Part 25 (1/2)
”Don't give it up, Mollie; our salvation depends on that boat. I found out something more, when I went aloft this morning.”
”What?”
”There is another island off here to the northward, just as far as you can see. We may wish to go there, and the boat would be wanted then.”
”Noddy, perhaps there are savages on those islands, who will kill us if we go on sh.o.r.e.”
”Two can play at that game,” replied Noddy, in his confident tone.
”What could a boy like you do against a mob of Indians?”
”There are two or three pistols in the cabin, and I think I know how to use them; at any rate I shall not be butchered, nor let you be, without showing them what I am made of,” answered Noddy, as he rose from the planks, and turned his attention once more to the moving of the boat.
”You wouldn't shoot them--would you?”
”Not if I could help it. I shouldn't want to shoot them; and I won't do it, if they behave themselves. But I must go to work on the boat now.”
”Let me help you, Noddy, I am real strong, and I can do a great deal.”
”I will tell you when you can help me, Mollie, for I may need a little a.s.sistance.”
”I don't see how you are going to do this job.”
”I will show you in a moment,” replied Noddy, as he ran up the main shrouds.
He carried a small hatchet in his belt, with which he detached the starboard fore-brace from the mast. This was a rope, the end of which was tied to the main-mast, and extended through a single sheaf-block at the starboard fore-yard-arm. After pa.s.sing through this block, the brace returned to the main-mast, pa.s.sed through another block, and led down upon the deck. There was another rope of the same kind on the port side of the vessel. They were used to swing round the yard, in order to place the sail so that it would draw in the wind.
When Noddy cut it loose, the brace dropped to the deck. It was now simply a rope pa.s.sing through a single block at the end of the yard. The little engineer made fast one end of the brace to the ring in the bow of the boat. He then unhooked the peak halliards of the fore-sail, and attached them to the ring in the stern of the boat. Now, if he had had the strength, he would have pulled on the yard-arm rope till he dragged the bow out over the water; the stern line being intended merely to steady the boat, if necessary, and keep it from jamming against the mast. When he had drawn the bow out as far as he could with the brace, he meant to attach the same rope to the stern, and complete the job.
”That's all very pretty,” said Mollie, who had carefully noticed all her companion's proceedings; ”but you and I can't hoist the boat up with that rigging.”
”I know that, Mollie,” replied Noddy, wiping the perspiration from his brow. ”I haven't done yet.”
”I am afraid you won't make out, Noddy.”
”Yes, I shall. Work and win; that's the idea.”
”You are working very hard, and I hope you will win.”
”Did you know I made an improvement on Miss Bertha's maxim?”
”Indeed! What?”
”He that works shall win.”
”That's very encouraging; but it isn't always true.”
”It is when you work in the right way,” answered Noddy, as he took the end of the yard-arm rope, and, after pa.s.sing it through a s.n.a.t.c.h-block, began to wind it around the barrel of the small capstan on the forecastle.