Part 31 (1/2)

When he saw the boys in their neat uniforms, however, and observed the trim appearance of the craft alongside his own vessel, his manner changed. He approached the rail and hailed:

”Launch, Ahoy! What can I do for you?”

”I must speak with you on important business, Captain.”

”All right, sir. If you'll bear off a little, I'll heave to and you may come aboard. I'm heavily laden and on short time, but I'll spare you a few moments if you can be brief.”

In a short time the schooner lay quietly upon the water, with the Fortuna ranged alongside. Fenders had been put overboard by the Fortuna's crew in order to protect the paint on the launch.

Jack was received by the captain, who met him with a smile and hearty handshake of welcome. The situation was soon explained by Jack, who won the captain's heart by his straightforward, manly appearance and by his directness of speech.

”So we've got some of your chums who have been shanghaied?” queried the captain, when Jack had finished his recital.

”It looks that way, Captain,” Jack announced.

”Well, what are you going to do about it?” inquired the master of the sailing vessel in a tone intended to be severe.

Jack was watching his new acquaintance closely and thought he detected just the suspicion of a twinkle in the captain's eye.

”He's playing for time to try me out,” thought the lad rapidly. ”He wants to see what I'll do in case of refusal.”

Outwardly he gave no indication of what was in his mind, but appeared to be pondering the situation deeply. At length he said:

”Captain, I'll have to leave it up to you. We want our chums who are aboard your vessel. I don't know what the marine law is nor whether we'd have a right to seize them by force if we were able. So I think I'd better leave it to you. What shall we do, Captain?”

”Well, when you put it that way,” replied the Captain, reaching for Jack's hand and seizing it in a hearty grasp, ”I think you'd better take the lads and with them my apology. Will that do?”

”Captain, you're a brick,” shouted Jack, forgetting for a moment in his enthusiasm the difference in their rank. The next moment he was all confusion over his breach of etiquette.

Laughing, the captain preceded him up the companion-way and called to the mate. He then ordered the boys who had been s.h.i.+pped aboard the ”Quickstep,” released and turned over to the captain of the Fortuna.

This was done much to the mate's disgust.

There need be no doubt as to the heartiness of the greetings that pa.s.sed between the separated members of the Beaver and Bob White Patrols once they were united again. Introductions followed hastily.

As the ”Quickstep” sailed away on her course again, the crew of the Fortuna gathered on top of the cabin and waved a farewell, cheering until they were hoa.r.s.e. At length Jack called them below.

”How about some eats?” queried Tom. ”I'm so empty I'd make a first rate drum. I declare I haven't had anything to eat in weeks.”

”Rubber,” shouted Harry. ”Stretch it. You mustn't fib.”

”Well, I mean it seems that long,” declared Tom. ”Who'll be the cook?

Shall we run slowly until breakfast is ready?”

”That's a good idea,” Jack answered. ”Let's run under a check until breakfast is over, then we'll make good time straight for Biloxi.”

”Hurray, we're homeward bound,” shouted Tom. ”Hurray again!”

”Shower bath first,” cried Arnold, dragging out the hose.

What a glorious morning that was. Doright laughed until he could laugh no more to see the antics of the boys who took turns holding the hose on each other. The sun was just up clear of the horizon ushering in a day that promised to be beautiful. Only a slight swell was running on the Gulf giving the boys an excellent opportunity for a shower bath on deck.