Frank and Tony had been requested to invite their friends to assemble at
Zephyr1 Hall at nine o'clock, on Wednesday morning; so that when Mr.
Walker entered the hall with Captain Sedley, the whole school, to the
number of over seventy, were gathered there.
Charles Hardy2 was there with the rest; but he seemed to be a different boy. He had lost that forwardness which had often rendered him a disagreeable companion. He had been forgiven; Mr. Walker had spoken to him very kindly3, and all his friends treated him as though nothing had happened; but for all this, he could not feel right. His sufferings were not yet ended; repentance4 will not banish5 at once the remembrance of former sin and error. There was a deep feeling of commiseration6 manifested towards him by his associates. He was to them the returned prodigal7, and they would fain have killed the fatted calf8 in honor of his happy restoration.
The Zephyrs9 and the Butterflies wore their uniforms, and Mr. Walker was so excited that all the boys were sure a good time was before them; though, as the boats had not yet been recovered, they were at a loss to determine the nature of the sports to which they had been invited.
The Rovers still maintained themselves on the island. The rupture11 between Tim and Barney had evidently been healed; for both parties seemed to mingle12 as though nothing had occurred to mar13 their harmonious14 action.
The boys at the boat-house were not kept long in suspense15 in relation to their day's sport. Captain Sedley formed them into a procession, when all had arrived, and, after appointing Fred Harper chief marshal, directed them to march down to Rippleton, cross the river, and halt upon the other side till he came.
When they reached the place they found Uncle Ben there, and soon after were joined by Captain Sedley and Mr. Walker.
"Follow us," said the former, as he led the way down to a little inlet of the lake, whose waters were nearly enclosed by the land.
"Hurrah16!" shouted Fred Harper, suddenly, when he obtained a view of the inlet, and the cry was taken up by the whole party.
"The fleet! The fleet!" was passed from mouth to mouth; and unable to control their excitement, they broke their ranks and ran with all their might down to the water's side.
Resting gracefully17, like so many swans, on the bright waters of the inlet, lay five beautiful club boats. They were of different sizes, and fore10 and aft floated their flags to the gentle breeze.
I will not attempt to describe the wild delight of the boys when they beheld18 the splendid boats. The bright vision of a fleet, which they had so cheerfully abandoned to be enabled to do a good and generous deed, was realized. Here was the fleet, far surpassing in grandeur19 their most magnificent ideal.
Five boats! And the Zephyr and the Butterfly would make seven!
"You have done this!" exclaimed Frank, as Mr. Walker approached.
"Your father and I together did it. Now, boys, if you will form a ring we will explain."
"Three cheers for Mr. Walker first," suggested Tony.
They were given, and three more for Captain Sedley.
"My lads, I heard all about your giving up the fleet to help Mr. Munroe out of trouble. It was noble—heroic, and I have since taken pains to inform myself as to the manner in which you conducted yourself after the brave sacrifice. As far as I can learn, not a regret has been expressed at the mode in which your money was applied20. Here is your reward," and he pointed21 to the boats. "They are the gift of Captain Sedley and myself. I am sorry that these Rovers have taken your other boats; but it enables us to observe the difference between good boys and bad boys. Nay22, Master Hardy, you need not blush; for, though you have erred23, you have behaved heroically; you risked your life to escape from them; you are forgiven."
This speech was received with shouts of applause, and Charles Hardy stepped forward with tears in his eyes to thank the kind gentleman for his generosity24 towards him.
"Now, boys," said Captain Sedley, "we are going to recover the lost boats."
"Hurrah!" shouted all the boys.
"Two of these boats, you perceive, carry twelve oars25 each. The crew of the Zephyr will man the Bluebird."
The Zephyrs obeyed the order.
"The crew of the Butterfly will man the Rainbow," continued Captain
Sedley.
The Butterflies seated themselves in the new boat.
"This is merely a temporary arrangement, and when we get the other boats, we shall organize anew. We want practised oarsmen for our present service. While we are absent, Uncle Ben will instruct the rest of the boys in rowing."
Captain Sedley and Mr. Walker then seated themselves in the stern sheets of the Bluebird.
"Now pull for Center Island," said the former. "Tony, you will follow us."
The two boats darted27 out of the inlet, leaving Uncle Ben in charge of the "recruits."
The Lily and the Dart26 were eight-oar boats, while the Dip carried only four, and was designed as a "tender" for the fleet. Uncle Ben assigned places to the boys, though there were about thirty left after the oars were all manned. After an hour's drilling, he got the crews so they could work together, and the boats were then employed in conveying the rest of the party over to the boat-house. The others in their turn were instructed and before noon Uncle Ben had rendered them tolerably proficient28 in the art of rowing.
When the Bluebird reached Center Island, Tim had just embarked29 in the
Butterfly, and Barney was preparing to do the same in the Zephyr. The
Rovers were utterly30 confounded at this unexpected invasion of their
domain31, and hastily retreated from the beach.
William Bright, who was the coxswain of the Bluebird, ran her alongside the Zephyr, and took her in tow. In like manner they took possession of the Sylph and the "gondola," leaving the Rovers "alone in their glory," with no means of escaping from the island. With the three boats in tow, they pulled for the beach.
"Now for the Butterfly," said Captain Sedley, as he placed the Sylph in charge of Uncle Ben, and directed William Bright to steer32 up the lake.
Away dashed the Bluebird. The excited crew had observed the Butterfly about a mile off, pulling towards the river. Tim Bunker, at this safe distance, had paused to observe the movements of the invaders33. He was as much confounded as Barney had been, and seemed to be at a loss what to do; but when he saw the Bluebird headed towards him, he ordered his crew to pull for the river.
"Steady, boys," said Captain Sedley, when they had approached within a quarter of a mile of the chase. "Probably they will run her ashore34 and leave her."
But Tim did not mean to do anything of the kind, and was running the
Butterfly directly for the river.
"They will dash her in pieces, I fear," continued the director, when he perceived Tim's intention. "Pull slowly—put her about, and perhaps they will return."
The Bluebird came round; but Tim dashed madly on, heedless of the rocks.
"She strikes!" exclaimed Mr. Walker.
"Round again—quick!" added Captain Sedley. "They will all be drowned!
She fills! There they go!"
The Butterfly had stove a hole in her bow; in an instant she was filled with water, and, careening over, threw her crew into the lake, where they were struggling for life.
"Your boat is stove, Tony," said Captain Sedley to the coxswain of the
Butterfly, who had exchanged places with Fred Harper, for the chase.
"Never mind the boat; save the boys!" replied Tony.
"Bravo! my little hero!" exclaimed Mr. Walker.
In a few moments the Bluebird reached the scene of the disaster. The Butterfly was so light that she did not sink; and most of the Rovers were supporting themselves by holding on at her gunwale. Tim and two or three more had swum ashore, and one would have been drowned, if assistance had not reached him when it did.
The discomfited35 Rovers were rescued from their perilous36 situation, and after a severe reprimand, were landed at the nearest shore. Tim made his escape; but probably none of them have since felt any inclination37 to imitate the freebooters.
The Butterfly was towed down to her house, and taken out of the water. It was found that two of her planks38 had been stove, and that the damage could be easily repaired. Mr. Walker proposed sending to Boston for a boat-builder; but Captain Sedley was sure that Uncle Ben, with the assistance of the wheelwright, could repair her quite as well.
The Bluebird then returned to the beach, and the boys were dismissed till three o'clock. The situation of the Rovers on the island was next discussed by Captain Sedley and Mr. Walker, and it was decided39 that, as Tim had escaped, it was not expedient40 to punish his companions, who were less guilty. So Uncle Ben, with Frank and Tony, was sent off to bring them ashore. Barney and his band were glad enough to get off. They freely acknowledged that they had had enough of "camping out." It was not what they anticipated. Nearly all of them had taken severe colds, and since the rain on Monday night, which had spoiled their provisions, they had been nearly starved. Barney declared that they meant to return the boats that night, and if Captain Sedley would "let them off" this time, they would never do such a thing again. Like Charles, they had been punished enough, and with some good advice they were permitted to depart. How they made peace with their parents I cannot say; but probably many of them "had to take it." As for Tim Bunker, he did not show his face in Rippleton again, but made his way to Boston, where he shipped in a vessel41 bound for the East Indies; and everybody in town was glad to get rid of him.
Thus ended the famous "camping out" of the Rovers. It was a very pleasant and romantic thing to think about; but the reality was sufficient to effect a radical42 cure, and convince them that "yellow-covered books" did not tell the truth.
At three o'clock the boys reassembled, and the crews were organized and officers selected. By a unanimous vote, Frank Sedley was chosen commodore of the fleet. The next morning the Butterfly was repaired, and the squadron made its first voyage round the lake.
But as the rest of the week was occupied in drilling, and the maneuvers43 were necessarily imperfect, I pass over the time till the August vacation, when the fleet made a grand excursion up Rippleton River.
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1
zephyr
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| n.和风，微风 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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zephyrs
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| n.和风，微风( zephyr的名词复数 ) | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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23
erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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29
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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41
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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42
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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