there wasn’t an instant to waste in questions. the captain of this steamship prided himself upon his exceeding punctuality, and had often declared that if he delayed for one passenger one day he would have to do so the next; that somebody was always late; that it might be that delinquent’s misfortune if he were left but was not captain murray’s fault.
knowing this fact judge breckenridge handed his sister her ticket and molly’s, hastily bade her:
“go aboard, lucretia, while i claim our luggage. miss greatorex may already be there.”
“step lively, please!” requested a sailor in a blue uniform as the lady began to slowly mount the almost upright ladder. other sailors were speeding up and down it, between the ascending passengers and an air of great bustle and haste pervaded the whole scene.
then the blue-coat gallantly put his hand under mrs. hungerford’s arm and fairly shoved her up the plank. molly sprang lightly after, caught her [pg 58]foot in one of the little cross-pieces nailed across the plank to prevent people slipping and sprawled her length, hindering everybody a deal more than if she had climbed more slowly.
however, they gained the deck and dorothy’s side in safety, and took their stand against the rail to watch the judge and many another passenger hurriedly identifying their baggage ranged under the wharf shed; and, as each piece was claimed, to see it swiftly tossed upon a skid and rolled into the lower part of the ship.
captain murray stood at the foot of the ladder, chronometer in hand, a picture of calm decision; while another uniformed official faced him from the other side the plank, to scan the tickets presented. judge breckenridge finished his task and also climbed to the deck, while a sigh of relief escaped aunt lucretia’s lips.
“that’s all right! i got so worried lest we should miss the steamer and there isn’t another sailing for three days. i’m so glad to get our things! i never do feel comfortable until i see my trunks aboard my train or steamer.”
“yes, indeed! a woman bereft of her ‘things’ is a forlorn creature!” laughed the judge, in gentle sarcasm, but his sister disdained reply. she merely reflected how much greater annoyance her brother would have felt had his sporting outfit been delayed and this was the very first piece of luggage he had identified—her trunk the last. however, there was the utmost good nature in their jesting intercourse, [pg 59]and both now turned their attention to the wharf where the “very last” passenger was hurrying to the ladder.
after him ascended the two officers, and the boat and dock hands seized the ropes to haul the plank aboard. the whistle was blowing, wheels were turning, passengers crowded the rails to wave farewells to friends ashore who had come to see them off, and at this very last second a cab came dashing furiously down the street and up to the steamer’s side.
a woman leaped out, and rushed to the spot where the ship had been moored. she was almost past speaking from haste and excitement as she scanned the groups upon the deck, then with a look of satisfaction at sight of the judge’s party, clasped her hands imploringly toward the captain and the mate.
“don’t leave her, captain murray! i know her—she belongs to us—it isn’t her fault—throw the ladder out again, even if—” shouted the judge.
there was no withstanding the sight of so many clasped, entreating hands, even by such a rigid disciplinarian as this fine skipper. for not only miss greatorex upon the wharf, but the two girls and mrs. hungerford had clasped theirs, also, begging a brief delay.
then the officer waved his hand, down went the plank again, and a couple of sailors sprang forward to the teacher’s assistance. they had fairly to drag her up the now slippery incline, and almost to toss [pg 60]her upon the deck, where the judge’s arm shot out for her support and the captain himself helped her to a chair.
another instant they had put a stretch of water between them and the land, and a fresh uproar of whistles and bells announced that the steamer “prince” had sailed.
but those near her had thought now only for miss greatorex. her face was at first intensely red and she leaned back in her chair, with closed eyes and gasping breath. indeed, so difficult her breathing that it seemed as if after each respiration she would never breathe again. mrs. hungerford made haste to hold a smelling bottle to the sufferer’s nostrils, but it was feebly waved aside as if it hindered rather than helped.
then the color faded from the crimson face and all that terrible gasping ceased, so that those watching thought for a moment that life itself had ended.
“fainted!” said the captain, tersely. “get her to bed. number eight, take her ticket to the purser, get her stateroom key, and send the stewardess. prompt, now.”
fortunately, the room engaged for miss greatorex and dorothy was on that deck and very near; and thither the dignified lady was quickly conveyed, very much as a sack of corn might have been. but as for dorothy’s thoughts during this brief transit there is nothing comforting to say.
“oh, i’ve killed her, i’ve killed her! if i hadn’t been so careless and left the purses, and if i hadn’t [pg 61]chased that ‘shiny man’ and made all this trouble, she wouldn’t have—i can’t bear it. what shall i do!” she wailed to molly, as they followed hand in hand, where miss greatorex was carried.
“you can stop saying ‘if’ and worrying so. you didn’t do anything on purpose and she’s to blame herself. if she hadn’t gone off mad from the hotel and left auntie and me, maybe she wouldn’t have run too hard and hurt herself. if—if—if! it isn’t a very happy beginning of a vacation is it? even though we have got papa and auntie lu and everything. and i don’t know yet what you did after you ran away from the boat. we can’t do a thing here to help. let’s go to papa, there and you tell us the whole story. he took a lot of trouble to find you and paid a lot of money to men to seek you, and he looks awful tired and—and disgusted. i guess he wishes he’d just brought auntie and me and not bothered himself with you and miss greatorex. and that’s my fault, too. if i hadn’t asked him to do it he would never have thought of it. seems if things never do go just as you plan them, do they?”
under other circumstances dorothy might have replied to her friend’s unflattering frankness by some reproaches of her own, but not now. she realized the truth but was too humble to resent it. so she merely glanced once more through the door of the little stateroom at miss greatorex stretched upon the bed and mrs. hungerford with the stewardess attending her, and followed molly.
[pg 62]the judge met them with an encouraging smile and the command:
“shorten up your countenances, little maids! this is a holiday, did you know? folks don’t go holiday-ing with faces as long as your arm. here, cuddle down beside me and watch the sights. tell me too, miss dorothy, all that befell you after you disappeared. i’m as curious as molly is, and she’s ‘just suffering’ to know. don’t worry about miss greatorex, either. she’s simply over-exerted herself and allowed herself to get too anxious about this one small girl. the idea! what’s one small girl more or less, when the world’s chock full of them?”
but the affectionate squeeze he gave to the “girl’s” shoulders as she sat down beside him, while molly sat herself upon his knee, told her that he had already forgiven any annoyance she had caused him. he was too warm hearted to hold a grudge against anybody; least of all against as penitent a child as dorothy.
she related her adventures and the judge laughed heartily over her mimicry of larry mccarthy, the “new policeman.” nor did he make any criticisms when the story was ended. she had been sufficiently punished, he considered, for any lapses from prudence and the lessons her experience had taught would be far more valuable than any word of his. so he merely called their attention to the scenery before them.
“this beautiful, green spot that we are passing [pg 63]is blackwell’s island, where the city’s criminals and other unfortunates are sent. doesn’t seem as if wicked people could be hidden behind those walls, does it? well keep out of mischief and don’t go there!
“soon we’ll be going up long island sound, and you’ll get a glimpse of some handsome homes. hello! what’s this? my little bugler, as i live! good day to you, melvin; and what is this present ‘toot’ for, if you please?”
a fair-faced boy came rather shyly forward and accepted the hearty hand grasp which the judge extended, but he seemed to shrink from the keen observation of the two girls; though a flush of pleasure dyed his smooth cheeks, which were as pink-and-white as blond molly’s own.
“my respects, judge breckenridge, and glad to see you aboard again, sir. to get your table seats, sir, if you’ll remember.”
“thank you, lad, and good enough! come on, lassies, let’s go down and scramble for best places and first table, when eating time comes.”
all over the deck people were beginning to rise and make their way toward a further door, from which a flight of stairs descended to the dining-room, and these three followed the crowd. the very mention of “eating” had brought back to dorothy a sensation of terrible hunger. she had eaten nothing since her breakfast at the academy, and her sail had sharpened her appetite beyond ordinary. during her late experiences in the city [pg 64]and her terror concerning miss greatorex she had forgotten this matter, but now it came back with a positive pang. suddenly molly, too, remembered the fact and exclaimed:
“why, you poor girlie! talk about eating—you can’t have had a bit of dinner! papa, dorothy hasn’t had her dinner this livelong day!”
her tone was so tragic that people behind her smiled, as her abrupt pause upon the stairs arrested their own progress, and she was promptly urged forward again by her father’s hand.
“heigho! that’s a calamity—nothing less! but one that can be conquered, let us hope. now, fall into line close behind me and watch this interesting proceeding.”
from the earnestness depicted upon the countenances of the passengers, this securing of good seats at the first table, in a room which would not allow the serving of all at one time, was a vital matter. the purser stood at the entrance of the saloon and assigned a seat to each person upon the examination of a ticket presented. his office was not a pleasant one. there were the usual grumblers and malcontents, but he preserved his good nature amid all the fault-finding and selfishness; and the judge had the good fortune to secure five places at the captain’s table, which was significant of “first call to meals.”
this accomplished he led his charges out of line, carefully deposited his “meal tickets” in an innermost pocket, and crossed an ante-room to where [pg 65]there were plates of ship’s biscuits and slices of cheese.
“take all you want, all you can eat, both of you youngsters. sorry to say no regular meal will be served, not even for dorothy’s benefit, till the six o’clock dinner. unless she choses to get seasick; when she would have tea and toast sent to her and wouldn’t be able to touch it! enough? take plenty. there’s no stinting on captain murray’s good ship though a lot of cast-iron rules that one must never break. hark! there’s melvin’s toot again! there must be a great crowd on board, if all haven’t come to get their seats here yet. now we’ll interview our women folk and see how they’re faring.”
munching their crackers and cheese the girls hurried to “number thirteen,” the only stateroom on the promenade deck which miss rhinelander had been able to secure for her cousin isobel and dorothy; and though she had held her peace concerning it miss greatorex had inwardly revolted against this “unlucky” number.
but it was in fact among the very best on that small steamship. it’s door opening directly upon the deck so that after retiring one could lie and watch the stars and breathe the pure air of the sea. also, her short sojourn in it was to do her much good physically. even now, when molly and dorothy peeped in they saw her sitting upright, drinking a cup of tea and chatting with the stewardess as calmly as usual.
[pg 66]at sight of dorothy, however, she promptly dismissed the attendant and bade the girl enter and explain everything that had happened after her disappearance from the “mary powell.”
molly made a grimace, and dolly sighed. repetition of unpleasant things made them doubly disagreeable, and she now longed to enter into the judge’s spirit and feel that this was happy holiday. she cut the tale as short as she could; listened meekly to miss isobel’s reproofs; waited upon that fidgetty person with admirable patience; and with equal patience received all the many instructions as to “suitable conduct” during their whole journey. when the final word had been said, and she had been told that no other “allowance” could be hers until “advices” had been received from miss rhinelander, and that she must report every cent expended, she ventured to cut the “lecture” also short, by kneeling in the little aisle between their berths and kissing her guardian’s hand with the petition:
“please forgive me, dear miss greatorex, for all the worry i gave you. i will be good. i will be ‘prudent,’ i will remember—everything—if only you’ll say you’ll love me just the same again!”
miss isobel was touched. in her heart she was very fond of dorothy and grateful to her, on account of her bravery that night of the fire. but she felt it beneath her dignity to show this fondness openly, and answered more coldly than she felt:
[pg 67]“certainly, it would be unworthy in me to harbor ill will against anybody. but i trust you will give me no further annoyance. rise, please; and there is molly. thank you, miss breckenridge, i am much better. it was but a momentary weakness to which i yielded. please make my regards to your father for his courteous messages of regret. yes, dorothy, you may go with your friend for a walk on the deck. i will join you very soon.”
“hope she won’t, mean old thing!” grumbled molly, under her breath. “she’s one of the plans that didn’t go right. instead of darling miss penelope with her sweet mother-ways to have the ‘grater’ forced on us this way is too bad. i know papa and auntie lu aren’t pleased with her either, though they’re too polite to say so.”
“o, molly, don’t! i was bad, i can’t deny it and i deserve to have her stiff and cross with me. i don’t believe she’s half so vexed as she seems but she doesn’t think it’s ‘proper’ to let me know how thankful she is i wasn’t really lost. folks can’t help being themselves, anyway; else i’d be a perfectly angelic sort of a girl, and be it quick! hark! those bells!”
“yes, honey, let me tell you! papa just told me. that’s four o’clock, ‘eight bells.’ in half an hour it’ll strike once. at five will strike twice. every half hour one more stroke till at the end of four hours it’ll be eight bells again. that’s the beginning and the end of a ‘watch.’ a ‘watch’ is four hours long and the sailors change off then, [pg 68]one lot comes from ‘duty’ and another lot ‘stand’ theirs. isn’t it odd and interesting? oh! i think being on shipboard is just too lovely for words! and aren’t we going to have a glorious time after all?”
“oh! molly, i hope so. course i think it’s splendidly interesting, too, if i could get over feeling so ashamed of myself and my foolishness. i don’t like to go near your father for he must think i have been horrid. i don’t know how i can ever pay him back the money he spent hiring folks to hunt for me, and the trouble i gave him—oh! dear! why didn’t i let that old ‘shiny man’ go and not try to follow him!”
“give it up dolly doodles. reckon you happened to value that five dollars more than you did us, just about then. and you might as well have ‘let him go’ since he went anyhow and our precious purses with him. now, honey, you quit. don’t you say another single word of what has happened but let’s just think of all the nice things that are going to happen. ah! hold up your head, put on all your ‘style,’ make yourself as pretty as you can, for here comes that adorable young bugler and he’s perfectly enchanting! oh! i do so love boys! don’t you?”
“molly breckenridge, stop making me giggle. he’ll think we’re laughing at him and i don’t like to hurt anybody’s feelings.”
“my dear innocent! you couldn’t hurt his. why, papa says that all the passengers try to make [pg 69]a pet of that sweet youth, so he knows he’s all right no matter who laughs. the trouble is he’ll never speak to anybody if he can help it and unless it happens to be his duty. sailors are great for ‘duty,’ you know. but did you ever see such funny clothes?”
the girls continued their walk around the deck, the bugler passed them by, unseeing—apparently; and quoth mischievous molly:
“i’m going to get acquainted with that melvin before we leave this ship, see if i don’t! i believe he has a lot of fun in him, if he wasn’t afraid of his ‘duty.’ papa said he was the only son of his mother and their home is at yarmouth. papa met her last summer when he stopped there for a few weeks’ fishing. i’ll make him understand i’m my father’s daughter; you see!”
“molly breckenridge, you’ll do nothing to disgrace that father, understand me too. here comes ‘number eight.’ isn’t he funny?”
to their unaccustomed eyes the sailor’s clothing did look odd. the judge had explained to molly that these “numbered” officials were recognized by their numbers only. that they acted in various capacities; as table-waiters, and especially as “chamber maids.” each “number” had his own section of staterooms to attend, each one his especial table to serve in the dining saloon.
in a natural reaction from their anxiety of the earlier day the spirits of both girls had risen proportionately. they were ready to see humor in everything [pg 70]and poor number eight came in for his share of absurd comment, when he had passed out of hearing.
“he’s such a big, red-faced, red-haired man, and his jacket is so little. looks as if his arms and shoulders had just been squeezed into it by some machine. did you notice his monstrous trousers? enough in them to piece out the jacket, i should think, and never be missed. all these numbers are dressed alike; little bit o’ coaties, divided skirts for panties, and such dudish little caps! who wouldn’t be a sailor on the bright blue sea, if he could wear clothes cut that fashion? ‘a life on the ocean wave,’” she quoted. “‘a home on the rolling deep—’”
“‘where the scattered waters rave. and the winds their revels keep. the wi-i-inds their r-r-r-ev-el-s-s k-e-e-e-ep!’” a rich voice had caught the burden of molly’s song and finished it with an absurd flourish.
“now, papa!” cried the girl, facing suddenly about. so suddenly, indeed, that she collided with an unseen somebody, slipped on the freshly washed boards, and fell at her victim’s feet. a bugle shot out from under his arm and banged against the deck-rail; but before he recovered that melvin had stooped, said “allow me!” and helped molly up again. then he lifted his cap, picked up his bugle, and proceeded on his way without so much as another word.
molly stared after him, blushing and mortified, [pg 71]shaking her tiny fist toward his blue-uniformed back, and remarking:
“huh! master melvin! i’d just declared i’d get acquainted with you but i didn’t mean to do it in quite that way!”
maybe, too, her chagrin would have been deeper could she have seen the amused expression of the young bugler’s face; and again she observed—to dorothy as she supposed:
“anyhow, if you’d been a gentleman, a real gentleman-boy, you’d have stopped to ask if i was hurt. huh! you’re terribly ‘sot up’ and top-lofty, just because you wear a uniform and toot-ti-ti-toot on little tin-horn kind of a thing that i could play myself, if i wanted to. don’t you think so, papa and dolly? wasn’t it horrid of him to trip me up that way and make me look so silly? why don’t you answer, one of you?”
she turned the better to see “why,” and found herself gazing into the stern countenance of captain murray. that strict gentleman had recently been annoyed by the “skylarking” of girlish passengers who had tried “flirting” with his “boys” and was bent upon preventing any further annoyance of that sort.
“your father has gone forward to meet your ailing friend and the little girl is with him. i would advise you to join them.”
that was all the reproof he administered, but it was sufficient to make molly breckenridge flush scarlet again, and this time with anger against [pg 72]the skipper. she hurried to “join” the others who had met miss greatorex and exclaimed with great heat:
“i just detest that horrid stiff captain! he looked—he believed i tumbled against that precious bugler of his just on purpose! i wish i need never see either one of them again or hear that wretched thing toot!”
she could not then foresee how important a part in her own life that “toot” was yet to play; nor was the laughter with which her outburst was received very comforting.
