The Deserted Yacht Part 17

The young people decided to allow other questions to go unanswered until they reached the yacht, for Mr. Burnett was in need of food and rest.

While the kidnappers had not actually mistreated him, they had grilled him at all hours and had shortened his rations to the vanis.h.i.+ng point.

"When I get to The Flora I want a big juicy steak, French fried potatoes, several pies and at least a gallon of good, hot coffee," Mr. Burnett announced, "and you all must share the feast with me."

With Rex and Jack supporting him on either side, he was able to walk.

They helped him down to the beach and established him comfortably in the c.o.c.kpit of the amphibian. Jack, Madge and Enid said they would return in the motor boat, and before leaving Cedar Point, watched the amphibian take off.

During the long trip back to The Flora, Madge and Jack had ample opportunity to renew acquaintances. They had been separated less than a month yet from their conversation a stranger would have judged that they were meeting after several years' absence. Enid piloted the boat, obligingly keeping her eyes glued on the course. She experienced no difficulty in avoiding Clingman's Rock and brought them safely into harbor.

"I hope the Zudi Drum is still here," Madge said as they stepped aboard the yacht. "If it isn't, I'll go jump off the deep end."

She found the trophy in Mr. Burnett's cabin where she had hidden it.

There was no sleep for anyone that night. Jose, the cook, was rousted from his bed to prepare the most ambitious meal of his life. The feast came to an end just as the sun was coloring the east.

"'All's well that ends well,' as our good friend Shakespeare once said,"

Mr. Burnett quoted when the party showed signs of breaking up. "I particularly want this affair to end pleasantly. As soon as I feel able to handle a sail again, I want the vacation to go through as it was originally planned. Enid and I will not be satisfied unless you all join us. You'll come, won't you, Mr. French?"

Jack looked at Madge and smiled as he saw her quickly nod.

"I'll be glad to come," he accepted. "I'm on my vacation and have more time than I know how to use."

"Here's to a glorious cruise!" Enid cried. "Now that everything is settled, let's all stagger off to bed."

Stagger they did, and nearly slept the clock around. When Madge awoke it was to find herself famous, for the newspapers, securing the story from the police, had given her credit for the important part she had played in Mr. Burnett's rescue.

She was destined to have a more substantial reward for her services. Mr.

Burnett recovered the jade pin from the jeweler, and after conferring with the police, insisted that Madge accept it as a slight compensation for all that she had done.

"Slight compensation!" she protested. "Why, it must be worth a great deal-Mr. Dewitt told me that. I'd be afraid to keep it. When those men get out of jail they might make trouble."

"You need not fear on that score," Mr. Burnett a.s.sured her. "The kidnappers have relinquished all claims to both the pin and the drum.

They have long sentences to serve. By the time they are set free, the Zudi sect will no longer exist."

Madge continued to offer objections but in the end she was induced to accept the pin.

In a very few days, Mr. Burnett had recovered his strength and announced that he was ready to leave Cheltham Bay. One fine morning The Flora sailed majestically out of the harbor on a two weeks' cruise. Rex and Jack learned a great deal about sailing from Mr. Burnett but that was by no means their major interest.

"It's been a glorious vacation," Madge told Enid one day as they sat together on the sunny deck. "I can't believe it will all be over in a few days."

"You're feeling blue because Jack soon will be returning to Canada," her friend teased.

"I'll hate to see him go," Madge admitted, "but I wasn't thinking of that. When I leave here I must go back to Michigan and school. How dull it will seem after such an experience as I've had this summer."

"School isn't so exciting," Enid agreed, "but perhaps you can stir things up a bit."

At the moment, neither of the girls had the slightest intimation of what really lay ahead of Madge. Her exciting days were by no means over. Just around the corner-at Claymore, Michigan-an adventure awaited her arrival.

The story is related in the third volume of this series, "The Secret of the Sundial."

"Oh, well," Madge remarked optimistically, "the memory of this summer may tide me over for another year or so."

She said no more for someone had started the phonograph and it was grinding out an inviting dance tune. Jack came to claim her for a partner.

"What were you saying about memories?" he asked as he swept her away. And then in an undertone, intended for her ears alone: "Don't think for one minute that you can pack me away in moth b.a.l.l.s and lavender. I'm like those big mosquitoes we have at Loon Lake-I'll pester you 'till the end of time!"

THE END