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diff --git a/41536-8.txt b/41536-0.txt index c86fba3..8d65538 100644 --- a/41536-8.txt +++ b/41536-0.txt @@ -1,34 +1,4 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys, by Louis Arundel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys - Or, The Struggle for the Leadership - -Author: Louis Arundel - -Release Date: December 2, 2012 [EBook #41536] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG FLORIDA KEYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41536 *** [Illustration: "He's got something, for a fact!" exclaimed Herb.] @@ -5705,7 +5675,7 @@ wrapped in a glazed paper wrapper printed in colors. 2.--Motorcycle Chums in New England; or, The Mount Holyoke Adventure. - 3.--Motorcycle Chums on the Sante Fé Trail; or, The Key to the + 3.--Motorcycle Chums on the Sante Fé Trail; or, The Key to the Treaty Box. 4.--Motorcycle Chums in Yellowstone Park; or, Lending a Helping @@ -6189,359 +6159,4 @@ FOR SALE AT ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF 50c. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys - Or, The Struggle for the Leadership - -Author: Louis Arundel - -Release Date: December 2, 2012 [EBook #41536] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG FLORIDA KEYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41536 ***</div> <hr class="chap" /> <div class="figcenter" style="width: 503px;"> @@ -8390,7 +8352,7 @@ G. HARVEY RALPHSON, of the Black Bear Patrol.</p> on the Carolina Border.</li> <li class="hang">2.—Motorcycle Chums in New England; or, The Mount Holyoke Adventure.</li> -<li class="hang">3.—Motorcycle Chums on the Sante Fé Trail; or, The Key to the +<li class="hang">3.—Motorcycle Chums on the Sante Fé Trail; or, The Key to the Treaty Box.</li> <li class="hang">4.—Motorcycle Chums in Yellowstone Park; or, Lending a Helping Hand.</li> @@ -8990,381 +8952,6 @@ SENT POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF 50c.</p> <p>Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys, by -Louis Arundel - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG FLORIDA KEYS *** - -***** This file should be named 41536-h.htm or 41536-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/5/3/41536/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41536 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/41536.txt b/41536.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7dd7ee3..0000000 --- a/41536.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6547 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys, by Louis Arundel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys - Or, The Struggle for the Leadership - -Author: Louis Arundel - -Release Date: December 2, 2012 [EBook #41536] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG FLORIDA KEYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: "He's got something, for a fact!" exclaimed Herb.] - - - - - Motor Boat Boys - Among the Florida Keys - - Or - - _The Struggle for - the Leadership_ - - - By - LOUIS ARUNDEL - - Author of "Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence," "Motor Boat - Boys' Cruise Down the Mississippi," "Motor Boat Boys on the - Great Lakes," "Motor Boat Boys Down the Coast." - - - [Illustration] - - - Chicago - M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY - - - - - COPYRIGHT 1913. - M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. - - - Electrotyped, Printed and Bound by - M. A. Donohue & Co. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - Chapter Page - I--AT ANCHOR, INSIDE THE BAR 7 - II--THE WARNING RATTLE 18 - III--DOWN THE INDIAN RIVER 29 - IV--THAT SAME OLD UNLUCKY WIRELESS 40 - V--THE MYSTERIOUS POWER BOAT 54 - VI--NICK TRIES AGAIN 63 - VII--THE LOST CHUM 74 - VIII--TRACKED TO THE BAYOU 85 - IX--FOR THE SAKE OF CHUM JOSH 97 - X--ABOARD THE STRANGE POWER BOAT 106 - XI--IN HONOR BOUND 115 - XII--AN INVASION OF THE CAMP 124 - XIII--JIMMY REFUSES TO GIVE UP THE GAME 133 - XIV--WHEN THE COMFORT WAS HUNG UP 142 - XV--THE BIRD ROOST 151 - XVI--A SCREECHER FROM THE NORTH 160 - XVII--THE SHELTER BACK OF THE KEY 169 - XVIII--JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT 178 - XIX--FROM TAMPA, NORTH 187 - XX--THE SHARK FISHERMAN 196 - XXI--VICTORY COMES TO NICK 205 - XXII--WHERE AMBITION LED 214 - XXIII--WINDING UP THE VOYAGE--CONCLUSION 223 - - - - -THE MOTOR BOAT BOYS AMONG THE FLORIDA KEYS - -or - -A Struggle For the Leadership - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -AT ANCHOR, INSIDE THE BAR. - - -"Get busy here, Nick; now's your chance to make a big score for a -starter!" - -"It's awful kind of you, George, to let me out of my part of the work -this afternoon, and that's a fact. I appreciate it, too; because I just -want to beat Jimmy out in this thing the worst kind." - -"Oh! shucks! don't mention it, Nick. We're all interested in your game, -and you know it. Besides, there goes your rival, Jimmy, right now, in -his little dinky boat, and with a wide grin on his face. Jack's given -him a holiday, to celebrate the opening of the great fishing contest. -Get a move on, you slow-poke!" - -"Gee! then he'll get a start on me. I _must_ hurry. Now, where in the -dickens is that other oar, George? Oh! here she is, tucked away under -the thwart. And can you tell me what I did with that mullet the cracker -gentleman gave me, to use for bait? Please help me get started, George. -Seems like everything wants to go wrong at once!" - -"Here you are, Nick. Got your tackle all right, have you; and sure that -life preserver is in the boat? All ready? Then away you go; but keep -clear of the inlet, if the tide changes, or you might get carried out to -sea in that eight-foot dinky." - -Three minutes later, and Nick Longfellow--who belied his name dreadfully, -in that he was short, and fat, and built pretty much after the style of -a full meal bag--was rowing clumsily toward a likely spot, where he -believed he might do some successful fishing. - -A trio of motor boats were anchored just inside Mosquito Inlet, not far -from the town of New Smyrna on the east coast of Florida, having come in -that very afternoon, after making the outside passage from the mouth of -the St. Johns River. - -They might have entered at St. Augustine, and taken the inside passage -down to this place, only that something was wrong with the connecting -canal that led to the Halifax River, and it seemed unwise to take the -chances of being held up. - -The boat from which Nick had put out on his fishing excursion was a -slender looking craft, and evidently capable of making high speed; but -from the way she rolled whenever any one aboard moved, it could be seen -that she must prove rather an uncomfortable home on which to spend very -much time. The name painted in letters of gold on her bow was _Wireless_; -and her skipper, George Rollins, took more or less pride in her -accomplishments; although, truth to tell, he spent much of his time -tinkering with her high-power engine, that had a way of betraying his -trust when conditions made it most exasperating. - -The boat from which the said Jimmy had started was called the _Tramp_. -Her lines were not so fine as those of the hurry boat; but, nevertheless, -an experienced cruiser would have picked her out as an ideal craft for -combined business and pleasure. Her skipper was Jack Stormways, really -the commodore of the little fleet; and his crew consisted of Jimmy -Brannigan, a boy who sported many freckles, a happy-go-lucky disposition, -and a little of the Irish brogue whenever he happened to remember his -descent from the old kings of Erin. - -As to the third motor boat, it was a broad beamed affair, that really -looked like a pumpkin seed on a large scale; or, as some of the boys -often called it, a "tub." It was well named the _Comfort_, and its -owner, Herbert Dickson, content to take things easy and let others do -the hustling, never denied the claim George was fond of making, that he -could draw circles around the "Ark" with his fast one. The engine of the -_Comfort_ had never failed to do its level best, which was limited to -some nine miles an hour. - -Herb also had an assistant, a tall, lanky lad, by name Josh Purdue. By -rights he and Nick should have exchanged places; but Josh had had one -experience on the dizzy speed boat, and absolutely refused to try it -again. - -These lads belonged in a town far up toward the sources of the mighty -Mississippi River. They would have been attending high school, only that -a fire had almost demolished the buildings, and vacation season was -enforced until after New Year's. - -Owning these boats, and having had considerable experience in making -long trips, the boys had, with the consent of their parents, shipped the -craft east to Philadelphia, and some five weeks previously started down -the coast by the inside route. - -And now they were starting on the second half of the remarkable voyage, -which they intended would take them around the end of the peninsula of -Florida, among the keys that make this region the small boat cruiser's -paradise, and finally land them at New Orleans in time to ship their -boats north by steamboat. - -Spending several days in Jacksonville, and taking aboard supplies, -before making a start, Nick and Jimmy had fallen into quite a heated -dispute as to which of them could be called the more expert fisherman. - -Now, truth to tell, neither of the boys had had very much experience in -this line; but, egged on by Josh and Herb, they had finally entered upon -a contest which was to last until they reached New Orleans. Jack had -solemnly entered the conditions in his log book; and the one who, during -the duration of the cruise, could catch and land unassisted the heaviest -fish of any description, was to be declared the champion. - -Eager to accomplish wonderful "stunts," the two boys naturally seized -upon this very first chance to get their lines overboard, in the hope of -starting things moving by a weighty capture. - -And the others, anticipating more or less fun out of the bitter rivalry, -lost no opportunity to "sic" the contestants on. Just as a breeze fans a -flame, so their frequent allusions as to the budding qualities of the -rivals as fishermen kept Nick and Jimmy eager for the fray. - -As might have been expected, when George secured a tender for his speed -boat, while in Jacksonville, as they were told they would need such -things right along, in order to make landings where the water was too -shoal for the larger craft to get close to the shore, he selected -a dumpy little flat-bottomed "dinky," just about on a par with the -_Wireless_ when it came to eccentric qualities. - -An expert with the oars or a paddle might manage the affair fairly well; -but as Nick was as clumsy as he was fat, it seemed as though he would -never get the hang of the squatty tender. - -When he sat in the middle, one dip of an oar would cause the boat to -spin wildly around as if on a pivot; and as to rowing in a straight -course, the thing was utterly beyond Nick's abilities. So, when he was -aiming for a certain spot, he was wont to approach his intended goal by -a series of eccentric angles. - -The flood tide was still coming in lazily, for they had managed to hit -the inlet when the bar was well covered, wishing to take no chances. So -Nick, after managing to propel the "punkin seed" over to the spot near -a bunch of mangroves, that he had selected as most promising, set to -work. - -He tied the boat, first of all, by a piece of cord, so that it would -not float away while he fished. Then he laboriously got his tackle in -readiness. - -Those on the motor boats had kept an eye on the actions of the two -rivals, as if anticipating that sooner or later they might have -something to laugh over; for Nick was forever tumbling into difficulties -of some sort. - -"I don't believe Nick will ever get the hang of that dinky, George," -remarked Jack, as he leaned over the side of the _Tramp_, peeling some -potatoes which they intended having for supper; and, as there did not -seem to be any decent chance to cook this ashore, the voyagers would -have to do as they had often done before, use their little kerosene gas -stoves aboard the several boats. - -"It takes an expert to run that cut-off runt properly," said Herb, who -was also engaged, wiping his engine, while Josh started operations -looking to the evening meal, the lanky boy being by all odds the best -cook in the party. - -"Thank you for the compliment, Herb," laughed George. "It happens that -I've always been at home in small boats. And there was something about -that stumpy little affair that made me take a fancy to her. Nick will -do better after he learns the ropes. And he generally manages to get -there, even if he does cover twice as much distance as I might. Look at -Jimmy, fellows!" - -"He's got something, for a fact!" exclaimed Herb; "and Nick is excited -over it. See him wiggle around to watch, just as if he feared the game -was going to be settled right in the start. Hi! sit down, Nick! Want to -upset that cranky thing, do you? Well, it's good you've got your air bag -fastened on; for without a life preserver you'd drown in this tideway, -if ever you fell over." - -"Watch Jimmy, will you, boys?" chuckled Jack. "Look at the grin on his -face as he pulls his line in. You can see that half his fun is in -keeping an eye on Nick, to enjoy his confusion and disappointment." - -"Wow! why, the fish is pulling his boat around, do you notice?" demanded -George. - -"That looks as if it might be a good one. There, I thought Jimmy -couldn't keep still much longer. Listen to him yap, would you?" Herb -called out. - -Jimmy had started to crow over his rival, as any ordinary boy would be -apt to do under similar conditions. - -"Don't be after gettin' downhearted too soon, Nick, me bhoy!" he -shouted. "Sure, this is only a little one for a stharter, so it is. Wait -till I get going, and I'll open your eyes good and sthrong. Och! how he -pulls! If only ye were a bit closer now, I'd let ye fale of the line, to -know the sensation. Come in, ye darlint, and let's have a look at ye. -Whirra! but he's bigger than I thought; and it's me as hopes he won't -upset the boat when I pull him over the side!" - -Of course much of this talk was for the purpose of making his rival -squirm with envy; though the captive did show signs of being a strong -fighter. - -After about five minutes of apparently strenuous effort, Jimmy concluded -that it would be unwise to risk losing his prisoner by playing it -longer; so he dragged the hooked fish over the side. There was a flash -of bronze and white that told Jack the story. - -"A channel bass, and something like fifteen pounds in weight, too. We're -sure of fish on this trip, anyway, with the two of them bending every -energy to the winning of the medal!" he exclaimed. - -"There goes Nick back to his work," said George. "If there are fish -here, he hopes to get his share. But ten to one he's nearly choking with -envy right now, because Jimmy drew the first blood. It's an uphill game -for poor old Nick." - -"Well," Herb went on to remark, "the game will last a whole month, and -more; so nobody can tell how the finish may turn out. Nick might get -hold of a bigger fish any minute. But it's up to us to encourage 'em -right along. We'll never want for a fish diet if we do, for they'll stay -up nights to keep at it." - -"There, I declare, if Nick didn't have a jerk at his line then; but he -failed to hook the rascal!" Jack exclaimed. - -"And came near upsetting the boat in his excitement, too," complained -George. "If he does, I can see the finish of my oars, which will go out -of the inlet with the ebb tide." - -"But what about Nick; you don't seem to worry about how he'll act?" -laughed Herb. - -"Oh! he'll just float around, with that life preserver holding him up, -till one of us pushes out and tows him ashore. Whatever is he doing now, -do you suppose?" George demanded. - -"Throwing out that shark hook of his, with the clothes line attached," -Jack explained. "You see, Nick has evidently made up his mind to go in -for something worth while. He wants to knock the spots out of Jimmy's -hopes right in the start." - -"But, my stars! if he hooks a big shark while he's sitting in that -punkin seed of a boat, there's bound to be a warm old circus!" Herb -declared. - -Some little time passed, and those aboard the anchored motor boats, -busily engaged in their various occupations, had almost forgotten about -the bitter rivalry going on so near by, when suddenly they were startled -by a great shout. - -"It's Nick, this time!" exclaimed Jack, as he jumped to the side of the -_Tramp_ to observe what was taking place. - -"And say, he's fast to a whopper, as sure as you live!" cried Herb. - -George added his contribution on the heels of the rest. - -"That string's broke away, just as I expected, and there goes Nick and -the punkin seed, full tilt for the inlet! By all that's out, fellows, he -must have caught a whale that time, fresh run from the sea. Hi! hold on -there, Nick, that's my boat!" - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE WARNING RATTLE. - - -Jack Stormways was a quick-witted lad. He had proved this fact on -numerous occasions in the past, within the memory of his chums. - -When anything sudden happened, while others might appear to be -spellbound, and waste precious seconds in staring, Jack was very -apt to be on the jump, and _doing_. - -So in the present instance, while it might appear more or less comical, -seeing the fat boy crouched in that silly little boat belonging to the -_Wireless_, and being dragged through the water at a most rapid rate by -the shark he had hooked, there was always an element of danger connected -with the affair. - -And so Jack, after taking that one look out over the water, sprang -forward, and started dragging his anchor aboard with all possible speed. -That done, he next applied himself to getting power on the boat, which -fortunately could be done with a simple turning over of the engine. - -"Hello! are you going to chase the runaway with the _Tramp_?" cried -Herb, who was in the act of climbing over the side into his tender, as -though meaning to put out in pursuit himself. - -"Yes; jump aboard here, Herb; I might need help!" came the answer; and, -accustomed to respecting Jack's judgment, the one addressed managed to -clamber over the side of the _Tramp_ just as that craft started off. - -Meanwhile Nick was going at a great rate, not in a direct line for the -inlet, but following jerky, eccentric angles, as though the shark hardly -knew what to do, on feeling the contact with the point of the big hook -at the end of the chain. - -Several times the fat boy seemed on the point of creeping forward to get -at the rope that was fastened to a cleat in the bow of the dinky. It was -George who roared at him on such occasions. - -"Keep still, Nick; sit down, can't you? You'll upset sure, if you don't -lie flat! Jack's coming out after you on the jump! Hey, look out there, -Jimmy, or you'll get foul, too! Whew! what a race horse you've got fast -to, Nick. If only you could land him, Jimmy's name would be Mud. There -he goes again, heading for the bar! Look at the water shooting up on -either side of that dandy little boat, would you? And ain't Nick having -the ride of his life, though? There he goes, crawling along up to the -bow again. Perhaps he wants to cut loose; small blame to him if he -does!" - -Everybody was either laughing, or shouting advice to Nick, while this -exciting little drama was taking place. - -Indeed, Nick himself seemed to be the only one who was not getting some -measure of fun out of the affair. His usually red face looked pale, as -he managed to reach the squatty bow of the little boat. But when he -found that it was dragged down by the action of the fish, as well as his -own weight, he drew back again in alarm, for water had come rushing -aboard. - -Once the motor boat got started, of course it speedily came up with the -runaway. Jack had given the wheel into the charge of Herb, who was fully -competent to run things. This allowed the other an opportunity to do -anything that offered, looking to the rescue of poor frightened Nick. - -"Get me out of this, won't you, Jack? I don't like it one little bit," -pleaded the fat boy; and then, as some new freak on the part of the -shark caused the dinky to lunge sideways in a fearful manner, he shouted -in new alarm: "Quit it, you ugly beast! Who wants to nab you now? I -pass, I tell you! Let go, and get out of this! Wow! look at him splash -the water, Jack, would you?" - -"He wanted to take a look at you, that's all," Jack called out. "Don't -you think you'd better cut loose, and let your hook go, Nick?" - -"I ain't got any knife; it went overboard the first thing. Besides," -added the occupant of the dinky, who was now once more crouching in the -stern, "if I go up there, the water just pours in. I'm sitting in it -right now. Jack, can't you think of some way to make him leave me -alone?" - -"Perhaps I might," came the reply, as the skipper of the _Tramp_ dodged -back into the hunting cabin of his boat. - -He almost immediately reappeared again, holding a rope in his hands. -This he made fast to a cleat at the bow; and then, turning to Herb, -asked him to bring the motor boat as close to the fleeing dinky as -possible. - -Leaning down, Jack managed to get a peculiar sort of hitch around the -taut line; and a quick jerk seemed to secure his own rope, so that it -would not slip. His next action was to take a keen knife, and lay its -edge upon the line, close to the spot where it was fastened to the -wobbling dinky. - -Of course it instantly parted. - -"Oh! that's too bad! Now I've lost my tackle!" cried Nick; although he -looked vastly relieved at finding that he was no longer fast to the -queer sea horse. - -Jack paid no further attention to the rescued chum. The fight was now to -be all between himself and the shark. - -Quickly the line paid out, until there came a heavy jerk, and then once -more it became taut. - -"Bully! it's holding fine, Jack!" shouted Herb, who had watched to see -the result; for he doubted whether the connection, brought about under -such difficulties, would be maintained. - -"Now, gradually bring the boat to a full stop," said Jack, as he again -reached back into the cabin, and drew out a rifle. "As soon as you've -got him halted, begin to back up. That will drag him to the top, you -understand; and I'll have a chance to pot the rascal." - -"That's right," declared Herb, who could grasp a thing readily enough, -even if slow to originate clever schemes himself. - -Just as Jack had said, when the pull was being exerted in the other -direction, the struggling monster was presently seen splashing at a -tremendous rate, though unable to resist the drawing powers of the -ten-horsepower engine. - -Jack, crouching there, with one elbow resting on his knee, took as good -an aim as the conditions allowed. Then came the sharp report of the -gun. - -"Whoop! you hit him all right, that time, Jack!" shouted Herb; as there -ensued a tremendous floundering at the end of the rope. "But he ain't -knocked out yet. Give him another dose of the same sort!" - -Across the water came the cries of the others who were watching this -exciting scene. And loudest of all could be heard the voice of Nick, now -once more in possession of his nerve. - -"Give it to him, Jack! Pound the measly old pirate good and hard! He -won't try that game again in a hurry, I tell you! Hey! Jimmy, you ain't -in it this time, with that little minnow of yours. Hurrah! that's the -time you poked him in the slats, Jack! Trust you for knowing how! I -guess he's a sure goner after that meal of cold lead." - -Jack had fired a second time; and, just as the wildly excited Nick said, -he seemed to have met with better success than on the former occasion. -The trapped sea monster threshed the water still, but not in the same -violent manner as before; and his fury seemed to be rapidly diminishing -as the result of his wounds began to be felt. - -"Now, stop her, Herb, and start ahead slowly!" Jack called out, hovering -over the spot where the line was fast to the cleat. - -The boy at the wheel did as he was directed; and as the line became -slack Jack took it in, ready to hastily secure the same about another -cleat in case the dying shark developed a disposition to make a last mad -dash. - -But evidently the big fish was "all in," and when they reached a point -nearly over where he lay, there were seen only a few spasmodic movements -to his body. - -"Let's drag him near the other boats, so we can pull the old fellow up -on that little beach," Jack suggested. - -Ten minutes later, and the six boys were all ashore, laying hold of the -rope in order to drag the captured fish out. - -"Say, he's some whopper, let me tell you!" exclaimed George, as, having -drawn the shark high and dry, they all hastened to examine the capture. - -Nick was dancing with joy, and his eyes fairly beamed as he stood beside -the great bulk, putting one foot up on it after the manner in which he -had seen noted hunters do, in pictures that told of their exploits when -hunting big game. - -"Now, how about it, Jimmy?" he demanded, as Jack was cutting the stout -hook from the jaw of the monster. "Think this is some punkins, don't -you, now. Three hundred pounds, if it weighs an ounce. Have to hustle -some, let me tell you, my boy, if you ever expect to go a notch higher -than this." - -"Arrah, come off, would you!" indignantly cried Jimmy. "Sure, ye -wouldn't be claiming that ye took this same ould sea wolf, and inter it -in the competition. I do be laving it to Jack here, if that's fair?" - -"But I hooked it, you all saw that?" expostulated Nick. - -"I don't know," remarked Herb, looking very serious; "I was under -the impression that the shark had got you, up to the time Jack came -along with his little gun, and tapped him on the head. How about it, -Commodore? Can Nick enter any claim to having caught this prize?" - -"Wait," said Jack, smiling; "let me read out the exact words of the -wager. I've got a copy right here in my note book. Listen now, both of -you. It reads like this: 'Each contestant shall have the liberty of -fishing as often as he pleases, and the fish may be taken in any sort of -manner; the one stipulation being that the capture shall be undertaken -by the contestant, _alone and unaided_; and that he must have possession -of the fish long enough to show the same, and have its weight either -estimated or proven.'" - -"That settles your goose, me bhoy!" croaked Jimmy, gleefully; "and I'm -top notch in the game up to the prisent moment. Do we get busy again, -Nick, I say; or are ye satisfied to lit me claim first blood?" - -"Well, it seems mighty small, that after grabbing that nice fellow, I've -got to let the honors go for the day," remarked the fat boy. "And I -guess I've had quite enough excitement for once. I'm all soaked in the -bargain; and it feels kind of cool, you see. So I won't fish any more -right now. But next time, just you look out for yourself, Jimmy. I'm -after you like hot cakes. Say, ain't we going to have that fish for -supper, boys?" - -Nick was a voracious eater. He liked nothing in the world so much as to -enjoy a glorious meal; and long after his chums were through, he often -sat there, finishing the dishes. On the other hand, lean, lanky Josh, -while possessed of a knack for cooking all sorts of good things, had a -poor appetite, and often merely nibbled at his food, to the wonderment -and disgust of the fat boy. - -"If you get to work and clean it," said Jack, "I think there ought to be -plenty to go around. But you'll find that one-third of a channel bass -is the head. As we had one before, we know it's worth eating, so pitch -in, Nick. Since you lost your knife overboard, take mine here, and get -busy." - -It pleased Jimmy to strut around near where his rival was occupied -with his menial task, and make occasional remarks about "his prize," -calculated to rub salt in Nick's wounds. But after all, the fat boy was -good-natured, and took things in a matter-of-fact way. Besides, he was -grimly resolved that sooner or later, by hook or by crook, even if it -were a fish-hook, he would overcome this strong lead of his rival in the -race for high honors. - -As more or less fuel had been found ashore, and Josh expressed his -desire to manage the supper, as head chef, it was found advisable to -change their plans. And so, assisted by many willing workers, the lanky -wonder started operations. - -He was soon bustling around, looking very consequential. Nick had -made him a _chef's_ cap out of a piece of white muslin, which he was -requested to wear on all such occasions as this, when in charge of -affairs about the cooking fire. - -Nick himself was busy trying to mend some little contraption, purchased -on the street in Jacksonville, and which he had broken before he could -have any fun with the same as originally intended. - -Jack, stepping off from the _Tramp_, where he had gone to get some of -the tinware needed for coffee and substantial food, was electrified to -hear Josh give a whoop; and at the same instant his ears were assailed -by a dreadful rattling noise that sounded for all the world like the -angry buzz of a diamond-back rattlesnake. - -"Thunder and Mars! Great Jerusalem! I'm struck in the leg!" bellowed the -lengthy Josh, as he came tumbling back from the edge of the bushes, -grabbing at his shin in a frantic manner. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -DOWN THE INDIAN RIVER. - - -"Now, what d'ye know about that?" exclaimed Nick, scrambling to his feet -after his usual clumsy way; for when the fat boy happened to become -excited he generally "fell all over himself," as Josh put it. - -"What ails you, Josh?" demanded Herb. - -No sooner had the lengthy one reached a spot near the fire than he threw -himself down, and commenced frantically to pull up the left leg of his -trousers. - -"Gosh! looky there, will you, fellers?" he bellowed, as if in a panic. -"He sure got me that time; I guess I'm a goner. Won't one of you get -down and suck the poison out for me? You know, I'd do it in your case. -Oh! please hurry up. My leg's beginning to swell right now, and in a few -minutes it'll be too late!" - -"Poison!" echoed Herb, who seemed to be in utter ignorance of the entire -matter, and could only stare at the little speck of blood showing on the -white skin as if horribly fascinated. - -"Yes, oh! didn't you hear the terrible buzz he gave when he stuck his -fangs in me?" groaned poor Josh. - -Jack had thrown himself down alongside the wounded one, and was -minutely examining the hurt. He looked up at this juncture, and to -the astonishment of Herb and George, was apparently grinning. - -"Brace up, Josh," he said, cheerfully; "you're not going to kick the -bucket yet awhile, I reckon." - -"Oh! how kind of you to tell me so, Jack; but how do you know? Please -tell me why you say that," pleaded the cook, beginning to look relieved; -for he had fallen long ago into placing the utmost confidence in -whatever Jack believed. - -"Well, in the first place, there's only one tiny puncture, you see; and -if this was a snake bite there'd be the plain marks of _two_ fangs," -Jack announced. - -"Sounds all right, Jack; but perhaps this critter only had one fang. -Didn't you hear the angry shake of his old rattle-box when he struck? -It gave me a cold chill, because, right at the same second, I felt -something stick me. I'll never forget the awful sensation, even if I do -live through it," and Josh rubbed his leg vigorously, as though hoping -that by inducing a circulation he might avert the threatened dire -catastrophe. - -"Well, if you only look around right now, perhaps you'll discover the -source of that same buzz," Jack went on, soberly. - -"Why, whatever can you mean?" Josh stammered, staring his amazement. - -"Notice how Nick, for instance, is trying the best he knows how to keep -his face straight, even while he's just shaking all over with the laugh -that's in him. Stand up, Nick; and hold out that hand you've got behind -your back." - -Jack pointed rather sternly at the culprit while speaking. - -"Oh, well, I s'pose I'll have to 'fess," mumbled the fat boy, as he -whipped the hand in question around, so that all could see what he was -holding. - -"Why, it's that boozy little rattle he picked up in Jacksonville, and -broke on the first trial!" exclaimed George. "He's been dabbling at it -ever since, trying to mend the old thing." - -"Yes," said Jack, "and just succeeded in getting it to working. Here, -give it to me, Nick, and I'll show them how it whirrs when you turn it -around rapidly." - -Taking the little wooden contrivance, Jack gave it a series of quick -turns, with the result that a loud angry buzzing was produced, not -unlike the warning rattle of an enraged snake. - -"Oh! that was it, Jack!" cried the relieved Josh. "Thank you for showing -me, too. It sure takes a big load off my mind, because you'll never know -what a nasty feeling I had at the time. It was a mean dodge, Nick, and -I can't forget it in a hurry, either. But Jack, that don't explain -everything." - -"Now you're thinking of that sudden little pain you had in the leg?" -suggested the other, nodding his head understandingly. - -"You bet I am!" Josh declared. "It took me at the identical second I -heard that whirr. If it wasn't a snake bit me, what did, Jack?" - -"Let's find out right away, so's to relieve your mind," Jack went on. -"Lead the way to the very spot where you were when you heard the sound, -and felt that sudden pain." - -"That's dead easy," remarked the tall boy; and as he said this he -scrambled to his feet, his trousers still rolled up to his knee, and -limped across the camp. - -Jack noticed, however, that he approached the place cautiously, as -though not yet wholly convinced that there might not be a dreadful -diamond-back rattler lying in ambush, waiting for another chance to -puncture him. - -"There it is, right in front of you, Jack!" Josh cried, pointing; "I -happened to want a handful of dry timber to hurry up the fire, and -stepped over here, because I'd noticed just the thing under this lone -palmetto. Just as I banged into that little bunch of brush it happened." - -Jack laughed. - -"Look here, fellows, and you'll see what he ran against!" he announced, -taking hold of the long, narrow, dark green leaf of a plant that was -growing there. - -"What is it?" asked George. - -"A plant they call Spanish Bayonet," replied Jack, seriously now. "You -see, like lots of semi-tropical plants, such as the yucca, century plant -or Mexican aloe, and others, it's got a sharp point, almost like a -needle. Well, just as luck would have it, Josh banged into one of these -leaves at the very second Nick began to rattle his alarm box. No wonder -he got a shock! It was enough to stagger the bravest." - -"Then it was what you might call a coincidence?" suggested Herb. - -"Huh! a mighty tough one, too," grunted Josh, as he rubbed his injured -limb ere turning down his trouser leg. - -"But see here, fellows, are we going to let our funny man try that stunt -every little while?" demanded George, frowning at his shipmate. - -"I vote for one against such a thing," declared Herb. "That nasty little -box has too suggestive a rattle to please me. If I was going through the -saw palmetto scrub, and he happened to amuse himself with it, I just -know I'd jump ten feet. It would make life miserable for me right -along." - -"Jimmy, what do you say?" demanded Jack. - -"Me too!" piped up the Irish lad. "Sure it do be giving me the crapes -just to listen to that thing go whirring around." - -"You hear the verdict, Nick?" said Jack, pretending to assume the air of -a judge addressing the prisoner in the dock. - -"Oh! I ain't saying a word," Nick replied, with a shrug of his fat -shoulders. "I c'n see myself that it would be a mean trick to play. -Never thought much about it that way. Give her a toss, Jack. And Josh, I -hope you won't hold it against me too hard. You know, you're top-notch -yet in that bully contest of ours." - -In this way did the contrite joker attempt to buy peace in the camp; and -that he was fairly successful might be judged from the grin that slowly -began to spread over the thin face of the cook. - -"That's all right, Nick; so long as it don't happen again I ain't goin' -to think too much about it. Fact is, it's goin' to give me a cold shiver -every time I hear anything like that rattle. And now I'll be getting -back to my work." - -"Then you don't want anybody to suck the poison out?" asked Nick. - -"Let up on that, now, will you? I guess I'm able to hobble around yet," -and bending down, Josh gathered some of the dry trash that he wanted, to -hurry the fire on with. - -Jack had tossed the little rattle-box contrivance into the fire, where -it was soon entirely consumed. - -Although they ate supper ashore, it was considered wise to sleep aboard. -The only one who grumbled at this decision was poor Nick. He had a hard -lot to follow, for the narrow speed boat offered but poor sleeping -accommodations for two, and many a time the stout youth was wont to -bemoan his sad fate as he rubbed his aching sides in the morning. - -They left the camp at Mosquito Inlet an hour after sunrise on the -following morning, and started down past New Smyrna, heading for the -Haulover Canal that connects Mosquito Lagoon with the famous Indian -River. - -Under Jack's wise guidance they found little trouble in navigating the -broad or narrow waters of the various channels. As steamboats passed -through daily in the season, there were plenty of "targets" pointing out -the deeper waters; and where the lagoon happened to be very shallow, -canals had been dredged. - -Taking it leisurely, they arrived at Titusville about two in the -afternoon. Here one of the boys went for the mail, and also to pick up -the few things they had on the list of "necessities wanted." - -As the western shore of the river is pretty thickly settled now, it was -decided to cross over, and skirt along Merritt's Island until near its -foot, where they could probably find a spot free from civilization's -touch; and this was what appealed to the motor boat boys at all -times--wild solitude. - -Long before evening overtook them they had come to a halt, and anchored -the boats close to the eastern shore, just beyond a point that would -protect them from any wild norther that might chance to spring up. All -of them had heard so much about these dreaded storms that swoop down -upon the pilgrims in small boats when navigating Florida waters that -they were always on the watch for their coming. - -"I say, Jack!" exclaimed George, as they landed in their small dinkies, -intending to again have a fire, and be congenial; "look out yonder on -the river, and tell me if that ain't the same strange launch we saw -twice before above." - -"You're right, George, that's what," replied the other, as he whirled -around, to shade his eyes with one hand in order to see the better; for -the sun was just going down beyond the wide river, Rockledge way, and -shone fiercely. - -"If I had the glasses now, I'd like to see who they are," George went -on. "Seems to me the parties on that boat act queer. They dodge out of -sight whenever they think we're watching. I don't just like the way they -act, Jack, do you?" - -"Oh! I don't know," replied the other. "That may be only imagination -with you, George. The only thing that strikes me as queer is that the -boat seems to be as near a ringer for the _Tramp_ as anything I ever -struck." - -"Wow! you're on the job now, when you say that, and funny I hadn't -noticed it before, Jack," George declared. "Now that you mention it, I -declare if it isn't just remarkable. I suppose all of our boats have -doubles, somewhere in the country; for the makers have a model they -follow out heaps of times in a season; but all the same, it strikes a -fellow as queer to run across a duplicate of the boat he's kind of -looked on as his own especial property." - -"Well," grunted Nick, who had been near enough to overhear this talk, -"I'm right sorry for somebody then, if there's a ringer for the -_Wireless_. They have my sympathy, I tell you that right now." - -But George only sniffed, and disdained to notice the slur cast upon his -pet. It seemed that the more the others found fault with the actions of -the _Wireless_, the greater became his attachment for the erratic boat. - -"Well, they're ahead of us again, for one thing," he remarked. "It looks -like a game of tag, right along; now we're leading, and then they forge -ahead. I'm just going to keep tabs on that boat, for fun; and some fine -day perhaps I'll have my curiosity satisfied. I'd give something to know -who they are, and why they act like they do." - -"Oh! they won't keep me awake much, I tell you that," said Nick, -loftily. "When I bother my head it's going to be about something worth -while--understand?" - -"Sure," remarked George, quickly. "Something that threatens a calamity -in the feeding line, for instance; a running short of supplies. That's -the subject Nick worries about most." - -"Well, is there any more important business known than supplying the -human engine with plenty of fuel?" demanded the other, sturdily. -"Perhaps the engineer may be the more important fellow of the two; but -the stoker is just as necessary, if the machine is to be kept going. But -there's Josh calling me to help him. I'm always Johnny-on-the-spot when -it comes to helping Josh get grub ready"--and he waddled off serenely; -for Nick was so happily constituted that no matter what jabs he received -from his chums, they seemed to roll from him like water from a duck's -back. - -"Hear the mullet jump?" remarked Jack, as they ate supper after night -had set in. "D'ye know, fellows, this ought to be a good time to try -that fish spear?--for we'll have an hour of dark before the old moon -peeps up, and there isn't a breath of wind to ruffle the water. Jimmy, I -appoint you to push me around a bit, and see what we can do, though I -wouldn't count too much on any big score." - -"I'm on, Jack, darlint," Jimmy immediately responded; "and it's ready I -am now." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THAT SAME OLD UNLUCKY WIRELESS. - - -Moving about in the steadiest of the little tenders, with a flare in the -bow, and Jimmy to gently push in the stern, Jack sought to strike some -game fish. His success was not very flattering, though he certainly did -enjoy the experience. It was really worth while to peer down into the -shallow depths, and see what lay there. - -Several times he caught glimpses of channel bass, sheepshead, or sea -trout, which last is only another name for the weak fish of the North; -but as a rule they flashed away before he could strike. - -He did succeed in spearing one trout of about three pounds, much to -Jimmy's delight. And later on, he struck a nasty creature with what -seemed to be a barb on the top of his tail, which he thrust around in a -savage manner as Jack held him up on the end of his pole. - -"Look out, and don't get too close to him, Jimmy," Jack warned. - -"Sure now and I won't," replied the other, "for, to till the truth, it's -me as don't like the looks of that little fixin' on the ind of his -tail." - -"It must be what they call a stingaree or stingray," Jack went on. "I -never saw one before, but I've read a lot about 'em. They say he can -poison you, if ever he hits with that barb. You know what a mudcat can -do, out on the Mississippi; well, this is the same thing, only a whole -lot worse." - -"Drop the squirmin' bog-trotter back into the wather, Jack, me bhoy; for -'tis us as don't want too close an acquaintance with him. He'd make it -too warrm for us, by the same token," Jimmy declared; and Jack complied -only too willingly. - -"I guess we've had about enough of this, so let's go ashore," he -suggested. - -Nick awaited them, eager to ascertain the amount of their captures. He -whiffed on discovering only one fish aboard the dinky. - -"Huh! could eat that all by myself, and then not half try," he remarked. - -"All right, then; if you do the needful to it, you're welcome, Nick," -laughed the one who had captured the sea trout. - -Of course, Nick became suddenly suspicious. - -"You wouldn't play any trick on me, now, I hope, Jack, and get me to eat -a fish that wasn't fit for the human stomach?" he questioned, uneasily. - -"That's what they call a sea trout down here; but up North it's the -weakfish, and said to be as toothsome as almost anything that swims," -Jack remarked. - -"Oh! all right, then I accept your kind offer. I'll get busy right now, -and have him ready for the morning. Wish you had got one apiece, I hate -to seem greedy, you know, fellows," he went on to say, as if thinking he -ought to excuse himself. - -When the morning came Nick was astir before anybody else, for he had a -duty on his mind. He bothered Josh so much that finally the cook made -him start a blaze of his own, over which he could prepare his breakfast; -and Nick managed pretty well, considering that he had never made a study -of the art of cookery. - -They started off at a booming pace. The run down Indian River that day -would always remain a pleasant memory with the young cruisers. Fort -Pierce was reached on schedule time, after passing through the Narrows, -and securing a mess of oysters from a boat engaged in dredging there. - -Again one of the voyagers went after mail and supplies. There was always -something lacking, besides the necessary gasoline. Six growing boys can -develop enormous appetites when living a life in the open, and upon -salt water. Besides, there was Nick, capable of downing any two of -his chums when it came to devouring stuff. No wonder, then, that the -question of supplies was always uppermost on their minds. - -Once more they headed across to the eastern shore, where they would be -more apt to find a quiet nook for the next night's camp. One more day's -run, if all went well, would take them to Lake Worth; and after serious -consultation it had been decided that they would, when the right chance -came, put to sea through that inlet, to make the run south to Miami. - -Once again had both Nick and Jimmy been seized with the fever of -rivalry. During the day they had been busily engaged preparing set -lines, which they expected to put out over night, in the hope of making -a big haul. - -Nick had bought a lot of material in Jacksonville. This in the main -consisted of large hooks, with snells made of brass wire, which latter -he manufactured himself, Jack having shown him how; and a large swivel -at the end of the foot length. Then he had secured a large quantity of -very strong cotton cord, made waterproof by some tarring process, after -the manner of the rigging aboard sailing vessels. - -One thing Jack had bought in Fort Pierce, which they understood would -be pretty much of a necessity during the many weeks they expected to -spend among the keys that dotted the whole coast line of Florida. - -This was called a cast-net, and was some eight feet in length, though -when fully extended it would cover a circle twice that in diameter. - -There were leads along the outer edges, and a series of drawing strings -running up through a ring in the center. - -"You see," said Jack, that evening, when they were ashore, "I watched a -fellow use one up above, and even took a few lessons, so I've kind of -got the hang on it." - -"Then please show us?" asked Nick, eagerly. - -"Listen to him, would you?" exclaimed Herb; "to hear him talk you'd -think Nick had a sneaking idea he might some day haul in a big giant of -a fish in this flimsy net." - -"No, but it's good to get mullet for bait," the fat boy remonstrated; -"and as I expect to do lots of fishing on this trip--and it may not -always be convenient for Jack to haul the net--why, I thought I had -ought to know the ropes." - -"Good boy, Nick!" laughed Jack; "and I'll be only too glad to show every -fellow all I know, which isn't any too much. Now, here's the way you -gather up the line, so as to let go suddenly. Then you hold the net like -this." - -"Sure do ye ate some of the leads?" questioned Jimmy, seeing Jack take -several between his teeth. - -"Oh! not any! but this is one of the times when a fellow wishes he had -been born with three hands. As I haven't, I must hold these leads by my -teeth. The next thing is to swing the whole net around this way, and let -fly with a rotary motion, at the same time letting go with your teeth. -That is a very important thing to remember, for you might stand to lose -a few out of your jaw if you held on." - -"Oh, I see!" remarked George; "and the net flings open as it whirls -through the air, falling on the water that way?" - -"Just so, with the leads taking the outer edge rapidly down. Then, by -pulling at the line, which is tied, you see, to all these strings, the -net is drawn shut like a big purse, enclosing anything that was under it -when it struck the water." - -One by one they made trials with the net, but all of them proved pretty -clumsy. Jimmy was nearly dragged into the shallow water when he made his -first attempt. - -"Glory be!" he howled, as he put his hand quickly to his mouth; "if I -didn't have the teeth of a horse I do belave I'd have lost the whole set -thin. But once bit, twict shy. Nixt toime I'll let go, rest easy on -that. And I'm going to get the hang of that Spanish cast-net, if it -takes ivery tooth in me head, so I am." - -"And you'll do it, Jimmy, never fear," laughed Jack. "That do-or-die -spirit is going to win the day. Here, Nick, try it again. You seem to -have got the knack of it pretty well, only you want to throw harder, or -the mullet will get away before the net falls on the water." - -Finally the boys tired of the strenuous exertion, and as Josh announced -supper ready, they turned their attention to more pleasant duties. - -"This is something in which I can shine, anyhow," chuckled Nick, as he -sat there, with a pannikin cram-full of various good things, and a cup -of steaming coffee on the ground close beside him. - -No one disputed the assertion; in fact, there was a general grin, and a -series of nods around the circle, to prove that for once their opinions -were unanimous. - -Frolicsome 'coons seemed numerous at this camp on Hutchinson's Island. -They attempted to pillage, after the boys had settled down to sleep. -Twice was the quiet of the camp disturbed by the rattle of tin pans, and -upon investigation it was found that some prowling little animal had -endeavored to devour the hominy Josh had cooked, intending to fry slices -of the same for breakfast. - -Nick made out to believe that it might have been a wildcat, or possibly -a bear, until Jack showed him the plain tracks of long slender feet -close to the receptacle of the hominy, and explained that only a raccoon -could have made these. - -When the morning came, an early start was made, for they had quite a -little run down the river, through Jupiter Narrows, and then by means of -the canal into Lake Worth. - -Arriving at this latter place early in the afternoon, they spent some -time looking about--although it was out of the season for the -fashionable crowd that flock to Palm Beach during February and March. - -Jack had studied his coast charts most carefully. He knew they would -have a dangerous outside passage to Miami, that must consume some seven -hours, because of the _Comfort's_ slowness; and as they could not afford -to take any chances, it became absolutely necessary that they wait until -the weather gave positive signs of remaining fairly decent during the -day. - -As this meant a combination of favoring breezes and calm waters, it was -impossible to tell how long they might have to wait. It might mean one -day, and then again they could be kept here at Lake Worth a week. - -"You're wondering why I'm so particular, fellows," Jack had remarked, -when they talked over the matter among themselves, "especially when we -made a heap of outside runs coming down the coast. But this is really -the worst of the bunch, and I reckon much more dangerous than any we've -got ahead of us. For seventy miles here there isn't really a decent -harbor where a small boat could put in to escape a sudden change in -weather. And when things do go crooked down here they beat the band. The -nearer you get to the tropics the harder the winds can howl when they -want to show their teeth." - -"That's all right, Jack," remarked Herb; "we depend on you to use good -judgment in all such matters. And you can see how much we rely on what -you decide, when we're ready to follow you like sheep do the -bellwether." - -"I wonder, now," remarked George, "if that bally little boat that's a -ringer for the _Tramp_ has gone further south?" - -"What makes you ask that?" Jack inquired. - -"Well, ever since she passed us that evening across from Rockledge I -haven't seen hide nor hair of the mystery. So somehow I reckon she must -either be further down the lake, or else gone to Miami by the outside -route, like we intend to do." - -"That don't necessarily follow," Jack laughed, for he saw that George -actually had the subject on his mind, and was deeply interested. "The -boat might have been in any one of twenty little coves we passed on the -way down. Or, again, she could have been prowling in some of the many -passages about the Narrows." - -"All right," George declared, stubbornly, as though his mind were set, -and nothing could move him; "you mark my word, Jack, we'll set eyes on -that sneaker again, before we're done with this trip." - -"Oh, perhaps!" said Jack, turning away, as though the subject did not -interest him to any great extent; for he did not happen to be built on -the same lines as his chum, who had a little more than his share both of -suspicion and also curiosity. - -The next day they anxiously waited for Jack's decision; but the wind was -much too strong, and from a quarter that caused whitecaps to appear out -on the ocean. - -So the start had to be postponed, much to the regret of the entire six, -all of whom wished to get the dangerous run over with as speedily as -possible. - -"Better luck tomorrow, fellows," said Jack, who had made it a point to -look at things in the light that it was foolish to worry over what could -not be altered. - -"Then here's to put in a whole day, fishing over on that pier at the -beach," declared Nick, making a run for the place where the three motor -boats were at anchor. - -"Whirra! now, if ye do be afther thinking ye're going to get me goat, -it's another guess ye do be having, I'm telling ye, Nick, me bhoy!" -remarked Jimmy, as he also hastened away. - -And they kept diligently at it through the better part of the entire -day, though with indifferent success. Either the fish were shy, knowing -the grim determination of the two patient anglers, or else it was a poor -day for the sport. - -When they mutually agreed to give it up, while they had a mess that -would do for supper, neither of them had added any notch to his record -for big fish. - -As October is possibly the best time of the year to expect quiet weather -along the South Atlantic coast, Jack had high hopes that the morrow -would see them on their way toward Miami. Nor were his expectations -doomed to disappointment, for in the morning there seemed to be not the -slightest reason for further postponing the run. - -Accordingly hurried preparations for breakfast were made, in order to -take full advantage of the opportunity. - -All of them were glad when they made the dash over the Lake Worth bar in -good order, and found themselves on the heaving bosom of the mighty sea, -with their motor boats pointing to the south. - -Steadily they kept on, as the hours passed, and the sun mounted in the -sky. Jack was ever on the watch for any sign of a change, knowing what -such might mean to cruisers in small boats caught far from a harbor. - -Jimmy was watching his face, under the belief that he could tell in -that way if any trouble threatened. When he saw how the skipper of the -_Tramp_ turned his glasses frequently toward the southwest, he took a -look in that quarter himself. - -"And is it the clouds that do be paping up along beyant the shore line -giving ye concern, Jack?" he asked, a bit anxiously. - -"Well, I don't know as they mean much, but all the same I think I'd feel -better if we were swinging to our mudhooks back of Key Biscayne," Jack -replied. - -"About how far do we chanst to be away, this minute?" the other -continued. - -"All of ten miles, which would mean an hour's run for the _Comfort_. -This is the time when she drags us back. George and myself could have -made shelter an hour ago, if we had wanted to put on all speed. And I -just know George is growling to himself right now, because he has to -check his love for racing along." - -Jack had hardly said these words when Jimmy broke out into a laugh. - -"Now, that do be a toime when ye are away off, me bhoy," he remarked. - -"In what way, Jimmy?" demanded the skipper, laying his glasses aside, -and taking the wheel from the hands of his helper. - -"If so ye take a look over to the blissed ould _Wireless_, upon me worrd -ye'll discover that the bally boat has stopped short. Like enough that -ingine has gone back on poor George again, just as it always does when -we get in a place where it counts. Yes, he's beckoning for us to come -close. That's what it must mean, Jack." - -"Whew! that would be tough luck!" muttered Jack, as he changed the -course of the little _Tramp_, and again cast an uneasy look in the -direction where those suspicious and dark clouds were shoving their -heads above the horizon. - -A storm, and the _Wireless_ helpless--the prospect was surely anything -but pleasant. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE MYSTERIOUS POWER BOAT. - - -"Jerusalem! if I owned that engine, George, do you know what I'd do with -it?" Nick was heard to say, as the others drew near. "Why, I'd take the -first chance, when in touch with a town, and sink her miles deep. Hang -it, I'd be willing to contribute half the money I've got saved, to help -get a new engine for the old shaker." - -"All right, I take you up on that offer, Nick," George made answer, as -quick as a flash; "because, to tell the honest truth, I'm getting weary -of the cranky thing myself. But that isn't going to help us any now. -Lend a hand here, and let's see what we can do to mend matters." - -"Hold on there, fellows," called out Jack. - -"Hello! here's the commodore arrived," George sang out, with a nervous -little laugh. "Same old story, Jack; and blessed if I can say how long -it'll take to fix her up again, so she'll do business. Might be ten -minutes; and again I'm afraid it may be something serious this time, -that will keep me busy hours." - -"Well, we can't stay out here all that time, with a storm in prospect," -said Jack. - -"Thunder! what's that you say?" broke from the perspiring skipper of the -stalled _Wireless_, as his head again bobbed up into view, and he swept -an anxious look in all quarters. - -"There's a bank of clouds poking up over yonder that may mean trouble," -Jack went on to say. "So just get your stoutest cable hitched to a cleat -forward, and pass me the other end." - -"What for?" asked George. - -"I'm going to tow you, that's all," Jack replied. - -"Shucks! is that necessary?" demanded the proud George, with a slight -frown. - -"It sure is, for every furlong we cover now brings us that much nearer a -safe harbor; and if those clouds are out for business, we'll need all we -can gain," Jack went on to insist. - -"Then I suppose I'll just have to," the other continued; "here, Nick, -get out the hawser, and I'll clamp it on to this cleat. But see here, -Jack, after you get started, Nick can keep watch while I work at the -engine, can't he?" - -"Nothing for him to do but hold the wheel and keep straight after me. -Perhaps when the little _Tramp_ does her prettiest, the two of us can -keep going as fast as the _Comfort_ goes; and so nothing will have been -lost after all, George." - -"That's true; only I don't like it one little bit," grunted George, -as he commenced to fasten one end of the hawser to the stout little -cleat--for, to tell the truth, George was a mighty poor loser. - -Once Jack had the other end of the line, he made it secure to the stern -of his own staunch boat. - -"Here goes now; look out!" he warned, as he started forward once more. - -The three boats had been wallowing on the heaving seas while power was -shut off; but no sooner did they pick up their course again, than this -sickening motion gave way to that of progress. - -George took off his coat, and got busy. He was considerable of a -mechanic, and at least possessed the commendable trait of persistence. -Once he had started to do a thing he never rested satisfied until it was -accomplished. - -"Seems like you're doing just as well pulling that wreck as we are -alone!" called Herb from the _Comfort_, which was not more than fifty -feet away. - -George's head came into view above the gunwale of the speed boat, but -somehow this time he was feeling quite too bad to take up cudgels in -defense of his craft. Besides, there was truth in calling her a wreck -just then. So he ducked down once more and pretended not to have heard -the sarcastic allusion. - -"Just what I expected when I proposed to tow George," Jack answered; and -then he turned the glasses ahead to a point that seemed to interest him -considerably. - -"Think that can be the place?" asked Herb, still watching him closely. - -"I believe it is, yes, and hope so, too," came the reply, together with -a significant glance upward to where the clouds were beginning to shut -out the sun, now on its way down the western sky. - -"I see you're edging in more?" Herb continued. - -"That's right," answered Jack; "we'd better be as near land as we dare -go. It may mean a heap to us sooner or later." - -They went on for some time, with things seeming to be no different, -only the clouds kept covering the sky, making the water look dark and -forbidding. Indeed, all of the boys were now considerably alarmed. The -storm seemed to be getting closer, and their haven had not as yet hove -in sight. - -"That's because we're coming down from the north," explained Jack, when -Nick called out to mention this distressing fact. "You see, the trees -all run together, and it's next to impossible to tell where the mainland -ends off and the key begins. But I think I get the dividing line through -the glasses. Anyhow, I'm heading straight for it right now." - -Ten minutes later and Josh called out, to say that he could see the -opening all right; and the others added their evidence to what he said. - -"There's the new breeze coming, Jack!" called Herb. - -"Yes, and the harbor is so close too," George put in, as he arose from -his lowly position. "But I reckon my engine will go now, Jack. If you -hear her crackle, please cast off that hawser, will you?" - -"Sure!" sang out Jimmy, as he climbed forward, Jack having taken the -wheel himself some little time previous, so as to be prepared for any -emergency that might arise. - -A moment later and there was a merry popping from the mended motor of -the _Wireless_, and immediately Jimmy heard this he cast the rope loose. - -"Better make a plunge for it, George; I'll stand by Herb!" sang out -Jack. - -"But that wouldn't look right," objected George, though doubtless he -would feel better satisfied if given a chance to make use of the great -speed his boat could show under special conditions, in order to get in a -harbor before the blow struck them. - -"Rats! get along with you. We understand what your feelings are; but we -also know what a cranky boat you've got. Hit her up now, and skedaddle!" -called Jack. - -"Are you saying that as a chum, or as the commodore of the fleet?" asked -George. - -"As the commodore; and see to it that you obey orders," answered the -other. - -Accordingly, George did put his motor to its best speed, and rapidly -left them in the lurch. Jack would never desert the steady going old -_Comfort_, and that wide-beamed craft was already working her full limit -of nine miles to the hour, so nothing could be done but keep moving, and -hope for the best. - -The wind increased. Luckily it was dead ahead; and while it might retard -their progress to some extent, at the same time it did not kick up half -the tremendous sea that would have been the case had it come from the -wide ocean at their back, or the port side. - -"Do ye be thinking we can make it?" asked Jimmy, who looked a little -peaked as he squatted there, watching the tumbling waves, and eying -wistfully the shores now close at hand, where houses were to be seen. - -"I don't doubt it for a minute," answered the resolute skipper of the -_Tramp_, who always refused to be downcast when face to face with -danger. "We're hitting up a pretty fair pace, and if nothing happens to -prevent, in ten minutes we'll begin to get the benefit of the shelter of -the land." - -"Anyhow, George has gone through the opening," declared Jimmy, -hopefully. - -"Why, yes, there he is beyant, and in calm water; I do believe he's -waiting for us right now. Bully for George! And we ought to be with him -soon." - -Although the storm increased, they were by now so well in that it had -little terror for them. And presently they ran into calmer waters, where -the other boat waited for their coming. - -After that it did not take the boys long to pick out a nook where they -could be sheltered to a great extent from the blow. And here they -anchored, very thankful because of their safe arrival near Miami, after -making such a record run outside, where their boats looked like tiny -chips on the wide, heaving sea. - -All of them were tired, and welcomed the coming of night, when they -could partake of supper, and perhaps gather around a camp-fire ashore. - -Jack had seen that there were quite a number of other boats of all -kinds scattered around the bay. Some were anchored off cottages, while -others scudded for the home port before the storm increased to violent -proportions. Although the time for West India hurricanes was long since -past, any blow along the coast may mean peril to small craft, and they -considered it safer to get into shelter before the worst came. - -Jack was doing some little work aboard the _Tramp_ when a boat scraped -alongside. - -"Hello!" he exclaimed, as George climbed aboard; "what brings you over -here?" - -"Let me have your glasses, won't you, Jack?" asked the other, -mysteriously. - -"That sounds mighty like you thought you had made some discovery, -George. Say, three to one it's about that power boat that is a ringer -for the _Tramp_?" - -"Go up head, Jack, because you've guessed it the first clat out of the -box. Good for you! Now I'll satisfy my mind about one thing, and find -out whether they are watching us every time we happen to run together." - -"So that's the boat anchored away over yonder, is it?" Jack mused. "For -all we know it may belong to the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, and be at -home right now." - -"Huh! just as I thought," grunted George. - -"What's that?" demanded the other. - -"There's a feller sitting on deck right now, and I'll be hanged if he -hasn't got a pair of marine glasses in his hands, leveled straight at -us. Didn't I tell you, Jack, there's something mysterious about that -boat? They are keeping tabs on us right along. Perhaps they're down here -to follow us, though what for I declare if I can guess. There, I guess -he saw I had a pair of glasses leveled at him, for he dodged inside the -cabin like a flash. Jack, whatever can it mean?" - -"You've got me guessing, George, and I'll have to pass," laughed the -other, although admitting to himself that the circumstances were -beginning to savor more of mystery than up to now he had been willing -to acknowledge. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -NICK TRIES AGAIN. - - -"Jimmy, strike up a bar of 'Nancy Lee,' or the 'Larboard Watch,' while -we're moving at this snail's pace along this shallow shore, looking for -some nice place to camp." - -"That's right, Jimmy, just as Jack says; it would sound right to hear -music, for this is by a long shot the dreariest place we've struck yet. -Tune up your lyre, then, or your banjo--I don't care which--and give us -a song." - -Accordingly, when thus pressed by the skipper, not only of his own boat -but Herb as well, Jimmy reached in the cabin, and taking hold of his -never far distant banjo, commenced to plunk away. - -He had a fine mellow voice, and the rest of the boys never tired of -hearing him sing. All of them joined in the chorus, though Josh squeaked -so that he would have killed the whole melody, only that the volume of -sound was so great the discordant vein could not easily be detected. - -The three motor boats were almost drifting along among the many keys -bordering the extreme southern shore of Florida; and the time was just -three days after we saw them reach the vicinity of Miami. - -They had passed from Cards Sound into Barnes Sound, and marveled at the -wonderful construction of the concrete railway arches, by means of which -the East Coast Line expected in the near future to reach far distant Key -West, passing from key to key the entire distance, often over wide -stretches of open sea. - -Cape Sable lay not a great distance ahead. Once the little flotilla had -rounded this tip end of the peninsula, they would begin their northward -voyage. - -The prospect for a camp ashore did not look any too brilliant, and as -the afternoon waned, even sanguine Jack began to despair of finding any -solid ground. In all directions could be seen the interminable mangrove -islands, where swamp abounded, and landing was next to absurd. - -When the wash of the sea proved too heavy they had managed to keep -some key between, and thus far had come on without any accident. Even -George's eccentric motor had been upon its best behavior, but none of -them placed much reliance upon it any longer. - -"The tricky thing just seems to know when to lay down and quit," grumbled -Nick, when George mustered up faith enough to actually say a good word -for the engine again. "It bides its time, and when we need it most of -all, it flunks. I'm going to hold you to your word, George, when we get -to Tampa, where there's a chance to pick up another machine to put in -here." - -"Oh, all right!" declared the other, "since you agreed to stand for half -the expense, why should I have any kick coming? Only I hope the new -engine can walk her along as good as this one, when she feels like it." - -"Hang the speed part!" cried Nick, again rubbing himself as though his -muscles were becoming sore in a chronic way; "if only the plagued thing -won't prove a quitter. I hate anything that lies down on you, when -you've gone and soaked your trust in it, that's what." - -"I think I see a place ahead that looks fairly promising, mates," sang -out Jack, at this point in the discussion. - -"Good for you, Jack; take us to it right away. I'd give a heap just for -a chance to get out and just stand, without feeling my foundation heave -and wabble under me. Oh! if only I had money enough to coax George to -buy a boat that would let a poor feller part his hair on the side, like -he used to do." - -A short time later, and they ran in as near the shore as was deemed -advisable. Here they anchored, with a friendly key protecting them from -any heavy sea that might come up from the south. - -"Here's where the homely little dinky is worth its weight in gold," -remarked Jack, as he prepared to go ashore to look around. - -"Yes, only for that we'd have to do the great wading act right along; -and it ain't always convenient to get wet up to your waist," Herb -observed, in a satisfied tone. - -Having taken in the prospect ashore, Jack came back again. - -"It's all right, fellows," he announced. "High ground for half a mile -inland, and if the bugs allow, we can even sleep ashore tonight." - -"Hurrah! that's grand news you're bringing us, Commodore!" cried Nick, -looking happy again. "Now won't I get the kinks out of my system, -though? Last night aboard nearly did for me, and that's no lie, either." - -"Huh!" George gave vent to one of his odd grunts, adding: "I reckon it -was nearly the end of me, for you kicked like a steer, and came within -an ace of smothering me the time you rolled over, crowding me to the -wall." - -While they were thus joshing each other, all hands were busily engaged -getting such things aboard the little tenders as they knew they would -need for cooking supper ashore. If it were later on decided to remain -there during the night, they could come out again to the anchored motor -boats, and secure blankets, mosquito nets, and what other things were -required. - -As usual, they commenced doing various things, each according to his -taste. - -George had gone back again to his beloved boat, doubtless to tinker with -her eccentric engine, which he always found a puzzle. Nick wandered off -along the shore, as though looking for shells. Jimmy was pottering with -some of his strong fishing tackle as though he had designs on the scaly -denizens of Barnes Sound, and intended putting out several night set -lines, if Jack could secure any mullet for bait. Herb was stretching -himself on the sand, while Jack and Josh built a little fireplace for -cooking, making good use of some blocks of coquina rock, a mixture of -shells and what looked like cement, and which underlies much of the -eastern shore of Florida. - -Presently Jack saw Nick come breathlessly back. He did not say a word -to any one, but, putting off in one of the dinkies, went aboard the -_Wireless_. Two minutes later he appeared again, and Jack saw to his -surprise that he was trying to hide a piece of stout rope under his -coat. - -Of course, his curiosity was aroused, but he did not say anything either -to Nick or the others. The fat boy, casting a suspicious glance around, -and with a wide grin on his face when he looked at Jimmy in particular, -again sauntered off. Jack noticed that when he thought he had passed -beyond their range of vision, Nick actually started on a run. No wonder -he had seemed breathless when he came in, if that was what he had been -doing. - -"What can the sly fellow be up to?" Jack said to himself. "I believe -I'd better keep an eye open, for he's always so ready to tumble into -trouble." - -So as he worked alongside Jimmy, he kept his eyes and ears on the alert. -Perhaps fifteen minutes passed. Then those in camp heard a husky call -that caused them to look up the shore. - -It chanced that there was a clump of mangroves at the nearby point, and -around this Nick hove in sight. He seemed to have harnessed himself in -some fashion with the rope, and was tugging with might and main. - -"Now, what under the sun can he be doing?" ejaculated the surprised -Herb. - -"He's got something along, and seems to be dragging it through the -shallow water!" Josh declared. - -"And look at it splash, would you?" Herb went on. "Say, d'ye suppose, -now, Nick's gone and caught a turtle, one of those big loggerheads they -were telling us about?" - -"Turtle nothing!" laughed Jack; "that's a fish!" - -"A fish!" cried Jimmy, turning pale; "do ye mane to till me he's gone -and caught a _whale_?" - -Evidently Jimmy feared for his laurels; he had held the position of -top-notch in the competition almost from the start, and was beginning to -believe that he might never be ousted by the slow-moving fat boy. And -hence the sight of Nick deliberately dragging that immense bulk behind -him gave Jimmy a bad sensation. - -As the puffing Nick arrived alongside, it was seen that he had indeed -been dragging a tremendous fish after him. The rope was twisted under -its gills in such a way that it could not come loose. - -"What in the dickens is it?" demanded Herb. - -"Blest if I know; but it's a _fish_, and that's enough for me!" -announced the red-faced captor. - -"Be afther listening to him, now, bhoys," observed Jimmy, looking -dismayed; "by the pipers if he doesn't mane to claim he caught it!" - -"Of course, I do!" exclaimed Nick, instantly; "and I'd like to know how -you're going to knock me out of this, like you did that shark. Here I go -fastening on to all sorts of big game, and you always want to question -my right." - -"What kind of a fish is it, Jack?" called George, who was coming ashore -to take a closer look at the squirming victim. - -"It looks squatty, like a big sea bass, the kind we caught several times -along the coast. I rather think it's what they call a jewfish down -here," Jack replied, after looking the prisoner over. - -"Good to eat?" asked Nick, hungrily. - -"Oh, yes; they say so; and we'll take a chunk out of him to try," was -Jack's answer. "Where did you get him, Nick?" - -"Up the shore a little ways. Do I have to tell just how, Jack?" - -"See him try to back out," jeered the envious Jimmy, as his eyes took in -the enormous bulk of the prize, and he mentally figured that it must -weigh all of two hundred pounds, against which his bass of fifteen must -look like a baby. - -"Yes, we want to know everything, so begin," declared George. - -"Well, when I was walking along, I discovered this silly thing splashing -like Sam Hill close to the shore. He must have been left by the tide, -and was half stranded between two bunches of coquina rock. I had a -sudden wild idea, and hurried back here to get a rope." - -"So that's why you wanted it, was it?" cried George. "I was a little -afraid you might be thinking of hanging yourself; but then I expected -the rope would break if you tried that. But go on, Nick." - -"Oh, there ain't much to tell, for I just harnessed the old chap up like -you see, worked him loose from the rocky wedge, and dragged him to camp. -But I hope now, after all my hard work, you ain't going to say I didn't -catch that fish. Anyway, our rules read so long as a feller gets the -game by fair means, and without help. Here he is, and you can rig up -some sort of scales to weigh him. What's a few pounds, more or less, -among friends? But what do you say, Jack, Herb, Josh and George?" - -"Why, according to the letter of the rules, you win," Jack remarked. - -"That's correct," ventured Josh. - -"He lost one whopper because he had to have help; but that can't be said -about this prize. Nick, you certainly take the cake," Herb chuckled. - -"I agree with the rest; he deserves all he gets," said George. - -Jimmy shrugged his shoulders, and made a grimace, as he observed: - -"Sure, I do belave the lot of ye are set agin me; but, honest to Injun, -in me own hearrt I do be thinkin' the same. Which laves me a bad second -in the race. But I do not despair of batin' him out yet. Just give me -toime, bhoys, give me toime to get me wits together." - -Jack busied himself rigging up a crude scales, whereby two of them could -stand out against the big fish; and in this way it was finally estimated -that Nick's latest capture weighed about two hundred and thirty pounds. - -The fat boy was in high glee over his adventure, and burst out into -frequent boasts. He took especial pains to let Jimmy know that the one -who laughed last always laughed hardest. - -"Just wait, and say how that same turns out," declared the Irish lad, -seemingly only the more determined to exceed Nick's big score. - -So the afternoon passed away, and it came on toward evening. - -"Hello! how's this?" remarked Jack, who had been out with George for -some time, taking a look at his motor, and consulting as to the wisdom -of making a radical change when they reached the city of Tampa; "it's -coming on night, and I don't see any signs of supper in sight. And by -the way, where is Josh; I don't happen to set eyes on him around?" - -The others stared at each other. - -"Why, I remember now, that he asked me for the loan of my gun some -little while back, and said he'd like to take a stroll down the beach, -thinking there might be a bunch of those nice little shore birds on -some mud flat, that he could bring back with him," Herb said, looking -perplexed. - -"How long ago was that?" Jack demanded. - -"I guess all of an hour; just after you went out when George called." - -"Has anybody heard a shot?" asked Jack. - -But nobody had; and, as the night came on, the five boys began to realize -that something must surely have happened to their lengthy chum. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE LOST CHUM. - - -Uneasiness increased as the shadows of night began to fall around them; -and the motor boat boys cast many anxious glances toward the gloomy -patches of mangroves along the shore, as well as the denser sawgrass, -dwarf palmetto and trees that covered the mainland. - -"I don't like this at all," Jack finally declared. "We've shouted enough -for any one with ears, within half a mile, to have heard us." - -"And never had a peep from Josh, that's a fact," declared Nick, whose -cheeks had lost some of their customary color, in the face of this -mystery; for he was very fond of the absent chum. - -"Whatever could have happened to the lad?" asked Jimmy. - -"It seems hard to believe that he could have lost himself, and wandered -so far away that he couldn't fire his gun, or hear us yell," Herb -observed, frowning. - -George plucked at the sleeve of Jack, as he remarked in a low, nervous -tone: - -"Now, you don't believe _they_ could have had anything to do with our -chum's disappearance, do you?" - -"What in the wide world are you speaking about?" demanded the other, -startled for the moment by the grave way in which George said this. - -"Why, you know, that queer lot in the boat that was a ringer for the -_Tramp_," was what George added, quickly. - -"Oh! come now, what put that silly notion in your head?" asked Jack; -though at the same time he could not but weigh the startling proposition -advanced by George in his mind, and find himself impressed more or less -by its possibility. - -"I suppose," George went on, "because, for the life of me, I just can't -imagine any other reason why the fellow wouldn't do _something_ to let -us know he was alive. If he discovered that he was lost, I'm dead sure -Josh would have sense enough to holler, and fire his gun several times -in succession." - -"And we never heard the first sign," declared Herb. - -"Well, I've just stood it as long as I mean to," declared Jack. - -"Yes; let's get busy and do something," George burst out with, for he -was ever an impetuous fellow, eager to be accomplishing things, and -getting to his intended goal by a short-cut, if possible. - -"Jack, say what, and we'll stand by you," Herb spoke up, with a look of -grim determination on his face. - -"Them's my sentiments!" affirmed Jimmy. - -"Say the word, and we'll all back you up, Commodore!" Nick put in, -puffing his cheeks out, and looking very fierce--for him. - -"Well, there's an old saying, you remember," Jack remarked, "to the -effect that if the mountain won't come to you, the next best thing is to -go to the mountain. And if Josh hangs fire about returning to camp, why, -some of us have got to get a hustle on, and look him up. That's plain -enough, I hope." - -"It sure is; and we expect you to be the one to lead the rescue party, -Jack," George declared. - -"All right; and as there's no time to be lost, let's get busy. Somebody -has to stay here, and guard the camp; and I appoint Nick as the fellow -to take that duty on his shoulders." - -When Jack made this declaration, Nick started, and seemed to shiver a -little; but, realizing that all eyes were turned toward him, he braced -up again. - -"Oh! all right, Jack, just as you say," he expressed himself. - -"Understand," Jack explained, seeing that the fat boy felt hurt; "it -isn't because there's any doubt about your courage and all that; but -none of us can say how far we may have to tramp, or what swamps we'll -have to wade through; and you admit, Nick, that you're not fitted for -campaigning in that line as well as some of the rest of us." - -"Sure, I know that," said Nick, heaving a sigh. - -"But," continued Jack, as though he had had a second thought, "as three -of us ought to be enough, I guess I'll leave a second guard behind. -Herb, would you mind staying, to keep Nick company? It's just as much a -post of honor as going with George, Jimmy and myself. And you'll have to -keep watch all the time." - -"Oh! I'm ready to do just what you say, Jack. I believe you know best; -and while of course I'd rather be with the hunting party, count on me -holding up the other end with Nick here," Herb hastened to declare. - -"Then that's settled," Jack went on, relieved to find that his plans -were meeting with next to no opposition. "Of course you'll have your -gun, while each of us will go armed; for there's no telling what we may -meet up with. I'll take the rifle, while George and Jimmy have the -scatter-guns." - -"Yes, and if you find Josh, how will you let us know?" Herb asked. - -"I'll fire six shots at regular intervals of about two seconds apart. Be -sure to count them carefully if you hear any firing, because in case we -meet up with a prowling panther, or anything like that, the shooting -would be more rapid." - -When Jack mentioned that one word "panther," it might have been observed -that Nick's mouth opened, as if sudden dismay had seized hold upon him. -However, once more he summoned his nerve to the fore, and shut his teeth -hard together. It was Herb, fortunately, who advanced the proposition -that must have been buzzing in the brain of the more timid Nick. - -"After you've gone, Jack, perhaps it would be just as well for Nick and -myself to go aboard the boats, and hold the fort there. We'll make sure -to keep the fire burning all the while, so you'll have a signal on the -shore, to tell where we are. Is that right, fellows?" he remarked. - -"Best thing you could do; and I was just going to say something like -that," was the way Jack put it. - -George had made haste to secure the guns, and each of the three now -held a weapon in his hands. They looked very warlike and grim, as the -camp-fire shone on the polished steel; and Nick could, after all, be -pardoned for showing signs of excitement as they prepared to start off. -For Nick was in the main a peaceable lad, who liked not strife under any -conditions. - -"Perhaps we'd better give one more halloo before we go?" suggested -George; for the idea of tramping into that mysterious wilderness, with -its swamps and unknown perils, was not to be treated lightly as a -picnic, by any means. - -So they all raised their voices, and sent out a series of whoops that -might have made any Indian warrior envious. - -"Listen!" cried Jack, after this had gone on for a full minute. - -The last echo had died away, and complete silence followed. - -"Never a thing!" exclaimed George. - -"Oh! hark! what is that?" cried Nick, eagerly. - -"Only an owl far away, answering us," Jack declared, promptly. - -"Must think we're trying to give him the laugh," Herb remarked; although -he was feeling in anything but a joking mood, with the strange -disappearance of Josh weighing on his mind so heavily. - -"Come on, boys," Jack called out. "I've got the lantern lighted, and -we'll try our luck following his trail as long as we are able to see it. -Oh! and Herb, if you and Nick want, you might as well eat something -while we're gone." - -"Nixy for me," Herb made answer. "My appetite seems to have gone up the -flue. But we could be cooking something, in case you found Josh, and all -came in hungry." - -"Sure, that's right," Nick hastened to add. "It'll give us something to -keep our minds busy, and that means a whole lot. Good-bye, boys; and the -best of luck!" - -"We sure hope you find our chum, safe and sound," Herb added, feelingly. - -"One thing more," Jack went on to say; "If Josh should happen in while -we're gone, you'll want to let us know." - -"That's right; I hadn't thought of that," said Herb. - -"Then listen. Fire both barrels of your gun, about two seconds apart. -Then repeat the volley twice more, making six shots in all. We'll -understand what you want to tell us, and that we're needed here. That's -all. Come on, George and Jimmy." - -Nick watched them pass away, and the face of the fat boy told that his -soul was troubled. Yet it was not so much of himself he thought, but the -strange mystery hovering over this vanishing of Josh. - -Jack knew where the long-legged would-be hunter had last been seen, and -accordingly he made direct for that spot. - -Evidently he had no especial trouble in discovering the tracks left by -the heels of Josh's shoes, for those left behind saw the trio move -directly away. Soon the flitting glimmer of the moving lantern vanished -entirely among the thickets covering the land in places. - -Josh had headed down the shore when he went forth to try and add to the -camp larder by knocking down a bunch of the tasty little snipe and other -shore birds, flocks of which were seen whenever the tide changed, and -the mud flats became partly bare. - -That meant he had gone west, for the boys had fallen into the habit of -saying "down" as long as they were headed south; and until they turned -up the coast it would continue that way. - -Jack led with his lantern, and carrying the rifle in his other hand. For -some little time the three boys kept on this way. When the tracks became -harder to see, Jack used his judgment, and managed to pick up the trail -again every time. - -All the while George and Jimmy were casting uneasy looks ahead. The moon -being past its prime, would not rise for some time; and as a consequence -all was pitch darkness around them. It was easy to imagine all sorts of -perils lurking in that gloom beyond. Every simple little sound, such as -a stray 'coon scampering away at the coming of the swinging light, -caused them a new quiver. - -George could not get that strange motor boat out of his mind. He -believed that it had left Miami ahead of them, for it was gone on the -morning after their arrival. And the chances were that it had come down -here ahead of them. - -Having more or less of a vivid imagination, George was picturing all -sorts of strange things as happening. He even looked back along the -career of their chum, Josh, trying to figure out some romantic reason -for these people on the strange craft to want to kidnap the long-legged -youth. - -Despite his best efforts, however, this was pretty much a failure. There -never was a fellow with more of an ordinary every-day past than the -said Josh. George had known him since they were kids together, first -starting in to school. His father was one of the substantial men of the -town; and, so far as George knew, there had never been even the faintest -rumor of anything singular attaching to the Purdue family. - -So George, baffled in this respect, had to give it up, and confess -himself altogether at sea. But if Josh had simply gone and lost himself, -then why had he not answered their shouts? - -They had now been following the trail of the missing chum quite some -time, and found themselves at a considerable distance from camp. Every -now and then, apparently, Josh had made his way to the shore, to find -out whether there were any flocks of birds in sight; but as he still -kept moving on, he evidently met with disappointment. - -That he continued to wander on was evidence of a determination to find -some sort of game. Josh was not much of a hunter, and he did hate to be -unmercifully guyed by Jimmy and Nick, whenever he came back empty -handed. - -"It can't be long now, before we make some sort of discovery," George -finally remarked. - -"I agree with you," Jack said, over his shoulder. - -"How far are we from camp now, Jack?" continued the skipper of the -_Wireless_. - -"Perhaps a mile, more or less," answered the pilot of the expedition. - -"But not so far as to be beyond the sound of the yell we put up, eh?" -continued George. - -"Unless Josh suddenly became stone deaf, he must have heard us," replied -the other. - -"See here; you've got something on your mind; why not share it with us, -Jack? You're bothered about something, too. If it don't take in those -queer acting fellows on the power boat, what does ail you?" and George -caught hold of his chum as the other arose from examining the trail once -more. - -"Oh! I don't know as there could be anything in it," Jack admitted, -slowly, as if loth to air his secret fears. - -"But tell us what you do think, even if it does seem impossible, Jack." - -"Only this, that if our chum chanced to slip into some muck bed, he -might have been sucked down in the slimy stuff before he could even -shout for help," was the gruesome remark to which Jack gave utterance. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -TRACKED TO THE BAYOU. - - -"Oh! I hope it won't turn out as bad as that, Jack!" gasped George. - -"The poor spalpeen!" whimpered Jimmy, apparently shocked by what their -leader had just remarked. - -"Now," Jack hastened to say, "don't make up your minds, boys, that Josh -has run against that sort of a hard deal, just because it flashed into -my mind. You wanted to know why I was in such a sweat, and I told you. -But, honest Injun, after I've spoken my mind, I just can't bring myself -to believe it. We'll find our chum, sooner or later. Perhaps, after all, -it'll turn out that he had a bad tumble, and hurt himself so he wasn't -able to let us know." - -"Well, as long as we're able to follow his trail, we hadn't ought to -give up in despair," George asserted, very sensibly. - -"Sure, we've shown in the past that we're not built that way," Jimmy -thought fit to remark, firmly. - -"Then let's be going on," Jack wound up the conference by saying. - -For the fifth time the trail approached the water again. Josh evidently -hated to give up the idea that had been in his mind when he left camp. -If there were any of those dainty little shore birds to be had, he -wanted to get a crack at the same; though by this time he must have -become aware of the fact that he was wandering much farther away than he -had intended doing in the start. - -This time there happened to be quite a deep-seated cove, with a point of -land running out that would completely shut out all sight of the spot -where the three motor boats were anchored, with the camp-fire ashore. - -Jack noted this fact; somehow it was impressed on his mind, though he -could not have exactly explained why this should be so, had he been -asked. - -The tracks grew fainter, so that it was only by pushing the glowing and -useful lantern down close to the sand that Jack was able to follow the -line by which Josh had pushed his way along. - -"Here is where he dropped on his knees, the better to crawl forward," -whispered the guide; and both George and Jimmy could make out the deeper -impressions that undoubtedly must have been made by a pair of knees -pressing down. - -There was a screen of saw palmetto in front of them, hiding the water. -Perhaps Josh had discovered a flock of the coveted birds on a bar, and -was making his way to a point he had in mind, where he might suddenly -rise, and fire. But something must have prevented his carrying out this -plan, then, for certainly the sound of a heavy shotgun charge could have -been heard at the camp, had he pulled trigger. "Wait here for me, and -keep quiet," whispered Jack, as, leaving the lantern on the ground, he -started away. - -His two companions were rendered almost speechless by his strange -action. They could only stare at each other, and nod their heads, as -though striving in this way to communicate their fears. - -In two minutes Jack came back. He looked disappointed as he stooped to -pick up the lantern again. - -"Nothing doing, boys," he said, quietly. - -"They don't seem to be, and that's a fact," mumbled Jimmy, much -depressed. - -"See here, what did you expect to find when you went on there?" demanded -George, immediately suspicious. "Was it anything about that bally old -boat, the one that's been dogging us all the way down from Jacksonville? -Tell me that, Jack, old top!" - -"H'm! perhaps it may be the people aboard that same boat have come to -the conclusion _we're_ doing the dogging. They run across us in all -sorts of unexpected places. And if you stop to remember, George, it's -the other boat that has always slipped away secretly, not us!" - -"You're right, it was," George flashed up; "but you didn't answer my -question, Jack." - -"Well, I did have your pet hobby in mind when I went on just now, to -take a look at this fine little lagoon; because, with that point of land -standing in a half-moon curve, it looks like a splendid harbor for small -boats. And, to tell you the truth, I picked up the butt end of a -cigarette just back there five feet, one that was thrown away recently, -because no rain or dew had fallen on it!" - -"Whew! now, that does look suspicious, I must say," George exclaimed, in -a low and cautious voice. - -"But there isn't a sign of any boat in the bayou, as far as I could -see," Jack went on. "Of course, it's so dark now that I wasn't able to -take in the whole bay; but, anyhow, there isn't a light visible." - -"And now, what nixt?" asked Jimmy, eager to get at the solution of this -perplexing problem, which was thrilling their nerves more and more as -they made progress. - -For answer, Jack moved forward, this time using the friendly lantern as -before. Brushing through the screen of saw palmettos, they could see the -water lapping the shore of the lagoon, though there were still bushes -and tall grass between. - -"Hello!" - -Uttering this exclamation half under his breath, the leader of the trio -suddenly came to a halt. Jimmy half raised the gun he was carrying, as -though under the impression that they were about to be confronted by -something, either a human enemy or one in the way of a wild beast, that -would bar their further progress. - -Then he saw that Jack, instead of showing signs of preparing for battle, -was on his knees, eagerly examining certain marks in the sand. - -"What have you found?" asked George, in an awed tone. - -"As near as I can make out, there are tracks that seem to tell of a -scuffle!" was the ready reply, as Jack pointed here and there. - -"By the great horn spoon, but I believe you're right!" gasped George. - -"It's either that, now, or else the gossoon's been and had a fit," Jimmy -declared, though he could not remember that Josh had ever been addicted -to such things. - -"No; there have been two men here," said Jack. - -"Glory be!" ejaculated the Irish lad. - -"Tell us how you know that, Jack?" asked George, his face struggling -between a grin and a look of alarm. - -"Why, it's as plain as print; and if you look here, you'll see the marks -of their shoes. Both seem much larger than Josh ever made, and yet they -are different, for one had heels, and the other must have been wearing -some sort of moccasin, perhaps the kind I've got, to be used aboard a -small, varnished decked boat, so as to avoid scratching." - -"Didn't I say so?" burst out George, unable to hold in any longer. -"After this you won't think I'm off my base when I mention my suspicions -about fellows who run away in the night, peek through marine glasses at -us every chance they get, and just act like a parcel of sneaks. Jack, -that fly-up-the-creek power boat must have been in this bayou when our -chum came crawling through these bushes, and took a look out." - -"That's about what I'm thinking, now," admitted the other. - -"Some of the men happened to be ashore, and saw him spying on the boat? -Is that in line with what you think, Jack?" - -"It looks that way. Two unknown parties certainly dropped down on Josh -while he was lying here. He put up as good a fight as he could, but they -were too much for the poor fellow," Jack went on, looking as though he -might be reading all these things from the marks upon the sand. - -"But you don't say any signs of blood, do ye, Jack darlint?" asked -Jimmy, with a plain vein of horror in his quavering voice. - -"No, I'm glad to say I don't," replied the other. "So, on that account -it would seem that the fellows haven't actually hurt Josh, only made him -a prisoner." - -Jimmy gave a bleat, not unlike the pitiful sound a distressed goat might -emit. - -"Och! thin the bally rascals have carried him away wid them, and we'll -niver set eyes on our chum agin. Whirra! whativer will Nick do about his -rations, if the cook of the bunch be lost, strayed or stolen?" he -whimpered. - -"Nick be hanged!" said George, vehemently, though in a low tone; "never -fear but he'll get all he wants to eat. What we have to find out is -where they've gone, and why they dared carry Josh Purdue away with them. -And we'll just do that same, if it takes the whole of the winter. You -hear me speaking, don't you? Oh! what did you do that for, Jack?" - -This last sentence was caused by a sudden action on the part of Jack. He -had raised the lantern, and with a quick, downward motion caused the -light to go out--a trick readily learned by any one who will take the -trouble to experiment. And thus they were left standing there in the -dark. - -"How under the sun did it happen that none of us saw it before?" Jack -was softly saying, in a vexed tone, as though he had made a discovery -that agitated him. - -"Saw what?" asked George. - -"Bend your head this way, and look yonder through the bushes," Jack told -him. - -"Great governor!" whispered the _Wireless_ skipper, hoarsely; "it _is_ a -light, as sure as shooting! And on the water, too, Jack. Say, that power -boat must be over there, in another bayou just beyond. There's a neck of -land runs out, and it's covered with trees and scrub. That's why we -didn't glimpse that light before." - -"You've hit the nail on the head, George, for that's just the way the -land lies," Jack went on, trying to control his voice, which would -tremble a little despite his utmost endeavors. "But perhaps that light -wasn't shining a bit ago. There, look! it's disappeared again." - -"That's what it has," Jimmy observed, having been an interested observer -all the while; "just for all the worrld loike a windy had been opened, -and shut again. I do be thinking mesilf that somebody was afther coming -out of the cabin to take a look around, and lift the door open the -while, that's all. Now he's gone in again, by the same token." - -"I hope, then, he didn't just catch a glimpse of our light moving, -before I doused the glim," was the fervent wish expressed by Jack. - -"I hardly think he did, Jack," George said, nervously. "You see, it was -standing on the ground up to the time you grabbed it up again. But what -ought we do now?" - -"Make our way around that tongue of land the best way we can, and see -how things are there," Jack replied, without the slightest hesitation. - -"Why not follow the beach around?" George suggested. - -"Now, that wouldn't be a bad scheme. It's so dark that if we kept -low, they couldn't see us moving. And, besides, it'll save a lot of -scrambling through that brush, without the help of the lantern. All -right; come along then, boys. And let's remember to keep as quiet as an -owl in the daytime." - -Saying this in a whisper, Jack led the way, the others following along -in Indian file at his heels. Whenever he halted for any reason, both -George and Jimmy would also draw up instantly. And no doubt, on every -occasion of this sort, their excited pulses would cause their hearts to -beat like trip-hammers. - -Just as they had guessed, there was a point of land running out all of -seventy feet into the water, and hiding the next bayou. Sometimes these -extend from the main Florida shore around Barnes Sound like the fingers -of a human hand. Again they will be in the form of reefs, composed of -small, sharp-edged 'coon oysters, that stick up out of the salt water at -low tide, but are entirely submerged when the flood comes on. - -Before reaching the extreme point, Jack concluded that it would be wise -for them to pass over here, rather than risk discovery by going to the -limit of the cape; where, with the white sand to serve as a background -to their darker bodies, some one on the watch might discover their -approach, and give warning. - -"Jack, I see it!" whispered George, presently. - -"The boat, you mean," replied the other, in the same guarded tone. "Yes, -I've caught her, too. But everything seems to be dark around." - -"I wonder now, have they deserted the ould craft," suggested Jimmy. - -"Not so loud, Jimmy; we've got to find that out for ourselves," Jack -went on. - -"By going aboard, you mean, don't you, Jack?" from eager George. - -"There's no other way; and if these people are holding our chum -a prisoner, we've just got to let them know we object to such a -high-handed business. Are you both willing to stand back of me, George, -Jimmy?" - -"Every time," George replied; and Jack could easily imagine how his -excitable chum must be nerved up to the highest tension. - -"Ye c'n count on me, through thick and thin, sink or shwim, survive or -perish," Jimmy put in, as solemnly as though he might be holding up his -hand, and subscribing to the oath before the court. - -"Then come on, and we'll take the bull by the horns," said Jack, moving -forward through the thin growth that marked the spit of land near its -terminus. - -"And don't let's forget, fellows, that we're armed to the teeth," -whispered George, as he set out to trail close behind his leader. - -In this manner, then, the three motor boat boys crawled across to the -shore of the other little bayou, bent upon making a bold move looking to -rescuing their comrade, if so be Josh were found to be a prisoner in the -hands of the strangers. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -FOR THE SAKE OF CHUM JOSH. - - -It seemed to Jack Stormways that all his senses must be on the alert -as never before. Even the slightest sound caught his attention--the -rustling of a prowling 'coon through the saw palmetto scrub; the splash -of some fish jumping out of the water of the lagoon; and from a distance -came strange, querulous noises which he guessed must proceed from some -bird roost, situated in the depths of a swamp, although Jack knew very -little about such places from actual experience. - -Having passed partly over the point of land, they could just begin to -make out the boat that lay in the next bayou. And George's imagination -worked overtime, so that he was positive he could recognize the familiar -outlines of the craft that looked like the _Tramp_. - -Once Jack came to a stop. Possibly he only meant to take an observation, -in order to make sure that the coast was clear; but the other boys at -once jumped to the conclusion that he had seen some sign of trouble -ahead. - -"What is it?" whispered George, making a nervous forward thrust with his -gun, as though eager to mix up, if so be one came along; while Jimmy -edged up on the other side, quivering with anxiety, too. - -Jack bent his head lower before making a reply; for he knew the danger -of allowing his voice to rise above the faintest murmur. The lapping of -the waves on the sandy beach close by, together with those strange -sounds from the interior, might go far toward muffling speech, but if -suspicious ears were on the alert it were folly to take unnecessary -chances. - -"Nothing. I was only looking. All seems quiet, boys, so come on," he -said; and no doubt the throbbing hearts of the other lads eased down in -the strain. - -So once more they started to advance, with the border of the lagoon now -close at hand. All of them could by this time make out the fact that the -boat must be anchored in shallow water near the shore. Perhaps those -aboard had neglected to provide themselves with a dinky; and in -consequence had to rely upon finding some place where they could push -the power boat in, by loosening the anchor cable. - -The light breeze that caused the waves to gently roll up on the sand was -coming from the southwest. Hence it was that the boat lay almost stern -on, showing part of her starboard quarter. - -When they had reached a point close to the water's edge, the three boys -again instinctively came to a halt, to once more scrutinize the craft. - -No lantern hung there to serve as a riding light; it was not needed, as -would have been the case in a crowded harbor. Faint, indeed, the chance -of any other boat running them down here in this secluded spot. - -George had unconsciously laid a hand on the arm of Jack as they thus -crouched and gazed. His fingers suddenly tightened their hold. - -"Oh!" he exclaimed, "did you see that?" - -"'Sh!" breathed Jack, hastily. "Yes, I was watching. Some one brushed -aside the curtain that covers the cabin bullseye, and light shone -through. That settles one thing, George." - -"That they're aboard!" echoed the other. - -"Yes." - -"But, we go on, don't we, Jack?" begged the impetuous George. - -"I should say, yes; for we believe our chum is being held a prisoner on -that same boat. Make your mind easy, both of you; it isn't going to get -away from us now. We've gone too far to hold back." - -"That's the stuff!" whispered the delighted George; while Jimmy -muttered his assent, which was none the less fervent because the words -were inaudible. - -Once before, on a cruise the motor boys were making on the waters of the -faraway North, they had had a stirring encounter with some lawless men -who were fleeing from officers sent to apprehend them. On that occasion -Jack and his chums had managed to give considerable assistance to the -legal authorities; and it was largely through their work that the -fugitives were finally apprehended. - -No doubt this circumstance must have loomed up large in the memory of -George right then and there. He had long ago made up his mind that the -mysterious persons on board the boat that looked like the _Tramp_ were a -couple of rascals, who felt afraid of the cruisers for some reason or -other. And now, that it seemed they had set upon poor Josh, making him -prisoner, and carrying him aboard, the conditions became darker than -ever. - -It was the greatest mystery the boys had ever struck. Even Jack, with -his usual keen intellect, was utterly unable to determine what these men -could want with the missing crew of the _Comfort_; Josh, a fellow who -seldom made enemies among his companions, and simply devoid of evil -intent. - -Perhaps they had discovered him creeping through the scrub, either to -get a shot at some shore birds or to examine the anchored power boat, in -which he knew George at least was deeply interested. If they were men -fleeing from the sheriff, his actions might have looked so suspicious to -them that they were impelled to pounce on him without giving warning. - -Many were the explanations that surged through the excited brains of the -three lads in the brief space of time occupied in reaching the shore of -the second lagoon. - -As they stood there, George and Jimmy content to follow the lead of -Jack, no matter what that might mean, a low murmur came to them. It was -as if those inside the cabin of the boat might be conversing among -themselves. - -Jack listened intently. Perhaps he even entertained a faint hope that he -might hear the high-pitched voice of Josh above the rest; for the tall -boy had a way of using the rising inflection when in the least excited. -But the fact of the cabin being closed prevented his discovering any -marked difference between the tones of those who were speaking. - -George and Jimmy were waiting to see what means their leader would -adopt, in order to gain the deck of the little craft. The boat lay at a -distance of perhaps twenty feet from the edge of the water. Judging from -the fact that the beach was sandy there could be no question but what, -if they picked their way, they might be able to wade out, without -getting in any deeper than hip-high at most. - -When Jack hesitated for that half minute, with the little waves crawling -up to his feet, it was because he wished to make sure that there was -no one upon the stern of the swinging power boat, to discover their -advance. - -Having made sure of this fact, he would boldly push forward, entering -the water, regardless of the fact that their shoes must suffer in -consequence. - -When he took the first step, the others were alongside. They fancied -that the time had gone by for them to follow _after_ Jack; if a battle -were imminent, their place must be on the firing line, where numbers -would count for something. For did they not grip weapons as well as -Jack; and were they not just as anxious to effect the rescue of their -missing chum? - -Once Jimmy stumbled, and made quite a little splash ere he recovered his -footing. It may have been a jellyfish upon which he placed his foot, and -which caused him to slide; or some obstacle in the shape of a clump of -'coon oysters. The cause was immaterial; but what splash he made gave -them all a thrill, since they fully expected that it would bring about -discovery. - -At the time it chanced that they had passed over more than half the -distance separating them from the boat, and were standing up to their -knees in the water. - -Jack noted that the murmurous sound which they had decided must be the -mingling of voices, had suddenly stopped. From this he imagined that -those within the closed cabin of the power boat had heard the splash -and were waiting for a repetition of the same, in order to gauge its -meaning. - -Would they come out to investigate? If so, what should be the programme -of the three who stood there in the water? None of them had ever fired a -shot at a human being in all their lives; and the mere thought of such a -thing was distasteful to them. At the same time, if their comrade were -in the hands of unscrupulous men, and heroic measures had to be adopted -in order to effect his release, not one of them would hesitate. - -Jack often looked back to that strained moment, when he and his comrades -stood there, knee deep in the lagoon, within a dozen feet of the -mysterious little power boat, keyed up to a condition when their nerves -were all on edge, and waiting for whatever might happen. He could feel -a sense of amusement over it, too, at some future time; but it was -certainly no laughing matter then. - -Then there suddenly flashed out a broad beam of light. The door of the -cabin had been opened; and, as those standing there in the water were -directly behind the stern, the light fell full upon them. - -Jack saw a figure push into view. Outlined against the lighted interior -of the boat it stood up in plain sight, and they could even make out the -fact that the unknown party wore knickerbockers, as though dressed for -an outing. - -Of course he must have discovered the threatening trio there just as -soon as he thus partly emerged from the cabin. They could tell this from -the way in which he stood as if riveted to the spot, making no motion -either to advance further, or retreat back into the recesses of the -boat's interior. - -Jack did not mean to give him a chance to take the initiative. He raised -his gun, and immediately covered the unknown party; which action was -accepted as proof by his two chums that they were to follow suit, and -they proceeded to do so. - -If astonishment had held the man motionless up to this moment, a due -sense of caution kept him so after he discovered those three menacing -guns turned full in his direction. Apparently he must be either stunned -by the situation that had burst upon him without warning; or else he -kept his head, and knew there was only one thing to do in order to avoid -trouble, which was to submit to the inevitable. - -"Don't think of trying to drop back into that cabin," said Jack, in a -voice that was quite stern, even if it did quiver a little; "we've got -you covered all right, and you might as well surrender!" - -"That's the ticket!" rasped George, trying to seem very formidable, in -order to hide the fact that his knees were knocking together just a -trifle, with excitement of course, not fear! - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -ABOARD THE STRANGE POWER BOAT. - - -"Well, this _is_ a rich joke!" laughed the man. "Just keep your fingers -from pressing those triggers, please, boys. No danger of my trying the -disappearing act. Fact is, we've been expecting you to come along for -some time now." - -Jack was not going to allow himself to be deceived. "Soft words buttered -no parsnips," he had often heard his mother say; and because this -unknown fellow chose to talk smoothly, was no sign that he should be -trusted. - -And so he continued to keep his gun raised, seeing which the others did -likewise. - -"That's nice, to hear you say such fine things; but what we want to know -is, what have you done with our chum?" he demanded. - -"Yes, tell us that!" said George, menacingly. - -"Sure, we want to know, by the same token!" observed the Irish lad. - -"Oh! he's aboard our boat, just now, and will be glad to welcome you," -the other party remarked, coolly. "And I hereby invite you one and all -to come along to see for yourselves. It's a mistake all around, I guess. -Please accept my invitation in the same friendly spirit in which it is -given, and honor us with your company, boys. Josh is getting back to his -old self, but he had a nasty tumble, I give you my word." - -"What's that?" asked Jack. - -"He tripped over a root," said the man, earnestly, "and struck his head -on a lump of coquina rock. It made a bad cut on the side of his head, -and he bled quite a little. Besides, the blow must have knocked him -senseless. My friend Carpenter and myself were just coming back to the -boat, after a little side hunt for a deer, when we discovered him lying -there, and took him aboard. After he came to, he told us who he was, and -all about the rest of you. And am I right in believing that you are Jack -Stormways?" - -Of course the three boys were more or less thunderstruck by what they -had just heard. It knocked all their theories "into flinders," as Jimmy -would have said. Here they had been concocting all manner of wonderful -stories in connection with the two parties aboard the little power boat. -They had even gone so far as to believe the men must be some desperate -characters, fleeing from the sheriff, who might turn up at any hour in -full pursuit. - -And now, from what the other had just declared, it would seem that the -shoe was exactly on the other foot. Instead of proving to be lawless -men, criminals in fact, they gave evidence of turning out to be Good -Samaritans. Why, Josh might have been in a bad way, only for them, -according to what the man had just said. - -But could he be believed? Might it not all be a part of some clever -trap? George, always inclined toward suspicion, would have held back, -had the decision been left to him; Jack was inclined to take the man's -word, for he had a frank way about him; while Jimmy was hanging in the -balance, hardly knowing what to believe. - -Just then there came a shout from within the cabin of the little boat. - -"Hello, Jack; it's all right!" - -All of them readily recognized the well known voice of Josh; and his -assurance went far toward alleviating the fear George entertained, that -danger lurked in their putting themselves in the power of the unknown -parties. - -"You hear what your mate says, Jack?" remarked the man whose figure was -outlined against the glow of the cabin's interior. "Tell them to come -aboard, and see what we did for you, Josh." - -"That's just what, fellers. Nobody could have been kinder. Don't stop -there, but push your way aboard. Cabin's small; but you can all get your -heads in," Josh went on to say. - -Of course, after that even suspicious George saw no reason for holding -back longer. So the three splashed along until they stood hip-deep in -the lagoon. The man even stretched out a hand and assisted Jack aboard, -as though he bore them not the least bit of malice for having held him -up at the muzzle of their guns. - -As Jack clambered aboard, the first thing he saw through the opening -was Josh, with a bandage around his head, which showed signs of gore, -telling that he must have received something of a bad cut when he -tripped and fell. - -Then all those signs around the spot, which they supposed meant a -struggle between the boy and his two captors, had in reality been made -when the men attempted to lift Josh, and carry his senseless form to -their boat near by. - -Well, one thing was apparently explained. There was no longer any -mystery as to why Josh had failed to respond when they shouted, and -fired their guns. If at the time, he was lying there senseless, he could -not very well be expected to give an answering halloo. But then, why had -not these two men done something to let his companions know what had -befallen him? - -That was what puzzled Jack. He should have thought that the very first -thing to occur to them would be to send word to the camp of the motor -boat boys--unless, now, there was some good reason for holding back -until they could question Josh, and make sure that he did not have any -connection with the sheriff and his posse! - -"This is my friend, and cruising partner, Mr. Bryce Carpenter," said the -one who had thus far been conducting the conversation from their side. -"My own name is Sidney Bliss. How about your friends, Jack?" - -"George Rollins, the first one, and Jimmy Brannigan the other," Jack -immediately spoke. "We've left two more in camp, while we hunted for our -lost chum. Hello! Josh; awful glad to find you alive and kicking; but -don't like the looks of that bloody pack around your head." - -"Huh! I guess I got a pretty hard knock on my coco, all right," grinned -Josh; and he did look so comical, with that turban-like bandage, and -his face flecked with little specks of dried blood, that Jimmy burst out -into a merry laugh. - -"Sure, ye did, Josh, ye spalpeen!" he declared, thrusting one arm into -the cabin, so as to clutch the hand of the discovered comrade; "but 'tis -a tough nut ye're afther having, I do declare, which is a fortunate -thing for ye this night." - -"All that he told you is square as a die, fellers," Josh went on. "And -they've been mighty kind to me, I give you my word. I didn't know where -I was when I came out of the doze; but they asked me a lot of questions, -and in that way we got to be right well acquainted." - -"H'm! you see," the man who had called himself Sidney Bliss hastened to -say, "we had some good reasons for feeling suspicious toward your party, -Jack." - -"I don't know why," returned the boy, instantly. "We've come all the way -down the coast from Philadelphia, and never once bothering ourselves -about anybody else's business. George, here, got into rather a little -fever because he said you seemed to be watching us through the glasses -whenever we happened to come near each other, but it was none of our -business, and I wouldn't let it bother me." - -That was as plain an invitation for an explanation as could be imagined; -and apparently so the other looked at it. - -"Well, after learning just who you were, and that you couldn't have the -least connection with Lenox and his crowd, we had to laugh at our -suspicions," Bliss went on to say. - -"We don't happen to know anybody by the name of Lenox, do we, boys?" -Jack took occasion to remark. - -"Nixy, not," Jimmy asserted, after his usual manner, while George, too, -shook his head in the negative. - -"Only Lenox I ever knew was a sickly little chap who went to the same -boarding school I did about six years ago," he remarked. - -"Well, Josh says you're all from out Mississippi way," the man continued, -glibly; "and this Lenox is a New Yorker. Besides, he's a man of about -forty, and not a boy at all. Belongs to the same club Carpenter and -myself do; and thereby hangs the tale that sent us away down here, and -made us eye your crowd with suspicion." - -"Yes?" Jack said, feeling that he was expected to make some sort of -remark. - -"They told me all about it, fellers," spoke up Josh; "and after you -hear, I guess you'll understand just why they've been playing the -hold-off game they did. It's all as square as you'd want it, take my -affidavy on it." - -"Good for you, Josh," laughed Bliss, good-naturedly, as he glanced -quickly toward his companion; and Jack plainly saw him wink his eye -suggestively. "After what we did for you, it's evident that you have -perfect faith in our record. But, as I was saying, Jack, at the club one -evening, we got to disputing, and Lenox, who pretends to be something of -a dashing small boat sailor, dared Bryce and myself to enter into a -competition with himself and some of his friends. That's what took us -down here right now, you see." - -"What sort of competition, sir?" asked George, quickly. - -"To prove which party might turn out to be the better sailors, we agreed -to make the complete circuit of the coast of Florida in boats no longer -than twenty-three feet; and the ones who reached Pensacola first were to -be declared winners. Neither of us were to accept the least outside aid, -on penalty of being declared losers." - -It sounded very nice, and yet Jack could not forget that suggestive look -which had passed between the men. And he wondered if there might not be -something back of the story Bliss was telling, something perhaps much -nearer the truth. - -"Oh!" he remarked, "I see now what you mean. You kept watching us, then, -because you suspected we might be your rivals in the race?" - -"That's it, Jack," the man immediately burst out with, seemingly -pleased; "you see, my boy, our friend Lenox is known to be rather a -tricky chap. Carpenter and myself came to the conclusion that he might -resort to some scheme to hold us back, and somehow we got to look at -your three boats with suspicion. Of course it was all a silly mistake, -as we know now. But we're glad to have been of some assistance to your -mate, Josh, knowing full well that you'd have done as well by us if the -occasion offered. And, by Jove! you boys beat us all hollow, when it -comes to bold cruising; for Josh has been telling us something of what -you've done. I take off my cap to you, Jack Stormways, as a Corinthian -sailor!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -IN HONOR BOUND. - - -"Thank you for the compliment," Jack said; "but there are just six of -us, all told; and each one is as much entitled to your praise as I am." - -"I object," George broke in. "Lots of times the pack of us would have -been in a bally lot of hot water only for the clever way you had of -handling things." - -"And that's no lie, either!" burst out Jimmy. "Whin there's any credit -flyin' around loose, sure Jack desarves the lion's share, so he does -now." - -"Better and better!" cried the man who had given his name as Bliss. -"Why, you're as loyal a bunch of chums as I ever ran across. It's a -rare treat for my friend Carpenter here and myself to meet up with such -fellows, eh, Bryce?" - -The way he laid particular emphasis on that name every time he used it -somehow gave Jack the impression that he did not wish the other to -forget who he was! It was of course a queer feeling to have, but the boy -could not get it out of his head. - -"How about going back with us, Josh; feel equal to a little walk; or -shall I come around after you in a small boat?" Jack asked. - -"Rats! what d'ye take me for?" demanded Josh, indignantly. "Just because -I've got a little puncture in my noggin is no sign I'm out of the -running. Why, course I'll go back with you, and right away, too." - -"What's the hurry, boys?" asked Mr. Bliss, quickly. - -"Well, for one thing," Jack remarked, "we've got a couple of anxious -chums in camp, who'll be eating their heads off with curiosity to know -what's become of Josh." - -"That's right," declared the tall lad, chuckling; "and it's a shame to -keep poor old Nick away from his feed so long. Ten to one he's as hungry -as a bear right now, waiting for grub time to come around." - -"But won't you stay and have a bite with us?" asked Mr. Carpenter. -"We're not extra fine cooks, but we've got lots of good stuff aboard." - -"That's right kind of you," George thought he ought to say; "but, -considering the circumstances, I reckon we'd better be going, if Josh -says he's fit." - -"Well, I'll show you I'm feeling just like myself, and not a bit weak, -after bleeding like a stuck pig," and the long-legged boy started to -climb out of the cabin as he spoke. - -"Please wait a minute," Mr. Bliss interrupted. "If you must go, there's -no need of Josh getting himself all wet. You see, we've got it fixed so -we can push ashore by a very little effort on our part, right alongside -the roots of that tree; and where the water chances to be fairly deep. -We had the boat in there when we brought your friend along, and it'll be -easy to get back again. Then a jump lands you, safe and sound." - -He snatched up a setting pole, the most useful thing that can be carried -on a cruise along the shallow waters of the keys, and with very little -effort managed to send the anchored boat into the tiny cove, his -companion having loosened the anchor cable meanwhile. - -Jack was the first to spring ashore, and the others followed quickly at -his heels, with Josh bringing up the rear, and anxious to prove his -words true about being in first rate condition. - -"Glad to have made your acquaintance, boys," said Mr. Bliss; "and if we -happen to cross each others' path again, there's no reason why we -shouldn't be friends, is there?" - -"Well, I should say our chum here is under heavy obligations to you, -sir; and on his account, if no other, we'd feel inclined that way," -returned Jack. - -"Shake hands on that, Jack," Mr. Bliss remarked; and each of the four -boys in turn did so, even carrying the friendly act out with the other -skipper of the little power boat. - -"The best of luck go with you all!" called out Mr. Bliss, waving his -hand after them. - -"Same to you, sir!" replied George, who had apparently quite gotten over -the suspicions by which he had been almost overpowered earlier in the -evening. - -And presently, after they had pushed their way across the tongue of land -lying between the two lagoons, they could only tell where the boat which -they had just left lay, by the glowing light flooding out of her cabin. - -Jack placed himself at one side of Josh, while George lined up on the -other. But the lanky boy observed these movements with suspicion. - -"Hey, what's this mean?" he demanded. "Got an idea I'm apt to keel over -any old minute, have you? Just because I did that silly thing once, now -don't you think she's goin' to get to be a habit with me. That's a -mistake, fellers. I'm tougher'n you reckon on, now. Come along, buck up, -George, and hit up a faster pace." - -"Hold on, now," said George, as he struggled with a vine that had caught -him under the chin, and almost lifted him off his feet; "there ain't any -such hurry as all that, you know. It's bad walking here, and I don't -feel like being strangled just yet awhile." - -"Yes, pull in your horses, Josh," Jack remarked. "We'll believe you're -all right without you being in such a rush about getting back to camp." - -Three minutes later Jack spoke again. - -"None of you noticed that either of those gentlemen came ashore after we -left, did you?" he asked, quietly. - -"Why, no, of course they didn't," George remarked. - -"For what are you askin' that same question?" demanded Jimmy. - -"P'raps I might give a guess," remarked Josh, quietly. - -"Well, I only wanted to make sure that anything we might say to each -other wasn't likely to get to their ears," Jack went on. - -"Say, now you've gone and got me guessing good and hard again," -remonstrated George. "You seem to just love to say things that sound so -mysterious. Tell a fellow, Jack, there's a good chap, why you don't want -them to hear us talking. Why, we hadn't ought to have anything but good -words to say about those gentlemen after the fine way they acted toward -our chum here." - -"That's true enough, George," Jack went on to say; "and make up your -mind I'm the last one to look a gift horse in the mouth to find out his -age; but there were a few things about our two new friends that somehow -made me sit up and take notice; and I wanted to ask Josh here what he -thought." - -"I just expected you'd be up to that dodge," the party in question -observed, with a little chuckle, as of amusement. "I knew that if -anybody could get on to their curves, Jack would." - -"Curves!" repeated George, wonderingly. - -"Sure, he do be thinkin' he's playing baseball again," laughed Jimmy. - -"And from the way you talk, Josh," Jack went on, paying no attention to -these side remarks on the part of his other chums, "I can give a guess -that you must have made some little discovery on your own hook that has -told you our two friends might be playing a little game of blindman's -buff with us right now. How is that, Josh?" - -"Jack, you're the greatest feller I ever struck, to get on to anything," -replied the long-legged one, admiringly. - -"That isn't answering my question," the other continued. - -"Then I'll say, yes," Josh went on. - -"Tell us what it was you heard," George asked, once more fairly -boiling with a desire to know everything connected with the mysterious -passengers of the little power boat that had acted so strangely on the -trip down the east coast. - -"Hold on a minute," said Josh. "This bandage is slipping down, so I'll -have to get you to fix it for me, boys. Hope the hole's leaked all it's -going to, because I can't afford to lose as much fluid as some fellers, -Nick for instance. There, that feels all right. Now, what was you saying -to me? Oh! yes, about how I happened to get onto the fact that the two -gentlemen that took me aboard their boat might be somethin' else besides -what they said. Was that it?" - -"Just what it was!" George came back, knowing how Josh always liked to -beat about the bush more or less before telling anything he knew. - -"Well, here's the way it stands, fellers," went on Josh. "You see, after -they carried me on board the boat, I laid there like a mummy in a -trance. But by slow degrees I began to come back again. And all the -while my eyes must have been shut, I could hear some mumbling voices, -though for the life of me I couldn't make out who it was talkin'." - -"Oh! hurry up, old ice-wagon; get a move on you, and tell us!" exclaimed -George, almost biting his tongue with impatience. - -"I heard one man that I afterwards knew was Mr. Bliss say, as plain as -anything: 'I tell you, they're nothin' but boys, and they ain't goin' to -give us away.' And then the other one, he says, says he: 'If I thought -this one knew anything, I'd be tempted to let him lie there where we -picked him up, that's what. We can't afford to take any chances, and you -know it, Sam!'" - -Jack gave a low whistle. - -"And yet Mr. Bliss said his friend's name was Bryce Carpenter," he -observed. "I had an idea all along, from the way he called that name, he -wasn't used to saying it. Sam came easier to his tongue. Now, we don't -know who Sam is, or what he's done, but seems to me there's something -crooked about that yarn they set up, of a wager made with that Lenox -fellow." - -"They never made such a wager," declared Josh, stubbornly; "and right -now the only thing they want to do is to get around to Tampa, where they -expect to slip aboard a boat bound for Cuba. I heard some more talk -before I opened my eyes and spoiled it all. If the one who calls himself -Carpenter hadn't got cold feet, their plan was to drop down the keys to -Key West, and get across to Havana from there." - -"Well, what's that to us?" remarked Jack. "They treated you white, Josh, -didn't they?" - -"They sure did," answered the other, warmly. - -"All right," Jack went on; "then it's no business of ours who and what -they are; and we'll just have to forget them. But, listen, wasn't that a -shout ahead, there?" - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -AN INVASION OF THE CAMP. - - -"I heard it, too, Jack!" exclaimed George; but neither of the others -seemed to have noticed anything, though in the case of Josh, with his -head tied up, this was really not to be wondered at. - -"What sort of a sound was it, boys?" demanded the tall one. - -"I thought it was a shout of some kind; how about it, George?" Jack -replied. - -"Same here. But then, perhaps it's only Herb and Nick skylarking. Once -in so often Nick gets a streak, and thinks he has to work off his high -humor. But see here, Jack, I hope you don't imagine some sort of trouble -has dropped in on the two boys we left in camp less than an hour back?" - -"Well, I don't know," Jack made answer, in a half-hesitating way. "But -somehow it struck me that yell was more along the line of anger or -fright than the result of high spirits or kidding." - -"But Jack, we don't hear any more of the same sort?" George -remonstrated. - -"How's that, then?" asked the other, as a plain whoop came faintly to -their ears. - -"Say, that's Nick, all right," Josh declared, stoutly. "I could tell his -shout among a thousand. There never was one like it. I always said a -wild Injun from the Crow reservation couldn't begin to hold a candle to -Nick, when it came to letting out a whoop." - -"But what would make him give tongue that way?" asked George, as he -pushed on at the heels of the leader; for they were now following what -seemed to be a trail through the undergrowth, where the trees grew -sparingly. - -"Troth, and I hope now, nothing has happened to Herb," Jimmy remarked. - -"Oh! let up guessing that way. Whatever could happen to either of them, -tell me that?" George demanded. "We left the boys safe in camp; and they -even said they believed they'd go aboard one of the boats, although -making sure to keep the fire going, so we would see it, if we got mixed -in our bearings, while skirting the short line. Maybe you'd expect an -alligator to crawl in from the swamp, and try to make a meal off our -chums?" - -"Well, why not?" demanded Josh. "I reckon, now, they have just such -reptiles in this region, don't they, great big fellers, too, some call -them crocodiles, I'm told. But there, Nick tunes up again, like a good -feller." - -"There must be something wrong, or he wouldn't show so much excitement. -Make all the hurry you can, boys. We're getting closer all the time; -yes, and it seems to me I can almost make out what he's shouting." - -"You're right, Jack, for I'd take my affidavy I heard him say just then: -'Get out, you robber! skedaddle, now!'" - -"That sounds like some one had found the camp, and was trying to steal -our belongings!" George exclaimed. - -"Well, I hope they lave the boats, that's all; for the walkin' do be -harrd, I'm tould, between here and Meyers," Jimmy up and said, in his -whimsical way. - -"Good gracious! you don't think, now, that anybody would be so mean as -to try and crib our bully boats?" gasped George; and no matter what -oceans of trouble his _Wireless_ may have given him in the past, all was -forgiven now, when danger lurked over the motor boat flotilla. - -"Come along!" called Jack, over his shoulder; "the quickest way to find -out what it all means, is to get there. Hit it up a little swifter, all -of you! Put your best foot forward, and run!" - -They accordingly did so. What mattered it if occasionally one of them -did happen to trip, and come down with a hard thump; it was only a -question of a few seconds for the unlucky one to scramble to his feet, -and a few bruises more or less surely did not count. - -In this fashion, then, they covered the remainder of the ground that lay -between the camp and themselves. - -Jack, being in the lead, was the first to glimpse what was going on. -He held up a warning arm to head off the impetuous rush of his mates; -and as they could plainly see his figure outlined against the bright -background of the fire-lighted zone, George and Josh and Jimmy all drew -up alongside the leader. - -No one said anything. They were too busily engaged taking it all in, to -express themselves in any way. And, indeed, it was a sight well worth -observing, one that would return to them many a time, and always cause a -smile to creep across each boy's face. - -For it was more humorous than tragical, though possibly one of the actors -in the affair looked upon it in the light of a serious proposition. - -First, there was Herb aboard the good old _Comfort_, and engaged in -waving the ax, upon which he seemed to lay considerable dependence. He -appeared to be defying some enemy, and promising all sorts of dire -things if so be the boat was boarded. - -But Nick's clarion voice was proceeding from a higher place; in fact, it -seemed to ooze forth from the branches of a small tree that happened to -grow not far from where the camp-fire had been started. - -A look upward disclosed the fat boy, perched among the branches of the -said tree. He varied his outcries by waving the shotgun, which seemed to -be utterly useless in so far as discharging it was concerned. - -There was a black bunch of hair busily engaged in trying to tear open -some of the provisions that the fat boy had "toted" ashore, in his -desire to get supper started. It was, in truth, a bear, a hungry animal -that had declined to gorge himself upon the remains of the jewfish, when -other and greater delicacies were within reach. - -It was breaking the heart of poor Nick to see this vandal threatening -to dispose of all their precious food, so that they must go on scant -rations the rest of the way to Naples or Meyers. No wonder that the -hungry Nick whooped and yelled, calling the black pirate by all the hard -names he could think up. - -Now and then the animal would appear to be disturbed by all this racket. -On such occasions he would shuffle over to the sapling in which the fat -boy was perched, raising his snout to sniff the air, as though half -tempted to make the climb, and punish his detractor as seemed most -fitting. - -Nick evidently became fearful each time that he was going to be in -for it. He would howl worse than ever, and make all sorts of dreadful -threats as to what he might do in case such a thing happened. - -"Oh! ain't you the lucky thing, though?" he bellowed, just as the others -ranged up to take the whole picture in. "If I hadn't been silly enough -to go ashore, carrying Herb's old gun, and forget to put any shells in -the same, I guess you'd be a dead bear right now, old top! Here, quit -shaking this tree, won't you? Think you own the whole ranch? Reckon -other people got some right to live. Just go back to your jewfish -dinner, and all may be forgiven; but you let our crackers and cheese and -bacon and hominy alone, hear that? Wow! there, he's gone and busted the -hominy sack! Look at the gump wasting all that fine food, would you? -Herb, can't you _please_ get some of those bully old shells over to me -somehow? I'd give a heap to tickle him between the sixth and seventh -ribs, sure I would!" - -Just then Jack gave a peculiar little whistle. Nick heard it, and -immediately "perked up his ears," as Josh called it. He could be seen to -twist his head around, and try to locate the one who had given the well -known signal. - -"Hey, Jack! wherever are you?" he called, in perplexity. - -Jack did not dare make any reply. He had seen the bear start at the -sound of the signal whistle, just as if the sly beast understood that it -must surely spell danger for one of his type. - -"Get ready to back me up, George, Jimmy!" Jack whispered. - -They understood that since Jack carried the repeating rifle, it ought to -be his duty to fire first. Should he make a failure, then they could -come in, to try and load the marauding bear with all the lead possible. -If, after all, the beast managed to get away, he would at least surely -carry the marks of the warm engagement with him the rest of his natural -life. - -By this time both Herb and Nick had discovered what was going on, and, -naturally enough, they were deeply interested. - -"Give him Hail Columbia, Jack!" called Herb, waving his ax above his -head, as he stood there on the deck of the gallant old _Comfort_, -looking as though ready to hurl defiance at all the bears in South -Florida. - -"Oh! be sure and pot him, Jack!" cried Nick, entreatingly. "I always -wanted to see what real bear steak tasted like. And honest now, I reckon -it'll be sweeter because the old villain ran me up this tree. Get a bead -on him, and make dead sure of your aim. Don't I wish I had some buckshot -shells up here? Wouldn't I have enjoyed peppering him, though. Wow! give -him another for his mother, Jack!" - -Jack had waited until the bear turned, so as to expose his side. It -was his desire to send the bullet so that it would strike just back of -the foreleg, because he had always been told that that was the most -vulnerable spot in which to hit any large animal. - -When the opportunity came he sent in his card. Instantly there arose a -tremendous commotion. The bear sent out a series of roars and whirled -around, to fall down, and then struggle to its feet again, while Nick -shouted in his excitement, and the other fellows added their voices to -his chorus. - -Jack coolly pumped another cartridge into the firing chamber of his -repeating rifle, and stood ready to make a second try, if he found -reason to believe such action were needed. - -It was quickly proven to his satisfaction that nothing of the kind was -required. The bear soon toppled over again, and from the way in which -the poor animal kicked it was plain to be seen that the last stage had -come. - -"Bully! we're going to have bear steaks all right!" laughed the pleased -Nick; and then he added: "Say, Jack, do you really believe the old -sinner's kicked the bucket, or is he playing a little game to coax me -down? I'm sore from hanging up here so long. Give him a punch and see if -he moves, George. My gracious! what ails Josh, and where'd he get that -nightcap he's wearing?"--and, overcome by curiosity, the fat boy came -sliding down the bending sapling, to land in a heap at its foot. - -Herb too came ashore, filled with wonder, and eager to hear the story, -which was told as they stood around the body of the bear that had -invaded the camp, and sent Nick in hot haste "shinning" up a tree. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -JIMMY REFUSES TO GIVE UP THE GAME. - - -They were now fully in the great Gulf of Mexico, and headed for Tampa. -Nick had been able to enjoy bear steak to his heart's content. The -others pronounced the meat pretty dry, and poor eating; but when served -in the shape of a stew, or hash, it answered the purpose. There was a -whole lot, they decided, in knowing that it _was_ the genuine article. -Otherwise most of them would have declined to eat it, just as they would -tough beef. - -"Jack, is it true that there are ten thousand of these mangrove -islands?" - -"Well, you've got me there, Josh," laughed the leader of the little -expedition, as, several days after the adventure with the bear, the -three motor boats glided in and out among the queer collection of islets -that marks the southwestern coast of Florida. - -"But that's what they're called on the map," insisted Josh. - -"Oh! you don't suppose for a minute anybody in the wide world could ever -count these mud flats, covered with the everlasting mangrove, do you?" -Jack went on. "A few hundred, or even thousand more or less, wouldn't -matter." - -"For my part," spoke up George, "there are just nine thousand, nine -hundred and ninety-nine too many. I could be satisfied with one island. -Why, for two days now, we've been going in and out of these bally old -bunches of mangroves, dodging storms, and fighting skeeters to beat the -band." - -"You'd better be thankful," declared Herb, "that after you led us in a -trap, Jack took us out again, George. Only for him we might be lost -right now, miles deep in these everlasting tangles. You notice that now -we never get far away from a sight of the big water, don't you? It seems -a dangerous business for a small boat cruiser to wander into this nest -down here. He's apt to lose his head, and never come out again." - -"Do we pull up soon, Jack?" asked Jimmy, beseechingly. - -"Why, yes, as the afternoon is going," Jack replied; and then, as if -noticing the eagerness plainly marked upon his shipmate's freckled face, -he went on: "But what's in the wind with you, Jimmy? I can see that -you're thinking of some stunt." - -Jimmy laughed at that. The three boats were moving slowly on, close -together, and he could easily send a significant look toward the -complacent Nick. - -"Oh, I know what ails him, all right!" cried the fat boy. - -"Then suppose you tell us, Nick?" George demanded. - -"Jimmy's got an idea in his head that he's going to knock my record for -big fish all hollow, and this place strikes him as likely to pan out -well. Haven't I seen him watching those big tarpon jumping this very -afternoon? I just bet you he means to make a try for one of them, as -soon as we anchor for the night," and Nick completed his assertion with -a chuckle. - -"And have ye any objection to my makin' a thry, tell me that?" Jimmy -demanded. - -"Sure not," Nick immediately replied; "only you're bound to have all the -trouble for your pains, Jimmy boy." - -"Ye think that way?" asked the other, suspiciously. - -"Oh, for a lot of reasons!" came from the complacent Nick, ready to rest -upon his honors. "First off, you'd have to fish in one of our little -dinkies; and a tarpon is such a powerful fish, it'd drag you miles and -miles before giving up. Remember, you're not allowed the least help to -land the game." - -Jimmy shook his head, and watched his rival from under his heavy -eyebrows. - -"Secondly," continued the fat boy, airily, "the biggest tarpon ever -captured never weighed as much as two hundred pounds, remember that, -Jimmy. Jack, would you mind stating what we decided the weight of my -jewfish was?" - -"We agreed on two hundred and thirty as about the right thing," came the -reply. - -"There you are, Jimmy," mocked Nick. "Better forget all about tarpon, -and turn your attention to, say, whales." - -"But, by the same token, they towld me whales never come this far south, -and so I'll never get square with ye that way," grumbled Jimmy. "But -never mind, me bhoy, sooner or later you'll meet up with defate. I'm -still studying the way I'm bound to bring ye to a Waterloo. The -Brannigans never gave up, rimimber. When ye laste expect it ye'll be -overwhelmed." - -"Oh, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. And while you're worrying -that poor head of yours, Jimmy, about the ways and means of capturing a -three hundred pounder, I'm just going to keep on feasting on these fine -oysters we've been picking up right along. Yum! yum! how I do love 'em, -though!" - -"Yes, we happen to know that," remarked Josh. "Fact is, we've heard you -make the same remark ever since we set out from Philadelphia on this -cruise." - -"And if a fellow could see the piles of oysters Nick's gobbled since -that day, he'd be just staggered, that's what!" George put in, -sarcastically; for, as the fat boy sailed in his company, the skipper of -the _Wireless_ doubtless grew very weary of hearing constant reminders -concerning feasts, past and to come. - -"Well," sang out Jack just then, "I don't see any reason why we -shouldn't pull up here as well as anywhere. Good anchorage, with a -chance for a breath of wind off the gulf tonight, that may keep the -savage little key mosquitoes fairly quiet. What say, fellows?" - -As they were all of a mind, the halt was quickly brought about. They -anchored in the open; but in case of a sudden high wind arising that -threatened to make things unpleasant for the small craft, it would be -the easiest thing in the world to push around in the lee of the nearest -mangrove island, which would serve as a barrier against the storm. - -Jimmy was soon seen paddling away in the dinky belonging to the speed -boat. - -"Now what did he take your rifle for, Jack, if he expects to go -fishing?" asked George, while Nick cocked up his ears, and listened as -though interested. - -"I asked him, and he only grinned at me," Jack replied. "But I made him -promise not to go beyond that big island you can see up the channel a -ways." - -A short time later they heard a shot, followed by several others, that -made them sit up and take notice. - -"Say, he got a crack at something!" Nick remarked, uneasily, for he -remembered how Jimmy had looked so queerly at him when departing, as -though he had something in his mind. - -"Well, we'll soon know; and I can see him moving around in his boat up -yonder right now. Seems to me he's trying to get at something in among -the mangroves. He must have made a kill of it," Herb declared. - -Ten minutes later and Jimmy was seen approaching, rowing steadily. - -"Look at him, would you?" called out the anxious Nick; "he's dragging -something behind the boat, as sure as anything!" - -Jack watched the performance for a minute or so, and then remarked: - -"Looks to me like a big 'gator; and that's what it is, boys." - -"Oh, my!" exclaimed Nick, bouncing up; "I wonder now does the silly -believe an alligator would count against my fish? Jack, I appeal to you -to give him the law as she's written in our compact." - -But Jack refused to say anything prematurely. - -"Wait till he makes his claim," he replied, with a laugh, as he watched -the sturdy labors of the Irish lad to rejoin them. - -When Jimmy did arrive they saw that he had indeed managed to shoot an -unusually large mossback 'gator, which he had possibly discovered -sunning itself among the mangroves. As a rule the creatures prefer the -fresh water, but may on occasion be found where there is a commingling -of salt and fresh. - -The exultant captor was grinning, as if hugely pleased. He nodded his -head in the direction of the staring Nick, as he finally came alongside. -Then they saw that he had been wise enough to take a rope along with -him, which had been hitched around the body of the slain monster, just -back of the short forelegs. Nevertheless, it had taken considerable of -an effort to drag the saurian all the way from the place of the tragedy -to where the three motor boats were anchored. - -Jimmy wiped the perspiration from his red face, as he exultantly cried -out: - -"By the powers, can ye bate that, I'd loike to know, so I would? Two -hundred and thirty, did ye till me; sure this one must weight all of -twict that. I lave it to the umpire here to decide, contint to rest on -me laurels." - -Nick began to show signs of tremendous excitement at once. - -"How about that, Jack?" he pleaded. "He went and shot it with the rifle, -don't you know? I don't call that fishing, now, do you?" - -"I've heard of people who shoot fish with a rifle, lots of times," -commented Herb, just to excite Nick a little more. - -"Yes, but don't tell me an alligator is a fish!" exclaimed Nick, in -great disgust. "Why, when I was in the lower grade in school they taught -us to call it just a _rep-tile_!" - -At that a shout went up from the balance of the voyagers. - -"You'll have to settle this right on the spot, Jack," declared George. - -"Get out the articles of war and read what it says; that's the only fair -way," remarked Herb. - -So Jack deliberately took out his notebook, and in a sing-song tone, -assumed for the purpose, read as he had done once before at Jimmy's -request: - -"'Each contestant shall have the liberty of fishing as often as he -pleases, and the fish may be taken in any sort of manner--the one -stipulation being that the capture shall be undertaken by the contestant -alone and unaided; and that he must have possession of the fish long -enough to show the same, and have its weight either estimated or -proven.'" - -"Well, here it is before ye, and riddy to be weighed!" said Jimmy, -stoutly. - -"But Jack, what do you say, _is_ an alligator a fish in the true sense -of the word?" demanded Nick, stubbornly. - -"As the umpire in this dispute," said Jack, solemnly, "I am forced to -disallow the claim Jimmy makes. No matter how he got his prize, we can't -swallow what he says about an alligator being a fish, even if it does -swim under water; for it couldn't live there at all, but has to come up -on shore. So Jimmy, you'll have to try again; and better luck to you -next time!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -WHEN THE COMFORT WAS HUNG UP. - - -Evidently Jimmy was not at all dismayed by his present setback. As he -said, he sprang from stock that would never acknowledge defeat. - -"Just wait, me laddybuck," he declared, as he shook his finger at the -grinning Nick; "the day is long yit, and by the powers, they be other -ways of beating that record ye've hung up. I'll kape me eyes about me, -to say if another jewfish wouldn't be afther stranding himself for me -'special benefit. And who knows but what this toime it may be a three -hundred pounder I'll be lugging into camp." - -"Oh, that's all right, Jimmy," remarked the fat boy, apparently not very -much worried over the possibility of losing his laurels; "but make sure -of one thing before you claim the earth." - -"And what moight that be?" demanded Jimmy, innocently. - -"Why, don't shout till you see whether it's a fish--_or a log_!" and -Nick lay back on the soft cushions he had brought on deck for his own -comfort, to laugh uproariously at his remark. - -Jimmy turned a bit red, but joined in the general hilarity; for he was -able to enjoy a joke, even at his own expense. - -Some days before, while Jimmy was fishing very industriously, he had -given a yell, and was seen to be pulling at a tremendous rate at -something to which his hook had evidently become attached. - -Of course his rival had shown great interest in his actions, for it -looked as if the Irish lad must have hooked a monster of a fish. But -when finally Jimmy was able, alone and unaided, to bring the thing to -the surface, he discovered, much to his chagrin, that it was only a -sunken and waterlogged log. His own frantic labor had given it all the -wonderful movements which he believed were the struggles of a captured -fish. - -"But I say, Jack, darlint," went on the Irish boy, "before I make -another thry, plase tell me this: Suppose now, ye should say me comin' -back, and ridin' on a manatee that they do be havin' around here--would -ye call that a fish, becase it lives, so they tell me, under the wather -all the toime?" - -He glared triumphantly at Nick, whose mouth opened in sheer amazement -upon hearing the audacious proposition. - -"If he don't take the cake for trying to do the queerest things, now!" -the fat boy exclaimed. "Why, it's just silly to think of him capturing -a manatee, and harnessing it, like they say Father Neptune does the -dolphins. And Jack, looky here, a manatee can't be a fish at all, any -more than an alligator is." - -"Tell me why?" demanded Jimmy, pugnaciously. "Sure, it's amphibious it -do be, and lives under the water all the toime. I think I've got ye -there, Nick, me bhoy." - -"But listen," Nick continued, with conviction in his manner, "haven't -you heard it called a sea cow; and can a cow be a fish, Jack?" with -which he turned triumphantly toward the laughing umpire. - -"Now, what's the matter with a cow-whale?" asked Jimmy; "and yet deny -that a whale is a fish if ye dare?" - -"Jack, settle that, won't you, before he goes and brings in every old -varmint to be found in this region?" pleaded Nick. - -But Jack was too wise. He did not want to shut out the possibility of -their having the time of their lives, should the energetic and ambitious -Jimmy attempt to carry his plans into effect. - -"No, I'm not going to bother my head over things that may never happen," -he declared; and with that Jimmy paddled away in the little dinky, -grinning broadly at the uneasy Nick. - -"Nobody just knows what that fellow _will_ do next," muttered the fat -boy, as he followed his retreating rival with his eyes. - -Meanwhile Jack was taking a look around with his glasses. - -"Somehow I don't altogether like this place after we've anchored," he -remarked. - -"And why?" inquired Herb. - -"For one thing," Jack continued, "it's more exposed than would be -pleasant, if one of those Northers we've been hearing so much about -should spring up in the night. And I've been watching those ibis and -cranes flying over for some time now. They all head in one quarter, and -from that I reckon there's a bird roost over yonder." - -Herb pricked up his ears, for he had long since expressed a desire to -look in on a real roosting place, where all kinds of birds came together -each night. - -"I tell you, Jack," he remarked, eagerly, "let's change our anchorage, -and head that way. It can't be more than a mile or so further in, d'ye -think?" - -"Not more than that," was the reply. - -"But we don't want to get lost among these blooming islands!" said -George. - -"We could make some sort of mark as we go, to leave a trail, and it -would be easy to come out the same way," was Jack's sensible suggestion. - -"But how about Jimmy; if he came back here, and found us gone, there -would be a howl, believe me?" Nick observed. - -"It happens by good luck that he's headed in just the right direction, -so I could pick him up on the way," Jack declared. - -"And that would wind up his fishing for today, wouldn't it?" asked Nick. - -"It surely would," was the reply of the _Tramp's_ skipper; whereupon the -fat boy heaved an audible sigh of gratification. - -"Then I vote in favor of doing what Jack says, and having a peep in at -the bird colony tonight, if we can," he remarked. - -"We might as well, I suppose," Josh put in, being somewhat curious -himself with regard to what such a roost looked like. - -"I say this," continued Jack, who thought his sudden desire to change -their anchorage needed further explanation, "because I understand that -these roosts, once so plentiful in Southern Florida, are hard to find -nowadays; and we might not have another chance to see the sight." - -"What happens to make 'em scarce?" asked Josh. - -"Oh, well! the main thing has been that plume hunters have found them -out, and murdered the birds by the thousands. It's worse when they hunt -out the nesting places of the herons, and kill the mother birds, just to -get the aigrette, which, it happens, is always at its best about the -time the birds have young." - -"Say, I've read a lot about that," mentioned George; "and they tell us -that it's the most dreadful thing to visit one of those nesting places -in the swamp after the plume hunters have been at their bloody work. -Thousands of young birds are starving in the nests, and the sounds they -put up just haunt a fellow forever." - -"None of that in mine," declared tender-hearted Nick, firmly. - -"I guess we all say the same," Jack added; "but when our intention is -only to see what such a place looks like, nobody can blame us for -going." - -"I should hope not," said George. "But do we get up our mudhooks right -now, Jack, and mosey out of this nook?" - -"That's the programme, and here goes for my anchor. Whew! it's stuck -fast in the mud, all right. Give me a lift, Josh, after you and Herb -have pulled yours up on deck," and inside of five minutes all of them -had washed the mud from the forked anchors, which were then placed -conveniently on the forward deck, where they could be dropped overboard -with a push. - -Then the boats moved off. - -This time it was the steady going old _Comfort_ that took the lead--Jack -being in no particular hurry and George, as usual, being compelled to -tamper with his eccentric motor, before he could get it to going right. - -Of course Herb meant to fall back presently, and let the _Tramp_ take -the lead; but it was really so seldom that he had a chance to leave the -others in the lurch that he and Josh seemed to enjoy running away. - -Jack, of course, was on the lookout for the first sign of his teammate. -Jimmy was discovered rowing frantically around one end of the big -island, as though, upon hearing the popping of exhausts, he had been -seized with a sudden fear lest he was in danger of being abandoned there -in that terrible region, with not a foot of high land within many miles. - -"Hi! howld on there, Jack darlint!" he called out, stopping to wave a -hand toward the advancing _Tramp_. - -When alongside he of course demanded to know what it all meant; and upon -learning that they were about to go a mile or so further in, Jimmy shook -his head in a discouraged manner, saying: - -"Arrah! now, as if I couldn't say through a stone that has a hole in the -same. I do be belaving that it's all the fault of that same sly one, -Nick. He's that fearful of me accomplishin' me threat, and securin' a -whopper of a fish, that he invents all sorts of rasons for being on the -jump. But I'll get the better of him yet, say if I don't, Jack, me -bhoy!" - -He climbed aboard, still grumbling, as though unable to convince himself -that this was not all some smart scheme, engineered by his rival, in -order to keep him from securing a prize catch. - -Herb was still far ahead, and skirting some of the many islands. When he -reached a certain point he had marked out for himself, he intended to -lie to, and wait for the coming of Jack. George had started on at a fast -gait, and doubtless was determined to head off the clumsy _Comfort_, -which fact may have urged Herb to do his best and cut corners sharply. -All of which led up to a sequel. - -Jack suddenly missed the loud noise that usually accompanied the -progress of the broad-beamed boat. As he looked up he discovered that -George was heading straight for the _Comfort_, which hung near the point -of an island; also that both Herb and Josh were jumping wildly about, as -though greatly excited. - -"What do be the matter with the gossoons?" asked Jimmy. - -"I don't know for certain," replied Jack; "but I've got my suspicions. -Herb was running in a careless way and just as like as not he managed to -snag his boat. If that's what happened, we're in for a peck of trouble; -for there's no boat builder within many miles of this place, and we'd be -lucky to find even a piece of shore to pull her up on." - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE BIRD ROOST. - - -"Sure, it's just like ye say, Jack!" exclaimed Jimmy, while they were -hurrying toward the imperiled boat at full speed. "They do be throwin' -wather out to beat bannigher. Josh has got a bucket and Herb handles a -basin. Glory be! but this is a bad job all around!" - -Jack was looking beyond the sinking boat. - -"I think I can see a little bit of a shore just over there," he declared, -"if only now we can drag the _Comfort_ there before she goes down. You -jump aboard with this bucket as soon as we get there. She looks lower in -the water already, but one more hand to toss it out may keep her afloat -long enough." - -Jimmy was more than eager to lend all the assistance in his power. No -sooner had the _Tramp_ run alongside the other boat than he was over the -side. Nick, too, had been given the same instructions by George, for he -was already laboring with might and main to reduce the amount of water -that persisted in entering the big boat through the hole knocked in her -bottom by a stump or a submerged log. - -"Here, George, lay close alongside, and let's get fast to her!" Jack -called out, realizing that heroic measures were all that would save the -imperiled craft now. - -Quickly they carried out the plan. Ropes were passed back and forth, so -that the _Comfort_ could not really sink, with two such staunch boats -buoying her up. - -"Now," continued Jack, when this had been accomplished, "start your -engine slowly and we'll try and beach her over yonder. By the greatest -of good luck there's a small patch of ground in sight, different from -these mud banks. Ready, George?" - -"Yes," came the reply. - -"Then go ahead!" - -Jack held back until he heard the puttering of the _Wireless_ exhaust; -then he also started his engine, and the three boats moved slowly and -majestically off, the _Comfort_ looking, as Josh expressed it, like a -wounded duck sustained by the wings of two companions. - -Those aboard the sinking craft had to keep up their work in a frantic -manner, if they did not want the boat to go down under them in midstream. -Now and then one would make a bad shot, and spill the contents of bucket -or basin over the forms of his fellow laborers. But although this might -have seemed comical to Nick or Josh or Jimmy at another time, they -failed to laugh now, even when struck full in the face by a deluge, and -half choked. - -Fortunately the other island, where the little patch of rising ground -had been discovered by Jack, was close at hand, so that in less than ten -minutes they had arrived as near as they dared go. - -"Now, I'm going to break loose and get behind," said Jack. "If I can -shove her further in, it'll be all right, for then she won't sink any -lower. In the morning we can get the block and tackle, and drag her out -on skids." - -The workers were encouraged to keep at it furiously for another minute -or two, while the _Tramp_ did the shoving part. Knowing just how to go -about it, Jack made a success of his part of the business. - -"Hurrah!" gasped Nick, when the keel grated on the bottom, and the weary -water-casters could rest from their labors. - -But there was a lot more to do. The bedding and stores that were aboard -had to be rescued, and placed where they might have a chance to dry. It -took some little time to get all the stuff out; and then Jack had -another idea. - -"Perhaps I might shove her up still further, if you fellows went -ashore," he suggested; which they declared to be a good thing. - -"After all," said Jack, when he had actually succeeded in pushing the -stranded _Comfort_ a foot or so further in, "what does it matter? We'll -have to make a couple of skids tomorrow, and get a purchase on some of -the mangroves yonder; when we can yank her up, no matter where she is. -And now I vote that we get ashore, and see about starting supper. I'm as -hungry as a bear." - -"Hear! hear!" applauded Nick. "And while I'm about it, I guess I had -ought to change my shoes and socks, because I'm wet to the knees; fact -is, I'm pretty well soaked all over. Josh kept emptying his old pail -over me right along. I guess I swallowed as much of the salt stuff as he -got over the side." - -However, by the time night had set in, the boys were all feeling in a -better humor. Those who were wet had changed some of their things, and -dried the rest beside the fire that was burning cheerily. - -"What do you think of it, Jack?" asked Herbert, after the other had made -as good an examination of the hole in the bottom of the wrecked motor -boat as the circumstances permitted. - -"It's a clean hole, all right," was the response, "but I don't see any -reason why we can't patch it up to last until we get to a boat builder's -yard." - -"I'm right glad to hear you say that," continued the anxious skipper, -"because, as you all know, I'm mighty fond of my boat, and would hate -like everything to have to abandon the poor old thing in this place. So -now I can eat some supper with a touch of appetite." - -At any rate it was pleasant to again stretch their legs, after being -confined to the boats for several days. And Josh seemed to have enjoyed -cooking a full meal once more for the crowd. - -"Now, how about that roost; do you suppose we can find it from here?" -George asked, when they were about through. - -"If you still feel like going, I think it won't be a hard thing," Jack -declared. - -"Count me out, please," Nick remarked. "I don't believe I care enough -about it; and, besides, somebody ought to stay here, to keep the fire -going, so you can tell where to come back." - -"Huh! he's clean filled up to the top, that's what," remarked Josh; "and -when Nick gets that way, you just can't coax him to budge an inch. But -I'm with you, boys." - -It was presently decided that all the others would go in the three -tenders. As Nick was given a shotgun, this time fully loaded, and ready -for business, he expressed himself as willing to stand guard. - -"Anyhow," he observed, with a wide smile, "I don't reckon on having any -bear for a visitor this time. He couldn't get on this island, could he, -Jack?" - -"Not in a thousand years," was the reassuring reply. - -"And you can stay aboard the _Tramp_ until we come back," George went on -to say. "Only don't let that fire go out a minute, or perhaps you'll be -minus all your chums. A nice time you'd have here, all alone, wouldn't -you? Why, you'd starve to death before long with that appetite of yours, -Nick." - -"Shucks! there ain't much danger of your getting lost while Jack's -along. If it depended on you, George, I'd be scared right bad now," the -fat boy got back at him as the party moved away. - -They took the lighted lantern with them, and expected to be very -cautious how they managed, not wanting to lose their bearings in the -darkness. Jack had made a mental map of the vicinity, and behind that he -could find his way back to where the fire showed. - -He led off, paddling with one of the oars, for when the little dinky -held two these could not be used in the ordinary fashion. - -And it was not very long before the others knew that again Jack had -shown more than ordinary skill, for they reached an island where, from -the sounds, it was evident that the roost of the birds could be found. - -Landing, they made their way over the exposed roots of mangroves and -cypress trees, gradually drawing near the middle of the island. And here -they found what they sought. - -Jack made several torches out of some wood he found, and when these were -lighted they saw a sight that none of them would soon forget. Thousands -of birds were in the trees, many of them herons, ibis, cranes and water -turkeys. - -For some time the boys looked at the spectacle. Then, tiring of it, as -well as objecting to the anything but pleasant odor of the roost, which -had long been in use they imagined, they retreated again to the boats, -after which the return trip was begun. - -Nick had kept the fire going, and little trouble was experienced getting -back to where the larger craft awaited them. - -The night passed quietly and with the morning they began to make -preparations looking to the repairing of the snagged _Comfort_. - -Breakfast over, Jack set out with the ax, and Josh to help him, taking -two of the small boats. When he found a couple of cypress trees that he -thought would answer the purpose, over on Bird Island, as they had named -the place of the roost, he cut them down, and by hard work they towed -the intended skids to camp. - -Here they were shaped, and placed in position. Then the block and -tackle, which had been carried on board the roomy _Comfort_, were -brought into play. - -Jack selected the strongest mangrove within line of the boat that was to -be hauled out, when fastening the tackle. - -"Here you are, now, fellows!" he declared, when all was ready. - -"Come along, everybody, and take a grip on the rope," invited Herb, who -was more than anxious to get busy at the job of patching the smashed -sheathing of his boat, so they could continue their voyage. - -Even Nick was made to lend the power of his muscles to the good work. - -"If we could only get the full force of his weight, she'd come with a -rush," Josh had declared, though the fat boy only noticed the slur with -a smile and a nod. - -"Are you all ready to pull?" asked Jack, who, being master of ceremonies, -had the leading position on the line. - -"Sure we are; get busy, Jack, darlint!" sang out Jimmy. - -"Then altogether now, and away we go!--one, two, three! She moved that -time, fellows, I tell you. Once more now, yo-heave-o! That was worth -talking about, and she jumped six inches. Again, and put every ounce of -muscle into it! Now, then, up with her! Another turn! That's the way to -do it, boys!" And Jack continued to encourage his mates to do their -level best until they had dragged the _Comfort_ up the skids to a point -where one could crawl underneath her exposed keel. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -A SCREECHER FROM THE NORTH. - - -All of them awaited the verdict with bated breath. Jack was down on his -back under the boat, and carefully examining the fracture made by the -snag. - -"We can mend it, all right," he announced, as he finally snaked his way -out. - -A chorus of approval greeted the announcement. - -"How long will it take us, do you think?" asked Herb, who looked -relieved to know that, after all, his boat would not be lost. - -"Oh! that depends. Perhaps by tonight it may be in apple-pie shape, good -enough to hold out till we get to Tampa," Jack replied. - -"Say, looks like we might have the whole bally armada in the hands of -the ship joiners at the same time," chuckled Nick. "Because, you know, -George and me want to get a new engine installed the worst kind, don't -we, George?" - -The skipper of the _Wireless_ grunted in reply; Nick was evidently -running things now with regard to that change in motive power, and did -not mean to let his mate draw back from his word. - -"But first of all, we've got to drag the boat up further," continued -Jack. "You see, if I've got to work at that broken place for hours, I'm -bound to have it more comfortable than now. Lying on my back would knock -me out." - -Accordingly they all took hold again, after the tackle had been shifted. -It was not so difficult a thing to do, with six sturdy fellows to pull a -rope; and presently the _Comfort_ was elevated at a point that would -allow one to kneel under her keel. - -Jack made his preparations, and set to work. With the willing Herb to -assist in any way necessary, the others of course were not needed. - -Josh amused himself after his favorite manner, studying up some new -dishes with which he figured surprising his chums some fine day. George -could always find plenty to do pottering with his engine, and trying to -cure its faults; for hope dies hard in the young and sanguine heart. - -Jimmy and Nick took to fishing, because that employment seemed to -engross their every waking thought. When Jimmy started out, the fat boy -grew uneasy; and before long he, too, paddled away in one of the small -tenders. - -"Be sure and don't go out of sight of the smoke from the fire," Jack had -cautioned them both; and Josh agreed to make use of some pine wood he -had picked up, in order to create a black smoke; for Florida pine is -full of the resinous sap that burns fiercely, and makes a dense smudge. - -Jimmy did not remain long in one place. He seemed very restless, as -though he wanted to move about, in order to be on the lookout for a -chance to make a grand haul. Nick followed from time to time, meaning to -be an eyewitness to any remarkable event that took place. - -"He's hoping to get fast to one of them tarpon, that's what," was the -conviction of the fat youth, who had discovered that the king fish of -the coast was in evidence in those warm waters. "I just wish he would -right now," he went on, chuckling; "I'd give a whole heap to see Jimmy -pulled around by one of them high skippers of tarpon. It'd curb that -ambition of his, some, I guess now." - -And, singular to say, Nick's wish was fated to be realized. Jimmy's -mullet bait was gorged by a tarpon about the middle of the morning. -At the time the Irish boy chanced to be either half asleep or else -thinking of something else. At any rate, the first thing he knew of the -circumstance, and that he was fast to a streak of polished silver, was -when the rod he was holding was almost jerked from his hands. - -"Whoa, there, ye omadhaun!" shouted Jimmy, immediately bracing his feet -so that he might not be pulled from the dinky outright. - -Then something sprang from the water not fifty feet away. It was a -lordly tarpon, shaking its head, as if hoping to get rid of the barbed -hook. - -A shriek from Jimmy, echoed by one from Nick, drew the attention of all -the others. Even Jack came crawling out from under the motor boat to -watch the sport. - -It was certainly a great time Jimmy had. That little dinky was dragged -around at a furious pace, now darting to the right, and presently -whirled about to head toward the left, as some new whim seized upon the -captive fish. - -Pretty soon Jimmy seemed to be getting dizzy from the rapid evolutions. - -"He'll never tire that monster out!" cried Herb. - -"And perhaps it might carry him out to sea, and lose him there!" -suggested the cautious Josh. - -"Well, even if he tired the fish out, it wouldn't weigh more than a -hundred pounds; so I think he'd better cut loose," was Jack's dictum. - -Accordingly he made a megaphone out of his hands, and shouted: - -"Better let him go free, Jimmy; he'll upset you, and perhaps bite you -after he gets you in the water!" - -"Faith, what shall I be afther doing, then?" came back faintly. - -"Cut loose! you've got a knife, haven't you?" called George. - -"But I'll lose me line that way, and the hook in the bargain!" -remonstrated the reluctant Irish boy. - -"Well, better that than your life, or my boat," George told him. - -So poor Jimmy found himself compelled to creep forward, when the chance -offered, and push the blade of the knife against the taut line. Of -course it parted instantly; and he came near capsizing when the little -dinky sprang up again, freed from the drag of the big fish. - -The tarpon went speeding away toward the gulf, leaping madly out of the -water now and then, as though still trying to shake that jewelry from -its jaw, or else making sport of disconsolate Jimmy, who sat there -casting yearning looks after his escaped prize. - -He always maintained that it was a two hundred-and-thirty-five-pound -fish, though just why he hit upon that odd figure Nick alone could -guess. The jewfish he remembered had been calculated to tip the scales -at two hundred and thirty pounds. And it is always the largest fish that -gets away. - -Well, after that disappointment Jimmy might have been pardoned had he -given up for the day; but that was not his way. He kept at it all the -blessed afternoon. Several bites rewarded his diligence, but he did not -succeed in getting fast to another of the silver kings. - -And, greatly to his disappointment, the evening came on with the -grinning Nick still holding high record in the contest. - -Jack had been quite as successful as he had ventured to hope. George and -Herb both declared that he had patched the fracture in the ribs and -planks of the _Comfort_ in a truly shipshape manner; and that there -could be no question about the repair holding, up to the time they -expected reaching Tampa. - -"Then we go on tomorrow, do we?" asked Nick, anxious to get Jimmy away -from the tarpon temptation; for he feared the lucky Irish lad might -sooner or later get hold of some monster, which would put his prize out -of the running. - -Jack said there was nothing to hinder; and with all of them, save -perhaps Jimmy, feeling quite happy and contented, the night came on. - -In the morning they were off again, and that day they saw the last of -that weird region charted as the Ten Thousand Islands. None of them were -sorry; indeed, the very monotony of those mangrove covered mud flats had -begun to pall upon every member of the expedition. - -When they began to see plumed palmetto trees along the shore, the sight -brought forth cheers from several of the more joyous among the voyagers. - -And it certainly looked more like life to note the buzzards floating -overhead again, with pelicans skimming the waves out on the gulf, in -search of their fish dinner. There were also many water turkeys, with -their snake-like necks, and black cormorants swimming in the lagoons -behind the keys. - -Jack, who had read up on the subject, related how the Chinese fishermen -make use of such birds as these latter, trained for the purpose, to do -their fishing for them: a band being fastened around each creature's -neck, so that it can never swallow its capture, which is, of course -taken possession of by the master. - -"We want to make sure to get a good anchorage tonight," Jack remarked to -Herb; for the two boats were moving along close together, late that -afternoon. - -"Why so particular tonight; is it going to be any different from -others?" asked the skipper of the _Comfort_. - -"Well, I don't just like the looks of that sky over yonder"--and Jack -pointed to the southwest as he spoke. "We've been told that in nearly -every case these Northers swoop down after the clouds roll up there, the -wind changing to nor'west, and the cold increasing. There's something in -the air that makes me think we're due right now for our first Norther." - -"But to Northern fellows that oughtn't strike a wave of dread," declared -Herb. "We're used to winter ice and snow. The thermometer down below -zero never bothered me. Why should it down here, when it don't even -touch freezing?" - -"Let's wait and see," laughed Jack. "After it comes, we'll know more -than we do now. But a harbor we must have. Keep your eye peeled for what -looks like a good landing place, Herb." - -They found this presently, though the key was not so heavily wooded as -Jack had hoped to find; and he did not think it would wholly break the -force of the wind, should a gale come roaring down upon them during the -night. - -When they crawled under their blankets about ten, the sky was clouded -over, but nothing else had come to pass. This condition of affairs -puzzled Jack, who did not know what to think of it. - -But when he was awakened later on by a dull roaring sound, not unlike -the noise of a heavy freight train passing over a long trestle, he -sprang up, understanding full well what it meant. - -"Wake up, everybody; here comes your first Norther!" he shouted at the -top of his young and healthy voice. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE SHELTER BACK OF THE KEY. - - -"Oh! what happened?" Nick was heard to call out, in a tremulous voice. - -"Get up and hustle! Show a leg here, or you'll be frozen in your -blanket!" George shouted, excitedly, for his canvas tent was wabbling -in the wind like a thing possessed. - -Of course, those in the other boats had little need to worry, since -their hunting cabins protected them in a great measure from the violence -of the gale. The neglect of George to have the same sort of contrivance -placed on the _Wireless_, for fear lest it might reduce the great speed -of the boat, always cost him dear when night came, or a storm howled -about their ears. One has to pay in some way or other for his whistle; -and George was a "speed crank" without any doubt. - -For a short time it was feared that the tent on the _Wireless_ would -actually blow away. Half dressed, the pair aboard hung on with might and -main to save the canvas, Nick's teeth chattering tremendously as he -shivered in the rapidly falling temperature. - -It certainly did get cold in a hurry, too. Jack would never more smile -when he heard old "crackers" tell about the terrors of a Norther. Why, -in spite of the protection of the cabin walls, the bitter wind seemed to -penetrate to their very marrow. - -"Say, Jimmy, this is mighty tough on George and Nick," he remarked to -his boatmate, when the wind had passed its worst stage, but the cold -seemed to be on the increase. - -"It do be the same; and 'tis myself that feels bad for thim this blissed -minute," the warm-hearted Irish lad answered, as he swung his arms back -and forth to induce circulation, and bring a bit more comfort. - -"Just as I feared, the growth ashore is too thin to fend off all the -wind; and if this keeps up we'll have the meanest night we ever struck," -Jack continued. - -Jimmy knew from the signs that the skipper had an idea. He was used to -reading Jack by now. - -"What can we be afther doing, I dunno, Jack darlint?" he remarked, or -rather shouted; for it was simply impossible to hold a conversation in -ordinary tones as long as that howling wind kept shrieking through the -mangroves and cypress trees near by. - -"Get ashore, and throw up some sort of protection, behind which we can -make our fire," Jack answered, readily enough. - -"Hurroo! that's the ticket! Let's be afther getting to worrk right away. -Sure, annything is betther than howldin' the fort aboard, and shakin' -enough to loosen ivery timber in the hull of the dandy little _Tramp_." - -Jimmy was always enthusiastic about everything he went about doing. -Consequently, he started ashore immediately, with Jack trailing behind. - -When George realized what his chums were doing, he made haste to join -them, for he could not but understand that it was mostly on account of -the unfortunates aboard the exposed _Wireless_ that the effort to build -a fire was attempted. - -Many hands make light work; and as there happened to be plenty of wood -available near by, a fire was soon blazing. Then Nick, unable to hold -aloof any longer, came waddling ashore, to offer his services, when -nearly everything had been completed. - -Jack had found a means of building a wind shield out of various things, -and in the shelter of this they hovered, keeping the fire going at -top-notch speed. - -That night seemed endless to several in the party. They huddled around, -swathed in blankets like Esquimaux, and trying to sleep, though Nick -was about the only fellow who managed to accomplish much in that line. - -Fortunately it did not rain, which was rather an unusual thing, since -these cold storms generally start out with a downpour, until the wind -shifts into the northwest, when it clears, and turns bitterly severe. - -But morning came at last, when they could see to improve the situation. -After Josh had cooked the breakfast--and he had plenty of help on this -occasion, since every one wanted to cling to the fire as close as -possible--all felt better able to meet the situation. - -"Nothing like a full stomach to make things look brighter," commented -Nick, sighing, as he scraped the frying pan for the last remnant of -fried hominy. - -The wind kept up all that day, so that the pilgrims found themselves -actually stormbound. Jack would have made a try for another harbor of -refuge, only it was so very rough between their key and the main shore -that he doubted the ability of the speed-boat to make the passage -without a spill; and surely a bird in the hand was better than two in -the bush. They could not be sure about improving on their quarters by -going further. - -Another thing influenced him to remain where they were. Gradually but -surely the wind was going down. The cold remained, but with a dying -breeze it did not penetrate so much. It was decided that all of them but -the crew of the _Wireless_ should sleep aboard their boats on this -night. George and Nick were made fairly comfortable by the fire back of -the wind shield. - -And as Jack had expected, during the night there came another shift of -the wind. Following the natural course of the compass, it was in the -northeast when dawn arrived, and would soon work around to the east. -For, strange to say, down in this country, during the winter season at -least, the southeast wind is the very finest that blows; whereas in most -other places it has a reputation for being just the meanest known. - -All of them were so dead for sleep that the next night passed very -quickly. And when morning came the change in the temperature pleased -them greatly. - -"Let's get a move on, fellows," Jack said, after the customary attention -had been given to taking care of the inner man. "We ought to make a big -dent in the distance separating us from Meyers today." - -"And by the same token," piped up Jimmy, eagerly, "I'm afther hearin' -that the fishing is mighty foine around this section." - -"Huh!" grunted Nick, scornfully; "when you beat that record I've hung -up, just wake me, and let me know. Time enough then to get a hustle on. -Just now it's up to you, Jimmy, to do all the worrying. I'm going to -take things easy after this." - -"All right, me bhoy, just do that same, and by the pipers it's ye that -will be hearin' a cowld, dull thud, which will be that record droppin' -to the earth. Sure, it do be a long lane that has no turnin'; and sooner -or later, belave me, 'twill be me day." - -They made a brave start. George was quite elated with the splendid way -his engine worked, and frowned whenever Nick made out to mention that -his word had been pledged about that change of motive power at Tampa. - -Two hours later the inevitable came to pass. - -"George has hauled up short, Jack!" Herb called out; for the _Comfort_ -was not a great distance behind the _Tramp_ at the time, with the other -boat, as usual, ahead. - -"Perhaps waiting for us?" suggested Jack; but the smile on his face -declared that he entertained different ideas about the stoppage. - -"That may be," replied Herb, skeptically; "but the chances are he's -bucking up against trouble again. Won't we all be pleased as Punch when -he does get a motor that can motor without eternally breaking down? -There, Nick's waving his red bandana, which I take it means they've -broken down." - -And so it proved. A weak place had developed as usual, so that George -would be compelled to spend an hour or two mending the same. - -Herb generously offered to give him a tow; but this the proud spirit of -George would not brook. It was bad enough having to suffer that ignominy -when threatened with a storm, but when the gulf was smooth nothing could -induce him to accept. - -"You fellows go right along," George called out; "and I'll overtake you -later." - -But neither Jack nor Herb would think of such a thing. If a heavy wind -chanced to come up while the _Wireless_ lay there, positively helpless, -she would roll frightfully, and stand a chance of capsizing. - -And so they simply hung around until the makeshift repairs had been -completed, so that the speed boat could again proceed under her own -power. - -This lost them so much time that it was no longer possible to think of -reaching the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, and ascending as far as -Meyers, that day. So they kept an eye out for a snug harbor, where they -might pass the night. - -The coast was not so desolate here as below. They had passed the -settlement of Naples; and here and there could see where shacks, or more -pretentious buildings, told of the presence of fruit or truck growers. - -Finally, toward the middle of the afternoon, coming upon just the place -that would afford them a good camping ground, the three boats pulled in. - -Jack had noticed that Jimmy was showing signs of growing excitement as -they proceeded to anchor. The Irish boy had been using the marine -glasses with more or less eagerness; and no sooner was the boat made -secure than he broke out with: - -"Excuse me, if ye plase, Jack darlint, but I've a most pressin' -engagement this minute. I do be sayin' me chanct to get aven with me -rival." - -He was even at the time throwing a number of things into the little -dinky, among others a section of rope. Nick, while not overhearing -what was said, must have noticed the active preparations for a sudden -campaign. His round, red face appeared over the side of the _Wireless_, -as Jimmy pushed off and rowed furiously away. - -"Now, what in the dickens does all that mean, Jack?" he asked. "Is Jimmy -going to make the trip to Meyers in that dinky, or has he got an idea in -his head he can bag something that will make me look like thirty cents?" - -"I rather guess that's just the sort of bee he's got in his bonnet, -Nick," laughed Jack, "and if you look out yonder, where that reef lies -in shallow water, with the little waves breaking over it, you'll see -what's started him going." - -Nick hunted around until he found George's glasses, which he clapped to -his eyes, to burst out with a cry of astonishment and chagrin. - -"Say, it must be a big porpoise that's got stranded out there! My eye! -look at it kick up the water, would you? Oh! if Jimmy ever gets a rope -around that thing, and tries to ride it ashore, won't he be in a peck of -trouble, though? But when Jimmy sets out to do anything, you just can't -frighten him off; and, honest now, I believe he's bent on doing that -same mad caper!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT. - - -None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited -Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed? Determined to wrest -the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only -too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work. - -Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object -out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water -and strove to break away from its place of captivity. - -"What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick. "Why don't it -back off, the same way it came on? That's the only way it could get into -deep water. Did you ever see such a looney, trying to keep on shoving -ahead, when all the while it gets in more shallow water?" - -"Huh! seems to me there are others!" chuckled Josh; "jewfish, for -instance, don't seem to have one bit more sense. Sometimes they get left -on a shallow place, and kick like fun, while waiting for the tide to -rise and help 'em off." - -"Ah! let up on that, Josh; 'taint fair to take his side all the time," -complained the fat boy, straining his eyes to follow the movement of his -rival, now more than half way out to the reef. - -"Well, we always stand up for the under dog; and just now Jimmy's in -that position," continued Josh. - -"Yes," spoke up George, encouragingly, "and when you get there, Nick, as -you may sooner or later, you'll see how gladly we'll all give you our -sympathy, eh, boys?" - -Nick refused to be comforted by the prospect. - -"Hey! Jack," he said, turning to the skipper of the _Tramp_, who seemed -to be bending over his motor, as if about to turn his engine; for a -sudden idea had come into his head, "is a porpoise a _real_ fish, now?" - -"Whatever makes you ask that?" demanded Herb. - -"Oh! I want to know, that's all," replied Nick, coolly. "That Jimmy -tries to just throw his old net over anything that creeps, swims or -walks, and call it a fish. He tried it on us with his blessed old -alligator, you remember, fellers; then, when we wouldn't stand for -that, don't you know how he tried to hook up one of the sea cows they -call a manatee, and make us take that? Now he's after a porpoise; and if -he keeps on he'd grab a hippopotamus, and try to bluff us at that. -Anything that goes in water answers for Jimmy." - -"Well, if he gets a porpoise, he's got a fish without any reason to kick -over the traces, Nick, and don't you forget that," George declared. - -"Say, where you going, Jack?" demanded Nick, suspiciously. - -"Why, I thought I'd better take a little spin out there, to keep an eye -on Jimmy," replied the other. - -"What for? You don't think of lending him a hand, I hope? Remember, the -rules of the game knocks all that sort of thing on the head," Nick -protested, vigorously. - -"No danger of my forgetting," laughed Jack. "But I happened to think how -bold Jimmy can be, and wondered if he mightn't get in trouble somehow." - -"That's right, Jack," spoke up George, himself a very rash fellow on -occasion; "it'd be just like him to hitch on to that porpoise, and help -work him loose. Then we'd see our poor chum going out to sea like a -railroad limited express. And Jack, if you'll allow me, I guess I'll -drop in, and keep you company." - -"Same here," declared Herb, crawling aboard, as he pulled the _Tramp_ -close to the starboard quarter of the _Comfort_. - -"Hey! wait for me, can't you!" exclaimed Nick, all excitement now. -"Who's got as much interest in this business as me, tell me that? I -ought to be along to judge if he takes his fish in fair play, you know." - -"Fair play!" jeered Josh, as he too slid into the other boat after Nick; -"well, I like that, now, after the way you lugged that poor old weakened -jewfish to camp. Any way Jimmy can grab his game will count; and you -might as well make up your mind to it first as last, my boy." - -"Oh! don't you get to bothering your head about me, Josh Purdue," Nick -went on to say, stoutly; "I'm a true sport, and can take my medicine -when I have to, as good as the next one. And I guess I don't give up -easy, do I? But it ain't time for the shoutin' yet. Jimmy hasn't got his -porpoise; and it mebbe don't weigh more'n two hundred and thirty pounds, -either." - -Leaving the other two boats anchored in quiet water, Jack headed the -_Tramp_ for the reef, where the water was breaking softly over the -submerged rocks; with the unfortunate porpoise floundering in a helpless -manner, for the tide was almost at its lowest level. - -Jimmy had by now arrived on the spot. He must have arranged his plan of -campaign as he was rowing frantically out, for he lost no time in -getting down to business. - -Those who looked saw him push his way up to the reef after his usual -bold fashion. If some water came aboard the little dinky, Jimmy gave the -circumstance no heed. All he could see was that struggling monster of -the deep, and the happy opportunity that had been thrown in his way -whereby he might cut his rival out of the lead he had held so long. - -For that joyous conclusion Jimmy was ready to take all sorts of chances. - -"Look at him, getting right up alongside the kicker!" exclaimed Nick, -with an expression of amazement on his rosy face; for he could not help -admiring the nerve exhibited by his rival, even though deep down in his -heart he hoped the other might fail to land the prize. - -"Sure he is!" laughed Josh. "Why, just keep your eye peeled, Nick, old -boy, and my word for it, you'll see our little chum climb right on the -back of that bucking broncho of the gulf, put a bridle in his mouth, -and ride him home!" - -"Oh! rats! you can't get me to believe that!" Nick flashed back; and -yet, despite his brave words, he watched the actions of the Irish lad -with deep anxiety, as if believing that no one could tell what wonderful -things Jimmy might not attempt. - -"Look there, would you!" he exclaimed, a few seconds later; "what under -the sun has Jimmy got now!" - -"Seems to me like it's our ax!" declared George, with a harsh laugh. - -"Ax!" snorted the indignant Nick; "d'ye mean to tell me he expects to -knock that poor porpoise on the head, just like they do steers at the -stockyards; and then claim he _caught_ him? Well, I like that, now!" - -"It's all in the game, Nick," declared Herb, consolingly. "Remember, you -didn't use a fish hook and line to bag your big jewfish; just slung a -rope around his gills, and walked away with him through the shallow -water near the shore. I reckon even an ax might count, so long as he -keeps the fish, and brings him in!" - -"Sho!" Nick went on, as though disgusted; "but just think of getting a -fish with such a tool, as if you were just chopping a tree!" - -"Watch him, now, if you want to see how Jimmy goes at it; perhaps you -may be only too glad to do the same thing later on, when you want to -climb up and throw him off the first rung of the ladder," Herb remarked. - -"Yes," said wise Josh, "it makes all the difference in the world what -position you hold when condemning practices. What looks bad to you, -seems fair and square to Jimmy right now." - -"Wow! what a crack that was!" George exclaimed, as Jimmy brought down -the ax on the struggling fish. - -"But he hasn't got him yet, anyway," muttered Nick, as they saw the -water whipped into foam around the little, wabbling dinky boat occupied -by Jimmy. - -"He nearly took a header that time, let me tell you!" cried Herb. - -"But he sticks to his job, all right!" laughed Jack. "See, he's aiming -to get in another crack, and there it goes. Whew! that was a stunner, -though!" - -"A regular sockdolager!" avowed Josh, who was apparently enjoying the -circus first-rate. - -"And it looks like it knocked the poor old porpoise out of the running," -commented Herb. - -"That's what it did!" George declared; "and there's Jimmy trying to get -a hitch with his rope around the thing's tail. He's gone and done it, -as sure as you live! See him stop to wave his hand at us; and he's got -the widest grin on his face you ever saw. Victory comes sweet after -having it rubbed in so long." - -"Huh! how d'ye know the bally old porpoise is goin' to stand for more -than my jewfish?" Nick grumbled; though his face began to wear a look -that comes with chagrin and defeat; "and even if it does, that don't -wind things up. Ain't I got just as much chance to bag something bigger -before we haul up at New Orleans, tell me that, Josh Purdue?" - -"Course you have, Nick, old top," declared Josh, who hoped to see the -rivalry kept up to the very last, since it was affording them all so -much fun; "and we'll back you for the boy who can do big stunts, once -you wake up to it; eh, fellers?" - -Jimmy was now starting to row back toward where the two other motor -boats were at anchor. He made but slow progress of it, towing that now -quiet captured porpoise; but the rules of the game prevented the others -from giving him any sort of a lift. - -Now and then the porpoise would get stranded in the shallow water, and -at such times Jimmy was put to his wits' ends to manage. But by slow -degrees he succeeded in accomplishing the object he had in view. - -Of course the others did not wait for him, but ran back to where the -camp was to be made for the night. Josh was anxious to get ashore, and -start a fire; for all of them confessed to being hungry. Nick only made -one more remark on the way back, and that gave them an inkling of his -ruling passion. - -"I say, Jack, do you know whether a porpoise is good to eat?" he asked. - -Jack replied that he had never heard of any one eating one, though -perhaps the meat might appeal to certain appetites, like those of -Esquimaux, or the Indians of Alaska. - -"I don't think we'll bother about it, however," Josh remarked, "because -we've got plenty besides." - -Supper was well on the way when finally Jimmy landed, his beaming face -wet with honest perspiration, and filled with the pride that followed -his recent exploit. - -They all came down to view his capture, and estimate the weight of the -porpoise. The opinion seemed to be that, while a small one, it must -weigh something close on to two hundred and fifty pounds; but Nick -declared he would have to demand the proof before giving in. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -FROM TAMPA, NORTH. - - -Everybody was merry that night at supper but Nick. He tried not to show -that he felt his sudden and unexpected drop from the top of the ladder -to the lower rung; but it was hard work. His laughter was only a hollow -mockery, so Josh declared; for the lean boy certainly did like to rub it -into his fat chum when he had a chance. - -Jimmy did not sleep well that night, though everything combined to make -it a pleasant occasion for most of the others. Half a dozen times he -would creep out of his blankets to see if the porpoise was still where -he had tied it, and lying in shallow water. Evidently he feared lest -some adventurous and hungry shark come nosing around, and attempt to run -away with his prize, before its weight had been positively settled. - -Once Jack heard him poking vigorously in the water with a pole, and -muttering to himself. - -"Want to take a lunch off me porpoise, is it ye'd be afther doin', -ye sly ould thafe of the worrld?" Jimmy was saying, as he punched -vigorously. - -"What is it?" asked Jack, looking over the side of the _Tramp_; as he -happened to be up just then, to find out what his shipmate meant by -getting out long before the first streak of daylight was due. - -"Sure, it's the bally ould crabs; they do be tryin' to nibble at me -fish; and it kapes me busy shooing the same away," Jimmy answered back. - -"But what's the use bothering, since we don't expect to eat the thing?" -asked the other. - -"Yes," said Jimmy, quickly; "but they say ivery little bit helps; and -wouldn't I be the sad gossoon, now, if me fish weighed just the same -as Nick's, with some missing where thim sassy big crabs had had a -breakfast. Sure, I want all I got, till we weigh the beauty. Afther that -they can have it all, for what I care." - -"Oh! that's where the shoe pinches, does it?" chuckled Jack. "Well, -perhaps you'd better sit up, and keep watch, Jimmy. But please don't -shake the boat so much, and wake me again. It's only three o'clock, with -the old moon near the eastern horizon. Me to bed again for another -snooze." - -When morning came Jimmy blandly informed Jack that he had actually spent -the balance of the night with that pole in his hands, every now and -then stirring the water in the vicinity of his prize. - -"And I do be thinkin'," he added, triumphantly, "that the crabs niver -got aven a teenty bit of me bully ould fish. Now to rig up that balance -once more, and settle the question once for all." - -"Now, just you hold your horses, there," spoke up Nick, shaking his head -grimly. "You're wrong, that's what. Even if your old porpoise does -happen to be a little heavier than my splendid jewfish, don't you think -for a minute I'm going to give up the ship. I'll be warm on your trail, -old chap, to the last gasp!" - -"Hear! hear!" cried Josh, clapping his hands in a manner which was -calculated to encourage both stubborn contestants. "I'm backing Nick for -a game one. He's got the real bulldog grit, and don't you forget it, -boys! And even if Jimmy wins this time, he'll have to watch out, or -he'll find himself left in the lurch." - -The rude balances were constructed as before, and after getting the -porpoise ashore, it was duly weighed. Had it happened to be a close -thing, Nick of a certainty would have entered a protest, and demanded -that they tow the prize to the next town, where it could be tested on -the dock with some capable scales. But it was quickly discovered that -the porpoise was many pounds heavier than Nick's record; indeed, they -decided finally, after making all due allowances, to put it down -positively at two hundred and seventy-five pounds. - -Even Nick concurred in this, although with a wry face, for he had clung -tenaciously to hope up to the very last moment. And so the crabs had a -chance to feast on the bulky object after all; though Jack declared that -if they had had the time he would have liked to try and render the -porpoise for its oil, just to say he had secured a supply that way. - -"And think of the numberless fine shoe laces we're throwing away," -sighed Josh, after they had abandoned Jimmy's prize. - -After a fine run they made Miami, and spent a day in the enterprising -little town; but all of them were anxious to be getting on, since they -expected the next mail to be awaiting them at Tampa; and it had been a -long time now since they had heard from the dear ones at home. - -Tampa was reached without any further adventures, though Nick proved -that his words had been no idle boast when saying that if Jimmy went -up head in the little game of fish rivalry, he would leave no stone -unturned in the effort to regain his lost laurels. - -He never let a chance pass to put out one or more lines. And since size -was now his one object in life, he no longer bothered with a rod and -line. If the fellows wanted fish for eating purposes, somebody else must -take the trouble to capture them, because he was too busy to bother with -small fry. - -So every night he would get out his shark hook, and set it in the best -place he could find, where he believed he would have a chance to make a -capture. - -The tables had turned, and it was now Jimmy's turn to strut around with -that look of superiority on his face. He would watch Nick's feverish -labors, and just grin in a way that gave the rest of the boys great -amusement. - -But, although several sharks were caught, they seemed to be in league -with Jimmy; for it was only the small fellows who took the hook. Nick's -excitement, when he was working his catch in by the aid of a snubbing -post which Jack showed him how to make, was always succeeded by bitter -disappointment, after he had discovered the disgusting size of the -caught sea tiger. - -Not one of them up to now had weighed anything near the required weight. -But all the time the sanguine fat boy lived in hopes of some fine day -making a record strike. - -The others hoped he would, seeing how much his heart was set on proving -himself true game. This rivalry would prove to be a great thing for -Nick. It had started him into doing things that otherwise he would never -have dreamed of attempting, being somewhat given to laziness, as so many -boys built after his stout fashion seem to be. And it had made him -think, too, which was a fine thing; throwing him on his own resources, -as it were, and bringing out many hidden attributes which the others had -never dreamed he possessed. - -At Tampa Nick insisted that George keep his word. So, as the three -boats had been laid up in the yard of a boat builder, a new motor was -installed aboard the _Wireless_. George was so devoted to his boat -and its speed record, that he refused to be away from the scene of -operations for any length of time. - -"One day around Tampa is enough for me, boys," he had declared, when -they tried to tempt him to accompany them on the second day. "I want to -be around, and watch how they do this job. It would give me a bad jolt, -you know, if I had to sacrifice speed for steadiness after all, when I'm -hoping to combine both." - -"Yes," laughed Josh, "it'd sure break George's heart if he couldn't just -shoot through the water like an arrow. If he had his way he'd go at -about the rate of ninety miles an hour." - -"Make it an even hundred, Josh, while you're about it," George remarked, -calmly; and meant it, too. - -A number of days were passed in the hustling city on Tampa Bay. Jack had -always been anxious to see the place; and during the time of their -enforced stay they certainly took in every point of interest worth -observing. - -And of course the _Comfort_ was duly repaired in a proper manner while -the opportunity offered. The boat builder complimented Jack on having -done such a reliable job under such difficult conditions. He declared -that the chances were, the repairs would have held out through the whole -cruise, though it was best that they have the hole obliterated in -shipshape style once for all. - -But all of them were really glad when, one fine morning, after another -Norther had blown itself out, and the big bay calmed down, the little -flotilla of three motor boats started away from Tampa, headed south, so -as to get around the end of the Pinellas Peninsula. - -Nick especially was sighing for new chances to show what he could do in -the fishing line. - -"There must be sharks upwards of three hundred pounds and more that will -take my hook," he declared, stoutly, to George, as they boomed along -down the bay; "and in good time I'm going to show you something that -will make you sit up and take notice, see if I don't." - -"Say, she runs like oiled silk!" exclaimed the skipper of the new -_Wireless_; and from this remark Nick realized that, according to -George, all his affairs were as a mere dot compared with the great -question as to what the new motor would do. - -After trying the boat in various ways, George expressed himself as -satisfied that he had made a good thing when he decided to have the -engine changed. And all the others began to hope that the troubles of -the speed boat skipper might now be in the past. - -Tampa Bay is so big that the motor boats felt the swell almost as much -as though they were upon the gulf itself. And that afternoon, when, -after passing sharply to the right, they placed Long Key between -themselves and the sea, all expressed themselves as pleased at the -change. - -Here they made out to pass the night. Nick could hardly wait until the -anchors had been dropped before he was begging Jack to go off with the -castnet, and get him a supply of mullet for bait, so he could begin his -fishing operations. And as Jack was feeling that a supper of mullet -would taste rather good, if so be the jumping fish proved to be -plentiful, he did not have to be coaxed long. - -Consequently the shark line was soon doing business at the old stand; -and as usual there arose a wordy war between the two rivals concerning -the finish of the game; each feeling stoutly confident that in the end -he would be in a condition to carry off the prize. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE SHARK FISHERMAN. - - -"How long have we got before we ought to be home?" asked Herb, that -night, as they prepared to camp ashore. - -"Nearly three weeks left of our time," remarked Josh, sadly; for, much -as they wanted to see the dear ones, they would all be sorry when the -vacation had reached its end, and once more they must take up school -duties at home. - -"But looky here," piped up Nick, "my dad wrote me that they'd had a bad -hitch about building the high school again. Seems like there was a labor -strike that tied up everything. It ain't settled yet, he says, and if it -ain't done soon, why, the chances are there won't be any session at all -this Spring, because they don't know just where to house us!" - -"Glory be!" cried Jimmy; "oh! what an illegant toime we could be afther -having, down in this cruiser's paradise, if so be thim laborin' men only -hold the fort a little longer!" - -He voiced the sentiment that filled every heart, although no one else -had spoken a word as yet. - -"That would be too good to be true," Jack laughed, shaking his head. - -"Yes, and we mustn't let the idea get hold of us, because we'd only be -disappointed all the more," Herb remarked. - -"But we'll know by the time we get to New Orleans, won't we?" demanded -Nick, with set jaws, and a flash to his blue eyes; "because, you see, -I'm interested more'n the rest of you." - -"Say ye so?" burst out Jimmy, wickedly, and chuckling under his breath. - -"Because it would give me plenty of time to burst bubbles that are -floating around here, and establish a new record," Nick went on, -pugnaciously. - -"Then, by the powers," Jimmy declared, "I do be hopin' that we spind the -whole bally winter down here. It amuses me to see ye worrk, Nick. An', -by the same token, it's doin' ye a hape of good in the bargain, so it -is." - -They had reached Cedar Keys, and everything was going well. George -still found more or less reason to congratulate himself on his wisdom -in making that change in his motive power. Now and then Jack saw -him pondering, and understood that there was a fly in the ointment -somewhere; but George had said nothing, and they could only hazard a -guess as to whether it might be a diminution of speed, or the old -haunting fear of a breakdown still gripping his heart. - -"Where do we strike next for mail?" asked Herb, the night after leaving -the city on the key, when, after passing the mouth of the famous Suwannee -River, they had pulled up back of a friendly key. - -"Pensacola is our next port; and I hope we find more letters waiting for -us than there were here," George replied. - -"Now, that's quare," remarked Jimmy, with a twinkle in his eye; "when -ivery one of us got a letter from the folks back home. But I do be -fearin' the little girlie with the rosy cheeks, and the dimple in her -chin forgot to write that toime." - -"Well, what's that to anybody but me?" said George, facing them all -boldly. - -The conversation immediately switched to another subject, for George was -rather touchy about having his private affairs talked about by his -chums. Had it been Nick, now, or even Jimmy, they would have answered -back in the same humor, and the fun waxed fast and furious. - -But at the time Nick was busy with that shark line of his. He fancied -that as the tide came in and went out through what might be called an -inlet, always with more or less confusion, there was a pretty good -chance to hook one of the sea tigers, if only he took pains. - -"We've changed our course again, haven't we, Jack?" Herb asked. - -"That's so," came the reply; "you see, the coast no longer runs nearly -north and south here, but turns to the west. And if one of those old -Northers bursts on us now, why, we'll get it from land side instead of -the gulf; unless it whirls around, something these winter blows seldom -do; because, you see, they don't happen to be of the tornado, or -hurricane type, just straight wind storms." - -Jack was always a fund of information to his mates. He studied things at -every opportunity, and never forgot a fact he had learned. And it was -surprising how the others had come by degrees to depend on him in all -sorts of emergencies. - -"I do be glad, Jack, darlint," remarked Jimmy, just then, "that ye make -Nick put on a loife preserver ivery toime he do be going in that cranky -dinky, to carry out his baited shark hook. It's him that is so clumsy, -the boat looks like 'twould turrn over at any minute, so it does. And he -so fat and juicy, how do we know some hungry shark mightn't loike to -take a bite out of him? Look now at the gossoon, would ye, and how he -worrks? In all me experience I niver yit saw such a change as there has -been in our Nick." - -"Yes, that's so," laughed Herb. "You know, they say competition is the -life of trade; and it seems to be putting a good lot of life in Nick -Longfellow. Why, he jumps around now like nobody ever saw him do before. -If this keeps up long, he'll be able to play on our baseball team next -season. Wow! just imagine the Ice Wagon galloping across centre to grab -a long fly!" - -Meanwhile, the object of all this talk was paying strict attention to -business. He had been shark fishing so many times now that he seemed to -have the whole thing down to a fine science. After baiting his bog hook, -with its attendant chain, he dropped it in a promising place. Then he -made for the shore, paying out the stout line as he went most carefully. - -Once on the sandy strip of beach, Nick fastened the rope to the nearest -tree he could find, first taking a couple of hitches around a stake he -had driven in deeply, not far from the water's edge, and which was to -serve as a snubbing post, in case he were lucky enough to make a strike. - -"It's very pat," remarked Jack, when the stout youth rejoined the group -about the fire, "that if any of us want to know about sharks, their -habits, and how best to get the pirates of the sea ashore, we've got to -go to Nick here." - -"Yes," spoke up George, "he ought to be a walking dictionary of terms; -because he's always asking questions of every cracker and sponger we -meet. I honestly believe, boys, he keeps a shark book, and that he's got -an idea of writing the family tree up some day." - -"Oh! come off," grinned Nick; "after I've hauled a dandy weighing about -half a ton on shore, and showed you what I can do, I guess the whole -business can go hang, for all of me. What use are they, anyhow? You -can't eat 'em." - -"That's the way Nick always judges things," declared George. "If they -don't happen to be good for food, he's got mighty little use for the -same." - -"I ain't denying it, am I?" queried the other, good-naturedly. "What are -we here for, anyway, but to eat our way through this dreary old world? -Of course, don't go and think I believe eating's the _only_ thing worth -living for; but it cuts a big figure with me. Guess I was born half -starved, and I've been tryin' all I knew how ever since to make it up." - -"And by the powers, ye look that happy now, I be afther thinkin' ye must -expect to pull in the champion fish this same night," Jimmy commented. - -"Well, I've got a hunch that something is about due," Nick replied, -confidently. "There's a fishy smell about this place, seems to me; and I -just reckon that in times past many a dandy old shark has been yanked up -on this same beach. That tideway looked good to me, too; and by now, as -Jack said, I ought to know something about the hungry crew. Just wait -and see what happens, that's all." - -Jimmy became a little uneasy. Perhaps it was in the air that his day to -fall had come around in due time. He cast frequent glances over toward -the snubbing post as the evening drew on, with twilight succeeding the -setting of the sun. - -Nick had heard Jack telling how he went pickerel fishing on the ice one -winter, and the methods of telling when a fish took the hook appealed to -him. Consequently he employed the same sort of tactics when in pursuit -of nobler game. - -"For, you see, they call a pickerel or a pike a fresh-water shark," he -had explained, when first testing the plan; "and what is good for one, -ought to work with the other." - -At the top of the snubbing post he had fastened an iron ring. The rope -passed through this, being secured by a staple that could be easily -dislodged, as it was intended for only temporary use. - -Back of the post the line was coiled up several times, and a white rag -fastened to it at a certain point. When a shark carried off the baited -hook, this slack would quickly pass through the ring at the top of the -stout post, so that the flag must mount upward, and signal to the alert -fisherman that he had made a strike; when he could hasten to attend to -his captive. - -They were eating supper, as the night closed in. Nick had seated himself -in a comfortable position, where he might occasionally raise his eyes, -and by a turn of the head look off in the direction where his trap was -laid. - -During the earlier part of the meal he had paid strict attention to -business, and glanced that way about once a minute faithfully. But as -the spirit of feasting took a firmer clutch upon his soul, the fat boy -began to forget. - -Not so Jimmy. He had taken up his quarters so that he might observe the -goings on at the snubbing post without even turning his head. And as he -munched away at what he had on his tin platter, the Irish lad kept a -close watch for the flaunting of the tell-tale signal. - -Jack saw this, and he knew that all he had to do in order to keep fully -posted as to the way things were working, was to watch Jimmy, whose -freckled face would serve as a thermometer. - -And after a while, when it was almost pitch-dark around the camp on the -edge of the water, he discovered that Jimmy was staring at the snubbing -post as though fascinated. His lips were working, too, though apparently -he was having a hard time trying to speak, and tell his rival that the -trap was working. - -But Jimmy was clean-cut and generous, even to one with whom he had -entered into a contest for supremacy; and presently he burst forth. - -"Would ye be afther getting a move on, Nick?" he exclaimed. "There's the -flag a flutterin' on the top of the post like a signal man wigwaggin' in -the Boy Scouts troop! And by the powers, it's gone now, pulled clane out -of the socket. Be off with ye; for, by the same token, ye've cotched the -granddaddy of all the sharrks, I do belave!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -VICTORY COMES TO NICK. - - -"Whoop! here I go, fellers!" shouted Nick, as, scrambling awkwardly to -his feet, he hurried along the beach toward the spot where he had left -his shark line. - -Of course the rest hastened to follow after him. They found the fat boy -bending down and feeling of the taut rope. - -"Gee whittaker! but I've caught the biggest ever, I do believe!" Nick -was crying. "Just feel that line, would you? Acts like it had hold of a -house, with the tide running out. Say, it'll take me all night to get -that monster ashore; but I'll do it; you hear me warble, Jimmy, I'll do -it!" - -"Good for you, Nick!" laughed Jack. - -"We'll back you up to win out, if you only keep everlastingly at it," -remarked Herb. - -"And don't be afther forgettin' the rules of the game, all of ye," -warned Jimmy. "Nobody must put a finger on the loine to hilp Nick. I -want to see him have fair play, so I do. And, by the same token, if -he bates me by three hundred pounds, I'll be the firrst gossoon to -congratulate him on his success. You know that, boys." - -"Sure we do, Jimmy," spoke up George. - -"It wouldn't be like you not to do the same," declared Josh. - -"You know what you've just got to do, Nick," remarked Jack. - -"Guess I do," chuckled the owner of the outfit, as he looked eagerly out -over the darkening water to that point toward which the taut line seemed -to extend; but if he entertained a faint hope that the prisoner would -leap into view while trying to get rid of the steel barb, he mistook the -nature of the shark, which bores deep, and tries to do by main strength -what a tarpon, a trout, a salmon or a black bass attempts by that upward -fling, and shake of the head. - -"He's going it pretty furious right now," Josh observed. - -"Yes, and the harder he pulls the better," Nick said. "That'll help to -tire the old chap out, and make it easier for poor me to get him ashore, -foot by foot, by making use of my snubbing post here. But let's go back -and finish our supper, boys. If the hook holds, and the rope is as good -as I think, he'll be here tugging away an hour from now, just as much as -he is now." - -"That's where your head's level, Nick," commented Jack. - -And so the whole party wended their way back to where the camp-fire -blazed on the shore. Here the pleasant task of finishing their meal was -once more resumed. Some of them thought Nick was really devouring even -more than usual, though that might be hard to believe. - -"He wants to get his strength up to top-notch!" laughed Herb. - -"Well," observed Nick, calmly, as he reached deliberately over, and took -the last helping of Boston baked beans from the tin kettle in which they -had been heated for the meal; "I hate to see things go to waste; and -there are some fellers around who don't seem to know what's good." - -"I've noticed," Josh remarked, drily, "that you don't mind how much goes -to _your_ waist, all right." - -Nick only groaned at the pun, and went on cleaning out his platter, as -though he believed in always laying in a healthy supply of food, since -nobody could tell when another chance might come around. - -Afterwards they lay about the camp and told stories, joked and even sang -school songs. Nick seemed in no great hurry to take up the task that -awaited him. He knew from former experiences just what it meant. But -that the subject was on his mind all the while was made manifest from -what he said. - -"Jack, I want to ask you a question!" he began. - -"Well, fire away, then," suggested the other, with a nod of invitation. - -"If, now, this fellow at the end of my line turns out to be so heavy -that I just can't budge him, when I get the chump at the edge of the -water, would it be breaking the rules if I borrowed that block and -tackle to help yank him out, so you can all see him, and estimate his -weight?" - -"How about that, fellows?" asked Jack, looking around with a wink toward -the other chums. - -"Why, of course he can make use of any means, so long as no other person -lends a hand to assist him," George gave as his opinion. - -"That's what!" Josh added. - -"If he goes and gets the falls and fixes the whole blooming business -himself, of course he's got the right to do it," declared Herb. - -"And I do be saying that it's a clever schame, that does Nick credit," -was the verdict of Jimmy. - -"That settles it, then, Nick," Jack decided. "It's unanimous, you hear; -and if you want, you can go and get the block and tackle arranged right -now." - -"Oh! do you think, then, I'll surely need it, Jack?" asked the fat boy, -trembling with joyous anticipations; for from the tenor of Jack's words -he expected that they all believed he had caught the biggest of sharks, -one that would make that little porpoise of Jimmy's look like a baby. - -"I wouldn't be surprised if you did," Jack replied, with a reassuring -nod. - -Accordingly, after he had cleaned off his pannikin, and not a second -sooner, Nick hunted up the rope and blocks with which they had hauled -the _Comfort_ out on skids at the time of her accident. - -By a skillful use of such an apparatus, one man's strength is made equal -to that of several; and the boys had learned this fact through actual -experience. - -"Let us know when you expect to get busy," called out Herb, as Nick went -off with the falls. - -"Yes, because we want to enjoy it all, you know, Nick," sang out George. - -Perhaps half an hour passed, with the fat boy busily engaged getting his -apparatus ready. Then they heard him give a call. - -"Hi! hello, there! fellers; suppose somebody starts a fire agoing for -me here; that's allowable, ain't it, Jack?" he demanded. - -"Why, of course, since it hasn't anything to do with getting the shark -ashore," the one addressed responded, as all of them jumped up. - -"I'm ready to begin yanking him in now; but it's so pesky gloomy I ain't -able to see just right," Nick continued. "It'd be a shame now if I lost -this dandy chap just because I didn't see how to work him." - -Some of the boys gathered dead leaf stalks from under a nearby palmetto, -and in next to no time they had a fine, ruddy blaze crackling close by -the spot where Nick was standing, his shirt sleeves rolled up, and an -air of grim determination about his whole person. - -The first thing he did was to make sure the rope went twice around the -snubbing post, so that he might always have a hitch. Then he fastened -the end of the rope belonging to the falls to the strained fish line, a -dozen feet beyond the snubbing post. - -His operations were watched with considerable interest by his mates, who -realized that quite a transformation was rapidly taking place in the -character of the once placid and indolent fat boy. - -"Here goes, then!" exclaimed Nick, as he threw his full weight on the -rope that went through the several blocks. - -They could hear him grunting at a great rate, which indicated what an -effort it was to get the shark started shoreward against his will. - -"Bully! he's beginning to make it!" whooped George, greatly excited. - -"Hurrah for Nick!" shouted Josh. - -"Walk away with it, me bhoy!" cried Jimmy, as though quite forgetting -that success for Nick meant defeat for him. - -The stout fisherman was indeed doing just what Jimmy advised, and -walking away with things. When he had gone as far as he could, he -managed to whip the rope around some object. Then, returning to the now -slack fishing line, above the spot where he had fastened the falls, he -drew it taut around the snubbing post. - -"He gained at least ten feet that time," declared Jack. - -"But, oh! my! ain't the old terror mad, though?" exclaimed George. "Just -see how he pulls, would you, boys?" - -"Give him another turn, Nick," advised Jack. - -Unfastening the falls, Nick took the second hitch, and as before this -was some distance below the snubbing post. - -Again he bent his stout back, and, aided by the tackle, he succeeded in -bringing the struggling sea monster closer in to the shore. - -Everything was working smoothly, and by the time he had repeated his -effort a good many times they could see from the terrific splashing that -the prisoner was already in shoal water. - -"Do you think I'm going to get him?" gasped poor, winded Nick, as he -wiped his streaming forehead, and tried to get ready for the hardest tug -of all; for, with a dead weight on the sand to haul, he could no longer -count on the buoyancy of the water. - -"Well, I should smile, yes," declared George. "At him again, Ginger; -never say die! Set 'em up in the other alley! This is a great treat to -us, Nick, I tell you!" - -But Nick was already busy. With the rope over his shoulder, and his toes -digging in the sand, he tugged away like a good fellow, gaining inch by -inch. This time he succeeded in dragging the shark all the way out of -the water, so that it lay exposed to their view. - -"Hurroo! he done it!" shouted Jimmy, with an utter disregard for the -rules of grammar, that would have horrified his teachers, had any of -them heard him; but Jimmy had one set of rules to mark his vacation -manners, and another covering his connection with the seats of learning; -and when he wished could talk just as correctly as the next one. - -They gathered around, full of wonder at the size and ferocity of the -monster, that even then lay there on the sand, snapping savagely at -everything. - -"Will it beat Jimmy's porpoise?" asked Nick, proudly. - -"Half again as heavy!" declared Jack; "for I reckon it must weigh all of -four hundred pounds." - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -WHERE AMBITION LED. - - -True to his word, the generous Irish lad was the very first to grasp -Nick's blistered hand and congratulate him on his wonderful success. - -"That's what comes of stick-at-it-tiveness," declared Herb, ponderously, -as he, too, gripped the fingers of the successful shark fisherman. - -Nick was allowed to get the rifle, and wind up the career of the savage -sea monster. In the morning they estimated his weight, just as they had -done with others in the past. Everybody was satisfied to agree with that -first guess which Jack made, and call it four hundred. And they declared -that Nick was a wonder, in that with only the assistance of the falls, -he had dragged such a monster up on the beach. - -The voyage was resumed that day, and for the better part of a week they -were put to it dodging storms, making outside runs when the fair weather -allowed of their braving the open gulf, and extricating themselves from -various unpleasant predicaments, when they managed to lose themselves in -what had promised to be a convenient cut-off, but which proved a trap -in the shape of shallow water, with many chances of the boats sticking -in the mud. - -After Pensacola would come Mobile; and then the next place they expected -to reach would be their destination, New Orleans. - -Each night as they figured on the time that still remained, a sense -of gloom would descend upon the camp, though Jack or else Jimmy soon -dissipated it by some joking remark, or it might be by bursting out into -ragtime song. But they had had such a glorious time since starting out -on this remarkable voyage that they viewed its approaching finish with a -feeling bordering on dismay. - -Jimmy had now taken to being haunted by a desire to eclipse the great -feat of his stout rival. Though it did not seem that there might be one -chance in fifty of his succeeding in capturing a fish that would exceed -the weight of that monster shark, Jimmy had developed an industrious -trait. - -Early and late his mind was set upon the game. Nick had generously -turned over his shark tackle to the other. He guaranteed that it was -sound, and capable of sustaining any strain. - -So Jimmy would each night do just what the other had been engaged in -until recently; and the way he attended to that line was worthy of all -praise. - -But, although hardly a night went by that he did not make some sort of -capture, his best effort fell far short of the necessary heft, and Nick -began to feel that the wager was as good as won. Nevertheless, he -watched all that Jimmy did with a certain amount of interest, not to say -anxiety, knowing that there is, according to the old saying, "many a -slip between the cup and the lip." - -All of them were in the very best of health, and in this the voyage down -the coast, and around the end of Florida among the keys had done them -good. Even Josh seemed to have recovered from his spell of indigestion, -and was able to do his share of the eating. - -How could it be otherwise, when they were living in the open air day and -night, drinking in the pure ozone all the while; with contented minds, -and plenty to appease the healthy demands of the inner man? - -So one fine afternoon they headed up the wide bay leading to Pensacola, -expecting to get more home letters here. George had a wrinkle between -his eyes at times, but this was not on account of any anxiety in -connection with a girl he had left behind him, as some of the others -jokingly declared. The fact was, his new engine was giving him a little -trouble. - -"Tell you what, George," Herb had said, when they had to stop an hour -for the other to do some work, in order to induce the motor to carry on -its part; "your old _Wireless_ is just a hoodoo, and that's what ails -you." - -"Huh!" grunted George, in disgust, "I'm beginning to believe that way -myself, to be honest now. I've done everything a fellow could do, even -to installing a new and guaranteed motor; yet here the measly thing goes -back on me, just like the old one used to. Huh! it's just sickening, -that's what!" - -"But you see, George," Josh remarked, with a wide grin, "the bally boat -wouldn't feel right at all if it went too smooth. Ever since you first -got her she's been accustomed to playing you tricks. Expect her to -reform all at once, and be as meek as Moses? Well, I guess not. Give her -time, George, plenty of time." - -"Oh! she's got to see me through this cruise," declared the owner of the -cranky speed boat; "because I haven't got the money to buy another right -now. And no matter what the rest of you say, I've somehow always loved -this boat." - -"Of course," observed Herb; "they always say that the bad child is -loved most by its parents, because they feel the greatest anxiety for -that one. But give me the steady old _Comfort_, that never keeps me -awake guessing what sort of trick it'll play next." - -"Oh! that's all right," remarked George, indifferently; "everybody to -their taste. But I'd die in that tub, watching all the rest run circles -around me." - -"Oh! hardly that," laughed Herb; "because, you see, once in a while -there's a little ripple of excitement comes breezing along, when some -fellow asks to be taken in tow!" - -Of course, after that George had nothing further to say; for he could -look back to several instances that were full of humiliation to his -proud spirit, when necessity had forced him to accept of this friendly -aid on the part of his chums. - -But they reached Pensacola finally in good shape. George hoped that -after all, as the others said, that one little trick on the part of his -engine might have only been a slip that would never occur again; though -his confidence was shaken, and he watched its working suspiciously after -that. - -Letters from home greeted them at Pensacola; but no new developments -were contained in them, at least nothing positive. The strike had not -been settled, and there was warm talk of the town putting men to work -regardless of labor unions. - -"And so little has been done," Jack remarked, after getting the -consensus of opinions from all the letters that had been read, "that I -can't see, for the life of me, how they're ever going to complete the -building this season. I understand that it was proposed to use the -biggest church in a pinch; but just as luck would have it, the heating -plant in that has gone all to pieces, so that the scholars would be apt -to freeze." - -The boys looked at each other, and smiled. Perhaps they were, deep down -in their hearts, secretly hoping that the workers up there would keep on -quarreling, and the completion of the high school building be postponed -until the next summer. For boys give little thought concerning lost -opportunities in the way of learning. Besides, were they not getting the -finest lessons possible in the line of self reliance; and was not this -long cruise the best sort of education, when they had learned a thousand -things that could never be forgotten? - -When they left Pensacola the weather appeared favorable; but at this -season of the year nothing can be taken for granted; so that the -experienced cruiser is accustomed to keeping a strict watch for signs of -storms. - -They had need of caution about this time, since there arose a necessity -for considerable outside work, always dangerous in small boats, because -of shallow water near the shore, and an absence of suitable harbors in -which to seek shelter, should a sudden gale arise. - -If all went well, they anticipated making it a one-night stop between -Pensacola and Mobile; and Jack thought he had the place for this camp -picked out on his coast chart, which he studied faithfully. - -So, as this day moved along, they were putting the miles behind them at -a steady rate. George had no new trouble with his engine, though it was -noticed that he cut out some of his racing ahead of the others. Constant -friction from water will wear away granite in time; and the numerous and -long-continued troubles of George must be making an impression on his -usually buoyant spirits. - -"Alabama, here we rest!" sang out Jack, about five in the afternoon, as -he pointed ahead to where a friendly island or key offered them the -shelter they craved. - -"Oh! I'm so glad!" Nick was heard to say, and they could easily guess -why; for of course Nick must be ravenously hungry--he nearly always -was. - -Accordingly they headed in, meaning to pass behind the end of the key -that jutted out like a human finger, offering an asylum to all small -craft that could gain the sheltered water behind. - -It was just while they were slowing up, since caution had to be -exercised whenever they neared shoal waters, that Herb called out -excitedly: - -"Oh! Jack, look out yonder; what in the dickens is that coming along, -and sticking out of the water?" - -Of course every eye was instantly turned in the direction Herb was -pointing. - -"It's a whale!" shouted Nick, almost falling overboard in his excitement, -as he discovered some dreadful looking black object rushing through the -water amid a sparkling mass of foam. - -"A whale!" echoed Jimmy, dancing up and down excitedly; "Och! if I only -had a harpoon now, wouldn't it be just grand? A whale would knock the -spots out of the biggest shark that iver grew, so it would." - -Jack had snatched up his marine glasses, and was leveling them at the -monster, back of which trailed that line of foam and bubbles. The -others, watching, saw him stare as though hardly able to believe his -eyes, and then laugh outright. - -"Oh! there goes Jimmy in the dinky; and, would you believe it, he's got -a gun!" exclaimed Nick. "Nothing is too big to scare that boy, I do -believe. He'd just as soon tackle a whale as a sunfish. Call him back, -Jack, or he'll be drowned!" - -Jack laid down the glasses, which had occupied his attention so much -that he had not observed the actions of his cruising mate. - -"Here, you, Jimmy, come right back!" he called, though he could hardly -talk because of the desire to laugh. - -"But howld on, Jack, darlint, didn't ye be afther sayin' anything that -swum was a fish; and if I get a whale ain't it fair play?" the other -replied, pausing in his labor of using the short oars belonging to the -_Tramp's_ tender. - -"Sure, I did," answered Jack; "but that didn't mean you could go around -banging away at one of your Uncle Sam's submarines, out for a trial spin -from the Pensacola navy-yard. I guess you'd better come back now, before -you get in trouble; don't you?" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -WINDING UP THE VOYAGE--CONCLUSION. - - -Ambitious Jimmy evidently came to the conclusion that a Government -submarine was rather larger game than he cared to tackle. Besides, from -the riotous way in which his five chums were laughing, he must have -become convinced that there would be sustained objections to allowing -him to count his prize, even did he bag such prey. - -At any rate, he ceased rowing, and backed water, returning to the -_Tramp_, with one of his characteristic wide grins decorating his -freckled face. So the others never knew whether the wild Irish lad might -have been playing a joke upon them, or really thought it was a whale, -which he might as well try to take in. - -The submarine had by this time vanished from sight, evidently testing -her ability to remain under the surface of the water for a length of -time; as well as proceeding at a rapid clip when partly submerged. But -the boys did not see anything of the strange craft again. - -They made their camp that night, just as Jack had figured upon doing. -And on the following day, by cleverly getting an early start, they -passed around grim Fort Morgan, sailing up Mobile Bay, where gallant -Farragut earned his lasting laurels many years ago. - -But, besides securing their letters, if there were any, they did not -mean to remain long here. One day sufficed to show them all they cared -to see of the quaint little city that has had such a history. - -Truth to tell, all the boys were anxious as to what news might await -them when they reached New Orleans. That, of course, was to be the -deciding point. If nothing new developed, it was of course their -intention to hold to their original plan. This had been to ship the -three motor boats up the Mississippi by some packet, themselves taking -passage on a train, headed for home. - -As they had previously made a voyage down the Father of Waters; and -heading up against the fierce current was never to be thought of on the -part of such small craft, this was really the only thing they could do. - -Apparently they had plenty of time to reach their destination on -schedule, and yet none knew better than did Jack Stormways how -exasperating delays often occur to hold motor boats up. There was -George, for instance, with his unlucky speed boat, which might become -disabled at a time when they would lose days towing him along; or it -might be storms would follow each other so fast that a necessary outside -passage could not be attempted. - -And so they decided, that first night out from Mobile, that if there was -any loafing to be done, they had better defer it until within a single -day's run of the Crescent City. When their minds were perfectly free, -and they knew nothing was apt to interfere with their carefully laid -plans, that would be the time to hang around, and rest up. - -So day succeeded day, and they drew gradually closer to their -destination. Jimmy began to look very doleful, or at least pretended to -be in the "dumps," as Josh called it. The wager would come to an end -when they made the city on the lower Mississippi, no matter what their -future course was to be. And if he had not beaten that wonderful shark -record by then, the game was up. - -Nick puffed himself out, and assumed airs. He felt that he had really -done himself proud in bringing such a remarkable fish to land, alone and -unaided. He even made out solemnly worded vouchers, which every one of -the others was compelled to sign; and which in so many sentences told -the actual story of his feat. - -"You see," Nick explained, "a lot of people up in our town would call it -just a fish story, and let it go at that. And I want to prove it to my -dad as well. He never dreams what a wonderful boy he's got. Guess they -won't laugh so much after this, because I happen to have a little extra -flesh on my bones. That don't mean I'm lacking in muscle, does it? I -think not. Haven't we got a shining example of the same in our great and -noble President today? Huh! a fellow can be stout, and yet some punkins, -after all." - -"And that little kodak picture I took will go a good way toward proving -your story, Nick," remarked Josh. "When they see you standing so nobly, -with one foot on that _tre_menjous shark, it'd have to be a mighty -suspicious feller that would doubt your word. And even Jimmy, here, your -worsted competitor, has signed your affidavy." - -"Sure if I'm worsted, I'm wool, and a yarrd wide!" grinned the said -Jimmy. - -"By the way, I notice that Jimmy doesn't get busy any longer with that -shark line," remarked Herb, turning to the Irish lad with a questioning -look. - -"Then he must have given it up as a bad job," said George. - -"How about that, Jimmy; are you ready to crown Nick as the king pin of -the bunch when it comes to bagging big fish? Shall we get the laurel -wreath, and put it on his brow? Will you admit that you're cleanly -beaten at the game?" - -Jack put the question direct, for he privately knew that Jimmy had -yielded the palm. The other jumped up, snatched his banjo from the -ground, and began to strum something that set the boys in a roar, and -made Nick blush with pleasure. For the tune was, "Lo, the Conquering -Hero Comes." - -"How long have we been in making this splendid run from Philadelphia?" -Herb asked a little later, as Jack was jotting down some notes of the -day's run in his logbook. - -"Nearly three months, all told, counting our numerous stops," was the -reply; "or it will be that when we get to New Orleans. December is -nearly over now; Christmas has gone by, and the New Year only a few days -away." - -"Well, I haven't kept exact track, to tell the truth," Herb went on; -"but I guessed it must be about that. Do you want to know how? Why, you -remember that on our very first night out, the moon was just four days -old?" - -"That's a fact," spoke up George; "for I can recollect noticing it up in -the western heavens, and wishing it would hurry along, so as to give us -more light nights." - -"Well, this is about the dark of the moon now," added Herb, triumphantly. - -"No use for Herb to ever own a watch again," laughed Josh. "He just -prides himself on being able to tell the time of day by the sun; and now -he's shown us how he can find out what day of the month it is by the -moon. Pretty soon he'll be using the stars to tell his age, and when he -cut his first tooth. Once you start in along that line, there's just no -limit to what you can do, I reckon, eh, Herb?" - -"Well, all I can say, fellows," quoth Jack, as he slapped his logbook -shut, and glanced around at the sunburned and healthy looking faces of -his five good camp-mates, "is that we've surely had the time of our -lives on this dandy voyage; and no matter what happens next, we're never -going to forget the glorious runs our little fleet of motor boats have -made outside, and in, along the whole coast, from the frozen North to -the Sunny South!" - -"Hear! hear!" shouted Josh, enthusiastically waving his hat above his -head. - -"You never spoke truer words, Jack," remarked George, with deep feeling. -"It's sure been the happiest time of my whole life; or would have been," -he hastily added, while a slight frown broke over his face, "only for -the trouble that blessed old motor gave me every little while." - -"But you're all right now, George, with the new engine aboard," condoled -Nick. - -"Perhaps I am," replied the skeptical George; "but the proof of the -pudding is in the eating of it. The new machine may go back on me yet." - -"But, my goodness! you've had it, going on three weeks, and in all that -time she only shied once! What better do you want than that?" demanded -Herb. - -"Oh! well, you never can tell," replied the skipper of the _Wireless_. - -"Fact is, fellers," Nick declared, "George has become so used to looking -for sudden trouble to spring on him, that he can't think of anything -else. He's all the time watching for a breakdown to happen." - -"Three weeks ought to satisfy him that his new engine is all to the -good," remarked Josh, "but seems like it don't. Say, George makes me -think of that Irishman who was always looking for trouble. He had been -employed by the same railroad company forty-three years; but, getting -too old for the work, he was let go. When some of his friends, seeing -him look so doleful, took him to task, he shook his head and said, says -he: 'It's not surprised at all I am; for ever since I began work here -I've known it wouldn't be a permanent job!'" - -And so they laughed and joked as the time slipped away. - -Of course they did not intend passing around to the delta of the mighty -Mississippi, when there was a much more convenient way of reaching the -Crescent City by passing through the straits called the Rigolets, and -thus entering Lake Ponchartrain; from whence, by means of the canal, the -city could be gained. - -It was on New Year's day, at about three in the afternoon, with a piping -cold wind streaming down from the frozen North, that the little motor -boat flotilla came to a last stop in a quiet boatyard near the great -city on the river, which had seen the windup of a previous voyage of the -club. - -And, anxious as they were to hear from home, the six chums did not -neglect to shake hands all around over the remarkably successful -termination of their long and adventurous trip down the Eastern coast, -and among the keys of Florida. - -If the news they received was what they expected it would be, they -intended to load the three boats on the first packet bound up the river, -and then wend their way home by train. - -Whether this plan was fated to be carried out or not, must be left to -another book. Having attained the goal for which they had striven so -splendidly; and with the bitter rivalry between Jimmy and Nick settled -for all time, we can safely leave our young friends at this point, -wishing them all good luck in other voyages which they may undertake in -the near future. - - -THE END. - - - - -BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS - -The most attractive and highest class list of copyrighted books for boys -ever printed. In this list will be found the works of W. Bert Foster, -Capt. Ralph Bonehill, Arthur M. Winfield, etc. - -Printed from large clear type, illustrated, bound in a superior quality -of cloth. - - - THE CLINT WEBB SERIES - By W. Bert Foster - - 1.--Swept Out to Sea; or, Clint Webb Among the Whalers. - 2.--The Frozen Ship; or, Clint Webb Among the Sealers. - 3.--From Sea to Sea; or, Clint Webb on the Windjammer. - 4.--The Sea Express; or, Clint Webb and the Sea Tramp. - - - THE YOUNG SPORTSMAN'S SERIES - By Capt. Ralph Bonehill - - Rival Cyclists; or, Fun and Adventures on the Wheel. - Young Oarsmen of Lake View; or, The Mystery of Hermit Island. - Leo the Circus Boy; or, Life Under the Great White Canvas. - - - SEA AND LAND SERIES - Four Boys' Books by Favorite Authors - - Oscar the Naval Cadet Capt. Ralph Bonehill - Blue Water Rovers Victor St. Clare - A Royal Smuggler William Dalton - A Boy Crusoe Allen Erie - - - ADVENTURE AND JUNGLE SERIES - A large, well printed, attractive edition. - - Guy in the Jungle Wm. Murray Grayden - Casket of Diamonds Oliver Optic - The Boy Railroader Matthew White, Jr. - Treasure of South Lake Farm W. Bert Foster - - - YOUNG HUNTERS SERIES - By Capt. Ralph Bonehill - - Gun and Sled; or, The Young Hunters of Snow Top Island. - Young Hunters in Porto Rico; or, The Search for a Lost Treasure. - Two Young Crusoes; by C. W. Phillips. - Through Apache Land; or, Ned in the Mountains; by Lieut. R. H. - Tayne. - - - BRIGHT AND BOLD SERIES - By Arthur M. Winfield - - Poor but Plucky; or, The Mystery of a Flood. - School Days of Fred Harley; or, Rivals for All Honors. - By Pluck, not Luck; or, Dan Granbury's Struggle to Rise. - The Missing Tin Box; or, Hal Carson's Remarkable City Adventure. - - - COLLEGE LIBRARY FOR BOYS - By Archdeacon Farrar - - Julian Home; or, A Tale of College Life. - St. Winifred's; or, The World of School. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 50 cents. - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - 701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago - - - - -BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS - -Printed from large, clear type on a superior quality of paper, -embellished with original illustrations by eminent artists, and bound -in a superior quality of binders' cloth, ornamented with illustrated -covers, stamped in colors from unique and appropriate dies, each book -wrapped in a glazed paper wrapper printed in colors. - - - BOY SCOUT SERIES - By - G. HARVEY RALPHSON, of the Black Bear Patrol. - - 1.--Boy Scouts in Mexico; or, On Guard With Uncle Sam. - 2.--Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or, The Plot Against Uncle Sam. - 3.--Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, The Key to the Treaty Box. - 4.--Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or, Fighting Forest Fires. - 5.--Boy Scouts in a Motor Boat; or, Adventures on the Columbia River. - 6.--Boy Scouts in an Airship; or, The Warning from the Sky. - 7.--Boy Scouts in a Submarine; or, Searching an Ocean Floor. - 8.--Boy Scouts on Motorcycles; or, With the Flying Squadron. - 9.--Boy Scouts Beyond the Arctic Circle; or, The Lost Expedition. - 10.--Boy Scout Camera Club; or, The Confessions of a Photograph. - 11.--Boy Scout Electricians; or, The Hidden Dynamo. - 12.--Boy Scouts in California; or, The Flag on the Cliff. - 13.--Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay; or, The Disappearing Fleet. - 14.--Boy Scouts in Death Valley; or, The City in the Sky. - 15.--Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; or, The Round-up not Ordered. - 16.--Boy Scouts in Southern Waters; or, the Spanish Treasure Chest. - 17.--Boy Scouts in Belgium; or, Under Fire in Flanders. - 18.--Boy Scouts in the North Sea; or, the Mystery of U-13. - - - THE MOTORCYCLE CHUMS SERIES - - 1.--Motorcycle Chums in the Land of the Sky; or, Thrilling Adventures - on the Carolina Border. - - 2.--Motorcycle Chums in New England; or, The Mount Holyoke - Adventure. - - 3.--Motorcycle Chums on the Sante Fe Trail; or, The Key to the - Treaty Box. - - 4.--Motorcycle Chums in Yellowstone Park; or, Lending a Helping - Hand. - - 5.--Motorcycle Chums in the Adirondacks; or, The Search for the - Lost Pacemaker. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 50 cents. - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - 701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago - - - - -FAMOUS BOOKS IN REBOUND EDITIONS - - -HEIDI - -A Child's Story of Life in the Alps - -By Johanna Spyri - -395 pages--illustrated. Printed from new plates; neatly bound in cloth. - - -PINOCCHIO - -A Tale of a Puppet--By C. Collodi - -Printed from new plates on a good grade of paper; neatly bound in cloth; -illustrated. - - -ELSIE DINSMORE - -By Martha Finley - -Beautiful edition of this popular book. Printed from new plates, covers -stamped in four colors from original design. - - -BROWNIES AND OTHER STORIES - -Illustrated by Palmer Cox - -320 pages and containing an illustration on nearly every page; printed -from new plates from large, clear type, substantially bound in cloth. - - -HELEN'S BABIES - -By John Habberton - -This amusing and entertaining book, printed from new plates, cloth -binding. - - -HANS BRINKER; or, The Silver Skates - -By Mary Mapes Dodge - -A popular edition of this well-known story of life in Holland. - - -RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS - -By Carolyn Wells - - -PLEASANT DAY DIVERSIONS - -By Carolyn Wells - -Printed on a good grade of paper from new plates, bound in a superior -grade book binders' cloth. These volumes have never before been offered -for less than $1.25; for sale now at the special price of 75 cents each. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price -mentioned. - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - 701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago - - - - -ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE - -COMPLETE EDITIONS--THE BEST FOR LEAST MONEY - - -WOODCRAFT - -_for_ Boy Scouts and Others - -_By_ OWEN JONES _and_ MARCUS WOODMAN - -_With a Message to Boy Scouts by_ SIR BADEN-POWELL, _Founder of the Boy -Scouts' Movement_. - - -One of the essential requirements of the Boy Scout training is a -=Knowledge of Woodcraft=. This necessitates a book embracing all the -subjects and treating on all the topics that a thorough knowledge of -=Woodcraft= implies. - -This book thoroughly exhausts the subject. It imparts a comprehensive -knowledge of woods from fungus growth to the most stately monarch of the -forest; it treats of the habits and lairs of all the feathered and furry -inhabitants of the woods. Shows how to trail wild animals; how to -identify birds and beasts by their tracks, calls, etc. Tells how to -forecast the weather, and in fact treats on every phase of nature with -which a Boy Scout or any woodman or lover of nature should be familiar. -The authorship guarantees its authenticity and reliability. Indispensable -to "Boy Scouts" and others. Printed from large clear type on superior -paper. - -Embellished With Over 100 Thumb Nail Illustrations Taken From Life - -Bound in Cloth. Stamped with unique and appropriate designs in ink. - -Price, 75c Postpaid - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - 701-727 S. Dearborn St. CHICAGO - - - - -ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE - -Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money - - -Thrilling, Interesting, Instructive Books, _by_ - -EDWARD S. ELLIS - -No boy's library is complete unless it contains all of the books by that -charming, delightful writer of boys' stories of adventure, EDWARD S. -ELLIS. The following are the titles, uniform in size, style and binding: - - 1. Life of Kit Carson - 2. Lone Wolf Cave - 3. Star of India - 4. The Boy Captive - 5. The Red Plume - -All of the above books may be had at the store where this book was -bought, or will be sent postage prepaid at 75c each, by the publishers - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO., - 701-727 S. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO - - - _ASK YOUR BOOKSELLER FOR_ - THE DONOHUE COMPLETE EDITIONS - and you will get the best for the least money - - - - -ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE - -Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money - - -Henty Series - -_FOR BOYS_ - -G. A. Henty was the most prolific writer of boy's stories of the -nineteenth century. From two to five books a year came from his facile -pen. No Christmas holidays were complete without a new "Henty Book." -This new series comprises 45 titles. They are printed on an extra -quality of paper, from new plates and bound in the best quality of -cloth, stamped on back and side in inks from unique and attractive dies. -12 mo. cloth. Each book in a printed wrapper. - - 1 Among Malay Pirates - 2 Bonnie Prince Charlie - 3 Boy Knight, The - 4 Bravest of the Brave - 5 By England's Aid - 6 By Pike and Dyke - 7 By Right of Conquest - 8 By Sheer Pluck - 9 Captain Bayley's Heir - 10 Cat of Bubastes - 11 Col. Thorndyke's Secret - 12 Cornet of Horse, The - 13 Dragon and the Raven - 14 Facing Death - 15 Final Reckoning, A - 16 For Name and Fame - 17 For the Temple - 18 Friends, Though Divided - 19 Golden Canon - 20 In Freedom's Cause - 21 In the Reign of Terror - 22 In Times of Peril - 23 Jack Archer - 24 Lion of St. Mark - 25 Lion of the North - 26 Lost Heir, The - 27 Maori and Settler - 28 One of the 28th - 29 Orange and Green - 30 Out on the Pampas - 31 Queen's Cup, The - 32 Rujub, the Juggler - 33 St. George for England - 34 Sturdy and Strong - 35 Through the Fray - 36 True to the Old Flag - 37 Under Drake's Flag - 38 With Clive in India - 39 With Lee in Virginia - 40 With Wolfe in Canada - 41 Young Buglers, The - 42 Young Carthaginians - 43 Young Colonists, The - 44 Young Franc-Tireurs - 45 Young Midshipman - -All of above titles can be procured at the store where this book was -bought, or sent to any address for 50c postage paid, by the publishers - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO., - 701-727 South 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_ - - - - -FOR THE _VEST POCKET_ - - -ALWAYS _Ask For The_ DONOHUE - -Complete Editions--The best for least money - - -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. A =Vest Pocket= compilation for the innocent citizen to -know his rights in time of trouble. - -Cloth, =25c= - -Leather, =50c= - - -Complete Civil Service Manual - -HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMINATIONS - -HOW TO OBTAIN POSITIONS - -CONTAINS also Sample Questions for Examinations, embracing all the -public offices and positions in the National, City, County and State -Governments. Giving full details of the history, aims, opportunities, -rules, regulations and requirements of the Civil Service. By =Prof. C. M. -Stevens, Ph.D.= 114 pages. Vest Pocket size, bound in flexible cloth. - -Price, Cloth, =25c= - -Leather, gilt edges, =50c= - -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 and you will get the best for the least money - - -THRILLING, INTERESTING, INSTRUCTIVE - -_BOOKS_ - -_By_ HARRY CASTLEMON - -No boy's library is complete unless it contains all of the books by -that charming, delightful writer of boys' stories of adventure, HARRY -CASTLEMON. The following are the titles, uniform in size, style and -binding: - - 1 Boy Trapper, The - 2 Frank the Young Naturalist - 3 Frank in the Woods - 4 Frank on the Lower Mississippi - 5 Frank on a Gunboat - 6 Frank Before Vicksburg - 7 Frank on the Prairie - 8 Frank at Don Carlos Ranch - 9 The First Capture - 10 Struggle for a Fortune, A - 11 Winged Arrows Medicine - -All of the above books may be had at the store where this book was -bought, or will be sent postage prepaid at 75c each, by the publishers. - - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO., - 701-727 S. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO - - - _ASK YOUR BOOKSELLER FOR_ - THE DONOHUE COMPLETE EDITIONS - and you will get the best for the least money - - - - -ALWAYS _ASK FOR THE_ DONOHUE - -Complete Editions and you will get the best for the least money - - -"Jack Harkaway" - -[Illustration] - -Series of Books - -For Boys - -By Bracebridge Hemyng - -"=For a regular thriller commend me to 'Jack Harkaway.'=" - -This edition of Jack Harkaway is printed from large clear type, new -plates, on a very superior quality of book paper and the books are -substantially bound in binders' cloth. The covers are unique and -attractive, each title having a separate cover in colors from new dies. -Each book in printed wrapper, with cover design and title. 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 - - - - -Works of - -Charles Carleton Coffin - -AUTHOR OF - -Boys of '76--Boys of '61 - - -[Illustration] - -_The world-wide reputation of the war stories from this facile pen -prompted us to negotiate for a popular-priced edition with his -publishers, Messrs. Dana, Estes & Co. We, therefor, can now offer the -following best selling titles, printed on superior book paper, bound in -English vellum cloth, stamped in three inkings from an attractive and -original design:_ - - Following the Flag - Winning His Way - My Days and Nights on the Battlefield - -FOR SALE AT ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT POSTPAID UPON RECEIPT OF 50c. - - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 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