Cyril Burleigh

“ The howling of the gale, the creaking and straining of the shrouds, the thumping and pounding and groaning of the machinery, and the tramping of men overhead made a combination of sounds that might well terrify anyone, and the older boys tried to reassure the younger ones that it would be over in a short time, and that they would soon be sailing on smooth seas again, and be laughing at their former terrors, but it took a great deal of faith to make all this believed, and some of those who urged it had very little confidence in its truth. ”

“ Billy got down from the tree, and all hands laughed again, but Jack said thoughtfully:
"That was not a wild calf, and the question naturally arises, what is a domesticated calf doing on a supposedly uninhabited island? If there is a calf there must be a cow and if a cow, then people who own and take care of her. There must be people on the island after all, although we have never seen them."
"We have not been all over the island," said Percival, "and it is likely that in the very parts where we have not been we shall find the people who own the calf." ”

“ The sound he had heard was the splash of oars and the hum of voices, and in a few moments he saw a boat containing two men appear around a corner of the higher rock, which descended sheer to the water's edge, and make its way slowly toward the open bay.
"I tell you there is one, Davis," Jack heard one of the men say, recognizing the voice as that of the man with the white mustache, as he always thought of him, and not as his stepfather. ”

“ There were some of the boys who did not escape seasickness on the way back, for all they had been on the water so long, but the run home was, on the whole, most pleasant, and Jack, Dick, young Smith and some others enjoyed it thoroughly.
"We shall have enough to think of and to talk about for a long time," remarked Jack to Percival when they were at last on the train going back to the Highlands, "and it is all the better that the trip was not what it was originally planned to be. The very unexpectedness of our adventures gave them all the greater charm." ”

“ Dick and Jack were both laughing heartily now, much to young Smith's amazement, Billy's surprise and the disgust of Ben Bowline, Bucephalus looking on and wondering what had come over his "young gentlemen" as he was accustomed to call them.
"What are you two fellows laughing at?" asked Billy.
"I don't see anything funny in it!" sputtered Ben.
"I think it's awful!" murmured Jesse W.
"Why, those are not men talking," laughed Dick.
"They aren't!" exclaimed Billy.
"Mebby dat am all imagination, sah!" added Bucephalus.
"What is it if it isn't men!" asked Ben.
"Parrots!" laughed Jack. ”

“ The boys kept going down and at length Jack said, pausing and trying to pierce the darkness, the light that Percival had spoken of not being visible at that moment:
"I think we would better get a light, Dick. We don't know where we are going, and it is dark. It is never safe to go anywhere in the dark unless one is familiar with his surroundings."
"That's true enough, Jack. Have you any matches? The next time we come this way, if we do, we had better take a flashlight along." ”

“ Jack and Dick helped young Jesse W. up the bank, as, otherwise, it would have been hard for the little fellow, who was under the average size for boys of his age, and he felt quite proud of being with the older boys, and said as he looked around on the water and the island and the yacht lying at anchor:
"When I tell the other fellows that I came up here they won't believe me. I tell you, it is something to have two such big fellows to look after a little shrimp like me."
"Never mind, J.W., you will grow if you will only wait," laughed Jack. "We were all little fellows once." ”

“ You take good care to keep away from all of them, Mr. Rollins, as you choose to call yourself."
"Take them away," said the man with the white mustache. "Let no harm come to them. I don't understand why they are on the island, but it would be awkward if any of their friends should know of our presence here. Don't let them get away, but don't hurt them."
The men were much stronger than the boys, and Jack saw the futility of a struggle during which the younger boy might be hurt, and he, therefore, submitted to being led away, hoping to escape at some later time. ”

“ Instead of doing anything the boys only stood there and laughed, and when Bucephalus and Ben Bowline came up in great haste they did the same, all joining in a full-voiced laughing chorus.
"Why don't you help a fellow?" wailed Billy. "There you all are, laughing to beat the band, and I can't get down on account of this wild bull at the foot of the tree."
"Wild bull nothing!" exclaimed Percival. "It is a three months' old calf, and you're another, only you are a bit older than that. ”

“ The devil fish, even with the loss of two of its arms, was still powerful enough to make all his efforts futile, and he felt himself being drawn into some recess beyond where he had first seen the octopus squatting on the rock and glaring at them with its horrible eyes.
Percival, having found Jack's electric torch and searching the cave below and above water for a sign of his friend, suddenly saw the devil fish rise to the ledge where he had first seen it. ”

“ It doesn't belong to us."
"That would be reason enough for not daring, with some persons," said Jack with a low laugh. "They will take care of their own things, but are careless with those belonging to others."
"The woods are full of such, Jack."
Jack rowed with one hand, drawing in his other oar so that it might not strike the rocks in case the passage narrowed, and then got out his pocket flash and shot a strong ray ahead of him.
"Good gracious! what's that?" suddenly exclaimed Percival in accents of terror. "Back water, Jack, for heaven's sake!"
"What is it, Dick?" ”

“ Leaving the hill after getting a good view of the surrounding sea and the island, the boys took a course which would lead them to the part of the reefs, which they had not before visited.
They were pushing on leisurely when they suddenly stopped and listened, having heard what seemed to be a cry for help.
"Somebody is in trouble," said Jack. "Where is it, straight ahead?"
"It sounds like it, and that sounds like the voice of Billy Manners."
"Maybe he is joking," said young Smith. "He always is." ”

“ The flame presently began to flicker, and indicated the presence of a draught of air, Jack noticing the direction whence it came, said:
"Try this way, Dick. There is a draught which makes the flame flicker. Try the axe on the rocks and see if you can loosen them, or, better yet, see if there isn't a fissure somewhere."
"Yes, there is," said Percival, climbing a mass of rock somewhat to one side of where the others had fallen. "Yes, I see it, Jack." ”

“ There had a vessel come into the bay, then, and she was now probably up the cove out of sight, and the man in the boat with the other was her captain.
"That is the man whose vessel I signaled the other night," thought Jack. "Rollins must have come over to this side and met him. They know each other, it seems. Birds of a feather flock together."
Not caring to expose himself to the risk of being seen by the men when they returned, Jack now crept back to the other side of the rock and began to descend carefully, Percival being at length able to help him. ”

“ They hurried along the passage by which they had entered the cabin, reached the hole in the bow by which they had entered and then, as Percival turned on his flashlight, which he had extinguished after entering the cabin aft, they hurried forward toward the hole in the rocks.
"There is no water here, Dick, at any rate," said Jack.
"No, there is not, but I can't think what made—hello!"
"What's the matter, Dick?"
"Where is the way up? I can't find it. The passage was not a wide one, was it? We cannot have gone astray?" ”

“ They reached the top at length, and had a fine view of the island and of the sea, but could not see any other islands in the distance.
"We are on a lost island and no mistake," said Percival. "There is not another one in sight. I wish I could make out a passage through the reefs, but there does not seem to be any."
"We may find one unexpectedly," said Jack. "That often happens. You hunt and hunt for a thing and don't find it, and then you give up hunting and the first thing you know you find what you have been looking for without looking for it." ”

“ As Percival had predicted, there was a door at the end of the bulkhead, dividing the hold from the cabin, but this was fast.
"It is not very thick," said Percival. "I believe I can break it in with a blow of the axe."
"Wait a moment, Dick," said Jack cautiously. "Listen! It strikes me I hear the sound of water. We don't want to let a flood in on us. It is likely that the after hold and cabin are full of water, and we don't want to be swamped." ”

“ The smaller boy looked rather wistfully into the hole as Dick went down, and Jack, breaking another stout stick, asked:
"Do you want to go down there, young fellow, and follow Dick Percival on a fool's errand?"
"It might not be that," said the other, "and I would like to go."
"All right, then, come along. Here is a staff for you. I can do without one, I think. Keep close to me. Can you walk upright, Dick?"
"Yes, generally," came back the answer in a muffled voice. "My! but the place is filled with echoes, Jack. It goes down quite a distance I should say. The light is a big help. ”

“ The parrots, for such indeed they were, as all the party now realized, continued to talk and scream and chatter, and in a short time the boys and their companions caught sight of a number of them as they came out into a more open bit of woods.
"We were a bit alarmed ourselves, as you may remember," said Jack, "when we first heard them, and it was some little time before we realized that they were not men."
"They have caught the talk of men who have been to the island," added Percival, "and probably that of men who are here now. ”

“ Bucephalus and old Ben Bowline were in the boat, the old sailor hailing them when he neared the shore.
"Well, mateys, did you think you'd walk out to the yacht?" he asked. "The old man was afraid you'd fallen in, and been gobbled up by sharks. Some of the boys found the boat adrift, and brought it in. Don't you know how to tie up a boat yet? I'll show you some knots if you don't know them."
"We know all the knots you can show us, Ben, and perhaps a good many more," grunted Percival. "The boat was tied all right, but——"
"Wha' was yo' goin' to say, sah?" asked Bucephalus. ”

“ When Herring and Merritt came on board he suddenly stepped out from behind a funnel, which had hidden him so that the two bullies did not see him till just as he faced them.
Both of them showed surprise, and Percival said to himself:
"They are the ones, just as I supposed. When anything happens to me or Jack and especially to Jack, look out for Pete Herring." ”

“ The captain and mate, followed by four men from each boat, scrambled up the side like monkeys, and made a dash for the cabin as a man came out and demanded gruffly:
"Hello! who are you, and what do you want?"
"That's Davis," said Jack. "I know his voice. We have made no mistake."
"Of course not," said Percival "Do you see that fender hanging over the side? These fellows have forgotten it. There is your name Circe, as plain as you please."
"Yes, I see it."
"There are lively times up there, Jack," Dick continued. "I'd like to join in it."
"Let the men go instead," laughed Jack. ”

“ If it had been Dick alone I would not have thought so much of it, but Jack has more sense."
"Thank you," said Dick dryly. "I know a tame calf from a wild bull, however, if I haven't much sense."
"Come ahead, boys," said Jack. "We must get back to the yacht. If there are other men on the island besides ourselves we do not want to meet them just now. They are not a desirable lot, most likely."
The entire party then pushed on, and in a short time reached the shore, got their boat and returned to the yacht. ”

“ Could you find the cove where the smuggler is hidden?"
"I might," answered Jack thoughtfully.
"If I can find her before she gets out," the captain continued, "I'll catch him, and make him take us out of the bay to the open. Then I'll turn him over to the cutter, and get the reward. These fellows captured one of our vessels, and it'll be only turn about, which is fair play for everybody."
"Are your men armed?" asked Jack. "Remember, these men are ready for fight at any moment. They always expect it, and are prepared. ”

“ He should have a special one."
"And he cannot tell just what is required till he gets here, and, perhaps, would have to hunt one up, and there is more lost time," said Harry dolefully. "It's a pity we are wasting so much time."
"Yes, but I don't see how we are going to help ourselves."
"No, perhaps not."
Late that night Jack was awakened as he lay asleep in his berth, not by a flash, as before, but by hearing some one say, as he went by the door:
"It can't be, it's too much like the flying Dutchman."
"That's what I say, but all the same I was sure I saw one come in through the reefs." ”

“ In a few minutes a smiling negro in a white jacket and cap came out of the cabin carrying a tray containing cups of beef tea, which he offered to the boys, saying with a grin:
"Dis ain't like de beef soup yo' get at de 'cademy, sah, but mebby yo' would like a bite or two dis mon'in' to sha'pen yo' appetite fo' dinnah?"
"No, thanks, Bucephalus," said one of the boys, Dick Percival by name, who was walking arm in arm with Jack. "I don't need anything to sharpen my appetite, which is always good on sea or land."
"The idea of offering a fellow anything to eat when he feels as I do," growled Harry. ”

“ Jack feared he might, and had started to go to the deck when the thing happened."
Herring did not care to get into a quarrel with Percival, who was much stronger and better built than himself, and he, therefore, went away muttering something which the boys could not make out.
"He is always saying something nasty against Jack," declared Arthur. "He hates Jack because Jack is smarter, and a general favorite. I wish he had stayed on shore, but as Mr. Smith invited the whole Academy he could not very well be left behind." ”