Then Charlie abruptly fell to an exaggerated calm. He
sat down amidships on a pile of bags, and gazed with ostentatious
indifference out over the pond. Finally, in a voice fallen almost
to a whisper, and with an elaborate politeness, Charlie proffered a
request that his assistants acquire the sense God gave a rooster.
Newmark, who had elected to accompany the wanigan on its voyage,
evidently found it vastly amusing, for his eyes twinkled behind his
glasses. As the wanigan neared the sluice through which it must
shoot the flood-water, the excitement mounted to fever pitch. The
water boiled under the strokes of the long steering oars. The air
swirled with the multitude and vigour of Charlie's commands. As
many of the driving crew as were within distance gathered to watch.
It was a supreme moment. As Newmark looked at the smooth rim of the
water sucking into the chute, he began to wonder why he had come.
However, the noble ship was pointed right at last, and caught the
faster water head-on. Even Charlie managed to look cheerful for an
instant, and to grin at his passenger as he wiped his forehead with
a very old, red handkerchief.
"All right now," he shouted.
Zeke and his mate took in the oars.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78