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diff --git a/40903-0.txt b/40903-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ca5251 --- /dev/null +++ b/40903-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6450 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40903 *** + +[Illustration: cover] + + + + + MOTOR BOAT BOYS + _ON THE_ + GREAT LAKES + + _OR_ + + _Exploring the Mystic Isle + of Mackinac_ + + _By_ + LOUIS ARUNDEL + + + [Illustration] + + + Chicago + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + + + + + COPYRIGHT 1912. + M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY. + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. + + + Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by + M. A. Donohue & Co. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + Chapter Page + I. UP A TREE 7 + II. THE CAMP IN THE COVE 18 + III. THE BOAT IN THE FACE OF THE MOON 29 + IV. CAUGHT BY THE STORM 40 + V. A STRANGE SOUND 51 + VI. "CARRY THE NEWS TO ANDY!" 59 + VII. TIED UP AT MACKINAC ISLAND 67 + VIII. GEORGE WAITS FOR HIS CHUMS 76 + IX. IN TERRIBLE PERIL 85 + X. MAROONED 94 + XI. DOWN THE SOO RAPIDS 104 + XII. WINNING AN INDIAN'S ADMIRATION 114 + XIII. THE GREAT INLAND SEA 124 + XIV. NICK WIPES OUT HIS DISGRACE 135 + XV. HELPING AN ENEMY 145 + XVI. "WIRELESS DAY" 155 + XVII. CAUGHT NAPPING 164 + XVIII. A NIGHT OF ANXIETY 172 + XIX. PERIL RIDES THE STORM WAVES 181 + XX. PAYING THE PENALTY 189 + XXI. ANOTHER SURPRISE 197 + XXII. TO THE RESCUE 208 + XXIII. HOMEWARD BOUND 217 + + + + + The Motor Boat Boys on the + Great Lakes + or, Exploring the Mystic Isle of Mackinac + + By LOUIS ARUNDEL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +UP A TREE + + +"What a funny cow that is, Josh! Look at the silly thing poking her +bally old horns in the ground, and throwing the dirt up. Say, did you +ever see anything like that? Why, the poor beast must be sick, Josh!" + +"Cow? Great Jupiter! Buster, you silly, don't you know a bull when you +see one?" + +"Oh, dear! and just think of me having the nerve to put on my nice red +sweater this morning, because this Michigan air was so nippy. I don't +believe bulls like red things, do they, Josh?" + +"They sure don't. And then we had to cut across this field here, to save +a few steps. He's looking at us right now; we'll have to run for it, +Buster!" + +The fat boy, who seemed to fully merit this name, set down the bucket of +fresh milk he had been carrying, and groaned dismally. + +"I just can't run--never was built for a sprinter, and you know it, Josh +Purdue!" he exclaimed. "If he comes after us, I've got to climb up this +lone tree, and wait till he gets tired." + +"Then start shinning up right away, Buster; for there he comes--and here +I go!" + +With these words long-legged Josh started off at a tremendous pace, +aiming for the nearest fence. Buster, left to himself, immediately +commenced to try to get up the tree. He was so nervous with the +trampling of the bull, together with the hoarse bellow that reached his +ears, that in all probability he might have been caught before gaining a +point of safety, only that the animal stopped once or twice to throw up +some more soil, and thus give vent to his anger at the intrusion on his +preserves. + +Josh got over the ground at an amazing rate, and reaching the fence +proceeded to climb over the topmost rails; never once relinquishing his +grip on the package of fresh eggs that had just been purchased from the +farmhouse, to make a delicious omelette for a camp dinner. + +Meanwhile, after a tremendous amount of puffing, and frantic climbing, +the fat boy had succeeded in getting a hold upon the lower limb, and +pulled himself out of the danger zone just as the bull collided with the +trunk of the tree. + +"Gosh!" exclaimed Buster, as he hugged his limb desperately; "what an +awful smash that was! And hang the luck, he's just put his foot in our +pail of milk too. There goes the shiny tin bucket the farmer loaned me, +flying over the top of the tree, I guess." + +He presently managed to swing himself around so that he could sit upon +the limb and look down at his tormentor. The bull was further amusing +himself by tearing up a whole lot more of the turf, and bellowing +furiously. + +"Mad just because you didn't get me, ain't you, mister?" mocked Buster; +whose name was really Nick Longfellow, strange to say, considering how +short and stout nature had made him. + +The bull did not bother answering, so after watching his antics for a +minute, and wondering if he, too, would have been tossed over the tree +had he been caught, Nick remembered that he had had a companion in +misery. + +Upon looking across the field he saw Josh perched on the rail fence, +surveying the situation, craning his long neck to better observe the +movements of the animal, and ready to promptly drop to the ground at the +first sign of danger. + +"Hey, Josh! ain't you goin' to help a feller?" shouted the prisoner of +the lone tree in the pasture. + +"Course I'd like to, Buster; but tell me, what can I do?" answered the +other. "Perhaps now you'd like to have me step inside, and let the old +thing chase me around, while you scuttled for the fence. What d'ye take +me for, a Spanish bull-baiter? Well, I ain't quite so green as I look, +let me tell you." + +"That's right, Josh," replied the fat boy with emphasis; "and it's lucky +you ain't, 'cause the cows'd grabbed you long ago for a bunch of juicy +grass. But why don't you do something to help a feller out of a hole?" + +"Tell me what I can do, and I'll think about it, Buster," answered the +other; as though not wholly relishing the remark of his comrade, and +half tempted to go on his way, leaving the luckless one to his fate. + +"If you only had my red sweater now, Josh, you might toll the old feller +to the fence, and keep him running up and down while I slipped away." + +"Well, send it over to me then," replied the tall boy, with a wide grin. + +"You just know I can't," declared the prisoner. "Don't I wish I had +wings right now; or somebody'd drop down in an aeroplane, and snatch me +out of this pickle? But I suppose I'll have to get up a way of escape +myself. Don't I want to kick myself now for not thinking about a packet +of red pepper when I was at that country store down near Pinconning +yesterday. Never going to be without it after this, you hear, Josh?" + +Only recently Nick had read an account of how a boy, on being hard +pressed by a pack of several hungry wolves, somewhere in the north, +had shown remarkable presence of mind in taking to a tree, and then +scattering cayenne pepper in the noses and eyes of the fierce brutes as +they jumped up at his dangling feet. + +In that case the brutes had gone nearly crazy with the pain, and the boy +easily made his way home. The story had impressed Buster greatly, and +that was why he now lamented the fact that he had no such splendid +ammunition to use on the bull. + +"Say, suppose you toss down that red sweater to him," suggested Josh, +making a speaking trumpet of both his hands. + +"What good would that do?" demanded the captive, plaintively; for he was +unusually fond of the garment in question, and gloried in wearing it; +though after this experience he would be careful about how he donned it +again while ashore. + +"Oh! he might take to tossing it around, and perhaps run to the other +side of the field. Then you could sneak for the fence," called the one +who was safe. + +"Yes, and have him come tearing after me before I was half way there," +cried Nick. "I guess not. Think of something easier. Can't you coax him +over there, Josh? Oh! please do. I half believe you're as much afraid of +him as I am." + +"Who says I am?" retorted the other, at once boldly jumping down inside +the fence; upon which the bull started on a gallop for that quarter, +and it was ludicrous to see how the valiant boaster went up over that +barricade again, sprawling flat as he jumped to the ground. + +Nick laughed aloud. + +"He near got you that time, Josh!" he cried. "Ain't he the terror +though? Look at him smash at that fence. Better keep an eye out for a +tree, I tell you, if he breaks through. And Josh, for goodness sake save +the eggs. Our milk is gone, the tin pail is ruined; but we don't want to +lose the precious eggs." + +A few seconds later Nick broke out into a loud wail. + +"Hold on, Josh," he called; "I was only fooling when I said that about +you being afraid. Of course you ain't; only it stands to reason nobody +wants to let that old bull get a chance to lift him with those horns. +Don't go away and leave your best chum this way, Josh." + +"Chuck it, Buster," called back the other. "I'm not going to desert you. +But somebody's got to go after the farmer, and get him to come and coax +the bull to be good. You can't go, so I'm the only one left to do the +job. Hold on tight, and don't talk the bull to death while I'm gone." + +"Oh! bless you, Josh!" called the captive of the tree. "I always knew +you had a big heart. But don't be too long, will you; because if he +keeps banging the trunk of this rotten old tree all the time and +chipping off pieces, I'm afraid he'll get it down yet. Hurry, now, Josh! +Tell the farmer what a mess I'm in; and that he's just got to bring out +some feed, and coax his mountain of beef to be good. Hurry, please, +Josh, hurry!" + +He watched the tall boy making his way leisurely along, and groaned +because Josh seemed determined to let him have quite a siege of it +there. + +The bull had come back, and was nipping the grass almost under the tree. +Now and then he would move off a little distance, and deliberately turn +his back on Nick, as though he had forgotten that such a thing as a boy +existed. But the captive was not so easily deceived. + +"No you don't Mr. Bull!" he called, derisively. "I can just see you +looking this way out of the corner of your eye. Like me to slip down, +and try to make that old fence, wouldn't you? Guess I'd sail over the +rails with ten feet to spare. But think what an awful splash there'd be +when I landed. I can wait a while, till Josh takes a notion to tell what +he came back for." + +Minutes passed, and he grew more and more nervous. Long ago had his tall +chum passed out of sight behind the clump of trees that shut off all +view of the farmhouse. Nick half suspected that Josh was lying down +somewhere, resting, perhaps in a place where he could watch what went on +in the pasture. + +"Oh! don't I wish I had wings now?" he kept mumbling, as he shook his +head angrily, and watched the movements of the bull. "I'd fly away, and +let Josh think the ugly old beast had swallowed me, that's what. He'd be +sorry then he loafed, when I sent him for help. But is that him coming +over yonder?" + +He thought he had detected something moving; but it was at a point far +removed from the place where he expected Josh and assistance to show up. + +"Well, I declare, if it ain't George!" he exclaimed presently. "He must +have begun to believe we were having too good a time at the farmhouse; +and is on his way over to get his share. George is always looking for a +pretty girl. I've got half a notion to let him get part way across the +field, and then holler at him. When a feller is in a scrape it makes him +feel better to see somebody else getting it in the neck too. There he +comes across, sure enough!" + +The bull had evidently seen George, too; but as he happened to be +standing half concealed by the trunk of the tree just then, the boy who +so lightly started to cut across the pasture, meaning to head for the +house among the trees, failed to discover the bull. + +"Oh! my, won't he be surprised though!" muttered Nick, craning his fat +neck in order to see the better; for he did not want his friend to get +so far along that, in a pressure, he could not gain the fence before the +coming of the wild bull. + +Now the beast had started to paw the ground. George stopped short as he +caught the sound, and looked around him. Just then the bull tore up some +more turf, and tossed it in the air. That meant he was primed to start +on a furious rush to overtake the newcomer. + +"Run, George!" shrieked the boy in the tree, at the top of his +high-pitched voice. "Run for the fence! He's got his eye on you! The +bull's coming like hot cakes! Go it for all you're worth, George. Oh! +my! did I ever see such a great lot of sprinting! George can run pretty +near as good as Josh did, and that's saying a heap." + +It was. George seemed to be making remarkably fine time as he shot for +that friendly fence. Evidently George knew something about bulls; +enough at least not to want to stay in an enclosure with an angry one, +and interview him. + +For a very brief period of time it seemed nip and tuck as to whether +George would be allowed to get over that barrier unassisted, or be +helped by the willing bull. But apparently, after one look over his +shoulder at the approaching cyclone, George was influenced to let out +another link, for his speed increased; and he just managed to scramble +over the rails when the bull came up short against the fence, to look +through with his red eyes, and shake his head savagely. + +"Hey! where are you, Buster?" shouted George, after he had succeeded in +getting his breath again. + +"Here, in this bally old tree, George. He chased us, and I had to hustle +up here, while Josh went for help. He knocked my milkpail to flinders; +but thank goodness Josh saved the eggs!" cried Nick; whose greatest +failing was a tremendous appetite, that kept him almost constantly +thinking of something to eat. + +"Say, you're a nice one," called the other. "Why didn't you warn me +sooner?" + +"I'm real sorry now I didn't, George," replied Nick, as if penitent; +though at the time he was shaking with laughter, just as a bowl of jelly +quivers on being moved; "but I was in hopes you'd scare him off. When I +saw him getting mad, I knew he had it in for you; and then I yelled. But +George, please think of some way to coax the old rascal off, won't you. +It's awful hard on me sitting up here on this limb, and he means to stay +till I just starve to death. Have pity on me George and get up some plan +to rescue your best chum." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CAMP IN THE COVE + + +"Hey, Buster," cried the one on the other side of the fence, "where did +you say Josh was?" + +"He went for help, over to the farmhouse where we got the milk and +eggs," answered the boy in the tree. + +"Well," George went on, after looking all around. "I don't see him +coming any too fast; and I wouldn't put it past that joker to take a +snooze on the way, so as to make you worry a lot more." + +"Yes, I was just thinking that same thing myself, George. Josh has got +it in for me, you know, every time. But please think up some way to toll +this angry gentleman cow away, George." + +"If I only had that red sweater now, I believe it could be done," said +George, presently. + +"Why, that was what Josh said too," lamented the prisoner; "but don't +you see I can't get it over to you at all?" + +"Course not; but hold on there!" called George. + +"Oh! now I know you've thought of an idea. Good for you, George! You're +the best friend a fellow ever had, when he was in trouble. Are you going +to sneak in the pasture, and tempt the bull away?" + +"I am not," promptly responded George. "I've got too much use for my +legs, to take the chances of being crippled. But wait and see what I'm +going to do. Trust your Dutch uncle to fool that old cyclone. Look at +him tossing the dirt up again. Oh! ain't he anxious to get at me, +though?" + +"What's that you're shaking at him now?" demanded Nick. "It looks like +my sweater, only I know yours is gray. Why, it must be a bandanna +handkerchief; yes, I remember now, you often tie one around your neck, +cowboy fashion. I can see that you're going to get me out of this nasty +fix, George. It takes a lawyer sometimes to beat a bull at his own +game." + +"It _is_ a bandanna, Buster," replied the other, "and watch me coax the +old fellow along the fence, down to the other end of the field. How he +shakes his head every time I wave the red flag, and tries to get at me. +It's working fine, Buster. You get ready to drop down and run when I +tell you." + +"But George, even if you coax him to the end of the pasture you know I'm +so slow I never could make the fence before he caught up with me?" +cried the still worried prisoner of the tree. + +"Yes, you are like an ice wagon, Buster; but never mind. I've got all +that fixed. Just look down yonder and you'll see a nice little trap +ready for Mr. Bull. It's a small enclosure, with three long rails to +slide across, once he's inside. Then he's caught fast, and can't get +out. That is meant for just such a purpose. See?" + +"Bully! bully!" shouted the delighted Nick, waving his hat in the air. +"Oh! I tell you it takes a smart fellow to get on to these dodges. Why, +Josh must have been blind not to see that same thing. Look at the bull +following you every time you take a step. Then he turns his old head to +peek back at me, as if just daring me to try and make the fence. But I +know better. I can wait. Why, George, talk to me about your Spanish bull +fights, this sure takes the cake!" + +"Don't crow too soon," answered the other boy. "Now comes the ticklish +part of the game. Will he go in that enclosure, or balk?" + +"Wave it harder, George! Make out that you're going to climb over. +That's the way to hold him. My! but wouldn't he like to pitch you +higher'n a kite. Look at that piece of old fence rail go flying, would +you? Now he's inside, George! Oh! if you can only get the bars across!" + +George proved equal to the emergency. He fastened his red handkerchief +to the fence, so that the wind kept it stirring constantly, with the +bull snorting just on the other side, and smelling of the flaming +object. Then George slily slipped back, took hold of the upper bar, and +quickly shot it in place through the opposite groove. + +A second immediately followed; and by the time Mr. Bull awakened to the +fact that he had again fallen into the old trap, he found himself neatly +caged. + +Nick was wild with delight. Still talking aloud, partly to himself and +also addressing fulsome remarks to his chum, he started to slide down +the body of the tree, landing with a heavy thump on the ground. + +Then he went off at a pretty good pace, for one so stout, heading for +the nearest part of the friendly fence. + +Just about this moment, when Nick was half way across the intervening +space, who should appear but Josh, followed by a farmer bearing a +measure of corn as a lure intended to entrap the fighting animal. + +All Josh saw was his friend trotting over the field; and filled with +sudden alarm lest poor Nick be overtaken by the wily bull, whom he +supposed to be on the other side of the tree, he immediately broke out +into a shrill shout. + +"Run faster, Buster! He'll sure get you! Put on another speed! Hurry, +hurry!" + +When the fat boy heard these wild cries he became visibly excited. It +was all very well to tell him to gallop along at a livelier clip; but +Nature had never intended Nick Longfellow for a sprinter. When in his +new alarm he attempted to increase his speed, the consequence was that +his stout legs seemed to get twisted, or in each other's way; at any +rate he took a header, and ploughed up the earth with his stubby nose. + +It gave him a chance to roll over several times, as if avoiding a +vicious lunge from the wicked horns of the bull, which animal he +imagined must be closing in on him. + +Struggling to his feet, he again put for the now near fence; and George +nearly took a fit laughing to see the remarkable manner in which the fat +boy managed to clamber over the rails, heedless of whether he landed on +his feet or his head, so long as he avoided punishment. + +When Josh came running down, accompanied by George, Nick was brushing +himself off, and wheezing heavily. + +"Give you my word, Buster," said the long-legged boy, penitently, "I +never saw that the old duffer was caught in that trap when I yelled. +Thought he was only hiding behind the tree, and giving you a fair start +before he galloped after. George, did you do that smart trick? Well, it +never came to me, I give you my word. Everybody can't have these bright +ideas, you know. And Nick, I was bringing the farmer, with a measure of +corn, to get the bull to the barn. Hope you don't hold it against me +because I yelled. I sure was scared when I saw you trotting along so +easy like." + +Nick was of a forgiving nature, and could not hold resentment long. + +"Oh! that's all right, Josh," he said. "No great harm done, even if I +have torn a big hole in my trouser knee. But you stayed away a mighty +long while. Seemed like a whole hour to me." + +"Oh!" replied Josh, with a twinkle in his eye, "not near as long as +that. Course it seemed like it to you, because a feller in a tree is +worried. I had some trouble finding the farmer, you know. But let's go +back and get some more milk. Here's my eggs all sound. Never broke one, +even when I piled over this fence in such a hurry." + +The rest were of the same mind; so, accompanied by the amused Michigan +farmer, they walked back to the house, where another purchase was made. +Not only did they get milk, and another pail; but George thought to ask +about butter, and secured a supply for camp use. + +This time they avoided all short-cuts as tending to breed danger. + +"I've heard said that 'the longest way around is the shortest way to the +fire,'" laughed George, as they passed the trapped bull; "but I never +knew it applied to cow pastures as well. Just remember that, will you, +Buster?" + +"Just as if I could ever forget those wicked looking horns," answered +the fat boy promptly. "I guess I'll dream about that bull often. +If you hear me whooping out in the middle of the night, boys, you +can understand that he's been chasing me in my sleep. Ugh! forget +him--never!" + +In about ten minutes they came out of a grove of trees, and before them +lay the great lake called Huron. Although it was something of a cove in +which a campfire was burning, beyond, as far as the eye could reach, +stretched a vast expanse of water, glittering in the westering sun, for +it was late in the afternoon at the time. + +Three natty little motor boats were anchored in the broad cove, back of +a jutting tongue of land that would afford them shelter should a blow +spring up during the night from the northeast, something hardly probable +during early August. + +Near the fire a trio of other lads were taking things comfortably. One +of these was Jack Stormways, the skipper of the _Tramp_; another Jimmie +Brannagan, an Irish lad who lived in the Stormways home on the Upper +Mississippi, as a ward of Jack's father, and who was as humorous and +droll as any red-haired and freckled face boy on earth; while the third +fellow was Herbert Dickson, whose broad-beamed boat was called the +_Comfort_, and well named at that. + +George Rollins commanded the slender and cranky speed boat which rejoiced +in the name of _Wireless_, and Josh acted as his assistant and cook; +while Nick played the same part, as well as his fat build would allow, +in the big launch. + +They had spent a month cruising about the Thousand Islands, where +fortune had thrown them in the way of many interesting experiences that +have been related in a previous volume. Just now they were making a tour +of the Great Lakes, intending to pass up through the famous Soo canal, +reach Lake Superior, knock around for a few weeks, and then head for +Milwaukee; where the boats would be shipped by railroad across the +country to their home town on the great river. + +As soon as the three wanderers arrived, laden with good things, Josh, +who was the boss cook of the crowd, began to start operations looking to +a jolly supper on the shore. + +There were a few cottages on the other side of the little bay; but just +around them it was given over to woods, so that they need not fear +interruption during their evening meal, and the singing feast that +generally followed. + +Out in the bay a large power boat was anchored, a beautiful craft, which +the boys had been admiring through their marine glasses. Possibly the +flutter of girls' white dresses and colored ribbons may have had +something to do with their interest in the costly vessel, though neither +Herb nor Jack would have confessed as much had they been accused. + +The name of the millionaire's boat was _Mermaid_, and she was about as +fine a specimen of the American boatbuilder's art as any of these +amateur sailors had ever looked upon. + +"Me for a swim before we have supper," said Nick; who felt rather dusty +after tumbling around so many times during his exciting experience with +the bull. + +"I'm with you there, Buster," laughed Jack. "You know I've got an +interest in your work, since I taught you how to swim while we were +making that Mississippi cruise." + +On the previous Fall, the high school in their home town was closed +until New Year's by order of the Board of Health, on account of a +dreadful contagious disease breaking forth. These six lads, having the +three staunch motor boats, had secured permission from their parents or +guardians to make a voyage down the Mississippi to New Orleans. Jack +really had to be in the Crescent City on December 1st, to carry out +the provisions of the will of an eccentric uncle, who had left him +considerable property. The other chums had gone along for the fun of the +thing. And it was this trip Jack referred to when speaking of Nick's +swimming. + +Presently both boys were sporting in the water, having donned their +bathing suits. While thus engaged Jack noticed out of the corner of his +eye that a boat had put out from the big vessel, and also that the two +girls were passengers. + +Perhaps they were going ashore to take dinner with friends at one of the +cottages just beyond the end of the woods; although Jack fancied that +the men rowing were heading a little out of a straight course, so as to +come closer to the three little motor boats, and possibly give the fair +passengers a better view of the fleet. + +There was now a stiff wind blowing, something unusual at an hour so near +sunset. The waves came into the bay from the south, it being somewhat +open toward the lower end, and slapped up on the beach with a merry +chorus, that made swimming a bit strenuous for the fat boy; though +Jack, being a duck in the water, never minded it a particle. + +Intent on chasing Buster, whom he had allowed to gain a good lead, Jack +was suddenly thrilled to hear a scream in a girlish voice, coming from +the boat which he knew was now close by. + +His first thought was that one of the girls had leaned too far over the +side, and fallen into the water, which at that point was very deep. And +it was with his heart in his mouth, so to speak, that Jack dashed his +hand across his eyes to clear his vision, and turned his attention +toward the big power boat's tender. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BOAT IN THE FACE OF THE MOON + + +A single look told Jack another story, for after all it was no human +life in peril that had given rise to that girlish shriek. + +Upon the dancing waves he saw a pretty hat, which had evidently been +snatched by the wind from the head of the golden-haired maid, who was +half standing up in the boat, with her hands outstretched toward her +floating headgear. + +The men had started to change their stroke, and try and turn the boat; +but with the wind blowing so hard this was no easy matter. The chances +seemed to be that possibly the hat might sink before they could get to +it. + +Jack never hesitated an instant. No sooner did he ascertain how things +lay than he was off like a shot, headed straight for the drifting hat. +It chanced that the wind and waves carried it toward him at the same +time; so that almost before the two men in the boat had turned the +head of the craft properly, Jack was reaching out an eager hand, and +capturing the prize. + +"Hooray!" came in a chorus from the boys ashore near the fire. Even +Buster tried to wave his hands, forgetting that he had full need of them +in the effort to remain afloat, with the result that he temporarily +vanished from view under a wave. + +Jack smiled to see the two girls in the boat clapping their hands as +they bore down upon him. He noticed now, that while the one who had lost +her hat was slender and a very pretty little witch, her companion was +almost as heavy in her way as Buster himself, and with the rosiest +cheeks possible. + +"Oh! thank you," cried the maiden whose headgear had been rescued from a +watery grave. "It was nice of you to do that. And it was my pet hat, +too. Whatever would I have done if it had sunk, with poor me so far away +from our Chicago home. Is one of those dear little boats yours?" + +"Yes, the one with the burgee floating at the bow," returned Jack, as he +kept treading water, after delivering up the gay hat. "We're taking our +vacation by making a trip from the Thousand Islands all through the +Great Lakes. My name is Jack Stormways." + +"And mine is Rita Andrews. My father owns that big power boat there; and +we live in Oak Park near Chicago. This is my cousin, Sallie Bliss. I'm +sorry to say that we're going to leave here early in the morning; or +I'd ask you to come aboard and meet my father." + +Nick meanwhile was approaching, making desperate efforts to hurry along +before the boat passed on. For Nick had discovered that the rosy-cheeked +girl was just the match for him, and he wanted to be introduced the +worst kind. + +Unfortunately the cruel men took to rowing again, and though Nick swam +after, puffing and blowing like a porpoise, he was left in the lurch. +But he succeeded in waving his hand to the departing ones, and laughed +joyously when he saw that Miss Sallie actually returned his salute. + +So the boat with its fair occupants passed away. Jack wondered whither +the millionaire, whose name he remembered having heard before, was +bound; and if a kind fate would ever allow him to see that charming face +of Rita Andrews again. Little did he dream of the startling conditions +that would surround their next meeting. + +"Hi! there, you fellows, come ashore and get some duds on!" called +George, who had been an interested observer of this little play. + +"Yes," supplemented Josh, waving a big spoon as though that might be the +emblem of his authority as "chief cook and bottle-washer," "supper's +about ready, and my omelette eats best when taken right off the pan. Get +a move on you, fellows." + +It was amusing to see the scramble Nick made for the shore. The jangle +of a spoon on a kettle always stirred his fighting spirit; he felt the +"call of the wild" as George said, and could hardly wait until the rest +sat down. + +So the two swimmers went ashore, and hastily dressed. Nick was forever +talking about the lovely roses in the cheeks of Miss Sallie. + +"You didn't play fair, Jack," he complained. "When you saw how anxious I +was to get up, why didn't you pretend to have a cramp, or something, to +detain the boat. I didn't even get introduced. She don't know what my +name is. It's mean, that's what I think." + +Jack knew that Buster would never be happy unless he had some cause for +grumbling. It was usually all put on, though, for naturally the fat boy +was a good-natured, easy-going fellow, ready to accommodate any one of +his chums to the utmost. + +While they ate the fine supper which Josh spread before them, George +entertained the party with a droll account of the adventure two of their +number had had with a bull. He had purposely kept silent up to now, and +bound Josh to secrecy, so that he could spring the story while they sat +around. + +Loud was the laughter as George went on in his clever way of telling +things. But Nick laughed with the rest. Viewed from the standpoint of +safety things really looked humorous now; whereas at one time they had +seemed terrifying indeed. + +"Catch me wearing that blessed red sweater again when I go for milk or +eggs," he declared. "Once is enough for me. Oh! if I'd only had a camera +along to snap Josh as he went climbing over that fence, with the bull so +close behind. I'd get that picture out every time I felt blue, and laugh +myself sick." + +Josh assumed an injured air, as he spoke up, saying: + +"Now would you listen to that, fellows? Just as if I looked a quarter as +funny as Nick did, trying to scramble up that tree, nearly scared to +death, because he thought Johnny Bull wanted to help him rise in the +world. Oh! my land! but he was a sight. When I went off to get help I +wanted to laugh so bad I just fell over in the grass, where he couldn't +see me, and just had it out. Couldn't help it." + +"That's what kept you so long, was it?" demanded Nick, reproachfully. +"All right, the very next time you get in a pickle, and yell out for +help, I'm going to get a crick in my leg when I try to run, see if I +don't." + +"All the same I noticed that you could swim to beat the band when you +tried to join Jack, before the sweet girlies got away," put in George, +maliciously. + +"Nick was afraid the boat was going to upset, and he saw a chance to +save that red-cheeked little dumpling from a watery grave," Herb +remarked, with a grin. + +"Suppose something _had_ happened, Jack couldn't have rescued them both. +But you can laugh all you want to, smarties, she waved her hand to me +all the same, didn't she, Jack?" appealed the fat boy, stubbornly. + +"I saw her wave to somebody, so I suppose it was meant for you," replied +Jack. + +"Birds of a feather flock together," chanted Josh. + +"That'll do for you," Nick declared sternly. "She was a fine and dandy +little lady, and I hope some time in the future I'll see Sallie Bliss +again." + +"Bliss! Oh! what d'ye think of that, fellows?" roared George. + +"Leave Buster alone, can't you?" Jack said, in pretended indignation. +"He's all right, and honest as the day is long. None of your Crafty +Clarence in his makeup, you know, fellows." + +Clarence Macklin was a boy who came from the same town as those around +the camp fire. He was the son of a very rich man, who supplied him with +almost unlimited spending money. Consequently Clarence was able to carry +out any folly that chanced to crop up in his scheming mind. + +Learning through trickery of the intention of the motor boat boys to +cruise among the Thousand Islands, he had shipped his fast speed boat, +called the _Flash_ thither, and succeeded in giving them more or less +annoyance. He was accompanied by his pet crony, a fellow called Bully +Joe Brinker, who usually did the dirty work Clarence allowed himself to +think up. + +"Say, speaking of that fellow, wonder what's become of him?" George +remarked; for there was a standing rivalry between his boat and that of +the other, both being built solely for speed, and not comfort or safety. + +"Didn't he hint something about coming up in this region later on?" said +Jack. + +"I understood it that way," observed Herb. "And more than a few times, +while we cruised along the southern shore of Ontario and Erie, I thought +we'd see his pirate boat bob up." + +"I hope we don't run across that crowd again," observed Nick. "For +they're sore on us, and bound to do us a bad turn if they find the +chance." + +"Well, we can keep our eyes open," remonstrated George. "You know +Clarence believes that _Flash_ can make circles around my bully boat, +and I'm wanting to give him a chance to prove it." + +"Chuck that, George," said Josh. "You know you beat him out once +handsomely." + +"Yes, but he said he hadn't tried to do his level best. Anyhow, if the +chance comes again I'm ready to race him." + +"How long would we be gettin' up till the Soo now, Jack, darlint?" asked +Jimmie; who being second "high notch" in the line of eaters in the +crowd, had been too busy up to now to do any great amount of talking. + +"That depends pretty much on the weather," replied the leader of the +expedition, who studied his charts faithfully, and was always ready to +give what information he picked up, to his chums. "We are now something +like one hundred and fifty miles sou'-east-by-south from Mackinac +Island, where we expect to stop over a few days. If we pick out a good +morning we ought to navigate the head of Huron and the crooked St. +Mary's river to the Soo in one day. The steamers do, and we can make +about as fast time." + +"Of course we have to hold up for the _Comfort_ pretty much all the +way," said George; "not that I'm complaining, fellows, for I understand +that it takes all sorts of people to make a world, and lots of different +kinds of boats to please everybody. And in bad weather Herb and Josh +fare better than the rest of us. Well, suppose we leave here tomorrow +morning, if the weather lets us, Jack?" + +"We will try and make Mackinac with just one more stop," Jack replied. +"That will be easy enough; though if the wind gets around and the waves +increase, we'll have to run for some snug harbor, George, because your +boat and mine are hardly storm craft on these big lakes." + +"It's been a foine trip so far, I say," observed Jimmie, reaching for +another baked potato, which Josh had cooked to a turn in the ashes of +the fire, somehow keeping them from blackening, as is usually the case +in camp. + +"You're right there, Jimmie," replied Herb. "And with no serious +accidents to come, we'll make a record to be proud of. Just imagine +us sitting around the fire in our cozy club house that is right now +building, while Jack reads the stirring log of our experiences up here. +It will make us live over the whole trip again." + +"Yes," chimed in George, "and think of the _bliss_ that must bring." + +Nick colored a little, as he felt every eye on him. + +"Look at the moon just peeping up over yonder, fellows," he observed, +meaning to distract their attention. + +"Just about full too," remarked Jack. "Going to be a great night for a +camp." + +"Makes me think of that moonlight race we had with the _Flash_," George +went on, his heart always set on the matter of speed and victories. + +Night was just closing in, and the grand full moon was rising from the +watery depths, so it seemed. + +"There comes a motor boat down yonder," remarked Herb. "See what a fine +searchlight she has. No need of that, though, as soon as the moon gets +fairly up." + +"Say, she's just humping along to beat the band, I tell you!" declared +Josh, as all eyes were turned to where the shadowy form of the advancing +craft could be seen, growing plainer with every passing second. + +"Oh! I don't know," instantly remarked George, who was unable to see +much good in any small craft when his pet _Wireless_ was around. "I +should say she was doing just fairly, you know; but then she doesn't +have to hold back for any elephant." + +"That's a mean hit, George," said Herb, though he never changed his mind +about his comfortable boat because of any slurs cast by his mates, who +might come to envy him in bad weather. + +"Look at her cut through the water, would you?" Josh went on. "The +fellows aboard don't intend to turn in here to stop over. Must be in a +hurry to get somewhere, I guess." + +"There, she's just passing the rising moon. Why, I declare, fellows, +seems to me she looks kind of familiar like!" Nick exclaimed. + +Jack jumped up, and secured a pair of marine glasses. They were +guaranteed for night work, and through them he could see the passing +motor boat splendidly. + +"Is it, Jack?" asked George, eagerly; and the other nodded. + +"That's the same old _Flash_, all right," he said, looking around the +circle. + +"Gosh!" exploded Nick, "Crafty Clarence is on the trail once more, bent +on revenge for the beat George gave his pirate motor boat. I see warm +times looming up ahead of us, shipmates all. And ain't I glad I know how +to swim now!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAUGHT BY THE STORM + + +"I wonder if they know we are camping in this place right now?" Josh +ventured. + +"The chances are, they do," replied Jack. "Both of those chaps possess +eyes as sharp as they make them. And there's another reason why I think +that way." + +"Then let's hear it, old fellow," begged Nick. + +"This is a nice, attractive place to haul in, and spend the night, when +cruising along in a small motor boat. As evening has come, not one in +ten would think of passing the cove by; and you know it, boys," Jack +went on, with emphasis. + +"But they deliberately did that same thing," ventured Herb. "Yes, I get +on to what you mean, Jack. They'd rather boom along, and take chances of +being caught out on the open lake in the night, even with a storm in +prospect, to stopping over near the camp of the motor boat club. Is that +it?" + +"Just what I meant, Herb," nodded the other. + +"And I guess you struck it, all right," commented Josh. + +"But if they didn't want to say us agin, what in the dickens did they +iver kim up this way for, I doan't know?" remarked Jimmie, helplessly. + +At that George laughed out loud. + +"Wake up, Jimmie!" he exclaimed. "You're asleep, you know. Why, don't +you understand that Clarence Macklin never yet took a beat like a fair +and square man? He won't rest easy till he's tried it again with the +_Wireless_. I happen to know that he hurried his poor old boat to a +builder, and had him work on the engine, hoping to stir it up a peg or +two. And now he's going to sneak around till he gets the chance to +challenge me again." + +"And," went on Nick, following up the idea, "he didn't want to drop in +here with us, because in the first place he hates us like fun; and then +he was afraid George might ask questions about his bally old boat." + +"He wants to spring a surprise!" declared Josh. "That's his play all the +time. When we had snowball battles, Clarence was forever hiding with a +bunch of his men, and jumping out suddenly at us. That's where he got +his name of Sneaky Clarence." + +"Well," remarked Jack, "I hope George gets a chance to show him up again +for the fraud that he is; but at the same time I don't want Clarence +and Bully Joe bothering us right along. We didn't come up here just to +chase around after them." + +"Or have the gossoons chasing around afther us, by the same token," +laughed the Irish lad. + +They sat around the fire, and carried on in their usual jolly way, +telling stories, laughing, and singing many of the dear old school +songs. Six voices, and some of them wonderfully good ones too, made +a volume of sound that must have carried far across the bay to the +cottages, where the summer residents were doubtless sitting out in the +beautiful moonlight. + +The boys began to think of retiring about ten or after. A couple of +tents had been purchased after coming to the St. Lawrence river country; +for somehow all of them became tired of sleeping aboard the boats, since +there was little of comfort about it. + +These tents had been erected under the supervision of Jack, who knew all +about how a camp should be constructed, so that in case of wind or rain +no damage was likely to result. + +They made a pretty sight now, with the moonlight falling upon them, and +the flickering fire adding to the picture. + +Jack had wandered down to the edge of the water. The three motor boats +were all anchored close by, and everything had been made snug; but of +course it was not the intention of the boys to leave things unguarded. +The chances of trouble were too positive to think of such foolishness. + +"Too bad, Jack, that the wind has gone down," said a voice at his elbow; +and turning Jack saw the grinning countenance of George. + +"Oh! I don't know," remarked the other, slowly and cautiously, as if +wondering whether George could read his secret thoughts, and know that +he was just then thinking of the pretty little girl whose hat he had +rescued from the hungry maw of the lake that afternoon. + +"Why, I think I hear voices over yonder where they landed, and girls at +that," George continued, wickedly. "No doubt the little darlings are +about embarking on the return trip to the _Mermaid_. Now, if the wind +would only suddenly swoop along, perhaps a boat might be upset. But +Jack, with your clothes on, you'd have a tough time swimming out there +and saving Rita's life, like you did her bonnet." + +"Oh! let up on that, will you?" laughed Jack, good naturedly; for he was +used to such joking and joshing on the part of his mates, and ready to +take it in the same spirit of fun that it was meant. "I was thinking +about our boats here. Seems to me that whoever is on guard should take +up a position where he can keep an eye on the whole outfit. At the first +sign of danger he must wake up the bunch of us. Isn't that right, +George?" + +"Sure it is; but see here, you don't really think anything _will_ +happen, do you?" the other demanded, uneasily. "Because if I had +any idea that way, I'd feel like going aboard, and sleeping there, +uncomfortable as a narrow speed boat is. Why, it'd nearly break my heart +if anything knocked my _Wireless_ just now, and spoiled the rest of my +vacation." + +"Oh! I guess there's no real danger," said Jack, quickly; "but you know +my way of being cautious. An ounce of prevention, they say, George, is +better than a pound of cure. We insure our boats against explosion and +loss; why not do the same about our chances for a jolly good time?" + +"Right you are, Jack. That's a long head you carry on your shoulders," +admitted the skipper of the speed craft. "But there they come. I can see +the boat, and the white dresses of the girls. She is a little angel, +Jack, and seriously I don't blame you for wanting to see more of Miss +Rita Andrews; but the chances are against you, old fellow." + +"Well, girls were the last thing we had in mind when we started on this +trip," remarked Jack. "We left lots of pretty ones at home, you know; +and we're getting letters from some of them right along. There, they've +made the big power boat all right, and are getting aboard." + +"And you can go to sleep with an easy mind," laughed George, "because +the young lady wasn't wrecked in port. But perhaps we might happen to +catch up with 'em at the Soo, Jack. No doubt you had thought of that?" + +"We expect to be at Mackinac first, and people generally stop off there +a day or two," remarked the pilot of the _Tramp_, falling into the +little trap shrewd lawyer George had set for him; whereat the other gave +him a dig in the ribs, and ran off to the camp to get his blankets ready +for his first nap. + +But nothing out of the way did happen that night, though the motor boat +boys kept faithful watch and ward, one of them being on duty an hour or +more at a time up to dawn. + +With the coming of the sun over the water all were awake, and +preparations for breakfast underway. Jack, Nick and Josh concluded to +take a morning dip, while the rest were looking after the cooking of a +heap of delicious flapjacks done to a brown turn as only the wonderful +Josh could coax them. + +Smoke rising slowly from the big power boat's cook's galley pipe +announced that preparations were underway there for an early start. + +Indeed, the vessel started to leave the harbor even while Jack and his +mates were still sitting around the fire, disposing of the appetizing +mess that had been so skillfully prepared for the crowd. + +"Jack, it's all right!" laughed George. + +"Yes," chimed in Nick, innocently, with a sigh of relief, "they're +heading north, sure as anything." + +"Oh! we forgot there was a pair of 'em, sighing like furnaces," jeered +Josh. + +But Jack and the fat boy only laughed. + +"Rank jealousy, Nick; don't you bother your head about such cruel +remarks," said the former, winking to the stout youth. + +"Well, everybody get busy now," said George, jumping to his feet. "It +looks like we might have a fairly decent day, if that blessed old wind +keeps away. My boat rolls like fun when in a wash, and I don't like it a +bit. Hope we'll have the air out of the southwest today, so we'll be +shielded by the shore." + +He hurried off to get aboard. The others were not far behind, for tents +had been taken down, and blankets stowed, while breakfast was being +cooked; so that there was not a great deal to do now. + +Then, after a last survey of the late camp had been taken by cautious +Jack, in order to make sure that nothing was forgotten and the fire +dead, he too stepped into his little dinky, paddled out to where Jimmie +awaited him aboard the _Tramp_; and five minutes later the little +flotilla started, amid a tremendous popping of motors, and much calling +back and forth on the part of skippers and crews. + +Once outside the protecting cape they headed due nor'-east by north, and +kept just a certain distance away from the shore. + +It was a lovely morning, and gave promise of a fine day; but these +cruisers had learned through bitter experience never to wholly trust +such signs. In summer at any rate, storms can develop with suddenness on +the big lakes, and a squall start to blowing without warning. Hence they +had adopted as a motto, the slogan of the Boy Scouts: "Be Prepared!" + +George called out to the skipper of the _Tramp_, and pointed ahead, +where, several miles to the north could be seen the dim shape of the big +power boat, rapidly covering the distance that intervened between the +cove and charming Mackinac Island. + +"They'll be at Mackinac tonight, all right, Jack!" shouted George, who +led the little procession in his speed boat. + +Jack made no attempt at a reply; but Jimmie took up the cudgels at once. + +"Sure we'll make it by tomorry night, if all goes well," he said; "and +begorra, not wan of our boats is in the same class wid the big wan. Take +the three togither and they'd be only a bite for the _Mermaid_. So we +bate thim aisy now." + +So they chugged along as time passed. In an hour all signs of the larger +craft had passed from their sight. At noon they opened up Thunder Bay; +and thinking to make the dangerous crossing of its broad mouth before +having lunch, they kept on. + +It was rather rough traveling, especially for the narrow _Wireless_; and +acting upon Jack's suggestion George hovered close to the others, so as +to have help in case of trouble, and be partly sheltered from the +rollers by keeping in their lee. + +But the passage was made in safety; and after that their course changed +to some extent. The shore turned more toward the northwest, so that they +headed into the wind, which was creating some sea, in which the small +craft wallowed considerably. + +An hour later Jack began to cast anxious glances toward the shore, +hoping to discover an opening of some sort, in which the fleet might +take refuge. For the sky was darkening by degrees, and he fancied he +caught the muttering of thunder in the distance. + +On their starboard quarter nothing could be seen but a vast heaving +expanse of water; for Lake Huron at this point stretches more than fifty +miles, before Grand Manitoulin Island is reached to the northeast. + +It would be a bad place for such small craft to be caught in a storm. +Still, the shore looked strangely devoid of any indentation, and Jack's +fears increased as the minutes passed without any change for the better +cropping up. But he did not express these aloud, and even his boatmate +Jimmie, although often casting a look of anxious inquiry at the face of +his skipper, could not tell what was passing in his mind. + +And then, without any warning, there suddenly came a vivid flash of +lightning over in the west, almost immediately followed by an ominous +clap of thunder that seemed to make the very air quiver. + +"Say, that looks bad!" called out Josh; who was in the cranky speed +boat, and had more reason to be alarmed than most of his comrades. + +"What shall we do, Jack?" asked Herb, whose _Comfort_ was keeping close +on the port side of the boat Jack had charge of. + +"Push on for all we're worth," answered the other. "I think I see a +harbor, if only we can make it before the storm breaks. George, you +leave us, and drive ahead; for the danger is greater with you than the +rest. But don't worry fellows; it's all right, we've just got to make +that bay where the point sticks out, and we're going to do it too." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A STRANGE SOUND + + +George recognized the wisdom of such a move as his chum suggested. If +the wind kept on increasing as it seemed bound to do, and the storm +broke upon them in all its mid-summer violence, the cranky speed boat +would be apt to feel the effect more than either of the other craft. + +It was therefore of great importance that he and Josh seek the promised +shelter with all haste. Much as he disliked leaving the balance of the +fleet, necessity seemed to compel such a move. + +Accordingly, he threw on all the motive power his engine was capable of +developing, and began to leave the others quickly in the lurch. + +Jack could easily have gone ahead of the heavy _Comfort_, but he did not +mean to do so. Better that they stick together, so as to be able to +render assistance if it were badly needed. + +Talking across the narrow abyss of water separating the two boats was +altogether out of the question, unless one shouted. There was no time +for an exchange of opinions, since all of them needed to keep their wits +on the alert, in order to meet the dangers that impended. + +Already had the waves grown in size. They were getting heavier with +every passing minute; and the little motor boats began to actually +wallow, unless headed directly into the washing seas. + +It was a critical time for all concerned, and Nick could be seen with +his cork life-preserver carefully fastened about his stout body under +the arms, as if prepared for the very worst that could happen. + +It was about this time that Jimmie gave a shrill whoop. + +"They done it!" he yelled, regardless of the rules of grammar, such was +his delight. "The ould _Wireless_ is safe beyant the p'int!" + +Jack saw that what he said seemed to be so. The speed boat had evidently +managed to reach a spot where the jutting tongue of land helped to +shield her from the oncoming waves. She no longer plunged up and down +like a cork on the water, though continuing her onward progress. + +The sight spurred the others on to renewed zeal. If George could do it, +then the same measure of success should come their way. + +Five minutes later Jack noticed that there was an apparent abatement of +the wild fury with which the heaving billows were beating against the +bow of his little craft. A look ahead told him the comforting news that +already was the extreme point standing between the two boats and the +sweep of the seas. + +"We do be safe!" shouted Jimmie; who, in his excitable way seemed ready +to try and dance a jig then and there, an operation that would have been +attended with considerable danger to the safety of the _Tramp's_ human +cargo. + +"And not a minute too soon!" said Jack, as a sudden gust of wind tore +past, that might have been fatal to his boat had it been wallowing in +one of those seas just then. + +As it was, they had about all they could do to push on against the +fierce gale, protected as they were by the cape of land. The spray was +flying furiously over that point, as the waves dashed against its +further side. But the boys knew they were safe from harm, and could +stand a wetting with some degree of patience. + +George was waiting for them, his anchor down, at a point he considered +the best they could make for the present. He had managed to pull on his +oilskins, and was looking just like a seasoned old tar as the other +boats drew in. + +Jimmie and Nick were ready with the mudhooks, under the directions +of their respective skippers. Hardly had these found a temporary +resting-place at the bottom, than all four lads seized upon their +rainproof suits, and presently they were as well provided against the +downpour as George. + +And the rain certainly did descend in a deluge for a short time. They +had all they could do to prevent the boats from being half swamped, such +was the tremendous violence with which the torrent was hurled against +them by the howling wind. + +But after all, it was only a summer squall. In less than half an hour +the sun peeped out, as if smiling over the deluge of tears. The wind had +gone down before, but of course the waves were still rolling very +heavily outside. + +"That settles our going on today!" declared George, as he pointed at +the outer terminus of the cape, past which they could see the rollers +chasing one another, as if in a great game of tag. + +"It's pretty late in the afternoon anyhow," declared Josh, who was +secretly worried for fear lest his rather reckless skipper might want +to put forth again. + +"Yes, and we might look a long way ahead without finding a chance to +drop into a harbor as good as this," remarked Herb. + +"You're all right," laughed Jack; "and we'd be sillies to even dream of +leaving this bully nook now. Besides, if tomorrow is decent, we can make +an extra early start in the morning, and get to Mackinac before dark." + +"That suits me all right," Nick observed, as he complacently started to +remove his oilskins, so that he could pay attention to the bulky cork +life preserver, which he did not mean to wear all night. + +They found that it was possible to make a point much closer to the +shore, and it was decided to do so, especially after sharp-eyed Jimmie +had discovered signs of a farm near by, possibly belonging to a grower +of apples, since a vast orchard seemed to cover many acres. + +"I hope that big power boat wasn't caught in that stiff blow," Jack +remarked, as they were getting ready to go ashore in order to stretch +their legs a bit and look around. + +"Oh! I guess they must have made Mackinac," said George. "She was a +hurry-boat, all right, and the wind would not bother her like it did our +small fry." + +"Thank you, George, for that comforting remark. I was really getting +worried myself about the _Mermaid_," observed Nick. + +"Listen to Buster, would you, fellows?" cried Josh. "I never thought +he'd go back on the girls we left behind us, and particularly Rosie!" + +But Nick only grinned as they joined in the laugh. + +"I'm a privileged character now," he asserted, stoutly. "A sailor is +said to have a best girl in every port, you know, fellows. And every one +of you will agree with me that Sallie Bliss is as pretty as a peach." + +"And just your size too, Buster," declared Herb. + +"Look out for an engagement with some dime museum company as the +fat"--started Josh; when he had to dodge something thrown at him by the +object of this persecution, and the sentence was never completed. + +The ground being sandy close to the water, they concluded to start a +fire, so as to cook supper ashore, since it was so much more "homey" as +Nick said, for them to be together at mealtimes. But all were of the +opinion that it would be advisable to sleep on board. + +"Another hot squall might spring up during the night," observed George, +"and just fancy our tents going sailing off to sea. Of course I don't +hanker about putting in a night in such cramped quarters as my narrow +boat affords; but it can't come anywhere near what I went through with +when Buster was my shipmate, down on the Mississippi." + +"And then somebody ought to go after milk and eggs," suggested Herb. + +"Here, don't everybody look at me," Nick bridled up. "I guess it's the +turn of another bunch this time. Josh and myself have served our country +as haulers of the necessities." + +"But every farmer doesn't own a bull, Buster," remarked George. + +"Well, I object to bulldogs just as much. Little fellows are all right, +likewise pussy cats; but deliver me from the kind that hold on to all +they grab. Nixey. You and Jack try it this time, George." + +"That's only fair," spoke up the latter, immediately. + +"Well," said George, "if we're going, the sooner we start the better; +because you see the old sun is hanging right over the horizon." + +"And I'm nearly caved in for want of proper nourishment," grumbled Nick. + +No one paid any particular attention to his remark; because that +condition was a regular part of his lamentations several times a day. +The only time Nick seemed to be in a state of absolute contentment was +the half hour following a gorging bee; and then he beamed satisfaction. + +Accordingly the pair started forth, armed with a tin bucket for the +milk. George had no great love for biting dogs himself, and as they +approached the vicinity of the farm buildings he suggested to his +companion that they arm themselves with stout canes, with which they +might defend themselves in case of an emergency. + +"Looks like a prosperous place, all right," Jack observed as they saw +the buildings and the neat appearance of things in general. + +"But seems to me it's awful lonely here," remarked George. "Where can +the people all be? Don't see any children about, or women folks. Plenty +of cows and chickens, but sure they can't take care of themselves." + +"Well, hardly," laughed Jack. "We'll run across somebody soon. Let's +head for the barn first. Generally at this time you'll find the men busy +there, taking care of the horses, and the pigs." + +"I hear hogs grunting," remarked George. + +"Well, I got the same sound myself; but do you know it struck me more +like a groan!" Jack said, in a voice somewhat awed. + +"A groan! Gee; what do you mean, Jack?" exclaimed the other, turning +toward his chum with a white face. + +"Just what I said," Jack replied. "And listen, there it is again. Now I +know it was no swine you heard, George. That sound was from the barn. +Come on. I'm afraid somebody's in trouble here!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"CARRY THE NEWS TO ANDY!" + + +"Nobody here, Jack!" announced George, in a relieved tone, as the two +entered the stable, and looked around. + +A number of horses stood in stalls, munching their oats, which in itself +told the observing Jack that some one must have been there a short time +before, since the animals had been recently fed. + +Before he could make any reply to his companion's remark, once more that +thrilling sound came to their ears. And this time even George realized +that it was unmistakably a human groan. + +"It came from over here!" exclaimed Jack, as without the slightest +hesitation he sprang across the floor of the place. + +George following close upon his heels, saw him bending over the figure +of a man, who was lying upon the floor in a doubled-up position. + +"What has happened? Did one of the horses kick him?" gasped George, +always a bundle of nerves. + +"No, I don't think so," replied Jack. "I can find no sign of an injury +about him. It's more likely a fit of some kind he's just recovering +from. Lots of people are subject to such things, you know." + +"Say, that's just what;" declared George. "I had an uncle who used to +drop like a rock right in the street or anywhere." + +"What did they do with him at such times?" demanded Jack, anxiously. + +"Well, nobody seemed able to do much," replied the other. "I saw my +father loosen the collar of his shirt, and lay him out on his back. A +little water on his face might help; but in most fits it takes some time +to recover. But I thought I saw his eyelids twitch right then, Jack." + +"Yes, he's going to come out of it," replied Jack, as he managed to get +the old man into what seemed like a more comfortable position. + +And presently, as the two boys still bent anxiously over him, the man +opened his eyes. He stared at them for a bit, as if trying to collect +his thoughts. Then a horse neighed, and he seemed to realize his +position. + +Jack, seeing him trying to sit up, assisted him. The old man sighed +heavily, and spoke in a weak tone. + +"Reckon I dropped in my own stable that time. Might have been under +the feet of the hosses too. And both men away. Who are ye, boys? I'm +beholdin' to you more'n I can say," he went on. + +Whereupon Jack soon explained how they belonged to a little company of +cruisers who had been driven by the storm to take shelter behind the +point of land; and that their present errand was to secure a supply of +fresh milk and eggs, if so be they could be had. + +"Help me to the house, please, boys," said the farmer, trying to rise. +"I'm always some weak after one of these spells. They're acomin' oftener +now, and I'll have to quit bein' alone. Now more'n ever I need Andy. Oh! +if they can only find him for me, I'll be so happy." + +Of course this was so much Greek to the two boys. But they gladly helped +him to regain his feet, and walk to the house. + +"The men will be back soon, and you can have all the milk and eggs you +want!" he declared; and even as he spoke George discovered a team coming +toward the farmhouse, evidently from some nearby town, with a couple of +husky men on the wagon, which was piled high with new and empty apple +barrels. + +"That let's me out," laughed George, "for you see, I was just going to +volunteer to milk Bossie; and as I've had mighty little experience in +that line, perhaps she'd have kicked me into the next county for a +bungler." + +The men came on to the house, seeing strangers present, and Jack soon +explained the situation to them. He learned that the old farmer's name +was Jonathan Fosdick, and that the Andy he had spoken about was his only +son, with whom he had quarreled several years back, and for whom his +heart was forever yearning, now that old age and disease began to grip +hold of him. + +Supplied with the milk and the eggs the two lads started back to the +camp. + +"Promise to come up and see me again tonight, boys," the old farmer had +pleaded, as he came to the door with them, after positively refusing to +accept any pay for what they had received. "I want to speak with you +about something that's on my mind a heap lately. You helped me once; +p'raps ye can again." + +"Now, what under the sun do you think he meant?" remarked George, as +they plodded along with their heavy burdens toward the lake shore, where +the boats lay. + +"Just wait, and we'll know all about it soon," replied Jack; for while +he could himself give a pretty good guess what was on the mind of Mr. +Fosdick, he did not care to commit himself. + +The others greeted the foragers with loud cries of delight. + +"Then there wasn't any bull handy?" said Nick, with an evident shade of +disappointment in his voice; for Nick was nothing if not generous; and +having tasted the delights of being chased up a tree by an angry bovine, +he felt that the other fellows ought to share the experience with him. + +The fire was already burning briskly, and Josh employed in his customary +tasks of getting things ready for cooking. At such times Josh was looked +upon as a czar, and his simplest word was law. It was very pleasant for +the tall, lanky lad to feel that he did have an hour or so each day, +when every one bent the knee to his superior knowledge; and he certainly +made the most of it. + +And the supper was of course a bountiful one. It could not be otherwise +so long as Nick and Jimmie had a hand in its preparation. The former +hovered around from time to time, suggesting that Josh add just another +handful to the rice that was being cooked, or possibly wondering if they +could make one big can of mullagatawny soup do for six fellows; until +frequently the boss would turn and wither him with a look, backed up as +it was with that big spoon. + +Later on, after everybody had declared themselves satisfied, Jack +beckoned to the skipper of the _Wireless_. + +"We promised that we'd run up and see how Mr. Fosdick was getting on, +fellows," remarked the latter. "Be back inside of an hour or so; long +before you are thinking of going aboard." + +Nick started to rise, but sank back again as Jack shook his head. + +"This farmer keeps a black bull, Buster. I saw him in an enclosure, and +seemed to me the bars looked mighty slender!" observed George, +maliciously. + +"Excuse me, I think this fire feels mighty comfy," grinned Nick. + +The two boys found Mr. Fosdick waiting for them. The woman who did his +household work, a black mammy, had been over at a neighbor's when they +were there before; but had later on returned, and cooked supper. + +Things even looked a little cheerful, with the lamp-light flooding the +comfortable livingroom of the big farmhouse. + +"Sit down, boys," said the farmer, pointing to two chairs, he himself +reclining on a lounge. "You're wondering now why I wanted to see ye +again. I'm beholdin' to you for the prompt assistance you gave me. But +there's somethin' more'n that. Did ye say as how ye was bound for Lake +Superior way soon?" + +"Why, we are going as far as the Soo," Jack replied, readily; "and +we may take a notion to prowl along the northern shore for a short +distance. I've always heard a heap about the big speckled trout to be +taken around the mouth of the Agawa river and other places there, and +since we have the chance I thought I'd like to try to land a whopper, +if so be the rest of the boys are willing to go." + +"The Agawa!" repeated Mr. Fosdick, eagerly. "I wonder if that might be +the place now. 'Twas somewhere along that northern shore he said he saw +my Andy." + +"That was your son, I take it?" ventured Jack. + +"Yes, my only boy or child. His mother died after he ran away, and I'm +gettin' old now. I want Andy to come home; but try as I would, I never +could get a line to him." + +Then he went on to tell about his boy, and for a long time Jack and +George had to listen to an account of Andy's childhood life. Gradually +he came to the point where the highstrung boy had refused to be treated +as a child any longer. A violent quarrel had followed, and Andy left +home. + +"I know now I was most to blame," said the old man, contritely; "and if +only I could get word to my boy I'd beg him to come back to me. I want +to see him again before I foller his mother across the great divide. +Just a week ago I had a letter from a party who told me he was sure +he saw Andy in a fish camp up on Superior. He'd growed up, and the +gentleman didn't have a chanct to speak with him; but afterward it +struck him who the man was. If so be ye run across Andy, tell him I'm +waitin' with my arms stretched out for him, won't ye, boys?" + +"To be sure we will!" declared George, heartily, for he was considerably +affected by the appearance of grief on the old man's face. + +They soon afterward started to say goodnight, wishing to get back to +where the rest of the party sat around the camp fire. + +"I forgot to tell ye," went on Mr. Fosdick, as he followed them to the +door, "as they was a young chap here t'other day as said he'd keep an +eye out for Andy. And now that I think of it, he had a little motor boat +too, like them you tell me about. And he said he 'spected to cruise +around Superior a bit." + +George and Jack exchanged glances. + +"And was his name Clarence Macklin?" asked the latter, quickly. + +"Just what it was," replied the farmer, waving them a farewell. + +"Now, what do you think of that?" asked George, as they strode on. "Why, +that fellow is bound to crop up all the time like a jack-in-the-box. We +can't even start to do a poor heartbroken old father a good turn, but he +gets his finger in the pie. But there's a bully chance for me to get +another race with his piratical _Flash_, and that's some satisfaction;" +and Jack found himself compelled to laugh, realizing that George had his +weakness just as well as Buster. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TIED UP AT MACKINAC ISLAND + + +"All aboard!" + +It was Nick who shouted this aloud on the following morning. They had +arisen at dawn, and prepared a hasty breakfast. Josh had looked out for +this on the preceding evening, for he had cooked a pot of grits, which +being sliced while cold was fried in butter after being dipped in egg. +Only several fryingpans were needed for the job, on account of the +extreme fondness Nick had for that particular dish. But long ago his +comrades had learned to view such an assertion on the part of the fat +boy with suspicion; because it was discovered that the present treat was +_always_ the one Buster adored most. + +The waves still seemed larger than might prove comfortable, but there +was a fair chance of their going down later on in the day. Besides, +George was gaining more confidence in his narrow boat, as he came to +know it better; and he possessed something of a reckless spirit in +addition. + +"Ain't this just glorious!" exclaimed Nick, when they had gotten fully +started, and passing beyond the protecting point, felt the full force +of the waves. + +Not a voice was raised in dissent; even Josh, while looking a little +anxious, refused to put up a complaint as the _Wireless_ ducked and +bowed and slid along through the troubled waters like a "drunken duck," +as Nick termed it aside to Herb. + +But just as they had anticipated, things improved as the day advanced. +The breeze grew lighter; and while it came over many miles of water, +the sea was not threatening. Besides, there is such a thing as +growing accustomed to such things. What in the beginning might excite +apprehension, after a while would be accepted as the natural thing, and +even looked upon with indifference. + +They kept this up until after the noon hour, and splendid progress was +made, so Jack declared. As he had been elected the commodore of the +fleet, and kept tab of the charts, they always depended on what he said +as being positive. + +Finding a good opportunity to get ashore about this time the boys +accepted it by a unanimous vote. So many hours aboard small boats gives +one a cramp, and under such conditions a chance to stretch is always +acceptable. + +Their stay was not long, for all of them were anxious to reach the +beautiful island known as Mackinac by evening. So once more the fleet +put out, and in a clump bucked into the northwest breeze and the sea. + +They were now heading due northwest, and about three in the afternoon +George declared he could see land dead ahead which he believed must be +Bois Blanc Island. + +"I reckon now you're just about right," said Jack, after he had +consulted his map, and then in turn peeped through his marine glasses. +"For the way we head, there couldn't be any other land straight on. If +that's so, fellows, we'll raise the hilly island just beyond pretty +soon." + +Before four they could get a sight of what seemed a little green gem set +in the glittering sea of water. + +"That's Mackinac, all right," observed George. "I can see white dots +among the green, that stand for the houses. We're going to get there +today, fellows. Told you so, Buster. Me for a juicy steak tonight then." + +"Oh! don't mention it, please," gasped Nick. "You make my mouth fairly +water. And if our boss cook would only suggest fried onions along with +it, my cup of joy would be running over." + +"Sure," called out Josh, "if you promise to peel the tear-getters. We +need such a heap to satisfy that enormous appetite of yours, not to +mention some others I know, that I refuse to undertake the job." + +"Oh! all right; count on me!" cried Nick, looking around as though +anxious to begin work at once, a proceeding that George vetoed on the +spot. + +"I need my eyes to see how to steer, thank you, Buster," he declared. +"You just hold in your horses. Plenty of time. Besides, most of the +onions are aboard the _Comfort_ along with Josh." + +An hour later they were approaching the magic isle that has won a +fame all its own as a picture of beauty seldom equalled, and never +excelled--green with its grass and foliage, and with many snow white +cottages and hotels showing through this dark background. + +"Did you ever see anything like it?" asked Jack, as the three boats sped +onward. + +"Never," replied several of the others. + +"I'm glad we'll soon be there!" declared Nick; but everybody knew +without asking, that he was thinking about that beefsteak and onions, +rather than the joy of reaching such a pretty shore. + +"Look at the old blockhouse up on the hill!" remarked Herb. + +"Yes, I've been reading up on this place, and history tells about some +lively times around here during the War of 1812. Seems the British +thought Mackinac a good place to have possession of. They sent out an +expedition, and came ashore in the night, surprising the little American +garrison." + +"That was tough," grunted Josh. "Like to hear things the other way. +Thought Americans never got taken by surprise." + +"Oh! well," laughed Jack; "you want to read history again, my boy. But I +notice a good many steamers around. I reckon most of those bound through +to Chicago stop here, as well as the Lake Superior ones. There's a boat +coming in full of people. The _Islander_ she's called. That must be the +boat going over to the Snow Islands every day. There's another back of +her, perhaps coming down from the Soo. Seems quite a lively place, +fellows." + +"You bet it is. We must take a run around the island tomorrow, before +going on. Never do to pass this by, as we may not be here again in a +hurry," Herb remarked. + +Approaching the shore they began to look out a suitable place where the +small boats might be tied up for the time they expected to remain. This +was not easy to find, since they had to take care and not get in the way +of any large craft that might be going out. + +After all it was Nick who discovered the opening. Josh declared that +the fat boy's vision was sharpened by the clamorous demands of his +appetite; but Nick, as usual, paid little attention to such slurs. + +"Who's going ashore to find a butcher shop?" he demanded, as they began +to draw close in to the shore, and get ready to tie up. + +"I appoint you a committee of one to secure the steak," said Jack, +solemnly; "and remember, don't let it be a bit over one inch thick, and +weigh more than five pounds." + +"Good gracious! that wouldn't be even a pound apiece!" expostulated +Nick. + +"All right! we expect to have some other things along with it, +remember," Jack continued. "You know the penalty of disobedience to +orders, Buster?" + +"Deprived of food allowance for twenty-four hours!" broke in Josh. + +Nick only groaned; and presently finding a chance to creep ashore he +hurried off on his delightful errand. For when there was anything +connected with meals to be done, Nick was as spry as anybody in camp. + +It was some little time before he showed up again. + +"Wow! look at what's coming, would you?" shouted Josh, suddenly. + +Of course it was Nick, laden with various packages, and grinning +amiably. + +"It's all right, Jack," he announced as he came ambling along. "It +doesn't weigh a fraction over five pounds. Oh! I was mighty particular +about that, I tell you. Had him cut off pieces of the tail till it got +down to an even thing." + +"Here, somebody help him, or he'll take a header into the brink, and +lose half of what he's hugging so tight!" called Herb, and Jimmie +started to obey. + +"But what's in all these other packages?" asked Jack, pretending to +frown. + +"Why, onions, just onions and then more onions!" came the bland reply; +at which the others burst out into a roar, causing Nick to look at them +in pity. "You fellows can laugh all you please," he said in lofty scorn; +"it don't feaze me one little bit. I was afraid we might fall short, and +so I bought a half peck at the butcher's. Then, while I was coming +along, I saw some white ones, and couldn't resist the temptation to get +a couple of quarts. They go fine raw when you feel just nippy, you see, +along with a piece of pilot bread." + +"But there's still another package; how about that, Buster?" asked +George. + +"Why," answered the other, slowly; "after I started off with the white +ones would you believe it I discovered a lot of those fine big Spanish +onions in a confectioner's store. I just couldn't resist the temptation +to get half a dollar's worth. Mightn't have the chance again, you know, +fellows. It's my treat this time." + +"Thank goodness! we've really got enough of something to satisfy Pudding +for once!" cried Josh, as he received the various packages. + +"Look at the steak, Josh," said the provider, proudly. "Guess I ought to +know a good thing in that line. It's streaked with fat, and is bound to +just melt away in your mouth." + +Josh admitted that it did look tempting; and later on the entire party +agreed that Nick had profited by his hobby. + +When starting upon this extended trip the motor boat boys had agreed +that on no account would they sleep under the roof of a house, unless in +case of sickness. So even at Mackinac they must keep to their boats. + +Several of them went ashore to see what the place looked like under the +electric lights, returning an hour or so later, ready for bed. Those +left behind had attended to all necessary arrangements, so that little +time was lost. + +As customary, the watches were made up of two, on different boats, and +so selected that Nick would be paired with Jack himself; because the +commodore was suspicious of Buster's ability to remain awake with any +one else as his sentry mate. + +It happened that while these two were taking the first turn, and Jack +every once in a while would poke Buster with a setting pole he kept +handy, something not down on the bills came to pass. The first thing +that Jack knew about it was when Nick gave vent to a shrill screech, and +scrambled to his knees, holding on to some struggling object that seemed +to scratch and snarl and act in a way that was altogether mysterious. +And of course the whole six boys were immediately awake, sitting up to +ask all sorts of questions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +GEORGE WAITS FOR HIS CHUMS + + +"What is it?" Josh exclaimed, as he scrambled to his knees. + +"Buster is on the rampage again! That's what comes of eating too much +supper. He's got a bad case of indigestion, I bet!" declared George, +grumblingly; for he had come very near falling over the side of his boat +when Josh made that sudden move, and it startled him not a little. + +"But he's got hold of something, I tell you! Look at him grabbing +around. Must be a wildcat or something like that," Josh went on. + +"Faith ye're all wrong," spoke up Jimmie. "Sure it's a monkey he's +huggin' till his breast, so he be." + +"A monkey!" cried Herb, as he appeared behind the fat boy, holding a +fryingpan threateningly in his hand. + +"Yes, that's what!" gasped Nick. "Don't you see, a tame monkey, and with +a little red cap, and a coat on. He was going through my pockets, I tell +you, when I woke up--that is when I first felt him. Give us a hand here +and help me hold the little scratcher. My! but he's strong, and he tries +to bite my nose every time." + +"Because you're hurting him," said Herb. "Wait till I get hold of that +bit of rope he's trailing behind. Now let him loose, Buster, but keep +him away from your face. He'd scratch your eyes out." + +The queer little visitor seemed to be willing to submit, once Nick +stopped squeezing him; for he immediately took off his red cap, and made +quite a bow. Then he snatched up a small tin cup that was attached to a +belt he wore, with a tiny chain, and held it out to Herb. + +"Give him a penny, Herb," laughed Jack. + +"Yes, he recognizes an old acquaintance; help a poor fellow in distress, +Herb!" Josh hastened to add. + +"Where under the sun d'ye suppose he came from?" asked George, +suspiciously. + +"Must belong to some Italian organgrinder, I should say, judging from +the uniform, and the piece of broken rope. Perhaps he's run away, and +wanted to become a stowaway on board Herb's boat," Jack went on. + +"All right," the other remarked, promptly, "anyhow, he knew a good boat +when he saw one. Give him credit for that. But did you hear what Buster +said about him feeling in his pockets? Now, I've heard it said that +often these monkeys are taught to steal, going up into second-story +windows, and grabbing things. Perhaps he was sent aboard right now to +pick up anything he could find." + +"I tell you he knew all about vest pockets, as sure as you live," +announced Nick. + +"Looks to me as if he had got something in his pocketbook right now!" +declared Herb. + +"What's that? A monkey have a pocketbook? You're poking fun at us!" +cried Josh. + +"I am, eh? You observe me," said Herb, as with a dextrous movement he +seized upon the monkey, and by main strength forced him to eject +something from his mouth. + +"Say, it's a real watch, fellows!" cried Nick, astonished; "he had it +right in his cheek, sure he did." + +"And it's my little dollar nickel watch," said Herb. "Shows he searched +me before trying Buster. All the same if it'd been a hundred dollar gold +repeater. He's a thief, sure enough. What'll we do with him, fellows?" + +"Tie him up, and if nobody comes after him, we'll keep Jocko," suggested +Josh. + +"Think he'd be lots of fun, I suppose," grumbled Nick. "But if he stays +it's got to be on another boat than this. The little fiend would have it +in for me. He'd worry the life out of me; and I just can't afford to +lose any flesh." + +"Changed your tune, eh?" taunted Josh. "Seems to me I've heard you +trying all sorts of ways to get thin." + +"That was before I took notice of the horrible example we had along, of +the living skeleton," retorted Nick. "After that I just made up my mind +to remain nice and plump. Some people look best when they're fat, you +know." + +"There, he's thinking of Sallie again," remarked Josh. + +"But we haven't seen a sign of the _Mermaid_," remarked George; "and I +reckon she's left here for the Soo region ahead of us. But Herb, find +some way to fasten the little rascal up for tonight, so he can't do any +mischief. If his owner comes for him in the morning we'll give him a +scare." + +Herb managed to do this, although Nick declared he would be afraid to +take a wink of sleep for fear of being choked, or something else as +dreadful. All the same when his time came to give up sentry duty, no one +heard so much as a "peep" from Nick again until daylight arrived. + +It was arranged on the following morning that they should explore the +island, in order to see its wonders and beauties, in two detachments, +each consisting of three. Jack learned that bicycles could be hired +close by, and mounted on these he and Herb and Josh made the grand +rounds, allowing nothing to escape them. + +Then after lunch the others took wheel and carried out the same +programme, even to visiting the old blockhouse on the hill, and viewing +the charming marine spectacle from the top of the little bluff. + +As they gathered around late in the afternoon to compare notes, and +discuss the various matters that interested them, Jack noted first of +all that the shrewd little monkey, which had been dubbed Jocko, was +still aboard the _Comfort_. + +Nobody had shown up to inquire about him. Nick was for going ashore and +spreading the news of the find far and wide; but the others refused to +allow him. They really believed that Jocko had been sent aboard by his +master to steal; and that this party was afraid to claim him now. + +"If we have to take him along he'll give us lots of fun," remarked Jack. + +"Yes, Buster is only thinking that there'd be one more mouth to feed, +and that might cut his share of the rations down a peg," asserted Josh. + +"Now that's where you wrong me," declared the fat boy, solemnly. "If you +insist on hearing what I was thinking about, I'll tell you. Suppose we +should get stormbound somewhere up on the twisting St. Mary's river, or +on the biggest fresh water lake in the world--why, you see we could +always turn to Jocko, and make a good meal. I remember reading that +monkeys were just prime." + +"Oh! you cannibal!" cried the horrified Josh. "Why, that poor little +innocent looks just like a baby." + +"Yes," retorted Nick, "your mother showed me your picture when you were +six months old, and there _is_ a close resemblance." + +Night came on, and there was no claimant, so Jocko ate supper with the +boys. He was already making good friends, and seemed very well satisfied +with his new lot. Perhaps he missed the cuffing and beating he was +accustomed to; but he could do without that very well; and the eating +must have appealed to him strongly. + +In the morning they left soon after breakfast. The day opened fair, and +they knew there was a long trip before them if they hoped to cross the +head of Lake Huron, and follow the winding channel of the St. Mary's +river so as to reach Sault Ste. Marie by night. + +Fortunately the breeze, what little there was, chanced to be in the +north for a change. This allowed them to keep close to the southern +shore of the peninsula for some hours, following its contour and +avoiding the pounding that heavy seas always brought in their train. + +Finally they entered the narrow strait between the mainland and big +Drummond Island. Here the bustling port of Detour was passed. Nick +hinted about going ashore and doing a little marketing; but Jack vetoed +that proposition. + +"Plenty of time to do all that after we get to the Soo tonight," he +observed; and Nick knew there was no appeal from his decision. + +"Is that Canada over yonder?" asked Josh, pointing to the island off +their lee. + +"No, Drummond belongs to Michigan," Jack replied. "Further on though, +we'll strike St. Joseph's Island, and that is a part of Canada. So we'll +all step ashore just to say we've been outside the U. S. for once." + +"And that Mud Lake you were telling us about is somewhere along there, +ain't it?" Herb asked. + +"We'll find it, I reckon," replied the commodore, drily. + +They did, and had reason to remember it too. Sometimes the waterway +bearing the outlet of Lake Superior to the lower lakes was very wide and +imposing. Then again it would narrow until Nick expressed his firm +conviction that they had taken the wrong channel, and would be stopped, +and have to return over their course. + +But Jack kept his charts before him as he led, and was positive he had +made no mistake of that sort. Occasionally George would be unable to +restrain his impetuous nature. At such times he would shoot ahead of the +others, to make a little rush of perhaps a mile, and then slow up to +await their coming, being always careful not to lose sight of his chums. + +But alas, George did this prank just once too often. He heard Jack say +some time before that they were passing through Mud Lake, and must be +careful; but thought this referred to getting lost in some side passage +that looked promising. + +"Wait up at the head yonder; you're too slow for me!" he called out, as +the _Wireless_ left the bunch, and cut through the water like an arrow +shot from an archer's bow. + +"Lookout!" warned Jack; but George who was quite confident concerning +his own ability to manage his affairs, just waved a hand back, and +continued to speed for all his racing boat was worth. + +Jack was sitting there where he could manage the wheel and continue to +study the chart spread in front of him, when he heard a wild whoop from +Jimmie. + +"Look! look yander!" + +Jack was just in time to see poor Josh take a flying header into the +water, when the speed boat came to an abrupt stop on a concealed +mudbank. + +The sound of the tremendous splash floated back to the ears of the +others, causing Nick to roll over, and make the boat quiver with his +riotous laughter; for that Josh should be the victim of this ridiculous +accident gave the fat boy exceeding great joy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +IN TERRIBLE PERIL + + +"Just what I expected!" exclaimed Jack, grimly. + +"What was it?" demanded Herb; for at the moment it happened that the +_Tramp_, being in front, obstructed the vision of those in the larger +boat. + +"Oh! tell me, was that really poor old clumsy Josh?" demanded Nick, +poking his red face over the side of the _Comfort_. "I saw a pair of +legs up in the air, and remembered some fellow down at Mackinac telling +us what big frogs they found up here along the St. Mary's. The bass just +love them, he said, and the bigger the frog the larger bass you get. +That one would take in a whale, I guess, eh?" + +"It was Josh all right, for I can see George trying to get him with his +boat hook right now," said Jack, hardly knowing whether to laugh, or +feel provoked on account of the possible delay. + +"But why did Josh jump? Was he practicing stunts?" Nick went on +innocently. + +"Well," replied the commodore, "I imagine George made him squat up in +the extreme bow, to sing out if he saw a shallow place ahead. And +evidently Josh was looking all around, for he failed to discover a +mudbank that was just hidden under the surface of the water." + +"But George found it," asserted Herb. + +"Trust George for findin' annything at all, at all," grinned Jimmie. + +"Hope he didn't go to busting his old engine again. My! what a terrible +time we did have with that cranky thing on the Mississippi," observed +Nick; who had been on board the speed boat during that memorable cruise +down to New Orleans, and hence passed through an experience he would +never, never forget. + +"I hope not," echoed Jack. "Perhaps the worst is yet to come. Perhaps he +ran on that old mudbank so hard, going at top speed as he was, that he +won't find it an easy job to work off again." + +"That might delay us, be the powers, so we wouldn't be able to pull into +the ould Soo short of tomorry, bad cess till hasty George!" remarked +Jimmie. + +"Well," remarked Nick, with a contented sigh, "at the worst we've got +Jocko, you remember, boys. Baked or stewed he'd make a meal for the +crowd." + +Meanwhile they were rapidly drawing closer to the stuck _Wireless_. +Apparently the skipper of the stranded craft had succeeded in dragging +his crew out of the mire, for there was a dripping figure on the forward +deck, scraping the mud away, and evidently more or less bubbling over +with various remarks. + +Jack cautioned Herb to slow down as they drew near. + +"Bad enough to have one held fast," he said. "If the whole bunch got +stuck, why, we'd have to take to the dinkies, and go ashore on Canada +soil. How does your engine work, George? Nothing broken I hope?" + +"I don't think so," came the reply from George who looked somewhat +humiliated, as does every sailor when held up on a mudbank. + +"Give it a try, and see. Reverse, and perhaps you'll glide off +backwards, the same way you went on," Jack suggested. + +At any rate the engine worked apparently as well as ever; but though +George put it at its "best licks," as he declared, there was not a sign +of anything going. + +Josh tried to use the setting pole, and came very near taking another +header. + +"Say, this mud goes right along down to China, I reckon; leastways there +ain't any bottom to it!" he cried, as he recovered himself just in time. + +"We'll take your word for it, Josh," said Nick, sweetly; "because you +know you've been over to see for yourself. But I wouldn't try it again. +Next time perhaps you might stick your head in and smother. Then what +would I do for any fun at all?" + +George kept trying every way he could think of, in the effort to work +his boat off the bank of sticky mud. It was in vain. Apparently many +unseen hands held it tight, as though unwilling to let the reckless +skipper have another chance. + +When an hour had passed, with several false alarms, as George thought +success was coming, he turned to Jack with a blank face, upon which +disgust was plainly written. + +"You'll have to get me out of this, commodore," he said. "I own up that +I don't seem able to budge her a bit. Even with Josh in the dinky, +pulling like all get-out, and her engine rattling away at full speed +astern, she won't move an inch. And already we've lost enough time to +make it impossible to get to the Soo by night." + +George was apparently penitent, so Jack did not have the heart to rub it +in at that time. Later on perhaps he might force the reckless one to +promise about turning over a new leaf. + +"All right; we'll soon yank you out of that, George. I didn't want to +propose anything until you had tried every scheme you could think of. +Herb, throw George your painter, and let him make fast to the stern of +the _Wireless_. Then I'll do the same by you. In that way we'll be able +to get both boats working. If George starts his engine at the same time, +she's just got to come off, or go to pieces. Get what I mean?" + +"Sure I do, and it's a good idea," replied the pilot of the _Comfort_, +readily. + +Of course George was willing enough to accept any sort of assistance +now. And he readily made the painter fast to a ringbolt at the stern of +the speed boat. + +When all things were ready, Jack asked him to get his engine moving. + +"Now, start yours up slowly, Herb," Jack went on; "not too fast to begin +with; but gradually increase until you're applying two-thirds of your +power. Stop there, and if she refuses to budge, I'll come in. We'll get +her yet. She's got to come, I tell you." + +And she did, after the _Tramp_ added her drawing facilities to those of +the others. + +"Hurrah!" shrilled Josh, when the speed boat started to move backwards +out of her muddy berth; he had almost plunged over again, and saved +himself by a quick clutch at a cleat near by. + +"What next?" asked Herb, after they had become disentangled again, and +were in a condition to proceed. + +"No use thinking of making the Soo today," remarked Jack. "Too dangerous +along the upper reaches of this river to try it in the night. We can +move along to the upper end of this island, and camp on Canadian land +tonight, for a change." + +"That sounds good to me," observed Nick; but only suspicious looks were +cast in his direction; for well they knew that the word "camp" with +Buster was another way of spelling "eat." + +"How far would we be from the city at the rapids, then?" asked Herb, as +they once more started. + +"Oh, we could make it in a few hours," Jack replied, "if all went well. +Keep to the right of that smaller island. That belongs to Michigan. Some +use the other channel; but we'll take this one. You see, St. Joseph's +Island is all of fifteen miles long, and pretty wild in parts. Ought to +be good hunting here in season." + +"Don't I wish it was in season, then," said Nick, smacking his lips. +"Always have wanted to eat some venison from Canada right in camp. Say, +fellows, if a silly old deer just went and committed suicide before our +very eyes, by jumping over a precipice, wouldn't we have a right to get +a haunch from his bally old carcase?" + +"Well," laughed Jack, "if a Canadian game warden found you in possession +he'd take you in. So just forget all you've ever heard about juicy +venison. It's dry and tough stuff at the best, and couldn't compare +with that Mackinac steak you bought." + +Nick sighed. + +"And we have to wait till tomorrow noon before we are in touch with a +market, do we? I don't ever see how we're going to pull through. Tell +you what, somebody ought to try for fish here when we stop. Looks like +bass might hang around waiting for a chance to jump into the pan. How +about that, Jack?" + +"Just what I had made my mind to try," smiled the other, who liked +nothing better than bringing his rod into play when there was a chance +for game fish. + +After a while George announced that he could see what looked like the +end of the big island ahead. + +"And here's a pretty decent place to pull in," declared Herb. + +As they had nothing to fear from storms or hoboes in such a retired +nook, the boys, having secured their boats in proper fashion against the +shore, where they could not rub or get into trouble, amused themselves +as they saw fit. + +Jack, true to his promise, got out his fishing tackle, and proceeded to +try all sorts of lures in the hope of tempting a bass to bite. Finally +he took his little dinky, and began to troll, using a phantom minnow. +Almost immediately he had a vicious strike, and after a struggle pulled +up a fine fish. + +"Do it some more!" called out Herb, who was lying on the shore, watching +him at the sport. + +Five minutes afterward Jack duplicated his feat, only this was even a +larger fish than the first. So the time passed. Josh was busily engaged +near the tents which he, Herb and George had erected; while Jimmie was +doing something aboard the _Tramp_. + +"Where's Nick?" asked Herb, after a long time had elapsed. "I hope the +silly fellow hasn't gone and lost himself now. A fine time we'd have +hunting that fat elephant through all that bush." + +"He was here only a little while ago," remarked George, looking up. + +"Looky yander, an' ye'll see him!" exclaimed Jimmie; "over beyant that +dead three. Sure, he do be sneakin' up on something or other, and +thryin' till coax it till kim till him. I say the baste now. Oh! +murdher! by all the powers, somebody call out till him to sthop it!" + +"Why, what's the matter with him?" asked Josh, coming to life at the +prospect of perhaps seeing his rival for high honors in the farce line +duplicate his ridiculous feat of taking a header into the mud and water. + +"Look at him, would ye, the crazy wan!" gasped Jimmie, "thryin' till +coax a baste loike that!" + +"Is it Jocko?" queried Josh, unable to catch sight of the other just +then. + +"The little monk ye mane?" replied Jimmie. "Och! that would be aisy now. +It's tin times worse than that. Call till him, Herb; I'm that wake I can +hardly spake above a whisper. 'Tis a terrible danger he be in, for the +animal is a white and black skunk; and poor innocent Nick, I do belave +he thinks it be a pretty pussycat!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MAROONED + + +"Leave it alone, you Buster!" + +"Get behind a tree, quick!" + +"Run, Buster, run for your life! It'll get you!" + +George, Herb and Josh sent these warning cries at the top of their +voices. As to whether the object of their combined concern heard, there +could be no reasonable doubt; for Nick immediately waved one of his fat +hands disdainfully toward them. Evidently he imagined that his chums +were envious of his great good luck in finding so splendid a chance to +annex a beautifully striped real Canadian pussy cat. + +"Oh! murdher!" ejaculated Jimmie, "look at the rickless fellow, would +ye? Sure, he manes to grab it, so he do!" + +"But he won't, all the same!" cried George, grimly. + +Since shouting and gesturing seemed to have no effect upon the imperiled +youth, all the four boys could do was to stand there, holding their +breath, and watching the dreadful developments. Nor was that the first +time or the last that they found occasion to hold their breath. + +Nick by now believed that he had wheedled enough, and was within proper +striking distance. They saw him make a sudden forward swoop, with +extended arms, as if bent upon giving the intended victim no possible +chance of escape. + +"Wow!" yelled George, as he saw Nick stop short, throw up his arms, and +almost fall to the ground. + +One terrified look Buster gave the object of his recent admiration. Then +turning, he ran as well as he could toward camp, gripping his nose with +both hands. + +"Keep off!" + +"Don't you dare come near us, do you hear!" + +"Now you've gone and done it, Buster! That's what you get for wanting to +bake poor little Jocko!" + +George, as if in desperation, jumped over and picked up his gun. + +"Stop where you are!" he cried. "We're willing to talk this thing over; +but at a proper distance, do you hear, Buster?" + +Poor Nick was aghast. Almost overpowered by the terrible fumes as he +was, it looked like adding insult to injury when his own chums turned +against him, and refused to let him enter the camp. + +He did come to a halt some thirty feet away, and with one hand, clung to +a sapling; while the other was trying to keep the powerful scent from +smothering him. + +"What can I do, fellows?" he asked, pitifully. + +George was almost bursting with laughter, but pretended to look as stern +as his father when serving in his capacity as judge of the court. + +"First promise that you won't attempt to enter the camp without +permission!" he demanded. + +"I promise you, sure I do," groaned Nick swaying weakly alongside his +support. + +"Jimmie," went on George, "you go and call Jack in, if he isn't on the +way here already, after all this racket. We want everybody to have a +hand in deciding Buster's fate." + +"Good gracious!" cried the wretched Nick, "what d'ye mean, George? Do I +have to be shot, because I made a little mistake? I give you my word I +really thought it was a Canada species of cat. And if we had to have a +menagerie along with us, I was going to match her against your monkey. +Oh! why didn't I think? I ought to have known better. It was awful, +fellows; shocking I tell you!" + +"I agree with you, Buster," remarked George, putting his fingers up to +his nose, "please go a little farther away. We can talk better then." + +Jimmie had hardly reached the shore before he started back. And Jack was +seen following close behind. Evidently, then, the fisherman must have +heard the loud outcries, and speeded his little boat for the landing, +anxious to know what could have happened to Nick. + +He had no need to be told. One hardly required to be within sixty feet +of poor Buster to understand the entire story. Jack did not laugh though +doubtless later on the incident would afford him more or less merriment. +It was a serious matter, as he well knew, and must affect every one in +the party. + +"Jack," called out Nick, looking beseechingly at the commodore of the +fleet, "take my part, won't you? They want to shoot me, or do something +as bad, just because I didn't know the gun was loaded. Please take that +thing away from George. He looks so fierce I'm afraid of him!" + +So Jack, to ease the mind of the fat boy, who was really shivering with +anticipation of dire results springing from his blunder, did take +George's gun from his unresisting hands, and laid it aside. + +"But Jack!" exclaimed Herb, "something's just got to be done. We can't +bear to have him in camp with us, you know, after this. And think of +me having to stand for that dreadful smell day after day. Wow! it +would knock me out. I'd want to jump over in the deepest part of Lake +Superior." + +"I don't see what can be done," said George, "except to maroon him here +on this foreign island until we come back again. By that time perhaps it +won't be so very bad. Herb can keep him in the dinky towing behind, and +stand it." + +At that poor Nick set up a fresh howl. + +"Don't you dare think of doing that," he cried, shaking his fat fist at +the author of the suggestion. "Why, I'd starve to death in no time; not +to speak of being devoured by the wild beasts. Think up some other way, +won't you, please, Jack? Don't listen to George. He's got it in for me +because I gave him so much bother on that Mississippi cruise. I want you +to fix it up, Jack. You'll know how." + +Jack still looked very grave. + +"Well, you understand that in a case of this kind only desperate +remedies will do, Buster?" he began. + +"Yes, yes, I know;" whimpered the other, "and I'm willing to do anything +you say, Jack; but don't leave me here over in a Canadian wilderness. It +ain't human, that's what!" + +"All right," Jack proceeded, solemnly, "if you give me your solemn +promise to obey. First of all you must strip off every bit of clothes +you have on." + +Nick began at once, and with eagerness. + +"Will it wash out, then? Oh! I can rub like a good fellow, I promise +you; only give me a chance!" he exclaimed. + +"All the washing in the world wouldn't take that scent out," George +declared. + +"There's only one way, and that is to bury the clothes!" said Jack. + +"What?" gasped the astonished Nick; "and me go naked? Good gracious! +Jack, I just can't do that! Make it easier for me, won't you? Why, I'd +get my death of cold. Besides, what would I do when we got to the Soo? +Please tell me something else." + +At that the boys could hold in no longer, and a shout told that they +were beginning to see the comical side. But Jack waved his hands. + +"Be still!" he said, sternly. "This is no laughing matter. Never fear +Buster, but you'll be able to rake up enough clothes to last till we get +to the Soo, where you can buy a new outfit. Off with every stitch, now. +Then you must dig a hole and bury them; or else carry the lot deep into +the bush here, as you choose." + +"Is that all?" asked Nick, tremulously, as he hastily tore the last +remnant of his garments from his stout person. + +"Not quite," replied Jack. "Get rid of the stuff next. Then come back +to where you are now. I'll be waiting for you with a pair of short +scissors I happen to have along with me; for you see I've just got to +cut all your hair off!" + +"Oh! what a guy I'll be, Jack," moaned poor Nick. "I'll sure never hear +the last of this thing." + +"Think of us!" said George, sternly, "how we must remember it for days +and days. You're getting off dirt cheap, Buster, let me tell you. I've +heard of fellows who had to live like hermits in the woods for weeks." + +"Now get busy," observed Jack. "The boys will be rooting out your bag, +and I'll fetch what clothes we can gather to you. We must do all we can +to smother this perfumery factory." + +"Yes, be off wid ye!" said Jimmie, bent on having a hand in the game. + +Nick stared mournfully at the clothes on the ground. Then he slowly +gathered them up in his arms. They noticed that as he walked away he +looked around with exceeding care at every step he took, as though not +for worlds would he want to renew his acquaintance with that pretty +striped Canadian pussy cat. + +Jack was as good as his word. When George and Herb had collected an +outfit calculated to serve poor Nick until they reached a land of +plenty, and clothing establishments, he carried the lot to the place +appointed. + +Here came Nick presently with a most dejected air; and groaning in +spirit the fat boy allowed the other to shear off all his abundant +locks. + +He certainly did look like a guy when the job was completed, for Jack +made no pretentions towards being a barber, and there were places that +had the appearance of being "chopped with an axe," as George privately +declared later, when viewing the work of the commodore. + +After that they made Nick take a long bath. Indeed he thought he would +never get out of the water, and his teeth were chattering before the +embargo was finally raised. + +Fortunately that wonderful red sweater which had attracted the bull +toward the wearer not so very long since, had been safe aboard at the +time of his recent mishap, so that Nick could depend on its warmth. He +was grateful for small favors just then; and quite subdued for a whole +day; though nothing could keep a buoyant nature like his in subjection +long. + +Of course he would never hear the last of the joke, and must stand for +all manner of scoffing remarks, as well as uplifted noses when he came +around. But Nick would live it down in time. + +And no doubt, when the account of the cruise was read over during the +next winter, Nick would join in the general laugh when he discovered +that Jack had called this temporary stopping place on Canadian soil +"Kitty Kamp." + +It was night before Nick was allowed to come into camp; and even then +they made him do penance by sitting off in a corner by himself, "just +like I was a leper," as he declared, though bound to submit to the +indignity. + +But "it's an ill wind that blows nobody good," and at least Nick escaped +guard duty that night, for nobody wanted to sit up with him. + +George declared that the very first thing he meant to purchase when he +arrived at the city at the rapids was a bottle of violet water, with +which he could saturate himself for a season. + +But by morning the terrible effect had in part died away; though +possibly familiarity bringing about contempt may have had considerable +to do with their noticing the disagreeable scent less. + +Of course all of them were glad to get away from that camp. To Nick in +particular its memory would always evoke a shiver. When brought to book +in connection with the adventure he always declared that it was what a +fellow got for wanting to invade foreign countries, and meddle with +unfamiliar animals belonging there. + +But Jack and the others felt sure that Buster from that day forth +would know the great American skunk a mile off, and shy at a closer +acquaintance. + +They got away at a reasonable time, and continued their northern +progress through the crooked St. Mary's River. On the way they saw +numerous nooks that aroused the sportsman spirit in Jack; for he just +knew the gamy bass lurked in those inviting waters, awaiting the coming +of the fisherman. But there was no time to spend just then in seeking +sport. + +At about eleven o'clock they passed the smaller rapids, a most +picturesque spot, where the water rushed boiling through many channels, +and innumerable lurking places for the spotted trout seemed to invite a +stay. But the Soo was now close at hand, and all of them were eager to +look upon the famous big rapids, unexcelled for beauty and grandeur in +all the land. + +When the three motor boats presently reached a point where the little +city on the left hand shore as well as the foamy rapids, and the +railroad bridge stretching from Canada to the Michigan bank, came into +view, the boys involuntarily waved their hats, and sent forth a cheer. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DOWN THE SOO RAPIDS + + +"Alabama! here we rest!" cried George, as they kept booming along up the +strong current of the river, until a spot was reached just below the +foot of the rapids. + +Not many steamers stop at the Soo, save those which run in connection +with the tourist travel, between Mackinac and the rapids city. But there +is a constant procession of steamers, and whaleback grain barges going +in both directions, day and night, all during some seven months of the +year. The tonnage of the government canal through which these boats pass +around the rapids far exceeds that of the Suez Canal for the entire +twelve months. + +After finding a responsible party in whose charge the three brave little +boats could be left, the cruisers proceeded to take in the sights. + +Of course the rapids came first, and they viewed these from every angle. +Jack was also deeply interested in the government fish hatchery on the +little island; and watched with an envious eye the various pools in +which scores of enormous speckled trout, weighing upward of seven +pounds, were kept. + +"Wait till we get to the Agawa," he said, shaking his head with +determination. "I want to find out how some of those whoppers feel at +the end of a line." + +Nick had made for a clothing emporium, where he fitted himself out in +some new clothes. Of course he did not explain just why this was +necessary; but judging from the suspicious looks cast upon him every +time he came near the clerk, the latter could give a shrewd guess +concerning the truth. + +Jack was still watching some of those giant trout jump out of the water +in the pool when he dangled a long blade of blue grass so as to make the +feathery end touch the surface like a fly, when George joined him; for +they had settled upon the hatchery as a sort of rendezvous where they +could come together, so as to take the thrilling ride down the rapids in +a big Indian canoe. + +"All off, Jack!" said George, trying to look sober; though there was a +merry twinkle in his black eyes that belied the solemn cast of his face. + +"What do you mean?" asked the other. "Anything more happened to that +fellow Buster? Or perhaps it's Josh who's bent on halting our expedition +now, with some caper. Go on, tell me." + +"Oh! you're away off," grinned George. "I only meant to inform you that +they're gone on ahead of us." + +"I suppose you mean the _Mermaid_," Jack remarked. + +"That's right," George responded, promptly. "Left here this very +morning for a cruise through the Big Lake. Went through the canal about +breakfast time. Seems as if we're just bound to keep tagging at their +heels, don't it, Jack? I suppose we'll hear a howl from Buster now, +because he is cheated out of seeing that fat Miss Sallie again." + +"Buster has enough to think of in other directions, I suspect," smiled +Jack. + +"Well, I should guess so," added the other. "Imagine, if you please, +Nick trying to call on any young lady at present. She'd be apt to have a +swooning spell. For a time Buster will have to cut out all thoughts of +girls' society. He can thank his lucky stars that his chums allow him to +hang around." + +"Have you had any lunch?" asked Jack. + +"I think there's the rest of the bunch coming along the stone walk by +the canal, right now. Perhaps we'd better postpone our little ride down +the rapids until we get a bite. Buster will be starved." + +"There he is dogging the footsteps of the rest," remarked Jack. "Herb +is being cruel to the poor old chap. He won't let him join them. I guess +he's suffered about enough by now, and we'll have to let up on it." + +"Sure we will," agreed impulsive George. "Anyhow, we wouldn't have the +nerve to make Buster take a canoe by himself, and shoot the rapids. +Let's start out and join them. Perhaps Buster had discovered a good feed +place, in his wanderings about the town." + +"Ten to one he's noticed a dozen; and perhaps had a few bites before +now," and Jack led the way across the little bridge connecting the +island where the hatchery was situated, with the main shore. + +Nick gladly admitted that he had marked a promising restaurant during +his foraging expedition in search of the suit of clothes, which he had +taken to the boat and donned. + +"It ain't a tony place, fellows," he argued; "but considering the +circumstances, er--I thought we wouldn't care for style." + +"Why, no, not just at present, Buster;" George said. "You've got a level +head for once. We're going to forgive you now, and restore you to good +standing, on condition that you never, never again try to stock the camp +with a menagerie of strange animals." + +Nick promptly held up his right hand. + +"I give you my word, boys, and thank you. Please overlook any slight +association between myself and our recent invasion of Canada. And +now come along. I tell you I feel as if I could clean out all the +restaurants in the Soo. I only took a light breakfast you know, because +of low spirits." + +Josh held up both hands in despair, though he said not a word. There are +times when silence is much more suggestive than any flow of language; +and every one understood. + +An hour or so later, before half-past two, they were on the little +beach, talking with a couple of wiry-looking men, who claimed to be sons +of the famous old guide of the rapids, John Boucher, who died a few +years ago, after having carried thousands and thousands of summer +tourists in his canoe through those swirling rapids, without ever a +disaster. + +Then the entire bunch of six boys took their places in the big and +staunch canoe, with a wielder of the paddle at either end. Jack happened +to occupy a position near the man in the stern, whose post is always the +more important, since he guides the destinies of the swiftly running +craft, while the one in the bow fends off from impending rocks. + +Jack had taken this position more to observe how the experience affected +his chums than for any other reason. He certainly never once dreamed +that there might be a Providence in such a small thing as his choice of +position. + +Then began the first stage of the run, with the two Indians pushing the +laden craft upstream by means of stout poles. They kept close to the +shore, finding a way around the numerous rocks, and other obstacles, +where the water boiled madly; and by slow degrees approached the railway +bridge, under which the start is generally made. + +"Ain't this simply glorious?" demanded Herb, as they found themselves +surrounded by the churning waters, and gradually leaving the shore +farther away. + +"Wait!" said George, "if you think this is fine, what will you have to +say when we get to running the rapids in fact? I've been through some +smaller than these, and can guess how it feels." + +"My! I'd like to keep doing it all day!" remarked Nick, feeling +something like himself again, since he had been restored to favor once +more. + +"Well, at the rate of fifty per, your bank account would soon collapse. +Besides, they say that the excitement is bad on fat people, so that they +lose weight right along," George observed. + +"You're joshing me, I know, George," declared the other. "If I believed +you, I'd be tempted to stay over here while you fellows went on, and +keep going all day, so I could cut off, say about thirty pounds or so. +No, I wouldn't either; I forgot!" + +"Yes, I should think you did forget Sallie," jeered Herb. "If you got +out of her class she'd never forgive you, Buster. Besides, perhaps she +wouldn't even _see_ you if you wasted away to a shadow. Better leave +well enough alone, and enjoy the good things of life." + +"Here we go now; they're heading straight out on to the river!" cried +Josh, as he nervously clutched the side of the big canoe near him; for +they were seated two and two, with Jack just behind and George in front, +as the boat narrowed. + +The Indian guides were indeed pushing strenuously now, and when the +water deepened both of them dropped their poles in the bottom of the +canoe, to seize upon stout paddles and wield them furiously. + +It was intended to reach a certain point in the river before turning the +prow of the craft down toward the head of the rapids. + +Long familiarity, every day in the week during the season, and many +times a day, had made every rock and swirl known to these men. But +although they knew the main channel like a book, seldom did any crew +dare venture as close to the terrible jaws of the whirlpool as the +veteran guide of the rapids, Old John Boucher, had always made it a +practice of taking his parties. + +Jack had looked several times at the man in the stern. Somehow, he did +not wholly like his appearance. There was something about him to signify +that he must have recently arisen from a sick bed. Perhaps, tempted by +an influx of tourists, and the demand for experienced guides to take +them through the rapids, he had come back to work a bit too soon! + +"He doesn't seem as strong as the others," Jack was thinking, even as he +turned his head from time to time as if to see what lay behind, while +they were pushing up the sturdy current. "I can hear him pant as if +short of breath. Goodness! I hope now nothing is going to happen to him +while we're spinning along down through these old rapids. They say that +whirlpool would swallow up anything; and that Old John was the only man +whoever went into it, and came out alive. Whew!" + +But Jack did not whisper these fears to his comrades. It was too late to +change steersman now; and why spoil all their pleasure? + +After all, no doubt there was not so much strength needed once they +began to move swiftly along with the current, going half a mile in a +couple of minutes, they had been told, though Jack doubted the accuracy +of that statement at first. + +Apparently the guides had overshot the mark at which they aimed; for as +the canoe was turned, in the shadow of the bridge, Jack saw that the man +in the bow glanced apprehensively over his shoulder while he knelt +there, and immediately began to paddle furiously, as though trying to +bring the boat back a little toward the American shore. + +Had they gone too far, and were they speeding down in the track taken by +the one daring prince of guides--a course that would actually skirt the +verge of that whirlpool, of which such terrible things were said? + +Jack shut his teeth hard at the thought. Then he gave himself up to the +keen enjoyment of that glorious ride, when the canoe was seized upon as +by invisible hands, and borne along at lightning speed. + +Looking at the water alongside, foam-specked as it was, one could not +believe the boat was moving at all, because both kept company. But all +that was needed was for the voyager to raise his eyes, and send a look +toward the shore, when he must realize the tremendous rapidity with +which his frail craft was being carried along. + +Things just seemed to fairly flit past, as though they were aboard +a fast railway train. The boys were evidently enjoying the novel +experience to the full, for their heads were constantly turning from +side to side, and all seemed to be talking at once. + +Jack was nervously looking ahead and on the left, for he knew they +must now be approaching the whirlpool, where the eddying waters went +furiously round and round and the center seemed to be a deep hole, like +the dent a gigantic top would make in the mud. + +Yes, there it was beyond, and they were speeding down at a pace that +made one dizzy to notice it. He could feel that both Indian guides were +paddling desperately _away from the left_, as though fearing that they +were too close to the verge of that death chasm! + +What if a paddle chanced to break right then and there? They carried +spare ones fortunately--Jack had noted that; but all the same he hoped +nothing of the sort would come about. + +Hardly had this chilly idea flashed into Jack's mind than he heard what +seemed to be a groan close to his ear. At the same time he felt the boat +quiver in a suspicious manner. Turning instantly the boy was horrified +to see that the Indian guide in the rear had crumpled in his place, with +his head fallen forward, and seemed to be gasping for breath. + +He had collapsed just at the most dreadful moment, when the canoe was +swooping down close to the edge of the whirlpool! + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +WINNING AN INDIAN'S ADMIRATION + + +Fortunately for all of them, Jack Stormways was not given to fear. In +emergencies he acted from intuition, rather than through thinking things +out, no matter however speedily. + +There may come times when a second counts for everything. Jack believed +such an occasion was now upon them; and he acted instantly. + +The man in falling forward had pushed his paddle alongside Jack. It was +as plain an invitation to fill his place as could have been given. + +Making one swoop the boy snatched up the stout blade, and instantly +dipped it over the port side. Desperately he exerted his strength to +steer the canoe away from the fatal eddies that sought to draw them +still further into the vortex. + +The Indian in the bow may have suspected something of what had occurred; +but he dared not turn his head now, or take his attention away from the +rocks ahead for even one lone second. + +As for the five boys, they were all staring at the near-by whirlpool as +though actually fascinated by its terrors; and not suspecting how close +they were to plunging straight into its grip. + +With every atom of his strength did Jack work, dipping as deeply as he +could, and striving against the giant power of the mill race on which +they were speeding. + +The edge of the circling current was horribly close; in fact they seemed +to skirt its very border, closer perhaps than even the veteran guide +ever carried his cargoes of tourists, when in his prime. + +Jack fairly held his breath as the crisis came. He did not know, could +not tell whether they would win out or not. It was an experience that +would doubtless continue to haunt the lad for a long time. Perhaps he +would awaken in the night with a start and a low cry, having dreamed +that once again he sat in the canoe with the dark skinned steersman +fallen in a faint, and the hungry maw of the whirlpool yawning so very +close on their left that one could have tossed a chip directly into it. + +"Wow! wasn't that a close shave though, boys?" shouted George, half +turning his head to look at his mates; and then following his words with +another cry: "Look at Jack, would you? Great governor! what happened?" + +And as the others twisted around to look, they were amazed to discover +that Jack was wielding that paddle like a veteran, his face as white as +chalk, and his eyes staring; but his teeth firmly pressed together, with +a look of grim determination on his young face. + +Not a word was spoken until they had passed the last bristling rock, and +spun out below where the foamy water took on a less violent aspect. + +Then Bedlam broke loose. + +"Sit still, all of you!" cried Jack, as he saw a movement on the part of +his chums to get up; "you'll upset the canoe yet, if you try that. Wait +till we reach the shore, and you'll know about it. The man has fainted, +that's all; and I had to take his place." + +"But he was all right when we started, for I looked around and saw him," +declared Herb. + +"That's true," Jack answered. "He keeled over just before we got to the +whirlpool, and as he dropped his paddle right beside me, all I had to do +was to dip it in, and exert myself a little." + +"A little!" echoed George, with thrilling emphasis, "look at the beads +of sweat on his forehead, fellows! Jack, honest now, you must have saved +all our lives. Ugh! just to think, if the boat had swerved then, where +would we be right now?" + +They looked at each other, and turned paler than when passing through +the yeasty waters of the rapids. But Jack tried to make light of it all. + +"Oh! shucks!" he laughed, though his voice trembled a bit in spite of +his wonderful nerve; "any of you would have done the same thing. Why, +there was nothing else to do, to tell the truth." + +"Me?" exclaimed Nick; "I'd sure have been so frozen with horror that all +I could do would have been to grab hold of the boat, and shut my eyes. +Kept 'em shut part of the time, anyhow. Felt like I had an awful +temptation to just jump out of the boat, and into that nice water that +was singing and gurgling along beside us." + +"I guess you'd better never try the rapids any more then, Buster," said +George, "if that's the way it affected you. I remember now hearing you +say you never was able to walk on the ties of a railroad bridge, or look +over a precipice, because something made you dizzy." + +They reached the shore near the small house where Old John Boucher and +his family, one of the sons said to be a preacher, lived in the days +gone by. When the boys climbed out of the canoe, the Indian stepped in +to help his comrade, who had by then come out of his swoon, and was able +to feebly walk. + +To the surprise of Jack the Indian who had been in the bow stopped to +hold out his hard-skinned hand, and squeeze that of the boy. + +"You Jack all right! Think it all over with everybody when Jim he fall. +But you do right, think. Bully!" was what he said. + +"Hurray!" shouted Nick, waving his new hat wildly. + +"Three cheers and a tiger for our commodore!" exclaimed George; and they +were given with a vim that caused many on the stone walk along the canal +embankment to look down in wonder toward the little group. + +Nor would the guide accept any pay for the trip. They could not force it +on him. + +"You ride with me all time, and not cent pay, Jack!" he declared, his +black eyes sparkling with sincere admiration as he looked in the face of +the white boy. + +Of course the voyagers had lots to talk about while they continued their +exploration of the city on the great canal. They even climbed the hill +near where the government barracks stood during the Spanish-American +war, and obtained a fine view of the entire neighborhood. Yet nothing +attracted their attention as did the ever rushing rapids, where the +waters of the greatest inland sea in the world emptied into the river +that was to bear them through the other lakes in the chain, and by way +of the St. Lawrence River, to the far-distant sea. + +The thrilling adventure had apparently sobered the boys too, for there +was much less horse play than usual, nor were jokes in order for the +balance of that day. + +Having some time to spare they took the ferryboat, and crossed to the +Canadian side of the river below the rapids. Here they viewed the other +canal, through which considerable commerce also passes, principally +Canadian. + +They also took advantage of their "visit abroad," as George called it, +to inspect the big pulp mills, where spruce logs were ground up, and +made into sheets that would later on become paper. + +The latter end of the day was put in securing provisions calculated to +last for a week or more, since they could not tell when another chance +to procure supplies might come their way, once they embarked upon the +bosom of Lake Superior. + +Nick was once more in his element. He suggested all sorts of things that +he had read about in his cook book. Had they sent him forth, with plenty +of money and unlimited assurance, the chances were, as George declared, +the expedition would have had to hire another boat, just to transport +the stuff that fellow would have flooded them with. + +"I bet he'd buy out a whole grocery store, given half a chance," said +Josh. + +"Why, we've got all the stuff right now we can stow away comfortably," +declared Herb, scratching his head as he contemplated the numerous +packages, and then looking toward his boat near by. + +"Do as we suggested before, Herb," said Josh. + +"What was that?" demanded Nick, suspiciously. + +"Make Buster take up his quarters in the dinky. It'll be a ride that +might take the shine off even that dash down the rapids." + +"Not any," asserted the fat boy strenuously. "I'm too heavy for such +monkey shines. Josh likes the water better than I do. You all saw how he +can dive so gracefully just as if he had taken lessons from a granddaddy +frog. If anybody has to be quartered in a dinky to make room, he's the +chap, all right." + +But after a while the last package was put away, and places found for +all. + +George drew Jack aside as the others were arranging things aboard the +various boats. + +"I've been making a few inquiries as to whether another small motor boat +went through here," he remarked. + +"Oh! yes, I'd come near forgetting Clarence," laughed Jack. "And I +suppose he took the canal several days ago. He must have gained on us +while we were losing time, stuck in the mud, stormbound and such +things." + +"Well, he didn't go through here, anyhow," replied George. "And the +chances are ten to one he'd never think of using the Canadian locks." + +"But he had a good start of us," remarked his chum. + +"Well, do you think the _Wireless_ is bound to monopolize _all_ the mud +in the St. Mary's river?" exclaimed George, indignantly. "I guess +Clarence has stuck somewhere on the way up; and as he didn't have any +bully chums to pull him off he's there yet!" + +"We didn't see anything of him," mused Jack; "but then, there were lots +of times when we had a choice of channels. Even the big boats take one +of two that are buoyed and targeted. Yes, Clarence might have chosen one +we let alone. But of course, if he hasn't passed through the canal, he +must still be below." + +"I'm sorry," George remarked, gloomily. + +"I suppose so, because you're only thinking of that grand race you +expected to pull off with your old rival, sooner or later. But the less +I see of Clarence the better I'm pleased." + +"Do we go ashore to a restaurant tonight, Jack?" continued the other. + +"Let the others decide," Jack replied. "As for me, I think it would be +the best thing to do. Josh is being overworked, as it is, and needs a +little rest. Besides, Buster will be tickled, because that would leave +more grub in the bunch for the future." + +Little Jocko, the monkey, had made himself quite at home with the boys. +They took turns having him aboard, and he furnished considerable fun for +the crowd with his antics. As yet he had not become quite reconciled +to Nick, and always showed his white teeth whenever the fat boy came +around. But by treating him to choice bits of food Buster was winning +the little chap over by degrees. + +The balance were of the same mind as Jack when the proposition was put +up to them. And accordingly they went to dinner in two detachments, Nick +being with the first, and serving as a connecting link between both; +for he was still there when Jack, Jimmie and George arrived at the +eatinghouse; and sat them out in the bargain. + +Still, the second squad had enough, and could not complain that Nick had +made a famine in that particular restaurant; which Josh had hinted was +possible, when telling them how the fat boy had refused to leave when +they did. + +It was an entirely different night they spent there at the Soo, from +most of the quiet ones of the trip. Much noise continued throughout the +livelong night; for the lock is lighted by electricity, and vessels can +keep passing up and down the nineteen feet rise and fall at any and all +hours. + +Frequently during the night the hoarse whistle of some big steamer, or a +tug towing whaleback barges, would sound close at hand, awakening those +who were not accustomed to this bustling nature of things. + +In the morning all of them declared that they had passed an uneasy +night; and professed to be delighted because it would not be repeated. + +"Tonight we hope to be in camp somewhere along the quiet shore of the +Big Lake," said George, yawning and stretching. + +"Yes," added Jack, with kindling eyes, "where those whoppers of speckled +beauties are to be found, if looked for." + +"Yum! yum! speed the hour!" mumbled Nick; and of course no one needed to +be told that already his thoughts were turning to the glowing camp fire, +and the tempting odors that would arise when the coffee pot was on, and +the pink trout sputtering in the several fryingpans. + +And shortly afterward, breakfast having been eaten at the same +restaurant, which had evidently laid in a new lot of supplies since +their last raid, they entered the big lock, to have the boats elevated +to the upper level. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE GREAT INLAND SEA + + +It was just ten o'clock when the trio of little motor boats started out +of the canal, and headed for the open lake far beyond. Long afterward +they could look back, and see the stone electricity building between the +two locks of the canal; and in imagination the picture as viewed from +its top would haunt them, with the churning rapids occupying the center +of the scene. + +Leaving the canal at its juncture with the river, they were soon in the +neck of the lake. Far as the eye could reach, and many times farther, +stretched the sparkling water, as clear as crystal; and cold enough to +satisfy any one, even on as hot a day as this August one promised to be. + +At noon they found a good chance to go ashore. Nick of course was +solemnly warned that this was sacred Canadian soil, and that on no +account was he to try and purloin any strangely marked animals he might +discover prowling around. + +"You know they have some queer beasts in these foreign lands, Buster," +George remarked, shaking a finger before the other's stubby nose. "And +make up your mind right now that you're going to let 'em all severely +alone. Some time you can join an expedition sent out to Africa, to scoop +up all sorts of freak cats and sich; but while you're with us we'd +rather you restrained that curiosity of yours. It's going to get you in +trouble, some fine day, Buster, you hear me?" + +"That'll do for you, George. Just wait, and see if I don't have a chance +to get back on you yet," replied the other, complacently. "But would you +look at Josh, what he's bringing ashore now? Fish, as sure as you live. +Bully for Josh! White fish, too, the best that grow in these waters, +barring none. Tell us, where did you catch 'em, Josh?" + +"With a silver hook, and from one of the Indian guides," replied the +cook. "He netted 'em in the rapids, I guess. Heard that earlier in the +season they get tons and tons of fish that way; two men in a boat, one +in the bow to use the net, and the other to hold the canoe against the +current with a pole. Bet you they'll eat fine, too." + +"I'll help you clean 'em, Josh," volunteered Nick. + +"All right, then; get busy, Buster. Anyhow, you know a good thing when +you see it," returned the cook, only too willing to hand over the +disagreeable task. + +"Well," remarked George, as he and Jack lay there in the shade, waiting +for the lunch call; "We're well on our way to the Agawa river region. +Think we'll make it today, commodore?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Jack. "In the first place it looks dubious +over yonder, as though we might get one of these famous Lake Superior +storms you read about. If that drops in on us, we wouldn't like to be +caught out on the open, you know, George." + +"Well, excuse me, if you please," returned the other, with a shrug of +his shoulders that spoke louder than his words. "Storms and my speed +boat don't seem to agree very well. When one comes hustling along I +prefer to be behind some sort of shelter, where I can laugh at the wind +and the waves. But you spoke as if there might be still another reason +for our not getting to the river tonight?" + +"There is," Jack answered. "This time you may have the laugh on Herb." + +"Say, you don't mean to tell me that the staunch old engine in the +_Comfort_ has been up to any antics?" exclaimed George; not without a +touch of exultation in his voice; for Herb had jeered at him so many +times, on account of his troubles, it was only natural that he should +feel a little gratification to know there were others. + +"Yes, it developed after we left the Soo," Jack went on. "Just like +these mean things always do, you know. He's been limping along for the +last half hour. Of course there's no telling how serious it may be. +Let's hope we can fix it in short order. Some of us had better get at it +right after lunch." + +"If anybody can put it in apple pie order I guess you can, Jack," George +said; "and if you need any help call on me, because you know Herb isn't +much of a mechanic." + +"That's kind of you, George," said Herb, who happened to be coming over +to where the two were talking at the time. "That's the best thing about +the motor boat boys; they like to josh each other, and get lots of fun +out of things; but when it comes right down to trouble there isn't one +of them who wouldn't do everything in his power to help a chum." + +The call to eat caused them to make haste to gather around. In fact, +there was always an involuntary sort of race to the mess table when the +meals were eaten on shore, so that all partook. On this very day Josh +noticed this fact particularly and made mention of it. + +"Say, do you know you fellows are that prompt you just seem to jump into +your places?" he said. "I start to pound a fryingpan with my big spoon, +and before I get in five licks all of you are in a ring waiting for +grub." + +"Huh!" grunted George, "nothing funny about that. We have to!" + +Nick of course took that as a reflection on him, and bridled up at once. + +"That's unkind of you, George," he protested. "I was never known to take +any fellow's share. An equal division is my rule always. And if some +one chooses to decline a portion of his prog; and my appetite is not +satisfied, what harm in commandeering the remains?" + +"Oh! you're all right, Pudding; George is only tapping you as he does us +all, when he gets the chance," Herb said. + +"Well, I take my punishment decently, when my turn comes, don't I?" +demanded George, as he received a generous portion of a delicious white +fish, which had been rolled in egg, and cracker crumbs, and then cooked +and browned in the grease from some salt pork placed in hot pans until +it fried out. + +"Sure you do;" Jack laughingly remarked. "And now forget all your +troubles, fellows, and get down to work. Look out for bones. I've eaten +white fish plenty of times, and they say they're never so good unless +cooked right where they're caught." + +"I believe it too," Josh continued. "Just like the pompano an uncle of +mine used to tell us he caught down in Florida--used to jump in the +boat, he said; and as they're a delicate, white-flesh fish like this, +putting them on ice a week or so takes the flavor out. It also makes +them crumble up when cooked." + +"How is it, Buster?" Herb asked; but Nick only rolled his eyes, and kept +on munching as though the fate of nations depended on his ability to +clear off his tin platter within a given time. + +When Nick was eating he wasted mighty little breath in talking, leaving +all of that for more convenient times. Besides, he had a perfect horror +of some time getting a fish bone in his throat. + +"Wouldn't matter much with a lanky fellow like Josh, you see," he once +said, in commenting on this fear; "because anybody could stick his fist +down, and yank the fish-bone out; but my neck is so fat I'd choke to +death long before you could say Jack Robinson. So don't bother me when +I'm eating fish, please." + +Afterwards Jack and George took a look at the engine of the _Comfort_. +After doing a little tinkering they announced that it would probably run +fairly well during the afternoon; but before starting on another day's +trip more would have to be done to it. + +This was not very comforting to Herb; but he made the best of a bad +bargain; and with light hearts the motor boys again started forth. + +Jack kept an anxious eye on the southwestern sky. He did not altogether +like the looks of things in that particular quarter, and was resolved +that if they discovered a promising campsite in the afternoon, they +could not afford to pass it by, if it afforded an offing for the boats. + +That tremendous sea, stretching for several hundred miles away to +the west, opened appalling possibilities in the way of a gale. The +staunchest steamers that ever plied the fresh water seas would sometimes +be as putty in the grasp of a summer storm; and what of the three puny +mosquito craft that were as chips on the water? + +At three o'clock Herb announced that his engine was getting worse +instead of better. And about the same time a welcome hail from George, +who was moving along in the van as usual, told that he had by the aid of +his glasses sighted a shelter. + +"Then it's us to go ashore," declared Jack; nor was any one sorry in +their hearts; since a little while before a distant sound like thunder +had been borne to their ears from the low-down patch of hovering clouds. + +The retreat promised to be all the shelter they wanted, though it would +hardly have answered for larger boats. Immediately all became as busy +as beavers, the two tents being raised, and stoutly secured, so that any +ordinary gale could not carry the canvas off like a balloon. + +Jack had hardly finished his share of the work before he got out his +rod, and busied himself in trying for trout; for he fancied that they +were to be found in the clear waters near by this cove, where a limpid +little stream emptied into the Great Lake. + +Nick, they all noticed, stuck close to camp. It would have to be +something very attractive that could induce _him_ to wander far from his +fireside, especially when the camp was pitched on Canadian soil, where +they grew such queer kitties. + +This time it was Jimmie who seemed destined to get into a peck of +trouble. Jack always declared that there seemed to be an evil spirit +forever hovering around their camp, looking for chances to accomplish +his work; and let there appear the least kind of an opening, and he was +ready to jump in. + +Jimmie was not much of a hunter or fisherman, though able to do either +on occasion. But he did have a little fancy for wild flowers, and liked +to pry around on occasion, seeing what he could discover. + +Now, at this late day in the season, he knew he was not apt to run +across any of these pretty gems of the woods; but there seemed to be +some sort of fascination about poking here and there examining a bunch +of magnificent moss of a pattern he had never set eyes on before, +measuring some giant ferns, and watching the antics of a family of +squirrels. These had their home in an old hollow tree close by, and +seemed filled with mild curiosity concerning the intruders on two legs +that had taken up quarters so boldly adjoining the cove. + +Herb and George were busily engaged with the balky engine, trying to +find out just what ailed the thing, so that it could be remedied once +and for all. In the end they felt positive that the blame could be +located and effectually cured. At least it was to be hoped so; otherwise +the _Tramp_ would have to tow the larger boat back to the Soo, where the +trouble could be abated at the hands of a machinist. + +Josh, according to his custom, was pottering around the camp, making a +better fireplace out of stones, at which he could carry out his part of +the business with more comfort and dispatch. If they had been going to +remain any length of time here, Josh would have constructed a "cooker" +worth looking at; for he was an artist in this particular line. + +Nick was apparently quite content to lie around, "getting up an appetite +for the next meal," as Josh sarcastically remarked. + +"Just as if that were at all necessary," was what the fat boy hurled +back at him; and the argument was so clinching that Josh subsided on the +spot; for no one had ever seen the time when Buster's appetite needed to +be coaxed. + +Nick's eyes finally alighted on the repeating gun which Jack had leaned +against a tree at a point where it would be out of harm's way. Now, Nick +himself had seldom fired a gun, though ambitious to become a sportsman; +because, as he wisely observed, "if I happened to be left in the woods +some time, think I want to starve to death, with a gun in my hands, and +plenty of fat game all around me? Not much!" + +And in that spirit he had picked up the Marlin; bringing it to his +shoulder in a clumsy way, time after time, in order to get accustomed to +the movement. + +"Keep the muzzle turned the other way, Buster!" commanded Josh, noticing +that he was working the pump action of the six-shot weapon, as if he +liked to see the ejector send the shell flying out at one side. + +"Guess I know enough for that Josh," grumbled Nick, but at the same time +moving still farther around, so that the cook might lose his fears; for +when a meal was being prepared the fat boy always handled Josh with +gloves, as he frankly admitted. + +It was just as he was sitting thus that a sudden scream rang through the +neighboring woods, sounding so shrill and angry that every one started +as though a bolt of lightning had fallen from the clear blue vault +overhead right into their midst, and exploded there! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +NICK WIPES OUT HIS DISGRACE + + +Everybody in the camp jumped up. + +All eyes were turned toward the point from which this racket sprang; +and it was a strange sight that immediately met their astonished eyes. +Jimmie was jumping about as though he had accidentally stepped into a +bee's nest, and was now engaged in a hand-to-hand fight with the entire +swarm. + +Nick happened to be in a position where he could see better than any of +his companions. And he immediately discovered that the troubles of the +Irish lad were not at all imaginary. + +Something was leaping back and forth, now threatening to land on the +shoulders of Jimmie, and then springing to the low limb of a tree, or it +might be the ground. + +Nick had never before set eyes on such a strange creature, yet he +realized that it was a wild animal. His late unpleasant experience was +of course still fresh in his mind; and his first suspicion may have been +that this was another specimen of a Canadian pussy cat. + +Whatever it was, Jimmie seemed to be having the time of his life +fighting. True to his inherited instincts, the Irish lad had snatched up +some sort of stick, to serve him as a shillalah. It was a stout bit of +wood too, and he wielded it in a manner that proved him to be a "broth +of a boy." Several times it landed with a resounding whack upon the +flying body of his antagonist, and at each connection the unknown beast +was hurled heavily backward. + +But evidently the furious animal was grim and determined. Instead of +being cowed by these temporary setbacks it only resumed the attack +with added zeal; so that Jimmie had often to throw up his left arm in +addition, to fend off his foe. + +Now, Nick chanced to remember that at the very moment he was holding a +gun in his hands. With one of his chums in grave peril it seemed to +devolve upon him to engineer a rescue party. + +"Come on, boys! Jimmie needs help!" he shouted, starting to run forward +as well as his bulk admitted. + +"Careful of that gun, Buster!" called Herb. + +"Yes, don't shoot Jimmie instead!" added Josh. + +"Hold your fire till you can get 'em separated!" supplemented George; +who being a little farther away at the time, managed to bring up the +rear. + +In this way then the quartette started to the assistance of Jimmie, who +was still whanging away with might and main. What with the loud shouts +of the aroused Irish lad, the whoops of the runners, and the angry +snarling of the enraged beast, one would think a menagerie must have +broken loose in the neighborhood. + +Just then George happened to get a good look at the beast as it jumped +up on the limb, and whirling, crouched to make another leap. + +"It's a wildcat!" he shouted as loud as he could. "Be careful, Nick! +Don't you try to grab it now, on your life!" + +Nick heard, but was too busy to think of replying. The cat had sprung +again at the pugnacious Irish boy, to be met with another smart thump +that landed with a loud thud, and sent the beast sprawling to the +ground. + +"Ye would, hey?" howled Jimmie in derision, though the blood was +streaked upon his face, where the sharp claws of the beast had scratched +him. "Thry for it again, plaze! And be the powers, ye'll foind Jimmie +Brannagan at home whin ye knock at the dure. Come on, ye omadhaun! I'll +soon knock all the breath out of the body of ye! Wow!" + +The Canadian cat was a fighter. It looked it every inch, now that the +defiant defense of the intruder had aroused its fury. Once more it +sprang to the limb of the tree, as though recognizing that here it had a +better chance to leap than from the ground. + +"Now! Buster! But be careful! Keep back Jimmie!" shouted George. + +The others held their very breath, for they saw that Nick had the Marlin +repeater up at his bulky shoulder. Perhaps every one of them was +mentally hoping that he would not shut his eyes while pulling the +trigger; for a little swerve might bring Jimmie within range, and the +result be disastrous at that short distance. + +Bang! + +Instantly a series of whoops broke forth, and every fellow started +forward once more, as though meaning to be in at the death. George and +Herb and Josh had each managed to possess himself of some sort of +improvised weapon. The first had in his hand a hatchet which he had been +using at the time; Josh was waving his favorite big spoon, with which he +was wont to beat the summons to meals on a pan; and the skipper of the +_Comfort_ had picked up a billet of wood while passing the fire, which +he now flourished eagerly above his head. + +Nick himself stood there, struggling with the pump-gun. As usual with +novices he could not work the mechanism; for in his excitement he +was trying to fire without having ejected the used shell; and no +self-respecting modern arm will stand for that sort of treatment. + +Fortunately all around, no second shot was needed. The animal was +kicking its last upon the ground, and emitting agonizing screams of +anger and pain. Whether by accident or real accuracy of aim, Nick had +apparently managed to send the contents of the shell where it counted. + +Already Jimmie was indulging in what seemed to be a war dance, waving +his stick, and singing. George was compelled to laugh just to see his +antics, streaked as his freckled face was with smootches of his own +gore. + +"Ye done it, Buster, sure ye knocked the silly gossoon clane over!" he +called. "'Tis a broth of a boy ye arre, and afther me own heart. Look at +the baste, would ye? If he hasn't got tassels on his ears!" + +"That's a fact!" declared George, now arriving to see the last kick of +the animal on the ground, and note the unquenchable fury shown to the +very end. "Why, I tell you what it is fellows. A Canadian lynx, that's +what!" + +"It does look different from my cat--er, that other animal," admitted +Nick, as he cautiously advanced, evidently ready to beat a hasty retreat +should he discover any need. + +"I've heard of the missing links," spoke up Josh; "but we never lost +any; so this critter couldn't belong to us." + +"A good shot, Buster, old man!" declared George, bending down to see +where the charge had struck the beast while crouching on the limb, and +preparing for still another leap at Jimmie. + +Nick swelled up with importance. Apparently this was one of the few +occasions when he could assume an attitude, and receive congratulations. +Usually it was just the other way; and like a wise fellow he believed in +making hay while the sun shone. + +"Oh! pretty fair, considering how quick I had to shoot!" he remarked, +carelessly, as much as to say that, given a little more time, and he +could have done better. + +Jack now came running up, having of course heard all the row, and being +consumed with curiosity to know its meaning. + +"What is it?" he called, as he ran. "Another Canada pussy cat?" + +"That's just what it is," replied George quickly. + +"And is Buster at his old tricks again?" continued the other; at which +Nick was compelled to grin amiably, knowing his hour of triumph was at +hand. + +"Buster was in the mix-up, all right," George went on; "only this time +he happened to be at the other end of the gun. Buster has covered +himself with immortal glory. We all must knuckle down to him after this +as the great Nimrod; for he has just slain the Jabberwock. Looky here, +Jack; what d'ye call that?" + +"Well, I declare, a big Canada lynx!" cried the newcomer, recognizing +the dead beast as soon as he saw its queer tasseled ears, and its +ferocious whiskers. + +"It tackled Jimmie here, and they were having a hot old argument of it, +Jimmie pounding with his club, and the cat using its claws," Herb said, +turning to the Irish boy, to see how badly he was wounded. + +Jack became sympathetic at once, and anxious in the bargain. + +"Only a few little scratches you say, Jimmie," he remarked. "That's +true, they don't seem serious; but it's always dangerous to be marked +with the claws of animals that live on carrion, like lions, grizzlies or +wildcats. And I'm glad to say I've got something along for just such a +case. Come on back to camp with me." + +Jimmie, still protesting, did so; while the others, dragging the lynx, +made Buster head the procession, while they sang: "Lo! the Conquering +Hero Comes; Sound the Trumpets, Beat the Drums!" greatly to the delight +of the fat boy. + +When Jack applied the purple colored tincture from a small bottle to the +wounds on Jimmie's face and hands, the Irish boy gave a whoop of pain. + +"Sure, the rimedy is worse nor the disease!" he complained. + +"That's all right," said Jack; "just stand the pain for a little. It's +an insurance against blood poisoning. Many a hunter has lost his life +from little cuts no worse than yours, when they were caused by the claws +of a wild beast. My father would not let me come out unless I carried +this." + +"What is it, Jack?" asked Herb, curiously. + +"A strong tincture of permanganate of potash," was the reply. "Just +remember that, will you; and it's got to be powerful enough to hurt like +fun; eh, Jimmie?" + +"Indade it did, that," was the immediate response; while the Irish boy +screwed up his good humored face in a knot. + +Jack went back to his fishing, for he had already managed to take one +pretty good specimen of the Lake Superior speckled trout that would have +weighed nearly four pounds; and was eager for more. + +All the while he sat there, employing every device he knew of to tempt +the finny denizens of the depths to bite, he kept one eye to windward. +That low bank of clouds interested him; for it seemed to presage a +storm. + +Since everything possible had been attended to in order to ward off any +evil effects of a gale, Jack did not stop fishing until he had succeeded +in catching a fine mess, that would please the heart of Buster. + +Josh was preparing the fish as fast as they were caught. Indeed, he +dispatched Nick several times to see if there were any more forthcoming; +when the sportsman would toss ashore his latest catch, and the cook's +assistant hurry back with the prize, his hungry eyes fairly glistening +with anticipation. + +Of course it was a royally good supper that followed. Josh cooked the +trout in the same capable manner he had served the lake white fish; and +every fellow declared they had never tasted anything more delicious. + +Still, there was plenty for all, and to spare. Even Nick had to shut his +eyes with a deep sigh, because he had reached the extreme limit of his +capacity; and a pan of trout remained untouched. + +The growling of the thunder now became more pronounced. Across the +heavens the zigzag lightning shot, in a way that was as terrible as it +was fascinating. Supper done, the boys clustered near the fire, talking, +and watching the coming of the gale. Again and again had Jack and George +gone around, to see that every tent peg was clinched in the ground. + +"They're going to hold, unless the wind tears the blessed things to +flinders!" Jack had announced; and at the same time he had seen to it +that the boats were protected by the friendly point of land from the +giant waves that would soon be sweeping in from the sea beyond. + +Already were they rising in majestic grandeur that was awe inspiring. +The storm was about to swoop down upon the shore line, and hurl the +rising sea against the mighty rocky barrier, as it had done for +countless ages past without success. + +"Oh! ain't I just glad I'm not out there!" exclaimed Nick, as he +shudderingly surveyed the darkening picture of warring elements. + +"But look there, fellows; what d'ye call that?" cried Herb, as he +pointed a quivering finger at some object that had suddenly come in +sight from the east. + +It was a little motor boat, wallowing in the rising sea, and doomed to +certain destruction unless able to make shelter immediately. And with +the waves dashing wildly against the rocks, those aboard would never see +the small opening through which the motor boat boys had come to their +present snug harbor! + +"It's the _Flash_!" shouted Jack; "and unless we manage to show them the +way in, it's good-bye to Clarence and Bully Joe! We must do it, fellows. +Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HELPING AN ENEMY + + +Jack kept his wits about him. + +He had snatched up something as he ran to the very point where he might +best be seen through the flying spray. It was the conch shell which, +with its apex sawed off, made a horn or trumpet that could be heard a +mile away, under even the most discouraging conditions. + +Reaching the point for which he had been aiming Jack immediately started +sending a hoarse blast out over that tumultuous sea. The others waved +their hats, and made suggestive motions toward the small inlet, to show +that a boat could enter the cove where the stream of water emptied into +the Big Lake. + +"They see us!" shrilled Nick, dancing up and down in his excitement; for +in this moment all past animosity was forgotten, because human lives +seemed in jeopardy--the lives of those who had gone to school, and +played baseball with them, in the days that were past. + +"Yes, they're waving their hands!" declared Herb. + +"And now they put about!" George added. "Careful there, Clarence! You +nearly keeled over then on your beam ends. That was a narrow squeak! I'd +hate to have the poor old _Flash_ meet such a fate, not to speak of her +crew." + +"It's all right now, fellows!" cried Jack. "They're heading for the +inlet. Run over, and be ready to give any help needed. In times like +this let's forget that Clarence and Joe have always been up against us. +We're all Americans now; and we must stick together!" + +"Bully talk!" said Josh, hastening after George and Jack, leaving Nick +to amble along in the rear. + +Clarence knew how to handle his boat with considerable skill; and once +he drew close in, he was able to see how the ground lay. Those on shore +also directed him as best they could; and the net result was that the +_Flash_ finally shot around the point, arriving in the little sheltered +bay that a kind nature seemed to have provided for just such +emergencies. + +As Jack had more than once said, could they but look back hundreds of +years, no doubt they would find that it had sheltered fleets of Indian +canoes many a time, when the storm king rode the waves of the Great +Lake. + +When the _Flash_ had been moored safely, her crew came ashore. Joe +Brinker was looking a bit sullen, as though he did not much fancy the +idea of accepting aid from these fellows, whom he had always looked upon +as enemies. But Clarence walked straight up to Jack, holding out his +hand. + +"I say it's mighty decent of you, Stormways, to throw us a line this +way," he declared, with considerable feeling. "I admit I was badly +rattled, and thought we were in for a wreck. Neither of us glimpsed this +opening here, and we'd sure have swept by, if you hadn't signalled. I'm +sorry now I ever--" + +"Let by-gones be forgotten while we're here, Clarence," spoke up Jack. +"See, the storm is whooping things up out there now, and it's just as +well you're not on the lake." + +Clarence did look, and shuddered at what he saw; for it was not a +pleasant spectacle, with the lightning flashes, and the heaving billows, +seen through the flying spray that even reached them by the tents. + +"Get busy, fellows!" George called. "Carry everything inside. Yes, take +that pan of fish, and the coffee, Nick. I guess our callers are hungry, +and will be glad of a bite. Quick now, for here she comes with a rush!" + +Hardly had they found shelter, and the flaps of the tents been secured, +when down the rain pelted, to the accompaniment of the most tremendous +thunder crashes any of them had ever heard; while the fierce wind tried +its best to tear the canvas shelters from over their heads. + +But the work had been well done, and the tents stood, though wobbling +more or less under the fierce onset of the wind. + +Clarence and Joe had been taken in with Jack and George, while the other +four occupied the second tent. Seated on the ground, the two newcomers +proceeded to break their fast, and drink what remained of the coffee. + +"Guess you wonder what kept us back so long?" remarked Clarence, after +they had finished the meal, and while a little lull came in the tempest +without. + +Jack and George looked at each other and smiled. + +"We might give a good think," remarked the latter; "seeing that I pushed +the nose of my _Wireless_ boat so hard into Mud Lake that it took an +hour and more for the other two to pull me off." + +"Huh! that's where you were lucky, then, George," continued the other. +"We didn't have any chums to do the pulling act; and so we just had to +flounder there for hours and hours. I reckon we must have spent the best +part of two days sticking in the mud. Happened that nothing came along +but some big steamers; and they wouldn't stop to help a poor little +motor boat off." + +"Well, how did you get away finally?" asked Jack, interested. + +"Worked our way out of it by ourselves; and we're proud to tell it," +Clarence proceeded. "I managed to climb up into a tree that hung over +the boat, and threw down branches until we made a mattress that would +bear our weight. Then we got out a block and tackle we carried, and +fixed it in a way to get a strong pull. I kept the engine working for +all she would go, while Joe bent to the tackle; and inch by inch we +finally yanked the _Flash_ out of her mud berth." + +"Good for you!" remarked George, with real emphasis. "Looking back, +there's always some satisfaction in remembering how you managed to get +out of a bad hole by means of your own wits." + +"All the same, we wished many times we had some chums handy, who would +give us a pull," said Joe, whom the meal and hot coffee had put in a +better humor. + +All night long the storm raged on the lake. Any vessel that was so +unlucky as to be caught out in it was to be pitied, or at least those +aboard were. Morning saw its abatement; but the seas were beating wildly +against the rock bound north shore and it was sheer folly for any one +to dream of putting out while such a condition of affairs lasted. + +So they concluded to make a day of it. Clarence for the first time in +his life began to realize what fine fellows these motor boat chums +really were; and how they stood ready to forget all the trouble that he +and his crony had been only too willing to shower upon them in the past. + +They talked of dozens of things, some of which were connected with their +life in school at home, and others that bore upon the recent series of +happenings on the St. Lawrence river. + +"Looks like we wouldn't have any more bother with Clarence after +this," said Josh to Herb, as they watched Jack and the other two doing +something at the camp fire that afternoon, just as though the best of +friends. + +"I hope we won't," replied the other; "but you never can be sure of +Clarence. He's tricky; and besides, impulsive. Just now he means to drop +all enmity toward us; because we've fed him, and treated him white. But +wait till something rubs him the other way. That's the time to see if +the thing is more than skin deep." + +During the midst of their conversation George purposely mentioned the +name of Jonathan Fosdick. + +"What; do you know the old apple grower, too?" demanded Clarence, +looking surprised. + +Of course Jack told how they had found the old man sick in his stable; +and helped him to his house. + +"And he told us all about his runaway boy, Andy, too; and how word came +he was working in a fishing camp up along this shore," George went on. + +"Yes, we promised that if we ran across the fellow we'd tell him he was +wanted at home the worst kind," Clarence remarked. + +"And he was that thankful he just loaded us down with stuff--eggs, +butter, and such. Couldn't do enough for us," Joe added, grinning at the +recollection. + +"History repeated itself then, for we promised the same thing," laughed +Jack. + +"And he just wouldn't take a cent in payment for the things we got," +remarked George. "But see here, Clarence, it looks like we're in for +another race between the _Flash_ and the _Wireless_, to see which can +get to the mouth of the Agawa first; for I hear there's a big fish camp +there, run by a man at the Soo, where they take tons and tons of white +fish, the trout not being for sale." + +"I guess I get the notion that's struck you, George; and let me say +right here, I still believe the _Flash_ to be the better boat," Clarence +went on, stubbornly. + +"Shall we try it out then, tomorrow, when we leave here; in a friendly +way of course, I mean?" George asked, eagerly. + +"Take him up, Clarry!" said Joe. + +"All right then, we'll call it a go," declared the other. "Only I wish +we had something worth making a run for, a prize of some sort." + +"It will give me some pleasure to be the one to tell Andy Fosdick that +he's wanted bad at home," George observed. + +"Then we'll call it a go; and this time you'd better look out for +yourself, because the _Flash_ has had a knot an hour added to her speed +since we raced last. And besides, I didn't have any heart in that trial +of speed, you know. That smuggler was forcing me to run my boat, to get +him out of a pickle; and for me to win only meant that my boat would be +lost to me. I was really glad to play him a trick in the end, and throw +the race." + +Jack and George may have had their own opinions with regard to the truth +of the matter; but they knew enough to keep their tongues still. While +the dove of peace hovered over the camp, it would be folly to stir these +fellows up again. + +Overhead the sun shone in a clear sky. Only for those waves the motor +boat club could have easily continued on their cruise. But with the +waning of the afternoon the seas began to sensibly decline. + +"I prophesy a good day tomorrow for our race, George," Clarence +remarked, as, in company with the others he sat by the fire, enjoying a +feast that Josh and his assistants, Nick and Jimmie, had prepared for +the crowd. + +Jack and George were both of the same opinion since all the well known +signs seemed to point that way. They sat up until a reasonable hour, +chatting and singing; and Clarence realized as never before what a fine +thing he and Joe were missing in never having found a chance to join +this merry group before. + +The night was a peaceful one. At early dawn the camp was astir, for much +had to be done ere they might put out on the calm lake. + +"Looks like a big mirror; didn't I tell you that wind had blown itself +out?" remarked Clarence, upon casting his first glance beyond the point. + +At eight they were all ready to leave the snug harbor that had opened so +opportunely for the storm threatened crew of the _Flash_. + +Clarence had charts also, and doubtless studied them eagerly when he had +an opportunity to go aboard his boat again. For although this was only a +friendly race, he always threw himself into whatever he did with a vim, +heart and soul, that made defeat all the more bitter, should it come. + +Of course Jack, deep down in his heart, knew full well that this was +only a temporary truce in the warfare that had always existed between +himself and Clarence. Once away from their society the other would soon +drift back to his old way of thinking and acting. But Jack decided that +not because of any unfriendly act on the part of himself or chums should +these two find cause for again digging up the buried hatchet. + +Leaving the cove, the four boats were soon moving along the glassy +surface of the calm lake, headed almost due west. Somewhere, many miles +away, lay the first goal, the mouth of the Agawa, which was to mark the +expiration of the race. + +"Ready, both of you?" demanded Jack, as the two rival speed boats ranged +alongside the _Tramp_, one on either quarter. + +"Ready here!" answered Clarence, briskly. + +"Same here, Jack!" called George, hovering over his engine, which was +running at about its next to slowest notch. + +"Then go!" shouted the starter; and instantly both craft shot forward +like arrows, while the rattle of their exhausts sounded as if a battle +were in progress. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +"WIRELESS DAY" + + +"Hurrah!" shouted Josh, wildly excited, and glad for once to be on the +narrow speed boat. + +"May the best one win!" called Jack, as he watched the rivals drawing +ahead of the two slower boats. + +"That means us!" laughed Bully Joe. + +"Just wait and see!" answered Josh; between whom and Joe there had +always been more or less bad blood. + +Herb had given his staunch engine all it could stand; and as the _Tramp_ +stood by him, they were soon left far in the lurch. + +"Talk to me about speed," observed Herb, as Jack turned his face that +way, "strikes me the _Wireless_ has her work cut out for today, to beat +Clarence." + +"You heard what he said about the improvement made when at the +machinist's. It was a knot an hour increase, I believe," Jack remarked, +casting a look down at the throbbing motor of the _Tramp_. + +"That's right," Herb spoke up. "But you know we did some tinkering to +George's engine, and he has always said that it ran better afterwards. +Anyhow, it looks like a pretty race." + +"I think so with you, Herb," Jack admitted. "Judging from here, they're +running neck and neck now." + +"Yes," continued the other, "but don't forget that tricky Clarence is +always up to something. Two to one he's got a bit more speed held in +reserve." + +"Well, George knows him like a book," laughed Jack. "And make up your +mind he'll keep something held back himself. Don't you remember he did +before? Possibly Clarence may be the one to run up against a surprise +after a while." + +As the racers drew farther and farther away, those in the other boats +began to think of other things. None of them had half the interest in +the outcome of the rivalry as did George. With him there were many old +accounts to square; and he meant to make a good job of it, if he had his +way about the matter. + +For some miles the two speedy motor boats kept along, neither appearing +to gain half a length on the other. If one seemed to be going ahead, the +skipper immediately busied himself stopping the advantage. It was as if +both were holding themselves in for the home stretch. + +Josh was on needles and pins all this while. He paid little attention to +what lay in the rear. Part of his time was taken up in scanning the +watery waste ahead, through the powerful marine glasses. And when not +thus employed he sat there, quivering with suspense, wondering whether +there would come a sudden stoppage of the engine, which might spring +from one of its eccentric tantrums. + +But, strange to say, the motor seemed to be doing its best today, as if +bent on meriting all the good things its builders had said in their +catalogue. + +"I see it!" suddenly hoarsely whispered Josh, in a mysterious way, as +though he did not wish those in the other craft to overhear him. + +"You mean the little bay at the mouth of the river?" queried George, +setting his teeth hard together; for he knew that the crisis so long +awaited was at hand. + +"Sure, look for yourself, George," handing him the glasses. + +"Yes, I believe you're right," returned the skipper of the _Wireless_, +as he once more turned his attention to his engine. "Now, get in the +middle of the boat, Josh, and don't move any more than you can help." + +"You're going to open up, then?" asked the tall, ungainly lad, +feverishly. + +"I am. Are you ready?" George went on. + +"My hair is parted exactly in the middle, I believe," chuckled Josh. +"You know Buster used to say that was one thing you made him do when he +was on board here. Let her go, George! Get the jump on him; it may count +in the end!" + +A shout from Bully Joe was the first knowledge Clarence had that his +rival had taken the bit in his teeth, and shot ahead. Instantly the +speed of the _Flash_ was increased; and the two powerful engines began +to throb like little giants; while the sound of the exhausts, from which +the mufflers had been entirely removed, was like the tattoo of a couple +of snare drums calling the long roll. + +Josh steadied himself as best he could; though when the boat was rushing +through the water at this frightful speed it did not seem so cranky as +when at rest. + +"George, we're gaining on him!" he said, in a husky voice that trembled +with the excitement under which Josh labored. + +"I see we are; and still I could get a bit more out of old _Wireless_ if +hard pushed. Don't worry, Josh; we're bound to show Clarence up for a +bluffer this time, sure." + +"If only something don't happen!" gasped the anxious Josh, with an +intake of breath that was like a big sigh. + +"Make your mind easy on that score," said George, positively. "Nothing +is going to break down. She's running as smooth as silk, and never +missing a stroke. Oh! ain't this great, though? I've looked forward to +this ever so long. Wouldn't I like to be close enough right now to see +the look on Clarence's face." + +"It's as long as a foot rule, I warrant you!" chuckled Josh. "Don't I +know them two fellows though? They take a beat hard. Ten to one that if +you are ahead when we come to the bay, they'll go on past, and never +enter at all." + +"Well, now, that wouldn't surprise me one little bit," remarked George. + +Slowly but surely was the _Flash_ falling behind, or rather the other +boat forging ahead. Doubtless Clarence must be trying every device known +to ambitious racing skippers in order to just coax a little more speed +from his engine; but it was now keyed up to top-notch, and utterly +incapable of doing a particle better. + +Already Clarence must know that he was badly beaten, unless fortune +stepped in to bring about an accident to the _Wireless_. + +"That's what he's playing for now," said George, when his companion +suggested this very thing. "But I reckon Clarence will find himself +barking up the wrong tree. This race has just got to be mine. You hear +me warble, Josh?" + +It was not often George spouted slang; but the excitement had seized +upon him to such an extent now, that he hardly did know what he was +saying. + +Minutes crept along. + +Now the _Flash_ was a stone's throw in the rear, and losing all the +while. + +"Careful about the turn, George," cautioned Josh, as they came near +where the bay opened up. "We don't want to lose this thing at the last +stretch. Now you're safe to turn in. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! siss! boom! +crash! we win!" + +The _Wireless_ safely made the turn, and thus Josh announced her +victory. + +"What did I tell you," Josh went on. "Look at 'em, George! They're +spinning on right past, and don't mean to come in at all. Clarence won't +even look this way, but keeps staring ahead. Talk to me about taking a +beat to heart, there never was a fellow as bad as Macklin, in baseball, +hockey or any sport. Well, good-bye to you, fellows! Come again when you +can't stay so long. It's _Wireless_ day, you know!" + +There was no answer to the shout with which Josh wound up his remarks. +He saw Bully Joe wave his hand in a derisive way, and then the _Flash_ +passed by at full speed, as though the race were still on. + +There was a big camp on the shore, and several boats drawn up on the +beach. Many signs told that this was one of the favorite places along +the north shore for the white fish men to gather. Doubtless innumerable +barrels of this delicate inhabitant of the Great Lakes were shipped from +this coast during each season; with the supply still undiminished. + +It had been agreed upon that George was not to go ashore until the rest +of the little motor boat fleet arrived. This was not for half an hour or +so, since the _Comfort_ was not capable of doing better than ten miles +an hour, and the more speedy _Tramp_ had to accommodate her pace to that +of the steady boat. + +Nick and the rest gave the victor a good cheer as they turned the point, +and entered the bay at the mouth of the famous trout river. + +Then the three craft made for the beach, off which they anchored, to go +ashore in the smaller boats. + +There were some shanties and tents in sight, with a number of rough +looking men; who however seemed glad to welcome the boys. The smell of +fish was everywhere, as was natural. + +"Do you happen to have a young fellow here in this camp by the name of +Andy Fosdick?" Jack asked a man who seemed to be the boss. + +"Yes, but just now he's out at work. There's a boat coming in and p'raps +Andy may be one of the crew," the other replied. + +They waited until the boat landed, and those who were in it jumped out. +Jack could use his judgment, and he immediately selected a sturdy +looking young chap, with a skin the color of an Indian's, as the one +they sought. + +"Come along, fellows," he said to his chums; "and we'll find out." + +He made straight for the young man; who, seeing the procession +approaching, and all eyes glued eagerly on him, stood there looking +curious, and a bit apprehensive, Jack thought. + +"Are you Andrew Fosdick?" Jack asked, as they reached the spot where the +other stood, one hand resting on the edge of the boat, from which his +comrades were already shoveling their catch of fish. + +"That's my name, though I generally answer to plain Andy," replied the +fisherman wondering doubtless what all this meant, and why these boys +should want to see him. + +"Bully!" exclaimed Nick. "Found him the first shot! We're sure in great +luck on this cruise, fellows!" + +"Tell him what you want with him, Jack," urged Herb, who saw the other +was being consumed with anxiety. + +"We have come straight from your father, Andy," said Jack, softly. "He +wants you to come home to him." + +Then they saw a hard look pass over the dark face of Andy Fosdick. + +"It ain't no use, boys," he said, bitterly. "He run me off long ago, and +I don't go back there again. I'm gettin' to forget my name even is +Fosdick, and that settles it." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +CAUGHT NAPPING + + +Jack was shocked at the words and manner of the young fisherman. His +chums even half turned away in disgust, believing that their mission was +doomed to failure. But Jack did not give up a thing so easily. + +"Wait," he said, quietly; "I don't believe you know, Andy. When did you +hear from home last?" + +"Never once," gritted the other, morosely, showing that his wrongs had +eaten into his very soul. "Didn't want to, neither. Made up my mind I +cud take care of myself. Done it too, all these years. Got money laid +up; and goin' to be married in the fall." + +"Then you didn't know your mother was dead?" Jack went on. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Andy, starting, and showing signs of emotion. "I never +heard that Ma was gone! Yes, I'm sorry I didn't see her again. She was +never so bitter as dad; but only weak like." + +Jack heard him sigh, and knew a start had been made. + +"Listen, Andy," he went on; "your father is subject to strokes. One of +them will carry him off. It may be today, or tomorrow, but not a great +while can he stay here. He is bitterly sorry for what he did. He wants +to tell you so, to ask you to forgive him before he too dies." + +Andy's head fell on his broad chest, and Jack believed he saw his frame +quiver with some sort of gathering emotion. + +"He has made his will, and left you everything, Andy," he continued. "If +you are to be married, that will be your home. He begged us to find you, +to tell you all this; and that if you would only come back to forgive +him, he would die happy. Won't you do that, Andy? Once he goes, the +chance can never come to you again; and you're bound to feel mighty +sorry as the years go by." + +Nick nudged George, and whispered. + +"Did you ever hear the beat of that, George? Ain't our Jack the born +lawyer though? He ought to be in your dad's office, studying for the +bar, that's what." + +"Hold your horses, Buster!" answered the one addressed, eagerly waiting +to see what effect Jack's logic might have upon Andy. + +The struggle however was short. Presently the young fisherman glanced +up; and as soon as he could see the look on his bronzed face Jack knew +his case was won. + +"I'll go back to the old man," he said, firmly. "I guess 'taint right he +shud die and not have a chance to say what's on his mind. And thank ye +for tellin' me." + +"But when will you go?" Jack continued. "There is need of haste, because +nobody can say just how long he may live." + +"A boat'll be along this arternoon, and we ship some barrels on her. +Guess the boss'll let me off when he larns the reason," Andy replied. + +"If you like, I'll tell him the whole story?" Jack suggested. + +And this he did a little later. He found the boss full of sympathy, +rough man as he seemed to be. And Andy readily received permission to +break the contract he had made for the season. + +"Well, what's doing now?" queried Herb, as the bunch wandered around, +observing the various interesting phases of the fishermen's business; +for a boat was loading with barrels full of the catch, which were going +direct to the Soo, from where they would be carried by express to +Chicago, or other distributing points. + +"Too late to go on today," said Jack. "Besides, I want to have a try +with some of the big speckled trout that they tell me lie around here. +They take plenty, but have to throw them back, or eat them, as the law +does not allow any sale of trout. Think of a seven pounder on my rod." + +"Well, get at it then, Jack," laughed George. "You'll never be happy +till you do hook a monster. We'll promise to help you eat him, all +right; eh, fellows?" + +"All he can bring in, and then some," declared Nick; making his mouth +move in a suggestive way that caused his mates to laugh. + +"Be careful, Buster," warned Herb. "You know you said you meant to cut +down on your grub. Instead of losing, you're gaining weight every day. +If you keep on like that, Rosie won't know you when we get back home." + +But Nick only grinned as he replied calmly: "Well, Rosie ain't the whole +thing. There are others, perhaps." + +"Listen to the traitor, would you?" exclaimed Josh. "Won't I tell on +him, though, when we get back? I bet he's thinking right now of that +cute little elephant, Sallie Bliss!" + +"All right," admitted Nick, brazenly. "Who's got a better right, tell +me? And even you admit that she is cute. Just mind your own business, +Josh Purdue. The fact is, you're just green with envy because of my +noble figure. Pity you couldn't have a little of my fat on your bones!" + +"Noble figure!" exclaimed Josh, pretending to be near a fainting spell. +"Shades of my ancestors, excuse me! I may be envious, but I ain't +conceited, like some people, and that's the truth." + +Jack left them in this sort of warm argument; but he knew that no matter +what was said, Nick and Josh would not openly quarrel. + +He asked numerous questions as to the most likely spots for the big +trout; and having secured some bait, started into business. While thus +employed he saw the steamer come along, and the boat loaded with barrels +go out to meet her, as she stopped her engines. + +"There's Andy stepping aboard, carrying his grip," Jack said to himself. +"And I'm glad he proved so sensible. The old man will be wild to have +him again. Yes, it was a lucky day for him in more ways than one when we +started for his house to get a supply of butter, eggs and milk. Nick +thought the luck was all on our side; but he can never see far beyond +meal time." + +As the afternoon grew on, and the steamer became hazy in the distance, +Jack began to have some bites. And then came the thrilling moment when +he found himself engaged with one of those famous monster speckled +beauties for which this region is noted, and specimens of which he had +seen in the breeding ponds of the Soo government fish hatchery. + +It was a glorious fight, never to be forgotten; and at last Jack had his +prize in his hands. Nor did the luck stop there. The fish were hungry, +apparently; for in less than five minutes Number Two gave him even a +harder struggle than the other victim; and in this case also Jack won +out. + +So they did have trout galore for supper; and even Nick was surfeited +for once. All of the boys declared that they had never tasted anything +finer than these big Lake Superior trout, freshly taken from the icy +waters of the big reservoir, and cooked as only Josh Purdue could do it. + +"Yum! yum!" Nick went on, after being actually pressed in vain to have +another helping; "I'd like to stay right here for a month. Seems to me +I'd never get tired of that pink flesh trout. Don't ever want to hear +mention of a Mississippi catfish again after this." + +"How about Canada kitties?" asked Herb, maliciously. + +Nick declined to answer. That was a subject on which his comrades knew +his mind full well; and he did not mean to argue it again. + +Mutely he pointed to the skin of the lynx which had fallen to his gun, +mutilated a little, to be sure, by the charge of shot that had been the +means of its death; but worth its weight in silver to the fat Nimrod; +and Herb closed up like a clam. + +In the morning they prepared to go on again; though Herb and Jack +had, when by themselves, seriously talked over the subject; and were +beginning to arrive at the conclusion that this tremendous fresh water +sea was hardly the best cruising ground for such small craft as the +motor boats; and that they would be wise to cut short their former +intention of reaching Duluth. + +"Better keep an eye out for dirty weather, boys!" the boss of the camp +had observed, when shaking hands as they said good-bye. + +Nick could see no signs of anything ahead that looked like a storm; and +he was inclined to believe the other must be wrong in his guess. + +"Must be one of them old croakers we hear so much about," he remarked to +Herb, as they went on along the coast of the Big Lake. "Always expecting +things to happen that don't come to pass. I don't see any storm, do +you?" + +"Not a sign," replied the skipper of the _Comfort_; who was anxiously +keeping tabs on his engine, as though he had reason to fear a repetition +of the former trouble. + +But in the end it proved to be George who brought the little expedition +to a halt. After acting so splendidly in that fierce race with the +_Flash_, lo and behold, the motor of the _Wireless_ broke down during +the early afternoon. + +They tinkered at it for an hour and more, Jack coming over to take a +hand; but apparently little progress was made. Jack was worried. They +were too far away from the fish camp to think of towing the disabled +boat back; and a harbor did not offer within reaching distance beyond. + +The afternoon began to wane, and there seemed nothing for it but that +the three motor boats should anchor just where they were, and pass the +night on the open water. All would be well if the weather remained fair, +and no strong southerly wind arose during the night. Jack did not like +to think what might happen in case such a thing did come about. + +So as night came on they made things as snug as possible, ate supper +aboard, and determined to keep up their courage, in the belief that +nothing would happen to alarm them. + +But about an hour after midnight Jack, being on the watch, was thrilled +to hear a sudden and entirely unexpected boom of thunder. + +Instantly everybody was awake, and stirring; loud voices began to be +heard, as the others thrust their heads out of the tarpaulin covers that +served as boat tents when the crews slept aboard; and excitement +reigned. + +The very thing that Jack had dreaded most of all seemed on the verge of +coming about; since they were caught on the open lake at night, with a +storm threatening. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NIGHT OF ANXIETY + + +"Hey! here's Nick getting into his cork jacket already!" called Herb. + +"All right," said the one in question, firmly. "Think I want to get +washed out on that pond without something to hold me up? Remember, I'm a +new beginner when it comes to swimming. And then I've got more to hold +up than the rest of you." + +"Well, help me get this tent down first," remonstrated Herb. "We don't +want to be caught by a storm with these things up, you know." + +"But it might rain?" Nick protested. + +"Let it. We've got oilskins; and perhaps there'll be plenty of time left +to get into the same. Take hold there." + +Herb was right; and the crews of all the little motor boats had already +started to stow away the big covers. Jack kept things as snug as +possible aboard the _Tramp_, in case of a downpour; and that was not at +all the thing he feared most. + +They were within fifty feet of cruel looking rocks. If the wind broke +out from any quarter that would send the big billows churning against +that barrier, the fate of the motor boat fleet could be easily guessed. + +In a little while everything had been done that seemed possible; after +which they could only sit there, and await whatever was to be handed out +to them. + +Nick and Josh were plainly nervous; and even Jimmie showed some signs of +apprehension, nor could they be blamed for this timidity. + +"What if one of the boats is swept away?" suggested Josh; who, being in +the narrow-beam _Wireless_ understood that he had much less chance for +safety than those who manned the other craft. + +"No danger of that happening," Jack replied, quickly. "The only thing we +have to fear is being smashed up against these rocks. Our boats would +cave in like puff balls." + +"That's what," Josh went on. "Perhaps fellows, we ought to go ashore in +the dinkies while we have the chance. Even if we lost the boats we'd +save our lives. And I promised my folk at home I wouldn't take any +unnecessary risks, you know." + +But George only sniffed at the idea. + +"Rats!" he exclaimed. "There you go just as usual, magnifying the +danger, Josh. As for me, I'm going to stick like glue to this old +_Wireless_. Just see me deserting her because a little squall chances to +blow up. Get ashore if you feel like it. And you too, Buster; only +remember, if we should be blown miles away, you two fellows would be apt +to starve to death in this lonely region." + +"That settles it," said Nick, immediately. + +If there was any chance of his starving, he stood ready to accept all +sorts of perils rather than face that possibility. And doubtless George +knew all this when he put the case so strenuously. + +Josh too decided that he did not want to go ashore. If the others could +stand the danger, he would too. + +"It may not be so bad for us, fellows," observed Jack. "Because, if you +look up, you'll see that the clouds are coming from the land side. And +every bang of thunder up to now has been from that direction too. The +storm this time doesn't mean to cross the lake, and hit this shore. And +unless it changes around, we'll be protected from it by these very rocks +we feared so much!" + +"Bully! bully! Good for you, Jack!" cried Nick, as if greatly relieved. +"I'm feeling so much better I almost believe my lost appetite is +returning." + +"Well, it's so, ain't it?" demanded the other. + +"Sure it is," echoed Jimmie, with delight in his voice. + +"That's the best news I've heard this long while," remarked George, who +despite his seeming valor, was secretly much distressed over the +outlook. + +The thunder increased in violence. Then they heard the sweep of the wind +through the pines and hemlocks on the shore. And in less than ten +minutes the rain was pouring down like a deluge. + +They had secured things so that little harm would be done. Still, the +outlook was far from attractive, with several hours of darkness ahead; +during which they must keep on constant guard, not knowing at what +minute the wind might take a notion to veer around to some quarter, that +would send the waves dashing against the rockbound shore so near by. + +It seemed as severe a gale as the one they had experienced only a short +time before. Indeed, Jack was of the opinion that the wind was even +greater, though they did not feel it the same way, because of the +shelter obtained from the land. + +They would never be apt to forget that night, no matter how time passed. +Watching was serious business for Nick; and three times he was known to +creep over to where Herb kept his cracker bag, doubtless to interest +himself in a little "snack," so as to briefly forget his other +troubles. + +Nor did Herb have the heart to take him to task about it. Their +situation was so very distressing that he could think of nothing else. +Every time the lightning flamed athwart the black sky the boys would +look out at the troubled waters stretching as far as the eye could see; +or else send an anxious glance toward the grim rocks that loomed up so +very close over their bows. + +Hours seemed like days. Nick groaned, and declared he ached in every +bone. + +"What d'ye think of me, then?" demanded Josh. "You're well padded; while +I reckon my poor old bones are going to stick through, pretty soon. I +dassent stand up, because George won't let me; and you can. I wish you +had my berth, Buster." + +But at last Herb declared that there were certainly signs of dawn coming +in the east. Every eye was turned that way; and upon learning that the +news was true the boys began to take on fresh hope. + +"Well," George said for the tenth time, "I'm glad of one thing, and +that is we managed to get my engine in working order last night before +supper. Goodness knows what a fix I'd have been in otherwise, if we had +to put out to sea when the wind changed." + +"Oh! murdher! I hope it won't do the same!" exclaimed Jimmie, who +overheard the remark, and was filled with dismay as he surveyed the wild +scene that stretched away off toward the southern horizon. + +"Can't we manage somehow to cook something warm?" asked George. + +"Yes, that's it," immediately echoed Nick, beginning to bustle around in +the steady old _Comfort_. "We'll all feel so much better if we have +breakfast. Nothing like a full stomach to put bravery in a fellow, I +tell you." + +"Oh! how brave you must feel all the time, then!" observed Josh, +sarcastically. + +But Jack knew that this time the fat boy spoke the truth. When people +are wet and shivering things are apt to look gloomy enough; but once +warm them up, and let them eat a hot meal, and somehow a rosy tinge +begins to paint the picture. + +They knew just how to go about the matter; and those wonderful German +Juwel kerosene gas stoves filled the bill to a dot; as Nick declared, +after the delightful aroma of boiling coffee had begun to reach his +eager nostrils. + +And while the wind still howled through the pines up on the high rocks, +and the billows rolled away toward the south, growing in size as they +drew farther off shore, the motor boat boys sat down to a tasty +breakfast. + +"Now, this isn't so bad," observed Nick, as he started in on what had +been dished out to him by Herb, who this time had done the cooking. + +"It will be for the boss if he don't get to work in a hurry," Josh flung +across the watery space that separated the boats. + +"Don't worry on my account," laughed Herb. "I've got a mortgage on the +balance in the fryingpan, and he'd better not touch it on his life." + +"Think the bally old storm is over, Jack?" asked Nick, presently. + +"The worst of it is, and I believe the wind seems to be dying down a +little," came the ready reply, as Jack swept the heavens with anxious +eyes. + +"I thought that last gust came out a little more toward the west," +remarked one of the others. + +"I'd hate to know that," Jack said. "For old sailors say that when the +wind backs up into the west, after being in the north, without going all +the way around, it means a return of the storm, from another quarter." + +"Time enough to get ashore yet!" muttered Josh. + +"Go ahead, if you want to," George said grimly. "Take some grub along, +if you make up your mind that way. But I don't stir out of this boat +unless I'm thrown out. Understand that?" + +An hour later, and Jack saw that his worst fears were realized. + +"Wind's getting around fast now, fellows," he announced. + +"It sure is," Herb admitted; for he had been noticing the increased +roughness of the water for a little while back. + +"What must we do, Jack?" asked George, with set teeth, and that look of +determination in his eyes that stood for so much. + +"Hold out as long as we can," came the reply in a steady voice. "Then, +when the danger of our being dashed against the rocks grows too great, +we'll just have to up-anchor, and start our engines to moving. It will +be safer for us out yonder than so near the shore." + +Another half hour went by. Then the little boats were pitching and +tossing violently, as the full force of the onrushing waves caught them. + +"Can't stand it much longer, Jack!" called out George, who was having +the most serious time of all. + +"Then we might as well make the move now as later!" called Jack. "So get +going, both of you. And remember to stand by as close as you can, so +that we may help in case an upset happens to any boat." + +Of course George knew his chum had the cranky _Wireless_ in mind when he +said this; but the peril was not alone confined to the one boat. + +Accordingly the engines were started, the anchors gotten aboard after a +tremendous amount of hard work; and the little motor boat fleet put to +sea, with the intention of trying to ride the storm out as best they +might. + +If the engines only continued faithful all might yet be well. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PERIL RIDES THE STORM WAVES + + +There were anxious hearts among the young cruisers as they started to +leave the vicinity of the shore, and head out upon the big heaving seas. + +So long as they could keep the boats' bows on the danger would not be so +great as if they tried to turn; when those foam-crested waves would +strike them sideways, and threaten to turn them on their beam-ends; +which would mean destruction. + +The motors sang like angry bees whenever the little propellers chanced +to be exposed after a retreating wave had passed. This was where the +greatest peril lay; for the strain on the engine and shaft was terrific +at such times, owing to the rapid change of pace. + +So Jack, Herb and George found themselves compelled to stick constantly +at the job, manipulating the lever, so as to shut off power with each +passing wave. + +They did not make fast time away from the shore; but at the end of half +an hour had reached a point where it seemed the height of folly to go +farther. + +"How is it, George?" Jack sang out. + +"Everything moving smoothly over here so far," came the reply. + +"And you, Herb?" continued the commodore of the fleet. + +"No fault to find, only it's hard work; and I hope we don't have to keep +it up all day," replied the skipper of the _Comfort_. + +"I don't think that is going to happen," Jack observed. "Seems to me the +wind is dying down. When that happens, the waves must gradually grow +smaller. Perhaps by afternoon we may be able to proceed, and hunt for a +harbor farther along." + +"Well, now," George remarked. "I wouldn't be sorry any, let me tell you, +fellows. I've been balancing here like a circus acrobat this blessed +hour and more, till my legs are stiff." + +"Think of me, would you!" bleated Nick. + +"Shucks! you're like a ball, and nothing ought to hurt you!" declared +Josh. + +"I've got feelings, all right, though," the fat boy protested. "But I +certain do hope we get our feet on solid ground right soon. I'd just +love to see a fire going, and smell the hickory wood burning." + +"Yes, it's something more than hickory wood you're longing to smell, +and we all know it for a fact," Josh fired back at him. + +Nevertheless, they one and all did find encouragement in what Jack had +stated. The wind was certainly beginning to die out; and while as yet +there could not be any appreciable difference noted in the size of the +rollers upon which they mounted, to plunge into the abyss beyond, that +would come in time. + +During the morning that followed the boys who handled the engines of +those three little power boats found occasion to bless the makers of the +staunch motors that stood up so valiantly under this severe test. + +They had taken on an additional supply of gasoline while at the Soo, and +there was little danger of this giving out. Still, as Nick said, this +energy was all wasted, and reminded him of soldiers "beating time." + +Now and then the boys were able to exchange remarks, especially the +three who were not kept busy during this time. + +Jack listened to what was said, and while he made no attempt to break +into the conversation, he gathered from it that at least Nick, Jimmie +and Josh were about ready to call the westward cruise off, and turn +around. + +So he made up his mind that the matter must be threshed out the very +next time they could gather around a fire on shore. As for himself, +Jack was thinking along the same lines, and ready to go back to Mackinac +Island's quiet waters, in the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan. + +Noon came along, to find them still buffeting the waves; but there had +been a considerable change by then. + +"After we've had a bite," called out Jack, at which Nick instantly +showed attention; "I think we'd better make a start out of this. The +waves you notice no longer break, and while your boat would roll more or +less, George, I don't think you'd be in any great danger of turning +turtle, do you?" + +"Oh! I'm only too willing to put out," came the answer. "Anything but +this horrible marking time. I like to see the chips fly when I use an +axe. I want to see results. And here, this blessed little motor has been +churning away for hours, without getting away from our old stand. Yes, +let's eat and run." + +"That would be bad for digestion," spoke up Nick. "I don't believe in +hurrying over meals. I was warned against doing it, unless I wanted to +waste away to skin and bones like Josh here." + +"Oh! you can take as long as you like," said Herb; "only get busy now, +and dish up anything you can find. There's some cold baked beans handy; +and open some of that potted beef; it ought to be tasty with the +crackers and cheese." + +"I'm on the job right off," declared Nick. "You know you never have to +hurry me about getting things to eat." + +"Mebbe that's why your digestion is so good," said Herb, sarcastically; +but the fat boy only grinned as he crawled back to where the eatables +were kept. + +Later on they did head more toward the west, and start moving through +the swinging seas. Constant watchfulness became necessary, for there was +always danger that in some unguarded moment one of the billows might +roll a boat over like a chip. + +So they kept going on, constantly varying their course to meet +emergencies, and making progress along the coast. It was splendid +manoeuvring for the young pilots of the motor boats; though they rather +thought they had had quite enough of it, and would be only too glad to +call a halt. + +Jack was watching the shore line ahead, whenever he could, in order to +learn if a haven came in sight. He had Jimmie frequently use the glasses +when they were on a wave crest; and kept hoping to hear him cry out that +he believed he had sighted the harbor they hoped to make before night +came on. + +As the waves still further diminished in size, they were enabled to make +better time, since they no longer feared an upset. Indeed, about the +middle of the afternoon they ceased entirely to head the boats into any +billow; and all of them declared that they felt proud of what had been +accomplished. + +"I say, Jack!" called out George, as the two boats happened to draw near +each other. + +"Well, what is it?" answered the one addressed, popping his head up. + +"How does it come, d'ye suppose, that we haven't seen a blessed steamer +all this morning, going in either direction?" George went on. + +"Why," replied Jack. "Because they had warning from the weather bureau +that a storm was coming, and delayed starting out. These captains know +what it is to meet up with a Lake Superior storm." + +"Yes," spoke up Jimmie, "it's only the nervy little boats like ours that +laugh at all the blows as comes along. Look at us, would ye, smashin' +through the big waves like the sassy things. Slap! bang! and come again, +would ye? Sure, it's weather on'y fit for motor boats, it do be." + +"Yes," laughed George, "we're all mighty brave about now; but I tell you +boys, I felt squeamish for hours when the storm was on. I knew what +would happen to us if the wind whipped around before morning. Excuse me +from another experience like that. Wonder where Clarence and Joe were +then?" + +"That's so, they did go on," Jack remarked. "I hope they had shelter. I +wouldn't want my worst enemy to be wrecked on such a terrible night." + +A short time later Jimmie cried out again: "There do be a steamer comin' +along there, Jack!" + +"Steamer nothing!" echoed Josh, who happened to be using George's +glasses at the same time. "I've been watching that thing for five +minutes now. And do you know what I think it is, fellows?" + +"What?" demanded Jack, who could not leave his duties even for the +minute that it would take to glance through the glasses. + +"A wreck!" exclaimed Josh, with thrilling emphasis. + +Then everybody sat up, and began to look eagerly in the direction +mentioned. It was far out over the troubled waters; and the object could +only be seen when it happened to be lifted on the crest of a wave. + +"It is that same, upon me worrd!" cried Jimmie, presently. "I cud say +the thing thin as plain as the nose on me face." + +"And boys, there's some kind of a flag floating on it," Josh went on. + +"Upside down?" questioned Nick, eagerly. + +"Looks like it to me," came the answer. + +"Then it's a wreck, all right; because that's the signal of distress," +Nick continued, now raising Herb's glasses for a look. + +"Oh! my! I believe it's them!" he ejaculated a minute later. + +At that Jack could stand it no longer. + +"Here, Jimmie, you grab hold, and run this boat," he said. "Keep her +nose pointed just as she runs now, and whatever you do, don't swing +around, broadside on." + +Then, as Jimmie took hold of the wheel, the skipper raised the glasses +for a look, while George awaited his report with ill-concealed +eagerness. + +"There, look now, Jack!" cried Josh. + +Presently Jack took down the glasses, and there was a grave expression +on his face. + +"What did you see, Jack?" demanded George. "Something that's bothered +you some, I can tell by the way you frown." + +"That's a sinking craft, all right, George," replied the other, as he +turned on all the power his engine was capable of producing, and sent +the _Tramp_ speeding directly into the waves. "More than that, I'm +afraid I did recognize it, and, just as Nick said, it's the power boat, +_Mermaid_, carrying the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews, and his party. Boys, +we must hurry to their rescue before they go down!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +PAYING THE PENALTY + + +Immediately the little fleet of motor boats had taken up a course +leading directly for the floating wreck. It looked like the height of +folly for such miniature craft to thus put boldly out upon the bosom of +that great inland sea; and nothing save a call to duty would ever have +influenced Jack to make the venture. + +They were strangely quiet as they continued to buffet the oncoming +waves. Once in a while some one would ask the wielder of the marine +glasses what he could see, and in this way all were kept informed. + +Nick was trembling, so that there were times when he could hardly hold +the glasses to his eyes. + +"I see her!" he suddenly shouted in rapture. "Sallie's still there, +fellows! I can tell her among the lot. There, she sees me, I think, for +the darling is waving her handkerchief! She wants me to hurry along, +fellows; perhaps the blessed waterlogged power boat is getting ready to +dip under! Can't you throw on just a little more speed, Herb? Please +do, to oblige me." + +No one thought to laugh, nor did Josh come up true to his name just +then; for somehow they seemed to understand that it was a grave matter, +and no time for joking. + +Jack could see the figures on the partly submerged boat with the naked +eye now, they were getting so close. + +"Do you see the other girl, Rita Andrews?" he asked Jimmie; and was +more pleased than he cared to show when the Irish boy answered in the +affirmative. + +"Oh! I only hope we get there in time!" groaned Nick, as he fumbled at +the cork life preserver, as though intending to put it on again. + +"What are you going to do with that thing, Buster?" demanded Herb, +sharply. + +"Get it around me," the other replied, unblushingly. + +"But you won't need it; there's not the least chance of our upsetting +now." + +"All the same," Nick responded, calmly; "how do I know but I may have to +jump overboard after Sallie? She might slip in her great joy at seeing +her preserver so near. And a pretty fellow I'd be not to keep myself +ready to do the hero act. Besides, Herb, how do we know that the bally +old boat mayn't take a notion to duck under, just when we get close by? +I believe in being prepared." + +"You're right, Buster," nodded the skipper. "Take my cork jacket too if +so be you think you'll need it. But please don't go to jumping over just +to show off. You might drown before her very eyes." + +"Oh! I'll be careful, Herb. But since you say so, I believe I will keep +your cork affair handy. She might need it; because you see, Sallie is no +light weight, any more than me." + +He crouched there waiting, doubtless counting the seconds as they +passed, and anxiously taking note of all that went on in the quarter +whence they were headed. + +Jack himself grew more nervous the closer they drew to the wreck. He +realized that those on board were in extreme peril; for the powerboat +seemed to be gradually sinking lower, inch by inch. At almost any time +now it might give one tremendous heave, and then plunge, bow first, down +in many fathoms of water, perhaps dragging some of the people aboard to +death. + +But at the same time Jack was figuring just how he and Herb must +approach the wreck on the leeward side, where it would in a measure +protect the small motor boats from the sweep of the seas. Here they +would be able to take aboard as many of the imperiled ones as the +rescuing craft could reasonably hold. + +Jack also noted that there was a large lifeboat on the sinking craft. +Possibly the oars had been swept away, rendering the craft helpless and +useless. But if it could only be launched, the crew might occupy this, +and be towed to safety by one of the little motor boats. + +He fashioned his hands into a megaphone, while Jimmie tended the engine +for a minute, and in this way called out: + +"Have that boat launched. It will hold the crew, and we will give them a +tow to the shore. Quick, sir; you have no time to lose!" + +He saw the captain of the powerboat, still wearing his uniform, though +without the jaunty blue cap that had once been a part of his makeup, +give hurried orders. Then the lifeboat was shoved off the low deck, +being held with a rope. + +And a few minutes later the _Tramp_ and the _Comfort_ hauled in close +under the lee of the big powerboat. + +"Ladies first!" sang out Nick, as he balanced himself so as to be able +to render any needed assistance. + +Greatly to his joy Sallie seemed to choose the _Comfort_ as her refuge. +Perhaps she recognized the fact that it was by all odds the largest of +the three motor boats, and hence more suitable to her heft. But it would +be hard to convince Nick that this was the true reason. She saw him, +and was willing to entrust herself in the charge of one who bore +himself so gallantly. + +Jack meanwhile had the pleasure of assisting the pretty and vivacious +little Miss Andrews, whose first name was Rita, into his boat; to be +followed by another lady passenger, and then the banker himself. The +balance of the passengers managed to embark on the _Comfort_. George +stood by, and offered to take one or two; but no one seemed to +particularly care to entrust themselves on such a wobbly craft. + +The captain and his little crew entered the lifeboat. + +"Now, everybody get away as quick as you can!" called the man in +uniform, "because she's going down any minute. Make haste, or we may +be drawn under by the suction." + +George had taken the long rope attached to the bow of the lifeboat, and +fastened it securely to a ringbolt at the stern of his _Wireless_. He +now started away, as did the other rescuing craft. + +And none too soon was this manoeuvre accomplished. Hardly had they gone +ten boat lengths before a little shriek from Sallie announced that the +final catastrophe was about to take place. + +There was an upheaval of the sinking powerboat, a tremendous surge, and +then only bubbles and foam on the surface told where the unlucky +pleasure craft had vanished. + +Little Miss Andrews cried a bit, perhaps because of the nervous +excitement; but her father cheered her up. + +"Never mind, Rita," he said. "The boat was insured, and we can get +another and better one when we want it. But for this season I think +we've had about enough of the water. I tell you we ought to think +ourselves fortunate to have these fine fellows come out to us just in +the nick of time. We'll never forget it, will we, girlie?" + +Whereupon Jack was delighted to see the tears give way to a bright +smile, as Rita looked at him, and nodded. + +"How queer it seems," she remarked demurely, a little later. "First Jack +had to save my hat from a watery grave; and now he has rescued poor +little me. Yes, I mean that he won't forget us, dad. And I hope that +we'll see him some time at our Oak Park home, don't you?" + +"We'll try and influence him, and also his brave chums, in whom I find +myself deeply interested. Come to think of it, I fancy I already have +something of an acquaintance with a Mr. Harvey Stormways, belonging in +the town Jack calls his home. The one I met in Chicago was a banker, and +a very clever gentleman." + +"That is my father," said Jack, rosy with pleasure to think that his +parent already knew Rita's father. + +Later on they discovered a landing place and managed to get ashore. All +of them were delighted to once more set foot on solid land after their +recent harrowing experiences. + +And such a night they made of it. The captain had wisely secured a lot +of stores before leaving the wreck of the _Mermaid_, so that there was +little danger of any famine. Besides, as George said, aside, any camp +that had been able to withstand the raids and assaults of a Buster all +this while, would not be caught without plenty of eatables in the +larder. + +Around the camp fire they even made merry, since no lives had been lost +in the wreck. Mr. Andrews told how they had escaped the first storm, +only to be caught in the second, and rammed by some floating object, the +nature of which they could only guess. + +The pumps were manned, but by slow degrees the water had gained on them +in spite of all their herculean efforts. And as we have seen, only for +the coming of the motor boat boys a tragedy might have followed. + +In the morning Jack promised to take them out to the first steamer that +could be signalled, the crew in the lifeboat being towed behind the +_Comfort_. + +This he did, assisted by Herb. + +And the balance of the young cruisers stood on the wooded bank, waving +their hats and cheering as long as they could make their voices heard. + +Nick was as happy as any one had ever seen him. Sallie had seemed to be +fairly smitten with the charms of the fat boy, or else fancied having +some girlish fun out of the meeting and their one trait in common; for +she certainly had hovered near Buster since breakfast time, "making goo +goo eyes at him," as Josh declared. And now Nick, wishing to be in a +position to see better than his chums, took the trouble to laboriously +climb a tree that hung far out over the water. + +Here, high above the heads of the rest, he sat and waved his red +sweater, as an object that must attract the sparkling eyes of Miss +Sallie longer than an ordinary hat, or white handkerchief. + +"Hurray! hurray!" he shouted at the top of his voice; but perhaps Buster +may have been too violent in his gestures, or else neglected to maintain +his grasp on the limb; for suddenly there was an awful splash, and the +fat boy vanished out of sight in the lake, which happened to be fairly +deep close up to the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ANOTHER SURPRISE + + +"Help! help!" + +"What's all the row about?" + +"Buster's fallen in again! Somebody get a rope, and lasso him!" + +"There he comes up! My! what a floundering time! He may be drowned, +Jack!" + +But Jack knew better, and only laughed as he replied to Herb: + +"You forget that he's still wearing that lovely cork life preserver. It +gives him such a manly look; and Buster thinks it adds to the admiration +of a certain young lady." + +Meantime there was a tremendous lot of splashing going on in that little +basin just under the big tree, where Nick had been perched at the time +of his tumble. + +Both arms were working overtime, like a couple of flails in a thrashing +bee; while his chubby legs shot back and forth after the manner of an +energetic frog. All the while Buster was spouting water like a miniature +geyser; for his mouth had happened to be wide open at the time of his +unexpected submersion. + +"Throw me a rope, somebody!" he spluttered, as he continued to make +manful efforts to keep from sinking. "What d'ye stand there gaping for? +Can't you see I'm in danger of drowning? Hurry up your cakes, you +sillies!" + +There was no doubt but that Nick believed every word he spoke; for he +was making a tremendous display of energy that would long remain a topic +for wonder among his comrades. + +Herb started to scurry around to find something that would be available +in the rescue line. + +"Jack, the poor fellow may be partly stunned, and unable to keep up much +longer. Help me find a rope, won't you?" he cried, as he passed the +other. + +"Hold on, Herb, now watch how easy it is to save a drowning man," and as +Jack said this he turned to where Nick was making a young Niagara +Whirlpool Rapids of himself, and called sternly: + +"Buster, stand up!" + +Lo; and behold, when the imperiled fat boy proceeded to obey this command +the water barely reached to his chest. Looking rather crest-fallen and +sheepish he started to wade out of the lake; while the boys burst into a +roar that must have even been heard by those on board the steamer. + +Nick was in a rather pugnacious humor, for him, as he arrived dripping +on the bank. Perhaps the merriment of his mates had something to do with +it; but the chances are he dreaded lest a pair of laughing blue eyes on +the departing steamer may have witnessed his ridiculous upset. + +"Who pushed me in?" he demanded, as he gave vent to another upheaval of +water. "Tell me that, will you? It was a mean trick, and he ought to be +ducked just as bad as I was. Seems like a pity a fellow can't just sit +up on the limb of a tree to wave good-bye to a pretty girl without some +envious rival putting up a game on him. Who did it? I dare him to tell!" + +"Rats! you're away off your base, Buster!" cried George. + +"Quit raising the lake that way, can't you?" complained Josh. "Want to +flood us out of our camp, do you?" + +"Buster, nobody was near you when you fell," said Jack. "I don't think +there was one of us within ten feet of the tree. And besides, you were +up out of reach. You let go both hands and slipped. It was your own +fault. And we didn't help you out because I knew you had on that cork +thing; besides, the water wasn't over your head, as I found out some +time ago. So don't accuse anybody of being mean." + +"And next time you want to take the middle of the stage just let us +know. You gave us an awful jolt," remarked George. + +"Why, if I'd had heart disease I'd have dropped flat," vowed Josh. + +"Oh! let up on me, can't you, and don't rub it in so hard?" grumbled the +dripping Nick. "Now I've got to go and get these duds off. And it'll +take a long while for 'em to dry. Nice way to use a new suit, ain't it?" + +"Well, it's lucky for the trade that you've come up here." Herb put in. +"The clothing business will take on a boom soon. What with Canada +pussies, and upsets into the lake, you can get away with more suits than +the rest of us." + +"But I haven't got another bunch of clothes along," whimpered Nick, "and +it's sure too chilly to run around without anything on. Jack won't you +help me out?" + +"I guess I can lend you a pair of trousers, Buster, if you can get into +them. Don't forget that fine red sweater you possess. Josh, pull it down +from that branch, will you? So you see, you'll get along till these duds +dry out," replied the one addressed. + +"But stick to the camp while you're wearing that sweater, Buster," +warned Josh. "Perhaps there ain't any cows around here; but even a bull +moose would want to boost you up in a tree if he ever saw that rag." + +"Oh! I'll hug the fire, all right; don't you worry about me, Josh +Purdue," was the fat boy's reply, as he made off, the water still oozing +from his soaked garments in streams. + +Jack wisely put in the balance of the morning fishing, and with abundant +success, as was evidenced from the fact that they had another delightful +fish dinner that noon, Josh serving the trout in his usual tempting +manner, crisp and brown. + +As his clothes had meantime dried, through the action of combined sun +and camp fire, Nick gradually became himself again. It took considerable +to upset his good nature; and the boys never could fully decide whether +he had been in earnest concerning that episode of the "great splash," or +simply pretending to be indignant. + +"And now, what's the programme?" asked Jack, as, having eaten until they +could no longer be tempted, they sat back to talk over the future +activities of the motor boat club. + +"Fellows," remarked George, seriously. "I've come to the conclusion that +we're making a mistake in cruising over such big water as this." + +"Hear! hear!" called Nick, clapping his hands. + +"Boats as small as ours seem out of their element on an ocean," +continued the skipper of the _Wireless_, steadily. "They're all right in +such places as the Thousand Islands, where plenty of harbors are in sight +all the time. But just think what might happen up here. Suppose the wind +had chopped around the other night, instead of kindly holding off till +morning. What would have happened to us?" + +"Oh! well," remarked Herb; "we all know the answer to that riddle, +George. Since we couldn't well make out into the open lake in the storm +during darkness, why, every boat must have been smashed against the +rocks. Makes me shiver to just think of it; and that's right, fellows." + +"Perhaps one or more of us might have gone under." George went on. "Now, +when we got permission to make this cruise we promised not to take +unnecessary risks--am I right, fellows?" + +"Sure you are, George. Hit up the pace, will you? Buster here is getting +sleepy, waiting for the verdict," Josh said, after his customary +fashion. + +"Then I'm going to offer a suggestion; and if Jack says so, I'll put it +in the form of a motion," George continued. + +"Make it a motion without all this fuss and feathers," observed Herb. + +"I move, then, that we abandon our original intention of knocking along +this north shore of Superior till we arrive at Duluth, where we could +ship our boats home. It wouldn't pay us for the trouble and the danger. +It's a barren country. If we had an accident there's no place to have +repairs done short of several hundred miles. In a word, fellows, this is +no hunting ground for little motor boats. Besides," with a sly glance +toward Nick, "what if our grub gives out, as it's likely to do at any +time, once Buster gets to feeling himself again; why, we might starve to +death, fellows, in the midst of plenty." + +"You've heard the motion, fellows--that we change our programme, and +give up this Lake Superior trip. All in favor say aye!" Jack remarked. + +A chorus of assents followed. + +"Contrary, no!" went on the commodore; but only silence followed. + +"Motion is carried unanimously," Jack went on. "And now, let's consider +what is to take the place of this trip. We've still got some weeks ahead +of us, the fishing's fine, and we're a long way from Milwaukee. Somebody +suggest something." + +George and Jack had of course talked this thing over more than once +recently. So no one was surprised when the former immediately jumped up, +and began: + +"For one, I'm of the opinion we couldn't do better than return over +part of the way we came. Between the Soo and Mackinac Island there's +fine cruising ground to be explored. We can take a different route part +of the way back through the St. Mary's River, and perhaps find new mud +banks, with a few more strange animals on the Canada side. Besides Jack +says the bass fishing is just great in some places they told him about +at the Soo." + +"Hurrah! Me for the St. Mary's then," Nick shouted, to hide his +confusion at mention of strange beasts, for of course he knew what that +referred to. + +"The prospect of the merry bass frizzling over the coals coaxes Buster," +declared Josh; "but on general principles, fellows, I don't see how we +could improve on that programme. Count me in on it, George." + +"Any other suggestions?" asked Jack. "If there are, now is the time to +speak up, before we decide our plans. We can settle on just the day we +ought to leave Mackinac for the run down Michigan to Milwaukee, and so +get home on the dot. How is it, fellows? Do I hear another scheme +offered?" + +"Make it unanimous, Jack," said Herb. "You know we're pretty much of one +mind; and we ought to get all the fun going out of that programme." + +"Then we start back tomorrow?" said Jack. + +"Right after breakfast," Josh added. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Nick. "I hope none of you would be silly +enough to ever think of leaving here before breakfast!" + +"Oh! that will never happen, so long as we have an alarm clock in the +bunch. We depend on you, Buster, to warn us when it's time to eat our +three meals a day," George said blandly. + +"Now, I didn't expect that of you George," remarked Nick. "But if you +really mean it, thank you! I'm glad to know I'm of some use to the +crowd." + +"Why, Buster, we wouldn't know how to keep house without you," remarked +Jack. + +"What would we be after doing with the leftovers?" ventured Jimmie. + +"And how would I keep my big boat evenly balanced?" demanded Herb. "Sure +you fill a place in the circle, Buster, and a very important one. We'd +miss you if you ever gave up the ship, and took the train back home." + +"Well, I promise you I won't," smiled Nick; "at least so long as you +keep up the same sort of bill of fare we've had today. Yum! yum! what's +the use of wasting a fine piece of browned trout like that? I call it a +wicked shame. Here, Josh, don't you dare throw that away. Set it aside +on that nice clean piece of birch bark. Somebody might get hungry later +on, and enjoy a bite." + +This standing joke of Nick's clamorous appetite seemed never to lose its +edge. The rest of the boys could always enjoy seeing him make way with +his share of the meal. In fact, had a change come over the fat boy, they +would have felt anxious, believing him sick. + +So Jack went back to his fishing, of which he seemed never to tire, and +the others found something to employ their time and attention while the +afternoon sun dropped lower toward the western horizon. + +By now the Big Lake looked like a lookingglass, so still had the waves +become. A haze prevented them from seeing any great distance away--one +of those mid-summer atmospheric happenings that are apt to develop at +any time when the weather is exceedingly warm. + +Evening came at last, and they sat as usual around the camp fire, having +enjoyed the meal Josh and his willing assistants, Jimmie and Nick, had +placed before them. Everything looked favorable for getting off in the +morning; and should the lake remain calm Jack believed they might be +able to make the Soo by another night. + +Suddenly, and without the slightest warning a disturbing factor was +injected into this quiet restful camp. Jack thought he heard a sound +like a groan near by, and raised his head to listen. Yes, there was +certainly a movement at the west side of the camp, as though something +was advancing. And as he stared, his hand unconsciously creeping out +toward the faithful little Marlin shotgun, a figure arose and came +staggering toward the group. + +Loud cries broke out as the boys scrambled to their feet. And there was +a good excuse for their consternation; for in this ragged, dirty, and +altogether disreputable figure they recognized, not a wandering hobo, +but Bully Joe, the crony of Clarence Macklin! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TO THE RESCUE + + +Joe Brinker was a sorry sight as he staggered forward, and fell almost +at the feet of Jack. He certainly looked as though he had been through a +rough experience since last they saw him with Clarence aboard the +_Flash_. + +"Why, it's Joe!" exclaimed Nick, as though he had just recognized the +intruder. + +Jack had jumped forward, and was now bending over the newcomer. + +"Here, Josh, any hot coffee left in the pot?" he demanded, seeing that +the other looked utterly exhausted, as though he might not have partaken +of food for many hours. + +Josh immediately poured out a cup, and handed it to Jack. + +"Sit up here, and swallow this, Joe," said Jack, supporting the fellow +with one arm, and holding the tin cup to his lips. + +Joe eagerly gulped down the warm drink. It seemed to do him a world +of good right on the spot; for when a cup of hot tea or coffee is +available, it is utter folly to think strong drink is necessary in +reviving a chilled or exhausted person. + +"Oh! that tastes fine. Got any more, boys? I'm nearly starved," he +exclaimed, almost crying with weakness. + +Already had Nick hurried over, and seized upon several cold flapjacks +that possibly he had placed away, against one of his little bites +between meals. Surely Nick ought to know what an awful thing hunger was. +One of the most dreadful recollections of his life was a time when he +had been compelled to go all of eight hours without a solitary scrap of +food passing his lips! + +Soon Joe was devouring the flapjacks with the eagerness of a hungry dog, +to the evident delight of Buster, who always found pleasure in seeing +any one eat heartily. + +"Now tell us what happened, Joe?" said Jack, after they had watched the +other make away with the last scrap, and look around for more. + +"Yes, don't you see we're just crazy to hear?" Josh exclaimed. + +"Did you get caught in that storm?" demanded George, suspecting the +truth. + +Joe nodded his head in the affirmative, and they could see a shudder +pass over his form, as though the remembrance was anything but cheerful. + +"Then the _Flash_ must have been wrecked?" George went on, horrified as +the remembrance of Clarence's face came before him. + +"Gone to flinders!" muttered Joe. "Smashed on the rocks, and not a scrap +left to tell the story. Gee it was tough, all right!" + +"W--was Clarence drowned?" Nick gasped, with awe-struck face; and +quivering all over like a bowl full of jelly. + +"Oh! no, neither of us went under," replied Joe, promptly, to the +great relief of all the boys. "But we came mighty near it, I tell +you, fellers. I'm a duck in the water, you know, and I guess I helped +Clarence get ashore. He said I did, anyway. And there we was, far away +from everything, with not one bite to eat, or even a gun to defend +ourselves against wild animals." + +"Wow! that was tough!" admitted Nick, sympathetically; as he remembered +his own exploit when the Canada lynx invaded the camp, and how useful +the shotgun proved on that occasion. + +"But it wasn't the worst, fellers! There's more acomin'!" Joe went on, +shaking his head solemnly. + +"My gracious! did wild animals get poor old Clarence after all?" George +asked. + +"No," Joe went on, with set teeth, "but a couple of men did that was as +bad as any wild animals you ever heard tell of. They found us trying to +make a fire to dry our wringing wet clothes; and they just treated us +shameful. See this black eye I got just because I dared answer back. +They kicked poor Clarence like he was a bag of oats." + +"Two men, you say?" Jack asked, frowning darkly. "What sort of men could +they be to act like that toward a pair of shipwrecked boys?" + +"They looked like lumber cruisers, or prospectors that never struck +it rich," Joe continued. "They had a grouch agin everybody. First +thing they took what money we had, and Clarence's fine watch that was +water-soaked and wouldn't run. Then they found out who we was by reading +some letters he carried. I saw 'em talking it over; and then they tied +us to a couple of trees." + +"Why, I never heard of such a wicked thing!" ejaculated the startled +Nick; whose mouth kept wide open while he listened to this thrilling +story of Joe's. + +"Do you think they meant to try and force blackmail?" asked the +far-seeing George, whose father was a lawyer, it may be remembered. + +"They said something about him writing home for more money to buy +another motor boat," Joe replied. "And Clarence said he never would do +it, not even if they tortured him. But I'm afraid a few more kickings +like they gave us will break down his spirit." + +"Then you managed to escape?" Jack went on, wishing to learn the whole +thing. + +"Yes. I worked loose, and slipped away when neither of 'em was lookin'," +answered the ragged and dirty figure. "But give me some more grub, +fellers. I'm starving, I tell you. They refused to give us a bite to eat +till Clarence agreed to do all they wanted of him. Anything, so's I can +fill up. I've got a hole down there that feels like Mammoth Cave." + +Again it was Nick who hastened to procure another stock of eatables, +crackers and cheese, or anything else that came handy. + +"When did you escape, Joe?" asked Jack, seriously as though some plan +had already started to form in his active brain. + +"Don't know for sure," replied the exhausted one. "Sometime after noon, +though. They was layin' down and snoozing when I got free. I wanted to +find a knife, and cut Clarence loose too; but the risk scared me. And +Clarence, he told me to hurry and get off for help. You see, one of the +men was sitting up, and rubbing his eyes; so I just sneaked away." + +"Did they follow after you, Joe?" asked George. + +"Never waited to see," replied the other, "but just cut stick, and +hurried off. Oh! I've had an awful time getting along near the shore. +Dassent get out of sight of the lake because you see I was that scared +I'd get lost. I tumbled a thousand times, cut my head and hands on the +rocks, nearly slipped into the lake twice, and was just ready to lay +down and die, when night came on. Then I saw a fire over here, and just +managed to make the riffle. Give you my word, fellers, if it'd been half +a mile more I never'd got to camp." + +"Then Clarence is still in the hands of those two rascals?" Jack asked. + +"I reckon he is, 'less they saw fit to let him go free; and from what I +seen of 'em, that ain't their game." + +"How far do you suppose that place was away from here?" came from +careful George. + +Joe sat silent for a minute. He seemed to be trying to figure what +manner of slow progress he may have made since effecting his freedom. + +"I thought I'd gone nigh twenty miles, judgin' by the way I felt," he +finally said; "but come to figger it out I reckon it mightn't abeen +more'n five." + +"Toward the west, you mean; for you came from that direction?" Jack +continued. + +"Yes, that's so, over that way," pointing as he spoke. + +Jack turned to his chums. + +"It's up to us, boys," he said soberly. "Clarence has never been one of +us; but he belongs to our school. We'd never forgive ourselves if we +went back to the Soo tomorrow, and left him in the hands of these +scoundrels. Do you agree with me?" + +"That's right, Jack!" sang out George. + +"Sure we would be cold-blooded to think of it," Josh declared. + +"Them's my sentiments," Herb spoke up; and both Nick and Jimmie nodded +their heads violently, to prove that they were in no way behind their +comrades in wishing to do a good deed toward one who had long been an +open enemy. + +"Then let's consider what way we ought to go about it," Jack proceeded, +with an air of business. "It's out of the question for us to try and go +back the way Joe came. We couldn't make it under hours; and from his +looks none of us are hankering after the experience. But there is a way +to get there quickly." + +"The boats?" George put in. + +"One boat ought to carry all who will go, and let that be the _Comfort_, +with five of us on board, taking the two guns to make a good show," Jack +proceeded. + +Nick immediately set up a whine. + +"I guess I have feelings," he declared. "Don't I know you're just going +to shut me out of this rescue game? I'm ready to do my part as well as +the next one, ain't I? What you want to leave me behind for?" + +"You've got to obey orders, Buster," said George. + +"And besides, with so many aboard, the bully old _Comfort_ might +founder," Josh thought it necessary to remark. + +"Besides, you are going to have your share of the work, and along a line +you always like," Jack went on; "for while we're gone, it shall be your +duty to make a new brew of coffee, fill Joe here cram up with all he can +eat, and have something ready for Clarence when we bring him back. So +you see, Buster, your duty is as important as any of ours. Every one in +their particular line. You can't fight as well as Jimmie here; but you +do know how to provide against starvation." + +Nick smiled broadly again, entirely appeased. + +"Count on me, Commodore," he said, briskly. "Where's that coffeepot +right now? I'll do my duty to the letter. Why, it's a pleasure to look +after the wants of a hungry fellow. It gives me something of an appetite +just to think of the work I've got cut out for me." + +Jack put Nick and Joe out of his mind, after trying to get a little +information from the latter, with regard to the character of the place +where the _Flash_ had been wrecked, and the two hard looking customers +were supposed to be still stopping. + +They went aboard the _Comfort_. Jack himself decided to run the boat, +with the assistance of Herb and George. Above all things, silence was of +more value to them just then than speed, if they hoped to steal up on +the captors of Clarence without being detected. + +"Good luck!" called Nick, as the broad beamed motor boat started quietly +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HOMEWARD BOUND + + +"Look! isn't that a fire over there?" asked sharp-eyed George, as he +gripped Jack's arm suddenly. + +They had been moving cautiously along for the better part of an hour, +striving in every way possible to avoid any drumming sound, such as +nearly always betrays the presence of a motor boat near by. + +And in all that time they may have only covered some four miles, or +possibly five; for no effort was made to drive the _Comfort_ at even +half speed. + +"Looks like it," Jack replied, after a quick survey. "But how is it we +didn't glimpse it before?" + +"I think a point of rocks must stick out between, and we've just opened +the pocket," George replied, in a whisper. + +Of course Jack had immediately shut off the power, so that old reliable +_Comfort_ stopped her forward movement, lying there on the dark waters +like a log; for not a light of any description did they carry aboard. + +"Do we go ashore now?" asked Josh, softly; for all of them had been +warned not to speak above a whisper from the time they started forth on +their errand of mercy. + +"Yes," Jack replied. "That's one reason we've been keeping so close in. +I'll drop into the dinky, and use the paddle. Foot by foot I can pull +the motor boat to shore, and then we'll land." + +"How lucky there's not a breath of wind," Herb remarked, as he helped +Jack draw the small tender alongside, and then crawl over the side. + +Presently Jack was working away, having attached the painter of the boat +to a cleat at the bow of the _Comfort_. His method of using the paddle +insured utter silence. Had it been an expert hunter, moving up on a deer +that was feeding on the lily pads along the border of a Canada stream, +he could hardly have manipulated that little spruce blade with more +care. + +And so, foot by foot, the motor boat was coaxed in nearer the rock-bound +shore. When Jack had finally succeeded in accomplishing his end he next +sought some place where those still aboard could disembark, and the +_Comfort_ be tied up while they went about the business that had brought +them there. + +"Now, what next?" asked Herb, when the entire five had reached land, +and the boat was amply secured to a split rock, with little danger of +any injury resulting, because there was no wind and hence no movement to +the water. + +"We've got to advance," Jack replied. "So as to get around that point; +when we'll see the camp Joe told us about. Those fellows have got a big +rowboat, he said, but hate to work the oars. He said they first talked +of making the boys do the rowing; and then that scheme for getting more +money came up. Are you ready for the job?" + +"I am that," said Jimmie, promptly, flourishing a club that looked like +a baseball bat; and which would be apt to prove a formidable weapon in +hands that were as clever as those of the stout Irish lad. + +"Count me in," remarked Herb, who was carrying a hatchet; having nothing +else to serve him as a threatening weapon that might strike terror to +the hearts of the enemy. + +"And I'm only too anxious to look in on 'em. Let me eat 'em up!" Josh +growled, flourishing the camp bread knife in a most dreadful fashion. + +George had his rifle, and of course Jack carried the repeating Marlin +shotgun which had proven its value on many another occasion. + +"Then come on, and be mighty careful, everybody," Jack cautioned, as he +led off. + +They remembered what Joe had said about the "rough sledding" he had +found in his endeavor to keep close to the water's edge, so that he +might not get lost. And every one of the five were willing to admit that +Joe spoke the truth when he told this; for they made the slowest kind of +progress. + +Still, every yard passed over took them so much closer to the goal. And +so long as they did not tumble and make a noise that would warn the +enemy, it mattered little or nothing about the time they took in +covering the ground. + +After a long time spent in this sort of crawling business Jack believed +he could see what seemed to be a fire flickering among the stunted +trees. + +Calling the attention of the others to this, he changed his course a +bit, in order to find an easier route, and perhaps come upon the camp +from behind. + +For tenderfeet the five boys seemed to be making a pretty clever +advance. They could now see a man stretched at full length near the +fire, as if sleeping; though now and then a puff of smoke told that he +was only taking it easy, and indulging in his pipe. + +A little farther and they glimpsed the second fellow. He towered up like +a house, being all of six foot-three, and bulky in proportion. But then, +as Jack well knew, a man is only a man, no matter what his size, when +he is looking into the muzzle of a rifle and modern repeating shotgun. +And even this giant might well quail when brought to book. + +The boys were now creeping through the bushes, and getting very close +in. All the while Jack was eagerly trying to see what had become of +Clarence. At first he could discover nothing of the other; and became +chilled with a deadly fear that these cowards might have gone to +extremes; though he could hardly bring himself to really believe it. + +George was the first to find out what had been done with the prisoner. + +"I see him," he whispered close to Jack's ear. "He's lying on the ground +over by that stump of a tree." + +Guided by these directions Jack was enabled to also place Clarence. +There was certainly a figure lying there, and it must be the companion +of Joe; for the latter had said there were only two of the scoundrels. + +Jack bobbed his head back in a hurry, after he had made this little +survey of the enemy's camp. For the big man had arisen to his feet, and +started toward the very place where Clarence lay. + +"Be ready!" muttered Jack, seeming to understand that the crisis must +now be very close upon them. + +Arriving at the spot, the giant bent over, and they could hear his growl +as he spoke harshly: + +"Made up yer mind yet, younker? Will ye write thet letter jest as we +tell ye, and let a couple o' honest though unfortunit men have a square +chanct to rake in a leetle pile? Speak up, now, d'ye hear?" + +He accompanied his words by a brutal kick that gave Jack and George a +spasm of anger. + +"No! no! no!" shouted the obstinate Clarence, still undismayed; for his +pluck was the best part of him, and had always been. + +At that the big brute raised his heavy boot with ugly words. It was +doubtless his full intention to dash it against the side of the helpless +boy, regardless as to what the consequences might be. But he changed his +mind. + +"I wouldn't do that if I were you, mister!" said Jack, in an even, clear +voice, as he and George suddenly stood up in full sight. + +He had covered the giant with his gun, and George was ready to do the +same for the man with the pipe the instant he bounded to his feet. + +"Stand still, both of you, or we'll shoot!" George shouted. + +This was a signal for the other three who were behind, and they suddenly +made their appearance, waving their crude weapons menacingly. + +The two men were apparently taken completely by surprise. They saw that +the tables had been suddenly turned. And somehow, although these were +only boys who confronted them, there was a grim air of business about +those unwavering guns that neither of the cowards fancied at all. + +Jack had not known what the result was going to be. He hardly anticipated +that the men would dare attack them in the face of those weapons. And he +had arranged with George that should they show signs of flight, no one +was to raise a hand to prevent them. + +When therefore the giant gave vent to a whoop and turning, galloped +toward the water's edge, neither of the boys pulled trigger; though Josh +let out a shout as though he might be chasing after; which he was not, +all the same, for he did not fancy the looks of either of the rascals. + +The second man took to his heels also, dodging to the right and left in +a ridiculous manner, as if expecting every second to hear the crash of +Jack's gun, and feel himself being peppered with bird shot. + +They could be seen tumbling madly into their rowboat, and pushing out on +the lake with all possible speed. + +"Let 'em go!" said Josh, grandly, as he replaced his bread knife in the +leather scabbard he had made for it, so as to avoid any chance of +cutting his fingers by coming in contact with its keen edge, when +rummaging in the locker aboard the _Wireless_, where the cooking things +were kept. + +Jack was already stooping over Clarence, and in a jiffy had severed the +cords that bound him hand and foot. + +"I'm awful glad you came, Jack!" said the other weakly. "I believe that +coward would have killed me if I didn't give in to him." + +"Here, work your arms and legs as fast as you can, Clarence!" said +George. "We've got to get out of this in a hurry now, or they might even +find the _Comfort_, and run away with her. You're going back with us, +you know. Joe got in and told us." + +The two men having put what they thought a safe distance between +themselves and the boys, began to shout insulting remarks, and make the +most terrible threats. Although they could not be seen out on the lake, +it was not so difficult to know in what quarter they chanced to be at +the time. + +Angered by the insults, as well as the cruel manner in which they had +treated Clarence and Joe, George picked up the shot gun which Jack had +lain down for a minute, and before any one could stop him had discharged +it. + +That some of the many little lead pellets in that shell had stung the +profane scoundrels in the rowboat, the boys understood from the howl +that arose, followed by the splashing of oars, telling that they were +pulling madly away before a second shot added to their troubles. + +"Now come with us, Clarence," said Jack. + +They did not have to be so careful making their way back to where they +had left the steady going old _Comfort_. And once aboard, the return +trip was quickly accomplished. In camp Clarence was soon given all the +food and coffee he could manage; and he professed himself as very +grateful for all the motor boat boys had done for him. + +Since his speed boat had met with so tragic an end, Clarence declared +that he had had enough of cruising, and would start straight home as +soon as they reached the Soo, if the boys would lend them enough money +to buy tickets--which programme he and Joe carried out; nor were our six +friends at all sorry to see them vanish from view. + +Leaving the Soo, Jack and his chums spent almost two weeks upon the +crooked St. Mary's river, camping, fishing and enjoying themselves to +the utmost. But never did they touch on Canadian soil but that poor +Buster seemed to be dreadfully uneasy, sticking close to the fire, and +breathing a sigh of genuine relief when once more afloat, with no +unpleasant reminders wafted after them. + +Jack and Nick had made up a little programme for themselves, which they +sprung upon their comrades later, when leaving the three boats at +Milwaukee to be sent by rail to the home town on the Upper Mississippi. + +This was nothing more nor less than saying good-bye to the rest of the +boys in Milwaukee, and taking a little run down to Chicago, "to see the +sights, you know," as Nick cleverly put it. But everybody guessed that +the greatest attraction which all Chicago could boast for the deserters +would be found within the borders of Oak Park, and under the roof of the +banker, Mr. Roland Andrews. + +And so the great cruise had finally come to an end. Looking back the +boys found no reason to regret their course. True, there might be a +number of incidents that would stand out for a long time with a bit of +harshness; but time mellows all such things; and even Buster would laugh +just as heartily as any of his chums when his adventure with the bull, +or the pretty Canada pussy-cat, were mentioned. + +They had had such a glorious time of it that undoubtedly other trips +must be talked over during the coming winter; and with the coming of the +holiday season once again the motor boat boys would be found ready to +set out again on their search for new adventures. + +Jocko went home with George and was a source of considerable costly +amusement in the Rollins' home. + +We shall surely hope and expect to continue the pleasant acquaintance +formed in the pages of the several books already published; and in new +fields accompany Jack Stormways and his chums, with their gallant little +boats, through other scenes, where true American pluck and endurance, +such as they have always shown, must carry them through all perils to +success. + + +THE END + + + + + Boy Scouts + _SERIES_ + + EVERY BOY AND GIRL IN THE LAND + _WILL WANT TO READ THESE INTERESTING + AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS_ + + +[Illustration] + +WRITTEN BY + +That Great Nature Authority and Eminent Scout Master + + G. 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Cloth 12mo. + + 1 Jack Harkaway's School Days + 2 Jack Harkaway After School Days + 3 Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore + 4 Jack Harkaway at Oxford + 5 Jack Harkaway's Adventures at Oxford + 6 Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands of Italy + 7 Jack Harkaway's Escape From the Brigands of Italy + 8 Jack Harkaway's Adventures Around the World + 9 Jack Harkaway in America and Cuba + 10 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in China + 11 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Greece + 12 Jack Harkaway's Escape From the Brigands of Greece + 13 Jack Harkaway's Adventures in Australia + 14 Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker + 15 Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among the Turks + +We will send any of the above titles postpaid to any address. Each 75c + + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + 701-727 DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO + + + + +ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE + +Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money + + + _SELECTED WORKS OF_ + EUGENE FIELD + + +[Illustration] + +A very attractive selection of popular books by this favorite and gifted +author. Each book contains a carefully selected and classified list of +poems that have endeared the author to millions and given him a place +among the immortals. These books should be in every library, both public +and private. + +In Four Volumes. Boxed. Cloth Binding. + +Price, =$3.00= per set. + +Single Volumes =75c= each, postpaid. + + +IN WINK-A-WAY LAND + +The contents of this volume is especially selected and arranged for the +little folks. All are suitable for use in school exercises and on +"Eugene Field Day." + + +HOOSIER LYRICS + +This is a series of pathetic, amusing and entertaining poems rendered in +Indiana dialect on notable Hoosier scenes with parodies on poems by +James Whitcomb Riley. + + +JOHN SMITH, U. S. A. + +The romantic story of John Smith, also includes many other poems, all of +which afford suitable material for "Field Readings" and general school +and church entertainments. + + +THE CLINK OF THE ICE and other poems + +Edition containing portraits and autographs. Stories of inimitable wit +and humor with lullabies and sketches of every day scenes that made +Eugene Field famous. All worth while. + +=Printed from new plates on good paper, uniformly and neatly bound in +cloth; gold titles on front and back.= + +For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any address +upon receipt of price in stamps, currency, postal or express money +order, by the publishers. + + M. A. 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DONOHUE & CO. + 701-727 S. DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO + + + + +_TWO COMPANION BOOKS_ + +UNIFORM IN SIZE + + + HAND BOOK + _OF_ Universal Information + AND ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL RECIPES + +[Illustration] + +"=No home is complete without this book.=" + +Is the opinion of thousands who have had occasion to use a few of the +hundreds of recipes and information so essential to the housekeeper, +farmer, mechanic, merchant, laborer and all others who wish to travel +the road others have, to wealth and happiness. It reveals the secret +processes of making patent medicines, inventions, and discoveries that +have brought fortunes to their owners. Substantially bound in cloth. +Price, =50c= + +In paper cover, =25c= + + + DONOHUE'S MANUAL + _OF_ General Information + +[Illustration] + +"=This book is worth its weight in gold.=" + +This is the most compact, concise and complete handy manual of General +Information ever published. It contains the latest census statistics, +postal regulations, salaries of all government officials, valuable +tables, and a vast fund of useful information found only in a hundred +books, each costing more than we ask for this one. Substantially bound +in cloth. Price, =50c= + +In paper cover, =25c= + +For sale by all book and newsdealers or sent postpaid to any address in +the United States, Canada or Mexico upon receipt of price in currency, +postal or express money order. + + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + 701-727 S. DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO + + + + +ALWAYS _Ask For The_ DONOHUE + +Complete Editions--The best for least money + + +FOR THE _VEST POCKET_ + + + DONOHUE'S VEST POCKET DICTIONARY + AND COMPLETE MANUAL OF PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE + +Containing 192 pages; size, 5-3/4 x 2-3/4. It contains more words, more +miscellaneous matter, and embraces more pages than any other Vest Pocket +Dictionary on the market, and yet it is so admirably made that it does +not bulk in the pocket. Besides the dictionary of the English language +it contains a dictionary of Latin words and phrases, French words and +phrases, Italian words and phrases, Spanish words and phrases, and +complete manual of parliamentary practice. Type clear, paper good and +binding excellent. It is made in the following styles: + + Bound in binders' cloth, red edges, without index =25c= + Bound in cloth, red edges, with index =35c= + Bound in full leather, full gilt edges, indexed =50c= + + +LEGAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS + +Police powers and duties defined. The law of the citizen alphabetically +arranged. Full explanation of the laws of arrest, with 125 citations of +court decisions. 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Dearborn Street CHICAGO + + + + +ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE + +_COMPLETE EDITIONS--THE BEST FOR THE LEAST MONEY_ + + Book-Keeping + _WITHOUT A MASTER_ + For Home Study + + + [Illustration] + + FOR THE USE OF + Students, Clerks, Tradesmen and Merchants + + _By_ + JOHN W. WHINYATES + _Expert Accountant_ + +This work gives a clear and concise explanation of all the principles +involved in the science of keeping correct accounts; with specimens of +books used in both single and double entry. The principles of the art +of book-keeping are clearly defined in plain language, so that the +student acquires with ease the exact knowledge necessary to the correct +recording of accounts. + +Size, 6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches. + +It is Substantially Bound in Cloth + +Price, $1.00 + + +_For sale by all book and newsdealers, or will be sent to any address, +postage paid, on receipt of price, in currency, money order or stamps._ + + + M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + _701-727 S. DEARBORN ST._ _CHICAGO_ + + + + +CHOICE FICTION LIBRARY + +_FAMOUS BOOKS FAMOUS AUTHORS_ + +UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME + + +This is the =only cloth bound edition= on the market of these famous +books in which several of the titles are complete in one volume, to +be retailed at this low uniform price. The following are the titles +embracing only the best sellers by the most widely read authors. + + Aikenside _Mary J. Holmes_ + Beautiful Fiend _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + Black Beauty _Anna Sewall_ + Black Rock _Ralph Connor_ + Bride's Dowry _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + Camille _Alexander Dumas, Jr._ + Cousin Maud _Mary J. Holmes_ + Dora Deane _Mary J. Holmes_ + Faithful Unto Death _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + Golden Heart, A _Bertha M. Clay_ + Her Only Sin _Bertha M. Clay_ + Inez _Augusta Evans-Wilson_ + Ishmael _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + King Solomon's Mines _H. Rider Haggard_ + Mad Love, A _Bertha M. Clay_ + Maggie Miller _Mary J. Holmes_ + Mildred _Mary J. Holmes_ + Miss McDonald _Mary J. Holmes_ + Self-Raised _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde _Stevenson_ + Story of a Wedding Ring _Bertha M. Clay_ + Ten Nights in a Bar Room _T. S. Arthur_ + Treasure Island _Robert Louis Stevenson_ + Victor's Triumph _E. D. E. N. Southworth_ + Woman Against Woman _Mrs. M. E. Holmes_ + +_Always--to get the best books for the least money ask for the Donohue +Complete Editions._ + +All of the above books may be had at the store where this book was +bought, or will be sent postpaid at 25c per copy, or any five for $1.00, +by the publishers + + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + 701-727 S. Dearborn Street CHICAGO + + + + +ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE + +Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money + + _THE WORLD'S GREATEST_ + Comic Books + +Each Book Contains Many Comic Pictures. Cover in Colors. Price 25 Cents +Each, Postpaid. + + + =A SON OF REST, by Nat M. Wills.= The king of vaudeville + artists. Chuck full of wit and humor. 100 pages of monologs, + parodies, jokes and gags. + + =I BLEW IN FROM ARKANSAW.= A trip of fun through Hoosierdom, + funny railroad stories, darky sayings, jokes and yarns. + + =IN DIXIE LAND, by Opie Read.= Late stories by the greatest + character delineator and story teller living, humorous, + pathetic. + + =WITH A BUM SHOW OUT WEST, by Ned Pedigo.= Monologs, gags, + songs, haps and mishaps. Humorous experiences, sketches, all to + amuse the wild and woolly west. + + =HAPPY THO' BROKE, by C. A. Fox.= The limit, up-to-date. The + experiences of one who left his happy home to play a lone hand + in the game of life. + + =THEY'RE OFF.= Flashes and sparks from world of fun. The best + "turns" and "stunts" on the vaudeville stage. Learn to tell a + good story and you are a jolly good fellow. + + =FURTHER CONFESSIONS OF A CON MAN.= The title fully describes + the book, maybe you've met him. Get a copy of the book and + laugh at the ways of the Innocent. + + =WHEN THE LID IS OFF. Limit of laughs.= A free for all + exhibition of the hilarious within the radius of clean, + unobjectionable funnyisms. + + =BEYOND THE HILLS, by Opie Read.= New railroad stories, yarns + and character sketches, negro melodies, stories and yarns. + +For sale by all book and newsdealers, or sent postpaid to any address at +25c each, any two for 45c, any three for 63c, or any five for $1.00 in +stamps, currency, postal or express money order by the publishers. + + M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + 701-727 South Dearborn Street, CHICAGO + + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + + --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in + bold by "equal" signs (=bold=). + + --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently + corrected. + + --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + + --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + + --Expanded oe ligatures: manoeuvring (p. 185), manoeuvre (p. 193). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes, by +Louis Arundel + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40903 *** |