The men were silent for a moment. Then Mr. Gates’ voice came booming forward from the quarter:
“You men stow your jaw-tackle. You’re gassin’ too much.”
That ended the discussion. But I was by no means convinced that the seamen understood the two Barneys. I had an entirely different idea of how the matter would fall out in the end.
Chapter XXVI
In Which Is Told How the Barney Boys Go Ashore
Of course, the sinking of the Seamew would be reported by the tug Comet, that had gone out to meet her, and the news would be telegraphed to Baltimore long before we reached the port. The owners would know all about the trouble, and I reckon Captain Joe Bowditch had pretty serious thoughts that night as we were towed up the bay.
It was a lovely evening and Phillis came out on deck and begged me to sit with her. She had not been so greatly frightened when the two ships collided, because I had been right with her and the trouble was over so quickly. I hated to think of what might have happened, however, if it had been the fate of the Gullwing to sink instead of her sister ship.
Since they have been carried below, unconscious, none of we foremast hands had seen the two Barney boys. We only knew that they had both recovered and were none the worse for their ducking.
It was now the captain’s watch, however, and Mr. Jim Barney came up and paced the larboard side of the deck, aft. It was not long before I caught sight of a similar figure pacing the starboard side of the house, and knew that Mr. Alf Barney had come up, too.
Philly and I had been whispering together under her awning and suddenly she put her finger on my lips to enjoin secrecy, and tripped away to Mr. Jim Barney’s side.