QUEEN'S TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.
The six o'clock train the next night brought with it the Codfish
in all his glory. He was radiant in a natty gray flannel suit, and
sported a lavender tie and socks to match, with a dash of the same
color in his hat band.
"Welcome to our city, Codfish!" shouted Frank, who with Jimmy and
Lewis had been at the station long before the train from the north
was due.
"Gentlemen," returned that individual as he descended mincingly from
the parlor car, while a porter dragged two great suit-cases stuffed
to bursting after him, "I am charmed with this reception. But where's
the band?"
"The only one I see," said Jimmy laughingly, "is the one on your
hat, and it sounds like a flock of trombones. Don't you know you are
liable to shock these sedate villagers with that raiment of yours?
You might be arrested as a disturber of the peace."
"You see in me not a shocker," replied the visitor, "but the great
animator. Business will pick up as soon as I am well established in
your rural midst. Children cry for me and all that sort of thing. But
what's this job you have for me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to say it's all off. We were about to telegraph you
again to stay where you were, when we had your message saying you
were coming."
"All right, I'll take the next train back."
"You'll take nothing back for about three weeks. We'll tell you what
we had up our sleeve. Here, Jones"--to the village expressman--"take
these miniature trunks down to my father's house," said Frank. "We'll
walk, if you feel able to take so much exercise, Mr. Gleason."
"Not used to it, of course, but I'll make an exception this time.
Now, fire away on this scheme of yours."
As they trudged along, Frank, aided by Jimmy and occasionally by
Lewis, told of the conception and the smash of the scheme. "But never
mind," he added, "we can find enough to do. We'll teach you to swim
like a fish----"
"No, you won't. I'm not a fish in spite of my name. I will fight
before I'll swim, and goodness knows I'd hate to fight, for it's most
exhausting."
The boys all laughed at the whimsical Codfish, for they all knew that
he wasn't half so backward in athletic things as he tried to persuade
them that he was.
"Hello," said Frank, giving a whistle of surprise as he approached
the house. "We have company. By crickets, it is--it is Mr. Simpkins!
Now, I wonder if his little girl hasn't got over her ducking yet."
"Principal people of the village here undoubtedly to welcome me,"
said the Codfish. "'Spose I'll have to make a speech and all that
sort of thing. Beastly bore; you shouldn't have let them know I was
coming."
By this time Frank had mounted the steps of the house. "This is my
son Frank, Mr. Simpkins," said Mr. Armstrong.
Frank came forward and received a hearty handclasp from Mr. Simpkins.
"My boy," said the latter, "when you were at my house this morning,
I little thought that I'd have to thank you for saving my daughter's
life. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I want to ask
your pardon for my seeming bluntness this morning."
"Oh, that was all right, sir. I happened to be handy to-day and
helped to pull the little girl out of the water. That was all. And as
for the motor boat, it was a matter of business and we couldn't come
to terms. No one's fault."
Mr. Simpkins smiled at the businesslike youngster who talked so
clearly to the point. "Well, I appreciate your quality more now than
I did this morning, and I've come up not only to thank you, but to
tell you that the motor boat you want is yours."
"Oh, I couldn't think of taking it! I did nothing to earn it," said
Frank, much embarrassed by the kindly tone and offer.
"Now I insist," said the visitor. "The boat is doing me no good
whatsoever, and you might as well have it. It belonged to a son of
mine who is gone, and I haven't had the heart to let it be used or
even to sell it. In view of the obligation you have placed me under,
my boy, I can square things with you partially, at least, by giving
you the boat. It has not been used much and I'm sure it is in good
condition. If it is not in good condition, I'll put it that way, so
you can begin your transportation, as you call it, at once."
"I'm awfully much obliged," said Frank, "but it's too much of a gift
for what I did. Won't you let us buy it from you?" There was a sound
of muffled protest from the boys at the other end of the veranda
where they had withdrawn, although still within earshot of the
conversation that was going on.
"The boy is right, Mr. Simpkins, it is too much of a gift," said Mr.
Armstrong. "I think his argument is good."
"Well, then," said Mr. Simpkins, turning again to Frank, "make me an
offer. I'm willing to sell to you and in some way discharge some of
my debt. You are willing to buy, I think you said this morning."
"Yes, sir, but I'm afraid it would cost too much for us."
"I don't know," said the old gentleman; "the boat's not doing me any
good. Let's see; I'd sell her for a hundred dollars and put her in
running shape. How's that? And you can pay me half of that amount at
the end of this summer and the other half a year later. Will you take
her?"
There was a murmur of approval at the other end of the veranda,
and Frank, as soon as he could find his voice, exclaimed: "You bet
we'll take her! I mean--thank you, sir; we will take her on those
conditions." Mr. Simpkins smiled slyly at Mr. Armstrong, who, being
later appealed to by his son, readily gave his consent to the deal,
adding, "And I'll back Frank and his chums in this venture."
"I can already see that I'm dealing with a young man who will make
good his word," said Mr. Simpkins. "And now I must be going. I'll
have a man look over the boat to-morrow morning, and if everything is
all right with the engine you can take possession at once. I'll have
my man show you how to run her, but I imagine it won't take you long
to learn. Good night, all."
You can readily imagine the jubilee that took place when Mr. Simpkins
was out of hearing. The four boys grabbed each other and danced a
wild Highland fling. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong looked on laughing as the
boys thumped each other on the back and shouted.
"Boys, boys, you won't leave a board in the veranda, and the
neighbors will think you've taken leave of your senses," admonished
Mrs. Armstrong. "And, anyway, it's time for supper, and Mr. Gleason
must be hungry after his long ride."
"Dear old mum, you would dance, too, wouldn't you, if you had just
bought a ship for a song, same as we have? Here, salute the captain
of the new Transportation Company!" His mother slipped her arm over
her son's shoulder and kissed him gravely on the cheek: "Thus I
salute Captain Armstrong."
"That's the best salute ever, mother. Better than twenty-one guns in
the navy."
"And where do we come in, in these salutes," said the Codfish.
"Aren't we important members of the company?"
"I could kiss you all, to-day," said the motherly woman; "I'm so
happy for your sakes. But there goes the bell. We'll have something
more substantial than salutes."
There was great planning at that supper of passenger carrying,
swimming, racing and the like, things that all energetic boys on a
summer vacation would enjoy.
"If David were only here our party would be complete," said Jimmy.
"And where is he?" inquired Gleason.
"We hope he'll be in Seawall next month. He is in Europe now,"
returned Frank; "and we will keep our purchase a secret from him at
present. When he gets back we will suddenly burst on his vision in
all our glory."
"Good old David," said Jimmy; "won't he be glad? We can take him
along as member of the crew. He'd make a ripping coxswain."
"I don't know what a coxswain has to do, but he'd be all right for
any job," said Lewis.
"And with all this crew you propose," said Mr. Armstrong, "where are
you going to put your passengers?"
"Oh, don't worry about that, Dad; she's a big boat. Wait till you see
her. Are you willing to advance us running expenses for gasoline and
oil till we get our first money on fares?"
"Provided it isn't more than a hundred dollars a day," returned his
father, laughing.
The next morning was spent down at the Simpkins wharf with the
mechanic. There was little to do. The motor was one of the best
types, but while it had been idle it had acquired some rust. The
pistons stuck hard in the cylinders for a time, but they were soon
freed and the engine turned over as smoothly as the day it left the
shop. When the batteries were renewed, the carburetor adjusted and
the gas and oil tanks filled, the mechanic gave the fly wheel a sharp
turn. Instantly there was an explosion; another and another followed,
and as the motor picked up speed under the careful manipulation of
the mechanic, the explosions from the exhaust settled down into a
steady purr.
"That's a peach of an engine," said Frank to the mechanic. "How much
speed do you think the boat has?"
"Dunno," replied the mechanic; "mebby twenty miles, mebby more. Don't
think there's many around here that'll get away from her very much.
Now we're ready to see how she goes."
The ropes which fastened the motor boat to the pier were thrown off
and slowly the craft was backed from her berth.
"Take the wheel," said the mechanic, indicating Frank, "and I'll look
after the motor. We'll see what she can do."
Frank sprang to the wheel and after a little maneuvering headed her
down the bay. "She steers like a bicycle," he cried. "Gee whiz, isn't
it great?"
As the speed increased, the boat lifted her nose clear out of the
water under the push from the powerful motor, and a white-capped
wave rolled away from either side. They passed several sailing boats
that seemed almost motionless by contrast. Frank ranged up alongside
another motor boat bound in the same direction and soon left it in
the distance. Then, after a long, sweeping turn, he headed back to
the wharf, where Mr. Simpkins stood.
"She's all right, I see," said that gentleman, "and evidently hasn't
lost her speed."
"I should say she hadn't," said Frank. "We went like an express
train. Are you sure you still want to hold to your bargain, Mr.
Simpkins?"
"Oh, yes; I'm glad my old boat has fallen into such appreciative
hands. Maybe I'll take a ride with you, when you have begun your
ferry service. She isn't as handsome as she was before the weather
got at her sides, but a lick of paint here and there will repair all
the damage."
"If our profits are big enough, we can lay her up this winter and
give her a new dress," suggested Jimmy; "but there's no time now."
"If you are satisfied that you can run her," continued Mr. Simpkins,
"and she is ready, there's no reason you can't take her now. What do
you say?"
"Say? Why, we say yes, if you don't mind. We can be getting used to
her before we begin to make business runs. How about it, mates?" said
Frank, turning to his crew.
Of course the crew were of one mind. The mechanic was landed on the
pier, and under the hands of her new crew, the _Black Duck_, for that
was the name of the craft, shot once more into the sparkling waters
of the bay. This time Jimmy was at the wheel and Frank manipulated
the motor.
Halfway to the Seawall pier the boys met the _Seagull_, with a party
aboard. Jimmy swung in close and the crew of the motor boat gave such
a yell as startled the old salt at the tiller of the _Seagull_.
"Well, I'll be swizzled," they heard him say as they flashed by, and
turning, with his arm on the tiller, he waved a friendly hand as they
dashed on.
Before the day was over the boys had familiarized themselves
thoroughly with their new possession, and the farther they went the
more wonderful did they consider their luck in having such a craft.
The next morning the town of Seawall was startled in its morning walk
by notices posted conspicuously as follows:
QUEEN'S TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.
A marvellous opportunity
to see the magnificent scenery
of Seawall Bay by motor boat.
Roomy accommodations.
Courteous attendants.
Every convenience.
For the small sum
of 25 cents.
Start made from Seawall Pier every hour.
First trip 10 a. m. to-day.
Per order
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The notice was prepared by the ready pen of the Codfish, and it
was given an added interest by a slap-dash drawing of a motor boat
coasting down the side of a big wave, while little fishes and big
fishes stood on their tails in astonishment. Of course, every one
who read went down to the pier at the hour named, and the young
navigators started out on their first trip with every seat taken.
During the trip the Codfish acted as a kind of guide to the party and
pointed out the "magnificent scenery," adding many fictitious details
as the _Black Duck_ plowed along. The passengers, when landed at the
starting point after an hour's trip, voted it the best ride they had
ever taken and made way for a new boatload.
It was a day of rushing business for the new company, and the profits
before nightfall came to something over ten dollars.