CHAPTER XXVI
DISQUIETING NEWS
The reply to the telegram was delayed so long that the _Island Belle_was in sight when the operator handed it to the impatient Alvin.
"Mr. Richards has gone to Mouse Island. No saying when he will return.
"G. R. WESTERFIELD."
"We shall have to wait till we get home," commented Chester, "and thatwon't be long."
The well-known steamer _Island Belle_ is a good boat of moderate speed,and pursuing its winding course was moored at the wharf in BoothbayHarbor before noon. The boys had kept a sharp lookout for the stolenlaunch, but did not get a glimpse of it. Beyond the brief message of Mr.Richards they were wholly in the dark, and since he was absent they didnot know whom to question. They could easily have hired a boat to takethem to Mouse Island, less than two miles away, but the chances werethat when they reached there they would learn that their friend had gonesomewhere else.
While the youths stood debating on the low float, they observed the_Nellie G._ coming in. The genial bewhiskered Captain Williams in thepilot house recognized them and waved his hand. Then for a few minuteshe was busy making fast and seeing that his passengers landed safely.Everybody knows and likes the captain, and as soon as he was at leisurethe boys stepped up to him and shook hands warmly.
"I'm glad you've got your boat back," he remarked, when they had talkedfor a few minutes.
"We heard that it had been found," said Alvin, "but we haven't seen itsince it was stolen yesterday. Have you?"
"I saw it yesterday afternoon when I was over at Squirrel Island."
"Where?" asked the astonished Alvin.
"Why, I talked with the wild Irishman who had it in charge."
"Do you mean Mike Murphy?"
"I'm not certain of his last name, but they call him Mike, and he isredheaded, with the most freckled face I ever saw."
"That's our Mike!" exclaimed the delighted Chester. "Tell us about it."
"There isn't much to tell," replied Captain Williams. "I had just backedout to make room for a steamer, when I saw the _Deerfoot_ going by andheaded north. That Irish lad was at the steering wheel and was grinningso hard that the corners of his mouth touched his ears. Not seeingeither of you, I asked him where you were. He said he had left youbehind, and if I met you before he did I was to say he had slipped offon a little trip to the 'owld counthry.'"
"That identifies him as much as his looks. Did you see anything more ofhim?"
"I had to give attention to the _Nellie_, but I caught sight of him ashe started round the upper end of Squirrel and turned to the eastward.That's the course he would follow," added Captain Williams, with asmile, "if he meant to take the voyage he spoke of."
For the first time since hearing the good news, each of the youths feltmisgiving. While it was impossible that Mike Murphy had any intention ofgoing far out, he did not need to proceed many miles to run intoalarming danger. His knowledge of motor boats was so limited that theslightest difficulty with the engine would render him helpless. He haddone an exceedingly rash thing, though in truth no more than was to beexpected of him. A full night had passed since he was met by CaptainWilliams, who in answer to the anxious question of Alvin repeated thathe had not seen or heard of the _Deerfoot_ since late on the precedingafternoon. With his usual shrewdness, he added:
"If you want my advice it is that you hire a launch and start after thatboat of yours and don't throw away any time in doing so."
"Your advice is good," said Alvin gratefully, "and shall be followed."
Bidding good day to their friend, they set out to hire a launch--an easything to do during the summer season at Boothbay, when boatmen reaptheir harvest. The boys found exactly what they wanted in the shape of a28-foot runabout, forty horse power, four-cylinder gasoline engine, witha guaranteed speed of twenty miles an hour. It belonged to a wealthyvisitor, who having been suddenly called to New York on business, gavehis man permission to pick up an honest penny or two by means of thepleasure boat left behind. Although such craft are easily provided withan automobile type of canopy as a protection against the weather, therewas none on the _Shark_. But there was a plate glass wind-shieldforward, which shut out the flying spray when the boat was going at highspeed. The seats were athwartship and would accommodate four persons ata pinch and were tastefully upholstered in leather.
The young man who had charge of the _Shark_ was glum and reserved, butinasmuch as Alvin promptly agreed to his somewhat exorbitant terms, hewas anxious to oblige. Alvin thought it best to explain the situationbefore they started.
"George" listened silently until the story was finished, when he noddedhis head:
"I know the _Deerfoot_; ain't a finer craft in these waters. Wish Iowned her."
"When did you see her last?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"Where?"
"Just off Southport. The Irish bonehead was talking with his father, asI suppose it was, while going past without stopping."
This was interesting information. George was asked to go first to theshore of that island, as near as he could get to the home of Alvin andthat of the caretaker, Pat Murphy, the father of Mike. The run was aboutfive miles past Mouse, Burnt, Capitol and opposite the lower end ofSquirrel Island. Just to show what the _Shark_ could do she covered thedistance in eighteen minutes.
The faint hope that the _Deerfoot_ would be found at the small landingconstructed for her did not last long, for she would have been in sightalmost from the first, and nothing was to be seen of her. Pat Murphy wasnot visible, but a few tootings of the compressed air whistle broughthim from his house, where he was eating his midday meal.
So great was his haste indeed that he left his hat behind. While he washurrying to the rocks, his wife opened the door and stood apparentlymotionless to hear what passed.
"Hello, Pat!" called Alvin. "Do you know where Mike is?"
"Bedad! it's mesilf that wish I did!" called back the angry parent."Didn't he sail by here yester afternoon, his chist sticking out andhimsilf putting on airs and pretending he didn't understand what I saidwhin I towld him to come ashore?"
"He ought to be ashamed of himself, but you mustn't feel too bittertoward him; it was the first time he had a chance to handle our boat."
"And how the dooce did he git that same chance? What were ye thinkingof, Alvin, to let such a blunderhead manage yer craft? Aye, he's ablunderhead and the son of a bigger one."
"No one will deny what ye last said," remarked the wife in the door.Even the glum George smiled at the man who did not catch the fullmeaning of his own words.
"Wait till the spalpeen coomes home," added Pat, with a shake of hishead, "and I'll squar' things wid him."
"You have seen nothing of him to-day?"
"I haven't saan a smell--bad cess to him!"
"Well, we hope to bring him home very soon."
"It's mesilf that is hoping ye'll soon do it."
Alvin gave the word to George, who set the engine going and headed tothe northeast. "I wish I could find some one who met Mike and the_Deerfoot_ after his father and Captain Williams saw her."
"I did," calmly spoke the boatman.
"You!" exclaimed the amazed Alvin; "what do you mean?"
"I saw him just as it was growing dark."
"Where?"
"A gentleman and lady took the walk yesterday afternoon from Boothbayover the Indian Trail to Spruce Point, where I met them late in theafternoon. Then the water being very calm, I went round to Ocean Pointat the end of Linekin Neck, where they went ashore for a half hour orso. I stayed in my boat waiting for them, when I happened to look southtoward Ram Island, expecting the light to show pretty soon. While I wasstaring I caught sight of your boat, the _Deerfoot_, heading out tosea."
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken?" asked Chester. "Couldn't it havebeen some other boat that resembles her?"
"I might have thought so if I hadn't used my glasses--them that arelying on the seat alongside of you. When
I took a good look throughthem, everything was as plain as the nose on your face."
"Did you notice the one at the wheel?"
"So plain there couldn't be any mistake about it. It was that redheadedIrish chap that you've been talking about."
"And he was alone?"
"If there was anyone with him he kept out of sight."
"Did you watch the _Deerfoot_ after that?"
"For only a few minutes; my folks soon came back, not staying as long asthey intended, but when they stepped aboard I cast one more look out tosea. It was so dark by that time that I could just see the boat fadingfrom sight. She was still headed straight to the eastward, as if thefool really meant to try to cross the Atlantic. I should have used theglasses again, but I was too busy attending to my boat. As I circledabout to start for home, Ram Island light flashed out, so you can knowthe day was pretty well gone."
"And you have seen nothing of the _Deerfoot_ since?" asked Alvin, with asinking heart.
"No; I don't believe anyone else has; and," added George, dropping hisvoice, "I don't believe you will ever see Mike Murphy again!"