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diff --git a/old/44788.txt b/old/44788.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..230f0ea --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44788.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6827 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Boys Afloat, by Clarence Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Motor Boys Afloat + or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway + +Author: Clarence Young + +Release Date: January 29, 2014 [EBook #44788] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: SENT THE DARTAWAY OVER THE LINE A WINNER.] + + + + +THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT + +Or + +The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway + +BY CLARENCE YOUNG + +AUTHOR OF "THE RACER BOYS SERIES" AND "THE JACK RANGER SERIES." + + +ILLUSTRATED + + + NEW YORK + CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + + + +BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG + + +=THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES= + +(_=Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of.=_) + +12mo. Illustrated + + THE MOTOR BOYS + Or Chums Through Thick and Thin + THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND + Or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune + THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO + Or The Secret of the Buried City + THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS + Or The Hermit of Lost Lake + THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT + Or The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC + Or The Mystery of the Lighthouse + THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS + Or Lost in a Floating Forest + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC + Or The Young Derelict Hunters + THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS + Or A Trip for Fame and Fortune + +=THE JACK RANGER SERIES= + +12mo. Finely Illustrated + + JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS + Or The Rivals of Washington Hall + JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP + Or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range + JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES + Or Track, Gridiron and Diamond + JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE + Or The Wreck of the Polly Ann + JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB + Or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail + + Copyright, 1908, by + CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT + + Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. WHAT THE POSTMAN BROUGHT 1 + II. THE MOTOR BOAT 11 + III. AN ACCIDENT 17 + IV. A QUEER KIND OF RAT 24 + V. PLANNING A CRUISE 32 + VI. AN ENCOUNTER WITH NODDY 37 + VII. TO THE RESCUE 45 + VIII. PLOTTING 52 + IX. A TEST OF SPEED 60 + X. SAVED FROM THE FALLS 68 + XI. BILL BERRY'S THREATS 77 + XII. AN ALARM OF FIRE 83 + XIII. THE QUEER TRAMP 91 + XIV. CAMPING OUT 101 + XV. THE MOTOR BOAT MISSING 109 + XVI. THE SEARCH 116 + XVII. FINDING THE DARTAWAY 126 + XVIII. READY FOR A CRUISE 132 + XIX. THE STORE ROBBERY 143 + XX. OFF TO THE LAKE 153 + XXI. THE RACE 161 + XXII. THE COLLISION 173 + XXIII. THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE 179 + XXIV. A QUEER MESSAGE 188 + XXV. SEARCHING FOR THE SCHOONER 195 + XXVI. THE PIECE OF SILK 203 + XXVII. NED AND BOB CAPTURED 214 + XXVIII. JERRY'S RETURN 224 + XXIX. THE CHASE 230 + XXX. CAUGHT--CONCLUSION 237 + + + + +THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WHAT THE POSTMAN BROUGHT + + +The shrill vibration of the postman's whistle brought Bob Baker to the +front door on the run. + +"Only a postal!" he exclaimed as the mail-man handed it to him. "It's +for me though. Wonder what it is?" + +He turned it over and glanced at what seemed to be only a printed form +with, here and there, a word written in. + +"What's it all about?" mused Bob. + +Carefully he went through the lines of printing and writing. They +resolved themselves into a notice that at the freight station of the +Atlantic & Northern Railroad there was a piece of merchandise shipped +from the International Gas Engine Company, which article could be had +on application to the freight agent. + +"It's our motor boat!" exclaimed Bob. "It's come! Hurrah! I must hurry +over and tell Ned and Jerry! Whoop! I'm glad it's Saturday. We can put +in the whole day getting the boat from the station. Hurrah!" + +"Is anything the matter, Bob?" asked Mrs. Baker, coming to the head of +the stairs and looking at her son, who, at that instant was standing on +his head in the lower hall. + +"Matter? I should say there was, mother!" he cried, jumping to an +upright position. "Our motor boat's here!" + +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Baker. "Now I suppose you'll be going off on +cruises which will be worse than the automobile trips." + +"Worse? Better you mean, mother," remarked Bob. "But I must run over to +Ned's house. Where's my hat?" + +"Where did you leave it?" + +"I don't know," replied the boy, who seldom could keep track of the +head covering. "Never mind, it's warm, I'll go without it." + +He ran from the house into the pleasant spring sunshine, and soon was +racing down the street toward the home of one of his chums, Ned Slade. +Reaching there he gave a shrill whistle on his fingers. + +"What is it?" asked Ned, poking his head out of a window. + +"She's here!" shouted Bob. + +"What! Our boat?" + +"Sure! Just got a postal from the freight office. Come on, we'll get +Jerry and have the boat taken to the river. Shiver my timbers, I can +hardly wait! Hurry up, Ned!" + +Ned needed no urging, and soon the two boys were at Jerry Hopkins' +house. He was not home, but his mother told his chums where they could +find him, and they started off to a neighbor's house, where Jerry had +gone on an errand. + +The three boys had gone into partnership in the purchase of a motor +boat. They lived in Cresville, Mass. Bob Baker was the son of a +rich banker, while Ned Slade's father was the proprietor of a large +department store. Jerry Hopkins was the son of a well-to-do widow. + +The lads had been chums for a number of years, and had been closely +associated in a series of adventures which began with the purchase +of motor cycles and which were destined to be continued with the +acquisition of the motor boat. + +As told in the first volume of this series, "The Motor Boys," the three +took part in some bicycle races under the auspices of the Cresville +Athletic Club. They won, but in doing so incurred the enmity of Noddy +Nixon, a town bully, whose wealth had made him a spoiled son. One of +the chums won a motor cycle as a prize and, soon after this the other +boys also discarded their bicycles for the more rapid vehicles. + +They had many adventures on the motor cycles, in some of which Noddy +Nixon played a prominent, if a mean part. The boys entered a motor +cycle race and were successful, winning the first prize, a big +automobile touring car. Because of a robbery at a local mill Noddy +Nixon had to flee from Cresville, running off one night in his father's +automobile. + +In the second book, "The Motor Boys Overland," I told of how Ned, Bob +and Jerry started west. They had many exciting adventures, being put +to considerable trouble by Noddy, who heard of their trip and followed +them. The motor boys got permission from their folks to search for an +old mine which a prospector whom they befriended told them of. They +found the mine with the help of Jim Nestor, and secured possession, +though they had a close race with Nixon, and two of his cronies, Jack +Pender and also Bill Berry, a Cresville ne'er-do-well. + +The mine proved to be a rich one, and the shares the boys received were +considerable. They arranged to have Jim Nestor work the claim for +them, as he was the largest shareholder, because of having known of the +mine previously. + +But the finding of the mine did not end the adventures of the motor +boys. They had picked up on their trip west an old professor, Uriah +Snodgrass, who had heard of a buried city in Mexico. The boys resolved +to start for that country and got permission to go. + +On the way many things occurred, as related in the third book of the +series, "The Motor Boys in Mexico." They had fights with Mexicans, and +their old enemy Noddy Nixon turned up to bother them. There were fights +with wild animals and reptiles, and by a plot between Noddy and some +rascally Mexicans, Bob was captured, but later got away. + +The buried city was found most unexpectedly by the auto sinking through +the earth upon a concealed passageway. There were strange happenings +in the long-lost city, and the professor discovered a valuable box of +jewels. + +The young travelers then resolved to make a trip across the prairies +and in the fourth book of the series, called "The Motor Boys Across the +Plains," I told of their exciting journey. An old hermit was found who +proved to be the father of a boy that the three chums rescued from a +desperate gang. Later the hermit was of much assistance to the motor +boys, since the gang was trying to get possession of the mine. The +hermit was one of the original owners of the claim, and through him +the mine was kept in the power of the boys and Nestor. The claim was +found to be paying better than ever; and, after defeating the gang that +sought to get it, the motor boys came home, having been away a long +time. + +Their parents, no less than their friends and relatives in Cresville, +were glad to see them, and it took the lads several days to tell of +their adventures. The mine, the possession of which was kept in a sort +of company formed by the boys, their parents and Jim Nestor, paid well, +and it was with some of the proceeds that the boys bought a motor boat. + +They still kept their automobile, but as they had arrived home in the +fall, and as the winter, which soon came, was an unusually severe one, +they had little chance to go out in the touring car. + +They had resumed their studies, all three of them attending the +Cresville Academy. It was now the close of May and in another month +they would finish the term. + +Ned and Bob hurried to where Mrs. Hopkins had said Jerry could be +found. He was just leaving to come home. + +"Hey!" called Bob, catching sight of him. "The boat's come, Jerry!" + +"Really?" + +"Sure! Got a postal! Come on to the freight yard!" + +The boys, whose spirits were bubbling over with excitement ran, rather +than walked, to the freight house. They went up the platform steps by +jumps and burst in on the agent, who was busy over waybills. + +"Where is it, Mr. Hitter?" gasped Bob. + +"Where's what?" asked Mr. Hitter, peering over the tops of his glasses. + +"Why our motor boat." + +"I don't know nothin' about no motor boats," said the agent, preparing +to go on with his work. + +The hearts of the boys began to sink. Suppose the boat had been lost in +shipment? + +"But this postal says it has arrived," persisted Bob showing what the +letter carrier had given him. + +"Oh that," said Mr. Hitter. "Well, yes, there is a piece of freight as +big as a house addressed to you. But I didn't s'pose it was a boat. I +took it for a specimen of a whale that I thought Professor Snodgrass +had ketched while you an' him was down in Mexico. It's boxed up jest +like a whale. I'll bet it is a whale, Bob." + +"Where is it?" cried the boys in chorus. + +"Down at th' t'other end of th' platform. But look out it don't bite +ye! I'll bet it's a shark if 'tain't a whale," and Mr. Hitter chuckled +heartily. + +The boys raced down the platform. At the end, where it had just been +taken from a flat car, was a long box, measuring about twenty-seven by +ten, by seven feet. Indeed it did look as if it contained the remains +of some prehistoric monster. + +"Hurrah! This is it!" cried Ned, as he read from a paper pasted on the +big box: + +"_One motor boat. This side up with care._" + +"Get a hammer and we'll unpack it!" cried Bob. "Where's an axe?" + +"Now ye'd better go slow, boys," cautioned Mr. Hitter, coming up at +this juncture. "Was ye calalatin' to sail right here from th' depot +down th' main street?" + +"That's so, I forgot you have to have water for a boat," spoke Bob, +wiping the perspiration from his forehead, for he was quite fat, and +the excitement made him warm. + +"You'll have to make haste slowly, Chunky," said Ned, applying to him +the nick-name Bob's chums sometimes used. + +"How are we going to get it home?" asked Jerry. + +"Can't ye carry it on yer shoulders?" asked Mr. Hitter with a laugh. + +"I'll bet it weighs a ton," spoke Bob. + +"Nearer two, accordin' t' th' way bill," chimed in the freight agent. +"Now I tell ye what t' do. Leave it right in th' box. Go off an' git +Hen Jaegers, who's got th' biggest truck in town t' cart it t' the +river for ye. Then ye won't damage it. Jest come in an' sign the +receipt an' let Hen do th' rest. If ye carried it yerselves ye might +drop it, an' damage the spark plug or whatever it is makes it go," and +he laughed again at his joke. + +The boys decided this would be the best to do. Bob, to whom the boat +was consigned, put his signature to the receipt, and then the lads +hurried to the office of the truckman. + +"I wonder if we can try it to-night?" asked Jerry. + +"Guess so," put in Ned. "I've been reading the catalog and directions +until I know 'em by heart." + +"Do you remember when we first got the motor cycles and how one got +going and we couldn't stop it?" asked Ned. + +"Sure. And when we first got the auto," chimed in Bob. + +"That reminds me of something I almost forgot," spoke Jerry. "Did you +hear the news?" + +"What news?" came from Ned and Bob. + +"About Noddy Nixon. He's coming back. His father has fixed everything +up, I understand." + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Ned. "Well, he's got nerve after what he +did to us, trying to rob us of the mine and putting those Mexicans up +to kidnap Bob. I'd like to give him a good threshing." + +"I'll bet he'll make trouble for us," said Bob. "I'll be worried about +our motor boat all the while it's on the river, as long as Noddy Nixon +is in town." + +"Nonsense, he'll not interfere with us any more," came from Jerry. + +"Well, I'm no calamity howler," put in Bob, "but I'll bet we are going +to have more trouble with Noddy." + +And after events showed that Bob had guessed rightly. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MOTOR BOAT + + +The boys found Mr. Jaeger so busy hauling all sorts of freight and +merchandise from the depot and other parts of Cresville that he could +not promise to go after the boat that day. + +"Look here, Mr. Jaeger," said Bob. "We've got to have that boat on the +river to-night or we'll lose all our sleep, and it will be your fault. +We'll come and stand under your window after dark and sing." + +"Oh my! Oh my!" exclaimed the truckman, throwing up his hands. + +"Yes, we will!" insisted Bob. "We'll sing 'The Solder's Farewell' and +'My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean' if you don't get that boat for us." + +"Don't threaten any more!" cried Mr. Jaeger. "I'll haul the boat for +you if I have to disappoint every customer I've got. Only don't sing. +I can't stand it. Never could," and he laughed. Then he called his +assistant and gave orders to have the boat taken from the freight +station. + +It was quite a job, for the boat was encased in a heavy box to prevent +breakage, but eventually it was loaded upon the wagon. The boys climbed +upon the truck and rode along, fearful to let the precious boat get out +of their sight. + +It was about a mile to the river and all along the way many persons +stared at the big load, wondering what the motor boys were up to now, +since their adventures were known all over Cresville. As the truck was +passing Mr. Nixon's house Jerry nudged Bob. + +"What is it?" asked Chunky. + +"There's Noddy." + +"Where?" + +"In the barn. He was just looking out. There he is now." + +Bob caught sight of Noddy's head as he quickly dodged out of sight. + +"Never mind," said Bob, "we'll be on the lookout for him after this." + +Noddy Nixon did not seem to care to be seen by the motor boys. As it +developed, after the part he had played in the capture of Bob and in +inducing the gang of Mexicans, Bill Berry and others to follow on the +trail of the searchers after the lost city, the young rascal had kept +pretty well under cover. But, being tired of a roving life and keeping +so far away from home Noddy had written to his father. + +Mr. Nixon had called on Mr. Baker, and had humbly apologized for +Noddy's actions, promising to see that his son did no more mischief. +On these conditions, of which Mr. Baker said nothing to his son or the +other boys, Noddy was allowed to come home, it being agreed that he +would not be prosecuted for his crimes. He had reached his house that +very day, though the rumor of his coming had preceded him. + +In anticipation of the arrival of the motor boat the boys had built a +float and dock on the edge of the river fronting on a piece of land +belonging to Mr. Baker. This plot adjoined one owned by Mr. Nixon, who +had a small boathouse where were kept a rowboat and a small sailing +craft. + +The boys had hired a carpenter to erect for them a good sized shelter +where their motor boat might be kept, but it was not quite finished. +The big box was soon unloaded and opened. + +"Ain't she just a dandy!" cried Ned. + +"A regular beauty!" exploded Jerry. + +"Finest thing in the country!" came from Bob, his desire to eat now +forgotten. "It's worth every cent we paid for it. I only hope it will +go all right." + +"Of course it will go," answered Ned. "I wonder if we have any +gasolene?" + +"I sent some down last night on the chance that she would come to-day," +said Jerry. "Now to launch the _Dartaway_!" + +"The _Dartaway_? Is that her name?" asked Ned. + +"Sure," replied Jerry. "I forgot to tell you when I wrote out the order +that I told the manufacturers to give her that name. If you don't like +it, we can change it." + +"That's a fine name," came from Ned, and Bob said it suited him. + +The boat was twenty-five feet long and about six feet beam. The engine +was a four cylinder one, with all the latest improvements, arranged +with three speeds forward and a reverse just as an automobile is, +and the craft also steered with a bright colored wheel in the front, +similar to a touring car. + +There was a little cockpit forward where there was room for six to +sit comfortably and leave a place for the steersman. The engineer had +a little place partitioned off for himself, and amidships were roomy +lockers and an arrangement where a table could be set. + +There was even a small galley with a stove which burned gasolene, and +food could be cooked on board. There was a camping outfit of dishes and +kitchen utensils, and the lockers could be made into fairly comfortable +bunks in case one wanted to sleep on board. + +There was a portable awning that could be put up to cover the whole of +the craft and side curtains that could be fastened shut. The one in +front was fitted with a celluloid window so that in stormy weather the +boat could be worked and steered under shelter. Also, if the occupants +desired they could pass a night on board and keep dry in the hardest +rain. + +A whistle worked by the exhaust of the gasolene explosions, a search +lamp, similar to those on automobiles, a small anchor, a regular ship's +compass, flags and a kit of repair tools, with some extra parts of the +engine, completed the boat's equipment. + +The truckmen, no less interested than the boys, surveyed the _Dartaway_. +It was indeed a fine boat and the motor boys might well be proud of her. +There was nothing like her on the river. She looked speedy, as if the +name fitted her. + +"Now to get her into the water," said Ned. "How are we going to do it? +I never launched a boat before." + +"I'll show ye," spoke the truck driver. "Come on men," and he motioned +to his helpers. + +They passed a heavy rope about the cradle, and ran one end of it to a +windlass under the front seat of the big wagon. The vehicle had been +backed down on the dock. The driver next placed some rollers under the +bottom of the cradle, and the craft was soon in the water. + +By bow and stern lines the craft was made fast to the float. Then the +boys jumped in. The boat rocked gently to and fro. It bobbed up and +down slightly and swung with the current of the river. + +"Oh! This is something like!" cried Bob as he grasped the steering +wheel, and gave it a few turns. + +"That's like you, taking the easy part the first thing!" exclaimed Ned. +"Why don't you crank up the engine?" + +"What's the use, there's no gasolene," came from Bob. + +"We'll soon remedy that," replied Jerry, as he hurried into the +boathouse. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +AN ACCIDENT + + +Jerry came back with a large can and a funnel. With the help of the +boys he filled the tank in the forward part of the boat. + +"Now we're ready to go," he said. + +"Hold on," came from Ned, who had been reading a card of instructions +that was attached to the engine. "This says it is best to let the boat +rest in the water a few hours after launching to swell the seams before +starting the engine, as they might strain open." + +"Oh I'm so glad you discovered that," Bob said. "We might have gone out +and been sunk! Let's go to dinner first." + +"I guess that's what you were thinking of all the while instead of any +danger," retorted Ned. "But I guess it's just as well to let the boat +rest a bit. Besides, we'll have to oil the engine good before starting +it." + +"Will we leave the boat here alone and all go to dinner?" asked Ned. "I +think one of us ought to stay on guard. Bob can stay until you and I +come back, Jerry," and he winked the eye concealed from Chunky. + +"Oh I say, fellows!" cried Bob. "I don't believe any one will touch the +boat." + +His friends burst out laughing at the woe-begone expression on his +face, and the manner in which Bob placed his hands over the region of +his stomach. + +"I guess one of the carpenters will watch the _Dartaway_ until we come +back," suggested Jerry, and the man who had the contract for the boat +house agreed. He did not go home to dinner. + +Bob seemed to hesitate on emerging from the dining room after the meal. +Ned noticed it and asked: + +"Didn't you have enough of that chicken, Chunky?" + +"Oh yes," replied Bob with a sigh. + +"Then what's the matter?" + +"I was thinking we might get stuck out in the river aboard the boat," +said the fleshy youth. + +"Why you're not afraid, are you? You can swim." + +"No, I'm not exactly afraid of that." + +"Then what?" + +"Why I was thinking if we got stuck, you know there's nothing aboard +to eat, and--and--we might be hungry--so I was thinking--." + +"Well, what?" as Bob hesitated. + +"We might take some of those chicken sandwiches along, if your mother +didn't object. They'd come in handy." + +"Well of all things!" gasped Ned. "I believe you'd take a lunch along +if you were going to a banquet, for fear you'd be hungry on the road. +Go ahead, Chunky. Take all you want of the sandwiches. Here's a bag," +and he ran to the kitchen and came back with a flour sack. + +Bob gravely emptied the plate and also put some pieces of cake and a +few pickles into the sack. Then carefully tying it up he followed the +others from the room. + +It was agreed that Jerry, from having made a more careful study of +the machinery than either of the others, should act as engineer on +the initial trip. Accordingly Bob and Ned drew lots to see who should +steer, and the choice fell to Ned. + +With the carpenters watching them curiously the boys climbed aboard +and prepared to start. Jerry looked over the machinery, adjusted the +valves, saw that the wires leading from the batteries to the cylinder +spark plugs were all right, and cranked up. Though the fly wheel was +heavy it turned easily because well adjusted and oiled. + +"Hurrah! We're off!" cried Bob. + +"Not yet," said Jerry. "I haven't thrown in the clutch yet. You forget +this is a new style of boat." + +Letting the engine run a few minutes to warm up Jerry went over it all +carefully and applied oil where it seemed to need it. He watched the +feed cups on the cylinders and saw that they were working properly. + +"I guess we can start off on the low gear," he announced as he grasped +the lever and advanced the spark a trifle to make the explosions come +more rapidly. + +The screw began to revolve and, at the stern of the _Dartaway_ there +came a swirl of foam as the blades beat the water. + +"Here we go!" cried Bob. "This is something like! It's got an +automobile beat a mile!" + +"Don't say anything against automobiles," cautioned Jerry. "Ours stood +by us well." + +"So it did," agreed Bob. "But this is simply immense!" + +Up the river they went, and about a mile from the float they passed a +rowboat containing two boys and two girls. + +_Toot! Toot! Toot!_ + +A shrill whistle sent a blast out as Ned pulled the cord which operated +it. The occupants of the rowboat looked up and waved their hands. + +"Give us a ride!" they cried. + +"It's Andy Rush, Sam Morton, Alice Vines and Mollie Horton," said Ned. +"Shall we take 'em in, Jerry?" + +"Sure," was the reply. "I'll slow down. Steer over toward 'em." + +The speed was lessened and Ned threw the wheel around until the +_Dartaway_ was headed toward the small craft. + +"Look out! Don't run us down! We'll upset--I can't swim--save the +girls--don't blow up the engine--throw us a life preserver--back +water--back pedal--put on brakes!" cried one of the boys. + +"Oh Andy Rush, you're enough to give any one a headache!" exclaimed +Alice Vines. "No wonder your name is Rush!" + +"Stop rowing and we'll come alongside. Pull in the oars!" cried Jerry, +and Ned skillfully put the _Dartaway_ close to the smaller boat. While +Bob steadied it against the motor craft the occupants got into the +cockpit. + +"Shall we tow your boat?" asked Jerry, "or leave it tied up on shore?" + +"Better tow it," said Sam, "we hired it for the afternoon and have to +return it." + +So the rowboat was fastened to the stern of the _Dartaway_ and Jerry +started the motor up again. + +"Isn't this lovely!" exclaimed Mollie Horton. "Where did you ever get +such a beautiful boat?" + +"It's a perfect dream!" came from Alice. + +"You bet!" put in Andy. "Nightmare when you smell the gasolene--whoop! +Crank her up--don't explode--get mad--say all sorts of things--turn +off the batteries--throw on the magneto--test the spark plugs--get a +shock--get madder--then all of a sudden--off you go--whoop!" + +"It's the same old Andy," said Jerry with a smile. + +"I'm going to try her on full speed now," said Jerry, when after +several miles the boat was turned around. He threw the lever over as +far as it would go and advanced the spark lever to the end of the +rachet. + +The _Dartaway_ sprang forward almost as if alive. The water fairly +boiled under the stern and she shot down the river at top speed. The +engine was purring, throbbing and humming as the explosions came faster +and warmed the cylinders up. + +"This is something like going!" cried Bob. + +Suddenly there was a snap as if something had broken and with a cough +and wheeze the engine came to a stop. Jerry sprang forward and shut off +the gasolene to avoid flooding the cylinders with it. Then he threw out +the clutch. + +"Oh! Has something happened?" cried Alice. + +"I'm afraid so," replied Jerry. + +"Is it an accident?" asked Mollie, turning pale. "Are we in danger?" + +"It's an accident, but I don't believe we are in danger," spoke Jerry. +"We can get ashore at the worst. Just sit quietly until I make an +investigation." + +The boat was drifting slowly on the current. Then it seemed to hit +something and stop. + +"We're on the sand bar!" Ned cried. "I forgot it was right here." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A QUEER KIND OF RAT + + +"Oh, this is terrible!" cried Alice. "I'm going to jump out!" + +"Put us ashore! We'll sink!" screamed Mollie. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Jerry sternly. "You girls are old enough to know +better. There's no danger, even if the boat has broken down, and we +are stuck fast. If worst comes to worst we can row you ashore. Now, if +you'll keep quiet, I'll see what's the matter." + +As Ned had guessed, they were on a sand bar. The boat had been moving +quite swiftly before the accident happened, and, what with the momentum +and the drift of the current, had run well up on the obstruction. + +"Well," remarked Jerry when matters had quieted down somewhat, "I guess +the first thing to do is to look and see what the trouble is with the +motor." + +With the assistance of Ned and Bob, Jerry tested the engine to see if +there was good compression, that is if there was the proper mixture of +air with the vapor from the gasolene to produce the explosive gas which +made the piston move. He found that there was no trouble from this +source. + +"How's the spark?" asked Ned. + +"I haven't tried that yet," said Jerry. "I will now." + +He detached one of the wires connected with the batteries and magneto +or small dynamo from the binding post of one of the cylinder heads and +adjusting the contact breaker, touched the end to the set screw. There +was no answering spurt of greenish flame. + +"That's the trouble," said Ned. "No spark. Wire must be broken." + +"Let's see if it's the faults of the batteries or the magneto," spoke +Bob, who was inclined to go slow. + +By means of a small handle on the armature of the magneto it was +whirled rapidly around. As soon as this was done there came a vicious +spark from the end of the wire. + +"Trouble is in the batteries," said Ned. + +The spark which exploded the gases in the cylinders of the _Dartaway_ +was produced in two ways. When the engine was first started it came +from a series of dry cells and a spark coil. Once the fly wheel was +revolving well, a switch could be turned to make the current come from +the magneto, which was operated by it. But it was necessary that the +fly wheel revolve swiftly before any current sufficient to operate the +motor would be produced by the magneto. + +Now the only way the fly wheel could be operated swiftly enough was to +run the engine rapidly and this could not be done except by a spark +from the batteries. So it will be seen that the motor boys were in +trouble of a peculiar kind right at the start. + +True, if one of them could have turned the fly wheel swiftly enough by +hand to have made the magneto produce a spark, to get the explosions +started the problem would have been solved, but it is doubtful if even +a strong man could have performed that feat. + +They tried it by turns, when Jerry had exhausted everything else he +thought of, but for all their back-breaking efforts there was no +result. The _Dartaway_ belied its name. + +The boys were hot and tired. The girls were nervous. It had been +Jerry's plan to get the engine started, reverse the screw, and see if +he could not pull the boat from the bar. But she stuck fast. + +"Shall we row the girls ashore?" asked Sammy. "It's getting late and +the folks may be worried." + +"Well, we're sorry to lose your company," said Jerry, "but we seem to +be up against it. Maybe it would be the best thing to do. We'll make up +for this some day and give you all a better ride." + +The girls got up, preparing to leave. + +"Well, here's a fine pickle!" exclaimed Sammy. + +"What's happened?" cried Alice. + +"Our rowboat's gone!" + +"Our boat?" asked Andy, shortening his remarks for another time. + +"That's what I said," came from Sammy. "The rope got untied. She's +floated off. I guess you'll have to entertain us a little longer, +Jerry." + +"Make yourselves comfortable," said the engineer of the _Dartaway_. +"I'm going to find out what's the trouble before I go home. We'll get +you back some time." + +"I hope it's soon," murmured Alice. "It will be dark in a little while." + +Spurred on by the plight of their guests the motor boys redoubled their +efforts to discover the cause of the trouble and remedy it. That +it was in the wires leading from the batteries to the cylinders was +certain, but the conductors, when examined as far as possible, showed +no sign of break. + +"I'll just have to run new wires, temporary ones of course," said Jerry +after a while. "It will take a little time, but it's bound to do the +trick." + +He overhauled the stores and extra parts in one of the lockers. "I hope +we have a coil of wire," he muttered. "I'm certain I saw some." + +But his search did not reveal any. The situation was getting serious. +Already the sun was behind the trees, and the girls plainly showed +their nervousness. + +"Let Sammy and me get out, take the rope and try to pull the boat off +the bar," suggested Andy. + +"It's too risky," said Ned. "This bottom is of the quick-sand variety, +and you'd sink down. I guess we're stuck here until the motor goes." + +Bob was rummaging about under one of the seats. He hauled out a +package, exclaiming as he did so: + +"I've got it!" + +"What, the wire?" asked Jerry excitedly. + +"No, that lunch I brought along! I'm glad it's here. I'm hungry and I +guess the rest of you can nibble at a chicken sandwich or two." + +"Can we?--well I guess yes!" cried Andy, and the others chimed in with +him. Even Jerry, though much worried over the mishap, stopped tinkering +with the engine long enough to munch some of the food. + +"Call me all the names you want to," said Chunky with a grin, "but +you'll have to admit I'm there with the goods." + +"Good for you, Chunky!" exclaimed Ned. + +"Oh!" cried Alice suddenly. "Something bit me on the foot! I believe +it's a rat! Oh dear! Save me!" + +She jumped up, much excited, Mollie following her example. + +"Sit still!" cried Jerry. "There are no rats aboard!" + +"But something bit me!" insisted the girl. "It had sharp teeth and I +felt them in my ankle. I have low shoes on!" + +She moved away from where she had been sitting. Mollie retreated toward +the stern. Jerry got a lantern and lighted it, for it was now dusk, and +dark down in the cockpit where the girls had been resting. He made a +careful examination. + +"I've got it!" he cried. + +"What, the rat?" asked Alice. + +"No; I've found the broken wire that caused all our trouble," came from +Jerry. "It was the end of it sticking up through a crack and touching +you on the ankle that you felt. Now we'll be off!" + +It was indeed the break in the copper conductor that he had discovered. +The ends of the wire came up through a space in the flooring of the +boat. They ran from a compartment in the forecastle back to the motor. +In less than a minute Jerry had twisted the broken ends together. +Then he fastened the conductor back in the spark plug. Turning on the +gasolene he gave the fly wheel a twist. + +There came a welcome chug-chug and then a throb of the motor. Jerry +threw in the reverse gear. The water at the stern was churned into foam +as the screw revolved. Slowly the _Dartaway_ backed off the sand bar +and into a deeper channel. Then Jerry threw in the forward speed and +the craft shot ahead. + +"Hurrah!" cried the boys. "We're off!" + +"It's lucky you discovered that rat," said Jerry to Alice, "or we might +have stayed there all night." + +Bob lighted the search lamp, as it had grown quite dark, and the shaft +of glaring whiteness shone on the black river. Jerry speeded up the +boat, and it went down the stream toward Cresville at a rapid pace. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +PLANNING A CRUISE + + +Ned was steering, and, having passed two or three large craft he put +the boat over to the Cresville side of the river, to gain the advantage +of the better current. He was peering ahead into the darkness, lighted +up by the slender pencil of fire from the search lantern, when he +suddenly made an explanation, and threw the steering-wheel over so +quickly that the _Dartaway_ careened to one side. + +"Look out!" cried Ned. "Slow her down, Jerry! There's a boat ahead!" + +Before Jerry could do this, however, the motor boat rushed past some +dark object in the water. There was a crash and splintering of wood, +and the occupants of the _Dartaway_ dimly saw a man crouching in the +bottom of a small boat as they rushed past. + +"We only smashed one of his oars," said Ned, as he turned the wheel +back to avoid running the craft into the bank. "I just saw him in +time. He wasn't making a sound or I might have heard him. He should +have shown a light." + +"Could you see who it was?" asked Bob, between bites at a chicken +sandwich, for he had again attacked the lunch. + +"Probably a lone fisherman after eels," responded the steersman. + +By this time the _Dartaway_ was approaching Cresville, the lights of +the town being visible. + +The girls and boys from the rowboat were landed at the main dock and +the motor boys started back for their own shelter. + +"I wonder if we did much damage to that boat we hit," mused Bob. "Whose +was it any way?" + +"I can't tell you whose it was, but I think it was the one the girls +were out in, and which floated away from us," said Ned. "But I can tell +you who was in it." + +"Who?" asked Jerry sharply. + +"Bill Berry!" spoke Ned. + +"Are you sure?" + +"Positive. I had a good glimpse of him just before I swung the wheel +over. I'd know him anywhere. We have good reason to. I'd know him and +Noddy Nixon, his bosom friend, wherever I met them." + +"Bill Berry, eh," said Jerry softly. "Well if he and Noddy are in town +together it means that some mischief is afoot. They never get together +but something happens. We'll have to be on our guard. They may try to +pay us back for getting ahead of them as we did on several occasions. I +wonder if Bill and Noddy have met since Noddy came home." + +"What do you suppose he was doing in that boat, if it was the one that +floated away from us?" asked Bob. + +"He was probably hanging around near the river bank and saw it when it +floated down," said Ned. "He thought it was a chance to earn money by +selling it or by returning it to the dock, and he just got in it." + +A little later the boys had housed their boat and started for home. + +"We ought to go off on a cruise somewhere," suggested Ned. "It would be +a fine thing to go down the river to Lake Cantoga, and spend three or +four days camping there. We could hunt and fish and have a bully time." + +"Say, that would be sport!" agreed Bob. "We could take along a lot to +eat in case the fish didn't bite or we didn't kill anything." + +"Say, Chunky," spoke Jerry solemnly, "if you mention eating again +to-night, after the way you devoured chicken sandwiches to-day, I--I'll +hit you, that's what!" + +"I can't help it," said Bob with a little sigh, "I guess I was born +hungry." + +"Well if you weren't, you certainly have acquired the habit since," +observed Ned dryly. "But that aside, what do you think of my plan, +Jerry." + +"Nothing better, only I guess we'll have to wait until the term closes. +I don't want to flunk in my exams, and I guess you don't, either of +you. I'm a little bit shaky on my algebra, and my Latin is none of the +best." + +"Oh, of course we'll wait until the academy closes," agreed Ned. "That +will only be three weeks now. In the meantime we can take short trips +and get acquainted with our boat. If there are as many kinds of trouble +that can happen as are down in the book, we will no more than have +learned how to remedy them by the time we want to start." + +The next day, Sunday, the boys went down to the dock for a look at the +_Dartaway_. As they approached they saw some one peering through a side +window into the house where the boat floated. + +"Some one is nosing around," observed Ned. + +As they came closer the person did not move away, evidently not hearing +their footsteps, as the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. + +"It's Noddy Nixon!" cried Bob, as the person turned with a start. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +AN ENCOUNTER WITH NODDY + + +At first it seemed as if Noddy was about to run away, like a child +surprised in some mischief. But he saw that he could not escape without +going past the motor boys, unless, indeed, he jumped into the river +and swam across. So he decided to bluff it out. He turned aside and +appeared to be gazing into the stream as the three comrades approached. + +"What shall we do?" whispered Bob. "Speak to him or not notice him?" + +"Leave it to me," said Jerry. "I'll see what he has been up to." + +Noddy stooped and picked up several stones which he idly tossed into +the water. + +"When did you get back?" asked Jerry, trying to speak politely to his +old enemy. + +"None of your business!" retorted Noddy. "And what's more, if I find +any of you fellers has been tellin' tales about me I'll make you smart +for it! I'll sue you for damages! I don't want to have anything to do +with you!" + +"I guess that feeling is as much on our side as it is on yours," spoke +Ned. + +"Exactly," chimed in Jerry. "And what's more, Noddy Nixon, if you feel +that way about it you'd better get off this dock. It's private property +and we don't allow any but our friends to come here and see our motor +boat. You're a trespasser and the sooner you move on the better we'll +like it." + +"I'll go when I get good and ready!" fired back Noddy. "I came here +because I have a claim against you, and I want it settled now or you'll +be the worse for it!" + +"A claim against us?" asked Jerry. "What sort of a claim? Has it +anything to do with the old mine that you didn't get?" + +"You think you're mighty smart!" exclaimed Noddy, flushing as he +thought of how the motor boys had outwitted him. "This is a claim I +have against you for smashing one of my rowboats last night." + +"Your rowboat!" exclaimed Ned. "Since when have you owned any rowboats?" + +"There's the bill for damages," spoke Noddy, handing over a piece of +paper. + +The boys examined it curiously. It was a billhead on which was set +forth that Noddy Nixon had succeeded to the business formerly conducted +by James Lawrence of hiring out boats at Cresville. The bill was made +out to the three chums, jointly and called for the payment of fifteen +dollars for damage done to a rowboat. + +"So you've been set up in business by your father, eh?" asked Jerry. + +"My father has nothing to do with this. I'm my own boss," snapped Noddy. + +"Must have made the deal quite suddenly," commented Ned. "Lawrence +owned the business up to two nights ago, for I hired a boat from him +then." + +"The deal was closed last night," Noddy condescended to explain. "The +boat Andy Rush and Sammy Morton hired and took the girls out in was the +first one I let and you had to go and run it down in your old motor +boat. It was a piece of spite work and you'll have to pay for it." + +"Look here, Noddy Nixon!" exclaimed Ned. "You've got a lot of nerve to +charge fifteen dollars for the little damage we did to your boat. It +was an old one anyhow, for I know all Lawrence's craft and he hasn't a +new one in the place. Besides I was steering and I saw what damage we +did. We smashed an oar, and we're willing to pay for that, or get you a +new one." + +"You smashed my boat, and you'll pay for it or go to jail!" fairly +shouted Noddy. + +"I can prove that we only broke an oar!" exclaimed Ned. + +"How you going to do it?" asked Noddy in sneering tones. "It was a dark +night, and I have the broken boat to show what damage was done." + +"If necessary we'll fight this case," spoke Ned quietly, "and we'll +call some one as a witness who can tell just how much the boat was +damaged, for he was in it at the time." + +"Who's that?" inquired Noddy, with a start. + +"Your old pal Bill Berry! Bill may not relish being put on the witness +stand, but he'll have to go if you insist on pressing this bill." + +Noddy turned pale. + +"Bill Berry isn't within a hundred miles of here," he said faintly. + +"Maybe he skipped out of town over night," spoke Ned, "but he was in +that boat last night. Don't try any more of your tricks on us, Noddy, +or it may go hard with you!" + +Ned crumpled up the bill into a ball and threw it at Noddy. He did not +intend to do it, but the wad of paper struck the bully in the eye. + +"I'll pay you for that!" cried Noddy. + +He sprang at Ned, who was so surprised at the result of his thoughtless +act that he did not know what to do. Noddy's fist shot out and struck +Ned in the face. + +With the instinct every boy has, when he is hit, to strike back, Ned +doubled up his fists and assumed the attitude approved in the roped +arena. Noddy's rush had carried him past Ned, but the bully, enraged +at the failure of his plans, came back with a jump straight at his +antagonist. It looked as if there would be a fistic encounter that +peaceful Sunday. + +"Don't fight him now!" cried Jerry rushing between the two. "Let it go, +Ned. We don't want any trouble with the blackguard. We can settle with +him later!" + +Deciding to obey his friend's advice Ned dropped his arms and stepped +to one side. Noddy was close upon him and, when Ned got out of the way +so quickly the bully could not stop in time. Ned was standing near +the edge of the dock, and, meeting with no resistance in his mad rush +Noddy fairly flew over the string-piece and landed in the water with +a resounding splash. He disappeared from sight as the river was quite +deep there. + +"Get a rope!" cried Jerry. + +"Throw him a life preserver!" yelled Bob. + +"I'll get a boat hook!" exclaimed Ned, racing toward where the +_Dartaway_ was kept. + +By this time Noddy had come to the surface. He was spluttering and +gasping, for his sudden bath had caught him unawares and his mouth and +nose were filled with water. He floundered around, handicapped by his +clothes, and did not seem to know what to do. + +Jerry was about to spring into the water when he was suddenly halted by +hearing some one exclaim in a high pitched, sing-song voice: + +"Never mind my lad, jumping after him. He's a regular duck, and surely +can swim!" + +The boys turned to behold a shabbily dressed though pleasant faced man +sauntering down on the dock. + +"If it isn't Pete Bumps!" cried Bob, recognizing the odd character who +used to work for his father, but who now did odd jobs about the town. +"Can he really swim, Pete?" + +"Swims like a feather in all kinds of weather," replied Pete, one of +his peculiarities being to talk in rhyme. + +Noddy, seeing there was no likelihood now of any one coming in after +him began to strike out for shore. + +"I'll give him a hand to reach the land," recited Pete, and, taking a +boat hook, which Bob had by this time found, Pete proceeded to stick +the end into Noddy's coat, just back of his neck. + +"Leave me alone!" snapped Noddy, between gasps. + +But Pete was not to be cheated of his rescue. He got a firm grip with +the hook on Noddy's clothing and then, walking along the side of the +dock, towed the bully ashore. In the excess of his zeal, Pete moved him +so fast that half the time Noddy's head was under water, and he was in +no amiable frame of mind when he staggered ashore, the water dripping +from his Sunday suit. + +"I'll--I'll have the law on you for this!" he cried. + +"What? Because you took a notion to jump into the river?" asked Ned. "I +guess it would be a queer jury that would award you anything. Will you +come into the boat house and dry off?" + +"I wouldn't go in your boat house for a hundred dollars!" cried Noddy. +"But I'll get even with you!" + +"He's rather mad, for such a wet lad, but never mind that, I've got +his hat," said Pete, and, with a skillful motion he speared Noddy's +head-covering with the boat hook. + +"Don't you spoil that hat!" cried Noddy. + +"Now Noddy don't you worry, though I was in a hurry. It only has a +little tear, it's better than before to wear, because it lets in lots +of air," sung Pete, inspecting the hat, which had a small hole in it. + +Noddy walked up on the dock, the water sloshing from his shoes at every +step. He picked up his wet hat, jammed it down on his head, and, with +an angry look at the other boys started off. As he did so a figure +burst through the bushes and ran toward the group on the dock. At first +the boys thought it was a tramp. They looked closely at the man. + +"Why it's Bill Berry!" exclaimed Jerry. "I thought you said he was a +hundred miles from here, Noddy." + +"You old fool you, what did you want to come around for?" snarled Noddy +at his notorious chum. + +"I thought they were going to drown you, and I decided to take a hand +and give them a walloping," said Berry sullenly. "I owe them something +on my own account." + +He advanced threateningly toward the motor boys. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TO THE RESCUE + + +Bill Berry was a big burly fellow, pretty much of a brute in his ways, +and, though the boys knew he was a coward at heart, they realized that +he might prove an ugly customer in a fight. He could not be depended on +to battle fairly, but would take any advantage that came his way. Nor +would he hesitate to use a stick or stone, where others would rely on +the weapons which nature had given them; their fists. + +"We'd better get ready for trouble," said Jerry in a low voice. + +"Shall we tackle him?" asked Ned. "He and Noddy will be no more than a +match for the three of us." + +"Don't fight if we can avoid it," counseled Jerry. + +Bill Berry, with anger in his eyes continued to advance. Noddy, who had +started to go away, came back, emboldened by the attitude of his crony. + +"I've been wanting to get my hands on you fresh lads for some time!" +exclaimed Bill. "Now I've got a chance." + +"You might have stopped off last night, just before we ran you down," +said Jerry. "We could have accommodated you then." + +"Was that you, last night?" asked Bill, suddenly. "Did you see me? Did +you see the Blue--" + +Then Bill seemed to remember that he was talking too much. He came to a +sudden stop, and looked over at Noddy, who was detected in the act of +shaking his fist at his former ally. + +"We didn't see anything blue, green or red," put in Ned. "It was too +dark to see anything but you." + +"Yes, and you'll pay for what you did!" exclaimed Berry. "I'll have the +law on you for smashing my boat!" + +"So Noddy has said," came from Bob. "It's getting to be an old story." + +"See here, you young whelps!" cried Bill in sudden anger. "I'll show +you what it means to make fun of me!" + +He made a sudden dash toward the three boys, who stood close to the +edge of the dock. + +"Stand ready!" spoke Jerry in low tones. "If he tries any of his tricks +you two jump to one side and I'll tackle him. If he gets the best of +me, you can jump in and lend a hand." + +Bill, with clenched fists, sprang at the three boys. Bob and Ned moved +a little to one side to give Jerry plenty of room. It looked as if +there was going to be trouble. + +"List to the song of the whip-poor-will. He threw in the river poor old +Bill!" came in sing-song tones from the rear. There was a sudden rush. +Two figures mingled on the dock. There was a struggle, a smothered +exclamation, and then a mighty splash in the water. + +"There he goes, over his toes!" cried old Pete Bumps, jumping excitedly +about. + +Below the dock Bill Berry was struggling in the water. He spluttered +and threshed about and then struck out for shore. + +"Quite a little swim, while the evening light grows dim," recited Pete +solemnly. + +"Good for you, Pete!" cried Ned. "You came in the nick of time!" + +"Do you think so?" asked Pete anxiously. "I was afraid I'd be a little +late. However I saw he meant business so I sailed in. I couldn't have +him fighting you boys Sunday night, so I just thought a little bath +would cool him off. I took hold of him and--." + +"He fell in, that's all," finished Ned. "You're all right, Pete." + +Bill reached shore and he and Noddy slunk away. + +"Well, we're well rid of them," observed Jerry. "I'm glad we didn't get +to fighting, though I wouldn't run away from it if it had to be. Pete +did us a good turn." + +"I'm always on hand to beat the band," put in the odd character. "To +be with you boys fills me with joys. That ain't a very good rhyme, but +I've been making a lot of 'em to-day, and I'm kind 'a tired," he added. + +"I guess you'd better go home and go to bed, Pete," advised Bob. "It +will do you good." + +"Just as you say, I'm on my way," replied the old man solemnly, as he +turned to go. + +"Did anything strike you as peculiar?" asked Jerry of his chums. + +"How do you mean?" asked Ned. + +"I mean the way Bill Berry acted," replied Jerry. "He seemed to fear +we had discovered something. Then there was his remark about something +blue." + +"Do you know, that occurred to me," put in Bob. "But I didn't like to +say anything for fear you'd laugh at me. It seemed as if he was afraid +we had discovered something." + +"That's the way I took it," spoke Ned. "I wonder what it could have +been." + +"Whatever it was, you can depend on it there was something crooked back +of it," commented Jerry. "Those two never got together but they were up +to some mischief. I only hope we have no further trouble with them." + +The boys were again at the boat house the next afternoon. Ned had asked +to run the engine, and, as it was decided that all three should take +turns at managing the different parts, Bob went to the wheel while +Jerry played he was a passenger. + +"Down or up?" asked Bob, as he threw in the clutch and backed the +_Dartaway_ out of the house. + +"Let's go down," suggested Jerry. "Then we can try her up against the +current and see how she behaves." + +The boat was making good progress, the engine was purring like a +contented cat, and the boys were beginning to enjoy the run, when Bob +suddenly shut off the power and cried: + +"There, I forgot all about 'em!" + +"What?" asked Jerry anxiously. "There's plenty of gasolene, I hope." + +"It's the sandwiches," spoke Bob in sorrowful tones. "I told our girl +to put up a lot of 'em so we could have 'em this afternoon in case we +got stuck again. Now I've come off without 'em. I guess I'll go back." + +"You'll do nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Jerry. "This is no picnic +party. We're not going to get stuck. If we do we'll make you wade +ashore and get the grub. You're captain this trip. Ned and I are +passengers." + +"Oh if you're going to act that way about it, why I've got nothin' more +to say," said Bob, in rather an aggrieved tone. "I only thought--" + +"You only thought of getting something to eat," put in Ned. "Now start +her off, Chunky, and forget you have a stomach." + +"I'll never be able to do that," replied Bob with a sigh, as he threw +the lever forward. + +The _Dartaway_ answered promptly and spurted ahead at a good pace. +The boys had reached the next town below Cresville, running on second +speed, since the current aided them. + +"Look out for that rowboat ahead," cautioned Jerry to Bob. "They act as +if they didn't know how to get along." + +He pointed to a boat containing two girls who seemed to be trying to +row across the stream at a particularly wide part. They were both at +the oars, but were making little progress. + +One girl in the boat looked up and caught sight of the motor craft. +It seemed to give her a fright for she screamed and began pulling +frantically at the oars. Her companion was likewise affected, and the +two, in their eagerness to reach shore were rocking the small boat +violently by their endeavors. + +"They'll have an upset if they're not careful," said Jerry, who was +intently watching the girls. + +Hardly had he spoken that one of the rowers "caught a crab." Her oar, +dipped into the water only a little distance, had, when she pulled +strongly on it, given way suddenly. She fell backward and her companion +trying to catch her, leaned to one side. + +This was too much for the frail craft. It careened far over, water ran +over the gunwale, and, an instant later the two girls were floundering +about in the water. + +"To the rescue!" cried Ned, standing up in the motor boat, and +proceeding to take off his shoes and coat. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +PLOTTING + + +With a turn of the steering wheel Bob sent the _Dartaway_ toward where +the girls were making frantic efforts to reach their overturned craft. + +"Slow down, Chunky!" called Jerry. "You stand by and Ned and I will get +the girls. Watch out you don't run us down. There, they've both sunk! +We'll have to dive for 'em!" + +Jerry had followed Ned's example in divesting himself of his heaviest +clothing. The two boys stood on the gunwale of the motor boat, and, as +the craft slowly circled to where the girls had disappeared, guided by +Bob, Ned and Jerry leaped overboard. + +As they sank beneath the surface Bob swung the _Dartaway_ in a half +curve to avoid the possibility of striking the rescuers or the girls. +He watched the surface of the water with anxious eyes as he made a big +circle about the place. + +Though it seemed several minutes it was only a few seconds before +Jerry came up. In one arm he held the unconscious form of a girl, and +he struck out for the _Dartaway_. Bob headed for him, taking care to +steer so that he could come broadside on. A few seconds later Ned +appeared, but he had not found the second girl. + +"I can't--find--her--" he gasped, blowing the water from his mouth. +"I'm going--down--again." + +Jerry swam to the motor boat, and, still keeping the engine going, but +throwing out the clutch, Bob helped lift the unconscious girl over the +side. + +As she was placed on the cushions she opened her eyes. + +"She's all right," said Jerry. "I'm going back to help Ned find the +other one. Stand by, Bob." + +Plunging over the side once more Jerry struck out for the swirling +eddies that indicated where Ned had gone down again in his search. + +Ducking his head under the water, and opening his eyes, Jerry peered +down on the bottom of the river to see if he could discern where the +body was. He saw it in a tangle of weeds. + +At the same instant Ned caught sight of it, and made another dive, +having come to the surface to breathe. Ned was the first to reach the +girl. He brought her to the surface, though it was hard work, as she +was much heavier than her companion. + +Between them Ned and Jerry swam with the girl to the motor boat, and +lifted her over the side. Then they climbed in themselves. + +"Now speed her up, Bob!" cried Jerry as he donned some of his clothes. +"We'll have to get to a doctor mighty quick with this last one. She's +pretty far gone." + +"Shall we head straight for shore?" he asked. + +"No; down to that dock," replied Jerry, indicating one quite a distance +down the river, from which it was evident the girls had come in their +boat. There was quite a crowd on the wharf, and several small craft +were putting out toward the scene of the accident. + +In a few minutes the _Dartaway_ was lying alongside the dock, and +willing hands helped the boys to lift the unconscious girl out, while +the one Jerry had rescued assisted herself. + +There was a scene of confusion. Scores of people demanded to know what +had happened, when, where and all the particulars. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Jerry. "You can hear all about it later. The +main thing is to get this girl to a doctor and see if we can't save her +life." + +"That's right!" exclaimed the proprietor of the boat pavilion. "Get out +the way there, you folks that are so anxious to know what's going on. +Here's a doctor now." + +A tall man, carrying a small valise, shouldered his way through the +crowd. + +"Let me pass, I am a physician," he said. + +Taking off his coat he began working over the unconscious girl. He was +assisted by several women, and in a few minutes the boys, who had been +looking on, saw the maiden open her eyes. + +"I guess she's all right," said Jerry. "Come on, let's get out of this. +I don't want to answer a lot of questions. We've got a good chance to +skip while the crowd is all in a bunch." + +The boys, after talking the matter over as the boat sped away decided +they would say nothing to their folks about the rescue. + +"If we do they'll get all excited and think an accident happens every +time we take the boat out," said Jerry. + +"Suppose they ask us what makes us so wet?" asked Ned. + +"Well, we'll not lie about it, of course," said Jerry. "Only I hate to +have a fuss made." + +There was no need to answer questions about their wet clothes. It was +dusk when the boys got back to Cresville, and they were able to get +into their homes unobserved. + +But if they hoped to have the incident go unnoticed they were doomed +to disappointment. Two days later, when they were preparing for a spin +one afternoon, Andy Rush came leaping down to the dock, waving a paper +aloft. + +"So that's how you do it!" he exclaimed. "Brave rescuers--save +lives--right on the job--dive under water--rush ashore--rush away +again--say nothing--modest--but it's all found out!" + +"What's the matter now, Andy?" asked Jerry. + +"Nothing at all--everything--lots of things--look there!" and Andy held +out a copy of the copy of the Cresville weekly. + +There, on the first page, under big headlines the boys saw an account +of their rescue of the two girls. The reporter had spared no language. +It was a chance that seldom came to the little paper and it was made +the most of. + +"Well if that isn't the limit," said Ned. "I wonder they didn't want +personal interviews with us, and all our pictures, besides a story of +our experiences under water." + +"Say, you're heroes all right--all right!" exclaimed Andy. "Everybody +in Cresville is talking about it. The paper is selling like hot +cakes--million copies--all talking about you--Gee Whiz! I wish I was +you fellers! You can get a job in a dime museum now!" + +"Oh, dry up!" said Jerry in a good-natured voice. "Here, jump in Andy +and we'll give you a ride. That will make you forget all about the +rescues and the hero business. Mind, if you ever refer to it again, +you'll never go on another trip." + +"I'll keep quiet, but it's bound to be talked about," said Andy. + +They kept on up the river for several miles to a little summer resort, +where there was an ice cream stand. Bob proposed they go ashore and +have something to eat. + +The boys found seats in a quiet corner and were soon enjoying their +refreshments. After the first plate of cream had vanished Bob proposed +more. + +For some minutes past the boys had been hearing the low sound of voices +in the room back of them, where it seemed, were more chairs and tables. + +At first the boys paid no attention to the conversation. But finally it +grew louder and they could hear two voices in dispute. + +"If that isn't Noddy Nixon I'll eat my hat," said Ned in a whisper. +"I'd know his voice anywhere. But who's the other?" + +"Let's see what it's all about?" suggested Bob. "It isn't spying on +them. They are talking so loud they can't help being heard all over." + +"Hush!" cautioned Jerry. + +A second later there came to the ears of the boys these words: + +"I've given you all the cash I can afford to. You must think I'm a +millionaire, Bill." + +"Pretty near it, I guess," was the answer in a low rumble. "All I know +is, I've got to have money." + +"I tell you I'm broke," persisted the one whom the boys had decided was +Noddy. "I might allow you a little something if you helped me out." + +"What is it now? Some more of your tricks on those motor boys?" + +"Hush!" exclaimed Noddy. "Not so loud. Do you want to have the police +after us? Now I'll tell you what I want you to do." His voice sunk to a +whisper, but the walls were so thin that the boys could distinguish a +word here and there. + +"Motor boat--do 'em brown--fix 'em for me--I'll pay you well," were +some expressions overheard. + +"I wonder if he's referring to us," said Jerry. "I'd like to hear a +little more of this." + +The next words came more distinctly though the sentence was broken here +and there by intervening silences. + +"Make it hot--pay you--have a good time soon," was what came to their +ears. + +"Well, it's a good thing to know this in advance, that is if it's us +they're referring to," said Ned. "We can be on the watch." + +Having finished their cream, even Bob voting he had enough, the boys +started to leave. As they walked past the room whence the voices had +come, the door opened and two figures emerged. They were Bill Berry and +Noddy Nixon. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A TEST OF SPEED + + +At the sight of the motor boys, Noddy started and seemed to turn back. +Bill Berry, however, was troubled by no such timidity. He pushed +forward while his companion hung back. + +"What do you fellows want here?" asked Bill in no gentle tones. "Are +you spying on us? If you are you'd better look out, that's all!" + +"We're not 'spying' on you as you call it," said Jerry. "As for being +here, I guess we have as much right to come here after a plate of cream +as you have. And we didn't see anything blue either," he added. + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded Bill Berry in excited tones. + +"Just what I said," replied Jerry in a calm voice. "The last time you +saw us you wanted to know whether we had seen anything blue. I thought +I'd tell you now that we did not see anything of such a shade, to save +you asking a question. But we may see it any day. When we do we'll let +you know." + +The effect of this talk seemed greatly to excite Bill. He turned first +pale, then red. He tried to speak but the words failed him. + +"Look here!" he finally exclaimed. "I'd like to know what you mean. If +the Blue--" + +"Keep still!" exclaimed Noddy. "Come on Bill. Don't have anything to do +with the sneaks." + +"Look here!" burst out Ned. "You keep your names to yourself, Noddy +Nixon, and speak civilly of us or you'll find yourself in deeper water +than the day that you fell into the river!" + +Noddy's face became red at the recollection of his humiliation at the +hands of the motor boys. + +"I'll pay you for that yet!" he exclaimed. "I'm not likely to forget +it. You'd better look out. Me and Bill--" + +"Keep quiet, you lunk-head!" exclaimed Bill in a hoarse whisper. "Who's +talking too much now? Do you want them to--" and then, fearing that he +might say too much Bill fairly dragged Noddy out of the door with him. + +For a few moments the boys stood in silence. They could hear Noddy and +Bill walking down the path that led to the river, their feet crunching +the gravel. + +"I wonder how they came here," said Bob. + +"Let's watch 'em and see how they leave," said Jerry. "We'll get a line +on 'em then." + +Going to the door of the pavilion they saw Noddy and Bill get in a +motor boat that was tied at the edge of the float. It was a little +craft, hardly more than a rowboat with a small "kicker" gas engine in +it. Noddy got in the bow to steer, and Bill cranked up. After a number +of loud wheezes and chugs the boat started down the river. + +"Little one cylindered affair," said Bob in contemptuous tones. + +"Never mind, they may make trouble enough for us with it, even if it +has only one cylinder," put in Jerry. "It don't move very fast, to be +sure," as he watched the craft glide slowly down the stream, "but you +can bet Noddy has some object in having such a poor boat when he could +afford a better one. He's up to some game, I haven't the least doubt. I +wish I could get on to it." + +"Do you think he has any plan for making trouble for us?" asked Ned. + +"Judging from what we overheard a little while ago, I would say he +has," spoke Jerry. + +"Well, I think Jerry's right," agreed Ned. "It seems that Bill has +something to hide. I wonder what he's always talking about something +blue for?" + +"Did you notice he always gets as far as the word 'blue'?" asked Jerry. +"Then he stops as if he was going to mention something more, but +catches himself just in time." + +"I wonder if it's blue diamonds, blue moon, or blue feelings," spoke +Bob. + +"Maybe it's a blue bird," put in Ned with a laugh. Though he spoke +off-hand the time was coming when his words were destined to be +remembered with peculiar significance. + +As the _Dartaway_ was chugging along towards home on second speed the +boys heard, from behind, the exhaust of another boat, that, to judge by +the explosions, was coming along at a rapid clip. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Jerry who was steering. "I didn't know there were +any other motor boats around here but ours and Noddy's." + +"That's a dandy, all right," spoke Ned, as he looked the approaching +craft over from bow to stern. "She is going some. I wonder if we could +beat her. Try, Jerry." + +Jerry was not unwilling to have a little test of speed with the +stranger craft. It came on steadily, the explosions making almost a +continuous roar. In the boat which was soon opposite the _Dartaway_, +were two men. The boat was new, and, in the gathering dusk the boys +could read the name on the bow, _Terror_. + +"Rather piratical," said Ned in a low voice. + +The men in the _Terror_ glanced curiously at the _Dartaway_ as the two +craft came opposite. One of them spoke to the other in a low voice. +Then the one at the wheel adjusted the engine and the _Terror_ leaped +ahead. The two boats were now on even terms. + +The two men could be seen smiling slightly as they glanced across at +the craft the boys were in. Jerry settled himself at the wheel, and +telling Ned to see to the engine, and keep it well oiled, he prepared +for the race, which had been tacitly agreed to. + +For a few minutes the two boats were running so nearly alike that, +looking from one to the other, both seemed to be standing still. Then +slowly, very slowly, the _Terror_ began to creep away. Jerry opened the +throttle a trifle, and the _Dartaway_ edged up on her rival. + +"They needn't think they can leave us behind in that way," spoke Ned. +"We haven't begun to go yet." + +Nor, did it appear, had the _Terror_, either. From time to time the +steersman glanced at the _Dartaway_, and, as he saw her keeping even +with him he speeded up his motor a trifle. But Jerry was not to be +outdone, and he did not let the other boat gain an advantage. + +"Do you think we can beat him?" asked Andy in a low tone, too impressed +by the race to talk at his usual rate. + +"It's a question of engines now," said Jerry. "Ours is at the limit." + +So, it appeared, was the _Terror's_. For some time the two men had been +content with merely keeping a straight course, and oiling their motor. + +But now, aided either by having gotten into a place where the current +was a little swifter, or her motor making a few more explosions a +minute, the _Dartaway_ began to forge ahead. At first it was only by +the closest observation that it could be seen. But, in a little while, +the nose of the boys' boat was three inches past the _Terror's_. Then +this increased to ten, to twenty, until, about a mile above Cresville, +the _Dartaway_ was a length ahead of her rival. + +"We're beating 'em!" cried Ned in his exultation. + +"I think so. We certainly are shooting along," agreed Jerry. + +An instant later the motor of the _Dartaway_, with a wheezing cough, +began to slow up. Then with a final explosion, as if in protest, it +stopped altogether. The craft at once lost headway, and the _Terror_ +sprang forward and passed her, winning the impromptu speed contest. + +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" exclaimed Jerry. "I wonder what's the +trouble now." + +Ned was frantically trying to get the motor to start again. + +"Seems as if there was no gasolene," he said. + +Jerry quickly opened the forward tank, and thrust a measuring stick +down. + +"That's what's the trouble!" he exclaimed. "Not a drop in the tank. We +forgot all about filling it." + +The _Terror_, after continuing on for about an eighth of a mile had +turned and was coming swiftly toward the _Dartaway_. When she was +alongside, the steersman quickly reversed his motor and the craft, +trembling like a frightened thoroughbred, came to a stop. + +"In trouble?" asked the man at the wheel pleasantly. "You have a mighty +fine boat there. I hope she hasn't broken down. You had us beaten." + +"The gasolene has given out," said Jerry. + +"Shall we give you a tow to Cresville?" the steersman went on. "That's +as far as we're going." + +"We'd be much obliged if you would," spoke Jerry. "Does your boat +belong there?" + +"I think it will after to-night, boys," said the man at the motor. "How +are you? Came near beating us," and he took off the cap that had shaded +his face. + +"Why it's Chief Dalton!" exclaimed Ned, as he and the others recognized +the head of the Cresville police force. "What in the world are you +doing here, chief?" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SAVED FROM THE FALLS + + +"Why, I was racing you boys," replied the officer. + +"I see you were. But I never knew you went in for motor boats," said +Ned. "Is that your craft?" + +"Not exactly, though I have an interest in her," the chief went on. +"You see the Police Commissioners a few meetings ago decided to +purchase a motor boat. We have quite a river frontage in Cresville, and +lately there have been a number of robberies of boats and places along +the stream. So it was voted to get a swift craft in which some of our +officers could patrol the river. This is the boat, and Commissioner +Jones, here, and I, were out giving her a trial spin. We only got her +yesterday." + +"She certainly is well named," put in Jerry. + +"Well, we hope she'll prove a 'terror' by nature as well as by name," +the chief went on. "She certainly is speedy enough." + +By this time Commissioner Jones had thrown a rope to the motor boys. +It was made fast to a cleat on the _Dartaway_, and then, the _Terror_ +being speeded up, the disabled craft was quickly towed down the river. +Casting off the line at the _Dartaway's_ dock the _Terror_ shot on down +the river, the chief and commissioner calling back farewells. + +"I want you to do us a favor, Andy," said Jerry as the lads were about +to separate. + +"Sure--what is it? Anything--half my kingdom--always willing to +oblige--name it!" exclaimed Andy. + +"That's the trouble, you're too willing," said Jerry with a smile. +"What I want is something very simple--that is it would be from any one +else. I don't know how it will hit you." + +"What is it?" asked Andy. + +"Just don't say anything about what you heard this afternoon," said +Jerry. "That is, I mean, about Noddy and Bill Berry. I believe they are +up to some game. If we lay low we may discover what it is. If he finds +we are talking about everything connected with him, we may not get at +anything." + +"I'll promise," said Andy eagerly. He was only too ready to do whatever +the other boys wanted him to, as he had hopes of more rides in the +_Dartaway_. + +"That's a bargain," went on Jerry. "None of us will say nothing about +the occurrence." + +The next few days the boys studied hard in readiness for examinations. + +"Don't you think it rather strange that the Cresville authorities +should buy a motor boat?" asked Jerry of Ned, one evening as they were +returning from a short run down the river. + +"Queer; how do you mean?" + +"Well, we've always got along without a craft like that before. There's +never been any river stealing to speak of. I wonder what's in the wind." + +"Now that you speak of it, there is something out of the ordinary in +it," agreed Ned. "I never thought of it before. What do you think it +means? Has Noddy anything to do with it?" + +"I don't believe he has; yet," replied Jerry. "I'll tell you something +I heard the other day. There are some extra detectives in town." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Andy Rush says so," went on Jerry. "You know he's always hanging +around police headquarters. He wants to be a newspaper reporter some +day." + +"I would think he'd make a good one," said Ned. "He's always finding +out things." + +"Well, when he was down to headquarters the other afternoon," went on +Jerry, "he says he overheard the chief tell the sergeant in charge +to tell the special detectives about some happening. This made Andy +suspicious, as he had read about the big private detective agency which +supplies officers. He says he saw a couple of strange men go into the +chief's office a short time afterward, and stay for some time." + +"Oh, Andy's always imagining things," said Ned, sending the motor boat +closer in toward the shore. + +"But I think he's right this time," spoke Jerry. "He showed me the men +he had reference to, and I think they are detectives of some kind." + +"What do you suppose it's all about?" asked Bob, getting his mind off +something to eat for a few minutes. + +"Oh, you've woke up, have you, Chunky?" asked Jerry. "Well," he went +on, "there's some connection between the police boat, the strange +detectives and robberies along the river, that's certain. What it is +I haven't found out. But I'm going to. It may be that Noddy and Bill +are mixed up in it, and if they are, it may concern us. Noddy seems +to have a habit of getting us into trouble along with himself and his +cronies." + +"But I haven't heard of any robberies," spoke Ned. + +"Of course not," said Jerry. "They're keeping them quiet, that's why. +But I happen to know that the grist mill, down near Tiverton falls was +entered the other night, and quite a sum of money stolen." + +"You don't mean it!" Ned exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us before?" + +"Because I only heard it from Andy Rush a little while ago," Jerry +replied. "It seems he was in police headquarters and overheard the +chief talking to one of the men about it. So you see there's something +going on in this old town after all." + +The Saturday afternoon following this trip the boys made an early start +on a journey down the river. They were in need of some lubricating +oil, and though they could have bought it in Cresville they decided +to combine business with pleasure and make a little longer jaunt than +usual. + +They went to a town called Newton, about twenty miles below Cresville. +On the way they passed the mill at Tiverton falls. + +"There's the place that was robbed," said Jerry. + +"Don't seem as if it put them out of business," remarked Ned as the +sound of the machinery came to the ears of the boys. + +"They've been making some improvements," observed Jerry, who was at the +wheel. "They've built a new dam and flume. Rather dangerous too. If a +boat got caught in that current it would be all up with it." + +He pointed to where the mill owners had constructed a new wall to hold +back the water. It was higher than the old one, and the manner in which +the stream poured over the edge showed there was much power back of it. + +The river was somewhat divided at this point. While the main stream +continued in the regular course there was an arm that shot off above a +small island, and it was this which was dammed. Just above the dam the +flume took what water was needed to run the mill. Falling over the dam +the water dashed down on some sharp rocks. + +Arriving at Newton the boys spent a little time viewing the town. Then, +having purchased the oil they started back up the river. + +"Hark! What's that?" suddenly asked Bob, who was at the wheel. + +"Sounds like another boat coming up the river," said Jerry. "Maybe it's +the _Terror_." + +"No, it's the noise of the falls you hear," put in Ned. "We are almost +at the grist mill." + +"Oh sure enough, so we are," said Jerry. + +Swinging around a bend in the river the boys came in sight of the dam, +over which the water was pouring in a large volume as the mill had shut +down and none was being diverted into the big flume. At the same time +the occupants of the _Dartaway_ caught sight of something that caused +them to exclaim in terror. + +In the grasp of the powerful current was a small rowboat, in which were +two girls. They were struggling frantically at the oars, but, in spite +of their efforts to stem the stream, and get beyond the pull of the +waterfall they were slowly drifting nearer and nearer the edge. + +"Put her over there! We've got to save 'em!" cried Ned to Bob. "Put her +over!" + +"Wait a minute!" came from Jerry. "If you steer over there we'll be +caught in the current too! Let me take the wheel, Bob. Ned you look +after the engine! Bob you go to the stern and stand ready to toss 'em a +line. I only hope they'll know enough to keep hold of it or tie it to +their boat." + +Having issued his orders, Jerry hurried to the wheel, while the others +took the positions designated. Jerry at once threw the engine to full +speed ahead, and the _Dartaway_ shot forward. + +"You're not going to leave 'em, are you?" called Ned. + +"I guess not!" said Jerry. "I've got to back down to 'em, and stand +ready to start ahead suddenly!" + +"Save us!" the girls in the boat cried. + +One of them had lost an oar, and the other was too frightened to do +anything, even had she the strength to stem the flow of water. Nearer +and nearer to the dam drifted the boat. + +"Sit still! We'll save you!" cried Jerry. + +By this time the motor boat was some distance above the small craft. +Jerry sent it toward the left shore in a long curve. This placed the +_Dartaway_ just above the rowboat. Then he reversed the engine, and the +motor boat began to back down the stream. + +"Stand ready to heave the line!" called Jerry to Bob. "Now girls!" he +went on, "you catch the rope when he throws it! Wind it around an oar +lock, and hold on to it!" + +Bob sent the coils spinning through the air. They straightened out and +several twists fell over the bow of the small drifting boat. + +"Catch hold!" cried Jerry. + +The girl forward obeyed. Quickly she wound the coils about one of the +oar locks, and held the loose end tightly. + +"Hold on!" sung out Jerry. + +With a quick motion he set the clutch for the first speed forward. The +water at the stern of the _Dartaway_ was churned into foam. + +"We're drifting back!" cried Bob from the stern. "We'll go over the +dam!" + +"Here's for full speed ahead!" cried Jerry as he threw the lever over +to the last notch, and swung the gasolene and spark handles well +forward. + +The foam at the stern became thicker and whiter. The _Dartaway_ +trembled from bow to rudder. The rope creaked with the strain. + +"Hurrah! We're gaining!" cried Ned. "We're moving!" + +The powerful motor boat had triumphed over the current and was pulling +the occupants in the small craft out of danger. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +BILL BERRY'S THREATS + + +Slowly but surely the rowboat was pulled away from the dangerous brink +of the falls. The two girls, who were pale with fear, regained their +courage, and ventured to get up from the bottom of the craft, where +they were crouched, to peer over the side. + +A few minutes later the _Dartaway_ was steaming ahead at full speed, +pulling the tiny craft after it. Seeing there was no more danger Jerry +slackened the engine and steered over toward shore. + +Just then a white-faced woman ran from a cottage toward the river. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Are my little girls drowned?" + +"Not exactly," replied Jerry with a smile, as he pointed to the two +children in the boat. + +"But we near was, mommer!" cried the smaller of the two. "Gertrude and +I went out in the boat, and lost an oar, and we drifted toward the +falls. The boys come along and pulled us back or we'd got all wet." + +"I guess you'd have gotten a little more than wet," observed Ned. + +"Oh how terrible!" exclaimed the woman. "If you ever go out in a boat +alone again I'll make your father move away from this horrible river." + +Jerry with the aid of Ned and Bob was casting off the rowboat from the +_Dartaway_, and tying it to the small dock which extended into the +river. + +"Will you boys come in a little while and rest?" asked the girls' +mother. "I'm sure I can't begin to thank you for what you did. You +saved the children's lives." + +"I'm sure we didn't do any more than any one would have done under the +circumstances," said Jerry, who, like most boys hated to have a fuss +made over him or what he did. "I'm afraid we haven't time." + +"It's getting late, I guess we'd better be going," added Ned, who +likewise was not fond of praise, and so, bidding the girls and their +mother good-bye the boys started away. + +The search light, which was set going as soon as it was dark, gave a +brilliant path of illumination up the center of the stream, though on +either side was gloom. Suddenly the gas lamp, which burned in the bow, +went out. + +"There, I meant to fill the carbide tank to-day," said Ned, "but I +forgot all about it." + +"Never mind, we can go along just as well in the dark," said Jerry. +"We have the side lights going and we're not liable to meet any other +boats. Better go a little slower, though." + +Ned, accordingly slowed down, and, with scarcely a sound, so well was +the engine muffled and so smoothly did it work, the _Dartaway_ glided +along. Ned steered over toward the left bank, to be out of the way of +any boats that might be on the river. + +It was getting quite damp, and a fog was obscuring the view. + +"It's a good thing there are not many motor boats on the river, or we +might run into one, or be run into," said Ned. "I wonder if the police +boat is in commission yet." + +"I heard she'd be here next week for good," spoke Bob. + +As every one knows who has been on the water, or for that matter, out +in a fog, sounds carry much farther and with much more distinctness +under such conditions than ordinarily. It was because of this that the +boys heard, borne down the river to them, the sound of voices. + +"Now I won't take any of your threats, Bill Berry!" they heard some one +say. + +With a quick but noiseless motion Ned slowed the motor down to first +speed. The craft made scarcely a sound and glided through the water +like a ghost, with one red and one green eye. + +"Did you hear that?" asked Bob. + +"Keep quiet!" commanded Jerry. "It sounded like Noddy's voice. If it +was we must find out what he's up to." + +They listened intently, and heard a confused murmur. The words borne to +them must have been exceptionally loud or else an echo carried them. +Then, again, they heard plainly. + +"You needn't try to scare me, Bill," spoke the voice, which all three +now recognized as Noddy's. "You're as deep in this thing as I am, and +if you try to give me away I can do the same for you." + +Then came the low tones of some one evidently pleading with Noddy. + +"Steer close up, under those overhanging trees," said Jerry to Ned. At +the same time he threw the edge of a tarpaulin over the red and green +side lights. + +Silently the _Dartaway_ glided into a regular bower under the trees. It +was dark, and made an excellent hiding place. Ned threw out the gear, +but the engine was allowed to run slowly. + +In their hiding place the motor boys could hear the voices more plainly +now. They knew Noddy and Bill were plotting together over something. +From the direction of the sound of the voices Noddy and Bill appeared +to be upon a small hill overlooking the river. + +"I've got to have that money," Bill could be heard to say. "I need it, +and if you don't get it for me I'll--!" + +"It won't do a bit of good to threaten," interrupted Noddy. "I'm not +afraid of you. You were just as bad as I was in the mine and the +kidnapping business. You don't want to go to jail any more than I do." + +"Maybe not," sneered Bill, "but I've got to have money to live. I could +do that in jail without any money, but I can't outside, which is a +curious thing. But I need some cash and you've got to get it for me." + +"Where can I get any money?" asked Noddy. + +"I don't care where you get it," said Bill in no gentle tones. "You can +beg it or borrow it--or steal it for all I care. You get some, that's +all, or I'll go to the police and tell them all I know." + +"You're trying to blackmail me!" exclaimed Noddy, who, from his voice +seemed almost ready to burst into tears. "You're threatening me." + +"It's the only way to make you do anything," growled Bill. "Now I tell +you what; if I don't have some cash inside of two weeks there's going +to be trouble for you." + +"I'm not afraid of you!" cried Noddy, stung to sudden anger by the +helplessness of his position. + +"I'll make you!" exclaimed Bill. + +It sounded as though there was a scuffle between the two in the bushes. +Now and then muffled cries could be heard. + +"We'd better go and help Noddy!" exclaimed Ned. "He's no friend of +ours, but I don't want to see that Bill Berry get the best of him." + +The three boys were so excited they forgot to maintain the caution they +had observed at first. In moving about in the boat, as the struggle +continued, the tarpaulins were knocked from the lamps and the red and +green rays glowed out. + +All at once the sounds of the struggle ceased. It became very quiet. +But, through the darkness came the hoarse whisper from Noddy: + +"There's the police boat! They're after us! Come on Bill." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ALARM OF FIRE + + +An instant later the motor boys could hear a crashing of bushes and +underbrush that told them Noddy and Bill were in flight. + +"Shall we take after them?" asked Bob. + +"What's the use?" inquired Jerry. "We don't want to leave our boat. +Besides, if we did catch them, which is doubtful, owing to the +darkness, what would we say?" + +"We might ask them what they were talking about," said Bob. + +The retreating footsteps of Bill and Noddy were becoming fainter and +fainter. Now they ceased altogether. + +"Well, I guess we may as well start for home," said Jerry. "We can't +gain anything by staying here." + +It was rather late when the motor boys got home after locking up the +_Dartaway_. They did not go out again until Friday afternoon when they +started for a park resort up stream. + +The _Dartaway_ was running to perfection, having been overhauled by the +boys, the engine well oiled and some adjustments made. The motor was +"finding itself" and was working more smoothly with every revolution. +Obedient to helm and throttle the craft went spinning up the stream +like some big river horse. + +As the boys in the boat swung around a sharp bend, the turn being +hidden by thick trees, they almost ran into a small schooner that was +beating up against the wind. + +"Look out!" cried Ned to Bob, who was steering. + +Bob swung the wheel well around and started to reverse the engine, when +Jerry sprang forward from the stern, where he had been sitting. + +"Keep on, full speed ahead!" he called. "It's the only way to avoid +hitting him!" + +At the same time he moved the gasolene and sparking levers forward, +and, as the _Dartaway_ leaped ahead under the quickening impulse, Jerry +steered to the left of the schooner. + +His quick action saved a collision. As it was, the motor boat barely +grazed the side of the other craft, and then shot out into the middle +of the stream. + +"What's the matter with you fresh kids?" called a voice from the +schooner, and the boys looked over to see a ragged man shaking his fist +at them. + +"I'll have the law on you!" the skipper went on. "You've got no right +to make a turn like that at full speed without blowing a whistle." + +"I guess he's got us right," spoke Jerry in low tones. "It's our fault. +Sailing vessels have the right of way." + +The man appeared to be all alone on the craft for he remained at the +wheel, and no one else came on deck. + +"You'd ought to have kept a little more in shore," said Jerry. +"Unloaded vessels are supposed to at this point as it's deeper farther +out, and the loaded ones take that channel." + +"I don't care a hang about the channel!" cried the man. "You nearly run +me down, and you didn't blow any warning. If I catch you at it again +I'll sink your tin-pan of a boat if I get a chance." + +"You'll not get the chance!" fired back Ned, turning to look at the +schooner which was disappearing around the bend. As he did so the boy +gave a cry of alarm. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry. + +"Look at the stern of that boat!" cried Ned. + +Bob and Jerry looked. Under the overhanging ornamental work was the +name: + +BLUEBIRD + +"Nothing remarkable about that," said Bob. "It could just as well have +been redbird, or yellowbird or blackbird." + +"I see what you mean," put in Jerry excitedly. "It may have been the +'blue' thing that Bill Berry referred to when he quarreled with us." + +"I'm sure it is," said Ned. "There's something queer going on along +this river, and we'll find it out sooner or later." + +They ran along for several miles, and were approaching a small village +called Westville, when, as they came around a bend that hid from sight +a straight stretch of water which led past the town, they heard shouts +of excitement. + +"I wonder what we've run into now," said Jerry. + +"Looks like a fire," said Bob. + +"It is a fire!" exclaimed Ned. "See, that barn upon the hill is all +ablaze!" + +Looking to where he pointed Bob and Jerry saw the stable structure, +near a handsome country residence was spouting flames. About it a +crowd was gathered, and the boys could see men leading out horses and +running out wagons, carriages and farm machinery. + +"I wonder where the fire department is," said Jerry. "I heard they had +a cracker-jack one here." + +"There they come!" cried Ned pointing to where a crowd of men and boys +could be seen hurrying down a hill over which led the road into the +village. In the midst of the throng was some sort of machine which was +being pulled by long ropes. + +"It's an old hand engine!" cried Bob. "I thought they had a steamer +here." + +"Come on; let's go up and see it work!" cried Jerry. + +The motor boat was run close to the bank, and, having been tied to an +overhanging tree the boys raced up the slope toward the burning barn. + +By this time the hand engine had arrived. It was one of the +old-fashioned kind. Two long handles worked a pump mounted on a tank. +Into this tank water had to be poured by pails, and from the bottom ran +two lines of hose connected to the pumps. The hose was carried on a +separate reel. In a few minutes the volunteer firemen, having gotten in +each other's way as many times as was possible, had the hose attached. +One little man with a bald head and a fuzz of white whiskers on his +chin was giving all sorts of orders. + +Then two lines of men and boys were formed, each person with a bucket +in hand, the files leading to a small brook which ran near the barn. +From one to another the buckets were passed, going down empty on one +side and going along filled on the other. As fast as possible the pails +were emptied into the tank. + +The men at the handles or "brakes" as they were called were pumping +away for dear life, and soon a feeble stream came from one hose nozzle. + +"Hurrah!" cried the crowd, and half a score of willing hands grabbed +the line and started toward the burning barn with it. A little later, +the pump having gotten in its stride, so to speak, sent a stream from +the other hose. + +Again there was a shout of approval, and the two streams were soon +playing on the flames. But the fire had gained too much headway to +succumb to anything short of the efforts of a regular department. The +blaze mounted higher and higher. + +"The house is on fire! The house is on fire!" a score of voices yelled. + +Sure enough, some sparks from the barn had fallen on the shingled roof +of the residence and there were several tiny spurts of flame. + +"Let the barn go, boys!" called the chief. "Let's save the house." + +Willing hands dragged the clumsy machine nearer the residence while the +men at the nozzles ran back, and prepared to squirt water on the roof. +Once more the buckets passed along the line. + +Clank! Clank! went the handles. + +"What's the matter?" cried the chief. "There's no water coming from the +hose!" + +The nozzle-men had climbed up on two ladders which were hastily reared +against the side of the house. They turned the hose toward the spurts +of flame, but no water came. The trouble was the pump was not powerful +enough to force the fluid to so great a height. + +"Pump! Pump!" cried the chief. + +The men at the handles redoubled their efforts. For a minute or so +a feeble stream trickled from the nozzles. Then, with a cough and a +wheeze the pump gave out. It had broken under the unusual pressure, not +being in the best of repair at any time. + +"What are we going to do?" cried the chief. "The house will go!" + +"Form a chain gang!" cried the owner of the residence. "Have the men +stand in line from the brook to the ladder and pass the buckets along +and up to the roof!" + +"Good idea!" yelled the chief. "Hurry men!" + +It was easy to plan but hard to put into operation. The buckets were +full when they left the hands of the men nearest the stream, but when +they got to those on the roof there was barely a quarter pail-full of +the fluid left, so much had spilled out. + +The volunteer fire fighters did the best with what they had, but the +flames were gaining on them. The roof was afire in a dozen places. As +fast as one spot was put out another would ignite. + +Jerry ran to the disabled engine. He seemed to be examining the hose. +Then he hurried back to the chief. + +"How many feet of hose have you?" he asked of that excited official. + +"About four hundred. But don't bother me! What good is hose when you +haven't a pump? Look out the way!" + +"I'll tell you what good it is!" exclaimed Jerry. "Uncouple it from +the engine and run it down to our boat!" and he pointed to where the +_Dartaway_ was tied at the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE QUEER TRAMP + + +"What good will that do?" cried the chief. "Haven't I got troubles +enough without you bothering me? This whole place is going up in smoke!" + +"No it won't if you do as I say," insisted Jerry. "Have your men run +that hose down to our boat!" + +"Have you got a force pump there?" demanded the chief halting in his +intention of shouting some new order through his trumpet. + +"That's what we have, and a powerful one too," cried Jerry. + +"Good!" exclaimed the chief. "Here boys! Run the line down to the motor +boat!" + +Wondering whether their chief had taken leave of his senses the men +obeyed. A curious crowd gathered to see what was going on. Some even +deserted the bucket brigade lines. + +"Don't leave my house to burn up!" cried the distracted owner. + +"Do you think you can attach the hose to the engine?" asked Bob, as he +ran along beside Jerry. + +"Not to the engine but to the pump; the auxiliary pump," said Jerry. "I +guess you forgot we have a regular force pump which is worked by the +engine. Not the one that pumps up water to cool the cylinders, but the +one in the stern that is intended for a hose to be attached to. It's +for use in case the boat gets afire, or to wash it off when it's dirty. +It's a fine pump, double acting, but we never had occasion to use it, +and we haven't any hose for it. I measured the fire hose, and it will +just fit on the pump nozzle." + +By this time the men dragging the hose were at the _Dartaway_. They +stared in wonder at the trim craft, for it was the first time many of +them had ever seen a motor boat. + +"Fasten the line on there!" cried Jerry showing the men where the pump +was. "I'll start the engine!" + +He threw out the gear, and started the motor, which, running free, soon +attained a terrific speed. Then Jerry threw in the clutch connecting +with the pump. In an instant the machine began to suck up water from +the river. + +A few seconds later there came a shout from the other end of the hose, +where some men were holding it ready to play a stream on the roof, +which was now blazing furiously. + +"By Hook! You've done the trick!" exclaimed the chief. "I didn't think +your little machine would force water so far." + +The chief ran back to direct his men, while quite a crowd stayed to +watch the motor boys in their unexpected role of firemen. + +In a few minutes the firemen had the blaze under control. It had just +begun to eat through the shingles, but, so well did the volunteers play +the water on, and, thanks to the _Dartaway's_ pump, so much was there +of the fluid, that the fire soon got discouraged and, save for a few +little tongues of flame, it was out five minutes later. + +The house was saved, but the barn was a total loss. Seeing that there +was no further need of a stream on the roof, the chief directed the men +to play on the burning embers of the stable, which had collapsed into a +huge bon-fire. + +"Well, I reckon I can call off my men now," said the chief some time +later, when there was only a little smoke to show where the barn had +stood. "I guess the danger's over. One of you men take a look upon the +house roof to see there are no sparks left." + +A volunteer fireman scrambled up and reported that the roof-fire was +out completely. + +"Then we'll pull up and go home," went on the chief. "I'm sure we're +much obliged to you boys. I don't know what we'd 'a done only for you." + +"That's all right," spoke Jerry. "Glad we happened along in time to be +of service." + +The hose was uncoupled from the boat pump, and coiled on the reel, +while the hand engine was dragged out into the road in preparation for +being taken back to quarters. + +The motor boys prepared to continue on their trip. Just as Jerry was +adjusting the engine in readiness to start off, a man came running down +the bank to the river. + +"Hi; you boys!" he called. + +"Well, what is it; more fire?" asked Ned. + +"No, but Mr. Dudley wants to know if you won't come up and stay to +supper. He wants to thank you, and he's asked the other fire department +also." + +"The other fire department, eh?" remarked Jerry in a low voice. "They +must count us as one. Shall we go up, boys?" + +"If you leave it to me I say yes every time," put in Bob. + +"Oh we knew that," said Jerry. "What do you say, Ned?" + +"Oh I could toy with a bit of food if it isn't too heavy," said Ned +with a smile. + +"Tell Mr. Dudley we're much obliged to him, and we'll be right up," +said Jerry, and the man, who seemed to be a helper about the place, ran +back to the house. + +Mrs. Dudley and several of the servants had set a table in the big +dining room. The members of the volunteer fire department were standing +awkwardly around discussing the events of the last few hours, and Mr. +Dudley was going about from one to the other thanking them for what +they had done. + +"Here comes the real heroes of the day!" cried the fire chief as the +boys entered. "They are the ones who jumped right into the breach and +pulled us out of the hole." + +"That's so!" cried Mr. Dudley, hurrying over and shaking hands with the +boys. "I don't know your names yet," he went on, "but I'm a thousand +times obliged to you." + +Jerry introduced himself and his comrades, and soon every one was at +his ease, the volunteers firing question after question at Bob, Ned and +Jerry as to how their "machine" worked. + +"Now, never mind the fire, but sit down and eat," cried Mr. Dudley. +"I'm sure you're hungry and that you all deserve better than we have +here. You must make allowances for the meal. It was gotten ready in a +hurry, and we're a little upset." + +"I should think you would be," said the chief. "Good land, we ain't had +as much excitement as this, no sir, not in ten years." + +The meal was a good one in spite of the adverse circumstances under +which it was prepared, and the boys and every one else ate heartily. + +During a lull in the serving of the victuals, the chief arose at his +place. + +"Members of the Towanda Fire Department," he said, "I have a motion to +make. I know this ain't a regular meeting, but I ask for a suspension +of the rules." + +"Hurrah! You're all right! Go ahead chief! Make a dozen motions if +you want to!" were some of the cries that greeted the head of the +volunteers. + +"Then I move you that we elect these three boys, who helped us so well +to-day, honorary members of our department!" exclaimed the chief. + +"Second the motion!" cried every member of the volunteers. + +"I guess there's no use to take a vote on that proposition," the chief +went on. "You're elected unanimously!" + +"Thank you, very much," said Jerry, speaking for himself and his chums. + +There was a cheer for the boys, and congratulations on every side. Mrs. +Dudley came up, shook hands with the boys, and with tears in her eyes +thanked them for their aid in saving her home. + +"I don't know what I would have done if it had burned down," she said. +"I've lived here so long I don't believe I ever could live in a new +place. I must write and tell you boys' mothers what you did for me." + +As soon as they could, the boys made an excuse for leaving. Shaking +hands with their host and hostess, they went down to the motor boat, +followed by about half the members of the fire department. Amid cheers +from the men the boys started off. + +"I guess we'd better cut out the trip to the park," said Jerry. "How +about going straight home?" + +"Suits me," came from Ned and Bob. + +Accordingly, after the side lamps and the search lantern had been +lighted, the _Dartaway_ was swung down the river. + +Suddenly from the gloom in front of them, there sounded a loud crash. +Then a bumping noise, followed by confused shouts. + +"Trouble of some kind!" exclaimed Jerry. He swung the search lamp in +the direction from which the noise had come. In the white blinding +glare of the gas lamp the boys saw the outlines of a schooner, +partially hidden behind some big black object. + +"That's the _Bluebird_!" exclaimed Ned. + +"And something has run into her!" cried Jerry. "I wonder what it is. +Put us over that way, Ned." + +Ned shifted the wheel. As the _Dartaway_ came nearer, and the black +object was illuminated more by the search lamp, the boys could see that +it was a barge loaded with hay which had drifted upon the schooner. + +"Help! Help! Save me! The schooner is sinking!" cried a voice from the +darkness. + +"You'd better jump!" another voice answered. "I can't pull the barge +back!" + +The boys were now near enough to see what was happening. The barge +was broadside on to the current. It was so big that the force of the +river was bearing it hard against the side of the schooner, which was +careening badly. + +"Is there anyone on the barge?" called Jerry. + +"Yes!" came back the answer. "Can you throw me a line and pull me back? +I don't want to sink the vessel!" + +"Stand by to catch!" cried Jerry. + +He stood up in the bow and cast a line to a dark figure that ran out to +the end of the barge, nearest the motor boat. The man skillfully caught +the line, and fastened it to a cleat. + +Then, under Jerry's direction, Ned swung the _Dartaway_ about in a big +circle, taking care not to foul the tow line. The rope was fastened to +the stern of the motor boat, and, when the latter was pointed up stream +it tautened suddenly. + +Ned put the engine at full speed, and slowly, very slowly, for the +weight was considerable, the hay barge was pulled away from the +schooner. The latter, relieved of the pressure, began to right. + +"That's the stuff!" cried the man on the barge. He was in the full +glare of the search lamp, which Jerry had reversed to play on the +barge, and the boys saw that he was a tramp. His clothes hung in rags +about him, and his face looked as if it had not felt a razor in months. + +"Pull her up the river a way and tie her to the bank, if you will," +the tramp said, stepping out of the glare of the light suddenly. "She +drifted down stream with me," he went on. + +"Who does it belong to?" asked Jerry. + +There was no answer. Then, all at once, there came a splash in the +water. + +"Some one has fallen overboard!" cried Bob. + +Jerry flashed the light down on the surface of the river. In the white +glare the tramp could be seen striking out for shore. He was swimming +well, and seemed in no need of assistance so Jerry did not stop the +towing of the barge to put over to him. + +"Well of all the queer tramps he's the limit," said Bob. "He don't seem +to mind getting a bath. Wonder how he came to fall in." + +"He didn't fall in, he jumped," said Jerry. "There's something queer +behind this." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CAMPING OUT + + +"Hurry up, run the barge ashore and let's see what he's up to," +suggested Ned. + +"All right," agreed Jerry. "We might as well see this thing through +while we're at it." + +The barge, with its load of hay was no light weight to tow, but the +boys were satisfied to get it out of the way of the schooner. They +steered over toward the bank, and, as Ned slowed up the engine, Jerry +and Bob leaped ashore and tied the line to a tree. + +"We can come and get the rope to-morrow," said Jerry. "Now to find our +queer tramp." + +The hay barge was now securely tied, and, as the boys could see in the +light of the search lantern, the schooner had righted. There seemed to +be no movement on board, and the boys concluded that whoever had been +afraid of losing his life in the accident had quieted down. + +"Everybody listen," said Jerry. "I want to see if we can hear the tramp +moving on shore." + +The engine had been stopped and there was no sound to disturb the +stillness of the night. Suddenly, from the bush that lined the bank of +the river, there came a crackling that betokened some person was moving +through them. + +"Maybe this is our tramp," said Bob. + +With a quick movement Ned, who was standing in the bow of the boat, +turned the search light on shore. As he did so there emerged from the +underbrush a figure that was dripping with water. One glance showed the +boys it was the tramp of the hay barge. + +"Oh!" exclaimed the tramp. "You're here, are you?" + +"Just about," said Jerry. "Here's your load of hay," and he motioned to +the barge tied to the bank. + +"Oh that's not mine," the tramp said pleasantly. "You see the way it +was I went to sleep on that barge. It was tied to the bank, some where +along here. The first thing I knew there was a collision and I heard +some one on the schooner shouting that I was sinking him." + +"I guess you came pretty near it," put in Ned. + +"Yes; well maybe I did, but it wasn't my fault. The barge must have +drifted down stream while I was asleep. Then you boys came along in +the nick of time, and--well you know the rest." + +"Are you stopping around here?" asked Jerry. + +"Well, not so's you could notice it," the tramp replied. "I'm a sort of +wandering minstrel you might say, here to-day and gone to-morrow." + +"Can we do anything for you?" asked Jerry, taking pity on the man's +rather forlorn appearance. "Give you a ride down to the town, or +anything like that?" + +"No, thanks just the same," replied the tramp. "It's going to be a warm +night, and my clothes will soon dry. Besides I'm a nature lover and a +student of the stars. I like to sleep out of doors, so I'll just curl +up here under a bush and sleep the sleep of the just. In the morning I +will hie me on my way again, fair sirs." + +"Then we can't help you?" asked Ned, who, with the other boys, was +somewhat puzzled by the man's queer manner and rather high-flown talk. + +"Well, to tell you the truth the only thing you could do for me would +be to hand over a chicken sandwich or two," the tramp said. "And I +don't suppose you carry such luxuries with you on your cruises." + +"Maybe you wouldn't mind roast beef, corned beef and cheese sandwiches," +suggested Bob. + +"Don't make fun of him," spoke Jerry in a low voice. + +"I'm not," replied Chunky. "I've got some here." + +He fumbled in a side locker of the boat and drew out a bulky package. +Then he put his hand in again and brought forth a bottle of ginger ale. + +"Where in the world did you get that stuff?" asked Ned. + +"I saved it from the dinner at Mr. Dudley's," answered Bob. + +"Well, you are the limit!" exclaimed Jerry, while Ned joined in the +laugh at Chunky. + +"Here you go," said Bob to the tramp, extending some of the food and a +bottle of ginger ale. "It will last until you can get something more." + +"You are too generous," spoke the tramp, but though his tone was +bantering as his previous speech had been, the boys could see he was in +earnest. + +He came close to the boat and accepted the sandwiches and bottle which +Bob held out. Then, making his way up the bank again, he was soon lost +to sight in the shadows, while he called back a friendly "good-night." + +"I guess we can go home now," spoke Jerry. "We've had adventures enough +for one night." + +"Yes, and if I'm not mistaken this one will lead to others," Ned put in. + +"What do you mean?" asked Jerry, with sudden interest. + +"Did you notice the tramp's face?" + +"Not particularly; why?" + +"Well, you remember how much he looked as if he needed a shave when he +came in the glare of the light as he stood on the barge?" + +"I sure do." + +"Well, he didn't look so when he took the sandwiches from Bob, did he?" + +"No, he didn't," put in Bob. "He was as clean as if he'd just been to +the barber's." + +"You don't s'pose he got shaved in the woods, after his bath, do you?" +asked Ned. + +"You mean we must have been mistaken in thinking he needed one?" asked +Jerry. + +"No, I mean his appearance changed after he fell or jumped into the +water. His 'whiskers' came off." + +"Then he was disguised!" exclaimed Jerry. + +"That's what I believe," Ned replied. "And what with a disguised tramp +on a hay barge, a mysterious schooner named _Bluebird_, and Bill +Berry's curious reference to something 'blue' I shouldn't wonder but +what there was something strange going on around these parts. And +we're liable to get mixed up in it at any time." + +"Not any more to-night, if you please," spoke Jerry. "I'm dead tired, +and I want to go to bed. If there are going to be any more adventures +I'm going to duck." + +"Well, I don't s'pose we can find out anything more to-night," admitted +Ned. "So let's head for home." And they did. + +The next day the boys made a trip up the river to where they had tied +the hay barge. They found several men on the craft, discussing how it +had happened the boat had moved from the place where they had tied it. +The boys moored their craft and went on the barge to get their rope. + +"So this is your tow line, eh?" asked a man who seemed to be in charge +of the barge. + +"That's what," replied Jerry, and he related what happened the night +previous. + +"Wa'al, I might have knowed suthin' would break loose if I let th' +men have a night off," the farmer, for such he was, went on. "We was +bringin' this load of fodder down stream, an' we had t' tie up as it +was gittin' dusk. Some of th' boys wanted t' go off t' town t' a dance, +an' I let 'em, as we don't have many amusements on th' farm. When we +come back we couldn't find th' boat, an' we thought some one had stole +her. We went back t' town an' stayed all night an' come trampin' down +t' th' river this mornin'. Lucky we found th' craft, an' the hay not +stole. I'm sure I'm much obliged t' you boys." + +"I'm sure you're welcome," replied Jerry, not saying anything about the +tramp, who, it appeared, had had no hand in the boat drifting away. + +Securing their line the boys went back to their boat. + +"Where shall we go?" asked Ned. "I'd like to get off in the woods +somewhere and camp out. I wish vacation was here and we could take our +cruise." + +"Let's take a little one now," suggested Jerry. "We don't need to +bother with a tent. We can go off somewhere, and stay over Sunday, and +sleep on board." + +Things were soon in readiness and the start was made about six o'clock +that evening. They went some miles, and when ten o'clock came the boys +lighted the gasolene stove and made coffee, for the night was quite +chilly. They set the small table amidships, and, with the food they had +brought along, they made a good meal. They were so tired, with the +good healthy exhaustion of exercise in the open air, that it was not +long after this before they were all sound asleep. + +It must have been past midnight when Jerry, who was sleeping forward, +was awakened by feeling the boat careen to one side. + +"What's the matter?" he cried, sitting up on the bunk. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MOTOR BOAT MISSING + + +There was no sound save the ripple of water past the side of the craft, +and the distant gurgle where the stream flowed over a stony place that +formed miniature rapids. + +"Who's there?" asked Jerry again. + +This time he heard a splash in the water as if a big fish was moving +about. + +Jerry knew the river did not boast of sufficiently large finny +specimens to careen a boat the size of the _Dartaway_. Nevertheless +something had shifted her. + +Jerry was wide awake now. He stepped out into the enclosed space +between the bunks that formed a sort of cabin. As he did so he felt the +boat rock again; this time so violently as to almost cause him to lose +his balance. + +To avoid falling Jerry thrust out his hand, and it hit Bob, who was +sleeping on the other side of the boat. + +"All right! All right! I'm goin' to get right up!" exclaimed Bob, +turning over but evincing no other desire to do as he said he would. +He evidently imagined himself in his bed at home, and with his father +calling him to get up, for Bob was no light slumberer. + +"What's the matter?" asked Ned, sitting up suddenly. He was easily +awakened, and the sound of Bob's voice, with the movement of Jerry +served to arouse him. "What's the matter?" he repeated. "Are they after +us? Is Noddy up to his old tricks?" + +"I don't know what's the matter," replied Jerry in a low voice. "I was +awakened by feeling the boat rock, and I got up to see what the trouble +was. I haven't found out yet." + +"Maybe we're adrift," suggested Ned. "We may have swung down stream and +hit the bank." + +Jerry reached for a swinging lantern, and, parting the canvas side +awnings, held the light over the rail. By the gleam the boys could see +that they were still tied to the shore trees by bow and stern lines. + +"The boat hasn't drifted," said Jerry. "Something moved it. I heard a +noise in the water as if there was a big fish, but who ever heard of +whales or sharks in the river, and it must have been something as big +as that to cause us to careen so." + +"Maybe it was a log that hit us," suggested Ned. + +"I think not; I would know the bump of a log," said Jerry. "Hark! +What's that?" + +Both boys listened intently. Off toward the farther bank could be heard +a faint splashing, as if a large body was moving in the water. + +"Light the search lantern, and we'll throw a beam over in that +direction," said Ned. Jerry crept forward and soon had the big +illuminator kindled. Then he suddenly turned the beams full on in the +direction of the splashing sound. + +For a moment nothing could be distinguished save the green bank that +bordered the river. Then, as Jerry swung the search light in a half +circle he "picked up" a dark figure that was crawling up the sloping +shore. + +"It's a man!" exclaimed Ned. "It's a man with ragged clothes on! I'll +bet it's the same tramp that was on the hay barge!" + +Jerry was gazing intently through the opened canvas sides of the boat +at the figure. Sure enough it was that of a man, and, he seemed to have +just swam across the river. He climbed the bank, and, turning to take +a look at the motor boat, placed himself full in the glare of the gas +lamp. + +"It's our queer tramp all right!" exclaimed Jerry. "I wonder if it was +he who moved the boat." + +"Must have been," decided Ned, after a moment's thought. + +The next instant the figure, turning as if to take a last look at the +boat, plunged into the underbrush and was lost to view. + +The morning came without further adventures and after breakfast they +walked for a mile or more through the woods, and emerged into a big +field. There were no houses in sight and the boys did not know what +settlement they might be near, for they were about twenty miles from +home, in a part of the country they seldom visited. + +"Looks like some sort of habitation over there," said Bob, pointing to +the left. + +"I don't see anything," replied Jerry. "Where do you see a house?" + +"I don't see any house, but I see smoke," replied Bob. "Where there's +smoke there's fire, and where there's fire there's sure to be some one +living." + +As they came nearer to whence the smoke arose they could see half +hidden in the bushes a sort of log cabin. It was almost in ruins, and +the one window was devoid of glass. + +In front of the hut there smouldered the remains of a fire, and, from +some old pots and pans lying about, as well as odds and ends of food +scattered around, it was evident that some one had been dining in rough +and ready fashion. + +"Looks like a camping-out party had been here," said Jerry. "They +weren't very particular where they stayed though. That hut seems to +have seen its best days." + +"More like it's a tramps' shack," observed Ned. "Maybe our friend of +the hay barge hangs out here." + +The boys went closer to the fire. There were chickens' feathers and +bones on the ground. + +"They lived high, at any rate," said Bob. "I wouldn't mind a bit of +broiled fowl myself." + +"Whoever was here left their knife behind," said Bob, stooping over and +picking up an expensive one. "Doesn't look like the kind tramps usually +carry." He turned it over in his hand, and uttered an exclamation. + +"Cut yourself?" asked Jerry. + +"Look there!" cried Bob, pointing to the silver plate on one side of +the handle. On it was carved: "N. Nixon." + +"Noddy's knife!" came from Ned. "I wonder what he could have been doing +here." + +"It's like a good many other things connected with Noddy," said Jerry. +"No telling what he's up to until it's too late." + +"Shall we take it along or leave it?" asked Bob. + +"Better take it," suggested Jerry. "It might come in handy for evidence +some time, and if we leave it some one might come along and steal it. +Put it in your pocket, Chunky." + +Strolling leisurely they retraced their steps, and soon were on the +rude path they had followed in coming from the river. + +Jerry was in the lead. When he came to the bank of the stream he +suddenly stopped. + +"What's the matter? Snake?" called out Ned. + +"We must have come the wrong road," said Jerry. "The boat isn't here." + +The other boys hurried forward and stood beside him. There was no sign +of the _Dartaway_. + +"That's queer," said Bob. "I thought we were on the right path coming +back. It was just like the one we went over on." + +"It was the same," insisted Ned. "There's where the _Dartaway_ was tied +up. I know that willow tree. See, I left my sweater on it, and it's +there yet," and he pointed to where the red garment fluttered in the +wind. + +"Then where's the boat?" asked Jerry. "Has it floated away?" + +"It couldn't have," insisted Ned. "It was tied too securely." + +"Then she's been stolen!" exclaimed Jerry, and he ran down to the edge +of the river, the others following. + +There was no doubt about it, the _Dartaway_ was gone. There was not a +sign of the craft up stream or down. + +"Some one's been here all right," said Jerry. "See those are not our +tracks," and he pointed to the soft mud in which were several prints of +large feet which had worn hob-nailed shoes. In the middle of the sole +was a design of an arrow, which the maker of the shoes had put on them +in big nails, and this device was plainly visible in the soil. + +"Well, this is tough luck!" exclaimed Bob. "I'd like to find the man +with the arrow shoes." + +"I'd rather find the boat," said Jerry in a dejected voice. "I wonder +what in the world we're going to do," and he sat down on the grassy +bank. The others, looking sadly at where their beloved boat had been +moored, took places beside Jerry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE SEARCH + + +For a while no one felt like speaking. The shock was too much for them. +They could hardly realize that their craft was gone. Finally Jerry +spoke. + +"We've got to find her!" he exclaimed. "She's somewhere on the river, +up or down, and we've got to go after her. She can't have been taken +very far, for we've not been gone more than three hours." + +"If she was run at full speed she could get a good way off in that +time," observed Bob. + +"Well, what's to be done?" asked Ned. + +"I think the best plan will be to start up or down the river," said +Jerry. "Chances are who ever took the boat went up, as they wouldn't +risk cruising past Cresville with it. So we'll start up I think." + +"You mean walk?" asked Bob who was not inclined to any exertion when he +could help it. + +"Well I don't see any one coming along with a launch or a water +automobile, Chunky," said Jerry. "I guess we'll have to walk, a way at +any rate. We'll inquire of every one who lives along the river if they +have seen the boat. We may get a line on her that way. So let's start." + +"I wish we'd taken some of the grub out of her before we went away," +said Bob with a sigh. + +"If they'll give us back the boat they can have all the victuals and +welcome," spoke Ned. + +"I guess you're not as hungry as I am," said Bob. + +"Well, there's no use worrying over that part of it," Jerry said. +"We'll start out. Maybe we can find a hotel or a farm house where we +can buy some lunch." + +Tired and discouraged, hungry and thirsty, the boys started off to +tramp up along the river bank. It was in strange contrast to the manner +in which they had arrived the evening before. + +Their course lay partly through meadow land and partly through the +woods, for the river was winding in its course. The sun beamed down hot +and the journey was anything but a pleasant one. But the boys with grim +determination did not mind the discomforts. They wanted to find their +boat and they were willing to make any sacrifices to get her. + +They had walked for an hour without seeing a sign of habitation or +meeting a person. But, about noon, as they came around a sharp turn, +where the river flowed between two rather high hills, they spied a farm +house, which, from the extent of land surrounding it, and the number of +out buildings seemed to belong to a man of means. + +"Well, that looks as if there was something to eat there, at any rate," +spoke Bob. "Hurry up, fellows, I'm nearly starved. Have any of you got +any money? I'm broke." + +Ned had only a little change, but, fortunately Jerry had several bills +in his pocket. + +"We don't look very presentable to go up to a man's house on Sunday," +said Ned. "But beggars can't be choosers." + +The boys had on old suits which they donned as they expected to tramp +through the woods. Their good clothes were on the boat. Then too, the +jaunt along the river had not improved their appearance as they were +rather begrimed. + +"Let's scrub up a bit before we make an appeal for help," suggested Ned. + +"Good idea," agreed Bob, and all three went down to the edge of the +river. They washed the mud off their shoes, scrubbed their faces and +hands, drying them on their pocket handkerchiefs, to the detriment +of the linen, and then they brushed the dirt and cobwebs from their +clothes with bunches of grass. + +"There!" exclaimed Jerry when the toilets were completed. "We're not +exactly dressed for a party, but I guess it's some better than we were." + +They approached the farm house from the front. Bob had suggested going +in the back way, but Ned insisted they were not tramps, but travelers +willing and able to pay for a meal, so it was decided to approach in +style. + +Jerry rang the bell. In a little while an aged colored man answered. He +was all smiles as he came along, but, as he opened the glass paneled +portal the boys could see a frown appear on his face. + +"Marse Johnson done give p'ticklar orders that all tramps an' beggars +done got t' go t' th' back part this establishment!" said the negro. + +"Well, what's that got to do with us?" asked Jerry. "Tell Mr. Johnson +we wish to see him at once." + +"Well I mus' say you's th' most imperterlitest--" + +"Never mind!" exclaimed Jerry. "Just tell Mr. Johnson that we are from +Cresville. He'll understand." + +The colored man hesitated a moment. Clearly he was puzzled by Jerry's +confident manner. + +"Sit down," said Jerry to Bob and Ned, waving his hand toward some +porch chairs. + +That seemed to settle it in the negro's mind. Any one who assumed so +much must be an expected guest he reasoned even though the clothing of +the boys betokened them to be unlike the usual run of visitors. + +Somewhat apprehensive of what their reception might be the boys waited. +They heard the footsteps of the colored man go echoing down the hall. +The big dog, seemingly satisfied that all was right, had resumed his +sleep. + +The boys heard someone coming along the gravel on the walk at the side +of the porch. They looked up, expecting to see the master of the house +approaching. They beheld a little man with a round shining bald head, +and a fuzz of white whiskers around his chin. Though long past middle +age, he came along with sprightly steps. No sooner had he caught sight +of the boys than his walk became a run, and he fairly bounded up on the +porch. + +"Well of all things!" he exclaimed. "Who would have thought to see you +here. My but I'm glad to see you. Welcome, fellow fire-fighters!" + +The boys rose from their chairs, rather puzzled over the little man's +words and actions. He began shaking hands with them, though, as Bob +afterward confessed he was doubtful about engaging in the operation, as +he thought the man was a mild lunatic. + +"Well, well, but I am glad to see you!" the little man went on. "I'm +awfully glad you came. You're just in time for dinner. Come right in." + +"Oh, friends of yours, Henry?" asked a voice from the doorway, and the +boys turned to see a tall stately gentleman coming out on the porch. +"You young gentlemen must excuse me," the tall man went on. "I did +not understand Sambo's message. He said, but you must pardon me for +repeating it, but he said there were some tramps out here. But I did +not dream there were some old friends of Cousin Henry's. I am very +pleased to meet you." + +All of which was more and more puzzling to the boys. + +"Friends of mine! I should rather say they were!" exclaimed the little +man. "These young gentlemen," he went on, "are honorary members of the +Towanda Fire Department, of which I am the only living charter member!" +and he threw back his shoulders proudly. + +"That's what they are," he went on. "You should have seen them and +their steam boat at the Dudley fire. They saved the day, that's what +they did. We elected 'em on the spot. I was there! I ought to know! My, +but that was a blaze!" he exclaimed. "Me and the chief never forgot +your services. I'm general adviser of the department," he continued. +"You saw me there?" + +"Of course," said Jerry, who, with the other boys now remembered the +little man who had been so fussy to see that the ancient hand engine +worked well. + +"Well, any friends of yours are friends of mine," said the tall +gentleman. "Introduce me, Henry," which the only living charter member +of the Towanda Fire Department proceeded to do with old fashioned +courtesy. + +"You're just in time for dinner," spoke Mr. Johnson. "I shall only be +too proud to have you join us. My cousin has told me, several times of +your assistance at the big fire. I have often desired to meet you. My +cousin came over on a visit this week. Fortunate that you should have +known of it and followed him." + +"We didn't. It was all an accident," said Jerry. + +Then, in a few words he explained what had happened, relating the theft +of the motor boat, and how it happened they were only chance visitors. + +"Remarkable, remarkable!" exclaimed Mr. Johnson. "I never heard +anything like it. Now come right in. My wife and daughters will be +delighted to meet you and hear that story." + +Almost unconsciously, at the suggestion of meeting ladies, the boys +glanced at their clothes. + +"Now, now, no apologies!" exclaimed Mr. Johnson. "I'll explain +everything. You must take dinner with me. It is almost ready. Sambo, +show the young gentlemen to the bath room, and tell Mary to put on +three extra plates. Delighted to have the opportunity of dining with +you," Mr. Johnson added, bowing to the boys. + +"Talk about luck!" said Bob, when they were left alone. "Say, we're +right in it. Who'd ever thought our helping at that fire would have +brought us a meal just when we needed it most." + +The other boys were equally impressed by the strange coincidence, and +voted it a most fortunate thing that they should have come to the house +where cousin Henry was stopping. They were all the more inclined to +thank their lucky stars when they saw the bountiful meal that was set +upon the table half an hour later. + +The boys had to tell their story over again, with all the details, +for Mrs. Johnson, and her two daughters, both young ladies were much +interested, and asked scores of questions. + +"I don't suppose you heard or saw a motor boat going up the river, did +you?" asked Jerry of his host. + +"Not personally," replied Mr. Johnson. "But I did hear Sambo say +something about hearing a queer whistle out on the water sometime ago. +Maybe that was it. I'll let you ask him." + +The colored man was summoned, and proved to have even better news. He +said he had been down on the river bank several hours previous and had +seen a boat, that answered every description of the _Dartaway_, going +up at full speed. + +"Could you see who was on board?" asked Jerry. + +"'Peared laik there was two men on her," said Sambo, "a little one an' +a bigger one." + +"We'd better start right off after them," said Ned. + +"I can't let you go so soon," protested Mr. Johnson. "Perhaps I can be +of some assistance to you. I have a number of rowboats, and you're +welcome to one or more of them. You can row up stream, which is better +than walking, though it's not so fast as your craft goes. Then, if I +were you I'd send dispatches to the principal cities and towns along +the river, asking the police to keep a look-out for your boat." + +"That's a good idea," said Jerry. "I never thought of that. Thank you +very much." + +"Then you had better send a telegram home to your folks telling them +you will be delayed," went on Mr. Johnson. + +"Is there a station near here?" asked Ned. + +"I will send Sambo over to town with the messages this afternoon," Mr. +Johnson said. "In the meanwhile make yourselves to home here, and rest +up. You'll have hard work ahead of you I'm afraid before you get your +boat back. We have heard rumors lately of a gang of thieves that have +infested this neighborhood, especially along the river. Maybe some of +them have your craft." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +FINDING THE DARTAWAY + + +Right after dinner each of the boys wrote a message home, and the +colored man drove off with them to the village about five miles away. +Then, having recovered from their fatigue, the boys went to look at +Mr. Johnson's collection of craft. They found he had several large +rowboats, and they selected one which two could pull, while a third +person in the stern could steer. It was rather a heavy craft, but it +was large and roomy, and on a pinch they could sleep in it at night. + +"This will be just the thing to make the search in," said Jerry. "Could +we take her for three or four days?" + +"As long as you like," said Mr. Johnson heartily. "Just keep it and use +it until you find your boat, and you can then tow it back. Now come +into the house. I want to pack up some lunch for you, and give you some +blankets to camp out with, since you are determined to start to-night." + +Having packed some provisions in the boat, taking along a pot to +make coffee in, a supply of the commodity and a small oil stove, some +kerosene, and a lantern, the searchers started off. + +They camped out under a big tree at dusk and ate with good appetites +in spite of their gloomy spirits and then, having built a fire on the +bank, they prepared to spend the night. + +"Forward again!" cried Jerry when after breakfast the simple camp +outfit had been packed into the boat. At noon they came to a small +village where they stopped for lunch, and to stretch their weary legs. + +There they learned that the _Dartaway_ had passed early the previous +afternoon. It had made a short stop for gasolene. Of the dealer in the +fuel the boys learned that two rough looking men were aboard the craft. +Neither of them had said anything to give a clue to their identity. + +It was about three o'clock, when, as the boys were rowing in a wide +stretch of the river, Jerry, who was at the tiller ropes, cried: + +"Hark! Cease rowing! I hear something!" + +Bob and Ned rested on their oars. The sound of puffing was borne to +them on the wind which was blowing up stream. + +"It's a motor boat!" exclaimed Jerry. + +"Or an automobile," said Bob. + +"Automobiles don't run along the river," said Jerry. "There's no good +road within a mile of the stream, Mr. Johnson said. It's a motor boat." + +"But it's coming up stream," said Bob. "It can't be our boat." + +"Unless it went down past us in the night," remarked Ned. "But we'll +soon see." + +Nearer and nearer sounded the puffing of the engine. There was no doubt +that it was a motor boat and that it was coming up stream rapidly. The +boys rowed enough to keep their craft from drifting, and, five minutes +later the oncoming boat hove in sight. + +"It's the _Terror_!" exclaimed Ned and Jerry at once, as they +recognized the Cresville police boat. "Well, if this isn't good luck," +Jerry went on. "_Terror_ ahoy!" he shouted making a megaphone of his +hands. + +In answer there came three sharp toots from the whistle of the gasolene +craft, and her course was changed to send her over towards the boys. + +"Did you come for us?" called Jerry. + +"Not unless you are the burglars we're after," replied Chief Dalton, +who was in the bow, and who recognized the boys. + +"Burglars?" asked Ned. + +"That's what," replied the chief of the Cresville force. "We're out on +business this trip. But what's the matter with you? Got tired of your +new boat so soon?" + +Jerry quickly explained what had happened. The chief was much +surprised. The _Terror_ had been stopped and, at the invitation of the +police official, the boys came into the motor boat. There were several +policemen aboard and the engineer. + +"Shall we tow our boat?" asked Bob. + +"Better leave it tied to the bank," said the chief. "I want to make all +the speed I can. We'll pick it up on the way back, that is if you boys +want to come along with us." + +"We sure do," said Jerry. "We'd like to have your help in finding our +boat." + +"Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone," the chief replied. "There +was quite a robbery at Northville last night, and they telegraphed for +me to help. The thieves got away in a motor boat, it seems." + +"Northville," said Jerry. "That's the very place we stopped for lunch, +where the gasolene man said he saw our boat. Who was robbed?" + +"Why they broke into the general store there, and got away with about a +thousand dollars in cash that was in the safe from the Saturday night +sales. They haven't much of a police force in the town, and they asked +me to help 'em out." + +"Maybe the same men who stole our boat robbed the safe," ventured Ned. + +"I shouldn't be a bit surprised," came from Chief Dalton. "But we must +get a hustle on. I'll tow your rowboat over to shore and you can tie +her up. Then we'll keep on up the river." + +Ten minutes later, Mr. Johnson's boat having been safely moored, the +boys were on their way up stream in a much speedier fashion than they +had been proceeding since the loss of their craft. A good lookout was +kept for any sight of the _Dartaway_. + +"I'll land 'em yet," the chief said. "They can't go much farther as the +river gets too shallow. I only hope they stick to the boat to the last. +If they strike across country it will be hard to find them." + +All the afternoon the _Terror_ chug-chugged on her way. The boys forgot +their anxiety over the loss of their boat, and did not think of their +fatigue in the excitement of the chase. + +It was about six o'clock, when, having made a short stop at a little +village, to learn that the _Dartaway_ had passed not more than an hour +before, the chief, who was steering, held up his hand for silence. + +Everyone on the _Terror_ listened intently. From the broad stretch of +water before them, borne on a wind which had shifted and was coming +down the river, the faint puffing of a motor boat could be heard. + +"That's the _Dartaway_!" exclaimed Jerry. "I know her exhaust!" + +"I hope you're right!" said the chief grimly. "Put a little more speed +on," he said to the engineer, and the _Terror_ leaped ahead under the +influence of more gasolene and an advanced spark. + +A minute later they rounded a turn in the river and saw the _Dartaway_ +just as her engine came to a stop. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +READY FOR A CRUISE + + +"They're slowing up!" cried Jerry. "They're going to stop! We'll get +'em now!" + +Sure enough the _Dartaway_ was slackening speed. She was headed toward +shore. The _Terror_ was gaining rapidly now. Chief Dalton stood up and +drew his revolver in preparation of capturing the motor boat thieves. + +But now the _Dartaway_ was so near shore that the men in her could +almost leap to the bank. They could be seen turning the wheel so as to +throw the craft parallel with the shore. + +"They're going to jump! We'll lose 'em!" cried Ned. + +"Let 'em go," advised Bob. "All we want back is our boat and we'll get +that." + +"That may suit you but it doesn't me," spoke the chief of police +grimly. "I'm after thieves and I'm going to get 'em. They may not be +the men I want, but I'll catch 'em just the same and find out what +they're up to." + +But it looked as if the chief would have no easy task to secure the +motor boat thieves. For, the next instant the pair leaped ashore, +splashing through the shallow water near the edge, and leaving the +_Dartaway_ to continue on from the momentum it had gathered. + +With a whirl of the wheel the _Terror_ was headed toward shore. The +chief and some of his men prepared to make a quick landing. + +"As soon as we get ashore I'll have the engineer put you out where +you can get your boat," the chief said. "I've got to take after those +fellows!" + +"We'll be with you as soon as we secure the _Dartaway_!" cried Jerry. + +"That's what!" chimed in Ned and Bob. + +With drawn revolvers the chief and his men leaped toward shore, not +waiting until their boat was at the bank, but splashing through the +water as the thieves had done. As soon as they were off the engineer of +the _Terror_ put his craft after the boys' boat. + +In a little while the boys were aboard. They soon satisfied themselves +that no great damage had been done, nor had anything of value been +taken. The thieves had evidently made themselves at home, since the +lockers were pretty well emptied of food. + +The _Terror_ had put back to where the chief and his men disembarked. +Jerry set the engine of the _Dartaway_ going and soon found it was in +good order. Then, with Ned at the wheel, the craft was turned around +and headed back toward where the thieves had jumped off. The boys +landed at about the same spot, and moored their craft to a big tree. + +"Look there!" exclaimed Jerry pointing to a soft place in the mud on +the river's bank. + +Ned and Bob glanced to where he indicated. There in the soil were the +marks of several large foot-prints, and, conspicuous among them were +several in the sole of which was the mark of an arrow, made in hob +nails. + +"The same man who took our boat stuck by her until the end," said +Jerry. "Come on; let's go after the chief." + +Calling to the engineer of the _Terror_ to have an eye on their boat, +the boys raced up the bank and across the fields in the direction the +police posse had taken. As they started to run they heard the sound of +several revolver shots. + +"They're fighting!" cried Jerry. "Come on!" + +The boys needed no urging. They raced at top speed in the direction +of the shots. As they topped a small hill they could see in a valley +below them, two roughly dressed men running away from the chief and his +officers, who were a quarter of a mile behind. As they watched they saw +the chief raise his revolver and fire twice into the air. + +"He don't want to hit them, he's only trying to scare them into +stopping!" cried Ned. "Come on!" + +Down the hill they raced, losing sight of the pursued and the pursuers +as they got below the hill top. Still they could hear the shouts of the +police. + +The chase was now on in earnest. But it was a stern one and likely to +prove a long one. The boys, in about five minutes, caught up to one of +the officers, and raced along with him. They could hear the crashing +of the underbrush as policemen ahead of them raced through it. The +chief fired several more shots, but, the boat thieves were not to be +intimidated, and did not halt. + +In a little while the boys came up to the chief. He and the leaders +were panting from the run. + +"Have you lost them?" asked Jerry. + +"I'm afraid so," said the chief. "They turned into a swamp, and I'm not +familiar enough with it to make it worth while to go in. I'm going +to get help from the local authorities and surround the place. Then +perhaps I can catch them." + +"Can we take any message for you?" asked Jerry. "I think we'd better be +going back. It's getting dark and I don't suppose you can do anything +more this evening." + +"I don't believe I can," admitted the chief. "I guess we'll all go +back. I've done my part in this. Let the local constables finish where +I left off. I've run their men to cover now let 'em get 'em out." + +"Anyhow you got back our boat for us," said Jerry, "and we're much +obliged for that." + +Rather tired from the chase and the excitement, the boys and the +policemen retraced their steps to the river. They found the two boats +awaiting them. + +"Did they do any damage to your craft?" asked the chief of Jerry. + +"None that I could notice, but I didn't make a close examination," +replied the boy. "Come aboard, you've never been on her." + +"Thanks," replied the chief, and, as his men got into the _Terror_, he +stepped into the _Dartaway_. As he did so he uttered an exclamation. + +"What's the matter? Is she leaking?" asked Jerry in alarm. + +"No, but see what I found!" the chief said, holding up a small object +he picked from the cockpit of the _Dartaway_. + +"What is it?" asked Ned. + +"A diamond ring," said the chief. "It is one of several stolen, +together with the money, from the Northville store. There's no doubt +now but that the motor boat thieves and those who robbed the store are +the same. My! But I wish I could have caught them!" + +He placed the ring in his pocket, and, after a look over the boys' +craft, prepared to return to his own. + +"Maybe the thieves left some cash behind as well as a ring," suggested +Jerry. + +"No such luck," the chief made answer as he went over the side. "Well, +are you boys going down the river?" + +"I think we'll put up at the hotel in Northville, if there is one," +said Jerry. "It's too long a trip to go back to Cresville to-night." + +"That's a good idea," said the chief. "I think I'll do the same. +Just come along with me and I'll see that you are accommodated with +lodgings. I'll swear you in as my deputies," he said with a laugh, "and +it won't cost you anything. Besides I may need your help." + +Just as the two boats were making ready for the trip down the river +there was a movement on shore. The bushes parted and a roughly dressed +man, with what seemed to be a week's growth of beard on his face, +stepped out. + +"Can any of you gentlemen oblige a poor tired wayfarer with a lift down +this placid stream?" he asked with a bow which took in both parties. + +At the sound of his voice the boys started. They wondered where they +had heard those tones before. + +"Who are you and what do you want?" asked the chief sternly. "They +don't deal very lightly with tramps in these parts. You'd better clear +out. We're police officers." + +"Glad to meet you. I am the Duke of Wellington," said the tramp in airy +tones. + +At that answer the chief gave a start, and then tried to appear as +if nothing had happened. But Jerry who was watching intently, saw an +almost imperceptible sign pass between the chief and the ragged man. + +"Oh, if you're the Duke, I suppose we'll have to accommodate you," the +chief replied. "You can come in my boat if you want to." + +Then, to the no small astonishment of the policemen, the tramp climbed +aboard the _Terror_, which, with a throb of the engine started down +the river. The _Dartaway_ put after her at full speed. + +"Well, I must say we've had plenty of excitement for one spell," +observed Jerry. + +"And there may be more," said Ned. + +"What makes you think so?" + +"Because of that tramp," and Ned indicated the one aboard the _Terror_. +"There's something strange about him. Does he remind you of any one?" + +"There!" exclaimed Jerry. "I was wondering where I had heard that voice +before. He's the tramp who was asleep on the hay barge. I wonder what +he's doing around here, and so friendly with the police." + +"There's something behind all this," observed Ned. "We must keep our +eyes open." + +The boys' craft soon caught up to the police boat which was more +heavily laden, and the two proceeded down the stream toward Northville. +It was after dark when they tied up at a dock, and, making their boat +snug proceeded to follow the lead of Chief Dalton. + +"Is it safe to leave our boat here?" asked Jerry. + +"I guess so," replied the officer. "I'm going to have a man on guard +all night. I guess the thieves won't come back. Come ahead; we'll go to +the hotel and have supper." + +Jerry and Bob walked on ahead with the main body of policemen, but Ned, +who lingered to get from the locker a better coat than the one he was +wearing, the other boys having changed garments before, found himself +close behind the chief and tramp who were walking up from the river +together. + +"Any luck?" Ned heard the chief ask the ragged man in a low voice. + +"I think I've discovered the cave where they hide the stuff," was the +cautious rejoinder. "It's about where--" + +In his eagerness to walk softly and hear what was being said, which +perhaps he had no right to do, Ned stepped on a piece of wood that +broke with a sharp crack. The two men turned suddenly. + +"As I was saying," the tramp spoke suddenly in a loud voice, evidently +for the benefit of any listeners, "I have tramped many weary miles, and +have eaten scarcely anything. I am too ill to work, and I don't know +where I am to sleep to-night." + +The jingling sound of money passing from the chief's hand to that of +the tramp could be heard. + +"Now you'd better clear out of here," said the police officer sternly. +"It isn't a healthy place for tramps. If I catch you loafing around I'm +going to lock you up." + +"You'll never catch me," the tramp said with a laugh as he moved away +in the darkness. "I'll clear out." + +"Odd character," the chief remarked turning back to Ned. "Sometimes I +feel sorry for those fellows. Some of 'em are all right, but luck is +against 'em. Well, I expect you are hungry." + +"Oh I can eat a little," replied Ned, puzzling his brains over the +strange scene he had witnessed. But the chief was evidently not +inclined to talk about it, and Ned did not feel like asking. + +In a little while the whole party was at the hotel, where a meal was +served. Then the boys, having sent telegrams home, stating they were +all well and would be home the following day, went to bed. + +The next day they returned Mr. Johnson's boat and went home. + +For a week after this the boys dug away at their examinations and, +though they were, perhaps, thinking more of what they would do in +vacation than about their studies, they all managed to pass with good +averages. + +"Now for a long cruise down to Lake Cantoga!" exclaimed Jerry on the +afternoon of the last day of school. "I'm going to tie a stone to my +books and anchor 'em out in the middle of the river. When I want 'em +again I hope the fishes will have eaten 'em up!" + +The boys arranged to leave the Tuesday following the last Friday at +school. Bob and Jerry were early down at the boathouse that morning. +Ned had promised to be on hand early but, for some unaccountable reason +was late. + +"I wonder what's keeping him," said Jerry. + +"Here he comes now," spoke Bob, "and he's running as if something had +happened." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE STORE ROBBERY + + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry as Ned came down on the dock, his face +quite pale, and, evidently laboring under some excitement. + +"Store--robbed--last--night!" panted Ned. + +"Whose store?" asked Jerry and Bob together. + +"Father's," replied Ned. "They just discovered it, and I came to tell +you we'd have to delay the trip. They got in last night, and got away +with about three thousand dollars in money and jewelry. About one +thousand was in cash. It's a big loss. Now I've got to go back and help +dad." + +"Who did it?" asked Bob. + +"That's what they'd like to find out, Chunky," said Jerry. "I don't +s'pose the burglars left their cards, with their addresses on, behind +them." + +"Great excitement! Terrible! Awful! Big robbery! 'Bout a million loss! +General alarm sent out! Get the detectives to work! Send for blood +hounds! Notify the sheriff and start a hunt! This is the greatest thing +that's ever happened!" + +The boys turned to see whence the torrent of words proceeded. + +"I might have known it was Andy Rush," said Jerry. "Is there anything +else, Andy? Haven't you forgotten something?" + +"Oh yes! I forgot to tell you. I have a clue to the thieves!" + +"What?" cried all the boys at once. + +"That's what," said Andy, growing more calm as the others grew excited. +"I went over the place as soon as I heard of the robbery, and I got the +clue. I'm going to be a detective some day. You just keep your eye on +me." + +"It's all we can do to keep track of what you are saying," said +Ned, "let alone what you are going to do. But tell us about it. I'm +interested." + +"Let Ned tell us of the robbery first," suggested Bob. + +This was voted a good idea, and Ned related how, when his father's +department store was opened in the morning, it was discovered that +the safe had been blown open, and the money and jewelry stolen. In +addition the thieves had carried off some solid silver tableware, and a +few rolls of valuable silk. + +"How did they get in?" asked Bob. + +"That's the funny part of it," replied Ned. "There's no trace of +anything being forced, not a door or window is disturbed, as far as we +can learn." + +"That's where you're wrong," said Andy calmly. "That's where my clue +comes in. I know how they entered." + +"Then why didn't you tell the police about it?" demanded Ned somewhat +indignantly. + +"Because no one asked me to," answered Andy. "I wanted to tell you, but +I couldn't find you so I came here, as I thought you'd be starting on +the trip." + +"Well, you can tell me now, Andy," remarked Ned. + +"I can explain it better if we go up to the store," Andy answered. "I +want to show you just how it was." + +"We might as well go there," came from Jerry. "We will not undertake +the trip to-day. To-morrow or next day will do as well. Besides, maybe +we can help your father, Ned." + +"I don't want to spoil your fun," interposed Ned. "But I've got to +stay home for a few days anyhow. You could go on without me." + +"We're not going," said Bob stoutly. + +"No indeed," chimed in Jerry. + +The boys talked of nothing but the robbery as they started back towards +Cresville, having locked the boat up. When they got to Mr. Slade's +store they found a big crowd about the place. They elbowed their way +through the throng and were about to enter, when a little man with a +small bunch of whiskers on his chin stopped them. + +"Here, where you boys goin'?" he asked. + +"Inside," answered Ned. + +"I guess not, young man. I'm a deputy constable, sworn in special t' +maintain order an' not to let anyone inside. I'm goin' t' do it, tew, +an' you can bet your bottom dollar on it," and the little man threw +back his coat and displayed a big tin star. + +"Who swore you in?" asked Ned. + +"Chief Dalton, that's who, an' I'll arrest ye, if ye make any more +threatenin' moves." + +"Well, it's my father's store, and these are friends of mine," said +Ned. "We want to go in." + +"Look here!" exclaimed the little deputy excitedly. "Look me in th' +eye, young man," and he pulled down the lower lid of the optic, placing +his face close to Ned's. + +"Looks all right," said Ned, with a smile. + +"Course it does; there nothin' th' matter with that eye. But d'ye see +anythin' green in it?" + +"No," answered Ned. + +"No, I guess not. I cut my eye teeth some time ago. Th' last time I +bought a gold brick was so long ago I've forgotten it. You can't come +it over me with any of your bunco games. I believe ye're part of th' +robber gang!" + +The little deputy seemed so impressed with his sudden idea that he was +for at once putting the four boys under arrest. He was only deterred by +the timely arrival of Chief Dalton, who had heard the disturbance and +come to see what it was about. + +A word from him satisfied the constable, who was one of a number +hastily sworn in when it was found what a crowd had gathered on hearing +news of the robbery, and he let the chums pass. + +"Come ahead boys," said the chief. "This is a bad piece of work." + +"Do you think it has any connection with the Northville robbery?" asked +Jerry. + +"I wouldn't be surprised. But I haven't time to talk. I'm trying to +get a clue to start with, and I can't seem to find any. I will before +night though." + +"Have you found where they got in?" asked Jerry. + +"Not yet," answered the chief. "Have you heard anything, Ned?" + +"Andy here seems to think he has a clue," replied the son of the store +proprietor. "Tell him about it, Andy." + +Andy blushed at the notice he was attracting from the head of the +Cresville police force. + +"It was this way," began Andy, when they had all entered the store, +which was deserted as far as customers went, since Mr. Slade had +ordered it kept closed. "I was one of the first to arrive. In fact I +was an early customer. I wanted to buy a new knife. So I was on hand +when the head clerk discovered the safe had been robbed. As I'm going +to be a detective, I decided I would look for clues. I couldn't find +any around the safe, so, when the clerk ran to the telephone to call +for the police, I wandered through the store. No one noticed me, and I +soon found myself on the top floor. If you'll come with me there I'll +show you what I found," and Andy started toward the elevator. + +"Oh can't you tell us without waiting all that while?" asked Ned who +was growing impatient as it really seemed Andy had discovered something. + +"I can, but I can do it better if I point out to you what I saw," +replied the boy. "Come on." + +They followed him. The elevator carried them to the top floor. No trade +was done there, as it was only a loft used for storing stock or goods +that were out of season. Andy led the way through the half darkness to +the rear. He stopped in front of a window the sill of which was thick +with dust. + +"Look there!" he exclaimed, pointing to something in the soft and +fluffy covering of the sill. It was the print of a man's foot. + +"The mark of the arrow!" exclaimed Ned as he bent over it. "The same +man who stole our boat robbed the store!" + +The party gathered around the window, the chief plainly excited at the +unexpected clue. The window had a large iron shutter on it, and this +was partly closed. The chief swung it open. + +"There's how the thieves got in," said Andy, pointing to a window in +a building which was close to Mr. Slade's store in the rear. In this +half-opened casement a plank could be seen sticking, as if some one +had pulled it part way in and then left it. + +"There's the bridge they came across on," said the chief. "Sure enough, +Andy, you've discovered what I could not. Come on, we'll make positive +of it." + +Down stairs the party hurried, and around the block to the building +which abutted Mr. Slade's place in the rear. The structure contained +stores on the ground floor and apartments for several families above. +The top story was used as a lodge room. There was a hallway at one side +of the store entrance, which gave access to the flats above, and the +door to it, as the chief learned was never locked. + +"They just waited their opportunity, went up to the lodge room, stuck +the plank across, and came in the window," said Mr. Dalton. + +"But the window did not appear to have been forced," said Jerry. + +"They didn't have to force it," replied the chief. "It has no lock on +it." + +Up to the lodge room went the chief and the boys, their entrance +attracting no attention, as the crowd, and most of Cresville's idlers, +were in front of the robbed store. + +"I thought so," the chief said as he came to the door of the lodge +room where it opened from the hall. The portal had been forced. Through +the big apartment they tramped, and to the rear where there were +dressing and store rooms, seldom used. + +"Look!" cried Andy, pointing to the dust covered floor. "The mark of +the arrow!" + +There, plainly to be seen in the particles of dirt were the footsteps +of the mysterious man who had escaped the police in the motor boat +chase. The marks were all over, showing that the one who made them had +tramped about the room making his arrangements to rob the department +store. + +"There was some one with him," the chief said. + +"How can you tell?" asked Ned. + +For answer the police official pointed to another series of footprints +in the dust. They were smaller than those with the arrow mark, and bore +no distinguishing imprint. + +The board, a plank about ten feet long, had been dragged from a store +room as the marks in the dust showed. It had been drawn back only part +way, probably because the thieves had been in too much of a hurry to +leave after securing their booty. + +Following the chief the boys descended the stairs from the lodge room. +The recent developments put a new light on the matter, though the boys +did not see how they could lead to the detection of the thieves. + +"I must have a talk with some of the tenants of this place," the chief +remarked. + +They had reached the street by this time, and the boys were about to +leave. At that instant, Mr. Nixon, Noddy's father came running up to +the head of the police force. + +"I want your help!" Mr. Nixon exclaimed. + +"What's the matter?" asked the chief. + +"Noddy has been kidnapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OFF TO THE LAKE + + +"Kidnapped?" the chief exclaimed. + +"Yes! Look here!" spoke Mr. Nixon, his hands trembling with excitement +as he extended a piece of paper to the chief. "Noddy did not come home +all night. This morning I found this in his room. It is terrible. You +must help me find him." + +The chief read aloud what was written on the paper: + + "We have taken your son away. If you want his return say + nothing but leave $1,000 under the old oak tree on the river + bank Friday night. + + "_The River Pirates._" + +"What do you think of that?" asked Mr. Nixon, who was much excited. + +"Um," spoke the chief non-committally. "It's certainly very strange, +Mr. Nixon. Noddy is rather a large size to kidnap, but then you can't +tell about criminals now. If you'll leave this with me I'll put some +of my men right to work on it. I've got my own hands full with this +robbery." + +"Cresville certainly is coming into public notice," remarked Jerry in a +low tone to Bob. "First it's a robbery, then Noddy Nixon disappears." + +"Kidnapped you mean," interposed Bob. + +"No, I don't," said Jerry. "Noddy is no more stolen away than I am." + +By this time the chief had walked off down the street and Mr. Nixon +went with him. The boys remained together. + +"But what in the world--" began Bob, when Jerry stopped him with a +wink, and made a slight motion of his head toward Andy. He need have +no concern about Andy, as it developed, for that youth, all afire to +continue his detective work, made a hasty excuse to the motor boys and +hurried off down the street after the chief. + +"What's that you and Chunky were saying about Noddy?" asked Ned, who +had not been listening very closely to what his friends were talking +about. + +"Jerry says Noddy was never kidnapped," spoke Bob. + +"I don't believe he was," put in Jerry. "I happened to get a glimpse of +the note Mr. Nixon had. It was partly printed and partly written, but +I'm a Dutchman if some of the handwriting wasn't Noddy's." + +"How do you happen to be so familiar with his handwriting?" asked Ned. + +"I have a couple of specimens," replied Jerry. He drew from his pocket +some slips of paper. "One is that letter he wrote to us some time ago," +said Jerry, "when he accused us of being responsible for his running +away from home the time he rode off in his father's auto. The other is +that bill he gave us for the fifteen dollars damage to the rowboat. I +picked it up after Ned threw it at Noddy that Sunday." + +"And you think the writing in the kidnapping note is like some of +this?" asked Ned. + +"I'm sure of it," went on Jerry. "Besides, who would kidnap Noddy? It's +true, his father is wealthy, and able to pay a ransom, but don't you +suppose Noddy would raise a cry if some one tried to walk off with him?" + +"Maybe he did, but he might have been all alone, and no one heard him," +suggested Bob. + +"Noddy doesn't go out very much alone," said Jerry. "He has Bill Berry +or some other crony of his with him. Of course I'm only guessing +at it, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find out that Noddy's +disappearance had some connection with this robbery." + +"You don't mean to say you think Noddy robbed my father's store?" asked +Ned. + +"Oh no, not quite that," said Jerry. + +"What then?" + +"Well, I think Noddy has gotten in with a bad gang. Some of them may +have done this robbery, and in order to get him out of the way, for +fear he might disclose something, they have arranged this kidnapping +hoax. He may be a sort of captive, but he is among friends, I'm sure of +that." + +"Why don't you tell Chief Dalton this?" asked Bob. + +"And get laughed at for my pains," said Jerry. "I guess not. The chief +has his hands full. Perhaps he doesn't believe Noddy is kidnapped, but +he will not say so. Mr. Nixon is one of the biggest men in town, and +the chief wants to please him. So he'll naturally fall in with Mr. +Nixon's notions, and try to pretend he believes Noddy is a captive." + +"Then what are we to do?" asked Chunky, to whom the events of the last +few hours came in bewildering rapidity. + +"I think the best thing for us to do is to go camping just as we +planned," said Jerry. "I don't believe we can do much here, do you Ned?" + +"No, I don't s'pose we can," replied that youth. "I did want to help +dad, but as long as the stuff is gone, and there is some clue to the +thieves, I don't see that I can do any more. I'm for going to camp." + +"Well, let's go then," said Bob. "I'm anxious to get out in the woods +where I'll have an appetite." + +"Good land! If you get up any more of an appetite than you have now, +Chunky," said Ned, "I don't know what we'll do with you. Can't you do +something for it? Take Anti-Fat or Padded Pellets for Peculiar People +or something that's advertised in the backs of magazines. It's terrible +to have such an appetite as you have." + +"I guess you'd think so, sometimes," remarked Bob, as he looked at his +watch and noted with satisfaction that it was nearly dinner time. + +"Come on down to my house for lunch!" exclaimed Ned, divining Bob's +thoughts. "We can talk matters over with dad, and see if it's all right +to go." + +Mr. Slade saw no objection to the boys making the trip. His loss, while +a heavy one, did not cripple him, as he was a rich man. He thanked the +boys for their thoughtfulness in offering to give up their pleasure +trip to help him, but said he did not see there was anything they could +do. + +"I guess the police will find the robbers if it's possible," he added. +"At the same time, if you run across any clues on the lake you can let +us know. It seems to be the belief of the officials that the robbers +came and went in a boat. It might have been a power or a sail boat. If +it happens to come on the lake with my valuables and goods in, if you +get them I'll give you a reward," and he laughed for the first time +that day. + +"We may claim that reward," said Jerry. + +The boys made an early start the next morning and, just as it was +getting dusk they made a turn in the broadening river, and, saw spread +out before them a big sheet of water. + +Lake Cantoga was about fifteen miles long and nine wide. There were +several small islands in it, and these, as well as the shores were +favorite spots for camping parties. The boys decided to pick out one of +the islands, but, as it was getting dark, they could not see which one +had not been selected by other campers. + +"I think we had better tie up along shore to-night," said Jerry, as he +steered the boat out upon the lake. "We can look about better in the +morning." + +"Suits me," said Bob, and Ned agreed. + +As the _Dartaway_ skimmed out from the shadows of the shore she +was seen by the owners of other power boats, and greeted with the +regulation three whistles, to which Jerry replied. + +"Guess they're glad to see us," he remarked. "I had no idea there were +so many here this year. Maybe we'll get a race." + +"That will be bully sport," said Bob. + +"Going to camp here?" called the steersman of one boat, which, as the +boys could see, was evidently built for racing, as there was little +room for anything but the engine. + +"We figure on staying a week or so," replied Jerry. + +"Glad of it," replied the stranger. "My name's Smith, just plain John +Smith. I'm camping with some friends over on Coon's Island. Come over +and see us when you get settled." + +"Thanks," answered Jerry. "Are there any other good islands to camp on?" + +"There's Deer Island, next to ours," replied Mr. Smith. "It's a nice +place, and hasn't been taken yet this year. Why don't you come there?" + +"Maybe we will," replied Jerry. "We're going to tie up along shore for +to-night." + +"Be pleased to have you put up at my shack," said the owner of the +racing boat. "Got lots of room." + +"Thank you, we'll rough it for to-night," said Jerry. "We'll look you +up to-morrow." + +"Well, then, good-night," called Mr. Smith, and he opened up his boat +and shot away in a smother of foam. "Hope you go in the races," he +called back, but he was too far away then to be answered. + +"Let's have supper," broke in Bob. "We can talk about racing to-morrow." + +Jerry sent the boat under some overhanging trees. She was made fast +with bow and stern lines, and then the boys, having lighted several +lanterns, and the big search lamp, prepared supper. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE RACE + + +The meal was eaten with appetites such as only come from perfect health +and a life in the open. The boys filled themselves with no fear of +future consequences, and then, having let down the side curtains, and +seeing that all was snug, they pulled out the bunks and went to sleep. + +They arose about nine o'clock and, after a bath donned their old +clothes, for they anticipated rough work in making camp, and prepared +breakfast. + +"Shall we use lake water or get some from a spring for coffee?" asked +Ned. + +"Better hunt for a spring," suggested Jerry. "There's a house up +there," and he pointed to one quite a way from the river. "Maybe you +can get some there." + +Ned took a pail and jumped to the bank. As he did so he uttered a cry. + +"Sprain your ankle?" asked Jerry. + +"No, but look here!" exclaimed Ned. + +In an instant Jerry was at his side. Ned pointed to the ground close +to a big tree to which the bow line of the _Dartaway_ was fastened. + +There, in the soil was the imprint of a foot, and in the center of it +was the mark of an arrow worked in hob nails. + +"The man who robbed my father's store!" exclaimed Ned. + +"Or one with the same kind of shoes," added Jerry. + +"There would hardly be two alike," spoke Ned. "I'm sure it's the same +one." + +"How can you be?" asked Jerry. + +"Because I noticed that in the prints in the dust on the window +sill," replied Ned, "that there was a nail missing from the shaft of +the arrow. See, there is a nail out in this one," and he showed his +companion that this was so. + +Jerry bent closer to the print. + +"You're right!" he said. "This mystery is deepening. But the prints +might have been there for some time." + +"No," said Ned. "It rained after we went to bed last night. Not much, +but a shower sufficient to make mud. That print was made after the +rain." + +"Then the man was spying on us," said Jerry. + +"He certainly was around here," put in Bob, who had come ashore. "Say, +let's send for Chief Dalton." + +"Maybe we can do a little detective work ourselves," suggested Ned. + +"I think it would be better to let the chief know the man may be in +this neighborhood," spoke Jerry. "Probably the information will not +amount to anything, but if something should happen they could not blame +us for keeping still." + +"Are you going back to Cresville?" asked Bob. + +"No, I think it will do to drop him a note," said Jerry. "We can run to +some post-office after breakfast." + +The meal was hurried along and then, Jerry having written a note +to Chief Dalton, the lines were cast off and the boat started for +Eastport, a little village about five miles off, where, as the boys +learned from the house where they got the water, they could post +letters. + +They all went ashore at the post-office, which was near the edge of the +lake. Inside they found quite a large crowd. + +"Mail must come in early," said Ned, for it was hardly ten o'clock. + +But it was not the arrival of the mail which had attracted the throng. +Instead they were all staring at a big poster on the wall. On top the +boys saw in big letters: + +REWARD! + +Underneath was a lot of reading matter, which, as the boys hastily +perused it, they saw was an account of the robbery of Mr. Slade's +store, and a description of Noddy, who, it was stated, had been +kidnapped by a gang of river thieves. A reward of $500 was offered for +the arrest and conviction of the thieves, while Mr. Nixon offered to +pay a like sum for the return of his son. The posters were signed by +Chief Dalton. + +"Well, things are certainly doing back in Cresville," remarked Ned, as +Jerry posted the letter. "Mr. Nixon still thinks Noddy was stolen away." + +"Wouldn't it be fun if we could land the thieves and Noddy too," said +Bob. "That would be a thousand dollars." + +"I guess if we landed the thieves Noddy would not be far off," spoke +Jerry in a low tone. "I don't believe he would rob the store, but I'm +afraid he's gotten in with a bad gang that would. Hello, here's another +notice." + +There was one on the opposite wall. It was not so large as the other, +and was an announcement that the following Saturday there would be a +regatta at the lake, in which there would be rowing, sailing, swimming +and motor boat races. + +"What's the matter with us entering?" asked Bob. + +"I guess we could," commented Jerry. "I see our friend John Smith is in +charge. We can probably find out all particulars from him. But come on, +we'd better be getting to the island or we'll find it taken." + +They learned from the postmaster how to get to Deer Island, and, +purchasing a few supplies, and some butter, which they had neglected to +bring along, they set out. + +Deer Island was about an hour's run from the village of Eastport, and +as they neared it they saw the boat they had met the evening before +cruising about. + +"_Dartaway_ ahoy!" exclaimed Mr. Smith, who, as the boys could now see, +was a man about twenty-five years old. + +"On board the _Tortoise_!" called back Jerry, reading the name of Mr. +Smith's craft on the bow. + +"I was wondering if you'd show up," went on Mr. Smith. "That's a nice +boat you got there. Can she go?" + +"Well, we think so," replied Jerry modestly. + +"Come on out and have a brush," invited Mr. Smith, running up along +side. The boys saw his craft was a powerful six cylindered one. + +"Thank you, but I guess we'd better get our camp in shape first," spoke +Jerry. "Afterward why perhaps we can have a race." + +"Tell you what, you're just in time for the regatta," went on Mr. +Smith. "I'm in charge of the motor boat contests. Let me enter you. The +prize is a silver cup." + +"Oh I guess you can put us down all right," went on Ned. + +"What are the names?" asked Mr. Smith, slowing down his craft and +producing paper and pencil. + +Ned gave the names of his friends and his own, and Mr. Smith jotted +them down. "I'll send you an entry blank this afternoon," he said, +"and you can fill it up. I'll show you over the course whenever you +like. Good-bye, I've got to run over for the mail," and, opening +the throttle, he sent his boat ahead in a smother of foam while the +cylinders fairly thundered with the explosions. + +"Guess we wouldn't have much chance with him in the race," observed Bob. + +"Oh I don't know," Jerry said. "The _Dartaway_ is a pretty fast boat. +I'll not give up until we're beaten." + +The boys found Deer Island a pleasant place to camp. There were no +parties on it yet, though it was big enough for several. There was a +natural harbor, in a little cove, and some one had built a small dock, +and a boathouse, with merely a roof and no sides, where the _Dartaway_ +could be kept. + +"Say, this is all right," commented Ned. "This is going to be jolly +sport." + +The boys spent a busy morning. They set up the tent, made up the cots, +and took the gasolene stove ashore, as they decided to do their cooking +on land rather than in the boat, where quarters were not any too large. +This done they found they had their appetites with them, and proceeded +to make a meal off canned stuff. + +In the afternoon Mr. Smith came over with the entry blanks, which the +boys signed. Then, at their new friend's suggestion, they followed him +over the course, a triangular one of three miles to each leg. Mr. Smith +showed them where the stake buoys were, and told them there was a clear +course, and plenty of water all around. + +The day of the regatta could not have been better had it been made to +order. There was enough of a breeze to make sailing a pleasure, but +not enough to make the water rough. One after another the different +events were run off until it came time for the motor boat contest. + +There were ten craft entered, and a pretty sight they made as they came +up to the starting line. Some of the boats were small and were given +a time allowance, while the larger ones were handicapped. Mr. Smith's +boat, having the reputation, as the boys learned, of being the fastest +on the lake was held back ten minutes. The _Dartaway_ with Jerry +steering was placed on "scratchy" time, that is starting off with the +five boats judged to be about on an even footing as regarded speed. + +At the signal off went the boats having a time allowance. Then the +five, including the _Dartaway_, got off together. Behind it came three +rated higher than the Cresville boys' craft, and then the _Giant_, a +big boat, but with a smaller engine than the _Tortoise's_. Last came +Mr. Smith's craft, and what a noise she made when her captain, who, +with two friends was running her, threw in the high speed gear. + +The race was on. Several power boats that had not entered followed the +contestants. The Judge's boat was also going part way over the course. +At the two outer buoys were stationed markers to see that the boats +kept fairly to the course. + +For the first few minutes the boys were so excited that they did not +know whether they had a chance to win or not. They kept pace with the +five boats in the company of which they started. Jerry called to Bob +and Ned to oil the engine more, and then he put on a little additional +speed. + +The _Dartaway_ seemed to leap forward, and left the four boats behind. +Seeing this their owners increased their speeds, but Jerry, once he +found his craft was behaving finely, shoved the lever over another +notch or two, and soon was two lengths ahead of the nearest of the four. + +"Now to overhaul some of those ahead," spoke Bob. + +"I'm afraid we can't," remarked Ned. + +But the boys found they were slowly but surely coming up to the +leaders. Gradually they lessened the space between them until the +_Dartaway_ was in line with the first boat that got away. + +But during this time the _Giant_ and _Tortoise_ had not been idle. With +their powerful engines they were slowly cutting down the _Dartaway's_ +lead. For a while the two larger craft were in line, but the _Giant_, +finding the load too much for her motors, dropped slowly to the rear. + +Not so the _Tortoise_. In a smother of foam she came on, the explosions +roaring like a blast furnace. + +"He's going to catch us," shouted Ned, for one had to yell to be heard +above the roar of the _Dartaway's_ engine which had been cut off from +the muffler to give a little more power. + +"The race isn't over yet," called back Jerry, shoving the levers over +almost to the last notch. + +Shortly after the first buoy had been passed it became evident that +the struggle for the winning place was between the _Dartaway_ and +the _Tortoise_. The others had either given up or were racing among +themselves for third and fourth prizes. + +Rounding the second buoy the _Tortoise_ passed the _Dartaway_. It was +to have been expected, but the boys felt none the less chagrined. +They had hoped to win, but it was a big thing to go up against a six +cylindered craft with a four. + +But Jerry had not given up yet. He had the motor running at top speed +now. The spark had been advanced to the last notch, and the cylinders +were taking all the gasolene they could use and not choke. Slowly but +surely the _Tortoise_ drew away. + +Suddenly there seemed to be some commotion on board the leading boat. +The two friends of Mr. Smith were seen to be busy over the motor. + +"Hark!" cried Jerry. "One of his cylinders is missing! We have a chance +now." + +Sure enough the explosions from the _Tortoise_ were not so regular as +they had been. One of the cylinders had become clogged, and with five +going the engine worked unevenly. + +"I think we can beat him!" exclaimed Jerry grimly. He was not rejoicing +over a contestant's misfortune, but it is on such mishaps as this that +motor boat and automobile races are won and lost. + +Now the _Dartaway_ was creeping up on her rival. True it was but a slow +advance, for there were still five cylinders in the _Tortoise_ against +her four. But the boys' craft was doing nobly, and their hearts beat +high with hope. + +Mr. Smith was not going to give up without a struggle. His two +companions worked like Trojans over the silent cylinder, but could not +get it to respond. + +Then to the boys' delight they found themselves on even terms with +the redoubtable _Tortoise_. They were on the home stretch with less +than a mile to go. Already they could hear the shouts, the cries and +the applause of the watching throngs, with which mingled the shrill +whistles of steam and motor boats. + +Three minutes later the _Dartaway_ had regained the lead she had at the +start, and thirty seconds later had increased it. With two big waves +rolling away on either side of her cut-water she forged ahead. Foot +by foot she approached the stake boat. With one last look back, which +showed him the _Tortoise_ five lengths to the rear, Jerry with a final +turn of the wheel to clear the judges' boat safely, sent the _Dartaway_ +over the line a winner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE COLLISION + + +What shouting and cheers greeted the motor boys as they slowed up +their craft! The din was deafening, augmented as it was by the shrill +whistles. The _Tortoise_, too, was received with an ovation as she came +over the line second, but it was easy to see the victory of the smaller +boat was popular. + +"Congratulations, boys!" called Mr. Smith as he run his craft +alongside. "You beat me fair and square." + +He did not refer to the fact that one of his cylinders went out of +commission, but for which fact he undoubtedly would have won. The boys +appreciated this. + +The boys accepted their victory modestly, and when they were sent for +to go aboard the judges' boat and get the prize Bob was for backing +out, while neither Ned nor Jerry felt much like going through the +ceremony. + +"Tell 'em to send it over," suggested Bob. + +"That would hardly look nice," replied Jerry. "Come on, let's all go +together. It will soon be over. Who'd have thought we could have butted +into the lime-light so soon?" + +Having received the cup and stowed it safely away Jerry was about to +steer the _Dartaway_ back to Deer Island when he was hailed by Mr. +Smith. + +"Oh I say, you're not going away, are you?" asked the skipper of the +_Tortoise_. + +"I think we'd better be getting back," replied Jerry. "We have to +straighten out the camp." + +"Nonsense," said Mr. Smith. "The fun's not half over. Why there's no +end of good things to eat over there. The committee made arrangements +to dine all contestants, and I'm sure you boys are the chief ones after +the handy way in which you won that race. Really now, you must stop a +bit with us." + +"I guess we'd better," said Bob, in a whisper. "It wouldn't be polite +to refuse." + +"You were willing enough when it came to sliding out of the cup +proposition," said Jerry, "but now, when there's something to eat, +you're right on the job, Chunky." + +"Guess we might as well," put in Ned. "I could dally with a bit of +chicken myself." + +"Well, far be it from me to stand in the way," said Jerry, and, +throwing the wheel around he followed the _Tortoise_, which, with the +other boats, was making toward shore. + +In the grove the boys found Mr. Smith had not exaggerated matters when +he said there "was no end of good things to eat." Large tables had been +spread under the trees and waiters were flying here and there. The boys +were a bit confused by all the excitement, but Mr. Smith soon found +them, and introducing them to some of his friends, got places for them +at one of the best tables. + +"I guess you boys will have plenty of chances to race while you're +here," said Mr. Smith. "I hear a number of skippers want to try issues +with you." + +"Well, they'll find us ready," said Jerry. "We're rather new at the +game, but we'll do our best." + +"That's the way to talk," cried Mr. Smith. "Play the game to the limit, +no matter what it is. I'd like another brush myself. Your boat can +certainly go." + +"I think you could beat us," said Jerry frankly. "If you hadn't had +that accident you would have won." + +But now the dinner was almost over. Ice cream was being served, and +when every one had eaten their fill, there arose from the head table +where the regatta committee sat a cry of: + +"Speeches! Speeches!" + +Then came applause and cheers. The chairman of the committee arose and, +looking down toward where the motor boys were sitting, began: + +"I'm sure it would give us all pleasure to hear a few words from the +winners of the motor boat race. They are newcomers to our midst, and, +as such we welcome them." + +"Hear! Hear!" cried the crowd. "Speech! Speech!" + +For a moment the boys felt a sort of cold chill go down their backs. It +was the first time they had been placed in such a position. Bob looked +at Ned, Ned looked at Jerry, and Jerry glanced down at Bob. + +"Say something, Jerry!" whispered Ned. + +"Yes; go ahead; talk!" exclaimed Bob. + +"Wait until I get you both back to camp!" muttered Jerry, as he pushed +back his chair and arose. + +His heart was beating fast and there was a roaring in his ears. He was +greatly embarrassed, but he felt he must say something to show that he +appreciated the honor paid him and his comrades. + +"I'm sure my friends and I are deeply sensible of this welcome," he +said. "We didn't expect to win the race, though we did our best. +We're very glad to be here among you, and we hope to continue the +acquaintances we have made. And I want to say that if one of Mr. +Smith's cylinders--I mean if one of Mr. Cylinder's smith--er--that is +if the boat Mr. Smith cylinders--I mean owns--if his cylinder--er--that +is if his boat's culander--cylinder--hadn't cracked Mr. Smith's head--I +would say if the cylinder--" + +"What he means," said Mr. Smith gallantly coming to the relief of poor +Jerry, "is that if I hadn't had the misfortune to crack the forward +cylinder I might not have been beaten so badly. But I want to say +that that's all nonsense. It was a fair race, and won fairly, and the +_Dartaway_ did it. So I ask you to join with me in giving three cheers +for the owners." + +The cheers were given with a will, and the boys felt the blushes coming +to their cheeks. Altogether it was a jolly time, and one the lads never +forgot. + +"We didn't make any mistake coming here," said Jerry, who had taken his +place at the wheel as they started for their camp. "It's almost as +much fun as automobiling in Mexico or crossing the plains." + +The boys were proceeding rather slowly as they had not yet familiarized +themselves with the lake and their bearings, and they did not want to +run into anything. + +For a while the _Dartaway_ skimmed along, there being no other craft +near. The water lapped the sides and broke away in a ripple of silver +waves. + +Suddenly Jerry threw out the gear clutch, and began spinning the wheel +around. At the same instant Bob and Ned, who had been looking to the +rear, turned around and saw a big black shape in front of them. + +"Ahoy there! Schooner ahoy!" called Jerry. "What do you mean by +cruising about without a light. You've no right to do that. Look out +there. You'll foul us!" + +The sound of feet running about on a deck could be heard. Then there +came a moment of silence followed by a sudden jar and a grinding crash. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE + + +The shock threw the _Dartaway_ back. Jerry had already turned off the +power, and was slowing down for the reverse when the smash came. The +motor boat had fairly poked her nose into the side of the schooner. + +"Are we damaged?" cried Ned. + +"I guess not," replied Jerry, seizing one of the oil lanterns and +holding it over the side of the bow. He could see a big dent in the +wooden hull of the motor boat, and a larger one in the schooner. The +two boats were now drifting apart. + +Aboard the schooner there was much confusion. Several persons seemed to +be talking at once. Lights flashed here and there. + +"Look out, I'm going to back away," said Jerry to Bob and Ned. "Is it +all clear to the rear?" + +He swung the search lantern so that the beams cut a path of light aft. + +"Nothing in the road," sung out Ned. + +Slowly the _Dartaway_ separated from the side of the schooner. As she +did so the stern of the larger vessel swung over toward the motor boat, +and Bob, who was watching it gave a sudden cry. + +"What's the matter? Is she going to hit us again?" called Jerry, +slowing up the engine. + +"No!" cried Bob. Then lowering his voice and crawling to where Jerry +stood he whispered: + +"This boat has the name of _Bluebird_ on her stern!" + +At the same instant there came floating over the water the sound of a +voice from some one aboard the larger craft. + +"We're sinking! Quick Bill! Get the boat over and find me a life +preserver. I don't want to drown!" + +At the sound of the mysterious voice, coming so plainly amid the +stillness that followed the crash the boys were startled. + +"Doesn't that sound just like--" began Bob. + +"Hush!" cautioned Jerry in a whisper. "Wait a while before you talk." + +"I tell you we're sinking!" the voice went on. "They rammed a hole +clear through us. They did it on purpose! They want to capture me!" + +"Keep quiet, you numbskull!" the boys heard some one exclaim in reply. +"You'll be caught quick enough if you don't keep still. Do you want +to give the whole thing away? Get below before they flash that search +light on the deck and see who you are!" + +Silence ensued, broken only by the sound of some one moving about on +the deck of the schooner. + +"Flash the light on 'em!" called Ned. + +Jerry swung the big gas lamp around on its pivot, and the blinding +white glare illuminated the schooner. The only person to be seen on +deck was a man at the helm, and, by the beams the boys could see he was +roughly dressed. + +For an instant the steersman stood plainly revealed in the beams. He +wore nothing on his head, but, as soon as the glare set him out from +the darkness he caught up from the rail a slouch hat which he pulled +over his eyes, screening the upper part of his face. + +"What's the matter with you?" demanded Jerry with a pretense of anger, +as he wanted to hear the man's reply. "Couldn't you see our boat?" + +"If I could have d'ye s'pose I'd a stood here an' let ye run int' me?" +the man asked in answer. "Them gasolene boats is gittin' too dangerous. +I'll have th' law on ye for this." + +"What about the law requiring sailing boats to carry lights at night?" +asked Jerry. "I guess if there's going to be any suing done we can do +our share." + +The steersman made no answer. The wind freshened just then, and the +schooner gathered way. The helmsman put her about, and she heeled over +as the breeze came in powerful gusts. + +While the after part of the sailing vessel was still in the zone of the +search light the boys observed a second figure aboard. It came up the +companionway leading down into a small cabin. + +"Git down there!" the steersman exclaimed. "They'll see you!" + +The figure disappeared suddenly. The boys, seeing it would be no +further use to argue with the surly skipper, put their boat on her +course and resumed the trip to the island. They found beyond a slight +loosening of the engine, due to the shock, no damage had resulted. + +"Well, I think we ran into something that time," remarked Ned. + +"Two things I would say," put in Jerry. "If that mysterious voice, the +steersman tried to hush, wasn't that of Noddy Nixon's I'll eat my hat." + +"I was just going to say the same thing," added Bob. "I was sure I +recognized it." + +"Then he isn't kidnapped at all," said Ned. + +"I never believed he was," came from Jerry. + +"I wonder who the other person was," said Bob. + +"I have an idea it was Bill Berry," said Jerry. + +"It didn't sound like his voice," interposed Ned. + +"If you noticed," went on Jerry, "he talked with two voices. When he +spoke to Noddy his tones and words were much different than when he +addressed us and threatened to have the law on us. I'm sure it was Bill +Berry." + +"Then those two are up to some mischief, I'll bet," ventured Ned. +"There must be some game afoot when Noddy lets it be thought he is +kidnapped, and when we find him away off here in a schooner." + +"There is," spoke Jerry. "It's the same game that began with the +reference to something 'blue' that Bill Berry made that day. It's +the same game that we nearly discovered when we almost ran into the +_Bluebird_, and now we have the same schooner away down here on the +lake and we nearly sink in consequence of hitting her, or of her +hitting us, for I believe they got in the way on purpose." + +"But what is the game?" asked Bob. + +"That's what's puzzling me," replied Jerry. "I'm inclined to think that +the gang Chief Dalton is after will be found to have some connection +with this vessel, and while I have only a mere suspicion of it, I +believe the robbery of Mr. Slade's store is--" + +"Look out there! You're going to hit me! Keep to the left!" exclaimed +an excited voice. + +Jerry rapidly spun the wheel around and the _Dartaway_ veered to one +side with a swish of water, just grazing a rowboat with a man in it, +that loomed up dead ahead. + +"Almost had me that time," said the rower pleasantly as the _Dartaway_ +slowed up. "It was my fault though, I ought to have had a light." + +His frank admission of his error, and his failure to abuse the boys for +nearly colliding with him, as most rowers would have done under the +circumstances, made the boys feel at ease. + +"Sorry we caused you such a fright," said Jerry. "Can we give you a +tow?" + +He swung the search light about to illuminate the rowboat. As he did +so he gave an exclamation of astonishment. The rower was none other +than the ragged tramp who had been rescued from the hay barge, and who +had been given a ride in the _Terror_ following the unsuccessful chase +after the motor boat thieves. He recognized the boys at once. + +"Oh it's you, my young preservers!" the tramp said. "Well, we seem +fated to meet at odd moments. First you save my life, and then you +nearly take it from me. Well, it evens matters up." + +"Can we tow you anywhere?" asked Jerry again. + +"Thanks, noble sir," replied the tramp with the same assumed grand air +he had used when talking to Chief Dalton. "I fain would dine, and if +you can take me to some palace where the beds are not too hard, and +where I could have a broiled fowl, or a bit of planked whale, with a +sip or two of ambrosial nectar, I would forever call you blessed." + +"Do you mean you're hungry?" asked Bob, who had a fellow feeling for +all starved persons. + +"As the proverbial bear," answered the tramp. "You haven't a stray +cracker about your person, have you?" + +"No, but I've got a couple of ham sandwiches," said Bob. + +"Well if you're not at it again, Chunky," said Jerry. "Where'd you get +'em?" + +"I put 'em in my pocket at the feed this afternoon," replied Bob, +taking the sandwiches out and passing them to the tramp, whose boat +was now alongside. "I thought they'd come in handy." + +"As indeed they do," the ragged man put in, munching away at the bread +and meat with right good appetite. "I thank you most heartily." + +"If you care to come to our camp we can give you something more and a +little coffee," said Jerry. "You could also sleep under shelter. We +have a tent ashore you can use and we can sleep on board the boat." + +"If it would not discommode you, I would be glad of the opportunity," +the tramp said, dropping his assumed manner and speaking sincerely. "I +was about to spend the night in the woods," he went on, "but I much +prefer shelter. I have a mission here, and while I am on it I have to +rough it at times. But I am almost finished." + +"Will you come aboard, or shall we tow you?" asked Ned. + +"Perhaps it would be as well to tow me," replied the tramp. "I have +some things in my boat I would not like to lose." + +The tow line was soon made fast to the _Dartaway_, and the boys resumed +their trip which had twice been interrupted by accidents. They reached +the island in safety, and soon were preparing some coffee and a light +supper. The tramp fastened his boat to a tree that projected over the +water, and, then sat at the rough table the boys had constructed under +a canvas awning. + +"I don't believe I have been presented to you gentlemen," said the +tramp, as the night dinner was about to begin. Jerry laughing, +introduced himself and his chums. + +"Are you Aaron Slade's son?" asked the tramp excitedly, as Ned's name +was mentioned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A QUEER MESSAGE + + +"Aaron Slade is my father," replied Ned, wondering what object the +tramp could have in asking. + +"The one who was recently robbed?" + +"The same." + +"Well if this isn't--" began the tramp more excited than before. "I +must--no I must not. Pray excuse me," he went on, with an assumption of +his former grand air, "I must not refer to that. It escaped me before I +was aware of it. Pay no attention to what I said. I was going to tell +you something, but the time is not yet ripe. Now let's fall to, for I'm +still imitating the bear in the predilection of my appetite," and he +attacked the food with every evidence that he was speaking the truth. + +The boys looked at each other in surprise. Ned, in particular, wondered +what the tramp meant by starting as if he intended to tell some secret +and then stopping. Seeing that their guest was not observing him, Jerry +made a gesture that indicated the tramp might not be altogether right +in his head. In this view Bob and Ned coincided. + +They were not alarmed, however, as the man did not seem to be +dangerous. He was too busy eating to talk, and the boys soon forgot +their curiosity in making away with the food, for the trip across the +lake had given them all appetites. + +It was arranged that the tramp should sleep in the shelter tent, +while the boys made use of the bunks on board the boat. It was nearly +midnight before they turned in, and the motor boys, at least, slept +soundly until morning. + +As for the tramp he may have rested well, but at any rate he was not a +late sleeper, for, when the boys crawled out of their comfortable beds +for a plunge into the lake they found he had built a fire on shore and +was boiling their tea kettle over it. + +"That's very good of you, but you needn't have gone to that trouble," +said Jerry. "We have a gasolene stove." + +"Tut, tut!" exclaimed the ragged man. "Water for coffee should always +be boiled over an open fire. It has more flavor." + +Thinking this was only one of the tramp's odd conceits the boys did not +argue further with him. They took their bath, their odd guest meanwhile +making coffee. + +"If you'll tell me where the bacon and other things are I'll finish +getting this meal," he called to them where they were splashing in the +lake. + +"Shall we let him?" asked Jerry of his chums in a low voice. + +"Guess he won't poison the stuff," said Bob. "Besides it will be ready +while we are dressing and we'll not have to wait." + +Accordingly Jerry called out directions how to find the victuals, and +soon the savory smell of sizzling bacon and frying eggs was wafted over +the water. They had a breakfast fit for a king, and complimented the +tramp on his skill. + +A little later the tramp proposed that the boys take his rowboat and +go fishing on the other side of the island. They were doubtful about +leaving him in charge of the camp. + +"I see you're a little suspicious of me," the tramp said. "Well I don't +blame you. However to show you that I'm all right read that." + +He held out a slip of paper, on which was written: + + "This man can be trusted. Henry Dalton, Chief of Police, + Cresville, Mass." + +"If the chief says you're all right, I guess that's enough for us," +spoke Jerry, as he handed the paper back. "We'll take a day off and +go fishing. Don't let any one come bothering around our camp. We have +reason to believe an enemy of ours is on this lake. He would do us some +harm if he could." + +"There are enemies of mine, also," said the tramp. "But have no fear. +I'll look after things." + +Getting some bait and fishing tackle the boys started off in the +tramp's rowboat. They did not take any lunch, as they planned coming +back at noon. + +"Do you think it's all right to trust him?" asked Ned. + +"I'm sure it is," replied Jerry. "That note from the chief was genuine. +I know his writing, and the paper was the same as the chief uses in his +private office. I got a permit once from him to carry a revolver. You +remember, when we made our first auto trip." + +Satisfied that their belongings had been left in good hands, and +were safe from any chance intrusion from Noddy Nixon or his cronies, +the boys put in an enjoyable morning fishing. They made several good +catches, and when the sun indicated that it was nearly noon, they rowed +around the island to camp. + +"I hope he has a good fire going so we can cook some of these fish," +observed Bob. + +"I guess he will be ready for us," said Ned. "He seems to be a willing +worker." + +Sure enough, when the boys rowed to shore they found their odd guest +had built a fine fire in an improvised oven, and was all ready to +proceed with cooking the fish. It was the best meal the boys had eaten +since coming to camp, and they had the tramp to thank for the major +part of it. The ragged man proved he had a better appetite even than +Chunky, which is saying a great deal. The fish were done to a turn, and +the bacon gravy gave them a most excellent flavor. + +So heartily did all eat that they were too lazy to do anything but +lounge around after dinner. They stretched out under the trees and +before they knew it the boys had dozed off. + +Jerry was the first to awaken. It was about three o'clock when he sat +up, rubbing his eyes, and, for a moment wondering where he was. Then he +saw the lake through the trees and remembered. He looked around and saw +Bob and Ned still stretched out on the sward. The tramp was nowhere in +sight. + +"I wonder if he's gone fishing," thought Jerry. "He's a queer duck. I +must take a look at our motor boat." + +Slowly he walked to where the _Dartaway_ was moored. He saw she was +riding safely. Then he looked for the rowboat. It was nowhere to be +seen, though it had been tied close to the motor craft. + +"I guess he's slipped away," thought Jerry. + +At that instant the sound of oars being worked caught his ears. He +looked up and saw, coming around the point of the island, the tramp's +craft. But the tramp did not seem to be in it. Instead it held a +fisherman, with a broad brimmed hat, a corduroy coat, green goggles on, +and a big basket hung over one shoulder. In the boat two poles could be +seen, also a gaff sticking up. + +"Some one has stolen his boat," thought Jerry. "Hi there!" he called. +"Where you going?" + +"Fare thee well!" called back the fisherman. "I must away on my +mission." + +"Come back with that boat!" yelled Jerry. + +"Why so? 'Tis mine," came back the answer over the waters as the +fisherman rowed farther out from shore. "Sorry to leave you in this +fashion, but my mission calls." + +"Why it's the tramp!" exclaimed Jerry, as he recognized the voice of +the ragged man in spite of his queer disguise. "But where in the world +did he get that rig?" + +"What's the matter?" asked Ned, having awakened and coming down to join +Jerry. + +"There goes our tramp," said Jerry. + +The tramp was now quite a distance out. He stood up in his boat. + +"Look--in--your--coffee--pot!" he called. "I--left--a--message!" + +Then he sat down and began rowing hard. + +"Hurry up, get the coffee pot!" cried Jerry. "We must get at the bottom +of this!" + +He and Ned ran back to the tent. They found the pot set in the middle +of the table. Jerry threw back the cover. Inside was a piece of birch +bark, on which was written in pencil: + + "Where the _bluebird_ spreads her wings, there you'll find the + stolen things. Search her deep, and search her through, you + will find I'm speaking true." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +SEARCHING FOR THE SCHOONER + + +"Well if this isn't mystery and more of it!" exclaimed Bob. "What in +the world does it all mean, and the tramp going off in this fashion?" + +The boys gathered close together, their heads bent over the mysterious +message on the birch bark. + +"Let's call to him to explain," suggested Ned. + +"It's too late," said Jerry. "He's too far out. Besides I don't believe +he'd come back. Anyhow I think I know what the message means." + +"What?" asked Ned and Bob in a chorus. + +"Isn't it plain enough?" asked Jerry with a smile. "If Andy Rush was +here he'd have half a dozen explanations." + +"Let me read it once more?" came from Ned. + +"'Where the _bluebird_ spreads her wings, there you'll find the stolen +things. Search her deep and search her through, you will find I'm +speaking true.'" + +"Why of course!" exclaimed Bob. "It must be the schooner _Bluebird_ +he's referring to, and he means your father's things will be found in +her, Ned. It's as plain as the nose on your face." + +"That's so," agreed Ned. "Is that what you make of it Jerry?" + +"Sure. That part is easy enough. What does puzzle me though is that +tramp. I can't quite make him out. He's a funny character, and +his latest effort is stranger than any since his adventure on the +hay barge. I wonder how he knew there was stolen stuff aboard the +_Bluebird_?" + +"Well that seems simple enough to me," spoke Ned. "He's probably been +a criminal in his time, and knows some of the crooks who robbed my +father's store. In some way he found out they had the stolen stuff on +the schooner, and he wanted to let us know to pay for our favors to +him. You remember how excited he got when he found out my name was +Slade." + +"Yes, that's all right as far as it goes," said Jerry, "but you'll +never get me to believe that tramp is either a criminal or one who +travels with thieves. He's a different character altogether. You'll see +I'm right. He may have found out where the stolen stuff is, but it was +in some other way than being a companion of the thieves." + +"Well, maybe, you're right," came from Ned. "That part can be settled +later. The main thing is to find the _Bluebird_ and see what there is +aboard." + +"Which isn't going to be such an easy thing as it sounds," Jerry +remarked. + +"Why not?" + +"Well, it may be a simple matter to locate the vessel, as the lake is +not very large, but when we get to her have you thought of what we will +do with her?" + +"Go aboard, of course, and demand my father's goods and money," said +Ned boldly. + +"You seem to forget there is a difficulty in the way," Jerry went on. +"The men who stole the stuff, provided it is aboard the ship, are not +likely to let us come over the side as if we were on a visit, and +search for incriminating evidence. Then, too, there is Noddy, and he is +not likely to welcome a call from us. No, I think we'll have our hands +full in getting aboard the _Bluebird_." + +"What would you advise?" asked Bob, as both he and Ned had come to +regard Jerry's ideas as being a little better than their own on +important matters. + +"I think it would do no harm to make a search and find where the +_Bluebird_ is lying," said Jerry after a little thought. "Then, perhaps +we can decide on a plan of action. It's a sort of following the old +recipe of making a rabbit pot-pie,--to first catch the rabbit." + +The other boys agreed this was the best idea. They watched the boat +with the tramp-fisherman growing smaller and smaller as he rowed out on +the lake, and puzzled more than ever over the queer character. + +"Well, shall we start right away?" asked Ned. + +"I don't believe it would do any good," said Jerry. "Let's get ready +for supper, and this evening we can take a run out on the lake. We +probably will not discover anything, but it will be fun, and we may +gain a clue." + +Shortly after sunset, the evening meal having been finished, the boys +made the _Dartaway_ ready and started away from camp. The lake was +alive with power and other boats and the boys met a number of new +acquaintances they had made at the luncheon following the winning of +the prize. They speeded back and forth until dusk, and then accepted +an invitation of a party that was bound for one of the resorts on the +shore of the lake. + +They spent some time there and when they reached their island dock and +made a landing it was as dark as pitch. The boat was made fast to the +wharf and then, lighting some oil lanterns, the boys walked up to +their camp, which was a little way from shore. + +As the gleam of the lamps fell on the place Jerry who was in the lead +uttered an exclamation: + +"Some one has been paying us a visit!" he said. "And they haven't been +friends of ours either." + +This was soon evident, for the camp was topsy-turvy. The shelter tent +was pulled down, the utensils and camp stuff were scattered all about, +and the place looked as if a small cyclone had struck it. + +"I wonder who did this?" came from Ned. "I'd like to get hold of them +for a few minutes." + +"Maybe this tells," said Jerry, taking up a piece of paper from the +planks that served as a table. The scrap had evidently been placed +where it would be easily seen. It read: + + "You had better clear out of here before something worse + happens to you and your boat." + +"Who signs it?" asked Ned. + +"It has 'The River Pirates' at the bottom," said Jerry, "but I'd be +willing to bet a new hat against a cookie that it's Noddy Nixon's +writing." + +"Then the _Bluebird_ has been here in our absence," said Bob. + +"Looks so," admitted Jerry. "Now let's see if any great damage has been +done." + +They made a hasty examination, but beyond tearing up the camp, and +upsetting things, nothing appeared to have been stolen or seriously +damaged. It seemed that the visitors merely wanted to annoy the boys. + +There was nothing much that could be done until morning, so the boys, +seeing that the _Dartaway_ was securely made fast, went to sleep on +board. They rested undisturbed until morning. + +"Now to hunt for the mysterious schooner!" exclaimed Ned after +breakfast. "Do you know I have a good scheme?" + +"Let's hear it," said Jerry. + +"We ought to disguise ourselves," went on Ned. "If we go hunting for +the schooner in our motor boat the way we are now, they can see us +coming and get on their guard. We ought to make up as fishermen, just +as the tramp did, and steam around slowly." + +"They know the boat by this time," objected Jerry. + +"We can disguise her a bit by hanging strips of canvas over the sides," +went on Ned, "and by taking the canopy off." + +"I believe that's a good suggestion," said Jerry. "Then we could take +the thieves by surprise. Come on, we'll see what we can do to the boat." + +By removing the awning, and putting strips of dirty canvas over the +bright clean paint on the sides of the _Dartaway_ the whole appearance +of the craft was changed. + +"Now for ourselves," said Bob. "We'll wear our oldest clothes." + +If the boys hoped to succeed with little effort they were doomed to +disappointment. They spent all the morning cruising around the lake +and did not get a glimpse of the craft they wanted. They did not go +back to camp for lunch, having brought some eatables with them. In the +afternoon the cruise was resumed, but with no better luck. + +For three days the boys went forth every morning disguised as +fishermen, and came back at night having had their trouble for their +pains. + +"This is getting tiresome," said Ned, on the evening of the third day. +"We're having no fun out of this trip at all. Let's let the thieves go. +I don't believe they have any stuff on the boat." + +"Let's try one more day," pleaded Jerry. "We'll go away down to the +other end of the lake." + +So it was agreed. They made an early start the next morning and in the +afternoon found themselves cruising around at the extreme southern end +of the lake. There the body of water narrowed in one place because of +an island close to shore. It was a spot seldom visited, and there were +no camps in that vicinity. + +"Let's take a look around the other side of that island," suggested +Jerry, when his companions proposed going home. "There might be a dozen +schooners there." + +The _Dartaway_ was headed through the narrow channel. Jerry, who was +steering, was proceeding slowly, as he was in unfamiliar waters, and +the channel seemed rather shallow. + +Suddenly, as the motor boat emerged from the strait, the three boys +could hardly help refrain from uttering an exclamation. There, moored +to the shore, was the _Bluebird_. + +"We've found her!" whispered Bob excitedly. + +"Hush!" cautioned Jerry. "Pretend to be fishing while I work the boat +nearer. Don't look at the schooner. They may be watching us." + +With swiftly beating hearts the boys listened to the throb of the +propeller that brought them nearer and nearer to the _Bluebird_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE PIECE OF SILK + + +"Are you going right up close?" asked Bob. "Maybe we had better wait a +while." + +"Keep quiet," said Jerry. "Just watch." + +The _Dartaway_ continued to approach the schooner. In the stern Bob and +Ned pretended to be trolling. Jerry held the motor craft on her course, +going at first speed, and kept her headed right for the sailing vessel. + +"You're going to bump!" exclaimed Bob in a low tone, looking over his +shoulder at Jerry. + +The next instant the _Dartaway_ hit the side of the schooner with a +resounding thump, but not hard enough to do any damage, as Jerry, on +the alert, reversed the screw just in time. + +"I told you we were going to hit," said Bob in reproachful accents, for +he had nearly been tossed overboard by the recoil when the motor boat +backed away from the _Bluebird_ from the force of the blow. + +"That's all right I meant to hit 'em," said Jerry coolly, as he +caught hold of a rope that hung over the schooner's side. "I did it on +purpose," he went on in a lower voice. "It will seem as if it was an +accident and we can get a chance to see who's aboard. That knock ought +to bring 'em out." + +The boys, making the motor boat fast to the sailing vessel with the +rope, waited for a hail from those they supposed to be aboard. But a +silence ensued after the noise of the collision and the throbbing of +the motor died away. All that could be heard was the sound of the wind +in the trees, birds singing in the woods, and the lap of little waves +against the sides of the boats. + +"Queer," muttered Jerry, "I thought that would arouse them. Must be +sound asleep. Here goes for another." + +He pushed the _Dartaway_ back from the side of the schooner and then, +holding to the rope pulled her forward again so that the nose of the +motor craft hit the sailing vessel a resounding blow. Still there was +silence on the _Bluebird_. + +The boys waited for several minutes, listening intently, but there was +no sign of life other than on their craft. + +"I'm going aboard the schooner," said Jerry at last. + +"Do you think it's safe?" asked Ned. + +"I don't see why not," replied Jerry. "There doesn't seem to be any one +in her. Maybe they've only gone away for a little while, but it's our +best chance. So here goes." + +With that he scrambled up the rope hand over hand, and soon stood on +the schooner's deck. + +"Come on up," he called to Ned and Bob. "The schooner is deserted!" + +Up came the other two boys. They found the hatches tightly closed, and, +as the day was hot, they reasoned that no one would be below with all +the openings shut. The schooner was in good order, everything on deck +being neatly arranged, and showing that those who had deserted her had +not gone off in any haste. The vessel was moored to shore with bow and +stern lines. + +"Well, now that we have things to ourselves," said Jerry, "let's see +what we can find. It ought to be an easy matter to get below." + +"I wonder if we have any right to," said Bob. + +"I don't see why not," came from Ned. "We suspect that some things from +my father's store are here. If we take a look and don't do any damage +where's the harm. The thieves ought to be caught, and we may get a clue +to them in this way." + +"I say, let's go below," put in Jerry. "Try all the hatches. Maybe +some of them are not locked." + +Whoever had deserted the schooner had evidently not felt any alarm +about leaving their property without the protection of lock and key, +for the first hatch cover the boys tried slid back easily, disclosing a +rather dark and steep companionway. + +"Who's going ahead?" asked Jerry. "Don't all speak at once." + +There was a moment's hesitancy on the part of all three. There was no +telling what they might meet with, or who might be below. + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed Ned. "I don't believe any one's there. I'll make a +break." + +He started down the companion steps, and, after a second, Bob and Jerry +followed. + +"It's as dark as a pocket!" said Bob. "I wish we had a lantern." + +"Hold on!" called Bob who was in the rear. "I have a candle-end in my +pocket." + +He brought it forth and lighted it, sending a rather faint illumination +through the cabin in which the boys found themselves. No one was to be +seen, but, as was the case on deck, everything was neatly in place, and +no disorder evident. + +"Now for the search!" exclaimed Ned. "We'll see if that tramp knew +what he was writing about with his funny message." + +Around the cabin were several lockers. These the boys opened in +succession, only to find them empty. Clearly the booty, if it was +aboard, was not in this part of the vessel. + +But there were many other places to search. The craft was not a large +one, but there was a forecastle, and a small hold amidships. The boys +decided to try the hold first. To get into it they found they would +have to slide back the deck hatch, and then lower themselves into the +black hole by means of a rope which hung from the gaff, and which was +evidently used to hoist cargo in or out of the schooner. + +With the hatches open the dark hole was made lighter but at best it was +not a pleasant place. Still the boys were determined to explore it. +Seeing that the rope was securely fastened to the gaff, Jerry swung +himself over the hatchway, and went down hand over hand. It was about +ten feet from the deck to the bottom. Bob and Ned followed. + +In his descent Bob dropped the candle, which, after burning a little +while on the bottom of the hold, went out. + +"That's nice," said Jerry. "Don't move now until we get a light. No +telling what sort of a hole you may fall into. Stay under the patch of +sunshine." + +The boys remained immediately under the hatchway until Jerry, groping +around, had found the candle end and lighted it. Then the boys peered +around them, Jerry holding the tallow illuminator above his head. + +"Forward!" cried Ned. + +The next instant there sounded a scurrying as if some one was running +about the hold. + +"Some one's coming!" cried Bob. "Come on! They're after us!" + +The noise increased, and Jerry and Ned peered forward expecting to see +some one approaching out of the darkness. Then came a series of shrill +cries. + +"Rats!" exclaimed Jerry with a laugh. "I forgot that all vessels are +full of them." + +"Are you sure?" asked Bob, who had grabbed hold of the rope. + +"Sure; can't you see them?" asked Jerry, and, moving his candle back +and forth close to the floor, he pointed out where several big gray +rodents were huddled in one corner. + +"Only rats, eh," muttered Bob. "Well I wouldn't want a lot of them to +get after me. They're as big as cats." + +But the animals were probably more frightened than Bob had been, for +the next instant they all disappeared down some hole. The boys began a +systematic search of the hold of the vessel. It did not take long to +show that no booty was contained in it, unless, as Ned suggested, there +was a secret hiding place. + +"Well, we'll try the fo'castle now," said Jerry as he blew out the +candle to save it, and ascended the rope. Bob and Ned followed. + +By opening bull's-eyes in the forecastle the place was made light +enough to see fairly well in. There were several bunks, and a small +table which could be folded against the side out of the way. The bunks +were provided with bed clothes, and a hasty examination of them showed +nothing to be hidden among them. The whole place was well looked +through, but there was no sign of the goods stolen from Mr. Slade's +store. + +"I guess that tramp must have had a dream," said Ned, "or else he +wanted to write some poetry." + +"Looks that way," admitted Jerry, who was idly looking at a figure +of Neptune carved in the middle of a panel on the forward bulkhead. +"Still I don't believe--" + +But what Jerry believed he did not state, for, the next instant he +nearly fell as the panel containing the representation of the sea god +slid back and disclosed a dark opening. + +"Why--why--" exclaimed Jerry recovering his balance with difficulty. +"This is queer. I was just pressing on the trident when all of a +sudden--it happened." + +"Well I guess it did!" cried Ned. "I'll bet it's the secret hiding +place. Come on, let's have a look!" + +"Light the candle!" said Jerry. "It's as dark as two pockets." + +In the gleam of the light there was disclosed a place about five feet +square, which had been built forward of the forecastle bulkhead. + +"Now for the stolen stuff!" cried Ned, as he stepped inside. He flashed +the candle around, but it took only an instant to show that there was +nothing in the secret hiding place so opportunely discovered by Jerry. + +"Well of all the--" began Ned, when he suddenly made a grab into one of +the corners. "This looks like something!" he went on. "Let me get to +the light." + +He stepped into the forecastle and held up to the view of his comrades +a piece of cloth. + +"What is it?" asked Jerry. + +"A piece of red silk!" exclaimed Ned. "It's just like some that was +stolen from my father's store! The things have been here, but they are +gone!" + +"Perhaps they are here yet," suggested Jerry, "only we can't find them. +Maybe there are other secret hiding places. What had we better do?" + +The boys were much excited over their find. That they were on the trail +of the thieves they were certain, but what to do next puzzled them. + +"How would it do for one of us to stay here, and the others go and get +police assistance," suggested Ned. "We ought to have the detectives on +this case at once." + +"I have a better plan," said Jerry. "Let two of us stay here, and the +other take the motor boat and go after Chief Dalton in Cresville." + +"How will we decide who are to stay and who is to go?" asked Ned. + +"We'll draw lots," replied Jerry. "Those who get the longest will stay +on the schooner, and the one who gets the shortest will start in the +motor boat." + +The lots were made from three straws. Jerry got the shortest. + +"Well, the sooner I get off the quicker the chief will be back here," +he observed. + +"Hold on a minute," put in Bob. "Have you figured how long we'll have +to stay here, and not a thing to eat? You can't get back here before +this time to-morrow." + +"That's so," admitted Jerry, for once forgetting to laugh at Bob's +concern over the food question. "I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll run +back to camp and bring enough stuff here to last until I come back." + +"Good idea," said Ned. "Only there's no use in us all going. I'll stay +here, while you and Bob go back to camp. Bring some lanterns, and some +cold victuals. Maybe we can find some food on board. We certainly can +make coffee for there's a stove in the galley, and I saw a coffee pot. +All we need is some coffee." + +So it was arranged. Jerry and Bob made a fast run to Deer Island, and +were soon back to the schooner with enough provisions to last the +two boys a day or more. In the meanwhile Ned had been all over the +schooner, but had made no new discoveries. + +He had found a good supply of canned goods, and even some coffee, +so there was no danger of starving even if the victuals Jerry and +Bob brought gave out. The bunks were clean and there was plenty of +clothing, though it would hardly be needed for the nights were warm. + +It was now getting dusk and, after seeing that his boat was in good +shape Jerry prepared for the long run back to Cresville. + +"Take care of yourselves," said he. "Keep a good watch and if Noddy and +the gang come back, don't run any chances. They're desperate men, and +it would be better to retreat than run the chance of a fight. If I were +you I'd sleep in the cabin or on deck in hammocks. I'll come back as +soon as I can." + +"Better tell the chief to bring a couple of men along," said Ned. "No +telling what may turn up." + +"All right," called back Jerry, as he headed the _Dartaway_ through the +narrow channel and started on the course to Cresville. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +NED AND BOB CAPTURED + + +It was a little lonesome for the two boys after Jerry had gone. For as +long as possible they listened to the exhaust from the motor boat. When +that died away, and silence, broken only by the lap of the water, and +the occasional note of a bird getting ready to seek its nest for the +night, settled down, that part of the lake was not the most pleasant +place in the world. + +"Well, we'll have supper, go to bed, and it won't seem so long," said +Bob. "I wish this robbery business was all cleared up. I'm afraid +something may happen." + +"Oh, you're getting nervous," remarked Ned. + +"Well, maybe I am," admitted Bob, "but I can't help feeling that +something is going to happen." + +After a simple but substantial meal the boys brought some blankets up +from the bunks and made beds on the deck, in the shelter of the awning +which stretched from the forecastle to the galley amidships. They were +not long in falling asleep, as they were worn out by the events of the +day, as well as being rendered drowsy by the open air and wind. + +It was about an hour past midnight when there echoed over the lake, +in the vicinity of the island near which the schooner was hidden, the +muffled throbbing of a motor boat. It was not speeding, as could be +told by the intervals between the explosions. Sometimes they died away +altogether, and silence ensued. + +It was in one of these intervals, which betokened that the engine had +stopped and that those in the boat were listening intently, that some +one in the craft dropped an object that awoke the echoes. + +"What's the matter back there?" exclaimed a harsh voice. + +"Oh, Noddy dropped his gun butt," some one replied. + +"I couldn't help it, Bill, honest I couldn't," whined Noddy. "It +slipped out of my hand." + +"Keep quiet!" exclaimed the one who had first spoken. "If you don't +know how to handle a gun let it alone. Then keep still. Do you want to +bring the whole lake down on us? Above all, don't yell out names like +that." + +"All right, I'll be careful," said Noddy in a whisper. + +"It's so fearful dark I can't see where the channel is," said the man +who was steering the motor boat. The craft, which was a large one, held +five men, besides Noddy Nixon, who, if he had been kidnapped by the +"River Pirates," seemed to enjoy being in their company. + +If Ned and Bob had been on watch they would have seen, coming over the +water toward the sailing vessel a small dark object. They would have +heard the throb of the motor in the boat, which was more plain, now +that it was in the open. But they were both, snoring away, blissfully +unconscious that their enemies were so close at hand. + +Nearer and nearer came the boat, the man in the bow watching with eagle +eyes as the schooner loomed out from the dark shadows of the woods. + +"Any signs of anything suspicious?" asked Bill Berry, who stood near +Noddy. + +"Not as I can see," came the whispered answer. "But we'll take no +chances. I'll stop the engine now and we can row up the rest of the +way. Then we'll go aboard cautiously." + +Propelled by the oars, which were kept aboard the motor boat in case of +emergencies, the craft made scarcely a sound as it slipped through the +water. A few minutes later it slid alongside the schooner. + +"Hold her steady," said the man in the bow. "I'll go up the ladder and +see if the coast is clear." + +Over the side he stepped, dropping softly to the deck. Then every sense +on the alert he moved forward. As he came around the galley he dimly +saw, stretched out under the awning, the sleeping boys. + +He listened a moment, and then softly crept nearer. Now he could +hear the heavy breathing of the sleepers that told they were soundly +slumbering. + +"I'm going to chance it," the man said softly to himself. "I've got to +know who they are." + +He struck a match and, shading the flame with his hands, held it as +close as he dared to the sleeping ones. At once the man started back +with a half-smothered exclamation. + +"Two of the boys!" he muttered. "They found us after all, and are on +guard. Lucky for us they're asleep. What shall we do?" + +It did not take the man long to make up his mind. He went softly to the +side of the schooner, and was soon back in the motor boat. + +"Well, Paxton, what's the verdict?" asked Bill Berry. "Any one aboard?" + +"Softly!" exclaimed Paxton. "We've got our work cut out for us. Two of +those boys are asleep on deck. Now here's my plan." + +"Hadn't we better get out while we have the chance?" asked one of the +gang. "This game is getting too hot. There may be only two boys asleep +on deck, but who knows but what there are some police in the cabin?" + +"With the hatches shut on this hot night?" asked Paxton. "I guess not. +I'm sure there are only the two lads, and we've got 'em just where we +want 'em." + +"What you goin' to do?" asked Bill. + +"We're going to tow the schooner away from here," replied Paxton. "Look +lively now. Some of you go ashore, and cast off the lines. We'll need +'em for a tow rope." + +"What about the boys?" asked Bill. + +"We're going to take 'em along with us," replied Paxton. "If they walk +into the spider's web they can't complain if the spider eats 'em. +Lively now, but walk as though you were treading on eggs." + +In a few minutes two men who went ashore, the motor boat having been +moved so they could easily land, had cast off the ropes. Then they +were unbent from the cleats, and reeved together to make a long tow +line. One end of this was fastened to a capstan in the bow, and the +other to bitts in the motor boat. + +"Now if you're all ready go ahead," said Paxton in a whisper to his +crew. "I'm going to stay aboard the schooner to attend to the boys +when they wake up. Bill, you'd better steer. Pull the schooner right +out into the middle of the lake. If they raise a row there it can't be +heard." + +The motor boat was worked around, by means of the oars until it was in +the narrow channel through which the schooner had come. Then it was +propelled ahead by the same means until the tow rope was almost taut. +This was done so that when the engine was started the noise of the +explosions might be farther away, and so less likely to wake up the +sleepers. + +Waiting aboard the sailing craft, Paxton heard the distant sound of +the motor getting into action. Then the rope stretched out, and the +schooner began moving slowly through the water. As it gathered headway, +Paxton went to the wheel and kept her on the course, taking sight by +means of a lantern he had directed Bill Berry to place on the stern of +the motor craft. In ten minutes the schooner was well out on the lake, +which at that late hour, or rather early one, for it was about three +o'clock in the morning, was deserted. + +Leaning against the wheel Paxton filled his pipe with tobacco and +applied a match. It was drawing good, and he was beginning to feel more +comfortable in spite of the cold and the hard work he had done that +night, when one of the sleepers stirred. + +"I guess we'll have a scene now," muttered Paxton, as he lashed the +wheel to keep the schooner on a straight course down the lake, in which +direction the motor boat was towing it. A second later Bob sat up. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed. "What's up. I say, Ned, wake up! We're adrift!" + +"What's that?" cried Ned, rubbing his eyes, and jumping to his feet. +"Adrift? Why so we are. We're out in the middle of the lake." + +It was getting a little lighter and the mist was lifting somewhat. + +"In the middle of the lake?" repeated Bob in bewilderment as he too got +on his feet and stood beside Ned. "Why I didn't know there was current +enough in the lake to carry us this far out." + +"There isn't!" exclaimed Ned. "There's something wrong here. Hark! +Isn't that a motor boat?" + +The faint throb of the craft towing the schooner could be heard. + +"It is, sure enough," came from Bob. "Can't be Jerry back already." + +"No, it isn't Jerry," spoke Paxton, from where he stood at the wheel, +being somewhat hidden from the sight of the boys. "It's some friends of +mine." + +"Who are you?" asked Ned, walking in the direction of the voice. + +"Never mind who I am," replied the man. "You'll learn soon enough. But +first you'll have to learn a little bit about how we do things aboard +ship. So stop just where you are, young man. If you come any nearer it +might be dangerous for you. This part of the vessel is sacred to the +captain and his friends. For the present you represent the crew, and +the crew's place is forward. + +"So just march over to the fo'castle, and stay there until I tell you +to come aft. Take your beds with you, if you like, and bunk there." + +"You seem to be running things with a pretty high hand," said Ned. + +"Well, I guess I've got a right to. This is my ship. I didn't invite +you to come aboard. But now you're here you may not find it so easy to +get away. I may like your company." + +"Are you aware that we have proof that you and your gang was concerned +in the robbery of my father's store?" asked Ned. + +"I'm not good at answering riddles," replied Paxton, composedly smoking +away. "Now you do as I say before I get mad and cause you trouble." + +The schooner was now well out in the middle of the lake. It was getting +quite light, but the boys could see no help at hand. The motor boat was +steadily towing away. + +"What shall we do?" asked Bob of Ned, in a low voice. + +"I don't see anything but to do as we're told," answered Ned. "No +chance of help now." + +They moved forward. At that moment Paxton placed his fingers to his +lips and gave a shrill whistle. + +A few minutes later the motor boat was alongside the sailing vessel. +Bill Berry and another man scrambled aboard. + +"Help me tie up these lads," said Paxton. "Then we'll take them aboard +the motor craft. When that's done start towing again." + +For an instant Bob and Ned had a wild thought of resisting the gang, +or at least jumping overboard and swimming to escape. But a moment's +reflection showed how futile this would be. + +Believing discretion the better part of valor at that time, they +submitted quietly while the three men bound their arms. Then they were +led to the side, helped over and were soon seated in the stern of the +motor boat. + +Paxton and Bill Berry remained on board the schooner, and were joined +by Noddy, who said he did not want to stay in the smaller craft. +Then, as the sun was peeping up over the distant hills, the towing +was resumed, the schooner being pulled directly up the lake, and +approaching the western shore in a long curve. Bob and Ned were in the +hands of their enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +JERRY'S RETURN + + +Jerry's voyage to the head of the lake and then up the river was +without incident. It was rather a lonely trip, but he had no time to +feel any alarm. + +He arrived at Cresville early the next morning and left the boat at the +private dock, while he hurried to acquaint the chief of police and Mr. +Slade with the news about the schooner. + +Jerry found the chief had not yet come down to headquarters, and, +not caring to tell the sergeant in charge his errand, he went to Mr. +Slade's house. + +"What's this? Oh it's you, Jerry, eh? No bad news I hope? None of you +boys drowned at the lake? What's the trouble? You look as if you'd had +a tussle with a bull and came out second best," said Ned's father. + +Jerry told his story and also related their plans. + +"Good idea!" exclaimed Mr. Slade. "We'll go and see the chief at once." + +Mr. Dalton had arrived by the time they got to headquarters and called +Mr. Slade and Jerry into his private room. There Jerry told the story +over again, to the no small astonishment of the police official. + +He gave several orders over the telephone, including one to have the +motor boat _Terror_ made ready at once for a long trip. + +Jerry found he would have about an hour to wait before the start back +could be made, so he went to his home and also Bob's and told the folks +the camping party was all well. He said nothing of the discoveries, for +fear of alarming his mother and Bob's parents. + +The chief and two detectives made up the police posse. They went to +the dock where the _Terror_ was tied up and got aboard. Mr. Slade had +counted on going, but, at the last moment, found some business affairs +needed his attention. + +As soon as Jerry found the chief and his men were about to start he +hurried back to the _Dartaway's_ boat house and made ready for his +return trip. He found the engine needed some slight adjustments, and +quickly made them. + +While he was bending over the cylinders, putting in some new spark +plugs, he heard a step behind, and Andy Rush joined him. + +"Are you going on another trip?" + +"Yes, want to come along?" asked Jerry, for he liked Andy, in spite of +the galvanic battery action of the younger lad. + +"Say! Do I!" + +"Jump in," spoke Jerry. + +Jerry looked over the engine to see that it was in good order. He +filled the auxiliary gasolene tank, took aboard some extra batteries +and other supplies and announced he was ready to start. + +"We'll see if we can't catch the _Terror_," he remarked, having told +Andy something of the plans afoot. + +Jerry cranked up the motor. It throbbed and roared and he was about to +throw in the clutch and send the boat off when some one hailed him. + +"I say, fair sir. Wilt take a poor wayfarer aboard? I fain must be on +my way, and my coach seems to have passed me by." + +Jerry looked up. Down the dock was approaching a ragged figure; a man +clothed in old garments that flapped about him. The mere remnant of a +hat completed his attire. + +"It's the tramp!" Jerry exclaimed under his breath. "If he doesn't turn +up at the oddest times. I wonder what his secret is." + +"May I come aboard?" asked the ragged man. + +"Don't let him. Maybe he's one of the thieves," objected Andy in a low +tone. + +But Jerry had different ideas. He wanted, if possible, to learn more +about the tramp. He felt that the man had a secret, and that it +concerned the robbery, and some other queer happenings of late, Jerry +was most certain. + +"Wilt take an humble passenger?" the tramp asked again, seeing that +Jerry seemed to hesitate. + +"Why, yes, your Majesty, if you wilt be pleased to accept such mean +transportation as your slave is able to offer you," replied Jerry with +a smile, determining to enter into the tramp's humor. + +Past Cresville they went, and by noon they had caught up to the +_Terror_, for the chief had ordered her run slowly, as he wanted to see +Jerry. The presence of the tramp excited no comment from Mr. Dalton. On +the contrary Jerry was almost sure he saw some secret sign pass between +the chief of police and the ragged man. This, more than ever, made him +curious to get at the bottom of the strange fellow's secret. + +It was decided to go ashore for dinner at a small town which the boats +reached about one o'clock. The craft were tied up at the dock, and when +Jerry and Andy left the _Dartaway_, the tramp remained behind. + +Jerry asked if the chief knew the man at all. + +"Oh, I've seen him around," Mr. Dalton replied. "He's an odd character. +But never mind him. Where do you expect we'll pick up the boys?" + +"Right aboard the schooner at the island," answered Jerry, wondering +why the chief changed the subject so suddenly. + +The journey was resumed after the meal and about four o'clock the boats +emerged from the river upon the lake. + +"Now for the schooner!" exclaimed Jerry as his boat swung ahead, it +having been agreed that he should lead the way. The _Terror_ was close +behind. + +Several miles had been covered, when the tramp, who had not spoken for +some time, exclaimed, stretching out his hand: + +"I think there's your schooner!" + +"We're nowhere near the place," Jerry answered. + +"I think you'll find I'm right," the ragged man went on. "I guess +something has happened and the schooner has moved. I see her masts +sticking up from behind those trees." + +In a few minutes Jerry rounded the point. There, in full view of the +setting sun, was the schooner. There could be no mistaking her. + +He steered his boat up to the sailing craft. There seemed to be no sign +of life aboard. + +"Ahoy _Bluebird_!" called Jerry. + +He had stopped his engine, and the chief had done the same for the +_Terror_. Amid a deep silence they waited for an answer to the hail. +None came. + +Then, as the motor boats drifted alongside the schooner, it could be +seen that she was tied to the shore and deserted. + +"Where are Ned and Bob?" asked Jerry, a nameless terror tugging at his +heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE CHASE + + +"Humph! This is strange!" the chief exclaimed as his boat swung up +alongside of the _Dartaway_. "Let's go aboard." + +Making the motor craft fast, they all scrambled up and were soon on the +schooner's deck. + +A hasty search served to show that the schooner had no occupants. + +"I can't understand it," said Jerry, who was much alarmed. + +From the shore, where the tramp had gone, leaping from the schooner's +deck, there came an excited shout. + +"Here's a clue!" he cried. + +"What is it?" asked the chief as he prepared to join the ragged man. + +For answer the tramp pointed to several footprints in the soft sand +near the edge of the lake. + +"The man with the arrow on his shoe!" he said. "I thought we'd find him +with the gang. Now, Chief, I guess we can close in on 'em." + +Jerry and the two detectives had gone ashore by this time. They +observed several footprints, indicating that a number of men had +been tramping around near where the schooner was moored to the bank. +Probably they had been engaged in making the craft fast. + +"I wonder if the boys were here also," said Jerry. + +"Looks very possible," said the tramp. "Here are the mark of feet +smaller than those of men. Did Bob or Ned have any peculiar nail marks +in their shoes?" + +"Not that I know of," replied Jerry. + +"Well, the chances are if they were not here on shore they were in some +boat the rascals had," the tramp went on. + +"You think they must have had some other boat than the schooner?" asked +the chief. + +"I'm certain of it," the ragged man replied. "How else could the +schooner have gotten here? There wasn't enough wind all night to move +a canoe, let alone a heavy schooner. Yet we find this vessel several +miles from where Jerry left her. The thieves must have had a power +boat, gone back after their craft and towed her. Now I don't see any +use lingering here. They've got a good start of us, but maybe we can +catch them." + +"Where shall we look?" the chief asked. "Up or down the lake; or follow +the river?" + +"Follow the river," the tramp said. "I'll round these fellows up now. +We'll land 'em at the cave if not before." + +Jerry wondered at the tramp's manner. He seemed to have assumed control +of matters, and to be directing the hunt after the thieves. + +"Who is he?" Jerry asked of the chief. + +The tramp overheard the lad's question. + +"Shall I tell him?" the odd character asked. "I guess we've kept up the +mystery long enough, Chief, and we're pretty near the end of the affair +now." + +"Go ahead," spoke Mr. Dalton. + +"So you think there's something queer about me, do you?" the tramp +asked Jerry, who nodded in assent. "Well, I admit I am not what I seem. +Allow me to make you acquainted with the Duke of Wellington, otherwise +known as Detective Sergeant Layton, of New York," he went on with an +elaborate bow and an assumption of his former grand manners. + +"A detective!" exclaimed Jerry. "Well I had my suspicions all along +that you were something like that, but I couldn't see what you were +after." + +"I'm after these thieves," replied Detective Layton. "From the time you +rescued me from the hay barge I've been on their trail, first here, +then there, often in this disguise, and now I think I am about to close +in. The chase started in New York, where they committed a series of +daring robberies in department stores. For a while I lost track of +them. Then I heard they were in this section and I came here. They kept +quiet for some time and I thought I had lost them. Then I got on the +track of Bill Berry and--" + +"Is Noddy Nixon mixed up in this robbery?" asked Jerry. + +"I'm not sure, but I don't believe he is," replied Mr. Layton. "I +think he is with the gang instead of being kidnapped, but I believe he +is more a tool in the hands of designing men than an actual criminal +himself. However, we'll soon see. + +"The time the thieves took your motor boat I was after them, but they +gave us the slip as you saw. However, I managed to locate a cave where +I am sure they have their headquarters." + +"All ready, then!" exclaimed the chief. "We'll speed the boats up after +the scoundrels!" + +"Going to make it a night affair?" asked one of the Cresville +detectives. "It'll soon be so dark we can't see." + +"That's all right," said Mr. Layton. "We'll make a start, and tie up +long enough for supper. Then we can go on all night. It will not do to +lose any time. Have we any provisions?" + +"We can stop at our camp and get some," said Jerry. + +This plan was carried out, and, in a short time, both boats having been +well stocked, the craft puffed away toward where the river flowed into +the lake. + +While the preparations of the police for capturing the thieves were +going on, the fellows themselves had not been idle. Once Ned and Bob +were aboard the motor boat, and the towing of the schooner was resumed, +the robbers followed a well-laid-out plan. + +The schooner was taken to the little cove where she was hidden behind +the trees. Then, those who had been aboard her, getting into the motor +boat, the flight began. + +Bob and Ned were gagged to prevent them giving any alarm when other +boats were passed, and they were bidden to lie at full length on the +cushions in the small open cabin of the craft, so they could not be +seen. Paxton put one of the gang to keep watch over the boys while he +attended to the steering of the boat. Another was kept at the engine +to see that it ran properly, and Noddy Nixon and Bill Berry were left +to their own devices. + +All that morning the motor boat was speeded up the river. About noon +the boys could see, from the surrounding country that they were nearing +Cresville. This fact seemed to be apparent to Paxton and his gang. +He steered the boat close to shore and tied up in the shadow of some +bushes. There a rude meal was prepared, and the two captives were +allowed to eat a little. They expected to see the boat start up again +after dinner, but this was not Paxton's plan. + +He realized to go past Cresville in daylight might result in the +discovery of the two boys, and, though he knew his craft was a swift +one, he did not want any pursuit. + +Accordingly he held the boat in its hiding place until dusk. Thus it +happened that Jerry and Chief Dalton, in their craft, on their journey +down the river had passed the boat in which the thieves and their +captives were. + +It was after dark when Paxton gave the order to start, and the motor +craft slipped past Cresville about ten o'clock. A little while before +this the _Dartaway_ and _Terror_ had taken up the pursuit on Cantoga +Lake, starting in the race more than a score of miles behind. + +Bob and Ned, though they had kept their spirits up bravely were almost +in despair. Their jaws ached from the strain of the gags, and their +bodies were tired from lying in one position so long. + +Through the long night the flight continued. Past village after village +the thieves and their captives sped. + +Behind them, though they did not know it, came the pursuers in the +_Terror_ and _Dartaway_. The two boats were making good time, but +were far in the rear. It was early dawn when the forces of the chief, +and Jerry in his craft, which also contained Andy Rush and Detective +Layton, passed Cresville. + +"I wonder how far they are ahead," asked Jerry. + +"We'll make some inquiries of persons ashore, as soon as it gets light +enough," the tramp-detective said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +CAUGHT--CONCLUSION + + +About seven o'clock the two pursuing boats were about ten miles above +Cresville. They made a short stop at a little village and coffee was +prepared. While the simple breakfast was being gotten ready the chief +and Detective Layton went ashore. They learned from a man who kept a +boathouse that a large motor craft had gone up the river about four +o'clock that morning. He said he had seen it when he came down to go +out on a short fishing trip. + +"Three hours ahead of us," said Mr. Layton. "Well, if they only have +some sort of an accident we might catch them. If not, we'll have to +trail them to the cave." + +Jerry, who had not been asleep during the past two nights, save for a +brief nap or two, was almost exhausted. Seeing his condition Mr. Layton +offered to steer the _Dartaway_. + +"All right," said Jerry. "But wake me up the moment you sight the other +boat." + +About two o'clock the pursuing boats swung out into a long straight +stretch of the river. + +"We're getting pretty close now," the tramp-detective called to the +chief. "About five miles up is where they left the boat the other time +and took to the cave. I wish we could sight 'em now." + +"Same here," the chief replied. "Say," he went on, standing up and +pointing ahead, "doesn't that look like some sort of a boat?" + +"It sure does," Mr. Layton replied. "Wait a minute." + +Holding the wheel steady with his knees he drew from his pocket a small +telescope. Adjusting it, he peered forward and looked steadily through +it for several seconds. + +"I believe it's them!" he exclaimed. "I can't make out the figures very +well, but it's a big motor boat, and one I've not seen around here +before. They seem to be having some trouble aboard. Maybe the engine +has broken down." + +"Let's hope so," the chief said. "If it only stays broken until we +catch up!" + +The _Terror_ and _Dartaway_ were making good time against the current. +Nearer and nearer they came to the other boat. When within a mile of +her Mr. Layton could make out the occupants quite clearly through his +glass. + +"There they are!" he cried. "And whatever was the matter with the +engine they've got it fixed now for they've started up again." + +"Try and get a few more revolutions out of your craft!" cried the +chief. "Every inch tells. I guess we can hit our engine up a bit more!" + +"I'll have to wake up Jerry," Detective Layton said. "I don't know +enough about engines to monkey with 'em." + +Jerry awoke as soon as he felt the detective's hand on his shoulder. + +"Have we caught them?" he asked. + +The detective pointed ahead. + +"Can you get a little more speed up?" asked the officer. + +"We'll have 'em pretty soon!" cried Jerry, as he put the engine to the +utmost limit. + +The gang of thieves was now making frantic efforts to escape. Several +of the men were in the stern, and they seemed to hold guns in their +hands. + +"Better lay low," advised Mr. Layton. + +At that instant a shot rang out from the boat ahead. + +"I guess they mean real business!" exclaimed Andy Rush. "That sounded +like a bullet." + +"It was," Mr. Layton said, "but they fired in the air to scare us. Go +on, Jerry!" + +The _Dartaway_ was in the lead. Close behind it, however, was the +police craft. A short quarter mile separated the pursuers from the +pursued. + +"They're giving up!" cried Detective Layton. + +A minute later the craft ahead had run ashore. Out of her piled several +men and Noddy Nixon. They set off on a run across the meadows which at +that point bordered the river. + +"Where are Bob and Ned?" exclaimed Jerry. + +"They're probably tied in the boat!" yelled Mr. Layton. "You look after +them. The chief and I will see to the thieves!" + +Jerry steered the _Dartaway_ close to where the disabled boat was +poking her nose into a mud bank. As soon as it was near enough to shore +Mr. Layton leaped for the bank. He was followed by Chief Dalton and his +men, who went off on the run after the thieves. + +Jerry shut off the power and then leaped into the other boat. He saw +Bob and Ned lying bound on the seats. + +"Are you hurt?" he cried, but the boys could not answer because of the +gags. Jerry saw what the trouble was and cut them. Then he released his +friends, and with Andy Rush, chaffed their hands, which were numb from +lack of circulation, caused by the tight ropes. + +"Are you all right?" asked Jerry, when he saw Bob and Ned could stand +up. + +"Well I guess so!" exclaimed Bob, speaking for the first time in +several hours. "Have you got anything to eat, Jerry?" + +"Say, if you were to be blown up in a powder mill, I believe the first +thing you'd ask for when you came down would be a sandwich," exclaimed +Ned. "But go ahead, Jerry, get him something to eat, and then tell us +how it all happened." + +"Come over on our boat," advised Jerry. "We've got lots to eat there." + +While Ned and Bob were partaking of food Jerry quickly told of what +had happened. In turn the boys related their experience, and how, at +the last moment the engine of the thieves' boat gave out, which lucky +chance led to their being overtaken by the pursuers. + +"I hope they catch the thieves," said Ned. "They're a bad gang." + +"Well, I don't care what happens as long as you and Bob are all right," +Jerry replied. + +The boys exchanged all the details since the parting at the place where +the schooner was moored, and were going over some events for the second +time when they heard a sound as of some persons approaching. A few +seconds later there appeared at the edge of the river Chief Dalton, +Detective Layton, and the two Cresville officers. Each one held a +captive by the arm, and the wrists of the captured ones were enclosed +in irons. + +"Did you land 'em?" asked Jerry. + +"We sure did!" cried the tramp-detective. + +"Got 'em just as they were going to barricade the cave. Nabbed 'em +without a shot being fired, and got possession of a lot of plunder too." + +"Is the stuff from my father's store there?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, and from half a dozen other stores," replied the detective. "It's +the biggest round-up of thieves in a good while, and you boys deserve +credit for your part." + +"Where's Noddy?" asked Bob. + +"Well, he and Bill Berry got away," said Chief Dalton. "But we don't +mind. We got the principal ones. Noddy was not mixed up in the thefts. +He only helped the men, and I guess they bled him for money. Bill Berry +we'd like to have, but we'll get him later. Now for home." + +The captives were taken aboard the police boat. Some of the more +valuable of the plunder was placed on the _Dartaway_, and the rest was +left in charge of one of the detectives. + +There was a sensation that lasted for several days when the motor boys +got back to Cresville and the affair became known. There were stories +in the newspapers, not only in the town where they lived, but in the +New York journals. The boys were complimented on all sides for the +parts they had played. + +Mr. Slade recovered nearly all of his stuff and the money taken was +found buried in the cave. He divided the reward among the boys and the +police. Several other store proprietors in nearby towns, and in New +York, received goods that had been stolen from them. The schooner, it +developed, had often made the voyage between New York and Cresville. + +The thieves were tried and convicted, being sentenced to long terms in +prison. + +As for Noddy, he was not found for nearly a month after the sensational +capture. Then one of the Cresville detectives, who was working on a +chicken stealing case, found him in the old hut, near which the boys +had once picked up Noddy's knife. It developed that he had run away +after the arrest of the thieves, and had been living as best he could, +traveling about the country doing odd jobs. He was brought back home, +but was not arrested, as there was no charge against him. + +"I wish he'd stayed away," remarked Jerry, when he heard of Noddy's +return. "He's a bad sort of chap to have around." + +"Well I guess we've taught him not to interfere with us," said Bob. + +"That kind never learns a lesson," Jerry added. "We'll be bothered with +Noddy as long as he's anywhere near us." + +And though he did not know it, Jerry spoke with truth. For Noddy was +smarting over what had happened, and much ashamed of the disclosures +regarding his connection with the thieving gang. + +The further trouble he and Bill Berry caused the motor boys will +be told of in another volume to be called, "The Motor Boys on the +Atlantic; Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse." + +But with the clearing up of the mystery of the robbery, and the arrest +of the gang the motor boys were destined to have a period of quietness. +They went back to Lake Cantoga after matters in regard to the trial of +the thieves had been settled, and enjoyed several days of life in the +open. + +There we will leave them for the present, having a good time in their +motor boat, which proved to be all that they had hoped. + + +THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + + --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in + bold by "equal" signs (=bold=). + + --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 The Motor Boys Afloat, by Clarence Young + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT *** + +***** This file should be named 44788.txt or 44788.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/7/8/44788/ + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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