Brandon of the Engineers Part 21

"That's so," Jake agreed. "Still, it's narrow and bad to find in the dark, and I expect the skipper would sooner go outside." Then he glanced astern and said, "They're coming out."

Two white lights, one close above the other, with a pale red glimmer below, moved away from the wharf. Behind them three or four more twinkling red spots appeared, and d.i.c.k told the fireman to start the engine half-speed. Steering for the beach, he followed the fringe of surf, but kept abreast of the tug, which held to a course that would take her round the end of the reef.

When the moon shone through he could see her plunge over the steep swell and the white wash at the lighters' bows as they followed in her wake; then as a cloud drove past, their dark hulls faded and left nothing but a row of tossing lights. By and by the launch reached a bend in the coastline and the breeze freshened and drew more ahead. The swell began to break and showers of spray blew on board, while the sea got white off-sh.o.r.e.

"We'll get it worse when we open up the Arenas bight," said Jake as he glanced at the lurching tug. "It looks as if the skipper meant to give the reef a wide berth. He's swinging off to starboard. Watch his smoke."

"You have done some yachting, then?"

"I have," said Jake. "I used to sail a shoal-draught sloop on Long Island Sound. Anyway, if I'd been towing those coal-scows, I'd have edged in near the beach, for the sake of smoother water, and wouldn't have headed out until I saw the reef. It will be pretty wet on board the scows now, and they'll have had to put a man on each to steer."

d.i.c.k nodded agreement and signed the fireman to turn on more steam as he followed the tug outsh.o.r.e. The swell got steadily higher and broke in angry surges. The launch plunged, and rattled as she swung her screw out of the sea, but d.i.c.k kept his course abreast of the tug, which he could only distinguish at intervals between the clouds of spray. Her masthead lights reeled wildly to and fro, but the low red gleam from the barges was hidden and he began to wonder why her captain was steering out so far. It was prudent not to skirt the reef, but the fellow seemed to be giving it unnecessary room. The lighters would tow badly through the white, curling sea, and there was a risk of the hawsers breaking.

Besides, the engineer had complained that his machinery was not running well.

A quarter of an hour later, a belt of foam between them and the land marked the reef, and the wind brought off the roar of breaking surf. Soon afterwards, the white surge faded, and only the tug's lights were left as a long cloud-bank drove across the moon. Jake stood up, shielding his eyes from the spray.

"He's broken his rope; the coal's adrift!" he cried.

d.i.c.k saw the tug's lights vanish, which meant that she had turned with her stern towards the launch; and then two or three twinkling specks some distance off.

"He'd tow the first craft with a double rope, a bridle from his quarters," he said. "It's strange that both parts broke, and, so far as I can make out, the tail barge has parted her hawser, too."

A whistle rang out, and d.i.c.k called for full-speed as the tug's green light showed.

"We'll help him to pick up the barges," he remarked.

The moon shone out as they approached the nearest, and a bright beam swept across the sea until it touched the lurching craft. Her wet side glistened about a foot above the water and then vanished as a white surge lapped over it and washed across her deck. A rope trailed from her bow and her long tiller jerked to and fro. It was obvious that she was adrift with n.o.body on board, and d.i.c.k cautiously steered the launch towards her.

"That's curious, but perhaps the rest drove foul of her and the helmsman lost his nerve and jumped," he said. "I'll put Maccario on board to give us the hawser."

"Then I'll go with him," Jake offered. "He can't handle the big rope alone."

d.i.c.k hesitated. It was important that they should not lose the coal, but he did not want to give the lad a dangerous task. The barge was rolling wildly and he durst not run alongside, while some risk would attend a jump across the three or four feet of water between the craft.

"I think you'd better stop here," he objected.

"I don't," Jake answered with a laugh. "Guess you've got to be logical.

You want the coal, and it will take us both to save it."

He followed the fireman, who stood, balancing himself for a spring, on the forward deck, while d.i.c.k let the launch swing in as close as he thought safe. The man leapt and d.i.c.k watched Jake with keen anxiety as the launch rose with the next comber, but the lad sprang off as the bows went up, and came down with a splash in the water that flowed across the lighter's deck. Then d.i.c.k caught the line thrown him and with some trouble dragged the end of the hawser on board. He was surprised to find that it was not broken, but he waved his hand to the others as he drove the launch ahead, steering for the beach, near which he expected to find a pa.s.sage through the reef.

Before he had gone far the tug steamed towards him with the other barges in tow, apparently bound for Adexe.

"It is not possible to go on," the skipper hailed. "Give me a rope; we take the lighter."

"You shan't take her to Adexe," d.i.c.k shouted. "We want the coal."

Though there was danger in getting too close, the captain let the tug drift nearer.

"We bring you the lot when the wind drops."

"No," said d.i.c.k, "I'll stick to what I've got."

He could not catch the captain's reply as the tug forged past, but it sounded like an exclamation of anger or surprise, and he looked anxiously for the foam upon the reef. It was some time before he distinguished a glimmer in the dark, for the moon was hidden and his progress was slow.

The lighter was big and heavily laden, and every now and then her weight, putting a sudden strain on the hawser, jerked the launch to a standstill.

It was worse when, lifting with the swell, she sheered off at an angle to her course, and d.i.c.k was forced to maneuver with helm and engine to bring her in line again, at some risk of fouling the hawser with the screw. He knew little about towing, but he had handled small sailing boats before he learned to use the launch. The coal was badly needed and must be taken to Santa Brigida, though an error of judgment might lead to the loss of the barge and perhaps of his comrade's life.

The phosph.o.r.escent gleam of the surf got plainer and the water smoother, for the reef was now to windward and broke the sea, but the moon was still covered, and d.i.c.k felt some tension as he skirted the barrier. He did not know if he could find the opening or tow the lighter through the narrow channel. The surf, however, was of help, for it flashed into sheets of spangled radiance as it washed across the reef, leaving dark patches among the lambent foam. The patches had a solid look, and d.i.c.k knew that they were rocks.

At length he saw a wider break in the belt of foam, and the sharper plunging of the launch showed that the swell worked through. This was the mouth of the channel, and there was water enough to float the craft if he could keep off the rocks. s.n.a.t.c.hing the engine-lamp from its socket, he waved it and blew the whistle. A shout reached him and showed that the others understood.

d.i.c.k felt his nerves tingle when he put the helm over and the hawser tightened as the lighter began to swing. If she took too wide a sweep, he might be unable to check her before she struck the reef, and there seemed to be a current flowing through the gap. Glancing astern for a moment, he saw her dark hull swing through a wide curve while the strain on the hawser dragged the launch's stern down, but she came round and the tension slackened as he steered up the channel.

For a time he had less trouble than he expected; but the channel turned at its outer end and wind and swell would strike at him at an awkward angle, when he took the bend. As he entered it, the moon shone out, and he saw the black top of a rock dangerously close to leeward. He waved the lantern, but the lighter, with sea and current on her weather bow, forged almost straight ahead, and the straining hawser dragged the launch back.

Reaching forward, d.i.c.k opened the throttle valve to its limit, and then sat grim and still while the throb of the screw shook the trembling hull.

Something would happen in the next half minute unless he could get the lighter round. Glancing back, he saw her low, wet side shine in the moonlight. Two dark figures stood aft by the tiller, and he thought the foam about the rock was only a fathom or two away.

The launch was hove down on her side. Though the screw thudded furiously, she seemed to gain no ground, and then the strain on the hawser suddenly slackened. d.i.c.k wondered whether it had broken, but he would know in the next few seconds; there was a sharp jerk, the launch was dragged to leeward, but recovered and forged ahead. She plunged her bows into a broken swell and the spray filled d.i.c.k's eyes, but when he could see again the foam was sliding past and a gap widened between the lighter's hull and the white wash on the rock.

The water was deep ahead, and since he could skirt the beach and the wind came strongly off the land, the worst of his difficulties seemed to be past. Still, it would be a long tow to Santa Brigida, and bracing himself for the work, he lit his pipe.

CHAPTER XV

THE MISSING COAL

Early next morning d.i.c.k stood in front of the Hotel Magellan, where he had slept for a few hours after his return, and was somewhat surprised to see that Jake had got up before him and was talking to a pretty, dark-skinned girl. She carried a large bunch of flowers and a basket of fruit stood close by, while Jake seemed to be persuading her to part with some.

d.i.c.k stopped and watched them, for the glow of color held his eye. Jake's white duck caught the strong sunlight, while the girl's dark hair and eyes were relieved by the brilliant lemon-tinted wall and the ma.s.s of crimson bloom. Her att.i.tude was coquettish, and Jake regarded her with an ingratiating smile. After a few moments, however, d.i.c.k went down the street and presently heard his comrade following him. When the lad came up, he saw that he had a basket of dark green fruit and a bunch of the red flowers.

"I thought you were asleep. Early rising is not a weakness of yours," he said.

"As it happens, I didn't sleep at all," Jake replied. "Steering that unhandy coal-scow rather got upon my nerves and when she took the awkward sheer as we came through the reef the tiller knocked Maccario down and nearly broke my ribs. I had to stop the helm going the wrong way somehow."

d.i.c.k nodded. It was obvious that the lad had been quick and cool at a critical time, but his twinkling smile showed that he was now in a different mood.

"You seem to have recovered. But why couldn't you leave the girl alone?"

"I'm not sure she'd have liked that," Jake replied. "It's a pity you have no artistic taste, or you might have seen what a picture she made."

"As a matter of fact, I did see it, but she has, no doubt, a half-breed lover who'd seriously misunderstand your admiration, which might lead to your getting stabbed some night. Anyhow, why did you buy the flowers?"

"For one thing, she was taking them to the Magellan, and I couldn't stand for seeing that blaze of color wasted on the guzzling crowd you generally find in a hotel dining-room."

"That doesn't apply to the fruit. You can't eat those things. They preserve them."