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Robert Coverdale's Struggle; or, On The Wave Of Success, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 10. Robert Completes The Raft |
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_ CHAPTER X. ROBERT COMPLETES THE RAFT "What do you want of me?" asked George superciliously. "Will you come to shore and take me into your boat?" asked Robert eagerly. "Why should I? You have no claims on me," said George. "Indeed, I don't know you." "I was at Mr. Irving's this morning, playing croquet with Herbert." "I am aware of that, but that is no reason why I should take you into my boat. I prefer to be alone." If Robert had not been in such a strait he would not have pressed the request, but he was not sure when there would be another chance to leave the island, and he persisted. "You don't understand how I am situated," he said. "I wouldn't ask such a favor if I were not obliged to, but I have no other way of getting back. If you don't take me in, I shall probably be obliged to stay here all night." "How did you come here?" asked George, his curiosity aroused. "I came in a boat with my uncle." "Then you can go back with him." "He has gone back already. He is offended with me because I won't do something which he has no right to ask, and he has left me here purposely." "Isn't your uncle a fisherman?" "Yes." "I don't care to associate with a fisherman's boy," said George. Robert had never before met a boy so disagreeable as George, and his face flushed with anger and mortified pride. "I don't think you are any better than Herbert," he said, "and he is willing to associate with me, though I am a fisherman's boy." "I don't think much of his taste, and so I told him," said George. "My father is richer than Mr. Irving," he added proudly. "Do you refuse to take me in your boat then?" asked Robert. "I certainly do." "Although I may be compelled to stay here all night?" "That's nothing to me." Robert was silent a moment. He didn't like to have any quarrel with Herbert's cousin, but he was a boy of spirit, and he could not let George leave without giving vent to his feeling. "George Randolph," he broke out, "I don't care whether your father is worth a million; it doesn't make you a gentleman. You are a mean, contemptible fellow!" "How dare you talk to me in that way, you young fisherman?" gasped George in astonishment and wrath. "Because I think it will do you good to hear the truth," said Robert hotly. "You are the meanest fellow I ever met, and if I were Herbert Irving I'd pack you back to the city by the first train." "You impudent rascal!" exclaimed George. "I've a good mind to come on shore and give you a flogging!" "I wish you'd try it," said Robert significantly. "You might find yourself no match for a fisherman's boy." "I suppose you'd like to get me on shore so that you might run off with my boat?" sneered George. "I wouldn't leave you on the island, at any rate, if I did secure the boat," said Robert. "Well, I won't gratify you," returned George, "I don't care to have my boat soiled by such a passenger." "You'll get paid for your meanness some time, George Randolph." "I've taken too much notice of you already, you low fisherman," said George. "I hope you'll have a good time staying here all night." He began to row away, and as his boat receded Robert saw departing with it the best chance he had yet had of escape from his irksome captivity. "I didn't suppose any boy could be so contemptibly mean," he reflected as his glance followed the boat, which gradually grew smaller and smaller as it drew near the mainland. "I don't think I'm fond of quarreling, but I wish I could get hold of that boy for five minutes." Robert's indignation was natural, but it was ineffective. He might breathe out threats, but while he was a prisoner his aristocratic foe was riding quickly over the waves. "He rows well," thought our hero, willing to do George justice in that respect. "I didn't think a city boy could row so well. I don't believe I could row any better myself, though I've been used to a boat ever since I was six years old." But it would not do to spend all the afternoon in watching George and his boat or he would lose all chance of getting away himself before nightfall. With a sigh he resumed work on the raft which he had hoped he could afford to dispense with and finally got it so far completed that he thought he might trust himself on it. Robert was a little solicitous about the strength of his raft. It must be admitted that, though he had done the best he could, it was rather a rickety concern. If the nails had been all whole and new and he had had a good hammer and strong boards he could easily have made a satisfactory raft. But the materials at his command were by no means of the best. The nails were nearly all rusty, some were snapped off in the middle and his stone did not work with the precision of a regular hammer. "If it will only hold together till I can get to shore," he thought, "I won't care if it goes to pieces the next minute. It seems a little shaky, though. I must try to find a few more nails. It may increase the strength of it." There was an end of a beam projecting from the sand, just at his feet. Robert expected that probably he might by unearthing it find somewhere about it a few nails, and he accordingly commenced operations. If he had had a shovel or a spade, he could have worked to better advantage, but as it was he was forced to content himself with a large shell which he picked up near the shore. Soon he had excavated a considerable amount of sand and brought to the surface a considerable part of the buried beam. It was at this point that he felt the shell strike something hard. "I suppose it is a stone," thought Robert. And he continued his work with the object of getting it out of the way. It was not long before the object was exposed to view. What was Robert's surprise and excitement to find it an ivory portemonnaie, very much soiled and discolored by sea water! Now, I suppose no one can find a purse or pocketbook without feeling his pulse a little quickened, especially where, as in Robert's case, money is so much needed. He immediately opened the portemonnaie, and to his great delight found that it contained several gold pieces. As my readers will feel curious to know the extent of his good luck, I will state definitely the amount of his discovery. There were two gold ten-dollar pieces, two of five, one two-dollar-and-a-half piece and fifty cents in silver. In all there were thirty-three dollars in gold and silver. Robert's delight may be imagined. If he had felt in luck the day before, when he had been paid two dollars, how much more was he elated by a sum which to him seemed almost a fortune! "I am glad George didn't take me on board his boat," he reflected. "If he had, I should never have found this money. Now, I don't care if I do stay here all night. Uncle had little idea what service he was doing me when he left me alone on Egg Island." Though Robert expressed his willingness to spend the night on Egg Island, he soon became eager to get home so that he could exhibit to his aunt the evidence of his extraordinary luck. He anticipated the joy of the poor woman as she saw assured to her for weeks to come a degree of comfort to which for a long time she had been unaccustomed. Robert examined his raft once more and resolved to proceed to make it ready for service. It took longer than he anticipated, and it was nearly two hours later before he ventured to launch it. He used a board for a paddle, and on his frail craft he embarked, with a bold heart, for the mainland. _ |
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