The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 13

Nothing more was said until at last the boys arrived at the sh.o.r.e. Both looked keenly out over the waters hoping to discover some trace of their friends. In the dim light, however, they were unable to discover the presence of any boat on the waters or of any parties on the bluff. The night air was becoming cooler, although the breeze which had arisen at sunset had now died away.

For several minutes the boys stood waiting and listening upon the sh.o.r.e and then Fred in a loud whisper said hastily, "Listen, Jack. Do you hear anything?"

"On the water?" inquired John.

"Yes."

Both boys listened intently and in a brief time John said eagerly, "I do hear something. To me it is like the sound of oars in oarlocks."

"That's it. That's it exactly," said Fred. "There's a boat out there somewhere, only we can't see it. Let's get behind these bushes and wait until it comes nearer."

Acting upon Fred's suggestion they quickly took their places behind a low growth of bushes only a few feet back from the water. There they were still able to see what occurred on the lake, and at the same time in the dim light would not be readily discovered by any parties that were approaching.

Not many minutes elapsed before the dim outlines of the skiff were discerned. There was only one occupant and he was rowing toward the sh.o.r.e, apparently unconcerned whether or not his presence was known.

"Ahoy, there!" called John abruptly.

The sound of the oars abruptly ceased and a brief period of tense silence followed.

"Who's in the skiff?" called John.

"Wait until I come ash.o.r.e and I'll tell you," came the reply. With a few st.u.r.dy strokes the oarsman sent the light little skiff ash.o.r.e and as he stepped out on the ground both boys were startled when they discovered the newcomer to be Mr. b.u.t.ton. Why he should be coming from the lake was something they could not explain.

"Where's the _Gadabout_?" demanded Fred eagerly.

"I haven't seen it."

"Haven't you seen anything of the other boys?"

"Not a trace of them."

"What do you suppose has become of them?" demanded John, who was beginning to be seriously troubled by the failure of his friends to appear.

"I cannot say," replied Mr. b.u.t.ton. "What are you doing here?"

"That's what we should like to know ourselves," replied Fred ruefully.

"We can't get into the house and we haven't any boat so it looks very much as if we would have to stay here on the sh.o.r.e all night."

"Can't you get into the house?" inquired Mr. b.u.t.ton.

"No, sir. We have been up there two or three times. The doors are locked and no one pays any attention to us when we rap. Besides they have got a dog there and he's a savage brute. He got John by the trousers and wouldn't let go until I hit him on the back with a stick of wood."

"Was it John or the dog you hit?" inquired Mr. b.u.t.ton dryly.

"The dog, of course. What are we going to do now, Mr. b.u.t.ton?"

"I think I can get you over to the sh.o.r.e of Drummond Island, but I should like very much to have you wait a little while before we start."

"All right," replied both boys together.

"Meanwhile," suggested Mr. b.u.t.ton, "I would like to have you come with me up the sh.o.r.e as far as that cove where the mate left his skiff after it was stove in. It isn't more than one hundred yards or so from here."

The boys readily consented after they had a.s.sisted Mr. b.u.t.ton to haul his boat farther up on the beach.

Whatever the purpose in the mind of the man was he did not explain, nor were the boys able to conjecture what it was after they had walked along the sh.o.r.e as far as the cove and then had returned to the spot where the skiff in which Mr. b.u.t.ton had come had been left.

Their consternation, however, was great when after a vain search they were convinced that the skiff was gone. That it could have drifted away was impossible. All three were alike convinced of that fact. There was not much wind now and the little boat had been hauled so far from the water that it was impossible for it to drift away. There was only one conclusion and that was that some one had taken it.

For a moment they stood in silence after they were convinced that the boat indeed was gone, and then the boys, keenly excited, turned to their companion demanding what he would suggest as the next thing to be done.

CHAPTER X THE FLIGHT OF THE GADABOUT

For several minutes the boys ran up and down the sh.o.r.e vainly searching for the missing boat. They were convinced that some one had taken the skiff and probably was not far away, as it would be impossible for any one to go far during the short time that had elapsed since they had left the spot where Mr. b.u.t.ton had landed.

At last the search was abandoned and when the boys returned they discovered Mr. b.u.t.ton awaiting their coming.

"Listen, boys," he said in a low voice. "Do you hear any sound?"

The boys were silent, but in a brief time Fred said quickly, "Yes, sir, I think I hear a motor-boat."

"You are correct," said Mr. b.u.t.ton. "There's a boat coming this way. I have been sure of it for two or three minutes, but I have not been able to make out its outlines, as yet. Can either of you boys see it?"

Neither Fred nor John was able to discern the outlines of the boat, which steadily sounded nearer. A few minutes only had pa.s.sed before Fred gleefully announced his discovery of the approaching motor-boat.

"I think it must be the _Gadabout_," he said eagerly. "Probably George and Grant are on board and they are looking for us. Shall I hail them?"

"No, no," said Mr. b.u.t.ton quickly. "At least not yet. We had better wait here until we are sure who is on board."

Obediently the boys followed the instructions and waited until the motor-boat had come within twenty feet of the sh.o.r.e. There the power was shut off and the course slightly reversed, so that the _Gadabout_, for it was indeed the missing boat, came slowly about, broadside to the island.

Although the boat was so near, it was impossible for John or Fred to see who was steering. They were aware that at least three were on board for they saw plainly the forms of the men as they let go the anchor and the boat became stationary.

"I guess it's George and Grant--" began Fred, at the same time preparing to advance near the water. He was sharply recalled, however, by Mr.

b.u.t.ton, who once more urged the boys to remain behind the bushes where they had taken their stand until they had seen who made up the party on the _Gadabout_.

Only a brief time elapsed before a man stepped on board a skiff and pushed out from the motor-boat to the sh.o.r.e. Without using his oars the boat soon ground on the beach and when the occupant stepped forth both of the watching boys were aware that it was the mate of the _Gadabout_.

He pulled his skiff up on the sh.o.r.e, and then, scarcely glancing behind him, at once pa.s.sed swiftly into the field and soon disappeared from sight.

"He's going up to the house," said Fred in his excitement.

"It looks like it," said John. "Shall we follow him?" He had turned to Mr. b.u.t.ton as he spoke.

"No," said the man quickly. "The thing for us to do is to take this skiff and board the _Gadabout_."