THE FLIGHT OF THE GADABOUT
For several minutes the boys ran up and down the shore 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. Button had landed.
At last the search was abandoned and when the boys returned they
discovered Mr. Button 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. Button. "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 passed 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. Button 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 shore. 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.
Button, 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 shore. 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 shore, and then, scarcely glancing behind
him, at once passed 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. Button as he spoke.
"No," said the man quickly. "The thing for us to do is to take this skiff
and board the _Gadabout_."
"All right," said John eagerly. "Hadn't we better hail the other fellows
before we do that though? We are not sure that Grant and George are on
board."
"Yes, hail them," said Mr. Button, "but don't make much noise about it."
John stepped forth from behind the bushes and taking his stand on the
shore called, "Ahoy there! George, is that you?"
"Who's that?" came the response from the motor-boat.
"Fred and I are here," responded John.
"Who are 'I'?" laughingly came from some one on board the _Gadabout_.
"I guess you know who we are. That's you, isn't it, George?"
"It's Grant and I."
"That's all I wanted to know," responded John. "Wait a minute and we'll
be with you."
John and Fred quickly hauled the skiff into the water but before they had
taken their seats Mr. Button approached and said, "Don't leave me behind,
boys."
"We aren't going to stay very long," suggested Fred.
"That will be all right," said Mr. Button, "but take me with you."
The boys delayed a moment while Mr. Button stepped on board and seated
himself in the stern of the little skiff. A moment later the little boat
was alongside the _Gadabout_ and all three stepped on board, Fred still
holding the painter in his hand.
Before them sat George and Grant peering eagerly into their faces and
plainly surprised by the unexpected action of their companions.
"We must leave right away," said Mr. Button.
"What for?" demanded Fred.
"I haven't time to explain to you," said Mr. Button, "but the only thing
for us to do is to get away from this island, and the _Gadabout_ is the
best means for us to use."
"But the boat doesn't belong to us," protested John.
"Doesn't it?" laughed Mr. Button. "Didn't you hire it for the day? Didn't
you pay the man to bring you out to Drummond Island and then carry you
back to Mackinac?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, he hasn't done all he agreed to, has he?"
"No, sir, but--"
"Then there's no reason in the world why we shouldn't start out. It must
be between nine and ten o'clock at night. We have been cheated out of a
good deal of our day by the captain and we have a right to take his boat
and go on back to Mackinac if we want to."
The boys still hesitated to adopt the unusual suggestion and after a
brief silence, John said, "I don't believe any of us knows very much
about running a motor-boat."
"That isn't necessary," said Mr. Button. "I know all about it."
Meanwhile, although he continued his conversation with the boys, Mr.
Button had hauled in the anchor and then made fast the skiff to the
stern.
Without waiting for any further words he at once advanced to the wheel
and as soon as the power was turned on the speedy, little craft began to
draw away from the dim shores of Cockburn Island.
They had not gone far, however, before they heard a loud hail from the
shore.
"Hi, there!" called some one. "What are you doing with that motor-boat?
Come back here! Come back here with it!"
A low suggestion from Mr. Button caused all the boys to remain silent.
Again the hail came from the shore, louder than before and in tones of
one who evidently was angry or alarmed.
"Come back with that boat! You'll run her aground! I'll have you arrested
for piracy! Bring that boat back here!"
All four boys were decidedly uneasy over the situation in which they now
found themselves. They had recognized the voice of the mate as the one
which had ordered them to return with the boat. They were aware also that
the charge he had made, that they were stealing or running away with a
chartered boat, might become a serious matter for all concerned.
Almost as if he was aware of the thoughts in the minds of his companions,
Mr. Button said quietly, "Don't be afraid, boys. I'll see you out of this
trouble, but just now there's nothing else to be done. You can put the
whole blame on me, for I'm the one that took the _Gadabout_. I'm steering
her and I am taking her against your protests. You see you cannot help
yourselves because we're too far from the shore now for you to try to get
back."
At that moment again there came a loud call from the shore, but it was
evident from the tones of the voice that the _Gadabout_ was rapidly
leaving Cockburn Island behind her.
"Bring back the boat! I'll give you ten dollars to bring her back!"
Silence still followed the noisy offer, however, and only a few minutes
had elapsed before the _Gadabout_ had passed beyond the sight of any one
who might be standing on the shore.
Apparently Mr. Button was not in any confusion as to the course he was to
follow. Directly across the narrow waters he steered until in a brief
time the shore of Drummond Island loomed before them. Then changing his
course he guided the swift, little craft on a line parallel with the
shore. The boat was moving southward and all four of the unwilling
passengers expected that in a brief time they would pass the point of
Drummond Island and then would turn westward and seek the harbor at
Mackinac.
The speed of the _Gadabout_ was increasing now and in the dim light the
waters near the stern seemed almost to glow with light. There was
excitement for the boys in the midst of the mystery, but all had become
silent and watchful of the man at the wheel.
Swiftly the little _Gadabout_ plowed its way across the smooth waters.
The point of Drummond Island was passed and then to the amazement of the
boys the course was not changed. The _Gadabout_ now was headed for the
open waters of Lake Huron. Mackinac Island lay far to their right.
"You have made a mistake, Mr. Button," called George anxiously. "This
isn't the way back to Mackinac Island."
"Don't be alarmed, boys," replied Mr. Button, without glancing behind
him. "I'll bring you out all right."
"But you are headed in the wrong direction," protested Fred.
"Don't be afraid," said Mr. Button once more. "I know what I am doing and
so will you all pretty soon."
It was too dark to enable any of the boys to perceive the expression on
the faces of his comrades. That they all were aghast at the unexpected
turn of events, however, was manifest to all, but the little _Gadabout_,
as if the anxiety of its passengers was of no concern, kept steadily on
its way toward the open waters of Lake Huron.