CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
MISSING!
"Humph! that makes the rubber," cried the Captain late one evening, somelittle time after the events recorded in the last chapter, when theywere winding up the day with a game of whist, which had succeeded thenightly battle of cribbage wherewith Mrs Gilmour and the old sailorused to amuse their leisure before the advent of the barrister and MrsStrong on the scene. "What say all you good people to a trip toSouthampton to-morrow? There will be an excursion steamer running therein the morning, starting from the old pier at ten o'clock sharp, Ithink."
"All right; now you've beaten us, I suppose you want to appear generous,and divert our attention from our defeat," said Mrs Dugald Strong, witha fine touch of sarcasm, as the Captain chuckled over the odd trick, andcollected the spoils of war, in the shape of sundry little fish-counters, which he and his partner, aunt Polly, had won, through the oldsailor's successful manipulation of the cards. "I believe we've seenall that is to be seen in the isle of Wight."
"Indade you have," corroborated Mrs Gilmour. "We've been everywhere inthe sweet little place--no wonder it's called the `garden of England'!Sure we've seen everything, from the broken grating of the window whichpoor Charles the First was unable to squaze himself through atCarisbrook Castle, being too fat, poor man, down to the hawthorn-bush atFaringford over against Beacon Down atop of the Needles, where Tennysonused to hide his long clay pipes after smoking them, before going outfor his walk on the cliff. Sure, and I don't think, Dugald, there'sanything more for ye to see there at all, at all!"
"Oh, auntie, you have forgotten `little Jane's' grave in the pretty oldchurchyard at Brading, and the cottage in which the good `dairyman'sdaughter' lived at Arreton," chimed in Nellie, who was more romantic."Yes, and those dear little Swiss villas too, at Totland Bay, auntPolly, peeping out from the fir-trees and bracken, with the fuchsiaslike big trees in their front gardens, and the scarlet geraniums growingwild in the hedgerows!"
"Ah," said Master Bob, "I liked the smugglers' cave at Ventnor. I wishthey hadn't boarded it up, so that a fellow can't see where they used tohide the cargoes of silk and lace and kegs of brandy the French luggersbrought across from Saint Malo--wasn't that where they ran them from,Captain?"
"Aye," replied the old sailor. "They don't now, though, my boy. Ourcoastguardsmen are too sharp for that, and the mounseers have to findanother market for their goods! But are you all agreed about our payinga visit to Southampton to-morrow, my friends?"
"It's a long voyage," observed Mrs Gilmour, who, although she hadforsworn her resolve anent excursion steamers in her desire not tointerpose any selfish obstacle, such as her own wishes, to the enjoymentof the others during their holiday by the sea in proper seafaringfashion, yet could not forget the _Bembridge Belle_ catastrophe. "Areyou sure the vessel is safe?"
"Oh yes," answered the Captain. "She's one of the regular boats, and isas safe as a man-of-war."
"Then we may consider the expedition arranged," said Mrs Strong, who,being anxious to see the city of the great Saint Bevis, had no objectionto the trip up Southampton Water; for, having been already across theSolent, and even voyaged round the Isle of Wight, so to speak, withoutfeeling sea-sick or qualmish, she was confident of being a `bornsailor,' as the saying goes, and thus only too pleased to have anopportunity of testing her new experiences further. "If you say it issafe, Captain Dresser, neither Polly nor any of us need be alarmed, I amsure."
The next morning, as the steamer was advertised to start punctually atthe hour fixed, Bob was warned of his not having much time to spare whensetting out for his bathe before breakfast with the good dog Rover.
"Oh, I'll be back in plenty of time," was his boastful reply. "I'lltake some bread-and-butter with me for breakfast, and get a cup of milkfrom the apple-woman on the beach; and shall be at the pier waiting foryou before you leave the house."
"Take care, my boy; we're rather late this morning, and you are runningit pretty close," said his father, looking at his watch, as the younggentleman was scampering through the hall. "You won't have half-an-houraltogether to spare."
But, Bob was obstinate, and away he went across the common, with Roverat his heels.
"I know he will be late," sighed Mrs Strong, looking after him. "Iknow he will be late."
"Well, if he is, he will be left behind, that's all I can say," said hisfather, with decision. "I'm afraid Master Bob has too much of his ownway; and, it is just as well he should be taught a lesson sometimes."
Thus giving his fiat, Mr Strong, apparently dismissing Bob for thepresent from his mind, hurried the preparations of the others, so thatthey, at least, should be in good time; and, some twenty minutes afterthe truant had left, he and Mrs Strong and his sister, with Nellie,started for the pier, arriving there just as the Captain came up in agreat hurry, stepping along as briskly as he and his malacca cane couldget over the ground.
"Where's Bob?" he at once asked, missing the absentee. "Where's Bob?"
"He's gone to bathe," replied poor Nell, very disconsolately. "He saidhe'd get here as soon as we did, but he hasn't come yet, and I'm afraidhe'll be too late."
"That he will," said the Captain, looking equally distressed. "I hearthe steamer's bell ringing--in fact, I heard it before, and that made mequicken my movements. The stupid fellow!--Why did you let him go?"
"Wilful would have his way," answered Mr Strong, shrugging hisshoulders. "It is his own fault, and he must suffer the consequences.Come on, you people; I don't see why we should sacrifice our trip, atany rate."
Mrs Gilmour and his wife tried in vain to combat the barrister'sresolution, suggesting that the excursion might be postponed; but hewould not consent to this for a moment.
"No," he said determinedly, "this is the only day we could go; for, whenthe boat next leaves for Southampton, we'll most probably be back intown."
So saying, he pushed them all through the turnstile before him, andtaking their tickets, including one for Bob, in case he still contrivedto turn up in time, led the way to the steamer, which was blowing offher steam alongside the pier, as if in the greatest haste to start.
They were none too soon; for, hardly had they got on board, ere theengine-gong sounded and the steamer's paddles began to move, the vesselgliding out into the stream as her hawsers were cast-off.
All looked out eagerly, Nellie especially, almost in tears, hoping tothe last that Bob would come scurrying up; but, much to the generaldisappointment, no Bob came, nor did they even have the poorsatisfaction of seeing him appear in the distance after the steamer hadleft the pier.
"Poor Bob!" bewailed Nell, for whom all the fun of the expedition haddeparted with his absence. "I knew he would be too late."
"Never mind, missy," said the Captain to cheer her up, although he, too,felt sorry at the party being thus lessened in numbers; "you'll see himwhen we return this evening, and will then be able to tell him of allthe fine sights he lost by not going with us."
But Nell would not be consoled; for, in addition to Bob's not being withthem, Rover was likewise an absentee, while the Captain had left Dickbehind to give the cutter a good clean out, as well as perform otherduties. He thought that, perhaps, Mrs Strong might not like the boybeing brought with them and treated on an equality with her ownchildren; being taken, apparently, everywhere they went, as he had beenbefore. It need hardly be said, though, that such an idea neveroccurred to Bob's mother, who knew well how Dick had risked his life tosave her son's; the thought, really, was entirely due to the oldsailor's ultra conscientiousness!
Under these circumstances, therefore, Nellie did not by any means enjoythe trip; nor did the elders of the party, either, seem happy, allappearing to be equally well-pleased after they had seen Southampton,where there was not very much to see after all, and the boat startedback for home.
Soon after the steamer passed Calshott Castle and got into the waters ofthe Solent, late in the afternoon, the comfort of those on board was notincreased by their gettin
g into a thick white woolly sea-fog, which hadcrept over the Isle of Wight from the Channel.
On their reaching the pier at Southsea again, they found the fog had gotthere before them; and, crossing the common, they could hardly see eachother at a couple of yards distance.
Neither the barrister nor Mrs Strong liked the appearance of things,thinking that this mist of the sea resembled one of their own "Londonparticulars," and betokened a spell of bad weather.
The Captain, however, made light of it.
"Pooh, pooh!" cried he, "it's only brought up by the south-easterly windand will be cleared off by the morning, when you'll probably have ahotter day than ever."
This allayed Mrs Strong's forebodings in reference to the weather, andshe began to wonder what had become of Bob during their absence.
"He must have found the day very long, poor boy!" she said. "I wonderwhat he has been doing?"
"Oh, I've no doubt he's been amusing himself," replied the Captaincheerfully. "I don't think Bob would remain dull very long if even leftalone."
The same thoughts were passing through the minds both of Nellie and heraunt, although they said nothing; and all were looking forward to theirconjectures being solved as to how Bob had passed the time when theyshould arrive at "the Moorings."
However, on coming to the house, who should greet them but Rover, whogot up languidly from the doorstep, his coat all dripping with wet.
"Poor doggie!" exclaimed Nell, patting him. "Why, you're all damp withthe fog! Your master shouldn't have been so cruel as to leave yououtside. Where's Bob?"
Usually on being asked this question, Rover's invariable answer would bea short, sharp, joyous bark; but now, in place of this, the retrieverput up his head and uttered a plaintive whine that was almost a howl.
It struck dismay into all their hearts; and on Sarah's opening the doorat the same moment, Nell's question to the dog was now put to her.
"Where's Master Bob?"
The girl started back in astonishment.
"Law, mum!" said she, addressing her mistress, Mrs Gilmour. "Ain't hewith you, mum?"
"No," she replied, much frightened at Sarah's answer, or rather counter-question; while Mrs Strong grew as pale as death and Nellie clung toher convulsively, Rover's demeanour having roused their worst fears."You don't mean to say you haven't seen him?"
"No, mum, I thought he was with you," repeated the housemaid, beginningto cry as if accused of some fault. "I've never set eyes on Master Bobsince he went out to bathe before you did, mum, this morning!"
"I wonder where the young rascal is?" sang out the Captain in a jovialsort of way, to allay the alarm of the others and hide his ownuneasiness. "You'd better get inside out of the damp all of you while Igo off to the coastguard-station. I wouldn't mind betting a brassfarthing I'll find Master Bob there hobnobbing with Hellyer and Dick.He's very fond of going there to listen to my old coxswain's yarns whenhe has got a chance."
"I'll come with you," said Mr Strong, not liking to let him go alone,besides also beginning to feel anxious, adding to his wife-- "Go in,Edith! you need not be uneasy. We'll soon bring back our young truant!"
So saying, he and the Captain, followed by Rover with drooping tail,started for the coastguard-station on the beach.
However, on getting there, their fears, instead of being dispelled,were, on the contrary, alarmingly heightened!
Hellyer told them that he had not come on duty until a late hour in theday; and had then not seen anything of either Bob or Dick.
"The man as I relieved," continued the coastguardsman, "told me as howhe seed two boys in the Cap'en's boat about midday; and, all at once,arter his dinner, for which he goes into the cabin, you know, he missesthe boat and the boys too. But, he doesn't think anythink o' this, hesays, believin' they has took her into the harbour."
"Confound him!" cried the Captain excitedly. "Who was the man? Heought to have known something was wrong when he saw the two lads alonein her like that."
"He would be a stranger to you, sir," said Hellyer. "He wer' a man fromthe Hayling beat as just come on fresh to jine this station here to-day,sir. He's a man, sir, of the name of Jones, and rayther soft, like!"
"How unfortunate!" muttered the Captain, while Mr Strong groaned andupbraided himself for his seeming harshness to Bob in the morning. "Howvery unlucky!"
"Of course," went on the coastguardsman earnestly, in deep sympathy withboth--"the moment the man tells me of this, I knows what happens, seeingthat blessed sea-fog a creeping up and the wind falling; and so I goesoff to the commander and tells him what I thinks--as how Master Bob andthat young Dick o' yourn, Cap'en, were most likely all adrift andcouldn't fetch in to the land. I--"
"But what did your commander do?" cried the old sailor, interrupting."Tell me that!"
"Why, sir, he sent word round to all our stations and down to theDockyard, and he's telegraphed likewise to the h'island so as howthere'll be a strict look-out kep' all round the coast for the poorlads."
"I am very much obliged to you, Hellyer, and to the commander as well,"said the Captain as he and Mr Strong turned away mournfully, retracingtheir steps back to "the Moorings." "I'm afraid we can do nothing morenow."
No, nothing more could be done then.
The morning brought no news to gladden their hearts or brighten theirhopes.
Matters, indeed, looked worse than had been expected.
For, as the day wore on, reports reached the Dockyard from the differentcoastguard-stations along the eastern and western coast of the mainlandand from the Isle of Wight, whence a strict look-out had been kept onthe approaches to Spithead and the adjacent waters of the Channel.
These reports were all to the same effect.
Not a trace had been seen of the missing boat; nor anything heard of Boband Dick.
It was the same the following day, nothing likewise being then reported;although the search had been redoubled and one of the Government tugssent out from the harbour to scour the offing.
Hope now gave way to despair before the certainty that stared them inthe face, putting possibility beyond doubt.
Everybody believed the boat had been swamped, or run down in the fog,and that Bob and Dick were drowned!
Poor boys!