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"Well, it cannot be helped; and, anyhow, they are too late; for before they can even discover that we have the boats we shall be under way. Tail on again, my hearties, and let us get this yard mastheaded, then our heavy work will be done for the present.
The plucky fellows evidently knew the water thereabouts; for they steered in a wide circle up behind a line of shoals, that acted like a mole in breaking the force of the waves, and bore down then obliquely upon the wreck, to leeward of which the water was comparatively smooth. "Now then, look alive, my hearties!" they shouted, as they hooked on; and the admonition was scarcely needed.
And at the same time a loud, steely click, just one and no more, sounded from the intruding host. For a moment Klow was vastly puzzled. Then he snarled angrily: "What means this foolery, Strokor? Advance, and give up thy ax!" For answer I turned me about, so as to face my men, and held up my hand in signal. Instantly the whistles sounded, and my hearties came bounding into the field.
I have seven more left, besides thumbs; and they did good service, too, in the torn rigging the day after the fight; for you must know, my hearties, that the hardest work comes after the guns are run in. Three days I helped work, with one hand, in the rigging, in the same trowsers that I wore in the action; the blood had dried and stiffened; they looked like glazed red morocco."
The musket-men were drawn up in battle array, in a line extending on each side of his artillery, with orders to await the signal of firing from himself. Stand by, my lads, said Benjamin, who acted as an aid de-camp on this occasion, stand by, my hearties, and when Squire Dickens heaves out the signal to begin firing, dye see, you may open upon them in a broadside.
"Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! NOW my hearties!" "Aye-aye, sir!" "Hellum-a-lee hard a port! Stand by to meet her when she comes! Port, port! NOW, men! With a will! Stead-y-y-y!" "Steady it is, sir!" The raft drew beyond the middle of the river; the boys pointed her head right, and then lay on their oars.
"Some close kin to the queen, that much I know," the other answered quickly, "the heir to some great dukedom, mayhap, in disguise to see the world and make a fortune. 'Tis his desire we land, so much he told me, and 'tis to learn more than directions, my hearties, and that I'll warrant ye! But, look ye, the water grows too shallow! We can use the oars no longer."
"All right, my hearties, chaff away!" said Bill, fetching a deep sigh of relief, while a broad grin played on his weather-beaten visage. "There's two Susan Crofts, that's all; but I wouldn't give my Susan for all the Admirals' daughters that ever walked in shoe-leather." "Hallo! here come the Yankees," cried the captain, coming on deck at that moment.
'A life on, the ocean wave, a home on the bounding deep! Avast and belay, my hearties! Shiver my timbers! All hands on deck to take in sail! There she blows!" Bob had not read sea stories for nothing. "That's the way to talk!" exclaimed the captain. "I knew he'd like the idea!" Mr. Henderson seemed somewhat amazed. He had expected Bob to make strong objections. Instead the boy was delighted.
"Now then, heave away, my hearties; yo-heave-o-hoi!" At the last word we both strained with all our might. I heard Jack's braces burst with the effort. We both became purple in the face, but the leg remained immovable! With a loud simultaneous sigh we relaxed, and, looking at each other, groaned slightly.
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