THE RESCUE OF THE GADABOUT
Meanwhile on the _Gadabout_ George and Grant were having experiences that
by no means added to their peace of mind.
For a time they had waited with such patience as they could command for
the return of their friends. But when the minutes became hours and there
still was no sign of the coming of Fred and John both boys began to be
anxious.
The little _Gadabout_ had been steadily drifting with the slowly moving
current and in the dim light it was no longer possible to discern the
outline of the shore which Fred and John had been seeking.
The feeling of uneasiness steadily increased.
"What do you suppose has happened to those boys?" inquired Grant of his
friend.
"I don't believe anything has happened to them," replied George. "I think
that's just the trouble. They haven't found the shore, or any one to
help."
"Well, then why don't they come back?"
"I can't tell you. You know as much about that as I do."
"Well, I'm afraid they're lost," said Grant disconsolately.
"I don't believe anything very serious can happen to them even if they
have lost their way," said George, striving to speak with an assurance he
did not fully share. "Even if they stay out there until morning," he
continued, "they wouldn't have anything to be afraid of. And then they
would be able to find somebody that would pick them up and take them back
to Mackinac. Very likely we'll find them there when we get back
ourselves."
"But suppose a storm comes up," suggested Grant.
"Well, don't begin to worry until the wind begins to blow," said George
testily. The fear of the same event was in his own mind, but he resented
the suggestion of his companion.
"I think it is about time for us to be getting worried about ourselves,"
said George at last, when the first faint streaks of the dawn were seen
in the eastern sky. "Fred and John at least can be moving while we are
here as helpless as a rat in a trap."
"What do you make of him?" inquired Grant in a whisper, nodding toward
Mr. Button as he spoke.
He was still seated near the wheel and had given but slight attention to
his companions. Evidently he was anxious concerning something, though
what it was that disturbed him was still not clear to his two young
companions.
"What do you think, Mr. Button?" called George. "What's become of the
boys?"
"Huh! What's that you say?" inquired Mr. Button, sitting quickly erect.
"What do you think has become of Jack and Fred?"
"I don't know," replied Mr. Button vaguely. "Where did they go?"
"Why, they left in the skiff," explained Grant. "They have been gone
three or four hours anyway."
"Why don't they come back?" inquired Mr. Button.
"That's what we want to know. We're afraid they are lost."
"Well, they won't be lost very long," said Mr. Button. "Somebody will
pick them up and take them back to Mackinac Island. That isn't more than
forty miles away anyhow."
"Well, we're afraid somebody may not find them," said Grant. "We don't
see any boats anywhere around here."
As he spoke the boy stood erect and looked in all directions over the
smooth waters of Lake Huron. As was the case with Fred and John the only
indications of boats anywhere in the vicinity were the long low trails of
smoke that could be seen far in the west.
"How are we going to get back, Mr. Button?" inquired George.
"I don't know," replied Mr. Button. "I think we'll have to wait for
somebody to pick us up."
"But there isn't any boat anywhere around here," protested Grant.
"There may be before night," said Mr. Button quietly. "And besides we
cannot do anything to call any one."
"We might try yelling together," suggested George.
Mr. Button smiled, but made no response.
"If we had some oars or a little sail we might do something," suggested
Grant. "I'm going to look around and see if there isn't a sail on board
anywhere."
His search was unrewarded, however, and at last when Grant returned it
was agreed that their only hope was in being recognized by some passing
vessel.
The anxiety of the two boys for the safety of their missing comrades was
not relieved when later in the afternoon a lake boat changing its course
approached the place where they were lying.
Evidently they had been discovered by the captain, who was still holding
his glasses in his hand as the boat drew near.
"I found a megaphone under the seat," suggested Grant.
"Where is it? Go get it," suggested George.
In a moment Grant was again on deck and handed the megaphone to Mr.
Button.
"Ahoy, there!" he called. "Will you give us a tow?"
"Who are you?" came back the answer from the deck of the huge boat.
"There are three of us and our motor-boat broke down last night."
"How long have you been here?"
"Why, since midnight anyway. You are the first boat that has come
anywhere near us."
"And it's just by luck that we saw you. What will you do, come aboard?"
"No," answered Mr. Button, "if you'll give us a line we would rather have
you tow us. Are you going anywhere near Mackinac Island?"
"Yes," answered the captain. "We're bound straight for there. I don't
know that we shall stop, but we'll fix it so that you can get ashore if
you want to."
"That will do splendidly," called Mr. Button.
In a brief time the two boats were near enough to enable a sailor to cast
a rope to the _Gadabout_. After one or two attempts this was successfully
seized and then made fast. As the lake boat swung around to resume its
course, the _Gadabout_, one hundred feet or more astern, followed.
"I hate to go back and leave the other fellows out here," said George
when they began to move swiftly over the waters.
"You don't need to worry about them," said Mr. Button. "If we could see
them anywhere that would be one thing, but they have disappeared from
sight. They have a good skiff and I think I heard you say that they both
were Go Ahead Boys. If they are, they will get out of their trouble all
right."
"I'm sure I hope so," said George dubiously.
The conversation, however, ceased, and for a time all three were silent.
The clear waters of Lake Huron bubbled and seethed as they were cut by
the bow of the swift little motor-boat.
The huge lake boat evidently was not carrying a load and its speed
accordingly was unhampered. Doubtless the giant boat was returning to
Duluth for another cargo of wheat or iron.
The progress was uninterrupted so that by the middle of the afternoon the
high, rocky shores of Mackinac Island became visible in the distance.
At that moment the captain appeared at the stern of the lake boat and
raising his megaphone to his mouth, called, "Do you want us to land you?"
"No," replied Mr. Button also speaking through a megaphone, "we'll find
somebody that will take us in. If you're not going to land there you
needn't stop on our account. How much do we owe you?"
"You don't owe us anything," called the captain. "We're glad to lend a
hand. Whenever you say the word you can cast off and we'll haul in."
A half-hour later Mr. Button announced through his megaphone that the
time had arrived when there was no longer need for them to be towed. They
could plainly see the yachts in the harbor and the people moving along
the streets. To enter the harbor would compel the huge boat to change its
course, an act which no one desired.
Accordingly after hailing the crew and expressing the thanks of himself
and his companions for the aid they had received, Mr. Button gave the
word and the little _Gadabout_ was set free from the great steamer.
Another motor-boat near by, the occupants of which were deeply interested
spectators of what was occurring, at once took the _Gadabout_ in tow and
noisily proceeded toward the wharf which was not more than two hundred
yards away.
There were many questions asked of the rescued party, all of which were
promptly answered, but as soon as the boys landed they at once began to
make inquiries for a boat which could be chartered for a search for their
missing friends.
At last, however, they listened to the persuasions of Mr. Button and went
up to the hotel where they obtained a dinner, which satisfied them after
their long fast.
Then, quickly returning to the dock they found their boat awaiting them
and at once stepped on board.
Already they had explained to the owner the peril of the friends and the
reason why they had chartered the swiftest boat which could be obtained.
"We'll be there before long," said the captain confidently. "Have you
brought anything for your friends to eat?"
"Yes, we have a basket full here," explained George, pointing to a hamper
which one of the waiters from the hotel had placed on board. "We thought
they would be hungry so we got it ready."
"That's all right, they will be," said the captain.
"You don't suppose anything has happened to them, do you?" inquired
George anxiously.
"That's something no man knows," replied the captain not unkindly, "but
we'll soon find out."