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"I went on deck; the lantern still burned at the stump of mizzenmast but the lookout was gone. He had not lived long enough to be relieved, as I learned by going below and finding that no one had been called. "We were but six, now one sailor and the bos'n, the cook and steward, the professor and myself." The old artist paused, while he refilled and lighted his pipe.
Just before the door closed behind him he heard a stifled sob from poor Bos'n. The Board of Strategy was waiting at the end of the yard. Its members were filled with curiosity. "Did you give it to her good?" demanded Asaph. "Did you let her understand we wouldn't put up with such cruelizin'?" "Where's Bos'n?" asked Mr. Bangs. Their friend's answers were brief and tantalizingly incomplete.
Anyways, it doan' hab no strength like er roach, ner no sech freshness, which am de main pint after all." Seeing himself out of the talk, and having completely growled down the quartermaster, the bos'n started another subject. This was a tirade against bad skippers and crimps who stood in too thick with the shipping commissioners, and whom he swore were in league with each other and the devil.
She's got her dinner to look out for, I guess likely. Georgianna," to the housekeeper, who looked anything but eager, "you better see to your dinner right off, and take Emmie with you." Miss Taylor reluctantly departed, leading Bos'n by the hand. The child was loath to leave her uncle, but he told her he wouldn't give a cent for his first dinner at home if she didn't help in preparing it.
Bos'n here that's my nickname for her, ma'am she and I was out walkin'. I set down in the pines and I guess I must have dozed off. Anyhow, when I woke up she was gone, and the first thing I knew of this scrape was hearin' her hail." The little woman's manner changed. Her gray eyes flashed indignantly. "You dozed off?" she repeated.
Later, when the trio gathered in the Whittaker sitting room, Captain Cy produced the "fashion books" and spoke concerning them. "You see," he said, "I I've been thinkin' that Bos'n Emily, that is wan't rigged exactly the way she ought to be. Have you fellers noticed it?" His friends seemed surprised. Neither was ready with an immediate answer, so the captain went on.
They entered the yard of the Cy Whittaker place together and approached the side door. As they stood on the steps Asaph touched his chum on the arm and pointed to the window beside them. The shade was half drawn and beneath it they had a clear view of the interior of the sitting room. Captain Cy was in the rocker before the stove, holding Bos'n in his arms.
"I'll give a thousand dollars to the man that will get me out of this harbor and well off to sea." "If it comes to that I guess I can take a chance of navigating the yacht even if I don't hold a master's ticket," replied the bos'n. "But are you a navigator?" questioned Barr eagerly "Well, Mr. Barr, I held a master's ticket once before drink got me and I piled my ship on a reef," was the answer.
And the way I shook that ridiculous book at her was " She laughed again and the captain and Bos'n joined in the laugh, in spite of the fright they both had experienced. "That book was dry enough to frighten almost anything," continued the lady. "It was one I took from the table before I left the place where I'm staying, and a duller collection of sermons I never saw. Oh, dear! . . . there!
He smothered a groan and picked up the mail. "Hum!" he mused, "the Breeze, a circular, and one letter. Hello! it isn't possible that Well! well!" The letter was in a long envelope. He hastily tore it open. At the inclosure he glanced in evident excitement. Then his smile returned. "Bos'n," he said, after a moment's reflection, "I guess you and me won't have to go to Ostable after all."
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