The Knights of the White Shield eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 202 pages of information about The Knights of the White Shield.

The Knights of the White Shield eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 202 pages of information about The Knights of the White Shield.

He turned toward the town.  He saw one light shining from a house window, and thought it must signify a sick person or an early riser.  Then he heard a cock crowing.

“Never knew a rooster had such a pleasant voice before,” he said.  All that he could do was to wait until Simes Badger’s light went out, and day filled the eastern sky, and not only roosters but human beings were stirring in Seamont.

“Then some one will come and get me, I hope,” thought Wort.

He patiently waited, watching the dark gurgling river and the brightening sky.

About six o’clock Simes Badger pushed off his boat from the light-house dock, leaving his assistant in charge.

“I must get my breakfast,” he said.

He leisurely rowed up the river.

“Ah,” thought Simes, “there is Skipper Wentworth’s new craft.  She sets easy in the water.  She will make as trim a fore and aft as ever left this harbor.”

He was now opposite the newly-painted black and green hull.

“Massy!” he exclaimed, resting on his oars, “What’s that on deck?  A hen there?  Somebody is wavin’ suthin’.  Something must be wrong there.  Let me take a nearer look.”

He rowed close up to the vessel’s side, and there detained his boat in the still, sparkling stream, raised his weather-tanned face, and saw a very fresh, boyish face looking down.

“O, Mr. Badger, come and get me!”

“Wort Wentworth, is that you?

Simes knew that Wort had a reputation for scrapes, but was not prepared for this appearance under the present circumstances.

“What are you doin’ there?  You all alone?”

“I got asleep in the cabin, and they left me here.”

“And you been here all night?  It is a wonder the sharks didn’t eat you,” said Simes, who had a very vivid imagination.

“The sharks?”

“Well, no matter about them things.  I s’pose now you want to go home?”

“Yes, if I can get down into your boat.”

“I’m willin’ to take you if you can get down.”

“Couldn’t I shin down the chain-cable?”

“O no!  Look round and find a piece of rope and make it fast to something up there, and then drop your rope down here and come that way.”

“What, drop myself down like the rope?” said Wort, grinning.

“Tut, tut, boy! come down the rope!  Didn’t I say so plain as day? and if I didn’t, I will now.”

Wort found a rope, made one end fast to the rail, and then, throwing the other end down to Simes, safely lowered himself into the stern of the light-keeper’s boat.  In fifteen minutes more Wort was at home, to the surprise and joy of his parents.

The club boys heard about Wort’s experience, and had a word to say concerning it.

“I say, Wort,” asked Charlie, “how do you like going to sea?”

“Did you catch any waleths?” inquired Pip.

“What did the mermaids say to you?” asked the governor.

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Project Gutenberg
The Knights of the White Shield from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.