CHAPTER XX
RESCUED AT SEA
"Bob, Bob White," replied Frank from the Fortuna. "Oh, there you are,Charley. Thank God. Oh, come down and come aboard."
"Yes, he'll come aboard," vociferated the mate in a coarse voice. He wasa brutal looking fellow, to whom the boys instantly took a violentdislike. "He'll stay where he is and so will you."
With these words he drew from the pocket of his trousers a revolver ofold style, but of aspect fully as vicious as its owner. It was of largecalibre, and from the way in which the mate handled it he was evidentlyfamiliar with its use.
But Jack was not to be daunted so easily. Stretching the truth a bit,perhaps, he replied to the threat of the mate:
"Oh, well, if you feel like bucking the government, go ahead. I can'tsink you with this craft, or you'd be at the bottom in a jiffy. But youknow what it means to disobey orders of an officer."
At this the fellow perceptibly weakened. But because the members of thecrew had overheard his threats and feeling like so many cowardly bulliesdo that he must make good his word, even though in the wrong, he againshook the menacing revolver and shouted:
"You fellows keep off or I'll shoot. You can't steal my crew. I'm abucko mate, I am. You better sheer off."
"Drop that gun, you villain!" cried Charley Burnett, high up in theschooner's rigging. At his words the mate turned.
Instantly a ringing voice from the Fortuna called out:
"Now I've got the drop on you! Let that gun go and tell the captain Iwant to talk to him or I'll have to shoot."
Tom was perched on top of the Fortuna's pilot house with a rifle in hishands, the muzzle pointed straight at the mate.
When the coward saw that he was indeed covered by a weapon in the handsof a determined person, his grasp on his own means of offense loosened,permitting the revolver to drop to the deck.
Seeing that he was for the time worsted he tried to cover his confusionwith a grin that was more of a snarl.
"Better send for your captain and be quick about it," cried Jackimpatiently. "We can't afford to burn up good gasolene chasing you. Movequickly and it will be better for you."
Ungraciously the mate dispatched one of the hands to call the captainwho appeared on deck directly in a not very good humor.
When he saw the boys in their neat uniforms, however, and observed thetrim appearance of the craft alongside his own vessel, his mannerchanged. He approached the rail and hailed:
"Launch, Ahoy! What can I do for you?"
"I must speak with you on important business, Captain."
"All right, sir. If you'll bear off a little, I'll heave to and you maycome aboard. I'm heavily laden and on short time, but I'll spare you afew moments if you can be brief."
In a short time the schooner lay quietly upon the water, with theFortuna ranged alongside. Fenders had been put overboard by theFortuna's crew in order to protect the paint on the launch.
Jack was received by the captain, who met him with a smile and heartyhandshake of welcome. The situation was soon explained by Jack, who wonthe captain's heart by his straightforward, manly appearance and by hisdirectness of speech.
"So we've got some of your chums who have been shanghaied?" queried thecaptain, when Jack had finished his recital.
"It looks that way, Captain," Jack announced.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" inquired the master of thesailing vessel in a tone intended to be severe.
Jack was watching his new acquaintance closely and thought he detectedjust the suspicion of a twinkle in the captain's eye.
"He's playing for time to try me out," thought the lad rapidly. "Hewants to see what I'll do in case of refusal."
Outwardly he gave no indication of what was in his mind, but appeared tobe pondering the situation deeply. At length he said:
"Captain, I'll have to leave it up to you. We want our chums who areaboard your vessel. I don't know what the marine law is nor whether we'dhave a right to seize them by force if we were able. So I think I'dbetter leave it to you. What shall we do, Captain?"
"Well, when you put it that way," replied the Captain, reaching forJack's hand and seizing it in a hearty grasp, "I think you'd better takethe lads and with them my apology. Will that do?"
"Captain, you're a brick," shouted Jack, forgetting for a moment in hisenthusiasm the difference in their rank. The next moment he was allconfusion over his breach of etiquette.
Laughing, the captain preceded him up the companion-way and called tothe mate. He then ordered the boys who had been shipped aboard the"Quickstep," released and turned over to the captain of the Fortuna.This was done much to the mate's disgust.
There need be no doubt as to the heartiness of the greetings that passedbetween the separated members of the Beaver and Bob White Patrols oncethey were united again. Introductions followed hastily.
As the "Quickstep" sailed away on her course again, the crew of theFortuna gathered on top of the cabin and waved a farewell, cheeringuntil they were hoarse. At length Jack called them below.
"How about some eats?" queried Tom. "I'm so empty I'd make a first ratedrum. I declare I haven't had anything to eat in weeks."
"Rubber," shouted Harry. "Stretch it. You mustn't fib."
"Well, I mean it seems that long," declared Tom. "Who'll be the cook?Shall we run slowly until breakfast is ready?"
"That's a good idea," Jack answered. "Let's run under a check untilbreakfast is over, then we'll make good time straight for Biloxi."
"Hurray, we're homeward bound," shouted Tom. "Hurray again!"
"Shower bath first," cried Arnold, dragging out the hose.
What a glorious morning that was. Doright laughed until he could laughno more to see the antics of the boys who took turns holding the hose oneach other. The sun was just up clear of the horizon ushering in a daythat promised to be beautiful. Only a slight swell was running on theGulf giving the boys an excellent opportunity for a shower bath on deck.They availed themselves of the opportunity and frolicked about to theirheart's content.
At length the boys produced the brushes and proceeded to scrub theFortuna until she shone--as Tom put it--"like a new bottle."
Jack volunteered to act as cook, drafting Arnold to assist because ofthe extra number of mouths to be fed. Doright stayed about thekitchenette, taking in every detail of the splendidly equipped boat. Tohis eyes, unaccustomed to anything of the sort, the vessel was splendidbeyond compare. He was charmed.
Presently breakfast was served. All did ample justice to the shrimps,sweet potatoes and chicken gumbo that Jack had prepared. The excellenceof the coffee was remarked by all.
At length the boys, having eaten their fill, spread the remains of thebreakfast for Doright. He had been serving as the boys ate.
"If there isn't enough breakfast for you. Doright, we'll make somepancakes for you," Jack offered in a friendly tone.
"Thankee, Boss. Ah guess there's more'n Ah kin eat," protested Doright."Ah haint no heavy eater, nohow. Ah just lunches."
Leaving the negro to satisfy his appetite and wash the dishes, the boysrepaired to the pilot house for a conference. There detailedexplanations of all that had happened since Harry and Arnold left for afishing trip were made, while Frank Evans and Charley Burnett told theirstory of the incidents in which they had been concerned.
"I'm puzzled over two things," stated Jack at length.
"What are they?" queried Arnold. "Ask me, I can tell you."
"First, I'm puzzled over the sudden turn of front in Doright."
"That's a fact," was Tom's rejoinder. "He has turned his coat mightysudden. I wonder what caused him to do it. Let's ask him."
This was no sooner proposed than it met with instant favor. Doright wascalled from his labor to join the meeting.
"Doright," Jack began in a kindly tone. "We have had reason to believethat you were opposed to us in times past. We knew that you were workingagainst us and that you helped make prisoners of these lads here. Nowwhat we
want to know is, why should you turn about and tell us when theywere just being put out of the way?"
Breathlessly the boys all leaned forward to catch the story.
"Well, sir, Boss, hit's jess like this here," began Doright. "Mah name'sDoright Abraham Jefferson Davis Canaan. Ah fergit the rest. Ever senseAh was little Ah been told by mah mammy to do right--Doright! Dat's mahname and Ah tries to do right."
"Thanks," smiled Jack. "Now tell me why you changed so."
"Well, sir, Boss, Ah jest seen that these yere boys wuzn't no men. Ahwuz willin' to let Lopez take the boys and shet 'em up an' all that. Butwhen hit come to puttin' of 'em aboard a bucko schooner, Ah says tomahse'f, Ah says: 'Doright, dat haint right.'"
"Yes, and what then? Why didn't you take them off the ship?"
"She done gone. So Ah jest says to Mister Pete--dat's Lopez--Ah says,'Mr. Pete,' Ah says, 'youall better git them boys back,' an' Mr. Pete hedone fotch me a clip over the haid with his'n gun an' Ah specs Ah got abump right there now. 'Course Ah done hit Mr. Pete then and so Ah comeon down to see youall. Mr. Pete he won't come to for a long time. Don'tno-body come to for for a long time when Ah hits 'em. Ah don't know mahown strength dey tells me."
"So, that was it, eh?" observed Frank. "Conscience got to hurting alittle and we owe the presence of this united band of Boy Scouts to ourfriend Doright. Boys, I move three cheers for Doright! Give them realheartily now, as if you meant it."
The ringing cheers went echoing across the waters of the Gulf, bringinga grin to Doright's black face. He scarcely caught the entire meaning ofthis tribute, but he sensed the import of it.
"I think we'd better give Doright a little souvenir," Frank suggested."Doright, what would you like to have best of all?"
Doright considered deeply, scratching his head meanwhile. At length helooked up with a smile spreading across his face.
"Ah reckon I'd like best to jes' cook an' clean upon this here boat. Shesure am a fine boat and Ah wouldn't be in the way a littlest bit. Ahcould sleep down in here by the engines or on deck."
"All right, Doright," answered Jack. "We'll have to consider the mattera while. We'll let you know later. You may go now."
After the negro's disappearance toward the cabin, the boys againgathered about Jack, eager for the next development.
"After Doright's lucid explanation, I think we have reduced our troublesto just one," he announced in a tone of finality.
"Just one trouble on earth," shouted Harry. "Oh my!"
"And what, pray, might that be?" queried Frank.
"That is just the question of whether or not there really is a treasureand if there is whether or not it is getatable, and whether Wyckoff andLopez and their gang of rascals will make us the trouble they have beentrying to make if we endeavor to get the chest."
"Well," speculated Charley, "if there isn't a treasure, there might justas well be one for Wyckoff and Lopez and their gang believe there isone, and they're ready to fight to the last breath to get it."
"They're surely scrappers," Arnold announced. "We know that."
"Yes," agreed Harry, "they're scrappers from the very word."
"Look at what we've had to contend with before we fairly start."
"What I'm worried about," Jack announced, "is that although Lawyer Geyergives minute instructions about everything else he doesn't give anyinformation as to the site of the chest. The fort must have been an acreor so in extent, yet he doesn't say whether it was buried in this corneror that, or out near the wood shed or what."
"We'll have to dig it all up," laughingly declared Frank.
"I can fix that," boasted Harry. "I know exactly the spot where weshould turn the first shovelful of earth."