The Deserted Yacht

  CHAPTER IV Enid's Story

  The girl on the floor rolled over and groaned. She raised her head andtried to speak, but only succeeded in making choking noises in herthroat.

  "Oh, you poor thing!" Madge cried, trying to lift her up. "I'll have youfree in just a minute. Who left you here like this?"

  Realizing that her friend could not reply, she quickly slipped the gagfrom her mouth. Even then, Enid made no attempt to speak other than tomurmur an incoherent, "thank goodness." She leaned weakly against thewall and watched as Madge tried to release the ropes which bound her.

  "There's a pen knife--in the desk," she managed, but the effort left herspent.

  Madge failed to find it, but flew to the kitchen where she did locate asharp paring knife. Quickly, she severed the ropes and helped Enid to herfeet. She could not stand alone for her limbs were temporarily paralyzedfrom being too long in a cramped position. Madge supported her and halfcarried her to the bed.

  "Water," the girl pleaded.

  Madge ran again to the kitchen, returning with a pitcher filled withwater. Enid gulped down one glass and would have drunk another had notMadge thought it best to restrain her. She was shocked at the girl'sappearance. Her face was streaked from tears, and deathly white. Herparched lips were twisted as though from pain. The white silk dress shewore, had been torn in several places. Her reddish brown hair, usually sonicely groomed, hung in wisps about her face.

  "I'll be all right in a little while," she insisted. "I feel better now."

  Madge had noticed that Enid's wrists and ankles were swollen and bruisedfrom the ropes so she searched the bathroom for bandage material. As shepoured iodine into the cuts, her patient showed the first signs ofreturning vivacity.

  "Good grief, Madge! Have a heart!"

  "Stop wriggling, or I'll spill this stuff all over you. I know it hurts."

  By the time she had finished bandaging, Enid was more like her old self.Not until then did Madge try to learn what had happened.

  "It's too dreadful to tell," Enid murmured brokenly. "Father's beenkidnapped!"

  "Kidnapped!"

  Enid nodded forlornly.

  "It happened last night. I've been locked up in that closet ever since. Ithought I'd die before someone came!"

  "What became of your father?"

  "Oh, Madge, if only I knew! Those horrible men took him away! I'm afraidthey've murdered him! I'm afraid--"

  "Now, now," Madge comforted, slipping her arm about Enid, "don't take onso. It won't help matters to become hysterical. Try to tell me as calmlyas you can just what took place."

  Enid made an effort to steady herself. She gripped her friend's handtightly as she began her story.

  "Father and I were alone last night here. We had given the three sailorsand our cook forty-eight hours shore leave, for we had decided not tosail until tomorrow morning. Father had gone to his cabin to read. Iidled about the deck for an hour or so. It was after eleven when Ifinally went to bed." She paused and seemed to lose herself in unpleasantthoughts.

  "Go on," Madge urged gently.

  "It was sometime later--I'm not just sure what time it was, when I wasawakened. I heard a boat grate against the side of the yacht and thensomeone called out. Father answered but I couldn't make out what he said.However, I gathered that some men wanted to speak to him in the cabin."

  "You don't know who they were?"

  "No, they must have given their names, but I couldn't hear well enoughthrough the porthole. At any rate, they seemed to have convinced Fatherthat they were all right, for after some discussion, he permitted them tocome aboard.

  "I don't know why I didn't go back to sleep. I had a queer feeling that Ican't explain. I sensed that something was wrong. After a minute or so Igot up and opened the door. I couldn't hear a sound in Father's cabin. Idecided to dress."

  "You turned on the light?" Madge inquired.

  "No, I didn't, and I made as little noise as possible, although up untilthen I really had no reason to be afraid. It was just a feeling--"

  "I understand. Then what happened?"

  "I had just finished dressing when I heard a commotion in Father's cabin.It sounded as though they were throwing the furniture around. I ran thereas fast as I could. As I threw open the door I saw that two men weretrying to overpower Father. He was fighting desperately, holding them atbay with a chair. I screamed and just then the light was extinguished."

  "That was the last you recall?"

  "Very nearly. I do remember that Father shouted for me to get away. Butbefore I could act, something struck me on the back of the head." Enidraised her hand and tenderly felt the bump. "I didn't know anything morefor several hours. When I came to, I found myself in that closet, boundand gagged. I've been there ever since."

  "It was horrible of them to leave you like that," Madge declared angrily."Why, you might have suffocated. Or starved to death!"

  "I did think I'd die before help came," Enid confessed with a wry smile."I really don't believe those men would have cared. They're heartless!That's why I'm so worried about Father. They've taken him awaysomewhere."

  "We must get the police after them instantly. Is there any way we canreach shore?"

  "Why, yes, we have a motor boat. If you'll help me now I think I canwalk."

  "Don't you want something to eat first? You're not very strong."

  Enid shook her head.

  "No, I'll not feel like eating until I know the police are on the trailof those men."

  She insisted that they start at once, and with Madge supporting her,managed to reach the deck. Peering down over the railing she uttered astartled cry.

  "What's the matter?" Madge asked.

  "The motor boat! It's gone! Someone has cut it from its moorings!"