Part 40 (1/2)
”It's only natural, captain. They'll get over their excitement in time. I could not resist the temptation of writing to the Lieutenant-Governor. It would have been a shame for your boys not to have received credit for what they did, and I feel sure that all the other scouts present at the Review were helped by the story of their n.o.ble deed. I have just had a nice long letter from Whyn, and she is delighted with what the scouts have accomplished. She sends her good wishes to the boys, and thanks them over and over again for their kindness to her.”
”How's she gittin' along?” the captain enquired. ”It's been a week since we've had a letter from her.”
”She is doing nicely, so she says, and the doctor thinks she will be able to come home for Christmas.”
”Will she be well then?”
”It seems so. The operation was p.r.o.nounced a decided success, though it will take some time yet for her to get strong.”
”She's the finest girl that ever drew breath,” and the captain turned away his face so as not to show the mistiness which had suddenly dimmed his eyes. ”She's a plucky one, sure.”
Three weeks after the Review Anna Royanna left Hillcrest. This was a great grief not only to the scouts but to the Royals as well. But the promise that she would visit them at Christmas if she could possibly arrange it, gave them some comfort. This bright sympathetic woman had entered so much into their lives, and had shared their joys and sorrows as one of themselves, that when she was gone they felt depressed for days.
With the pa.s.sing of summer came the fall, with long cold nights, and heavy winds. The scouts found it pleasant to meet in their snug room around the genial fire. Gradually they began to settle down to the work for the first-cla.s.s tests, and also to review what they had already learned.
”Yez must never imagine that ye know a thing thoroughly,” the captain reminded them. ”Fer instance, there is yer signallin'. Ye should be able to make each letter without thinkin' how it is to be made. And I want yez to practise up the Morse system, as well as the Semaph.o.r.e.
It'll come in mighty handy at night, when ye can't use the flags. Yez kin never know too much.”
The scouts found great pleasure in carrying out the captain's suggestion. By means of bull's-eye lanterns they were soon able to send and receive messages at night in a most creditable manner. For a while the neighbours were startled by this performance until they learned the cause of the flashes through the darkness.
The scouts had been at their room one bleak raw night, and had just left, except Rod, who had gone with the captain into the Anchorage for a parcel Mrs. Britt wished to send to the rectory. He had been there only a few minutes when several loud thumps sounded upon the door.
Quickly opening it, the captain was surprised to see Tom Dunker standing before him. This was something most unusual, for since his defeat several years ago Tom had shunned both the captain and the Anchorage as if they were plague-infested.
Stepping quickly into the kitchen, the visitor stood there with face white and haggard, and his whole body trembling.
”What's wrong, Tom?” the captain asked. ”Ye look most scared to death.”
”S-S-Sammy's hurt,” was the gasping reply. ”He f-fell and broke his l-leg, and I'm afraid his n-neck, too.”
”Why don't ye go fer the doctor, then?” the captain queried.
”I c-can't. He's over the r-river, down at Marshal's. He was sent fer to-day. Oh, my poor Sammy!” and the distressed man gave a loud wail of despair.
”What d'ye want me to do, man?” the captain demanded.
”Go fer the doctor. I c-can't git anybody else.”
”H'm, is that so? I thought it must be something pretty desperate which would send ye to me.”
”So ye won't go?” and Tom raised his eyes appealingly to the captain's face. ”Fer G.o.d's sake, do, or my Sammy'll die.”
”Certainly I'll go, Tom, jist as soon as I git ready. You call at the rectory on yer way back, and tell the Royals that Rod won't be home to-night, fer I must have him with me. It'll take two to handle the _Roarin' Bess_. I know they won't mind so long's the boy's with me.”
”It's good of ye, and I shan't soon----”
”There, keep that fer some other time, Tom Dunker,” the captain interrupted. ”I can't be bothered with sich nonsense now. Where's my oil-skins, Betsey?” and he turned to his wife. ”Better let Rod have that old suit of mine; he might need it before we git back.”
Rod was delighted with the idea of a run on the river on such a night.
He had often imagined what it would be like to be out there in the _Roaring Bess_ with a strong wind blowing. To him, fear was unknown when on the water, especially when the captain was along. And so as the yacht left her mooring, and headed down-stream, he sat in the c.o.c.k-pit and peered ahead into the darkness, pleased that he was on watch to give warning of any approaching vessel.
A strong wind was racing in from the east, giving the captain a busy time in handling the boat. This was still more difficult when they reached the channel, and the _Roaring Bess_ drove into the rougher water which is always found there. The white-caps leaped high, and drenched both man and boy.