Part 24 (1/2)
”Hoo-ray!” shouted John, jumping out of his chair, and performing some gymnastic feats that astonished the visitor and the family. ”I may go--mayn't I, mother?”
”I have no objection, if Captain Littleton thinks it is safe.”
”He will be as safe as my own son, Mrs. Duncan,” added the captain.
”Hoo-ray!” shouted John again.
”Come, my son, behave yourself, or they won't want such an unmannerly fellow in the company.”
”I will be as polite as a French dancing-master.”
John was in luck again, and for the following three days he talked of nothing but the cruise of the Flyaway. Even sailing in the Fawn seemed tame to the idea of going off one or two hundred miles, and visiting towns and cities he had never seen, and had never before expected to see. He could hardly sleep nights, and when he did sleep, it was only to dream of being out of sight of land, or of occupying a berth in the cabin of the yacht.
Paul concluded his bargain with Mr. Morrison, and made all his preparations for an absence of a week or ten days--a longer time than he had ever been away from home before. He cleaned up the Fawn for Mr.
Morrison, and split wood enough to last his mother a fortnight. It had already been decided that the yacht should go to the eastward, and visit Gloucester, the Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth, and Portland; and to be prepared for the excursion, he carefully studied all the maps and books he could procure, which gave any information in regard to these places.
The Flyaway was to sail on Friday at high water. For more than a fortnight, Captain Gordon had been training the boys of the Tenean Club to serve as ”able seamen” on board the yacht. There were twelve of them, including Paul, who were to join the party. More than half of them were sixteen or seventeen years old; so that they were strong enough to do all the work required in the management of the vessel. They were all well trained, and every one of them knew his duty on board.
Besides Captain Gordon, who was to command the yacht, there was Captain Briskett, who had for many years been the master of a coasting vessel, and knew every rock and shoal between Boston and Eastport. d.i.c.k, the colored steward, was to retain his place during the cruise. Captain Littleton was to go as a pa.s.senger. John Duncan was nominally appointed cabin boy.
Friday came, and the officers and crew of the Flyaway were all on board.
The anchor had been hove short, and the mainsail hoisted; the hour for sailing had arrived, and she only waited the coming of Captain Littleton. He had gone to Boston that morning, and his return was momentarily expected.
When the amateur crew had grown very impatient at his non-arrival, he appeared; but only to inform them that he had just received a telegraphic despatch from New York, which would compel him to start for that city in the afternoon.
”Now, boys, what is to be done?” asked he. ”Will you postpone the trip for a week?”
”I suppose we must,” replied Henry; but the faces of the whole crew were wofully elongated.
”I must give it up altogether, then,” added Paul, bitterly disappointed; and John was ready to howl at the idea of not going.
”I will see what can be done,” continued Captain Littleton, as he called Captain Gordon.
For a few moments they were engaged in earnest conversation together, and the boys waited with anxious interest for the result of the conference.
”Captain Gordon thinks he can take care of you, and I have concluded to let you go without me.”
”Hurrah!” shouted several of the boys.
”But, boys, I must put you on honor to behave well during the cruise.
Will you do it?”
”We will.”
”And obey the orders of Captain Gordon in all things, whether you are on board or on sh.o.r.e?”
”We will,” replied all the boys at once.