Part 21 (2/2)
”You's got all de brains, and knows jes what to do and where to go.
Gossifus! Wha--wha--what become ob us widout Dan?”
”Dat's jus what I tinks,” added Quin. ”You does de tinkin, and we does de wuck.”
”I shall do my part of the work. Now listen to me, and I will tell you how I think the work ought to be divided. We'll go to bed at nine o'clock, and turn out at five.”
”Dem's um,” nodded Cyd.
”I will take the first watch to-night, till one o'clock, and Cyd the second, till five in the morning.”
”But whar's my watch?” demanded Quin.
”At five o'clock you shall turn out and get breakfast. To-morrow night it shall be your first watch, and my second, and Cyd shall get breakfast the next morning. Then Cyd shall have the first watch the third night, and Quin the second, and I will get breakfast. That makes a fair division, I think.”
”Dat's all right,” added Quin.
”Those who sleep but four hours in the night can sleep during the day, if they wish.”
”Yes, when de wuck's done,” said Quin.
”We shall not have much work to do after we get settled,” replied Dan.
”All that's very fine,” added Lily, who had been listening to the arrangement; ”but I shall not consent to it. I intend to get breakfast myself.”
”No, Lily,” remonstrated Dan. ”If you do all the cooking, you will have to work harder than any of the boys. One of us will do the heavy work on deck, and you shall attend to the table. I am willing you should do your share of the work, if you insist upon it, but not more than your share.
We shall have nothing to do but eat and sleep when we get the boat in position.”
Lily insisted for some time, but was forced to yield the point at last; for neither Dan nor his companions would consent to her proposition. At nine o'clock Lily went to her cabin, and Quin and Cyd were soon sound asleep in their bunks. At one o'clock Cyd was called, and Dan gave him his watch, that he might know when to call Quin.
It was a difficult task for the sentinel to keep awake; but I believe he was faithful this time in the discharge of his important duty. At five Quin was called, and Cyd immediately proceeded to make up for lost time.
CHAPTER XVII.
CYD HAS A BAD FIT.
Cyd was roused from his slumbers at nine o'clock to a.s.sist in working the Isabel farther into the swamp, and in the course of the day she was safely moored in her permanent position. The quick eye of Dan had detected the admirable fitness of this place both for concealment and defence. It was not more than three miles from the lake.
The Isabel was secured between two islets, in the midst of a broad lagoon. The channel between the two portions of land was only wide enough to admit the boat, and the sh.o.r.e was covered with an impenetrable thicket of bushes and trees, so that the fugitives were obliged to ”strip” the sail-boat, and take out her masts, before they could move her into the narrow bayou.
The next day, when the morning work on board was done, they commenced the task of concealing the Isabel more effectually from the view of any persons who might possibly penetrate the swamp. A half-decayed log was thrown across the channel, and green branches stuck in the ground, till the boat could not be seen. A coat of green paint was then put over the white one, and the party were satisfied that no one could discover their retreat, unless he happened to blunder upon it.
In these preparations a great deal of hard work was done; but the feeling of security which they procured amply compensated for the labor.
When it was done, the fugitives enjoyed a season of rest, and for a week they did nothing but eat and sleep, though a strict watch was kept all the time to guard against a surprise. But this was an idle and stupid life; and even Cyd, who had formerly believed that idleness was bliss, began to grow weary of it. A few days more were employed in building a bridge from the deck of the boat to the island, in establis.h.i.+ng a kitchen on sh.o.r.e, and in making such other improvements on board and on the land as their limited experience in the swamp suggested.
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