Bevis Part 57

"Not once--you didn't."

"Well, it's not your s.h.i.+p. It's our s.h.i.+p," said Mark, giving another push, till the Pinta was nearly afloat.

"Stop," cried Charlie, running down to the water's edge. "Bevis, do take us--"

"It's very selfish of you," said Val, following.

"So it is," said Bevis. "I say, Mark--"

"Pooh!" said Mark, and with a violent shove he launched the boat, and leaped on board. He took a scull, and began to row her head round. The wind was north and light.

"I bate you," said Charlie. "I believe you're doing something. What's in that box."

"Ballast, you donk," said Mark.

"That it isn't, I saw it just before you shut the lid. It's not ballast."

"Let's let them come," said Bevis irresolutely.

"You awful stupe," said Mark, under his breath. "They'll spoil everything."

"And why do you always sail one way?" said Val. "We've seen you ever so many times."

"I won't be watched," said Bevis angrily: he, unconsciously, endeavoured to excuse his selfishness under rage.

"You can't help it."

"I tell you, I won't."

"You're not General Caesar now."

"I hate you," pulling up the mainsail. Mark took the rope and fastened it; Bevis sat down to the tiller.

"You're a beast," screamed little Charlie, as the sails drew and the boat began to move: the north wind was just aft.

"I never thought you were so selfish," shouted Val. "Go on--I won't ask you again."

"Take that," said Charlie, "and that--and that."

He threw three stones, one after the other, with all his might: the third, rising from the surface of the water, struck the Pinta's side sharply.

"Aren't they just horrid?" he said to Val.

"I never saw anything like it," said Val. "But we'll pay them out, somehow."

On the boat, Bevis looked back presently, and saw them still standing at the water's edge.

"It's a pity," he said; "Mark, I don't like it: shall we have them?"

"How can we? Of course they would spoil everything; they would tell everybody, and we could never do it; and, besides, the new island would not be a new island, if everybody was there."

"No more it would."

"We can take them afterwards--after we've done the island. That will be just as well."

"So it will. They will watch us, though."

"It's very nasty of them to watch us," said Mark. "Why should we take them for sails when they watch us?"

"I hate being watched," said Bevis.

"They will just make everything as nasty for us as they can," said Mark; "and we shall have to be as cunning as ever we can be."

"We will do it, though, somehow."

"That we will."

The light north wind wafted the Pinta gently up the New Sea: the red pennant, fluttering at the mast, pointed out the course before them.

They disposed of their first cargo in the store-room, or cave, placing the tools in a sack, though the cave was as dry as the box, that there might not be the least chance of their rusting. The return voyage was slow, for they had to work against the wind, and it was too light for speed. They looked for Charlie and Val, but both were gone.

Another cargo was ready late in the afternoon. They carried the things up in the flag-basket, and, before filling the box, took care to look round and behind the shed where the sculls were kept, lest any one should be spying. Hitherto they had worked freely, and without any doubt or suspicion: now they were constantly on the watch, and suspected every tree of concealing some one. Bevis chafed under this, and grew angry about it. In filling the box, too, they kept the lid towards the sh.o.r.e, and hoisted the mainsail to form a screen.

Mark took care that there should be some salt, and several bags of flour, and two of biscuits, which they got from a whole tinful in the house. He remembered some pepper too, but overlooked the mustard. They took several tins of condensed milk. From a side of bacon, up in the attic, they cut three streaky pieces, and bought some sherry at the inn; for they thought if they took one of the bottles in the house, it would be missed, and that the servants would be blamed. Some wine would be good to mix with the water; for though they meant to take a wooden bottle of ale, they knew it would not keep.

Then there was a pound of tea, perhaps more; for they took it from the chest, and shovelled it up like sand, both hands full at once. A bundle of old newspapers was tied up, to light the fire; for they had found, by experience, that it was not easy to do so with only dry gra.s.s. Bevis hunted about till he discovered the tin mug he had when he was a little boy, and two tin plates. Mark brought another mug. A few knives and forks would never be missed from the basketful in the kitchen; and, in choosing some spoons, they were careful not to take silver, because the silver was counted every evening.

They asked if they could have a small zinc bucket for the boat; and when they got it, put three pounds or more of k.n.o.b sugar in it, loose; and covered it over with their Turkish bathing-towels, in which they had wrapped up a brush and comb. Just as they were about to start, they remembered soap and candles. To get these things together, and up to the Pinta, took them some hours, for they often had to wait awhile till people were out of the way before they could get at the cupboards. In the afternoon, as they knew, some of the people went upstairs to dress, and that was their opportunity. By the time they had landed, and stowed away this cargo, the sun was declining.

Volume Two, Chapter XIII.

MORE CARGOES--ALL READY.

Next morning the third cargo went; they had to row, for the New Sea was calm. It consisted of arms. Bevis's favourite bow, of course, was taken, and two sheaves of arrows; Mark's spears and harpoon; the crossbow, throw-sticks, the boomerang and darts; so that the armoury was almost denuded.

Besides these there were fish-hooks (which were put in the box), fis.h.i.+ng-rods, and kettles; an old horn-lantern, the old telescope, the astrolabe, scissors and thread (which s.h.i.+pwrecked people always have); a bag full of old coins, which were to be found in the sand on the sh.o.r.e, where a Spanish galleon had been wrecked (one of those the sunken galley had been convoying when the tornado overtook them); a small looking-gla.s.s, a piece of iron rod, six bottles of lemonade, a cribbage-board and pack of cards, and a bezique pack; a basket of apples, and a bag of potatoes. The afternoon cargo was clothes, for they thought they might want a change if it was wet; so they each took one suit, carefully selecting old things that had been disused, and would not be missed.

Then there were the great-coats for the bed; these were very awkward to get up to the boat, and caused many journeys, for they could only take one coat each at a time.

"What a lot of rubbish you are taking to your boat," said mamma once.

"Mind you don't sink it: you will fill your boat with rubbish till you can't move about."

"Rubbis.h.!.+" said Bevis indignantly. "Rubbish, indeed!"

They so often took the rugs that there was no need to conceal them.

Mark hit on a good idea and rolled up the barrel of the matchlock in one of the rugs, and with it the ramrod. In the other they hid the stock and powder-horn, and so got them to the boat; chuckling over Mark's device, by which they removed the matchlock in broad daylight.

"If Val's watching," said Bevis, as they came up the bank with the rugs, the last part of the load, "he'll have to be smashed."

"People who spy about ought to be killed," said Mark. "Everything ought to be done openly," carefully depositing the concealed barrel in the stern-sheets. This was the most important thing of all. When they had got the matchlock safe in the cave, they felt that the greatest difficulty was surmounted.