CHAPTER XI
A MISSING MOTOR BOAT
Swinging into the broad expanse of Sheepscot Bay, the _Deerfoot_ movedsmoothly up the river which bears the same name. Captain Landon held herto the moderate speed of fifteen miles or so an hour. There was no callfor haste and he was wise not to strain the engine unnecessarily. Toincrease the rate would be imitating the man who drives his automobileat the highest clip, when he has to concentrate his attention upon themachine, with no appreciation of the beauties of the country throughwhich he is plunging, and continually threatened by fatal accidents.
Alvin held the wheel, while Chester and Mike, seated behind him, keptintelligent trace of their progress by means of the fine map of theUnited States Geological Survey. The first point identified was LowerMark Island on the right and close to Southport, then came Cat Ledges,Jold, Cedarbrush, the Hendrick Light, on the same side, while acrossloomed the pretty station known as Five Islands, one of the regularstopping places of the steamers going north or south. Omitting thesmaller places, the next point which interested our friends was the Isleof Springs, one of the best known summer resorts in Sheepscot River. Thelanding was crowded with passengers, waiting for the steamer _Gardiner_from Augusta, the capital of the State, and on its way to rush throughthe strait north of Southport to its destination, Ocean Point beyondSquirrel Island.
The peculiarity about this plucky little steamer is that no craft thatever plowed through those waters is so dependable. Again and again shehas made the long trip and not been out a single minute at any of thenumerous landings. She has been called the "Pony of the Kennebec," andnothing less than an explosion of her boiler or a collision with anothercraft would make her tardy anywhere.
"There are many persons along the river and on the islands who settheir watches and clocks by the _Gardiner_," said Alvin, speaking overhis shoulder.
He glanced at his watch.
"I don't know when she is due at the Isle of Springs, but as I figure itshe ought to be in sight now."
"And, begorrah! there she comes!" exclaimed Mike, pointing to the lefttoward Goose Rock Passage, leading from Knubble Bay to Sheepscot. Thefoaming billows tumbled away from the prow, as the boat droveresistlessly forward, and the whistle sounded for the landing. Many atime when rounding Capitol Island to the northwest of Squirrel, with astorm raging, the spray and water have been flung clean over the pilothouse and slid over the upper deck and streamed away off the stern.
Chester Haynes saluted with the whistle, but the captain of the_Gardiner_ gave no heed. His eye was upon the landing toward which hewas steaming. When the freight had been tumbled ashore and the waitingcargo taken aboard, the gang planks were drawn in, lines cast off, andthough a dozen passengers might be pointing toward the pier, shoutingand waving hats or umbrellas, all would be left.
The resinous pine trees formerly including firs, larches and true cedarsso thick that no spaces showed between, grew all the way down the rockyhills to the water's edge. The river, without a ripple except such aswas made by passing craft, was as crystalline as a mountain spring. Hereand there a rude drawing was scratched in the face of the cliffs, thework of the Indians who lived in that part of Maine before the Pilgrimslanded at Plymouth. It was one continuous dream which never loses itscharm for those who make the trip, no matter how often.
The sky remained overcast, though no rain fell, when the _Deerfoot_drove through the Eddy, where the current narrows and is very swift anddeep. A bridge connects the mainland with Davis Island. The launch satso low that there was no call to the bridge tender to open the draw. Asit shot under, the peaks of the flagstaffs showed a foot below theplanking.
They were now approaching the pretty town of Wiscasset, from which camethe faint thrill of a locomotive whistle, as notice that at that point atraveler could change from boats to cars. The launch was sweeping rounda bend in the river when Mike pointed to the right with the question:
"Phwat's that?"
"It is the famous blockhouse, built in 1807 for the protection ofWiscasset, four miles away, but it was never used because the town wasnever in danger."
The interesting structure, which you may have seen when gliding past ina boat, is octagonal in form, with one window on each face of the lowerstory, except on the one containing a narrow door approached by a singlestep of wood. As was the fashion in building blockhouses, the secondstory overhangs the first and on each face of this upper story is asquare window with a long loop-hole placed horizontally on either side.The flat roof is surmounted by a slender cupola, also octagonal, with awindow occupying nearly all the space of each face. The whole buildingis covered with shingles and for a long time after its erection it wassurrounded by an elaborate system of earthworks.
The _Deerfoot_ slackened its speed as it came opposite. Mike Murphyshowed special interest in the old faded building.
"It suggists the palace of me grandfather, the Duke De Sassy," said he."If ye have no great objiction, Captain, I should be glad of a closerlook at it."
Since the day was at their disposal, the youthful captain was quitewilling to halt and inspect the historic structure. He turned the bowtoward the bank, and stopped in deep water a few feet from land. Mikecleared the intervening distance in an easy jump, taking the end of thebow line which he made fast to a convenient tree. Chester at the sametime had cast out the anchor from the stern and made fast the cable to acleat on the after or stern deck. The launch was thus held immovable andsafe from injury. In the meanwhile, Alvin had employed himself inshutting down the motor, turning off the gasoline and air tank valvesand making ready to leave the launch in its usual good order.
Mike said:
"I have a brilliant suggistion to make to ye, as me uncle said when hearranged to foight six men, by taking on one each day instead ofengaging them all at once. The same is that we indoolge in our noonrepast on shore."
The plans of the lads when they left home was to have dinner at thehotel in Wiscasset, but they had been so delayed by their leisurelyascent of the river that the meridian was past. A supply of sandwiches,ginger ale and sarsaparilla was laid in so as to be prepared forcontingencies, and it need not be said that all had keen appetites.Chester remarked that it was only a brief run to the little town ahead.Moreover, it was more convenient to eat on the launch, where they couldspread the food on one of the seats or the cover of the cockpit. Butevery boy would rather chew a venison or bear steak, though tough asleather, in preference to a tender, juicy bit of beef, and eating inthe woods is tenfold more enticing than in a house or on a boat.Besides, they had been sitting so long that the change would be arelief. Accordingly, Chester and Mike gathered up the big paper bagswhich held the lunch, and the bottles of soft stuff, and leaped lightlyashore.
The little party walked the short distance to the primitive blockhouse,and passing a little way beyond sat down on the pine burrs and grass andtackled the food. The clear air, the odorous breath of the forest, andthe soft ripple of the stream flowing past, gave the repast a charmbeyond that which the Waldorf-Astoria can impart to its guests.
"It makes me sigh," said Mike when the last morsel of food haddisappeared and he drew the napkin across his lips, "to think that onlya few waaks are lift to us of this bliss of life."
"Yes," replied Captain Alvin; "the days fly fast; soon I shall have togo back to school and study so hard there will be mighty little timeleft for play."
"The same here," added Chester in a lugubrious voice. "I don't supposethere would be half as much fun in this sport if we took it straightalong."
"I'm willing to try the same for tin or twinty years; it's mesilf thatdoesn't belave I'd grow weary in less time than thot. Couldn't yepersuade your dad, you j'ining company wid him, Chister, to give thething a thrial for that long?"
Alvin shook his head.
"Suppose our parents should be so foolish, do you think your father andmother would allow you to squander your time like that?"
Mike removed his cap and scratched his head.
"I'
m afeard there'd be objiction from that side of the house. Ye seethat twinty years from now dad, if he's alive, which God grant, will bean old man; thrue I'd be in me prime, and if he was too overbearing widme, I could lay him over me knee and spank him, but I'd sorter hate todo that, bekase of the kindness he had shown me in days gone by.Besides," added Mike, with a big wink, "me mither would be sure to takedad's part, and I'm convinced that twinty years from now she'll bebigger and stronger than to-day. With the two united in battle arrayagin me, I'd hev no ch'ice but to take to the woods. Yes; we'll have togive up the idea which sthruck me so favorable at first. What do yeintind to do with the _Deerfoot_, Captain, when the summer is gone?"
"Draw her out on land and cover her with canvas for the winter, so as tokeep her in condition for a bigger outing next year."
"That maans, I 'spose, ye'll carry her in the house and put her to bedand kiver her up the same as a sick baby?"
"Hardly that, but she will need and will receive the best ofcare--hark!"
The three were silent for a minute. Faintly but distinctly all caughtthe distant whirr from the exhaust of a speed launch. They quickly notedthat the sound grew less audible--proof that the launch was speedingaway from them.
At first it seemed to be in the direction of Wiscasset, but when theywere barely able to hear the noise, they agreed that it was from downthe river. Inasmuch as they had not met any boat on their way to thispoint, they were puzzled to understand how the craft could have passedthem without being seen. The only explanation was that it had comenearly to the blockhouse from below, and then owing to some cause hadturned about and gone back.
"That's queer," remarked Alvin, as a sudden suspicion flashed over him.He sprang to his feet and ran round the building, the others at hisheels, for the same dread was with them. In a moment Alvin halted withthe exclamation:
"Some one has run off with our launch!"
Such was the fact.