Boy Tar Page 13

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

  A STATE OF "SUSPENSE."

  I had not lost presence of mind as yet, but once more set aboutconsidering how I might be able to keep above water. I could easilyslide up the staff without taking out a single button; but once up, howcould I remain there? I should certainly come slipping down again. Oh!that there was only a notch--a knot--a nail--if I only had a knife tomake a nick; but knot, notch, nail, knife, nick--all were alike deniedme. Stay! I was wrong, decidedly wrong. I remembered just then thatwhile attempting to get over the barrel, I had noticed that the staffjust under it was smaller than elsewhere. It had been flanged off atthe top, as if to make a point upon it, and upon this point was placedthe barrel, or rather a portion of the top was inserted into the end ofthe barrel.

  I remembered this narrow part. It formed a sort of ring or collar roundthe post. Was it likely that the protuberance would be large enough tomake a hold for my jacket, and prevent it from slipping back? Likely ornot, it was not the time to be nice about the choice of expedients.There was no choice: this or nothing.

  Before another sea could reach me, I had "swarmed" up the pole. I triedthe experiment. It would not do. I came sliding down again, sadderthan I had gone up; and as soon as down, I was treated to "anothersorrow of the same"--a fresh sea that ducked and drowned me as before.

  The cause of my failure was that I could not get the collar of my jackethigh enough. My head was in the way.

  Up the pole again with a new thought. A fresh hope had arisen in mymind, as soon as I rose out of the waves; and this hope was that I mightfasten something around the top, and to this something fasten myself.

  But what was the something to be? I had also thought of that; and youshall hear what it was. I chanced to have upon my shoulders a pair ofbraces, and fortunately they were good ones--no pedlar's stuff, butstout braces of buckskin leather. This was the something by which Iintended to hang myself up.

  I lost no time in trying. I had no desire to stay longer below than Icould help, and I soon "speeled" up again. The jacket served a goodpurpose. It helped to stay me on the staff; and by pressing my backoutward, and holding well with my feet, I could remain a good whilewithout getting tired.

  Placing myself in this attitude, I unloosed my braces. I acted withcaution, notwithstanding my disagreeable plight. I took care not todrop them while knotting the two together; and I also took care to makethe knot a firm one, as well as to waste only a very little of theprecious length of the buckskin. I should need every inch of it.

  Having got them both into one piece, I made a loop at the end, takingcare that the post should be _inside_ the loop. This done, I pushed theloop up till it was above the shoulder of the staff--right "chuck" up tothe barrel--and then I drew it tight and close. It remained only topass the other end through my buttoned jacket, and knot it round thecloth. This I managed after a little, and then lying back, tried itwith my whole weight. I even let go with my feet, and hung suspendedfor a moment or two; and had any pilot just then have seen me throughhis night-glass, he could have had but one belief--that suicide or someterrible crime had been committed.

  Over-wearied, half-drowned was I, and I will not say whether or not Ilaughed at the odd attitude in which I had placed myself; but I couldhave laughed, for from that moment I knew no further fear. I felt thatI was delivered from death, as certainly as if I had seen Harry Blew andhis boat rowing within ten yards of me. The storm might rage, rainfall, and wind blow; spray might pitch over and around me; but I wassatisfied that I should be able to keep my position in spite of all.

  True, it was far from being as comfortable as I might have wished it;but now that the peril was past I began to consider how I could improveit. My feet gave me the most trouble. Every now and then my legsexhibited a tendency to get tired and let go their hold, and then Idropped back to my _hanging_ attitude again.

  This was unpleasant and somewhat dangerous, but I did not allow it tovex me long. There was a cure for this, like everything else, and Isoon discovered it. I split up the legs of my pantaloons quite to theknees--as good luck would have it they were corduroy like the jacket--and then taking the two long pieces that hung down, I gave them a twistor two, passed them round the post, and knotted them together on theopposite side. This furnished a rest for the lower half of my body; andthus, half sitting, half hanging, I passed the remainder of the night.

  When I tell you that I saw the tide go out, and leave the rocks bare,you will think I surely released myself from my perch, and got down uponthe reef. But I did nothing of the kind. I had no idea of trustingmyself on those rocks again if I could help it.

  I was not comfortable where I was, but still I could endure it for awhile longer; and I feared to make any alteration in the premises lest Imight have to use them again. Moreover, I knew that where I was Ishould very likely be seen from the shore as soon as the day broke, andthen relief would be sure to be sent to me.

  And it was sent, or came without any sending. Scarcely was the redAurora above the water-line, when I perceived a boat making towards mewith all speed; and as soon as it drew near, I saw, what I had guessedlong before, that it was Harry Blew himself that was handling the oars.

  I shall not tell you how Harry acted when he came up; how he laughed andshouted, and waved his oar-blade in the air; and then how kindly andgently he lowered me down, and laid me in his boat; and when I told himthe whole story, and how his boat had gone to the bottom, instead ofbeing angry with me, he only laughed, and said it was well it had beenno worse; and from that day not a syllable of reproach ever passed hislips--not a word about the lost dinghy.