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Suppose the punt had sprung a leak, or capsized? Clouds gathered that day, and the second evening on the island closed with a steady, fine rain falling. The encampment was quiet early. Even the dogs found shelter from the wet, but Ruth had every reason to believe that the Gypsy men took turns in guarding the encampment.
Well was it then for Martin Rattler that a friendly heart beat for him on board the Firefly, Bob Croaker carried the news to the town; but no one was found daring enough to risk his life out in a boat on that stormy evening. The little punt had been long out of sight ere the news reached them, and the wind had increased to a gale.
A black frost with no moon is not precisely the kind of weather that a degenerate sportsman would choose for lying in the frozen mud behind a bush, or pushing a small punt set on large skates across the ice to get at birds.
There was nothing else to be done; and as the bonfire was kept blazing the punt was hauled up, and in the midst of the howling wind and the rush of the water Dick stood looking on, his heart full as he thought of Tom Tallington asking his help away there in the darkness; while tap, tap, tap went the wheelwright's hammer, after his saw had rasped off a thin piece of board.
"He'll never know. I've been sitting down there in the punt. The river's silver. Come down for a while," he implored. "All evening I've been as lonely as a leper. Ever since you motored off with Kenny, Don's been a grouch. Can't you climb down the vine?" "I I can't, Brian." "Please, Joan. I'll tell Kenny myself in the morning." "No," said Joan. "I can't. I I wish I could." "So do I," said Brian.
"You must be thirsty." "No. I want to go along now, if you don't mind." He did want to badly. For, rowing up, he had seen something which his wife, facing the other way, could not see. Under an over-hanging bush was a punt, and in the punt were Augustus and the lady known as Mrs. Harris.
The burly ferryman cared nothing at all about the river, and merely answered "Yes," or "No;" he was full of the Derby and Sandown; didn't know about the fishing; supposed there were fish; didn't see 'em, nor eat 'em; want a punt? No. So he landed me, desolate and hopeless, on the opposite bank, and I began to understand how the souls felt after Charon had got them over.
I ordered, and they took their cups to it, while I did all I could with the long punt paddle to make some sort of course. Now and then the blazing trail of the Belle Helène's search-light swung across as we rolled, to leave us, the next instant, in blackness.
Here, shrimp, hold the rope till I'm in, and then cast off. Look alive!" As Bob spoke, he handed the rope to the little boy; but, in doing so, let it accidentally slip out of his hand. "Catch hold o' the main chains, Martin, quick!" But Martin was too late. The current that swept out of the harbour whirled the light punt away from the ship's side, and carried it out seaward.
Finally, after a long and quite unprofitable inspection, he turned aside to investigate a boathouse under the willows on Mrs. Lockyard's side of the stream. He found the door unlocked, and discovered within a somewhat dilapidated punt. This, after considerable exertion, he managed to drag forth and finally to run into the water.
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