CHAPTER XI DICK’S CONFESSION

Next morning all hands were on deck at five o’clock to weigh anchor and set sail. It was a beautiful morning with a light breeze from the northeast which was just about a head wind.

The Captain was on the quarter-deck giving his orders, which were repeated by the mate a little forward of amidships. The boatswain was forward near the jib halyards, and Jack Perkins was busy looking out for his own section and watching to see that the other “B. M.’s” were doing the same thing. The master-at-arms was down below, hurrying up a couple of lazy lubbers who were inclined to dawdle instead of getting out on deck.

Mr. Wentworth stood with watch in hand ready to time the different operations for the ship’s log, and Chippie Smith, who had been detailed as recorder, waited with pencil and paper in his hand. Everything went more smoothly than usual, and the work was watched with great interest by the Chairman, who wanted the boys to grow even more skilful and efficient in handling the ship. No noise was allowed while the work of getting under way was going on,--no whistling, or singing, or anything which might possibly drown the voice of the Captain in giving orders, or of the other officers in repeating them. The consequence was that the Captain could give his commands in a comparatively low tone which was distinctly heard; and this, in itself, tended to prevent confusion.

The jib and jumbo went up respectively in three and two minutes; the foresail and the mainsail in six and eight minutes. Jack Perkins, as Chief Boatswain’s Mate, had prepared for the morning’s work the night before by holding a little council with the three other “B. M.’s” and going over with them in detail the duties and stations of the four different sections. As a result, the work was very prompt, each “B. M.” at his station with his own section listening carefully to get the orders either from the Captain or the mate, or the boatswain, according to his position on deck, and then repeating them promptly and quietly to his own boys and leading them in carrying out the manœuvre--whatever it might be.

When the anchor was hoisted, the sails caught the breeze on the starboard tack and the _Bright Wing_ worked out of the harbor against the wind. Once outside, the breeze began to rise, and everybody felt the delight that comes from the buoyancy of the water and the freshness of the wind and spray.

“I’m glad it’s a head wind,” said Tom to Dick, who was sitting alongside him on the day bunk, “because it will take us longer to get to Northbridge, and we’ll get more of a sail.”

“You bet,” said Dick, “shouldn’t wonder if we got a spanking breeze pretty soon. I thought I saw a little water coming through a lee scupper for’ard, just now. The old ship seems to sail best on her side, anyway.”

The conversation was interrupted by the boatswain’s whistle for “scrub and wash clothes”; and all who did not belong to the watch went down and started scrubbing their clothes. In ten minutes the clothes were up on the lines, and the decks were being scrubbed--after the cabin skylight and portholes had been securely closed--with a smile in memory of Mr. Miller’s discomfiture two days before. Then came personal washing for every individual, followed by mess inspection and breakfast.

Everybody had been so busy all the early morning that the great event of the day which was to happen at quarters had been temporarily forgotten; but, after the first keen edge of appetite was satisfied, interest and curiosity asserted themselves as to what was going to be done about the work at Salem, and who was to receive awards or commendation.

Of course everybody knew that Jack Perkins had done a lot of good work, and had been responsible for seeing that orders were carried out. He was always a valuable man in any kind of business, because he never forgot things himself and always reminded his subordinates when they were apt to forget. As far as the boys could judge, they all had tried their best, but of course some had been more successful than others. As regards Dick Gray, the company were divided in opinion, some believing that the rescue of a cat would not be even mentioned in an official Order of the Day, and others asserting their belief that he would receive the medal for “life saving.” Tom and Chippie were especially earnest advocates of the value of Dick’s achievement.

“It wasn’t his fault that it was only a cat,” said they. “He would have done the same thing if it had been a boy or girl!”

Dick had been up on deck among the very first that morning and had enjoyed getting under way in the fresh morning air. He went below to breakfast with the others in high spirits; but when he heard the talk about the coming awards and so forth, it made him feel queer, and the feeling stuck to him--even after he was on deck again polishing brasses.

After the usual roll call at quarters, the “setting up” exercises caused a good deal of amusement because the deck was rather sharply inclined, and the vessel was bounding along quite briskly. Some of the green hands kept losing their footing and tumbling about, and the regular climbing over the masthead was omitted. Then came the command, “Attention,--About face”, and all turned toward the quarter-deck to hear what the Chairman was going to say.

“Boys,” said he, “I am glad we had the opportunity of going ashore at Marblehead and giving a little help at the Salem fire. It is a thing that we shall all remember, and the next chance we get we shall be able to do better because of this experience. But we must not forget that such things as these are all in our day’s work, and should be careful not to feel that we have done anything very great or exceptional in trying to help people in an emergency. It is something that our training is intended to help us to do as _a matter of course_, and all the different things that we do for the sake of training are made much more interesting than they otherwise would be, by using them in practical service whenever an opportunity occurs.

“But, although we want to be careful not to be vain or foolish because we have had the privilege of doing such things as it is the duty of every scout to do, when he gets a chance, we must recognize good work when we see it, so as to encourage one another to do more such work, and to do it better and better as time goes on.”

He then turned and spoke in a low voice to Mr. Miller, who immediately gave the command:

“Perkins--front and center!”

Jack immediately marched down and stood directly opposite the Chairman.

“Perkins,” said the Chairman, “the Court of Honor, especially convened to consider the work of the ship’s company at the Salem fire, have decided that your work ashore was of excellent quality and deserves the commendation of the Court. The Court commends you for carrying out your instructions promptly and with good judgment.”

Jack saluted, and, at the word of command, marched back to his regular position.

Malloy, Young, Ellsworth, and Smith were then ordered to “front and center” and stood “at attention” before the Chairman.

“It gives me pleasure to tell you, boys,” said the Chairman, “that you have been especially commended for good work at the Salem fire.”

All saluted, and at the words “About face--march”, from Mr. Miller, returned to their positions with a grin upon their faces.

Then Tom was ordered forward, and received a commendation for efficient first-aid work in helping to save a woman by stopping the flow of blood from a severed artery. There was general surprise at Tom’s first-aid commendation, for none of the boys knew about the incident except Dick and Chippie.

“Just like him,” muttered Malloy; “with all his talk about Gray and the cat, he hasn’t let on about himself at all!”

“Gray, front and center,” was the next command.

Dick took his position “at attention” before the Chairman, with the most solemn face you could possibly imagine.

“Boys,” said the Chairman, addressing them all together, “the Court finds that the case of Gray is somewhat different from the others and requires special attention. Not only did he do good work in helping in a rescue and in moving belongings to a place of safety, but he actually saved life, although the life was only that of a little animal,--a little girl’s pet. The regular medal for ‘life saving’ could not be awarded in such a case, because that is reserved as a reward for the saving of human life only; for, while the law recognizes the sacredness of all harmless life, it makes an important distinction between the value of human life and that of an animal. However, the qualities of unselfishness and courage which Gray has shown in saving a kitten from the third story of a burning house are qualities which he or any other would need in saving human life under similar circumstances.”

While the Chairman was saying these words, Mr. Miller was watching Dick’s face attentively, for it was getting paler and paler, more and more troubled.

“The Court, therefore,” resumed the Chairman, “not only commends”--here the Chairman paused as he noticed the expression on Dick’s face.

“What’s the matter, Gray?” he asked kindly, in a low voice.

“I--I--can’t take it!” muttered Dick. “Don’t ask me now. May I speak to Mr. Miller for a minute?”

All this had been said in an undertone, and the whole company was stirred by a feeling, partly of curiosity, and partly of discomfort. Mr. Miller was standing within earshot, and the Chairman nodded to him. Then Mr. Miller beckoned to Dick and led him down the ladder into the cabin.

The boys were then ordered to remain “at ease”, and every one looked at his neighbor as if to say:

“I wonder what is going to happen next?”

Presently Mr. Miller appeared on deck again and reported to the Chairman in a low voice; and, in a few minutes more, he went back to get Dick, and they both stood alongside the Chairman.

The general feeling of suspense by this time had grown extremely acute, when the Chairman said:

“Boys, Gray has asked permission to say something to us all before we go on with awarding the honors. I ask you to listen to him with careful attention. His only object in talking to you now is to do his full duty as a Boy Scout under very trying circumstances.”

Dick had had a good, frank talk with Mr. Miller in the cabin below, and had cleared his mind of a weight that had been pressing down on him for some time past, although he had not, until that morning, faced the necessity for action with perfect clearness. He now had determined to make a clean breast of the whole matter and to accept his just penalty--whatever that might be--like a man.

“I want to say, fellows,” said he, “that the umpire was wrong in the game at Hull, when he decided in my favor about second base. I never touched it. I got around to third and then home without ever having come within six inches of second base, except after I had been fairly put out. I haven’t any excuse; I knew it was wrong, but I did not know how wrong it was. I have done other things like that before, and I thought they were smart. Now you know it, and maybe I shall lose my scout badge. I have lost the right to wear it, anyway, and you can see as well as I that I can’t accept any honor for what happened at Salem.”

He then turned to the Chairman, who said with a very quiet voice:

“You may go below for the present, Gray.”

The Chairman, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Wentworth then consulted together, and finally asked Jack Perkins to join them. The whole company was impressed by the solemnity of the incident. The Chairman explained to the boys that the question of awarding an honor to Gray under the present circumstances must be reconsidered in the light of his confession.

“But,” said he, “I can assure you of one thing: however wrong Gray has been in the past, I respect him for his straight-forwardness to-day. Let me warn you boys against treating this matter in any way that might appear to be mean or disrespectful to a fellow scout. It would be a base and brutal thing to treat lightly such humiliation as this.”

Judging from the faces of the boys as they separated when they were dismissed, it seemed as if the warning of the Chairman were hardly necessary. They were all sorry for Dick and greatly surprised, but owing to his frank and public confession, they had a feeling of confidence that everything would turn out right in the end.