CHAPTER XV
On the River
Aldred had found the family at the Rectory a decided addition to theattractions of Grassingford. The girls, although they were "out" and"finished", were very companionable, and made much of both Mabel and herfriend; as for the boys, when first their stiffness and shyness had wornoff, they proved exceedingly jolly. Mabel was on excellent terms withher cousins, who were frequent visitors at the Hall, and might always becounted upon to take part in any fresh plans or projects.
On the Monday following Aldred's sudden illness and recovery, she andMabel were invited to spend the afternoon at the Rectory. It was theirlast opportunity, as they were to start for the Grange first thing onWednesday morning, and Tuesday must be reserved for packing and sayinggood-byes.
"We're all off this week," said Francis Farrington, as the visitors werewelcomed and borne away into the garden. "We are due back on Thursday,worse luck! I could have done with another fortnight. I hate school!"
"You lazy boy!" said Mabel.
"All right! I'm lazy if you like. I wonder, though, how you'd care tochange places with me, and be in old Barlow's Form. He's the mostfearful Turk, and gets as savage as a bear if one doesn't construeproperly--very different from your Miss Drummonds and Miss Bardsleys."
Mabel laughed.
"Shall I go to Stavebury with Piers and Godfrey, and you can take Aldredback to Birkwood?"
"Done! It would be jolly good fun--for me, at any rate. I should beliving in clover."
"Except for the work--you mustn't forget that."
"Work! I don't call your lessons work! They seem mostly cookery andwood-carving, varied by hockey and tennis."
"Don't be nasty! We have to use our brains during school hours andprep., though we do have jolly times in between. You needn't laugh atcookery, for you were ready enough to eat the queen's cakes that Aldredand I made last week."
"I'm not laughing. They were delicious; I only wish you'd make somemore! All the same, don't you suppose that the amount of grind you gothrough is anything like equal to ours; if you had old Barlow to setyour exercises, you'd soon find out."
"Well, you don't want girls to swat as hard as boys," said Piers, whowas rather fond of airing his opinions on various topics. "Spoils theircomplexions! They're put in the world to do the ornamental."
"Are we, indeed, sir? Thank you!" replied Mabel, with a mock curtsy. "Iwonder what you know about complexions, by the by? As for exertingourselves, we can do quite as much as you, in our own way."
"Granted, so long as you keep to your own way, and don't poach onours!"
"Here, you two, stop bickering!" said Godfrey. "When Piers begins anargument he'll hold forth for hours together. We don't want to discuss'Women's Sphere', or the 'Education Question'! Leave these to theDebating Society, and let's enjoy ourselves! How would Mabel and Aldredlike to come with us to Holt's farm? The pater wants us to take amessage there. It's only three miles away, and Aldred, at any rate,hasn't seen the river."
"I've never been to Holt's farm either," said Mabel "I haven't evencrossed the ferry."
"It would be better fun than tennis," agreed Piers. "Our court seems avery poor affair after the one at the Hall; it's hardly worth playingon."
Both Mabel and Aldred felt disposed for a walk. It was a fresh andbright afternoon, and the prospect of seeing a new part of theneighbourhood was attractive. Mabel often went out riding on horseback,or in the motor with her parents, and thus knew the high roads for manymiles around; but unless she accompanied her cousins, she seldomexplored the lanes and by-paths.
"In one way it's much jollier to go on foot," she declared. "You canstop to pick flowers, or climb on to banks; and I do so enjoy gettingover stiles!"
"You'll have enough of them this afternoon," laughed Francis. "There areat least twelve to cross, if we go through the fields by the river."
"Are Sibyl and Ida coming with us?" asked Mabel.
"No, they think the Grants may be calling, so they don't dare to be out.Would you each like a stick? We've an assortment here, in the umbrellastand; this is a nice little one with a crooked handle for Aldred, andI can recommend this cherrywood for you, Mabel."
The country at Grassingford was exceedingly pretty. It was not grand,nor mountainous, but was well wooded and dotted with picturesquefarmsteads. There were deep lanes, with high hedges, which at thepresent season of the year were a mass of flowering hawthorn; and everylittle copse and spinney showed blue with hyacinths. There was adelightful spring-like feeling in the air, that combination of sun andbreeze, bursting buds, and opening leaves which promises returningsummer, renews all the vitality of human beings, and sets us singinglike the birds for the mere joy of being alive. Such days seem echoes ofthe Golden Age slipped out of Paradise, days when we want to forgethouses and cities and civilization, and go into the fields to learn thelessons Mother Nature has to teach us--lessons as old as the hills, butfresh every year, when they are fraught with the mystery of newcreation.
The path to the river lay across fields, and it would have beendifficult to find it without a guide who knew the way. It zigzaggedbetween patches of growing corn and hay, turned sharply round corners,and for a short distance even led down the half-dry bed of a stream.
"The fact is, it isn't a proper path at all," said Francis. "It's only ashort cut that we found out for ourselves; it saves a mile."
"It's lovely! I should want to come by it, even if it were a mile longerinstead of shorter," said Aldred, who always preferred the romantic tothe practical. "How do you manage when the stream is full?"
"Oh! we can't get along unless we wade. We came once last winter and hadto turn back; the water was up to this stone, a regular rushing torrent,very different from what it is now. Can you scramble over this wall?Take my hand. Now, you see, we are in the lane, and we shall get to theferry in a minute."
The old-fashioned ferry was a most picturesque feature of the tidalriver, a large, flat-bottomed boat being worked on chains, whichstretched from one bank to the other. Sometimes a horse and cart, or aflock of sheep, would be taken over, as well as ordinary passengers, thewhole cargo being slowly wound across the water by the ferryman, whoturned a creaking windlass on board. The whole arrangement seemed adelightful survival of days when no one was ever in a hurry, and liferevolved on leisurely wheels, as different from our modern rush andexcitement as a bullock cart is from a motor car. Aldred was fascinatedwith the quaint contrivance, and anxious to cross on it; but Francis hadother projects.
"I say! Wouldn't it be jolly if we could get Pritchard to lend us hissmall boat, and row ourselves up the river to Holt's farm?" hesuggested.
"Ripping!" said Godfrey. "Why not?"
"It's not a bad idea," said Piers; "but have you fellows brought anymoney with you? for I haven't."
"I've left my worldly wealth in my other trousers' pocket," admittedGodfrey. "Francis, you'll have to pay the piper."
"All serene!"
"I wonder what he'd charge?"
"I don't know, but we can ask him. Here he is now. You'd like a row,girls, wouldn't you?"
"Immensely!" said Mabel.
"Oh, I do hope he'll let us! It would be such fun!" added Aldred.
"We want to know if you'll hire out your small boat," said Francis tothe ferryman. "What would you charge to let us have it for an hour, orperhaps a little longer?"
Pritchard stroked the short, grey stubble on his chin reflectively.
"Are you sure you can manage a boat amongst you?" he queried.
"Of course!" answered Francis, rather loftily. "We all know how to row;we're as accustomed to the river as you are yourself."
"I don't know about that," said Pritchard, smiling. "You haven't gotfifty years at the back of you yet. It'll take a fairly strong arm topull the lot of you, especially against the tide. The boat's bespoke forhalf-past four too."
Francis complacently felt his muscles, as if to suggest that he wasquite equal to the occasion.
"Say what you
want for it," he replied.
"We'll undertake to bring it back in heaps of time," interposed Godfrey.
"How would half a crown be for the hour?"
"I'm afraid I've only got a two-shilling piece with me," said Francis,coming down a little from his high horse.
"And two shillings is the usual price without a boatman," added Piers.
"I'd a deal rather you had a boatman with you, only I can't spare thetime. Well, I don't want to be hard on you; we won't quarrel over thesixpence. One of the oars is spliced, and you'll have to be careful ofit. Thomas, help to run down the boat, will you?"
With the help of two strong pairs of arms, the _Maid of Llangollen_ wentgrating along the shingle towards the river. She was short and broad,and evidently not intended for racing. The boys inspected her with acritical eye.
"She's a dreadfully heavy old tub," said Piers, "but she's seaworthy,and I dare say we shall have some fun out of her."
"Who's to row stroke?" said Francis.
"I am, of course," answered Piers, in a tone that admitted of nodispute. "Godfrey may have the other oar, and you can steer."
"And what may we do?" asked Mabel.
"The ornamental, of course! You and Aldred can just sit and enjoyyourselves."
"We'd much rather take our share of the work."
"Well, perhaps we'll let you have a turn by and by, if you're soparticularly anxious."
Pritchard by this time had run the boat down the bank and rowed herround to a small jetty, from which it was easy to board her.
"There's a nice place for you misses here, in the stern," he said. "Becareful! It's wet in the bottom. There's a tin can under the seat, ifyou want to bale her out."
It was most delightful on the river. In spite of her clumsy build, the_Maid of Llangollen_ seemed to glide along in the easiest manner. Mabeland Aldred leaned back luxuriously in the stern of the boat, trailingtheir hands in the water, and watching the regular dip of the oars. Theparty were all in the best of spirits, and began to exchange jokes andsing songs.
"Yo di diddle diddle dee, Five jolly sea-dogs are we. We've to heave the anchor, and our friends all hanker To join our companee!"
chanted Francis.
"Is that original?" asked Mabel.
"Of course it is! Don't you know my remarkable style by this time? I'mthe coming poet!"
"A modest one, at any rate!" laughed Aldred.
"Oh, it doesn't do to hide one's light under a bushel! Nobody believesin you nowadays unless you advertise yourself."
"I thought self-praise was no recommendation."
"Quite a mistaken idea! To alter Shakespeare a little, one can say:Sweet are the uses of advertisement!"
"You must give us a better specimen of your poetry before we'll believein you," said Mabel. "I shall call you a doggerel rhymster at present."
"All right! How do you like this?--
'Tis unkind, most naughty Mabel, Your poor cousin's lines to label As but trashy, worthless rhymes Only fit for strolling mimes. Don't you see the genius burning In each verse that I am turning? Some fine day--I'll give a hint-- You may see my name in print!"
"It will be among the advertisements, then," said Aldred. "I suppose youreally made up that one?"
"Certainly; a poor thing, but mine own," said Francis, with an attemptat a bow. "You needn't clap, because, after all, I'm rather modest, andit might raise a blush on my cheek."
"We weren't going to--though we'd like to see the blush, I assure you!"
"Would you like another verse? I'm waxing poetical: I suppose it's amatter of practice."
"No, thanks, we've had enough!" exclaimed Piers. "You'd better droppoetry, and stick to steering; you've nearly bumped us into the bankmore than once."
"Can't I have a turn at rowing now?" asked Mabel. "You promised Ishould."
"All serene!" said Piers. "You may take my oar. Steady! Don't goupsetting us!"
"Then let me have yours, Godfrey," said Aldred. "I do so want to trytoo!"
"It's the spliced one," said Godfrey, "but I don't suppose you're likelyto smash it."
It was the first time Aldred had ever tried to row, and it was muchharder work than she had supposed.
"Look here! you're not feathering your oar properly," commented Piers."You oughtn't to put it in so deep, nor bring it out with a jerk. Watchhow Mabel is doing it."
"Oh, I know!" replied Aldred rather impatiently. She did not like toreceive any criticisms, and, setting her feet firmly, gave a mightypull. The next instant over she went on her back, and away went the oarinto the water. Luckily, Piers had plenty of presence of mind. He putout his hand and caught the oar just as it was floating past the stern.
"We very nearly lost it!" he remarked. "It was luckily near enough toreach."
Aldred retired into the stern again, feeling decidedly crestfallen, allthe more so as Mabel was getting on nicely. Her friend's efforts didnot last long, however; she soon declared that her hands would beblistered, and relinquished her seat to Piers, who was longing to be incommand again.
"It's far better for you to look on," he said. "Girls aren't much goodat rowing."
"How about Grace Darling?"
"Oh, well, she was the exception that proves the rule!"
"Here we are, close to the farm!" exclaimed Godfrey. "We must try tofind a good landing-place."
They decided that it was not worth while for all to leave the boat, soFrancis volunteered to get out. He ran across a field to the farm,delivered his father's message, and was back almost before the othershad time to grow impatient.
"We must turn her about now," said Piers. "Oh, thunder! It's later thanI thought; we shall have to hurry up, if somebody wants the boat athalf-past four. Francis, you had better take Godfrey's oar."
Once on the river again they found that their return was a verydifferent matter from their former journey. The tide was running out ina fast and strong current against them, and though Piers and Francistried their utmost, they could scarcely make any headway. It was a heavyboat for two boys to manage, and the possibility of their being back intime seemed doubtful.
They had gone perhaps two-thirds of a mile, when suddenly there was aharsh, grating sound under them.
"Hallo! We've run aground!" cried Francis.
This was bad news indeed, but it was only too true. They had not knownthat a sandbank was there; on their way up they had passed over iteasily, but the tide was going out so rapidly now that already it wasalmost uncovered. The boat seemed stuck fast, and although the boys madeevery effort, they were not able to free her with their oars. Theypulled off their boots and stockings, and, jumping overboard, tried topush or drag her from the shoal, but all to no purpose; she was sunk sodeeply in the soft sand and gravel that they could not move her an inch.
"What are we to do?" asked Godfrey.
"Stay where we are, I suppose, till the tide floats her off again,"replied Piers.
"It's a pleasant look-out, anyhow!" said Francis.
"And Aunt Winifred will be wondering where we are, too, if we don't turnup for tea," added Mabel.
"It's a pity we didn't bring some tea with us, and we could have had apicnic," said Aldred. "I'm so thirsty!"
"There's nothing to offer you but the river, I'm afraid."
"No, thanks, it's too muddy for my taste."
"'Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink!'" quoted Piers.
"And what our thirst will be ere long, One doesn't like to think!"
rapped out the irrepressible Francis, whose muse was not quenched evenby this disaster.
"We're in a fix, and that's the solemn truth," said Godfrey.
They were, indeed, in a most awkward predicament. By the time the tidewas high again it would be midnight, and they certainly could not see torow in the dark. There was every prospect that they would have to spendthe night on the shoal, without tea or supper, or extra wraps.
They waited for perhaps an hour and a
half, while the sandbank grew toquite a respectable island. There were woods on either hand, so it wasmost unlikely that their plight would be noticed from the shore; theironly chance of relief was from a passing boat--a faint hope, for as arule there were very few craft on the river.
"I begin to understand how a shipwrecked mariner feels when he's waitingfor a sail!" said Aldred.
"I believe I'd trade my watch for a plateful of bread and butter," saidFrancis.
Godfrey suddenly stood up in the stern and waved his hat.
"A boat! A boat!" he cried eagerly. "Hallo, there! Hi!"
Francis and Piers immediately joined him in making such a noise thatnobody but a deaf person could have ignored it. The fisherman who wasrowing in their direction evidently realized the situation; he signed tohis mate to stay in the channel, then, clambering overboard, came wadingin his tall boots on to the island.
"Why, it's Sam Ball, who sings in the choir!" exclaimed Godfrey.
Their rescuer regarded them with a rueful grin.
"You've got yourselves into a precious mess here!" he said briefly.
"Can you help us to pull her off?" returned Piers anxiously.
"Pull her off! Couldn't do it with a team of horses! She'll have to stopwhere she is until the tide floats her. I'll take you off, and that'sthe best I can do for you. Hoist one of them young misses on my back;I'll carry them first."
He waded with Aldred to his own boat, returning to fetch Mabel, and theboys scrambled after him as best they could.
"It's Pritchard's boat, isn't it?" he said. "I'm passing the ferry, soif you like I'll tell him what's happened. If you cross through the woodthere, and turn to the right of the iron gate, you'll find your waystraight to the village."
The boys went home in rather subdued spirits.
"We shall have to go down to the ferry this evening and explain thingsto Pritchard," said Piers. "I hope he won't cut up rough about theboat."
"I'm afraid he'll want compensation," said Francis, "I split thatspliced oar with trying to shove her off."
"What an abominable swindle! It'll take half our next term's cash. Idon't believe the pater will stand it for us."
"I'm sure he won't, after that little affair of the rifle and oldCarter's dog!" put in Godfrey.
"Well, never mind if we have to pay up. We shall survive it, I suppose,"said Francis. "We're making Mabel and Aldred look quite uncomfortable.It seems a stingy trick to take them out rowing, land them on asandbank, and then spend all the rest of the time growling over thedamage. But I know one thing: if ever we have that boat again, I'm goingto make a chart of the river first, and mark down all the shoals!"