CHAPTER XXVII
AN ALARMING FACT
Neither Alvin nor Chester asked their companion to explain his startlingwords, for there was no need to do so: only one meaning could be giventhem.
"How far dare you venture out with the _Shark_?" asked Alvin of themaster of the little boat.
He shook his head.
"She isn't built for rough weather."
"I know that, but the sea is unusually calm, and there isn't theslightest danger."
"Not just now, but there's no saying when a blow may come up that willswamp me before I can run to cover."
"I have no wish to ask you to go into danger and will only request youto push out as far as you are willing."
George must have known something of the youth who had hired him, that hewas the son of a very wealthy father, and willingly paid a high pricefor one's services. The boatman scanned the sky and different points ofthe compass. So far as he could judge, the weather would remain fair forhours to come. In the hope of heartening him Chester said:
"With your boat capable of making twenty miles an hour, you can turnback whenever you think best and run into one of the many harbors inhalf an hour."
"True enough," grinned George, "if I'm within reach of 'em. I don't mindtrying it a little while longer, but not for many miles."
He slowed down, for the spray dashed over the wind-shield, and it wasplain the swells were increasing, or rather the boat was plunging into aregion where they were growing larger.
The chums did not say anything to him for a considerable time. He couldtell them nothing more and they ought not to distract his attention.They were in a fever of dread, for never before had the outlook been sogloomy for Mike Murphy. The youths even hesitated to speak to eachother, for neither could say anything of a cheering nature. Alvin pickedup the binoculars and rising to his feet and steadying himself as theprow rose and dived, carefully scanned the far-reaching half circle ofthe Atlantic. The form of a brig dimly observable by the naked eye, asit headed toward Pemaquid Point, was brought out with a distinctnessthat caused an exclamation of surprise.
"What a fine instrument! It equals those our government buys fromGermany for the use of the army and navy. Chester, look at that fishingboat toward Inner Heron Island."
His companion stood up, balanced himself, shaded his brow and wrinkledhis forehead with the strain of the attempt.
"I see the two men as plainly as if they were no more than a hundredfeet away."
He slowly swept the horizon and enjoyed the visual feast to the full.Far out to sea the smoke of a steamer trailed against the sky, the hullhidden by the convexity of the earth, and nearer in a schooner hadcaught enough wind to belly her sails and cause her to heel over as shesped outward. Pemaquid Point showed clearly to the northwest. The fort,more than two centuries old, is at Pemaquid Beach several miles north.Nearer rose Thrumbcap Island, south of the Thread of Life ledges, CrowIsland, and large Rutherford Island, almost cut in two by ChristmasCove. To the left was Inner Heron, and on the other side of the broadmouth of the Damariscotta River, the long, narrow Linekin Neck reachingnorthward to East Boothbay. Scanning the sweep of water to the south andwest many other islands were seen--Ram, Fisherman, the Hypocrites,White, Outer Heron, Damariscove, Pumpkin and some so small that they arenot known by any name.
But nowhere on the waste of heaving water did the eager eye discern thelost _Deerfoot_, though boats of varying sizes and models trailed acrossthe field of vision. Alvin joined in the scrutiny, but with no moresuccess, and was thus engaged when he became aware of a sharp turn inthe course of the _Shark_. Looking down at the wheelman, he saw thatthe boat was making a circle.
"What's the matter, George?" he asked, though he knew the meaning of themovement.
"It won't do to go any farther; I've already pushed too many miles out."
"There's nothing to be gained by taking the same route back; turn southso as to pass below Fisherman Island."
"I don't see any objection to that," muttered George, doing asrequested, and holding the boat to a fairly moderate speed.
The runabout was now heading southwest, with the purpose of thuscontinuing for a couple of miles, when she would swing round and makefor Squirrel Island and so on to Boothbay Harbor.
She was still driving in that direction, when George said to Alvin:
"You have run your motor boat often enough to understand her prettywell."
"I hope so."
"There isn't much left for him to learn," was the comment of Chester.
"Take the wheel for a bit; you know the course as well as me."
"I am glad to relieve you," said Alvin, quickly changing places with theyoung man.
"It isn't that, but I suspect my eyes are a little better than yours; Iwant to use the glass awhile."
For several minutes the silence was broken only by the splash of thewater against the bow of the runabout, which plowed her way with easeand grace. Chester Haynes resumed his seat and gave his chief attentionto George, who was on his feet and slowly sweeping the visible horizon.The binoculars moved deliberately to and fro, with none of the threespeaking a word.
By and by the young man held the instrument pointed to the north, alittle to the right of the narrow fringe of islands with the odd name ofthe Hypocrites. He was not studying this insignificant group, but, ashas been said, was looking a little to one side, toward Inner Heron,three miles away. Pausing in the circling of the glasses, he held themimmovable for two or three minutes.
"It looks as if he sees something," reflected Chester, with his eyes onthe man, while Alvin simply peered ahead and held the _Shark_ to hercourse. George muttered something, but Chester could not catch thewords. Suddenly he lowered the binoculars and asked Alvin to changeplaces again with him. When this was done he handed the instrument tothe youth, with the direction:
"Point her that way," indicating the north, "and if you study closelyyou'll notice something."
Without reply, Alvin spread his feet apart to steady himself andlevelled the glass at the point named. The next moment he exclaimed ingreat excitement:
"By gracious! I certainly believe it's the _Deerfoot_!"
Chester sprang up and reached for the binoculars, but his chum was notready to hand them over.
"It looks like her, but I'm not certain. What do you say, George?"
"It's her," was the ungrammatical but emphatic response.
The news almost overcame Alvin, who, passing the glasses to Chester,dropped into his seat, that he might pull himself together.
The launch was a mile off and in so plain sight that the wonder was ithad not been seen before. It was headed diagonally toward Linekin Neckand seemed to be going very slowly.
"Let me have another look," said George, who retained his place at thewheel, while at the same time manipulating the instrument.
This time he did not continue his scrutiny as long as before. While soengaged, the youths used their unassisted eyes. The _Deerfoot_, as sheundoubtedly was, could be seen in the position named, though of coursewith less distinctness than through the binoculars.
"She doesn't seem to make much progress," remarked Alvin, with aninquiring look at George, who swung the wheel over so as to head towardthe motor boat. He did not reply to the words of the youth, to whom heagain handed the instrument. Alvin persisted:
"How do you explain it?"
"She only moves as the current carries her."
"Do you mean she is drifting?"
"That's it."
A look told Alvin the young man had spoken the truth.
"That means she has broken down," suggested Chester, uttering thethought that was in both of the minds of his companions.
"It can't mean anything else," said George, who evidently kept back someof his fancies.
"Whistle to him," suggested Alvin.
A series of tootings were sent out. They were not loud, but in thestillness must have gone beyond the _Deerfoot_. The three listened, butheard no response.
r /> "I knew there wouldn't be," commented George.
"Why not?"
He shook his head, but did not speak further.
After another study of his own boat through the glass, Alvin remarkeduneasily:
"I don't see anything of Mike. George, did you notice him?"
George shook his head without looking round.
"What do you think, Chester?" asked his friend.
"Probably he has been up all night and has fallen asleep," was the replyof Chester, spoken with so much confidence that for the moment itquieted the alarm of the other.
"That would be just like Mike. Something has gone wrong with the engineand he hasn't the first idea of what he should do to repair it; so whenworn out, he has lain down and gone to sleep. We shall have the joke onMike when we see him."
George's lips were compressed and he remained silent until half theintervening distance was passed; then he looked over his shoulder.
"Young men, the reason you don't see Mike _is because he isn't on thatboat_!"