HOW THE MOTOR BOAT FLOTILLA WENT TO SEA.
In spite of the racket made by the storm, the boys managed to get in a
pretty fair night's sleep. In the first place they were tired; and
then they had some lost rest to make up. That first night had not been
very much of a success as a slumber maker.
With the breaking of morning Jack took an observation by peeping out.
The rain was still coming down spitefully; and the roar of the waves on
the nearby shore announced how utterly impossible it would be for the
small craft to continue their voyage south on this day.
"We're in for a stop-over, Jimmy," he announced, as a sleepy voice from
among the blankets inquired as to the prospects.
It was not long before other laments were heard in the land, as Nick,
George, Herb and Josh poked their heads out, in order to see what was
going on.
"Gee! I hope you fellows don't think of butting into such a howler as
this?" remarked George, a bit anxiously.
"I should say not," laughed Josh. "Though I reckon our comfy old tub
could stand up, and take her knocks without squealing. But we'd have
to wait over at Lewes just the same, so what's the use?"
"I'd refuse to move a foot, and that's flat!" declared George, as he
teetered at the stern of the narrow speed boat; for it happened just
then that the clumsy Nick was moving around, and whenever this came
about, the balance of the craft was visibly disturbed.
"No danger," declared Jack. "We're going to make the best of a bad
bargain, and roost here in Murderkill Creek for another day."
"Whoo! once when I woke in the night," remarked Josh, "and as the wind
slackened up a bit, I heard the awfullest noise ever. Sounded just
like somebody was hollerin' for help. And when I remembered all they
told us about this pesky place, I was a long time getting to sleep
again, I give you my word."
"Sure, I was after havin' the same thing myself," declared Jimmy,
eagerly. "And if any banshee in the ould country ever made a more
horrible noise, I'll eat me hat; and that's no lie. Whatever d'ye
suppose it was, Jack, old top?"
Jack laughed.
"Oh! owls!" he remarked, carelessly.
"But looky here," Josh flashed up, "don't you reckon I've heard owls
hoot before now? I tell you this was different, and much more ghastly;
just like somebody was being half choked, and gurgling as he tried to
call for help. It made the cold chills creep up and down my spinal
column, that's right, now."
"Perhaps they've got a special brand of owl down along here, that
outdoes all its species in whooping things up," laughed Jack. "And on
account of some one hearing those same fierce noises long ago, the
creek got its terrible name."
"Oh! forget it," broke in Herb; "especially since we've got to pass
another night right here, and don't want to be bothered with bad
dreams."
Breakfast was prepared in much the same fashion as their supper was
cooked on the preceding evening. George and Nick had much the worst of
it, with that flapping tent sheltering them, while the others found
solid comfort in their hunting cabins.
Every little while George could be heard warning his stout and rather
unwieldy mate to be more careful. Either he was rocking the boat in a
manner most exasperating, or else rubbing up against the canvas top,
which, in that particular spot, quickly developed a disposition to
leak, as supposed waterproof canvas often will if you so much as place
a finger on the underside while it is wet.
Along about nine o'clock, however, the clouds ceased to squeeze their
watery contents down upon the adventurous cruisers.
"Hurra! boys!" Nick was heard to shout an hour later; "it's going to
clear up, as sure as you live! Looky up yonder, and you'll see a break
in the clouds. Then we can go ashore anyhow, and get some of the kinks
out of our legs."
Nick proved a good prophet, for about eleven the clouds did begin to
roll away, so that the sun peeped out. It was a welcome sight, and
elicited a series of loud thankful cheers from the boys.
They were not long about getting on land. Josh in particular was seen
to turn a few hand-flaps, as though in that energetic way he could
loosen up his muscles the more speedily.
"But that sea will keep up more or less the rest of the day," observed
Jack, as they sauntered over to a point where they could look out on
the heaving surface of the broad Delaware Bay.
Having a stretch of miles in which to gather force under the piping
wind, the waves were of considerable height, considering that the three
boats were of diminutive size.
They watched the tumble of the billows until they were tired. Then
each set about doing whatever appealed the most to his nature.
Thus Nick wandered along the bank of the creek, examining the shores
closely, in the hope of being able to pick up a few shellfish, since
his taste for oysters had grown to huge proportions after the feast
already indulged in.
George set about drying things out on board the _Wireless_, so that he
could tinker a little with that high spirited engine of his. Josh
settled down to gather some wood, being bent on having an outdoor fire
when the next meal came around, meaning supper; for they would only
take a cold snack at noon. Herb was writing up his log; Jimmy getting
some fishing tackle in readiness, he having an idea that finny prizes
only awaited the taking in these parts; while Jack wandered forth, with
a gun thrown over his shoulder, hungry for a little hunt.
They heard a double report half an hour later. Every fellow looked
interested, for well did they know that when Jack pulled trigger there
was a pretty fair chance of something dropping into the game bag.
Nick, who was pottering with a few rather poor looking oysters he had
managed to discover in some little cove, grinned, and rubbed himself
comfortingly in the region of the stomach.
"Which shall it be, brethren, wild duck, quail on toast, rabbit stew,
or great governor! wild turkey roasted?" he demanded, with the utmost
confidence that Jack would fulfill at least one of these conditions.
When the Nimrod of the crowd came in sight, there was more or less
interest manifested as to what he had shot. After all, it proved to be
wild ducks. And Nick's eyes glistened when he saw that they were
mallards, three fat fellows at that.
"I happened on 'em in a little wide reach of the creek about half a
mile away," Jack explained; "and as this was a pot hunt, fellows,
believe me, I didn't hesitate to shoot the first barrel straight at the
three as they sat on the water. Two dropped and the other fellow made
to rise; but that was dead easy, and I got him with the second shell."
"Yum! yum! I can imagine how good they'll taste," remarked Nick. "But
as we haven't any oven along, how can we roast 'em? Jack, why not try
that hole in the ground trick that you showed us last year when we were
down on the Mississippi?"
"That's right, Jack!" echoed George.
"Just as you say, fellows; and the sooner we get our oven in working
order then, the better; because, you remember, it takes quite some
hours for it to do the job. It's really the original fireless cooker,
known to woodsmen for rafts of years before the idea was applied to
bottles that will keep the stuff warm forty hours; and contrivances to
gradually cook meats and other things. So here goes to get busy with
the oven. Nick, you and Herb and Jimmy each pluck one of the ducks in
the meantime, so they will be ready."
Now, this was a part of the business that Nick liked not at all; but he
felt that it would be a shame to complain, when he delighted so much in
being about to share in the treat; so he set to work, after his clumsy
fashion, to make the feathers fly.
Jack, meanwhile, dug a proper hole in the ground, where he could find
something like clay. With the help of Josh he started a fire in the
same. This was kept up a certain length of time, until the walls of
the oven were baked hard, and felt exceedingly hot. Then the ashes
were cleaned out, the three ducks placed therein, after being carefully
wrapped in big green leaves; and when this had been done the oven was
hermetically sealed.
"We may have to wait a little later than usual for our supper," Jack
said; "but when they're done, it'll sure make your mouths water just to
get the scent, after that oven is opened."
The afternoon passed slowly. All clouds had sailed away, and the sun
shone in a cherry manner, giving promise for a glorious day on the
morrow. Still, they could not think of changing their anchorage,
because the waves continued to run high; and that boat of George's was
always to be remembered as the one weak link in the chain.
Josh did himself proud in preparing supper that night. And when the
oven was finally opened, the delicious odor that immediately assailed
the nostrils of the hungry lads sent them into the seventh heaven of
delightful anticipation.
Nor was the eating of the ducks at all a disappointment. Never had
they tasted anything finer in all their lives.
"Say, if mallards can touch the spot like this, what must redheads or
canvasbacks be like?" demanded Nick, as he polished a leg bone
handsomely, grunting his pleasure meanwhile, and perhaps inwardly
sighing because there was not one whole duck apiece.
"We'll see, later on," replied Jack; "because, as we have to pass
through those North Carolina sounds where such ducks can be found,
there's a chance we'll take toll on the way."
"But I thought the hunting clubs had monopolized every foot of that
water; and that only the wealthy New Yorkers, and ex-presidents, could
shoot on Albemarle and Currituck Sounds?" remarked Josh.
"Well, pretty much all the best points are private territory now," Jack
answered, frowning; "but it's possible to sneak a few shots when you're
passing through on the way south. Wait and see what we can do,
fellows."
"Well, one thing sure," declared Nick, admiringly; "if ever Jack
Stormways pulls trigger on a canvasback, he goes along with this bully
crowd, all right."
"Hear! hear!" cried the others, which caused the flattered Jack to
smile and wave his hand in token of sincere appreciation.
"I reckon now," remarked George, as they sat around the blaze later on,
conversing along various topics; "you've hung on to that bally old
mystery all tight enough, Jack?"
"Meaning the little sealed packet the skipper of the hydro-aeroplane
gave into my keeping?" the one addressed made reply. "Why, of course I
have it safe; and if I manage to get through to Beaufort, I hope to
hunt up the same Van Arsdale Spence, and put it in his possession."
"But it may turn out to be a tougher proposition than you imagine,"
Herb remarked. "Perhaps the gentleman has buried himself in the wild
country around that coast town; we can't spend much time hunting all
over creation for him, can we?"
"Of course, we don't expect to do that," Jack quickly responded. "I
only promised to look him up; and if he had gone away, to send the
packet to him by mail, if we could get his present address. But what's
the use crossing a bridge till you get to it? We worry a heap over
things that never happen. Who said he was sleepy?"
"Me," spoke up Nick, who had been yawning at a prodigious rate for the
last half hour. "You see, we didn't get much of a snooze aboard the
old _Wireless_ these two nights. Even at the best, the quarters are
cramped; and if one fellow turns over, it nearly throws his mate out of
his blanket bed."
"Rats!" scoffed George, always ready to stand up for his beloved craft,
even though deep down in his heart he knew that the criticism might be
well founded. "The trouble is, you're such a hefty fellow that you
never just roll over, you _wallow_! Now, when I had Josh for a while
with me, things went much smoother."
"But I didn't go the same way, I'm telling you, George," declared the
tall boy, quickly; "and you needn't try to coax me to change places
with Nick any more. I've tried your boat, and I just don't like it.
I've got to have room to stretch; and after a night aboard the
_Wireless_ I used to feel that I was tied up in a double knot all
right. Nixy, I pass. Once is out for me."
But all of them were sleepy, and it was not long before they went
aboard. There had been some talk of staying ashore; but it frittered
out. Whether it was because of the frolicsome mosquitoes, that had put
in their appearance with the dying out of the breeze; or recollections
of the fearful name by which the stream, was known on the chart and
among men, no one confessed. They dribbled aboard the three boats, and
went about making up their beds for the night in the most
matter-of-fact way possible.
And, truth to tell, they did manage to secure a lot of refreshing sleep
before another dawn came to call them to duty.
After breakfast they left their harbor, in which they had been
storm-bound; and were soon pushing along toward the southeast, where
Lewes, back of Cape Henlopen, lay.
The bay was far from smooth, but by degrees it became more so as the
day passed. Finally, after passing several lighthouses, they had
glimpses of the great Government breakwater, and the barrier that has
been erected to keep the ice from injuring the shipping.
That night they lay in a snug harbor in Broadhill Creek, a few miles
above the town. Herb and Josh had gone with the _Comfort_ to see if
there was any mail for them; and to pick up a few little things which
it was believed they needed to complete their happiness.
"I hope tomorrow will be as fine as today has been," Jack remarked that
evening, as they sat around to partake of supper; "because we've got a
nasty outside run to make, reaching for an inlet below; and we've just
got to wait until the sea is smooth, if it takes a week. We promised
our folks at home not to take any unnecessary chances, you remember,
fellows."
"And that's one I'd refuse to tackle," observed George, without a
blush. "The old ocean is a pretty big proposition for a teenty little
motor boat to buck up against."
"Especially one that's built on the order of a wedge!" grunted Nick,
unconsciously rubbing one of his fat sides sympathetically, as though
he might be getting a chronic muscular pain there, from being kept in a
state of perpetual balance.
When the morning did come they found that the signs seemed most
propitious indeed; and Jack declared that they could not afford to let
such a chance pass by.
"Well, just as you say, Jack," sighed George. "The thing has to be
done; and in that case the sooner we get it over with, the better. But
I hope there won't be much more of this outside business before we
reach Florida."
"Very little," replied the other, reassuringly. "And we're going to
take no chances at any time, remember. This outside work is easy
enough, always providing you bide your time, and no big wind from the
east or south comes up while you're making the trip from one inlet to
another. Sometimes, I'm told, the sea is like glass, with hardly a
ripple."
"I hope it turns out that way today, then," remarked George, as he
began to do a little final tinkering with his machinery before the
start.
Jack watched the tide, knowing something about how the wind would be
apt to come up at a certain change, as it usually does. Then, at eight
o'clock, or "eight bells," as Nick delighted to call it, the signal was
given, the gallant little flotilla started off; and an hour later the
three motor boats were moving through the heaving sea, with nothing but
water toward the east and south, as far as the eye could reach.
They were now fully launched on the broad Atlantic, and must take
chances of making a safe harbor before the coming of the wind.