The money had been spent in part; but, if they sent him to jail, it would be better than to continue in wickedness. Then he thought what Captain Sedley would say to him; that the club would despise him; and that he would not be permitted to join the sports of the coming week--to say nothing of being put in prison.
But his duty was plain, and he had resolved to do it. He had decided to suffer the penalty of his transgression, whatever it might be, and get back again into the right path as soon as he could.
Happy would it have been for him had he done so. On his way home from church he unfortunately met Tim Bunker, who had evidently placed himself in his way to confirm his fidelity to the Rovers.
Tim saw that he was meditating something dangerous to the success of his scheme. Charles was cold and distant. He appeared to have lost his enthusiasm.
"If you play us false, it will be all up with you," said Tim, in a low, determined tone. "I can prove that you stole the purse. That"s all."
It was enough to overthrow all Charles"s good resolution. His fickle mind, his shallow principle, gave way. Stifling his convictions of duty, and silencing the "still small voice," he went home: and there was no joy in heaven over the returning prodigal.
"Charles," said his father, sternly, as he entered the house, "you were not at school yesterday!"
"I got late, and did not like to go," whined he.
"Where were you?"
"Down at the village."
"Go to your room, and don"t leave it without permission."
Charles obeyed. The consequences of his error were already beginning to overtake him. His father joined him soon after, and talked to him very severely. He was really alarmed, for Captain Sedley had given him a hint concerning his son"s intimacy with Tim Bunker.
Charles was not permitted to leave his room that afternoon, and his supper was sent up to him; but his mother brought it, and consoled him in his troubles--promising to prevent his father from punishing him any more.
"Now, go to bed, Charley; never do so again, and it will be all right to-morrow," said the weak mother, as she took her leave.
But Charles did not go to bed. The family retired early; and, taking his great-coat on his arm, he stole noiselessly out of the house. At nine o"clock he was at the rendezvous of the Rovers.
It was not deemed prudent to put their plans in execution till a later hour; and the band dispersed, with instructions to meet again in an hour at Flat Rock, where the boats would be in readiness to take them off to the island.
Tim and Charles, with four others, immediately repaired to the place where Joe Braman"s boat, which had been hired for the enterprise, was concealed. Seating themselves in it, they waited till the hour had expired, and then, with m.u.f.fled oars, pulled up to the b.u.t.terfly"s house.
The doors which opened out upon the lake were not fastened, and an entrance was readily effected. The boat was loosed, pushed out into the lake without noise, and towed down to the Zephyr"s house. But here the doors were found to be fastened; and one of the boys had to enter by a window, and draw the bolt. The boat was then secured without difficulty.
"Now, Charley, you get into the Zephyr with two fellows, and tow the Sylph off," said Tim, in a whisper.
"Shan"t I get my crew first?"
"Just as you like."
Charles and his two companions got into the Zephyr and worked her down to the rock, where he received his crew. It was found then that some of the Rovers had not yet made their appearance, so that there were only ten boys to each boat.
Although the success of the criminal undertaking required the utmost caution, Charles found his command were disposed to be very boisterous, and all his efforts would hardly keep them quiet. After some trouble he got away from the sh.o.r.e; but his crew, from the want of discipline, were utterly incapable of pulling in concert. They had not taken three strokes before they were all in confusion--tumbling off the thwarts, knocking each other in the back, and each swearing at and abusing his companions.
"Hold your jaw, there!" called Tim Bunker, in a low tone, from the b.u.t.terfly.
"Cease rowing!" said Charles.
But they would not "cease rowing," and the prospect was that a general fight would soon ensue in spite of all the c.o.xswain"s efforts to restore order. At last Tim came alongside, and rapping two or three of the turbulent Rovers over the head with a boathook, he succeeded in quieting them.
After several attempts Charles got them so they could pull without knocking each other out of the boat; but he was heartily disgusted with his crew, and would gladly have escaped from them, even if Rippleton Jail had yawned to receive him. After half a dozen trials he placed the Zephyr alongside the Sylph, let go her moorings, and took her in tow.
The Rovers then pulled for the island; but the pa.s.sage thither was long and difficult.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND.
As the crew of the Zephyr tugged at their oars, their imperfect discipline imposing double labor upon them, Charles had an opportunity to consider his position. The bright color of romance which his fancy had given to the enterprise was gone. The night air was cold and damp, and his companions in error were repulsive to him. There was no pleasure in commanding such a motley crew of ill-natured and quarrelsome bullies, and if it had been possible, he would have fled from them. Who plunges into vice may find himself in a snare from which he cannot escape though he would.
At last they reached the island, and the Sylph was anch.o.r.ed near the sh.o.r.e. There was a great deal of hard work to be done; but each of the Rovers seemed to expect the others would do it.
"Now, Charley, everything is right so far," said Tim Bunker, whose party had just drawn Joe Braman"s boat upon the beach.
"Everything is wrong," Charles wanted to say; but Tim was too powerful to be lightly offended.
"I can do nothing with such a crew as that," whined he. "They won"t mind, and every fellow wants his own way."
"Hit "em if they don"t mind," replied Tim.
"I think we had better spend an hour in drilling them. We can"t handle the boat as it is."
"We must get the tents up before we do anything else. You go after the stakes and poles and I will get the provisions."
Before the crews returned to the boats, Tim made a little speech to them upon the necessity of order; promising, if any boy did not obey, he would thrash him "within an inch of his life."
"Now tumble into the boats, and, Charley, if any feller don"t do what you tell him, let me know it, and I will lick him for you."
"All aboard!" said Charles.
"Where are we going now?" asked one of his crew.
"No matter; all you have got to do is to obey orders," replied Charles, sharply.
"Say that again!" said the fellow, with an oath, as he doubled up his fist, and menaced the unfortunate c.o.xswain with a thrashing.
"Hallo, Tim!" shouted Charles, who dared not venture to carry out the Bunker"s summary policy.
"What"s the row?" said Tim, as he hastened to the spot.
"I can"t do anything with this crew; here is a fellow shaking his fist in my face."
"Let him be civil then," added the refractory Rover.