“Yes, I believe in you,” he said at last. “And if you are going I am going too. But how will we cross?”
“I have arranged with Sanderson to let me have his boat,” returned Johann. “I own a half interest, so if I sink her I will not be doing wrong. But you should not go with me.” He looked at the storm-tossed harbour and the angry sea outside. “No,” he finished mildly, “it would not be wise.”
“If you can, I can,” was Billy’s decree. “Wait two seconds while I get my things.” He dashed wildly up to the hotel and was back again almost before Johann had loosed the dory that was to carry them out to Sanderson’s boat. The rocking and pitching were so great that it was difficult to embark, but Johann had managed it and Billy was just preparing to follow, when a firm hand took him by the arm.
“What are you two boys doing, starting a suicide club?” growled Captain Saulsby’s voice in his ear.
Billy turned quickly.
“You can’t keep us,” he exclaimed desperately; “you needn’t try.”
“I’ll hear first where you are going, thank you,” returned the Captain, “though to be going anywhere with such a wind coming, is rank lunacy.”
As briefly and as earnestly as he could, Billy explained their respective errands and the need of both of them for haste. More than once he had to shout to make himself heard above wind and water.
“I’ve got to enlist,” he ended; “to delay now may mean waiting months. And it takes a long time to train a good sailor; I must begin now! I must! And you need not say anything, because we are both bound to go.”
“Well, I’m not saying anything, am I?” the old sailor answered. Then he bent forward and spoke close to Billy’s ear to make absolutely certain of being heard. “I wouldn’t stop any one’s going into the Navy, surely not at a time like this. But if you go in at the bottom, remember the mistake I made and, for all you are worth, aim at the top. And when you get to be something big, that every one salutes and says ‘sir’ to, why, you might remember once in a while that it was old Ned Saulsby of Appledore Island that launched you. That is all, only—only—God bless you.”