Rod of the Lone Patrol Part 41

"Out here," was the reply. "Try ag'in."

Leaning farther out now upon the overturned mast, he tried once more, and had the satisfaction of feeling the sudden grip of the captain's fingers as they closed upon his own. Carefully and with much difficulty, for the strain was heavy, he was able to draw the submerged man toward him.

"Here, take the boy," the captain gasped. "Never mind me."

With his left hand the doctor clutched Rod's oil-skins, and was soon able to drag him into the yacht. This had scarcely been accomplished before the captain pulled himself aboard, and stood by his side.

Forgotten was everything else as the old seaman bent over Rod as he lay in the bottom of the c.o.c.k-pit.

"I believe he's unconscious, Doc," he cried. "Is there anything ye kin do fer him?"

"We must get his wet clothes off at once," was the reply. "I'll wrap him up in my great-coat."

"I've a couple of blankets in the locker there," and the captain turned around, and began to fumble with his hands for the latch of the little door. "Ye'd better strip him, Doc."

It took the latter only a few minutes to get the soaked clothes off the unconscious boy. He then wrapped him up securely in the two blankets, and laid him in a sheltered place in the c.o.c.k-pit.

"Good Lord, what will the Royals say!" the captain groaned. "Here we are adrift and can't lift a hand to help ourselves. I wonder what struck us, anyway."

"It was something big," the doctor replied. "I heard the water striking against it as we drifted off. It is over in that direction,"

and he pointed to the right. "Listen, you can hear it now. It's adrift, and following us."

"I wonder what it kin be," the captain mused. "I can't imagine what would rip away the mast before strikin' the yacht. It is certainly very queer."

"Is there any chance of our drifting ash.o.r.e, do you think?" the doctor asked. "It will be hard on that boy if we are forced to stay here all night."

"There's a strong current runnin'," the captain returned, "and it's likely to hold us in its clutch fer some time. The tide won't change fer over an hour, and it's hard to tell where we'll be by that time.

h.e.l.lo, what light's that up yonder?"

As the doctor looked he saw a bright glare in the distance, which was becoming brighter every minute.

"It's coming toward us, anyway," was his comment. "What can it be!"

The captain made no reply for awhile, but stood very still, with his eyes fixed upon the approaching light.

"I've got it!" he exclaimed. "It's that big tug which went up this afternoon. She's lost one of her scows in this gale, and is now lookin' fer it with her search-light out. It was the scow we struck.

I understand it all now. We ran right in front of it, and its big flare of a bow caught our mast. Confound Bill Tobin! Why didn't he take care of his scow?"

Tide, wind, and steam soon brought the tug near. Her search-light swept the water in every direction, at times dazzling the eyes of the two men in the yacht. At last it remained fixed full upon them, showing that they were observed. In a few minutes the tug was alongside.

"h.e.l.lo, what's wrong?" came a deep gruff voice from the wheel-house.

"What's wrong with you, Bill Tobin?" Captain Josh asked in reply.

"Ye've got us in a nice fix to-night. Why didn't ye take care of yer old scow? She's smashed us, that's what's wrong."

"Oh, is that you, Josh Britt?" and Captain Tobin's voice suddenly changed. "Climb on board, and we'll try to straighten matters out."

Without more words, Captain Josh lifted Rod tenderly in his arms and scrambled up into the tug.

"For heaven's sake! what have ye got there?" Captain Tobin exclaimed.

"Parson Dan's son, that's who it is. Got a bed ready?"

"Bring him here," and Captain Tobin turned to his right. "Put him in my bed; he'll be all right there."

By this time the tug-boatmen had made fast to the _Roaring Bess_ with a long rope, and kept her in tow as the tug was swung around and headed for the drifting scow.

"We'll just run that confounded scow into the lee of the island,"

Captain Tobin told the s.h.i.+p-wrecked men, "and then we'll put you ash.o.r.e as fast as this old tub can travel. Will that do?"

"I s'pose so," Captain Josh replied. "But git a big hustle on. Ye've got something more important than a scow to save to-night."

CHAPTER x.x.xI

BETTER THAN A FAIRY TALE

News of the accident on the river soon spread throughout the parish.

For a time various kinds of reports were in circulation, until it was learned that Rod was the only one who had received any injury. It was told how Captain Josh had carried him up to the rectory, while the doctor went ahead to tell the Royals what had happened.

While the neighbours talked, Rod was lying in his little bed in the grip of a raging fever. He knew nothing of what was going on around him, nor how anxious ones watched him night and day. It was Miss Arabella who came to Mrs. Royal's a.s.sistance in this time of need to help with the household affairs. Her tongue had lost none of its sharpness for those she disliked, but for her friends she was most loyal. She would have done almost anything for Rod, and she was not slow in expressing her opinion of Tom Dunker and "his whole tribe" for causing so much trouble.

Captain Josh almost camped in the rectory kitchen. When not there, he was wandering about the door-yard right in front of Rod's window. He ate and slept at the Anchorage, but that was about all.

"It's my fault that the boy is sick," he told his wife, "and it's up to me to be on hand in case of need. Jimmy kin look after things around here while I'm away."

Numerous were the visitors who came to the rectory to enquire about the sick boy. Tom Dunker was one of them, and he found the captain on guard at the back-door.

"How's Rod to-day, cap'n?" he asked.

"No better," was the gruff reply. "Had a bad night."

"I'm real sorry, cap'n, I surely am," Tom blubbered. "To think that he did it all fer my Sammy."

"How is yer kid?" the captain questioned.

"He's better, thank the Lord. The doctor got there jist in time. But fer you and Rod he'd be dead now."

"Cut that out, Tom. I'm not used to sich stuff."

"But I can't help it, cap'n," the visitor sniffled. "I can't sleep at nights fer thinkin' of it all. I shan't fergit it in a hurry, oh, no."

"Big fool," the captain muttered to himself as he watched Tom shuffle away. "It takes a mighty hard blow to knock any sense into a head sich as his."

As the days pa.s.sed, Rod became more restless, and kept calling for Anna Royanna. It was hard for the anxious watchers to listen to his piteous pleadings. The doctor's face grew grave during one of his frequent visits as he watched the raving boy.

"Do you suppose she'd come?" he asked Parson Dan, who had followed him into the room.