CHAPTER XXX
A NEW ENGLAND HOME COMING
The amazement of Alvin Landon and Chester Haynes was as overwhelming asthat of Mike Murphy. For a brief while they stared across the water,without the Captain shifting the wheel. It is said that a person's voiceis the surest means of disclosing his identity, but Mike's tones did notsound natural because of their hoarseness. There was no mistaking thatsturdy figure, however, that stood on the top of one of the rocks,acting like a lunatic, as indeed he was for the moment.
The boat was brought as close to shore as was safe, where Mike stoodwaiting. Letting go of the wheel, Alvin stepped forward and reached outhis hand, which was grasped by the lad, who leaped aboard. The scenethat followed would have brought moisture to the eyes of the mostindifferent spectator. Alvin flung his arms about the neck of Mike,with a fervent "Thank God!" and Mike responded in kind. Then Chester didthe same, and for a moment none spoke because he could not.
"Arrah, now! don't be childers! Brace up the same as mesilf and be amon! Did ye iver see me betray sich foolish waakness? It's mesilf that'sashamed----"
Mike's voice suddenly broke, and dropping onto the nearest seat, heimpulsively covered his face with his hands and with heaving shoulderssobbed as if the fountains of his grief were broken up. His friendssmiled, but it was through their tears. The boat drifted from the rocks,and for some length of time the propeller was motionless.
Mike was the first to recover his self-control. He was laughing as withhis handkerchief he wiped his eyes.
"Begorra! it's a fool that I am, as Jerry Connolly remarked whin hemistook a billiard ball for a pratie. I say, byes, will ye do me afavor?"
"There isn't anything we wouldn't gladly do for you," replied Alvin,taking his place at the wheel and moving the lever which set the screwrevolving.
"Both of ye sarch yer clothes and saa whither ye haven't a few loaves ofbread, some biled praties and a pound or two of maat hidden in thesame."
"I'm sorry to say, Mike," replied Chester, "that we haven't a mouthfulof food here on board. We have already had our dinner."
"And the only maal I've got is the one I've got to git."
"We'll make all haste to Boothbay where you shall have the biggest feastof your life," said Alvin, giving the craft full speed with her nosepointed to the northwest.
"And whin I'm through there'll be a famine started in the town, as wasalways the case whin dad took his dinner in any of the near-by places athome."
As the _Deerfoot_ cut her way through the water with a speed that sentthe spray flying over the wind-shield, Mike told his story, which youmay be sure was listened to with rapt interest by his friends. They inturn gave him all the facts that were new to him, and each ferventlythanked God for His great mercy.
The afternoon was nearly gone when the _Deerfoot_ settled to rest besidethe floating wharf, and was made fast and left in charge of the same manwho had done similar duty before. Then the three walked briskly up thesteps and street to the hotel.
"The bist plan will be to order dinner for the thraa of us," whisperedMike; "that will be classy."
"We have had our midday meal," said Alvin, "and the regular dinner timeis an hour or more away."
"Whist now, I'll see that none of the stuff is wasted."
Suffice it to say that great as was the strain upon the resources of thehotel, it proved equal to the call, and Mike ate the biggest meal of hislife. Alvin and Chester sat at the table with him, each drinking a cupof tea, but preferring no food until the usual time. You may be sure thehour was a merry one, and the guest did not stop feasting until thelimit of his capacity was reached.
When they passed down the main street and turned off to the landing, ithad become fully dark and lights were showing in the stores and houses.Both Alvin and Chester noted a peculiar fact: most of those whom theymet stared curiously at Mike Murphy. The chums observed the same thingon their way up the street, but it was more marked on their return.
"I'm not to blame if I'm so much purtier than aither of ye, that Icompil the admiration of others. It has been the same wheriver Istrayed."
This was the explanation given by the subject of the scrutiny. Theyouths were too modest to differ with their genial companion, but theman left in charge of the boat glanced sharply at the Irish lad, andsaid to Alvin:
"I'm mighty glad."
"Mighty glad of what?" asked the surprised Captain.
"That that chap wasn't drowned."
"Why should he be drowned more than we or you?"
"I can't say that he should," replied the other, adding naught in theway of enlightenment. Alvin was annoyed, but said nothing further, andsoon the _Deerfoot_, with lights burning, was gliding at moderate speeddown the bay and along the eastern coast of Southport Island. There, asyou will recall, were the homes of Alvin Landon and Chester Haynes, nearthe shore and almost opposite Squirrel Island. Chester had accepted hisfriend's invitation to spend the night with him. This made itunnecessary to run the _Deerfoot_ to the shelter provided for her nearthe dwelling of Chester. The promise of fair weather was so marked thatthere was no hesitation in mooring the launch in the open without thecanvas which would have been stretched over the exposed parts to protectthem from possible rain.
The night was clear, with the stars shining. Later the moon wouldappear, but our friends were so familiar with the way that they wouldnot have hesitated had the gloom been much deeper. They were within amile of Alvin's home when they caught sight of the lights and outlinesof a small boat on the opposite course. It was farther out than they,and they could not see distinctly until they came opposite, with barelya hundred feet between them. It was going very much faster than theythemselves.
"Alvin," said Chester in some excitement, "I believe that is the_Shark_."
"It looks like her. What can she have been doing down here?"
Chester shouted:
"Hello, George!"
There was no reply, though the man aboard could not have failed to hearthem.
"You must have been mistaken," said Alvin.
"I'm sure I was not, though I can't imagine why he didn't answer. Well,it's a small matter anyway."
Mike who had been silent for some time now spoke:
"Byes, I'm a wee bit unaisy, as Jim Concannon said whin he found histrousers was on fire at the top and bottom."
"What about?" asked Chester.
"I'm fearing that the account which dad has piled up agin me is so bigthat he will lack the strength to square it."
"He will be so glad to see you back that I'm sure he will think ofnaught else," assured Alvin.
"Whin I say to him that I didn't understand his words at the time I wassailing by yisterday and he ordered me to come ashore, he won't criditthe same. Ye see he doesn't--ah! I have it fixed!" exclaimed Mike,delighted with the idea that had flashed into his brain.
"Let's hear it."
"I'll linger behind while ye two go forrid and say to dad and mitherthat poor Mike has been drowned."
"Why in the name of common sense should we say _that_?" asked theastonished Chester.
"I want ye to break the news of me coming gintly; after they havedigisted the story of me drowning, ye can say yer tongue slipped and yemeant to say I come near drowning but didn't quite make it."
"That's the most original way of telling news," said Alvin, with alaugh. "I can't see how it will be of much help, but I'll do what Ican. What have you to suggest, Chester?"
"It's clear that unless we pave the way for Mike he is in for a bigtrouncing. I advise that he stay on the boat while we go forward andcall upon his folks. We can prove to them that he has been in greatdanger and soften the heart, I hope, of his father."
"And thin whin the right moment comes I'll appear to 'em," said Mike,who was pleased with the scheme. "But how will I know whin that rightmoment arrives?" he asked.
"One of us will open the front door and whistle."
"Don't whistle too soon or wait too long, as Jack Mulrooney did whin heate a gr
een persimmon before whistlin' fur his dog."
Fearing that the noise of the launch might attract the attention of thefather of Mike, and bring him out doors, the son curled down in thecockpit, where he could not be seen by anyone on shore. Chester sprangout and made the launch fast and Alvin followed him. Before they left,Mike raised his head.
"Are you sure the _Deerfut_ won't play me the same trick it did lastnight and run away wid me?" he asked.
"No fear of that; if it does, you know how to run it?"
"Have ye 'nough gas in the b'iler?"
"Oh, keep still and don't show yourself, or I shall tell your father youare here and waiting for the licking he is saving for you."
Mike dropped down out of sight, and though he immediately thought ofseveral important questions to ask, did not do so. He must now wait withall the patience he could summon for the signal that it was prudent forhim to show himself.
It was only a brief walk to the care-taker's house, and the lightshining through the window and the sound of voices told that the couplewere at home. But in the very act of opening the door, the boys paused.
"What does that mean?" asked Alvin of his companion.
"I don't understand it," was the reply.
Mrs. Murphy was sobbing and lamenting like a woman distracted. Herhusband seemed to be silent, as if holding himself in better control.Finally they caught some of her wailing exclamations:
"Poor Micky! the darlint is drowned and it's me heart that is broke!Wurrah! wurrah! woe is me!"