CHAPTER XXVIII
ANOTHER SCHEME
Bill was not cut out for a nurse. His sympathies were large, but hisfingers, deft at managing fine mechanical apparatus, were all thumbswhen it came to anything even remotely concerned with human anatomy. Thegirl had been hit in the shoulder, undoubtedly a mere flesh wound, andthe bleeding must be stopped. Lucy was very pale, but there was never atear, nor the least indication of her fainting. She merely held her armdown and watched, with most rueful countenance, the blood dripping fromher finger tips upon the polished floor.
"I'll get Gus," said Bill, almost ready to weep at the sight the girlpresented. She had torn her dress from her shoulder and a seared gashwas disclosed which she could not well observe.
Gus pointed out the course to Bill, then went into the cabin. In aminute or less he had searched and obtained clean rags, torn strips fromthem, found a nearly exhausted bottle of vaseline, coated the rag withit and, with a deftness almost worthy of a surgeon, washed the woundwith a quick sopping of gasoline. Then as more blood was flowing, hebound up the shoulder and arm so that the flow stopped and by itscoagulation germs were excluded. Whereupon Lucy sought a couch where shelay, exhausted, and with a decided desire to cry, while Gus went back tothe wheel.
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"You shall hear from father and mother and all of us. They will be hereearly and father must see you." This was the very earnest declaration ofthe elder Waring sister, a young woman of twenty-five or more, "I cannotalone express our thanks, our deep gratitude----"
"To use a rather slangy expression--please 'forget it,'" said Bill,laughing.
Lucy, supported by another older sister, could only thank the boys withher pretty eyes. She did make so bold as to hold the hand of poor Gusuntil he turned a fiery red. Blushing herself, even through her pallor,she still persisted in trying to show her appreciation and admiration.Bill had to grab and pull his stammering chum away.
The run back in the _Stella_ was made in rapid time to her owner's slip.And there, the morning light just beginning to show in the eastern sky,the boys found an odd-looking fellow busily getting ready to cast off afishing skiff. He was one Pepperman, commonly called "Swamp" for short.He was something of a crony of Dan's and the boys had seen him before.
As they headed in they made out the identity of "Swamp." Gus suddenlyhad one of his ideas. He conveyed it to Bill in few words:
"We'll get 'Swamp' to go to those Malatestas and tell them he can stealthem a boat. Then we'll get Tony away if he's still there. You talk to'Swamp.'"
"Hello, Mr. Pepperman! Going fishing?" began Bill, as they made fast andlowered sail. "Yes? Expect to catch much? No? Well, I know somethingthat will bring you in two hours more money than in three weeks of thebest fishing you ever had."
"Swamp" wanted to know how such a thing could be done. Said Bill:
"Dead easy! You take a walk right away down through the pines toward thePoint. Know how to whistle a tune? Sure; well then, come over all thetunes you know. Let on you're hunting for special fish bait orsomething. Sheer off toward the big pine and keep through toward theocean. You'll meet somebody likely. Don't get curious, but talk fishingand boats. Tell them you take folks fishing and that you have a dandyboat all ready--a fast one. They'll probably want to see her. Tell themyou keep her up here, but if they'll hang off shore at the Point you'llsail her around there. Then, when they leave for the Point and you'resure of it, you come up the bay side road and tell us. We'll be waiting.How much is there in it? Twenty-five dollars, Mr. Pepperman, if yourerrand turns out successfully. Is that enough?"
"I reckon hit air," remarked the sententious "Swamp." "When do I git themoney?"
"Any time--to-day," said Gus, and without another word the lanky fellow,laying aside his tackle and bait of crab meat, was off into the woods.
Hardly an hour passed before Gus remarked to tired and sleepy Bill:"Somebody's coming. I'll bet it's 'Swamp.'"
It was, and he reported the exact carrying out of the plan. Two men,young fellows, one very dark-skinned, the other light, and both carryingguns, had started to the Point to wait for him. The other man,--therehad been three along the wood road--had headed up into the nearer woodsalong the ocean side.
"You go back and wait for Dan," said Gus to Bill. "I'm going to make onemore try for Tony."