“Didn’t I tell you so?” said Joe. “I wager my head that they’ll both of them come over here and make it: what a good time they will have puttering over it, and passing their compliments upon each other! It’s my opinion, that when them old men die they won’t be buried with their wives, but alongside of each other. Uncle Isaac thinks so highly of the Indians, I expect he believes as they do, and thinks that he and Sam will go hunting in the other world.”
They now made sail, and ran her over into Captain Rhines’s cove, and came to anchor. They found upon trial, that although she was clumsy in working, she minded her helm, and sailed beyond their most sanguine expectations.
“I declare, Ben!” said Captain Rhines; “who would have thought she would go through the water so; we’ve got her sparred just right, if we did do it by guess. She’s like old Aunt Molly Bradish—better than she looks.”
They now took on board some spare spars, and Captain Rhines took a large barrel of oil.
“Heavens!” said Joe Griffin; “the old man calculates on a long voyage, if he expects to burn all that.”
The Ark, as they called her, was most appropriately named, both in respect to her proportions and her cargo. Captain Rhines had resorted to a custom common in those days. He gave his crew merely nominal wages,—four dollars a month,—and the mates in proportion; but, in addition to this, he gave them a “privilege,” as it was called; that is, a certain space to carry whatever they liked, to sell in the West Indies. Produce was not carried there from all parts of the world in those days, as at present; and a barrel or two of onions or beets would bring twenty-five or thirty dollars. Live stock also brought a great price, although they were very apt to be lost on the passage. Captain Rhines carried candles for his “venture,” as it was called; John Strout, horses; Charlie sent hens, baskets, and turnips as freight.
In the morning, when they were all fed, there was such a cackling of hens, bleating of sheep, and all kinds of noises, as was really quite wonderful.
A great many people came from all parts to look at her, and many and various were the criticisms. Some thought she would never get there; more thought she would; but all agreed in this—that if anybody in the world could get her there, it was Captain Ben Rhines. Uncle Isaac’s judgment was greatly respected by all.
“Mr. Murch,” said Isaac Pettigrew, “you don’t seem to be at all consarned, though your nephew is going in her. What makes you so easy?”
“Because,” replied he, “a lucky man is master.”