“WELL, how is it now?” inquired Rich, as Tom approached the spot where all the Night-hawks were standing, listening to Miller’s description of the letter that had just been written. “Have you succeeded?”
“Of course,” replied the grand commander. “We are all right, so far. The document is half-way to the post-office by this time.”
“That makes me feel a little easier,” said Miller. “But I shall shake in my boots until we get an answer to it.”
“Humph!” exclaimed Tom, contemptuously. “I guess I know what I am about. If you don’t think that I am able to manage this business, you had better give it into the hands of some one else.”
“O, we are not afraid to trust you,” said one of the new members; “but you don’t know the old colonel as well as we do. He knows a thing or two, and if he don’t find out something about this business, I shall be most agreeably surprised. So mind what you are about.”
“Now, never mind me,” replied Tom, confidently. “I tell you I know just what I am doing. We’ll have an answer within forty-eight hours. That’s not long to wait.”
But, on this point, Tom soon changed his mind. Two days, he found, was a long time to wait, especially for one so impatient as he was. The hours seemed lengthened into weeks; and, as if to make the time hang more heavily on his hands, he failed in all his lessons, was obliged to stand guard at night, and, on the second day, received orders to remain in his dormitory during play-hours. This was very provoking. He fully expected Johnny Harding would be on hand that evening with an answer to his letter, and he wanted to meet him, in order that he might have a long talk with him, and learn exactly what the boys in the village thought of their scheme. But he had faithful friends upon whom he could depend, and when dress-parade was over, and he was about to ascend to his quarters, he found opportunity to whisper to several of the Night-hawks to “keep an eye open,” which they all readily promised to do.
Tom had not been mistaken in his calculations when he had selected Johnny Harding as the most reliable member of the society, for, about half-past four o’clock, the fifth captain, in obedience to the instructions he had received from his chief, made his appearance on the south side of the grounds. He walked rapidly along the road, watching the games that were going on inside the inclosure, when a ball, propelled by some vigorous striker, bounded over the fence and fell into the road before him.
“I say, my friend!” shouted one of the students.
“Say it yourself!” replied Johnny, good-naturedly.
“Will you be kind enough to throw that ball back here? You were just in time to be of assistance to us,” continued the student, as Johnny pitched the ball back into the grounds. “We are not allowed to go over this fence.”
“That’s all right,” said Johnny. “I don’t need any thanks. Perhaps some of you can do as much for me now. Have any of you seen a large bow-kite over this way?”
“No,” answered several of the students. “Have you lost one?”
“If you find one,” continued the messenger, “with the word Nantucket painted on it in large capital letters, you may know that it is mine; and I would be greatly obliged if you would keep it safe until I call for it.”
“All right,” answered the students. “If we find it, we’ll return it to you in good order.”
“That fellow must have been hard up for names to call his kite Nantucket,” said one of the boys, as soon as Johnny was out of hearing. “Nobody but a country chap would ever have thought of calling a kite by that name.”
“No success thus far,” soliloquized Johnny, as he continued his walk. “Not a Night-hawk among those fellows. I hope they won’t waste much valuable time in looking for that kite. Hallo! here’s one of ’em, or I am greatly mistaken.”
He had discovered a boy seated under one of the trees in the school grounds, apparently deeply interested in a book which he held in his hand.
“Ahem!” said Johnny, looking straight down the road, and hurrying along faster than ever.
“Ahem,” answered the student.
Johnny stopped as suddenly as if the boy had called him by name, and, walking up to the fence, inquired:
“Have you seen any thing of a large bow-kite over this way—”
And here the fifth captain stopped and looked at the student, as if he expected him to finish the sentence. He had found the right man at last, for the academy boy continued:
“With the word Nantucket painted on it in large capital letters?”
“That’s the one!” said Johnny, eagerly. “Have you seen it?”
“Yes, it’s safe,” replied the student, who arose to his feet, and, after glancing about the grounds, to satisfy himself that no one was observing his movements, he walked carelessly to the fence, and handed Johnny a slip of paper. It was his “certificate of membership,” and, when the fifth captain read it, he knew that he had found a friend.
“That’s all right!” said Johnny. “Here’s a letter for Newcombe. I haven’t done as well as I expected to do, and, unless I get new orders, the whole expedition is hard and fast aground. Here’s the rope?” he continued, pulling a bundle, tied up in a newspaper, from under his coat. “So Tom has brought in new members? We’re glad of it—the more the merrier, you know. Good-by! If you ever visit the village, don’t fail to call on me.”
So saying, Johnny walked off, while the Night-hawk, after putting the letter into his pocket, and concealing the rope under his coat, bent his steps toward the academy, and presently entered the dormitory, where the grand commander was confined. When the new member entered the room, he gave his chief a significant wink, which told Tom as plainly as words that the long-wished-for letter had at last arrived. The latter could scarcely restrain himself, so impatient was he to examine its contents. But it was necessary to be very careful, for there were several students in the room, some, like Tom, confined for misdemeanors, while others, having grown tired of play, were busy with their books; and, to give any of these a hint of what was going on, would endanger not only the success of the expedition, but the liberties of all engaged in it.
Tom, however, played his part to perfection. Without appearing to take any notice of the Night-hawks, he walked to the further end of the room; and the new member, after loitering about, and conversing with some of the students, found an opportunity to put the letter and rope under the pillow on Tom’s bed. The movement was skillfully executed, and no one but the grand commander noticed it. There was now but little danger of discovery; but Tom, who still thought it necessary to be very cautious, did not go near his bed for half an hour. Then, after a little maneuvering, he managed to hide the rope in his trunk and to read Johnny’s letter, which, brief and to the point, told how the fifth captain had performed the business intrusted to him. In the first place, he informed his chief that he had been unable to charter a vessel; for, as the fifth captain expressed it, “there was not a single ship-owner in the village who would be foolish enough to allow a parcel of green boys to go off alone in his vessel;” so, unless the boys at the academy changed their programme, they might as well abandon the idea of escaping their examination. Johnny wound up his letter by telling his chief that the surest way to get a boat was to capture her; and by informing him that he would be at the south side of the grounds on the following afternoon, at five o’clock, to receive his answer.
On the whole, Tom was very well pleased with the letter. He had, in the beginning, proposed to capture a vessel, or to “take her and welcome,” which was the same thing, but his friends had opposed it. Now they would be obliged to fall in with his plans, which would be another feather in his cap, for it would, perhaps, serve to convince the Night-hawks that they ought to pay more attention to what he said to them. He was very anxious to escape the examination, but he did not want any one to assist him in making the necessary arrangements. He wanted the boys to obey all his orders, and he would rather the enterprise should be defeated under his own management, than prove a success under the control of any one else.
After a few moments’ consideration, Tom decided that he would not write an answer to Johnny’s letter, but that he would behave himself the next day so that he would be granted liberty with the others during play-time. He could then see the fifth captain, and talk the matter over with him. He felt greatly encouraged. If he had entertained any doubts as to the ultimate success of the undertaking, they were all gone now, for Johnny had shown that he could be depended upon—that he would faithfully carry out all instructions he might receive, which would render failure impossible.
When Miller and Rich marched down to supper that evening, Tom succeeded in slipping the letter into their hands, and the wink which they gave the chief, when they met in the school-room, told Tom that his friends had read the letter and pondered upon its contents.
The next day Tom began work in earnest. He studied hard, although that was a most difficult task, for his thoughts would sometimes wander away from his books in spite of all he could do to prevent it. He paid strict attention to all his duties, and was, of course, allowed liberty at play-time. Then he could not help thinking how much better he always felt, when he behaved himself so that he could be allowed privileges with the others, than he did when he was scolded and punished for his offenses.
“Now, boys,” said he, as the Night-hawks met on the ball-ground, “I suppose you have all read that letter I gave to Miller last night; so let’s hear from you. What have you got to say about it?”
A long and somewhat stormy debate followed Tom’s question, and the point of difference was, the manner in which they ought to go to work to secure a vessel. Among the Night-hawks there was scarcely one who would hesitate to appropriate such small articles as apples, peaches, or water-melons, “just for the fun of the thing;” but they were all afraid to risk the serious matter of making off with a boat that did not belong to them, no matter how much fun and excitement there might be in it. Tom, however, had thought the matter over, and was ready with an answer to this argument. Although they should take a vessel without asking the owner’s permission, they would not steal her, for it was their intention to return the boat in just as good order as they found it. A sloop wasn’t worth more than a dollar a day; and just before they got ready to start, they would mail a letter to the owner of the boat, enclosing twelve or fourteen dollars; and, when he found that his boat came back safe and sound, and that he had received good pay for her, he wouldn’t grumble. This plan silenced the fears of the timid members of the society, who finally agreed to act according to Tom’s suggestion.
The next question that arose was in regard to the expenses of the cruise. The chief demanded two dollars from each boy present, which astonished the Night-hawks, who declared that Tom was altogether too extravagant. But the latter again carried his point, and the sum of twenty-eight dollars was collected, and placed in his hands, to be given to Johnny Harding as their share of the expenses, and Tom was instructed to meet the fifth captain, and make all the necessary arrangements with him. All these questions being satisfactorily settled, the boys separated, and, while the majority of them joined in various games about the grounds, Tom seated himself under a tree, near the fence, to await the arrival of Johnny Harding. Punctually at the time appointed the latter was on hand, and, at the end of a quarter of an hour, Tom returned to his companions, highly elated with the result of the interview, while Johnny slowly and thoughtfully retraced his steps toward the village.
With the exception of the escape from the academy building, which the Night-hawks would be obliged to accomplish without assistance from outsiders, Johnny now had the most difficult and dangerous task to perform. His orders were to provision the Sweepstakes—a little schooner that lay in the creek in front of the village—and get her in readiness for the cruise; and, to accomplish this, without giving the Philistines a hint of what was going on, was a feat requiring all the skill and judgment the fifth captain could command. It was rather out of his line of business; but Johnny, who had decided to accompany the expedition, and who delighted in such exploits, was not discouraged by the difficulties he found in his path. That there was a way to successfully carry out his instructions, he did not, for a moment, doubt; and, if any body could ascertain how it ought to be done, he was the one.
Half an hour’s walk brought him to the village, through which he passed to the creek where the Sweepstakes lay at her anchorage; and here Johnny sat down on a pile of lumber, to take a view of the situation, and to determine upon some course of action. His first business must be to buy the provisions. Tom had told him to lay in enough for twenty boys, and he had already made an estimate of the amount that would be required. What would the grocer think when he ordered two barrels of soda crackers, a kit of mackerel, a dozen codfish, and a whole cheese? Then, after the provisions had been purchased, how was he to get them on board of the schooner, which lay in the creek, about fifty yards from the shore? This must be done during the night, and, perhaps, they might be observed by some one who would ask very disagreeable questions.
“Well, well!” said Johnny, taking off his hat and scratching his curly head, “this is a bigger job than I bargained for. Nobody in the world but Tom Newcombe would ever have thought of such a desperate enterprise. I believe I would rather stand the examination, for there wouldn’t be half so much danger in it. But if the others are willing to risk it, I know I am. I’ll go on board the schooner, and see if she is all ready for use!”
There were several skiffs in the creek, and Johnny, knowing that he could carry out his resolution without exciting suspicion, walked down the bank, stepped into one of the boats, and pushed off toward the Sweepstakes. A few strokes of the oars brought him along-side, and, after making the skiff fast to the fore-chains, he clambered over the side, and began the examination. He had expected to find that the little vessel had been partly dismantled, and that some repairs would be necessary; but, to his delight, he found that nothing had been removed. The sails were all there, neatly stowed away, the handspikes were in their places, so that the anchor could be hove-up with very little trouble, the hold was empty, and in a condition to receive the provisions, and there were two large casks, that would hold an ample supply of water. The cabin was in order, and had bunks enough to accommodate six or eight boys. Of course there were no beds in the bunks, but Johnny scarcely gave that a moment’s thought. If want of beds was the only obstacle in his way, that could have been easily overcome.
As the fifth captain walked about the vessel, several interesting questions, which he had not before thought of, arose in his mind, such as, Who would sleep in the cabin, and who in the forecastle? Who would cook their meals, and what boys would be willing to act as the crew? Was Rich, who, it was understood, was to be captain of the vessel, seaman enough to take the schooner down the creek, and through all the shipping that lay at the wharves, without accident? Was he navigator enough to take them where they wished to go, or to bring them back to the village, when their cruise was ended? Could he manage the Sweepstakes if they should happen to be caught out in a storm? Johnny, at first, had serious misgivings on all these important points, and, for a time, he pondered upon the propriety of suggesting to the academy boys that a “board of examiners” be appointed, to inquire into Rich’s knowledge of seamanship and navigation, and to decide whether or not he was the one that ought to be the captain of the vessel. Had Johnny held to this resolution, it might have saved the Night-hawks some trouble; but, after thinking it over, the fifth captain came to the conclusion that he would say nothing about the matter. If Captain Rich proved to be a humbug, it was no business of his. He would faithfully attend to his part of the work, and leave all disputes to be settled when they arose.
Johnny slept but little that night. Various plans, by which he might carry out the instructions he had received from the grand commander, suggested themselves to him, but in every one of them he found numerous difficulties to be overcome. His great desire was to accomplish his part of the business without being obliged to answer any questions. At last he concluded that the best way was to go about it openly and above board; for the more he tried to cover it up, and to keep the affair a profound secret, the more certain he became that it would “leak out somewhere.” About two miles outside the harbor was Block Island, where the village boys often went to fish and hunt, and Johnny thought he could buy his provisions, and take them out there, without exciting the suspicion of any one. The Sweepstakes could stop there and take them on board as she went out, and it would not delay her a quarter of an hour. On the following morning, he communicated this plan to some of the village Night-hawks, (four of whom had agreed to accompany the students on their cruise,) who readily agreed that it was the best, and promised to lend all the assistance in their power in carrying it out.
When Saturday morning came, Johnny was up bright and early; and as soon as he had eaten his breakfast, he borrowed a large yawl, and, accompanied by half a dozen boys, sailed down the creek, until they arrived at Mr. Newcombe’s wharf, which, they thought, would be the most convenient place to load their provisions. They then went in a body to Mr. Henry’s store, and, as Johnny had expected, the grocer opened his eyes in astonishment when he received the order for the provisions; but, thinking that the boys were about to start on one of their hunting and fishing expeditions, he merely said:
“I suppose you don’t intend to shoot many squirrels, or catch many fish, since you are laying in so large a stock of something to eat.”
Johnny replied that they did not intend to suffer for want of food, if they could help it; and after he had paid for the provisions, they were placed upon a dray and taken to the yawl, where they were soon loaded by the boys, who set sail for Block Island. In due time they arrived at their destination, and, after a short consultation with a farmer who lived on the island, their cargo was stowed in his barn for safe keeping.
“Now,” said Johnny, when they were ready to return to the village, “if nothing happens, we shall be here after those goods next Monday night. I suppose it doesn’t make any difference to you what time we come?”
“O, none at all,” replied the farmer. “If you will call me when you come, I’ll lend you a hand. I hope you will be successful.”
“Thank you, sir!” answered Johnny, with a sly wink at his companions; “so do we.”
The man did not mean that he hoped the boys would be successful in running away from the academy, or in making off with a boat that did not belong to them, but that they might be fortunate in catching fish, and shooting squirrels and quails; for he thought it was their intention to camp somewhere on the island.
The Night-hawks then returned to the village, and Johnny, to his delight, was not called upon to answer any unpleasant questions. The very boldness of his plan had removed suspicion. His part of the work was now done; it only remained for Tom and his companions to effect their escape from the academy.