CHAPTER VI
AN OLD FRIEND
Fishing rather palled upon both Whistler and Torry after sighting theother boat. The younger boys had not paid much attention to the passingof the craft which Whistler was confident was an oil lighter of somekind.
"You're so plaguy suspicious, Whistler," muttered Al Torrance, as theyheaved up the anchor and the younger boys hoisted the big sail.
"For all you know, that Blake may be as harmless as a baby."
"Sure," agreed Morgan. "But what's he doing out in that boat, and whatis the boat itself doing out here? She's headed off shore--and you sawshe was loaded. The water almost lapped over her rail."
"Well?"
"She surely isn't headed for the other side of the Atlantic," Whistlerdeclared. "Yet she's aiming straight out to sea right now. She isn'tfollowing the coast any longer."
It was a fact. Although the strange power launch was now at a greatdistance, it was plain she was leaving the land behind her. There wasno land in that direction save the European coast.
"You believe she's a supply ship for German subs?" asked Torry.
"Or taking out gasoline or oil to put aboard some Swedish or Norwegianship that expects to give the cargo to the Germans at some rendezvous inthe North Sea. That isn't impossible, Torry."
"Just the same I fancy you are hunting a mare's nest," his chumdeclared.
Torry--nor the other Navy boys--was not apt to call in questionWhistler's judgment. But on this occasion it seemed to him as thoughMorgan was shooting wild.
Frenchy Donahue and Ikey Rosenmeyer had caught several fish and weresatisfied; but soon they began to notice that their companions hadsomething on their minds besides the catch of channel bass.
"What's bitin' you fellows?" demanded Frenchy. "Had a spat?"
"I bet they've had a lover's quarrel," grinned Ikey. "Ain't you going tospeak to us, ever again, Torry?"
"Oh, my eye!" growled Torry.
But he and Whistler really had very little to say while the boat wasrunning back into the cove. The wind was not so favorable, so it took amuch longer time for the trip than it had to come out to the fishinggrounds.
"But if we use a drop of his gas, old Cap Bridger will know it,"grumbled Frenchy. "Maybe we'll have to row her in."
A little flicker of breeze helped after a while, however; but it wasjust then, too, and after they had rounded one of the crab-claw capesthat defended the cove from the ocean, that Ikey sang out:
"What's this coming? Oi, oi! D'you see it, Whistler? It's a streak oflight!"
The other boys turned to look seaward. Rushing in from that watery worldwas a gray shape--narrow, low-decked, with slight upperworks and asingle stack.
"A chaser!" cried Torry, finding his voice and growing excited.
"She's aiming right this way," added Frenchy excitedly.
Phil Morgan had his glass out again, and his lips unpuckered and thetune he had been monotoning died.
"What do you make of her, Phil?" whispered Al Torrance.
"It is a sub patrol boat all right," agreed their leader.
Ikey, who had the tiller at this juncture, got so excited watching theswiftly approaching craft that he pretty nearly swung the _Sue Bridger_in a circle.
"Look out, you chump!" yelled Torry. "Want to yank the stick out of her?If you haven't a care Captain Bridger will get the price of a newcatboat out of us."
Whistler gave Torrance the glass and went aft himself to relieve Ikey atthe helm.
"You're a fine garby," called Donahue to Rosenmeyer. "Lose your headmighty easy. That chaser isn't chasing us."
"How do you know she isn't?" returned Ikey.
"She certainly is following us," Whistler said. "But until she bespeaksour attention with her forward gun I guess we need not worry," and hesmiled grimly.
The boys watched the swiftly approaching boat. It came in through thenarrows at top speed, circled around toward the docks, and passed thecatboat at a distance.
"'S. P. 888'!" yelled Torry. "Look there!"
"I thought it was that same chaser we saw before," Frenchy said.
"Wonder what she wants in here at Seacove?" Ikey asked.
Whistler had changed their course to bring the catboat nearer to thenaval boat, which was slowing down. Torry leaped upon the low-deckedcabin and began signaling by the semaphore code. In his blue uniformhis body stood out clearly against the catboat's sail, and he was atonce observed by the crew of the S. P. 888.
"Whew! Look at that!" gasped Frenchy. "They are answering."
Then he and Ikey began to spell out the word that the seaman on the deckof the chaser was signaling in the same code Torrance had used.
"M-O-R-G-A-N!"
"Oi, oi!" yelled Ikey. "They're after you, Whistler!"
"What's the next?" gasped Frenchy.
Another name was not long in coming.
"T-O-R-R-A-N-C-E!"
"They want you, too."
"Look, they are calling somebody else."
Quickly the Navy Boys spelt out the next name.
"D-O-N-A-H-U-E!"
"That's me," came in a groan from Frenchy.
"Maybe they don't want me," murmured Ikey.
"Don't you fool yourself," returned Whistler promptly. "We couldn't dowithout you."
"But they ain't wigwaging no more, Whistler."
"Maybe the sailor doin' it got tired," offered Torry.
"R-O-S-E-N-M-E-Y-E-R!" came the signal presently.
"See them coming, boys!"
"Some speed there!"
"He's after us," said Torry. "Whip up this old tub, Whistler. Let's startthe engine."
"Hold your horses," advised Morgan. "He knows we are aboard. We'll getthere all right, give us time."
The chaser was circling around, and finally headed toward them. Theexcited boys in the catboat saw Mr. MacMasters examining them through aglass. The S. P. 888 came to a stop near the usual mooring of the _SueBridger_. Captain Bridger put off in a dory from the float and began toscull out toward the Government boat.
"We're going aboard!" cried Torry. "Say, Whistler! do you suppose he'sbeen sent for us? Shall we join up with the crew of that shark?"
"Oi, oi!" groaned Ikey. "No dreadnaught for us, then? What will my papaand mama say? I've been tellin' 'em maybe I get to command a battleshipthis next cruise."
"I had no idea Ensign MacMasters was in service again," Whistler said."But I am glad he is on this particular boat."
"Why?" asked Torry, to whom he spoke in a low tone.
"I want to tell him about that oil boat," returned Morgan, nodding hishead.
In a few moments they dropped the sail and fended off from the chaser'sside, just as Captain Bridger reached the spot too.
"You want these four boys, Skipper?" demanded the old fisherman.
"That's what I do," said Ensign MacMasters. Then to the chums: "Comeaboard, boys; I've news for you."
"They been using my catboat," said Captain Bridger. "All right, PhilMorgan. You can go aboard. I'll take charge of the _Sue_. Got someright nice lookin' bass, ain't you?"
"But you won't take charge of them!" Torry exclaimed. "I caught thatbig fellow, and I donate it to the officer's mess of the S. P.Eight-eighty-eight, right now!"
The fisherman looked somewhat disappointed, for he was eager to make apenny. Whistler, however, gave him some of the smaller fish. Theremainder were tossed to a grinning sailor upon the deck of the chaser.
"Come right aboard, boys," Ensign MacMasters repeated. "I am glad to seeyou looking so chipper."
He shook hands with them, in rotation, as they came over the side. Butthe chums did not forget to salute the officer. They lined up before himin a respectful attitude as Captain Bridger got aboard the catboat andshoved her away from the chaser's side.
"I am only acting commander of this little knifeblade," said EnsignMacMasters. "Junior Lieutenant Perkins has time off to attend to someprivate business, and I have been stuck aboard here for a few days.We're patrolli
ng this stretch of coast, and I ran in to see if I couldpick up you boys. Do you know what is going to happen?"
"We're going to lick the Germans!" exclaimed Frenchy.
The ensign laughed. "Smart boy," he said. "You will go to the head ofthe class for that. But my information is new stuff. I am assigned tothe _Kennebunk_ and you four boys are to go with me."
"Hurray!" shouted Torry, unable to suppress his delight.
"That will sure please my papa," declared Ikey, with a broad smile andtwinkling eyes. "It sure will."
"But how about the _Colodia_, sir?" asked Whistler anxiously.
"That's right! Be faithful to your first love, Morgan," laughed EnsignMacMasters. "I imagine they intend to send us all back to her in time.But--whisper!--the _Colodia_ is across the pond. So I am told. There issomething doing over there."
"Crickey!" gasped Torry. "And we not in it!"
"It may not come off before we get across in this new battleship----"
"Whew!" shrilled Frenchy, forgetting himself. "Will the _Kennebunk_ goacross, too?"
"That's telling," said Ensign MacMasters. "You will have several daysyet to get ready for the cruise, no matter how long it may be. Yes,Morgan? What do you want to say?" for he observed that Whistler wasrestless and wished to speak.
"I've something to report, sir," Whistler declared.
"Yes?"
"We made an observation just now. Well, perhaps an hour and a half ago,sir."
"What was it?" queried the ensign, with interest.
"A power boat passed us. She was not as long as this chaser and not veryswift. She was steering into the sou'east, and she left a streak of oilin her wake. She was laden to the guards with oil casks, I believe."
Ensign MacMasters made no comment for a moment; then he got the fullsignificance of Whistler's meaning and he briskly demanded:
"Sure her casks were filled, Morgan, and not empty?"
"She had a full cargo of something, sir," said Whistler, nodding.
"And headed southeast?"
"Yes, sir."
Mr. MacMasters wheeled to speak to his navigating officer. In thirtyseconds the swift craft started.
"Hold on, Mr. MacMasters!" cried Torry. "We've got to get ashore somehowfor supper, you know."
The ensign smiled at him. "I am afraid you will have to remain aboardand help eat some of your own fish for supper. No time just now to putyou boys on land."