第2章

"It"snothing,"Isaid,andpretendedtoabandonthequest——toberenewedlater.Butthisrusefailed;theycontinuedobstinatelytosearch;andafterafewminutesTom,withashout,pickedoutofahotcrevicebetweenthebricks——anickel!

"It"smine!"Icriedfiercely.

"Didyouloseit?"demandedJulia,thecannyone,asTomwasabouttogiveitup.

Mylyingwasgenerallyreservedformyelders.

"N-no,"Isaidhesitatingly,"butit"smineallthesame.Itwas——senttome."

"Senttoyou!"theyexclaimed,inachorusofprotestandderision.Andhow,indeed,wasItomakegoodmyclaim?ThePeterses,whenassembled,wereaclan,ledbyJuliaandinmattersofcontroversy,movedasone.

HowwasItotellthemthatinanswertomyprayersfortwenty-fivecents,Godhaddeemedfiveallthatwasgoodforme?

"Some——somebodydroppeditthereforme."

"Who?"demandedthechorus."Say,that"sagoodone!"

Tearssuddenlyblindedme.Overcomebychagrin,Iturnedandflewintothehouseandupstairsintomyroom,lockingthedoorbehindme.Anintervalensued,duringwhichInursedmysenseofwrong,anditpleasedmetothinkthatthemoneywouldbringacurseonthePetersfamily.Atlengththerecameaknockonthedoor,andavoicecallingmyname.

"Hugh!Hugh!"

ItwasTom.

"Hughie,won"tyouletmein?Iwanttogiveyouthenickel."

"Keepit!"Ishoutedback."Youfoundit."

Anotherinterval,andthenmoreknocking.

"Openup,"hesaidcoaxingly."I——Iwanttotalktoyou."

Irelented,andlethimin.Hepressedthecoinintomyhand.I

refused;hepleaded.

"Youfoundit,"Isaid,"it"syours."

"But——butyouwerelookingforit."

"Thatmakesnodifference,"Ideclaredmagnanimously.

Curiosityovercamehim.

"Say,Hughie,ifyoudidn"tdropit,whoonearthdid?"

"Nobodyonearth,"Irepliedcryptically

Naturally,Ideclinedtorevealthesecret.NorwasthisbyanymeanstheonlysecretIheldoverthePetersfamily,whoneverquiteknewwhattomakeofme.Theywerenottroubledwithimaginations.JuliawasalittleolderthanTomandhadasharptongue,butoverhimIexercisedadistinctfascination,andIknewit.Literalhimself,good-naturedandwarm-hearted,thegiftIhadoftingeinglifewithromance(toputthethingoptimistically),ofcreatingkingdomsoutofbackyards——atwhichJuliaandRussellsniffed——heldhisallegiancefirm.

II.

ImusthavebeenabouttwelveyearsofagewhenIrealizedthatIwaspossessedofthebard"sinheritance.AmomentousjourneyImadewithmyparentstoBostonaboutthistimenotonlystimulatedthisgift,butgavemetheadvantageofwhichothertravellersbeforemehavelikewiseavailedthemselves——ofbeingabletotakecertainpoeticlibertieswithadistantlandthatmyfriendsathomehadneverseen.OftenduringtheheatofsummernoonswhenwewereassembledunderthebigmaplebesidethelatticefenceinthePeters"yard,thespiritwouldmovemetorelatethemostamazingofadventures.Ourtrain,forinstance,hadbeenheldupinthenightbyabandofrobbersinblackmasks,andrescuedbyatravellerwhoboreastrikingresemblancetomyCousinRobertBreck.Hehadshottwooftherobbers.Thesefabrications,oncestarted,flowedfrommewithridiculousease.Iexperiencedanunwontedexhilaration,exaltation;Ibegantobelievethattheyhadactuallyoccurred.InvaintheastuteJuliaassertedthattherewerenotrainrobbersintheeast.

Whathadmyfatherdone?Well,hehadbeenverybrave,buthehadhadnopistol.HadIbeenfrightened?No,notatall;I,too,hadwishedforapistol.Whyhadn"tIspokenofthisbefore?Well,somanythingshadhappenedtomeIcouldn"ttellthemallatonce.ItwasplainthatJulia,thoughoftenfascinatedagainstherwill,deemedthissortofthingdistinctlyimmoral.

Iwasaboydividedintwo.Onepartofmedweltinafancifulrealmofhisownweaving,andtheotherpartwasacommonplaceandprotestinginhabitantofaworldoflessons,disappointmentsanddiscipline.Myinstinctswerenotvicious.Ideasbubbledupwithinmecontinuallyfromanapparentlyinexhaustiblespring,andtheverystrengthofthelongingstheysetinmotionpuzzledandtroubledmyparents:whatIseemtoseemostdistinctlynowisayoungmindengagedinaceaselessstruggleforself-expression,forself-development,againsttheinertiaofatraditionofwhichmyfatherwastheembodiment.Hewasanenigmatomethen.Hesincerelylovedme,hecherishedambitionsconcerningme,yetthwartedeverynatural,buddinggrowth,untilIgrewunconsciouslytoregardhimasmyenemy,althoughIhadanaffectionforhimandaprideinhimthatflaredupattimes.Insteadofconfidingtohimmyaspirations,vaguethoughtheywere,IbecamemoreandmoresecretiveasIgrewolder.I

knewinstinctivelythatheregardedtheseaspirationsasevidencesinmycharacterofseriousmoralflaws.AndIwouldsoonerhavesufferedmanyafternoonsofhisfavouritepunishment——solitaryconfinementinmyroom——

thanrevealtohimthoseoccasionalfitsofcreativefancywhichcausedmetoneglectmylessonsinordertoputthemonpaper.Lovingliterature,inhisway,hewascharacteristicallyincapableofrecognizingtheliteraryinstinct,andthesymptomsofitsearlystageshemistookforinherentfrivolity,forlackofrespectforthetruth;inbrief,fororiginalsin.AttheageoffourteenIhadbegunsecretly(alas,howmanythingsIdidsecretly!)towritestoriesofasort,storiesthatneverwerefinished.

Heregardedreadingasduty,notpleasure.Helaidoutbooksforme,whichIneglected.HewaspartandparcelofthatAmericanenvironmentinwhichliteraryambitionwasregardedassheermadness.Andnoonewhohasnotexperiencedthatenvironmentcanhaveanyconceptionofthepressureitexertedtostifleoriginality,tothrustthenewgenerationintoitsreligiousandcommercialmoulds.Shallweever,Iwonder,developtheenlightenededucationthatwillknowhowtotakeadvantageofsuchinitiativeaswasmine?thatwillbeonthewatchforit,sympathizewithitandguideittofruition?

Iwasconsciousofstillanothercreativeneed,thatofdramatizingmyideas,ofconvertingthemintoaction.Andthisneedwastoleadmefartherthaneverafieldfromthepathofrighteousness.Theconcreterealizationofideas,asmanygeniuseswilltestify,isanexpensiveundertaking,requiringalittlepocketmoney;andIhavealreadytoucheduponthatsubject.Myfatherdidnotbelieveinpocketmoney.AseastorythatmyCousinDonaldEwangavemeatChristmasinspiredmetocomposeoneofasomewhatdifferentnature;incidentally,IdeemeditavastimprovementonCousinDonald"sbook.Now,ifIonlyhadaboat,withtheassistanceofHamDurrettandTomPeters,GeneHollisterandPerryBlackwoodandotherfriends,thisstoryofminemightbestaged.

Therewere,however,asusual,certainseeminglyinsuperabledifficulties:inthefirstplace,itwaswintertime;inthesecond,nofacilitiesexistedinthecityforoperationsofanauticalcharacter;

and,lastly,myChristmasmoneyamountedonlytofivedollars.

Itwasmyfatherwhopointedouttheseandotherobjections.For,afteracarefulperusalofthepricelistsIhadsentfor,Ihadbeenforcedtoappealtohimtosupplyadditionalfundswithwhichtopurchasearow-

boat.Incidentally,hereadmealectureonextravagance,referredtomylastmonth"sreportattheAcademy,andfinishedbydeclaringthathewouldnotpermitmetohaveaboateveninthehighlyimprobablecaseofsomebody"spresentingmewithone.Letitnotbeimaginedthatmyardourormydeterminationwereextinguished.ShortlyafterIhadretiredfromhispresenceitoccurredtomethathehadsaidnothingtoforbidmymakingaboat,andthefirstthingIdidafterschoolthatdaywastoprocure,fortwenty-fivecents,asecond-handbookonboatconstruction.

Thewoodshedwaschosenasashipbuildingestablishment.Itwasconvenient——andmyfatherneverwentintothebackyardincoldweather.

Inquiriesoflumber-yardsdevelopingthedisconcertingfactthatfourdollarsandseventy-fivecentswasinadequatetobuythematerialitself,tosaynothingofthecostofsteamingandbendingtheribs,I

reluctantlyabandonedtheidealofthegracefulcraftIhadsketched,andcompromisedonaflatbottom.Observehowthewaysofdeceptionleadtotransgression:Irecalledthecast-offlumberpileofJarvis,thecarpenter,agood-naturedEnglishman,coarseandfat:inourneighbourhoodhisreputationforobscenitywassowellknowntomothersthatIhadbeenforbiddentogonearhimorhisshop.GritsJarvis,hisson,whohadinheritedthetalent,wasalsocontraband.IcanseenowthehugebulkoftheelderJarvisashestoodinthemelting,soot-

powderedsnowinfrontofhisshop,andhearhiscommentsonmypertinacity.

"Ifyoueverwantsanotherman"smissuswhenyougrowsup,mylad,Gawd"elp"im!"

"WhyshouldIwantanotherman"swifewhenIdon"twantoneofmyown?"

Idemanded,indignant.

Helaughedwithhiscustomarylackofmoderation.

"YoumindwhatoldJarvissays,"hecried."Whatyouwants,yougets."

Ididgethisboards,bysheerinsistence.Nodoubttheywerenotveryvaluable,andwithoutquestionhemorethanmadeupfortheminmymother"sbill.Ialsogotsomethingelseofequalvaluetomeatthemoment,——theassistanceofGrits,thecontraband;daily,afterschool,I

smuggledhimintotheshedthroughthealley,acquiringlikewisetheservicesofTomPeters,whichwasmoreofatriumphthanitwouldseem.

Tomalwayshadtobe"workedup"toparticipationinmyideas,butintheendhealmostinvariablysuccumbed.Thenotionofbuildingaboatinthedeadofwinter,andsofarfromhernativeelement,naturallystruckhimatfirstasridiculous.WhereinJehoshaphatwasIgoingtosailitifI

evergotitmade?Hemuchpreferredtothrowsnowballsatinnocentwagondrivers.

AllthatTomsaw,atfirst,wasadirty,coal-spatteredshedwithdimrecesses,foritwaslightedononesideonly,anditstemperaturewassomewherebelowfreezing.Surelyhecouldnotbeblamedforatemperedenthusiasm!Butforme,allthedirtandcoldanddiscomfortwereblottedout,andIbeheldagallantcraftmannedbysturdyseamenforgingherwayacrossbluewaterintheSouthSeas.TreasureIsland,alas,wasasyetunwritten;butamongmyfather"sbooksweretwooldvolumesinwhichIhadhithertotakennointerest,withcrudeengravingsofpalmsandcoralreefs,ofnakedsavagesandtropicalmountainscoveredwithjungle,theadventures,inbrief,ofoneCaptainCook.Ialsodiscoveredabookbyalatertraveller.Spurredonbyamysteriousmotivepower,andtothegreatneglectoftheponsasinorumandthestapleproductsoftheSouthernStates,Igatheredanamazingamountofinformationconcerningaremoteportionoftheglobe,ofhead-huntersandpoisonedstakes,oftyphoons,ofqueerwar-craftthatcreptuponyouwhileyouweredismantlinggalleons,whendesperatehand-to-handencountersensued.

LittlebylittleasIwoveallthisintopersonaladventuressoontoberealized,Tomforgotthesnowballsandthemaddenedgrocery-menwhochasedhimaroundtheblock;whileGritswouldoccasionallystopsawingandcryout:——

"Ah,s"y!"frequentlyaddingthathewouldbeG——d——d.

ThecoldwoodshedbecameachantryontheNewEnglandcoast,thealleythewintryseasoontoembraceourship,thesaw-horses——whichstoodbetweenacoal-binononesideandunusedstallsfilledwithrubbishandkindlingontheother——theways;theyardbehindthelatticefencebecameabackwater,theflappingclothesthesailsofshipsthattookrefugethere——onMondaysandTuesdays.Evenmyfatherwassymbolizedwithunparalleledaudacityasawatchfulgovernmentwhichhad,uptothepresent,noinklingofoursemi-piraticalintentions!Thecookandthehousemaid,thoughremonstratingagainstthepresenceofGrits,werefriendlyconfederates;likewiseoldCephas,thedarkeywho,frommyearliestmemory,carriedcoalandwoodandblackedtheshoes,washedthewindows,andscrubbedthesteps.

OneafternoonTomwenttowork

ThehistoryofthebuildingofthegoodshipPetrelissimilartothatofallcreatedthings,astoryoftrialanderrorandwaste.Atlast,oneMarchdayshestoodreadyforlaunching.Shehadevenbeencaulked;forGrits,fromanunknownandunquestionablydubioussource,hadprocuredabucketoftar,whichweheatedoverafireinthealleyandsmearedintoeverycrack.Itwasnaturalthatthenewsofsuchafeataswewereaccomplishingshouldhaveleakedout,thatthe"yard"shouldhavebeenvisitedfromtimetotimebyinterestedfriends,someofwhomcametoadmire,sometoscoff,andalltospeculate.Amongthescoffers,ofcourse,wasRalphHambleton,whostoodwithhishandsinhispocketsandcheerfullypredictedallsortsofdirecalamities.Ralphwasalwaysasuperiorboy,tallandatriflesaturnineandcynical,withanamazingself-confidencenotwhollyduetothewealthofhisfather,theiron-

master.HewasolderthanI.

"Shewon"tfloatfiveminutes,ifyouevergethertothewater,"washiscomment,andinthishewassupportedongeneralprinciplesbyJuliaandRussellPeters.RalphwouldhavenoneofthePetrel,oroftheSouthSeaseither;buthewanted,——sohesaid,——"tobeinatthedeath."TheHambletonswereoneofthefewfamilieswhoatthattimewenttotheseaforthesummer,andfromapracticalknowledgeofcraftingeneralRalphwasnotslowtopointoutthedefectsofours.TomandIdefendedherpassionately.

Ralphwasnotaromanticist.Hewasabornleader,excellingatorganizedgames,exercisingoverboysthesortoffascinationthatcomesfromdoingeverythingbetterandmoreeasilythanothers.ItwasonlyduringtheprogressofsuchenterprisesasthisaffairofthePetrelthatIsucceededinwinningtheirallegiance;bitbybit,asTom"shadbeenwon,fanningtheirenthusiasmbyimpersonatingatonceAchillesandHomer,recruitingwhilerelatingtheOdysseyoftheexpeditioninglowingcolours.Ralphalwaysscoffed,andwhenIhadnoschemeonfoottheywentbacktohim.Havingsurveyedtheboatandpredictedcalamity,hedeparted,leavingacircleofquaintandyouthfulfiguresaroundthePetrelintheshed:GeneHollister,romanticallyinclined,yetsomewhathamperedbyastrictparentalsupervision;Ralph"scousinHamDurrett,whowaseventhenaratherfatboy,good-naturedbutselfish;DonandHarryEwan,mysecondcousins;MacandNancyWillettandSamandSophyMcAlery.Nancywasatomboy,nottobedenied,andSophyhershadow.Weheldacouncil,theall-importantquestionofwhichwashowtogetthePetreltothewater,andwhatwatertogetherto.Theriverwasnottobethoughtof,andBlackstoneLakesomesixmilesfromtown.Finally,Logan"smill-pondwasdecidedon,——amuddysheetontheoutskirtsofthecity.ButhowtogethertoLogan"smill-pond?Cephaswasatlengthconsulted.ItturnedoutthathehadacolouredfriendwhowentbytheimpressivenameofThomasJeffersonTaliaferro(pronouncedTolliver),whowasintheexpressbusiness;andwho,aftersurveyingtheboatwithsomemisgivings,——forshewastenfeetlong,——finallyconsentedtotransportherto"tide-water"forthesumoftwodollars.Butitprovedthatourcombinedresourcesonlyamountedtoadollarandseventy-fivecents.HamDurrettnevercontributedtoanything.OnthissumThomasJeffersoncompromised.

Saturdaydawnedclear,withastiffMarchwindcatchingupthedustintoeddiesandwhirlingitdownthestreet.NosoonerwasmyfathersafelyonhiswaytohisofficethanThomasJeffersonwasreportedtobeinthealley,whereweassembled,surveyingwithsomemisgivingsThomasJefferson"ssteed,whoseabilitytohaulthePetreltwomilesseemedsomewhatdoubtful.Otherdifficultiesdeveloped;thedoorinthebackoftheshedprovedtobetoonarrowforourship"sbeam.Butmenembarkedonadesperateenterprisearenottobestoppedbysuchtrifles,andtheproblemwassolvedbysawingouttwoadjoiningboards.Thesewereafterwardsreplacedwithskillbytheship"scarpenter,AbleSeamanGritsJarvis.ThenthePetrelbyheroiceffortswasgotintothewagon,theseatofwhichhadbeenremoved,oldThomasJeffersonperchedhimselfprecariouslyinthebowandprotestinglygathereduphisrope-patchedreins.

"Folks"ll"lowI"seplumcrazy,drivin"disyereboat,"hedeclared,observingwithconcernthatsomefourfeetofthesternprojectedoverthetail-board."Efshetopples,I"llgittoheavenquicker"nabullet."

Whenoneisshanghaied,however,——inthehandsofbuccaneers,——itistoolatetowithdraw.SixshouldersupheldtherearendofthePetrel,othersshoved,andThomasJefferson"sricketyhorsebegantomoveforwardinspiteofhimself.Anexpressionofsheerterrormighthavebeenobservedontheoldnegro"scrinkledface,buthisvoicewasdrowned,andwesweptoutofthealley.Scarcelyhadwetravelledablockbeforewebegantobejoinedbyalltheboysalongthelineofmarch;marbles,tops,andevenincipientbaseballgameswereabandonedthatSaturdaymorning;peopleranoutoftheirhouses,teamstershaltedtheircarts.

Thebreathlessexcitement,theexaltationIhadfeltonleavingthealleywerenowtingedwithotherfeelings,unanticipated,butnotwhollylackingindelectablequality,——concernandaweattheseunforeseenforcesIhadraised,atthisevergrowingandenthusiasticbodyofvolunteersspringinguplikedragon"steethinourpath.Afterall,wasnotItheheroofthistriumphalprocession?Thethoughtwasconsoling,exhilarating.AndherewasNancymarchingatmyside,alittlesubdued,perhaps,butunquestionablyadmiringandrealizingthatitwasIwhohadcreatedallthis.Nancy,whowastheaptestofpupils,themostloyaloffollowers,thoughIdidnotyetvalueherdevotionatitsrealworth,becauseshewasagirl.Herimaginationkindledatmytouch.Andonthiseventfuloccasionshecarriedinherarmsaparcel,thecontentsofwhichwereunknowntoallbutourselves.AtlengthwereachedthemuddyshoresofLogan"spond,wheretwoscoreeagerhandsvolunteeredtoassistthePetrelintohernativeelement.

Alas!thattherealityneverattainstothevision.Ihadbeheld,inmydreams,thePetrelabouttotakethewater,andNancyWillettstandingverystraightmakingalittlespeechandcrashingabottleofwineacrossthebows.Thiswasthecontentofthemysteriousparcel;shehadstolenitfromherfather"scellar.Butthenumberofuninvitedspectators,whichhadnotbeenforeseen,considerablymodifiedtheprogramme,——asthenewspaperswouldhavesaid.Theypushedandcrowdedaroundtheship,andmadefrankandevenbrutalremarksastoherseaworthiness;evenNancy,inuredthoughshewastothemasculinesex,hadfledtotheheights,anditlookedatthissuprememomentasthoughweshouldhavetofightforthePetrel.Anattempttomusterherdoughtybuccaneersfailed;thegunnertoohadfled,——GeneHollister;HamDurrettandtheEwanseswerenowheretobeseen,andamusterrevealedonlyTom,thefidusAchates,andGritsJarvis.