CHAPTER XX
A DISAPPOINTMENT
Through the soft, impenetrable darkness stole the almost inaudible soundof a paddle, and strangely enough, only a single stroke was heard. Thelistening youths agreed that the point whence it came was to the northof the islet, and it was Chester Haynes who was keen witted enough tohit upon the explanation.
"Whoever it is he is trying not to betray himself; he is using his oaras a paddle, to avoid the sound of rowing."
"But _we_ heard him," said Alvin.
"He made a slight slip and may do it again."
They listened intently for several minutes, but the stillness wasunbroken. This continued for some time, when suddenly the sound washeard, fainter than before--so faintly indeed that had not the two beenclosely attentive they would not have noted it.
"Another slip," remarked Chester; "I guess he doesn't know how to handlea paddle very well. But he has got ahead, for he isn't where he was whenwe first heard him."
"He seems to be between us and the islet."
"He may be coming this way!"
As if in answer to the thought, the few rays of moonlight which fellupon the water at that moment revealed the dim outlines of a small boatthat was heading toward the very spot where the friends were standing.
"Let's make a change of base," whispered Chester, hastily turning to thenorth, but halting where they could see the boat without being visiblethemselves.
With the weak light, they could trace it quite clearly. The craft was ofthe ordinary structure, so small that it would not have carried morethan two or three persons, and had nothing in the nature of a sail.
A man was seated in the middle holding a single paddle which he swayedfirst on one side and then on the other. The observers suspected hisidentity before the nose of the little boat slid up the bank and it cameto rest. Gently laying down the paddle, as if guarding againstdiscovery, the man rose to his feet and stepped out. As he did so, hegrasped a small handbag in one hand and moved with the alert nimblenessof a boy. He was the man in the gray suit, who seemed to have formed thehabit of intruding into the plans of Alvin and Chester. They waitedmotionless and silent until he disappeared in the wood.
"Chester," said his friend, "I'll give you eleven cents if you willexplain that."
"And I'll give you twelve if you'll clear it up for me."
"I wonder now if he isn't acting as a sentinel for the others. He knowswe are somewhere in the neighborhood and has set out to keep track ofus."
The theory might seem reasonable to the boys, but would not hold water,for, after all, the action of the stranger did not agree with it. Theyfelt it idle to try to guess, and gave it up. Alvin had proposed thatthey should stay no longer in the wood, but return to the hospitablehome of Uncle Ben. Though it would be late when they reached there, theywould be welcome, but both shrank from meeting the couple after thediscovery of the money they had placed under their plates.
"Hold on, Alvin," whispered the other; "let's play a trick on thatfellow that keeps nosing into our business."
"How?"
"Let's use his boat to get a closer view of the _Deerfoot_."
It was a rash thing to do, but it appealed to the young Captain.
"All right; I'm with you. We must hurry, for he is likely to come backany moment."
Had they taken time for reflection, they probably would have given upthe plan, but boys of their age and younger are not apt to "look beforethey leap." Without hesitation, they walked to where the frail boat layagainst the bank and Alvin shoved it clear. The water seemed to be deepclose to land, and the Captain took up the paddle, remarking that thecraft bore some resemblance to a canoe. They half expected that the manwould dash forward and call them to account, but nothing was seen orheard of him, and the gloom swallowed them from sight of any person onland.
Now that the chance was theirs to settle the question which hadperplexed them so long it was important to consider each step. Alvin hadhad experience in managing a small boat and he handled the paddle withmore skill than the former occupant, for the ripple which he causedcould not have been heard a dozen feet away. As the distance from shoreincreased, they ceased to whisper. One knew the right thing to do aswell as the other, and Chester realized that he could give no directionsof value.
It seemed to Alvin that since those on the launch knew the directiontaken by one of their number, they would expect him to return over thesame course. Instead, therefore, of making straight for the motor boat,the Captain turned to the right, so as to approach the bow or stern.Before he caught sight of the craft, he made a complete circuit of theislet, keeping just near enough to trace its outlines and that of thelaunch. The former was merely a mass of sand, consisting of about anacre and without a tree or shrub upon it. It must have been nearlysubmerged when the tide was high.
Seated in the prow of the small boat, Chester Haynes peered with all thepower of eyesight at his command into the darkness, partly lighted upnow and then by the moon. This made the illumination treacherous anduncertain and caused misgivings to both. Alvin glanced up at the rollingclouds, striving to avoid betraying himself to anyone on board. Thepresumption was that all had gone to sleep, leaving the duty ofprotection to their friend, the man in gray.
A look at the masses of vapor in the sky told Alvin that the heavyobscurity would last for several minutes. He dipped the paddle deeperand stole toward the bow of the launch that was beginning to showvaguely. By and by he saw the sharp cutwater rising several feet abovethe water, the staff with its drooping flag, and the glass shield justaft of the motor compartment.
"Sh! sh! back quick!"
Chester whispered the warning, and Alvin without pausing to ask thereason swung the paddle so powerfully that the gentle forward motion waschecked, and the boat moved in the other direction. Two or three strokescarried it so far that the launch and all pertaining to it wereswallowed up in the gloom.
Waiting till it was safe to speak, the Captain asked:
"What did you see, Chester?"
"A man," was the reply.
"In what part of the launch?"
"He was standing in front of the cockpit, about half way between it andthe flagstaff."
"Then he saw us."
"No; for he was looking toward the shore to which this boat had gone.Had he turned his head, he must have noticed us."
Alvin held the reverse motion until they felt it safe to talk withoutdropping into whispers.
"What harm could have come if he had seen us?" asked the Captain, "Ifavor going straight up to the _Deerfoot_, stepping aboard and orderingthe thieves to turn her over to us."
"Before doing so, one thing ought to be settled."
"What is that?"
"Find out whether it _is_ the _Deerfoot_."
"Of course it is; what other boat could it be? We act as if we wereafraid to claim our own property."
"_Your_ property you mean, Captain. If I may advise, it is that you makeanother circuit around the islet and come up to the launch from therear. I don't think there is a second man on watch, and, if there isn't,we shall be less likely to attract the first one's notice."
"I'll do as you say, though I see no sense in it."
With the utmost care the islet was circumnavigated as before, and thestealthy approach from the rear was made. Alvin depended upon hiscompanion to give him warning, and while he remained silent the smallboat glided forward like a shadow cast by the moon.
The man who had been seen standing near the prow would have been insight had he held his position, and since he was invisible, he must havegone away. With the acme of caution, Alvin stole along the side of thelaunch, keeping just far enough off to avoid grazing her, until he cameonce more to the bow.
This period being one of the total eclipses of the moon, he could do nomore than trace the outlines of the boat, whose familiar appearancefilled him with burning indignation that thieves should have dared tolay hands upon it. There was not a breath of air stirring, and Chesterwho still clung
to his doubts, now drew his rubber safe from his pocketand scratched a match over the corrugated bottom. As the tiny flameflickered, he held it up in front of the gilt letters on the side of theprow. Each saw them plainly, long enough to note that the name paintedthere was not _Deerfoot_ but _Water Witch_!
Alvin was astounded and disgusted beyond expression. Without a word, heturned the head of the little boat toward the shore which they had lefta short time before, and did not speak until they reached land. He wasimpatient, because he plainly heard his companion chuckling.
"Let's give up looking for the _Deerfoot_," exclaimed the Captain, "andsee whether we can find Mike Murphy."
"I'm with you," was the hearty response of Chester.
Indeed it is high time that we, too, started upon the same errand.