Part 2 (1/2)
CHAPTER III.
CAPTAIN SIMMS OF THE ”THESPIS.”
Silence, except for the inrush of water into the damaged side of the _Curlew_, followed the collision. The three lads on the sinking craft gazed helplessly at each other for a few seconds.
”Get away as quick as you can,” whispered Donald's father to the boy who had wrought the damage, and now looked rather scared. The _Speedaway_ swung out and her big mainsail began to fill.
”We are going to the bottom,” choked out Billy, the first of the party to recover the use of his vocal organs.
”I'm afraid there's no doubt of that,” said Jack. ”Donald Judson,” he shouted, raising his voice and throwing it across the appreciable distance that now separated the two craft, ”you'll pay for this.”
”It was an accident, I tell you,” yelled back the other lad, but in a rather shaky voice.
”You'll do no good by abusing us,” chimed in his father.
”What'll we do, Jack?” demanded Noddy, tugging at Jack's sleeve.
”Steer for the sh.o.r.e. There's just a chance we can make it, or at least shallow water,” was the reply.
”Doesn't look much as if we could make it,” said Billy dubiously, shaking his head and regarding the big leak ruefully, ”but I suppose we can try.”
The wounded _Curlew_ began to struggle along with a motion very unlike her usual swift, smooth glide. She staggered and reeled heavily.
”Put her on the other tack,” said Jack. Noddy followed his orders with the result that the _Curlew_ heeled over on the side opposite to that which had been injured, and thus raised her wound above the water line.
Billy began bailing, frantically, with a bucket, at the water that had already come in.
”Shall we help you?” cried Donald.
”No, we don't want your help,” answered Jack shortly. ”We'll thresh all this out in court later on,” he added.
”I'm a witness that it was an accident,” shouted the elder Judson.
”You'll have a swell time proving I ran you down on purpose,” added his son.
Seeing that it was useless to prolong such a fruitless argument at long distance, Jack refrained from making a reply. Besides, the _Curlew_ required his entire attention now. He took the tiller himself and kept the injured craft inclined at such an angle that but little water entered the hole the _Speedaway's_ sharp bow had punched in her.
The sh.o.r.e, on which were a few small houses and a wharf hidden among trees and rocks, appeared to be a long distance off. But the _Curlew_ staggered gamely onward with Jack antic.i.p.ating every puff of wind skillfully.
”I believe that we'll make it, after all,” said Billy hopefully, as the water-logged craft was urged forward.
”I wish that Donald, with his sissy-boy clothes, was ash.o.r.e when we land,” grumbled Noddy. ”I'd give him what-for. I have not forgotten how to handle my dukes, and as for his old octo-octo----”
”Octogenarian,” chuckled Raynor.
”Octogenarian of a father,--I knew I'd get a chance to use that word----” said Noddy triumphantly; ”he's worse than his son. They're a fine pair,--I don't think.”