THE GHOST.
"I WANT you two to lie down in the cabin and catch an hour's nap on the
way home," Charley said as soon as he got the engine started. "I'll run
the launch in."
Walter and the captain protested feebly, but the lad would hear no
refusal. "You both look utterly played out," he declared. "There is no
use of all of us staying awake, and I am fresher than either of you.
Fishing is not so hard for me because I know all the little tricks of
handling a net and taking out fish that helps to make it easier. You
will soon learn them and get hardened to the work, and then we will
take turns running the launch. Now stretch out, that hour's rest will
do you a world of good."
His two chums lost no time in arguing the point, but stretched on the
cabin floor and pillowing their heads on their arms were instantly
asleep. So worn out were they that Charley could hardly wake them when
the dock was reached.
Chris had a hot breakfast and steaming coffee waiting for them; as
soon as it was dispatched Charley ordered the two off to bed. "Get
rested up good for to-night's work," he announced. "There is nothing
that you need do now. Chris will pull the nets out to dry and I'll row
across to Clearwater with the fish. There is no need of more than one
going and I want to see the sheriff and have a talk with him."
It was only a few minutes' run across the bay to the little town, and
Charley was soon tying up to the fish dock. He hurried up to the fish
house and notified Mr. Daniels of his catch and waited while a wagon
brought the fish up and they were weighed. The catch totaled thirty
dollars in cash.
"Not bad for the first night," said Mr. Daniels, encouragingly.
"Several of my old experienced fishermen caught less than that last
night."
Leaving the fish house the lad hurried over to the store and ordered
some supplies he needed sent down to the launch. By the time his
purchases were made he judged it was late enough to find the sheriff in
his office and there he accordingly made his way.
But here he met with much disappointment, for he was informed that
Sheriff Brown was out of town and would not return for several days.
He headed back to his launch greatly troubled in his mind. He had
counted strongly on the sheriff taking charge of the cached liquor.
As long as it remained on the island, just so long could they expect
trouble from its owners. Now he could not decide what was best to do.
He was hurrying on debating the question with himself when turning a
corner, engrossed in his own thoughts, he almost collided with Bill
Roberts hurrying in the opposite direction.
"Starboard your helm a bit and take in some of that press of sail
you're carrying," hailed that worthy, "you came mighty near running me
down. How's everything? How's fishing coming on?"
Charley warmed to the sight of Bill's friendly, frank, good-humored
face.
"The fishing's all right," he answered, brightly, "but some other
things are worrying me. I was thinking of them and not noticing where I
was going."
"You look tired and worried," said Bill with a critical scrutiny. "Can
we Roberts help you out any with what's worrying you?"
"You might help me out with some advice," said the lad with a sudden
impulse. "If you can spare me a few minutes' time I'll tell you what's
the matter.
"Got all the time in the world," said Bill cheerfully. "We are not
fishing for a few days. Our nets are about all worn out and we are
waiting for new ones from the factory. There is a seat over there under
the tree, come on and sit down a while and tell me all about it. It
helps a man sometimes just to tell his troubles."
He listened with eager interest while Charlie told the story of the
strange schooner, the motor boat and the buried liquor and of their
quarrel with Hunter's gang.
He pondered a while after the lad had concluded. "Kind of a bad mess,"
he said at last. "Of course it's the Hunter gang that's doing the
smuggling, but you haven't got anything to prove it. They ain't going
to lose all that liquor they've got buried either, but they ain't going
to dig it up as long as there is a chance of their being seen doing it,
consequently their only hope is to get you fellows off the island by
fair means or foul."
"Just the conclusion I arrived at," agreed Charley, grimly.
"Your plan to have the sheriff take charge of it was the thing, but
of course that cannot be done until he comes back. It isn't likely
they will seek an open fight with you, they are too foxy for that. But
they will try to get at you by every underhanded means they can think
of. You'll have to be on your guard every minute until the sheriff
returns and takes charge of that liquor. Those fellows are cunning and
treacherous. I am not going to tell you of the things they have done
to other fellows who have crossed them. It would do no good and only
worry you more. I just want to impress upon you that you cannot watch
out too sharp. Now I am going to lend you another rifle to keep in the
launch; we have plenty of guns, for we hunt and trap when the fishing
is poor. As I have said we are not fishing for a few days, and if you
should need help any time just fire three shots close together and we
will be over in a hurry. We would be tickled to death to catch those
fellows in some devilment so that they could be sent up for a good
string of years."
"You are very good," said Charley, gratefully. "It's not right to
bother you with our troubles, but it has been a great relief just to
unburden myself to you."
"Sorry I cannot be of more help to you," Bill replied, heartily. "I
hope we are going to be good friends, for I like the looks of your
crowd. Our trouble with Hunter's gang has kept us from making friends
amongst the other fishermen. They will not meet us half way for fear of
the injuries the Hunter gang might do them, if they got friendly with
us. You will find it the same way in your case, and it will be pleasant
for us to visit back and forth on stormy days when we have nothing else
to do. There is another thing I can do that will help you a bit. Come
on down to the dock with me and I'll do it now."
Near the end of the pier they came upon Hunter himself, holding forth
to a gang of his cronies. The fellows made to move away at their
approach but Roberts hailed him.
"Look here, Hunter," he said in his straightforward way, "I want to
impress one thing on you so you will not forget it. This lad and his
companions are friends of ours and anyone that does any of them harm,
has not only them to reckon with but with the Roberts boys also,
remember that!" Then turning his back to the scowling fisherman, he
said good-by to Charley and walked away, indifferent to the lowering
glances of Hunter's cronies.
"Fine protector you've got," sneered Hunter, when Roberts was out of
hearing. "Just mark one thing, young fellow, your gang are going to
wish they had never seen Clearwater before we are through with them,
and that goes for that upstart Roberts, too."
"We are not afraid of you or your threats," Charley replied, coolly, as
he cast off the launch and started up the engine.
As the throbbing little engine drove the launch through the dancing,
sparkling water, Charley lay back in the thwart with his hand on the
wheel and rested his aching body. He was tired in muscle and brain. It
was nearly noon and his eyes were heavy with sleep. He dozed off for a
moment only to wake up with a jerk as something cold touched his foot.
He glanced down and was startled to see that several inches of water
was sloshing around his feet. Thoroughly awake, he straightened up
and looked around. He was in the middle of the bay about a mile from
either shore. He had evidently dozed but a few minutes, yet the launch
had been dry when he dozed off and now there was several inches of
water in her and it was rapidly increasing. She must have sprung a leak
and a big one at that. Seizing the bailer with his free hand he began
throwing the water out in a steady stream. Swiftly he calculated his
chances of making the shore. The engine rested only a few inches above
the bottom of the boat. If the water reached it the motor would stop.
He had no fear for his own safety for he could easily swim across the
bay if necessary. But if the launch filled she would sink, their career
as fishermen would be at an end, and Mr. Daniels would be poorer the
several hundred dollars the launch had cost.
A few minutes' bailing convinced him that the water was rapidly
gaining. It had risen to within a couple of inches of the engine. Five
minutes more and it would reach the motor. It was a desperate situation
and the keen-witted lad took a desperate chance. Letting go the wheel
he frantically tore at the thin sheathing that lined the bottom. Luck
was with him for the first piece came up easily revealing a large,
smooth, round hole, just below the water line, through which the water
was gushing in a steady stream. Tearing up his shirt, he rolled it up
into a tapering plug and thrust it into the hole. Holding it in place
with one hand, he steered for the dock with the other. The water still
came in around the plug, but slowly; and with a sigh of relief, the lad
at last ran the launch upon the beach beside the dock just as the water
rippled up around the engine's base. As she grounded, the launch heeled
over on the other side lifting the hole above the water, and Charley
had a chance to examine it more closely. Its smooth, regular appearance
and some chips adhering to the edge showed that it had been made by an
augur, and a ball of waste floating around on the water showed that
it had been plugged to stay closed until the pressure of swift moving
through the water should force it out. There was no doubt in the lad's
mind as to who had made it and he began to feel a certain respect for
the resourcefulness of his enemies. It was a cunning scheme. If it had
succeeded it would have accomplished its purpose. With no launch, he
and his chums would have been forced to leave the island; for without
one they could no longer have carried on their fishing.
Charley whittled out a smooth plug of soft white pine and drove it
firmly into the hole. He cut off the plug flush with the planking, and
flattening out a piece of tin from a can, nailed it over the spot to
hold the plug firmly in place.
Chris brought dinner down to him and he snatched a few mouthfuls and
drank two cups of coffee while he worked.
By the time the job was finished and the launch bailed out, it was well
along in the afternoon and the lad groaned as he realized that he must
face another hard night's work without sleep.
"Massa Chas," said Chris, as they trudged up to the shack together, "I
ain't bothered you-alls 'bout it before 'cause I seed you was all tired
an' wore out, but I'ze dun got something to tell you."
Charley glanced sharply at the little negro's serious face.
"What is it?" he said, quietly.
"Massa Chas," said the little fellow, solemnly, "sho' as I is a living
nigger, I seed dat ghost last night."