Part 22 (1/2)
”Because you'll cut your shoes to ribbons on the sharp edges, and perhaps your feet, in the bargain. Remember what you got before,” said Frank.
So the impatient one refrained, but he cast many envious looks downward, and a little later could have been seen stretched out on his stomach, prying off bunches of the 'c.o.o.n oysters with a knife, and enjoying a little side treat.
It was easy to run upon the reef, but to get off was another matter, especially with a falling tide. The motor churned the water, but at first seemed to make no impression. Even when all the boys went aft, so as to lighten the bow, there was no release.
”Something's holding her, I tell you! It may be one of those octopus fish we hear so much about,” suggested Will.
Jerry, who had been pulling on a pair of heavy old shoes, with the intention of going overboard, so as to put his shoulder to the bow, and lifting while the motor worked, looked a little dubious.
”Humbug! Can't be any such thing, eh, Frank?” he asked, turning to the one in whose opinion he always felt the most implicit faith.
”What's holding her is that ridge of 'c.o.o.n oysters. They grip like all creation, Joe, here, says. Wait till I get some old shoes on, Jerry, and I'll be with you,” he observed.
Presently both of them were over in the water, which only came to their knees.
”Ready, now, Will. When I say the word, turn on all speed astern. How about it, pard?” Frank said to Jerry.
”Right, here,” came the reply.
”Then go!”
After the motor started working, the two in the water lifted. Just as Frank had antic.i.p.ated, the thing was easy. Back went the _Jessamine_ with a rush; indeed, Jerry was not quick enough in trying to draw himself aboard, and they left him there, marooned on the 'c.o.o.n oyster bar.
”Hi, you! Come back here after me! Think I'm Bluff, and want a mortgage on the whole blooming bed, don't you? Shove me the little dinghy, if you're afraid of scratching more of the varnish off Cousin Archie's boat!” he shouted.
”Hold on! Please wait! I want to get a picture of him standing there in the big bay, just as if he owned the sea. It's Neptune, coming out of the water, you know,” called Will beseechingly.
So Jerry felt constrained to humor the artist, and a.s.sume a position that, according to Will's idea, accorded with his condition of lonesomeness.
”I think we'll just pole along, fellows, and not run the motor. I guess we don't want to go very far in, anyhow, for we'll have the d.i.c.kens of a time getting out again in the morning,” remarked Frank.
”There's some sort of a shack over yonder on the mainland,” remarked Will.
Frank took a look.
”Possibly the place where some of those turtlers put up when out after their game. They keep the green turtles in what they call a 'crawl,'
until ready to set sail for Cedar Keys. I'm told we'll see lots of them there,” remarked Frank.
”I can see an old boat drawn up on sh.o.r.e, but not the first sign of life about the place. There's a buzzard sitting on a dead tree--yes, a row of 'em! My! I hope there ain't anybody dead in there!”
Will had brought out Frank's marine gla.s.ses, and was looking through them as he gave utterance to this forlorn expression.
”Oh! let up on that, Will! You give a fellow the creeps. Just why should there be any one dead yonder? Buzzards are found everywhere in Florida, millions of 'em. I reckon the shack is deserted. To prove it, I'm going to paddle over and see, just as soon as we get fast to our mudhook again,” remarked Jerry.
”And that will be right now,” said Frank. ”Give it a toss, Bluff. Here we seem to be in a little spot deeper than the rest of the bayou, and with room to swing around with a change of wind without fouling our anchor or going aground again on any miserable oyster bed.”
”Look here! I've got a grievance,” remarked Bluff.
”All right. Let's hear it,” laughed Will.
”If he takes the dinghy, how in the world am I going to gather the oysters for our supper? Frank said the very next mess we got he would give us scalloped oysters, and I'm just feeling hungry that way,”