A wide stairway led from the sidewalk at one end of the building up to the second floor. Henry entered and went up the steep steps. He soon found himself in a roomy and convenient auditorium, encircled by an elevated gallery. The place was interesting, not only because of its historic associations, but also because of its beautiful old woodwork and mouldings and decorations.
The third floor Henry found to be the quarters of one of the Boston troops. The huge floor was cleared, so that it could be used for drilling or for dancing. Around the walls were hung the likenesses of all the men who had been captains in this organization, and there were pictures of the famous battles in which these troops had fought.
There was so much to see that Henry found he could never get over it all, so he decided that he would see the famous old North Church, in the belfry of which the lanterns were hung to notify Paul Revere which way the British would journey to Lexington on that famous night in ’75. Near by was the very house in which Paul Revere lived. So Henry, following his map closely, hastened through a most bewildering labyrinth of streets, and soon found himself in a region that was, to all appearances, a part of Italy. The narrow, crooked streets were filled with Italian children. In doorways sat shawled Italian women gossiping and sewing. Italian shops lined the way. It was interesting and novel to Henry. He had never before been in an Italian section of an American city. But he had little time to look about. He hurried on until he came to a little house so unlike any other building in the block that he did not need his guidebook to tell him it was the home of Paul Revere. It was a curious brown house, with tiny diamond-shaped panes in the little leaded windows. The roof was low, and the second story seemed to be hardly more than half a story in height. Henry saw that he could gain admission by the payment of a small fee, but he thought he scarcely had time to examine the house.
So he went on around a corner or two, and presently he found himself standing before the old North Church. It was still a sightly structure, with its shapely spire rising above its plain brick walls. An iron fence rose in front of it. On the wall was a bronze tablet calling attention to the fact that here were hung the lanterns that guided Paul Revere.
When Henry had examined the old church from every possible angle, he turned away and headed for the Iroquois. At least, he turned away from the church. Such curious rambling streets he had never seen. He knew well enough that he would have been hopelessly lost without the captain’s map. And even with that in his hand he was sometimes bothered to know which way to go, so poorly were the streets marked. Many were the new and interesting things he saw on his way back to the Navy Yard. “I’m surely coming back to Boston again some time,” he thought. “It is a wonderfully interesting place.” And then the idea occurred to him that if he succeeded in becoming a Coast Guard man, it might be possible for him to visit not only Boston, but also many other American cities. He was more determined than ever that he would persist in his effort until he won the place he wanted. Then, too, he could be of some real service to this commander he loved, for Henry had become very loyal to Captain Hardwick. The time when he could be of service to the commander of the Iroquois was a great deal nearer than Henry dreamed. Perhaps it was as well he did not realize that, or understand the trying experiences that lay so close before him.
CHAPTER X
A SHIP IN DISTRESS
Had Henry but known it, there was no immediate necessity for his return to the Iroquois. Indeed, the Coast Guard cutter not only was unable to sail that day, but she did not cast off her hawsers until afternoon the day following. Although Henry thus had an unexpected half day in Boston, he saw no more of the city than he had seen on the preceding day, for when he awoke rain was pouring down, a vicious east wind was blowing, and the elements were as nasty as they well could be.
Even a complete suit of rubber would hardly have kept one dry very long in the slashing, blustering blasts that came howling through the Navy Yard. The rain drove in horizontal sheets. It whipped around corners and under doorways and awnings. It roared across open decks. It beat against the air-ports. With ever-increasing force the gusts came tearing in from the sea. Trees bent far over and groaned before their onslaught. Flags whipped themselves to ribbons. Halyards beat a very devil’s tattoo against their masts, and on the Iroquois the cordage fairly shrieked in wild, wailing notes that made Henry almost shudder.
He was glad enough that the Iroquois had been unable to get away. Never had the captain’s cabin seemed half so comfortable and attractive. He told himself that he would be glad enough to spend the time there, reading some of the interesting books from the captain’s bookshelf, while waiting for the storm to subside.
Yet the movement of stores went forward without interruption. Sailors, cased from head to foot in sou’westers, oilskins, and rubber boots, worked without ceasing in the downpour to finish the transshipment. Henry could hear them clumping about the deck in their clumsy footgear. On the pier trucks rattled and banged. Boxes were wheeled aboard and dumped on the deck. Men swore and slipped in the wet. Machinery rattled.