The Coming Wave Part 18

"I don't see any town," said Captain Bounce, going to the rail, and gazing into the fog, in the direction from which the sounds of the church clock had come.

"You heard the clock on the Methodist church strike--didn't you?"

"I heard that."

"Well, sir, we are in the river; and it is a crooked river, too. You can't take a boat and pull in a straight line in any direction without running on the rocks," added Leopold.

"I'm glad we are in a safe harbor," continued the old sea-dog, but in a tone which seemed to belie his words, for he was not quite willing to believe that the boy had piloted the vessel four or five miles, without even seeing the sh.o.r.e a single time.

"When did you leave New York, Captain Bounce?" asked Leopold.

"Three days ago. We had a fine run till we went into the fog yesterday morning. The wind was contrary, and in beating my way up I lost my reckoning. I have been dodging the breakers for twenty-four hours. I was afraid of a north-easterly storm; and if I had had no women on board, I should have come about, and run out to sea. As it was, I had to feel my way along."

"You are all right now," added Leopold, as he saw the owner and pa.s.sengers coming up the companion-way.

"You have brought us in--have you, Leopold?" said Mr. Hamilton.

"Yes, sir. You are in the river, off Rockhaven, though you can't see anything," replied the young pilot.

"You have done well; and you are fully ent.i.tled to your pilotage," added the ex-member of Congress.

"I don't pretend to be a pilot for pay," protested Leopold.

"You have brought the yacht into port, and here is your fee," said Mr.

Hamilton, putting some bank bills into his hand.

"No, sir!" exclaimed Leopold; "I don't want any money for what I have done. I am not ent.i.tled to any pilot's fees."

"Yes you are, just as much ent.i.tled to them as though you had a warrant or a branch. Now go to your hotel, and have everything ready for us as quick as you can. We are wet and cold, and we want good fires,"

continued Mr. Hamilton.

"But this money--"

"Don't stop another moment, my boy," interrupted the rich merchant. "If your father's hotel is as good as you say it is, we may stay there a week."

Under this imperative order, Leopold thrust the bills into his pocket, and leaped into the Rosabel. He had anch.o.r.ed the Orion off the wharf, in the deep water in the middle of the river, so that her boats could conveniently reach the landing-steps near the fish market. Hoisting his mainsail and jib, he stood down the river.

"Come and help us get on sh.o.r.e!" shouted Mr. Hamilton, as the Rosabel was disappearing in the fog. "We can't find the wharf."

"Ay, ay, sir," replied Leopold.

In a few moments he had anch.o.r.ed the sloop at her usual moorings, secured the sails very hastily, and was climbing the steep path to the road. In spite of the pride which had prompted him to refuse it, the pilot's fee was a G.o.dsend to him, or, rather, to his father, for he determined to give the money to him immediately. He took the bills from his pocket, and found there were three ten-dollar notes. His heart leaped with emotion when he remembered what his father said--that he had not seen twenty dollars at one time for a month. The landlord actually needed the money to make purchases for the comfort of his new guests.

Leopold was almost beside himself with joy, and he rushed up the steep, rocky path without regard to the proper expenditure of his breath.

Puffing like a grampus, he reached the road, and then ran with all his might, as if the Sea Cliff House was on fire. He rushed into the office, and flew about the house like a madman. His father was nowhere to be seen; but he spent only a moment in looking for him, and then darted out into the wood-shed. Filling a bushel basket with wood, chips, and shavings, he carried it into the big parlor, and lighted a tremendous fire in the Franklin stove. Another was made in the large corner apartment up stairs, with two bed-rooms _en suite_, which he always called Mr. Hamilton's room. He piled on the wood with no n.i.g.g.ardly hand upon these, and four other fires he kindled in as many of the best rooms in the house.

Calling the chambermaid to attend to those up stairs, he returned to the public parlor, where he piled up the wood again.

"What under the sun are you doing, Leopold?" demanded his father, while he was thus occupied.

"Making fires," replied the son, vigorously. "I have kindled five up stairs."

"But what under--"

"Never mind now, father," interposed Leopold. "Fifteen folks from New York will be here pretty soon, and you must be ready for them."

"Fifteen!" exclaimed the landlord, who had been mourning over the fog, which promised to deprive him of the few guests who might otherwise come over to Rockhaven in the steamer.

"Yes, sir, fifteen; and they are Mr. Hamilton's party."

"Good gracious!" exclaimed the astonished and delighted proprietor of the Sea Cliff House.

"But I must go down to the wharf, and help get them ash.o.r.e," continued Leopold, so excited that he could hardly speak. "They are cold and wet, and want good fires."

"I'll see to the fires Leopold. But where in the world did they come from in this fog?"

"They came in a yacht. I went off about two miles from the ledges after cod and haddock, and picked them up there. They had been knocking about in the fog for twenty-four hours. I brought the yacht into the river, and Mr. Hamilton gave me thirty dollars for pilot's fees. Here's the money, father."

"But, Leopold," added the landlord, as he involuntarily took the bills, "this is your money, and--"

"Never mind, father. We mustn't stop to talk about it now," interposed the son, vehemently. "If you will have the house ready, I will go and bring up the folks. Send the wagon down to the wharf as quick as you can."

Leopold waited for nothing more, but ran down to the wharf as fast as his legs would carry him, and arrived almost out of breath. To his astonishment, he found quite a number of people gathered there, for it had just been discovered that a large yacht had anch.o.r.ed in the river.

Squire Moses and Ethan Wormbury were there, the latter to look out for the interests of the Island Hotel. Leopold borrowed a skiff belonging to Mr. Bangs, and pulled off to the Orion. Both of her boats had been lowered from the davits, and hauled up at the accommodation steps, in readiness to convey the ladies and gentlemen to the sh.o.r.e.

"We are all ready for you at the Sea Cliff House, Mr. Hamilton," said Leopold, us he stepped upon the deck.

"Shall we find a good fire in the parlor?" asked the ex-Congressman.

"Yes, sir, and in your rooms, too," replied Leopold. "We call it warm weather down here; but I piled on the wood to suit your case."

"I am so glad to come here again!" said Rosabel, stepping up to Leopold.

"I am very much obliged to the fog for sending us to Rockhaven."

"I shall consider the fog one of my best friends after this," laughed Leopold; and he conducted the young lady to the gangway.

"Father says you have a new hotel; and I hope we shall stay here all summer."

"The Sea Cliff House, folks say, is about as good as anything on the coast; and I hope the new hotel will suit you well enough to keep you here a long time," said the gallant young man, as he a.s.sisted Rosabel down the steps and into the stern-sheets of the boat.

"It would be so delightful to stay here all summer, and have the yacht, so that we could sail about the bay!"

Leopold a.s.sisted the other ladies--of whom there were not less than seven--to their places in the two quarter-boats of the Orion. The whole party was disposed in both of them, and the landlord's son led the way to the wharf in the skiff, which was reached in a few moments. Leopold was on the landing-steps in time to a.s.sist the ladies when the first boat came alongside the platform, and the whole party were soon on the wharf.

"Who are all these people, Leopold?" asked Squire Moses Wormbury, as the young man was ascending the steps.

"Mr. Franklin Hamilton's party from New York," replied the young man hastily.