Part 27 (1/2)
”You drove me to it. It is all your fault, Lawry; so you needn't whine about it. Don't make a fuss; here comes Taylor.”
”I don't want to see him,” said Lawry, moving toward the door.
”Don't go off; I'm going to take Taylor and his friends up the lake, to give them a sail.”
”The boat is engaged to Mr. Sherwood, to-day.”
”I can't help it; he will not have her to-day. Come, Lawry, be a man. I won't be as hard with you, I say, as you were with me. I don't ask you to be a deck-hand. You shall be the pilot still.”
”No, I won't.”
”Won't you?”
”I will not,” said Lawry firmly, as he dried his tears. ”The boat is engaged to Mr. Sherwood, and he has invited a party to go with him.
They were to start at nine o'clock, and they will be down here soon.”
”Can't help it. I promised to take Taylor and his friends out, and they are all here now. There are the stores for his party,” replied Ben, as a couple of men brought a large basket on board, from the top of which protruded the necks of a demijohn and several bottles.
”I shall not go with that party,” added Lawry.
”But I want a pilot,” said Ben.
”What's the trouble, Wilford?” demanded Taylor.
”Let me tell him you will go, Lawry?” whispered Ben. ”He may be hard on you if you don't.”
”I will not. I must see Mr. Sherwood at once.”
”What's the matter?” asked Ethan.
Lawry was explaining what had happened, when Ben came down with Taylor.
”I shall not go in her till I have seen Mr. Sherwood,” added Lawry, as he finished his brief statement.
”Then I shall not,” said Ethan.
”I can steer her myself,” said Ben to Taylor.
”Certainly you can.”
”Mr. Sherwood will be down soon, and we must be off before he gets here.”
”Go up, and start her then,” added Taylor.
Without noticing Lawry and Ethan, Ben rushed up to the wheel-house, and ordered the deck-hands to cast off the fasts, which was done. He knew how to steer a boat, and understood the bells, having had considerable experience on board the large steamers. He rang to back her, supposing Ethan was at his post in the engine-room.
She did not back, and he rang again, but with no better success than before.