Part 16 (1/2)

”So I say!” said Ned, briskly, and not regretting this interruption; ”what _are_ we sitting here in the dark for, Noll? Let's go in!”

As they were groping along their darksome way to the library, Ned whispered,--

”When are you going to begin your plan, or 'put it in execution,' as the books say?”

”The skipper will touch here to-morrow; I'd like to see him then,”

said Noll.

”Why not?” returned Ned. ”We can get up early and run over to Culm before breakfast, and coax Ben into doing the business for you.”

”We will!” said Noll, gladly, ”and have the work begun at once; and I knew you'd be willing to help. Oh, Ned, I wish you were to stay here always.”

The boys did not linger long in the library after arriving there, but went up to Noll's chamber, where his little h.o.a.rd of money was brought forth and counted. Neither of the lads knew how far it would go toward purchasing lumber, but to them the sum in hand seemed a large one, and they decided, after much deliberation, to place it in Ben's hands, and trust to his judgment and discretion.

”But how is the carpenter to be paid for his labor, if this all goes for lumber?” queried Ned.

”Why, my spending-money is acc.u.mulating all the time,” said Noll, ”and though that won't be enough, I'll manage to get the rest, somehow.

I'll write to Mr. Gray, or do something that will bring it.”

They were both up at the first glimmer of dawn the next morning, and on their way to Culm long before the mist had fled from off the face of the sea. They ran, and made all possible haste, and were only just in time after all; for Ben was about to stand out on the day's journey as they came panting and breathless on to the little wharf.

”What be wantin' now, lads?” he cried, gruffly; ”we be in a hurry to get off!”

”But you must wait a few minutes,” said Ned, ”for we want to come aboard, skipper. We can't run a mile for nothing, and before breakfast too.”

”S'pose I shall hev ter!” grumbled Ben, as he gave them each a hand to help them up.

Noll brought forth his roll of money, and narrated his errand, disclosing for what object the lumber was to be purchased. Ben sat down and stared blankly at the boy, while Mr. Snape, who had drawn near, looked utterly bewildered.

”Let me hear ye say that agen,” said Ben, when his scattered senses began to return; ”I think I did not hear ye rightly.”

Noll repeated his errand, aided by some impatient explanations which Ned threw in for the skipper's benefit.

”Well,” said the ”Gull's” master, as he concluded, ”I be beat! Why, lad, 'tw'u'd be like throwin' yer silver into the sea to spend it on them good-fur-nothin', s.h.i.+f'less critters. An' what be the like o'

them to you?”

”Why,” said Ned, coming to Noll's relief, ”he want's to do them good.

Can't you see through a ladder, Ben? And what we want to know is whether you will do the business?”

The skipper was silent for a time. What was pa.s.sing in his mind, the boys did not suspect, and they feared lest he should refuse. But presently he got up, saying, with gruffness which was a.s.sumed to hide a sudden tenderness in the old sailor's heart,--

”I ken do't fur ye, lad, I s'pose!--tho' I call ye foolish all the same. The 'Gull' be engaged fur the next run, but the next arter that ye shall hev yer boards an' yer carpenter.”

”That will be week after next,” said Ned. ”Hurrah for you, Ben! And I want to engage a pa.s.sage home for next week. Come, Noll, let's go back and let the skipper put out, if he's in such a hurry. A good voyage to you, Ben!--and don't you forget that I'm to go next week, now!”

”Ay, ay,” said Ben, ”get along with you!” and over the side went the boys, and, after a little delay, off went the ”Gull” with Noll's precious savings on board.

”Wait,” said Noll, as they left the wharf, ”there's Dirk Sharp out there with his boat, ready to put off. Wait here, Ned, till I've spoken with him.” And Noll ran off across the sand.