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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41536 ***
+
+[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.
+
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+ 701-733 So. Dearborn Street,    Chicago
+
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+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
+
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+    on the Carolina Border.
+
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+    Adventure.
+
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+    Treaty Box.
+
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+    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.
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+
+
+PINOCCHIO
+
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+
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+illustrated.
+
+
+ELSIE DINSMORE
+
+By Martha Finley
+
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+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.
+
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+RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS
+
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+
+
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+
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+grade book binders' cloth. These volumes have never before been offered
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+WOODCRAFT
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+_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.
+
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+
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+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
+
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+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
+
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+bought, or sent to any address for 50c postage paid, by the publishers
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+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
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+CONTAINS also Sample Questions for Examinations, embracing all the
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+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
+
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+"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
+
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+
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+
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+
+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.      Chicago
+
+
+
+
+ Transcriber's Notes:
+
+ --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
+   bold by "equal" signs (=bold=).
+
+ --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently
+   corrected.
+
+ --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
+
+ --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys, by 
+Louis Arundel
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41536 ***