CHAPTER XVI
IN HOT PURSUIT
"It's all off!" grunted Josh, evidently vastly disappointed by theoutcome of their adventure.
"Yes, they've given us the slip!" declared Jack, who was already tryingto think up some new plan whereby they might further harrass the boldthieves who had thus far carried things all their own way.
"How'd you come to let 'em go?"
This from the panting Buster, and he really meant it, too, which was thestrangest part of it all; he had come rumbling along like an ice-wagon,as Josh was accustomed to saying, swinging that long club of his in away that was as dangerous to friends as foes.
"Huh! let 'em!" Josh went on to say, mockingly. "I like that, now, sureI do. As if we had anything to do with their skipping out. They wereready to flew the coop when they heard us a-comin', and only had tostart the engine. Jenks, here he got that fixed a little too soon. Ifhe'd only let her go till morning he'd not be minus a boat now, see?"
All of which was true, but nobody sucked any consolation out of it. Whena horse has been stolen, how little the unlucky owner cares when someneighbors come along and show him how he might have avoided his loss;what he thinks of most of all is the matter of getting the lost animalback again into his barn.
And Jack was built that way. He seldom spent any time mourning over themilk that was spilt; but immediately proceeded to try and remedyconditions.
One thing sure, if ever they hoped to give these fellows any furthertrouble, it would not be accomplished by sitting down, and trying todiscover why they could not have navigated that little patch of timberfaster; or pushed through at a more direct line, so as to have savedthat fatal angle.
The mill will never again grind with the water that is past--howfrequently Jack could remember hearing his teacher in school say that;and he had often applied it to his own actions.
No, the robbers were done with that island, and had also abandoned theirown boat, for it could be seen tied up there, just ahead. If they wereto be met again it must be on the river.
That would mean a hot pursuit on the part of the motor boat boys; andthis was what Jack was turning over so quickly in his mind while hestood there looking out after the disappearing craft.
"Oh! they left it after all!" exclaimed Algernon, as he too came up,considerably the worse for wear, because of the frequent arguments hehad had with various unseen branches and logs and such things, in hishasty run.
"He thinks that white boat is his," exclaimed Josh, pointing as hespoke, "but that's all wrong, Algernon, and you're off your trolley,sure. They had one of the same color, if not as good a boat as yours;and they've kindly left it for you, with their compliments. That wasabout what he meant when he shouted across the water, you know."
"Jack, what are you thinking about now?" demanded George, who knew fromthe signs that the other was turning some sort of idea over in thatactive mind of his.
"I was wondering whether we wanted to take another turn with thesefellows, that's all," replied Jack, immediately.
"But--they've cleared out, you know!" said Buster, blankly, as he lookedover the bright surface of the river, as though wondering however afellow was going to walk on the water.
"Well, haven't we got boats to follow them with?" demanded Josh, whowas quicker-witted than his stout chum.
"And one of 'em a crack-a-jack for speed," added George, proudly.
"When it's going, you mean, George," corrected Josh; at which sly thrustthe party indicated simply curled his lip, and disdained to reply.
"Well, whatever we decide to do, the sooner we settle the matter thebetter," remarked Jack, impatiently, something rather uncommon with him.
"Sure thing, because they're putting up a hefty run of it right now, andcan do it right along with that boat," added Josh.
"What speed can she make, Algernon?" queried George.
"Fifteen miles an hour when she's run by one that knows how to handleher; but by myself I could never beat eleven at the best," came thefrank admission, which told just why he had hired the mechanician toaccompany him in his run down river in competition with another"chappie" who also owned an expensive boat.
"Huh! I have had eighteen, and I think nearly twenty out of mine," saidGeorge, trying to seem as though he were not boasting, but simplytelling the plain truth, "and I think she could do that last, with thecurrent to help out. So you see we'd be apt to come up on those fellowshand over fist. All of you could pile aboard the Wireless with me, andgiven an hour or so, I reckon we'd bring up alongside your stolenproperty, Algernon."
At that there was a scornful outbreak from Buster.
"Glory, don't I see this whole bunch aboard your Wireless, though? It'dbe a sight to make a feller weep, the way they'd have to sit in themiddle, and never so much as wink an eye for fear they'd turn the speedboat upside-down. Excuse me from being in the party, George. I like yourboat all right--from a distance. If I had company I'd rather stay onthis blessed old island than get on the Wireless with such a crowd asthis. Please let me go with you, Herb, if I have to be taken along."
"Sure we will," said George, cheerfully, "and only too glad of thechance. But if we're going to do any chasing after that runaway it'stime we made a start."
"Then come on, everybody!" cried Jack, once more starting away on a run,and this time following the beach down toward the lower end of theisland.
The whole eight of them were immediately in motion. As before, Busterand Algernon quickly fell behind, though they persisted manfully, andmeant to come up before the boats could be poled out of the cove and thestart made.
Jack was even then and there fixing things in his mind, so that therewould be no confusion once they started. He decided that as Herb wouldbe hopelessly distanced by the other two boats, and could not bedepended on to assist in any way, if he started at all he should takeaboard as his crew Buster and Algernon; for they could not be expectedto prove of any great assistance, should matters come to a conflict ofany kind. In fact, Jack would feel more comfortable with the fat boymissing, for Buster so often upset all calculations by some ill-advisedif well-meant play.
The others could be apportioned to the Tramp and the Wireless; withthree of them keeping Jack company, Jenks one of the number, as hepromised to be a valuable ally when the finish came around.
Running along the open beach was not anything so difficult as trying tomake progress through all that wild jungle; and in an exceedingly briefspace of time the familiar cove loomed up, with its attendant boats,all tied up snugly to convenient trees, and in deep water at that, whichprevented any possibility of their getting aground by a sudden fall ofthe river during the night, as sometimes happened.
Each skipper made directly for his own boat the moment he reached thescene. It was no time to think of taking down the beloved khaki-coloredtent; if Herb did think it worth while to tag after the others, thenthings on the island would have to look after themselves until such timeas the boys could return. And just when this would be, not even Jackcould so much as guess at this early stage in the expected chase.
Although doubtless more or less excited, neither George nor Jack seemedapt to make a serious blunder in the start. They clambered aboard theirrespective boats and meanwhile Jack was shouting directions:
"Andy, you go with George, while Josh and Jenks will come aboard here.And be quick to cast off, and get the push poles handy, so we won't bewasting time. George, for once you've got to promise me on your honornot to run ahead. There are only five of us, and we'll need every handagainst such hard cases. Remember now, I'm expecting you to keepalongside. The Tramp can overtake that boat all right, never fear."
George said he would try and do just as the Commodore said. At the sametime they knew how great a disappointment it must be to the recklesschap to have to give such a promise; for George was no coward, whateverother shortcomings might be placed against him; and given half a chancehe would have readily hurled himself at the two fugitive burglars withany sort of backing.
&n
bsp; Everybody worked with the utmost haste.
Why, it seemed as though they had hardly gained a footing on the boatsbefore both hawsers were cast loose, and the push poles could be heardsplashing in the water.
The sound thrilled every one of them; for there may be times when evensuch a simple thing as water splashing seems to give warning of serioustimes coming. And with such desperate men as the two bank thieves tooverhaul and perhaps capture, surely Jack and his chums had a "a hardnut to crack," as Josh expressed it.
As soon as the first boat, which happened to be the Tramp, was well outof the sheltered nook, Jack gave the crank a turn, and with a whirr theengine started to working. He immediately took charge, for no one knewso well as he how to get the best that was in that motor in action.
Jack was a bit nervous concerning the other boat. It was a toss-up as towhether the machinery of the "freaky" Wireless could be made to start,just when it was of the utmost importance, for George never knew a thingabout it, and always approached the subject with his heart in his mouth,so to speak.
So all of them held their breath when they saw him get ready to give thecrank its customary whirl.
Then all at once there broke out the welcome sound of the explosionsthat told them the story. Wireless stock went up fifty per cent justthen; Wireless was going to be good, and behave!
And so the two motor boats carrying the determined little band ofintended pursuers swung out upon the broad and heaving bosom of themighty Mississippi, and headed south.