Cheer Boys Cheer: The Boys' Journal, No. 62 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

6 “Arf a mo’,” broke. in the Cockney at this point. “TE ’ope you understan’, captain, if this ’ere’s the gyme, I want to know where I come in?’’ “Your Go to the——” “Td rarver go with my pal ’ere, if it’s orl the syme,” stated Bantry coolly. ‘You an’ your ole boat an’ the niggers—I’ve ’ad enough of it! It gives me the ’orrors, and so I tell you! I want to go—” “Then go, and be durned to you for a lazy, swindling land-lubber !” roared the skipper, aiming a blow that sent the frail Cockney stagger- ing. ‘“Who’s in the boat down there?” “Jesty, sir!’? came up _ the answer. “Ah! Well, Hawkins, you take charge, and be sharp about it, for I’m going to have the anchor up. Leok there, by thunder!” He stared up as he spoke at the broad heavens, where the noontide sun was suddenly passing from view in a thickening film of grey vapour. The wind had sprung up, whistling in the shrouds, and ee I the Lone Star gave a lone roil. = Captain Chance was no fool, and it must have occurred to him that he was doing a rash thing in cast- ing away two of the crew in the face of such sinister weather warn- ings. But mad rage had got the better of reason, and five minutes fater he was standing by the rail, shouting curses after the victims of his wrath, as they were pulled swiftly for the lonely island that was to be their living grave perhaps. Side by side on a middle thwart they sat, Tom Jesty facing them with an inserntable countenance es he plied the oars, whilst in the stern sat Hawkins, looking none too pleased as he glanced up at the changing sky. As yet the sea was still smooth, but a sort of shudder- ing ripple darkened the surface now and then. Jesty, with a glance over his shoulder, selected his spot, and with a final lusty pull sent the boat grinding in upon the white beach. : Instantly a mob of birds rose with a great clamour from the heart of the island, whilst across the bare slope ef sun-bleached coral a couple of land crabs raced for shelter. “Now then,’ said Hawkins. Quite calmly the two leapt to dry land, and there they stood for a few moments, looking first at each other and then up and down the lonely shore. “It’s the colour of dry bones,” ‘said Royden, thinking aloud. ‘An’ that’s a fack,’’? agreed the Cockney. “ But the air’s good— wot? My word, if anyfink wouldn't be good, after that floating ’ell!’ He shook a clenched fist towards the schooner, now showing signs of activity as she felt. the breeze. ““Goo’-bye, ole Blackbird, an’ w’en you git to Queensland I ’ope they'll fang you for a. dirty pirate! CHEER BOYS CHEER. Goo’-bye, Ginger,” he added, turn- ing to Hawkins in the open boat. ‘And you, ole man,” facing Tom Jesty, who iad sprung ashore and was standing by. ‘‘ Shake hands, ole feller. You're the right sort, any’ow. Mr. Royden, sir, you'll say goo’-bye to Jesty?” The young man came to himself with a start and took a step forward with outstretched hand. But Jesty waved him back. “Bide a bit, my lads,’ he said, giving his belt a hitch. “ Us don’t part comp’ny yet awhile. If I say good-bye to anybody, it'll be to Mr. Hawkins here.” The mate leaned forward in the boat, his face suddenly working with mingled surprise and dismay. “What’s that you say, Tom Jesty? Don’t you be a fool! Back to the ship!” “* Back to the ship yourself!’ was the explosive answer. ‘‘ You don’t see me aboard the old pirate again! P’m done with the Lone Star, done with the dirty trade—done with Skipper Chance and the whole lot of vou!” “Tom dJesty, I give you ten seconds——_”” ““¥ give you less nor that!” laughed the sailor; and taking one plunging step he seized the bcat’s nose and thrust her clear of the beach, Hawkins, who had looked <like springing on shore to grapple with the deserter, dropped back on a thwart, and his face was black with fury as he slapped out the oars. “Right you are, my man,” he hissed, beginning to pull away. “ We'll see what the skipper says!” “Skipper’ll say up anchor and away when he sees that!’ eried Jesty, pointing a finger at dark patches of cloud which were mottling the hazy sky. ‘If he’s short o hands, let him fetch up the Kanakas. Ay, pull hard, man! There’s ne’er a moment to waste.” Hawkins knew it well enough. As the three on the lonely beach stood and watched .him, they saw his great back bending to the force of his rowing, whilst his face all the time was upturned to the threaten- ing sky. MHaifway to the was in ruffled water that slapped about nastily. All around en the wide waste of ocean lines of white began to sear the sullen grey, and suddenly a great gust of wind came shrieking past, nearly sweep- ing the tkree off their feet, and causing a wild riot in the palms be- hind the beach. Down came the rain, bursting upon them with such weight that it leapt up again in fine spray all about their feet. It was an ex- tremity that banished from their minds all thought save that of shelter, and, with one accord, they turned and rushed up the strand, gasping with relief as they saw a rocky covering amongst the crashing palms. Under a jutting ledge on the lee- side of this shelter the three huddled down with all the breath knocked out of them, whilst the whole island. shrieked and roared with the fury of the tropic storm. Speech was well-nigh impossible, and when Royden turned to Jesty and ex- pressed fears for the Lone Star, it was with plain gestures the seaman explained that the wind was merci- fully in her favour, and would send her driving out to sea. : For an hour the rain fell in sheets from the inky heavens; and then, tar more suddenly than the sterm had come, there was a rending of the black clouds, the sun shone orth, and soon the island was teaming in the heat. With the others at his heels, Royden darted between the tossing pa.ms and cautiously looked out over the wide expanse of ocean; and there, already far away towards the izon, was the vagrant schooner, eening heavily, and going down at every other moment amongst the foam-crested rollers as though never to rise again. : But, even as the castaways watched her rearing and staggering across the great green waters, some- thing seemed to tell them that her time was not yet come, and that their own hazardous lives were still bound up—and fatally, perhaps— with the Lone Star. boty, ow a CHAPTER II, Tom Jesty Spells a Name. It was the little Cockney who spoke first. ‘Well,’ he said, “I’m ’ungry !” Tom Jesty gave one of his rich, throaty chuckles, whilst Harry Royden, oppressed though he was by private cares of which his com- panions had no knowledge, turned to them with a quiet smile. “ That’s the w’y, sir!’ cried the Cockney. “‘ E don’t like to see you looking so dahn in the mouf?!” “Ay, ay! chimed in Jesty. “Cheer up, mlads! Here we are, and were like to stop, for the island’s off the track o° th’ traders, and not even on the map. But things might be worse.” “For my part,’’ answered Royden, “T want nothing better, and this is a better fate than I But we won't talk about . As for the future 2 He drew a deep breath, and smiled again. ‘The future always looks brighter on a full stomach. Let’s see what the island can offer us.” Round they swung accordingly, and tramped in a straight line for the heart of the isle, finding their own path through the tangled tropic vegetation. This tiny green spot of: earth, one of thousands that lie scattered over the South Seas, was not entirely strange to the three castaways, for they had been ashore cnly yesterday to get water for the schooner. They knew that it was no more than two miles long by, perhaps, one and a half wide, rising a little in the centre, and that nowhere were they likely te find oO (AM) ™ A ) =) ‘ECom | iG ) ) . SII )WYT ING