The Boys of the Wireless Part 31

"n.o.body lost?"

"I think not."

"Then it's Brookville for us."

"Yes, quick as you can make it, Bill."

The storm had somewhat subsided. The _Beulah_ struck a straight course sh.o.r.ewards. Tom, glancing through the cabin window, observed that the lady pa.s.sengers grouped there seemed quieted down and coherent.

The bulky man pa.s.senger with the life preservers had crawled to the shelter of the stern platform, and, wedging himself in between two rods, only occasionally shouted out some mad threat of a suit against the steamship company.

The dock at Brookville was crowded by residents of the little town as the _Beulah_ drove into comparatively smooth water in the coaling slip.

Men with lanterns, and some women too, had braved the rain and wind, alarmed, and anxious to be helpful when the rumor had spread that a steamer was aground on Garvey Rocks.

Tom expressed a great sigh of relief as willing hands caught the cable he threw to the dock. He shut off the power, and as he pa.s.sed Bill, grim and business-like at his post of duty, he bestowed a hearty smack between the shoulders.

"Good boy!" he cried exuberantly.

Bill chuckled.

"Mean that?" he propounded.

"I certainly do."

"Some good, then, ain't I?"

"Bill Barber," cried Tom with genuine feeling, "you're pure gold all through, and every inch a man!"

The Barber boy thrust out his rough paw of a hand to grasp that of his comrade in a hearty grip.

"Tom Barnes," he said, choking up, and yet with the echo of a glad cheer in his tones, "I'd rather hear you say that than-than-yes, than even get that eleven dollars and seventy-five cents Bert Aldrich owes me."

The door of the cabin opened, and Grace Morgan stood on its threshold.

"Have we landed, Tom?" she asked.

"Yes, Grace, safe and sound."

"Oh, how glad Aunt Bertha will be! What are we to do now, Tom?"

"You are to be taken in charge by a lot of kind people, it looks to me,"

responded Tom.

"I will find out their plans, and let you know at once. Tell the ladies there is no need of their coming out in the rain until arrangements are made for their comfort."

Tom clambered up to the dock. He had to answer a dozen questions in one breath for as many excited persons eager for news.

Tom allayed the general suspense by expressing the conviction that all hands had been saved from the wreck. Then he gave full attention to a big man in a raincoat who seemed to be the spokesman of the community.

"Get the ladies to shelter," this individual ordered those at his side.

"We can find room for a couple of them up at our house."

"I'll go and get the covered 'bus," suggested one of his a.s.sistants.

"A good idea."

In two minutes' time the proffers of shelter exceeded the demand of the occasion.

A fog whistle in the distance out at sea came floating in on the strong breeze.

"That is the steam tug with the other pa.s.sengers aboard," said the big man.

"Yes, sir," responded Tom.

"How many, do you think?"

"Perhaps fifteen or twenty."

"They must be provided for," said the man. "There's the hotel. It's old and rickety and don't accommodate half a dozen comfortably; but it'll give them a roof, some kind of a shakedown, and a warm meal to brace them up."

"How much the cost?" broke in a sudden voice, and the fat man with the life preservers trundled into view.

"How much for what?" demanded the other, staring in astonishment at the odd figure the stout pa.s.senger made with his armor of cork life preservers.

"For lodging and meals. I won't pay much. Look at my clothes! All soaked,-and what of my baggage back on that pesky steamer? I won't be robbed! I'll sue everybody! I shan't pay a cent!"

"You won't have to," a.s.sured the man. "The hospitality of this town comes free, gratis, for nothing, on such an occasion as this."

Tom told Bill of the arrangements in order, and then reported to Grace.

He had never admired the little lady as much as now, as he noted her kindly soothing treatment of her nervously-unstrung aunt, her pretty obliging ways in seeing to the care of an old lady with a crutch and a young woman with a frightened child in her arms, as the 'bus drove up.

"Aunt Bertha is dreadfully nervous," she said to Tom. "She says she will abandon the trip entirely now, will never venture on the water again, and wants to get to Fernwood right away, for she knows she is going to be ill."

"It is quite a trip to your home from here, Grace," explained Tom. "I might get a vehicle somewhere, but the roads must be almost impa.s.sable in places, and the storm isn't over yet. If I were you, I would try and induce your aunt to remain at Brookville till morning. I know you will both be taken care of by these good people."

"I will try and console her to your opinion," responded Grace. She gave him a bright look. "Oh, Tom," she cried, bursting girl-like into tears of mingled pride and joy, "you have acted just-splendid!"

She seized both his hands in her own and smiled in grateful friendship at him, as he helped her into the 'bus. Just then those on the dock broke out into ringing cheers.

"The steam tug!" said Tom, noticing the craft approach.

There was the excitement of a new landing, eager questioning, rapid explanations; and Bill, who had left the launch and mingled with the crowd, approached Tom, smiling with good nature, his hands in his pockets, a certain element of pride and exaltation in his stride.

"Not a person lost," he reported in glad tones.

"The captain of the _Olivia_ is looking for you, and--"

"That's the lad," sounded the voice of the tug captain, and the man with him who wore a cap with an official band of gold braid around it, seized Tom as if he feared he might run away from him.