The Frontier Boys in the Sierras Part 4

"I'm just as liable to run this thing in a circle," replied Tom, "and we will b.u.t.t into Hawaii before we know it."

As a matter of fact, the boys were all pretty fair sort of sailors by this time, in a kind of make-shift practical way. They had received good instruction from old Pete, and capable supervision from the old captain, and it gave them confidence to have him back of them in case anything unusual should come up.

Juarez, who was really a mechanical genius, went below in the engine-room to relieve the engineer. He spent his happiest hours in a pair of greasy jumpers working over the engine, feeding it with oil, polishing it until it shone, and giving it constant attention. The taciturn engineer had taken quite a fancy to Juarez, who was himself as silent as an Indian. He had taught Juarez a great deal about his intricate trade, and the pupil had been quick to profit, always watching and observing, and saying little.

It seemed to Juarez that he was at the center of things when he was watching over the throbbing, steady, ceaseless movement of the engine; and shut off from the outside world, his thoughts seemed to time with the steady, powerful harmony of the mechanism, with its living spirit of steam within the polished framework. Many a boy who reads these lines will envy Juarez Hoskins, a.s.sistant engineer of the _Sea Eagle_, and will understand his feelings perhaps even better than the writer.

Nor did Juarez mind the heat, as with the jumper fastened over his brown naked shoulders, and bare head, he went busily about the engine-room whistling softly to himself. Old Pete pa.s.sed near on his way into the hold, and in a short time up came the boy stoker, black as a gnome and cheerful as a darkey, for he was Irish, which I take to be a Hibernian remark.

Thus with the exception of Pete the Frontier Boys were in charge of their ship and running it all right too. There was no question that this practise cruise to Hawaii was a fine thing for them, and after it was over they would be well qualified to take the _Sea Eagle_ wherever their fancy might dictate, or where necessity might require.

The next morning broke bright and balmy and the boys settled down to regular sea routine: scrubbing decks, steering, polishing the bra.s.swork, and last, but not least, cooking. Some things were now present on the bill of fare which were absent when they sailed from the coast. For instance, there were bananas, some yellow and ripe, others a bright green which would ripen on the voyage.

There was also half a bushel of mangoes, a most delicious fruit of juicy yellow meat, and a tart flavor hidden among its sweetness. There was also a small barrel of poi, the staple Hawaiian article of diet, of which the boys had grown very fond during their short sojourn in Hawaii. It was a thick bluish paste, and most nutritious.

Poi was made from a native root called taro, of mottled bluish-white meat. This was pounded up with water to a thick consistency and according to the native custom eaten from bowls into which the two forefingers were dipped, whirled around and then transferred quickly and gracefully to the mouth. It was an interesting spectacle to see Tom, for instance, seated on a hatch, his bare legs crossed before him, and a bowl of poi between them. Then Tom would throw his head back and pop his two fingers into his mouth with much and evident enjoyment.

Now poi is very fattening and the boys used to tease Jeems Howell about his getting a corporation, as he was naturally as thin as a slab. "You would look funny waddling around the deck, Jeems," said Jim, "and the fat shaking on your tummy when you laughed."

"Could use me for ballast then, Skipper," he would remark, "but I ain't worrying any. When I see myself fat I'll believe it and not before."

One day the dead calm of sea monotony was broken by a breeze of excitement. It was morning and Tom was at the wheel, while on the bridge was Juarez keeping a sharp lookout, as was his custom, although there was not much to expect in the way of interest. As far as sighting a sail, that was most unlikely, for this part of the ocean through which they were traveling was nothing but a blue desert, as far as other ships were concerned.

"What's that coming now?" cried Juarez. "I can't make it out."

"Where?" asked Tom eagerly.

"Low down on the northeast quarter," said Juarez.

"I see what you mean," remarked Tom, but he too was puzzled.

"I'll get the gla.s.s," suggested Juarez.

This done, he took a good long pull at it, his legs well braced against the roll of the ship, and making a very nautical figure indeed. Then he made out the enemy clearly; three big black hulls they were, and then from the bow of one a column of steam--or was it water?--went slanting into the air. Juarez's frame stiffened with interest and excitement.

"Whales!" he cried.

"What's that, lad?" It was the captain, who was supposedly asleep in his cabin, which was the deck house, but he responded quickly to the magic word, "Whales."

"Gimme the gla.s.s," he ordered, his hand outstretched. The boys watched him with interested attention. "Three of 'em," he cried. "Gosh! I wish I was younger."

By this time the whole Frontier gang was present on the quarter deck looking at the dark spots on the blue ocean that now had become visible to the naked eye. To say that they were interested was to put it very mildly. There was a strange interest to these marine monsters.

"Let's get one of those fellows," cried Juarez. "We have a couple of harpoons."

"Get ready, boys," cried Jim. "It's a go."

"What!" roared the captain. "You boys can't spear a whale even if you did get nigh him. He would spank you to kingdom come with his tail.

You stay right here where I can keep an eye on you. The idea of you tackling a whale. Why, it's plumb ridiculous. Just a pa.s.sel of kittens when it comes to whaling." Then he stopped to blow, entirely exhausted.

CHAPTER VI

DANGEROUS WORK

However foolhardy the proposition, the boys were determined, and then they were in the majority, so they overruled the captain. A chance like that was not to be permitted to slip. They had hunted bears, mountain lions, Indians, outlaws, ducks and much other game, but never had whales come within range before, and at least they were going to try to make their preliminary acquaintance.

"Well, boys, as I ain't responsible to your parents, yer might jest as well end yer lives by the flap of a whale's tail as go on to be hung, because that, in my opinion, will come to you sooner or later, being so reckless." But down in his heart the old fellow was pleased with their enterprise and pluck.

"Better come along and take care of us, Captain," urged Jim, "so these fellows won't bite us."

"All the fishing I'll ever do now will be for minnows over the rail,"

replied the captain. "My whaling days are over."

"The only whaling I know about," remarked Jo, "was what I used to get in school."

"You would get some more of the same kind now," remarked Jim briefly, "if I could spare the time."

"Now, you have to spare the rod," replied the irrepressible and irresponsible Jo. He ducked quickly as Jim hit at him, but there was no time for further discipline or discussion, so Jo escaped the merited punishment that was due him.

The boat was lowered, and the harpoon with its apparently endless coil of rope, was made ready. All this was done under the careful instruction of Captain Kerns, who knew the business of whaling thoroughly, and was determined that the venturesome boys should not be entirely helpless through ignorance. As for the harpoon, that was the property originally of the former owner of the _Sea Eagle_, Captain Bill Broom, of interesting memory. What pleasure he would have felt to see the Frontier Boys start out on their perilous expedition, sure that the whales would wreak vengeance upon the daring boys who had finally given him such a bitter defeat!

Everything was now ready, and the selected crew was prepared to pull away from the ship. They were delaying only for a few last words and instructions. Nor was the crew of the boat made up exactly as the reader might imagine, for Tom was left aboard and Jeems Howell was taken in his place.

There were two reasons for this. In the first place, Jeems, though lanky and thin, was really very strong and could do better work at the oars than Tom; the other reason had to do with an incident that happened in the attack the boys had made on a sand cone in the crater of Haleakala, the said cone being defended by a number of savages.

Tom had at that time failed to protect Jim when he was attacking the savages, due to nervousness, and Jeems had to come to the rescue. I do not know whether he appreciated the distinction of being chosen on this particular occasion or not, but he had to accept the honor thus thrust upon him.

"Good-bye, Tom," cried Jim; "I'll leave you my blessing, if the whale takes a chaw out of us."

"I'd rather you would leave me something valuable like your gold watch," replied the mercenary Tom.

"I'll make you my sole heir, Tommy," cried Jo. "I've got some debts back home that you can have." Then the boat pulled away from the ship.

"Don't forget, lads," roared the captain in farewell, "that whales ain't fools because they are big. Look out for 'em."

"Aye, aye, sir," came back the answer clear and strong.

"Good luck," yelled the captain, and the boys waved their hands in reply.

But no sooner had they pulled away than he got the other boat ready to launch in case it should be needed and a couple of life preservers were gotten ready, with a line attached, for no one knew better than the old sailor the dangerous undertaking on which the boys had launched.

Meanwhile they were making good time over the slow, lazy swell towards the whales that could be seen floating easily along two miles distant.

Jo was pulling the stroke oars, and Jeems was pulling the other pair directly behind him. Jo was a fair oarsman and Jeems was capable of keeping up with him.