Brother Billy Read online

  CHAPTER IV. THE STEAM-TUG BILLY

  Aunt Florence didn't forget 'Phonse, and it was evident to the marinereporter's family that 'Phonse didn't forget her. He scarcely saidthank you when she gave him his new suit, but every morning while AuntFlorence was in Mackinaw a bunch of wild flowers was found tied to thefront door-knob. Once only a bit of pasteboard was attached, upon whichwas written in letters hard to read, "For billies ant."

  At first the family wondered why 'Phonse kept away, but when theylearned that Antoine LeBrinn had sold his little son's new clothes fordrink, they understood.

  "Poor little fellow," Aunt Florence said one morning, when a cluster ofbluebells was brought her, wound so closely not a blossom could moveits dainty head. "How I wish he would come again."

  "He won't, though, 'cept when nobody knows," observed Billy, "and ifany one says a word against his father, he'll fight."

  "I'm curious to see his father, too," replied Aunt Florence. "Betty hastold me so much about the family that I'd like to talk to that man; I'dsay some things he'd remember."

  "Antoine used to come often," said Betty. "We always tease him to tellstories. Everybody likes him; you'll see him sometime, auntie, and thenyou'll like him, too."

  "I shall tell him what I think of him," declared Aunt Florence; but aweek later, when Antoine came, she didn't say a word.

  It was a rainy afternoon, and when Billy announced that the gamemust be circus as usual, and that the parade should be first on theprogramme, Betty objected.

  "Billy Grannis," she exclaimed, "you're a nuisance. Gerald and I haveplayed circus with you until we are sick and tired of it. You may be alion-tamer if you want to, but you and your old lion will have to havea show of your own. I won't stand it any longer, and you can't have mycat for a polar bear, either."

  "Why, Bet," was the remonstrance, "what makes you be so cross? Ithought you liked to play circus. Do you want to be the lion-tamer thistime, Bet? I'll let you take my big dog; do you want to, Betty?"

  "No, Billy, I don't want to be anything that's in a circus, so there!I'll play Grace Darling, though; you and Gerald and Hero may be theshipwrecked sailors, and I'll be Grace Darling."

  "I don't want to play shipwreck," declared Gerald. "I had enough ofshipwrecks when the _California_ went down."

  "Me, too," echoed Billy. "I'd rather play Noah and the flood. Oh,Betty, let's play that, and then my dog Hero can be the lion,--no,Betty no, I didn't mean it; he can be the elephant, I mean, and yourcat can be a--a--what other animal is white 'sides a polar bear? And,oh, Gerald, your bluest pigeon can be the dove."

  "But why don't you want to play Grace Darling?" interrupted Betty."I'll let you take my dolls for the shipwrecked children, and I'lllive in the lighthouse."

  "If you want to know what's fun," put in Gerald, "just listen to me.Let's play--"

  "But I want to play get the animals out of the ark," insisted Billy.

  "And I say," Betty argued, "that you don't know whether you like toplay Grace Darling or not until you try it. Who's going to be captainof the shipwrecked boat, you, Billy, or Gerald? Now, this rug is theNorthumberland coast."

  "No, sir," shouted Billy, "it's Mt. Ararat."

  "Why, children, what's going on?" asked Aunt Florence, who was passingthe doorway.

  "We all want to play different things," explained Betty.

  "Why don't you make signal-flags, like the ones on the chart?"suggested Aunt Florence. "You know what I mean, Betty, the chart I sawyou looking at yesterday in your father's office, the one with thepictures of signal-flags on it. I'll find sheets of red and blue andyellow and white paper, and I believe you can have a nice time makingtiny paper flags. I'll get some paste ready for you, too."

  "But what are the flags for?" asked Billy, "and why do they put lettersbeside of them on the chart?"

  "It tells all about the signal-flags in papa's marine directory, andI'm going after it," announced Betty.

  "She can tell you about the signals, Billy," said Aunt Florence, "andlet's see who can make the most perfect little flags. Gerald will helpyou, Billy, won't you, Gerald?"

  "Don't need any help," Billy hastened to say, "'less he wants towhittle out flag-sticks."

  "That's so, auntie," agreed Gerald. "I'll go after something to use forflagstaffs."

  "And I'm going after some shears and things, and then," said Billy,"I'm going to cut out the 'B' flag. It's all red, auntie, and cut theway Betty's hair-ribbons are on the ends. I guess I will make the 'Q'flag, 'cause it's just a square made out of yellow; and the 'S' iseasy, too, just white with a blue square in the centre. Oh, auntie'sgone. Don't you feel queer, Hero, when you talk to somebody that isn'tthere?"

  Gerald and Betty returned quickly with coloured paper and a book.

  "Now, Billy," remarked the little girl, in her most severe tone, "putdown the shears and listen a minute. I'm going to read out of theMarine Directory."

  "Don't read it; tell it," besought Billy.

  "She wants to read it just because she can read big words withoutstopping to spell them," declared Gerald, after a glance at the openbook.

  Betty could read much better than Gerald ever expected to.

  "It isn't that," was the reply, "but, if you will listen, you willknow that the book tells it all better than I can. Now listen: 'Thenecessity for a uniform and comprehensive system of signalling atsea'--Billy Grannis, stop making faces. I've got to begin it allover again. 'The necessity for a uniform and comprehensive system ofsignalling at sea and to shore stations on the coast of the UnitedStates and other countries has long been felt and discussed by thoseinterested in maritime pursuits, and by the leading maritime powersof the world.' Now, Gerald, stop acting like a goose. You and Billyboth know what 'maritime' means just as well as I do. Now listen, andI'll go on. 'In view of this necessity, the adoption of a common codeof signals to be observed by all nations, discarding all other codesand systems, appears to be in a high degree desirable and important.The international code of signals has been recommended and adopted bynearly all the principal nations of the world, and it is now the onlycode recognized or of practical use. It is the only one which, from itscompleteness, is likely to fully meet the existing need.'

  "Billy, what ails you? Do stop laughing. What's the matter with you,Gerald,--tooth-ache?"

  "No, Betty, worse'n that. When I think how your jaws must feel, I--"

  "Now, Gerald, I don't believe you know a word I've read."

  "Well, Betty, I should say not. Who could?"

  "What I want to know is, what are all these flags for?" demanded Billy."So please shut that old book and tell us."

  "You horrid boys," exclaimed Betty, "I don't see how you ever expect to'mount to anything."

  "Wouldn't if we were girls," was Gerald's retort, which Betty didn'tseem to hear. She often had deaf spells.

  "Now, Billy dear," she went on, "you see there are eighteen of thesignal-flags. They are marked B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,S, T, V, and W. Besides these are two little pointed flags that mean'Yes' and 'No.' The 'Yes' flag is white with a round red spot, and theflag that means 'No' is blue with a round white spot on it."

  "Oh, now I know," exclaimed Billy. "If your boat wants to tell anotherboat 'No,' then it puts up the pointed blue flag."

  "Yes, Billy, that's it."

  "How do they use the other flags?" inquired Gerald. "You can't spellthings without _a's_ and _o's_."

  "Don't you see, Gerald, each flag means something. Look on the back ofthe chart and you will see how they use the flags. The first signal is'H--B.' When those two flags are displayed,--'display' is the rightword to use, mister, so don't make eyes. When the 'H' flag and the'B' flag are displayed together, with the 'H' above the 'B,' that's asignal that means 'Want immediate assistance.'

  "Oh, boys, now I'll tell you what let's play. Every ship, you know,should carry a set of these signal-flags, so let's play we're allboats. I'll be a yacht, I guess, because y
achts are beautiful."

  "I'm a steam-tug--choo--choo--choo!--and my name's the tug _Billy_.Choo--choo choo--"

  "Good, Bill!" exclaimed Gerald. "You're built just right for a tug. Iguess I'll be the schooner _Gerald_ of the White Star Line. Lumber's mycargo."

  "Dear me, I can't be just a yacht, sailing around for the fun of it,"remarked Betty. "I must be part of the merchant marine myself."

  "Part of the dictionary, you mean," grumbled Gerald.

  Betty was deaf for a moment. "I guess I would rather not be whatyou boys are, after all, so I'll be a passenger boat, the _City ofElizabeth_. I'm an ocean liner."

  "Oh, that's just like a girl," and Gerald laughed. "An ocean liner onthe Great Lakes. Oh, oh!"

  "Did you ever get left, smarty Gerald? I tell you, I'm an ocean liner.These signals aren't used on the Great Lakes, only on the ocean.Besides that, if I'm a boat, I want the ocean to sail on. I couldn'tthink of puddling around in a little bit of water. I'm the fineststeamship afloat, and I make regular trips between--oh, I guess Londonand New York. That will give you some work to do, Billy, because I'llneed a steam-tug to pilot me into the harbour every time. You'll make adear little pilot-boat, you are so chubby."

  "Choo--choo--choo! toot--toot--toot!" responded the steam-tug _Billy_.

  "What's the use of making a full set of flags?" remonstrated Gerald."If we're going to play boat, let's play boat, and pretend we have themall. I've made the 'N--M' flags, that mean 'I'm on fire.'"

  "That's what I say," agreed Billy. "I found out that 'P--N' means 'Wanta steam-tug,' so I've made two sets of 'P--N' flags, one for you andone for Betty to use. For my own self, the 'Yes' and 'No' flags areall I want. You two better pin your 'Want a steam-tug' flags on; theywon't stay stuck. Choo--choo--choo! toot--toot! Here I come puffingaround--toot--toot--toot--see my black smoke! Oh, Bet, let's play therecame up an awful fog, so we'll have to toot our horns all the time."

  "And keep our bells sounding all the while we are at anchor," addedGerald.

  When the three boats began making trips, there were collisions andnoise. Hero tried in vain to keep out of the way.

  "He's a reef; there ought to be a lighthouse on him," suggested Betty.

  "Look out for the St. Bernard Shoals," assented Gerald. "Hold on,there's a tug ashore,--a wreck on the St. Bernard Shoals."

  "Toot--toot--toot! puff--puff! choo--choo--choo!" This from thesteam-tug _Billy_.

  "Tug is off the shoals, no lives lost," commented Gerald. "Oh, fire!fire! fire! My deck is all in flames. Up goes my signal 'I'm on fire,'and now where's my 'Want a steam-tug' signal. Oh, right here. I shallbe saved if the tug _Billy_ doesn't burst his boilers before he getshere!"

  It so happened that the tug fell sprawling over the St. Bernard Shoals,and but for the timely assistance of the steamship _City of Elizabeth_,the schooner _Gerald_ of the White Star Line must have been lost withall on board. To be sure, Gerald emptied his pockets upon the floor,insisting that everything that fell, from his jack-knife to marbles,were frantic sailors, who either perished in the sea or were devouredby sharks.

  In the meantime, the St. Bernard Shoals made trouble for the steam-tug_Billy_. "Can't even blow my whistle," puffed Billy. "Hero, let me getup. Don't keep tumbling me over and over. Don't you know I'm a boat? Go'way, Hero. Open the door, Gerald, so he'll go out. Call him, Betty."

  Outside the window, Hero tried his best to persuade the children tocome out and play in the rain.

  "Oh, dear, let's rest a minute," suggested Betty.

  "And say over the verses we learned that day of the worst blizzard lastwinter," added Billy. "You know what I mean, Betty, the rules forsteamers passing, and then, Betty, we'll play it is a dark night whenwe go on some more trips."

  "Oh, I'll tell you," put in Gerald, "we'll cut lanterns out of paper,red and green and white ones, and pin them on."

  "Begin the verses first, Betty; let's say them all together," suggestedBilly, "and say them loud so Hero can hear."

  "Let me see," Betty hesitated, "the first one is this:

  "'Meeting steamers do not dread When you see three lights ahead. Port your helm and show your red.'"

  "Here's a red lantern for you, Bill," interrupted Gerald, "and thisis yours, Betty. Go on, why don't you? The next verse is about twosteamers passing."

  "Oh, I remember; say it with me, boys:

  "'For steamers passing you should try To keep this maxim in your eye. Green to green or red to red, Perfect safety--go ahead.'

  "Then, boys, the third verse is about steamships crossing:

  "'If to starboard red appear, 'Tis your duty to keep clear; Act as judgment says is proper, Port or starboard--back--or stop her.

  "'But when on your port is seen A steamer with a light of green, There's not much for you to do, The green light must keep clear of you.'"

  By this time three voices were singing merrily:

  "'Both in safety and in doubt, Always keep a good lookout. Should there not be room to turn, Stop your ship and go astern.'"

  Billy gave a shout. "Oh, look, Betty! look, Gerald! There's Antoine atthe gate, and he's afraid of Hero. He doesn't dare pass him."

  "He's calling you, Billy; go get your dog." Gerald laughed as he spoke.

  "'Both in safety and in doubt, always keep a good lookout,'" mockedBilly. "He's scared to death. Look at him back up when Hero walkstoward him. 'Should there not be room to turn, stop your ship and goastern.' If Antoine was a boat, he could play Hero was an iceberg. Hey,Bet?"

  At last Antoine saw the children.

  "If we don't stop laughing," warned Betty, "he'll go away. He may thinkwe're making fun of him."

  "Oh, how I wish Hero would give one of his loud barks," added Gerald."Oh, I believe he will, sure as anything. He doesn't know what to thinkof Antoine. I guess he never saw any one act so queer. Now just see himstand there in front of the gate and make crazy motions."

  Suddenly Hero gave three loud barks that startled the little Frenchmanalmost out of his senses.

  "Look at him jump," continued Gerald. "He went up in the air like arubber ball."

  "It's too bad," protested Betty. "I'm going to the door to tell Antoinethat Hero won't hurt him. Billy, you go and get your dog."

  "Oh, I say, Bill," suggested Gerald, "instead of getting Hero, whydon't you tow Antoine into port?"

  "Oh, goody! Choo--choo--choo!--where's my tow-line?"

  "Here, you rascal!" exclaimed Betty, "how dare you take myhair-ribbons. Why, Billy, you'll spoil them tying them together in ahard knot like that."

  "One's too short--choo--ch--choo!--toot--toot--toot--French boat indistress, don't you see? Gerald, you go and pin your 'Want a steam-tug'flag on him."

  Away flew Gerald, while Betty and Billy stood laughing in the window.Antoine not only allowed Gerald to pin the flag upon him, but instantlybegan making an active display of his signals, calling aloud for thesteam-tug _Billy_.

  "Toot--toot--toot!--choo--choo--choo!" was the immediate response, andthe steam-tug went puffing to the rescue regardless of the falling rain.

  "Make fast the hawser," commanded Billy, passing Antoine the tow-line."It's kind of short," he added, under his breath.

  Antoine obeyed.

  "Choo--choo--choo!--ding--ding--ding--make fast. Ding--ding--ding--letgo." Slowly did the steam-tug venture into deep water; too slowly tosuit Antoine, whose fear of the dog was genuine. Gerald had explainedthat Hero never harmed any one Billy befriended, merely hinting at darkpossibilities that might befall the unwary. He also laughingly toldAntoine that Hero was not a dog, but a dangerous reef. In a short timethe little Frenchman had reason to believe that the reef was volcanicin its nature.

  "Choo--choo--choo"--on came the steam-tug, the French boat closebehind. "Choo--choo--choo--choo"--slower and slower the two approachedthe reef, the steam-tug venturing nearer and nearer, to the dismay ofthe boat in tow.

  Four sharp whistles sounded f
rom the tug. It was the danger-signal!The steam-tug _Billy_ was on the reef, and but for the parting of thehawser the French boat must have followed.

  "Don't you try to run, Antoine," called Gerald; "you can't tell whatHero might do. You better stand right still till Billy gets on his feetagain." Then he and Betty laughed. Terror was pictured on Antoine'sface as the dog barked and pranced around, thoroughly enjoying thegame.

  Billy struggled to his feet. "Toot--toot--make fast," he commanded, andBetty's hair-ribbons were once more tied together, how loosely onlyBilly knew.

  "Toot--go ahead," he sung out, but again the hawser parted, andAntoine, watching Hero, dared not stir. "Toot--toot--toot," therewas the sound of laughter in the whistle, and the captain'svoice was scarcely steady as he called out, "Slow up," then"Toot--stop--toot--toot--back up--make fast--toot--go ahead."

  Safely into port came the French boat, in the midst of cheering fromthe decks of the _City of Elizabeth_ and the schooner _Gerald_ of theWhite Star Line.