CHAPTER XXV
GOOD NEWS
You will remember that Captain Alvin Landon and Second Mate ChesterHaynes were disappointed, as in the nature of things was inevitable, intheir search for the stolen motor boat _Deerfoot_, in the cove or smallinlet at the lower end of Barter Island. The only glimpse they caught ofa person on the launch, which bore a marked resemblance to their own,was when they first sighted the boat launch. Nothing was seen or heardof him afterward.
With the stealthy care used in the approach, Alvin backwatered until the_Water Witch_ had faded from view in the darkness. Then he headed towardthe southern shore, landing as nearly as he could at the spot where theyfirst entered the small boat.
It would have been an advantage had they taken an opposite course,thereby shortening the distance they would have to walk, but theywished to keep all knowledge of what they had done from the man in gray,and therefore returned the borrowed boat to its former place. Theyagreed that it was not best to spend the night in the woods as they hadthought of doing. They might penetrate to a depth that would make itsafe to kindle a fire, but they were without extra garments, and nowthat all necessity of staying in the neighborhood had passed, they wereanxious to get away from it as soon as possible. The stolen launch mustbe sought for elsewhere, and they were concerned for the safety of MikeMurphy, whose impulsive aggressiveness was almost certain to lead himinto trouble by this time.
Accordingly, the two once more tramped around the head of the inlet, andwith better fortune than might have been expected, struck the beginningof the highway on which stood the humble home of Uncle Ben Trotwood. Thehour was so late that they were sure the couple had gone to bed longbefore, but were pleased to catch a twinkle of light from the frontwindow, beside which the old man was so fond of sitting.
The knock of Alvin was promptly answered by the thunderous "Come in!"and the two stepped across the threshold.
"You hardly expected us back so soon," said Alvin, after the salutation,"but it was a choice of spending the night out doors or sleeping underyour roof."
Uncle Ben was seated in his rocking chair, slowly puffing his pipe.Peggy his wife had finished her sewing and was making ready to goupstairs.
"Young chaps, you're welcome. I jedge you've been disapp'inted."
"Yes," answered Alvin, who thereupon told his story.
"Our motor boat is somewhere else; I don't see how anyone can go farwith it, and we're sure of getting on its track to-morrow. At any ratewe sha'n't rest till we have it back."
"That little boat you've been telling me about b'longs to my son Jim. IfI had thought I'd told you of it, for I can see it would have sarved youwell. But it's a qu'ar story you tell me. Who is that man you speak ofas was dressed in gray?"
"He's one of the post office robbers, of course," was the confidentreply of Chester.
"I don't understand some of the things he's done," remarked Uncle Ben.
"It looks as if he has been keeping tabs on us."
Uncle Ben seemed to fall into a brown study or he was debating somequestion with himself. He was gazing at the cheap picture on theopposite wall, but saw it no more than he did the other three persons inthe room. His wife knew his moods and studied the wrinkled countenance,as did Alvin and Chester. Finally she ended the stillness by sharplyasking:
"Why don't you speak, Benjamin? I know what's in your mind."
He pulled himself abruptly together.
"If you know, what's the use of my telling?"
"That these young gentlemen may larn, though your thoughts ain't wuthmuch."
He took a whiff or two, removed the pipe and with a whimsical grinremarked:
"I was just thinking--Oh pshaw! what's the use?"
He shook his head and refused to explain further. It may seem a smallmatter hardly worth the telling, but it would have been well had he madehis explanation. The alert brain of the octogenarian had glimpsedsomething of which the youths had not as yet caught the faintestglimmer.
"Do you know what I think?" he asked, bending his kindly eyes upon hiscallers.
"We are waiting to learn," was Alvin's quick reply.
"It's time we all went to bed; Peggy will show you your room and I'llfoller as soon as I finish this and a couple of pipes more. Off withyou!"
The old lady lighted the candle from another that was burning in anold-fashioned candlestick on the mantel and nodded to them to followher. At the head of the short stairs she pushed open a door leading intoa small room, furnished with a bed, a rag carpet, and everything thepink of neatness. Stepping within she set the light on the small stand,and then with an odd smile on her worn countenance said almost in awhisper:
"I found what you put under your plates, but didn't let _him_ know aboutit; he would have made me give back the money to you, and I know youdidn't want me to do that."
"Of course not," said Chester a little taken back, as was also hiscompanion; "that was meant for you and we wish you to keep it."
"That's what I thought. Ben is cranky. To-morrow morning at breakfast,you must be careful he doesn't catch you when you do it again. Goodnight and pleasant dreams."
The boys looked in each other's faces, and laughed after closing thedoor.
"Uncle Ben's wife is more thrifty than he," said Alvin; "but I am gladshe kept the money, for she deserves it."
"And we mustn't forget that pointed hint she let fall. But, Alvin, mysupply of funds is running low. You will have to help me out if we stayhere for a week."
"I have enough to see us through, but I don't believe there will bemuch more expense on our trip home."
A few minutes later they snuggled down in the soft bed and slept assweetly as a couple of infants.
It need not be said that neither forgot to slip a tip under his plate atthe breakfast table and made sure that Uncle Ben did not observe theact. It may have been because Peggy was expecting it that she saw it andsmiled. Alvin and Chester could feel only pleasure over the littleby-play, for nothing could surpass her kindness and hospitality to them.
"Wal," was the cheery remark of Uncle Ben, as he lighted his pipe themoment the morning meal was over, "I 'spose you'll be back in time forsupper."
"Hardly, though we should be mighty glad to come."
"I'm sorry, but you know you're as welcome as the birds in spring."
"We know that and we cannot thank you too much. I wish you would allowus to pay you something for all you have done."
"None of that!" warned Uncle Ben, with a peremptory wave of his hand."We don't keep a hotel, and wish more folks would come and oftener."
The lads had decided upon retracing the course of the day before. Thatwas to walk back to Sawyer Island and there take the first steamersouth, keeping the same keen lookout on the way for the _Deerfoot_, butmaking no halt unless they actually caught sight of the motor boat.
The jaunt from Barter to Sawyer Island was play for two rugged youths,accustomed to athletics and brisk exercise, and was made in a littlemore than an hour. The day promised to be warm and sunshiny, but wouldnot be oppressive, and they felt no fatigue when they reached thewell-known landing. Upon inquiry they were told that the _Island Belle_on its way to Boothbay Harbor would not arrive until nearly two hours,and for that period they must content themselves as best they could.
"Why not send a telegram to Mr. Richards?" asked Chester. "He knows whatwe are trying to do, and, like the good fellow he is, will help us allhe can. He may have picked up something worth telling."
"Mike would say, if he were here, the suggestion is a good one, as someof his relatives remarked when they were invited to take a hand in ashindy. I'll do it."
Stepping into the little post office, which reminded them of the one atCharmount and its bright young miss, Alvin sent a brief inquiry to K. H.Richards, Boothbay Harbor:
"Please let me know whether you have learned anything of the _Deerfoot_. I shall be here for not quite two hours.
"ALVIN LANDON."
"More than likely Mr.
Richards isn't at home; he is continually on thego and may be in Portland or Augusta," said Chester.
"I think the message will catch him; I remember the bank of which he ispresident holds a regular meeting of directors to-day and he rarelymisses any of them."
Barely half an hour had elapsed, when the young man who was the operatorcalled to the youths as they strolled into the room:
"Here's your answer."
Alvin took the yellow slip. Chester stood at his elbow and read themessage over his shoulder.
"Your boat has been found.
"K. H. RICHARDS."
"Gee!" exclaimed the delighted Alvin; "isn't that fine? I didn't counton such good luck as that."
"But why didn't he give some particulars? He could have sent severalwords more without extra cost. Not a thing about Mike. We have enoughtime to learn something. Try it again."
In a twinkling, a second message flashed over the wire. Mr. Richards wasbegged to telegraph at Alvin's expense, giving fuller information, andespecially whether Mike Murphy had had anything to do with the recoveryof the motor boat.