Part 72 (1/2)
Meanwhile Tom Jecks sat fast, pressing his feet against the jacket placed over the hole, and kept baling, while Ching took his time from him, and used his baler with enough skill to help get rid of a great deal of water, so that the boat was freed to an extent which set aside all danger of our sinking; but with all their efforts they never got beyond a certain point, for the water oozed in pretty constantly through and round the extempore plug.
At last, faint with heat and nearly exhausted, we came in sight of the first straggling houses, then they grew more close together, and fields and gardens gave place to the closely-packed habitations. For we had reached the town, though even then we had quite a long row before we could reach the _Teaser_.
The final stretch came at last--just about a quarter of a mile to traverse, and then we should be alongside.
”Thank goodness!” said Mr Brooke, drawing a deep breath; ”I don't know when I have felt so anxious. Now, my lads, only another five minutes--a long pull and a strong pull, and all together.”
The men cheered and pulled, sending the boat merrily along now, for the tide was close upon its highest point, and for some little time it grew more and more sluggish before the c.o.xswain cried out--
”She's swung round, sir; tide's with us.”
”Ha!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr Brooke. ”Then we shall get to the _Teaser_ in time. They couldn't start from the creek with those light junks till now.”
”How much farther is it, sir?” I said, as he stood up and shaded his eyes with his hand.
”It can't be many hundred yards,” he replied. ”It must be just beyond that head where the boats lie so thick. Yes, off that temple there up on the hill.”
The men gave a cheer, and the boat sped on fast now, feeling the push given by the falling tide, and the short distance that lay between us; and the spot where we had lain at anchor so many days was soon traversed--the latter part in perfect silence, with Mr Brooke standing in the stern-sheets gazing straight ahead, and turning his eyes from side to side of the busy water thoroughfare.
”She has s.h.i.+fted her moorings,” he said at last.
”Has she, sir?” I replied, as I recalled how the furnace fires were going and the _Teaser_ was getting up steam when we started.
”Yes; how tiresome!” he muttered. ”Just, too, when we want to communicate at once.”
”But you can see her, sir?”
”No, my lad, no,” he cried. ”How can I see her if she is not here?”
”But I thought you said she had s.h.i.+fted her moorings, sir?”
”Yes, and gone down the river somewhere. Hang it all, she can't have sailed without us.”
”They wouldn't do that, sir,” I cried, feeling quite startled at the idea of the s.h.i.+p leaving us with our small boat in the midst of strangers. ”Why, she must have had news of some other junks, sir, and gone in pursuit, or is it a mistake? We can't have come far enough.
No; this is the spot.”
The men were looking at me inquiringly, just as men accustomed to be led lean on their superiors for orders, even if one of those superiors be a mere boy, while I, acting in precisely the same spirit, looked up to Mr Brooke, and listened excitedly for what he would say next.
It seemed to be a long time before he spoke, and then it was between his teeth and with angry vehemence, as he dropped down into his seat.
”After all this hard struggle to get back with our news,” he muttered, in so low a tone that I only heard his words, while the men sat with their oars balanced gazing forward to see if they could make out the _Teaser's_ funnel and tall spars. ”They ought not to have stirred; it's playing at dog and the shadow. Here have we brought the substance, and they are snapping at the reflection.”
”Mr Brooke!” I said in a whisper.
”All right, my boy; don't be down-hearted. It's the fortune of sea life. Here we are, tired, hungry, and hot, with a badly leaking boat, and a far from friendly place to land in and get her repaired.”
”But they can't have gone far,” I said.
”I don't know, my lad. Had some news of pirates, perhaps. All I know now is that they've left us in the lurch.”