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padding-top: 1px } + + .coverpage, .titlepage, + .contents, .foreword, .preface, .introduction, .dedication, .prologue, + .epilogue, .appendix, .glossary, .bibliography, .index, .colophon, + .footnotes, + .cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 1px } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} +</style> +<style type="text/css"> +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 35728 ***</div> +<div class="document" id="motor-boat-boys-on-the-st-lawrence"> +<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE</h1> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<div class="container" id="pg-produced-by"> +<p class="noindent pfirst">Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a class="reference external" href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>.</p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 30%; width: 40%" id="figure-2"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="images/motor-fpc.jpg" src="images/motor-fpc.jpg" width="100%"/> +<div class="caption italics"> +“Promise to read to me the log of your last trip, when you +went down the big river.”</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="x-large">MOTOR BOAT BOYS</span></div> +<div class="line"><span class="x-large">ON THE ST. LAWRENCE</span></div> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst">OR</p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="larger">Solving the Mystery of the Thousand Islands</span></p> +<p class="center pnext">By</p> +<p class="center pnext">LOUIS ARUNDEL</p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">Chicago</div> +<div class="line">M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">COPYRIGHT 1913</div> +<div class="line">BY M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">Made in U.S.A.</div> +</div> +<div class="contents level-2 section" id="id1"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">Table of Contents</h2> +<ul class="toc-list"> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iafter-the-game" id="id2">CHAPTER I—AFTER THE GAME</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iichums-tried-and-true" id="id3">CHAPTER II—CHUMS, TRIED AND TRUE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iiia-chance-clew" id="id4">CHAPTER III—A CHANCE CLEW</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ivblocking-a-sly-move" id="id5">CHAPTER IV—BLOCKING A SLY MOVE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-vthe-guardian-of-the-fleet" id="id6">CHAPTER V—THE GUARDIAN OF THE FLEET</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-vithe-flash" id="id7">CHAPTER VI—THE “FLASH”</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viijosh-scents-trouble" id="id8">CHAPTER VII—JOSH SCENTS TROUBLE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viiiin-the-midnight-watch" id="id9">CHAPTER VIII—IN THE MIDNIGHT WATCH</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ixthe-ghost-of-the-island" id="id10">CHAPTER IX—THE GHOST OF THE ISLAND</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xfollowing-a-trail" id="id11">CHAPTER X—FOLLOWING A TRAIL</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xibuster-gets-an-idea" id="id12">CHAPTER XI—BUSTER GETS AN IDEA</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiiyankee-stubbornness" id="id13">CHAPTER XII—YANKEE STUBBORNNESS</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiiithe-ghost-hunter" id="id14">CHAPTER XIII—THE GHOST HUNTER</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiva-strange-ride" id="id15">CHAPTER XIV—A STRANGE RIDE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvanother-night" id="id16">CHAPTER XV—ANOTHER NIGHT</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xvijacks-daring-venture" id="id17">CHAPTER XVI—JACK’S DARING VENTURE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xviithe-secret-out" id="id18">CHAPTER XVII—THE SECRET OUT</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xviiithe-escape" id="id19">CHAPTER XVIII—THE ESCAPE</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xixa-race-in-the-moonlight" id="id20">CHAPTER XIX—A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxoverhauled" id="id21">CHAPTER XX—OVERHAULED</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxia-clean-sweep" id="id22">CHAPTER XXI—A CLEAN SWEEP</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxiibusters-hour-of-triumph" id="id23">CHAPTER XXII—BUSTER’S HOUR OF TRIUMPH</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xxiiihappy-daysconclusion" id="id24">CHAPTER XXIII—HAPPY DAYS—CONCLUSION</a></span></li> +</ul> +</div> +<!-- --> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">MOTOR BOAT BOYS SERIES</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">THE MOTOR CLUB’S CRUISE DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI</div> +<div class="line">THE MOTOR CLUB ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER</div> +<div class="line">THE MOTOR CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES</div> +<div class="line">MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG THE FLORIDA KEYS</div> +<div class="line">MOTOR BOAT BOYS DOWN THE COAST</div> +<div class="line">MOTOR BOAT BOYS RIVER CHASE</div> +<div class="line">MOTOR BOAT BOYS DOWN THE DANUBE</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">List Price 60c Each</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="x-large">THE MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE;</span></div> +<div class="line">or</div> +<div class="line"><span class="larger">Solving a Mystery of the Thousand Islands</span></div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iafter-the-game"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id2">CHAPTER I—AFTER THE GAME</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“That was a hard game for Macklin to lose, +fellows!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I should say it was, Herb.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“He nearly pitched his head off, too. Wow! +how they did come in like cannon balls!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And talk about curves and drops, Little +Clarence was roight there wid the goods,” said +a stout boy; whose freckled face, carroty hair +and blue eyes, as well as the touch of brogue +to his voice, told of Irish blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But Jack met his hot pace, and went him +one better. Clarence may be a cracker jack in +the box, but he can’t <em class="italics">just</em> come up to good old +reliable Jack Storm ways, of the high school +baseball club.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, shucks! enough of that taffy, fellows,” +laughed the object of this praise, as he swung +the bat he was carrying; “why, you know right +well I was up against the fence when they made +that ninth inning rally. They had found me +with the goods on. And you know who won +that game for us—our never failing, heavy +pinch-hitter, Buster Longfellow. When his +bat got up against the horsehide I knew it was +all over but the shouting for Clarence.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wasn’t he mad, though? Hurrah for Buster! +He’s not built for a runner, they say, +but he’s got the batting eye. That hit was a +peach!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thanks, George. I believe I did help +Brodie dash home with the winning tally. It’s +awful nice of you fellows to appreciate talent!”</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy called Buster made a mock bow as +well as he was able. He was fat and chunky, +so that his baseball suit seemed moulded to his +figure. While his name was understood to be +Nick Longfellow, he seldom heard it save at +home or in school. To his fellows he was +known by such significant names as “Buster,” +“Pudding,” and “Hippopotamus.”</p> +<p class="pnext">There were just five in the bunch, dusty, +tired fellows, all on the way home from a most +exciting game with a rival team, and the most +bitter rivals for supremacy in the little river +town along the upper Mississippi.</p> +<p class="pnext">Besides Buster and Jack, there were the +Irish lad, Jimmie Brannagan, who lived with +the Stormways, being something of a ward of +Jack’s father; Herb Dickson, and George Rollins, +all of them members of the high school +team.</p> +<p class="pnext">These five boys, with the addition of another +who was not present just then, composed the +membership of a motor boat club, and between +them owned three very clever craft. George’s +was a narrow speedboat, called the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, +the powerful engine of which had a faculty +for getting out of order just when most +wanted. The one of which Jack was skipper +was named the <em class="italics">Tramp</em>, and while not so fast as +its dangerous competitor, could still make +great time. Herb possessed a commodious +launch, which he had very wisely christened +the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, for she was as staunch and reliable +as a houseboat.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the preceding autumn, taking advantage +of the school being closed until New +Year’s because of an epidemic in the town, +these boys had made a long trip down the Mississippi +river to New Orleans, being given permission +by their parents or guardians.</p> +<p class="pnext">To make the run more interesting Jack’s +father had contributed a silver cup as a +trophy; and the annals of that adventurous +race have already been given in the first volume of +this series. The boys for some time +had been laying their heads together and planning +another outing for the coming vacation; +but for various good and sufficient reasons +they were keeping their intended cruising +ground a dead secret from everybody.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Where’s Josh Purdue?” asked Herb, as +the party swung into the main street of the +town. “We want him along when we talk +over that letter Jack had from Clayton, where +our boats are going. What did you do about +hiding their destination, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” said George, quickly. “You know +we agreed that those chaps were nosing all +about, trying to get a clew. Clarence has ordered +a rattling motor boat from some eastern +maker, and if he could only learn where we’re +going to hang out this summer, wouldn’t he +just try to make it warm for us, though? Ten +to one you hadn’t left the station five minutes +after fastening on the tags before he was reading +the same.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I expected that, fellows,” laughed Jack, +“and did the best I could to fool him. The +boats are only sent to the address in Milwaukee. +From there they will be rebilled to Clayton +and shipped on a steamer through the +lakes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But he might even have the nerve to write +to that agent and make some excuse for asking +where they were sent. How about that, Jack?” +asked Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I even thought of that,” replied the other. +“You see, when you’re dealing with wide-awake, +unscrupulous fellows like Clarence +Macklin, and his toady, Joe Brinker, it pays +to insure against trouble. And I’ve done it as +well as I knew how.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us about it, please,” asked Buster, +anxiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” replied the one addressed, “I wrote +the agent in Milwaukee, stating the circumstances. +He turned out to be a jolly good chap; +for he answered me and promised that if Clarence +or Joe make inquiries he’ll put them on +the wrong track.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Bully for him!” ejaculated Nick. “We’ll +vote him thanks at our next meeting, fellows, +that’s what, and call on him in a body as we +go through to the steamer when on our way.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I wish the time was two weeks later,” remarked +Herb. “I don’t see just how I’m going +to stand it until after the exams are over.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, well, the days manage to pass along; +and this glorious victory ought to make you +feel that life is worth living,” remarked Jack, +with mock seriousness.</p> +<p class="pnext">“As for me,” remarked Buster, taking in a +long breath, as if in anticipation. “I just +dream of the bliss of cruising aboard a steady, +roomy boat like the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>. You can talk +all you want, George, about the delights of +flying through the water at the rate of twenty-five +miles an hour; but me to the cozy home-like +cruiser every time. Once is out for me, +you remember.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do we, boys?” jeered George, looking at +the rest. “Well, will I ever forget how Buster +used to sit there in the stern of my flier, looking +like a stuffed pillow, with a cork life preserver +belted around him all the time, and trying +to keep his balance. And the less said +about his cooking the better. It haunts me +still.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! but I’ve improved in that respect, +George, very much,” the fat boy hastened to +exclaim. “Don’t you worry about it, Herb. +I’m taking lessons from our colored cook right +now, and expect to branch out as a real prize +box. You know when I once set my mind to a +thing I generally get there, even if it does take +time. Great bodies move slowly, they say. +Didn’t I learn to swim after all my disappointments; +tell me that, George Rollins?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure you did, thanks to Jack here,” replied +the other. “But all through that trip you +gave me the nightmare because you had lost +some silly——”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hold on! you solemnly promised you’d +never say another word about that business +and I’m going to keep you to it, George,” cried +Buster. “We did have a glorious time of it, +you know. And I can do a little once in a +while to help the crowd forget their troubles, +can’t I?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, to be sure you can, Buster, and I’m +the last one to deny it,” declared George. “I +don’t mean half I say. You know my weakness +is a quick tongue. And after the grand +way you belted that ball today, I’d be willing +to forgive almost anything you’d ever done. +Shake on that, old partner of my joys and +woes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The boats got off all right, that’s a comfort,” +observed Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How do ye know?” demanded Jimmie.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I saw them on the cars, and moving out of +town, just in that ninth inning, when things +looked so black for us,” was the reply. “You +know my position out in right gives me a +chance to look across the big field to the railroad. +And as I was getting my breath, +after chasing that tricky ball Carson Beggs +whacked out, with two on bases, I had a +glimpse of a freight passing, and counted all +three boats on gondolas, fastened up in their +waterproof covers. It just seemed to give me +heart to go in and root harder than ever. It +was a lucky omen, too, fellows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” Jack said, “of course they’ll be waiting +for us at Clayton when we get there. And +although we talked of taking the steamer ourselves, +I think, on the whole, it would be wise +to go by train. In that way we’ll save a couple +of days. Besides, some time we mean to cruise +all through the great lakes, and we’d better +keep the trip until we can do it in our own +motor boats.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That sounds good to me!” cried Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I’m sure it hits my case to a dot, because +it means less time to wait,” and Herb +nodded his head in a way that plainly told +how his mind was made up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That settles the lake trip, then,” laughed +George, “because I never did care much about +going that way. Jimmie, how do you stand +on it?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wid both feet,” replied the party addressed, +emphatically. “The sooner we kin +arroive at the Thousand Islands, the better +I’ll be plazed.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, let’s forget we ever mentioned +going the other way,” said Jack. “But that +won’t prevent our passing through Milwaukee, +stopping to shake hands with that obliging +agent, and finding if the boats got off all +right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You can learn that by writing in a few +days, Jack,” observed Herb, sagaciously. “I +only hope Clarence doesn’t have a friend in +Milwaukee who would spy around and discover +the truth, that’s all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“If he writes the agent you can make up +your mind he hasn’t,” said Nick, as the party +came to a pause on a corner, where, as a rule, +they were accustomed to separating, each one +heading for his own home.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wait a little, boys. I think I see Josh coming +away back there,” remarked Jack, when +one of the others made some remark about +“seeing you later, fellows!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Looks like he was in a big hurry, too?” +suggested Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, he is half running, to be sure,” admitted +George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And there he goes waving his hand to us,” +mentioned Herb. “I guess Josh wants us to +wait up for him here. Perhaps he’s got something +to tell us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Or it may be he just wants to wring the +hand of our friend Buster, and tell him, with +tears in his eyes, how delighted he was to have +him save the day for our team,” and Jack, as +he said this, winked at George; for it was a +notorious fact that Josh and the fat boy were +forever playing pranks on each other, and +often saying disagreeable things; that, however, +ended in nothing harder than a little +froth and bubble, since it was only surface and +make-believe animosity after all.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you believe it,” declared the hero of +the late game, shaking his head in an aggressive +way. “Josh was the next batter up, and +I just know he thinks I swatted that ball to +cheat him out of the glory. For he had his +mind made up to send the horsehide over the +fence for a home run.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” laughed Jack, “never wait to see +what the next batter is going to do. When the +chance comes you just poke that ball out into +deep center, and then roll down to first as fast +as you can. Then perhaps he’ll bring you +home with his big hit. But Josh is getting +here, and we’ll soon know now what ails him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you go to borrowing trouble too +soon?” warned Herb. “I know Josh pretty +well, and how he likes to joke. He’s a false +alarm, that’s what.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But he looks serious enough right now,” +said George, with whom the runner was to +keep company on this new cruise they had +planned; and who, therefore, felt an especial +interest in Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">The newcomer was a rather slender fellow, +taller than any of the others, and the best runner +on the team. In times past Josh had been +troubled with indigestion; but the month and +more spent during their memorable Mississippi +cruise had about cured him of this, so +that he was looking better than ever before in +all his life. That was one reason why his +parents were only too glad to allow him the +chance of getting in the open again during the +coming vacation; for they believed it would be +the making of the lad.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh stopped running when close to the +others, as though husbanding his wind so that +he could communicate the news he bore.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s all up, fellows!” he cried, as he finally +reached the corner, where the other five gathered +around him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What do you mean?” asked Jack, anxiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, explain, Josh. What’s up?” demanded +George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They know where our boats have gone!” +gasped Josh, excitedly. “Somebody must +have leaked, that’s what. And they’re going +to have their new motor boat shipped to the +Thousand Islands, too. Now, see what a +peck of trouble we’re going to have this +summer!”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iichums-tried-and-true"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id3">CHAPTER II—CHUMS, TRIED AND TRUE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Josh, hold up your hand, and look me in the +eye!” said Jack, sternly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! you don’t believe me, do you? But I +never was more serious in my life!” exclaimed +the newcomer, meeting Jack’s look squarely.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then I’m sorry, that’s all,” declared the +other. “If Clarence Macklin has found out +where we expect to cruise this summer, he’ll +lie awake nights trying to lay plans how to +give us all the trouble he can.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“How d’ye know all this, Josh?” demanded +Nick, rather tremulously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I just happened to be near where Clarence +and Joe were having their heads together, and +the idea came to me to listen. I only thought +they were explaining how the game was lost, +and I wanted to hear Clarence say how somebody +sent a ray of sunlight into his eyes with +a pocket mirror, just when he was handing out +that ball Buster knocked out in deep center. +You know his way, fellows, and how he squirms +out of every hole so smoothly?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, yes, of course we do, Josh; but go +on;” cried Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t you see you’ve got us keyed up to +the breaking pitch? Let loose, and tell what +you heard!” exclaimed George, always nervous +and anxious to make speed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it wasn’t much, but it counted for a +heap,” replied the narrator. “About as near +as I can remember, and repeat, this was what +Clarence said: ‘Never mind, Joe, we’re going +to get even soon. Wait till our dandy boat +gets to Clayton. Say, mebbe there won’t be +a lot of surprised fellows then, as we cut circles +around ’em, and make ’em wish they hadn’t +blackballed us. You wait and see, that’s all.’”</p> +<p class="pnext">Various exclamations broke out from the +other boys.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, yes, they must know, all right!” said +Herb, bitterly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All I can say is it’s mighty queer, after +we’ve taken such pains to keep everything a +dead secret, so even our folks don’t know yet +where we’re going,” Josh continued to say, +meaningly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Somehow or other, as if by mutual arrangement, +every eye seemed to be gradually focussed +on poor Nick, who turned as red as a +turkey cock.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! yes, look at me, won’t you?” he exclaimed, +spluttering more or less as was his +habit when unduly excited. “You think I’m +the one who leaked, just because I stopped to +talk with Clarence the other day on the street, +and George saw me. He never even said a +single word about boats, but asked me something +else. Look all you want too, but I tell +you, once for all, that if there <em class="italics">was</em> a leak, it +didn’t come through me! I never told a single +soul!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! nobody has accused you, Buster,” said +Jack, soothingly, for he was fond of the good-natured +fat boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s all right, but I guess I’ve got feelings, +and I can tell what every one of you is +thinking,” the other went on, in an aggrieved +tone.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just forget it, Buster,” Jack continued, +for he knew only too well how the fat boy liked +to harp on anything that worried him, and in +this way make life miserable for the others of +the club. “The mischief is done. Like as not +we may never know how it happened. And +there’s no need of our bothering our heads now +about spilt milk. The question is, shall we +change our plans, and go somewhere else this +summer?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I say no!” exclaimed Herb, immediately +and with firmness.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s my case, too,” Josh echoed. “After +we’ve made all our fine arrangements, it would +be cowardly to back down just because those +two mean skunks choose to tag after us and +try to give us trouble.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Niver give up the ship! Thim’s my sintiments!” +observed Jimmie, aggressively. “And +I say the same,” remarked Nick. “Sooner or +later you’ll find out how they learned our +plans, and then you’ll all be sorry for putting +it on me, that’s what.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then it seems settled that we make no +change,” said Jack, with a stern look on his +face; “for I’m of the same opinion as the rest. +We’ll go to the St. Lawrence, and if Tricky +Clarence and Bully Joe try to upset our plans, +they’ll find themselves barking up the wrong +tree, that’s all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And so he thinks he’s got a wizard boat +that will cut circles all around my <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, +does he?” said George, with the light of anticipated +rivalry in his black eyes. “All right. +Perhaps Clarence has got another guess coming. +He’ll find me on the job all right, and +ready to give him a warm run for his money.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“When did we start talking seriously for +the first time about choosing the Thousand +Islands, and the St. Lawrence for our summer +outing?” asked Herb, who seemed almost +as anxious as Nick to find out the truth concerning +the leak.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can tell you that,” replied the fat boy, +quickly. “It was that afternoon when Jack +asked us to stay after school, and meet him in +the clubroom for a little talk. Don’t you remember, +he read that letter he had from Clayton, +the first one; and we soon voted to make +the St. Lawrence our cruising ground this +summer.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Buster is right about that, for I remember +it distinctly,” remarked Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was the little room in school that Mr. +Sparks allows the various clubs and organizations +to use when they ask permission—the +one on the second floor? Am I right, fellows?” +Herb went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure ye arre,” declared Jimmie. “Doan’t +I just remember that we wint till the door +ivery two minutes to say if the inemy would +be sphyin’ around in the hall.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But there was no sign of them, you also +remember that?” observed Jack, quickly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Niver a wan,” Jimmie hastened to reply.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then it would stand to reason that they +didn’t overhear us talking. I know you +couldn’t in the next room, for I’ve been in +there during recitation, and the wall is dead. +I only mention this, because that same day, +after I left the rest of you down-town, I found +that I’d forgotten a book I needed to study, +and hurried back to the school. And I met +Clarence coming along the street. He said +he had been kept in by Miss Stryker to do a +task. But it looks as though the leak could not +have been at that time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Somebody must have talked in their +sleep,” suggested Josh, humorously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps some one in the post office got on +to Jack receiving a letter from Clayton, and +writing there,” Herb put in.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, now,” remarked Jack, “there may +be something in that idea; though just now I +can’t think of anybody in the post office who +would be that mean. I know all the clerks, +and none of them have ever been thick with +either Clarence or Joe.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Suppose we give the matter a rest,” said +Herb, with an uneasy look toward Nick; for +the fat boy was to be his partner during the +coming cruise, and he feared lest Buster would +get to brooding on the unjust suspicions that +had been directed toward him, with the result +that he must be forever speaking about it, and +suggesting the most astonishing explanations +of the riddle.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Agreed,” Jack replied, readily, falling in +with the idea. “After all, the coming of these +fellows may add some spice to our trip, who +knows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">It certainly did, as will be made manifest +shortly; but just then none of the motor boat +boys suspected what a strange series of exciting +adventures was to be their portion, all +through the decision of their rivals to choose +the same cruising grounds for their summer +outing, and to be as malicious and troublesome +as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick seemed to have thrown aside the temporary +gloom that had fallen upon him, because +of the unjust suspicions of his mates. +He was naturally so cheery that trouble and +he could never hitch up together for any great +length of time.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If those two cronies do chase after us,” he +said, “perhaps the long standing trouble between +Joe and myself may be settled. You +know we’ve been growling at each other for +going on a year now. And some day there’ll +be a surprise due him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">When Nick talked in that vein the others +knew he was himself again, and ready to joke. +So Jack, pretending to be surprised, went on +to remark:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Buster, do you mean to say you’d +pick on that poor fellow, who has never been +able to whip more than three boys at a time +in all his life? I’m surprised to hear you talk +so savagely.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, the thing is brooding, and bound +to come off some day. Bully Joe will go just a +little too far, and get his. Why, there was +one time, not so long ago either, when I’d just +about made up my mind to lick him for keeps. +And I give you my word, fellows, I’d have +wiped up the ground with him, only that I +was grabbed from behind and held back!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wow! listen to the war chief, would you?” +exclaimed Josh, pretending to shrink away +from the belligerent fat boy, who was doubling +up his pudgy fists, and assuming a warrior’s +pose.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He’s sure got on his fighting togs today!” +echoed Herb, soothingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, Buster,” remarked George, when +Jack nudged him in the side, “tell us who +was so mean as to grab you that way, and +hold you back!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Shucks! I just knew you’d never rest till +you asked that!” cried the other, as he pretended +to show disgust. “Why, that was Joe, +don’t you see!”</p> +<p class="pnext">At that there was a howl; and Jimmie +doubled up like a jack-knife in the violence +of his merriment.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I can see Joe’s finish, if he keeps on trying +such tricks,” whooped George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh!” Buster went on, in a calm manner, +“I’ll try and be as easy with him as any one +could expect. Perhaps after he’s had one +good lesson, Joe may reform. It’s keeping +bad company that’s been his downfall. Clarence +Macklin has oodles of money; and his +dad used to be a sporty sort of a Wall street +man they say, when he lived east; so he don’t +care much what his hopeful does, so long as +he keeps out of jail.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, if he goes on much longer the way +he has, I reckon he’ll land there after a bit,” +Herb remarked, soberly; for he had suffered +on several occasions at the hands of the vindictive +Clarence, as was well known to his +chums.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” Jack put in. “And now, if +there’s nothing further before the house, I +move we adjourn. For one I know I’m as +hungry as a bear, and ready to tackle a good +dinner after all that hot work on the diamond.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Dinner!” exclaimed Buster, whose one +weak point lay in his love of eating. “Wow! +don’t you remember what bully good meals +we had when we all got together on that dandy +Mississippi trip, and Josh here slung the pots +and pans? He’s sure the best cook in seven +counties. I hear he’s getting up a book on +camp dinners. And right now I subscribe for +the first copy that’s printed; if it don’t cost +over ten cents.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just you wait,” returned Josh, with one +of his wide grins. “It won’t be long now +before you’ll have to get up and hustle the +tin pans and things, whenever you have that +longing for grub steal over you. No sitting +down to the table and cleaning up everything +in sight for you then. It’s work before you +can eat. Herb is going to keep you down to +brass tacks, ain’t you Herb?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! Buster and myself expect to get on +first rate,” the one addressed hastened to say; +for Herb was a lover of peace. “I’m ready +to pitch in and help him out on occasion. +Everything is going to be lovely, and the goose +hang high, aboard the good, staunch old +<em class="italics">Comfort</em>, when we sail the stormy waters of +the St. Lawrence, eh, Buster?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” remarked Josh, as he started away, +“anyhow, I’m glad you’ve decided to give our +friend Buster the upper berth!”</p> +<p class="pnext">A shout followed after him, and the last +glimpse he had of the fat boy, Buster was +shaking both fists in his direction, and pretending +to display tremendous rage, though +secretly chuckling with good-natured laughter. +Happy the boy who is so constituted that he +can in the best of humor take a joke that is +leveled at himself; and that was Nick Longfellow +to a dot.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rest of the bunch soon scattered, as +their homes lay in various directions; and this +particular corner usually served as a gathering +point as well as the place where they +separated.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack may have allowed the mystery of the +suspected “leak” to crop up in his active +mind from time to time after that; but he +knew just how sensitive Buster really felt +over it, and he always religiously refrained +from ever introducing the subject.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some of the other boys of course must have +discussed it as the days slowly passed; but +they too seemed desirous that their fat chum +might not have his feelings further injured, +and nothing was said in his presence. But all +the same Buster did not forget, as Herb was +fated to learn to his sorrow.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iiia-chance-clew"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id4">CHAPTER III—A CHANCE CLEW</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Why, hello Jack!”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the first day of vacation, and being +at the tail end of the week, the motor boat +club had wisely decided to defer their departure +until the following Monday morning, +when they would say goodbye to the home +town, and start across the state for Milwaukee.</p> +<p class="pnext">The speaker was no other than Clarence +Macklin; and Jack had come face to face with +his bitter enemy upon the main street of the +town, as he passed out from a shop where he +had been making a little purchase.</p> +<p class="pnext">Clarence was smiling, after his usual manner; +but there was always something crafty +about this look of his that made most boys +suspicious. Had he been given his choice in +the matter Jack would have passed on with +a mere nod; for he did not believe in pretending +to show anything like friendliness toward +this tricky lad, who had once tried to get into +the motor boat club, and been blackballed, a +fact he had vowed to get even for if it took +him a year.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Clarence evidently had a reason for +wishing to talk with the other. He even thrust +himself squarely in Jack’s way; and the latter +saw no reason why he should avoid an encounter.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” continued Clarence, “I suppose +you fellows are in high feather, now that vacation +has come, and you can break away?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure we are,” replied Jack, trying to seem +good-natured; though secretly he was wondering +what the other had concealed up his sleeve, +and why he insisted on stopping him in this +way; for it happened that just a day or so +before Jack had been reading that good old +precept of warning, to “Beware of the Greeks +bearing gifts.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I suppose, also, you mean to get away +soon?” Clarence went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Monday sees us off, unless something we +don’t look for detains us,” was Jack’s response, +as he watched the play of emotions on +the face of the other, and noted how the pretense +of friendliness was fading away.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” Clarence suddenly burst out with, +“I just wanted to let you know what me and +Joe Brinker think of your sly trick in finding +out where we meant to go this summer, and +then arranging to copy after us! It was just +what I’d expect such low-down sneaks as +Herb Dickson and George Rollins to do; but +I am surprised to know how you fell in with +such a dirty game, that’s what!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Really, Jack never had a greater shock in +all his life than when Clarence said this. It +seemed to almost take his very breath away.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, do you know, Clarence,” he said, +steadily, watching that sarcastic face, “the +shoe seems to be on the other foot with us. To +tell the truth, we’ve been believing all this time +that you’d copied after us. In fact, poor +Buster has been suspected of giving our +secrets away, not intentionally, of course, just +because he was seen talking with you. Queer, +ain’t it, how great minds often run in the same +channel; and both of us thought of going to +the St. Lawrence this summer.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Aw! now you’re just trying to crawl out of +a hole,” the other sneered. “But you needn’t +think you can spoil our summer fun for us, +if you are six to two. I told my dad about it, +and he advised me to go on, regardless. Just +make up your minds to keep clear of Joe and +me, if you know what’s good for you!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Even while the other was saying this there +suddenly flashed upon Jack’s mind the true +reason for his being held up in this way by +“Tricky Clarence,” as young Macklin had +come to be known among the boys of the town.</p> +<p class="pnext">He wanted to rub it into Jack, and exult +in the consternation which he expected his +declaration would cause in the other’s mind. +But there was undoubtedly something more +than this. If trouble did follow the meeting +of the rivals among the many channels of the +Thousand Islands, Clarence wished to make +it appear that he and Joe were the aggrieved +parties, and that they had been actually set +upon by the members of the motor boat club, +who had a grudge against them of long +standing.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a clever bit of sharp practice, worthy +of a shyster lawyer. Perhaps Clarence may +have inherited some of the shifty trickery by +which his respected father had laid the foundation +to his big fortune in the wilds of Wall +street.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack had no desire to stand there and +enter into a wordy war with Clarence, who +had a ready tongue, and never cared very +much where it led him.</p> +<p class="pnext">So instead of taking up the challenge, as +Clarence doubtless wanted him to, Jack simply +elevated his eyebrows, and remarked:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! is that so? Well, I’m going to tell +you just one thing for good and all, Clarence. +Neither myself, nor any one of the club, want +to set eyes on you or Joe; and if it rests with +us, we’ll not run across each other all summer. +But, understand me,” and his eyes flashed +dangerously, “we mean to strike back, and if +there’s trouble it will have to be of your seeking. +You can have all you want of it. Now, +that’s enough. I’m done talking.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Clarence hardly knew what to say. He +looked at the other as though tempted to blurt +out the ugly things he had passing through +his mind. But somehow he realized that it +would not be safe pressing Jack Stormways +too far. He was not the fighter Bully Joe had +always been; for as a rule he managed to get +some one else to carry out his battles for him. +And Jack looked really dangerous just then.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Pooh! words come cheap with some fellows,” +he muttered, as he turned away. “But +you’ll find they cut no figure with my partner +and me. As to our keeping away from any +particular spot you chumps choose to patronize, +that for your silly warning,” and he +derisively snapped his fingers, for he was now +twenty feet away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack held himself in with an effort. He +felt in a humor to have given the exasperating +Clarence the drubbing he deserved; but it +would hardly be nice to create such a disturbance +of the public peace so soon before they +expected to leave home. If it seemed fated +that he must teach this contemptible fellow +the lesson he so richly deserved it might be +wise to wait until they were far away from +the town where they lived.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was looking after the departing Clarence +when he saw him take out his handkerchief +to wipe his forehead, for the day was +warm.</p> +<p class="pnext">Something fell to the ground, something +that, even at that distance reminded Jack of a +yellow telegram blank. He could just as well +walk from the sporting goods store in the +direction Clarence had gone as any other way. +And it was his full intention to call after the +other, if the paper seemed worth while.</p> +<p class="pnext">So, in this spirit Jack bent down and +secured possession of the crumpled yellow +paper.</p> +<p class="pnext">Just as he had expected it was a telegraph +blank, written on but not signed. It seemed +to be a message that some one had started, +and upon making a mistake in the wording +had crammed in his pocket while he started +afresh.</p> +<p class="pnext">That some one, of course, could only be +Clarence, since the paper had fallen to the +ground at the time he took out his handkerchief.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ordinarily Jack would not have been guilty +of looking at a telegraph message that had +come into his possession under such circumstances. +It seemed excusable now. Clarence +was a secret enemy, and had been plotting to +make trouble for the members of the motor +boat club that had declined to allow him and +Bully Joe membership.</p> +<p class="pnext">And the very first glimpse he had of the +writing gave him a thrill; for he read the +address, which was:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jared Fullerton, Clayton, N. Y.”</p> +<p class="pnext">On the spur of the moment Jack changed +his mind. Instead of calling out after the departing +Clarence, and notifying him that he +had dropped something, Jack just crammed +the yellow paper in his pocket, and wheeling, +strode away.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was considerably excited, and eager to +learn what sort of communication the other +could be sending to Clayton that required the +use of the wires. And as he walked hurriedly +away, with his nerves on edge, he half expected +to hear Clarence shouting after him, demanding +the return of his property.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I never would be guilty of doing such a +thing,” Jack was saying to himself, on account +of the mean feeling he had, “only that sometimes +it’s just necessary to fight fire with fire. +If I’m wrong in my suspicions then there’s +no harm done. But I must know what he’s +telegraphing to Clayton. Who Jared Fullerton +is I don’t know from Adam; but I bet +he’s cut from the same pattern Clarence and +Joe were.”</p> +<p class="pnext">By then Jack had turned a corner. Unable +to withstand the temptation any longer, he +looked around to make sure Clarence was not +in sight; and then drawing out the crumpled +piece of paper, read what had been written +on the blank.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Glad to hear boat arrived, and is such a +corker. I’m bringing that hundred with me, +and hope you’ve earned it before we arrive. +Don’t get in trouble for——”</p> +<p class="pnext">Apparently Clarence did not like the way +that last sentence looked, for he had started to +change it several times. Then, thinking he +had better write the whole message over again, +he had doubtless thrust the first draft into his +pocket, and entirely forgotten it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack read it over twice, and looked grave.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now what that snake’s up to, I’d give +something to know,” he said to himself, as he +started to walk on, after placing the message +away in his pocket. “Some sort of dirty +scheme has been mentioned in a letter, and he’s +meaning to pay this Fullerton for doing the +thing. What could it be? He says it’s to be +done before he and Joe get there. A hundred +dollars is a lot of money. Oh! I wonder could +he mean to have this other scamp injure our +boats in some way?”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a dreadful suspicion that beset him +right then. How easy for any one to put a +lighted match to the canvas tarpaulins that +covered the three boats on the steamer’s dock +at Clayton. Why, they might be either entirely +ruined, or else so badly injured as to be +useless for the whole season.</p> +<p class="pnext">Would Clarence be equal to conspiring to do +such a serious thing as this? Jack was sorry +to admit that he believed the other was not +past it in the least. He had known him to +play pranks that savored of the criminal before +now; and it had always been his rich +father’s money and influence that had saved +Clarence from getting the punishment he so +richly deserved.</p> +<p class="pnext">Obeying a sudden inspiration Jack turned +and chased back to the railroad station where +the telegraph office was located. He knew +that the strict orders of the operating company +would prevent his seeing the message +that Clarence had finally given in, unless they +were compelled to show it by a decree of the +court. But Jack had no desire to go that +deeply just then.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew the operator quite well, a young +fellow who also sold tickets.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Clarence Macklin was in here sending a +message to Clayton, New York, wasn’t he, +Bert?” he asked, trying not to appear at all +excited.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, that’s so, Jack,” came the reply from +the agent; who was really an admirer of the +young high school pitcher.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How long ago was that—could I find him +in town now, do you think?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Note how cleverly this question was framed; +and the operator fell into the trap without +even a suspicion that he was yielding up valuable +information.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I reckon you might,” he said, promptly, +“because he went out of here not more than +fifteen minutes ago, after sending his message. +Start on Monday, I hear, Jack? Well, I only +wish I was along. You fellows do have the +best times going; while some of the rest of us +have to keep our noses to the grindstone. +Good luck to you all, and a bully trip on the +river,” for Jack, having picked up all the information +he wanted, had turned abruptly on +his heel and was leaving the station.</p> +<p class="pnext">That settled it, then. Clarence had sent a +message to the unknown Jared Fullerton, that +was presumably along the same lines as the +one he had first started. And doubtless that +individual would be only too glad to try and +earn his hundred-dollar fee before Clarence +and Joe arrived.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since none of the motor boat boys would be +in Clayton to be injured, the only way in +which he could do anything would be to scheme +to bring some miserable catastrophe upon the +precious motor boats that had arrived and +were waiting to be claimed by their young +owners at the steamboat docks.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was surely a time for quick thinking, and +action, unless they wished to take the chances +of having their whole summer outing spoiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">And Jack, as he hurried home, was laying +out a plan of campaign in his mind calculated +to outwit the miserable plotting of the reckless +Clarence and his equally unscrupulous crony, +Bully Joe.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ivblocking-a-sly-move"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id5">CHAPTER IV—BLOCKING A SLY MOVE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Is that you, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“No other. Say, George, can you come +over here at once?” asked the boy who was +at the other end of the telephone wire; and +there was that in his voice to arouse the interest +of George Rollins to fever heat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, sure I can. My wheel is handy, +and you’ll see me drop in on you inside of a +jiffy. But what’s the row, Jack; no bad news +about our boats I hope? They haven’t been +dropped overboard in the middle of Lake +Erie, and sunk?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, nothing half so bad; but I must see +you,” Jack went on saying. “And George, +start some of the rest along too, won’t you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Buster and Josh are on my way, and if +they’re home I’ll jolly both into coming. +But you’d better try to poke out Herb over +the wire,” came the reply.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I will. So-long, George. Get a move on +you now. Important!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then Jack put up the receiver, to sever +connection; although a moment later he was +asking Central to give him the Dickson house. +By great good luck Herb happened to be up +in his den, doing some packing; for this was +the last day he would have at home saving +Sunday, and he was a very careful fellow.</p> +<p class="pnext">After hearing the “call of the wild,” as +Jack expressed it, Herb consented to head for +the Stormways domicile without any delay. +He, too, made use of his wheel to cover the +intervening distance; and quite a bunch of +boys drew up in the yard about the same time.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack and Jimmie met them at the side door.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, what under the sun has he got hold +of, fellows?” queried George, nervously, as +they filed up to Jack’s snug den; for the serious +expression on the faces of Jack and Jimmie +gave him considerable concern.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick was puffing like a steam engine. The +little rush had winded him more or less; but +at the same time he also looked anxious. For, +as they were on the eve of starting out on their +anticipated summer vacation, this sudden +summons to headquarters gave him a shock.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I only hope it ain’t anything about the +boats,” he remarked plaintively, as he dropped +down in a capacious chair that just suited his +stout figure to a dot, and was hence invariably +appropriated by Buster every time he came +to see Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” remarked Jack, “I might as well +admit right in the start that it does concern +our three motor boats.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t tell me that any tragedy has happened +to ’em, Jack?” pleaded George, who +was known to have a great affection for his +<em class="italics">Wireless</em>, even though the cranky speed boat +did seem to delight in playing many cruel +tricks upon its skipper.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, not yet, I believe,” came the answer.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good! You make me feel better already, +Jack!” exclaimed George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But hold on!” cried Herb; “you noticed +that he said ‘not yet,’ didn’t you, boys? Don’t +you see what that means? The boats are in +danger; ain’t that so, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve pretty good reason to believe so,” +replied the owner of the den; and then he +whipped out the crumpled telegraph blank. +“Here, read that, fellows, and tell me what +you think. It fell from the pocket of Clarence +Macklin not half an hour ago. And I +understand that he sent off a message along +these lines, after he had changed the wording +a little.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Eagerly four heads were clustered above +the yellow paper which he had smoothed out +on the chess table. Clarence wrote a plain +hand, so that there was no trouble in making +out every word.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, wouldn’t that knock you?” gasped +Nick, who had as yet failed to entirely recover +his wind after his quick passage on his wheel +to Jack’s home, followed by the climb up two +lights of stairs to the attic den.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jack, you’re right; he means our boats!” +ejaculated Herb, with a trace of indignation +and horror in his voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! the miserable skunk, what wouldn’t +I give for the fun of punching his head for +him. Just wait, the chance will come some +fine day. Let them dare do anything to +my bully little <em class="italics">Wireless</em>! Why, Jack, they +could be sent to prison for a long term if they +destroyed the boats.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course that was Skipper George, whose +father being a lawyer, visions of the stern +hand of justice were always cropping up in +the boy’s mind.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The way I look at it is this,” Josh went +on, deliberately; “Clarence has a crony in +Clayton, some fellow he knows by the name +of Jared Fullerton. Seems to me I’ve heard +him mention that name, too, though I don’t +remember anything about him. But he’s +meaning to hire this chap to do something +worth an even hundred. Fellows, we can give +a quick guess that something has to do with +our three boats, which by now must be lying +on the steamboat dock there, waiting for us +to arrive.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You hit the nail on the head that time, +Josh,” declared Jack. “And I’ve asked you +all to come here so we could talk the matter +over, and decide what ought to be done.”</p> +<p class="pnext">An animated discussion followed. Some +suggested one thing, which was debated <em class="italics">pro</em> +and <em class="italics">con</em>; then another new idea would crop +up, which they eagerly seized upon, being +deeply concerned about the safety of the precious +craft.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Whatever do you suppose that sneak of a +Fullerton could do, to put our craft out of the +running?” asked Nick, finally.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, he might accidentally drop a lighted +match under the tarpaulin cover of one. You +know it would flame up pretty quick, and +might set the whole bunch going like a pack +of fire-crackers,” Josh observed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I hardly think any one would take +such chances at that,” Jack remarked; “because, +you see, they are lying on a public dock, +and if a big fire resulted it would mean the +penitentiary for Jared. But no matter, if a +fellow only happened to be mean enough he +could find lots of ways to injure boats like +ours. And for one, I don’t propose to take +the chances.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us your plan, Jack; we’ll stand by +you,” cried Buster.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” said the other, quickly; “then +listen. I propose that George and myself go +and see his father, and ask his advice. You +fellows make yourselves at home here; and +after we’ve got things going we’ll come back +to report. How does that strike you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I say yes!” Josh hastened to cry.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the others were of the same mind, Jack +and George hurried away. It being Saturday +morning, George knew that his father would +not be very busy at his law office and could +easily spare them a little time.</p> +<p class="pnext">They found Judge Rollins without any +client, which Jack considered lucky, since +haste was an element in their calculations just +now. And after he had heard the whole story, +scanned the incriminating telegraph blank, +and asked numerous questions, the lawyer +smiled, and said he was ready to give his +advice.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here is the address of a party I know in +Clayton, and whose name just came to me +while you were talking, Jack,” he observed. +“Try and get him on the long distance phone, +and explain the circumstances to him as you +have to me. I feel sure that if you can reach +Amos Spofford everything will be all right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly the two lads immediately +hustled around to the central station of the +telephone company, where they could use the +long distance phone to better advantage than +in a drug-store.</p> +<p class="pnext">Having the local number of the party to +whom the judge had referred them, Jack, who +had taken it upon himself to do the talking, +because George was apt to get excited, and +splutter in a way that might interfere with +the carrying of his message to such a long +distance, asked to be connected with the +Clayton office.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course, there was more or less delay, as +usual, and the two boys became quite nervous +before there finally came a faint call.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Jack learned that it was really Mr. +Spofford who was at the other end of the wire, +he started to explain that it was Judge Rollins +who had told the boys to get in touch with +the Clayton man.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then as briefly as possible, for time was +valuable, he told about the trouble, and what +they feared might happen. Happily, the man +to whom he was talking seemed capable of +seizing on facts, and building a plan of campaign +instantly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Telegraph the agent of the steamboat +Company to let me have the boats. I happen +to know him very well—his name is James +Matthews. Then forget all about the matter, +boys. Depend on me! Your boats will be +guarded, day and night, every minute of the +time until you arrive. That is all. Goodbye!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hurrah for Amos!” exclaimed George +when his chum had related what the man in +Clayton had said. “He’s all to the good! +That was a bright thought of yours, Jack, +when you suggested going to ask my father’s +advice!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But let’s get back to the others,” laughed +Jack, as they paid the bill and left the telephone +office; “for they’ll be burning up with +anxiety to know what’s going on.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” grinned George, now as happy and +light-hearted as he had previously been +gloomy, and oppressed with fears. “By now +poor Buster will have lost a pound or two in +weight. He’s the greatest fellow ever to fret +over things.”</p> +<p class="pnext">At that Jack fairly shouted.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I know another of the same breed, George, +and you can’t deny it,” he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, what’s the use?” admitted the +other. “I know I do see mountains often, that +turn out to be ant hills when you get up close. +But I’m feeling particularly jolly right now. +Bully for Amos. Won’t we shake him by the +hand till he yells out for mercy. His name will +be emblazoned on the annals of our St. Lawrence +cruise as the best friend the motor boat +club had, barring none.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course, they were set upon as soon as +they entered the den in the top story of the +Stormways home, and made to tell what had +happened. When the balance of the club +learned how neatly a spoke had been put +in the wheel of Clarence, they voted thanks +to Mr. Edison for all he had done in the +interests of modern science.</p> +<p class="pnext">And it can be set down as positive that those +lads spent a much more healthy Sunday than +would have been the case had their minds still +wrestled with the problem of what the mysterious +message sent by Clarence stood for.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then came the final morning when they +were scheduled to leave the home town, headed +for the far distant Clayton, to begin their summer +vacation.</p> +<p class="pnext">A score and more of boys were at the station +to see them depart, besides those persons +who constituted the various families of the +club members. Their baggage was properly +seen to, and then the last goodbyes said. Clarence +and his crony, Joe Brinker, came sauntering +along, and stood watching the passing +of the expedition.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He can’t just help grinning all the time,” +Buster said aside to Herb, as they were waiting +at the car steps for Jack and George, still +talking with a group of friends.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure he is,” replied George, looking out +of the corner of his eye, “and every little while +he says something to Bully Joe that tickles +him to beat the band. But we can afford to +keep quiet, because we happen to know how +the game is going. I’m putting my faith in +Amos right along; he’s going to make good.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why ain’t Clarence and Joe starting, +too?” demanded Nick at this juncture.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! they’re too sly for that, you see,” +George replied, knowingly, his lawyer blood +standing him in good stead. “Like as not +they’ve got through tickets right through +Chicago, while we stop over in Milwaukee. +And even if they slip away this afternoon they +could get to Clayton as soon as we do.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s the conductor calling ‘all aboard!’ +We’re off, fellows!” cried Buster, as he started +to climb up the steps of the car, an operation +that required more labor on his part than in +the case of more agile lads.</p> +<p class="pnext">The entire bunch grouped on the last platform +of the parlor car at the end of the train, +and as they pulled out, waved their hats in +salute to the cheering of the crowd at the +station.</p> +<p class="pnext">Faster went the train, and presently a turn +hid the home town from the sight of the six +vacationists. If any of them felt badly over +parting from loved ones they succeeded in +concealing the fact as they passed inside to +take their seats, and while looking from the +windows at new scenes, lay delightful plans +concerning the glorious time they anticipated +would be their portion when they got fully +started on their St. Lawrence river cruise.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-vthe-guardian-of-the-fleet"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id6">CHAPTER V—THE GUARDIAN OF THE FLEET</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Well, here’s the steamboat dock, all right; +but I don’t see anything of our boats!” +exclaimed George, as he and his five chums +came to a full stop close to the local office of +the lake line running to Buffalo, Milwaukee +and Chicago.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! dear me, I hope we don’t have trouble, +after all,” started Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here, let up on that misery whine, Buster. +Will you ever learn never to squeal till you’re +hurt?” said Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, if you’d lost as much flesh as I have +lately, you’d be a nervous wreck too,” replied +the fat boy, aggressively.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If I’d lost all you say you have, there +wouldn’t be anything more of me left than a +grease spot, and that’s right!” grinned Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What shall we do, Jack?” and Herb turned +to the one upon whom they usually depended +to steer them clear of the shoals.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, here’s the office right handy,” replied +Jack, smiling. “Suppose we crowd inside, +and make the agent give up some information. +He ought to know what’s happened +to our boats, because we understood they got +here safe.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“A bully idea, Jack; you’re the goods when +it comes to doing the right thing!” Josh +remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly they fell in line, and rushed into +the little office, where a gentlemanly fellow, +who was working at some freight accounts, in +his shirt sleeves, because of the heat of the +day, glanced up in more or less surprise.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’re looking for some motor boats, sir, +that arrived on the vessel from the west. They +were billed from Milwaukee by your line.”</p> +<p class="pnext">As Jack said this the agent smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Which one of you wired our Mr. Matthews?” +he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I did. My name is Jack Stormways,” replied +that individual.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You gave him authority to turn the three +boats over to some party, didn’t you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, if that party’s name was Mr. Amos +Spofford,” Jack replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right. We gave them into his keeping. +Let me see, that was last Saturday afternoon +about one o’clock he was here,” the other +went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But,” Jack remarked, blankly, “we’ve +been looking all around, and have seen no sign +of our boats on the wharf.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And they couldn’t have flown away like +aeroplanes,” put in Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I should hardly think so,” laughed the +other. “But have you looked beyond the end +of the dock, in the water?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“No. Do you mean to say Mr. Spofford +had the three boats launched?” cried Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, there was something doing that way, +I remember, on Saturday. He had quite a +gang of men working under him. That Mr. +Spofford seems to be something of a hustler. +Over toward that point, boys.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They were already trooping across the big +dock, as excited as any eager lads could be. +And no sooner had they reached a certain +point than a series of whoops burst from every +throat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There they are, fellows! Don’t they make +a bully show, though, the brave little boats? +Say, ain’t this like old times again?” cried +Nick, as he discovered the three craft anchored +close together at a point where they would +not be in the way of any steamboat landing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s somebody aboard, too!” exclaimed +Jack, as a head was poked out of the deck tent +of the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, which was the only one of the +trio to be thus honored, the others being in +cruising trim.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That must be Mr. Amos Spofford,” declared Herb; “and +he knows a good sleeping +boat when he sees it, too; for you notice he’s +camped in the Old Reliable.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack waved his hand, and then called out.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’re coming aboard. Are you Mr. Spofford?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s my name. Glad to see you, boys. +Come right along. You won’t be fired into +the harbor if you try to get aboard!” came +back the answering hail.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Gee! I wonder if that’s what happened +to Jared,” remarked Nick, as the party made +for the landing, where a rowboat could be obtained +in which to paddle out to the anchored +flotilla.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every boy had his eyes glued on the boat +that, to his mind, represented all that was delightful. +Many a happy day and night had +they spent aboard these same craft in times +that were gone; and the future opened up possibilities +just as joyous.</p> +<p class="pnext">One by one they climbed aboard the <em class="italics">Comfort</em> +and shook hands with the jolly old gentleman +whom they found there. None of the other +boats could have accommodated them as +readily as the big launch.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Glad you got here safe and sound, boys. +I imagine this is Jack Stormways. Introduce +me to your chums, please, Jack. Told you not +to worry. Camped right here ever since getting +your message. Would have stayed a week +if necessary, because you see I happen to be +an old bachelor, without any family ties. +Greatest pleasure I’ve had for many a year. +Used to knock about myself, once upon a time, +before I took on flesh. And let me tell you, +lads, you’ve got the greatest little cruising outfits +here I ever set eyes on. In my day we +never knew such comforts, any more than we +did such bully boats.”</p> +<p class="pnext">In this fashion did Mr. Amos Spofford +rattle on, for he was a great talker, and a +retired lawyer as well. He quite staggered +poor Buster by the immensity of his girth; for +he was simply <em class="italics">tremendous</em>, and no mistake.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Gracious!” Nick whispered to Herb, when +he found the chance; “you don’t think, now, +I’ll ever get to be like that, do you, Herb? Oh, +if I thought so I’d starve myself.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it would end your knocking about, +just as it did his, so beware!” answered the +other; and chuckled to see poor Buster shiver.</p> +<p class="pnext">All the time they were in contact with Mr. +Amos Spofford Nick could not keep his eyes +off the wheezy old lawyer; and every now and +then he would shake his head and sigh most +dismally. It was really an awful lesson for +Buster, as Josh often declared.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then you’ve really enjoyed camping here +since Saturday afternoon, sir?” asked Jack, +as the party clustered around the guardian of +the motor boat fleet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Beyond measure,” came the quick reply. +“I haven’t let the boats go unwatched a minute +of the time. On Monday I hired a man to stay +aboard while I finished up some little business +that was pressing. Then I came back in the +afternoon with a new supply of grub, and +determined to hold the fort. Why, boys, it’s +been the happiest days of the last ten years +to me. And I’ve made up my mind that I’m +going to throw business to the dogs, have a +boat like this, only larger, built especially for +a heavy man, and take to the water. I thank +you for the opportunity you threw in my way +for this pleasure.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And on our part we feel that you’ve been +mighty kind to us, sir,” said Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t mention it. Besides, I’m only too +glad to do something for Rube’s boy. He was +good to me once upon a time, and helped me +get back on my feet.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps our anxiety was all for nothing +though?” remarked George; not because he +really believed what he was saying, but hoped +it would tempt Mr. Spofford to “open up,” +and tell anything he knew.</p> +<p class="pnext">The stout lawyer chuckled until he shook +like a bowl full of jelly. He reminded Jack of +Santa Claus around Christmas time, both with +regard to his white beard and the size of his +paunch.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ah! that was a chip of the old block that +spoke then,” laughed Mr. Spofford, “Rube for +all the world; and a born lawyer, too. Follow +in the footsteps of your illustrious dad, +George, and the world is yours. No, to tell the +plain, unvarnished truth, your anxiety <em class="italics">was</em> +well placed, I have reason to believe.”</p> +<p class="pnext">He looked over the side at the water, and +chuckled again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It is pretty wet in there for a fact, boys,” +he said, “and when a fellow flops over with all +his clothes on, he feels kind of squeamish, I +suppose.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you mean to say, sir, that Jared Fullerton +actually attempted to come aboard in the +night, and that you dumped him into the +river?” asked Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I didn’t bother asking his name; and +so far as I know he never had the politeness to +leave one of his visiting cards behind him,” +remarked the big lawyer, still shaking, so that +the staunch old <em class="italics">Comfort</em> actually quivered in +sympathy. “In fact, to tell the truth, he was +so set upon leaving in a hurry after he discovered +that there was a tenant ahead of him, +that lots of things were sadly neglected.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And you threw him overboard, sir?” asked +Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was the easiest part of it,” replied +the other, calmly. “You see I used to be a +great athlete in my day, when Rube knew me; +and the fellow wasn’t anticipating running up +against a lodger. I just gave him a neat push, +and you ought to have heard the splashing that +followed.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wow! I’d have liked to, first rate!” declared +Josh, in ecstacy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But he managed to climb out again, of +course, Mr. Spofford?” Jack asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! yes, after a lot of floundering around. +I saw him climbing that spile yonder, dripping +at every move. And I’ve had no trouble +since.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then we owe you a vote of thanks for helping +us out in this way,” declared George, +warmly. “Only for your guardianship something +serious would have happened to our +boats; and you can understand, sir, that they +are precious to all of us, after serving us so +well on that Mississippi cruise.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I want to hear all about that at the first +chance, boys. But now I’ll move out, and give +the rightful owners possession. This is a very +well named boat, Herbert. I give you credit +for knowing how to get full enjoyment out of +a trip. Now, that speed boat doubtless pleases +George, but you see it would hardly do for a +fellow of my heft. I’m going to get the builder +of this outfit to put me one up that will be a +dream, a fat man’s paradise.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hold on, Mr. Spofford,” said Jack, who +knew he was voicing the sentiments of the entire +club when he spoke as he did; “we are +going to stay around here until another morning, +for we’ve got a lot to do, stowing our +stores, you know. And tonight, if you can do +so, we invite you to a little dinner, to be held +on this boat. We hope you will please us by +coming; and let me tell you we’ve got the boss +cook among us, who can tickle your palate +the best ever.”</p> +<p class="pnext">All eyes were turned toward Josh, who got +up and gravely bowed, pushing back Buster, +who had impudently been in the act of accepting +the honor himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll do it on one condition, boys,” said the +lawyer, as he started to deposit his bulk in the +boat Herb was holding to the side of the +<em class="italics">Comfort</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What is that, sir?” demanded Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That you promise to read to me the log of +your last trip, when you went down the big +river; also tell me the many adventures that +I’m sure must have come your way during +those glorious weeks.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Done!” cried one and all, as they shook +hands with the jolly retired lawyer, and Herb +started to paddle him to the dock.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What time is dinner hour, fellows?” sang +out Mr. Spofford, just as heartily as though +he might be one of the youngsters.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Six sharp; but we’ll wait for you any +length of time you say, sir,” replied Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look for me before that time; and remember, +boys, I’m a man of some size, so be +warned,” laughed the other, waving his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! we know all about that, sir; because, +you see, we’ve got a shining example of the +same with us,” called Josh, motioning toward +Buster.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s so; but I’m afraid you mean a +<em class="italics">horrible</em> example; for we fat fellows are to be +pitied,” floated back to their ears.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick sank back on his seat, looking plainly +troubled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! my, if I thought there was any danger +of my ever getting like that I’d—I’d, well, +I don’t know what I’d do; but something +pretty desperate—skip a meal once a week, +perhaps,” he remarked to George.</p> +<p class="pnext">The other was already trying to draw his +own boat alongside, so that he might +aboard; for naturally each skipper had +thought of the craft that was dearest to his +mind; and Herb returning, both Jack and +Jimmie used the rowboat to reach the anchored +<em class="italics">Tramp</em>.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-vithe-flash"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id7">CHAPTER VI—THE “FLASH”</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">For an hour or more the boys were busily +engaged in rummaging.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then they began to think about getting their +luggage aboard, as well as the necessary supplies. +Jack had his lists made out to the fraction. +Previous experience would prove of considerable +benefit to them now, since they knew +just what was most needed, and what things +to leave behind.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I say, Jack!” called George, across the +scant space that separated their boats.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello! what is it?” asked the skipper of +the <em class="italics">Tramp</em>, looking up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We’ve all been so busy we haven’t thought +to look around,” remarked George; “and consequently +missed seeing that dandy craft lying +off there a couple of hundred yards. Nobody +seems to be aboard, as far as I’ve noticed. My! +but ain’t she a beaut, though? Such graceful +lines. I warrant she can just skim the water, +and make you <em class="italics">dizzy</em> watching her. Do you +know what struck me, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That this might be the swift boat Clarence +has had built, and which he said was going to +cut capers all around our fleet,” replied the +other, promptly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Guessed it the first shot. Am I right?” +asked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Looks to me like a regular black, piratical +craft,” observed Josh. “Just notice how low +she sits in the water, would you? And there’s +something sneaky in her whole make-up. Yes, +that sort of a boat just seems to fit in with a +fellow like Clarence Macklin, ‘Sneaky Clarence,’ +you remember.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s a name in gold letters on her bow, +but I can’t quite make it out. Here, Buster, +just hand me my glasses, will you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">A minute later George, having adjusted the +marine glasses to his sight, gave utterance to a +low whistle.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve got the name all right, fellows,” he +remarked, “and what d’ye think it is? Just +the plain word <em class="italics">‘Flash.’</em> I guess that stands +for speed all right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It also stands for what Clarence and Bully +Joe represent,” Herb observed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Often, as they busied themselves during the +balance of that day, George’s eyes would +wander toward that long, narrow boat that sat +upon the heaving water with the grace of a +black swan from Australia. George believed +he could see the times when it would be nip and +tuck between the <em class="italics">Flash</em> and his own hitherto +unbeaten <em class="italics">Wireless</em>; and he confessed that perhaps +the boast of the rival of the motor boat +boys might not have been without reasonable +foundation.</p> +<p class="pnext">Knowing how many times they must go +ashore before the stores and supplies were all +aboard, the motor boat boys realized that it +would be a saving of time if they raised anchor, +and moored alongside the dock.</p> +<p class="pnext">This was accordingly done. As noon had +come, they went in detachments to the nearest +hotel, and secured a meal; after which their +baggage was taken aboard. Then, leaving the +others to stow it away, as on the previous +cruise, Jack, Herb and George went into town +to purchase what their long list called for.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick called out after them three times, begging +them on each occasion to be sure and not +forget a certain thing of which he happened to +be particularly fond. Josh poked a whole lot +of fun at the fat boy, and warned him to beware +lest he equal the enormous girth of Mr. +Amos in a short time if he did not curb that +tremendous appetite.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! don’t you fret about that,” Nick answered. +“In good time I expect to gradually +cut down my rations until I become as skinny +as you. Then, like enough, I’ll want to jump +overboard and end it all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">That was always Nick’s way—<em class="italics">tomorrow</em> he +meant to start in regulating his diet; but as +usual with those who put off the evil day, tomorrow +never seemed to come.</p> +<p class="pnext">That was a busy afternoon with them all.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack saw to it that the eatables were put up +in three separate packages all around, so that +they could be handed over to the several boats +without division. This helped wonderfully, +for there was no choosing, and no ill feeling because +one happened to get a better looking +assortment than the others.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s near stopping time, fellows!” called +Nick, as he squatted on a seat, like a big toad, +Josh said, and wiped the perspiration from his +rosy face.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I guess everything’s ready,” added +Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ditto here,” came from Herb. “And Josh +is already rustling the kettles, as if he meant +business. So I move we pull out again and +anchor. When the gent comes we can get him +aboard with the help of this rowboat he hired +for us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">That sort of talk seemed to satisfy every +one; and accordingly they set about working +the motor boats to the positions they had occupied +previously, at the time their mudhooks +were down.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then began great preparations for a feast. +Both the other boats handed over their several +batteries for cooking. Their previous experience +had taught George and Herb a lesson, +so that they had discarded their cumbersome +oil lamps, and now each rejoiced in a fine new, +brass Jewel gas oil-stove, of the same reliable +German brand as that which Jack carried +when on the famous Mississippi trip, now but +a fond memory.</p> +<p class="pnext">And they were surely a busy lot, every one +working under the directions of the head <em class="italics">chef</em>. +Josh might play second, and even third fiddle, +many times; but when it came to cooking he +was right there, as he himself said, “with the +goods.” Some boys may seem gifted in one +way, and a comrade shine in another; it was +the privilege of Josh Purdue to be a natural +born cook. He could throw together the most +appetizing dishes with apparently little effort. +Everything he touched had a decidedly delightful +taste. And even Buster admitted that +he stood without a peer, monarch of all he +surveyed.</p> +<p class="pnext">So it came about that when Mr. Spofford arrived +on the dock, and was ferried across by +Herb, he found some mighty fine odors wafting +hither and thither.</p> +<p class="pnext">“My goodness!” he said, as he sniffed vigorously, +“I hope dinner won’t be long delayed, +boys, because you’ve just got me keyed up to +a desperate pitch, with all these joyful smells +afloat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ready right now, sir!” sang out Josh, who +had donned a snow-white baker’s muslin cap, +which he had fetched along with the intention +of coaxing Buster to wear, when engaged in +his culinary tasks.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were a jolly crowd gathered in the +roomy <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, and discussing the glorious +dinner prepared under the direction of the +head <em class="italics">chef</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Josh, you haven’t forgotten how,” observed +Jack, as he started in on the savory +mess piled up on his pannikin.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Which pleases me a whole lot,” said +George; “because you see, Mr. Spofford, on +this trip Josh sails with me in my <em class="italics">Wireless</em>.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Alas! poor Josh! I see his finish. These +are funeral meats, fellows,” giggled Buster, +already warmly engaged.</p> +<p class="pnext">And so they laughed and joked as the meal +progressed. Mr. Amos was as merry as any +one of the six boys. Again he seemed carried +back to the days when he loved this sort of +life; and many times did they hear him declare +positively:</p> +<p class="pnext">“You’ve opened up the fount that has been +closed for many years, boys. And after this +it’s me for the free life and the fresh air. Perhaps +that may reduce my overabundant flesh +somewhat. Anyway, it will delight my heart. +Away with dull care; and from this time on +I’m going to study Nature again! And I have +you to thank for opening my eyes. It was a +lucky day my old friend Rube thought of me, +and put his boy in touch with Amos Spofford.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps you’d like to go out a few days, +sir, with us,” remarked Herb, quite overwhelmed +by the cordial ways of the retired +lawyer. “This boat is roomy, you see, and we +might get along. The only difficulty would +be about sleeping quarters.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Poor Nick held his breath in suspense. +If so be Mr. Spofford accepted, he believed +he saw his finish. But the other only laughed +heartily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s awfully kind of you, Herb, but I +couldn’t think of accepting,” he said; and +Nick breathed easy again. “When I go out, I +shall have a boat that is suited to my heft. +Every time I move here, something seems to +groan, and threaten to give way. I guess you +will have all you can manage with my friend, +Buster.”</p> +<p class="pnext">And after the hearty meal was finished they +made themselves as comfortable as possible, +while Jack read the official log of the other +cruise, for the particular benefit of Mr. Amos.</p> +<p class="pnext">The latter asked a thousand questions, and +in this way managed to get a comprehensive +history of all the stirring adventures that had +fallen to their lot between their home town +on the great river and the Crescent City.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was quite late when he left them, giving +to each a squeeze of the hand that would not +soon be forgotten.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If I can only find a boat suited to my size, +boys,” he said, as he left them; “I’m going +to get afloat this very season. But at any rate +another year will find me fully prepared for +the season, with the greatest motor boat you +ever struck. Goodbye, you fine and dandy +fellows! My heart will be with you all along. +Think of me sometimes, won’t you, Buster?”</p> +<p class="pnext">He chuckled as he fancied he heard a hollow +groan from Nick; as if the memory of Mr. +Spofford’s tremendous girth could ever long +leave the troubled mind of the fat boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">A quiet night followed. Jack advised that +they keep on the alert, lest some peril drop +in upon them; but fortunately his fears were +not realized, and morning coming found the +little fleet all serene.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look, there he is!” said Nick, as they +were gathered on the <em class="italics">Comfort</em> enjoying one of +Josh’s little spreads, that included some of +the lightest flapjacks ever put before hungry +campers.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Clarence, as sure as anything!” ejaculated +Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And wasn’t I right about that boat?” +asked Jack. “You can see he’s meaning to +go out to it right now. But one good thing, +we’ll be likely to have twenty-four hours’ +start of them. And on these broad waters +they may have some trouble looking us up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There’s Bully Joe, too,” remarked George. +“See him look over this way and scowl! Somehow +the sight of our gallant little fleet doesn’t +seem to please Mr. Brinker a whole lot. He’d +be better satisfied if he could only set eyes on +them awash, with their decks level with the +water.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Clarence did not seem to glance once toward +the three motor boats. A third party joined +them, and it was not hard for Jack and his +friends to guess that this must be the unlucky +Jared Fullerton, whom the stalwart Mr. Spofford +had dumped into the waters of the St. +Lawrence when he attempted to board the +<em class="italics">Comfort</em> one night not so very long since.</p> +<p class="pnext">Just as soon as they were well through with +breakfast, the motor boat boys got ready to +put out on the broad waters which were, from +now on, to serve them as a field of recreation.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack gave the signal, when he had learned +that both the others were ready. Immediately +there was a tremendous amount of energetic +popping, as the motors once more got into +service after their spell of idleness.</p> +<p class="pnext">Clarence and the others aboard the long +dark boat looked after the three departing +craft; and while none of our friends bothered +waving a hand in parting, Jack could see that +the owner of the <em class="italics">Flash</em> and his crony, Bully +Joe, were talking earnestly, as though laying +some sort of plan for the near future.</p> +<p class="pnext">He even saw Clarence pointing after them, +and then sweep his hand half way around, as +if declaring that no matter where the departing +boats might vanish, he would have little +trouble in locating them if he wanted to do so.</p> +<p class="pnext">And to himself Jack was saying that there +could be no doubt but that Clarence, with that +vindictive, cruel disposition of his, would put +himself to almost any trouble in order to get +the laugh on those he hated so bitterly.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sun shone brightly as they pulled out +of Clayton, and all of them believed it was a +good sign. The last they saw of the suspicious +dark boat with the contour of a river greyhound, +Clarence was still talking to his mates, +and doing a great deal of pointing.</p> +<p class="pnext">But before them was spread as lovely a +stretch of water, with its green and rocky +islands, as ever a motor boat cruiser could +wish to see. And none of the boys believed +on that glorious July morning that they could +wish for anything finer than fortune seemed +to be placing at their feet.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viijosh-scents-trouble"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id8">CHAPTER VII—JOSH SCENTS TROUBLE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“What luck, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was just a week later. The three motor +boats were anchored in a little cove near one +of the numerous rocky islands that give this +part of the wide St. Lawrence river its great +reputation for summer outings.</p> +<p class="pnext">Herb was leaning over the side of his boat, +engaged in rubbing some dingy part of the +brass railing; and Jack at the time happened +to be approaching, seated in a little dinky or +tender, which each larger boat now trailed +behind every time they made a move from one +anchorage to another; and which proved so +useful in going ashore, fishing or visiting.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! pretty fair,” replied the one who +handled the short oars, as he turned in his +seat to reach for something that lay in the +bow of the skiff. “We can have a fish dinner +tonight, anyway.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he held up a monster muskalonge, that +must have weighed all of twenty pounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Great Jupiter, what a sock-dollager!” +cried George, who was taking it easy in his +boat; while Nick thrust up his head to shout:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Bully for you, Jack! Now we won’t +starve to death! The country is saved!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I like that,” said Herb. “To hear +him talk you’d think I’d cut him down to one +meal a day, when to tell the truth he——”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Stop right there, Mister Skipper!” cried +the fat boy, threateningly. “It’s rank treachery +to betray your boatmate to the common +enemy. But that is a dandy fish, Jack. Where +did you catch him?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I think in the upper jaw,” replied Jack, +solemnly, at which there was a shout.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I see you did,” replied Nick, bending over, +“for there’s a broken hook sticking out of his +mouth right now. Ugh! look at the cruel +teeth, would you? I’d hate to let him close +his jaws on my finger. But if the gimp snell +gave way, how under the sun did you ever get +him aboard, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll tell you,” came the calm reply. “It +happened that I had to play this old pirate for +nearly twenty minutes before I could tire him +out. You’d have laughed to see how he towed +my little punkin-seed of a boat around. But +finally he seemed all but exhausted, and I kept +reeling in until I had him right up close, +where I could bend over and touch him with +my hand.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wow! you couldn’t hire me to do that +now,” exclaimed Nick, shuddering as he gazed +at that array of sharp, vicious looking teeth.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I could see right then and there,” Jack +continued, quietly, “that the gimp had been +twisted until it was ready to break away. So +I knew I didn’t dare try to lift him aboard +by the line; and I had no gaff hook along. So +I just let my hand slide over his back until I +reached his opening and closing gills. Then I +suddenly inserted several of my fingers, and +gave a quick fling. He came aboard all right; +but the line parted. So you see, Nick, it was +a close shave for our supper, all right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh, having made sure the fierce-looking +fish was actually dead, by pounding it on the +head several times with a piece of wood, +started to get it ready for the pan. It was +really the first one of decent size that they had +thus far hooked; though several meals had +been made of small-mouth black bass, taken +either by casting, or trolling with a spoon.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It strikes me as rather queer,” remarked +Jack, as he lay there resting, “while Jimmie +was starting to get supper for the two aboard +the <em class="italics">Tramp</em>, that so far we’ve neither seen nor +heard a thing of Clarence and Joe.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And haven’t we had a great old week of it +though?” George remarked. “Outside of one +stormy day the weather has been just prime; +and even my engine has given no trouble. I’m +beginning to have hopes that it’s entirely +cured of those tantrums that used to bother +me so. Or perhaps the Jonah has shifted to +your boat, Herb.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That ain’t fair,” called out Nick, from +some unseen place, where he was wrestling +with the cookery department, and slyly taking +peeps in his notebook as to whether salt pork +was used in frying fish, or butter. “Tell the +gentleman, Herb, that I never brought you +the least bit of bad luck. Why, we’ve been getting +along here in a perfectly harmonious way, +haven’t we?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Y—yes, I guess so,” replied Herb, a little +dubiously, “but I’d be a heap happier if only +you could forget that business about who +leaked, and let out our secret to the enemy. +You ding-dong about that thing morning, noon +and night. And then you turn around to Mr. +Amos, and fret your head off because you’re +afraid some day you’re going to be as much of +a whopper as he is.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” grunted Nick, without even taking +the trouble to poke his head out, “you know +right well this is a world full of trouble, +fellows. If it wasn’t for my worrying the way +I do, just imagine how I’d be taking on flesh. +I say, Josh, do you put the salt pork on first, +and try it out, before dusting the fish in +cracker crumbs and dropping it in the frying +pan?”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was not long before the appetizing odors +that arose around the anchorage of the motor +boat fleet announced that supper was well +under way.</p> +<p class="pnext">One thing pleased Nick; being the cook +aboard the <em class="italics">Comfort</em> he was in a position to +prepare a sufficient quantity to suit his generous +ideas of what constituted a meal for a +healthy person’s appetite; and consequently +there was no complaint about short rations. +But when, as was inevitably the case, the <em class="italics">Comfort</em> +had to borrow from the other boats, the +powerful effect of the fat boy’s appetite became +very apparent.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, Jack, did you have any particular +reason in picking out this place for our next +stop?” asked George presently.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, yes, lots of them,” laughed the one +addressed. “In the first place it was an extra +big island, and situated near the Canadian +shore, you see. Then again, the place looked +kind of fishy, don’t you know; and I had an +idea we might pick up some large muskies. +From the fact that I did bring in a dandy, +first start, it seems as if my guess hit the +mark.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It sure did,” George went on. “But you +don’t know anything out of the way about this +heavily wooded island here, do you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“To be sure I don’t, since I couldn’t tell you +right now what name it is known under,” +answered Jack, who knew the other had some +object back of his questions, for George always +led up to things, and never took delight in +springing a surprise on his chums, as most of +the others would invariably do.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I just wondered if you could know any +reason for it, that’s all,” George said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Reason for what? Now you’ve got me +guessing; and that’s probably just what you +wanted to do,” observed Jack. “Speak up, +and tell me what you’ve noticed.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, we seem to be objects of considerable +curiosity to some people.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ashore, do you mean?” and Jack turned +his head, to glance at the frowning bank of the +big island, the grim rocks of which were +crowned with a dense growth of trees and +underbrush, so that it certainly looked rather +mysterious as the sun began to set.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, no, I don’t believe any of us have +seen a living thing there, except a coon, fishing +on the edge; and a kingfisher flying from +stump to stump along the rim of the water. +But three separate times a boat has come along +just out there, and the people in her would +just stare at us without saying a single word.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Three, you say—the same boat and the +same people?” Jack asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not at all,” George replied. “That would +not have seemed so queer, you know; for I +could believe that they happened to have an +interest in this cove, and disliked seeing us +stop here; or else that the Canadian authorities +thought Yankees had no right to be fishing +over on their side of the broad river. It +was the same boat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Three different boats, eh?” Jack mused. +“And they looked unhappy at seeing our fleet +quartered here?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I thought they looked mad,” Josh put in +right then, popping his head up like a jack-in-the-box; +for he still persisted in wearing that +white cap while engaged in his department of +the pots and pans.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Were there any women or children aboard +the boats?” Jack continued.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about that, fellows?” asked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“One boat had two men, another three, and +the last one five,” Herb remarked, in his +positive way.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And they all stood off some distance, just +looking at us. Perhaps there are thieves in +these waters, just as we found down on the +Mississippi,” Josh added.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Maybe we’d better change our anchorage +after supper, and hunt a new place. There’s +going to be a bully moon tonight, fellows,” +from Nick, still unseen.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I don’t think there’s any call for us +to run away—yet,” Jack laughed. “No doubt +the men were from the Canada side, and there +was some reason why they looked at our little +fleet so queerly.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” Josh said, as if he had been worried +more or less about the matter, “I only hope +one thing; that this blessed old island ain’t +haunted, that’s all!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack laughed at that, it put such a new +aspect on affairs. At the same time he could +not help thinking that superstitious Josh certainly +had some ground for allowing such an +idea to seize hold of his mind; for the island, +with its dense vegetation, and its rough shore +line, did look out of the common. No doubt, +when night dropped her blanket over the +broad river with its myriad of islands, both +large and small, this spooky place could easily +be believed to shelter uncanny things.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t give yourself any more uneasiness +on that score, Josh,” Jack urged. “If there +ever was a ghost anywhere near this place it +took wings long ago, when the thousands of +summer tourists began coming here for their +vacations. What with the big hotels, and the +hundreds of cottages perched on the islands, +small chance a poor spirit would have today.”</p> +<p class="pnext">While he said nothing more about the three +boats with their unfriendly crews, Jack did +not entirely forget them. Perhaps there might +have been some deep reason for the strange +actions of these men. Perhaps—but then, +without any foundation for a theory, what was +the use bothering himself forming any such?</p> +<p class="pnext">The night came on; but even while they were +eating supper a change had begun to take +place in the weather conditions. Nick’s prediction +of a beautiful moonlight night gave +promise of being far from the actual fact; for +clouds had drifted over the heavens, some of +them dark and threatening, though as yet +broken.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We may get a storm before morning,” +observed George, looking up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I wager Jack foresaw that same thing +when he picked out this cove for our anchorage,” +declared Herb. “You notice that it is +to the eastward of the island; and don’t you +see about all the storms up here come out of +the west. In that way we will be protected +against a heavy blow.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack might have kept still, and allowed his +chums to heap honors on his unworthy head; +but that was not his style.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hold on, you’re doing me too much credit, +boys,” he observed frankly. “I took to this +cove just because it looked good to me, and +never for a minute thinking how it would serve +us in case of a blow. But just as Herb says, +we are protected here, and that’s another reason +for not changing, as Nick hinted we should +do.”</p> +<p class="pnext">They ate supper before the dusk turned into +night, and the whippoorwills were calling +from back on the wooded island, to be answered +from the further Canada shore.</p> +<p class="pnext">The three boats were close enough together +to allow the boys a chance to exchange any +remarks they wished.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Better get ready in case we have a downpour +tonight,” remarked Jack, as he cast a +look upward to where the moon was just starting +to peep out from behind a threatening +bank of clouds.</p> +<p class="pnext">“For one I’m glad I got that hole in my tent +mended in time,” observed Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Me too,” spoke up Buster, “because, you +see, it was so nicely fixed right over my poor +head. Think of a stream turned on while you +slept! Ugh! when I take my cold baths I’ll +choose my time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve known when you didn’t all the same,” +ventured George, chuckling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s mean of you,” Buster replied, reproachfully, +“bringing up old happenings. +Yes, I did fall overboard into the river; but +who wouldn’t, in that cranky speedy boat of +yours, shivering and jumping to beat the band. +Why, hello! what ails Josh there?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, what are you staring so hard at, +Josh?” demanded George, turning his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Didn’t any of the rest of you see it?” asked +the other, eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“See what? Are you beginning on that +ghost racket already?” insinuated Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Ghost nothing,” exclaimed Josh; “and yet +truth to tell it did glide out of sight behind the +point yonder like a phantom boat. Then the +moon went under, and I lost it again!”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viiiin-the-midnight-watch"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id9">CHAPTER VIII—IN THE MIDNIGHT WATCH</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Everybody sat up and took notice when +Josh delivered himself after this strange fashion. +If it had been a mere glimpse of some +white object which he claimed to have seen +ashore they might have smiled, and let it go +at that. But a boat was a different proposition. +They were interested in boats; and +indeed, expecting sooner or later to be visited +by a certain dark craft, fashioned along a +piratical type.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Where did you see it, Josh?” asked +George, hastily jumping to his feet; and +almost taking a header into the water; for his +delicately balanced speed craft did not allow +such energetic movements with impunity.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, give a feller a chance, won’t you?” +grumbled the other, as he clutched the brass +railing just in time to save himself. “I’m not +in such a hurry to go after the phantom boat +as to want to <em class="italics">swim!</em> Besides,” he added, as +an afterthought, “I haven’t forgotten that +savage musky Jack brought in today. If they +hang out around this region you don’t catch +Josh Purdue doing any bathing, not much.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But tell us, where did you see this queer +boat that moves along as silent as a specter?” +asked Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Didn’t you get on to what I said?” continued +the other, impatiently. “Around that +point yonder it seemed to glide. I lost it in +the shadows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Listen to him hedge, fellows!” cried Nick. +“Now he says it ‘seemed to glide.’ That is as +much as saying he ain’t sure whether he was +awake or dreaming.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I tell you the boat was there,” Josh persisted; +“and if the mean old moon hadn’t just +bobbed behind that cloud up yonder, all of +you might have had a chance to glimpse her.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But you had one look at her, didn’t you?” +asked Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure I did. And because I didn’t hear +any noise of a motor I just had to stare,” came +the ready reply.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Was it a white pleasure boat?” continued +Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not much. I could have seen that sort +right along, moon or no moon. I know what +you’re thinking, Jack.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right. Was it a dark-colored launch, +then?” the other demanded.</p> +<p class="pnext">“This time it’s yes—a long, low, narrow +craft, that seemed to just spin along like a +shadow itself. But I know it was a boat, +because I could see the water curling over, +where the bow cut through,” Josh went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You hear that, fellows?” Jack remarked. +“And of course, you understand what it means +to us?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That boat was the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, and Clarence has +found us out at last?” said George; not without +a trace of eagerness in his voice; for so +well had his speed launch been behaving of +late that he was anxious to test her against the +newer craft of Clarence Macklin.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just like him to come sneaking around at +night to see how he can do us some rotten +injury,” grunted Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Lit him thry it, that’s all,” remarked +Jimmie, popping his head up. “I’m thinkin’ +the gossoon will be sorry for it, wan way or +t’other.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But that means we shall have to keep +watch, doesn’t it, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course it was Herb who said this, for +he might be set down as the most timid of the +six boys; though there had been times in the +past when even Herb had risen to the occasion, +to prove that he could show valor.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No doubt about that,” returned the other, +seriously. “You know the benefit we found +in being prepared when on that trip to Dixie +land. It pays to be ready for trouble. Meeting +it half way often ends in victory. Oh! +yes, the squad will have to turn out, and take +turns tonight.”</p> +<p class="pnext">All this had been carefully arranged beforehand. +Jack knew his crowd, and also what +little failings they might be apt to develop. +For instance, he understood that it was hardly +the part of wisdom to allow Nick to stand his +spell of sentry duty alone. However willing +the fat boy might declare himself he was apt +to be overcome by drowsiness and fall asleep +at his post.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Think we’d better move out a bit from +the shore?” asked Josh, after they had talked +matters over for a further spell, and looked +in vain for the mysterious dark motor boat to +appear again around the point of the wooded +island.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What for?” asked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure, the howlding’s foine roight here,” +asserted Jimmie, who had personally seen to +it that the <em class="italics">Tramp’s</em> anchor was well placed; +though it could be readily tripped in case of a +sudden need for a move during a storm.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But to tell the honest truth, fellows, I +don’t just like the looks of this old island +here,” admitted the cook of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, +boldly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t see anything the matter with it?” +remarked George. “In fact, simply because +it seems deserted is no reason we ought to +cut loose, and change moorings. If it belonged +to some millionaire, and had a cottage perched +on the rocks, the chances are ten to one we’d +have been asked to move long before now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I agree with George,” Jack remarked. +“And that was the main reason why I determined +to come here, where it looked so attractive. +When fellows are off on a little trip like +this, the very places they should avoid are +those where too much civilization is found. +Give me the wild spots every time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, I withdraw my motion then,” +grumbled Josh. “But don’t blame me if anything +happens, that’s all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Would ye be afther listenin’ till him?” +exclaimed Jimmie, hilariously. “Sure he do +be thinkin’ still about that banshee. And +Jack, since ye are to sthand watch wid Josh, +be warrned in toime, to look out for throuble. +If wishin’ would bring ghosts it’s me honest +belafe Josh would raise a whole raft of thim.”</p> +<p class="pnext">But in talking of many other things the +boys soon seemed to forget about these fears +on the part of the one who confessed to a +belief in hobgoblins.</p> +<p class="pnext">When several of the inmates of the gathered +boats started to yawn at a tremendous rate, +word was given that they turn in.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s eleven o’clock, boys, just think of it?” +said Herb, as he lighted a lantern in order to +make up his bed more comfortably; for Herb +believed in getting all the benefit possible out +of things, even when on a cruise.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And we can count on broad daylight by +four o’clock, though we needn’t get up till +five,” Jack observed. “So I’ve divided the +six hours into three watches. Josh and myself +will stay on duty until one. Then Herb and +Jimmie will take our places, and at three they +are to wake up George and Buster. Understand +that, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” came the response, in some cases +very sleepily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about you, Josh; think you can stay +awake two hours now?” Jack asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I drank more coffee for supper than +usual,” the other answered, “and the way I +feel now, I don’t seem to care one bit whether +I get a wink of sleep tonight or not.”</p> +<p class="pnext">As things were reduced to a pretty good system +by this time, with regard to the making +up of beds, it did not require much time to get +these in readiness. Herb was the only fussy +one; and they were threatening to call him an +old maid, and get a cap and gown for him, if +he kept on that way. But Herb paid no attention +to all this talk. When he had his mind +made up it required an earthquake to change +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally his lantern went out, although Josh +kept it within reach of his hand, in case he +needed light in a hurry while doing his trick +as sentinel.</p> +<p class="pnext">He and Jack could converse in low tones +without disturbing the sleepers, should they +care to do so. Jack meant to exchange a few +words occasionally, if only to convince himself +that the other had not been overtaken by +drowsiness.</p> +<p class="pnext">No longer did the moon peep out from the +dark curtains above. The cloud banks had +effectually covered the face of the heavens as +with a pall. Still it did not rain, and thus far +there were no other indications of a brooding +storm.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was impossible to see for any distance +around. Even out upon the water objects were +indistinct at fifty feet; and as for the nearby +island it rested there like a black hillock, above +which the tips of the inky pines could be seen +outlined against the less opaque sky.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now and then the night breeze moaned dismally +through these treetops, making a queer +sound. Jack noticed that every time this happened there +would be a slight movement in the +<em class="italics">Comfort</em>; and he understood that Josh must be +turning his head to stare toward the island. +Josh, then, had not entirely given up the idea +of seeing a ghost; and this uncanny sound +made him remember his prediction.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was impossible to note the passage of time +by the stars, for they were quite out of sight, +and no clock striking could give warning; for +there was not a church within many miles of +their anchorage.</p> +<p class="pnext">So when Jack began to wonder how much +longer he and Josh ought to hold the fort, he +had to strike a match and consult the little +nickel watch he carried.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Gosh! how you scared me!” exclaimed the +other sentry, as the match crackled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Half past twelve,” Jack remarked, in a +low tone. “That means another half hour for +us, Josh. How are you feeling about now?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” admitted the other, “I guess I was +near dozing that time. Thought somebody +shot at me when you scratched that match. +How loud everything sounds at this time of +night. Wish that old bird would let up on that +screeching, over on the Canada shore. He +makes me tired, for a fact.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Depends on the way you look at things,” +chuckled Jack. “Now, for my part I rather +like to hear a whippoorwill call. Never yet +kept me awake either, like some things would +do. Have a bite of this gingerbread, Josh. +Keeping watch is hungry work, after all, I +find. Besides, while your jaws are working, +you won’t get sleepy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh was nothing averse to a “snack,” and +so they sat there, eating, and occasionally exchanging +some remark, while the balance of +the crowd slept on.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boats were anchored far enough apart +to avoid striking should a wind arise. But on +account of his desire to keep in touch with +Josh, Jack had seen to it that the stern of each +craft was drawn toward the other. In this +fashion then they could have shaken hands by +leaning over the intervening foot or so of +water.</p> +<p class="pnext">It so happened that while Jack was devoting +most of his attention to the watery expanse +that stretched away toward the east, Josh on +the other hand found the neighboring island +more interesting.</p> +<p class="pnext">Each acted on his own idea as to the nature +of the danger that might come upon them. +With Josh it was the peril that stalks during +the middle of the night, and frightens men +through its connection with spectral forms. +Jack, on the other hand, suspected that Clarence +and his crony, Bully Joe, might be planning +some sort of a mean raid, that would spoil +the pleasure of the motor boat club.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jack!” whispered the occupant of the +<em class="italics">Comfort</em> in a hoarse voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, what do you want?” replied the +other lad, serenely.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am sure I heard a suspicious noise ashore +just then!” Josh continued.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! rats! You’re always hearing things, +Josh. Like as not it was only a poor old ’coon, +hunting around on the beach for a fish that +has been cast up. Get it off your mind. It’s +only a little time longer, and then you to +dreamland.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There it goes again, Jack! Didn’t you +catch it that time? I tell you it means something. +Hark! now will you believe me?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh was growing more and more excited. +He even raised his voice above the low tone in +which up to now they had conversed. But +small danger of any of those sound sleepers +being so easily awakened. It would require a +shaking to accomplish that.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack certainly did hear the sounds now. +These consisted of a strange clacking, the +nature of which it was impossible to guess. +Then would come a plain, unmistakable groan! +No wonder poor Josh shivered, and turned +cold with apprehension, considering what his +recent belief had been.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, my! there’s sure something moving +up there, Jack! Don’t you see it—over by +that place where we saw the silver birch? +Watch it, Jack! There, look! look!” and as +he spoke Josh raised his voice still more until +it almost became a shout.</p> +<p class="pnext">Movements told that he had finally succeeded +in arousing the sleep squad. Nick was +heard to yawn, and grumble, as usual; while +Herb poked his head out from the side curtains +to ask what all the row meant.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Didn’t I tell you it would come?” shouted +Josh suddenly. “Just look there on that +blamed island, and see what we get for sticking +here! Now laugh at me for believing in +ghosts, will you? Herb, can’t we cut the +anchor rope, and make a quick getaway? +Please say yes, because I’m that scared I’m +shaking all over!”</p> +<p class="pnext">And every eye was by this time glued upon +the strange spectacle ashore that had given +poor Josh his fright.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ixthe-ghost-of-the-island"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id10">CHAPTER IX—THE GHOST OF THE ISLAND</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Wow! it’s sure a banshee!” whooped +Jimmie.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A-am I dreaming, fellows?” exclaimed +Herb, rubbing his eyes desperately.</p> +<p class="pnext">“O-oh! look at it shake its fist at us, would +you! It’s ten feet high, if it’s one!” came +from the quivering lips of Buster.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack as yet had not said a word, though +he was staring just as hard at the remarkable +sight ashore as any of them. It was something +different from anything that had ever +before crossed his path. Perhaps Jack might +have felt a little chilly sensation as he looked; +but he was not at all frightened.</p> +<p class="pnext">Up on the rise of the mysterious island there +had appeared a dim figure that seemed, just as +Nick vowed, to be all of ten feet in height. At +first it was like a curling column of smoke, +when a certain kind of wood has been thrown +on the fire. Then it seemed to take form, and +change to a flickering yellow glow.</p> +<p class="pnext">The groaning sounds continued all the +while, as though this disturbed spirit from +the other world might be in great pain. And +certainly the figure was waving one of its +arms as though waving them off.</p> +<p class="pnext">All of this Jack saw, yet no panic gripped +him as it seemed to do the rest, who were +crouching there, staring, and gasping for +breath.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jimmie, hand me my shotgun, and let’s +see if it can stand Number Threes!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack called this out in a loud, clear voice. +Not that he wanted the gun to any great extent; +but he had an object in saying it.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jimmie really believed he meant what +he said. While he groped for the gun he was +saying aloud:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure, now, ’tis mesilf as doan’t belave ye +kin knock the daylight out of that banshee +wid little shots, Jack, darlint. But if so be ye +mane to thry, take the gun, while I shut me +eyes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“’Tain’t any use,” broke in George; “the +thing’s disappeared!”</p> +<p class="pnext">And so it had, vanishing as mysteriously as +it had come, and leaving only a black void in +front of them. Even that steady groaning had +stopped, proving conclusively that it had had +to do with the appearance of the spectre.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack laughed, to the utter astonishment of +the rest.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t see anything funny about this business,” +complained Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, p’raps you fellers will quit quizzing +me after that experience!” said Josh, with +just a little ring of triumph in his unsteady +voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And will you please stop shaking that +way?” remarked George. “For you make the +boat rock the worst kind. It was bad enough +seeing that blessed thing, without taking a +header overboard right now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jack, what makes you laugh?” asked quiet +Herb, who knew that the other would not +have acted in the way he did unless with good +and sufficient cause.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you really want to know?” asked Jack, +quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Somehow the fact that one of their number +did not seem to be affected by the panic that +had swept over the rest began to make George +and Jimmie ashamed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure we do, Jack,” remarked the latter, +eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I was laughing because it was so funny to +see how our fine ghost bobbed out of sight the +very instant I called to Jimmie to hand me my +Marlin,” said Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I see now!” cried George; “you mean +that ghosts needn’t be afraid of a handful of +bird shot. Is that it, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s what I meant. I’ve read lots of +ghost stories, just like Josh here; though I +never believed them for one minute. But in +every case the fellow who tells the yarn declares +that bullets have no effect at all on real +goblins. Am I right, Josh?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s true, every word of it, Jack!” the +other answered, promptly. “Why, I’ve heard +where a soldier whacked the head off a ghost, +who coolly picked it up and stuck it on again +as neat as you please. Oh! no, they needn’t +be afraid of little bird shot, not a bit of it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, this ghost was timid, you see,” Jack +proceeded. “He fell over just as soon as I +called out about my gun.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look here, you mean something by that, +sure you do!” remarked Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Fellers, he’s hinting that it was a job set +up on us—that’s what Jack means,” declared +Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Out with it, Jack. Don’t you see that +we’re all in a blue funk over this queer deal? +If you know anything, share it with your +pards,” said Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s it,” observed Josh, who had by now +somewhat recovered from his fright; “put us +wise old commodore. What d’ye think it was, +now?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll tell you, boys,” Jack said, impressively. +“In my opinion, honest Injun, now, somebody +was trying to frighten us away from +here.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, it did wave its long, bony arm, all +right!” exclaimed Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We all saw that,” Herb put in; “but what +do you suppose anybody would want to make +us move our anchorage so much as to go to all +that fuss and feathers to scare us?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” answered Jack, “that’s a thing I +can just tell—yet! You all admit it did keep +waving its arms. And you heard those lovely +groans stop just at the same time the thing +disappeared. I thought I heard a sound like +something falling to the ground. Did anybody +else get that?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I heard some noise,” admitted George. +“But, Jack, you certain must have some little +suspicion about who engineered this silly +game, if it was a set-up job?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, Josh saw a boat,” calmly remarked +the one addressed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Listen to that, would you?” exclaimed +Nick. “He means that it was Clarence who +got up that cute game right now—Clarence, +our old friend of the baseball diamond. And +perhaps the ghost that groaned was only +Bully Joe. Fellers, it sound good to me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it would be just like Tricky Clarence, +as sure as you live!” admitted Herb, who +had possibly been the least alarmed of the +five.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why should he want us to vacate?” +demanded Josh, who disliked very much to +give up his pet illusion, and believe that the +ghost was only the result of a clumsy trick on +the part of some person or persons unknown.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps he wants this fine little cove himself,” +suggested George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That hardly fills the bill,” Jack went on. +“He might think to get even for some of the +times we’ve won out in the past. I tell you +right now I’m bothered to understand it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do we clear out in the morning, then?” +asked Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I hope you won’t say yes to that, fellows. +In the first place, it goes against my grain +to be chased away by Clarence Macklin or +anybody else, who has no right to order us +around. And then again, there are some things +I’d like to look into connected with this queer +affair.”</p> +<p class="pnext">When Jack talked like that he knew the +others would fall in with his wishes; for they +had long ago come to look upon him as a +leader.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! we’ll stick it out if you say so, Jack,” +declared George. “But you ought to tell us +anything else you’ve got on your mind.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There was one thing that puzzled me,” +Jack continued. “It happened while Josh was +dozing, or else looking somewhere else, for he +didn’t seem to notice it. And I didn’t say anything, +because there was no use waking the +rest of you up then.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But what was it, Jack?” questioned Kick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, we settled it in our minds that the +old island was uninhabited, didn’t we boys?” +asked the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s so,” several hastened to declare.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, about half an hour ago, as I chanced +to turn my head and look that way, I caught +sight of a dim light moving along near the +ground. It would disappear, and then come +in view again, all the while moving.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, I’ve seen just such a funny light, +when a man with a lantern was walking +through the woods,” burst out Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just what I settled it in my mind that +was,” chuckled Jack. “But it wasn’t so +strange that some one should be ashore, and I +didn’t let it bother me any. After what has +happened, though, you can see it must have +meant something.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s a fact,” admitted George. “And, +fellows, I’m coming around to Jack’s way of +thinking. I just bet Tricky Clarence was behind +that show.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, let’s try to forget it for tonight,” +Jack observed; “and as it’s now just one +o’clock, George and Nick will have to take their +turn on guard.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure,” replied Buster, cheerfully. “Sleep +and me have parted company for the rest of +this night, after what I saw. So it’s me for a +four hour stretch; Herb, you can snooze right +along till sun-up, if you want.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! can I? Thanks,” laughed the one addressed, +with a touch of skepticism in his +voice; for he knew only too well what a difference +there was between Buster’s promises +and the keeping of them; he always meant +well, but found the flesh weak.</p> +<p class="pnext">And it proved just as wise Herb supposed +would be the case; when the time came for +George to go off duty he found Nick fast +asleep; so that Herb had to be aroused by repeated +calls and punching of the side of the +<em class="italics">Comfort</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then daylight came; but according to Jack’s +arrangements no one was aroused until the +hour of five, when the sun was well up. July +days are long indeed in this northern clime, +and the twilight lingers until nearly nine in +the evening.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who’s going to try the fishing today?” +asked Jack, as they were partaking of their +bacon and egg breakfast, a supply of the hen +fruit having been obtained on the previous +day from a Canadian farmer, near whose +place the little fleet of motor boats had stopped.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, Herb and myself talked of going, +if so be you’d post us about the best trolling +ground,” George remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell you all I know about it,” replied +Jack, readily enough. “But if you are lucky +enough to strike a big musky like the one I +got, you’ll have your hands full. Better take +the gaff hook along. I wished many times yesterday +I had it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Will we, George?” asked Herb, in a vein +of sarcasm.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Catch me putting my hand on a pirate like +that while he’s got an ounce of fight left in +him,” the other declared. “Why, one snap +of those jaws and he’d take your whole paw +off, sure. Yes, give us the gaff hook, or we +don’t go.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then you don’t intend to keep us company?” +asked Herb of Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I think I’ll just hang around here this +morning, boys.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! all right. I can see with half an eye +that you’ve got something up your sleeve, +Jack; but post us when the show comes off, +won’t you?” George remarked, laughingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">An hour later, long after the two ambitious +fishermen had departed in their little rowboats +for a siege of trolling along the lonely +shores of the island, Jack quietly stepped into +his own dinky, and paddled ashore.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now what can he be up to?” Nick asked +Josh, as they looked after the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Give me something easy, will you?” replied +that worthy. “But all the same, I noticed +that Jack was careful to take his gun +along.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But he can’t shoot any game now; the law +is on nearly everything, you know. And up +here the wardens are always on the lookout for +poachers,” Nick continued.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, shucks!” Josh complained, “you don’t +see through a millstone, even when it’s got a +big hole in it. Can’t you understand that Jack +is bent on looking up that ghost business? +Wonder if it was Tricky Clarence at the back +of it. Gee! but when I first set eyes on the +same I really thought it was a dead sure spirit +of some old Injun chief come back from the +Happy Hunting Grounds to warn us away.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Huh! I noticed that you hung on to that +same idea to the bitter end,” Nick continued +pugnaciously. “Right now, I bet you believe +deep down in your silly heart, it was a regular +hobgoblin. Oh! I know you all right, Josh +Purdue; and you’ve got a scary heart all right. +But I saw, just as soon as Jack spoke up, how +we’d been fooled by Clarence. Wait till he +comes back, and he’ll prove it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’d like to know how?” demanded Josh. +“Expect him to interview that <em class="italics">thing</em>, and get +a written confession? I’m just wondering +what we’ll run up against if we’re bound to +stay here in this cove another night.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Piffle!” scoffed Nick. “What about guns, +hey, tell me that? Ghosts don’t appear to like +guns much, do they? Jack says not, and Jack, +he ought to know. Stay here? Of course we +will; a week, two of ’em, if we feel like it!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! yes, how brave some people are in the +middle of the day, when the sun’s shining,” +jeered Josh. “But wait; that’s all! I expect +to see you get the scare of your life tonight, +don’t you know. If that <em class="italics">thing</em> gets real mad, +and digs in for us you needn’t bother worrying +about taking on any more fat, because +you’ll shake that hard you’ll lose pounds and +pounds! But let’s wait till Jack comes back, +and find out what he’s discovered. I’ve got +a good notion to follow him ashore, if I can +pull up the anchor and beach the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>. +Watch how I manage it.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xfollowing-a-trail"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id11">CHAPTER X—FOLLOWING A TRAIL</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Josh found his little plan was not hard of +accomplishment. All he had to do was to push +the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> around, after letting out all the +cable connected with the anchor, when he was +able to jump ashore.</p> +<p class="pnext">He took with him another rope that was fastened +to the stern of the motor boat, and this +he fastened to the nearest tree. Now, when he +wanted to go aboard, all he had to do was to +unfasten this latter hawser, climb over the side, +and draw the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> back to her original +anchorage.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good boy!” cried Nick, who had been a +close observer of this clever little game. “You +go up head. When it comes to dodges like +that, you take the cake.”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was not often that Josh heard a compliment +from this source, and he had to stop and +wave his hand toward the cook of the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, +before following after Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had not gone twenty feet before he discovered +the object of his concern, who appeared +to be bending over something that +seemed to greatly interest him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello! there, what’ve you found, Jack? +Signs of a diamond mine, or traces of the ice +age they tell us about?” Josh demanded, as +he reached the side of the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello yourself, Josh,” replied Jack, looking +up with a smile, as though pleased because +he was to have some one to talk to, and possibly +confer with. “Well, no, I can’t just say that +either of your guesses comes anywhere near +the truth. I’m only examining a trail.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s that? Then this old island hasn’t +always been as deserted as it looks right now, +if people sometimes drop ashore here?” remarked +Josh, his interest at once aroused.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look here and tell me what you see,” the +other lad continued, as he pointed to the +ground near his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, as sure as you live, it is, for a fact,” +exclaimed Josh. “Looks like they’d done a +heap of passing up and down this way, too. +D’ye know, Jack, I wondered what those marks +on the little beach meant, and now I understand. +Boats, that’s what; boats that have +been drawn up there when the water was +higher than it is now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, I saw them,” said Jack, quietly. “In +fact, I looked to find such marks on the sand. +And this broad trail began there, too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I’m beginning to tumble to a few +things. I guess that in the season, this same +tight little island may be a place for duck +shooters to hold out. Perhaps we might even +find an old deserted shanty somewhere back +yonder in which they camp out during the +blustery fall months.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hold on, Josh,” remarked Jack. “Is that +all you know about signs?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, whatever do you mean?” asked the +other, puzzled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Take another squint at these marks, and +then tell me what you think, Josh.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, I tumble to what you mean!” exclaimed +Josh, after he had bent down once +more. “You expect me to say that if these +marks had been made months ago, with a winter’s +ice and snow, and a summer’s heavy rains, +they’d have been washed out long ago. And +so they would, Jack, so they would. You’re +right about it. They’ve been made lately! +They look fresh, for a fact!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now you’re tumbling to facts, Josh. Remember, +we had a big downpour just three +days ago, don’t you?” Jack went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure I do. And you’re on to that, too. But +I grab your meaning now, all right. There are +marks here that must have been made since +that rain.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, what do you say about it now?” continued +the boy who could read signs.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Instead of duck shooters they’re fishermen,” +observed Josh, calmly. “Yes, and you +remember how those three boats came along, +and the men in each stared so hard at us? +Jack, I see it all now. We just happened in a +favorite place of theirs, and they didn’t like +it for a cent. Why, they even tried to scare us +off with that silly ghost business that gave +poor old Pudding such a fright.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack only smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” he said, “suppose we follow this +trail for a bit. I have an idea it will lead us +to the very place where I thought I saw a moving +light, like a swinging lantern, last night.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh was eager to keep step with him; but +there was no trouble experienced in picking up +the trail, so plainly marked were the tracks.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There it is, Jack!” exclaimed Josh, suddenly; +for he had been looking ahead all the +time his companion kept his eyes fixed on the +ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It is a shanty of some sort, isn’t it?” remarked +Jack, without much emotion; for he +had been absolutely positive as to what they +would discover, so that the announcement did +not excite him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, yes, a tumbledown sort of a shack,” +observed Josh, with a trace of disappointment +about his manner. “I’d pity the fellows who +spent a rainy day in such a rookery. Why, +the roof is falling in at one end; and the door +hangs on one rusty hinge.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack saw all these things as quickly as did +his companion, even though he failed to cry out +and express himself as vehemently as Josh +took pains to do.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Old dilapidated cabin as it is, note one +thing, will you,” he remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You mean that the tracks lead up to the +door, is that it, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, yes,” the other continued, “but just +notice that there’s a rusty padlock on the door. +Stop and think if that doesn’t look queer, considering +that if anybody wanted to get in, all +they’d have to do would be to knock that one +hinge, and the whole door would drop flat?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, that makes me laugh, for a fact,” +Josh chuckled. “But it’s just what you’d expect +to run across up among these simple people +of the border. They make me think of the +ostrich. Don’t you know we read the silly +thing just sticks its head in a little bush, and +thinks because it can’t see anything that it’s +got a bully hiding place.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, that sort of covers the bill,” said Jack. +“I guess this padlock is only meant to tell +people who have no business here that they +are not wanted inside this shack. It stands +as a warning. To enter after that would be a +breach of the rights to property, as Lawyer +George would say.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Looky here, would you!” cried Josh, presently, +while his companion was prowling +around, and peeping through a hole in the wall, +as though curious to know what the interior +of the cabin looked like.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What have you found now?” asked Jack, +who was himself wondering why that new single +trail had been made, coming out of the +dense bushes at the back of the hut, and showing +signs of recent passage, which somehow +he could not help connecting with the flash of +that lantern on the preceding night.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The bally old lock don’t hold even a little +bit,” announced Josh, as though that circumstance +added to his hilarity. “See, I can lift +it off with one finger. It’s a fake, that’s what +it is, Jack. But while it might fool ordinary +people, it can’t a live Yankee. Now what +d’ye say to going in?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack laughed as though amused at the reasoning +of his chum, and remarked:</p> +<p class="pnext">“I see you think we wouldn’t be breaking +the law of possession if we walked in when the +lock was out of gear. That sounds nice, Josh, +but many a chicken thief has found that such +a plea didn’t save him. But all the same, I’m +going to step in and look around a bit.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Seems to me it smells fishy around here?” +observed Josh, sniffing eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! that’s easy enough to explain,” and +Jack pointed to several heads of black bass that +lay near by. “Somebody has had a fish dinner, +for there is the ash bed of a fire. It may +have been passing sportsmen from one of the +big hotels; then again, perhaps the people who +made the trail also cooked a meal or two here!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Once inside the cabin he looked around. +There was virtually nothing to see. The place +had not a sign of furniture of any description. +Some straw lay on the hard earthen floor, as +though it might be made useful in case one +wished to pass the night there.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh almost doubled up with laughter.</p> +<p class="pnext">“This is sure the greatest joke ever,” he remarked. +“To think of trying to keep trespassers +out of this old trap, just like it held all +a squatter’s possessions. Jack, what d’ye +think the silly donkey meant by that padlock? +Did he keep his stuff here once, and locked +the door? I’m all in a fog.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack said nothing, only “browsed” around, +as he expressed it, kicking the straw aside in +places, only to replace it as he had found it, as +though not wishing to leave any signs that +trespassers had invaded the cabin of the mysterious +island.</p> +<p class="pnext">But all the while he was thinking deeply.</p> +<p class="pnext">And once, after the laughing and scoffing +Josh had stepped outside to look about him +again, Jack stooped down and picked some +object up off the earthen floor, which he seemed +to examine with considerable curiosity before +stowing away in one of his many pockets.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Seen all you want to of the strange palace +of the Thousand Islands?” asked the merry +Josh, when his companion again appeared.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! yes, and I’ll put the lock back just as +we found it,” replied the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he started to follow the plain trail that +led through the dense thicket to the rear of the +cabin. It took him nearly twenty minutes to +zigzag through the intricate growth, for all +manner of obstacles caused him to turn aside, +even as they had the one who had come and +gone this way on the preceding night.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he finally reached the shore it was far +around the point that jutted out above the +cove where the motor boats were anchored. +And after Jack had stooped down to examine +the sandy beach, he arose with a peculiar smile, +and a knowing shake of the head; but the only +words he used as he walked along the sandy +stretch near the water’s edge were:</p> +<p class="pnext">“I thought I’d find where the keel of a boat +landed on this beach!”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xibuster-gets-an-idea"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id12">CHAPTER XI—BUSTER GETS AN IDEA</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Find anything new worth while, Jack?” +asked the cook of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, as he got up +from the warm sand where he had been taking +a sun bath, while waiting for his companion +to put in an appearance.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I don’t know,” replied the other, in +what seemed to be a careless manner, calculated +to put Josh off the track, and smother his +curiosity. “One or two little things that I’m +going to puzzle my wits over. But look here, +the fishermen are in sight!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Good gracious! how you scared me, Jack!” +exclaimed Josh, whirling around to look. +“Honest Injun, now, I thought you meant +those rough men in the three boats, and knowing +how guilty we were about breaking into +their shack, I started to shiver, never having +been arrested, you know. But it’s only George +and Herb.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“They’ve been successful, I expect,” observed +Jack, wisely, “because both seem to be +trying to look disappointed; but can’t help +glancing down in the bottom of the little +dinkies. I reckon each has got a musky, all +right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure we have,” remarked George, as the +two small boats pulled in close; “and dandies +at that. Talk to me about pull; that pirate +was a hummer.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But, George, you know he didn’t come up +to mine,” remarked Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I rather guess not, Herb,” grinned +the other. “I suppose you notice, fellows, that +my comrade has been in swimming. Funny +part of it is, he never even bothered taking +his clothes off when the notion struck him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, it came right sudden, for a fact,” +laughed Herb. “That big muskalunge was +tearing around like the dickens, when swoop! +he took a turn under my boat, and in my haste +to swing around, I upset.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wow!” cried Nick, “Oh, why wasn’t I +there to see the fun? I’m always missing all +the good things, seems to me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But you hung on to your rod, apparently,” +remarked Jack; “seeing that you got your +game in the end.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s just what he did,” declared George +with sincere admiration. “You know our +friend Herb has a touch of stubbornness in his +make-up. No measly old musky that ever +swam in the St. Lawrence was going to get the +better of him in an argument. He hung to +that rod even while he went under. It was the +greatest thing I ever saw, for a fact; but he +managed it fine, let me tell you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us how?” begged Nick, breathlessly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” answered George. “You see, +the little dinky had turned turtle when it +dropped Herb out; so there it was, floating +beside him, bottom-side up. Would you believe +it, that fellow just climbed up over the +stern, and straddled the boat as he kept on +playing that fish as cool as you please.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Great! Hurrah for our Herb! He’s the +champion fisherman; only, because we haven’t +got a photograph of that game fight to show, +be careful how you tell the boys when we get +home,” remarked Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“While he played the fish I picked up his +paddle,” George went on. “And when he got +the musky in where I could gaff him, we +pushed ashore, so he could turn his boat over +again. Then, as each of us had a prize, we +thought we might as well quit for the day. +What you doing ashore, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jack wanted to nose around, that’s all,” +Josh hastened to say. “Found an old shack +up in the woods here. Guess that spook lives +there when he doesn’t want to be seen. Funniest +thing, though, he keeps an old rusty useless +padlock on the broken door. But there +wasn’t anything worth while to be seen. Jack +followed some tracks he found; that seemed to +amuse him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh went aboard, pushed the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> out, +and presently the skipper joined him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Any other news?” asked Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, yes,” said Herb, stopping in the act of +changing his soaked clothes for dry ones. “I +forgot to say we saw that boat again.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s that? Do you mean the mysterious, +dark, piratical craft that, believe me, +ought to be flying the skull and crossbones at +her stern?” demanded Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The same,” Herb replied promptly. “She +flashed by us while we were trolling, though at +some little distance. And, fellows, as sure as +you live, Clarence was at the wheel, though +neither of us could see a thing of Bully Joe. +I thought Clarence looked scared, for he was +awful white; but George declared he was only +in one of his mad fits. We know what they +stand for, don’t we?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Did you call out to him?” asked Jack, +quickly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I did,” replied George, “and dared him to +accept a challenge to race the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>. I +thought he was going to answer me; but he +only turned his head and stared. But it was +Clarence, all right. I give you my word on +that.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, what d’ye know about that?” observed +Nick; “dodging around like that, and +declining to even speak! Generally Clarence +is always ready enough to get into a hot argument. +And you’d just think he’d be wild to +take you up on that challenge business, George. +It beats me all hollow, now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And even that ain’t all,” added George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What! more adventures?” cried the chagrined +Nick. “I tell you it ain’t fair for everybody +to get in the lime light, and leave poor +me in the lurch. What have I done to deserve +this? Say, I hope you fellows ain’t holding +that silly thing up against me yet, about betraying +our secrets to the enemy, and all that +rot, you know? That would be mean.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! shucks, cut it out, Buster,” said Josh; +“and let George tell us what else happened. +This mystery is getting on my nerves, I tell +you, boys. Go on, proceed, George, old chum. +Give us the harrowing details.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You won’t find much to alarm you in this,” +laughed the other. “Only, while we were fishing +a boat came along, and it had two men in +it. They rowed up close, and we could see they +had a fishing rod in action. The one who held +it kept watching us as sharp as the mischief. +He spoke to us pleasant like, and asked a few +questions about our luck, how we happened +to be so far over toward the Canada side, if +we expected to move away soon to new grounds, +and such things.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Did you recognize the boat, or the men, +George?” asked Jack, quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Herb and myself talked that over afterwards; +until his tumble overboard knocked it +all out of our heads. And we thought that +perhaps those men were one of those couples +we saw yesterday, passing here and staring in +at us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, perhaps they may have been Canadian +custom officers, who patrol the river to keep +American fishermen off their side,” suggested +Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That might be,” George said. “We thought +of that; but they didn’t give us any warning. +And besides, from the chart we’ve got we’ve +learned that this island is American territory +all right, you know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, what’s the use of bothering our +heads over it,” declared Herb, from inside the +outing shirt he was pulling over his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s right!” cried Josh. “Fling away +dull care while the sun shines, and we’ve got +enough grub left to keep Nick here from starving +to death.”</p> +<p class="pnext">When the fat boy was not looking, Josh +reached down, and took hold of some object +he had smuggled aboard without the others noticing +the fact. It was a length of old tin +waterpipe that he had found up alongside the +deserted shanty, and which had evidently been +useful at some time in the past, to convey the +water from the roof to a spot where it would +not back into the cabin.</p> +<p class="pnext">This old pipe was possibly six feet in length; +and to the mind of a practical joker like Josh +it presented some alluring possibilities.</p> +<p class="pnext">Swinging it upward when Nick was not +looking, he managed to bridge the watery gap +between the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> and the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, and +quickly called in a sepulchral tone through +the novel speaking-tube:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello! down there! Give me connection +with Buster Longfellow! I’m the ghost that +walks in the night. I want to have a heart-to-heart +confab with Buster!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What you trying to do, give me heart disease, +or an attack of delirium tremens?” exclaimed +Nick, who had started violently upon +hearing that muffled sound so close to his ear. +“Say, you don’t know how queer that does +go. Talk about your megaphones! That tube +carries sound to beat the Dutch. I wonder +now—gee!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hello! What ails Pudding? Look, fellows, +the poor fellow’s got an idea, and it +seems so strange that he don’t know what to +do with it!” jeered Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Huh! don’t I?” replied the fat boy, whose +face had turned pale, and then rosy red. “You +just wait and see. Perhaps you’ll say it was +an inspiration some fine day. And no use to +josh me about it, for I ain’t going to squeal +one little bit. But, oh, my! I wonder if that +could just be so! This is the second time it’s +give me a start. If Aleck only does what I +asked him!”</p> +<p class="pnext">He stuck to his word about saying no more; +and although Josh kept on teasing him for +quite some time, Nick kept his lips resolutely +closed on that subject.</p> +<p class="pnext">The balance of the day passed away without +anything happening that seemed out of the +way. They saw nothing more of the mysterious +dark boat; nor did any small craft come +prowling around to have the occupants glower +at them, as though begrudging them their +pleasant anchorage just on the edge of that +little cove.</p> +<p class="pnext">Supper was a great success. Josh fairly +outdid himself in cooking the fish, all of them +going ashore on the beach to where he had +made a camp fire. And afterwards they sat +around, telling stories, and singing many of +their favorite school songs, until the hour grew +late.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they went aboard, the night was +dark; for it seemed to cloud up at sundown +almost every evening now. All of them were +busily employed getting their blankets arranged +for sleeping, and the two who were to +keep first watch had even settled down comfortably +in their places; when to their ears +came the sudden rapid popping that would +indicate the presence of a motor boat in the +near vicinity.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! look, fellows!” exclaimed Nick, as +from around the point a dazzling glow suddenly +shone, bearing down rapidly straight +toward them.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiiyankee-stubbornness"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id13">CHAPTER XII—YANKEE STUBBORNNESS</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The most tremendous excitement reigned +aboard every one of the three anchored motor +boats, when it was seen that the bright white +light was headed straight for them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He’s going to smash us!” whooped Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hey, hold off there, Clarence! Don’t be a +fool!” shouted George.</p> +<p class="pnext">Herb and Nick could not find their voices +at all, to make the least sign; and there was +a cause for their feeling more alarmed than +any of the rest. It happened that in arranging +their anchorage the <em class="italics">Comfort</em> came further +out than either of the other boats. Hence, she +was more in direct line with the swiftly advancing +speed boat than either the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> or +the <em class="italics">Tramp</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">But if Nick could not use his tongue he certainly +could use his limbs; and the way he +threw himself over to the port side of the +roomy <em class="italics">Comfort</em> was worth seeing. There he +crouched, hugging the railing, and ready for +a plunge overboard should the expected collision +take place.</p> +<p class="pnext">But just when it seemed as though the sharp +prow, which they fully believed must belong +to the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, was about to cut through the +stern of the helpless <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, the hand at the +wheel must have diverted her course just a +trifle, for she shot past like an arrow, almost +grazing the varnished side of the broad-beamed +launch.</p> +<p class="pnext">While that dazzling glow from the acetylene +searchlight shone in their faces, none of the +boys could make out anything with certainty. +On comparing notes afterwards they were unable +to declare whether the dim figure at the +wheel was Clarence or some other; though +Nick did say he heard a low chuckling laugh +as the phantom boat passed, which he knew +was a favorite way of expressing pleasure on +the part of the Macklin boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was a close shave, sure!” remarked +Jack, as coolly as he could.</p> +<p class="pnext">They could hear the rapidly retreating rattle +of the exhaust of the “pirate boat,” as +some of them liked to call the other craft; but +as it was circling around the island, apparently, +all other signs of its presence had vanished.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Too close for comfort!” gasped Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Listen to him joking at such a time!” remarked +Josh, thinking Herb meant to apply +his remark to the name of the boat, when, +truth to tell, that was the last thing to occur +to him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Believe me, fellows, I confess that I’m +quivering like a leaf,” said Nick, “and it ain’t +cowardice, either. Brave men tremble after +the danger is over, cravens before. You noticed +that I wasn’t paralyzed with fright, +didn’t you? I could think, and lay out a plan +of escape. That proves I wasn’t really scared +then.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But,” declared Herb, indignantly, “whatever +did they mean doing that? Why, if that +sharp nose of the <em class="italics">Flash</em> had ever banged into +us, going like she was, we’d have been cut in +two! It’s criminal, that’s what, fellows!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh!” Jack remarked, “to tell the truth, I +don’t think Clarence would be such a fool to +take such chances as that. In the first place +he might kill one of us. And then again, you +know, his boat would be sure to suffer, too, and +might be wrecked.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That sounds reasonable, Jack,” admitted +George; “but whatever do you suppose +tempted him to do that crazy thing?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, he might think it a good lark,” was +the reply. “And then again, there may have +been some other reason pushing him on, which +we don’t know anything about as yet. I’m +going to try and think out an explanation, and +if I hit a hot trail I’ll tell you about it, boys.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That means Jack’s got an idea,” said Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” spoke up Josh, instantly. +“Don’t think you’re the only one in the bunch +who can have such things, Buster.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But what if they circle around the island, +and come down booming at us again?” ventured +the nervous Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t believe that will happen,” Jack +replied, seriously. “But if you feel anxious, +just pull further into the cove, Herb, and he +couldn’t strike you then.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I tell you what I’m going to do,” declared +the impulsive George. “I’m on the first watch, +and I want you to let me have that Marlin +scatter-gun of yours, Jack. If that fool bursts +out from behind that point again, and heads +for us at full speed, I declare to goodness if I +don’t bang away, and touch him up with bird-shot +a few. He deserves such a lesson.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But why should Clarence want to scare us +away from here?” asked Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">That was what Jack was himself wrestling +with, and he waited to find out if any of his +mates put forth an answer; but they seemed +to be unable to grapple with the puzzle, for no +one spoke.</p> +<p class="pnext">“My boat is heading that way, and I’m +going to light my glim. Then if he tries his +funny business again, I’ll spot him in good +time,” George remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was some time before the excitement died +away. Even after those who were entitled to +sleep had lain down, they would raise their +heads at the least suspicious sound. Did a +wavelet lap the adjacent beach, Nick was sure +to bob up and look about him in alarm. When +an owl started to call out “Whoo! whoo!” from +a tree on the dark island, he sat up instantly, +and seemed almost ready to crawl over the +side of the boat into the water.</p> +<p class="pnext">But nothing happened, and gradually silence +fell upon the three anchored boats. +George and Jimmie gave way to Jack and +Nick when several hours had passed; and +finally Herb and Josh wound up the night.</p> +<p class="pnext">When morning came, the boys joked one +another over their red eyes, showing that, +after all, none of them could have secured +much comforting sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I suppose we’re going to pick up our mudhooks +today and climb out of this?” suggested +Josh, as they were enjoying breakfast.</p> +<p class="pnext">All of them looked at Jack, who smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Suppose we put it to a vote, fellows,” he +said. “All those in favor of scuttling out of +this, like dogs with their tails between their +legs, simply because certain parties want us +to move, signify it by raising their hands.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Not one went up; even Josh, who had +seemed inclined that way, upon ascertaining +that Nick declined to show the white feather, +allowed his half raised hand to drop again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Contrary, no, raise their hands!”</p> +<p class="pnext">And six of them went up like a shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do we vacate?” asked the fat boy, sarcastically, +turning on Josh. “Nixey. And the +more they try to scare us off, the closer we +stick. Ain’t it so, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!” +spoke up George, grandly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Remember the old story of the battle between +the wind and the sun, don’t you?” asked +Herb, who was always bringing into play +fables and yarns he had soaked in during his +younger days.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No; what was that, Herb?” asked Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, they got into a dispute as to which +of them was the stronger, and decided to settle +it on a traveler. So the wind began to blow +harder and harder; but the traveler just +wrapped his cloak the tighter about him. Then +the sun started to try, and as it got hotter +and hotter, first the traveler unfastened his +cloak, and then threw it off altogether. So +the bully old sun won out, after all.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hear! hear!” cried George; “that is a +good illustration, Herb. You see, fellows, he +means that we ain’t going to be chased away +by hard knocks and bluffing; but if some one +would come and ask us politely to vacate, and +give us a good reason why we ought to move +along, we’d do it willingly. That’s the Yankee +policy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then, as we’re going to be here for another +day, anyhow, suppose Jimmie and me take a +turn after the muskies?” suggested Nick.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s only fair you should have a chance,” +Jack observed; “but you can see what risk +there always is in one of the clumsy little +punkin-seed boats, when handling a big fish.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You forget that I can swim like a duck, +Jack!” observed Buster, proudly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All the same,” Jack went on, seriously, +“you know you’re not quite as spry as some +of us; and I hope you will keep that life preserver +on all the time. This water is deep, and +the current makes it treacherous.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I promise that, sure,” Nick assented. +“Between us, believe me, I meant to carry +that bally old cork life preserver along, anyway. +Jimmie might take a crab while rowing, +and upset. There’s no telling, you know. All +right, us for the grand sport today, Jimmie. +And now, post us about the place, Jack, and +just how you do the business.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wouldn’t I just give a cookie to see Buster +fast to a hustler like I had on yesterday,” +chuckled Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” remarked the fat boy, coolly, “it +would do you good, I guess. You’d know how +to manage, after that, so as not to let a measly +fish upset your boat. It takes brains to be a +successful fisherman, Herb, real brains.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack went ashore again a little later, but +none of the others seemed to care to accompany +him, being satisfied to lie around, taking +things easy, and talking of their future plans; +for a new idea had been broached which had +to do with an extended cruise up through the +great lakes, rather than knock around here +on the St. Lawrence for two full months; and +all of them were full of suppressed excitement +over it.</p> +<p class="pnext">If Jack made any further discoveries during +the time he was on the island, he did not think +to take the others into his confidence when +he came back; but that may have been because +just then a noisy little motor boat was heading +straight toward the cove, and every one was +guessing what new developments were about +to be sprung upon them.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiiithe-ghost-hunter"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id14">CHAPTER XIII—THE GHOST HUNTER</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Wonder if this can be the same parties we +met yesterday?” George remarked, as they +watched the approach of the bustling little +motor boat, which pushed over the water with +a series of fierce explosions, not unlike the discharge +of a pack of giant fire-crackers.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No, I don’t think it is,” Herb spoke up, in +answer. “Fellow at the wheel looks like a +Canuck guide from one of the hotels, a full-blooded +Indian, and the man with the glasses +and the fishing rod is more like a college professor, +I’d say.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was just what I thought,” put in +Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Anyway, we’ll soon know, for they’re coming +in, as sure as anything,” Josh added.</p> +<p class="pnext">Inside of five minutes the noisy little boat +swung close to where the boys sat watching. +The gentleman sitting holding the rod, and +winding up his reel with a clicking sound, +waved a hand in cheery greeting.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How d’ye do, boys?” he said, cordially; +and somehow Jack rather liked the tone of his +voice, as he also did his looks.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Any luck, sir?” he inquired, as is the custom +at such a time.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Had two fierce strikes; but I’m afraid I’ve +lost my cunning, for I let the beggars have a +slack line, and lost both. Are you fishing any? +I saw two lads in little dinkies like that one +yonder, fishing over by the long island, and +guessed that possibly they belonged to your +party.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, they do,” George replied; and went +on to tell about what luck they had had, with +the usual pride of a successful fisherman.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack meanwhile was not saying much, but +observing the gentleman. It struck him that +the other was trying to make himself very +agreeable; and somehow he could not help +remembering the fable that Herb had spoken +about so recently. Having failed to scare the +motor boat boys off by stern means, were +milder tactics about to be adopted now?</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently the other thought he ought to +introduce himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am Professor Herman Marshland, of Ann +Arbor,” he said, modestly.</p> +<p class="pnext">So Herb started to tell just who they were, +and how they happened to be knocking around +on the St. Lawrence at this time.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Have you been stopping long in this +cove?” asked the other, in what he doubtless +intended to have appear as a casual way; but +Jack saw that he seemed to set more store +by the question than surface indications would +indicate.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, sure, we have, Professor,” George +said. “We might have gone on before now, +but we just hate to leave under fire, you see.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Excuse me, but I hardly grasp your meaning, +I fear,” remarked the gentleman, with +one of his winning smiles.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, you see, some persons appear to have +taken offense because we’ve monopolized their +dandy cove here. And they’ve been trying in +all sorts of ways to shoo us away. Last night +they threatened to run us down with a speed +launch that came buzzing around that point +of the island there. And then, would you +believe it, sir, they even went so far as to +attempt to scare up-to-date American boys, by +setting up a silly ghost game on us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s that you say?” remarked the gentleman, +interrupting George. “A ghost? Now, +that’s right in my line, you see. I’ve been +making a study of all manner of strange and +incomprehensible manifestations along that +line for five years. In that time I’ve investigated +dozens of so-called haunted houses. +Why, you arouse my interest at once to fever +heat, my young friends.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And did you ever discover a real, genuine +bona fide ghost, sir?” asked Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">Professor Marshland smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I never have,” he replied, with a forlorn +shake of the head; “but I still live in hopes. +What knows but what this may be the golden +opportunity I have waited for so long? You +must tell me all about it, boys. And afterwards +I’ll just drop off and take a little look +around, on my own responsibility.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course George and Herb were only too +willing. Assisted by an occasional word from +Josh, they soon told the story. Then Josh +in turn related what he and Jack had found +out when they investigated ashore. The college +professor seemed deeply interested in the +forlorn cabin, the dilapidated door of which +was fastened by a broken padlock.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They say ghosts are peculiar in many +things,” he remarked at the conclusion of the +little talk. “And that might account for the +padlock. It’s all very interesting, boys. I +only regret that I was not here when the manifestation +occurred. Perhaps, if I hung around +tonight, the thing might get up courage +enough to show again. It would repay me +for all my trip here. I came for the fishing; +but to catch a ghost in the act, would be positively +refreshing, I assure you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack was still watching the professor. +While he liked the other, somehow he seemed +to feel that there was something rather +strange about him. He seemed to be studying +the four lads as though seeking to read them, +and make up his mind as to whether they were +just what they claimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Could it possibly be that he was connected +with those mysterious men who seemed so +bent on chasing the motor boat boys away +from the lonely island?</p> +<p class="pnext">After chatting for some time, and making +quite a favorable impression on Herb, George +and Josh, the professor remarked that if they +would excuse him he would step ashore, and +take a look at the delightful old ghost cabin.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh was just about to volunteer to accompany +him, when he caught the quick look Jack +cast in his direction, accompanied by a negative +shake of the head.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If he wanted us he’d have said so, Josh,” +came in a whisper.</p> +<p class="pnext">A minute later the gentleman, having managed +to land, vanished amid the heavy growth +of timber and brush.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh looked at Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure as you live, he’s following that trail, +Jack,” he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s only natural,” remarked the other, +“because, you see, it was mighty plain, as +though lots of people had gone back and +forth.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” observed Josh, simply, “if them +chaps were camping in the cabin, and going +out fishing every day, of course they’d make +a well-worn trail down to this cove here, where +their boats must have been tied up. I’ve been +thinking, Jack, that p’raps they’re engaged in +some sort of fishing that’s illegal, such as setting +nets against the law. Say, wouldn’t that +be an idea now? And if true, it must explain +just why they watched us so close. They +thought we might be wardens getting on the +track of their business. How’s that for a +guess, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sounds kind of fishy,” remarked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Scaly, I should say,” Herb spoke up.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack said nothing. He was thinking +along the same line Josh had suggested, but in +an altogether different way from the lanky +cook of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">To tell the truth, Jack would have been +pleased could he have slipped ashore to observe +what the professor from Ann Arbor +could be doing just then; but he did not dare +venture. It would look too much like impudence. +As he himself had said, if the gentleman +had wished for their company, he certainly must have +asked them to go ashore +with him.</p> +<p class="pnext">As to his being deeply interested in ghosts, +and a patient investigator of remarkable manifestations +for years, Jack took all that with +a grain of salt. Perhaps it might be so, but +Jack believed he was not far wrong in believing +that Professor Marshland had only mentioned +the fact to excuse his evident desire to +go ashore and look around.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was gone a long while. Indeed, Jack +guessed that perhaps the gentleman could +have explored the whole island in the time that +elapsed before he again showed up. Still, +there was also a chance that he might have +been doing something in connection with the +old cabin.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he did appear he was smiling broadly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sorry to say I couldn’t find any evidence of +the supernatural,” he remarked, in answer to +the eager look Josh gave him as he clambered +aboard his stubby little boat once more. “And +that inclines me to the belief that some one +who loves a practical joke was only trying to +throw you into a state of fright, boys. I regret, +too, that I cannot remain over a night with +you, in the hope of being granted a look at +this wonderful spectre. If anything more remarkable +occurs, I’d be very much obliged if +one of you would write an account of it and +mail me at the college.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure, we will, Professor,” said the willing +Josh. “And if so be we capture that flickering +ghost, we’ll send it to you by express, charges +collect.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do so,” laughed the gentleman. “I won’t +object, I assure you. Well, here’s wishing you +luck, boys. And thank you for all the information +you’ve given. It may be of more +assistance to me in my calling than you imagine. +Start up, John. It’s back to the hotel +for us now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">So the noisy little motor went chugging +away, passing around the point; and by degrees +the sound died out, as other islands +came between.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, let me tell you, I like that man,” Josh +up and said, without any urging.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He is a smart one, all right, and don’t you +forget it,” remarked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Was he really trolling, do you suppose, in +that horrible, noisy power boat?” asked Herb, +skeptically.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack himself had a suspicion that the rod +and line were only being used for a mask of +some sort. Everywhere he looked, the mystery +seemed to be getting deeper. First the +strange actions of the men in the rowboats; +then the appearance of that foolish ghost on +the island; the questioning of the fisherman +whom George and Herb had met while away +on the preceding day; the peculiar things he +himself had discovered ashore; and now, last +but not least, the coming of this pretended +fisherman, who asked skillful questions, and +made out to be a genuine ghost hunter—taking +all these things together, and it can be +seen that Jack had about all he wanted to +ponder over for the rest of that day.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiva-strange-ride"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id15">CHAPTER XIV—A STRANGE RIDE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Time those two fellows were showing up, +don’t you think, Jack?” asked Josh, as the +noon hour came around.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I don’t know,” replied the other. “I +noticed that Nick carried a bundle with him, +and guessed it might be a little snack to keep +off starvation, in case they were detained. +Sometimes it’s hard to give up, when you are +fishing, you know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Snack!” echoed Josh, with a sniff of scorn. +“Well, I wish you’d seen just what that elephant +did roll up in that paper. Herb wasn’t +looking, but I kept an eye on Buster. Snack! +Say, take it from me, that he had as much as +I would eat in a week of Sundays.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” laughed Jack, “you’re prejudiced +against poor Buster, you know, Josh. Just +because you have a bird’s appetite, and he that +of a hog, you pick on him. His greed is his +only weak spot. His heart is as big as a bushel +basket; and he’d go out of his way any time +to do you a good turn.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I know it, all right, Jack,” returned +the other. “You mustn’t take everything I +say for what it stands. But listen, fellows. +Talk of the angel, and you hear the rustle of +its wings. Unless I miss my guess, that’s the +tuneful voice of Buster right now. What in +the dickens can he be shouting that way for?”</p> +<p class="pnext">All of them were on their feet by now, and +listening to the yells.</p> +<p class="pnext">“They seem to be coming from around the +island,” said Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I bet you it’s Jimmie having some fun +with poor Pudding. He does like to hear him +put up a howl,” chuckled Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I don’t know about that, fellows. +Just listen, and hear what he seems to be +saying. Perhaps, after all, there may be something +crooked about it. We seem to be up to +our necks in all sorts of queer mysteries, you +know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">George was not smiling when he said this; +indeed, all of them could now realize that there +was something of appeal and alarm in connection +with the lusty yells Buster was letting +loose.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hey! stop it, you! What d’ye mean trying +to drown me? Let up, I tell you! Can’t +you give a feller a chance? Somebody head +me off, won’t you? Help! help!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“There he comes!” shouted Jack, pointing.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, what under the sun is he doing?” +cried Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Since when did Buster put a motor in his +dinky?” asked George, feebly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And ain’t he just making the time, +though?” ejaculated Josh. “Just look at the +way the foam flies up before the blunt bow of +the dinky!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack looked again and then gave a shrill +laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Motor!” he exclaimed. “The only motor +Buster is dealing with now has got fins and +scales, and is in the water. Don’t you see +what he’s doing, boys? He got a whooping +big muskalunge at the end of his line. In some +way Buster has got the line twisted around his +body. And there he sits in the dinky, bracing +his feet against a knee of the boat, and holding +on for dear life, while the fish runs away with +him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then the others burst into a loud laugh, seeing +the comical side of it. To Buster it was +not so funny, however. He had been straining +so long now that he fancied he might be +pulled over the side of the cranky little snub-nosed +craft any time; and with that cord +wrapped around his arms, drowned because of +his inability to swim, despite the cork life +preserver.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Quit your laughing, and chase after us, fellows,” +he bawled, as he shot past the mouth of +the cove; and at the same time sending a mute +look of appeal toward his mates.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why don’t you get out your knife and cut +loose?” shouted George, making use of his +hands in lieu of a megaphone.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Can’t move—got my arms tied down at +my sides. Ouch! it hurts, for the line is cutting +into the bone of my wrists. Come and +help me before it’s too late. You’ll be sorry +if I get drowned. Then you’ll never learn the +truth of how our secrets leaked. I’m the only +one who is on the track. Hurry up, boys; I +mean it!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack saw that after all the situation was +more desperate than might have appeared at +first sight. It must be an enormous fish, the +grandfather of all the muskies around the +Thousand Islands, and powerful enough to +drown poor Nick, if once it succeeded in upsetting +the boat, or dragging him out of it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly he immediately jumped over, +and unfastened the cable that held his anchor.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hold that for me, will you, Herb?” he said, +tossing one end of the rope over to the skipper +of the <em class="italics">Comfort</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then without any further delay he started +his engine with one energetic fling of the wheel.</p> +<p class="pnext">Immediately the boat started, amid a rattling +fusillade of sharp reports that told how responsive +the well equipped motor was to the +demands of its master.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course, once Jack fairly started after the +little dinky that was being so vigorously towed +by the captive fish, he had no difficulty in overtaking +it.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now keep a firm hold on your seat, Buster,” +he said. “I’m going to push in ahead of +you, and see if I can fasten on to that line +myself. The big thing can’t well pull both +boats. After that I’ll free your arms. I want +you to pull him in by yourself, if possible.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not me!” cried Buster. “I’m done with +the brute. Shoot him dead. Hit him with a +club. He’s a villain, a desperate villain, because +he wound me up like this, and then tried +his level best to yank me over. Jack, bless +you, I believe you’ve saved me from a watery +grave. Have you got him now? Are you real +certain he can’t jump into my little boat and +take a chunk out of my leg? Oh, my! what a +puller! I was sure going a mile a minute that +time. Talk about Neptune and his sea horses, +they can’t ever come up to a pesky muskalunge +that feels the barb of the hook. I’m all tired +out, Jack. You finish him, please.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack saw that this was so; and having untangled the +line from Nick’s body, he took the +rod and proceeded to get in touch with the now +sulking monster.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick clambered aboard the motor boat in a +hurry, as though really afraid that the fish in +its anger might leap into the shallow dinky +to bite him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Glory! just look at him jump and kick, +would you?” shouted Nick, as the baffled captive +sprang from the water, shaking its +massive head furiously in an effort to dislodge +the hook, which, however, was too securely +placed by this time in the hard bone of its +mouth to be shaken out. “He’s trying to locate +me, that’s what! Let me have that gun +of yours, Jack. Next time he jumps I’m going +to pot him sure.”</p> +<p class="pnext">And he did.</p> +<p class="pnext">As a rule Nick was a poor shot. Whether +luck entered into it, or his fear that the big +fish was meaning to climb in after him, stirred +him to unusual exertions, Jack never knew; +but as he leaped into the air, not twenty feet +away, there was a tremendous bang close beside +Jack, and he saw the muskalunge drop +back into the water as though fairly riddled +with shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">Poor Nick also tumbled over backwards, +and lay there grunting and rubbing his head; +for he had in his excitement pulled both triggers +at the same time, so that a double discharge +had followed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“D-d-did I g-get him, Jack?” gasped the +fat boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Deader than a door nail or Julius Caesar!” +laughed the other, as he began to draw in the +line hand over hand; for there was no longer +any positive resistance from the object at the +other end.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look out! Be careful, Jack,” warned poor +Nick, in fresh alarm. “You don’t understand +how treacherous one of these muskies can be. +’Twouldn’t surprise me if he was playing ’possum +right now. Throw him in the dinky when +he comes along. Let him bite a chunk out of +that with his old teeth if he wants to. I +wouldn’t touch him for anything now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! you’ll enjoy a steak from the same old +hooker tonight, never fear. But he’s dead as +a herring, Buster. And what a monster! None +of the rest of us are in it with you after this. +I bet he weighs all of thirty-five pounds!”</p> +<p class="pnext">By degrees, when he really saw that the big +fish was dead, Nick recovered his courage; and +by the time they drew up in the cove he was +swelling with importance over the wonderful +degree of success that had attended his maiden +effort at capturing a muskalunge.</p> +<p class="pnext">True, Josh was mean enough to elevate his +eyebrows when Nick spoke of it that way, and +hint that he had imagined that the shoe was +on the other foot, in that the fish had captured +Nick; but the other gave him a withering look +as he said scornfully:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, what d’ye know about that, fellows? +This simple guy actually believes I was in +earnest when I let that fine and dandy fish at +the end of my line tow me for half a mile. +Why, silly, didn’t you take notice that I drove +him like you might a horse? Didn’t we come +in a bee line for this very cove? Give me a +little credit, won’t you? Be fair and square. +I know it’s an effort for you, but when you’re +in the company of gentlemen you ought to +brace up and try hard to act like one, Josh.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course that took all the wind out of Josh’s +sails; he could only sit there, mumbling to himself, +shaking his head, and casting occasional +looks toward Nick, as though inclined to give +him the banner when it came to nerve.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then came Jimmie, laboring furiously with +his paddle, and excited because he did not +know whatever could have become of his fisherman +companion, whom last he saw flying off +in a mysterious fashion, and yelling for help +as though the ghost of the island had indeed +laid hold of him; since Jimmie could not see +what amazing power it was causing the dinky +to rush through the water five times as fast as +he could urge his own craft.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvanother-night"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id16">CHAPTER XV—ANOTHER NIGHT</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Of course the whole story had to be told over +again for the benefit of Jimmie. The Irish +lad found some little difficulty in swallowing +Nick’s bold assertion that he might have been +setting up a little game for the amusement of +his companions. He even went so far as to +poke the defunct fish in the side with his finger +and pretend to ask the captive if it were really +so.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But look here, Jack and Herb and George, +let’s have some lunch!” finally remarked Josh, +naming the three who had remained at home, +with malice in his manner.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick fell into the trap, sprawling.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, I like that!” he observed with a +deeply injured expression on his red and fat +face. “Just listen to him, would you? He +cuts poor old Jimmie and me out of the call. +Say, don’t you think we ever eat?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh pretended to be astonished, and threw +up his hands to indicate as much.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Eat?” he cried. “Well, what’s to hinder +you from getting out that big lunch you took +away with you? We can spare you a cup of +coffee to wash it down, I guess, hey, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then the two returned fishermen stared at +each other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What are you talking about, Josh?” said +Nick. “That little snack we carried off with +us, is it? Oh! say, you don’t count that, do +you? Why, Jimmie and me, we got nippy +about nine o’clock and punished that off. Why, +I’m just about starved right now, if you want +to know it. Bring on your grub, unless you +want to see me faint dead away.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh had had his little fun, and knew that +it would do no good to draw it out any longer; +so grumbling about the “rise in the cost of +living,” he proceeded to comply with the +demand.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course there was enough; Josh had seen +to that in the beginning. Indeed, it would have +been a highly dangerous proceeding for any +one entrusted with the cooking arrangements +of the party not to consider the enormous capacity +of Nick and Jimmie, when laying out +provisions for a meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">Naturally enough the conversation soon took +on an interesting color.</p> +<p class="pnext">“How long are we going to stick right here +in this cove?” Josh asked, as he sat curled up +on a seat, enjoying a platter of Boston baked +beans, with which some frizzled dried beef had +been heated up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” added Herb, “that’s a subject we +ought to consider. It’s all very fine to be enjoying +the fishing and the wonderful stunts of +Buster at harnessing the finny tribes as horses; +but you know, fellows, we came here to the St. +Lawrence to cruise, not squat on our haunches. +Jack, it’s up to you. Tell us.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve been thinking right along that it must +be getting rather monotonous to some of you,” +said Jack, slowly. “Only for the fact that +we’ve been badgered by some unknown parties +who want to chase us off, we’d have gone before +now. But it does seem a shame to lose +so much time in this way. Tell you what I +propose, boys.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Glad to hear it. Let’s know!” several of +the others cried in unison; for somehow what +Jack thought right usually appealed to the +rest; because in the past as a leader he had +often been tried and never found wanting.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” the other went on. “Suppose +we put in just one more night here in this anchorage. +Then some time tomorrow, no matter +what happens, we’ll pull out. How does +that suit you, fellows?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m agreeable,” George immediately replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Suits me from the ground up,” Herb put +in.</p> +<p class="pnext">Three others added their voices after the +same fashion, so that in this amiable way the +question was settled without the least friction.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That means another night of guard duty,” +mused Nick; whereupon Josh burst out into +a harsh laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Hear him, comrades all!” he remarked. +“The poor fellow is worn out with his arduous +work. No wonder he drops off into slumber-land +when on duty. He is so near a living +skeleton that even a poor lone little minnow +can pull him and his boat along by the mile. +Some of us ought to volunteer to take Buster’s +place, and let him get about fifteen hours +of sleep. He needs it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick only grinned, not at all abashed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Fine!” he exclaimed. “Suppose you start +the ball rolling then, Josh. How long will you +carry me on your stretch—half an hour? That +would count for something. I think I might +gain an ounce of flesh on the strength of that +extra sleep.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I think you would, all of it,” said Josh. +“The trouble with you, Buster, is that you +take life too easy. That’s why you get so fat. +Just keep on and see where you land pretty +soon. Remember Mr. Amos Spofford, will you, +and take warning.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, that’s what I call a mean dig on your +part, Josh,” complained Nick. “Talk to me +about the strenuous life; did you ever know +anybody have a bigger job than I did today, +landing that giant muskalunge? When I go +in for anything I do it with my whole heart, +don’t I boys?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You sure do, Pudding,” assented George, +“and with your whole stomach, too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick only gave him a reproachful look, as +though it pained him to receive this unexpected +blow in the house of his friends.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then it’s settled we leave here tomorrow?” +remarked Herb, meaning to cast oil on the +troubled waters; for Herb was by nature a +peacemaker.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Unless something unexpected crops up that +might hold us back,” said Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What could do that?” asked Josh, uneasily, +for he wanted to get away from the vicinity +of the haunted island as speedily as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! one of the engines might break down, +for instance,” laughed the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now I know that was meant for me,” retorted +George; “but, thank you, the bully old +<em class="italics">Wireless</em> seems to be on her best behavior this +trip. Haven’t had the least trouble up to now, +and don’t expect to. Wish I could only get a +chance to race that <em class="italics">Flash</em> of Clarence’s, though. +Never will be happy till I do, and find out +whether his boat or mine is the faster.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look out yonder, fellows,” said Josh just +then.</p> +<p class="pnext">“A rowboat, and holding two men,” remarked +Jack. “Seems to me we’ve seen those +fellows before, eh, boys?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“We certainly have,” George spoke up. +“They are some of the ones who passed here +the other day and scowled to beat the band. +They’re doing the same right now, as if they’d +like to order us away, but don’t dare. Guess +they’ve come around to see if we show any +signs of leaving. Look at ’em talking together, +and shaking their heads. Perhaps it means +more trouble for us tonight, boys.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Mebbe the ould ghost has been patched up +again for a sicond show!” suggested Jimmie, +grinning at Josh, who had turned a bit pale, +and moved uneasily.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, there they go off without saying a +single word to us. Talk about your good manners, +these fishermen along the St. Lawrence +are a lot of soreheads,” and George mockingly +waved his hand after the retreating boat, +though Jack considered his act as bordering +on the reckless.</p> +<p class="pnext">“George, suppose you and I go ashore after +a while, and shoot at a mark a few times with +that rifle of yours?” Jack suggested later on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now you’ve got some notion in your head, +or you wouldn’t say that,” remarked George. +“Tell us what it is, Jack.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Only this,” replied the other, without hesitation. +“Some of those men may be hanging +about within earshot. We don’t know but +what they have a camp on the island here or +some other close by. It might be as well to +let them know we’ve got a gun and can shoot +if necessary. Is that straight?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s what you would call good and sufficient +warning, in law,” George replied. “And I +call it a bright thought, Jack. Let’s start now. +I challenge you to a trial of skill with my rifle. +And Josh here can go along to keep tally.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Please excuse me,” retorted the party mentioned. +“But I’ve got plenty to attend to +right here. Try Nick; the exercise will do +him good.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right!” exclaimed the fat boy, +promptly. “I’m on deck every time. You +never knew me to shirk; even if some of you +did allow terrible suspicions to creep into your +minds about my entire trustworthiness. But +in good time I expect to clear up that dark +mystery of the past. I can afford to wait my +time; the triumph will be all the sweeter. Shall +I tumble into your dinky, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">So the three went ashore, and for some time +the rivalry was keen, the sharp reports of the +rifle sounding at intervals, accompanied by +more or less shouting and merriment. As Jack +said, they might as well notify everybody +within earshot of the fact that even the appearance +of a ghost had not frosted their +spirits to any appreciable extent.</p> +<p class="pnext">So the afternoon gradually passed away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh often cast apprehensive glances toward +the silent shore of the nearby island as the +shadows grew longer, with night coming on. +Sometimes he fancied he saw something moving +amid the thick brush, and was almost inclined +to tell his comrades; only he feared their +shouts of derision, and the accusation that he +allowed memories of that silly ghost to haunt +him.</p> +<p class="pnext">And after all, it usually turned out that the +moving object was some innocent little denizen +of the woods, a prowling ’coon perhaps, out +ahead of time in search of a supper; or possibly +only a chipmunk searching for tempting +roots to satisfy its desire for food, while waiting +for the new crop of nuts to come along.</p> +<p class="pnext">Night settled down at last, and this time the +boys were pleased to note that the heavens were +almost clear, so that the moon would have a +fair chance to play hide and seek with the +few floating white banks of clouds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Most of the boys seemed in high spirits. +They laughed and joked as they went about +the usual duties of the evening hour. If Jack +had anything serious on his mind he failed to +take his comrades into his confidence. And +yet, now and then he would smile, as though +certain thoughts that pushed themselves to +the front amused him; and this seemed to be +the case more especially when he heard the +others talking about the pleasant professor +from Ann Arbor.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvijacks-daring-venture"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id17">CHAPTER XVI—JACK’S DARING VENTURE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Somehow no one suggested having supper +ashore that night. There was something chilling +about the mysterious island that dampened +the ardor of the boys in this respect. Had +it been anywhere else, they would have looked +upon the opportunity for having a jolly camp +fire as too good to be lost; but somehow all +seemed satisfied that they remain aboard.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh for one was just as well pleased. He +even neglected several golden chances to give +Nick those customary sly digs; and this was a +most unusual thing for Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, even the proximity of a +haunted island could not long hold in check +the natural bubbling spirits of a pack of +healthy lads. After supper, as they lay around +in as comfortable attitudes as was possible, +some one started singing, and presently six +voices took up the chorus, so that a volume of +sound welled up out of that cove calculated to +startle all the ghostly visitants that were ever +known to gather there.</p> +<p class="pnext">No one seemed to be sleepy; for even when +the hour began to grow late there was little +talk of getting out the blankets. Stories were +told, jokes flew around, and taken in all they +were a merry group, apparently without a single +care in the wide world.</p> +<p class="pnext">George broke into this delightful harmony +finally by saying:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, I guess you fellows will tell me I’m +hearing things that ain’t so; but, honest, I believe +that was the chug-chug of a motor that +came down the wind. It was just as Nick was +singing that funny song of his about the Dutchman +who didn’t know his own name, because he +and his twin brother got mixed in the cradle, +and the other fellow died. Did anybody else +get the sound, or are my ears the only sharp +ones?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I thought I did,” Jack spoke up; “but you +see, Nick was leaning over the side of his boat +and sending his voice right at me, so I couldn’t +make sure.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Herb also admitted that he had heard something, +he couldn’t say what.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, don’t laugh,” George went on; “but +it struck me I’d heard that rackety chug +before.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Meaning the noisy engine of that stubby +little boat the Ann Arbor professor came in?” +asked Jack, quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You hit it right at the first jump, Jack, +for that was in my mind,” George said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” remarked Nick, “don’t you remember +that he said he’d like to spend one night +with us here, in hopes of seeing our pet ghost. +Perhaps he’s concluded to return and do it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, rats;” exclaimed Josh, “We ain’t going +to see any more ghost. What’s the use of +keeping that silly idea up? But I reckon all +of us’d like to see that gentleman again. He +was good company, and he knows boys from +the ground up.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“He ought to, seeing that it’s his business to +be with boys and young men all the time. I +bet you he’s a prime favorite at college,” Nick +remarked; and then looked in surprise at Jack +because the other actually chuckled.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t believe Jack takes much stock in +Professor Marshland,” said George, who had +also noticed this little demonstration.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh; but you’re very much mistaken there,” +the one indicated hastened to say. “I admired +him and hope some time to see more of +him. I think we shall before we leave the St. +Lawrence cruising grounds.”</p> +<p class="pnext">George shook his head. He seemed to guess +that there might be a hidden meaning back of +these words; but if so, it was beyond his capacity +to fathom it.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But look here, if he’s coming along, why +don’t we hear his old boat any more?” Josh +asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s so,” declared George. “I wonder, +now, if the engine could have broken down.”</p> +<p class="pnext">At that everybody smiled, for in their Mississippi +cruise it had been George who was frequently +in trouble through the inability of his +motor to stand the strain of great pressure. +And consequently the subject was usually one +that was frequently on his mind.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! the chances are that he was just going +past, and has gotten beyond hearing. You +know sometimes a flaw in the wind will carry +a sound for a mile or two,” Jack remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s so, on the water,” George observed.</p> +<p class="pnext">A little later, while the others were engaged +in some wordy dispute, Jack quietly slipped +into the little tender attached to the <em class="italics">Tramp</em> +and paddled softly off out of the cove.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What d’ye suppose he’s got on his mind?” +asked George, looking after the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Give me something easy,” replied Nick. +“Jack always is a puzzle for me. He has such +bright thoughts I don’t just seem able to grapple +with ’em. But depend on it, he’s thinking +of something right now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I guess he’s worrying about those men,” +suggested Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I don’t think so,” George hastened to +say. “They wouldn’t dare try attack us here, +you know. It would be a breach of the law +for which they could be sent to prison for +years. Jack’s got some other notion in his +brain, believe me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Meanwhile the object of all this speculation +idly paddled a little distance out on the moonlit +water, and sat there in his small craft, as +though enjoying the silvery glow.</p> +<p class="pnext">He looked around him on all sides, and particularly +in that quarter of the wind from +whence had come the faint “chug-chug” of a +motor’s eccentric pulsations. But nothing +could be seen save the dim outlines of the next +island.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a while, as a cloud covered the moon, +Jack came back and clambered aboard once +more.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here, is this an all-night session of the +club?” he asked. “Already it’s ten minutes +after eleven. If you fellows want to get any +sleep tonight, better be turning in right now. +Josh and myself have the first two hour watch, +you understand.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly there was a breaking up of the +conference; goodnights were exchanged, and +those who had drawn the first spell of rest +crept into their comfortable blankets.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of late their sleep had been somewhat +broken, as we happen to know, what with the +coming of specters and such things. On this +account every one of the four soon dropped off +asleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack could hear Jimmie breathing heavily +in less than ten minutes. Apparently Jack +had something on his mind, for leaning over +toward where he could see Josh sitting he +asked in a low tone:</p> +<p class="pnext">“How is it there, Josh; is Herb asleep yet?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I guess he must be,” came the answer; “because +he’s snoring to beat the band, even if he +don’t make much noise.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s where you made a mistake, for it’s +Nick doing that. Listen again, and you’ll see +I’m right. And George was yawning when he +turned in, so I reckon he’s gone over the border, +too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What do you want to know for?” asked +Josh, aware that Jack must have some reason +for asking such a question.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ll tell you, Josh. I mean to go ashore +soon,” replied the skipper of the <em class="italics">Tramp</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thunder! do you really mean it, Jack?” +queried Josh, taken aback; for it would have +to be something tremendous that could tempt +him to set a foot on that same island in the +night time.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Listen, Josh,” Jack went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am, with all my ears, so go right on,” +the other sent back over the few feet of water +separating the two boats they occupied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I didn’t say anything about it to the rest, +Josh, but I think I saw a gleam of that lantern +ashore a while back. And I’d like to investigate +a little.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, my! you wouldn’t catch me trying +it,” declared Josh, with an intake of breath +that told of suppressed excitement. “But will +you take your gun along?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Perhaps I’d better, though I don’t really +expect to use it,” Jack replied. “Because, +you see, ghosts can’t be reached with common +lead pellets. But I want you to help me +Josh.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Me? Oh! please don’t ask me to go along, +Jack. That lame foot of mine has been hurting +again like anything, and I’m that clumsy +I might tumble all over myself and give the +thing away.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, shucks! I don’t mean that,” Jack replied. +“But when that big cloud sails over +the moon I want to slip into my little dinky +here, and paddle quietly ashore. I’ll hand you +the rope I’ve got tied to the stern; and when +you feel that shake three times, pull the boat +out again, and let it float with yours. Understand?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, yes. And I’ll do it all right, never +fear. If it wasn’t for that plagued lame foot, +now, Jack.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Let up on that, please. Now, look out, +there she goes under.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Even as Jack spoke the moon said goodbye +to the world for a short time, and hid her +smiling face behind a cloud that was darker +than any that had thus far sailed across the +starry heavens on this particular night.</p> +<p class="pnext">Being all ready, Jack crept into the small +tender, gun in hand. He pushed alongside the +Wireless and managed to pass the end of a +rope to Josh, who was waiting to receive the +same.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gently the paddle was wielded, and the +little “punkin-seed of a boat,” as the boys +sometimes termed the dinkies, was noiselessly +wafted shoreward. Landing, Jack shifted his +person to the sand, and then gave the requisite +number of tugs at the rope, after which +he shoved the boat off.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew that Josh would attend to all that +part of the business, and gave it no further +heed. Indeed, he had all he wanted to take +care of in following out the rather venturesome +plan of campaign he had arranged.</p> +<p class="pnext">For somehow Jack was of the opinion that +the mystery of the island was to be revealed +to any one daring enough to go ashore and +investigate, which was just what he had determined +to do.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xviithe-secret-out"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id18">CHAPTER XVII—THE SECRET OUT</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Out came the moon again, sailing into a +clear field.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack no longer stood there on the little +beach. He had taken time by the forelock, +and slipped among the rank growth; so that +although Josh strained his eyes to the utmost, +not the faintest sign of his comrade did he +discover.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack’s idea, of course, was to reach the +vicinity of that tumbledown shack. In his +mind, that must be the central point of interest +in the game. He fully believed, though he +had not mentioned the fact to the rest, that +the attempt to frighten the boys off with such +a ridiculous show of a pretended spirit waving +them away, was meant to cover this cabin.</p> +<p class="pnext">What did it all mean? Why should any +man, or set of men, wish to keep others from +prowling around that rickety building? Surely, +any one with common sense would hardly +think to occupy it for a night’s refuge. The +open air would be far more preferable in every +way.</p> +<p class="pnext">Still, Jack was positive that there was something +in connection with this same cabin that +moved the unknown parties to endeavor to +influence an early departure on the part of +the motor boys.</p> +<p class="pnext">And he wanted to know what that mystery +might be.</p> +<p class="pnext">That was why he had come ashore so silently. +It also accounted for his creeping along +through the bushes as carefully as he knew +how, avoiding the trail which he and Josh +had followed on that other occasion.</p> +<p class="pnext">It took him considerable time to draw near +the vicinity of the cabin, because he wanted +to go without making any noise; and he was +not positive but that hostile eyes and ears +might not be on the alert.</p> +<p class="pnext">Twice some sudden little sound close by +had sent a thrill of alarm through his heart. +But nothing followed, and he realized that +these noises must have been made by some +little animal, disturbed in his retreat by the +creeping past of the intruder.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack had made a discovery before he was +more than half way between the beach of the +cove and the cabin. There was a light inside +the old building! He could see little glimpses +of it through what must be holes in the walls, +where the chinks between the logs were open, +the mud having fallen away in the process of +decay.</p> +<p class="pnext">And as Jack said to himself with a chuckle, +ghosts did not, as far as he knew, need lanterns +in their business.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally the boy found himself close to the +side of the cabin. With his heart beating like +a trip-hammer, he crept to the first little gap +in the wall, and glued his eyes to the aperture.</p> +<p class="pnext">What he saw was nothing so very astonishing. +A man stood inside the cabin, holding +a lantern. He was not doing anything, and +seemed to be waiting for some other person.</p> +<p class="pnext">“One of the fellows in that boat today,” +was what Jack immediately said to himself, +as he fastened his eyes on the bearded face.</p> +<p class="pnext">Even inexperienced as he was, Jack fancied +that there was something of a desperate type +about the man’s countenance. He did not +seem to be such a man as one was apt to trust +on sight—like that jolly professor from Ann +Arbor, for instance.</p> +<p class="pnext">But what on earth could the man be doing +here? He did not seem to have any sort of +bundles with him, as might have been expected. +Once Jack was made to shiver just +a trifle, when he saw the fellow take out a pistol, +and handle it with a grin of pleasure on +his face.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack was beginning to see light. This could +not be simply the ordinary desire of some +fishermen who disliked seeing strangers occupying +a cove they had come to look upon as +theirs by right of previous use.</p> +<p class="pnext">And this man he now saw had none of the +characteristics of a rough fisherman. He was +rather nattily dressed, and would pass for +a gentleman in a crowd. The mystery seemed +to grow more dense; but as it is always darkest +just before dawn, so Jack believed that +he must be on the point of seeing daylight +appear in this matter.</p> +<p class="pnext">By chance he raised his eyes a trifle. Perhaps +some little movement may have attracted +him—he never knew. But again he was +thrilled to discover a face pressed against the +broken pane of glass forming the sole window +on the opposite wall.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the strange gentleman who had +claimed to be a college professor. He did +not wear his nose glasses now, and doubtless +the look of culture had given way to one of +an entirely different nature; but Jack knew +he could not be mistaken.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nor was he so very much surprised, come +to think of it. He had half anticipated something +of this sort, at the time he heard what +seemed to be the peculiar chug! chug! of the +noisy motor belonging to that snub-nosed boat. +The professor had indeed come back to the +haunted island; nor had he thought it advisable +to inform his new boy friends of his return.</p> +<p class="pnext">Had Josh been there to see, he must have +surely jumped to the conclusion that it was +his wild desire to set eyes on a ghost that had +lured the professor back.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack looked at the matter from an entirely +different standpoint. He, for instance, did not +believe that the gentleman was one-half so +much interested in mysterious visitations from +departed spirits as he was in the movements +of certain persons who might be engaged in +a trade that shunned the light of day, because +it was by nature evil, and in defiance to the +laws.</p> +<p class="pnext">And this party who stood there, holding +that lantern and waiting, was evidently something +in the line of a leader.</p> +<p class="pnext">Only for a brief space of time did the so-called +professor remain at that broken window; +then he vanished from the view of the +watching boy. But it gave Jack considerable +satisfaction and confidence just to know that +Herman Marshland was near by.</p> +<p class="pnext">Already he had his hand upon the solution +of the whole puzzle that had been eluding his +best efforts up to now. And just like Columbus +discovering America, it was so exceedingly +simple, once you knew how, that Jack silently +laughed at himself for not having grasped the +prize answer before now.</p> +<p class="pnext">Smugglers, that was what the rough-looking +men in the boats were! This must be a central +point with them, where for some time +they had secretly landed the goods ferried +over from the nearby Canadian shore. Here +on American territory they were perhaps +secreted until such favorable opportunity arrived +to send them further afield into the +sovereign State of New York, when all trace +of them would be lost to any government +agents who might be prowling around on the +lookout for such law-breakers.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since coming to the St. Lawrence the boys +had heard more or less about such a class of +persons, who made it their business to try and +evade the revenue men. In some cases it was +Chinamen they shipped across the border, receiving +so much per head to get them into the +protected country. Then again it meant laces, +diamonds, silks, anything that was small in +dimensions, but upon which the government at +Washington levied a heavy toll.</p> +<p class="pnext">Pleased with having guessed the secret, +Jack could not think of slipping away. It +might be none of his business what these +bold and bad men were doing; but somehow +he could not help feeling a deep interest in +the movements of the man who had visited +them that very afternoon, and made such a +hit with the boys.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course the pretended college professor +must really be one of those sagacious revenue +men, engaged in running these rascals to +earth.</p> +<p class="pnext">Besides, the “professor” might need help, +and Jack was of a mind to render such a service +if the chance came. A strange freak of +fortune seem to have thrown them in contact +with these warring factions; and while some +timid people might consider it the height of +folly for any one of the boys to take sides, +Jack’s bold spirit would never allow of his +standing there and seeing the man who represented +law and order outclassed.</p> +<p class="pnext">He half expected to see the “professor” +step into the cabin through the doorway, and +call upon the unknown man to surrender. But +then, as there was as yet no evidence of crime, +possibly a cautious revenue agent would be +apt to hold his horses and await further developments.</p> +<p class="pnext">A sound came faintly to the ears of the +crouching lad—voices of several persons, and +approaching the cabin at that.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack dared not keep his position, with his +eye glued to the crack; there was a chance +that he might be discovered; and so, although +he wanted to look more than ever, he dropped +flat upon the earth and waited.</p> +<p class="pnext">At any rate, he had made no mistake about +others approaching, for presently he knew +they had entered the cabin. After that he +ventured to look again. Yes, two rough-looking +fellows had entered, and were already +conversing in low but eager tones with the +one who had waited for their coming.</p> +<p class="pnext">Seeing was all very well, but just then Jack +thought that if he could only hear what was +passing between these fellows he would have +the last bit of fog cleared away. To this end +he clapped his ear against the side of the cabin +at the very point where the mud had fallen, +leaving a hole in the chinks between the logs.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nor was he mistaken when he believed he +might pick up some of the words passing +between the men. The two newcomers seemed +more or less worried about something, and +kept urging delay; but the leader would have +none of it, apparently.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Antoine,” he said, gruffly, “you go and +watch the three boats lying in the cove. If +there’s any sign of life about them, come back +and warn us. We must get those goods ashore +tonight. It’s too risky holding them any +longer. And one of the cubs might break +away, to inform on us. That would ruin all. +Bart, you be off and start things moving this +way. I know the new trail is rough and long, +but it can’t be helped. Next time we’ll have +things back the old way again. These kids +ain’t going to hold on much longer. Now, both +of you be off!”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xviiithe-escape"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id19">CHAPTER XVIII—THE ESCAPE</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">When the tall leader spoke in that stern +voice, evidently his men knew better than to +put up any further complaint. They both +passed out, and Jack could hear Antoine making +his way down the broad trail to gain a +point where, hidden himself, he could still +watch the trio of modern motor boats, and discover +the first indication of any desire on the +part of the crews to come ashore.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was surely growing very interesting. +Jack felt that he was being treated to a real +life drama of the most thrilling description. +When the boys decided to come to the St. +Lawrence river for their summer outing, not +one among them dreamed that before they left +that region of many islands they would have +run up against a series of strange adventures +well worthy of being given a place in the +log of the motor boat club.</p> +<p class="pnext">Indeed, all the trouble they had anticipated +was possibly frequent ructions with Tricky +Clarence and his side partner, Bully Joe +Brinker.</p> +<p class="pnext">At thought of the two a sudden idea seemed +to flash through the mind of Jack. He remembered +the event of the dark boat, when Herb +and Dick were given such a fright. At the +time he had wondered whether Clarence, on +his own account, could have ventured to dash +by at full speed, and come within an ace of +smashing into the Comfort. The new idea was +along the line that perhaps the two boys might +have fallen into the hands of the smugglers, +who were using the Flash to suit their evil +purposes!</p> +<p class="pnext">It was so stunning a thought that Jack felt +his very breath taken away. Yet after all +was there anything utterly improbable about +it? These men must be daring after their +fashion. They were being hunted all the time +by shrewd government agents; and consequently +must adopt new methods of carrying +on their business.</p> +<p class="pnext">And if it were indeed true, would it not +account for many things—the white face of +Clarence at the time he passed the boys who +were fishing—his refusal to even answer the +wave of the hand they gave him—he may have +been in no position at the time to appear +jovial, or even half-way friendly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Voices again!</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack moved up to his crack, prepared to +see all there was going on. Such a glorious +opportunity did not come across the path of +most fellows, off on their summer vacation; +and he ought to improve the golden chance to +the limit.</p> +<p class="pnext">It would be folly not to admit that the boy +was trembling as he crouched there, for he +never denied the fact himself. But after all +it was more the excitement of the adventure +than any bodily fear on his part that caused +this.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had hardly settled himself comfortably +when through the doorway came a stooping +figure. It was a man bearing a package on his +back. This he deposited on the earthen floor, +and turned to assist a second fellow whose +bundle seemed of even larger dimensions than +the first.</p> +<p class="pnext">One of them had also fetched a shovel along, +which had a long handle. This the leader +seized upon eagerly, and commenced digging +in a certain corner, first removing the accumulated +straw, which was apparently used as a +means for hiding signs of recent disturbance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack’s eyes grew hot with straining at the +little crack; but he could not draw himself +away; it was all so thrilling, so picturesque, +that he must continue to look, no matter what +the discomfort.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now, the man with the shovel had succeeded +in arriving at what seemed to be the lid of a +large box. He lifted this, and one of the men +tossed his bundle into a yawning aperture.</p> +<p class="pnext">Here the stuff would lie unsuspected, until +some time when the opportunity seemed ripe +to dispose of it, when the deal would be completed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack wondered what could be in those packages; +undoubtedly something of particular +value, since these men would never venture +to take such chances of capture for a trifling +gain.</p> +<p class="pnext">He also found himself guessing whether the +strange “professor,” whom he now knew to +be a government agent, could be watching all +these operations from some other friendly +crack across the way.</p> +<p class="pnext">What would he do? Having witnessed all +he wished, would the other attempt to arrest +these fellows? Since there seemed to be something +like half a dozen of the smugglers it +hardly seemed likely he would go to such extremes. +Possibly he might be satisfied to capture +the spoils, after the men had departed; +and trust to future good fortune to arrest the +delinquents later on.</p> +<p class="pnext">One of the men left the cabin, probably to +return to the upper end of the island, where +the boat lay from which these packages of +goods had been carried. He was in an ugly +humor, judging from his manner. The stubborn +way in which the motor boat boys stuck +to that cove was giving these worthies a tremendous +lot of unnecessary work; and it was +no wonder they felt badly disposed toward +Jack and his chums.</p> +<p class="pnext">Five minutes later the second man was sent +off, leaving the leader there to finish up the +job of smoothing off the earth and replacing +the broken straw as before.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he had finally completed his task it +would require a practiced eye to notice anything +queer about the floor of the cabin.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he, too, prepared to depart. Jack saw +him stoop down and take hold of the lantern, +which had all this while been resting on the +ground. In his other hand he carried the long-handled +shovel with which the digging had +been done.</p> +<p class="pnext">The tall man straightened up suddenly, and +his manner was that of one who had been +startled. Jack knew why he should act in +this way, for the same sound that had come to +the man’s ears had also reached his.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a shrill whistle, twice repeated, and +it came from the same direction in which the +two men had gone a short time before.</p> +<p class="pnext">Undoubtedly it was a signal denoting urgent +need of haste. The actions of the tall smuggler +would indicate as much; for he dashed +out of the cabin like a shot, and Jack heard the +thud as he threw the shovel into the shrubbery +surrounding the lone hut.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then followed the crashing of bushes as the +man started by a circuitous route toward the +upper end of the island. He must know every +foot of the ground, and by taking to the open +beach, could gain a given point much sooner +than one who kept to the thick undergrowth.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack saw the lantern had been hastily +dropped, though it was still burning. He was +trembling with excitement, and feeling very +much as though he wanted to yell at the top +of his voice as he picked up this abandoned +tool of the discovered smugglers.</p> +<p class="pnext">He could hear the boys talking down there +where the trio of motor boats were anchored; +and could imagine how they must be wondering +what all the racket on the island meant; +while Josh would doubtless start in to tell +them how he, Jack, had persisted in going +ashore.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some one was coming, for Jack could hear +quick footsteps near by. He still held his +Marlin gun, but was loath to even threaten +to use it. Nor was there any need, for a +moment later the moving dim figure took +form, and proved to be no other than Professor +Marshland.</p> +<p class="pnext">At sight of Jack standing there, lantern in +one hand and gun in the other, the gentleman +allowed something like a grim smile to creep +over his face, even as he came hurrying up, +almost out of breath from his exertions.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you know what it all means, Jack?” +demanded the other, as soon as he reached the +side of the boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack nodded his head eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I was looking in through a crack, and saw +what that man did. But I’m sorry he got +away from you, sir,” he replied.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I managed to capture the two fellows who +left the hut!” the government agent exclaimed. +“My Indian has meanwhile overcome +the chap who was sent to watch your +boats. But unless I can overtake the ring +leader of the bunch, I shall feel that my work +has not been wholly a success.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“He headed for the upper end of the +island,” Jack put in.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, and I have reason to suspect that the +other two men are there with the boat. You +will be surprised when I tell you that they +actually turned pirates and captured the speed +launch which you told me belonged to an +acquaintance of yours.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“The <em class="italics">Flash</em>,” echoed Jack. “No, I am not +surprised, for I had begun to suspect something +like that. They must have made Clarence +threaten to run us down, hoping we +would pull up anchor, and get away. But if +that is so, you could never hope to overtake +them in that slow little boat of yours.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well, I should say not!” declared the +other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, if it were the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, for instance, +you might have some chance,” Jack went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Which is just the point I wanted to put +up to you boys,” cried the government agent, +eagerly. “Would you be willing to assist me +run that clever scoundrel down? Do you think +George would care to try conclusions with the +<em class="italics">Flash</em>?”</p> +<p class="pnext">At that Jack laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, sir,” he declared, “he’s been just +wild for the chance, ever since we first set eyes +on that narrow boat. He believes he can beat +her out in a race. Suppose you come down +with me right now, and we’ll ask him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thank you, Jack; it was a lucky day for +me when I ran across you boys. But let us +lose no time; for doubtless they’ll be off as +soon as they can, knowing that the game is +now up, and all that remains to them is +escape.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing loth, Jack accompanied him as he +started along the broad trail leading down to +the cove. He could readily understand now +that the revenue man must have investigated +to some purpose that day while at the cabin; +and knowing there were no smuggled goods in +the cache then, had laid his plans to come +back in the night, in the expectation of catching +the rascals in the act; which was just +what he had done.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xixa-race-in-the-moonlight"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id20">CHAPTER XIX—A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Hold on!” said the agent abruptly.</p> +<p class="pnext">A dark figure had risen up before them; and +as the moonlight fell upon the man Jack saw +that it was in truth the Indian guide who had +been with the “professor” in the noisy motor +boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Did you get him, Josh?” demanded the employer, +eagerly.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He lies under hemlock, tied hand and foot. +No danger he get away,” came the confident +reply.</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” said the other. “Come along +with me, John. These boys will guard the +cabin and not let any one steal the hidden +goods. We have other work cut out for us. We +want to get our hands on that head man, Glenwood. +So long as he is at large there can be +no peace on the border.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Great was the astonishment of the five boys +when Jack and his companions made their appearance +on the shore, and the former called to +have the small boats pushed in, so that they +might come aboard.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Jack, what’s all this mean?” asked George, +greatly excited.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Can’t tell you everything just now, fellows,” +the other replied. “This gentleman is +a government revenue agent, and he’s on the +track of a band of smugglers who have been +using this island as a place to land goods +brought over from Canada. He captured +three, but the leader got away. George, he +wants to borrow your boat.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What?” gasped the other, astounded beyond +measure.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He and his man and myself will go with +you, Josh changing over,” Jack continued. +“While we’re gone the rest of you keep on the +watch and don’t let anybody come aboard, no +matter who he is. These scoundrels have captured +the <em class="italics">Flash</em>.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, what d’ye know about that?” exclaimed +Nick, as he helped Josh over the side +of the big <em class="italics">Comfort</em>, so as to make room for the +others who were to go in the speed boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But George, you haven’t said yet whether +you are willing to chase the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, and try to +overtake her?” said the energetic agent.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure I am,” came the ready response; “and +I believe we can get her, if nothing happens to +my motor. I’ve had some hard luck with it +when I tried to push the thing to the limit. +But tumble in here, and we’ll be off.”</p> +<p class="pnext">George was trembling with delightful anticipations. +If anything in all the world appealed +to him it was a race. None of the others had +the same feeling, and, like Jack, they preferred +comfort in a boat beyond speed, though none +were averse to making good time.</p> +<p class="pnext">Everybody wanted to help, and as many +hands make light work, the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> was in +condition to start almost as soon as the two +men climbed aboard.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sit as near the middle as you can, please, +to balance her,” the others heard the skipper +say, as she shot away.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” called out Nick, derisively, “and be +sure your hair is parted in the middle, or it’s +all up with you. I know, because I was there +for some four weeks.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Which way, sir?” asked George, wisely +paying no attention to this shout, which, after +all, was Nick’s only method for getting even, +after all the agony he had endured in that +cranky narrow motor boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Turn to port, and head for the upper part +of the island. We haven’t wasted much time, +and I hope to discover that boat somewhere,” +replied the agent.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If we do,” said George, with firmness, +“make up your mind the good old <em class="italics">Wireless</em> is +going to hang on like a bulldog till she cuts +down the lead, and overhauls that <em class="italics">Flash</em>. Always +said she had the look of a pirate, and +others thought the same thing, it seems, since +those men picked her out as the boat they could +use.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just think of Clarence and Joe being in +their hands all this time,” remarked Jack, as +they tore through the water. “Must seem like +a pretty tough vacation for those boys, all +right.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I don’t suppose Glenwood has really +harmed them,” said the agent; “but he’s a +hard man to deal with; and unless they +knuckled down to him perhaps they’ve felt his +fist before now. I’m hoping that, perhaps, +when Clarence sees who is after him he may +find some way to slow down and let us overhaul +him.”</p> +<p class="pnext">George only laughed at this and remarked:</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s because you don’t know Clarence, +sir. He hates me like poison, and sooner than +have me beat him with my boat I believe he’d +take the chances of staying in the power of +those smugglers for a month. Oh! no, when +he sees who is after him he’ll put things at +top-notch speed, and try every trick he knows +how to win out. But I’m not afraid, if only +things go right with my engine.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look yonder!” cried the eagle-eyed agent +just then, the Indian having pulled his coat +sleeve and pointed ahead.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Say, that’s her, as sure as fate!” cried +George, as he altered the course of his own +boat a little.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And they know we’re after them, too,” +remarked Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then the race is on; and good luck attend +the better boat,” said the government agent, +coolly taking out a cigar, biting off the end, +and proceeding to apply a lighted match to the +same.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were fairly flying through the water. +On either side the waves parted, and rolled +over smothered in foam; while in their wake +a roller kept following close on their heels.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Twenty miles if anything?” the gentleman +guessed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“More than that, sir,” replied the skipper, +proudly; “but she can do better still. I’ve got +another notch to let out if I have to. Don’t +want to take the chances unless it’s positively +necessary; because you see the quivering rattles +her so much. Are we holding our own, +do you think, Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am sure of that,” came the reply. “And +if you asked me again I’d say we are gaining +a little all the while.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Bully old <em class="italics">Wireless!</em>” exclaimed George, his +voice filled with pride. “She can do the stunt +all right if only something don’t happen to +throw us out of our gear. She’s a wonder, +that’s what, and I’ve always said so. Talk +about sprinting, did you ever go as fast as this +in a small boat, sir?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I certainly never have,” replied the government +agent; and from the way he was staggering +around, clutching hold of every object +that promised to keep him erect, it looked as +though he might just as well have added: “and +Heaven deliver me from ever experiencing it +again.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Everybody keep a sharp lookout for rocks +or anything of the sort,” said George; “because +those men must know this region like a +book, and it would be just like ’em to lead us +in a trap, so we’d be wrecked.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, you’re correct there, George,” observed +the agent, “and I give you credit for +having a long head. That’s the kind of chaps +you’re up against right now, full of trickery; +desperate men, whose one idea is escape.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“This moonlight is all right as long as the +other boat isn’t any further away than she is,” +remarked George a minute or two later.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m sorry to state that you can’t count on +the candle up in the sky much longer,” remarked +the gentleman; “for there is a suspicious +bank of black clouds hovering near, +and at any time she’s apt to be eclipsed.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” and George laughed a bit hysterically, +since he was laboring under so great +a strain of excitement. “Jack, would you mind +attending to my searchlight. Then we’ll be +ready for the trouble when she comes.”</p> +<p class="pnext">And a couple of minutes later, when the +dark mask did cover the face of the moon, a +long vivid white gleam reached out from the +brass searchlight on the forward deck of the +quivering speed boat. It widened as it extended +in the distance; and plainly seen was +the flitting craft they pursued. The position +of the <em class="italics">Flash</em> could be detected better by means +of the white foam-tipped waves thrown aside +by her swift passage, rather than by viewing +the boat itself.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s splendid!” remarked the government +agent, as he looked along this lane of +illumination, and watched the desperate struggles +of the <em class="italics">Flash</em> to outrun her determined +pursuers.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Still picking up on her, ain’t we, Jack?” +asked George, after a little.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No doubt about that, I think,” came the +reply. “And I guess you were right when you +declared the good old <em class="italics">Wireless</em> was the better +boat. She can certainly walk over the water +some. I would enjoy this more if it was day-time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I guess we all would,” laughed the gentleman, +still gripping hold of the brass rail +to make sure he might not be plunged overboard +should anything suddenly go wrong.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If only the engine behaves half-way decent,” +sighed George. “She’s doing nobly +right now, though, ain’t she, Jack? But I hope +they don’t toll us in among the rocks. If we +ever come slap up against one at this rate +there’s going to be some high vaulting, I tell +you. Whew! did you see that one sticking out +of the water? I just swerved in time, though. +Keep watching, everybody, and tell me quick +if you see anything ugly ahead!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Their pace was not abated a particle, even +though George knew that new perils were +strewn in their course. If that other boat +ahead could speed through this same tortuous +channel he believed he dared take the same +chances. And George had always been reckoned +a daring boy by his schoolmates, in football +games or on the diamond; so that this +venturesome spirit was no new freak on his +part.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was only by the greatest effort that he +refrained from throwing on the last atom of +speed, and hastening the overtaking of the +fugitive motor boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were rushing on at this tremendous +pace, and constantly gaining, when George +gave vent to a sudden loud exclamation.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxoverhauled"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id21">CHAPTER XX—OVERHAULED</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Jack had seen the same object that had given +George such a start. Across the white path +of illumination thrown forward by the powerful +little acetylene searchlight, a shadowy, +moving thing suddenly appeared.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a sailboat, beating up against a head +wind, and aiming to reach its home port while +the possibility of moonlight lasted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whatever tempted the man at the tiller to +try and cross between the swift moving motor +boats no one might ever know. But it was +the nearest to a collision, without an actual +calamity, Jack had ever experienced.</p> +<p class="pnext">He instinctively understood that the only +thing that would prevent the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> from +plunging into the luckless sailboat would be +a prompt reversal on the part of the skipper at +the wheel. And such an action was apt to endanger +the working abilities of the <em class="italics">Wireless’</em> +engine, never too trustworthy under a strain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Had George failed, Jack stood ready to butt +in and execute the speed maneuver; for this +was a case that would admit of no ceremony. +Life and death might be in the balance.</p> +<p class="pnext">But, fortunately, George kept his head. He +instantly did what was necessary, and the tremendous +forward movement of the rushing +speed boat was instantly checked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Indeed, so astonishing was the change that +the government agent came near plunging +headlong over the rail into the river. Jack +stretched out a hand and caught him just in +time. As for the Indian, he sprawled on all +fours in the bottom of the craft, trying to keep +his head from bumping against some obstacle.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack was delighted to see that the engine +had actually redeemed itself; for it still continued +to work at the old stand.</p> +<p class="pnext">The adventurous sailboat glided out of the +way, so close that the sharp bow of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> +almost touched the boom that was hauled +well in during the tacking process. A couple +of white, scared faces could be seen for two +seconds; and then the sailboat was engulfed +in the shadows that lay on either side, out +beyond range of that searchlight radius.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Bully for her!” gulped George, almost unable +to articulate under the tremendous strain, +yet thinking only of the able work of his +engine.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Speed her up again, George; but not with a +rush!” called Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">Looking ahead he saw that, just as he expected, +the <em class="italics">Flash</em> had managed to take advantage of the +momentary detention of her +rival, and increased the distance separating +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That was tough luck!” said the government +agent; “but I owe you thanks for saving +me from a wet jacket, my boy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I guess we’re fortunate not to have +smashed into that silly crowd, and played hob +with everything,” Jack remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But look where they are,” groaned the +anxious George. “Just about as far ahead as +in the start; and it’s all got to be done over +again. Oh; what fools some men are when +they get in a boat. All they had to do was to +come up in the wind till the procession passed. +Instead, they tried to butt in, and came near +spoiling the whole game. What shall we do, +Jack?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Do you want me to say what I’d do if this +was my boat?” asked the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure I do,” George spoke up. “They’ve +got some clever trick ahead, and may lose us +yet. You notice that they hardly make any +noise, even while the muffler isn’t working. +That boat was just made for a smuggler, or a +pirate. But go on, Jack, tell me.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“All right,” said the other. “You see how +well your engine is going. She’s had all the +freak rubbed off her, I guess, and is now buckling +right down to business. And honestly, +George, I believe you can trust her with that +reserve notch of speed! I’d try it, if I were +you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, I’m glad to hear you say that, Jack,” +exclaimed the skipper, eagerly. “For during +that other trip my engine played so many +pranks that she got a black eye among my +chums. If so be she’s settled down to a steady +stage, the sooner I know it the better. I’ll be +delighted to find it out. So here goes. Steady, +all; hold on tight!”</p> +<p class="pnext">The government agent, not knowing what to +expect, for they were as near flying now as he +ever expected to get, thought the policy of his +crafty Indian helper worth imitating. So he +simply dropped down in the body of the boat +and braced himself against a shock.</p> +<p class="pnext">But there was none. When George applied +that last little reserve bit of power a slight +jump forward resulted; and then after that +the only difference seemed to be that they drew +up on the fugitive <em class="italics">Flash</em> hand over hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">George was nearly wild with delight. To +him the fact that his cranky engine had finally +determined to be good and do the duty which +her makers had meant she should, far outweighed +all else. So far as he was concerned +it did not matter much whether the three men +in the <em class="italics">Flash</em> were captured or not; but it was +an affair of exceeding importance that the +good, reliable old <em class="italics">Wireless</em> should overhaul its +rival in this masterly manner.</p> +<p class="pnext">“See her hump herself, Jack!” he ejaculated, +as he balanced himself in the swaying +craft, and peered eagerly ahead toward the +other boat. “Ain’t she coming up nobly, +though? Talk to me about the <em class="italics">Flash</em> making +circles around us; why, she ain’t in the same +class with this same old <em class="italics">Wireless</em>. Oh! but +this pays me for all the troubles I’ve had in +the past. I can hardly keep from yelling, +Jack!”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Better quit that monkey business, then,” +cautioned the other. “You need all your wind +and eyesight and everything else right now in +handling such a greyhound.”</p> +<p class="pnext">That just about finished George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thank you, Jack, for giving her that fine +name. But she deserves it,” he said. “I +understand what you mean; and, believe me, +I’ll try to hold my spirits in check until the +game is won. I’d hate to have any accident +happen now, I tell you.”</p> +<p class="pnext">And he did buckle down to business with new +determination and grit, grasping the vibrating +wheel with all his strength, and watching to +see just what the tricky skipper of that other +craft might do. For George knew Clarence +only too well, nor would he put anything past +the other when it came down to cunning.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were now so close that it was easy to +see everything taking place on board the fleeing +<em class="italics">Flash</em>. Clarence was at the wheel, and +several figures crouched along either side, evidently +holding on for dear life. One was in the +stern, and Jack had little difficulty in making +him out as the tall man he had first seen in +the old cabin, and whom the agent had called +Glenwood.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Looks like we would run alongside in less +than five minutes, sir,” observed George, trying +to steady his voice, but hardly succeeding, +for his nerves were tingling in a manner he +had seldom if ever experienced before.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Keep just a little to the left, then,” answered +the agent. “And watch out, for it is +barely possible they may try to foul us at the +last, hoping to escape in the confusion.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack was changing his mind now about that +same thing. He had an idea that perhaps +Clarence had played a trick on the men who +held him in custody; he may not have let out +all the speed of which the <em class="italics">Flash</em> was capable. +Besides, now that the race seemed virtually +over, and the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> had proven the superior +why should he want to bring about a collision +that would wreck both boats, as well as endanger +the lives of all the occupants?</p> +<p class="pnext">“Steady, George, steady!” Jack cautioned, +as he thought he saw a slight change in the +course taken by the boat ahead.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Duck down, boys; he’s going to try and +scare us by firing!” suddenly said the keen-eyed +government agent.</p> +<p class="pnext">Even George managed to partly drop, so as +to be shielded by the forward deck. And that +the revenue man had guessed correctly was +made evident when there broke out the sharp +report of a revolver. Jack even believed he +could hear the peculiar whine of the flying +bullet as it passed over the boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Stay where you are!” cried the agent; +“that was only one. He’s got a few more of the +same kind to follow!”</p> +<p class="pnext">There came other shots in rapid succession. +Really, it would not be surprising if George +lost his head under such circumstances, for +usually it takes a veteran to preserve his coolness +under fire. But, singular to state, the +nervous one of the motor boys now proved +that he could shut his teeth together and hold +on tenaciously with bulldog courage.</p> +<p class="pnext">The <em class="italics">Wireless</em> may have wavered just a little, +but still kept swiftly on, diminishing the narrow +lead of her rival with constant rapidity +and steadiness.</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s all!” called the revenue man, as the +sixth shot sounded; and every one felt a perceptible +thud, telling that this time the desperate +smuggler had lowered his aim, and that +the bullet had struck the boat somewhere. +“And as it’s a poor rule that won’t work both +ways, perhaps I can have a little better luck +in scaring some one. Watch out, George, and +be ready to stop short if he does!”</p> +<p class="pnext">With that he threw out his arm, and instantly +there was a flash and a report.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh!” exclaimed George, startled in spite +of the warning.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack’s heart was fluttering with excitement. +He also felt something like regret that Clarence +was there in line with the fire. Though +the agent might be only seeking to frighten the +boy at the wheel of the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, still something +serious was apt to happen. Jack wished in his +soul that it was all over and nobody injured.</p> +<p class="pnext">The <em class="italics">Flash</em> began to wabble badly, showing +that Clarence was trying to shield himself +from the battery in the rear, something which +he would find it hard to do.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack stood ready to lend a hand in case of +an emergency that George might seem unable +to manage alone.</p> +<p class="pnext">And it was right at that critical moment, +just when light was needed most of all, that the +fickle moon shot out from behind the bank of +clouds, illuminating the surface of the broad +St. Lawrence, dotted still with islands, upon +which in many cases cottages could be seen.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack thought that was a good omen; but +there was no time to spend in reflection. Another +sharp report close to his ear told that +the revenue man believed in following up a +good thing. He knew that Clarence was on +the point of surrender, and intended to strike +while the iron was hot.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look out, George!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack shouted this warning in the ear of his +chum, for the leading motor boat had suddenly +slackened her speed, the quick pulsation of her +engine having ceased to beat upon the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Instantly the motor of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> followed +suit; and driven forward by the impetus of her +“push,” she shot alongside the other craft, +not three feet away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack breathed easier, for he saw now that a +collision was not to follow. The nerve of Clarence +had possibly failed him at the climax; and +his last move had been to stop his engine, before +dropping flat in the bottom of his boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Over into her, John! We must make prisoners +here!” shouted the agent, as he balanced +on the rail of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em>, and in so doing +almost brought that side of the narrow-beam +boat awash.</p> +<p class="pnext">“There he goes, sir!” called Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">A big splash followed, as a figure sprang +from the opposite side of the other boat. Evidently +the desperate smuggler, as a last resort, +had taken to the water, in the hope that he +might yet baffle his pursuers, and escape to +the Canada shore.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack had snatched up a boathook with a +brass knobbed end. This he fastened to the +rail of the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, and exerting all his strength, +began to draw the two boats closer together, so +that the revenue agent and his assistant might +make the transfer safely.</p> +<p class="pnext">He saw them leap across, and felt the boat +rock violently under the strain; but not for an +instant did he let go his hold. There was something +of a rumpus going on aboard the <em class="italics">Flash</em>, +as though the government men might be struggling +with the two smugglers whom they found +there, lacking in nerve to follow after their +leader, or else not knowing how to swim. But +in another minute these sounds ceased, from +which he guessed that the pair had been subdued.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxia-clean-sweep"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id22">CHAPTER XXI—A CLEAN SWEEP</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Jack!”</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the revenue man calling, and he appeared +at the side of the other boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, what is it, sir?” replied the lad who +held the boathook.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’m coming over again,” continued the +other. “I hate to let that clever rascal get +away; and we must try to pick him up. Hold +steady now.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The transfer was made without any accident, +though both boats careened wildly under +the strain, thanks to their sharp keels, fashioned +only with an eye to making speed.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I see him, sir!” cried George, as he once +more started his engine, and began to curve +around the now stationary <em class="italics">Flash</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack could also readily pick up the swimmer. +Evidently Glenwood must have kicked +off his shoes, and divested himself of coat and +vest, before jumping overboard; for he was +making splendid progress through the water, +using a hand-over-hand stroke.</p> +<p class="pnext">This necessitated more or less churning of +the water, however, and since the moon persisted +in playing into the hands of his enemies +by staying out steadily, his course was readily +seen.</p> +<p class="pnext">They bore down rapidly upon him, once the +boat had been turned around. But Jack knew +only too well that a strong and desperate +swimmer would be apt to give his pursuers a +hard pull before they could get him. If Glenwood +knew his business, as seemed evident, he +would hold himself in readiness to duck under, +just when they thought to reach over and +grasp him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, steady while I nab him!” said the +revenue man, leaning over the bow.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He’s gone under, sir!” cried Jack, who +was holding on to that serviceable boathook, +with the idea that possibly he might find a +chance to get it fast in the garments of the +man in the water.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, I expected that,” replied the other. +“And of course we don’t know just where +he’ll come up again. Our only chance is to +keep him going until even his iron muscles +weaken. We hold the advantage, boys. Look +on that side, Jack, and I’ll take care of this. +George, be ready to work around or back up, +as the case may be.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Ten seconds later and Jack called out:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here he is, on this side, George!”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then began one of the queerest experiences +Jack had ever participated in. All of his hare +and hound and paper chases must sink into +insignificance after this hunt; for a desperate +man was seeking to effect his escape.</p> +<p class="pnext">Glenwood would wait until they were close +upon him, meanwhile trying to recuperate. +Then, at the critical instant, he would sink out +of sight, and swim under water to the other +side of the boat, or the rear, never ahead. In +this way he kept them guessing; and besides, +after the boat was started it was necessary for +them to make more or less of a circuit before +they could bear down on the fugitive again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What does he hope to gain by all this, +sir?” asked George, when they had missed the +swimmer for the fourth time, and were waiting +for him to appear again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! Glenwood is a keen one,” replied the +government agent. “Depend on it he has several +irons in the fire. Perhaps he expects to +get a chance to land on the Canadian shore, +where I could not very well chase him. Then +again he keeps hoping that our good friend, +the moon, will kindly hide again. That would +give him all the opportunity he wants to come +up, get a breath, and vanish without being +seen. There he is, George; back up this time!”</p> +<p class="pnext">So the merry chase continued—at least it +may have seemed that to the two boys, but +must have assumed a more serious aspect +with the man they were after. Jack could not +but admire the nerve and audacity of the +swimmer. He even secretly began to hope +Glenwood might get away; for after all it was +none of their business, though the fellow was +really a criminal, in that he was breaking the +laws of the land.</p> +<p class="pnext">But George had entered heart and soul into +the game, and was determined to do all he +could to assist the revenue man. He backed +the boat so fast that soon the swimmer had to +duck again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“He’s getting weaker all the time, boys,” +remarked the agent, in a satisfied tone. “We +have only to keep this system of tactics up a +little longer, and Glenwood will be only too +glad to come in out of the wet, or drown.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I hope that doesn’t happen,” said +George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Little fear,” replied the other. “Like +most of us, Glenwood clings on to life, and always +has hopes of escaping. Do you see him +yet, either of you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Not on this side,” replied Jack.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And I don’t glimpse him here,” George +went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">“But he’s been under almost a full minute +now, and that’s a long time for one as exhausted as +he must be,” the agent remarked, +seriously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I hope he hasn’t acted like I’ve known +wounded ducks to do,” said George, “go to the +bottom, and hold on to the eel grass until they +drown. That would be terrible.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And if he’d only held out a few minutes +more he might have had the chance he was +looking for, sir,” said Jack; “for there’s another +bunch of clouds making up toward the +moon.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Just so, Jack,” remarked the revenue +man, glancing aloft; “and I wager Glenwood +knew that fact, too.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But where can he be, sir? It would be impossible +for any one to stay under so long. +I’m something of a swimmer myself, and I +know I couldn’t,” George went on, anxiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure he didn’t bob up quietly, take a +breath or two, and sink out of sight again?” +asked the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both boys declared they were positive that +such had not been the case. The revenue man +remained there for another minute, as though +pondering. Then Jack saw him look up and +smile. He did not call out, but made a mysterious +motion with his hand that seemed to call +for silence.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then Jack saw him creeping slowly and cautiously toward +the stern of the boat. George +stared with wide open eyes, as though the +startling thought had come to him that their +passenger had suddenly gone crazy. But if +so, there was a method in his madness, and +Jack had guessed it.</p> +<p class="pnext">The stern of the <em class="italics">Wireless</em> was not an over-hang, +but the customary square one of a speed +boat. Still, any one in the water could hang +on to the rudder, keeping clear of the propeller; +and while the boat was stationary, be +concealed from the view of those aboard, unless +indeed, some inquisitive person thrust his +head far out over the edge.</p> +<p class="pnext">Undoubtedly the cunning Glenwood had +conceived this to be a good plan, to rest, and +wait for the cloud to cover the face of the +moon, when he could dip again, and pass away +under the water beyond reach of their limited +vision.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack almost ceased to breathe, so intensely +interested was he in watching the advance of +the revenue man. It was a case of diamond +cut diamond, apparently, and victory would +go to the keener mind.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now the agent was crawling over the stern, +and evidently getting in readiness to suddenly +swoop his arm down, with fingers extended, to +clutch anything he might come in contact with +there.</p> +<p class="pnext">He made the movement with a celerity that +reminded Jack of the swoop of a hawk on a +pigeon. And apparently he must have gauged +his action nicely; for immediately there arose +a yell, and a threshing of the water followed; +while the agent held on desperately, calling to +the others for assistance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two hands were seen to clutch the brass +rail; and then a head came into view.</p> +<p class="pnext">“No need to yank my hair out; I’m coming +aboard all right, Carson!” gasped the exhausted +swimmer; but the government agent +evidently looked upon him as a slippery customer, +for he declined to release his clutch +until the man had been pulled wholly into the +boat, and stretched on his back in the bottom.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack felt a queer chill when he heard something +“click,” and realized that for the first +time in all his life he saw a prisoner hand-cuffed. +But Glenwood did not appear to be +very much cast down. He had faced this situation +a long time, and evidently discounted all +its terrors. He even laughed as soon as he got +his breath.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It was some fun while it lasted, Carson,” +he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">“And you came near playing it on me for +good,” replied the other, laughing in his turn. +“I only fell to your smart trick by accident. +Seemed to me I felt something bump against +the side of the boat, when none of us chanced +to be moving. And then I figured what I would +do myself in a similar case. That was how I +came to hit on your game, Glenwood.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“How about my friends; did they get +away?” asked the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">“George,” the agent went on, “turn around, +and we’ll head back; if you’re in doubt I can +tell you just where we’ll find the other boat, +first of all, and then the island where your +comrades are waiting.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he turned to his prisoner, saying:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Neither of them took the dare you set, +Glenwood; and we got the upper hand of both +in short order. Besides, there are three +chaps with their legs tied up, on the island.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“A clean sweep, you’ve made of it, then,” +remarked the smuggler, disconsolately; +“bagged the whole lot, and the stuff in the +bargain. Well, I knew how it would be when +I heard they were sending you up here, Carson. +Sooner or later I guessed we’d be up +against it, and meet with our finish. But it +came quicker than I expected.”</p> +<p class="pnext">He said nothing more, nor did the government +agent seem disposed to enter into further conversation +just then. Keeping at the +elbow of the pilot, he watched him head the +boat along toward where George thought the +<em class="italics">Flash</em> would be found. And that his judgment +was good they presently saw, when in +the moonlight the other motor boat was discovered +quite motionless on the river.</p> +<p class="pnext">George gave a signal, which was immediately +answered. When they drew alongside +it was to find that both Clarence and Bully +Joe were awaiting their coming with more or +less eagerness.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Thank goodness!” said the owner of the +<em class="italics">Flash</em>; “now we’ll get rid of these ugly fellows. +They just pounced down on us several +days ago, and we’ve had to do what they +wanted ever since. I hope, sir, you won’t +bother taking us along with you, because we’ve +had nothing to do with their games. We were +prisoners, that’s right. I was threatened +with all sorts of terrible things if I refused +to run the boat as that man wanted.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I understand that, young fellow,” +said Mr. Carson, pleasantly. “All I want +you to do is to accompany us back to the island, +carrying those you have aboard. I’ll +relieve you of them there, and you can go +about your business. I have no call out for +you. But next time I advise you to be a little +more careful whose company you accept. It +got you into trouble once, and may again.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I declare I have no idea where our blooming +old haunted island lies,” admitted George, +frankly; “and I’ll have to ask you to stand +by sir, to tell me how to steer.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s easily done, George;” laughed the +other. “And you’ve been a big help to me, +something I’ll not soon forget either. Clarence, +keep as close by us as is safe; and we’ll +have no more racing as we return, remember.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Clarence had something on his mind, nor +could he keep from saying what it was.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Think you climbed up on me hand over +fist, don’t you, George,” he remarked, as the +two speed boats got under way once more. +“Well, you’ve got another think coming, that’s +what. He ordered me to hit up my hottest +pace, and I told him I was doing it; but all +the same I kept a bit in reserve. The <em class="italics">Flash</em> +can do better; and some fine day you’ll all get +your eyes opened, perhaps. I played my little +game to get rid of unwelcome passengers, +leaving the question about which was the +faster boat to be settled some other time. See?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“That’s a likely story,” sneered George, +who would not think of letting any one dim +the glory that the dashing <em class="italics">Wireless</em> had so +gallantly won; and least of all Clarence Macklin. +“Tell that to the marines, will you? But +if the chance ever comes I’ll try it all over +with you for fair. Meanwhile don’t bother +yourself boasting how you’re going to cut figure +eight’s around me, with that pirate boat +of yours. She looks dangerous; but in a race +something besides looks counts. I’ve got it +right here. That’ll be enough for you, Clarence,” +and George declined to exchange any +further words with the skipper of the defeated +motor boat.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxiibusters-hour-of-triumph"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id23">CHAPTER XXII—BUSTER’S HOUR OF TRIUMPH</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It proved that Mr. Carson knew his St. Lawrence +in the neighborhood of the Thousand +Islands by heart, so that even in the misty +moonlight he was able to guide the two speed +boats back to the haunted island.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their arrival was the signal for an outburst +of cheers from those of the motor boat boys +who had been left behind.</p> +<p class="pnext">Great was the excitement that took possession +of the four when they discovered that it +was Clarence and Bully Joe who were now in +charge of the mysterious dark speed boat; +and after finding out that three smugglers lay +in the bottom, with their ankles tied, and steel +bracelets on their wrists, Nick and Josh were +so overwhelmed with amazement that they +could hardly speak for a brief time. And as +the others realized, when the tall lad lost his +voice it must be something wonderful indeed +that had happened.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Carson meant to lose no time. He sent +his Indian assistant across the island to take +the little canvas collapsible canoe, and cross +over to a neighboring piece of land, where +their noisy motor boat had been concealed +earlier in the evening.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course the boys now understood that it +had been this river craft whose loud, rattling +pulsations they had caught at the time George +first mentioned hearing the sounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">When, a little later, the pilot returned, +bringing the snub-nosed boat with him, the +three prisoners were transferred without much +trouble. After that the revenue man and his +helper went ashore to complete the job. One +by one they brought off the trio of prisoners +who had been left there helpless.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally they carried aboard the large packs +that Jack had seen hidden in the cavity under +the old straw in the cabin’s earthen floor.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I think that finishes the job,” remarked +the energetic agent, as he wiped his wet forehead. +“And I must admit that, taken as a +whole, it’s about the most satisfactory piece +of business I’ve handled for a long time.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Did you get them all, sir?” Josh asked, +filled with admiration for the man who could +engineer a big scheme like this and bring it +to a successful close.</p> +<p class="pnext">“The entire working force is now in custody, +I believe,” replied Mr. Carson. “To be +sure there are probably some persons connected +with the band whom we will never lay +hands on; such as those who supplied the +funds, and shipped the goods across the border. +But it may be possible to catch some of +the guilty receivers over on our side of the +river. When rogues find themselves fast in +the toils, they frequently offer to confess all +they know in order to curry favor with the authorities. +And secretly, between us, I imagine +Glenwood may yet be induced to turn state’s +evidence.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Are you going to leave us now, sir?” asked +Jack, seeing that the other was evidently preparing +to cross over to his own well laden motor +boat.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” came the reply. “The sooner I get +this cargo behind the bars, the better. But I +want to shake hands with each one of you, and +thank you again most heartily for the assistance +you have given me in this matter. I don’t +mean to let it drop there; and you may expect +to hear from me again, since Jack Stormways +has given me his address. Good night boys, +and may the balance of your vacation be as +peaceful as the beginning has been stormy.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! well, we’ve sure enjoyed it, Mr. Carson,” +said George, “and it was worth a heap +to me to have that chance to try conclusions +with the <em class="italics">Flash</em>.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve no doubt of it, George,” laughed the +agent, as he clambered over the side of his +stubby little launch. “And since I miss that +same evil looking boat, I surmise that our +friend Clarence did not care to stay here in +your company any longer than he could help.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“He scooted off as soon as you had gone +ashore for the prisoners, sir,” observed Nick, +who wanted to have a last word with the man +he admired so much.</p> +<p class="pnext">And in another minute the Indian pilot had +set his chatterbox of an engine to beating a +lively tattoo, upon which the stub-nosed launch +began to draw away. As long as it remained in +sight in the moonlight the boys cheered, and +called goodbyes, so that if there chanced to be +any more ghosts lingering about that haunted +island they must have taken this for a clear +defiance of their power, and concluded to remain +in hiding during the balance of the stay +of the motor boat boys.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Think we can pick up a few winks of sleep, +fellows?” asked George, when the clatter of +the loud-voiced engine had been mellowed by +distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We ought to try, anyhow,” said Jack, +“Seems to me we’ve had our rest pretty badly +broken up lately. For one I’m going to forget +it all for a while.”</p> +<p class="pnext">But the chances were that none of them got +any satisfactory sleep during the balance of +that eventful night.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the following morning they prepared to +vacate the cove that had been their anchorage +for so long. All of them first went ashore; for +Nick and Herb were very anxious to see the +cabin, and the hole in the floor were the smugglers +kept their goods concealed after secretly +bringing the stuff over from the Canada mainland, +waiting until a good chance opened to +scatter it through the state, free of duty.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” declared Nick, as they prepared to +get underway later in the morning; “this has +been a great experience all around, sure +enough. And it ended fine—that is for us boys, +though I guess poor old Glenwood and his fellow +conspirators don’t feel so very gay over +it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“And don’t forget our friends, Clarence and +Bully Joe, while about it,” spoke up George. +“Just stop and think what Macklin went +through—held a prisoner by those reckless +men, and threatened with all sorts of trouble +if he so much as squeaked on ’em. Then +forced to do whatever they wanted. And last, +but far from least, beaten in a fair race by +this dandy little meteor boat that he once +sneered at. That’s glory enough for me, I’m +telling you, shipmates.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I guess we all enjoyed it,” remarked Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes, so far as I’m concerned I’d be quite +contented and happy right now, if I only knew +one thing,” remarked Nick, looking doleful +again.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Here, don’t you go to starting up your +tune about that break,” said George, “we all +agreed long ago that if you <em class="italics">did</em> leak to Clarence, +you never would have done it on purpose. +So forget it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But I tell you I can’t,” flashed back the +fat boy. “I feel sore about it; and I want to +find out the truth so that every one of you’ll +get down on your marrow-bones and ask my +pardon. And something tells me the time ain’t +so far away when that very thing is going to +happen.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Then speed the hour,” grinned Herb; +“after you’ve seen us in a row asking forgiveness, +perhaps we’ll have peace, and you’ll forget +the incident.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Don’t count too heavily on that,” George +said. “You don’t know Buster as well as I +do. Just as like as not he’ll turn out to be made +up the same way as that thirsty young woman +in the sleeping car, you know.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“But perhaps we don’t know, so suppose +you tell us,” Nick himself burst out with curiosity +consuming him.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! I thought it was a chestnut; but if you +will have it, listen. A traveling man, trying to +go to sleep, heard some woman keep on saying +out loud in the berth next to him ‘Oh! I +am so thirsty! Oh! I am so thirsty!’ When he +couldn’t stand for it any longer he got up, went +and fetched a glass of water, and begged her +to accept it. Then he went back to his berth, +thinking he would have peace. But soon he +heard the same woman saying over and over +again: ‘Oh! I was so thirsty! I was so thirsty!’ +So look out Buster don’t play that game on +you, Herb.”</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a shout at this, in which Nick +joined; for being a good-natured chap in the +main, he could take a joke that was leveled at +himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">About nine o’clock the signal was given, and +the three motor boats forming the cruising +fleet pulled out of the friendly cove. Those on +board looked back with more or less rejoicing +and regret at the scene of their recent adventures. +They would not soon forget all that +had happened since first they dropped in there +for a night’s stay. And Jack’s entries in the +official log would doubtless prove very entertaining +reading for the folks at home.</p> +<p class="pnext">Upon examining the bow of his speed boat +George had found where that bullet had struck, +that was fired last of all by the desperate smuggler, +in hopes of frightening the boy at the +wheel of the pursuing craft.</p> +<p class="pnext">It had made quite a hole, though fortunately +doing no real damage. Later on he could +of course, have the aperture plugged; but for +the present it would stand as a mute witness to +the truth of the adventurous story the boys +had to tell. If any one of their mates at home +ventured to scoff at the idea of their having +been actually under a hot fire, he stood ready +to pry that bit of lead out of its lodgings, and +thus confound the skeptic.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were now on the second week of their +vacation, and of course had lots of territory +to cover still, before they could say they had +exhausted the pleasures of this wonderful +cruising ground. But already the motor boat +boys were looking forward to another daring +venture, and all of them had written home to +gain the consent of those who must be consulted +ere determining positively on their +plans.</p> +<p class="pnext">This included a long trip through lakes Ontario +and Erie, up past Detroit into Lake Huron, +along the shore of this great body of water +until the wonderful Soo was reached at the +head of the St. Mary’s river; and then possibly +into Superior; winding up with a run +down Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, where the +boats could be sent home the same way they +had left, via railroad.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course, being real boys, once a great undertaking +like this had formed itself in their +minds they could talk of little else. And Jack +knew very well that if any determined opposition +developed at home, that would put a +damper on the grand scheme, there would be +a feeling of gloom settle down over the whole +expedition.</p> +<p class="pnext">After leaving the haunted island the first object +of the boys was to get back to Clayton, +and not only replenish their depleted supplies, +but gather up any mail that would, according +to orders, be held for them at the post office +there.</p> +<p class="pnext">Josh went ashore to get the mail, while Jack +looked after the supplies. Nick seemed unusually +uneasy all the time they were gone; +and upon their showing up he demanded +shrilly that the letters be distributed without +delay.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Only one for you, Pudding,” jeered the +letter carrier, as he held it up; “and seems to +me I smell violet perfume on that. Must be a +dainty billet doux from Rosie Sinclair; but +here, take it and go off by yourself. It would +make us all die of envy to see you reading +such sweet stuff, when we are forgotten by our +best girls.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick eagerly snatched the missive from his +hand, and with trembling fingers tore it open. +A minute later the others were astonished to +hear him give a loud whoop.</p> +<p class="pnext">“What did I tell you, fellows?” he exclaimed, +trying to dance around like a wild +Indian, and waving the open letter. “Mebbe +I ain’t something of a detective myself? Come +around here, every one of you now, and get +ready to do that marrow-bone act you promised.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“What’s all this mean? Has he gone out of +his mind?” asked George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Tell us, Buster,” said Jack, who could suspect +something of the nature of the communication +Nick had received.</p> +<p class="pnext">“His dad has said he can take the northern +cruise, that’s what!” remarked Josh, a bit +enviously.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! you’re away off there,” cried the fat +boy, derisively. “Why, you couldn’t guess +the truth in a month of Sundays, Josh. It +takes real brains to figure out a solution to a +mystery like that. And I did it, all by my little +self.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Great governor!” ejaculated George, +“listen to him, would you, fellows? Honest +now, if it don’t sound as if he’d found out +where that leak lay. Here, Buster, it isn’t +fair to keep us on the ragged edge so long. +Open up now, and explain. Did anybody talk +in their sleep? Who told Clarence our plans?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“You did, George; yes, and so did Jack and +Herb and Josh—I guess Jimmie and myself +had a hand in it too!” laughed the fat boy, to +their great mystification!</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxiiihappy-daysconclusion"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id24">CHAPTER XXIII—HAPPY DAYS—CONCLUSION</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“Poor old Buster! He’s sure getting weak +in the upper story,” said George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“It’s going to be a strait-jacket for him before +long!” sighed Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Jack spoke not a word; for he could +somehow see further than the rest of the boys, +and understood that Nick held a strong hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh! is that the way you’re thinking?” +said the fat boy, still trembling with the violence +of his excitement. “Just wait till I read +this little letter, and then if you’re honest +you’ll do the right thing by poor old Buster.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“He’s going to read Rosie’s little note to us, +fellows!” cried Josh, pretending to be horror-stricken +at such a base betrayal of confidence.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Who said it was from Rosie, or any girl +at all?” demanded Nick, indignantly. “Look +at the name signed at the bottom, and you can +read Aleck. Yes, it’s from my old friend, Aleck +Sands. I wrote him a week ago, when that +bright thought first dazzled me. And you remember, +when Josh here gave me that start by +talking through that old rusted tin water pipe? +Well, that made me believe harder than before +that I’d got on the track.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Read the letter, plague take you, Nick!” +roared impatient George; “don’t you see +you’re giving some of us heart disease right +now, with your everlasting slow way of getting +at things.”</p> +<p class="pnext">So Nick, assuming a posture that, according +to his mind signified the attitude of a victor +awaiting the laurel wreath, began in his slow +way.</p> +<blockquote><div> +<p class="pfirst">“Dear Buster:</p> +<p class="pnext">“As soon as I got your interesting letter I +hit it up for the school house. Found old +Crusty Bill Edwards hard at work, and had +to bribe him to let me get in. Went up to the +little room where we hold our club meetings. +Yes, you were right, Buster; the register from +the furnace in that room does back into the +cloak room. Found both of ’em shut, but got +old Bill to stand in the club room while I +opened the registers, and then listened in the +cloak closet while he talked to himself. And +Buster, why, say, I could near hear the old +man <em class="italics">think</em>, every sound came through that hole +so plain. If you fellows talked about your +plans that day you were there, and Clarence +was hiding in the cloak room, make up your +mind, old chap, he heard every word you said; +In a hurry so I’ll ring off.</p> +<p class="pnext right">“Yours, Aleck.”</p> +</div></blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">As Nick read the last word he paused and +looked expectant. His motor-mates stared at +one another as though for the moment rendered +incapable of speech. The cleverness of +the fat boy’s deduction was stunning; had it +sprung from Jack, now, they might not have +considered it so very wonderful; but to think +that Buster, always so slow to grasp anything, +could have done it, fairly staggered them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jack was the first to recover. Laughingly +he dropped on one knee beside Nick, and seizing +the fat hand of the victor he pretended to +kiss it with due humility.</p> +<p class="pnext">The others entered into the spirit of the occasion; +and right there on the dock, regardless +of the stares of passersby, the five clung around +the grinning Buster, begging him to forgive +their thick-headedness, and restore them to +favor.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nick of course, enjoyed the game most +heartily, and laughed himself into a fit of +choking, as he raised his chums, one by one, +and tapped them on the head in token of his +pardon.</p> +<p class="pnext">“However did you come to think of it?” +asked George, a little later, as they were once +more aboard their boats, and ready to start +forth in search of new adventures.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I dreamed about it, and that’s the truth,” +declared Nick, solemnly; nor could they ever +get him to change his assertion. “Woke me +right up in the middle of the night too. +Thought I saw Clarence peekin’ through a +hole, and laughing to beat the band; and then +I saw the silly crowd in the next room. That +gave me an idea, and started me to thinking. I +believed I remembered that register, and had +an idea there was another one just back of it +opening into that cloak room. Now you don’t +blame me for wanting to get that letter, do +you?”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I should say not,” declared George frankly. +“Why you’ve just covered yourself with glory, +Buster. After this, when anything mysterious +happens, we’ll turn to you to guess the answer. +You ought to be a lawyer, sure.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Or a revenue man,” suggested Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Guess Buster’d like to be the head steward +on a big Atlantic liner best of all,” was the +wicked remark of the envious Josh.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the fat boy was in a jolly frame of mind, +and could not be provoked by any sort of fling +just then. He turned to his tormentor, and +smiling sweetly, remarked:</p> +<p class="pnext">“Josh knows my weak point; but then you +fellows understand that it’s only green envy +that makes him say such things. Right now +he’d give almost anything if only he had my +honest appetite. I never make faces at my +meals. Why, I’m ready for one right at this +present minute, fellows.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Well,” said Jack, “let’s get off a few miles +from Clayton before we think to start the +stoves going. Perhaps we’ll find a nice quiet +place where we can go ashore, and do the cooking +stunt. This place is too thickly populated +to make a show of ourselves to the gaping +natives.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Now, I know you mean me when you say +that, Jack,” observed Nick, reproachfully. +“But while I confess that I’ve got a bully good +appetite, I hope I don’t disgrace the bunch +when I join in the eating game. Herb, are we +ready to start? While we are moving along I’ll +try and hatch up a new dish out of my new +book here, that will make your mouths water.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“If Herb was wise he’d have drowned that +cook book long before this,” muttered Josh, +as George gave his engine a fling and immediately +started away in the lead.</p> +<p class="pnext">The three motor boats kept close company. +George had apparently experienced all the +running on ahead he wished, during that previous +memorable cruise down the Mississippi; +and was content after rushing half a mile in +the lead to slow down and let the others catch +up with him.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was in great spirits this morning. That +wonderful little race in the moonlight on the +preceding night, with its successful termination, +had made him fall in love with his cranky +speed boat more than ever. He could hardly +talk intelligently about anything else; and +finally the others declared that he was even a +worse sinner in that respect than Nick had +ever been.</p> +<p class="pnext">The day was sunshiny, and everything +around them seemed joyous, so it was not to +be thought strange that the motor boat boys +were every little while bursting out in snatches +of song, or exchanging joking remarks as the +boats chanced to close up.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Wonder if we’ll ever hear from the gentleman +again?” Herb was saying, as they later +on headed for a bit of lonely shore, where it +seemed inviting to campers.</p> +<p class="pnext">“If you mean Mr. Carson,” Jack replied, +“I’m sure we will, for he gave his promise; +and a man like him never goes back on his +word. I’ve an idea he means to send us some +little thing to put in our clubroom, to remember +the adventure by.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“As if we’d be likely to ever forget it?” +laughed George, patting his throbbing motor +affectionately.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I’ve thought up that new mess, fellows!” +called out Nick, just then.</p> +<p class="pnext">Everybody groaned in unison.</p> +<p class="pnext">“You know we’ve always had Boston baked +beans and coffee for lunch whenever we got a +chance to go ashore at noon. All right. I’m +for progress. I like to vary our meals some. +Let’s turn things upside down, and right +around. If you agree, then today let the bill +of fare be coffee and Boston baked beans.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Bully for Buster! He’s the one bright +mind in the bunch!” laughed George.</p> +<p class="pnext">“We can have a new dish every day at that +rate, fellows!” sang out Herb.</p> +<p class="pnext">And so, joking and laughing in this way, +they ran close in, found a deep place to anchor +the three motor boats, and began to get ashore +with such things as they needed for the meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">The future looked very bright to those six +jolly fellows just then, with never a cloud in +sight. Presently they hoped to be hearing the +returns from home, when they would know +whether their plan for an extended cruise was +looked upon favorably by the powers that controlled +their destinies.</p> +<p class="pnext">But no matter what the outcome of that +proposition might be, they did not mean to +worry over anything. The great St. Lawrence +was an ideal cruising place, and doubtless if +they were forced to stay there during the balance +of the summer they could find plenty of +amusement in the way of fishing, racing, and +exploring.</p> +<p class="pnext">Only Josh solemnly expressed the hope that +in their “nosing around,” as he called it, they +might not happen upon another haunted +island. Once spelled enough for him; and there +was no telling but that on another occasion the +ghost might prove to be more real than the one +manufactured by Glenwood and his fellow +smugglers, to frighten the owners of the three +motor boats away from their pet cove.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was always the chance that sooner +or later they would again run across Clarence +Macklin and his crony, Bully Joe Brinker. +George would be only too glad of another opportunity +to test his beloved <em class="italics">Wireless</em> against +the very best that the <em class="italics">Flash</em> could put forth.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Make up your mind, George,” said Jack, +when his chum was mentioning this thing one +day. “You never would get that tricky Clarence +to acknowledge your boat to be better +than his. If you beat him six times he’d have +six good excuses ready, and each one different +from all the rest. Whoever caught him with +the goods on, and made him confess? A fellow +he didn’t know stopped him and stuck the +things in his pocket. He was right then on the +way to hand them over to the police. Don’t you +remember when he said that? Well, you may +have your race, and win out handsomely, but +don’t expect Clarence to hand you an honest +admission that his boat ran second.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“I don’t,” grinned George; “but I’d like to +race him all the same; and I only hope the +chance comes along, sooner or later.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Perhaps it would, for stranger things were +likely to happen to the motor boat boys than +that they would run across Clarence again during +their outing days.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I saw him in Clayton when ashore,” remarked +Jack. “He was talking with a man +who, from his soiled clothes, I’d take to be an +engineer, or something like that.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Sure,” laughed George, evidently pleased. +“Knowing that in her present condition the +<em class="italics">Flash</em> is no match for my bully boat, he’s going +to see if she can’t be improved somehow, so +as to squeeze just a little more speed out of her. +Huh! perhaps I might do something of that +kind myself. But just wait and see, fellows. +If there is another race between us it’s going +to be for keeps.”</p> +<p class="pnext">When some time later their mail began to +arrive from home it might be judged from the +excitement and congratulations to be heard +that favorable replies were coming in from +headquarters. And that this was really the +fact, the reader who has been interested in the +fortunes of Jack and his chums thus far, will +take for granted, when he learns that the title +of the next volume in this series, already published, +and ready for his enjoyment, is: “The +Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes; or, +Young Pilots to the Rescue.”</p> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">THE END.</div> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 5em"> +</div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 35728 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |