“Ready, both of you?” demanded Jack, as the two rival speed boats ranged alongside the Tramp, one on either quarter.
“Ready here!” answered Clarence, briskly.
“Same here, Jack!” called George, hovering over his engine, which was running at about its next to slowest notch.
“Then go!” shouted the starter; and instantly both craft shot forward like arrows, while the rattle of their exhausts sounded as if a battle were in progress.
CHAPTER XVI
“WIRELESS DAY”
“Hurrah!” shouted Josh, wildly excited, and glad for once to be on the narrow speed boat.
“May the best one win!” called Jack, as he watched the rivals drawing ahead of the two slower boats.
“That means us!” laughed Bully Joe.
“Just wait and see!” answered Josh; between whom and Joe there had always been more or less bad blood.
Herb had given his staunch engine all it could stand; and as the Tramp stood by him, they were soon left far in the lurch.
“Talk to me about speed,” observed Herb, as Jack turned his face that way, “strikes me the Wireless has her work cut out for today, to beat Clarence.”
“You heard what he said about the improvement made when at the machinist’s. It was a knot an hour increase, I believe,” Jack remarked, casting a look down at the throbbing motor of the Tramp.
“That’s right,” Herb spoke up. “But you know we did some tinkering to George’s engine, and he has always said that it ran better afterwards. Anyhow, it looks like a pretty race.”
“I think so with you, Herb,” Jack admitted. “Judging from here, they’re running neck and neck now.”
“Yes,” continued the other, “but don’t forget that tricky Clarence is always up to something. Two to one he’s got a bit more speed held in reserve.”
“Well, George knows him like a book,” laughed Jack. “And make up your mind he’ll keep something held back himself. Don’t you remember he did before? Possibly Clarence may be the one to run up against a surprise after a while.”
As the racers drew farther and farther away, those in the other boats began to think of other things. None of them had half the interest in the outcome of the rivalry as did George. With him there were many old accounts to square; and he meant to make a good job of it, if he had his way about the matter.
For some miles the two speedy motor boats kept along, neither appearing to gain half a length on the other. If one seemed to be going ahead, the skipper immediately busied himself stopping the advantage. It was as if both were holding themselves in for the home stretch.
Josh was on needles and pins all this while. He paid little attention to what lay in the rear. Part of his time was taken up in scanning the watery waste ahead, through the powerful marine glasses. And when not thus employed he sat there, quivering with suspense, wondering whether there would come a sudden stoppage of the engine, which might spring from one of its eccentric tantrums.
But, strange to say, the motor seemed to be doing its best today, as if bent on meriting all the good things its builders had said in their catalogue.
“I see it!” suddenly hoarsely whispered Josh, in a mysterious way, as though he did not wish those in the other craft to overhear him.
“You mean the little bay at the mouth of the river?” queried George, setting his teeth hard together; for he knew that the crisis so long awaited was at hand.
“Sure, look for yourself, George,” handing him the glasses.
“Yes, I believe you’re right,” returned the skipper of the Wireless, as he once more turned his attention to his engine. “Now, get in the middle of the boat, Josh, and don’t move any more than you can help.”
“You’re going to open up, then?” asked the tall, ungainly lad, feverishly.
“I am. Are you ready?” George went on.
“My hair is parted exactly in the middle, I believe,” chuckled Josh. “You know Buster used to say that was one thing you made him do when he was on board here. Let her go, George! Get the jump on him; it may count in the end!”
A shout from Bully Joe was the first knowledge Clarence had that his rival had taken the bit in his teeth, and shot ahead. Instantly the speed of the Flash was increased; and the two powerful engines began to throb like little giants; while the sound of the exhausts, from which the mufflers had been entirely removed, was like the tattoo of a couple of snare drums calling the long roll.
Josh steadied himself as best he could; though when the boat was rushing through the water at this frightful speed it did not seem so cranky as when at rest.
“George, we’re gaining on him!” he said, in a husky voice that trembled with the excitement under which Josh labored.
“I see we are; and still I could get a bit more out of old Wireless if hard pushed. Don’t worry, Josh; we’re bound to show Clarence up for a bluffer this time, sure.”
“If only something don’t happen!” gasped the anxious Josh, with an intake of breath that was like a big sigh.
“Make your mind easy on that score,” said George, positively. “Nothing is going to break down. She’s running as smooth as silk, and never missing a stroke. Oh! ain’t this great, though? I’ve looked forward to this ever so long. Wouldn’t I like to be close enough right now to see the look on Clarence’s face.”
“It’s as long as a foot rule, I warrant you!” chuckled Josh. “Don’t I know them two fellows though? They take a beat hard. Ten to one that if you are ahead when we come to the bay, they’ll go on past, and never enter at all.”
“Well, now, that wouldn’t surprise me one little bit,” remarked George.
Slowly but surely was the Flash falling behind, or rather the other boat forging ahead. Doubtless Clarence must be trying every device known to ambitious racing skippers in order to just coax a little more speed from his engine; but it was now keyed up to top-notch, and utterly incapable of doing a particle better.
Already Clarence must know that he was badly beaten, unless fortune stepped in to bring about an accident to the Wireless.
“That’s what he’s playing for now,” said George, when his companion suggested this very thing. “But I reckon Clarence will find himself barking up the wrong tree. This race has just got to be mine. You hear me warble, Josh?”
It was not often George spouted slang; but the excitement had seized upon him to such an extent now, that he hardly did know what he was saying.
Minutes crept along.
Now the Flash was a stone’s throw in the rear, and losing all the while.
“Careful about the turn, George,” cautioned Josh, as they came near where the bay opened up. “We don’t want to lose this thing at the last stretch. Now you’re safe to turn in. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! siss! boom! crash! we win!”
The Wireless safely made the turn, and thus Josh announced her victory.
“What did I tell you,” Josh went on. “Look at ’em, George! They’re spinning on right past, and don’t mean to come in at all. Clarence won’t even look this way, but keeps staring ahead. Talk to me about taking a beat to heart, there never was a fellow as bad as Macklin, in baseball, hockey or any sport. Well, good-bye to you, fellows! Come again when you can’t stay so long. It’s Wireless day, you know!”
There was no answer to the shout with which Josh wound up his remarks. He saw Bully Joe wave his hand in a derisive way, and then the Flash passed by at full speed, as though the race were still on.
There was a big camp on the shore, and several boats drawn up on the beach. Many signs told that this was one of the favorite places along the north shore for the white fish men to gather. Doubtless innumerable barrels of this delicate inhabitant of the Great Lakes were shipped from this coast during each season; with the supply still undiminished.
It had been agreed upon that George was not to go ashore until the rest of the little motor boat fleet arrived. This was not for half an hour or so, since the Comfort was not capable of doing better than ten miles an hour, and the more speedy Tramp had to accommodate her pace to that of the steady boat.
Nick and the rest gave the victor a good cheer as they turned the point, and entered the bay at the mouth of the famous trout river.
Then the three craft made for the beach, off which they anchored, to go ashore in the smaller boats.
There were some shanties and tents in sight, with a number of rough looking men; who however seemed glad to welcome the boys. The smell of fish was everywhere, as was natural.
“Do you happen to have a young fellow here in this camp by the name of Andy Fosdick?” Jack asked a man who seemed to be the boss.
“Yes, but just now he’s out at work. There’s a boat coming in and p’raps Andy may be one of the crew,” the other replied.
They waited until the boat landed, and those who were in it jumped out. Jack could use his judgment, and he immediately selected a sturdy looking young chap, with a skin the color of an Indian’s, as the one they sought.
“Come along, fellows,” he said to his chums; “and we’ll find out.”
He made straight for the young man; who, seeing the procession approaching, and all eyes glued eagerly on him, stood there looking curious, and a bit apprehensive, Jack thought.
“Are you Andrew Fosdick?” Jack asked, as they reached the spot where the other stood, one hand resting on the edge of the boat, from which his comrades were already shoveling their catch of fish.
“That’s my name, though I generally answer to plain Andy,” replied the fisherman wondering doubtless what all this meant, and why these boys should want to see him.
“Bully!” exclaimed Nick. “Found him the first shot! We’re sure in great luck on this cruise, fellows!”
“Tell him what you want with him, Jack,” urged Herb, who saw the other was being consumed with anxiety.
“We have come straight from your father, Andy,” said Jack, softly. “He wants you to come home to him.”
Then they saw a hard look pass over the dark face of Andy Fosdick.
“It ain’t no use, boys,” he said, bitterly. “He run me off long ago, and I don’t go back there again. I’m gettin’ to forget my name even is Fosdick, and that settles it.”
CHAPTER XVII
CAUGHT NAPPING
Jack was shocked at the words and manner of the young fisherman. His chums even half turned away in disgust, believing that their mission was doomed to failure. But Jack did not give up a thing so easily.
“Wait,” he said, quietly; “I don’t believe you know, Andy. When did you hear from home last?”
“Never once,” gritted the other, morosely, showing that his wrongs had eaten into his very soul. “Didn’t want to, neither. Made up my mind I cud take care of myself. Done it too, all these years. Got money laid up; and goin’ to be married in the fall.”
“Then you didn’t know your mother was dead?” Jack went on.
“Oh!” exclaimed Andy, starting, and showing signs of emotion. “I never heard that Ma was gone! Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t see her again. She was never so bitter as dad; but only weak like.”
Jack heard him sigh, and knew a start had been made.
“Listen, Andy,” he went on; “your father is subject to strokes. One of them will carry him off. It may be today, or tomorrow, but not a great while can he stay here. He is bitterly sorry for what he did. He wants to tell you so, to ask you to forgive him before he too dies.”
Andy’s head fell on his broad chest, and Jack believed he saw his frame quiver with some sort of gathering emotion.
“He has made his will, and left you everything, Andy,” he continued. “If you are to be married, that will be your home. He begged us to find you, to tell you all this; and that if you would only come back to forgive him, he would die happy. Won’t you do that, Andy? Once he goes, the chance can never come to you again; and you’re bound to feel mighty sorry as the years go by.”
Nick nudged George, and whispered.
“Did you ever hear the beat of that, George? Ain’t our Jack the born lawyer though? He ought to be in your dad’s office, studying for the bar, that’s what.”
“Hold your horses, Buster!” answered the one addressed, eagerly waiting to see what effect Jack’s logic might have upon Andy.
The struggle however was short. Presently the young fisherman glanced up; and as soon as he could see the look on his bronzed face Jack knew his case was won.
“I’ll go back to the old man,” he said, firmly. “I guess ’taint right he shud die and not have a chance to say what’s on his mind. And thank ye for tellin’ me.”
“But when will you go?” Jack continued. “There is need of haste, because nobody can say just how long he may live.”
“A boat’ll be along this arternoon, and we ship some barrels on her. Guess the boss’ll let me off when he larns the reason,” Andy replied.
“If you like, I’ll tell him the whole story?” Jack suggested.
And this he did a little later. He found the boss full of sympathy, rough man as he seemed to be. And Andy readily received permission to break the contract he had made for the season.
“Well, what’s doing now?” queried Herb, as the bunch wandered around, observing the various interesting phases of the fishermen’s business; for a boat was loading with barrels full of the catch, which were going direct to the Soo, from where they would be carried by express to Chicago, or other distributing points.
“Too late to go on today,” said Jack. “Besides, I want to have a try with some of the big speckled trout that they tell me lie around here. They take plenty, but have to throw them back, or eat them, as the law does not allow any sale of trout. Think of a seven pounder on my rod.”
“Well, get at it then, Jack,” laughed George. “You’ll never be happy till you do hook a monster. We’ll promise to help you eat him, all right; eh, fellows?”
“All he can bring in, and then some,” declared Nick; making his mouth move in a suggestive way that caused his mates to laugh.
“Be careful, Buster,” warned Herb. “You know you said you meant to cut down on your grub. Instead of losing, you’re gaining weight every day. If you keep on like that, Rosie won’t know you when we get back home.”
But Nick only grinned as he replied calmly: “Well, Rosie ain’t the whole thing. There are others, perhaps.”
“Listen to the traitor, would you?” exclaimed Josh. “Won’t I tell on him, though, when we get back? I bet he’s thinking right now of that cute little elephant, Sallie Bliss!”
“All right,” admitted Nick, brazenly. “Who’s got a better right, tell me? And even you admit that she is cute. Just mind your own business, Josh Purdue. The fact is, you’re just green with envy because of my noble figure. Pity you couldn’t have a little of my fat on your bones!”
“Noble figure!” exclaimed Josh, pretending to be near a fainting spell. “Shades of my ancestors, excuse me! I may be envious, but I ain’t conceited, like some people, and that’s the truth.”
Jack left them in this sort of warm argument; but he knew that no matter what was said, Nick and Josh would not openly quarrel.
He asked numerous questions as to the most likely spots for the big trout; and having secured some bait, started into business. While thus employed he saw the steamer come along, and the boat loaded with barrels go out to meet her, as she stopped her engines.
“There’s Andy stepping aboard, carrying his grip,” Jack said to himself. “And I’m glad he proved so sensible. The old man will be wild to have him again. Yes, it was a lucky day for him in more ways than one when we started for his house to get a supply of butter, eggs and milk. Nick thought the luck was all on our side; but he can never see far beyond meal time.”
As the afternoon grew on, and the steamer became hazy in the distance, Jack began to have some bites. And then came the thrilling moment when he found himself engaged with one of those famous monster speckled beauties for which this region is noted, and specimens of which he had seen in the breeding ponds of the Soo government fish hatchery.
It was a glorious fight, never to be forgotten; and at last Jack had his prize in his hands. Nor did the luck stop there. The fish were hungry, apparently; for in less than five minutes Number Two gave him even a harder struggle than the other victim; and in this case also Jack won out.
So they did have trout galore for supper; and even Nick was surfeited for once. All of the boys declared that they had never tasted anything finer than these big Lake Superior trout, freshly taken from the icy waters of the big reservoir, and cooked as only Josh Purdue could do it.
“Yum! yum!” Nick went on, after being actually pressed in vain to have another helping; “I’d like to stay right here for a month. Seems to me I’d never get tired of that pink flesh trout. Don’t ever want to hear mention of a Mississippi catfish again after this.”
“How about Canada kitties?” asked Herb, maliciously.
Nick declined to answer. That was a subject on which his comrades knew his mind full well; and he did not mean to argue it again.
Mutely he pointed to the skin of the lynx which had fallen to his gun, mutilated a little, to be sure, by the charge of shot that had been the means of its death; but worth its weight in silver to the fat Nimrod; and Herb closed up like a clam.
In the morning they prepared to go on again; though Herb and Jack had, when by themselves, seriously talked over the subject; and were beginning to arrive at the conclusion that this tremendous fresh water sea was hardly the best cruising ground for such small craft as the motor boats; and that they would be wise to cut short their former intention of reaching Duluth.
“Better keep an eye out for dirty weather, boys!” the boss of the camp had observed, when shaking hands as they said good-bye.
Nick could see no signs of anything ahead that looked like a storm; and he was inclined to believe the other must be wrong in his guess.
“Must be one of them old croakers we hear so much about,” he remarked to Herb, as they went on along the coast of the Big Lake. “Always expecting things to happen that don’t come to pass. I don’t see any storm, do you?”
“Not a sign,” replied the skipper of the Comfort; who was anxiously keeping tabs on his engine, as though he had reason to fear a repetition of the former trouble.
But in the end it proved to be George who brought the little expedition to a halt. After acting so splendidly in that fierce race with the Flash, lo and behold, the motor of the Wireless broke down during the early afternoon.
They tinkered at it for an hour and more, Jack coming over to take a hand; but apparently little progress was made. Jack was worried. They were too far away from the fish camp to think of towing the disabled boat back; and a harbor did not offer within reaching distance beyond.
The afternoon began to wane, and there seemed nothing for it but that the three motor boats should anchor just where they were, and pass the night on the open water. All would be well if the weather remained fair, and no strong southerly wind arose during the night. Jack did not like to think what might happen in case such a thing did come about.
So as night came on they made things as snug as possible, ate supper aboard, and determined to keep up their courage, in the belief that nothing would happen to alarm them.
But about an hour after midnight Jack, being on the watch, was thrilled to hear a sudden and entirely unexpected boom of thunder.
Instantly everybody was awake, and stirring; loud voices began to be heard, as the others thrust their heads out of the tarpaulin covers that served as boat tents when the crews slept aboard; and excitement reigned.
The very thing that Jack had dreaded most of all seemed on the verge of coming about; since they were caught on the open lake at night, with a storm threatening.
CHAPTER XVIII
A NIGHT OF ANXIETY
“Hey! here’s Nick getting into his cork jacket already!” called Herb.
“All right,” said the one in question, firmly. “Think I want to get washed out on that pond without something to hold me up? Remember, I’m a new beginner when it comes to swimming. And then I’ve got more to hold up than the rest of you.”
“Well, help me get this tent down first,” remonstrated Herb. “We don’t want to be caught by a storm with these things up, you know.”
“But it might rain?” Nick protested.
“Let it. We’ve got oilskins; and perhaps there’ll be plenty of time left to get into the same. Take hold there.”
Herb was right; and the crews of all the little motor boats had already started to stow away the big covers. Jack kept things as snug as possible aboard the Tramp, in case of a downpour; and that was not at all the thing he feared most.
They were within fifty feet of cruel looking rocks. If the wind broke out from any quarter that would send the big billows churning against that barrier, the fate of the motor boat fleet could be easily guessed.
In a little while everything had been done that seemed possible; after which they could only sit there, and await whatever was to be handed out to them.
Nick and Josh were plainly nervous; and even Jimmie showed some signs of apprehension, nor could they be blamed for this timidity.
“What if one of the boats is swept away?” suggested Josh; who, being in the narrow-beam Wireless understood that he had much less chance for safety than those who manned the other craft.
“No danger of that happening,” Jack replied, quickly. “The only thing we have to fear is being smashed up against these rocks. Our boats would cave in like puff balls.”
“That’s what,” Josh went on. “Perhaps fellows, we ought to go ashore in the dinkies while we have the chance. Even if we lost the boats we’d save our lives. And I promised my folk at home I wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks, you know.”
But George only sniffed at the idea.
“Rats!” he exclaimed. “There you go just as usual, magnifying the danger, Josh. As for me, I’m going to stick like glue to this old Wireless. Just see me deserting her because a little squall chances to blow up. Get ashore if you feel like it. And you too, Buster; only remember, if we should be blown miles away, you two fellows would be apt to starve to death in this lonely region.”
“That settles it,” said Nick, immediately.
If there was any chance of his starving, he stood ready to accept all sorts of perils rather than face that possibility. And doubtless George knew all this when he put the case so strenuously.
Josh too decided that he did not want to go ashore. If the others could stand the danger, he would too.
“It may not be so bad for us, fellows,” observed Jack. “Because, if you look up, you’ll see that the clouds are coming from the land side. And every bang of thunder up to now has been from that direction too. The storm this time doesn’t mean to cross the lake, and hit this shore. And unless it changes around, we’ll be protected from it by these very rocks we feared so much!”
“Bully! bully! Good for you, Jack!” cried Nick, as if greatly relieved. “I’m feeling so much better I almost believe my lost appetite is returning.”
“Well, it’s so, ain’t it?” demanded the other.
“Sure it is,” echoed Jimmie, with delight in his voice.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard this long while,” remarked George, who despite his seeming valor, was secretly much distressed over the outlook.
The thunder increased in violence. Then they heard the sweep of the wind through the pines and hemlocks on the shore. And in less than ten minutes the rain was pouring down like a deluge.
They had secured things so that little harm would be done. Still, the outlook was far from attractive, with several hours of darkness ahead; during which they must keep on constant guard, not knowing at what minute the wind might take a notion to veer around to some quarter, that would send the waves dashing against the rockbound shore so near by.
It seemed as severe a gale as the one they had experienced only a short time before. Indeed, Jack was of the opinion that the wind was even greater, though they did not feel it the same way, because of the shelter obtained from the land.
They would never be apt to forget that night, no matter how time passed. Watching was serious business for Nick; and three times he was known to creep over to where Herb kept his cracker bag, doubtless to interest himself in a little “snack,” so as to briefly forget his other troubles.
Nor did Herb have the heart to take him to task about it. Their situation was so very distressing that he could think of nothing else. Every time the lightning flamed athwart the black sky the boys would look out at the troubled waters stretching as far as the eye could see; or else send an anxious glance toward the grim rocks that loomed up so very close over their bows.
Hours seemed like days. Nick groaned, and declared he ached in every bone.
“What d’ye think of me, then?” demanded Josh. “You’re well padded; while I reckon my poor old bones are going to stick through, pretty soon. I dassent stand up, because George won’t let me; and you can. I wish you had my berth, Buster.”
But at last Herb declared that there were certainly signs of dawn coming in the east. Every eye was turned that way; and upon learning that the news was true the boys began to take on fresh hope.
“Well,” George said for the tenth time, “I’m glad of one thing, and that is we managed to get my engine in working order last night before supper. Goodness knows what a fix I’d have been in otherwise, if we had to put out to sea when the wind changed.”
“Oh! murdher! I hope it won’t do the same!” exclaimed Jimmie, who overheard the remark, and was filled with dismay as he surveyed the wild scene that stretched away off toward the southern horizon.
“Can’t we manage somehow to cook something warm?” asked George.
“Yes, that’s it,” immediately echoed Nick, beginning to bustle around in the steady old Comfort. “We’ll all feel so much better if we have breakfast. Nothing like a full stomach to put bravery in a fellow, I tell you.”
“Oh! how brave you must feel all the time, then!” observed Josh, sarcastically.
But Jack knew that this time the fat boy spoke the truth. When people are wet and shivering things are apt to look gloomy enough; but once warm them up, and let them eat a hot meal, and somehow a rosy tinge begins to paint the picture.
They knew just how to go about the matter; and those wonderful German Juwel kerosene gas stoves filled the bill to a dot; as Nick declared, after the delightful aroma of boiling coffee had begun to reach his eager nostrils.
And while the wind still howled through the pines up on the high rocks, and the billows rolled away toward the south, growing in size as they drew farther off shore, the motor boat boys sat down to a tasty breakfast.
“Now, this isn’t so bad,” observed Nick, as he started in on what had been dished out to him by Herb, who this time had done the cooking.
“It will be for the boss if he don’t get to work in a hurry,” Josh flung across the watery space that separated the boats.
“Don’t worry on my account,” laughed Herb. “I’ve got a mortgage on the balance in the fryingpan, and he’d better not touch it on his life.”
“Think the bally old storm is over, Jack?” asked Nick, presently.
“The worst of it is, and I believe the wind seems to be dying down a little,” came the ready reply, as Jack swept the heavens with anxious eyes.
“I thought that last gust came out a little more toward the west,” remarked one of the others.
“I’d hate to know that,” Jack said. “For old sailors say that when the wind backs up into the west, after being in the north, without going all the way around, it means a return of the storm, from another quarter.”
“Time enough to get ashore yet!” muttered Josh.
“Go ahead, if you want to,” George said grimly. “Take some grub along, if you make up your mind that way. But I don’t stir out of this boat unless I’m thrown out. Understand that?”
An hour later, and Jack saw that his worst fears were realized.
“Wind’s getting around fast now, fellows,” he announced.
“It sure is,” Herb admitted; for he had been noticing the increased roughness of the water for a little while back.
“What must we do, Jack?” asked George, with set teeth, and that look of determination in his eyes that stood for so much.
“Hold out as long as we can,” came the reply in a steady voice. “Then, when the danger of our being dashed against the rocks grows too great, we’ll just have to up-anchor, and start our engines to moving. It will be safer for us out yonder than so near the shore.”
Another half hour went by. Then the little boats were pitching and tossing violently, as the full force of the onrushing waves caught them.
“Can’t stand it much longer, Jack!” called out George, who was having the most serious time of all.
“Then we might as well make the move now as later!” called Jack. “So get going, both of you. And remember to stand by as close as you can, so that we may help in case an upset happens to any boat.”
Of course George knew his chum had the cranky Wireless in mind when he said this; but the peril was not alone confined to the one boat.
Accordingly the engines were started, the anchors gotten aboard after a tremendous amount of hard work; and the little motor boat fleet put to sea, with the intention of trying to ride the storm out as best they might.
If the engines only continued faithful all might yet be well.
CHAPTER XIX
PERIL RIDES THE STORM WAVES
There were anxious hearts among the young cruisers as they started to leave the vicinity of the shore, and head out upon the big heaving seas.
So long as they could keep the boats’ bows on the danger would not be so great as if they tried to turn; when those foam-crested waves would strike them sideways, and threaten to turn them on their beam-ends; which would mean destruction.
The motors sang like angry bees whenever the little propellers chanced to be exposed after a retreating wave had passed. This was where the greatest peril lay; for the strain on the engine and shaft was terrific at such times, owing to the rapid change of pace.
So Jack, Herb and George found themselves compelled to stick constantly at the job, manipulating the lever, so as to shut off power with each passing wave.
They did not make fast time away from the shore; but at the end of half an hour had reached a point where it seemed the height of folly to go farther.
“How is it, George?” Jack sang out.
“Everything moving smoothly over here so far,” came the reply.
“And you, Herb?” continued the commodore of the fleet.
“No fault to find, only it’s hard work; and I hope we don’t have to keep it up all day,” replied the skipper of the Comfort.
“I don’t think that is going to happen,” Jack observed. “Seems to me the wind is dying down. When that happens, the waves must gradually grow smaller. Perhaps by afternoon we may be able to proceed, and hunt for a harbor farther along.”
“Well, now,” George remarked. “I wouldn’t be sorry any, let me tell you, fellows. I’ve been balancing here like a circus acrobat this blessed hour and more, till my legs are stiff.”
“Think of me, would you!” bleated Nick.
“Shucks! you’re like a ball, and nothing ought to hurt you!” declared Josh.
“I’ve got feelings, all right, though,” the fat boy protested. “But I certain do hope we get our feet on solid ground right soon. I’d just love to see a fire going, and smell the hickory wood burning.”
“Yes, it’s something more than hickory wood you’re longing to smell, and we all know it for a fact,” Josh fired back at him.
Nevertheless, they one and all did find encouragement in what Jack had stated. The wind was certainly beginning to die out; and while as yet there could not be any appreciable difference noted in the size of the rollers upon which they mounted, to plunge into the abyss beyond, that would come in time.
During the morning that followed the boys who handled the engines of those three little power boats found occasion to bless the makers of the staunch motors that stood up so valiantly under this severe test.
They had taken on an additional supply of gasoline while at the Soo, and there was little danger of this giving out. Still, as Nick said, this energy was all wasted, and reminded him of soldiers “beating time.”
Now and then the boys were able to exchange remarks, especially the three who were not kept busy during this time.
Jack listened to what was said, and while he made no attempt to break into the conversation, he gathered from it that at least Nick, Jimmie and Josh were about ready to call the westward cruise off, and turn around.
So he made up his mind that the matter must be threshed out the very next time they could gather around a fire on shore. As for himself, Jack was thinking along the same lines, and ready to go back to Mackinac Island’s quiet waters, in the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan.
Noon came along, to find them still buffeting the waves; but there had been a considerable change by then.
“After we’ve had a bite,” called out Jack, at which Nick instantly showed attention; “I think we’d better make a start out of this. The waves you notice no longer break, and while your boat would roll more or less, George, I don’t think you’d be in any great danger of turning turtle, do you?”
“Oh! I’m only too willing to put out,” came the answer. “Anything but this horrible marking time. I like to see the chips fly when I use an axe. I want to see results. And here, this blessed little motor has been churning away for hours, without getting away from our old stand. Yes, let’s eat and run.”
“That would be bad for digestion,” spoke up Nick. “I don’t believe in hurrying over meals. I was warned against doing it, unless I wanted to waste away to skin and bones like Josh here.”
“Oh! you can take as long as you like,” said Herb; “only get busy now, and dish up anything you can find. There’s some cold baked beans handy; and open some of that potted beef; it ought to be tasty with the crackers and cheese.”
“I’m on the job right off,” declared Nick. “You know you never have to hurry me about getting things to eat.”
“Mebbe that’s why your digestion is so good,” said Herb, sarcastically; but the fat boy only grinned as he crawled back to where the eatables were kept.
Later on they did head more toward the west, and start moving through the swinging seas. Constant watchfulness became necessary, for there was always danger that in some unguarded moment one of the billows might roll a boat over like a chip.
So they kept going on, constantly varying their course to meet emergencies, and making progress along the coast. It was splendid manœuvring for the young pilots of the motor boats; though they rather thought they had had quite enough of it, and would be only too glad to call a halt.
Jack was watching the shore line ahead, whenever he could, in order to learn if a haven came in sight. He had Jimmie frequently use the glasses when they were on a wave crest; and kept hoping to hear him cry out that he believed he had sighted the harbor they hoped to make before night came on.
As the waves still further diminished in size, they were enabled to make better time, since they no longer feared an upset. Indeed, about the middle of the afternoon they ceased entirely to head the boats into any billow; and all of them declared that they felt proud of what had been accomplished.
“I say, Jack!” called out George, as the two boats happened to draw near each other.
“Well, what is it?” answered the one addressed, popping his head up.
“How does it come, d’ye suppose, that we haven’t seen a blessed steamer all this morning, going in either direction?” George went on.
“Why,” replied Jack. “Because they had warning from the weather bureau that a storm was coming, and delayed starting out. These captains know what it is to meet up with a Lake Superior storm.”
“Yes,” spoke up Jimmie, “it’s only the nervy little boats like ours that laugh at all the blows as comes along. Look at us, would ye, smashin’ through the big waves like the sassy things. Slap! bang! and come again, would ye? Sure, it’s weather on’y fit for motor boats, it do be.”
“Yes,” laughed George, “we’re all mighty brave about now; but I tell you boys, I felt squeamish for hours when the storm was on. I knew what would happen to us if the wind whipped around before morning. Excuse me from another experience like that. Wonder where Clarence and Joe were then?”
“That’s so, they did go on,” Jack remarked. “I hope they had shelter. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to be wrecked on such a terrible night.”
A short time later Jimmie cried out again: “There do be a steamer comin’ along there, Jack!”
“Steamer nothing!” echoed Josh, who happened to be using George’s glasses at the same time. “I’ve been watching that thing for five minutes now. And do you know what I think it is, fellows?”
“What?” demanded Jack, who could not leave his duties even for the minute that it would take to glance through the glasses.
“A wreck!” exclaimed Josh, with thrilling emphasis.
Then everybody sat up, and began to look eagerly in the direction mentioned. It was far out over the troubled waters; and the object could only be seen when it happened to be lifted on the crest of a wave.
“It is that same, upon me worrd!” cried Jimmie, presently. “I cud say the thing thin as plain as the nose on me face.”
“And boys, there’s some kind of a flag floating on it,” Josh went on.
“Upside down?” questioned Nick, eagerly.
“Looks like it to me,” came the answer.
“Then it’s a wreck, all right; because that’s the signal of distress,” Nick continued, now raising Herb’s glasses for a look.
“Oh! my! I believe it’s them!” he ejaculated a minute later.
At that Jack could stand it no longer.
“Here, Jimmie, you grab hold, and run this boat,” he said. “Keep her nose pointed just as she runs now, and whatever you do, don’t swing around, broadside on.”
Then, as Jimmie took hold of the wheel, the skipper raised the glasses for a look, while George awaited his report with ill-concealed eagerness.
“There, look now, Jack!” cried Josh.
Presently Jack took down the glasses, and there was a grave expression on his face.
“What did you see, Jack?” demanded George. “Something that’s bothered you some, I can tell by the way you frown.”
“That’s a sinking craft, all right, George,” replied the other, as he turned on all the power his engine was capable of producing, and sent the Tramp speeding directly into the waves. “More than that, I’m afraid I did recognize it, and, just as Nick said, it’s the power boat, Mermaid, carrying the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews, and his party. Boys, we must hurry to their rescue before they go down!”
CHAPTER XX
PAYING THE PENALTY
Immediately the little fleet of motor boats had taken up a course leading directly for the floating wreck. It looked like the height of folly for such miniature craft to thus put boldly out upon the bosom of that great inland sea; and nothing save a call to duty would ever have influenced Jack to make the venture.
They were strangely quiet as they continued to buffet the oncoming waves. Once in a while some one would ask the wielder of the marine glasses what he could see, and in this way all were kept informed.
Nick was trembling, so that there were times when he could hardly hold the glasses to his eyes.
“I see her!” he suddenly shouted in rapture. “Sallie’s still there, fellows! I can tell her among the lot. There, she sees me, I think, for the darling is waving her handkerchief! She wants me to hurry along, fellows; perhaps the blessed waterlogged power boat is getting ready to dip under! Can’t you throw on just a little more speed, Herb? Please do, to oblige me.”
No one thought to laugh, nor did Josh come up true to his name just then; for somehow they seemed to understand that it was a grave matter, and no time for joking.
Jack could see the figures on the partly submerged boat with the naked eye now, they were getting so close.
“Do you see the other girl, Rita Andrews?” he asked Jimmie; and was more pleased than he cared to show when the Irish boy answered in the affirmative.
“Oh! I only hope we get there in time!” groaned Nick, as he fumbled at the cork life preserver, as though intending to put it on again.
“What are you going to do with that thing, Buster?” demanded Herb, sharply.
“Get it around me,” the other replied, unblushingly.
“But you won’t need it; there’s not the least chance of our upsetting now.”
“All the same,” Nick responded, calmly; “how do I know but I may have to jump overboard after Sallie? She might slip in her great joy at seeing her preserver so near. And a pretty fellow I’d be not to keep myself ready to do the hero act. Besides, Herb, how do we know that the bally old boat mayn’t take a notion to duck under, just when we get close by? I believe in being prepared.”
“You’re right, Buster,” nodded the skipper. “Take my cork jacket too if so be you think you’ll need it. But please don’t go to jumping over just to show off. You might drown before her very eyes.”
“Oh! I’ll be careful, Herb. But since you say so, I believe I will keep your cork affair handy. She might need it; because you see, Sallie is no light weight, any more than me.”
He crouched there waiting, doubtless counting the seconds as they passed, and anxiously taking note of all that went on in the quarter whence they were headed.
Jack himself grew more nervous the closer they drew to the wreck. He realized that those on board were in extreme peril; for the powerboat seemed to be gradually sinking lower, inch by inch. At almost any time now it might give one tremendous heave, and then plunge, bow first, down in many fathoms of water, perhaps dragging some of the people aboard to death.
But at the same time Jack was figuring just how he and Herb must approach the wreck on the leeward side, where it would in a measure protect the small motor boats from the sweep of the seas. Here they would be able to take aboard as many of the imperiled ones as the rescuing craft could reasonably hold.
Jack also noted that there was a large lifeboat on the sinking craft. Possibly the oars had been swept away, rendering the craft helpless and useless. But if it could only be launched, the crew might occupy this, and be towed to safety by one of the little motor boats.
He fashioned his hands into a megaphone, while Jimmie tended the engine for a minute, and in this way called out:
“Have that boat launched. It will hold the crew, and we will give them a tow to the shore. Quick, sir; you have no time to lose!”
He saw the captain of the powerboat, still wearing his uniform, though without the jaunty blue cap that had once been a part of his makeup, give hurried orders. Then the lifeboat was shoved off the low deck, being held with a rope.
And a few minutes later the Tramp and the Comfort hauled in close under the lee of the big powerboat.
“Ladies first!” sang out Nick, as he balanced himself so as to be able to render any needed assistance.
Greatly to his joy Sallie seemed to choose the Comfort as her refuge. Perhaps she recognized the fact that it was by all odds the largest of the three motor boats, and hence more suitable to her heft. But it would be hard to convince Nick that this was the true reason. She saw him, and was willing to entrust herself in the charge of one who bore himself so gallantly.
Jack meanwhile had the pleasure of assisting the pretty and vivacious little Miss Andrews, whose first name was Rita, into his boat; to be followed by another lady passenger, and then the banker himself. The balance of the passengers managed to embark on the Comfort. George stood by, and offered to take one or two; but no one seemed to particularly care to entrust themselves on such a wobbly craft.
The captain and his little crew entered the lifeboat.
“Now, everybody get away as quick as you can!” called the man in uniform, “because she’s going down any minute. Make haste, or we may be drawn under by the suction.”
George had taken the long rope attached to the bow of the lifeboat, and fastened it securely to a ringbolt at the stern of his Wireless. He now started away, as did the other rescuing craft.
And none too soon was this manœuvre accomplished. Hardly had they gone ten boat lengths before a little shriek from Sallie announced that the final catastrophe was about to take place.
There was an upheaval of the sinking powerboat, a tremendous surge, and then only bubbles and foam on the surface told where the unlucky pleasure craft had vanished.
Little Miss Andrews cried a bit, perhaps because of the nervous excitement; but her father cheered her up.
“Never mind, Rita,” he said. “The boat was insured, and we can get another and better one when we want it. But for this season I think we’ve had about enough of the water. I tell you we ought to think ourselves fortunate to have these fine fellows come out to us just in the nick of time. We’ll never forget it, will we, girlie?”
Whereupon Jack was delighted to see the tears give way to a bright smile, as Rita looked at him, and nodded.
“How queer it seems,” she remarked demurely, a little later. “First Jack had to save my hat from a watery grave; and now he has rescued poor little me. Yes, I mean that he won’t forget us, dad. And I hope that we’ll see him some time at our Oak Park home, don’t you?”
“We’ll try and influence him, and also his brave chums, in whom I find myself deeply interested. Come to think of it, I fancy I already have something of an acquaintance with a Mr. Harvey Stormways, belonging in the town Jack calls his home. The one I met in Chicago was a banker, and a very clever gentleman.”
“That is my father,” said Jack, rosy with pleasure to think that his parent already knew Rita’s father.
Later on they discovered a landing place and managed to get ashore. All of them were delighted to once more set foot on solid land after their recent harrowing experiences.
And such a night they made of it. The captain had wisely secured a lot of stores before leaving the wreck of the Mermaid, so that there was little danger of any famine. Besides, as George said, aside, any camp that had been able to withstand the raids and assaults of a Buster all this while, would not be caught without plenty of eatables in the larder.
Around the camp fire they even made merry, since no lives had been lost in the wreck. Mr. Andrews told how they had escaped the first storm, only to be caught in the second, and rammed by some floating object, the nature of which they could only guess.
The pumps were manned, but by slow degrees the water had gained on them in spite of all their herculean efforts. And as we have seen, only for the coming of the motor boat boys a tragedy might have followed.
In the morning Jack promised to take them out to the first steamer that could be signalled, the crew in the lifeboat being towed behind the Comfort.
This he did, assisted by Herb.
And the balance of the young cruisers stood on the wooded bank, waving their hats and cheering as long as they could make their voices heard.
Nick was as happy as any one had ever seen him. Sallie had seemed to be fairly smitten with the charms of the fat boy, or else fancied having some girlish fun out of the meeting and their one trait in common; for she certainly had hovered near Buster since breakfast time, “making goo goo eyes at him,” as Josh declared. And now Nick, wishing to be in a position to see better than his chums, took the trouble to laboriously climb a tree that hung far out over the water.
Here, high above the heads of the rest, he sat and waved his red sweater, as an object that must attract the sparkling eyes of Miss Sallie longer than an ordinary hat, or white handkerchief.
“Hurray! hurray!” he shouted at the top of his voice; but perhaps Buster may have been too violent in his gestures, or else neglected to maintain his grasp on the limb; for suddenly there was an awful splash, and the fat boy vanished out of sight in the lake, which happened to be fairly deep close up to the shore.
CHAPTER XXI
ANOTHER SURPRISE
“Help! help!”
“What’s all the row about?”
“Buster’s fallen in again! Somebody get a rope, and lasso him!”
“There he comes up! My! what a floundering time! He may be drowned, Jack!”
But Jack knew better, and only laughed as he replied to Herb:
“You forget that he’s still wearing that lovely cork life preserver. It gives him such a manly look; and Buster thinks it adds to the admiration of a certain young lady.”
Meantime there was a tremendous lot of splashing going on in that little basin just under the big tree, where Nick had been perched at the time of his tumble.
Both arms were working overtime, like a couple of flails in a thrashing bee; while his chubby legs shot back and forth after the manner of an energetic frog. All the while Buster was spouting water like a miniature geyser; for his mouth had happened to be wide open at the time of his unexpected submersion.
“Throw me a rope, somebody!” he spluttered, as he continued to make manful efforts to keep from sinking. “What d’ye stand there gaping for? Can’t you see I’m in danger of drowning? Hurry up your cakes, you sillies!”
There was no doubt but that Nick believed every word he spoke; for he was making a tremendous display of energy that would long remain a topic for wonder among his comrades.
Herb started to scurry around to find something that would be available in the rescue line.
“Jack, the poor fellow may be partly stunned, and unable to keep up much longer. Help me find a rope, won’t you?” he cried, as he passed the other.
“Hold on, Herb, now watch how easy it is to save a drowning man,” and as Jack said this he turned to where Nick was making a young Niagara Whirlpool Rapids of himself, and called sternly:
“Buster, stand up!”
Lo; and behold, when the imperiled fat boy proceeded to obey this command the water barely reached to his chest. Looking rather crest-fallen and sheepish he started to wade out of the lake; while the boys burst into a roar that must have even been heard by those on board the steamer.
Nick was in a rather pugnacious humor, for him, as he arrived dripping on the bank. Perhaps the merriment of his mates had something to do with it; but the chances are he dreaded lest a pair of laughing blue eyes on the departing steamer may have witnessed his ridiculous upset.
“Who pushed me in?” he demanded, as he gave vent to another upheaval of water. “Tell me that, will you? It was a mean trick, and he ought to be ducked just as bad as I was. Seems like a pity a fellow can’t just sit up on the limb of a tree to wave good-bye to a pretty girl without some envious rival putting up a game on him. Who did it? I dare him to tell!”
“Rats! you’re away off your base, Buster!” cried George.
“Quit raising the lake that way, can’t you?” complained Josh. “Want to flood us out of our camp, do you?”
“Buster, nobody was near you when you fell,” said Jack. “I don’t think there was one of us within ten feet of the tree. And besides, you were up out of reach. You let go both hands and slipped. It was your own fault. And we didn’t help you out because I knew you had on that cork thing; besides, the water wasn’t over your head, as I found out some time ago. So don’t accuse anybody of being mean.”
“And next time you want to take the middle of the stage just let us know. You gave us an awful jolt,” remarked George.
“Why, if I’d had heart disease I’d have dropped flat,” vowed Josh.
“Oh! let up on me, can’t you, and don’t rub it in so hard?” grumbled the dripping Nick. “Now I’ve got to go and get these duds off. And it’ll take a long while for ’em to dry. Nice way to use a new suit, ain’t it?”
“Well, it’s lucky for the trade that you’ve come up here.” Herb put in. “The clothing business will take on a boom soon. What with Canada pussies, and upsets into the lake, you can get away with more suits than the rest of us.”
“But I haven’t got another bunch of clothes along,” whimpered Nick, “and it’s sure too chilly to run around without anything on. Jack won’t you help me out?”
“I guess I can lend you a pair of trousers, Buster, if you can get into them. Don’t forget that fine red sweater you possess. Josh, pull it down from that branch, will you? So you see, you’ll get along till these duds dry out,” replied the one addressed.
“But stick to the camp while you’re wearing that sweater, Buster,” warned Josh. “Perhaps there ain’t any cows around here; but even a bull moose would want to boost you up in a tree if he ever saw that rag.”
“Oh! I’ll hug the fire, all right; don’t you worry about me, Josh Purdue,” was the fat boy’s reply, as he made off, the water still oozing from his soaked garments in streams.
Jack wisely put in the balance of the morning fishing, and with abundant success, as was evidenced from the fact that they had another delightful fish dinner that noon, Josh serving the trout in his usual tempting manner, crisp and brown.
As his clothes had meantime dried, through the action of combined sun and camp fire, Nick gradually became himself again. It took considerable to upset his good nature; and the boys never could fully decide whether he had been in earnest concerning that episode of the “great splash,” or simply pretending to be indignant.
“And now, what’s the programme?” asked Jack, as, having eaten until they could no longer be tempted, they sat back to talk over the future activities of the motor boat club.
“Fellows,” remarked George, seriously. “I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re making a mistake in cruising over such big water as this.”
“Hear! hear!” called Nick, clapping his hands.
“Boats as small as ours seem out of their element on an ocean,” continued the skipper of the Wireless, steadily. “They’re all right in such places as the Thousand Islands, where plenty of harbors are in sight all the time. But just think what might happen up here. Suppose the wind had chopped around the other night, instead of kindly holding off till morning. What would have happened to us?”
“Oh! well,” remarked Herb; “we all know the answer to that riddle, George. Since we couldn’t well make out into the open lake in the storm during darkness, why, every boat must have been smashed against the rocks. Makes me shiver to just think of it; and that’s right, fellows.”
“Perhaps one or more of us might have gone under.” George went on. “Now, when we got permission to make this cruise we promised not to take unnecessary risks—am I right, fellows?”
“Sure you are, George. Hit up the pace, will you? Buster here is getting sleepy, waiting for the verdict,” Josh said, after his customary fashion.
“Then I’m going to offer a suggestion; and if Jack says so, I’ll put it in the form of a motion,” George continued.
“Make it a motion without all this fuss and feathers,” observed Herb.
“I move, then, that we abandon our original intention of knocking along this north shore of Superior till we arrive at Duluth, where we could ship our boats home. It wouldn’t pay us for the trouble and the danger. It’s a barren country. If we had an accident there’s no place to have repairs done short of several hundred miles. In a word, fellows, this is no hunting ground for little motor boats. Besides,” with a sly glance toward Nick, “what if our grub gives out, as it’s likely to do at any time, once Buster gets to feeling himself again; why, we might starve to death, fellows, in the midst of plenty.”
“You’ve heard the motion, fellows—that we change our programme, and give up this Lake Superior trip. All in favor say aye!” Jack remarked.
A chorus of assents followed.
“Contrary, no!” went on the commodore; but only silence followed.
“Motion is carried unanimously,” Jack went on. “And now, let’s consider what is to take the place of this trip. We’ve still got some weeks ahead of us, the fishing’s fine, and we’re a long way from Milwaukee. Somebody suggest something.”
George and Jack had of course talked this thing over more than once recently. So no one was surprised when the former immediately jumped up, and began:
“For one, I’m of the opinion we couldn’t do better than return over part of the way we came. Between the Soo and Mackinac Island there’s fine cruising ground to be explored. We can take a different route part of the way back through the St. Mary’s River, and perhaps find new mud banks, with a few more strange animals on the Canada side. Besides Jack says the bass fishing is just great in some places they told him about at the Soo.”
“Hurrah! Me for the St. Mary’s then,” Nick shouted, to hide his confusion at mention of strange beasts, for of course he knew what that referred to.
“The prospect of the merry bass frizzling over the coals coaxes Buster,” declared Josh; “but on general principles, fellows, I don’t see how we could improve on that programme. Count me in on it, George.”
“Any other suggestions?” asked Jack. “If there are, now is the time to speak up, before we decide our plans. We can settle on just the day we ought to leave Mackinac for the run down Michigan to Milwaukee, and so get home on the dot. How is it, fellows? Do I hear another scheme offered?”
“Make it unanimous, Jack,” said Herb. “You know we’re pretty much of one mind; and we ought to get all the fun going out of that programme.”
“Then we start back tomorrow?” said Jack.
“Right after breakfast,” Josh added.
“Good gracious!” exclaimed Nick. “I hope none of you would be silly enough to ever think of leaving here before breakfast!”
“Oh! that will never happen, so long as we have an alarm clock in the bunch. We depend on you, Buster, to warn us when it’s time to eat our three meals a day,” George said blandly.
“Now, I didn’t expect that of you George,” remarked Nick. “But if you really mean it, thank you! I’m glad to know I’m of some use to the crowd.”
“Why, Buster, we wouldn’t know how to keep house without you,” remarked Jack.
“What would we be after doing with the leftovers?” ventured Jimmie.
“And how would I keep my big boat evenly balanced?” demanded Herb. “Sure you fill a place in the circle, Buster, and a very important one. We’d miss you if you ever gave up the ship, and took the train back home.”