Part 38 (1/2)

The barge's boat was lying bottom upwards on the hatches and another boat lay behind her.

”This boat does not belong to her, Mr. Gill; does she?” Hilda asked.

”No, miss; that is the men's boat. When they have got the barge to where she is to be moored, they will row down to Hole Haven, and get a tow up with the first barge that comes down after the tide has turned. How will you be coming back, Miss Covington?”

”We have arranged for a gig to be at Hole Haven at eight o'clock to drive us to Brentwood, where we shall take train to town. We shall not be up before half-past eleven, but as we have our man with us that does not matter; besides, the carriage is to be at the station to meet the train.”

The girls and Walter watched the operation of getting up the anchor and of setting the foresail and jib. They remained on deck while the barge beat down the long reach past the dockyards, and then with slackened sheets rounded the wooded curve down into Gillingham Reach, then, accompanied by Roberts, they went below. Here they were soon hard at work. The great packages were opened, and mattresses and bedclothes brought out.

”This reminds one of our work when you first came to us,” Netta laughed, as they made the bed.

”Yes, it is like old times, certainly. We used to like to work then, because we were doing it together; we like it still more to-day, because not only are we together, but we are looking forward to the delight that we are going to give.”

Carpets were laid down, curtains hung to the bed, and a wash-hand stand fixed in its place. A hamper of crockery was unpacked and the contents placed on the shelves that had been made for them, and cooking utensils arranged on the stove, which had been obtained for them by the builder.

By this time Roberts had screwed up the hooks in the long cupboards, and in every spot round both cabins where they could be made available. Then numerous j.a.panned tin boxes, filled with tea, sugar, and other groceries, were stowed away, and a large one with a label, ”Tobacco,”

placed on a shelf for Bill Nibson's special delectation. Curtains that could be drawn were fixed to the skylights, looking-gla.s.ses fastened against the walls, and by the time that the barge neared Sheerness their labors were finished. Then the forward cabin was similarly made comfortable. Walter had a.s.sisted to the best of his power in all the arrangements, and when he became tired was allowed to go up on deck, on his promise to remain quiet by the side of the helmsman.

”Now I think that everything is in its place,” Hilda said at last, ”and really they make two very pretty little rooms. I can't say that the one in the bow is pretty, but at any rate it is thoroughly comfortable, and I have no doubt that Joshua will be as pleased with it as the Nibsons are with theirs. Oh, dear, how dusty one gets! and we never thought of getting water on board for the jugs.”

On going up on deck, however, they observed two barrels lashed together.

”Are those water?” Hilda asked the man at the tiller.

”Yes, ma'am.”

”How do you get it out? I don't see a tap.”

”You put that little pump lying by the side into the bunghole. I will do it for you, miss.”

”Now we will go downstairs and tidy up, and then come and sit up here and enjoy ourselves,” said Hilda.

When they were below they heard a rattle of the chain, and, on going up, found that the barge had come to anchor in the midst of some thirty or forty others. The foresail had been run down and the jib lowered, but the great mainsail, with its huge, brightly painted sprit, was still standing. Roberts now opened a hamper that had been left on deck, and produced luncheon. Cold meat and beer were handed to the two watermen, who went up into the bow to eat it. An hour later the tide began to slacken, and many of the barges got up sail.

”Shall we get up the anchor, ma'am?” one of the watermen asked.

”There's plenty of time, is there not?” Hilda asked.

”Yes, ma'am, but we thought that you would like to see how she goes with the others.”

”Yes, I should like that,” Hilda said, and in a few minutes the barge was under sail again.

”She is a clipper, and no mistake,” the man at the tiller said, as one by one they pa.s.sed the barges that had started ahead of them, and Walter clapped his hands in delight.

”We may as well go down to the lower end of the Hope, miss. We shall have plenty of time to get back again before there is water enough for us in the creek.”

For three hours they sailed about, the girls enjoying it as much as Walter.

”I do think, Netta, that I shall have to buy a barge on my own account.

It is splendid, and, after all, the cabins are large enough for anything.”