebody will +come back to pay you for the melons." + +As he turned away in a huff his mates started to follow him; but +Melvin was surprised by a touch on his shoulder and looked up to see +the Colonel beside him. + +"Young man, you look as if you came of gentle stock. Billy was brought +up by a gentlewoman, my daughter. She forsook him and me for another +man. I mean she got married. That's why Billy and I live alone now, +except for the niggers. They's a right and a wrong way to everything. +_This_--is the right way with Billy. Billy, lie down." + +For an instant the animal hesitated as if suspecting some treachery in +this familiar command; then he doubled himself together like a +jack-knife, or till he was but a mound of mule-flesh upon the grass. + +"She taught him. She rode this way. Billy, get up." + +This strange man had seated himself sidewise upon the mule's back, +leisurely freeing his feet from the loose-hanging harness and +balancing himself easily as the animal got up. Then still sitting +sidewise he ordered: + +"Billy, proceed." + +At once Billy "proceeded" at an even and decorous pace, while the lads +walked alongside, vastly entertained by this unusual rider and his +mount. He seemed to think a further explanation necessary, for as they +neared the bottom of the slope he remarked: + +"Learned that in Egypt. Camel riding. She came home and taught him." + +Then they came to the edge of the bank and paused in surprise. Instead +of the gay welcome they had expected, there was Chloe walking +frantically up and down, hugging a still dripping little figure to her +breast and refusing to yield it to the outstretched arms of poor old +Ephraim, who stood in the midst of his melons, a woe-begone, miserable +creature, wholly unlike his jubilant self of a brief while before. + +"What's--happened?" asked Jim, running to Chloe's side. + +"'Tis a jedgmen'! A jedgmen'! Oh! de misery--de misery!" she wailed, +breaking away from him and wildly running to and fro again, in the +fierce excitement of her race. + +Yet there upon the roof of the cabin, cheerily looking out from his +"bridge" was Cap'n Jack. He was waving his crutches in jovial welcome +and trying to cover Chloe's wailing by his exultant: + +"I fished him out with a boat-hook! With--a--boat-hook, d'ye hear?" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +VISITORS. + + +Attracted by the wild flowers growing in the fields around the cove +where the Water Lily was moored, the four girls had left the boat a +little while before the melon seekers had done so. + +Mabel and Aurora cared little for flowers in themselves but Dorothy's +eagerness was infectious, and Elsa's pale face had lighted with +pleasure. But even then her timidity moved her to say: + +"Suppose something happens? Suppose we should get lost? It's a +strange, new place--I guess--I'm afraid--I'll stay with Mrs. Calvert, +please." + +"You'll do nothing of the kind, my dear," said that lady, smiling. +"You've done altogether too much 'staying' in your short life. Time +now to get outdoor air and girlish fun. Go with Dorothy and get some +color into your cheeks. You want to go back to that father of yours +looking a very different Elsa from the one he trusted to us. Run +along! Don't bother about a hat and jacket. Exercise will keep you +from taking cold. Dolly, dear, see that the child has a good time." + +Elsa's mother had died of consumption and her father had feared that +his child might inherit that disease. In his excessive love and care +for her he had kept her closely housed in the poor apartment of a +crowded tenement, the only home he could afford. The result had been +to render her more frail than she would otherwise have been. Her +shyness, her lameness, and her love of books with only her father for +teacher, made her contented enough in such a life, but was far from +good for her. The best thing that had ever happened to her was this +temporary breaking up of this unwholesome routine and her having +companions of her own age. + +So that even now she had looked wistfully upon the small bookshelf in +the cabin, with the few volumes placed there; but Mrs. Calvert shook +her head and Elsa had to obey. + +"But, Dorothy, aren't you afraid? There might be snakes. It might +rain. It looks wet and swampy--I daren't get my feet wet--father's so +particular----" + +"If it rains I'll run back and get you an umbrella, Aunt Betty's +own--the only one aboard, I fancy. And as for fear--child alive! Did +you never get into the woods and smell the ferns and things? There's +nothing so sweet in the world as the delicious woodsy smell! Ah! um! +Let's hurry!" cried Dolly, linking her arm in the lame girl's and +helping her over the grassy hummocks. + +Even then Elsa would have retreated, startled by the idea of "woods" +where the worst she had anticipated was a leisurely stroll over a +green meadow. But there was no resisting her friend's enthusiasm; +besides, looking backward she was as much afraid to return and try +clambering aboard the Lily, unaided, as she was to go forward. + +So within a few minutes all four had entered the bit of woodland and, +following Dorothy's example, were eagerly searching for belated +blossoms. Learning, too, from that nature-loving girl, things they +hadn't known before. + +"A cardinal flower--more of them--a whole lot! Yes, of course, it's +wet there. Cardinals always grow in damp places, along little streams +like this I've slipped my foot into! Oh! aren't they beauties! Won't +dear Aunt Betty go just wild over them! if Father John, the darling +man who 'raised' me, were only here! He's a deal lamer than you, Elsa +Carruthers, but nobody's feet would get over the ground faster than +his crutches if he could just have one glimpse of this wonderland! + +"Did you ever notice? Almost all the autumn flowers are either purple +or yellow or white? There are no real blues, no rose-colors; with just +this lovely, lovely cardinal for an exception." + +Dorothy sped back to where Elsa stood nervously balancing herself upon +a fallen tree-trunk and laid the brilliant flowers in her hands. Elsa +looked at them in wonder and then exclaimed: + +"My! how pretty! They look just as if they were made out of velvet in +the milliner's window! And how did you know all that about the +colors?" + +"Oh! Father John, and Mr. Winters--Uncle Seth, he likes me to call +him--the dear man that gave us the Water Lily--they told me. Though I +guessed some things myself. You can't help that, you know, when you +love anything. I think, I just do think, that the little bits of +things which grow right under a body's feet are enough to make one +glad forever. Sometime, when I grow up, if Aunt Betty's willing, and I +don't have to work for my living, I shall build us a little house +right in the woods and live there." + +"Pshaw, Dolly Doodles! You couldn't build a house if you tried. And +you'd get mighty sick of staying in the woods all the time, with +nobody coming to visit you----" remarked Mabel coming up behind them. + +"I should have the birds and the squirrels, and all the lovely +creatures that live in the forest!" + +"And wild-cats, and rattlesnakes, and horrid buggy things! Who'd see +any of your new clothes?" + +"I shouldn't want any. I'd wear one frock till it fell to pieces----" + +"You wouldn't be let! Mrs. Calvert's awful particular about your +things." + +"That's so," commented Aurora. "They're terrible plain but they look +just right, somehow. Righter 'n mine do, Gerry says, though I don't +believe they cost near as much." + +"Well, we didn't come into these lovely woods to talk about clothes. +Anybody can make clothes but only the dear God can make a cardinal +flower!" cried Dorothy, springing up, with a sudden sweet reverence on +her mobile face. + +Elsa as suddenly bent and kissed her, and even the other +matter-of-fact girls grew thoughtful. + +"It's like a church, isn't it? Only more beautiful," whispered the +lame girl. + +"Yes, isn't it? Makes all the petty hatefulness of things seem not +worth while. What matter if the storm did break the engine--that +stranded us right here and gave us _this_. If we'd kept on down the +bay we'd have missed it. That's like dear Uncle Seth says--that things +are _meant_. So I believe that it was 'meant' you should come here +to-day and have your first taste of the woods. You'll never be afraid +of them again, I reckon." + +"Never--never! I'm glad you made me come. I didn't want to. I wanted +to read, but this is better than any book could be, because like you +said--God made it." + +Aurora and Mabel had already turned back toward the Lily and now +called that it was time to go. Though the little outing had meant less +to them than it had to Elsa and Dorothy, it had still given them a +pleasure that was simple and did them good. Aurora had gathered a big +bunch of purple asters for the table, thinking how well they would +harmonize with the dainty lavender of her hostess's gown; and Mabel +had plucked a lot of "boneset" for her mother, remembering how much +that lady valued it as a preventive of "malary"--the disease she had +been sure she would contract, cruising in shallow streams. + +"Come on, girls! Something's happened! The boys are waving to us like +all possessed!" shouted Mabel, when they had neared the wharf and the +boat which already seemed like home to them. + +Indeed, Gerald and Melvin were dancing about on the little pier +beckoning and calling: "Hurry up, hurry up!" and the girls did hurry, +even Elsa moving faster than she had ever done before. Already she +felt stronger for her one visit to that wonderful forest and she was +hoping that the Water Lily might remain just where it was, so that she +might go again and again. + +Then Gerald came to meet them, balancing a water-melon on his head, +trying to imitate the ease with which the colored folks did that same +trick. But he had to use his hands to keep it in place and even so it +slipped from his grasp and fell, broken to pieces at Elsa's feet. + +"Oh! What a pity!" she cried, then dropped her eyes because she had +been surprised into speaking to this boy who had never noticed her +before. + +"Not a bit! Here, my lady, taste!" + +She drew back her head from the great piece he held at her lips but +was forced to take one mouthful in self-defence. But Dorothy, in +similar fix was eating as if she were afraid of losing the dainty, +while Gerald merrily pretended to snatch it away. + +"Ha! That shows the difference--greed and daintiness!" + +Then in a changed tone he exclaimed: + +"Pretty close shave for the pickaninny!" + +Dorothy held her dripping bit of melon at arm's length and quickly +asked: + +"What do you mean? Why do you look so sober all of a sudden?" + +"Metty came near drowning. Tried to follow his mother over the field +to the melon-patch and fell into the water. Mrs. Calvert was walking +around the deck and heard the splash. Nobody else was near. She ran +around to that side and saw him. Then she screamed. Old Cap'n says by +the time he got there the little chap was going under for the last +time. Don't know how he knew that--doubt if he did--but if he did--but +he wouldn't spoil a story for a little thing like a lie. Queer old +boy, that skipper, with his pretended log and his broken spy-glass. +He----" + +"Never mind that, go on--go on! He was saved, wasn't he? Oh! say that +he was!" begged Dolly, wringing her hands. + +"Course. And you're dripping pink juice all over your skirt!" + +"If you're going to be so tantalizing----" she returned and forgetful +of lame Elsa, sped away to find out the state of things for herself. + +Left alone Elsa began to tremble, so that her teeth chattered when +Gerald again held the fruit to her lips. + +"Please don't! I--I can't bear it! It seems so dreadful! Nothing's so +dreadful as--death! Poor, poor, little boy!" + +The girl's face turned paler than ordinary and she shook so that +Gerald could do no less than put his arm around her to steady her. + +"Don't feel that way, Elsa! Metty isn't dead. I tell you he's all +right. He's the most alive youngster this minute there is in the +country. Old Cap'n is lame; of course he couldn't swim, even if he'd +tried. But he didn't. He just used his wits, and they're pretty +nimble, let me tell you! There was a boat-hook hanging on the +rail--that's a long thing with a spike, or hook, at one end, to pull a +boat to shore, don't you know? He caught that up and hitched it into +the seat of Metty's trousers and fished him out all right. Fact." + +Elsa's nervousness now took the form of tears, mingled with hysterical +laughter, and it was Gerald's turn to grow pale. What curious sort of +a girl was this who laughed and cried all in one breath, and just +because a little chap wasn't drowned, though he might have been? + +"I say, girlie, Elsa, whatever your name is, quit it! You're behaving +horrid! _Metty isn't dead._ He's very much happier than--than I am, at +this minute. He's eating water-melon and you'd show some sense if +you'd do that, too. When his mother got back, after stealing her +melon, she found things in a fine mess. Old Cap'n had fished the +youngster out but he wasn't going to have him drip muddy water all +over his nice clean 'ship.' Not by a long shot! So he carries him by +the boat-hook, just as he'd got him, over to the grass and hung him up +in a little tree that was there, to dry. Yes, sir! Gave him a good +spanking, too, Mrs. Bruce said, just to keep him from taking cold! +Funny old snoozer, ain't he?" + +In spite of herself Elsa stopped sobbing and smiled; while relieved by +this change Gerald hurriedly finished his tale. + +"He was hanging there, the Cap'n holding him from falling, when his +mother came tearing down the hill and stopped so short her melon fell +out her skirt--ker-smash! 'What you-all doin' ter mah li'l lamb?' says +she. 'Just waterin' the grass,' says he. 'Why-fo'?' says she. ''Cause +the ornery little fool fell into the river and tried to spile his nice +new livery. Why else?' says he. Then--Did you ever hear a colored +woman holler? Made no difference to her that the trouble was all over +and Methuselah Washington Bonaparte was considerable cleaner than he +had been before his plunge; she kept on yelling till everybody was +half-crazy and we happened along with--Billy! Say, Elsa----" + +"Gerald, I mean Mr. Blank, is all that true?" + +"What's the use eyeing a fellow like that? I guess it's true. That's +about the way it must have been and, anyway, that part that our good +skipper fished the boy out of the water is a fact. Old Ephraim +grand-daddy hated Cap'n Jack like poison before; now he'd kiss the +ground he walks on, if he wasn't ashamed to be caught at it. Funny! +That folks should make such an everlasting fuss over one little black +boy!" + +"I suppose they love him," answered Elsa. She was amazed to find +herself walking along so quietly beside this boy whom she had thought +so rough, and from whom she shrank more than from any of the others. +He had certainly been kind. He was the one who had stayed to help her +home when even Dorothy forsook her. She had hated his rude boisterous +ways and the sound of his voice, with its sudden changes from a deep +bass to a squeaking falsetto. Now she felt ashamed and punished, that +she had so misjudged the beautiful world into which she had come, and, +lifting her large eyes to Gerald's face, said so very prettily. + +But the lad had little sentiment in his nature and hated it in others. +If she was going to act silly and "sissy" he'd leave her to get home +the best way she could. The ground was pretty even now and, with her +hand resting on his arm, she was walking steadily enough. Of course, +her lame foot did drag but---- + +A prolonged bray broke into his uncomfortable mood and turning to the +startled Elsa, he merrily explained: + +"That's Billy! Hurry up and be introduced to Billy! I tell you he's a +character----" + +"Billy? _Billy!_ Don't tell me there's another boy come to stay on the +Lily!" + +"Fact. The smartest one of the lot! Hurry up!" + +Elsa had to hurry, though she shrank from meeting any more strangers, +because Gerald forgot that he still grasped her arm and forced her +along beside him, whether or no. But she released herself as they came +to the wharf and the people gathered there. + +This company included not only the house-boat party but a number of +other people. So novel a craft as a house-boat couldn't be moored +within walking distance of Four-Corners' Post-Office, and the +waterside village of Jimpson's Landing, without arousing great +curiosity. Also, the other boats passing up and down stream, scows and +freighters mostly these were, plying between the fertile lands of Anne +Arundel and the Baltimore markets, had spread the tale. + +Now, at evening, when work was over, crowds flocked from the little +towns to inspect the Water Lily and its occupants. Also, many of them +to offer supplies for its convenience. The better to do this last, +they unceremoniously climbed aboard, roamed at will over both boat and +tender, inspected and commented upon everything and, finally, demanded +to see the "Boss." + +Outside on the grass beside the wharf sat Colonel Dillingham of T, +side-saddle-wise upon great Billy, who had gone to sleep. He was +waiting to be presented to Mrs. Calvert and would not presume to +disturb her till she sent for him. Meanwhile he was very comfortable, +and with folded arms, his habitual attitude, he sadly observed the +movements of his neighbors. + +Most of these nodded to him as they passed, with an indifferent +"Howdy, Cunnel?" paying no further attention to him. Yet there was +something about the man on mule-back that showed him to be of better +breeding than the rustics who disdained him. Despite his soiled and +most unhappy appearance he spoke with the accents of a gentleman, and +when his name was repeated to Mrs. Calvert she mused over it with a +smile. + +"Dillingham? Dillingham of T? Why, of course, Dolly dear, he's of good +family. One of the best in Maryland. I reckon I'll have to go into the +cabin and receive him. Is it still full of those ill-bred men, who +swarmed over this boat as if they owned it?" + +"Yes, Aunt Betty, pretty full. Some, a few, have gone. Those who +haven't want to see the 'Boss.'" + +Mrs. Calvert peered from her stateroom whither she had fled at the +first invasion of visitors, and smiled. Then she remarked: + +"Just go ashore and be interviewed there, dear." + +"Auntie! What do you mean?" + +"I fancy you're the real 'boss,' or head of this company, when it +comes to fact. It's _your_ Water Lily, _you_ are bearing the expenses, +I'm your guest, and 'where the honey is the bees will gather.' If +these good people once understand that it's you who carry the +purse----" + +"But I don't! You know that. I gave it to Mrs. Bruce. I asked her to +take care of the money because--Well, because I'm careless, sometimes, +you know, and might lose it." + +"It's the same thing. Ask her to go with you and advise you, if there +is anything you need. But, remember, money goes fast if one doesn't +take care." + +It sounded rather strange to Dorothy to hear Aunt Betty say this for +it wasn't the lady's habit to discuss money matters. However, she +hadn't time to think about that for here was Mrs. Bruce, urging: + +"Dorothy, do come and do something with these men. There's one fairly +badgering me to buy cantaloupes--and they do look nice--but with all +the water-melons--Yes, sir; this is the 'Boss;' this is Miss Calvert, +the owner of the Water Lily." + +A man with a basket of freshly dug potatoes had followed Mrs. Bruce +to the door of Mrs. Calvert's stateroom which, with a hasty "Beg +pardon" from within, had been closed in their faces. Another man, +carrying smaller baskets of tempting plums, was trying to out-talk his +neighbor; while a third, dangling a pair of chickens above the heads +of the other two, was urging the sale of these, "raised myself, right +here on Annyrunnell sile! Nicest, fattest, little br'ilers ever you +see, Ma'am!" + +"Huh! that pair of chickens wouldn't make a mouthful for our +family!" cried the matron, desperately anxious to clear the cabin +of these hucksters. She had made it her business to keep the +Water Lily in spotless order and this invasion of muddy boots and +dirt-scattering baskets fretted her. Besides, like all the rest of +that "ship's company," her one desire was to make Mrs. Calvert +perfectly comfortable and happy. She knew that this intrusion of +strangers would greatly annoy her hostess and felt she must put an +end to it at once. But how? + +Dorothy rose to the occasion. Assuming all the dignity her little +body could summon she clapped her hands for silence and unexpectedly +obtained it. People climbing the crooked stairs to the roof and the +"Skipper's bridge" craned their necks to look at her; those testing +the arrangement of the canvas partitions between the cots on one side +stopped with the partitions half-adjusted and stared; while the +chattering peddlers listened, astonished. + +"Excuse me, good people, but this boat is private property. None +should come aboard it without an invitation. Please all go away at +once. I'll step ashore with this lady and there we'll buy whatever she +thinks best." + +Probably because her words made some of the intruders ashamed a few +turned to leave; more lingered, among these the hucksters, and Dorothy +got angry. Folding her arms and firmly standing in her place she +glared upon them till one by one they slipped away over the gang-plank +and contented themselves with viewing the Water Lily and its Pad from +that point. + +As the last smock-clad farmer disappeared Dorothy dropped upon the +floor and laughed. + +"O Mrs. Bruce! Wasn't that funny? Those great big men and I--a little +girl! They mustn't do it again. They shall not!" + +"The best way to stop them is to do as you promised--step to the shore +and see them there. Those potatoes were real nice. We might get some +of them, but the chickens--it would take so many. Might get one for +Mrs. Calvert's breakfast--oatmeal will do for the rest of us." + +Dorothy sprang up and hurried with her friend off from the Lily. But +she made a wry face at the mention of oatmeal-breakfasts and +explained: + +"Aunt Betty wouldn't eat chicken if none of the others had it. And +just oatmeal--I hate oatmeal! It hasn't a bit of expression and I'm as +hungry after it as before. Just do get enough of those 'br'ilers' for +all. Please, Mrs. Bruce! There's nobody in the world can broil a +chicken as you do! I remember! I've eaten them at your house before I +ever left Baltimore!" + +Naturally, the matron was flattered. She wasn't herself averse to +fine, tasty poultry, and resolved to gratify the teasing girl that +once. But she qualified her consent with the remark: + +"It mustn't be such luxury very often, child, if you're to come out +even with this trip and the money. My! What a great mule! What a +curious man on it! Why does he sit sidewise and gloom at everybody, +that way?" + +Dorothy hadn't yet spoken with Colonel Dillingham though the boys had +given her a brief description of him and their attempted purchase. But +she was unprepared to have him descend from his perch and approach +her, saying: + +"Your servant, Miss Calvert. You resemble your great-grandfather. _He_ +was a man. He--_was_ a man! Ah! yes! he was a--_man_! I cayn't be too +thankful that you are you, and that it's to a descendant of a true +southern nobleman I now present--Billy. Billy, Miss Calvert. Miss +Calvert, Billy!" + +With a sigh that seemed to come from his very boots the gallant +Colonel placed one of the mule's reins in Dorothy's astonished hand +and bowed again; and as if fully appreciating the introduction old +Billy bobbed his head up and down in the mournfulest manner and +gravely brayed, while the observant bystanders burst into a loud +guffaw. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE COLONEL'S REVELATION. + + +"Aunt Betty, what does that 'of T' mean after that queer Colonel's +name?" + +"There is no sense in it, dear, of course. The family explained it +this way. The gentleman's real name is Trowbridge. His wife's family +was Dillingham. It was of much older origin than his and she was very +proud of it. When she consented to marry him it was upon the condition +that he would take her name, not she take his. A slight legal +proceeding made it right enough but he added the 'of T.' It was a +tribute to his honesty, I fancy, though it's quite a custom of +Marylanders to do as the Dillinghams did. Here he comes now. I must +ask him about his daughter. He had one, a very nice girl I've heard." + +"Coming! Why, Aunt Betty, we haven't had breakfast yet!" + +Mrs. Betty laughed. + +"Another familiar custom, dear, among country neighbors in this old +State. Why, my own dear mother thought nothing of having a party of +uninvited guests arrive with the sunrise, expecting just the same +cordial welcome she would have accorded later and invited ones. It +never made any difference in the good old days. There was always +plenty of food in the storehouse and plenty of help to prepare it. The +Colonel isn't so very old but he seems to cling to the traditions of +his ancestors. I wonder, will he expect us to feed Billy also! And I +do hope Mrs. Bruce will have something nice for breakfast. The poor +gentleman looks half-starved." + +"Oh! yes, she has. We bought a half-dozen pairs of 'broilers' last +night; but she meant them to last for supper, too." + +"Run. Bid her cook the lot. There'll be none too many." + +"But, Auntie, dear! They cost fifty cents a-piece. Six whole dollars +for one single breakfast? Besides the potatoes and bread and other +stuff! Six dollars a meal, eighteen dollars a day, how long will what +is left of three hundred dollars last, after we pay for Billy, as you +said we must?" + +This was on the morning after the Colonel's first call at the Water +Lily. This had been a prolonged one because of--Billy. That wise +animal saw no stable anywhere about and, having been petted beyond +reason by his loving, sad-hearted master, decided that he dared +not--at his time of life--sleep out of doors. At least that was the +way James Barlow understood it, and no persuasion on the part of his +new friends could induce the mule to remain after the Colonel started +for home. + +"Tie him to the end of the wharf," suggested Gerald. + +"That would be cruel. He might fall into the water in his sleep. We +don't want two to do that in one day," protested Dorothy. + +At that point Billy began to bray; so mournfully and continuously that +Mrs. Calvert sent word: + +"Stop that beast! We shan't be able to sleep a wink if he keeps that +noise up!" + +The Colonel paused once more. His departure had been a succession of +pauses, occasioned by two things: one that the lazy man never walked +when he could ride; the other, that he could not bring himself to part +from his "only faithful friend." The result was that he had again +mounted the stubborn beast and disappeared in the darkness of his +melon-patch. + +Now he was back again, making his mount double himself up on the +ground and so spare his rider the trouble of getting off in the usual +way. + +"My hearties! Will you see that, lads?" demanded Melvin, coming down +the bank with his towels over his arm. He had promptly discovered a +sheltered spot, up stream, where he could take his morning dip, +without which his English training made him uncomfortable. "Pooh! He's +given the mule and himself with it! He's fun for a day, but we can't +stand him long. I hope Mrs. Calvert will give him his 'discharge +papers' right away." + +"If she doesn't I will!" answered Gerald, stoutly. "A very little of +the 'Cunnel' goes a long way with yours truly." + +Jim looked up sharply. His own face showed annoyance at the +reappearance of the farmer but he hadn't forgotten some things the +others had. + +"Look here, fellows! This isn't our picnic, you know!" + +Melvin flushed and ducked his head, as if from a blow, but Gerald +retorted: + +"I don't care if it isn't. I'd rather quit than have that old snoozer +for my daily!" + +"I don't suppose anybody will object to your quitting when you want +to. The Water Lily ain't yours, though you 'pear to think so. And let +me tell you right now; if you don't do the civil to anybody my +mistress has around I'll teach you better manners--that's all!" + +With that Jim returned to the polishing of his useless engine, making +no further response to Gerald's taunts. + +"Mistress! _Mistress?_ Well, I'll have you to know, you young +hireling, that I'm my own master. _I_ don't work for any mistress, +without wages or with 'em, and in my set we don't hobnob with +workmen--ever. Hear that? And mind you keep your own place, after +this!" + +An ugly look came over Jim's face and his hands clenched. With utmost +difficulty he kept from rising to knock the insolent Gerald down, and +a few words more might have brought on a regular battle of fists, had +not Melvin interposed in his mild voice yet with indignation in his +eyes: + +"You don't mean that, Gerald. 'A man's a man for a' that.' I'm a +'hireling,' too, d'ye mind? A gentleman, that you boast you are, +doesn't bully his inferiors nor behave like a ruffian in a lady's +house--or boat--which is the same thing. Gentlemen don't do that--Not +in our Province." + +Then, fortunately, Chloe appeared, asking if one of them would go to +the nearest farmhouse and fetch a pail of cream for breakfast. + +"They's quality come, so li'l Miss says, an' ole Miss boun' ter hev +t'ings right down scrumptious, lak wese do to home in Baltimo'." + +With great willingness each and every lad offered to do the errand; +and in a general tussle to grab her outstretched "bucket" their anger +vanished in a laugh. The "good side" of Gerald came uppermost and he +awkwardly apologized: + +"Just forget I was a cad, will you, boys? I didn't mean it. I'd just +as lief go for that cream as not." + +"I'd liefer!" said Melvin. + +Jim said nothing but the ugly look vanished from his face and it was +he who secured the pail and started with it on a run over the plank +and the field beyond. + +"I'll beat you there!" shouted Melvin; and "You can't do it!" yelled +Gerald; while Chloe clasped her hands in dismay, murmuring: + +"Looks lak dere won't be much cweam lef' in de bucket if it comes +same's it goes!" + +That visit to the farmhouse, short though it was, gave a turn to +affairs on the Water Lily. The farmer told the lads of a little branch +a few miles further on, which would be an ideal place for such a craft +to anchor, for "a day, a week, or a lifetime." + +"It's too fur off for them village loafers to bother any. You won't +have to anchor in midstream to get shet of 'em, as would be your only +chance where you be now. I was down with the crowd, myself, last night +an' I was plumb scandalized the way some folks acted. No, sir, I +wasn't aboard the Water Lily nor set foot to be. I come home and told +my wife: 'Lizzie,' says I, 'them water-travellers'll have a lot o' +trouble with the Corner-ites and Jimpson-ites. It's one thing to be +civil an' another to be imperdent.' I 'lowed to Lizzie, I says: 'I +ain't volunteerin' my opinion till it's asked, but when it is I'll +just mention Deer-Copse on the Ottawotta Run. Ain't a purtier spot on +the whole map o' Maryland 'an that is. Good boatin', good fishin', +good springs in the woods, good current to the Run and no malary. +Better 'n that--good neighbors on the high ground above.' That's what +I says to Lizzie." + +Jim's attention was caught by the name Deer-Copse. He thought Mrs. +Calvert would like that, it was so much like her own Deerhurst on the +Hudson. Also, he had overheard her saying to Mrs. Bruce: "I do wish we +could find some quiet stream, right through the heart of green woods, +where there'd be no danger and no intruders." From this friendly +farmer's description it seemed as if that bit of forest on the +Ottawotta would be an ideal camping-ground. + +There followed questions and answers. Yes, the Water Lily might be +hauled there by a mule walking on the bank, as far as the turn into +the branch. After that, poling and hauling, according to the depth of +the water and what the Lily's keel "drawed," or required. They could +obtain fresh vegetables real near. + +"I'm runnin' a farm that-a-way, myself; leastwise me an' my brother +together. He's got no kind of a wife like Lizzie. A poor, shiftless +creatur' with more babies under foot 'an she can count, herself. One +them easy-goin' meek-as-Moses sort. Good? Oh! yes, real good. Too +good. Thinks more o' meetin' than of gettin' her man a decent meal o' +victuals. Do I know what sort of mule Cunnel Dillingham has? Well, I +guess! That ain't no ornery mule, Billy Dillingham ain't. You see, him +and the Cunnel has lived so long together 't they've growed alike. +After the Cunnel's daughter quit home an' married Jabb, Cunnel up an' +sold the old place. Thought he'd go into truck-farmin'--him the +laziest man in the state. Farmin' pays, course, 'specially here in +Annyrunnell. Why, my crop o' melons keeps my family all the year round +an' my yuther earnin's is put in the bank. Cunnel's got as big a patch +as mine an' you cayn't just stop melons from growin' down here in +Annyrunnell! No, sir, cayn't stop 'em! Not if you 'tend 'em right. +They's an old sayin', maybe you've heard. 'He that by the plough would +thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.' The Cunnel won't do ary +one. He leaves the whole thing to his crew o' niggers an', course, +they're some shiftlesser 'n he is. They're so plumb lazy, the whole +crowd, 't they won't even haul their truck as fur as Jimpson's, to +have it loaded on a boat for market, an' that ain't further 'n you +could swing a cat! Losin' his old home an' losin' his gal, an' failin' +to make truck pay, has made him downhearteder'an he was by natur'--and +that's sayin' consid'able. Must ye go, boys? Got any melons? Give ye +as many as ye can carry if ye want 'em. Call again. Yes, the cream's +wuth five cents. Not this time, though. Lizzie'd be plumb scandalized +if I took pay for a mite o' cream for breakfast--such a late one, too. +We had ours couple hours ago. Eh? About Billy? Well, if he war mine, +which he ain't, an' if I war asked to set a price on him, which I +couldn't, I should say how 't he war a fust-class mule, but not wuth a +continental without the Cunnel--nor with him, nuther. If you take one +you'll have to take t'other. Call again. My respects to the lady owns +the house-boat an'--Good-by!" + +As the lads thanked their talkative neighbor and hurried down the +fields, Jim exclaimed: + +"Was afraid this cream'd all turn to butter before he'd quit and let +us go! But, we've learned a lot about some things. I'm thinking that +Ottawotta Run is the business for us: and I fear--Billy isn't. There +must be other mules in Anne Arundel county will suit us better. Mrs. +Calvert won't want him as a gift--with the Colonel thrown in!" + +Mrs. Bruce met them impatiently. + +"Seems as if boys never could do an errand without loitering. There's +all those chickens drying to flinders in that oil-stove-oven, and that +horrid old man talking Mrs. Calvert into a headache. Least, he isn't +talking so much as she is. Thinks she must entertain him, I suppose. +The idea! Anybody going visiting to _breakfast_ without being asked!" + +But by this time the good woman had talked her annoyance off, and +while she dished up the breakfast--a task she wouldn't leave to Chloe +on this state occasion--Jim hastily condensed the information he had +received and was glad that she promptly decided, as he had, that a +sojourn on the quiet, inland Run would best please Aunt Betty. + +"It would certainly suit me," assented the matron. + +"Oh! hang it all! What's the use? Hiding in a silly little creek when +there's the whole Chesapeake to cruise in!" cried the disgusted +Gerald, leaning upon the little table and hungrily eyeing the platter +of chicken. + +"How can we dare, how could we if we dared, try the Bay? We haven't +any engine to use now," said Jim. + +"Well, get one, then! If that girl can afford to run a house-boat and +ask folks to stay on it, she ought to provide something decent for +their entertainment. When _we_ owned the Water Lily we did things up +to the queen's taste. I'm not going to bury myself in any backwoods. +I'll quit first." + +"Boy, are you always so cross before breakfast?" asked a girl's voice +over his shoulder, and he turned to see Dorothy smiling upon him. + +"No. Except when I'm sent for cream and hear fool talk from a measly +old farmer in a blue smock," he answered, laughing rather foolishly. + +"Was it the color of his smock made him measly? And what was that I +heard about quitting?" + +"Oh! nothing. I was just fooling. But, I say, Dorothy, don't you let +any old woman coax you into a dead-and-alive hole in the woods. Mark +what I say. They'll be trying it, but the Water Lily's your boat now, +isn't it?" + +"So I understood. But from the amount of advice I receive as to +managing it, I think, maybe, it isn't. Well, I've heard you--now +listen to me. 'The one who eats the most bread-and-butter can have the +most cake'--or chicken. They look terrible little, don't they, now +they're cooked? And I warn you, I never saw anybody look so hungry in +all my life--no, not even you three boys!--as that poor, unhappy +Colonel of T, in there with Aunt Betty. Yes, Mrs. Bruce, we're ready +for breakfast at last. But mind what I say--_all we youngsters like +oatmeal_! We _must_ like it this time for politeness sake. Fourteen +eaters and twelve halves of broiled chicken--Problem, who goes +without?" + +But nobody really did that. Mrs. Bruce was mistress of the art of +carving and managed that each should have at least a small portion of +the delicacies provided, though she had to tax her ingenuity to +accomplish this. + +At the head of her table Mrs. Calvert motioned Chloe to serve her +guest again and again; and each time that Ephraim jealously snatched a +dainty portion for her own plate she as promptly and quietly restored +it to the platter. + +Also, the "Skipper" at his own board played such a lively knife and +fork that dishes were emptied almost before filled and Gerald +viciously remarked: + +"Aren't as fond of ship's biscuit as you were, are you, Cap'n Jack?" + +The Captain helped himself afresh and answered with good nature: + +"Oh! yes. Jes' as fond. But I likes a change. Yes, I c'n make out to +relish 'most anything. I ain't a mite partic'lar." + +This was too much for the lads and a laugh arose; but the old man +merely peered over his specs at them and mildly asked: + +"What you-all laughin' at? Tell me an' lemme laugh, too. Laughin' does +old folks good. Eh, Cunnel? Don't you think so?" he asked, wheeling +around to address the guest of honor. + +But that gentleman was too engaged at that moment to reply, even if he +would have condescended so to do. Just now, in the presence of Mrs. +Calvert, whose mere name was a certificate of "quality," he felt +himself an aristocrat, quite too exalted in life to notice a poor +captain of a house-boat. + +Breakfast over, Aunt Betty excused herself and withdrew to the shelter +of her little stateroom. Shelter it really was, now, against her +uninvited guest. She had done her best to make his early call +agreeable and to satisfy him with more substantial things than old +memories. They had discussed all the prominent Maryland families, from +the first Proprietor down to that present day; had discovered a +possible relationship, exceedingly distant, he being the discoverer; +and had talked of their beloved state in its past and present glories +till she was utterly worn out. + +He had again "given" her his most cherished possession, Billy the +mule; and she had again declined to receive it. Buy him, of course, +Dorothy would and should, if it proved that a mule was really needed. +But not without fair payment for the animal would she permit "him" to +become a member of her family. The Colonel so persistently spoke of +the creature as a human being that she began to think of Billy as a +monstrosity. + +The morning passed. Aunt Betty had deserted, and Dorothy had to take +her place as hostess. All her heart was longing for the green shore +beyond that little wharf, where now all the other young folks were +having a lively frolic. It was such a pity to waste that glorious +sunshine just sitting in that little cabin talking to a dull old man. + +He did little talking himself. Indeed, warmed by the sunshine on the +deck where he sat, and comfortably satisfied with a more generous meal +than he had enjoyed for many months, the Colonel settled back on the +steamer chair which was Aunt Betty's own favorite and went to sleep. +He slept so long and quietly that she was upon the point of leaving +him, reflecting: + +"Even a Calvert ought not to have to stay here now, and watch an old +man--snore. It's dreadful, sometimes, to have a 'family name.' Living +up to it is such a tax. I wish--I almost wish--I was just a Smith, +Jones, Brown, or anybody! I will run away, just for a minute, sure! +and see what happens!" + +But, despite the snores, the visitor was a light sleeper. At her first +movement from her own chair, he awoke and actually smiled upon her. + +"Beg pardon, little lady. I forgot where I was and just lost myself. +Before I dropped off I was goin' to tell you--Pshaw! I cayn't talk. I +enjoy quiet. D'ye happen to see Billy, anywhere?" + +"Certainly. He's right over on that bank yonder and the boys are +trying to fix a rope to his harness, so he can begin to draw the boats +up stream. They want to try and see if it will work. Funny! To turn +this lovely Water Lily into a mere canal-boat. But I suppose we can +still have some good times even that way." + +The Colonel shook his head. + +"No, you cayn't. Nobody can. They ain't any good times for anybody any +more." + +"What a lot of 'anys'! Seems as if out of so many there might be one +good time for somebody. I was in hopes you were having such just now. +What can I do to make it pleasanter for you?" + +"Sit right down and let me speak. Your name's Calvert, ain't it?" + +"Why, of course. I thought you knew;" answered the girl, reluctantly +resuming her seat. + +"Never take anything for granted. I cayn't do it, you cayn't do it. +Something'll always go wrong. It did with your great-grandfather's +brother that time when he hid--Ah! hum! It ought to be yours, but it +won't be. There couldn't be any such luck in this world. Is Billy +lookin' comf'table?" + +Billy answered for himself by a most doleful bray. Indeed, he was +resenting the lads' endeavors to remove his harness. Jim fancied he +could fix it better for the purpose of hauling the Water Lily, but the +animal objected, because that harness had never been taken from his +back since it was put on early in the spring. Then the more ambitious +of the negroes who managed the Colonel's truck-farm had equipped Billy +for ploughing the melon-patch. After each day's work the beast had +seemed tired and the gentleman-farmer had suggested: + +"Don't fret him takin' it off. You'll only have to put it on again, +to-morrow." + +This saved labor and suited all around; and Billy was trying to +explain to these tormenting lads how ill-at-ease and undressed he +would feel, if he were stripped of his regalia. + +"Sounds like he was in trouble, poor Billy. But, of course, he is. +Everybody is. You are. If you had that buried--Pshaw! What's the use! +You ain't, you cayn't, nobody could find it, else things wouldn't +have happened the way they did; and your great-grandfather wouldn't +have forgot where he buried it; and it wouldn't have gone out the +family; and since your great-grandfather's brother married my +great-grandmother's sister we'd all have shared and shared alike. It's +sad to think any man would be so careless for his descendants as to go +and do what your great-grandfather's brother did and then forget it. +But--it's the way things always go in this lop-sided world. Ah! um." + +The Colonel's breakfast had made him more talkative than had seemed +possible and because she could do no better for her own amusement, +Dorothy inquired: + +"Tell me the story of our great-grand-folks and what they buried. +Please. It would be interesting, I think." + +"Very well, child, I'll try. But just keep an eye on Billy. Is he +comf'table? I don't ask if he's happy. He isn't. Nobody is." + +"Beg pardon, but you are mistaken about that mule. No matter what the +boys and Captain Hurry try to do with him, he manages to get his nose +back to the ground again and eat--Why, he hasn't really stopped eating +one full minute since he came. That makes me think. Will the man who +owns that grass like to have him graze it that way? Isn't grass really +hay? Don't they sell hay up home at Baltimore? Won't it cost a great +deal to let Billy do that, if hay is worth much?" + +"You ask as many questions as--as I've heard your folks always do. But +it's no use worryin' over a little hay. It ain't wuth much. Nothing's +wuth anything in Annyrunnell. The only thing in the whole county wuth +a continental is what your great-grandfather's brother buried in the +woods on Ottawotta Run. Deer-Copse was the spot. Buried it in a +brass-bound chest, kept the key, and then forgot. Ah! hum." + +"Ottawotta Run? Deer-Copse! Why, that's the very place the boys said +the man said that you say--Oh! Aunt Betty! Aunt Betty! There's a +buried fortune belonging to our family out in the woods! We'll find +it, we _must_ find it, and that will save all your Old Folks their +Home and you won't have to sell Bellvieu!" almost shrieked Dolly, +running to her aunt's stateroom and flinging wide the little door, +regardless of knocking for admittance. But disappointment awaited +her--the stateroom was empty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FISH AND MONKEYS. + + +Farmer Wickliffe Stillwell proved a friend in need. + +About the middle of that eventful morning he appeared with a big +basket on either arm, his blue-checked smock swaying in the breeze +that had arisen, his iron-gray, luxuriant whiskers doing the same, and +his head bare. + +He had started with his Sunday hat perched on his "bald-spot," which +was oddly in contrast with the hirsute growth below. Lizzie, his wife, +had affirmed such headgear was "more politer" than the old straw hat +he commonly wore and that had the virtue of staying where it was put, +as the stiff Derby did not. + +Having arrived at the wharf where the Water Lily was fastened he +paused and awaited the invitation without which he wouldn't have +crossed the gang-plank. He had plenty of time to rest before the +invitation came. None of the lads who had visited his place for cream +was in sight. Mrs. Calvert and Mrs. Bruce glanced toward him and +looked away. They supposed him to be another of those "peddlers" who +had swarmed over the boat the evening of its arrival, and didn't wish +"to be annoyed." + +The Colonel saw him but gave no sign of recognition. He waited to see +what his hostess would do and would then follow her example. She +looked away--so did this too chivalrous guest. + +The girls had gone to the woods, searching for wild grapes; and Cap'n +Jack, with the lads, had taken the row-boat down stream on a fishing +trip. Fish, of many varieties, had been brought to the Lily for sale, +but fish that one caught for one's self would be finer and cost less; +so they reasoned with a fine access of economy. + +Ephraim and Chloe were "tidying up;" and only little Methuselah and +Billy-mule gave the visitor a word of welcome. These two were fast +becoming friends, and both were prone on the ground; one suffering +from a surfeit of grass--the other of water-melon. + +Metty looked up and sat up--with a groan: + +"Say, Mister, 'd you evah hab de tummy-ache?" while Billy's sad bray +seemed to be asking the same question. + +"Heaps of times. When I'd eaten too much green stuff. Got it?" + +"Yep. Dey's a orful misery all eroun' me yeah! I'd lak some peppymin' +but Mammy she ain' done got none. Oh! my!" + +"Get a _rollin'_. Nothing cures a colic quicker than that. And, +look-a-here? How's this for medicine?" + +Metty considered this the "mos' splendides' gemplemum" he had ever +met. A gentleman made to order, indeed, with a paper bag in his +pocket, chock full of beautiful red and white "peppymin's" which he +lavishly dealt out to the small sufferer--a half one at a time! But +many halves make several wholes, and Metty's now happy tones, in place +of complaints, brought Chloe to the spot, and to the knowledge of the +stranger's real errand. + +"Come right erway in, suh. I sure gwine tell Miss Betty you-all ain' +none dem peddlah gemplemums, but a genuwine calleh. Dis yeah way, suh. +Metty, yo' triflin' little niggah! Why ain' yo' tote one dese yeah +bastics?" + +A familiar, not-too-heavy, cuff on the boy's ear set him briskly +"toting" one basket while his mother carried the other. Mr. Stillwell +followed his guide to where Mrs. Calvert sat and explained himself and +his visit so simply and pleasantly that she was charmed and exclaimed: + +"This is delightful, to find neighbors where we looked for strangers +only. How kind and how generous of your wife! I wish I could see and +thank her in person." + +Chloe had uncovered the daintily packed baskets and Mrs. Bruce fairly +glowed in housewifely pleasure over the contents. + +"Looks as if an artist had packed them," said Aunt Betty; and it did. + +Tomatoes resting in nests of green lettuce; half-husked green corn +flanked by purple eggplant and creamy squashes; crimson beets and +brown skinned potatoes; these filled one basket. The other was packed +with grapes of varying colors, with fine peaches, pears, rosy apples +and purple plums. Together they did make a bright spot of color on the +sunny deck and brought a warm glow to Mrs. Calvert's heart. The +cheerful face of the farmer and his open-hearted neighborliness were +an agreeable contrast to the dolefulness of the more aristocratic +Colonel--called such by courtesy and custom but not from any right to +the title. + +"If the girls would only come!" said Mrs. Bruce. "I'd like to have +them see the things before we move one out of its pretty place." + +"Well, they will. I'm sure Mr. Stillwell will wait and take our +mid-day dinner with us. Besides being glad to make his acquaintance, I +want to ask advice. What we are to do with the Water Lily; how to +safely get the most pleasure out of it. Would you like to go over the +boats, Mr. Stillwell?" + +This was exactly what he did wish; and presently Aunt Betty was +guiding him about, displaying and explaining every detail of the +little craft, as eager and animated as if she had designed it. The +Colonel stalked solemnly in the rear, sighing now and then over such +wasted effort and enthusiasm, and silently wondering how a Calvert +could meet on such equal terms a mere farmer, one of those "common +Stillwells." + +However, neither of the others paid him any attention, being too +absorbed in their own talk; and the stranger in maturing a plan to +help his hostess and her household. + +When everything had been examined and tested by his common sense he +explained: + +"If this here Water Lily war mine, which she isn't; and I wanted +to get the most good and most fun out of her, which I don't, I'd +light right out from this region. I'd get shet of all them gapin' +Corner-ites and Jimpson-ites, and boats passin' by an' takin' notes +of things. I'd get a sensible tug to haul me, tender an' all, a mite +further up stream till I met the Branch. I'd be hauled clean into that +fur as war practical, then I'd 'paddle my own canoe.' Meanin' that +then I'd hitch a rope to my mule, or use my poles, till I fetched up +alongside Deer-Copse on the Ottawotta Run. There ain't no purtier +spot on the face of God's good earth nor that. I war born there, or +nigh-hand to it. If a set of idle folks can't be happy on the +Ottawotta, then they sure deserve to be unhappy." + +Aunt Betty was enchanted. From his further description she felt that +this wonderful Run was the very stream for them to seek; and with her +old decision of manner she asked Mr. Stillwell to arrange everything +for her and not to stint in the matter of expense. Then she laughed: + +"I have really no right to say that, either, for I'm only a guest on +this boat-party. The Water Lily belongs to my little niece and it is +she who will pay the bills. I wonder how soon it could be arranged +with such a tug! Do you know one?" + +"Sure. Right away, this evenin', if you like. I happen to have a loose +foot, to-day, and can tend to it. To-morrow's market and I'll have to +be up soon, and busy late. Is 't a bargain? If 'tis, I'll get right +about it." + +By "evening" meant with these Marylanders all the hours after mid-day; +and, declining any refreshment, Mr. Stillwell departed about this +business. His alertness and cheerfulness put new life into Aunt Betty +and the widow, who hustled about putting into fresh order the already +immaculate Lily. + +"If we're going to move I want everything spick-and-span. And the +girls'll come in right tired after their wood tramp. Wonderful, ain't +it? How 't that peeked, puny Elsa is a gainin' right along. Never see +the beat. She'll make a right smart lot of good, wholesome flesh, if +she keeps on enjoyin' her victuals as she does now. Looks as if she +lived on slops most of her short life. See anything more wants doing, +Mrs. Calvert?" + +"No, Mrs. Bruce, I do not. I wish you'd let Chloe bear her share of +the work, not do so much yourself. I want you to rest--as I'm doing," +answered the other. + +"It plumb wears me out to have folks fussin' so, Ma'am. They ain't no +use. A day's only a day, when all's said and done. Why not take it +easy? Take it as easy as you can and it don't amount to much, life +don't. Ah! hum." + +But the Colonel's protest was lost on energetic Mrs. Bruce. She tossed +her comely head and retorted: + +"Some folks find their rest in doin' their duty, not in loafin' round +on other people's time and things. Not meaning any disrespect, I'm +sure, but I never did have time to do nothin' in. I'm going right now +and set to work on that dinner. I do wish the girls could see those +baskets, first, though!" + +"Leave them untouched, then, Mrs. Bruce. Surely, we had enough +provided before we had this present." + +"Yes, Mrs. Calvert, we did have--for our own folks; and counting a +little on the fish the men-folks was to bring in. Seems if they's gone +a dreadful spell, don't it? And I heard that old Cap'n Jack say +something about the Bay. If he's enticed 'em to row out onto that big +water--Oh! dear! I wish they'd come!" + +The Colonel roused himself to remark: + +"Squalls is right frequent on the Chesapeake. And that old man is no +captain at all. Used to work on an oyster boat and don't know--shucks. +Likely they've had an upset. Boys got to foolin' and--Ah! hum! Wasn't +none of 'em your sons, were they, Ma'am?" + +From the moment of their first meeting there had been a silent +battle between the capable housekeeper and the incapable "southern +gentleman." She had had several talks with Dorothy and Jim over the +finances of this trip and she knew that it would have to be a short +one if "ends were to meet." She felt that this man, aristocrat though +he might be, had no right to impose himself and his prodigious +appetite upon them just because the lads had tried to buy his old mule +and he had, instead, so generously presented it. + +"I don't see what good that yapping Billy does, anyway! He doesn't +work at all and he's living on somebody else's grass. There'll be a +bill coming in for his fodder, next we know;" she had grumbled. It may +be said, to her credit, that she was infinitely more careful of +Dorothy's interests than she would have been of her own. But all her +grumbling and hints failed to effect what she had hoped they +would--the Colonel's permanent departure for home along with the +useless Billy. + +Now all that was to be changed. Almost before he had gone, it seemed, +Farmer Stillwell came steaming down stream on a small tugboat, which +puffed and fussed as if it were some mighty steamship, and passing the +Water Lily manoeuvred to turn around and face upstream again. +Presently, a rope was made fast to the prow of the house-boat and +securely tied, and Mr. Stillwell stepped aboard to announce: + +"All ready to move, Ma'am. Your company all back?" + +"Not all. The girls have just come but the Captain and the boys are +still away. We'll have to wait for them." + +Mrs. Calvert's answer fell on unheeding ears. + +"Guess not, Ma'am. This here tug's got another job right soon and if +we lose this chance may not be another in a dog's age. I knowed she +was around and could help us out, was the reason I spoke to you about +her. I guess it's now or never with the 'Nancy Jane.' Once she goes up +to Baltimo' she'll have more jobs an' she can tackle. Wouldn't be here +now, only she had one down, fetching some truck-scows back. Well, what +you say?" + +A brief consultation was held in the cabin of the Water Lily in which +the voices of four eager girls prevailed: + +"Why, let's take the chance, of course, Auntie dear. We can leave a +note pinned to the wharf telling the boys and Cap'n Jack that we've +gone on to the Ottawotta. They can follow in their row-boat. And, +Colonel Dillingham, can't you ride Billy alongside, on the shores we +pass? We can't possibly take him on board, and he won't go without +you." + +But now, at last, was the doughty Colonel energetic. + +"No, sir. I mean, no, madam! I go to Ottawotta? I allow my faithful +Billy to set foot on that soil? No, ma'am. I will not. I will simply +bid you good day. And young miss, let me tell you, what your relative +here seems to have forgot; that no old Marylander, of first quality, +would ha' turned a guest loose to shift for himself in such a way as +this. But--what can you expect? Times ain't what they were and you +cayn't count on anybody any more. I bid you all good day, and a +pleasant v'yage. As for Billy an' me, we'll bestow ourselves where we +are better appreciated." + +Poor Mrs. Calvert was distressed. Not often in her long life had the +charge of inhospitality been laid at her door, and she hastened to +explain that she wished him still to remain with them, only---- + +With a magnificent wave of his not too clean hand and bowing in the +courtliest fashion, the disappointed visitor stepped grandly over the +gang-plank, and a moment later was ordering, in his saddest tones: + +"Billy, lie down!" + +Billy obediently shook his harness, disordered by the efforts of the +lads to straighten it, and crumpled himself up on the sward. The +Colonel majestically placed himself upon the back of "his only +friend;" commanded: "Billy, get up!" and slowly rode away up-slope to +his own deserted melon-patch. + +"Now, isn't that a pity!" cried Dorothy, with tears in her eyes. "I +didn't care for him while he was here, though Billy was just +charming--for a mule! But I do hate quarreling and he's gone off mad." + +"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" said Mrs. Bruce, fervently. Then +shaded her eyes with her hands to stare out toward the broader water +in search of the missing fishermen, while the pretty Water Lily began +to move away from the little wharf which had become so familiar. + +Meanwhile, out beyond the mouth of the river, within the shelter of a +tree-shaded cove, the would-be fishermen were having adventures of +their own. It was a spot which Cap'n Jack knew well and was that he +had intended to reach when the little red "Stem" of the Water Lily was +lowed away from her. Here was a collection of small houses, mere huts +in fact, occupied by fishermen during the mild seasons. Here would +always be found some old cronies of his, shipmates of the oyster-boats +that plied their trade during the cold months of the year. + +The truth was that the "skipper" was not only lonely, so far from his +accustomed haunts, but he wanted a chance to show these old mates of +his how his fortunes had risen, to hear the news and give it. + +"Are there any fish here?" demanded Jim, when they rested on their +oars just off shore. + +"More fish 'an you could catch in a lifetime! Look a yonder!" + +So saying, the captain raised his broken spy-glass to his good eye--he +had the sight of but one--and surveyed the cove. Around and around he +turned it, standing firmly on the bottom of the "Stem," his multitude +of brass buttons glittering in the sun, and his squat figure a notable +one, seen just then and there. At last, came a cry from shore. + +"Ship ahoy!" + +"Aye, aye! Port about!" roared the Captain, and dropped to his seat +again. He had succeeded in his effort to attract attention, and now +picked up the oars and began to pull in. Until now he had generously +allowed the lads to do the rowing, despite considerable grumbling from +Gerald, who was newer to that sort of work than he had pretended. But +Cap'n Jack did not care for this; and he did succeed in impressing a +small company of men who were industriously fishing in the cove. + +Most of these were in small boats, like the "Stem," but a larger craft +was moored at the little wharf and about it were gathered real sailors +fresh from the sea. At sight of them, the three lads forgot fishing in +eagerness to meet these sailors, who had come from--nobody could guess +how far! At all events, they must have seen strange things and have +many "yarns to spin," which it would be fine to hear. + +Events proved that the sailors had never heard of "Cap'n Jack," and +were duly impressed by the importance he assumed. On his tongue, the +Water Lily became a magnificent yacht and he its famous Commodore, and +though there were those among the fishermen who did know him well, +they humored his harmless pretensions and added to his stories such +marvelous details that even he was astonished into believing himself a +much greater man than he had pretended. + +That was a gala day for the three lads. Somebody proposed lunch and +some fishermen prepared it; of the freshly caught fish, cooked over a +beach-wood fire, and flanked by the best things the hosts could offer. +Over the food and the fire tongues were loosened, and the sailors did +"yarn it" to their guests' content. At last the talk turned upon +animals and one sailor, who was no older than these young landsmen, +remarked: + +"Speakin' of monkeys, I've got a dandy pair right down in the hold +now. Want to see 'em?" + +Of course they did! They were in a mood to wish to see anything and +everything which came from afar. For, during the "yarns," in +imagination they had followed these men of the sea into wonderful +lands, through tropical forests, and among strange people, till even +Jim's fancy was kindled. As for Melvin and Gerald, their eyes fairly +shone with eagerness, and when the sailor returned to the little +camp-fire, bringing a wooden cage containing the monkeys, each was +possessed of a desire to own them. + +"For sale?" asked Gerald. + +"Course. I always bring home a few. Last trip I did a hundred and +fifty for a Baltimore department store. Fact! Head of the firm ordered +'em. He sold 'em for two-fifty a-piece, and they went like hot cakes. +Women went crazy over 'em, I heard, and, course, it was good business +for him. A woman would go in the store, out of curiosity to see the +monks. See something else she'd buy, and finally be talked into buying +one o' them. Reckon I'll lay alongside that same store and try for +another consignment." + +"How much?" asked Melvin. He was thinking that if so many "women went +crazy" over such animals as pets, it would be a nice thing to buy this +pair and present them to Dorothy. She did love animals so! + +"Oh! I don't know, exactly. This is the last pair I've got--they are +extra clever--could be taught to speak just as well as children, I +believe, only, course, a sailor don't have time to fool with 'em." He +might have added that not only was this his "last pair" but his only +one; and that though the transaction he described was a fact, he was +not the dealer who had supplied the monkey market. Besides--but there +was no need to tell all he knew about monkeys to these two possible +purchasers. + +"Jim, don't you want to take a chance? Go thirds with us in 'em?" + +"No, Gerald. I don't. I mean I can't. I've only a little bit left in +my purse on the boat, and I've got to get back to New York State +sometime. Back to the Water Lily mighty sudden, too, seems if. Must +ha' been here a terrible time. Shucks! I clean forgot our folks were +waiting for their fish-dinner while we were eatin' our own. Come on! +We must go! and not a single fish to show for our whole morning!" + +"Wait a minute. It's so late now it can't matter. They'd have had +their dinner, anyway. You won't join?" again asked Gerald. + +"Can't." + +"I will, if he doesn't ask too much. What's the price, sailor? We'll +take them if it isn't too high," said Melvin. + +The man named a sum that was greater than the combined capital of +Gerald and Melvin. Then, although he wasn't a purchaser himself, Jim +tried his usual "dickering" and succeeded in lowering the price of the +simians, "clever enough to talk English," to ten dollars for the pair. + +"All right! Here's my fiver!" cried Gerald, reluctantly pulling out a +last, dilapidated bill from a very flat pocket-book. + +"And mine," added Melvin, tendering his own part. + +"Now, we must go, right away!" declared Jim, hastily rising. + +He thought the sailor who had promptly pocketed the ten dollars of his +friends was suspiciously kind, insisting upon carrying the cage of +monkeys down to the "Stem," and himself placing it securely in the +bottom of the boat. The little animals kept up a chattering and showed +their teeth, after a manner that might be as clever as their late +owner claimed but certainly showed anger. + +Indeed, they tore about their cage in such a fury of speed that it +nearly fell overboard and in the haste of embarking everyone forgot +the original object of this trip, till Jim exclaimed: + +"Went a-fishin' and caught monkeys! Won't they laugh at us?" + +An hour later they brought up alongside the wharf which they had begun +to think was their own, so familiar and homelike it had become. But +there was nothing familiar about it now. The water lapped gently +against the deserted pier and a forgotten painter dangled limply from +the post at its end. + +"Gone!" cried one and another of the lads, looking with frightened +eyes over the scene. + +"Gone! Somebody's stole--my--ship!" groaned Cap'n Jack, for once in +actual terror. For that the Water Lily could "navigate" without his +aid under any circumstances was a thing beyond belief. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A MERE ANNE ARUNDEL GUST. + + +Then they found Dorothy's note. + + "Dear boys and Captain: + + "We've gone on to Ottawotta Run. Farmer Stillwell's tug, + that he owns half of, is towing us to the Branch. There some + more men will be hired to pole us to Deer-Copse. Aunt Betty + says you're to hire a wagon, or horses, or somebody to bring + you and the Stem after us. She will pay for it, or I will, + that's just the same. And, oh! I can't wait to tell you! + There's a _buried treasure_ up there that we must find! A + regular 'Captain Kidd' sort, you know, so just hurry up--I + mean take it easy, as Auntie advises; but come, and do it + quick! Don't forget to bring the fish. Mrs. Bruce says put + them in a basket and trail them after you, if you come by + boat; or, anyway, try to keep them fresh for breakfast. + Dolly." + +"I reckon they'll keep, seeing they aren't caught yet. What fools we +were to go off just then! How do you suppose, in this mortal world, +those women and girls had gumption enough to run away with that +house-boat? I'll bet they did it just to get ahead of _me_, 'cause I'd +said plain enough I wouldn't go to any old hole-in-the-woods. I simply +wouldn't. And I shan't. I'll get passage on one these fruit-scows +going back to Baltimore and quit the whole thing. I will so;" declared +Gerald, fuming about the wharf in a fine rage. + +"Got money left for your 'passage?'" asked Jim. He was pondering how +best and soonest to "follow" the Water Lily, as he had been bid. They +were all too tired with their rowing to do any more of it that day, +and his pride shrank from hiring a wagon, for his own convenience, +that he wasn't able to pay for. + +"What about your monkey, Gerry?" queried Melvin. + +"Oh! I'll--I mean--you take it off my hands till--later." + +"No, thank you. I've invested all I can afford in monkeys just now, +don't you know? But I'd sell out, only I do want to give them to her. +She's such a darling of a girl, to entertain us like this. She might +have been born in our Province, I fancy, she's so like a Canadian in +kindness and generosity." + +It was a long speech for modest Melvin and an enthusiastic one. He +blushed a little as he felt his comrades' eyes turned teasingly upon +him, but he did not retract his words. He added to them: + +"Dorothy Calvert makes me think of my mother, don't you know? And a +girl that does that is an all right sort I fancy. Anyway, I've thought +lots of times, since I found out it was she and not the rich aunt who +was paying the expenses of our jaunt, that it was mighty unselfish of +her to do it. Jim's let that 'cat out the bag.' He was too top-lofty +to take a cent of profit from that mine he discovered last summer for +Mr. Ford, but all the girls were made small shareholders and got three +hundred dollars a-piece for a send-off. Miss Molly, whose father I +work for, put hers right into gew-gaws or nonsense, but I think +Dolly's done better. The least I can do to show her my appreciation is +to give her the monkeys." + +"Speak for yourself, sir, please. Half that monkey transaction is +mine, and I don't intend to impoverish myself for any girl. I mean to +train them till they're worth a lot of money, then sell them." + +"Oh! no you won't. You're not half bad, don't you know? You like to +talk something fierce but it's _talk_. If it isn't, pick out your own +monk and be off with it. You'll have to leave me the cage for Dorothy +because she'll have to keep _my_ monk, _her_ monk, _the_ monk in it +sometimes." + +"Most of the times I guess. I don't like the looks of the creatures +anyway. They're ugly. I wish you fellows had left them on that +sailor's hands. He just befooled us with his big talk. Why, sir, I +got so interested myself I'd have hired out to any ship would have me +if it had come along just then. Queer, ain't it? The way just _talk_ +can change a fellow's mind," said Jim. "Hello, Cap'n! What you found +now?" + +The old man had been limping about on the bank where Billy had enjoyed +himself, and which his teeth had shorn smooth as a mowing machine +might have done. It was a field rarely used, which explains why Billy +and Methuselah had been left to do as they pleased there. So Metty had +carried thither all the trifling toys and playthings he had picked up +during his trip. Shells, curious stones, old nails, a battered +jew's-harp, and a string of buttons, had been stored in an old basket +which the pickaninny called his playhouse. + +The playhouse caught the old man's eye and the end of his crutch as +well, and he glared angrily upon the "trash" which had come in his +way. Also, he lifted the crutch and flung Metty's treasures broadcast. +Among them was an old wallet, still securely strapped with a bit of +leather. Captain Jack had a notion he'd seen that wallet before, but +couldn't recall where. Opening it he drew out a yellowed bit of +old-fashioned letter-paper on which a rude picture was sketched. There +were a few written words at the bottom of the sketch, but "readin' +handwrite" was one of the accomplishments the good captain disdained. + +But his curiosity was aroused and he whistled to the lads to join him, +holding up the paper as an inducement. They did so, promptly, and Jim +took the extended paper, thinking it was another note from the absent +"Lilies," as the house-boat company had named itself. + +Then he, too, whistled, and cried: + +"Hello! Here's a find! Has something to do with that fool talk o' +Dolly's about 'buried treasure.' Somebody's been bamboozlin' her and +this is part of it." + +The four heads bent together above the odd little document, which had +been folded and unfolded so often it was quite frayed in places with +even some of the writing gone. + +The drawing represented a bit of woodland, with a stream flowing past, +and a ford indicated at one point, with animals drinking. It was +marked by the initials of direction, N, S, E, W; and toward the latter +point a zig-zag line suggested a path. The path ended at the root of a +tree whose branches grew into something like the semblance of a cross. +Unfortunately, the writing was in French, a language not one +understood. But, found as it was, evidently lost by somebody who had +valued it, and taken in conjunction with Dorothy's words--"buried +treasure"--it was enough to set all those young heads afire with +excitement. Even the Captain took the paper and again critically +studied it; remarking as he replaced it in the wallet: + +"Dretful sorry I didn't fetch my readin'-specs when I come away from +town. Likely, if I had I could ha' explained its hull meanin'." + +"Dreadful sorry it wasn't Greek, or even Latin! I could have ciphered +the meaning then, if it has a meaning. But every-day French, shucks!" + +"How do you know it's French if you don't know French?" demanded +Gerry. + +"Oh! I've seen it in Dr. Sterling's library. I know a word or two an' +I plan to know more. Don't it beat all? That just a little bit of +ignorance can hide important things from a fellow, that way? I tell +you there never was a truer word spoke than that 'knowledge is +power'." + +Melvin cried: + +"Come off! That'll do. Once you get talking about learning and you're +no good. Cap'n, you best stow that in your pocket and help us settle +how to 'follow our leaders'. For my part, I've no notion of sleeping +out doors, now that it looks so likely to storm. What'll we do?" + +"Hoof it to the Landin' and hire a conveyance. One that'll carry us +an' the boat, too. That's what she says, and if there's a girl in the +hull state o' Maryland, or Annyrunnell, either, that's got more sense +in her little head nor my 'fust mate', Dorothy, you show me the man +'at says so, an' I'll call him a liar to his face." + +"That's all right, Cap'n, only don't get so excited about it. Nobody's +trying to take the wind out of Dorothy's sails. So let's get on. I +reckon I can punt along as far as that Landing, even with a cargo of +monkeys. Then Gerry can take his and skip, and we'll take the other to +our folks." + +Melvin was laughing as he talked. Gerald's angry, disgusted face had +changed its expression entirely, since that finding of the curious map +which made the possibility of the "buried treasure" seem so real. + +"Oh! I won't bother now. I reckon I'd ought to go on and ask Aurora if +she wants to go home with me, or not. Popper and Mommer'd be sure to +ask me why I didn't bring her. We can settle about the monkeys later." + +"Huh! I tell you what I believe! 'Wild horses couldn't drag' you back +to town till you've found out all about what that Frenchy letter means +and have had a dig for the 'treasure'. I know it couldn't _me_. There +isn't a word of sense in the whole business, course. Likely these +whole States have been dug over, foot by foot, same's our Province +has, don't you know? But my mother says there always have been just +such foolish bodies and there always will be. Silly, I fancy; all the +same, if Dorothy or anybody else starts on this business of digging, +I'll ply the liveliest shovel of the lot." + +Melvin but expressed the sentiments of all three lads. Even the old +captain was recalling wonder-tales, such as this might be, and feeling +thrills of excitement in his old veins. Suddenly, he burst out: + +"Well, I'd be some hendered by my crutches but when you get to diggin' +just lemme know an' I'll be thar!" + +They waited no longer then, but stepped back into the "Stem," the +caged monkeys viciously scolding and sometimes yelling, till the +Captain fairly choked with fear and indignation. However, nothing +serious happened. They reached Jimpson's in a little while, and were +fortunate in finding a teamster about to start home along the river +road. His wagon was empty, the row-boat could be slung across it, +there would be abundant room for passengers--including monkeys--a new +sort of "fare" to him. + +But they had scarcely got started on this part of their journey before +the threatening storm was upon them. This "gust" was a fearful one, +and they were exposed to its full fury. The driver shielded himself as +best he could under his blankets but offered none to his passengers. +The sky grew dark as night, relieved only by the lightning, and +rivalled, in fact, that tempest which had visited them on the first +day of their trip. + +Fortunately, horses know the homeward way--though to be literal these +horses were mules--and they travelled doggedly along, unguided save by +their own instinct. Also, when they had ridden so far that it seemed +to the drenched travellers that they had always been so riding and +always should be, there came a sudden slackening in the storm and an +outburst of moonlight from behind the scattering clouds that was +fairly startling. + +After a moment of surprise Melvin broke the silence, asking: + +"Do you have this kind of thing often in Maryland?" + +"Sure. Down in Annyrunnell we do. 'S nothin' but a 'gust'. Most +gen'ally has 'em if the day opens up hot, like this one did. But it's +purty when it's over, and yender's the turn to the Copse. My road lies +t'other way. It's a quarter a-piece for you white folks an' fifty +a-head fer the monks. I 'low 'twas them hoodooed the trip. Hey? What? +Can't pay? What in reason 'd ye hire me for, then? I ain't workin' for +fun, I'd let you know. We're honest folks in Annyrunnell an' we don't +run up no expenses 't we can't meet. No, siree. You asked me to bring +you an' I've brung. Now you don't leave this here wagon till I've got +my money for my job." + +"Look here, farmer! What sort of a man are you, anyway? We went off +fishing not expecting our house-boat would go on without us. We had no +mon----" began Jim, about as angry as he had ever been in his +self-controlled life. + +"You had money enough to buy fool monkeys, didn't you?" + +Gerald answered promptly: + +"That's none of your business! Suppose we did. We paid it and it's +gone. So put that in your pipe and smoke it." + +Came the sullen answer: "Don't smoke. Don't waste _my_ money. Pay up +now, and get on. I want my supper, and it's past milkin' time +a'ready." + +Melvin was shaking with chill, sitting there in his wet clothes, but +the absurdity of the situation appealed to him, and he asked: + +"Since we've spent all our money for monkeys, will you take a monk for +pay?" + +"No, siree. I've no use fer such vermin an' you'll get sick enough of +'em, 'fore you're through." With that the teamster drew his driest +blanket about him, settled himself comfortably, and pretended to go to +sleep. "Wake me up when you get ready to pay." + +Then began a fresh search in every pocket for the needed two dollars +which would release them from this imprisonment. + +"I haven't got a penny!" declared old Cap'n Jack with tearful +earnestness. "I spent every last one a-fixin' up to look like a +skipper'd ought to." + +"I _did_ have a little, but I left it in my bunk. I was afraid I'd +spend it if I didn't almost hide it from myself," wailed honest Jim. + +"All I had, except what I paid the sailor, is in my other clothes; +that bill I gave the sailor was one I always carried with me because +my mother gave----" + +Melvin didn't finish his sentence. He couldn't. He was shivering too +much and that sudden memory of his idolized mother almost unmanned +him. Suppose he were to contract pneumonia? Her constant dread was +that he should be ill and die. + +But it was Gerald who now suffered most. Because the morning had been +so warm he had put on a white duck suit. He fancied himself in it and +it was becoming; but it was also thin, and under present circumstances +a costume of torment. If Melvin were shivering, Gerald was worse. He +was shaking so that the ricketty wagon rattled and he felt as if he +were dying. + +"Oh! man alive! Don't act the tyrant this way! Tell us where you live +and I give you my word of honor I'll go to your place the first thing +to-morrow and settle. I'll even pay double," begged Jim; and when the +farmer remained obstinately silent, leaped from the wagon and dragged +Gerald after him. "Run, run! You'll get warm that way! Run, I tell +you, for your life!" + +But the poor lad couldn't. He sank down upon the wet earth and was +fast lapsing into unconsciousness when the lash of the teamster's whip +fell smartly about him. + +"I'll warm you, ye young scamp! Cheat an honest man of his earnin's, +will you?" + +But the whip went no further. With a yell as of some enraged animal, +Jim flew at the man and gathered all the strength of his labor-trained +muscles for one fierce onslaught. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS. + + +Then a mighty din arose. With an answering yell the half-drunken +teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not +wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him. Else would the result +have been worse for Jim. + +The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and +recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in +an aimless effort to subdue the fighters. But he managed to hit nobody +for, as he afterward stated, "they didn't stan' still long enough." + +Shrieking for peace Melvin jumped to the ground, upsetting the cage of +monkeys, whose frantic yells and jabberings added a strange note to +the racket, until their own wild antics forced their cage out of the +wagon. Then, terrified by their fall, they became quiet enough till +the Captain caught the bars of their little prison-house on his +crutches and tossed it out of the way of the feet of the mules, which +were also becoming excited. + +Still pleading uselessly for peace, Melvin managed to drag poor Gerald +out of the road to a safer place, then warmed himself by seeking to +warm his poor friend. So engaged did he become in trying to reanimate +the motionless form that he scarcely heard what was going on about him +or knew when the frightened mules set out on a lively trot for home, +leaving their owner behind them but carrying away the row-boat, well +strapped to the wagon-box. + +Then suddenly, upon the uproar of angry voices, jabbering monkeys, the +rumble of the disappearing wagon, and the screeching of an owl in the +tree-top, broke another sound. A man came merrily whistling out of the +woods, his gun over his shoulder, his dog at his heels. + +"Shut up, Towse! What in Bedlam's here!" cried the newcomer, running +up. A moment later, when he had recognized the befused and battered +teamster, demanding: "Who you fightin' with now, By Smith? Never +really at peace 'cept when ye're rowin', are ye?" + +This salutation surprised the contestants into quiet, and the man +addressed as "By" laughed sheepishly, and picked his hat out of the +mud. Then he turned and discovered the loss of his wagon. At this his +fury burst forth again and he slouched upon poor Cap'n Jack with +uplifted fists and the demand: + +"Whe's my team at, you thief? You stole my wagon! What you done with +my wagon you----" + +But a hand laid across his lips prevented his saying more. + +"There, there, Byny, that'll do. Lost your wagon, have you? Well, it +serves you right. A fellow that takes the pledge 's often as you do +an' breaks it as often. Now, sober up, or down, and tell what all this +rumpus means and who these folks are." + +There was something very winning about this newcomer, with his frank +manner and happy face, which smiled even while he reproved, but no +words can well describe the utter carelessness of his attire and his +general air of a ne'er-do-well. The lads, Melvin and Jim, began to +explain, but a lofty wave of the cripple's crutch bade them yield that +point to him. + +"I'm Cap'n Jack Hurry, of the Water Lily; a yacht cruisin' these here +waters an'--an'----" + +The excited old man paused. The man with the gun was laughing! As for +that he, Cap'n Jack, saw nothing laughable in the present situation. + +"Cruising in the woods, you mean, eh? Good enough! Haven't tumbled out +of a balloon, have ye? Look 's if ye'd got soused, anyhow, and 'd +ought to get under cover." + +Then Jim took up the tale and in a moment had explained all. He +finished by asking: + +"Is there any house near where we can take this boy? He's been +overcome with the wet and has done a lot of rowin', to-day, that he +ain't used to. Is it far to Deer-Copse?" + +"Yes, a good mile or more. But my house ain't so far. We'll take him +right there. Fetch some them saplings piled yonder. Get that blanket's +tumbled out By's wagon. Fix a stretcher, no time." + +Laziness seemed stamped all over this man's appearance but he wasn't +lazy now. It seemed he might have often made such stretchers as this +he so promptly manufactured by tying the four corners of the blanket +upon the crossed saplings. The blanket was wet, of course, but so was +poor Gerald; and in a jiffy they had laid him upon it and started off +through the woods. + +The hunter carried the head of the stretcher by hands held behind him +and Jim the foot. Melvin courageously shouldered the cage of monkeys +which he would gladly have left behind save for Gerald's partnership +in them. The Cap'n wearily stumped along behind, sodden and forlorn, +more homesick than ever for his old city haunts. + +"Byny" was left behind, his fare still uncollected, to trudge home on +foot to his belated milking. Even the lads who had been so furious +against him had now utterly forgotten him in this prospect of shelter +and help for Gerald. His condition frightened his mates. Neither knew +much about illness and nothing of Gerry's really frail constitution, +nor that it had been mostly on his account the Water Lily had been +built. + +"My name's Cornwallis Stillwell. Corny I'm called. That was my brother +Wicky--Wickliffe, I mean--that tugged you up the Branch. He--he's as +smart as I ain't. Ha, ha! But what's the odds? He likes workin', I +like loafin' an' 'invitin' my soul', as the poets say. All be the +same, a hundred years from now. Won't make a mite of odds to the world +whether I hunt 'possums or he ploughs 'taters. I live on his farm an' +Lucetty runs it, along with the kids. Wicky calls it mine, 'cause it +was my share of father's property. But it ain't. It's only his good +brotherliness make him say it. We et it up ages ago. Bit at it by way +of mortgages, you know, till now there ain't a mouthful lef'. I mean, +they can't another cent be raised on it. It's Wicky's yet, but I'm +afraid it'll sometime be Dr. Jabb's. Wicky holds a mortgage on me, +body and soul, and Doc holds one on Wicky, and so it's a kind of +Peter-and-Paul job. Be all right in a hundred years and there ain't a +man in old Maryland nor Anne Arundel can hold a taller candle to my +brother Wickliffe Stillwell, nor a wax one, either. I can talk, can't +I? So can he--when he can catch anybody an' make 'em listen. Here we +be--most. That's my castle yonder. Hope Lucetty ain't asleep. If she +is, she'll wake up lively when she hears my yodel. Nicest woman in the +world, Lucetty. A pleasin' contrast to Lizzie, Wicky's wife. That +woman'd drive _me_ crazy but she suits him." + +All this information had not been given at once, but at intervals +along the way through the forest where the travelling was smooth. But +rough or smooth, the path had been a direct one, swiftly yet gently +followed by this good Samaritan of the wilderness; and now, as he gave +that warning cry he boasted, a light appeared in the windows of the +whitewashed cabin they approached and, roused by the musical, piercing +signal, Gerald stirred faintly on his litter. + +"Comin' to! Good enough! I knew he would, soon's he came within +hailing distance of Lucetty!" + +Seen by moonlight the humble dwelling looked rather pretty, so +gleaming was its whitewash and so green the vines that clambered about +its door. In reality it had once been negro quarters, a low ceiled +cabin of three rooms--and a pig-pen! The latter a most important +feature of this home. + +Following the candle-light a woman appeared. She was slender to +emaciation and her face almost colorless; but a beautiful smile +habitually hovered about the thin lips and the blue eyes were gentle +and serene. Evidently, she was among the poorest of the poor of this +earth, but, also, the happiest. + +"Why, Corny, dear! Back so soon? And you've brought me company I see. +They are welcome, sure, but--what's wrong here?" + +Stepping outside the woman bent above Gerald and earnestly studied +his face. Then she swiftly turned, ordering: + +"Fetch him right in. Lay him there. Somebody light the kindlings in +the stove. One of you fetch a pail of water from the well. Pour it +into that tea-kettle, get it hot soon's possible. Corny, fetch your +good shirt. Haul that 'comfort' off the children's bed--it's warm from +their little bodies, bless 'em! Now help me get these wet things off +and dry ones on. Soon's the water boils make a cup of ginger tea. +Thank goodness there's enough ginger left in the can. Don't know how? +Corny, you darling, you grow stupider every day! Hear me! One +teaspoonful of ginger to the blue bowl of water. Hot as he can drink +it. Look in the crock and see if there's a single lump of sugar left. +No? Then those blessed children have been into it again and the poor +fellow'll have to drink his dose without." + +Swift as the directions were given they were obeyed, yet there was not +the slightest confusion or excitement. Jim and Melvin watched from the +wooden bench against the wall while Cap'n Jack hovered over the broken +stove, deriving what comfort he could from the blaze of kindlings +within. He would have added a stick of wood from a near-by pile, but +the master of the house laughed and shook his head. + +"Can't waste anything while Lucetty's around. Why, that woman can make +a kettle boil with just one blazing newspaper under it. Fact!" + +"That's all right, Corny, dear, but you'd best add 't it was a big +paper and a mighty little kettle. Now, that's real nice. Your good +shirt fits him to a T! And the 'comfort's' a comfort indeed to his +chilled body. Aye, my boy, you're all right now. You're visitin' in +Corny Stillwell's house and you'll be taken care of. Lie right still, +I mean hold your head up if you can and swallow some this nice ginger +tea. Set your circulation going quick. You've had a right smart +duckin' but you're young and 'twon't harm you. What? Don't like it? +Foolish boy! Come here, one you others, or both. They's enough in this +bowl for all of you, that old officer into the bargain. Have a +swallow, Commodore?" + +How this wise little woman chanced to hit upon the very title dearest +to this old vagrant's heart is a puzzle; but he beamed upon her as she +said it and drained the last contents of the bowl without a shudder, +even though most of the ginger had settled there and stung his throat +to choking. + +The bed upon which his hosts had placed Gerald was their own, and +stood in one corner of the front room which was, also, kitchen, +dining-room and parlor. It was of good size, with a rag carpet on its +earthen floor and well ventilated by cracks between the clap-boarded +sides. There were holes in the carpet and the Captain's crutch caught +in one, and lifted it, revealing the earth beneath. Seeing him look +at it prompted the hostess to explain: + +"We're going to put down boards, sometime, when Corny dear can get +them and the time to fix them. The little rough spots and rents are +from the children's feet. They are such active little things, +especially Saint Augustine." + +Then she looked at her husband inquiringly and he nodded his head in +approval. After which he disappeared into the third room, or lean-to, +and was gone some time. When he returned he had a well-worn pewter +tray in hand upon which he had arranged with careful exactness four +chunks of cold suppawn and four tin cups of buttermilk. These he +passed to his guests with a fine air of hospitality, and they accepted +the offering in the same courteous spirit. All except Gerald, who had +fallen asleep and whose portion was set aside till he should wake. +Melvin choked over the tasteless cold pudding and the very sour +buttermilk, but he would have choked still more and from a different +cause had he suspected that he was helping to eat the family +breakfast, for want of which six healthy youngsters would go hungry +on the coming day. + +Presently, Mrs. Lucetta rose and blew out the candle. Jim's early +training in poverty told him that its burning longer was an +"extravagance" when there was such brilliant moonlight to take its +place, and that his hostess felt it such. Also, reminded him that they +should be leaving this hospitable house if they were to reach the +Water Lily that night. Only, what about Gerald? + +Rising, he asked: + +"Mr. Stillwell, can you show us the way to Deer-Copse, or tell us +I mean? Our house-boat must be there and our folks'll be anxious. +And don't you s'pose we could carry Gerry there, just the same as +we brought him here? I'm sure we're more obliged to you and Mrs. +Stillwell than I can very well say. You treated us prime--and----" + +From the foot of the bed where she sat Mrs. Lucetta answered for her +husband. Evidently she did most of his thinking for him. + +"I've fixed all that. This sick boy must stay just where he is till he +can walk to the Copse on his own feet. That won't be to-morrow nor +next day. So one of you other boys had best stay, too. He might be +afraid of me----" + +"Hear! hear! afraid of Lucetty! He'd be the first livin' creatur' 't +ever was, then!" interrupted Corny, with his hearty laugh. + +"You can lead them the way better than tell it. On your way back you'd +better call on Dr. Jabb and ask him to ride round." + +"Lucetty? A doctor? Just because a healthy boy got caught in a 'gust'? +Wh----" + +"Yes, Corny, dear, but you see he isn't _our_ boy. It would be better, +and of course, if these people can afford a boat of their own, they +can pay for a doctor. I'd have to have that understood," she finished +with some hesitation and a flush of color rising in her pale cheek. + +"Sure. It will be, but I hope, it can't be, 't Gerry's really sick. If +he is I'll be the one to stay take care of him. Melvin, you go along +with this gentleman an' Cap'n Jack, and take care you don't worry any +of them about Gerry. Can't be he's really sick." + +"Yes, let's set sail! It's real comf'table here, Ma'am, but I'm +anxious to get back to my bridge; an' my clo'es--sea-farin' men is apt +to be rheumatic--they're jest a speck damp----" + +"Of course. Sorry we couldn't offer you each a change. As it is you'd +better go, soon as you can, too. What is in that box you brought +along? Something alive, I know, for it keeps up such a queer noise." + +"They're terribly alive, indeed, don't you know? And I fancy they're +as hungry as I was. But," as his hostess hastily rose, doubtless to +seek further refreshments, Melvin added: "I shouldn't know what in the +world to give them. They're just a pair of monkeys, Mrs. Stillwell, +and I haven't an idea, don't you know, what they would or would not +eat." + +"Monkeys! How lovely! Oh! please do leave them overnight, so that the +children can see them. Why, Corny dear, it would be almost like going +to a circus, as we did once before we were married. Down to Annapolis, +you know. Do you remember?" + +"Shall I ever forget? With you the prettiest show----" + +"Corny, dear, there are strangers present. Family speeches don't +belong. Now be off." + +Yet like a happy girl she submitted to her husband's parting kiss as +if it were an ordinary, every-day matter, and as the trio passed out +of sight she turned to Jim, explaining: + +"I'm very glad _you_ stayed and not the other. Gerald's fever is +rising fast. He may get restless and Corny--Did he take his gun?" + +"I believe so, ma'am. I think he picked it up as he went out the +door." + +Lucetta sighed. + +"Then like as not he'll forget all about the doctor. He wouldn't mean +to, not for a minute; only the dear fellow cannot resist the woods. He +loves them so. I've known him to get up in the night and wander off, +to be gone two or three days. But he always comes home so happy and +rested. I'm glad to have him go." + +"Do you stay here alone those times, ma'am? It seems a pretty lonesome +sort of place. I didn't see any other houses nigh." + +"Yes, I stay alone, that is with six of the sweetest children ever +lived. So, of course, though there are no houses near, I'm never +lonely. I'm busy, too, and to be busy is to be happy." + +Jim wondered at the refined and cultured language of this isolated +countrywoman, until she explained, after a moment: + +"I was a school teacher before we were married and we brought several +books with us here. I teach the children now, instead of a larger +school, and they're so bright! I'll have them recite to you in the +morning." + +"What does Mr. Stillwell do, your husband, to tire him, so't he needs +the woods to rest him? Does he farm it?" + +He had no sooner spoken the words than he was sorry; remembering the +description of himself that Corny had given on their way out. And he +was the more disturbed because his hostess left the question +unanswered. In the silence of the room he began to grow very drowsy. +His still wet clothing was uncomfortable and he would have been glad +to replenish the scanty fire. But delicacy prevented this, so he +settled back against the bench and was soon asleep. He was a sound +sleeper always, but that night his slumber lasted unbroken for many +hours. + +He awoke at last in affright, throwing off a breadth of rag carpet +which, in want of something better, Mrs. Stillwell had folded about +him. Dazed by his sudden rousing from such a profound sleep he fancied +he was again mixed in a wild battle with somebody. + +Shrieks and cries, of laughter and of pain, shrill voices of terrified +children, the groans of men, the anxious tones of a woman, all these +mingled in one hubbub of sound that was horrible indeed. + +Then something leaped to his shoulders and he felt his hair pulled +viciously, while an ugly little face, absurdly human, leered into his +and sharp little teeth seized upon his ear. + +With a yell of distress he put up his hand to choke the creature, and +saw on the other side of the room a bald-headed gentleman wrestling +with a duplicate of his own enemy. + +"Oh! oh! oh!" cried poor Lucetta, and could find nothing else to say; +while a laughing face peered in from the field outside, enjoying the +pandemonium within. + +"Nothing but monkeys, dear! Do 'let's keep them over night just to +show the blessed children'!" mocked the incorrigible Corny; while the +indignant gentleman struggling in the kitchen with his long-tailed +assailant, glared at him and yelled: + +"Laugh, will you, you idle good-for-naught! I'll have you in the +lock-up for this! Rousing me out of bed with your tale of a sick boy +and luring me into this! Let me tell you, Cornwallis Stillwell, you've +played your last practical joke, and into jail you go, soon as I can +get a warrant for you! I mean it, this time, you miserable, worthless +skunk!" + +Corny's mirth died under the harsh words hurled at him and a grim +closing of his square jaws showed that submission wasn't in his mind. +But it was a voice from the bed in the corner which silenced both +men, as Gerald awoke and regarded the scene. + +"The monkeys are mine. I mean they are Melvin's. No, Dorothy's. +Somebody take 'em to Dorothy, quick, quick! Oh! my head, my head!" + +Jim's fear of the simians vanished. With a signal to the man beyond +the window he clutched the creature from his back and hurled it +outward. Then he rushed to the irate doctor, grabbed his tormentor and +hurried with it out of doors. A moment later the door of the cage, +which the curious children had unfastened, was closed and locked and +peace was again restored. + +Then said Corny Stillwell: "I'll lug those monkeys to the Lily. That +was hot talk Doc gave me! It's one thing to call myself a vagabond and +another to have him say so. I'm for the woods, where I belong, with +the rest of the brainless creatures!" + +"Pshaw! He didn't mean that. You won't be locked up. The monkeys are +ours, the blame is ours, don't be afraid!" counselled Jim, with his +hand upon his host's shoulder. + +But the other shook it off, indignantly. "Afraid? _Afraid!_ _I?_ Why +that _is_ a joke, indeed!" and with that, his gun upon his back, the +cage in his hand, he marched away. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +UNDER THE PERSIMMON TREE. + + +Saint Augustine cocked his pretty head on one side and looked +roguishly up into Jim Barlow's face. + +"Be you goin' to stay to my house all your life? 'Cause if you be I +know somethin'." + +"I hope you do. But, I say, let that celery alone. What's the fun of +pulling things up that way?" + +"I was just helpin'. I helps Mamma, lots of times." + +Saint Augustine was the second son of Lucetta Stillwell and certainly +misnamed. There was nothing saintly about him except his wonderful +blue eyes and his curly, golden hair. This, blowing in the wind, +formed a sort of halo about his head and emphasized the beauty of the +thin little face beneath. + +Ten days had passed since Jim and his mates had come to Corny +Stillwell's cabin and Gerald still lay on his bed there. He was almost +well now, Dr. Jabb said, and to-morrow might try his strength in a +short walk about the yard. His illness had been a severe attack of +measles, which he had doubtless contracted before his leaving home, +and lest he should carry the contagion to the "Lilies," Jim hadn't +been near the house-boat all this time. He had been worried about the +children of his hosts but the mother had calmly assured him: + +"They won't take it. They've had it. They've had everything they could +in the way of diseases, but they always get well. I suppose that's +because they are never pampered nor overfed." + +"I should think they weren't!" Jim had burst out, impulsively, +remembering the extremely meagre diet upon which they subsisted. In +his heart he wished they might have the chance of "pampering" for a +time, till their gaunt little faces filled out and grew rosy. He had +thought he knew what poverty was but he hadn't, really; until he +became an inmate of this cabin in the fields. To him it seemed +pitiful, when at meal time the scant portions of food were distributed +among the little brood, to see the eagerness of their eyes and the +almost ravenous clutch of the little tin plates as they were given +out. Even yet he had never seen his hostess eat. That she did so was +of course a fact, else she would have died; but the more generous +portions of the meal-pudding which were placed before him made him +feel that he was, indeed, "taking bread from the children's mouths," +and from the mother's, as well. + +Dr. Jabb had gone to the Water Lily, now peacefully moored in "the +loveliest spot on the earth," as Farmer "Wicky" had described it, and +reported Gerald's condition. He had also added: + +"He won't need much nourishment till his fever goes down; then, Madam, +if you can manage it you'd best send food across to the cabin for him. +Let a messenger carry it to the entrance of the field and leave it +there, where the lad, Jim, can get it. May not be need for such +extreme precaution; but 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of +cure.' Lucetta Stillwell is a noble woman, tied to a worthless husband +whom she adores. They must be terribly poor, though she's so proud +you'd never guess it from her manner. I gave it to Corny hot and +heavy, the other night, and at the time I felt every word I said. I +don't know. He's no more capable of doing a man's part in the world +than that young pickaninny yonder," pointing to Metty on the ground, +fascinated by the jabbering monkeys in their cage near-by. + +The doctor had said this to Mrs. Calvert very soon after Gerald was +stricken, and had added a parting injunction: + +"Don't over-feed the sick boy and don't begin too soon." + +Then he had ridden away and promptly forgot all about the case. So +Mrs. Calvert delayed the shipment of food for several days, during +which Jim had ample time to grow mortally sick of hasty-pudding, on +his own account, and anxious on that of Lucetta. But gradually he had +won her to speak more freely of her affairs. + +"Yes, I do considerable of the work myself. You see it doesn't come +natural to Corny dear. He's more a child than Saint Augustine, even, +in some things." + +"Why, his brother said--Shucks!" + +"What did his brother say, please?" + +"Oh! nothin'. I didn't mean----" + +Lucetta laughed in her gentle, patient way: + +"Of course you didn't mean and you don't need. I know Wicky Stillwell +and his wife, Lizzie, from A to Izzard. Good people, the best in the +world and the smartest. But they can't see a fault in Corny--not that +I can either, understand! Only they don't see why it is our farm--it's +his, really--doesn't pay better. But we can't afford to hire and a +woman's not so strong as a man. Yet we're happy. Just as happy as the +days are long and we've never starved yet. It's my faith that there's +bread in the world enough for every mouth which needs it. God wouldn't +be a Father and not so order it. That's one compensation of this life +of mine, that you fancied might be lonely. I can't go to church, I'm +too far away, so I just pretend that all this--around me--is one +church and that He's in it all the time. I named each of the children +after some holy person and I hope each will grow like his namesake--in +time." + +"Did you plant this celery?" + +"Yes. There was a man rode around, distributing government seeds, came +from some 'Farmer's Institute,' I reckon, and he gave them. Corny said +it was hardly worth while, celery's such a trouble; but I did it on +the sly. Corny loves celery, just loves it; when he's been lucky with +his gun and brings home some game. Then! Won't it be grand to have it +for a surprise? Makes me think, it ought to be hoed right now. I'll +fetch the hoe." + +"You'll do nothin' of the sort while I'm loafin' around, idle. Gerry +doesn't need me only now and again and I'm pinin' for a job. You sit +an' rest, or teach the kids. Let me just work for my board. If you'll +tell me where the hoe is, please?" + +When found Jim looked at it with dismay. The handle was fairly good +but the steel part was broken in half and practically worthless. + +"Reckon Wesley, my eldest son, must have been using it. He's always +trying to 'make something.' I think he'll be a great inventor by and +by. But really, it doesn't seem hospitable--it _isn't_, to let you or +any other guest work. I can manage very well, very well, indeed. You +can sit and read. We have a Shakespeare--what the children haven't +destroyed--a Bible, and two volumes of Scott. We're real proud of our +library and I keep it in my wedding chest. I have to, the children are +so bright and inquiring." + +"Too inquiring I think! 'Tain't healthy for 'em to be quite so smart!" + +Jim laughed, shouldered his hoe, and marched away across the little +strip of grass between the house and garden--so-called. The ground for +this Lucetta's feeble hands had dug with a spade that matched in +condition the hoe Jim had found. Melon seeds had been sown there and +had duly sprouted. But the "inquiring" minds of the children had daily +pulled them up to see if there were any melons at the root. The +potatoes had received the same treatment, the corn ditto, and the +wonder was that even a few plants had survived their efforts to "make +'em grow faster." + +Now here was Saint Augustine "helping" to transplant the celery which +had until now escaped culture at their hands. + +Jim worked as he had never done even in all his active young life. His +heart ached with pity for the little woman who faced her hard life so +bravely and so happily, and he was revolving many plans to help her, +and to a greater extent than a few days of farm labor could do. + +"'Cause I say, I know somethin'." + +"Well, what is it, Sainty?" + +"Ain't 'Sainty', but 'Au--gus--tine'. Say it nice, like Mamma does. She +cried last night." + +"Never!" + +"Yep, she did! She cried an' she talked to herself right outside the +winder where I sleep. She kep' callin' 'Corny! Corny! come home!' Just +that way she said it and he didn't answer a word. Corny's my papa, +don't you know? He goes off times and stays an' Wesley says my mamma +gets scared he will be killed with his gun. Say, I'm goin' to run away +and find him. I am so. Don't you tell. But I am. I'm goin' to find +that monkey cage and I'm going to travel all around the world and show +'em to folks for money. That's what my papa said, that morning when we +let 'em out and he went away. He said, my papa said: 'Suppose younkers +we start a circus of our own?' He said he'd always wanted to do it and +he knows the best things they is. He's terrible smart, my papa is. My +mamma says so, and she knows. My mamma and my papa know every single +thing there is. My papa he knows a place where a man that lived +hunderds and millions years ago dug a hole an' put something in it, I +reckon money; and my papa says if he'd a mind to he could go and dig +it right square up, out the ground, and buy my mamma a silk dress an' +me a little cart all red an'----" + +"There, chatterbox! Get out the way! If you want to help, take that +little bucket to the spring and bring it full of water, to sprinkle +these plants." + +"All right," cheerfully answered Saint Augustine, and ran swiftly +away. + +Alas! he did not run swiftly back! Jim forgot all about him but toiled +faithfully on till little Saint Anne came out to call him to dinner. +She was his favorite of all the children, a tender-hearted little +maid with her mother's face and her mother's serene gentleness of +manner. + +"Your dinner's ready, Mister Jim, and it's a mighty nice one, too. My +mamma said they was more that chicken than any sick boy could eat and +you was to have some. Wesley said couldn't we all have some but mamma +said no, 'twasn't ours. Chicken's nice, ain't it, with gravy? +Sometimes, don't you know? we have _'possum_, or _rabbit_, or +something _fine_. Sometimes, too, if papa's been to Uncle Wicky's he +fetches home a pie! Think o' that! Yes, sir, a _pie_! My Aunt Lizzie +makes 'em. Mamma never does. I guess--I guess, maybe, she thinks they +isn't healthy. Mamma's mighty partic'lar 't we shan't have 'rich +food;' that's what she calls Aunt Lizzie's pies, and maybe your +chicken, and the sick boy's cream. My mamma dassent let us use any +cream, ourselves. She has to keep it for papa's butter. _She_ don't +eat any butter. It doesn't agree with her stummy. I guess she thinks +it don't with mine. I never have any. The sick boy has all he wants, +don't he? But Daisy cow don't make such a terrible lot, Daisy don't. +Papa says she ought to have more eatings and 't our pasture's poor. +Mamma says Daisy's a real good cow. She don't really know what we +childern would do without her. Daisy gives us our dinners. Sometimes, +on Sundays, mamma gives us a little milk just fresh milked, before she +churns it into papa's butter. It's nicer 'an buttermilk, ain't it? And +I shall never forget what Sunday's like, with the sweet, doo-licious +milk, an' our other clo'es on. Each of us has other clo'es--think of +that! You have 'em, too, don't you? what your folks sent you from that +boat where you used to live." + +"The boat where he used to live!" Little Saint Anne's words spoke the +thought of his own heart. The ten days since he had left it made the +Water Lily seem far back in his life and gave him a wild desire to run +off and find it again. Why should he, whom Gerald had openly despised, +be chained to that boy's bedside? Why should his own holiday be +spoiled for a stranger, an interloper? There had been times, many of +them, when he had almost hated Gerald, who was by no means a patient +invalid. But whenever this feeling arose Jim had but to look at +patient Lucetta and remember that, but for him, she would be alone in +her care for her sick guest. + +Now he was growing homesick again for the sight of dear faces and the +pretty Water Lily, and to put that longing aside, he asked: + +"Saint Anne, do you think you could carry a dish very carefully? If it +had chicken on it could you hold it right side up and not lose a +single bit? Because if you could, or can, I 'low the best thing you +could do would be to ask mamma to send that nice dinner out here. Then +we two would go down by the spring and sit under the persimmon tree +and eat it. Just you and I together. Think of that!" + +Saint Anne's face lighted brilliantly, then instantly clouded. "None +the rest? Not Wesley, nor Saint Augustine, nor Dorcas, nor Sheba, nor +teeny-tiny David boy? Just me alone? I--I couldn't. Mamma says it's +mean to be stingy of our things, so when I have two 'simmonses I +always give one to who's nearest. Not to give chicken would be +meaner--'meaner 'n pussley'! I don't mind being hungry--not much I +don't mind it--but when any of us is selfish all papa has to do is say +'Pussley, pussley!' quick, just like that, an' we stop right away. +But--but I'll bring yours, if mamma'll let me, and I'll turn my face +right the other way while you eat it, so I shan't be tempted to 'covet +my neighbor's--anything that is his.' That's in my kittenchasm that we +childern say to mamma every Sunday, after we've had our milk. I'll run +right away now." + +Quite sure that his request would be granted and hoping that the +surplus of Gerald's dinner would be plentiful, Jim went to the spring +and filled the rusty bucket always waiting there. Then he plucked six +big burdock leaves and arranged them on a boulder. The little maid of +the sweet, serious eyes had taught him a lesson in unselfishness; and +whether the portion coming to him were much or little, each child +should have its share. + +Then he looked up and saw Saint Anne returning. Upon her outstretched +arms she balanced the pewter platter, and upon this was set--Oh! +glory! one whole, small chicken delicately roasted, as only Chloe +could have prepared it. A half dozen biscuits flanked it and a big +bunch of grapes. A tin cup fairly shone in its high state of polish, +but its brilliancy was nothing as compared with the shining face of +Saint Anne. + +Behind her trailed four brothers and sisters, each stepping very +softly as if in awe of the unexpected feast before them. The fifth +child was missing, Saint Augustine, the mischief of the household, who +was oftener under foot than out of sight. + +"Where's other brother, Saint Anne? Shall we wait for him? Did your +mother save any for herself? Did Gerald need me?" + +It was a long string of questions to be answered and the little girl +counted them off upon her fingers. + +"I don't know where Saint Augustine is. Likely he'll be 'round real +soon. I guess we won't wait--I mean the others needn't--they look so +watery around the mouth. No, mamma didn't save any. She said she +didn't care for it. Funny, wasn't that? As if anybody, even a grown-up +mamma, could help caring! And the Gerald boy was asleep. I most wish +he would be all the time, he--he speaks so sort of sharp like. Mamma +says that's cause he's gettin' well. Gettin'-well-folks are gen'ally +cross and it's a good sign. What you doing?" + +Jim had pulled another burdock leaf and spread a bit of sweet fern +upon it. He had an idea that Dorothy would have objected to the odor +of burdock as mingled with a dinner. Then he carefully sliced with his +pocket knife the daintiest portions of the little fowl and some of the +bread. He added the finest of the grapes and turning to Dorcas and +Sheba, said: + +"Now, girlies, Saint Anne brought the dinner away out here, but it's +your job to take this much back to your mother. You are to tell her +that this is a picnic and nobody would enjoy it unless she picnics, +too. Will you tell her? Will you be real careful? If you will I +promise you we others won't eat a mouthful till you get back." + +They consented, but not too eagerly. They loved mamma, course; but +they loved chicken, too. It required considerable faith on their part +to go way back to the cabin and leave their dinners behind them, +expecting to find them just as now. + +However they started. Dorcas held the stem of the burdock leaf and +Sheba its tip. Being somewhat shorter than her sister, Sheba's end of +the burden slanted downwards. The grass was hummocky. Their steps did +not keep time very well. A fragment of Chloe's well-flavored +"stuffin'" slipped down upon Sheba's fat fingers and--right before she +knew it was in her mouth, yes, sir! Right before! + +"Oh! Sheba! You'd oughtn't not to have did that!" reproved Dorcas, +severely. Then she stumbled over a brier. She had watched her sister +too closely to see where her own feet fell, and one little cluster of +grapes rolled to the ground. + +"I guess that was 'cause I was lookin' for 'the mote in your eyes' 't +I got a 'beam' in mine so's I couldn't see right smart," observed this +Scripture-taught child, in keen self-reproach. + +"Did you get a beam? I didn't. I can see real good. Say, Dorcas, +'twouldn't not do to give mamma grapes what have fell into dirty +grass, would it? Mamma hates dirt so much papa laughs hard about it. +And--and it isn't not nice to waste things. Mamma says 'waste not want +not.' I ain't wantin' them grapes but I can't waste 'em, either. Mamma +wouldn't like that. These ain't our kind of wild ones, we get in the +woods. These are real ones what grew on a vine." + +They paused to regard the fallen fruit. How the sunlight tinted their +golden skins. They _must_ taste--Oh! how doo-licious they must taste! +As the elder, and therefore in authority, Dorcas stooped to lift the +amber fruit; and, losing hold of the burdock leaf sent the whole +dinner to the ground. + +Then did consternation seize them. This was something dreadful. If +mamma hadn't been so terrible neat! If she'd only been willing to "eat +her peck of dirt," like papa said everybody had to do sometime, they +could pick it all up and squeeze it back, nice and tight on the big +green leaf, and hurry to her with it. But---- + +"Yes, sir! There is! A yellow wiggley kittenpillar just crawled out of +the way. S'posing he left one his hairs on that chicken? Just suppose? +Why, that might make mamma sick if she ate it! You wouldn't want to +make poor darling mamma sick, like the Geraldy boy, would you, Sheba +Stillwell? Would you?" + +Poor little Sheba couldn't answer. She was in the throes of a great +temptation. She hadn't the strength of character of Saint Anne. She +didn't at all like that suggestion of a "kittenpillar's" hair and +yet--what was one hair to such a wicked waste as it would be if they +left all that fine food to spoil, or for the guinea-hen to gobble. + +"The guinea-hen eats a lot. She eats kittenpillars right down whole;" +pensively observed Sheba, when she had reached this stage of thought. + +"She shan't eat this, then!" declared Dorcas, promptly sitting down +and dividing with great care all this delectable treat. + +"Why, little ones, what are you doing? Why aren't you back yonder with +the rest? I don't see Saint Augustine there, either. Do you know where +he is?" + +As this simple question interrupted them the conscience-stricken +children began to cry. One glance into their mother's troubled face +had aroused all their love for her and a sense of their own +selfishness. + +"Why, babies dear, what's the matter? Have you hurt yourselves?" + +"Yes, mamma, we have. We've hurted the very insides of us, in the +place where mutton-taller can't reach an' you can't kiss it well +again. Your dinner was sent to you and--and--_we've et it up_!" + +Dorcas delivered herself of this statement in a defiant attitude, her +arms folded behind her, but her little breast heaving. And she could +scarcely believe her own ears when the only reprimand she received +was: + +"Say 'eaten,' darling, not 'et.' I do wonder where my boy is! In some +mischief, I fear, the precious little scamp!" + +But she was still wondering when that day's sun went down. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WHAT LAY UNDER THE WALKING FERN. + + +For once Gerald was neglected, and for once he was glad of it. Mrs. +Stillwell and Jim had both come in, on the afternoon before, in a high +state of excitement. They had demanded of him if he had seen Saint +Augustine, the mischievous child with the peculiar name. He had +retorted, angrily, that of course he had seen nobody, neither child +nor grown-up. He might lie there and die for all anybody would bother! +He'd get up, he declared he would, dress and go away at once. Never +before had he stayed in such a wretched place as this, and yes, he +surely would get up and leave. If he could find his own clothes. Did +anybody know where his clothes were? + +Even in the midst of her terrible anxiety, his faithful nurse and +hostess had smiled, encouragingly, saying: + +"You couldn't do better. When a sick person gets to your state of mind +and nerves, he's usually well enough to go out. All you brought with +you is in that parcel under the bed. You can leave Corny's +shirt--anywhere." + +She caught her breath with a sob and went swiftly out of the cabin. He +heard her calling her children and directing them: + +"Wesley and Saint Anne, little brother has run away. He's done that +before, so don't be frightened. He's always been found--he will be +now. But mamma may not be back by sundown and you, Wesley, must do the +milking and lay the fire ready for lighting in the morning. Saint +Anne, my precious little care-taker, see well after the others and +give the sick boy his supper of cream and oatmeal which was sent. +Don't feel lonely because both papa and mamma are away. The dear God +is right here with you, you know, in your little bedroom and close +outside the window. No harm can happen where God is, you know, and now +good-bye." + +She had kissed them all around and only Saint Anne noticed her lips +trembled. Then she had gone swiftly away in one direction which they +knew well. It was toward the little whirlpool in the woods, caused by +the sudden meeting of two small streams and named Tony's Eddy, because +a man named Tony had been drowned there. + +It was a spot all the cabin children, except Saint Augustine, greatly +feared. He liked it because "papa does," and was never happier than +when Corny took him on a ramble thither. Lucetta had protested against +these visits to the dangerous place, but her fear had been laughed +down by her light-hearted husband. + +"Fall into the Eddy? Why, woman dear, he will scarcely look into it +when I try to make him. Just shivers in a silly way, and makes up all +sorts of queer yarns about it. The Eddy fascinates him but scares him, +too. He believes that bad fairies live in it and if he should go too +near they'd come out and drag him down with them to destruction. Oh! +you needn't worry about Tony's Eddy." + +Alas! for her peace of mind, now that Saint Augustine had disappeared, +"The Eddy!" was her first and only thought. + +Jim searched in an opposite direction. + +"I believe he's gone to find the monkeys. He was talking of them +almost the last thing. Horrid things! I wish they'd never been heard +of. They've made more trouble than human beings could, try their best! +Or, maybe, child like, he's gone to dig that wonderful 'treasure' out +of the ground and to buy you the silk dress he'd heard about. Dear +little kid! He was as earnest as a man, almost!" said Jim, trying to +comfort the mother-heart that suffered so. + +"You look. I'll look. He must be found. I can't meet Corny's eyes and +tell him that our boy is lost," she had answered quietly enough, but +with agony in her expression. + +When they had gone Gerald got up and dressed. He was rather shaky in +the knees but felt far better than when lying on the hard bed which +had been given up to his use. How his hostess had managed he had not +even thought, until that moment Jim had lain on the bench across the +room, upon a bag of fern leaves he had gathered for himself in the +woods near-by, with his rag-carpet blanket to cover him. He hadn't +complained and Gerald had given no thought to his comfort, his own +being his first concern as it had always been. + +Now the house seemed desolate. Saint Anne came timidly in with his +light supper and started back in affright. He looked like a stranger +to her in his own clothes, having seen him only as "the sick one" in +bed. But he called her and she dared not disobey her mother's command +to give him his supper. Somehow, for the first time, the child's face +appealed to him and he thanked her for her attention. This was more +astonishing than to see him fully dressed in his white duck suit, that +had been laundered by Lucetta on the day after his arrival. + +In a flutter of excitement, Saint Anne retreated to the inner room and +the safe presence of her family; and when, after a moment she regained +courage enough to open the door between--the lad was gone. + +"He was here and he isn't here. He was all in white, like mamma says +the angels wear, and Dr. Jabb's little Eunice. She had on clothes all +flyey-about and thin--looked like moonlight. She had a hump in her +shoulders where mamma thinks maybe her wings are starting to grow. +Mamma knows her mamma a right smart while, and she says Eunice is a +perfectly angelic child. Mamma wouldn't say that if she didn't know. +Maybe the sick boy's turned into a angel, too, or is turning! Just +supposing! Maybe God sent him to stay with us, because papa and mamma +had to go away. Maybe!" + +There was no radiance from the moonlight now upon the eager little +face, and indoors was dark; but it was delightful to think of angels +being about, until Wesley remarked, in his matter-of-fact way: + +"If he was _sent_ he ought to have _stayed_. I don't believe he was a +truly angel. I guess he was just one them changelings, papa tells +stories about, that the fairies over in the Ireland-country carries +'round with 'em. If a baby or a boy is terrible cross--like the sick +one was, yesterday, the fairy just snatches him up and whisks him off +somewhere and puts a good new one in his place. Peek and see, Saint +Anne!" + +"Peek yourself, Wesley. I'm--I'd rather have an angel than a +changeling. Anyhow, I'm going to sleep. God's here, taking care, so it +don't matter." + +Happy in the faith that had been instilled into their minds from their +earliest consciousness the deserted ones fell fast asleep, though not +till Dorcas had slipped into Saint Augustine's place in the boys' bed +a little willow whistle Jim had made for her and which she had refused +to give her brother. + +As for the angelic Gerald he was weakly trudging on his way toward the +cross-cut lane, which he had seen from the cabin window and had been +told led outward to the main road, running past Deer-Copse. How often +he had wished to be upon it, and now he wondered why he hadn't started +long before. Though it grew steadily dark, he kept as steadily on, +though his strength was sorely tried and he wished he dared stop and +rest. He was afraid to do this. He knew if he lay down on the ground, +that looked so tempting a bed, he wouldn't have the energy to go on +again. After a time his steps grew automatic. His feet lifted and fell +with no volition of his own, it seemed, and a curious drowsiness came +over him. + +"I believe I'm going to sleep, walking!" he thought, and wearily +closed his eyes. But he opened them again with a start. + +"What's that? What is it? Sounds like--I must be out of my head--I +don't know where I am. I can't see. Ah! the lane! I'm there at last. +Now I can lie right down and rest and somebody'll find me--sometime." + +Yet once more into his drowsing ear fell a peculiar sound. + +"Ah--umph! A-ah--oomph--ph--h----h!" + +That prolonged bray so electrified him that he got up, to his knees, +then to his swaying feet, a ghostly figure in his white suit, and with +a last spurt of breath, cried: + +"Billy! It's--_Billy_!" + +Billy it was. Why then and there his mulish brain couldn't understand. +He had come a tiresome way, through woods and along country roads and +found it a painfully new experience. Of course, he had rested often +and long. He had been bidden, innumerable times: "Billy, lie down!" +and after an interval: "Billy, get up." Now, as he was wearily +trudging through the night came this apparition in white, right in his +path. + +Billy had heard the stumbling of human feet long before his rider had, +and had announced the fact by mild remarks about it. But, sidewise +upon Billy's broad back--his head pillowed on Billy's neck, the +Colonel had known nothing of this until the mule's abrupt stop shocked +him awake and to a sight of the ghostly apparition on the roadside. + +"Hello, Spook!" exclaimed the Colonel, inclined to be friends with +anybody or anything which would relieve the loneliness of his night +ride. + +"Hel--Hello, yourself! Ha, ha, ha!" returned Gerald, in great delight +yet half-confused by fatigue and the surprise of this meeting. They +were mutual "apparitions," arisen out of the earth to confront one +another. "Where you come from? Where you going? I'm--I'm awful tired." + +"So 'm I. Always tired. Always expect to be. I come from going to and +fro upon the earth seekin' that I cayn't find. No, I cayn't. And of +all the bad luck I've had this is the worst. Ah! hum." + +"I'm sorry," murmured Gerald, stumbling near enough Billy to lay his +head on the animal's shoulder, where he immediately went to sleep. + +"Sho! That's odd! But everything is in this topsy-turvy world. I'll be +glad to be out of it. I never had no luck, Billy, an' you know it. +This yeah 's a piece with all the rest. To have this boy, or his +spook, rise up this-a-way, an' go to sleep, standin'. Well, Billy, it +cayn't be helped. The trouble is I was born with a heart, and it's +always gettin' us into trouble. It's that old heart o' mine makes me +feel I cayn't just shove this creatur' off an' leave him to his own +deserts. Ah! hum." + +In his mournful tones the Colonel thus addressed the intelligent +beast, who responded with a sympathetic bray; but he stood rigidly +still while his master loosened and slipped from his back the blanket +strapped there and spread it on the grassy bank beside the road. Then, +as if Gerald had been a little child, the Colonel carried him to the +blanket, laid and covered him in it. He even took off his own coat and +made a pillow of it for Gerald's head. Next, he ordered: "Billy, lie +down!" and having been obeyed, calmly composed himself for another nap +upon the back of "his only friend." + +The night passed. Gerald slept as he had never done in all his life. +The healthful fatigue of his tramp across lots and the pure outdoor +air did more for him than all the medicine he'd swallowed. When he +awoke the sun was shining in his eyes and Billy was braying an +injunction to get up, while the Colonel sat on the roadside pensively +reading out of his little brown book. + +"My! You're an early student!" cried Gerald, who had lain still for a +moment after waking, trying to understand the situation. "Must be an +interesting story, that!" + +"Story? Life's too short--or too long--to waste on stories, young man. +This is Marcus Aurelius, the sage of all the ages. Now, talk, tell, +how come, et cetery. For me, I'm seekin' a lost wallet, and I don't +expect to find it. I shan't. Course. But I'm on the road to that +pickaninny and if I cayn't squeeze the wallet out of his clo'es I'll +squeeze the truth out of his insides, what he done with it. The idee! +'T one measly little nigger could force me to break the vow of years +an' come here, where I never meant to set foot 's long as I lived. Ah! +hum." + +"Eh, what? Lost wallet? Why, I know something about that. Jim Barlow +had it. He picked it up." + +"Where is he? Quick, young man! That wallet's mighty precious and it's +mine--mine, I tell you! Mine by the right of findin' and preservin'. +Where's he at, quick?" + +The Colonel had never shown such excitement, nor such depths of +depression as when Gerald answered: + +"I don't know. I haven't the least idea." + +"Ah! hum. Course you haven't. I didn't suppose you had. They couldn't +be any such good luck in this world. 'Don't know'! Course not. Don't +reckon you know anything." + +"Ah! yes I do! I know that I'm so hungry I could almost eat this +grass. Where can we get a breakfast?" + +The Colonel scanned the surrounding country. Had there been even a +melon-patch in sight he wouldn't have troubled himself to answer. He +was hungry himself, but he often was that and food always came his way +sometime and of some kind. Why worry or hurry? + +Fortunately, the rumble of approaching wheels was heard just then, and +presently there came into sight around the bend in the road a +mule-team, driven by a man in a blue smock. Gerald recognized him at a +glance--the same teamster who had brought him and his mates through +the "gust" from the Landing. He had a sadly confused remembrance of +how that ride had ended, and this was a good thing; for he was now +able to hail the man in real pleasure and no anger. + +"Hello, there, driver! Do you want a job?" + +A startled expression came to the teamster's face as his own mind +returned to the hour when these two had last met. However, he braced +himself for whatever was to come, and answered: + +"That depends. What job?" + +"To carry us two and lead the mule to wherever the Water Lily is now. +That's my boat--I mean, it was--and they're my friends aboard. Do you +know her and where she lies?" + +The man knew perfectly well. On the morning after his ugly treatment +of his four passengers, he had repaired to Deer-Copse on the Ottawotta +and collected from Mrs. Calvert the sum of five dollars. This was more +than double the price asked of the lads but none of them happened to +be in sight, and he made a great matter of delivering the row-boat +uninjured. Knowing no better she promptly paid him. Though he was +sober now, he was just as greedy as ever for money and cautiously +answered: + +"I might guess. But I'm off for the Landing and some hauling there. It +would be with a couple dollars for me to turn about an' hunt her up +now." + +"All right, I'll pay it. I mean, if I can't my sister will. She's on +the Water Lily and would about give her head to see me back again. +I've been sick. I've been--" + +But the teamster had no sympathy for Gerald's past ailments. He was +busy getting his wagon turned about and in another moment Gerald was +on the seat beside him, the Colonel riding at the back of the wagon, +feet dangling, leading Billy. This last task was needless, for the +mule would have followed his master anywhere and unguided. + +The teamster "guessed" so accurately that he drove straight and swift +along the road bordering the Ottawotta and to the beautiful spot where +the Water Lily shone in all the glory of white paint and gilt, her +brasses polished to the last degree by Ephraim, and all her little +company pressing to the front at the rumble of wheels. + +Not many vehicles passed that way and the coming of each was an event +in the quiet life of the house-boat. It was Dorothy who first +recognized the newcomers and her cry of delight which brought Aurora +around from the nook where she was busily embroidering a cushion for +the Lily. + +"Gerald! Oh! Gerald, my brother!" + +The lad had never felt her so dear nor thought her so pretty as when +her arms closed about him and her happy face looked into his. But the +face clouded when he asked: + +"Got any money, Sis?" + +"Huh! Can't you be glad to get home without begging for money? Popper +gave you just as much as he did me when he started and----" + +The stumping of crutches interrupted them. It was the old captain who +had caught sight of the teamster, waiting for his money, and was +hurrying forward in anger. + +"Step aside, younkers! Lemme deal with him! _Lemme!_ Oh! you old +villain, here again be ye? Tryin' to cheat widders an' orphans outen +their livin' substance! Oh! I know. I've heered. I've been told. Two +dollars was the price agreed--a quarter a-piece for us folks an' fifty +a-piece for the monks! The boat was throwed in. That was the bargain +fixed an' fast, an' deny it, if ye can, with this here Melvin an' me +an' this poor sick Gerry for witnesses. You haul in your sails an' +put for shore! Don't ye come around here a-tryin' to cheat no more. +I've been layin' for ye ever sence that night. I've 'lowed I'd meet up +with ye an' get even. Pay? Not this side Davy Jones's locker! Be off +with ye an don't ye dare to show your face here again till you've +l'arnt common honesty, such as ary yuther Marylander knows. What would +these here women an' childern do if it wasn't for Cap'n Jack Hurry a +pertectin' of 'em? Tell me that, you ornery land-lubber, you!" + +But the teamster was already gone. He had not tarried the completion +of the Captain's tirade. He saw that there was little prospect of +receiving pay for that morning's ride except after much discussion and +many hard words, and decided that if he were ever to secure further +patronage from these silly people who lived on a boat he would better +not quarrel with them now. + +With his departure peace was restored and the welcomes bestowed upon +Gerald made him very happy and roused a wish in his heart to become as +good a fellow as they all seemed to imagine him to be. With some shame +he remembered his often ungrateful treatment of Mrs. Lucetta and her +children, and described the family so graphically that Dorothy clapped +her hands, exclaiming: + +"I'm going right away to know them! I am! What darlings they must be, +those little 'Saints' and sinners, and what a charming woman the +mother must be. Melvin has told us how she served them with that poor +pudding and sour buttermilk, just as if they were the greatest +luxuries." + +Mrs. Calvert nodded, smiling: + +"Yes, dear, I shall be glad to have you know her. She is a born +gentlewoman and a good one--which is better. But now, has everybody +had all the breakfast wanted? If so, let's all go off to our arbor in +the woods. 'The Grotto,' the girls named it, Gerald, and it's +beautiful. But where is Jim? Why should he have gone away from the +Stillwell cottage before you, in that sudden way you mentioned?" + +"I reckon he went to search for a runaway kid. The one they called +Saint Augustine. Fancy such a name as that for the wildest little +tacker ever trod shoe-leather--or went barefoot, I mean. That +youngster looked like an angel and acted like a little imp. I should +think his folks'd be glad to lose him." + +"No, Gerry, you don't think that. You don't want anybody to be unhappy +now that we're all so glad you're well and back. I hope Jim will find +the little Saint right soon and be back, too; but don't you think +they'll be frightened about you? It just came to me--what can they +think, when they come back and find you gone, except that you were out +of your mind and wandered off? You that had been in bed till then!" +asked Dorothy. + +"Oh! they won't bother about me. Jim's been as good as gold and I've +been pretty hateful, sometimes, I know. It'll be a relief to him and +Mrs. Stillwell that I'm off their hands. Why, folks, do you know? That +slender slip of a woman does almost all their farm work, herself? Her +husband--I fancied from what I had sense enough to understand--hates +work, that kind, anyway, and she adores him. I know Jim took a hand, +soon's I was well enough, or good-natured enough, to let him off +sticking inside with me. I never saw a fellow work so, I could +see through the window by my bed. They hadn't any horse and he +ploughed with a cow! Fact. He dug potatoes, hoed corn, cleared up +brush-wood--did that with his jack-knife--carried water--Couldn't tell +what he didn't do! Oh! Mrs. Stillwell will be glad enough to be rid +of me but she'll hate to miss Jim. Hello, Elsa! What in the world!" + +Mabel laughed and clapped her hands. + +"Isn't it the queerest thing? and isn't it just jolly? + +"She fell in love with them that morning when they came. Elsa, timid +Elsa, is the only one of us not afraid of the monkeys! She's +captivated them, some way, and is actually training them to do +whatever she wants. She's taught them to walk, arm in arm, and to bow +'Thank you' for bits of Chloe's cake. She punishes them when they +catch the birds and--lots of things. Are you taking them for their +'constitutional' now, Elsa dear?" + +The shy girl, whose poverty and ungraceful manners had made Aurora and +Mabel look down upon her at the beginning of the trip, had now become +the very "heart of things," as Dolly said. Elsa was always ready to +mend a rent, to hunt up lost articles, to sit quietly in the cabin +when anybody had a headache and soothe the pain and loneliness, and to +do the many little things needed and which none of the others noticed. +It had come to be "Elsa, here!" or "Elsa, there!" almost continually; +and the best of it was that the more she was called upon for service +the happier and rosier she grew. + +"Indeed, Papa Carruthers will see a fine change in his little girl, +when he gets her home again!" Aunt Betty had said, that very morning, +drawing the slender little figure to her side. "We have all learned to +love you dearly, Elsa. You are a daily blessing to us." + +"_That's_ because you love me--and let me love you. Love is the most +beautiful thing in all the world, isn't it? It's your love has made me +grow strong and oh! so happy!" + +Indeed, it was love, even for such humble creatures as the monkeys, +that had given her power over them. She had been the first, save +Dorothy, to pity them for being caged; and she hadn't been afraid, as +Dorothy was, to let them out to freedom. They had been very wild at +first, springing into the trees and leaping about so far and fast that +all except Elsa believed they were lost. + +Then she would beg everyone to go away and putting the opened cage +upon the ground would sit quietly beside it, with their favorite food +near, for a long, long time. The first time her patience was rewarded +by their return to the cage, she still sat quiet and let them settle +themselves to rest. After that the training was easier, and by common +consent the little animals were left to her charge till they were soon +called "Elsa's monks!" Hardest part of their training was the +punishment they daily needed. + +"Elsa, your monks have torn Mabel's hat to ribbons!" "Elsa, the +monkeys have ripped all the buttons off my uniform." "Elsa, Metty's +heart is broken! They've chewed his 'libery' to bits!" + +"They didn't mean it for _badness_. I'll fix the hat, Mrs. Bruce. I'll +hunt up the buttons and sew them on, Cap'n Jack. I'll mend Metty's +finery;" and the pleasure she seemed to get from doing all these +things amazed the others. + +Now, since all the others were engaged with Gerald and the Colonel, +she slipped away into the woods which she had learned to visit alone +and without fear. Melvin had found some small brass chains in a locker +of the tender and the Captain had made some collars for the animals, +so that she was able to lead them with her wherever she wished. Jocko, +the larger of the pair, had developed a limp so like Elsa's own that +it was ludicrous and Dorothy declared that he had done so "on +purpose." He now hobbled after her while Joan, his mate ran ahead, +pulled backward at her chain, and cut up so many "monkey shines" in +general as kept her young mistress laughing so that she scarcely saw +where she walked nor how far. + +But, at length, she looked up, surprised that she had taken a new +direction from that she commonly followed. Here the trees were larger, +and the undergrowth closer. Ferns which reached to her shoulder hid +the ground from her sight and she stumbled over fallen limbs and +unseen vines, but constantly urged onward by the discovery of some +rare flower or shrub, which she might take home to Dorothy. + +These two flower-lovers had daily studied the simple botany which Aunt +Betty had brought on the trip, and the science opened to bookish Elsa +a wonder-world of delight. + +"Ah! there's a creeping fern! I mean a walking one. We read how rare +they are and Dorothy will just be wild to come and see it for herself. +Let me see. It was yesterday we studied about ferns. Be still, Joan. +No, Jocko, I'll go no further, on account of your poor, lame foot. +You may jump to my shoulder if you like. I think it was this way. +Listen, dears! 'Order, Filices, Genera, Asplenium. Asplenium +Rhizophyllum--Walking Fern!' There I said it, but the little common +name suits me best. Heigho, beasties! What you jabbering about now? +and what are you peering at with your bright eyes? Come on. There's +nothing to be afraid of in the woods, though I was once so scared of +them myself. Come on, do. I must get--My heart! What--_what_--_is +this_?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE REDEMPTION OF A PROMISE. + + +Maybe the Colonel was more pleased to meet his Water Lily friends +again than they were to see him. But Aunt Betty hid her disappointment +under her usual courteous demeanor and was glad that the angry mood in +which he had left them had not remained. Upon her, she knew would fall +the task of entertaining him; and after breakfast was over and Billy +been led to the deepest pasture available, she invited him to sit with +her on the little deck that ran around the cabin, or saloon, and +opened conversation with the remark: + +"We've been very happy here in the Copse. Except, of course, we were +worried about our sick guest, Gerald, till Dr. Jabb informed us he was +out of danger. He seems a fine man, the doctor, and I'm thankful to +have a physician so near. Why--what--are you ill, Colonel?" + +At the mention of the practitioner her visitor had risen, his eyes +ablaze with anger, his gaunt frame trembling with excitement. + +"Madam! MADAM! Do you mention that hated name to me? Don't you +know--Ah! hum. I suppose you don't but, if he--HE--poisons this +atmosphere--I will bid you good morning." + +He was turning away in a far more furious mood than had seemed +possible to so easy-going a man, and his hostess hastily laid a +detaining hand upon his arm. + +"My dear sir, what have I said? Do you know this doctor and dislike +him? I'm sorry. Forget him, then, please and just enjoy this wonderful +air which nobody could possibly 'poison.' It's perfect to-day, with +just enough crispness in it to remind us it is really autumn and our +picnicking days are numbered. The young folks have felt it dull, +sometimes, lingering so long in the Copse, but it's been a restful, +happy time to me. One has to get away from home worries once in a +while to keep things in their right proportion. And, after all, what +does it matter where we live or what we have so long as there is peace +and good will in one's heart? Not much, do you think?" + +Aunt Betty was herself in happy mood and had talked on more to prevent +the guest's departure than to "preach," as she called such little +dissertations. She had gained her point. The Colonel settled back +again in the familiar chair he had appropriated on his first visit and +gradually the lines of anger left his face. An expression of intense +sadness took their place, and after a moment he sighed: + +"Ah! hum. I hadn't a right to get huffy. I reckon you don't know--some +facts. You couldn't. Nobody could, without explainin' an' I cayn't +explain. This much I'll say. I haven't set foot in this yeah region +sence--in a right smart while. I never meant to again. But--I lost my +wallet an' I came to seek it. I've cause to think, Madam, 't one your +folks has it. If so, they must deliver real soon. To me it's vallyble. +Also, it might concern Miss Dorothy. She an' me--an' you, of course, +Mrs. Calvert, bein' a Calvert--Well, it's an old story an' I'll wait +till after dinner, thank ye, ma'am. And if you don't mind, I'll just +lean back an' take my 'forty winks.' I hain't rested none too well, +lately. I've been _thinkin'_. Ah! hum. A man's no right to think. He +cayn't an' be real comf'table. Beg pahdon." + +Aunt Betty watched him, smiling. He was a bore who, at times, was +amusing. She knew that he had been well educated and had still a +fondness for books, as was proved by his habitual use of "Marcus +Aurelius;" but like many other cultured southern people he lapsed into +the speech of the colored folks, with whom his life had been passed. +His "yeah," and "cayn't," "right smart," and "soon" for early, were +musical as he uttered them; and under all his laziness and +carelessness he had the instincts of a gentleman. + +"Poor old fellow! I wish I could do something for him, before we +finally part company. I'm glad he didn't go away again in anger, +though he doesn't 'stay mad,' as Dolly says. And I wonder what that +scrip of paper in that old wallet does mean! My young folks are +greatly excited over it, and Dolly told me some ridiculous story about +her great-great-grandfather and his great-great-grandmother that seems +to be the beginning of things. Anyway, though they found it, or Metty +did, the Colonel claims it and I must see that it is returned." + +So reflected Mrs. Calvert, watching her guest's peaceful slumber; +then, resuming her own book, forgot him and his affairs, at least for +the time being. + +"Where did Elsa take those monks? It's all well enough for her to +train 'em, but they aren't hers and she needn't think so. I'd like to +take a hand in that business, myself. Wouldn't you, Melvin? They +belong to you and me, you know. And I say isn't this the beastliest +slow-poke of a hole you ever saw? How on earth do you put in your +time? All these days what have you done?" demanded Gerald, moving +restlessly from tender to shore, and already heartily sick of the +quiet Copse. + +"Well, we fish, the Captain and I. We search the woods for berries and +grapes. We go to the farmhouses nearest for supplies; and right here, +Gerald Blank, let me warn you. Don't you go expecting fine living on +the Lily. You see there wasn't much capital to start on, not for so +many folks; and the other day what was left was lost." + +"Lost? Lost! How could a fellow lose anything in this hole, even if he +tried? What do you mean?" + +"Exactly what I say. Mrs. Bruce has held the purse of the company and +the other day she and Dorothy were counting up their money and--that's +the last anybody has seen of it. They kept it in a little empty tin +box, that marsh-mallows came in; and Chloe called Mrs. Bruce over to +the galley to see about some cooking, and Mrs. Calvert called Dorothy +for something else, don't you know? Well, sir, when they came back to +finish their counting there wasn't a thing left but the tin box--empty +as your hat." + +"Somebody stole it, course. Who do they suspect?" + +"Look here, Gerry, that's a question comes pretty near home, I know +that Mrs. Calvert and Dorothy suspect nobody. I can't say as much for +Mrs. Bruce and the rest. The money was there--the money is gone. We're +all in the same boat--literally, you know. There wasn't a peddler here +that day, nobody around but just ourselves. You and Jim are out of it, +course, because you were away; but--it might be me, it might be Mabel, +it might be Metty--Ephraim--Chloe--no not her, for she wasn't out of +Mrs. Bruce's sight--and it might be your own sister Aurora." + +"What's that? How dare you?" angrily demanded Gerald. + +But Melvin smiled, a little sadly, indeed, and shrugged his shoulders. + +"Not so fast, Gerry. I'm not accusing her, nobody is accusing anybody. +But the money's gone, and maybe it's just as well so much of it went +for you." + +"For me? What do you mean by that?" + +"Cap'n Jack reckoned you'd cost the exchequer about fifty dollars. +Dorothy had the very choicest things, poultry, cream, fruit and +things, besides the doctor's bills. And the farmers down here aren't +so low in their charges as nearer Jimpson's. Mrs. Bruce got furious +against them, they took advantage so. But the doctor said you were a +very sick boy, for only measles, and must be built up, so good-hearted +little Dolly dipped into the marsh-mallow box for you. You----" + +"Hush! Don't say another word! I'm so mad I can't breathe. I wish I'd +never come on this cruise. Cruise? It's nothing better 'n being buried +alive. Thought we might get some fun out of it, hunting for that +'buried treasure' and now, up pops that old stick-in-the-mud and +claims the whole business. Pshaw! I'll go home if I have to walk +there." + +"How? You couldn't. But I'll tell you what you could do. Hunt up Elsa +and the monks. I want to see if this harness I've made out of a +fur-rug they destroyed will fit either. Dolly proposes to make them +some clothes and get up a little 'show.' Thinks she and Elsa could +exhibit them for pennies, when the people come to sell stuff, and that +would help pay for it." + +Gerald considered. Many troubled thoughts passed through his mind, but +the strongest feeling was anger. He had been so self-sufficient until +this "beastly trip." Now he was learning the sometimes bitter lesson +that nobody in the world can be actually independent. He had begun by +lording it over his mates, and even his hostesses, and now here he +was dependent upon them for the very food he ate and the medicine he +had taken. He ceased to feel himself an invited guest but rather a +burden and a debtor. + +"Of course, Popper'll pay everything back if we ever get home. +But--Oh! dear! How I hate it all!" + +For down in his heart he realized that no amount of money could cover +his obligation to these friends, and he started off in a most unhappy +frame of mind. + +"I'll find that girl and teach her to mind her own business. The idea +of her training those monkeys--my monkeys! Course, she's done it all +wrong, and it's harder to unlearn a thing than learn it right first +off. When they're trained they ought to be worth ten times as much as +we paid for them. I might sell 'em to an organ-grinder, if Popper'd +buy out Melvin's share." + +But at this stage of thought it occurred to him that he couldn't +picture his dandyish father dealing with organ-grinders. Indeed, the +idea was so absurd that it made him laugh, and in that laughter his +ill-temper vanished, or nearly so. After all, it was good to be alive! +Even the freedom of the woods, after the stuffy cabin he had left, was +delightful. He'd rather have had it the freedom of the city streets, +but this was better than nothing. + +He began to whistle, imitating the call of a bird in the tree +overhead, and with such fair success that he was proud of himself. The +bird ceased, startled, then flew onward. Gerald followed, still +practicing that wild, sweet note, till suddenly his music was +interrupted by another cry, which was neither bird nor joyous, but one +of keen anxiety; then, as if it had come out of the ground, a girl +begged: + +"Oh! whoever you are, come quick!" + +"Why, Elsa! I was looking--Hello! Of all things!" + +Almost hidden by the great ferns amid which she sat Elsa held, lying +across her lap, a little figure in faded gingham. + +"Saint Augustine! The boy I heard 'em say was lost! How did he get +here? It must be a long way from his house." + +Elsa pointed pityingly to the bare little feet and legs, cruelly +scratched and with dark bruises. + +"I don't know. I found him just this way." + +"Sainty! Wake up! My! How sound he sleeps! And how red his face is!" + +"He's sick. I'm sure. I found him all curled up, his little arms under +his head. He moans, sometimes, but he doesn't know anything that I +say." + +At that moment a hoarse yell made Gerald look away from the boy and a +leap of something to his shoulder made him yell in response. + +"Jocko! Down! Behave! Oh! he'll hurt you. They've both been asleep in +that spot where the sun shines through. Oh! Stop--stop!" + +The monkey was attacking Gerald's face, snapping at his ears, pulling +his hair, and almost frightening him into a fit. But Elsa laid Saint +Augustine gently on the ground and went to the rescue. With sharp +slaps of her thin hands she soon reduced Jocko to submission and, as +if fearing punishment herself, Joan crouched behind a bush and peered +cautiously out. + +"Pshaw! How'd you do it? I was coming after the monkeys, they're mine +you know--or half mine, but--do they act that way often?" + +"Yes, rather too often. That's what makes everybody afraid to handle +them. They'll get better natured after a time, I hope. But no matter +about them. They're nothing but animals while this darling little +boy--I don't know as I can carry him. You've been sick and so can't +either, I suppose. Yet we can't leave him here. Will you go back to +the Lily and get more help? If you brought a hammock we might put him +in that. He's awfully sick. I'm afraid--he'll die--and his mother--" + +Gerald had stood looking upon the little lad while she said this, +wondering what would best be done, and annoyed that he should be put +to the bother of the matter. His decision was made rather suddenly as +again Jocko leaped upon his back and resumed his angry chattering. + +"Call him off! I'll carry the child. Which is the way home?" + +"I don't--know. It all looks alike--but not like--I mean, I haven't +the least idea where we are, except that it must be a good ways from +the boat. Don't you really know, either?" + +For a moment Gerald looked about. Then answered frankly: + +"No. I was pretty cross when I came out, for Melvin had just told me +about that lost money and about Dorothy's paying for me--So horrid, +that! I heard a bird whistle and whistling's my gift, some folks +think. I've whistled for entertainments at school and I like to learn +new notes. Following that wretched bird I didn't notice." + +"And looking for a walking-fern I didn't either. But we can't stop +here. We must go on--some way." + +"Let's try the children's way: 'My--mother--told--me--this!'" + +Elsa laughed. She had known so little of childish things that each new +one delighted her. Gerald had uttered the few words, turning from +point to point with each, and now finishing with an outstretched +forefinger in a direction where the trees were less thick and crowding +than elsewhere. + +Fortunately, "his--mother--had--told--him" the right one. This was +almost the end of the forest behind Corny Stillwell's cabin; a +short-cut to the long way around by which Gerald had gone to +Deer-Copse. He didn't know that when he lifted Saint Augustine in his +arms and started forward. The child was small and thin, else Gerald +would have had to pause oftener than he did for rest; but even so it +was a severe task he had set himself. + +But somehow the burden in his arms seemed to lift the burden from his +heart, as is always the case when one unselfishly helps another. +Also, he feared that the illness of Saint Augustine was the result of +his own; so that when Elsa once limped up to where he had paused to +rest and asked: + +"What do you suppose it is that ails him?" he had promptly answered: + +"Measles. Caught 'em from me. Ain't that the limit?" + +But Elsa who knew no slang understood him literally, and said: + +"No, it isn't, I had them once and the doctor scared my father +dreadfully, telling him that folks could have them _four times_! Think +of that! He said most people had them only once and the younger the +lighter. So I guess Saint Augustine won't be very ill. But--my heart! +Do you suppose the monkeys can catch it? Wouldn't that be awful!" + +"I hope they will and die of them! Nasty little brutes! They keep my +nerves on the jump all the time, hearing them chatter and yell right +behind me so. You keep real far back, won't you? I don't know how you +can stand them; but don't--please don't let them hop on me again. I +know they're too heavy for you but I'm too nervous for words. I wish +I'd never heard of 'em, the little gibbering idiots!" + +Again Elsa laughed, this time so merrily that Gerald got angry. + +"I don't see anything so very funny in this predicament! Not so very +amusing! My arms ache fit to break and all a girl cares about a +fellow is to giggle at him." + +And now, indeed, was the "giggle" so prolonged that its victim had to +join in it, and had Mrs. Calvert been there to hear she would have +rejoiced to see shy Elsa behaving just like any other happy girl. Yet, +after a moment, she sobered and begged: + +"Don't mind my doing that, but I couldn't help it. It seems so funny +for a boy to have 'nerves' or to be afraid of monkeys. Papa has a +song: + + "'The elephant now goes round and round, + The band begins to play; + The little boys under the monkeys' cage, + Had better get out of the way--the way-- + Would better get out of the way!'" + +Elsa had so far forgotten her self-consciousness that she sang her +quotation in a sweet, clear treble which made Gerald turn around and +stare at her in surprise. + +"Why, I didn't know you could sing." + +"I can't--much, only for Papa, sometimes. He's a fine singer. He +belongs to the Oratorio Society. He's one of its best tenors, takes +solos, you know. I'm very proud of Papa's voice. His being poor +doesn't keep him out of _that_ Society." + +"Then he ought to get yours cultivated. You might make money that +way." + +"Maybe, but money isn't much. Anyway, he hasn't the money to pay for +lessons." + +"Look here. You're so smart with those detestable monks, suppose you +go on training 'em and exhibit when you get back to town? I'd let you +have 'em on trust till you could pay for them. What do you say?" + +Was this the poor, timid Elsa who now faced him with flashing eyes? +Had this down-trodden "worm" actually "turned"? + +"Say? What do I say? That you're the horridest boy in this whole world +and I've a mind to fling your old monkeys straight at you! I--I--" +then she sobbed, fatigue overcoming her and her wrath dying as swiftly +as it had arisen. "I--I see a house over there. We better go to it and +ask." + +She was trembling now and her lame foot dragged painfully. She had +made no complaint of the long distance and the troublesome little +animals she sometimes led and sometimes carried, though Gerald had +grumbled incessantly. + +Now all the best of his nature came to the front, and he had never +felt more bitterly ashamed of himself than when he realized that his +thoughtless proposition had been an insult to the afflicted, shrinking +girl. Warmed by the love and appreciation of her Water Lily friends +she "had come out of her shell" of reserve and been most happy. Now +this boy had forced her back again; to remembering that after all she +was but a very poor girl, deformed, despised, and considered simply +fit to make a mountebank of herself, going about the city streets with +apes! Oh! it was very dimly that Elsa could see the outlines of a +whitewashed cabin in the fields, because of the tears which filled her +eyes. + +"Hold on, Elsa! Forgive me if you can. I'm ashamed of myself. I don't +know what makes me such a cad, I don't! You know. Except I've been +brought up to think I was a rich boy and that a rich boy can do no +harm. I could kick myself from here to Halifax. Please don't mind. +Why, you're the cleverest girl of the lot, you are, you know. Nobody +else dared tackle--" + +He caught himself up sharply. Not for his life would he again utter +that hateful word "monkey" to her. But he added with real sincerity, +"I'm so sorry I'll do anything in the world to prove it, that you ask +me to do. I will, upon honor." + +Elsa couldn't hold malice against anybody and in her heart had already +forgiven him his hurt of her, with her habitual thought: "He didn't +mean it." So she smiled again and accepted his statement as truth. + +"Well I don't know as I shall ever want you to do anything to 'prove +it', but if I do I'll tell you. Sure." + +Little did Gerald dream how rash a promise he had made. The cabin in +the fields was the one in which he had lain so helpless. As he +recognized it he exclaimed: + +"Good! I'll try that childish 'charm' every time! +'My--mother--told--me--right'. That's home to this little shaver and +I'm mighty glad we're there." + +But it seemed a very different home from that which had sheltered him +so well. The children were grouped about the door, only Wesley and +Saint Anne daring to enter the room where poor Lucetta lay prone on +the floor, looking so white and motionless that, for a moment, the +newcomers believed that she was dead. + +Saint Anne lifted a quivering face toward them but could not speak, +Wesley hid his face in his arm and blubbered audibly. + +Then did all the little woman in Elsa's nature respond to this sudden +need. + +"Lay Saint Augustine on that bench, where somebody must have slept. +Help me to lift the lady to the bed. Don't cry, little girl. She'll +soon be all right. It's just a faint, I'm sure. I've fainted myself, +often and often. I guess she's overdone. Isn't there a man here?" + +"No, ma'am. Papa he comed home an' Mamma she tol' him how Sa--Saint +Augustine had run away and he frew down his gun an' all them games, +an'--an'--just hollered out loud! 'Oh! my God'! an' run off, too. +Mamma was gone all night, lookin' after little brother an' when she +heard papa say that she fell right down there and she don't speak when +we call her. Where'd you find him, our little brother? Was he down in +Tony's Eddy?" + +Well, Gerald felt in that state when "anybody could knock him down +with a feather." He was obeying Elsa implicitly, already "proving" he +had meant his promise. He felt such an access of manly strength that +it was almost unaided he lifted Lucetta and laid her on the bed. In +reality, she was already regaining consciousness, and slightly aided +him herself. Then he ran to the spring and brought the "cold +water--coldest you can find" which Elsa ordered, and lifted Mrs. +Stillwell's shoulders while the girl held the tin cup to her lips; and +indeed did so many little things so deftly that he didn't recognize +himself. + +Even in her half-stupor Lucetta was her own sweet self, for when she +had swallowed the water she smiled upon her nurse and tried to speak. +Elsa anticipated what she knew would be the one great longing of that +mother's heart, and said with an answering smile: + +"We've brought your little son safe home. If you can turn your head +you'll see. Right yonder on that bench. He's tired out and, maybe, a +little sick but he's safe. Do you mean you want him right beside you?" + +Lucetta made an effort to sit up and opened her arms. + +"Lie right still. Don't you fret for one moment. Here's your baby. Now +I'm going home and we'll get a doctor some way and quick. But you +won't be alone. Gerald, whom you took care of when he was ill, is +here. He'll stay and take care of you in turn now. Good-bye. Don't +worry." + +She was gone before Gerald could even protest, calling the monkeys to +follow her and limping away faster than anybody else, with two sound +feet, could run. She had taken him at his word, indeed! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE HEART OF AN ANCIENT WOOD. + + +Deep in the heart of the September woods there was gathered one +morning a little company of greatly excited people. Old Cap'n Jack was +the wildest of the lot. Next him in point of eagerness was the +Colonel. Corny Stillwell was there; so was his brother Wicky, who had +come across country to see how now fared Lucetta, the "shiftless" wife +of his "energetic" brother. Of late these terms had been exchanged in +the minds of the Wickliffe Stillwells, owing to various statements +made them by their new friends, the "Water Lilies." Being honest and +warm-hearted they hadn't hesitated to express their change of opinion; +and it was a fact that though Lucetta Stillwell had never been so ill +in her life she had never been so comfortable. + +Lizzie, her sister-in-law, never allowed herself the extravagance of +keeping "help;" but it was she who had hunted up a good old "Mammy" +and established her in the lean-to of the little cabin. She had bidden +this good cook: + +"See to it that Lucetty has nourishments continual, and do for mercy's +sake, feed them skinny childern till they get flesh on their bones! +They're a real disgrace to the neighborhood, the pinched way they +look, and I shan't set easy in meetin' if I can't think they're fatted +up right. You do the feedin' and we-all'll find you the stuff." + +So on this special morning Lizzie had despatched her husband with a +small wagonload of vegetables and poultry; and having left his load at +the cabin, the sociable man had driven on to the Copse, to meet and +inquire for the "Lilies." Arrived at the boat, Aunt Betty had eagerly +greeted him, explaining: + +"You're a man of sense and mighty welcome just now. Our people have +gone actually daft over a dirty piece of paper and a few French words +scribbled on it. The precious document belongs to the Colonel--Oh! +yes, he's here. He has been sometime. I think he means to tarry +developments--that will never be. He's infected all my family with his +crazy notions and they're off now on this wild-goose search for +'buried treasure.' I wish you'd go and warn them that they mustn't +trespass on private property, for I believe they'll stop at nothing in +their folly." + +"I've heered about that there 'treasure.' I 'low more time's been +spent by fools lookin' for it 'an would ha', arn't 'em a livin'. Sure. +Yes ma'am, they has so. How many's at it now, Mrs. Calvert?" + +She laughingly counted upon her fingers: + +"The Colonel; the Captain; old Ephraim; James, Melvin, Gerald. Nor +could Mabel, Aurora, Dorothy--Oh! by no means least, Dorothy!--resist +the temptation to follow. And if I'm not greatly mistaken, I saw Chloe +sneaking through the underbush a little while ago, with Metty in hand. +I've heard nothing but 'buried treasure' ever since Gerald blundered +upon a fancied trail, coming home from his second stay at your +brother's. Elsa, here, hasn't caught the fever. She's the only one +among us, I believe _hasn't_ caught the money fever, for I confess +even I am curious to hear the outcome--absurd as I know it to be. Mrs. +Bruce says nothing. She's a wise woman who knows enough to set a check +upon her lips--which you'll see I don't. So, if you'll be kind enough +to 'light,' as they say here, and try to keep my people out of +mischief, I'll consider it another proof of your friendship." + +Farmer Wicky was flattered by the confidence which she had always +reposed in him, and sided with her entirely. + +"If I had any rights to any hid treasures, which I haven't; and I +expected to find it, which I don't; I wouldn't be the feller to go +publish it broadcast this way. I'd keep it to myself an' do my own +diggin'; onless, course, I'd tell Lizzie. Why, Ma'am, Mrs. Calvert, I +'low 't the hull state o' Maryland's been dug over, ten foot deep, +from Pennsylvania to old Virginny, with the hull Eastern Sho' flung +in, a-lookin' for what hain't never been put there--'ceptin' them +same shovels. Maybe that's what makes our sile so rich an' gives us +our wonderful crops! Ha, ha, ha!" + +Aunt Betty was "ha, ha, ha-ing," too, inwardly; for despite himself, a +great eagerness had lighted the farmer's face at mention of this last +digging-excursion. As soon as he could do so he rose and hastily +struck off into the woods. + +She made her mirth audible as the branches closed behind him, +exclaiming to Mrs. Bruce: + +"There's another one! I'm afraid I'm responsible for this last +crack-brain; and--and--the disease is catching. I declare I'd like to +pin up my skirts and travel the road the rest have taken! But I'll +read a little in Don Quixote, instead. I wonder when they'll be back!" + +Meanwhile, the trail was growing "hot" in the depth of that old +forest, or grove. It was, indeed, part of a great private park known +as "Cecilia's Manor," and it was the pride of its owners to keep it +intact as it had come down to them. + +Captain Jack held the floor, so to speak, with the less talkative but +more deeply interested--if not excited--Colonel, occasionally +interrupting and correcting. + +"Yes, siree! We've struck the gulf-stream 'at leads _di_-rect and +straight, to the spot! Woods, says you? Here they be. Stream o' water? +There she flows! Ford an' deers feedin'? Course, they's the very +identical! Tracks an' all----" + +"Them's cow tracks," corrected farmer Wicky, while Corny laughed and +nudged his brother to let the farce proceed. + +"Well, now, mate, how d'ye _know_ them's cows' tracks? You don't _see_ +cows around, do ye? No, I don't see cows, nuther; so, 'cordin' to +ship's law what you don't know you can't prove. Ahem. Path? If this +here we've come ain't a crooked-zig-zag I never stumped one. Here's a +tree, been struck by lightin', 'pears like; a-holdin' out its arms to +keep the hangin' vines on 'em, exactly like a cross. Or nigh exactly." + +"Hold on, Cap'n Jack! In the map the zig-zag line stops at the tree. +This one goes ever so much beyond." + +The Captain glared round upon the audacious Cornwallis, who dared gibe +at his assertions. Then standing as upright as he could, he shouted: + +"Now face that way--North, ain't it? Right about--South! Yonder's +East, an' t'other side's West. I allows I knows the p'ints of the +compass if I don't know nothin' else. I tell you, _this is the spot_. +Right below our feet lies--lies--" + +"The treasures of Golconda!" suggested the irreverent Corny. In the +past he had held faith in this same "buried treasure," but now to see +so many other people so earnestly interested in it, changed the whole +aspect for him. + +But the doughty Captain, self-constituted master of ceremonies +disdained to notice the "Ne'er-do-well" of the countryside and in +stentorian tones, with his hands trumpet-wise before his mouth, he +bellowed: + +"Now, my hearties, dig! DIG!" + +Each was armed with something to use, Jim had brought some of the +engineering tools from the "Pad" and had distributed these among the +boys. Ephraim had borrowed an old hoe from a farmer near by, Wicky had +caught up a pick-axe from his own wagon--he had meant to leave it at +his brother's cabin but forgot; Chloe had seized a carving knife, and +the others had spoons, table knives, or whatever came handiest. Only +the Colonel and the Captain were without implements of some sort. Even +the jesting Corny had seized the fallen branch of a tree and broken +its end into the semblance of a tool. It was he who first observed the +idleness of the two men most interested, and slapping Cap'n Jack upon +the shoulder, ordered: + +"Dig, my hearty! DIG!" + +"I--I'm a--a cripple!" answered the sailor, with offended dignity; +"and don't you know, you Simple Simon, 't they always has to be a head +to everything? Well, I 'low as how I'm the head to this here v'yage, +an' I'll spend my energy officerin' this trip!" + +Corny laughed. Now that all was well at his home in the fields he +found the world the jolliest sort of place, and the "Lilies" the most +interesting people in it. Then he turned upon the Colonel, sitting +upon a soft hummock of weeds as near in shape to Billy's restful back +as possible. + +"But, Cunnel, how 'bout you? I thought the 'treasure' was yours--in +part, anyway. Why aren't you up and at it? 'Findings are keepings', +you know. Up, man, and dig!" + +The Colonel lifted sorrowful eyes to the jester's face, and murmured +in his tired voice: + +"I cayn't. I never could. I shouldn't find it if I did. They ain't no +use. I couldn't. They won't. Nobody will. Not nigh _her_; not on My +Lady Cecilia's Manor. I've known that all along. But I _had_ to come. +Something made me, I don't know what. But I had to. Corny Stillwell, +do you know what day this is? Or ain't you no memory left in that +rattle-pate o' you-all's? I don't suppose they is. Nobody remembers +nothin'. Ah! hum." + +Corny's face had sobered and he held out his hand in sympathy. + +"Shake, old fellow! and look-a-here, haven't you held on to your +grudge long enough? The Doc's a fine man if he is a mite greedy for +the almighty dollar. Land of love! Aren't we all? Else why are we +acting like such a parcel of idiots this minute! Get up, Cunnel. Get +some energy into your tired old body and see how 'twill feel. At +present, you're about as inspiriting as a galvanized squash, and first +you know your willing helpers'll quit. Come on. Let's strike off a +bit deeper into the woods. Too many banging around the roots of that +one old tree. First they know it'll be tumblin' over on 'em. Come on +out of harm's way. You and I've been good friends ever since I used to +go to the Manor House and flirt with--" + +"Hold on! Don't you dare to say that name to me, Corny, you fool! you +ain't wuth your salt but I'd ruther it had been you than him. You +clear out my sight. I ain't got no thoughts, I ain't got no +memories--I--I--ain't got no little girl no more!" + +The man's emotion was real. Tears rose to his faded eyes and rolled +down over his gaunt cheeks; leaving, it must be admitted, some clean +streaks there. Big-hearted, idle Corny couldn't endure this sight and +was now doubly glad he had wandered to this place that day. The +Colonel was a gentleman, sadly discouraged and, in reality, almost +heart-broken. His merry friend could remember him as something very +different from now; when his attire was less careless, his face +clean-shaven, the melancholy droop of his countenance less pronounced. +He had always talked much as he did still but he had been, despite +this fact, a proud and happy man. These strangers mustn't see the old +planter weeping! + +"Come." + +The touch of the jester's hand was as gentle as Lucetta's own, as he +now adroitly guided his old friend to a sheltered spot where none +could see his face. Except--Well, Dorothy was quite near; harmlessly +prodding away at the earth with Aunt Betty's best paperknife. Her +digging was aimless, for her thoughts were no longer on her present +task. They were so absorbed that she didn't hear the approach of the +two men--nor of one other, yet unseen. Suddenly, the little steel +blade of her implement struck with a ringing sound upon something +metallic, and she paused in astonishment. Then bent to her work +excitedly, wondering: + +"Is it--can it be I've--found--it--IT! Oh!--" + +An unfamiliar voice suddenly interrupted her task, demanding: + +"Girl! Why are you despoiling my property, trampling my choicest +ferns, trespassing upon my private park?" + +The paperknife went one way, Dorothy's red Tam another, as she sprang +up to confront the most masterful looking woman she had ever seen. +Tall as an Amazon, yet handsome as she was forbidding, she towered +above the astonished child as if she would annihilate her. + +"I--I couldn't do very much--with a paperknife, could I? I didn't +know--I'm sorry, I'll plant them right back--I only did what the +others said--Nobody warned me--us--" + +"_Us?_ Are there others then? Where? This is outrageous! Can't you +read? Didn't you see the signs 'No Trespassing' everywhere? Where are +the rest? This must be put a stop to--I wouldn't have had it happen +for anything. My park--Eunice's precious playground, where she is safe +and--Oh! I am so sorry, so sorry." + +The lady was in riding habit. A little way off stood a horse and +beside it a tiny pony with a child upon its back. A groom was at the +pony's side, apparently holding its small rider safe. The child's face +peered out from a mass of waving hair, frail and very lovely, though +now frightened by her own mother's loud tones. + +These tones had roused others also. Wheeling about the lady faced +Corny and the Colonel, slowly rising from the log where they had been +resting. A moment she stared as if doubting the evidence of her own +eyes, then her whole expression changed and springing forward she +threw her strong arms about the trembling Colonel and drew his tired +face to her shoulder. + +"Oh! Daddy, Daddy! You have come home--you have come home at last. And +on my wedding day! To make it a glorious day, indeed! Ten years since +I have had a chance to kiss your dear old face, ten years lost out of +a lifetime just because I married--_Jabb_!" + +But now her strong, yet cultured voice, rang out in mirth, and Dorothy +looked at her in amazement, almost believing she had found a crazy +woman in these woods. Then Mr. Corny, as she called him, came to where +she stood, observing, and gently pushed her back again upon the heap +of ferns. + +"Best not to notice. Best keep right on diggin'. That's Josie--I mean +Josephine--Dillingham--Jabb! Her father intended her to marry into one +of our oldest Maryland 'families' and she rebelled. Took up with Jabb, +a son of the poorest white trash in the county, not a cent to his +name--that's bad enough!--but more brains 'an all the 'first families' +put together ever had. Made his way right straight up the ladder. +Has a reputation greater outside Annyrunnell than in it. Only +fault--likes money. Says he'll make a fortune yet will beat the +'aristocrats' into being proud of him. Says if he does have to leave +his daughter the humble name of Jabb he'll pile money enough on top of +it to make the world forget what's underneath. Says when she marries +she shall never discard that name but always be 'of J'. Poor little +child! Her parents adore her but all her father's skill and pride is +powerless to straighten her poor little body. She's a hunchback, and +though she doesn't mind that for herself she grieves over it for them. +Oh! but this is a grand day! The Colonel will just idolize little +Eunice--I want to fling up my hat and hurra!" + +All this information had been given in a whisper while Dorothy +snuggled in the great fronds, and Mr. Stillwell crouched beside her, +idly digging with the paperknife he had picked up, and trying to keep +his presence hidden from these two chief actors in this unexpected +scene. + +"Do you suppose it was really to find the 'buried treasure' the +Colonel came? Or to--to make up friends with his daughter?" asked +Dolly, softly. + +"Well--both, maybe. No matter why nor how--he's here. They've met, and +at heart are just as loving as they always were. It is a good day, the +best anniversary Josie Dillingham ever had. Hark! What's doing? Peep +and see." + +"The lady has motioned that groom to lead the horses this way. Ah! +isn't that sweet? The little thing is holding out her arms to the +Colonel as if she knew him and loved him already!" + +"Reckon Josie's taught her that. Joe always was a brick! Liked to rule +the roost but with a heart as big as her body. She told my Lucetty 't +she should teach little Eunice to know she had a grandpa somewhere and +that he was the very best, dearest man alive; so that when they met, +if they ever did, she wouldn't be afraid but would take to him right +away. Reckon her plan's succeeded. Won't Lucetty be glad about this!" + +The groom was now leading the two horses through the woods, toward the +Copse and the Water Lily. Both saddles were empty for little Eunice +was in her grandfather's arms and he stepping as proudly, almost as +firmly, as the woman walking beside him. + +"They--why--why--what have you done? Broken Aunt Betty's paperknife of +real Damascus steel! She says she knows it's that because she bought +it there herself, once when she went on a 'round the world' tour. She +says it mayn't be any better than other steel--reckon it isn't, or it +wouldn't have broken that way. I ought not to have taken it but I was +so excited, everybody was, I didn't stop to think. What makes you look +so queer, Mr. Corny? Aunt Betty won't care, or she'll blame me only. +You--you most scare me!" + +Indeed, her companion was looking very "queer," as she said. His eyes +were glittering, his face was pale, his lips nervously working, and he +was rapidly enlarging the hole her knife had made by using his bare +hands. + +Dorothy sprang to a little distance and then watched, fascinated. A +suspicion of the truth set her own eyes shining and now she was +scarcely surprised when the man stood up, holding a muddy box in his +hand, and shouting in hilarious delight: + +"Found! Found! After all, that old yarn was true! It's the 'buried +treasure', as sure as I'm alive! Hurra!" + +Away he sped carrying the big box above his head and summoning all his +fellow searchers to join him at the house-boat and behold. + +Half-dazed by this success Dorothy picked up the discarded fragments +of the paper cutter, and followed him. But even as she did so she +wondered: + +"Odd! That he can carry it so, on the very tips of his fingers, and so +high up! I thought 'buried treasure' was always gold, and a box full +of gold would be terrible heavy. Even two, three hundred dollars that +Mr. Ford let me lift, out in California, weighed a lot!" + +But she shared to the full the excitement of all the company who now +threw down their own tools to follow Corny with his joyous shouts: + +"Come on! Come on, all! The 'treasure' is found!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +WHEN THE MONKEYS' CAGE WAS CLEANED. + + +It was an eager company gathered in the big saloon of the Water Lily. +No time had been lost by all these seekers after the "buried treasure" +in obeying Farmer Corny's summons to follow him; and having arrived at +the boat, found the Colonel, his daughter, and grandchild already +there. + +The Colonel's proud introduction of his newly restored family found a +warm welcome at Aunt Betty's hands, and she and the younger matron, +members both of "first families," were friends at once. As for little +Eunice, who had always shrunk from the presence of strangers, there +was no shrinking now. Her grandfather had set her down upon the floor, +while he presented Mrs. Jabb--even deigning to call her by that +name--and the little one had looked about her in great curiosity. + +Then she perceived Elsa, holding out entreating hands, and promptly +ran to throw herself into the welcoming arms. Instantly there was +sympathy between these two afflicted young things and, as a new sound +fell upon the little one's ear, the elder girl explained: + +"The monkeys! Would you like to see the monkeys? Or would you be +afraid?" + +"Eunice never saw monkeys. What are monkeys? Are they people or just +dear, dear animals?" + +"They're not people, darling, though oddly like them. Come and see." +Elsa was herself so shy in the presence of strangers, especially so +majestic a person as the mistress of Lady Cecilia's Manor, that she +was glad to escape to the tender where her charges were in their cage; +and for once the little animals were docile while on exhibition, so +that Eunice's delight was perfect. Indeed, she was so fascinated by +them that she could scarcely be induced to leave them, and when she +was compelled to do so by her mother's voice, she walked backward, +keeping her eyes fixed upon those delectable creatures till the last +instant. + +Meanwhile those in the cabin of the Lily were merrily disputing over +who should open the "find," and finally drew lots upon it. Careful +Mrs. Bruce had brought a tray to put under the muddy box and brushed +the dirt from it, till she was prevented by the hubbub of voices, in +which that of the newcomer, Mrs. Jabb, was uppermost. She was +exclaiming: + +"The lot is Corny's! Oh! I'm glad of that, and I say right here and +now that if I have any share in the 'treasure' I pass it onto him +'unsight, unseen,' as we used to say when, boy and girl together, we +exchanged our small belongings." + +"Pooh! Joe, I don't half like it! But--shall I, folks? Looks as if the +box would come to pieces at a breath." + +"Yes, yes, you--you do it! And we ratify what Mrs. Jabb has said. +Anyone of us who has a right to any of the contents of the 'treasure' +he has found will pass it on to Mr. Cornwallis Stillwell," said Aunt +Betty. "Dolly, hand him this little silver ice-hammer, to strike the +chest with." + +Laughingly, he received it and struck: + +"The fatal blow! Be kind, oh! fate! to a frightened meddler in this +mystery!" + +The wooden box did fall apart, almost at that first stroke of the tiny +hammer. It was extremely old and much decayed by its long burial in +the ground, and had been held together only by the metallic bands +which Dorothy's paperknife struck when she was digging among the +ferns. + +But there was a box within a box! The second one of brass and fastened +by a hasp. A feeling of intense awe fell on all the company. This did +look as if there had certainly been buried something of great value, +and the impression was deepened when Corny lifted the inner receptacle +with reverence, remarking: + +"It's very light--not very large--it might contain precious +stones--diamonds, do you think? I declare, I'd rather somebody else +would do it. You, Colonel, please." + +"No, no. Ah! hum. I've something far more precious 'an any diamond in +my arms this minute. I don't give that up for any old box!" and so +declining he rubbed his face against Eunice's soft cheek and laughed +when she protested against its roughness. + +Every head was bent to see and all were urging haste, so that no +further time was wasted. Undoing the fastening and lifting the lid of +this inner "shrine" there lay revealed--What? + +Nobody comprehended just what until the man held up the half-bright, +half-tarnished metal image of a "Fool's Head," as pictured in old +prints. + +Then the laughter burst forth at this ancient jest coming home so +aptly to the modern jester who had unearthed it. + +"Maybe there's something inside! Maybe that's only an odd-shaped box +to deceive folks. Maybe--do, do, look inside!" + +"Do that yourself, Miss Dolly. Remember it was you who first found the +'treasure!'" returned Mr. Stillwell and merrily passed it on to her. + +She didn't hesitate. In a twinkling her fingers had discovered where a +lid was fitted on and had lifted it. There was something in the box +after all! A closely folded bit of paper--No, parchment--on which was +writing. This wasn't in French as the map had been inscribed, but in +quaintly formed, old-fashioned characters, and the legend was this: + + "Who hides his money in the earth + Is but a fool, whate'er his birth; + And he who tries to dig it thence + Expecting pounds, should find but pence. + The hider is but half a wit, + The seeker's brains are smaller yet, + For who to chance his labor sells + Is only fit for cap and bells." + +"Take my share of this wonderful 'treasure'," cried Mrs. Jabb, when the +momentary silence following the reading of this rhyme had been broken +by Corny's laughter. + +"And mine!" "And mine!" "And mine, for my great-great-grandfather's +sister was--How was that, dear Colonel? About our great-great- +grandmother's--father's--relationship? Well, I know one thing, I'll +never believe in any such foolishness again! _I_ never did +really, you know, I only--" + +"Oh! nonsense, Dolly! A girl who is so interested she catches up a +paperknife--" reproved Aurora, who had herself ruined a table knife. + +"Aunt Betty, that's true! I did break it--I mean--" + +"I did that, Madam, and I fear I can never travel to Damascus to fetch +you another; but what I can do I will do. Vote of the company! +Attention, please! Does not this quaint old 'cap and bells' belong of +right to Mrs. Calvert?" demanded and explained Cornwallis Stillwell, +holding the little metal head in the air. + +"No, no, to you! to you!" + +To Dorothy, the most amusing feature of the whole affair was the +earnestness with which each and every one of them denied that they had +ever had any faith in the old tradition. + +"_I_ only went along to--for fun!" stoutly declared Gerald; and so +calmly stated all the rest. Even the old Captain rubbed his bald spot +till it shone, while tears of laughter sparkled behind his "specs;" +and some were there, looking upon this "nigh useless old hull," as he +called himself, who felt that the expedition had not failed since he +could find so much enjoyment from it. + +As for Mrs. Josephine, her face was transformed with the happiness of +that morning's reunion with her father and it needed but one thing to +make her joy perfect. + +"Oh! Daddy, if only the Doctor were here! But it's only a little +delay, for of course, you're going home with me to the Manor House +now, to stay forever and a day. Say, Daddy dear? How's farming? And +oh! where, how is Billy?" + +The Colonel was actually smiling. Nay, more, was laughing! for as if +he had heard himself inquired for, old Billy answered in his loudest +bray--"Ah! umph! A-a-a-ao-o-m-p-h!" + +Then into that merry company came running again little Eunice, who +had for a moment slipped away with Elsa. In her little hand she held +Joan's chain, while with a saucy glance around Jocko sat grinning upon +Elsa's shoulder. + +"I beg pardon, but she will not leave them, lady. I never saw anybody +so pleased with monkeys as she is, and not one mite afraid. That's +more than some of us can say:" sweetly apologized Elsa, with a +mischievous glance toward Aurora who had gathered up her skirts and +mounted a chair. + +"Mamma! I want the monkeys! The lovely monkeys! I do, I do! Don't you +know? Don't you 'member? Always you told me I should have anything I +wanted that day when Grandpa comes, anything--any single thing. You +wouldn't like to tell a wrong story, would you, Mamma dear? Because +he's comed--this is the day--and what Eunice wants is the lovely, +lovely monkeys! Buy 'em for me, Mamma darling! Grandpa, make her!" +pleaded the child, for once wholly forgetful that she was displaying +her deformity to all these people, and running from her mother back to +the Colonel. + +With a return of his usual sadness, he lifted her and kissed her, then +set her gently down, saying: + +"Honey, I cayn't. I never could. Ah! hum, she was a deal younger 'n +you when she took the reins into her hands an' begun drivin' for +herself. I cayn't help ye, sweetheart, but I'd give--give--even Billy +if she'd do what you want." + +"Oh! Colonel, you can't give again what you've already given! Billy--" + +"No, Miss Dorothy, there you're mistook! Billy wouldn't be give, he +wasn't accepted, he--Honey sweetness, Grandpa cayn't!" + +"Are those monkeys for sale?" asked Mrs. Jabb. + +Aurora looked at Gerald and Gerald nudged Melvin. Here was a solution +to their own dilemma--"what shall we do with the monks?" So being thus +urged, as he supposed, by his partner in trade, Melvin promptly +answered: + +"No, Mrs. Jabb, they aren't for sale. But if this little girl would +like to have them we are delighted to make her a present of them, +don't you know? Just--_delighted_." + +The lady was going to say she couldn't accept so valuable a gift and +would prefer to buy them, but just then a groan he couldn't subdue +escaped the disappointed Gerald and she felt that he was selfish and +should be punished. Of course, anybody rich enough to idle away a +whole autumn, house-boating, could afford to give a half-share in a +pair of monkeys to a crippled child. But in her judgment she did poor +Gerry an injustice. His groan would have been a cry of rejoicing that +his deal in monkeys was to be taken off his hands had not Jim, at that +instant, given him a kick under the table with a too forcible +sympathy. + +"Very well. But how does a person transport monkeys?" asked the +doctor's wife, while Eunice danced about the cabin in great glee. + +"Oh! they have a cage. A real nice cage, but I'd like to give it a +good cleaning before it's taken away," said Elsa. + +"Would that take long? I'd like to send for it as soon as we get home. +Eunice so seldom cares about any new toy I'm anxious to please her +while the idea _is_ new." + +"Not long, I'll be real quick. Would you like to come and see it done, +Eunice?" + +"Oh! yes, I want, I want!" + +Then it suddenly developed that all the young folks "wanted," even +Aurora. Now that they were to part company with the simians the +curious creatures became at once more interesting than ever before. So +they gathered about the wooden cage, some helping, some suggesting, +and Dorothy seconding Elsa in the statement: + +"If they're to belong to this lovely child not a speck of dirt must be +left. I've not taken out that sliding bottom of the cage but once, it +fits too tight, and you'd have laughed to see how the dear pets +watched me. Ugh! It _does_ stick--dreadfully!" said Elsa, wrestling +with the wooden slide. + +"Here, girlie! Let me! You just keep the wretched beasts out of reach +of me. I ought to help in this and you'll hurt your hands. Let me, +Elsa!" + +As Gerald spoke he gave a strong pull on the false bottom and it +yielded with a suddenness that sent him sprawling. But it wasn't his +mishap that caused that surprised cry from Elsa, nor the angry, +answering one of the now excited monkeys. It was all she could do to +prevent their springing upon Gerald who had so interfered with their +belongings. For between the false and real bottoms of their cage was a +considerable space; and in some ingenious fashion they had stored +there all their cherished possessions--as well as those of their human +neighbors. Missing thimbles, a plume from Chloe's hat, Metty's pen +knife, thread, nails, buttons--anything and everything that had been +missed and had captivated their apish fancy. + +Elsa and Dorothy made a thorough search, compelling by their ridicule +the "timid boys" to keep the animals off while they did so; and it was +then that one more "mystery" was solved, one more miserable anxiety +and suspicion laid to rest. + +"Our money! Our money! It was they who 'stole' it, and gave us all our +trouble! Oh! Mrs. Bruce, this is the most wonderful day ever was! I'm +so excited I can hardly breathe--the money's found--the money's +found!" + +"My! But I'm glad! Does seem as if some wonderful things has happened +this day, just as you say. So many 't I'm getting real nervous. I +hope nothing more will till I get over this. We said 'twas to be a +'rest,' this trip, and I haven't never had so many upsets in the same +length o' time before. Land of love! What next? There's wheels coming +down the road and nobody's been to get in provision, if it happens to +be company to dinner. Mrs. Calvert hasn't much sense that way. Seems +sometimes as if she'd like to ask all creation to meals without regard +to victuals. Peek under that tree. Can you see? Don't it appear like +the doctor's rig? It is! And there's a man with him--_two men!_ As +sure as preaching I'll warrant you your Aunt Betty'll ask these folks +to dinner!" + +Dorothy obediently "peeked." Then stood up and rubbed her eyes. Then +peeked once more and with a wild cry of delight bounded over the +gang-plank to the bank beyond, straight into the arms of a gray, +vigorous old man, whose coming was the most wonderful event of all +that day's strange happenings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CONCLUSION. + + +"Uncle Seth! Oh! is it you--truly--really--you darling Uncle Seth? +Now, indeed, this is the most wonderful day in all my life! I am so +glad--so glad!" + +"Same little, dear, enthusiastic Dorothy! Well, my child, I reckon I'm +as glad as you. But have you no greeting for your old acquaintance, +Mr. Stinson? or a 'Howdy' for the doctor? He and I are old friends, +let me tell you. I've known him since he was a mighty small boy." + +Dorothy released Mr. Winters and made her pretty obeisance to the +gentlemen with him, while the good doctor added to his friend's +statement: + +"Yes, indeed, since I was big enough to walk alone. It was he who +taught me my letters, sent me to school at his own expense, gave me my +start in life. What I don't owe your grand 'Uncle Seth' couldn't be +told. But, hello! What's up? Josephine? Eunice? So they've at last +called upon my house-boat friends, have they? And--my eyes!" + +As the three newcomers stepped to the ground and started across the +gang-plank, the doctor did, indeed, rub his eyes and stare. He had not +forgotten that this was the tenth anniversary of his wedding and knew +that his wife would prepare some pleasant surprise for him, after her +custom of celebrating, but he was more than surprised this time to see +his father-in-law standing on the little deck, holding Eunice in his +arms and--yes, actually smiling! But the physician was a man of few +words. Shaking the Colonel's hand in the most ordinary fashion he +said: "Good morning, father;" and in that brief salutation the +alienation of ten years was bridged, and was never referred to again +by either side. + +"Well, Cousin Seth. Better late than never;" was Aunt Betty's +characteristic greeting of her most trusted friend. But the light of +relief that spread over her lovely old face was more eloquent than +words. + +Five minutes later, the doctor's party had gone. Mrs. Calvert did just +what Mrs. Bruce had prophesied she would--invited them all to dinner, +but the invitation was declined. + +"Our anniversary, you know. Cook has a grand dinner waiting for us at +home and it wouldn't do to disappoint her. Father, you get in with the +doctor. Eunice and I will ride close behind. And look here, Wicky +Stillwell! What's to hinder you two boys, you and Corny, following +along in your wagon yonder with the monkeys' cage? You can share our +fine fixings, just as we used when we were little and you ran away +from home to 'Joe's,' whenever there were 'doings' at the Manor House. +Oh! I'm so happy! I feel like a little girl again and just be dear +good little boys and come. Will you?" + +Of course they went. Mrs. Josephine had a way of getting her will of +other people, and this time it was a relief even to hospitable Aunt +Betty to have only her own family about her. When the rumble of wheels +had died away she called Mr. Winters from his inspection of the Water +Lily and bade him: + +"Give an account of yourself, please. Why haven't you come before and +why have you come now? Come everybody, come and listen. Let dinner +wait till we learn what news this man has in his budget." + +So they gathered about him while he explained: + +"I wanted to come at the very beginning of the trip but, also, I +wanted to see what my Dorothy would do with her 'elephant' of a +house-boat. Engineer Stinson, here, wrote me about the breaking of the +engine and your plans for a simpler outing because of it. I tried to +get him to come back to you and take the job in hand but he had other +engagements and couldn't then. So I reasoned that it wouldn't do any +of you a bit of harm to live thus quietly for a few weeks, till he was +at liberty. He is now and has come, bringing all the necessary stuff +to work with as far as Jimpson's. + +"To make a long story short: I propose; 'everybody willing and nobody +saying no,' as Dolly used to premise in making her plans, to pole back +there; to get the engine into first-class order; and then to take a +real cruise in this beautiful Water Lily all down this side the Bay +and up along the Eastern Sho'. Cousin Betty shall visit her beloved +Severn; we'll see the middies at Annapolis; touch here and there at +the historic points; do anything, in fact, that anybody most desires. +For, by and by, these idle days must give place to days of discipline, +when our small hostess, here, will resume her education in the faraway +northland of Canada. What will befall her there? Ah! well. That we +must wait to learn from time, and from the forthcoming story of +'_Dorothy at Oak Knowe_.' + +"Meanwhile, the autumn is at its best. October on the old Chesapeake +is just glorious, with occasional storms thrown in to make us grateful +for this safe, snug little craft. Mr. Stinson says he wouldn't be +afraid to trust it on the Atlantic, even, but we'll not do that. We'll +just simply fill these remaining days of Dorothy's vacation with +the--time of our lives! All in favor, say Aye. Contrary--no." + +As he finished the "Learned Blacksmith" drew his beloved ward to his +side and looked into her sparkling eyes, asking: + +"Well, Dolly Doodles, what say?" + +"Aye, aye, aye!" + +"Aye, aye, aye!" rose almost deafening from every throat. + +"Then, Mrs. Bruce, since all that is settled bid Chloe get to work and +give these travelers the very best dinner ever cooked in our little +galley;" said Mrs. Calvert, in her gayest manner. + +Yet as she spoke, her eyes rested lovingly upon the beautiful Copse +and the sadness which any parting brings to the old fell upon her. +Till cheerful old Seth, her lifelong friend, sat down beside her, with +Dorothy snuggling to him and talked as only he could talk--always of +the future, rarely of the past. + +"Look ahead--lend a hand." + +They were to do that still. And in this "look ahead" Dorothy was +asked: + +"What shall you do with the Water Lily, when this year's cruise is +over?" + +"Is it really, truly mine, to do with exactly as I want?" + +"Surely, child, your Uncle Seth isn't an 'Injun giver'!" he answered, +smiling. + +"Then I want to make it over to somebody, whoever's best, for the use +of poor, or crippled, or unhappy children and folks. Darling Elsa said +in the beginning it would be 'a cruise of loving kindness' and seems +if it had been. I don't mean me--not anything I've had a chance to +do--only the way you've always showed me about 'leadings' and 'links +in the chain of life' you know. So many such beautiful things have +happened beside all the funny ones. The Stillwells finding out about +each other, and Mr. Corny 'turning over a new leaf' to take better +care of his folks; Gerald and Aurora learning to be gentle to +everybody; those Manor House people making up; and darling Elsa +growing happy, just like other girls. None of these things would have +happened if the dear old Water Lily hadn't brought them all together. +I'd like Elsa and her father to be the real heads of it, with that +sweet Lucetta and her babies next. They should keep it just for +charity, or goodness--to whoever needs that! What do you say? Aunt +Betty, Uncle Seth?" + +What could they say but most heartily commend this unselfish wish. +This approval made Dorothy so glad and gave her so much to think about +that she almost forgot to be sorry when she took her last glance at +beloved Deer-Copse upon the Ottawotta. + +"Look ahead." + +It was all still to come; the fine trip which Mr. Seth had planned and +the joyful return home; the bestowal of the house-boat for its +winter's rest; a little time of preparation; and then the new life at +Oak Knowe, the great school in the north which was to mark the next +change in Dorothy's happy life. + +Swiftly the future becomes the present, then the past; and it seemed +to all the voyagers upon the Water Lily that they had hardly sailed +away from Halcyon Point, to begin their eventful trip, than they were +sailing up to it again, whistle blowing, flags flying, and every soul +on board, from Aunt Betty down to little Metty, singing with all +fervor: + + "Home, sweet, sweet Home! + Be it ever so humble--there's no place like + home." + +THE END. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: + +Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; +otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's +words and intent. Any remaining misspellings or punctuation errors +are as in the original book. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dorothy on a House Boat, by Evelyn Raymond + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOROTHY ON A HOUSE BOAT *** + +***** This file should be named 32606.txt or 32606.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/0/32606/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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