THE MAN ON THE ROCKS
Jerry’s announcement was news to his chums, for he had given them no
hint of his intentions as the _Ripper_ was nearing the boathouse.
“Do you mean you are going to hunt for that man on the rocks?” asked
Ned.
“Yes, I think he fell; or was pushed over by Blowitz. There was no
mistaking that call for help. Blowitz says it was he who called to us,
but I know better. That was a cry of fear.”
“Oh, don’t get into any danger,” cautioned Nellie. “Maybe you had
better take Ponto with you. We’re not afraid to go home alone. It’s
nice and bright, and there is no danger.”
“Deed an’ there be, Miss Nellie,” interrupted Ponto, who did not relish
going off on a strange hunt with the boys. “Some ob dem horned toads
might git after yo’, an’ if Ponto wasn’t along dey’d bite you. I
shorely am gwine home wid yo’. Massa Seabury, he done ’specially
stipulate it, an—”
“Yes, I guess Ponto had better go with you,” said Jerry. “We can do
better alone. It won’t be the first time we’ve had a midnight hunt,
though never before one just like this. We’ll come back as soon as we
can, and tell you all about it. We can make quick time in the boat.”
“And, if you find the man?” asked Rose.
“If we do, and he needs help, we’ll see that he gets it; I think if we
do find him we’ll learn more about Mr. Carson Blowitz than we know
now.”
“Shall I tell my father?” asked Nellie, as the boys were preparing to
make the return trip. The dock was deserted, save for the young people
and Ponto, but in the chocolate refreshment place, and other booths on
shore there was plenty of life.
“I think it would be a good plan,” agreed Jerry. “You know the whole
story, about the brig and the offer Blowitz made. Tell Mr. Seabury that
we would have consulted him before, only he was out when we got back
this afternoon. Now, Ponto, lookout that no horned toads or web-footed
lizards get the young ladies, and, above all, don’t lie down alongside
the road and take a nap.”
“Hu! Guess I ain’t gwine t’ sleep when I’s ’scortin my massa’s
daughters home,” declared the colored man, rather indignant that such a
slur should be cast on him.
“Don’t worry,” called Jerry, as the girls walked along the dock to
shore. “We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“Do you really think we’ll find anything?” asked Ned of Jerry when they
were some distance out, and speeding along toward where they had seen
Blowitz and the other man on the cliff.
“I don’t know,” Jerry frankly admitted. “It looks suspicious, and the
way Blowitz acted made it more so. Maybe the shadows deceived us, and
the man did not fall, for the cloud over the moon made things black.
But it will do no harm to take a look, and then we’ll be satisfied.”
“If we find him, what will we do with him?” asked Bob, who had a habit
of looking ahead.
“Let’s find him first,” said Jerry. “Maybe it is some man who works for
Blowitz, and who would not do just as his boss wanted him to. Blowitz
can get angry very easily, as was proved by his actions when we refused
to make that trip. Maybe he hit the man in a fit of passion, and the
man cried out in surprise, and ran away.”
The sky was more cloudy now, and the moon was oftener obscured by
masses of dark vapor. Still, there was light enough for the boys to
make out landmarks, and distinguish objects when they came near the low
cliff, on which they had seen Blowitz and the other man.
“There’s the place,” called Ned suddenly, from his position near the
wheel.
“That’s right,” admitted Jerry. “Better put us in near that rock where
we talked to Blowitz. We can fasten the boat there and go ashore.
There’s no swell in here.”
In a short time the three boys were on the rocky shore. Jerry carried a
lantern and Ned had a coil of rope, as he thought if the man had fallen
over a cliff, and was unable to help himself, they might need a line to
hoist him up.
“Go easy now,” cautioned Jerry, as they moved forward. “We don’t want
to send out notice that we have arrived. Blowitz may still be sneaking
around.”
As cautiously as possible they advanced. They found there was a rough
path leading from the beach up the cliff, on top of which the two men
had stood. With Jerry, holding the lantern to guide them, Ned and Bob
followed. They paused now and then to listen, but the only sound they
heard was caused by the waves of the Pacific breaking on the rocky
shore, the rattle of the pebbles on the beach, and the soft swish of
the seaweed.
“It was right over there that he seemed to fall,” said Ned, pointing to
indicate where he meant.
“That’s where I made it out to be,” agreed Jerry.
It was not easy walking, as the rocks were slippery, and some of them
were thick with weeds, for, at very high water, they, were covered by
the ocean. Several times Bob slipped and nearly fell.
“Look out,” cautioned Jerry. “We don’t want two wounded persons to look
after.”
They paused a moment to get their breath, after a stiff bit of
climbing, and, as they stood there in the silence of the night, with
the moon fitfully showing through the clouds, they suddenly heard a
groan.
“What’s that?” whispered Ned, tensely.
“It must be the man we’re looking for,” replied Jerry. “He’s hurt.
Where did the sound come from?”
Ned pointed to a dark spot at the foot of the cliff. The three boys
hastened toward it, Jerry flashing his lantern.
When they got to the place they saw, lying huddled up on a bed of
seaweed, the form of a man.
As the light flashed on him they noticed that there was blood on his
pale face, and one arm was doubled up under him in a strange manner.
“He’s dead!” whispered Bob softly.
“No; he’s breathing,” answered Jerry, as he bent over the man on the
rocks. “Get me some water in your cap, Ned. I’ll try to bring him to.”