Part 58 (1/2)

They sat quite still a good while, watching her beating about, going out to the open sea, and then turning as often, and heading toward the coast on which they sat.

”It's plain that she's trying to make this island,” said Jem.

”Yes, sir. She'll go to pieces if she tries it,” answered Lloyd, taking off his cap and putting it on again, emphatically. ”Yes, sir; she'll go to pieces.”

”If there was anybody aboard that knew of Cook's Crack!”

”How could anybody aboard _that_ schooner know of Cook's Crack?” said Lloyd, contemptuously.

”That's so. How could they? Sure enough.”

Then the boys blew on their fingers to keep them warm, and hustled in closer under the rocks, clasping their hands about their knees.

Now, to make you town boys understand, I must tell you that the schooners in summer landed at the village, which was a couple of miles from the point where the boys were. The sh.o.r.e off from where they sat was full of hidden rocks and sand bars running out under the froth and swirl of the waves, against which no s.h.i.+p could run without having her bottom ripped up.

But through these rocks there was one narrow opening, through which the sea ran clear and deep, making a safe channel to the sh.o.r.e. This was Cook's Crack. Very few of the fishermen knew of it. It was not likely, therefore, that anybody on board of the schooner would be able to pilot her through it.

”She's bound to run ash.o.r.e,” said Jem. ”What'll we do, Lloyd?”

All the boys asked Lloyd what to do whenever there was any trouble. He did not answer at once, being busy considering.

”Go down to the village, Jem, and let some of the men go out with a boat to them!”

”That will be too late to do any good. It will be dark before I reach the village, and there's no moon. n.o.body could go out after night in that sea. Besides, she's putting in so fast, she'll be on the rocks in half an hour.”

”Do you go to the village, Jem!” said Lloyd, quietly. He was in dreadful doubt himself as to whether he was right. But a captain, he knew, never should let his crew see that he was in doubt; and Lloyd knew he must be captain in this case. Jem had legs to run and a tongue to give a message, but he had no head to plan or execute.

”All right!” said Jem, good-naturedly. ”I'm off.”

When he was gone on the full run, Lloyd stood thinking. There were no men nearer than the village. Whatever he did, he must do alone. He was tired of acting a man's part and doing a man's work, though the other boys often envied him. His head and bones ached most of the time, and he was getting a sober, old, wizened face.

He wished often that he could have a month of downright play and idleness; and no doubt it would have been the very best thing for him.

However, now he had to manage all alone.

”I'll go up to supper, or mother will be uneasy,” he said at last. He would be back in half an hour, and before that he could do nothing. The wind drove the schooner back, so that she could not reach the rocks under an hour. Lloyd's eyes were sharper than Jem's.

He did not tell his mother about the schooner. She was a little woman, not strong, and she was easily frightened.

Lloyd tried to keep all trouble from her, as he knew his brother John had done when he was living.

She was waiting for him. ”Come, sonny, boy. Here's fish for supper, and good corn bread.”

Lloyd laughed, and washed his hands. He joked and talked all the time he was eating, though he was terribly anxious about the schooner. He would have liked, too, to have some nouris.h.i.+ng tea for his mother, or a warmer dress than the thin one she wore. But John had been a hearty, cheerful fellow, keeping up everybody's heart.

”There's no use shoving trouble on to mother,” thought Lloyd.

After supper he heaped up the fire, put her chair in the warmest corner, and brought her knitting all ready. She had a great basket full of socks and stockings, big and little, ready to send for sale down to the town.

”Are you going out again, Lloyd?” when he kissed her. ”It's a bitter night.”

”Down on the beach a bit, mother. You go to bed early. I'll be in all right and safe.”