Facing the World, Jr. Horatio Alger [free e books to read TXT] 📗

can command my services, Mr. Holdfast, in any way that you see fit.”

Mr. Holdfast made another trip to the vessel, and brought back quite an expanse of sailcloth. All hands, with the exception of Mr. Clinton, went to work at once, and by sunset a considerable space was roofed over, which the little company regarded with complacency.

“Aren’t you going to have any sides or doors?” asked Clinton.

“That can be considered hereafter,” said Holdfast. “I don’t think we shall need any, since the probability is that the island is not inhabited.”

The next morning a great surprise awaited them.

It might have been because it was the first night on land, or perhaps because they were unusually fatigued, but at any rate the little party slept unusually late. The first one to awake was Harry Vane. It took very little time for him to dress, since he had only taken off his coat. He glanced at his slumbering companions, who were scattered about in different postures.

“I’ll go up to the spring, and have a wash,” Harry decided. “I won’t wake anybody, for there’s no hurry about waking up.”

Returning from the spring, Harry for the first time looked in the direction of the ship. What he saw filled him with amazement. The wreck which he had thought deserted, was alive with men. He saw a dozen on deck, including two who were obviously not sailors. He could not immediately discern the figures, and ran hastily to the top of the bluff. Then he made the startling discovery that these intruders were the captain and his companions, who had abandoned the ship in the expectation that it was doomed, and, after floating about in the long boat, had by a wonderful coincidence drifted to the very point which they themselves had reached.

The news was too important to keep, and he returned to the encampment, and entering, approached the mate, who was sleeping soundly. He leaned over and shook him gently.

“Mr. Holdfast!” he cried.

The mate slowly opened his eyes and started up.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Has anything happened?”

“I’ve got great news for you, Mr. Holdfast. Captain Hill has arrived.”

“What!” exclaimed the mate, in amazement. “Arrived—where?”

“He is at this moment on the Nantucket, with all the men that accompanied him in the long boat.”

Uttering an expression of amazement, Mr. Holdfast sprang from the ground, and hastily made his way to the edge of the bluff.

“By Jove!” said he, “you’re right. I never heard of anything more wonderful.”

Harry could not tell from the expression of his face whether he considered the news good or not.

“Go and wake up the rest, Harry,” he said. “They will be surprised, too.”

It is needless to say that the news produced surprise and excitement. All hurried to the edge of the bluff.

“Will they come on shore, do you think?” asked Harry of the mate.

“They will have to; but I shall at once go out to the ship and report to my superior officer. You and Jack may go with me.”

It is needless to say that both boys were very glad to accept this invitation. The rest of the party remained on shore and watched the boat’s course.

“What will be the issue of this, Mr. Stubbs?” asked the professor, thoughtfully.

“I am afraid there will be friction. The captain is a natural despot, and he will undertake to control us.”

“He can have no authority after the ship is wrecked.”

“He will claim it, as sure as my name is Stubbs. The fact is, I am rather sorry he hadn’t managed to drift to another island. Mr. Holdfast is a much more agreeable man to deal with.”

“I agree with you. As a passenger, I shall not recognize the captain’s authority on shore.”

“Nor I.”

Meanwhile, the mate and the two boys had pulled to the ship, and, securing the boat, scrambled on deck.

“Good-morning, Captain Hill; I am glad to meet you once more,” said the mate.

“Humph!” growled the captain, not over politely. “When did you reach here?”

“Yesterday morning.”

“Where are the rest of the party?”

“We have a little camp just back of the bluff.”

“I see you have been removing articles from the ship,” continued the captain, in a tone of disapproval.

“Certainly,” answered the mate. “We need them, and I didn’t know how long the ship would last.”

“It seems in no immediate danger of going to pieces.”

“Things look more favorable than they did yesterday morning. What sort of a trip did you have in the boat?”

“A curious question to ask,” said the captain, captiously. “We were in danger of being swamped more than once.”

“We had better have remained on board the Nantucket with you, Mr. Holdfast,” said Appleton, the Melbourne merchant.

Captain Hill chose to take offense at this remark.

“You were quite at liberty to stay, Mr. Appleton,” he said. “I didn’t urge you to go with me.”

“True, Captain Hill; but I trusted to your opinion that the ship was unsafe.”

The captain looked angry, but did not make any reply.

By the sailors Mr. Holdfast was warmly greeted. He was much better liked than the captain, being a man of even temper and reasonable in his demands.