Part 22 (2/2)
”O yes, we did, but what good will it do?” drawled the captain. ”They'll keep on charging us as long as that bridge is there. All they want is to employ us here till daylight, and by that time we must be out of the bay, or we can just consider ourselves captured. I've got another idea,”
he added, suddenly. ”Mr. Mate, send a man to the vessel after a rope.”
”Will Atkins,” said Xury, ”go down and fetch up a rope.”
”Will Atkins! Will Atkins!” repeated the owner of that name, angrily.
”It's always Will Atkins, if there is any thing to be done. Aint there n.o.body in this band that can do nothing besides Will Atkins?”
”Go on, now, an' bring up that rope, an' quit your growlin',” commanded the governor, sternly.
Atkins sullenly started down the path, grumbling to himself as he went, and vowing vengeance against the officers of the band. The mutinous spirit in him was as strong as ever, and only awaited a favorable opportunity to break forth again in open opposition to the governor's authority. He spent a good deal of time in searching for the rope, and, before he returned to the chasm, the Crusoe men had successfully resisted another attempt, on the part of the students, to charge across the bridge.
”How are things in the village?” asked the governor, as Atkins spitefully threw the rope down in front of Tom. ”Did you see Mr. Henry?”
”I hain't been near the village for two hours,” replied the discontented member.
”Well, you might have been there and back two or three times, since you went away. I concluded you couldn't find a rope on board the vessel, and had gone over to Mr. Henry's store for one.”
Some sharp words pa.s.sed between the governor and his man, and while the conversation was going on, Tom completed his arrangements for carrying out his new idea, which were very simple. He coiled the rope on the ground so that it would run out rapidly, and to one end of it fastened a heavy stone. ”I understand it all, now,” said the chief. ”That bridge is bound to come down. Be ready to run, fellers, the minute I grab the valise,” he added, in a whisper.
Tom's first attempt to remove the bridge was successful. He threw the stone over it, hauled in on the rope, and in a moment more the saplings were lying at the bottom of the chasm. The yell of indignation which arose from the students, mingled with the triumphant shouts of the Crusoe men.
”That's the way to do it,” cried Sanders. ”We are all right now. I say!
Hold on, there, boy!” he continued, in quite a different tone of voice, when he saw the governor, with the valise in his hand, disappear around the bend in the path, closely followed by his men. ”What do you mean?
Stop, I tell you.”
The burglars looked as though they thought it was not all right with them after all. They stood for an instant irresolute, and then started in hot pursuit of the Crusoe men, das.h.i.+ng recklessly down the slippery path, apparently all unconscious of the fact that a single misstep would precipitate them upon the rocks forty feet below. They reached the cove in safety, having made such good use of their time that, when the governor sprang over the schooner's rail, they were close at his heels.
Sam was astonished, and highly enraged, but accepted the situation as gracefully as he could. Seeing that his plan for ”getting even” with the robbers had failed, he placed the valise against the rail, and said, innocently:
”There's your money, mister. Cap'n, get under-way, to onct.”
Sanders looked sharply at the governor. He had nothing to say, but he resolved that as long as he remained on board the Sweepstakes, he would never for an instant release his hold upon the valise. He believed the chief had some designs upon it.
”I reckon you'll stay with us now, won't you?” asked Sam.
”We must, I suppose,” replied Sanders. ”What are you going to do? Do you intend to cross the breakers again?”
”Sartin; there aint no other way to get out of the cove.”
The actions of the burglars very plainly indicated that they did not like the idea of again attempting the pa.s.sage of the shoals; and Sam himself would have been very glad indeed if there had been some less dangerous avenue of escape open to them. He could not forget the rock on the outer edge of the breakers, nor the risk he had run there a few hours before. Every thing being ready for the start, he went to the wheel, the line with which the schooner was made fast to the bank was cast off, and she moved slowly out of the cove. The skipper stationed two men at the fore and main sheets, placed Xury in the waist to pa.s.s orders, and then took his stand beside the governor. The latter would have stoutly denied that he felt the least nervousness or timidity, but his compressed lips and trembling hands told a different story. All the Crusoe men were more or less alarmed, with the exception of the mate, who was as careless and indifferent as ever. Nothing seemed to disturb him. He stood leaning against the rail, whistling a lively tune, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes fastened on the rock at the opposite side of the shoals. He never moved a muscle when a huge wave carried the schooner almost over the ledge, and, when the order was given to haul in the sheets, he repeated it with as much calmness as he would have exhibited had the Sweepstakes been in smooth water, and running before a favorable breeze. The pa.s.sage was safely accomplished, much to the relief of every one on board; and again the Crusoe men told themselves that they had dared the fury of the shoals for the last time. Where was the Storm King all this while? She was still lying at the upper end of the breakers, waiting for the Sweepstakes. Her commander did not know there were two channels that led across the shoals.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE ROBBERS ARE PUNISHED.
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