Chapter 13

9 min

Well, I catched my breath and most fainted. Shut up on a wreck with such a gang as that! But it warn’t no time to be sentimentering. We’d got to find that boat now—had to have it for ourselves. So we went a-quaking and shaking down the stabboard side, and slow work it was, too—seemed a week before we got to the stern. No sign of a boat. Jim said he didn’t believe he could go any further—so scared he hadn’t hardly any strength left, he said. But I said, come on, if we get left on this wreck we are in a fix, sure. So on we prowled again. We struck for the stern of the texas, and found it, and then scrabbled along forwards on the skylight, hanging on from shutter to shutter, for the edge of the skylight was in the water. When we got pretty close to the cross-hall door, there was the skiff, sure enough! I could just barely see her. I felt ever so thankful. In another second I would a been aboard of her, but just then the door opened. One of the men stuck his head out only about a couple of foot from me, and I thought I was gone; but he jerked it in again, and says:

Well, I catched my breath and most fainted. Shut up on a wreck with such a gang as that! But it wasn’t no time to be sentimentering. We’d got to find that boat now. We had to have it for ourselves. So we went a-quaking and shaking down the starboard side, and slow work it was, too. It seemed a week before we got to the stern. No sign of a boat. Jim said he didn’t believe he could go any further. He said he was so scared he hadn’t hardly any strength left. But I said, come on, if we get left on this wreck we are in a fix, sure. So on we prowled again. We struck for the stern of the texas and found it. Then we scrabbled along forwards on the skylight, hanging on from shutter to shutter, because the edge of the skylight was in the water. When we got pretty close to the cross-hall door, there was the skiff, sure enough! I could just barely see her. I felt ever so thankful. In another second I would have been aboard of her, but just then the door opened. One of the men stuck his head out only about a couple of foot from me, and I thought I was gone. But he jerked it in again, and says:

“Heave that blame lantern out o’ sight, Bill!”

“Throw that blame lantern out of sight, Bill!”

He flung a bag of something into the boat, and then got in himself and set down. It was Packard. Then Bill he come out and got in. Packard says, in a low voice:

He flung a bag of something into the boat. Then he got in himself and set down. It was Packard. Then Bill he come out and got in. Packard says, in a low voice:

“All ready—shove off!”

“All ready. Push off!”

I couldn’t hardly hang on to the shutters, I was so weak. But Bill says:

I couldn’t hardly hang on to the shutters because I was so weak. But Bill says:

“Hold on—’d you go through him?”

“Hold on. Did you search him?”

“No. Didn’t you?”

“No. So he’s got his share o’ the cash yet.”

“No. So he’s still got his share of the cash.”

“Well, then, come along; no use to take truck and leave money.”

“Well, then, come along. No use taking stuff and leaving money behind.”

“Say, won’t he suspicion what we’re up to?”

“Maybe he won’t. But we got to have it anyway. Come along.”

So they got out and went in.

The door slammed to because it was on the careened side; and in a half second I was in the boat, and Jim come tumbling after me. I out with my knife and cut the rope, and away we went!

The door slammed shut because it was on the side that tilted down. And in half a second I was in the boat, and Jim come tumbling after me. I out with my knife and cut the rope, and away we went!

We didn’t touch an oar, and we didn’t speak nor whisper, nor hardly even breathe. We went gliding swift along, dead silent, past the tip of the paddle-box, and past the stern; then in a second or two more we was a hundred yards below the wreck, and the darkness soaked her up, every last sign of her, and we was safe, and knowed it.

We didn’t touch an oar, and we didn’t speak nor whisper, nor hardly even breathe. We glided swift along, dead silent, past the edge of the paddle wheel housing and past the stern. Then, in another second or two, we was a hundred yards below the wreck. And the darkness swallowed her up, every last sign of her. And we was safe, and knowed it.

When we was three or four hundred yards down-stream we see the lantern show like a little spark at the texas door for a second, and we knowed by that that the rascals had missed their boat, and was beginning to understand that they was in just as much trouble now as Jim Turner was.

When we was three or four hundred yards downstream, we see the lantern for a second. It looked like a little spark at the door of the upper-deck cabin. From that, we knowed the rascals had missed their boat. And they was beginning to understand they was now in just as much trouble as Jim Turner was.

Then Jim manned the oars, and we took out after our raft. Now was the first time that I begun to worry about the men—I reckon I hadn’t had time to before. I begun to think how dreadful it was, even for murderers, to be in such a fix. I says to myself, there ain’t no telling but I might come to be a murderer myself yet, and then how would I like it? So says I to Jim:

Then Jim took the oars, and we went after our raft. That was the first time I begun to worry about the men. I reckon I hadn’t had time to before. I begun to think how awful it was, even for murderers, to be in such trouble. I says to myself, there ain’t no telling but I might end up a murderer myself yet. Then how would I like it? So says I to Jim:

“The first light we see we’ll land a hundred yards below it or above it, in a place where it’s a good hiding-place for you and the skiff, and then I’ll go and fix up some kind of a yarn, and get somebody to go for that gang and get them out of their scrape, so they can be hung when their time comes.”

“When we see the first light, we’ll land a hundred yards upstream or downstream from it. We’ll find a good hiding place for you and the small boat. Then I’ll go make up some kind of story and get somebody to go rescue that gang. That way, they can be hanged when their time comes.”

But that idea was a failure; for pretty soon it begun to storm again, and this time worse than ever. The rain poured down, and never a light showed; everybody in bed, I reckon. We boomed along down the river, watching for lights and watching for our raft. After a long time the rain let up, but the clouds stayed, and the lightning kept whimpering, and by-and-by a flash showed us a black thing ahead, floating, and we made for it.

But that idea failed, because pretty soon it begun to storm again, worse than ever. The rain poured down, and not a light showed anywhere. Everybody in bed, I reckon. We rushed down the river, watching for lights and watching for our raft. After a long time the rain let up, but the clouds stayed, and the lightning kept flickering faintly. Before long, a flash showed us something black floating ahead, and we headed for it.

It was the raft, and mighty glad was we to get aboard of it again. We seen a light now away down to the right, on shore. So I said I would go for it. The skiff was half full of plunder which that gang had stole there on the wreck. We hustled it on to the raft in a pile, and I told Jim to float along down, and show a light when he judged he had gone about two mile, and keep it burning till I come; then I manned my oars and shoved for the light. As I got down towards it, three or four more showed—up on a hillside. It was a village. I closed in above the shore light, and laid on my oars and floated. As I went by, I see it was a lantern hanging on the jackstaff of a double-hull ferry-boat. I skimmed around for the watchman, a-wondering whereabouts he slept; and by-and-by I found him roosting on the bitts, forward, with his head down between his knees. I gave his shoulder two or three little shoves, and begun to cry.

It was the raft, and we was mighty glad to get aboard it again. We seen a light now far down to the right, on shore. So I said I would go for it. The skiff was half full of loot that gang had stole from the wreck. We hurried to pile it onto the raft. I told Jim to float on down and show a light when he figured he had gone about two mile. He was to keep it burning till I come. Then I took up my oars and pushed off toward the light. As I got closer, three or four more lights showed up on a hillside. It was a village. I came toward shore above the first light, then rested on my oars and floated. As I went by, I see the light was a lantern hanging from a flagpole on a double-hulled ferryboat. The pole was at the front of the boat. I moved around looking for the watchman, wondering where he slept. After a while, I found him perched on the mooring posts at the front, his head down between his knees. I gave his shoulder two or three little shoves and begun to cry.

He stirred up, in a kind of a startlish way; but when he see it was only me, he took a good gap and stretch, and then he says:

He stirred, looking kind of startled. But when he see it was only me, he gave a big yawn and stretched. Then he says:

“Hello, what’s up? Don’t cry, bub. What’s the trouble?”

“Hey, what’s up? Don’t cry, buddy. What’s wrong?”

I says:

“Pap, and mam, and sis, and—”

“Dad, and mom, and sis, and...”

Then I broke down. He says:

“Oh, dang it now, don’t take on so; we all has to have our troubles, and this’n ’ll come out all right. What’s the matter with ’em?”

“Oh, dang it now, don’t get so upset. We all has to have our troubles, and this one will turn out all right. What’s the matter with them?”

“They’re—they’re—are you the watchman of the boat?”

“They’re, they’re, are you the boat’s watchman?”

“Yes,” he says, kind of pretty-well-satisfied like. “I’m the captain and the owner and the mate and the pilot and watchman and head deck-hand; and sometimes I’m the freight and passengers. I ain’t as rich as old Jim Hornback, and I can’t be so blame’ generous and good to Tom, Dick and Harry as what he is, and slam around money the way he does; but I’ve told him a many a time ’t I wouldn’t trade places with him; for, says I, a sailor’s life’s the life for me, and I’m derned if I’d live two mile out o’ town, where there ain’t nothing ever goin’ on, not for all his spondulicks and as much more on top of it. Says I—”

“Yes,” he says, kind of pretty-well-satisfied like. “I’m the captain and the owner and the mate and the pilot and watchman and head deck-hand. And sometimes I’m the freight and passengers. I ain’t as rich as old Jim Hornback, and I can’t be so blamed generous and good to Tom, Dick and Harry as what he is, and slam around money the way he does. But I’ve told him a many a time that I wouldn’t trade places with him. For, says I, a sailor’s life’s the life for me, and I’m darned if I’d live two mile out of town, where there ain’t nothing ever going on, not for all his spondulicks and as much more on top of it. Says I...”

I broke in and says:

“They’re in an awful peck of trouble, and—”

“They’re in a lot of trouble, and...”

“Who is?”

“Why, pap and mam and sis and Miss Hooker; and if you’d take your ferry-boat and go up there—”

“Why, dad and mom and sis and Miss Hooker. And if you’d take your ferry and go up there...”

“Up where? Where are they?”

“On the wreck.”

“What wreck?”

“Why, there ain’t but one.”

“What, you don’t mean the Walter Scott?”

“Yes.”

“Good land! what are they doin’ there, for gracious sakes?”

“Good land! What are they doing there, for gracious sakes?”

“Well, they didn’t go there a-purpose.”

“Well, they didn’t go there on purpose.”

“I bet they didn’t! Why, great goodness, there ain’t no chance for ’em if they don’t git off mighty quick! Why, how in the nation did they ever git into such a scrape?”

“I bet they didn’t! Why, great goodness, there ain’t no chance for them if they don’t get off mighty quick! Why, how on earth did they ever get into such a scrape?”

“Easy enough. Miss Hooker was a-visiting up there to the town—”

“Easy enough. Miss Hooker was visiting up there in town...”

“Yes, Booth’s Landing—go on.”

“Yes, Booth’s Landing. Go on.”

“She was a-visiting there at Booth’s Landing, and just in the edge of the evening she started over with her woman in the horse-ferry to stay all night at her friend’s house, Miss What-you-may-call-her I disremember her name—and they lost their steering-oar, and swung around and went a-floating down, stern first, about two mile, and saddle-baggsed on the wreck, and the ferryman and the woman and the horses was all lost, but Miss Hooker she made a grab and got aboard the wreck. Well, about an hour after dark we come along down in our trading-scow, and it was so dark we didn’t notice the wreck till we was right on it; and so we saddle-baggsed; but all of us was saved but Bill Whipple—and oh, he was the best cretur!—I most wish’t it had been me, I do.”

“She was visiting there at Booth’s Landing. And just as evening was starting, she set off with her woman in the horse-ferry. They was going to stay all night at her friend’s house, Miss What-you-may-call-her. I disremember her name. And they lost their steering-oar and swung around and floated downstream, stern first, about two mile. Then they saddle-baggsed on the wreck. And the ferryman and the woman and the horses was all lost. But Miss Hooker she grabbed hold and got aboard the wreck. Well, about an hour after dark we come along downstream in our trading-scow. And it was so dark we didn’t notice the wreck till we was right on it. And so we saddle-baggsed. But all of us was saved but Bill Whipple. And oh, he was the best creature! I most wish it had been me, I do.”

“My George! It’s the beatenest thing I ever struck. And then what did you all do?”

“My George! It’s the strangest thing I ever came across. And then what did you all do?”

“Well, we hollered and took on, but it’s so wide there we couldn’t make nobody hear. So pap said somebody got to get ashore and get help somehow. I was the only one that could swim, so I made a dash for it, and Miss Hooker she said if I didn’t strike help sooner, come here and hunt up her uncle, and he’d fix the thing. I made the land about a mile below, and been fooling along ever since, trying to get people to do something, but they said, ‘What, in such a night and such a current? There ain’t no sense in it; go for the steam ferry.’ Now if you’ll go and—”

“Well, we hollered and carried on, but it’s so wide there we couldn’t make nobody hear. So pap said somebody got to get ashore and get help somehow. I was the only one that could swim, so I made a dash for it. And Miss Hooker she said if I didn’t find help sooner, come here and look up her uncle. He’d take care of things. I reached land about a mile downstream. And I been wandering along ever since, trying to get people to do something. But they said, ‘What, on a night like this, with such a current? There ain’t no sense in it. Go get the steam ferry.’ Now if you’ll go and...”

“By Jackson, I’d like to, and, blame it, I don’t know but I will; but who in the dingnation’s a-going’ to pay for it? Do you reckon your pap—”

“By Jackson, I’d like to. And, blame it, I don’t know but I will. But who in the dingnation’s going to pay for it? Do you reckon your pap...”

“Why that’s all right. Miss Hooker she tole me, particular, that her uncle Hornback—”

“Why that’s all right. Miss Hooker she told me, particular, that her uncle Hornback...”

“Great guns! is he her uncle? Looky here, you break for that light over yonder-way, and turn out west when you git there, and about a quarter of a mile out you’ll come to the tavern; tell ’em to dart you out to Jim Hornback’s, and he’ll foot the bill. And don’t you fool around any, because he’ll want to know the news. Tell him I’ll have his niece all safe before he can get to town. Hump yourself, now; I’m a-going up around the corner here to roust out my engineer.”

“Great guns! Is he her uncle? Look here, run toward that light over there, and turn west when you get there. About a quarter of a mile out, you’ll come to the tavern. Tell them to rush you out to Jim Hornback’s, and he’ll foot the bill. And don’t you fool around any, because he’ll want to know the news. Tell him I’ll have his niece all safe before he can get to town. Hurry up, now. I’m going up around the corner here to rouse my engineer.”

I struck for the light, but as soon as he turned the corner I went back and got into my skiff and bailed her out, and then pulled up shore in the easy water about six hundred yards, and tucked myself in among some woodboats; for I couldn’t rest easy till I could see the ferry-boat start. But take it all around, I was feeling ruther comfortable on accounts of taking all this trouble for that gang, for not many would a done it. I wished the widow knowed about it. I judged she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions, because rapscallions and dead beats is the kind the widow and good people takes the most interest in.

I headed for the light, but as soon as he turned the corner, I went back to my skiff. I got in and bailed her out. Then I rowed about six hundred yards upstream in the calm water and tucked myself in among some woodboats. I couldn’t rest easy till I could see the ferryboat start. But all in all, I was feeling rather comfortable on accounts of taking all this trouble for that gang. Not many would have done it. I wished the widow knowed about it. I figured she would be proud of me for helping these rapscallions. That’s because rapscallions and dead beats is the kind the widow and good people takes the most interest in.

Well, before long, here comes the wreck, dim and dusky, sliding along down! A kind of cold shiver went through me, and then I struck out for her. She was very deep, and I see in a minute there warn’t much chance for anybody being alive in her. I pulled all around her and hollered a little, but there wasn’t any answer; all dead still. I felt a little bit heavy-hearted about the gang, but not much, for I reckoned if they could stand it, I could.

Well, before long, here comes the wreck, dark and hard to see, drifting down the river! A kind of cold shiver went through me, and then I headed for her. She was sitting very low in the water. I see in a minute there wasn't much chance of anybody being alive in her. I rowed all around her and hollered a little, but there wasn't any answer. Everything was dead quiet. I felt a little bit sad about the gang, but not much. For I reckoned if they could stand it, I could.

Then here comes the ferry-boat; so I shoved for the middle of the river on a long down-stream slant; and when I judged I was out of eye-reach, I laid on my oars, and looked back and see her go and smell around the wreck for Miss Hooker’s remainders, because the captain would know her uncle Hornback would want them; and then pretty soon the ferry-boat give it up and went for the shore, and I laid into my work and went a-booming down the river.

Then here comes the ferryboat. So I shoved for the middle of the river on a long downstream slant. When I judged I was out of eye-reach, I laid on my oars and looked back. I see her go and smell around the wreck for Miss Hooker’s remainders, because the captain would know her uncle Hornback would want them. Then pretty soon the ferryboat give it up and went for the shore, and I laid into my work and went a-booming down the river.

It did seem a powerful long time before Jim’s light showed up; and when it did show, it looked like it was a thousand mile off. By the time I got there the sky was beginning to get a little gray in the east; so we struck for an island, and hid the raft, and sunk the skiff, and turned in and slept like dead people.

It did seem a powerful long time before Jim’s light showed up. And when it did show, it looked like it was a thousand mile off. By the time I got there, the sky was beginning to turn a little gray in the east. So we headed for an island, hid the raft, and sunk the skiff. Then we went to bed and slept like dead people.