THE BOY ON THE DECK
Perhaps it was because Mrs. Hardy was determined to show that she
was mistress in her own home. At any rate, she gave her consent to
the proposed expedition. This was in spite of all Aunt Gertrude's
protests and predictions of disaster. The terrible woman raved for an
hour when it was definitely decided that the Hardy boys should go on
the trip, but Mrs. Hardy was firm. If there was any chance that they
might be able to rescue Chet and Biff she meant that they should avail
themselves of it.
They explained their theory regarding the letter, and although Aunt
Gertrude derided it as nonsense, Mrs. Hardy was disposed to believe
that their deductions might be correct.
"You may go," she said. "But take care of yourselves and don't take any
foolish chances. I'm worrying enough about your father, as it is."
So the boys left the house before Aunt Gertrude would have an
opportunity to change their mother's mind and joyfully acquainted Phil
and Tony with the news.
"We're going to start right away," they told their chums. "Better get
ready."
"I was speaking to Slim Robinson and Jerry Gilroy," Tony told them.
"They want to come along too."
"There isn't room for all of us in the one boat."
"I was thinking of that. What's the matter with the rest of us making
the trip in the _Napoli_? I'll get up another expedition and we'll
follow you."
"Good idea. One of the boys can come with us and the rest of you can go
in the _Napoli_. Joe and I are starting right away."
But when it came time to check up on the various members of the
searching party they discovered that Tony was the only one who could
leave that day. Slim Robinson had to work that afternoon, as also had
Jerry Gilroy, while Phil Cohen had an engagement for the evening that
he was unable to break.
"We'll all leave in the _Napoli_ first thing to-morrow morning, then,"
decided Tony. "You and Joe go ahead in your boat now and head toward
Blacksnake Island. We'll be along in the morning."
This was the plan agreed upon, and the Hardy boys lost no time in
making ready for the trip. They had the forethought to stock up with
provisions for several days, although the run to Blacksnake Island
would not take them many hours, because they realized that the search
might keep them away from home longer than they expected.
It was afternoon before they were able to get away, and all through
the lunch hour they were in a constant state of apprehension lest Aunt
Gertrude prevail upon their mother to withdraw her permission for the
journey.
"They'll never come back alive, mark my words!" declared their aunt.
"They'll be bitten by those snakes on Blacksnake Island, as sure as
fate. Why, even grown-up men won't go on that island. It's a terrible
place. I've read all about it."
"We're not planning to explore the island, Aunt Gertrude," Frank
explained. "We're going to cruise around it and see if we can find any
sign of the fellows."
"Cruise around it!" their aunt sniffed. "As if I don't know boys!
You'll not be satisfied until you've tramped from one end of the island
to the other. But go ahead. Go ahead. I wash my hands of the affair. If
you want to commit suicide, it's your own lookout," and she swept from
the room in great indignation.
Mrs. Hardy did not share her fears. She knew her sons well enough to
realize that they would not run into needless dangers, and when she
kissed them good-bye her only request was that they would not stay away
any longer than was necessary.
The bay was calm when they started out, and the _Sleuth_ was running,
as Joe expressed it, "like a watch."
It was a beautiful summer afternoon and the cool breeze out on the
water was in welcome relief to the sweltering heat of the city streets.
Spray flicked into their faces as the motorboat raced along toward the
eastern gap. When they passed out of Barmet Bay and reached the open
sea Frank headed the boat down the coast in the direction of Blacksnake
Island.
"It isn't far from the coast. There's a channel of a little over a
mile," he said to his brother. "We won't be able to make it to-night,
but we'll stop over at Rock Harbor and go on again in the morning. By
that time, Tony and the others shouldn't be far behind."
Toward the end of the afternoon they were in sight of Rock Harbor, a
small port, where they spied a schooner at anchor in the distance. Rock
Harbor was not a shipping point of great importance, but there were
always a number of miscellaneous craft in evidence.
To enter the harbor they were obliged to pass within a short distance
of the schooner, swinging about beneath the bows of the vessel. As the
_Sleuth_ plunged through the water, in the very shadow of the ship, Joe
suddenly gave an exclamation of surprise.
"Frank! Look up on deck--quick!"
Frank glanced hurriedly upward. He was just in time to see the figure
of a boy moving away from the rail, but there was something familiar
about the young fellow that made him look incredulously at his brother.
"Chet!"
"I'm sure it's him," returned Joe hurriedly. "I didn't get a very good
look at his face, because he only looked over the rail and then he drew
back--but I'm almost positive it was Chet!"
"But what on earth can he be doing on that schooner?"
"Probably he's a prisoner. Let's give him a hail."
They shouted the name of their chum half a dozen times, but their only
response was from a villainous looking sailor who glared over the side
at them and bade them get away from the ship.
"No use causing trouble," said Frank, in a low voice. "We'll go now,
but we'll come back later."
He steered the motorboat away from the vicinity of the schooner, but
instead of going on into the harbor he put out to sea again.
"It won't be long until it gets darker. Then we'll go back. If Chet is
on that ship we'll get word to him somehow."
"Well, if it isn't Chet Morton it's his double," declared Joe. "Even if
I didn't get a very good look at him, I know he was just about the same
height and build and the same general appearance. What puzzles me is
why he didn't call out to us. And why did he draw back from the rail in
such a hurry?"
"He mightn't have had time to call to us. Perhaps he managed to escape
just for a minute or so and they dragged him back before he could give
a shout."
"There's something in that. And of course he mightn't have recognized
us."
"He would have recognized the boat, I'm sure."
"There's something queer about it. If we come back later on we may be
able to see him again. Did you notice the name of the schooner?"
"Yes," answered Frank. "I watched for it. The _Persis_. I think what
we'd better do is this: We'll go back down the coast and loaf around
until it gets darker. Then we'll come back to the harbor and try to
come up to the schooner quietly. If there's a rope ladder handy I'll go
up over the side and see what I can find out."
"It looks like our only chance. You'll have to go easy. If Chet and
Biff are held prisoners on that ship they'll be well guarded. You might
be captured yourself."
"That's where you will come in. If you hear sounds of a struggle or if
I don't come back, go right into the harbor and notify the police so
they can have the schooner searched."
Joe nodded. "All right. I'll keep watch."
Frank steered the motorboat back along the coast again and for the
next hour or more they cruised about, waiting for twilight. At length
sunset came and gradually the shadows fell. Lights began to twinkle in
the town. Lights glowed from the mysterious schooner, now but a rakish
shadow at the entrance to the harbor. When the lads judged that it was
sufficiently dark to cover their approach, they returned, then crept
quietly up on the ship.
They drew up close to the schooner's stern without being noticed and to
Frank's relief he saw that a rope was dangling over the side. From the
boat he reached out and seized it. The rope held fast; it supported his
weight.
There were vague sounds from the deck above. The shuffling of feet. A
burst of laughter from forward. Most of the men, he judged, would be in
port, but it behooved him to move with caution.
"All set," he whispered to Joe.
"Right."
Frank swung himself away from the motorboat and began to climb slowly
to the deck. Water lapped against the schooner's hull. The night was
very quiet. Complete darkness had fallen by now. In a few moments Joe
could only distinguish his brother as an obscure shadow as he clambered
slowly upward.
Anxiously, Joe Hardy watched. He saw his brother climb higher and
higher until at last his head and shoulders were silhouetted above the
side of the ship.
Then Frank scrambled quietly over onto the deck. He had removed his
shoes so as to proceed with a minimum of sound, so that once he had
disappeared over the side Joe could hear nothing. He crouched in the
boat, waiting.
Finally he heard a low whistle from the deck above. He looked up. He
could see Frank leaning over the side. His brother's face was only a
grey blur. He motioned with his arm, indicating that Joe was to follow
him.
The motorboat had been tied fast so, although Joe was somewhat puzzled,
he was nothing loath to share the adventure. Seizing the rope, he swung
himself free of the motorboat, then began to climb nimbly toward the
deck.
The rope cut into his hands and the climb taxed his strength, but in a
few minutes he was near the top. Frank had moved back from the side
into the darkness again.
He scrambled over the side and dropped lightly onto the deck. Frank was
crouched in the shadows waiting for him.
And at that moment a heavy hand fell on his shoulder and a gruff voice
said in his ear:
"All right, young fellow. Now we've got you both!"