While the boys ate, a glorious sunset graced the western sky. Long spears of light flashed up through misty, veil-like clouds, seeming to invite the boys to the West, as if holding out to them promises of great things in store.
Silently the boys gazed in rapt wonder. At last with a deep sigh, Frank broke the silence that had seemed to hold all the boys.
"Isn"t that grand?" he asked. "For that one could almost willingly repeat what we"ve been through today. I like sunrises and sunsets and storms and calms and all the phenomena of nature."
"I like trees and flowers most of all!" declared Tom.
"And I like live things--birds and squirrels and such!" Arnold declared.
When I grow up, I"m going to be President and have a law pa.s.sed that it"s a crime to rob nests and kill squirrels and things like that. I"d rather let them live!"
"Well, I belong to an Audubon Society at home," Frank stated. "I think it"s fine to study the birds and their habits and intelligence. We study about other creatures, too. I am learning a lot about the creatures of the wild out-of-doors. It"s interesting."
"Here"s good old Rowdy coming to get his share," cried Tom, slapping the bulldog on the shoulder. "There"s a funny old chap. He"ll take all sorts of mauling from any of us boys or from anyone whom he likes, but let a person whom he distrusts point a finger at him, and he"s at their throat in a minute. He is very partial!"
"Yes," Jack a.s.sented, "and it"s remarkable what a judge of character that dog is, too! He can select the good from the bad about as unerringly as one could wish. Sometimes he will make friends with perfect strangers and we find afterwards they are good people even though first appearances were against them. Again he will take a dislike to some mighty fine looking folks, but we learn that they are villains under the surface in the long run."
"Rowdy," Frank challenged, "are you going to take a shine to me or not?
Be mighty careful, now, for I"m very anxious about it."
For answer the dog who had been in the center of the floor sprang up to Frank"s lap in an endeavor to "kiss" the boy"s face. His weight projected so suddenly upon the lad resulted in upsetting him, and boy and dog rolled to the floor in a ma.s.s. Rowdy thinking a new game was on began pulling the boy about until all hands were arrested by a cry from Arnold, who still remained at the wheel.
"Land Ho!" came his cry down the companion-way. "Land on the starboard bow. All hands on deck!"
"Sure enough!" cried the lads. "There"s a light, too!"
"I"ll wager that"s Pascagoula," Tom said. "Pretty near time we were there by the way the Fortuna went through the water when the schooner was chasing us. I wonder where we can tie up!"
"Let"s shove her along and try to get in before dark," was Jack"s suggestion to which the others readily a.s.sented.
As the Fortuna entered the harbor the boys kept a sharp lookout for a promising berth for the night. Not until they were well past the bridge over which the Louisville & Nashville Railroad crosses the river did they find a place that looked suitable.
"Let"s not tie up to a dock," suggested Harry. "Let"s anchor."
This seemed the most feasible solution and was acted upon.
A position was chosen apart from the busy docks and well over toward an unoccupied section of sh.o.r.e. A goodly length of cable was paid out and a stopper put in place. The boys then prepared for retiring without further attempt at getting acquainted with the town or its inhabitants, leaving that for the morrow.
Leaving the doors between the cabins opened for ventilation and convenience in visiting after they were in their bunks the boys soon disposed themselves and prepared to pa.s.s a restful night.
"Wouldn"t it be better to set a watch?" asked Arnold.
"I don"t think it necessary," declared Harry. "It"s safe here."
"Sure it"s safe, but I feel uneasy just the same," Arnold protested.
"There"s no knowing what"s going on in these ports."
It was voted, however, that no watch was necessary so the boy composed himself to sleep drawing the blankets closely to his chin.
Scarcely had he gotten into a quiet sleep before Rowdy came to his bunk and insisted on making himself a bed fellow of the boy.
At last everything was still. Only the heavy breathing of the tired boys gave evidence of life aboard the Fortuna as she rode to her anchor, swinging with the currents and wavelets. Her riding lights were burning brightly, fed from the storage batteries below decks, and everything to the pa.s.ser by betokened peace.
Once Rowdy lifted a watchful eye and growled menacingly. Arnold stirred uneasily in his sleep and threw an arm over the dog.
Suddenly a shriek of agony pierced the air with startling distinctness.
Shriek after shriek followed intermingled with cries of distress. The boys bounded from their beds in alarm.
CHAPTER X
FIRST AID AND AN ESCAPE
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" came the cries of pain. "Oh! Oh! Oh!"
Quickly Jack"s hand stole toward the switch that controlled the overhead lights. Instantly the cabin was a blaze of light.
"What"s the matter?" cried the boy looking toward the source of the disturbance. "What"s going on here, anyway?"
Rowdy bounded off his bed and dashed toward the forward cabin with a vim and energy that bespoke ill for someone.
"Here, Rowdy," commanded Arnold, "come here, sir."
Slowly the dog returned to his master"s side. The hair on his shoulders was standing straight on end while hoa.r.s.e growls issued in thunderous tones from his throat around which the muscles tightened in antic.i.p.ation of a desperate struggle with an enemy.
"There"s someone in there," declared Harry in a tone of discovery.
"Somebody came aboard while we were asleep."
"Sure enough," scorned Tom rumpling Harry"s usually smooth hair. "What did you suppose was making all that noise, friend?"
"Well, there is someone in there," stoutly maintained Harry.
"Hush, boys," commanded Jack. "Let"s see who it is."
Automatics were produced from under pillows and the boys moved forward to investigate. The cries still came loudly.
"Who are you and what do you want?" questioned Jack.
"Oh, help me, help me," groaned the figure lying at the foot of the companion-way. "Help me, I"m hurt badly."
"Where are you hurt?" inquired Jack solicitously bending over the prostrate form curled in a heap. "I"ll help you if I can."
"My foot, oh, my foot," wailed the stranger. "It"s cut off."