THE MAN WITH THE BLUE MOON SWEATER
Now, it happened that Jack had made this astonishing discovery even
before Buster could have done so, for he was so much quicker than the
fat boy to observe things, and never had there been a sweater made just
like that one with the blue moon on its front.
Jack also knew that the chances were Buster would be apt to say
something out loud in his astonishment at seeing his lost property on
the back of a prowler, possibly the very man who had stolen their
intended supper.
And as the leader of the motor boat boys was as quick as a flash to act,
no sooner had this idea entered his brain than he stretched out his arm
actually across Herb, and reaching the fat boy, managed to clasp his
hand squarely over his mouth.
From the fact that Buster’s lips were twitching at that very second, it
seemed evident that he had just been on the point of giving vent to his
feelings by some such blunt expression as:
“Well, would you see the nerve of that, now?”
Instead he was brought to a sense of the necessity for complete silence;
and as Buster was not at all devoid of common sense he managed to bottle
up his excitement somewhat.
But now the man had dropped down on all fours again, and seemed to be
moving along with considerable dispatch. Jack had seen that the fellow
had eyes only for the motionless figures at the fire; and also that
something approaching a grin had broken out on his heavy face when he
saw how inanimate they were.
His movements were certainly suspicious, and those that would indicate
an intention of thievery. Certainly no honest man would come stealing
into a strange camp in this fashion.
What could he want? If this were the same rogue who had made way with
the food Josh placed on that flat stone, perhaps he believed that it
would be just as well to strike while the iron was hot, and there seemed
to be abundant supplies lying around loose. If he were a shiftless
fisherman, such as sometimes used to gather here on this island, Jack
had been told, why, he might believe that all was fish that came to
his net; and seeing the food that had been carried ashore, lying so
temptingly around, canned stuff, and all that abundant means could
supply, he was now bent on making a haul.
That was Jack’s first idea, for the man seemed to be crawling toward the
pile of groceries when discovered. But now he had shifted his course
somewhat, so that it was at a tangent with his first line of advance.
Was he simply trying to avoid contact with the sleepers, or did he have
some other reason for altering the direction of his coming?
Jack’s interest began to increase by leaps and bounds. He realized that
perhaps the intruder might be looking forward to something of far
greater advantage than a mere carrying off of eatables. Yes, he was
heading now toward the shore where the white motor boat was tied up! And
Jack suddenly recollected that one of his companions had suggested that
the robbers kept their treasure-trove aboard the craft. That was after
the discovery of the hoax connected with the buried box.
But then how could this rough fellow have any suspicion concerning the
plunder taken from the bank? He surely could not, and must be intending
to go aboard simply under the belief that fatter pickings were to be
found on the little vessel just then totally unguarded.
Now he was at the river bank, with nothing to interfere with his plan of
boarding the tied-up boat. Of course his progress had been followed by
every one of the six pair of eyes belonging to the boys hiding in the
bushes, and it would be needless to say that by now all of them guessed
what his destination was.
Jack felt a pair of knuckles industriously digging at his side which he
knew must belong to George. The impulsive one was in this mute fashion
voicing his desire to know what Jack meant to do about it; and doubtless
hoping that they would be given permission to make some sort of move
after the thief had fully vanished over the side of the white boat.
But Jack paid no attention to the nudges. He was thinking just then what
a queer old mix-up the whole affair was getting to be; when one robber
attempted to ply his trade upon another of the same sort.
Now they could see the shadowy form passing from the bank on to the
gunwale of the boat. The fact that the side of the craft chanced to be
so very white did much to throw the climbing figure out in relief. Then
he disappeared and everything was as it had been; only they knew an
intruder had boarded the boat, and must be rummaging around in search of
something which doubtless he expected to find there.
Still the two near the dying camp fire had shown no sign of life. They
seemed to be sound asleep, and utterly unconscious of the fact that an
enemy had crept into their midst, bent on pillage.
Jack thought fast, and indeed, there was good reason why he should
do so. Should they attempt to warn the two nestled there amidst the
blankets, and put them wise to the fact that they were in danger of
being robbed? That would only disclose their presence to the fugitives
from justice, as they had been terming the owner of the white boat, and
his companion Jenks. And if they were the men who had looted the bank up
at Lawrence, why try and save their ill-gotten plunder?
Really, it would appear to be just as well that they let this adroit
second thief get the treasure in his possession, and then proceed to
take it from him in turn. Besides, it might be policy to reduce the
number of those against whom the boys would have to pit themselves; and
one must be reckoned just the half of two.
That was the way Jack found himself putting it, as though he had to
reduce the whole thing to argument. And it was surprising how many
different things could force themselves into his mind in just a brief
space of time. He could imagine the last creeper to have come safely off
the white boat, with the treasure in his possession, perhaps even
walking close by where they crouched; then would be given a signal that
must result in his being attacked from every quarter at once; and surely
with six of them to assist, he must be easily pulled down.
But wait, there was no need of getting so far afield, when the man
seemed to be still busying himself aboard the white motor boat some
way or other. While they could not see him, it was noticed that the
narrow-beamed boat was shaking more or less, as though some one were
moving about aboard.
Buster must recognize a very familiar movement in this, because there
was the cranky Wireless, always ready to accommodate itself to the
activities of any one who had the misfortune to pass any length of time
on board, either as passenger, crew or skipper.
Should that heavy-set man, called Jenks by the other, chance to awaken
about this time, perhaps there would be something doing speedily, for he
had all the looks of a stayer in a fight, and once he detected the
presence of the interloper, woe be to him. But there had not been the
slightest movement to either of the sleepers; and if the intended robber
of thieves was to be balked in his designs, it looked as though Jack
and his chums would have to prove themselves equal to the occasion.
And so Jack’s conclusion seemed to be that it might pay them to get
somewhat closer to the river bank, so that should the unknown finish his
work aboard, and start to make his escape, they could head him off the
better.
It was not really necessary for him to communicate all this to each
one of his chums. When they saw him start to make a move they would
understand what was intended, and govern themselves accordingly.
Jack raised himself to his hands and knees. Then he commenced to work
his way along, with the tied-up boat as his ultimate destination.
Just as he had anticipated, every one of the other fellows started in to
imitate his actions. All they wanted was an example, and they were ready
to follow suit. You have seen the whole flock of sheep follow the
bellwether over a low fence; and that was about the same way George and
Josh and the rest did right then and there.
All went smoothly for a certain length of time; perhaps as much as three
or four minutes may have passed along. Then something happened that was
certainly not down on the bills; and coming so unexpectedly must have
given the boys a severe shock.
Without warning there burst upon the night air a loud and sonorous
“ker-chew!” Why, it was deep-toned enough to have awakened the Seven
Sleepers of old; and certainly the precious pair over there by the fire
could not help but be electrified by the explosion.
It was not a thunder clap, though some of the creeping boys might have
so considered, when first it broke upon their startled hearing. No, it
was only Buster Longfellow sneezing.
This was an old weakness of Buster’s. He was wont to sneeze on any and
all occasions, and many times in his past history had he been brought to
a knowledge of the fact that it was a habit calculated to get a fellow
into all sorts of trouble. Remember that time he threatened to upset
George’s boat when one of these fits happened along? Well, there were
now even more dire possibilities in store for the unlucky originator of
that tremendous sneeze, than he cared to look in the face.
In the first place it aroused the two at the fire. They could be seen
suddenly sitting up straight, and looking all around them, as though
half expecting to discover strangers in the camp, who according to their
calculations could have no business there.
Then a head was seen to rise hurriedly above the gunwale of the white
motor boat, showing that the fellow who had gone aboard, had been
disturbed in the midst of whatever he was doing. Of course it was to be
expected that he would spring over the side, and make a streak for it,
intending to find shelter in the covert of nearby bushes.
Nothing of the sort happened.
On the contrary, while he did immediately expose himself in full view it
was to carry out an entirely different line of energy.
Jack was just in the act himself of standing up and directing his
comrades as to what they should do in order to cut off the other’s
escape, when he saw there was going to be nothing doing in that line.
For the man had leaned quickly over the side, and made a sweep with his
hand at the little hawser holding the boat snug against the bank. He
must have had an exceedingly sharp-bladed knife there, for it cut
through that rope as though the cable were made of sand. And at the same
moment the white motor boat started to swing free from the shore of the
island.