The Knights of the White Shield Part 23

"Sort of sleepy," he said. The wind murmuring at the open window of the state-room had a drowsy sound, and--and Wort's head gave a sudden fall. He opened his eyes, and said, "This won't do; I mustn't go to sleep," But the wind continued to hum its drowsy tune as if saying, "Go to sleep, go to sleep, tired boy, tired boy; there, there!" Wort's head rose and fell several times, and each time he made a remonstrance. But the remonstrances were feebler one after the other, his eyes refused to open, and there in the captain's state-room was a boy fast asleep!

It was the latter part of the afternoon, and one of the men at work on the new vessel came to Wort's father, and said, "Cap'n, shall we let the schooner lie off in the stream to-night, or do you take her to her wharf?"

"No chance for her at the wharf, and she must stay here till Monday, and I don't think any one need stay with her and watch. She is so heavily anch.o.r.ed she can't very well run away. We will all leave. But where is my boy?"

"I think, cap'n, I see a boy like him going off with your brother."

"All right. My brother Nathan was here, and he will look after Wort. Now we will go."

When Skipper Wentworth reached home his wife told him that "Nathan" had said something about taking Wort home with him to spend a day or two at his farm, three miles away.

"Then Wort has gone with Nathan, wife?"

"I think he must have, as he has not come home."

"He is with Nathan. All right."

The good folks went to bed, and n.o.body told them where Wort was. The little waves rippling about the schooner may have known, and a bright, inquisitive star looking in at the cabin window may have known, but neither wave nor star told the secret. Toward morning Wort woke up. Where was he? He put out his hands expecting to feel the soft feather pillow that Mother Wentworth daily laid upon his bed. It was only a hard board that he felt above him and back of him. Where was he? He rubbed his eyes wide open, and little by little it came to him that he was in the cabin of the schooner. What if the vessel should break away from her moorings and drift off to sea? What if it had gone already, and this craft with a crew of one were actually on her voyage? His heart thumped hard in his fright.

He crawled out of the cabin, making his way along as well as he could over pieces of board, running into a carpenter's saw-horse provokingly left in the door-way, and stroking his legs, he stepped outside. The wind from the water swept cool across the vessel. Where was he? Adrift? He turned toward the sea. The light at Simes Badger's lighthouse was still blazing, but far away above the dark, angry sea, there was a faint glow in the heavens.

"Good!" thought Wort. "Father's vessel hasn't broke loose, for there is the light-house where it was yesterday, and that's morning over there.

She's coming!"

He turned toward the town. He saw one light s.h.i.+ning from a house window, and thought it must signify a sick person or an early riser. Then he heard a c.o.c.k crowing.

"Never knew a rooster had such a pleasant voice before," he said. All that he could do was to wait until Simes Badger's light went out, and day filled the eastern sky, and not only roosters but human beings were stirring in Seamont.

"Then some one will come and get me, I hope," thought Wort.

He patiently waited, watching the dark gurgling river and the brightening sky.

About six o'clock Simes Badger pushed off his boat from the light-house dock, leaving his a.s.sistant in charge.

"I must get my breakfast," he said.

He leisurely rowed up the river.

"Ah," thought Simes, "there is Skipper Wentworth's new craft. She sets easy in the water. She will make as trim a fore and aft as ever left this harbor."

He was now opposite the newly-painted black and green hull.

"Ma.s.sy!" he exclaimed, resting on his oars, "What's that on deck? A hen there? Somebody is wavin' suthin'. Something must be wrong there. Let me take a nearer look."

He rowed close up to the vessel's side, and there detained his boat in the still, sparkling stream, raised his weather-tanned face, and saw a very fresh, boyish face looking down.

"O, Mr. Badger, come and get me!"

"Wort Wentworth, is that _you?_"

Simes knew that Wort had a reputation for sc.r.a.pes, but was not prepared for this appearance under the present circ.u.mstances.

"What are you doin' there? You all alone?"

"I got asleep in the cabin, and they left me here."

"And you been here all night? It is a wonder the sharks didn't eat you,"

said Simes, who had a very vivid imagination.

"The sharks?"

"Well, no matter about them things. I s'pose now you want to go home?"

"Yes, if I can get down into your boat."

"I'm willin' to take you if you can get down."

"Couldn't I s.h.i.+n down the chain-cable?"

"O no! Look round and find a piece of rope and make it fast to something up there, and then drop your rope down here and come that way."

"What, drop myself down like the rope?" said Wort, grinning.

"Tut, tut, boy! come down the rope! Didn't I say so plain as day? and if I didn't, I will now."

Wort found a rope, made one end fast to the rail, and then, throwing the other end down to Simes, safely lowered himself into the stern of the light-keeper's boat. In fifteen minutes more Wort was at home, to the surprise and joy of his parents.

The club boys heard about Wort's experience, and had a word to say concerning it.

"I say, Wort," asked Charlie, "how do you like going to sea?"

"Did you catch any waleths?" inquired Pip.

"What did the mermaids say to you?" asked the governor.

"It is the last of your going to sea, Wort. You will have to be a land-lubber," said Sid.

This last remark touched Wort.

"No, sir! See if I don't go to sea." And go he did. Skipper Wentworth thought it would be pleasant to have Wort's company the first voyage, which would terminate the latter part of the year.

Mrs. Wentworth had every thing in readiness for her boy's comfort by the time the vessel sailed.

"What is her name?" he asked his father.

He only replied, "I want to surprise the club you belong to." One day, to the delight of the boys, he showed them the name painted in conspicuous letters on the stern, "White s.h.i.+eld." It was a mild autumn day when the "White s.h.i.+eld" went to sea. The club boys gathered on a wharf at the foot of the lane, and watched the vessel drifting down the river. They waved their handkerchiefs to Wort, who waved his in return. Then they stood and followed with their eyes the vessel in its flight. She pa.s.sed Forbes'

Island, pa.s.sed the light-house, pa.s.sed Rocky Reef, pa.s.sed--out of sight.

That day, at twilight, Charlie went to Mr. Walton's house. The clergyman's mother received a message which Charlie brought from Aunt Stanshy, and asked him to come in.