diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35728.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35728.txt | 5984 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5984 deletions
diff --git a/35728.txt b/35728.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e90e77a..0000000 --- a/35728.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5984 +0,0 @@ - MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Title: Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence - -Author: Louis Arundel - -Release Date: March 30, 2011 [EBook #35728] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. -LAWRENCE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net. - - -[Illustration: _"Promise to read to me the log of your last trip, when -you went down the big river."_] - - - - MOTOR BOAT BOYS - ON THE ST. LAWRENCE - - - - - OR - - - - Solving the Mystery of the Thousand Islands - - - - By - - - - LOUIS ARUNDEL - - - - Chicago - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - - COPYRIGHT 1913 - BY M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY - - Made in U.S.A. - - - - - - -Table of Contents - - - - CHAPTER I--AFTER THE GAME - - - CHAPTER II--CHUMS, TRIED AND TRUE - - - CHAPTER III--A CHANCE CLEW - - - CHAPTER IV--BLOCKING A SLY MOVE - - - CHAPTER V--THE GUARDIAN OF THE FLEET - - - CHAPTER VI--THE "FLASH" - - - CHAPTER VII--JOSH SCENTS TROUBLE - - - CHAPTER VIII--IN THE MIDNIGHT WATCH - - - CHAPTER IX--THE GHOST OF THE ISLAND - - - CHAPTER X--FOLLOWING A TRAIL - - - CHAPTER XI--BUSTER GETS AN IDEA - - - CHAPTER XII--YANKEE STUBBORNNESS - - - CHAPTER XIII--THE GHOST HUNTER - - - CHAPTER XIV--A STRANGE RIDE - - - CHAPTER XV--ANOTHER NIGHT - - - CHAPTER XVI--JACK'S DARING VENTURE - - - CHAPTER XVII--THE SECRET OUT - - - CHAPTER XVIII--THE ESCAPE - - - CHAPTER XIX--A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT - - - CHAPTER XX--OVERHAULED - - - CHAPTER XXI--A CLEAN SWEEP - - - CHAPTER XXII--BUSTER'S HOUR OF TRIUMPH - - - CHAPTER XXIII--HAPPY DAYS--CONCLUSION - - - - MOTOR BOAT BOYS SERIES - - THE MOTOR CLUB'S CRUISE DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI - THE MOTOR CLUB ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER - THE MOTOR CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES - MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG THE FLORIDA KEYS - MOTOR BOAT BOYS DOWN THE COAST - MOTOR BOAT BOYS RIVER CHASE - MOTOR BOAT BOYS DOWN THE DANUBE - - List Price 60c Each - - - - - THE MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE; - or - Solving a Mystery of the Thousand Islands - - - - - - -CHAPTER I--AFTER THE GAME - - -"That was a hard game for Macklin to lose, fellows!" - -"I should say it was, Herb." - -"He nearly pitched his head off, too. Wow! how they did come in like -cannon balls!" - -"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. - -"But Jack met his hot pace, and went him one better. Clarence may be a -cracker jack in the box, but he can't _just_ come up to good old -reliable Jack Storm ways, of the high school baseball club." - -"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." - -"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!" - -"Thanks, George. I believe I did help Brodie dash home with the winning -tally. It's awful nice of you fellows to appreciate talent!" - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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 _Wireless_, 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 _Tramp_, 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 _Comfort_, for she was -as staunch and reliable as a houseboat. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"Tell us about it, please," asked Buster, anxiously. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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 _Comfort_. 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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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----" - -"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?" - -"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." - -"The boats got off all right, that's a comfort," observed Herb. - -"How do ye know?" demanded Jimmie. - -"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." - -"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." - -"That sounds good to me!" cried Nick. - -"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. - -"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?" - -"Wid both feet," replied the party addressed, emphatically. "The sooner -we kin arroive at the Thousand Islands, the better I'll be plazed." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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!" - -"Looks like he was in a big hurry, too?" suggested Nick. - -"Well, he is half running, to be sure," admitted George. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -Josh stopped running when close to the others, as though husbanding his -wind so that he could communicate the news he bore. - -"It's all up, fellows!" he cried, as he finally reached the corner, -where the other five gathered around him. - -"What do you mean?" asked Jack, anxiously. - -"Yes, explain, Josh. What's up?" demanded George. - -"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!" - - - - -CHAPTER II--CHUMS, TRIED AND TRUE - - -"Josh, hold up your hand, and look me in the eye!" said Jack, sternly. - -"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. - -"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." - -"How d'ye know all this, Josh?" demanded Nick, rather tremulously. - -"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?" - -"Yes, yes, of course we do, Josh; but go on;" cried Herb. - -"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. - -"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.'" - -Various exclamations broke out from the other boys. - -"Oh, yes, they must know, all right!" said Herb, bitterly. - -"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. - -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. - -"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 _was_ a leak, it didn't come through me! I never -told a single soul!" - -"Oh! nobody has accused you, Buster," said Jack, soothingly, for he was -fond of the good-natured fat boy. - -"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. - -"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?" - -"I say no!" exclaimed Herb, immediately and with firmness. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"And so he thinks he's got a wizard boat that will cut circles all -around my _Wireless_, 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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"Buster is right about that, for I remember it distinctly," remarked -Jack. - -"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. - -"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." - -"But there was no sign of them, you also remember that?" observed Jack, -quickly. - -"Niver a wan," Jimmie hastened to reply. - -"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." - -"Somebody must have talked in their sleep," suggested Josh, humorously. - -"Perhaps some one in the post office got on to Jack receiving a letter -from Clayton, and writing there," Herb put in. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"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." - -"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!" - -"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. - -"He's sure got on his fighting togs today!" echoed Herb, soothingly. - -"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!" - -"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!" - -At that there was a howl; and Jimmie doubled up like a jack-knife in the -violence of his merriment. - -"I can see Joe's finish, if he keeps on trying such tricks," whooped -George. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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 _Comfort_, when we sail -the stormy waters of the St. Lawrence, eh, Buster?" - -"Well," remarked Josh, as he started away, "anyhow, I'm glad you've -decided to give our friend Buster the upper berth!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER III--A CHANCE CLEW - - -"Why, hello Jack!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Well," continued Clarence, "I suppose you fellows are in high feather, -now that vacation has come, and you can break away?" - -"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." - -"And I suppose, also, you mean to get away soon?" Clarence went on. - -"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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"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." - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -So instead of taking up the challenge, as Clarence doubtless wanted him -to, Jack simply elevated his eyebrows, and remarked: - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -He was looking after the departing Clarence when he saw him take out his -handkerchief to wipe his forehead, for the day was warm. - -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. - -So, in this spirit Jack bent down and secured possession of the crumpled -yellow paper. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -And the very first glimpse he had of the writing gave him a thrill; for -he read the address, which was: - -"Jared Fullerton, Clayton, N. Y." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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----" - -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. - -Jack read it over twice, and looked grave. - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -He knew the operator quite well, a young fellow who also sold tickets. - -"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. - -"Yes, that's so, Jack," came the reply from the agent; who was really an -admirer of the young high school pitcher. - -"How long ago was that--could I find him in town now, do you think?" - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -It was surely a time for quick thinking, and action, unless they wished -to take the chances of having their whole summer outing spoiled. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER IV--BLOCKING A SLY MOVE - - -"Is that you, Jack?" - -"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. - -"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?" - -"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?" - -"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. - -"I will. So-long, George. Get a move on you now. Important!" - -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. - -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. - -Jack and Jimmie met them at the side door. - -"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. - -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. - -"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. - -"Well," remarked Jack, "I might as well admit right in the start that it -does concern our three motor boats." - -"Don't tell me that any tragedy has happened to 'em, Jack?" pleaded -George, who was known to have a great affection for his _Wireless_, even -though the cranky speed boat did seem to delight in playing many cruel -tricks upon its skipper. - -"No, not yet, I believe," came the answer. - -"Good! You make me feel better already, Jack!" exclaimed George. - -"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?" - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"Jack, you're right; he means our boats!" ejaculated Herb, with a trace -of indignation and horror in his voice. - -"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 _Wireless_! Why, Jack, they -could be sent to prison for a long term if they destroyed the boats." - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -An animated discussion followed. Some suggested one thing, which was -debated _pro_ and _con_; then another new idea would crop up, which they -eagerly seized upon, being deeply concerned about the safety of the -precious craft. - -"Whatever do you suppose that sneak of a Fullerton could do, to put our -craft out of the running?" asked Nick, finally. - -"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. - -"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." - -"Tell us your plan, Jack; we'll stand by you," cried Buster. - -"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?" - -"I say yes!" Josh hastened to cry. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -Of course, there was more or less delay, as usual, and the two boys -became quite nervous before there finally came a faint call. - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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." - -At that Jack fairly shouted. - -"I know another of the same breed, George, and you can't deny it," he -said. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"But why ain't Clarence and Joe starting, too?" demanded Nick at this -juncture. - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER V--THE GUARDIAN OF THE FLEET - - -"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. - -"Oh! dear me, I hope we don't have trouble, after all," started Nick. - -"Here, let up on that misery whine, Buster. Will you ever learn never to -squeal till you're hurt?" said Josh. - -"Well, if you'd lost as much flesh as I have lately, you'd be a nervous -wreck too," replied the fat boy, aggressively. - -"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. - -"What shall we do, Jack?" and Herb turned to the one upon whom they -usually depended to steer them clear of the shoals. - -"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." - -"A bully idea, Jack; you're the goods when it comes to doing the right -thing!" Josh remarked. - -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. - -"We're looking for some motor boats, sir, that arrived on the vessel -from the west. They were billed from Milwaukee by your line." - -As Jack said this the agent smiled. - -"Which one of you wired our Mr. Matthews?" he asked. - -"I did. My name is Jack Stormways," replied that individual. - -"You gave him authority to turn the three boats over to some party, -didn't you?" - -"Yes, if that party's name was Mr. Amos Spofford," Jack replied. - -"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. - -"But," Jack remarked, blankly, "we've been looking all around, and have -seen no sign of our boats on the wharf." - -"And they couldn't have flown away like aeroplanes," put in Josh. - -"I should hardly think so," laughed the other. "But have you looked -beyond the end of the dock, in the water?" - -"No. Do you mean to say Mr. Spofford had the three boats launched?" -cried Jack. - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"There's somebody aboard, too!" exclaimed Jack, as a head was poked out -of the deck tent of the _Comfort_, which was the only one of the trio to -be thus honored, the others being in cruising trim. - -"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." - -Jack waved his hand, and then called out. - -"We're coming aboard. Are you Mr. Spofford?" - -"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. - -"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. - -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. - -One by one they climbed aboard the _Comfort_ 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. - -"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." - -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 _tremendous_, and no -mistake. - -"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." - -"Well, it would end your knocking about, just as it did his, so beware!" -answered the other; and chuckled to see poor Buster shiver. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"And on our part we feel that you've been mighty kind to us, sir," said -Jack. - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -"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 _was_ well placed, I -have reason to believe." - -He looked over the side at the water, and chuckled again. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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 _Comfort_ -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." - -"And you threw him overboard, sir?" asked Jack. - -"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." - -"Wow! I'd have liked to, first rate!" declared Josh, in ecstacy. - -"But he managed to climb out again, of course, Mr. Spofford?" Jack -asked. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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 -_Comfort_. - -"What is that, sir?" demanded Jack. - -"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." - -"Done!" cried one and all, as they shook hands with the jolly retired -lawyer, and Herb started to paddle him to the dock. - -"What time is dinner hour, fellows?" sang out Mr. Spofford, just as -heartily as though he might be one of the youngsters. - -"Six sharp; but we'll wait for you any length of time you say, sir," -replied Jack. - -"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. - -"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. - -"That's so; but I'm afraid you mean a _horrible_ example; for we fat -fellows are to be pitied," floated back to their ears. - -Nick sank back on his seat, looking plainly troubled. - -"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. - -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 _Tramp_. - - - - -CHAPTER VI--THE "FLASH" - - -For an hour or more the boys were busily engaged in rummaging. - -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. - -"I say, Jack!" called George, across the scant space that separated -their boats. - -"Hello! what is it?" asked the skipper of the _Tramp_, looking up. - -"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 _dizzy_ watching her. -Do you know what struck me, Jack?" - -"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. - -"Guessed it the first shot. Am I right?" asked George. - -"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." - -"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?" - -A minute later George, having adjusted the marine glasses to his sight, -gave utterance to a low whistle. - -"I've got the name all right, fellows," he remarked, "and what d'ye -think it is? Just the plain word _'Flash.'_ I guess that stands for -speed all right." - -"It also stands for what Clarence and Bully Joe represent," Herb -observed. - -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 _Flash_ and his own hitherto unbeaten _Wireless_; and he confessed -that perhaps the boast of the rival of the motor boat boys might not -have been without reasonable foundation. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -That was always Nick's way--_tomorrow_ he meant to start in regulating -his diet; but as usual with those who put off the evil day, tomorrow -never seemed to come. - -That was a busy afternoon with them all. - -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. - -"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. - -"Well, I guess everything's ready," added Jack. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -And they were surely a busy lot, every one working under the directions -of the head _chef_. 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. - -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. - -"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." - -"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. - -They were a jolly crowd gathered in the roomy _Comfort_, and discussing -the glorious dinner prepared under the direction of the head _chef_. - -"Josh, you haven't forgotten how," observed Jack, as he started in on -the savory mess piled up on his pannikin. - -"Which pleases me a whole lot," said George; "because you see, Mr. -Spofford, on this trip Josh sails with me in my _Wireless_." - -"Alas! poor Josh! I see his finish. These are funeral meats, fellows," -giggled Buster, already warmly engaged. - -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: - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -It was quite late when he left them, giving to each a squeeze of the -hand that would not soon be forgotten. - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -"Look, there he is!" said Nick, as they were gathered on the _Comfort_ -enjoying one of Josh's little spreads, that included some of the -lightest flapjacks ever put before hungry campers. - -"Clarence, as sure as anything!" ejaculated Herb. - -"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." - -"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." - -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 _Comfort_ one night not so very long since. - -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. - -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. - -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 _Flash_ and his crony, -Bully Joe, were talking earnestly, as though laying some sort of plan -for the near future. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--JOSH SCENTS TROUBLE - - -"What luck, Jack?" - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -Then he held up a monster muskalonge, that must have weighed all of -twenty pounds. - -"Great Jupiter, what a sock-dollager!" cried George, who was taking it -easy in his boat; while Nick thrust up his head to shout: - -"Bully for you, Jack! Now we won't starve to death! The country is -saved!" - -"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----" - -"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?" - -"I think in the upper jaw," replied Jack, solemnly, at which there was a -shout. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"Wow! you couldn't hire me to do that now," exclaimed Nick, shuddering -as he gazed at that array of sharp, vicious looking teeth. - -"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." - -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. - -"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 _Tramp_, -that so far we've neither seen nor heard a thing of Clarence and Joe." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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?" - -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. - -One thing pleased Nick; being the cook aboard the _Comfort_ 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 _Comfort_ had to borrow from the other -boats, the powerful effect of the fat boy's appetite became very -apparent. - -"Say, Jack, did you have any particular reason in picking out this place -for our next stop?" asked George presently. - -"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." - -"It sure did," George went on. "But you don't know anything out of the -way about this heavily wooded island here, do you?" - -"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. - -"I just wondered if you could know any reason for it, that's all," -George said. - -"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." - -"Well, we seem to be objects of considerable curiosity to some people." - -"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. - -"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." - -"Three, you say--the same boat and the same people?" Jack asked. - -"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." - -"Three different boats, eh?" Jack mused. "And they looked unhappy at -seeing our fleet quartered here?" - -"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. - -"Were there any women or children aboard the boats?" Jack continued. - -"How about that, fellows?" asked George. - -"One boat had two men, another three, and the last one five," Herb -remarked, in his positive way. - -"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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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!" - -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. - -"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." - -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? - -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. - -"We may get a storm before morning," observed George, looking up. - -"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." - -Jack might have kept still, and allowed his chums to heap honors on his -unworthy head; but that was not his style. - -"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." - -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. - -The three boats were close enough together to allow the boys a chance to -exchange any remarks they wished. - -"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. - -"For one I'm glad I got that hole in my tent mended in time," observed -Herb. - -"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." - -"I've known when you didn't all the same," ventured George, chuckling. - -"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?" - -"Yes, what are you staring so hard at, Josh?" demanded George, turning -his head. - -"Didn't any of the rest of you see it?" asked the other, eagerly. - -"See what? Are you beginning on that ghost racket already?" insinuated -Herb. - -"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!" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--IN THE MIDNIGHT WATCH - - -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. - -"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. - -"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 _swim!_ -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." - -"But tell us, where did you see this queer boat that moves along as -silent as a specter?" asked Nick. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"But you had one look at her, didn't you?" asked Jack. - -"Sure I did. And because I didn't hear any noise of a motor I just had -to stare," came the ready reply. - -"Was it a white pleasure boat?" continued Jack. - -"Not much. I could have seen that sort right along, moon or no moon. I -know what you're thinking, Jack." - -"All right. Was it a dark-colored launch, then?" the other demanded. - -"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. - -"You hear that, fellows?" Jack remarked. "And of course, you understand -what it means to us?" - -"That boat was the _Flash_, 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. - -"Just like him to come sneaking around at night to see how he can do us -some rotten injury," grunted Nick. - -"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." - -"But that means we shall have to keep watch, doesn't it, Jack?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"What for?" asked George. - -"Sure, the howlding's foine roight here," asserted Jimmie, who had -personally seen to it that the _Tramp's_ anchor was well placed; though -it could be readily tripped in case of a sudden need for a move during a -storm. - -"But to tell the honest truth, fellows, I don't just like the looks of -this old island here," admitted the cook of the _Wireless_, boldly. - -"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." - -"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." - -"Oh! well, I withdraw my motion then," grumbled Josh. "But don't blame -me if anything happens, that's all." - -"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." - -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. - -When several of the inmates of the gathered boats started to yawn at a -tremendous rate, word was given that they turn in. - -"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. - -"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?" - -"Yes," came the response, in some cases very sleepily. - -"How about you, Josh; think you can stay awake two hours now?" Jack -asked. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 _Comfort_; 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. - -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. - -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. - -"Gosh! how you scared me!" exclaimed the other sentry, as the match -crackled. - -"Half past twelve," Jack remarked, in a low tone. "That means another -half hour for us, Josh. How are you feeling about now?" - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Jack!" whispered the occupant of the _Comfort_ in a hoarse voice. - -"Well, what do you want?" replied the other lad, serenely. - -"I am sure I heard a suspicious noise ashore just then!" Josh continued. - -"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." - -"There it goes again, Jack! Didn't you catch it that time? I tell you it -means something. Hark! now will you believe me?" - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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!" - -And every eye was by this time glued upon the strange spectacle ashore -that had given poor Josh his fright. - - - - -CHAPTER IX--THE GHOST OF THE ISLAND - - -"Wow! it's sure a banshee!" whooped Jimmie. - -"A-am I dreaming, fellows?" exclaimed Herb, rubbing his eyes -desperately. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Jimmie, hand me my shotgun, and let's see if it can stand Number -Threes!" - -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. - -But Jimmie really believed he meant what he said. While he groped for -the gun he was saying aloud: - -"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." - -"'Tain't any use," broke in George; "the thing's disappeared!" - -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. - -Jack laughed, to the utter astonishment of the rest. - -"I don't see anything funny about this business," complained Nick. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"Do you really want to know?" asked Jack, quietly. - -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. - -"Sure we do, Jack," remarked the latter, eagerly. - -"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. - -"Oh! I see now!" cried George; "you mean that ghosts needn't be afraid -of a handful of bird shot. Is that it, Jack?" - -"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?" - -"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." - -"Well, this ghost was timid, you see," Jack proceeded. "He fell over -just as soon as I called out about my gun." - -"Look here, you mean something by that, sure you do!" remarked Herb. - -"Fellers, he's hinting that it was a job set up on us--that's what Jack -means," declared Nick. - -"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. - -"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?" - -"I'll tell you, boys," Jack said, impressively. "In my opinion, honest -Injun, now, somebody was trying to frighten us away from here." - -"Say, it did wave its long, bony arm, all right!" exclaimed Josh. - -"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?" - -"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?" - -"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?" - -"Well, Josh saw a boat," calmly remarked the one addressed. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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. - -"Perhaps he wants this fine little cove himself," suggested George. - -"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." - -"Do we clear out in the morning, then?" asked Herb. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"But what was it, Jack?" questioned Kick. - -"Why, we settled it in our minds that the old island was uninhabited, -didn't we boys?" asked the other. - -"That's so," several hastened to declare. - -"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." - -"Now, I've seen just such a funny light, when a man with a lantern was -walking through the woods," burst out Herb. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -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 -_Comfort_. - -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. - -"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. - -"Why, Herb and myself talked of going, if so be you'd post us about the -best trolling ground," George remarked. - -"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." - -"Will we, George?" asked Herb, in a vein of sarcasm. - -"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." - -"Then you don't intend to keep us company?" asked Herb of Jack. - -"I think I'll just hang around here this morning, boys." - -"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. - -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. - -"Now what can he be up to?" Nick asked Josh, as they looked after the -other. - -"Give me something easy, will you?" replied that worthy. "But all the -same, I noticed that Jack was careful to take his gun along." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"I'd like to know how?" demanded Josh. "Expect him to interview that -_thing_, 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." - -"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!" - -"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 _thing_ 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 _Comfort_. Watch how I manage it." - - - - -CHAPTER X--FOLLOWING A TRAIL - - -Josh found his little plan was not hard of accomplishment. All he had to -do was to push the _Wireless_ around, after letting out all the cable -connected with the anchor, when he was able to jump ashore. - -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 _Wireless_ back to her -original anchorage. - -"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." - -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 _Comfort_, before -following after Jack. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"Look here and tell me what you see," the other lad continued, as he -pointed to the ground near his feet. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"Hold on, Josh," remarked Jack. "Is that all you know about signs?" - -"Why, whatever do you mean?" asked the other, puzzled. - -"Take another squint at these marks, and then tell me what you think, -Josh." - -"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!" - -"Now you're tumbling to facts, Josh. Remember, we had a big downpour -just three days ago, don't you?" Jack went on. - -"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." - -"Well, what do you say about it now?" continued the boy who could read -signs. - -"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." - -Jack only smiled. - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Old dilapidated cabin as it is, note one thing, will you," he remarked. - -"You mean that the tracks lead up to the door, is that it, Jack?" - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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. - -"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?" - -Jack laughed as though amused at the reasoning of his chum, and -remarked: - -"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." - -"Seems to me it smells fishy around here?" observed Josh, sniffing -eagerly. - -"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!" - -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. - -Josh almost doubled up with laughter. - -"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." - -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. - -But all the while he was thinking deeply. - -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. - -"Seen all you want to of the strange palace of the Thousand Islands?" -asked the merry Josh, when his companion again appeared. - -"Oh! yes, and I'll put the lock back just as we found it," replied the -other. - -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. - -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: - -"I thought I'd find where the keel of a boat landed on this beach!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI--BUSTER GETS AN IDEA - - -"Find anything new worth while, Jack?" asked the cook of the _Wireless_, -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. - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"But, George, you know he didn't come up to mine," remarked Herb. - -"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." - -"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." - -"Wow!" cried Nick, "Oh, why wasn't I there to see the fun? I'm always -missing all the good things, seems to me." - -"But you hung on to your rod, apparently," remarked Jack; "seeing that -you got your game in the end." - -"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." - -"Tell us how?" begged Nick, breathlessly. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -Josh went aboard, pushed the _Wireless_ out, and presently the skipper -joined him. - -"Any other news?" asked Nick. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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?" - -"Did you call out to him?" asked Jack, quickly. - -"I did," replied George, "and dared him to accept a challenge to race -the _Wireless_. 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." - -"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." - -"And even that ain't all," added George. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"Did you recognize the boat, or the men, George?" asked Jack, quietly. - -"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." - -"Say, perhaps they may have been Canadian custom officers, who patrol -the river to keep American fishermen off their side," suggested Nick. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -This old pipe was possibly six feet in length; and to the mind of a -practical joker like Josh it presented some alluring possibilities. - -Swinging it upward when Nick was not looking, he managed to bridge the -watery gap between the _Wireless_ and the _Comfort_, and quickly called -in a sepulchral tone through the novel speaking-tube: - -"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!" - -"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!" - -"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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Oh! look, fellows!" exclaimed Nick, as from around the point a dazzling -glow suddenly shone, bearing down rapidly straight toward them. - - - - -CHAPTER XII--YANKEE STUBBORNNESS - - -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. - -"He's going to smash us!" whooped Josh. - -"Hey, hold off there, Clarence! Don't be a fool!" shouted George. - -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 _Comfort_ -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 -_Wireless_ or the _Tramp_. - -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 -_Comfort_ was worth seeing. There he crouched, hugging the railing, and -ready for a plunge overboard should the expected collision take place. - -But just when it seemed as though the sharp prow, which they fully -believed must belong to the _Flash_, was about to cut through the stern -of the helpless _Comfort_, 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. - -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. - -"That was a close shave, sure!" remarked Jack, as coolly as he could. - -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. - -"Too close for comfort!" gasped Herb. - -"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. - -"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." - -"But," declared Herb, indignantly, "whatever did they mean doing that? -Why, if that sharp nose of the _Flash_ had ever banged into us, going -like she was, we'd have been cut in two! It's criminal, that's what, -fellows!" - -"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." - -"That sounds reasonable, Jack," admitted George; "but whatever do you -suppose tempted him to do that crazy thing?" - -"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." - -"That means Jack's got an idea," said Nick. - -"All right," spoke up Josh, instantly. "Don't think you're the only one -in the bunch who can have such things, Buster." - -"But what if they circle around the island, and come down booming at us -again?" ventured the nervous Herb. - -"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." - -"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." - -"But why should Clarence want to scare us away from here?" asked Nick. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"I suppose we're going to pick up our mudhooks today and climb out of -this?" suggested Josh, as they were enjoying breakfast. - -All of them looked at Jack, who smiled. - -"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." - -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. - -"Contrary, no, raise their hands!" - -And six of them went up like a shot. - -"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?" - -"Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!" spoke up George, -grandly. - -"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. - -"No; what was that, Herb?" asked Jack. - -"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." - -"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." - -"Then, as we're going to be here for another day, anyhow, suppose Jimmie -and me take a turn after the muskies?" suggested Nick. - -"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." - -"You forget that I can swim like a duck, Jack!" observed Buster, -proudly. - -"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." - -"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." - -"Wouldn't I just give a cookie to see Buster fast to a hustler like I -had on yesterday," chuckled Herb. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--THE GHOST HUNTER - - -"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. - -"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." - -"That was just what I thought," put in Jack. - -"Anyway, we'll soon know, for they're coming in, as sure as anything," -Josh added. - -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. - -"How d'ye do, boys?" he said, cordially; and somehow Jack rather liked -the tone of his voice, as he also did his looks. - -"Any luck, sir?" he inquired, as is the custom at such a time. - -"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." - -"Yes, they do," George replied; and went on to tell about what luck they -had had, with the usual pride of a successful fisherman. - -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? - -Presently the other thought he ought to introduce himself. - -"I am Professor Herman Marshland, of Ann Arbor," he said, modestly. - -So Herb started to tell just who they were, and how they happened to be -knocking around on the St. Lawrence at this time. - -"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. - -"Why, sure, we have, Professor," George said. "We might have gone on -before now, but we just hate to leave under fire, you see." - -"Excuse me, but I hardly grasp your meaning, I fear," remarked the -gentleman, with one of his winning smiles. - -"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." - -"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." - -"And did you ever discover a real, genuine bona fide ghost, sir?" asked -Josh. - -Professor Marshland smiled. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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. - -"If he wanted us he'd have said so, Josh," came in a whisper. - -A minute later the gentleman, having managed to land, vanished amid the -heavy growth of timber and brush. - -Josh looked at Jack. - -"Sure as you live, he's following that trail, Jack," he said. - -"That's only natural," remarked the other, "because, you see, it was -mighty plain, as though lots of people had gone back and forth." - -"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?" - -"Sounds kind of fishy," remarked George. - -"Scaly, I should say," Herb spoke up. - -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 -_Wireless_. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -When he did appear he was smiling broadly. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -So the noisy little motor went chugging away, passing around the point; -and by degrees the sound died out, as other islands came between. - -"Say, let me tell you, I like that man," Josh up and said, without any -urging. - -"He is a smart one, all right, and don't you forget it," remarked -George. - -"Was he really trolling, do you suppose, in that horrible, noisy power -boat?" asked Herb, skeptically. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--A STRANGE RIDE - - -"Time those two fellows were showing up, don't you think, Jack?" asked -Josh, as the noon hour came around. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -All of them were on their feet by now, and listening to the yells. - -"They seem to be coming from around the island," said Jack. - -"I bet you it's Jimmie having some fun with poor Pudding. He does like -to hear him put up a howl," chuckled Herb. - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -"There he comes!" shouted Jack, pointing. - -"Well, what under the sun is he doing?" cried Herb. - -"Since when did Buster put a motor in his dinky?" asked George, feebly. - -"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!" - -Jack looked again and then gave a shrill laugh. - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"Why don't you get out your knife and cut loose?" shouted George, making -use of his hands in lieu of a megaphone. - -"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!" - -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. - -Accordingly he immediately jumped over, and unfastened the cable that -held his anchor. - -"Hold that for me, will you, Herb?" he said, tossing one end of the rope -over to the skipper of the _Comfort_. - -Then without any further delay he started his engine with one energetic -fling of the wheel. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -And he did. - -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. - -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. - -"D-d-did I g-get him, Jack?" gasped the fat boy. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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!" - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XV--ANOTHER NIGHT - - -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. - -"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. - -Nick fell into the trap, sprawling. - -"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?" - -Josh pretended to be astonished, and threw up his hands to indicate as -much. - -"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?" - -Then the two returned fishermen stared at each other. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -Naturally enough the conversation soon took on an interesting color. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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?" - -"I'm agreeable," George immediately replied. - -"Suits me from the ground up," Herb put in. - -Three others added their voices after the same fashion, so that in this -amiable way the question was settled without the least friction. - -"That means another night of guard duty," mused Nick; whereupon Josh -burst out into a harsh laugh. - -"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." - -Nick only grinned, not at all abashed. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"You sure do, Pudding," assented George, "and with your whole stomach, -too." - -Nick only gave him a reproachful look, as though it pained him to -receive this unexpected blow in the house of his friends. - -"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. - -"Unless something unexpected crops up that might hold us back," said -Jack. - -"What could do that?" asked Josh, uneasily, for he wanted to get away -from the vicinity of the haunted island as speedily as possible. - -"Oh! one of the engines might break down, for instance," laughed the -other. - -"Now I know that was meant for me," retorted George; "but, thank you, -the bully old _Wireless_ 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 _Flash_ of Clarence's, though. -Never will be happy till I do, and find out whether his boat or mine is -the faster." - -"Look out yonder, fellows," said Josh just then. - -"A rowboat, and holding two men," remarked Jack. "Seems to me we've seen -those fellows before, eh, boys?" - -"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." - -"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. - -"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. - -"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. - -"Now you've got some notion in your head, or you wouldn't say that," -remarked George. "Tell us what it is, Jack." - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -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. - -So the afternoon gradually passed away. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--JACK'S DARING VENTURE - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -George broke into this delightful harmony finally by saying: - -"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?" - -"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." - -Herb also admitted that he had heard something, he couldn't say what. - -"Now, don't laugh," George went on; "but it struck me I'd heard that -rackety chug before." - -"Meaning the noisy engine of that stubby little boat the Ann Arbor -professor came in?" asked Jack, quietly. - -"You hit it right at the first jump, Jack, for that was in my mind," -George said. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"I don't believe Jack takes much stock in Professor Marshland," said -George, who had also noticed this little demonstration. - -"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." - -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. - -"But look here, if he's coming along, why don't we hear his old boat any -more?" Josh asked. - -"That's so," declared George. "I wonder, now, if the engine could have -broken down." - -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. - -"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. - -"That's so, on the water," George observed. - -A little later, while the others were engaged in some wordy dispute, -Jack quietly slipped into the little tender attached to the _Tramp_ and -paddled softly off out of the cove. - -"What d'ye suppose he's got on his mind?" asked George, looking after -the other. - -"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." - -"I guess he's worrying about those men," suggested Josh. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -After a while, as a cloud covered the moon, Jack came back and clambered -aboard once more. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"How is it there, Josh; is Herb asleep yet?" - -"I guess he must be," came the answer; "because he's snoring to beat the -band, even if he don't make much noise." - -"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." - -"What do you want to know for?" asked Josh, aware that Jack must have -some reason for asking such a question. - -"I'll tell you, Josh. I mean to go ashore soon," replied the skipper of -the _Tramp_. - -"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. - -"Listen, Josh," Jack went on. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"Yes, yes. And I'll do it all right, never fear. If it wasn't for that -plagued lame foot, now, Jack." - -"Let up on that, please. Now, look out, there she goes under." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--THE SECRET OUT - - -Out came the moon again, sailing into a clear field. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -And he wanted to know what that mystery might be. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -And as Jack said to himself with a chuckle, ghosts did not, as far as he -knew, need lanterns in their business. - -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. - -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. - -"One of the fellows in that boat today," was what Jack immediately said -to himself, as he fastened his eyes on the bearded face. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -And this party who stood there, holding that lantern and waiting, was -evidently something in the line of a leader. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Of course the pretended college professor must really be one of those -sagacious revenue men, engaged in running these rascals to earth. - -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. - -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. - -A sound came faintly to the ears of the crouching lad--voices of several -persons, and approaching the cabin at that. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--THE ESCAPE - - -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. - -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. - -Indeed, all the trouble they had anticipated was possibly frequent -ructions with Tricky Clarence and his side partner, Bully Joe Brinker. - -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! - -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. - -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. - -Voices again! - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Here the stuff would lie unsuspected, until some time when the -opportunity seemed ripe to dispose of it, when the deal would be -completed. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -When he had finally completed his task it would require a practiced eye -to notice anything queer about the floor of the cabin. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Do you know what it all means, Jack?" demanded the other, as soon as he -reached the side of the boy. - -Jack nodded his head eagerly. - -"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. - -"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." - -"He headed for the upper end of the island," Jack put in. - -"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." - -"The _Flash_," 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." - -"Well, I should say not!" declared the other. - -"Now, if it were the _Wireless_, for instance, you might have some -chance," Jack went on. - -"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 _Flash_?" - -At that Jack laughed. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT - - -"Hold on!" said the agent abruptly. - -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. - -"Did you get him, Josh?" demanded the employer, eagerly. - -"He lies under hemlock, tied hand and foot. No danger he get away," came -the confident reply. - -"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." - -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. - -"Jack, what's all this mean?" asked George, greatly excited. - -"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." - -"What?" gasped the other, astounded beyond measure. - -"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 _Flash_." - -"Now, what d'ye know about that?" exclaimed Nick, as he helped Josh over -the side of the big _Comfort_, so as to make room for the others who -were to go in the speed boat. - -"But George, you haven't said yet whether you are willing to chase the -_Flash_, and try to overtake her?" said the energetic agent. - -"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." - -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. - -Everybody wanted to help, and as many hands make light work, the -_Wireless_ was in condition to start almost as soon as the two men -climbed aboard. - -"Sit as near the middle as you can, please, to balance her," the others -heard the skipper say, as she shot away. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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. - -"If we do," said George, with firmness, "make up your mind the good old -_Wireless_ is going to hang on like a bulldog till she cuts down the -lead, and overhauls that _Flash_. 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." - -"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." - -"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." - -George only laughed at this and remarked: - -"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." - -"Look yonder!" cried the eagle-eyed agent just then, the Indian having -pulled his coat sleeve and pointed ahead. - -"Say, that's her, as sure as fate!" cried George, as he altered the -course of his own boat a little. - -"And they know we're after them, too," remarked Jack. - -"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. - -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. - -"Twenty miles if anything?" the gentleman guessed. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"Bully old _Wireless!_" 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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -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 _Flash_ 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. - -"That's splendid!" remarked the government agent, as he looked along -this lane of illumination, and watched the desperate struggles of the -_Flash_ to outrun her determined pursuers. - -"Still picking up on her, ain't we, Jack?" asked George, after a little. - -"No doubt about that, I think," came the reply. "And I guess you were -right when you declared the good old _Wireless_ was the better boat. She -can certainly walk over the water some. I would enjoy this more if it -was day-time." - -"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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -They were rushing on at this tremendous pace, and constantly gaining, -when George gave vent to a sudden loud exclamation. - - - - -CHAPTER XX--OVERHAULED - - -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. - -It was a sailboat, beating up against a head wind, and aiming to reach -its home port while the possibility of moonlight lasted. - -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. - -He instinctively understood that the only thing that would prevent the -_Wireless_ 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 _Wireless'_ engine, never -too trustworthy under a strain. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -But Jack was delighted to see that the engine had actually redeemed -itself; for it still continued to work at the old stand. - -The adventurous sailboat glided out of the way, so close that the sharp -bow of the _Wireless_ 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. - -"Bully for her!" gulped George, almost unable to articulate under the -tremendous strain, yet thinking only of the able work of his engine. - -"Speed her up again, George; but not with a rush!" called Jack. - -Looking ahead he saw that, just as he expected, the _Flash_ had managed -to take advantage of the momentary detention of her rival, and increased -the distance separating them. - -"That was tough luck!" said the government agent; "but I owe you thanks -for saving me from a wet jacket, my boy." - -"I guess we're fortunate not to have smashed into that silly crowd, and -played hob with everything," Jack remarked. - -"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?" - -"Do you want me to say what I'd do if this was my boat?" asked the -other. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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!" - -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. - -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 _Flash_ hand -over hand. - -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 _Flash_ -were captured or not; but it was an affair of exceeding importance that -the good, reliable old _Wireless_ should overhaul its rival in this -masterly manner. - -"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 _Flash_ making -circles around us; why, she ain't in the same class with this same old -_Wireless_. Oh! but this pays me for all the troubles I've had in the -past. I can hardly keep from yelling, Jack!" - -"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." - -That just about finished George. - -"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." - -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. - -They were now so close that it was easy to see everything taking place -on board the fleeing _Flash_. 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. - -"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. - -"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." - -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 _Flash_ was -capable. Besides, now that the race seemed virtually over, and the -_Wireless_ 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? - -"Steady, George, steady!" Jack cautioned, as he thought he saw a slight -change in the course taken by the boat ahead. - -"Duck down, boys; he's going to try and scare us by firing!" suddenly -said the keen-eyed government agent. - -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. - -"Stay where you are!" cried the agent; "that was only one. He's got a -few more of the same kind to follow!" - -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. - -The _Wireless_ may have wavered just a little, but still kept swiftly -on, diminishing the narrow lead of her rival with constant rapidity and -steadiness. - -"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!" - -With that he threw out his arm, and instantly there was a flash and a -report. - -"Oh!" exclaimed George, startled in spite of the warning. - -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 _Flash_, -still something serious was apt to happen. Jack wished in his soul that -it was all over and nobody injured. - -The _Flash_ 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. - -Jack stood ready to lend a hand in case of an emergency that George -might seem unable to manage alone. - -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. - -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. - -"Look out, George!" - -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. - -Instantly the motor of the _Wireless_ followed suit; and driven forward -by the impetus of her "push," she shot alongside the other craft, not -three feet away. - -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. - -"Over into her, John! We must make prisoners here!" shouted the agent, -as he balanced on the rail of the _Wireless_, and in so doing almost -brought that side of the narrow-beam boat awash. - -"There he goes, sir!" called Jack. - -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. - -Jack had snatched up a boathook with a brass knobbed end. This he -fastened to the rail of the _Flash_, 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. - -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 _Flash_, 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. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI--A CLEAN SWEEP - - -"Jack!" - -It was the revenue man calling, and he appeared at the side of the other -boat. - -"Yes, what is it, sir?" replied the lad who held the boathook. - -"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." - -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. - -"I see him, sir!" cried George, as he once more started his engine, and -began to curve around the now stationary _Flash_. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Now, steady while I nab him!" said the revenue man, leaning over the -bow. - -"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. - -"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." - -Ten seconds later and Jack called out: - -"Here he is, on this side, George!" - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"Oh! I hope that doesn't happen," said George. - -"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?" - -"Not on this side," replied Jack. - -"And I don't glimpse him here," George went on. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"Just so, Jack," remarked the revenue man, glancing aloft; "and I wager -Glenwood knew that fact, too." - -"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. - -"Sure he didn't bob up quietly, take a breath or two, and sink out of -sight again?" asked the other. - -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. - -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. - -The stern of the _Wireless_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Two hands were seen to clutch the brass rail; and then a head came into -view. - -"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. - -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. - -"It was some fun while it lasted, Carson," he said. - -"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." - -"How about my friends; did they get away?" asked the other. - -"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." - -Then he turned to his prisoner, saying: - -"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." - -"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." - -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 _Flash_ 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. - -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. - -"Thank goodness!" said the owner of the _Flash_; "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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -Clarence had something on his mind, nor could he keep from saying what -it was. - -"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 _Flash_ 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?" - -"That's a likely story," sneered George, who would not think of letting -any one dim the glory that the dashing _Wireless_ 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. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII--BUSTER'S HOUR OF TRIUMPH - - -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. - -Their arrival was the signal for an outburst of cheers from those of the -motor boat boys who had been left behind. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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 -_Flash_." - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -But the chances were that none of them got any satisfactory sleep during -the balance of that eventful night. - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"I guess we all enjoyed it," remarked Josh. - -"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. - -"Here, don't you go to starting up your tune about that break," said -George, "we all agreed long ago that if you _did_ leak to Clarence, you -never would have done it on purpose. So forget it." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"But perhaps we don't know, so suppose you tell us," Nick himself burst -out with curiosity consuming him. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"What's all this mean? Has he gone out of his mind?" asked George. - -"Tell us, Buster," said Jack, who could suspect something of the nature -of the communication Nick had received. - -"His dad has said he can take the northern cruise, that's what!" -remarked Josh, a bit enviously. - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII--HAPPY DAYS--CONCLUSION - - -"Poor old Buster! He's sure getting weak in the upper story," said -George. - -"It's going to be a strait-jacket for him before long!" sighed Josh. - -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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - - "Dear Buster: - - "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 _think_, 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. - - - "Yours, Aleck." - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"Or a revenue man," suggested Herb. - -"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. - -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: - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"As if we'd be likely to ever forget it?" laughed George, patting his -throbbing motor affectionately. - -"I've thought up that new mess, fellows!" called out Nick, just then. - -Everybody groaned in unison. - -"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." - -"Bully for Buster! He's the one bright mind in the bunch!" laughed -George. - -"We can have a new dish every day at that rate, fellows!" sang out Herb. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 _Wireless_ -against the very best that the _Flash_ could put forth. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"Sure," laughed George, evidently pleased. "Knowing that in her present -condition the _Flash_ 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." - -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." - - - THE END. - - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS ON THE ST. -LAWRENCE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35728 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with - almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away - or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License - included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |