ALL'S WELL--CONCLUSION
"All aboard!"
It was the tense voice of Allen Washburn calling, as he and his chums
clambered aboard the _Pocohontas_. There had been a hurried filling of
the gasoline and oil tanks after the suggestion offered by Tin-Back,
that the disappearance of the mysterious schooner was coincident with
the disappearance of the girls.
"If she only will run," ventured Roy, who was in charge of the motor.
"She's _got_ to run!" declared Allen, fiercely. Not all of the party
went in the motor boat. Mrs. Nelson did not feel equal to the task, but
Mollie said she would go, for her girl chums might need her in case they
were found.
Tin-Back went, of course, with Henry, Allen and Roy. Will volunteered to
stay with Mrs. Nelson and Grace. At first he had begged to be taken
along, but some one had to stay to be the "man of the house," and I
think, after all, Will wanted to get another look at the diamonds, in
which he now had so strong and growing an interest.
"Let her go!" cried Allen, and the motor boat glided away from the
little dock. It was late afternoon, and while the threatened storm had
held off, the daylight was fast fading.
Fortunately they had a clue as to the direction the schooner had taken
after leaving her anchorage. The man at the life saving station had
observed her beating out on a long tack. He had noticed her through a
glass, but had taken no note of any girls that might have been put
aboard. But the wind was now quite strong, and the schooner would hardly
sail against it. So our friends had a certain fairly sure direction to
follow.
Will and Mrs. Nelson, with Grace and Percy, went back to the cottage.
Their first care was to see that the diamonds were safe, and this was
soon ascertained to be the case.
Meanwhile the motor boat had taken up the search. Driven at top speed,
and with the engine "doing its prettiest," as Roy boasted, they made
good time. In and out they went, over the course, now and then pausing
to speak some clammer, but getting no information, save in one or two
instances. But they learned enough to know that they were on the right
track.
"Are you going to cruise all night," asked Mollie.
"No, unfortunately we'll have to turn back at dark," Allen said. "That
is why I want to cover as much water as possible before all the light is
gone."
They chased after one or two schooners, but without result, until, just
as the last light of a threatening day was fading, Tin-Back startled
them all by leaping up and shouting:
"Sail, ho!"
"Where away?" demanded Allen, in true nautical fashion.
"Dead ahead. There she is or I'm a candidate for Davy Jones's locker!
Put after her, boys!"
It was comparatively easy, for the wind had died out--the calm before a
storm, and as the schooner had no "kicker," or small gasoline engine, as
had some of the clammers, she was soon overhauled.
That she was at least the one which had been anchored out in the bay was
evident, for Tin-Back recognized her at once. Also it was evident that
no visitors were desired, for, as the _Pocohontas_ came up alongside the
almost motionless sailing craft, an ugly face looked over the low rail,
and a gruff voice cried:
"That'll do, now. Keep off or you'll get into trouble! What do you want,
anyhow?"
"You know well enough what we want!" cried Allen. "Up on deck, boys!
We've got 'em just where we want 'em. There's your man, officer!" he
called. It was pure "bluff," but it seemed to have its effect, for the
man who had given the warning drew back.
"What is it?" demanded some one else, coming up out of the cabin.
"Oh, some fresh guys----"
"Come on, fellows!" Allen called loudly. He had leaped out on the
forward deck of the motor boat. Mollie had been urged to stay in the
little cabin, and did so. But it was evident there was to be no serious
trouble--at least just yet.
"Come on!" cried Tin-Back, and at the sound of his resolute voice there
was a surprised exclamation from the group of men on the schooner's
deck.
"All aboard!" yelled the old clammer. "We've got 'em where we want 'em!
Close-hauled! We'll holystone 'em an' slush 'em with hot tar if they
give any trouble! Come on!"
Another instant and, despite his age and the crippling effects of
rheumatism caused by exposure in all sorts of weather, Tin-Back had
leaped to the schooner's deck. He was followed by Roy, Allen and a
couple of sturdy fishermen, who had been picked up on the beach.
"Now, then, what do you fellows want?" demanded Pete, who was recognized
as the fisherman of the lonely cabin.
"You know well enough what we want!" answered Allen resolutely. "The two
young ladies you have on board here."
"There's nobody here," was the surly denial.
"I tell you there are!"
"You----"
There came a shrill scream from somewhere below decks, followed by an
exclamation in a woman's voice.
"They're loose! They're loose. Pete--Jake--I--I----"
The men of the schooner uttered surprised exclamations.
"Come on!" cried Pete, leaping up.
"Not so fast," interposed Tin-Back, stepping in front of the man who had
made a dash toward the cabin. "Wait a minute," and an extended foot
tripped Pete, who fell heavily to the deck.
"We're coming!" shouted Allen, and, followed by Roy and Mollie, who by
this time had made her way to the deck of the schooner, they hurried
below. From behind a closed door came the sound of a struggle.
"In here!" cried Allen, and he threw himself against the panels as
though he were stopping a rush on the football field. There was a
cracking of wood and a snapping of metal. The door burst open.
In the cabin, struggling against the old crone, were Betty and Amy,
disheveled and almost hysterical, but otherwise safe and sound.
"Allen!" gasped Betty, holding out her hands to him. He clasped them
warmly, and the old crone, seeing that the whole affair was over, slunk
off, whining something about meaning no harm to the "dearies"!
"Just watch those fellows that they don't do any mischief," said Henry
to Tin-Back, when he had comforted his sister.
"Oh, they won't do any harm. They know it's all up. Besides, I brought
this with me," and the clammer showed an ancient horse pistol, that, had
it been fired, would probably have worked more havoc to the marksman
than to the person aimed at.
There were tears, hysterical laughter, and rapid-fire explanations--all,
seemingly, at once.
"But you're safe!" cried Allen, who had both Betty's hands. Whether or
not it had been a continuous performance I cannot say. Probably it had.
Betty was a very nice girl.
"Oh, yes, we're safe," she said, trying to control her voice.
"But those awful men; that--that horrid woman!" gasped Amy.
"You needn't worry about them any more," Allen assured her. "We'll see
that they get what's coming to them."
Whether or not he would have been able to put this into operation is a
question. But unexpected help arrived. It would not have been easy for
the little force in the motor boat to cope with the larger crew of men
on the schooner. Besides, there were three girls to be considered, and,
though they were equal to most emergencies, both Betty and Amy were now
rather unnerved.
There was a sharp whistle outside--a boat signal, evidently.
"What's that?" asked Allen, who, with Henry, Roy and the girls, was in
the cabin, so recently a prison.
"It's a revenue cutter," bawled Tin-Back down the hatchway. "They want
to know if we need help."
"We'll take it, anyhow," chuckled Allen. He felt like laughing now. "But
how in the world did they come, and in the nick of time?"
"Maybe Will sent them," suggested Mollie. "They may be down here after
the smugglers."
And so it proved when Allen went up on deck and held a short talk with
an officer aboard the trim cutter, which had come to a stop alongside
the motor boat and drifting schooner.
Will, left behind at the cottage with Mrs. Nelson and Grace, had
suddenly thought to send the cutter _Minoa_ to follow up the
_Pocohontas_. The government vessel had come down to Ocean View in view
of certain facts Will had given his chief in the Secret Service, but
Will had not expected to use the _Minoa_ in the chase. When he recalled
that she was but a short distance off shore, awaiting wireless
instructions, he rushed in Percy's auto to the telegraph office in town,
and got into communication with his chief, who was awaiting word from
him.
It was but the matter of a few minutes to relay the instructions to the
cutter by wireless from Boston, and she started out to look for a small
motor boat chasing a suspicious schooner. She found both in the nick of
time.
Explanations made, men from the revenue vessel boarded the sailing craft
and made her captain and crew prisoners, the old crone being among those
captured. She had tried to make off in the rowboat trailing at the
schooner's stern, but had been caught by Tin-Back.
"No, you don't!" he cried. "We want you!" and the old lobsterman held
to her despite her struggles.
There were more explanations, and then, as the storm showed signs of
breaking, the rescued girls and their friends set out for Ocean View in
the motor boat. The revenue officers remained in charge of the captured
schooner, and said they would see Will in the morning to complete the
case.
"But what in the world did they want to capture you girls for?" asked
Roy, when they were all safe again in Edgemere. The rain was beating
against the windows, for they arrived just as the downpour began.
"They thought to get the secret of the diamonds," declared Will. "I can
tell you that much. Though how they expected to do it I can't say."
"But were those men who had us--and that horrid old woman--the
smugglers?" asked Amy.
"No, only their tools," Will said. "In brief, the game was this: The box
of diamonds you found was smuggled from France. But before those
interested in bringing them over could make good they received word that
the customs officers in Boston were waiting for them. The government
agents abroad had sent word here to be on the lookout.
"So the smugglers adopted a bold plan. They sent a message in cipher, by
the ship's wireless, when two or three days outside of Boston, to their
confederates, to have a boat waiting for them off this coast. That was
done, and one dark night the smugglers tossed overboard the box with the
diamonds concealed in the false bottom. It was fixed in a cork
arrangement, so it would float. This box was picked up, but before the
confederates could make away with it something happened. There was a
quarrel among the smugglers, I believe, and one gang hurried off and
buried the box here in the sand.
"You girls came along just as that had been done, and though some of the
men wished to come back and take away the booty, others would not permit
this, thinking no chance comer would find it."
"Those were the men we saw leaving in the boat," said Mollie.
"Yes," assented Will.
"And we did find the diamonds!" cried Grace.
"Yes, and that made all the trouble--for the smugglers," went on Will.
"Of course they soon learned that the box was gone, and they guessed you
girls had taken it. Then they tried to get it back."
"Those men in the cellar?" asked Betty.
"Were part of the gang," declared Will. "And I learned that they found
the diamonds were in the cellar because a tramp hanging around for food
overheard us taking about them. He wasn't in with the smugglers then,
but later he joined them, giving this information.
"But the plan to get the diamonds from the cellar failed, and they had
to do something else. That old woman and her fisherman husband were
delegated to capture one or more of you girls, and force you either to
tell where the diamonds were, or else they were going to hold you as a
ransom for them."
"How terrible!" cried Grace.
"But it's all over now," her brother said. "Now we have the diamonds, we
have the poor dupes of tools the smugglers bribed--the fisherman and the
men of the schooner--and it only remains to get the criminals
themselves. We'll do it, too."
"Did they treat you badly?" asked Grace of Betty and Amy.
"Badly enough," the Little Captain replied. "They would not tell us why
we were made prisoners. But after they had taken the gags from our
mouths, they put them on again, just before you came."
"That was because they saw the motor boat after them and knew they
couldn't get away because of no wind," suggested Will.
"We thought perhaps there was a pursuit," Amy said. "And then Betty grew
desperate and managed to attack the old woman."
"But you helped," said Betty.
"Oh, don't let's talk about it," exclaimed Grace. "All's well that ends
well."
"But it isn't all ended yet," Will remarked, significantly.
Working on the fears of their prisoners the government men learned where
the real smugglers were hiding, waiting for the success of their plot,
and they were arrested. In due time they were tried, found guilty and
sentenced to pay heavy fines on the charge of trying to defraud Uncle
Sam. On the charge of kidnapping the two girls the heavier punishment of
imprisonment was meted out to those involved.
It developed that the smugglers, however, had protected themselves from
the graver charge. They had instructed the fishermen to get information
from the girls about the diamonds, in any way the ignorant men thought
best, and the kidnapping scheme was the product of the brains of the old
woman and her husband. They laid the plot to capture the girls, and
secured the help of several friends, hiring the schooner for their
purpose. When the schooner sailed away with Betty and Amy the old woman
and her husband expected to pick up the smugglers and let them force the
truth from the girls. But their plan was spoiled.
The diamonds, of course, became the property of the government, and were
sold at auction, and on such favorable terms that each of the girls was
able to obtain one for herself. Will helped bring this about, for the
government was under obligation to him and his friends for recovering
the jewels and capturing the smugglers. The reward was evenly divided.
"And I received a fine letter of thanks from my chief," said Will. "For
my first case he said it was a--corker!"
"Oh, Will!" objected his sister.
"Well, he meant that, if he didn't say it," was the answer. "And I'm
going to have a vacation which I'm going to spend down here if Betty
will let me."
"Of course I will," she said. "We'll have jolly times!"
And then began glorious days at Ocean View, days in which there was no
worriment about the packet of diamonds. Allen was allowed to keep the
mysterious box and the original of the cipher, but he was never able to
discover the meaning of it, nor who the enigmatical "B. B. B." was.
It was practically certain, however, that "B. B. B." was the real head
of the smugglers, he who furnished the money and most of the brains. But
his confederates never betrayed him. The value of the diamonds was
several thousand dollars above Mr. Nelson's estimate.
There followed vacation days of boating and bathing, with more picnics,
and Grace had all the chocolates she wanted--or at least all that were
good for her. Tin-Back came in for a share of the reward, and bought
himself, among other things, a new fish net.
And, while the outdoor girls are enjoying life at beautiful Ocean View,
we will take leave of them.
THE END
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Series."
* * * * *
=12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING=
* * * * *
The adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere. Their father, a widower, is an
actor who has taken up work for the "movies." Both girls wish to aid him
in his work and visit various localities to act in all sorts of
pictures.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS
Or First Appearance in Photo Dramas.
Having lost his voice, the father of the girls goes into the movies and
the girls follow. Tells how many "parlor dramas" are filmed.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM
Or Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays.
Full of fun in the country, the haps and mishaps of taking film plays,
and giving an account of two unusual discoveries.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND
Or The Proof on the Film.
A tale of winter adventures in the wilderness, showing how the
photo-play actors sometimes suffer.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS
Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida.
How they went to the land of palms, played many parts in dramas before
the camera; were lost, and aided others who were also lost.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH
Or Great Days Among the Cowboys.
All who have ever seen moving pictures of the great West will want to
know just how they are made. This volume gives every detail and is full
of clean fun and excitement.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA
Or a Pictured Shipwreck that Became Real.
A thrilling account of the girls' experiences on the water.
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS
Or The Sham Battles at Oak Farm.
The girls play important parts in big battle scenes and have plenty of
hard work along with considerable fun.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
For Little Men and Women
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
* * * * *
=12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.=
* * * * *
Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that
charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire. Many
of the adventures are comical in the extreme, and all the accidents that
ordinarily happen to youthful personages happened to these many-sided
little mortals. Their haps and mishaps make decidedly entertaining
reading.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
Telling how they go home from the seashore; went to school and were
promoted, and of their many trials and tribulations.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
Telling of the winter holidays, and of the many fine times and
adventures the twins had at a winter lodge in the big woods.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
Mr. Bobbsey obtains a houseboat, and the whole family go on a tour.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
The young folks visit the farm again and have plenty of good times and
several adventures.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
The twins get into all sorts of trouble--and out again--also bring aid
to a poor family.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
* * * * *
=12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.=
* * * * *
Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this
line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films
are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures
to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life in
the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along
the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage
beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of
earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found
interesting from first chapter to last.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS
Or Perils of a Great City Depicted.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST
Or Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
Or Showing the Perils of the Deep.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
Or Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
Or Working Amid Many Perils.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD
Or Perilous Days on the Mississippi.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA
Or Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal.
THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA
Or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH SERIES
By GRAHAM B. FORBES
Never was there a cleaner, brighter, more manly boy than Frank Allen,
the hero of this series of boys' tales, and never was there a better
crowd of lads to associate with than the students of the School. All
boys will read these stories with deep interest. The rivalry between the
towns along the river was of the keenest, and plots and counterplots to
win the champions, at baseball, at football, at boat racing, at track
athletics, and at ice hockey, were without number. Any lad reading one
volume of this series will surely want the others.
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH
Or The All Around Rivals of the School
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND
Or Winning Out by Pluck
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER
Or The Boat Race Plot that Failed
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON
Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE
Or Out for the Hockey Championship
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS
Or A Long Run that Won
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN WINTER SPORTS
Or Stirring Doings on Skates and Iceboats
=12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth, with cover design and
wrappers in colors.=
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Frontispiece caption, "Molly" changed to "Mollie". (MOLLY BROUGHT UP)
Page 13, "Molly" changed to "Mollie". (when Mollie became)
Page 58, "they" changed to "she". (as she turned)
Page 124, "claming" changed to "clamming". (fleet of clamming boats)
Page 142, "On" changed to "Oh". (Oh, no, sir)
Page 157, "Molly" changed to "Mollie". (yes," assented Mollie)
Page 175, "themselvs" changed to "themselves". (Amy keeping themselves)
Bobbsey Twins advertisement, word "on" added to text. (go on a tour)
End of Project Gutenberg's The Outdoor Girls at Ocean View, by Laura Lee Hope