CHAPTER VI
CAPTAIN AND CREW
When the elder Landon received a report from the principal of themilitary school on the Hudson to the effect that Alvin led all hisclassmates in their studies and had not once been brought underdiscipline, he was glad to fulfil the promise made months before, andbought him a handsome motor launch, the selection of which was left tothe youth himself. The craft was shipped to Portland, Maine, there setafloat in the capacious bay and sped northeastward for forty miles orso, to the bungalow which the banker had erected a year before onSouthport Island. The retreat was to be used by him and his family as arestful refuge from the feverish work which kept him in New York most ofthe year, with occasional flying trips to the great cities in the Westor as far as the Pacific coast.
One condition the parent insisted upon: Alvin was not to run the launchalone until an expert pronounced him qualified to do so. Thus it wasthat when the boat headed up Casco Bay, Captain Abe Daboll, from thefactory, was aboard and directed things. He had overseen theconstruction of the launch and knew all about it from stem to stern. Hewas there under engagement to deliver it to the bungalow, or rather asnear as he could approach the building, and to remain and instruct Alvinin every point necessary for him to know.
Several facts joined to make the youth an apt pupil. He was naturallybright and was intensely interested in all that related to motor boats.While awaiting the completion of his launch, he read and studied manycatalogues, circulars and books relating to such craft, and rode in anumber. He asked questions and studied the working of the machinery andhandling of the launch until his instructor looked at him in wonderment.
"I never saw your equal," he said admiringly; "by and by you will beanswering _my_ questions and telling _me_ how to run things."
The smiling youth knew this was exaggeration, for something new seemedto be turning up continually, and there were turns where he thought heknew the way, only to find when put to the test that he was totallyignorant. But as I said, he learned fast and after a week's stay at thehome of Mr. Landon, during every day of which--excepting Sunday--the twowent on a cruise with Alvin at the helm, the man said that nothing moreremained for him to show his pupil. This remark followed a stormy daywhen the launch went far south beyond Damariscove Island and was caughtin a rough sea.
"It was the real test," said the expert to the banker. "I never raisedmy hand or made a suggestion when we were plunging through the big seas,for neither was necessary. You needn't be afraid to trust yourself withhim anywhere and in any weather."
Now that I am through with my rather lengthy, but perhaps necessaryintroduction, let us proceed with the story I have set out to tell.
On the morning following the battle of Alvin with his assailants, andhis pleasing meeting with Mike Murphy, the youth called at the home ofthe Irish lad, carrying in his hand a yachting cap in addition to theone he wore on his own head. Across the front were the gilt letters_Deerfoot_.
"I bought an extra one when I had my suit made," he explained, "and itlooks to me as if it will fit you. A straw hat isn't handy to wear whensailing, even though you may loop the string around its band into yourbutton hole. If the season was not so far along, I should order ayachting suit for you, Mike. You know a mate ought to be in uniform. Butwe shall have to wait till next summer."
The grinning lad gingerly took the white cap in hand, turned it aboutand then pulled it over his crown. He was in front of his own home, andhis father as he smoked his pipe looked on, the mother being out ofsight within the house. The headgear fitted perfectly.
"It's a pity to waste such fine wear on the hid of so ugly looking aspalpeen," remarked the father; "in trooth it ill becomes him."
"How can ye have the heart to blame me, dad, that I was born wid such aclose resimblance to yersilf that if we was the same age mither couldn'ttill us apart?"
The parent was about to reply to this personal remark, but ignored hisoffspring and spoke to Alvin.
"Ye have a foine day for a sail, Captain."
"It is perfect."
"And Chister Haynes goes wid yes?"
"We are partners all the way through and he's expecting me."
"The sicond mate hasn't the honor of an acquaintance with the firstmate, but it won't take us long to larn aich ither's ways," said Mike,bubbling over with high spirits and the promise of a day of rareenjoyment. "The mate hasn't the right to make suggistions to thecaptain, but if he had he would venture to obsarve that he is wastingvallyble time talking wid a gentleman who can't tell a gasoline launchfrom a lobster pot----"
"Be the same token he can till a lobster when he sees him," exclaimedthe parent in pretended wrath, making a dive for his son, who eluded himby darting into the highway. Alvin waved a good-by to Pat and the youthshurried away, anxious to be out on the water.
While following the road toward the home of Chester Haynes, Mike tookoff his cap and admiringly surveyed it. He noted the patent leathervisor, the gilt buttons to which the chin strap was attached, and thenspelled out the name on the front.
"I 'spose that is what your boat is called, Captain?" he remarkedinquiringly.
"Yes; you know it's the fashion for sailors on a man-of-war thus to showthe name of the ship to which they belong."
"But why didn't the sign painter git the word roight?"
"What do you mean, Mike? Isn't that the correct way to spell'_Deerfoot_'?"
"I 'spose the first part might go, as me uncle obsarved whin the frontof his shanty fell down, but the rear is wrong."
"You mean 'foot.' What is wrong about it?"
"The same should be 'fut': that's the way we spell it in Ireland."
"We have a different method here," gravely remarked Alvin.
"And if I may ask, Captain, where did you git the name from?"
"Have you ever read about Deerfoot the Shawanoe? He was such a wonderfulyoung Indian that I guess he never lived. But Chester and I became fondof him, and when Chester thought it would be a good idea to name theboat for him I was glad to do so."
"Deerfut the Shenanigan," repeated Mike. "Where can I maat thegintleman?"
"Oh, he's been dead these many years,--long before you or I was born."
"Wurrah, wurrah, what a pity!" and Mike sighed as if from regret. "Areyou sure that isn't him that's coming up the road?"
A youth of about the age of Alvin, but of lighter build, and dressedlike him in yachting costume, came into sight around a slight bend inthe highway.
"That's Chester; he's so anxious to take advantage of this beautiful daythat he has come to meet us, though he might have used the boat for partof the way since he is well able to handle it."
A few minutes later Chester and Mike were introduced. No one could helpbeing pleased with the good-natured Irish youth, and the two warmlyshook hands.
"Mike did me such a fine service last night that I must tell you aboutit," remarked Alvin as the three walked southward.
"Arrah, now, ye make me blush," protested Mike, "as I said whin theycrowned me Queen of May in the owld counthry."
Alvin, however, related the whole story and you may be sure it lost nonein the narration. Mike insisted that the Captain had done a great dealmore than he to bring about a glorious victory.
"I believe every word Alvin has told me," was the comment of Chester;"and I am proud to have you with us as a friend."
"Such being the case," added Alvin, "I have as a slight token of myappreciation, made Mike my first mate, with you as second, and all threeas the crew of the _Deerfoot_."
"There couldn't be a finer appointment," assented Chester. "I suppose,Mate Murphy, you know all about sailing a boat?"
"I larned the trade in the owld counthry, by sailing me mither's oldshoe in a tub of water; I 'spose the same is all that is nicessary."
"That is sufficient, but," and the manner of Chester was grave, "you twomake light of what is a pretty serious matter. That attack upon you wasa crime that ought to be punished."
"I'm thinking it _h
as_ been," said Mike; "I belave the rapscallions areof the same mind."
"No doubt they meant to rob you."
"And would have succeeded but for Mike. We never saw them before, haveno idea who they are, or how they came to be in this part of Maine, norwhere they have gone."
"Would you know either if you met him by day?"
"I am not sure, though the moonlight gave me a pretty fair view. Itwasn't a time for a calm inspection."
"I'm sure I would know the chap that I had the run in wid," said Mike.
"How?"
"By his black eye and smashed nose."
"They might help. They were dressed well, but I can't understand whatcaused them to visit Southport and to lie in wait for me."
"Have there been any burglaries or robberies in the neighborhood?"
"None, so far as I have heard. You know there have been a number of postoffice robberies among the towns to the north, but it can't be thatthose two fellows have had anything to do with them."
"Probably not, and yet it is not impossible. I often wonder why thereare not more crimes of that kind at the seaside and mountain resorts,where there are so many opportunities offered. The couple you ranagainst may belong to some gang who have decided to change their fieldof operations."
"If so we shall soon hear of them again."
"Arrah, now, if we could only maat them agin!" sighed the wistful Mike."It would make me young once more."