Part 15 (2/2)

”See here,” Joe begun, as if to speak was distasteful; ”we've got to come to some agreement, for splitting-up now, when the brig's aground, isn't much better than child's play.”

”That's my idee, to a dot!” he of the red nose replied with a leer; ”but it ain't us what's makin' the row! We've got rights, no matter if you did bring us aboard; an' what's more, we're goin' to have 'em!”

”We won't discuss that part of it,” Joe said curtly. ”You know as well as I do that if there'd been two or three more in our party you wouldn't have said a word about rights; but since it's your intention to take unfair advantage of those who tried to relieve suffering, we'll let the matter drop. None of us will gain anything if the brig goes to pieces, and it's for the interest of all hands to have her launched; therefore I've come to make a bargain.”

”Well, out with it!” the man said coa.r.s.ely, as Joe ceased speaking.

”I propose that we turn to, as if nothing had happened, each one swearing to do his utmost toward carrying the brig to the nearest American port, and there the whole matter can, as indeed it must, be submitted to the court for settlement. On your part you agree not to molest the boys in any way, and they are to do nothing but the cooking.

We will recognize what I think are your unjust claims until the case is legally settled. No property is to be taken from the vessel, and, so far as possible, everything must remain as we found it.”

”An' it has taken you all this time to fix up that agreement, eh?” the man asked, with a boisterous laugh. ”I don't see but it amounts to jes'

what we wanted at first. Look here, Mister Engineer, you an' Bob have got an idee that we ain't on the square, an' it's a big mistake. When we found you needed our help to work the brig into port, an' couldn't do it alone, we said it was only fair play for us to share in whatever salvage might be made. Now we'll agree to your bargain, 'cause it's nothin' more nor less than what I proposed, an' the sooner we get to work on that hawser the better, 'cause it's about flood-tide.”

Joe realized this fact fully, and he went quickly aft for Bob, explaining to him in the fewest possible words the result of his interview.

”I hate to knuckle down to them scoundrels; but I s'pose it can't be helped,” the old sailor said as he arose to his feet. ”Keep out of the way, boys, so there won't be any chance for more abuse.”

To have seen the party five minutes after Bob went forward, one would not fancy there had been any hard feelings among them. The strangers set about the work with a will, recognizing the old sailor as being in command, and with apparently no other thought than such us was for the benefit of all.

The tide had ceased rising, it being that time known as ”slack water,”

when the capstan-bars were brought into use, and every member of the party exerted all his strength in the effort.

Once, twice, three times the men leaped against the stout bars without making any perceptible change in the brig's position, and Joe began to fancy it would have been as well if he had not humbled himself by making a trade with the strangers.

”Buckle down to it once more,” Bob shouted. ”It lacked almost an hour of bein' high water when she struck, an' there can't be so very much sand under her bow. Break down once more!”

No one hung back. The red-nosed man appeared to have the strength of a giant, and as he hove at the handles it seemed as if the wood or iron must surely give way under the enormous strain.

”Grind her down!” he yelled, and when one more determined effort had been made there was a decided movement. The bars were started fully a quarter of a turn, and Bob shouted:

”Now's the time, my hearties! Heave around once, an' we're clear of this blessed key!”

Then every man hove down on the bars as the Mexican held turn, and inch by inch the heavy hawser came inboard until the winch revolved readily as the Bonita glided out into deeper water, until she lay clear of the shoal, swinging to the grip of the cable over her stern.

”Hurrah!” Bob shouted, and the others joined in the cheers, causing the boys to come from the galley to learn the reason for such an uproar.

”It's a matter of gettin' that anchor home, an' then when the wind springs up ag'in we can leave this sand-heap behind us,” the red-nosed man said in a tone of satisfaction, as he wiped the perspiration from his face before following the example of the others, who had flung themselves at full length in the shadow of the forecastle.

”What about the Sea Bird, Bob?” Joe asked when he had regained his breath sufficiently to talk. ”I hate to leave the little craft to the mercy of wind and wave.”

”Why don't you swing this hawser right aboard of her?” the red-nosed man proposed. ”The owners may think she's worth comin' after, an' she'll lay here comfortable enough, unless it blows a full gale from the east.”

The tug was still made fast to the brig, having came off the shoal at the same time, and, save for the huge patch of canvas over her bow, looking as staunch as when first launched.

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