Natty1 Miller2 strolled down to the wharf3 where Bliss4 Ford5 was tying up the Cockawee. Bliss was scowling6 darkly at the boat, a trim new one, painted white, whose furled sails seemed unaccountably wet and whose glistening7 interior likewise dripped with moisture. A group of fishermen on the wharf were shaking their heads sagely8 as Natty drew near.
"Might as well split her up for kindlings, Bliss," said Jake McLaren. "You'll never get men to sail in her. It passed the first time, seeing as only young Johnson was skipper, but when a boat turns turtle with Captain Frank in command, there's something serious wrong with her."
"What's up?" asked Natty.
"The Cockawee upset out in the bay again this morning," answered Will Scott. "That's the second time. The Grey Gull9 picked up the men and towed her in. It's no use trying to sail her. Lobstermen ain't going to risk their lives in a boat like that. How's things over at Blue Point, Natty?"
"Pretty well," responded Natty laconically10. Natty never wasted words. He had not talked a great deal in his fourteen years of life, but he was much given to thinking. He was rather undersized and insignificant11 looking, but there were a few boys of his own age on the mainland who knew that Natty had muscles.
"Has Everett heard anything from Ottawa about the lighthouse business yet?" asked Will.
Natty shook his head.
"Not the ghost of a chance," said Cooper Creasy decidedly. "He's on the wrong side of politics, that's what. Er rather his father was. A Tory's son ain't going to get an app'intment from a Lib'ral government, that's what."
"Mr. Barr says that Everett is too young to be trusted in such a responsible position," quoted Natty gravely.
"Mebbe—mebbe. Eighteen is kind of green, but everybody knows that Ev's been the real lighthouse keeper for two years, since your father took sick. Irving Elliott wants that light—has wanted it for years—and he's a pretty strong pull at headquarters, that's what. Barr owes him something for years of hard work at elections. I ain't saying anything against Elliott, either. He's a good man, but your father's son ought to have that light as sure as he won't get it, that's what."
"Any of you going to take in the sports tomorrow down at Summerside?" asked Will Scott, in order to switch Cooper away from politics, which were apt to excite him.
"I'm going, for one," said Adam. "There's to be a yacht race atween the Summerside and Charlottetown boat clubs. Yes, I am going. Give you a chance down to the station, Natty, if you want one."
Natty shook his head.
"You should celebrate Victoria Day," said Adam, patriotically16. "'Twenty-fourth o' May's the Queen's birthday, Ef we don't get a holiday we'll all run away,' as we used to say at school. The good old Queen is dead, but the day's been app'inted a national holiday in honour of her memory and you should celebrate it becoming, Natty-boy."
"Ev and I can't both go, and he's going," explained Natty. "Prue and I'll stay home to light up. Must be getting back now. Looks squally."
"I misdoubt if we'll have Queen's weather tomorrow," said Cooper, squinting17 critically at the sky. "Looks like a northeast blow, that's what. There goes Bliss, striding off and looking pretty mad. The Cockawee's a dead loss to him, that's what. Nat's off—he knows how to handle a boat middling well, too. Pity he's such a puny18 youngster. Not much to him, I reckon."
Natty had cast loose in his boat, the Merry Maid, and hoisted19 his sail. In a few minutes he was skimming gaily20 down the bay. The wind was fair and piping and the Merry Maid went like a bird. Natty, at the rudder, steered21 for Blue Point Island, a reflective frown on his face. He was feeling in no mood for Victoria Day sports. In a very short time he and Ev and Prue must leave Blue Point lighthouse, where they had lived all their lives. To Natty it seemed as if the end of all things would come then. Where would life be worth living away from lonely, windy Blue Point Island?
David Miller had died the preceding winter after a long illness. He had been lighthouse keeper at Blue Point for thirty years. His three children had been born and brought up there, and there, four years ago, the mother had died. But womanly little Prue had taken her place well, and the boys were devoted22 to their sister. When their father died, Everett had applied23 for the position of lighthouse keeper. The matter was not yet publicly decided13, but old Cooper Creasy had sized the situation up accurately24. The Millers25 had no real hope that Everett would be appointed.
Victoria Day, while not absolutely stormy, proved to be rather unpleasant. A choppy northeast wind blew up the bay, and the water was rough enough. The sky was overcast26 with clouds, and the May air was raw and chilly27. At Blue Point the Millers were early astir, for if Everett wanted to sail over to the mainland in time to catch the excursion train, no morning naps were permissible28. He was going alone. Since only one of the boys could go, Natty had insisted that it should be Everett, and Prue had elected to stay home with Natty. Prue had small heart for Victoria Day that year. She did not feel even a thrill of enthusiasm when Natty hoisted a flag and wreathed the Queen's picture with creeping spruce. Prue felt as badly about leaving Blue Point Island as the boys did.
The day passed slowly. In the afternoon the wind fell away to a dead calm, but there was still a heavy swell29 on, and shortly before sunset a fog came creeping up from the east and spread over the bay and islands, so thick and white that Prue and Natty could not even see Little Bear Island on the right.
"I'm glad Everett isn't coming back tonight," said Prue. "He could never find his way cross the harbour in that fog."
"Isn't it thick, though," said Natty. "The light won't show far tonight."
At sunset they lighted the great lamps and then settled down to an evening of reading. But it was not long before Natty looked up from his book to say, "Hello, Prue, what was that? Thought I heard a noise."
"So did I," said Prue. "I sounded like someone calling."
They hurried to the door, which looked out on the harbour. The night, owing to the fog, was dark with a darkness that seemed almost tangible30. From somewhere out of that darkness came a muffled31 shouting, like that of a person in distress32.
"Prue, there's somebody in trouble out there!" exclaimed Natty.
"Oh, it's surely never Ev!" cried Prue.
Natty shook his head.
"Don't think so. Ev had no intention of coming back tonight. Get that lantern, Prue. I must go and see what and who it is."
"Oh, Natty, you mustn't," cried Prue in distress. "There's a heavy swell on yet—and the fog—oh, if you get lost—"
"I'll not get lost, and I must go, Prue. Maybe somebody is drowning out there. It's not Ev, of course, but suppose it were! That's a good girl."
Prue, with set face, had brought the lantern, resolutely33 choking back the words of fear and protest that rushed to her lips. They hurried down to the shore and Natty sprang into the little skiff he used for rowing. He hastily lashed34 the lantern in the stern, cast loose the painter, and lifted the oars35.
"I'll be back as soon as possible," he called to Prue. "Wait here for me."
In a minute the shore was out of sight, and Natty found himself alone in the black fog, with no guide but the cries for help, which already were becoming fainter. They seemed to come from the direction of Little Bear, and thither36 Natty rowed. It was a tough pull, and the water was rough enough for the little dory. But Natty had been at home with the oars from babyhood, and his long training and tough sinews stood him in good stead now. Steadily37 and intrepidly38 he rowed along. The water grew rougher as he passed out from the shelter of Blue Point into the channel between the latter and Little Bear. The cries were becoming very faint. What if he should be too late? He bent39 to the oars with all his energy. Presently, by the smoother water, he knew he must be in the lea of Little Bear. The cries sounded nearer. He must already have rowed nearly a mile. The next minute he shot around a small headland and right before him, dimly visible in the faint light cast by the lantern through the fog, was an upturned boat with two men clinging to it, one on each side, evidently almost exhausted40. Natty rowed cautiously up to the one nearest him, knowing that he must be wary41 lest the grip of the drowning man overturn his own light skiff.
"Let go when I say," he shouted, "and don't—grab—anything, do you hear? Don't—grab. Now, let go."
The next minute the man lay in the dory, dragged over the stern by Netty's grip on his collar.
"Lie still," ordered Natty, clutching the oars. To row around the overturned boat, amid the swirl42 of water about her, was a task that taxed Netty's skill and strength to the utmost. The other man was dragged in over the bow, and with a gasp43 of relief Natty pulled away from the sinking boat. Once clear of her he could not row for a few minutes; he was shaking from head to foot with the reaction from tremendous effort and strain.
"This'll never do," he muttered. "I'm not going to be a baby now. But will I ever be able to row back?"
Presently, however, he was able to grip his oars again and pull for the lighthouse, whose beacon44 loomed45 dimly through the fog like a great blur46 of whiter mist. The men, obedient to his orders, lay quietly where he had placed them, and before long Natty was back again at the lighthouse landing, where Prue was waiting, wild with anxiety. The men were helped out and assisted up to the lighthouse, where Natty went to hunt up dry clothes for them, and Prue flew about to prepare hot drinks.
"To think that that child saved us!" exclaimed one of the men. "Why, I didn't think a grown man had the strength to do what he did. He is your brother, I suppose, Miss Miller. You have another brother, I think?"
"Oh, yes—Everett—but he is away," explained Prue. "We heard your shouts and Natty insisted on going at once to your rescue."
"Well, he came just in time. I couldn't have held on another minute—was so done up I couldn't have moved or spoken all the way here even if he hadn't commanded me to keep perfectly47 still."
Natty returned at this moment and exclaimed, "Why, it is Mr. Barr. I didn't recognize you before."
"Barr it is, young man. This gentleman is my friend, Mr. Blackmore. We have been celebrating Victoria Day by a shooting tramp over Little Bear. We hired a boat from Ford at the Harbour Head this morning—the Cockawee, he called her—and sailed over. I don't know much about running a boat, but Blackmore here thinks he does. We were at the other side of the island when the fog came up. We hurried across it, but it was almost dark when we reached our boat. We sailed around the point and then the boat just simply upset—don't know why—"
"But I know why," interrupted Natty indignantly. "That Cockawee does nothing but upset. She has turned turtle twice out in the harbour in fine weather. Ford was a rascal48 to let her to you. He might have known what would happen. Why—why—it was almost murder to let you go!"
"I thought there must be something queer about her," declared Mr. Blackmore. "I do know how to handle a boat despite my friend's gibe49, and there was no reason why she should have upset like that. That Ford ought to be horsewhipped."
Thanks to Prue's stinging hot decoctions of black currant drink, the two gentlemen were no worse for their drenching50 and exposure, and the next morning Natty took them to the mainland in the Merry Maid. When he parted with them, Mr. Barr shook his hand heartily51 and said: "Thank you, my boy. You're a plucky52 youngster and a skilful53 one, too. Tell your brother that if I can get the Blue Point lighthouse berth54 for him I will, and as for yourself, you will always find a friend in me, and if I can ever do anything for you I will."
Two weeks later Everett received an official document formally appointing him keeper of Blue Point Island light. Natty carried the news to the mainland, where it was joyfully55 received among the fishermen.
"Only right and fair," said Cooper Creasy. "Blue Point without a Miller to light up wouldn't seem the thing at all, that's what. And it's nothing but Ev's doo."
"Guess Natty had more to do with it than Ev," said Adam, perpetrating a very poor pun and being immensely applauded therefor. It keyed Will Scott up to rival Adam.
"You said that Irving had a pull and the Millers hadn't," he said jocularly. "But it looks as if 'twas Natty's pull did the business after all—his pull over to Bear Island and back."
"It was about a miracle that a boy could do what he did on such a night," said Charles Macey.
"Where's Ford?" asked Natty uncomfortably. He hated to have his exploit talked about.
"Ford has cleared out," said Cooper, "gone down to Summerside to go into Tobe Meekins's factory there. Best thing he could do, that's what. Folks here hadn't no use for him after letting that death trap to them two men—even if they was Lib'rals. The Cockawee druv ashore56 on Little Bear, and there she's going to remain, I guess. D'ye want a berth in my mackerel boat this summer, Natty?"
"I do," said Natty, "but I thought you said you were full."
"I guess I can make room for you," said Cooper. "A boy with such grit57 and muscle ain't to be allowed to go to seed on Blue Point, that's what. Yesser, we'll make room for you."
And Natty's cup of happiness was full.
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1
natty
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| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
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miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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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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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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patriotically
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| 爱国地；忧国地 | |
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squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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millers
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| n.（尤指面粉厂的）厂主( miller的名词复数 )；磨房主；碾磨工；铣工 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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permissible
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| adj.可允许的，许可的 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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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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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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gibe
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| n.讥笑；嘲弄 | |
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drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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51
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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