Part 18 (2/2)
”We have been safe enough all the time; and if you would only have put on the jib and reefed mainsail, we should have been at home by this time.”
”I did not think it was prudent to do so. I may have been mistaken; if I was, I have erred on the safe side.”
”I suppose we must sleep on board,” said John.
”If you don't like the idea, you can go on sh.o.r.e, and sleep at the farm house.”
”But I do like the idea; we have good beds, and I had just as lief sleep here as in my own bed at home. In fact, I am rather glad we are caught.”
”I thought so,” said Paul, laughing; ”but there it one thing we are not prepared for.”
”What is that?”
”Supper.”
”I wish we had a frying pan and a furnace; we could have some fried perch for supper.”
”As we have not those things, we must make the best of what we have. Our luncheon is all gone; but there are two or three crackers in the locker, which I threw in from the old boat.”
”We shan't starve before morning,” replied John, whose philosophy was proof against an empty stomach.
”I know that; but it would be a good deal better to have some supper, if we could get it.”
”Can't we go on sh.o.r.e?”
”No, we can't land on this shallow beach. It wouldn't be safe to get aground here.”
Both boys were very hungry, for it was now nearly night and they had taken their lunch in the middle of the day. The crackers were eaten, and washed down with a drink of cold water from the jug; but it was a dry and unsatisfactory supper and Paul resolved in future to keep the Fawn provisioned for such an emergency as the present.
The wind still blew with undiminished violence, and the black clouds indicated rain. By and by the darkness came on, and there was no longer any prospect of getting home before the next day. Just before dark, a man hailed them from the sh.o.r.e, and offered them a bed at the farm house; but Paul thanked him and declined the offer, at the same time hinting that they had nothing on board to eat.
”Come ash.o.r.e, then, and get some supper,” replied the man.
”We can't get ash.o.r.e; we draw too much water,” answered Paul.
”I will bring you off then.”
The man pushed a skiff into the water, and soon came alongside the Fawn.
”You have got a fine boat here,” said he.
”Yes, sir; she is a very nice boat.”
”But this is pretty heavy weather for boys to be out. Whose boat is she?”
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