CHAPTER V
THE LOSER OF THE RACE
A long, low bridge connects the western projection of Westport withWoolwich on the opposite bank, beyond which spreads Montsweag Bay,narrowing to Back River, which, as has been explained, joins theSheepscot.
The draw had just been swung open when our friends came in sight of thebridge, and saw the _Water Witch_ passing through. The bridge tenderimmediately began turning his lever with which he closed the draw. Alvinwhistled to signify that he wished to follow the other, but seemingly theman did not hear him. His back steadily rose and fell, as he worked thehandle of his contrivance, and the movable section of the structureslowly swung back in response.
"Isn't that lucky now!" was the sarcastic exclamation of Mike.
"Why?" asked Chester.
"He wants to hilp ye fall back further behind the ither boat."
"There may be something in that," the Captain replied.
None the less, Alvin continued his tooting, without abating his speed.The tender, however, did not mean to tantalize them, and all quickly sawthe cause of his action. A heavily loaded wagon had come upon the bridgefrom the Woolwich side, and waited while the draw was held open. Thedriver must have had a "pull" with the attendant, who immediately closedthe draw so he could cross before the second boat passed through.
At this juncture fate showed how perverse she can be when in the mood.Directly over the draw, something connected with the wagon or the harnessof the team got askew and the driver paused to set it right. Possibly itwas pretence on his part, for many men will do such things, but, all thesame, he took ten minutes before he climbed back on his seat and startedhis horses forward again. Alvin reversed the screw, so that the launchbecame motionless when a few yards from the bridge.
I am afraid the driver purposely delayed the _Deerfoot_, for when Mikeshouted an angry reproach, he looked around, put his thumb to his nose,twiddled his fingers, and then moved slowly over the rattling plankstoward Westport.
"I suggist that ye turn about, Captain, and scoot for home," was theironical advice of the Irish youth.
"For what reason?"
"I'm afeard that man is real mad and he might take it into his head togit down off his wagon and saize aich of us by the nape of the neck asthe boat goes through, and slam us down so hard he'd jar us."
"Better wait, Captain, till he's a little farther off," advised Calvert;"there may be something in what Michael says."
As for Mike, feeling he could not do justice to the subject, he held hispeace for the moment.
Gliding through the draw and entering Montsweag Bay, the occupants of the_Deerfoot_ were surprised to see nothing of the other launch. She was asinvisible as if she had been scuttled and sunk in fifty feet of water.
The right shore above the structure, belonging to Westport, slopes to theright, and something like a half mile above, this course is at rightangles to the stream. It is really a peninsula, there being an inlet morethan a mile long which divides it from the rest of Westport. This littlebay is spanned by a bridge which forms a part of the highway that passesover the longer structure already referred to.
When Mike found the _Water Witch_ had vanished, he pretended to be vastlyrelieved. He had dropped into his chair and now straightened up.
"But ain't we lucky?"
"Why so?" asked Calvert.
"If we hadn't been stopped at the bridge the ither boat might have brokedown and we'd come up wid the same, and those chaps would have give usall a good spanking."
"I am glad you are becoming so prudent," said Calvert, with an approvingnod. "We must take Michael with us whenever we are likely to run intodanger. Captain, if you don't mind, you might tune up your boat a bit."
"Better wait," suggested Mike, "fur ye might gain on t'other one."
Alvin now put on the highest speed of which the _Deerfoot_ was capable.The bow rose, the stern settled down in the water, and the spray wasflung high and splashed against the wind-shield. The exhaust deepened toa steady roar, and the broadening wake was churned into a mass oftumbling soapy foam. The whole boat shivered with the vibration of thepowerful engine. She was going more than twenty miles an hour--in fact,must have approached her limit, which was four miles faster. Alvin hadattained such a tremendous pace only a few times in his practice and didnot like it. Though his instructor had assured him that the launch wascapable of holding it indefinitely without injury, he feared a breakdownor the unnecessary wear upon many parts of the engine.
He kept up the furious speed until they curved around the upper part ofthe peninsula and saw the expansion above, all the way to Long Ledge,where Back River begins. He had been confident of catching sight of the_Water Witch_, but she was nowhere in sight.
The natural conclusion was that the launch had taken on a higher burst ofspeed--probably the limit--and gone so far that by still keeping near theshore she had placed several miles behind her--enough to carry her out ofthe field of vision.
"Keep it up till we catch sight of her again," suggested Calvert. "Ibelieve there are no more bridges between us and Wiscasset."
Some three or four miles were passed at high speed, when they reached aportion of the river which opened a view of still greater extent. Theysaw two small sailboats at a distance, and a little steamer puffingnorthward, but nothing of the _Water Witch_.
"You may as well slow down," remarked the detective, who, guarding amatch with his hands behind the wind-shield, proceeded to light anothercigar.
"What do you make of it?" asked Alvin, turning his head, as the pacebecame slower than before.
"We have passed the other boat; she is behind us instead of in front."
"What shall we do?"
"For hiven's sake don't go back," protested Mike. "Ye might find her--andthen what would become of ye?"
The detective now gave his view of the situation.
"If we should turn round and find that boat, those on board would know wewere looking for them. We don't wish to give that impression, at leastfor some time to come. While we were going in one direction and they inanother, they challenged us to a race. Any two boats might have done thesame in the circumstances. We have to accept defeat and that's all thereis to it."
Calvert looked at his watch.
"It is near noon; if you all feel as I do you would welcome a gooddinner."
"That's the most sensible sense that I've heerd since we started,"remarked Mike, who was as hungry as his companions.
"It is not a long run to Wiscasset," said Alvin; "and there's more thanone good hotel there."
"I'm thinking that at the speed ye're going, we'll hardly arrive in timefor supper. There must be some place betwixt here and the town where wecan git enough to stay the pangs of starvation till we raich Wiscasset."
"We shall pass several landings, and there are farmhouses along shorewhere I'm sure the folks will be glad to accommodate us."
The others were not much impressed with Mike's plan, but since there wasplenty of time at their command, they fell in with it. Alvin suggestedthat all should keep a lookout for an inviting dwelling, when, if a goodlanding could be made, they would stop and investigate.
Chester offered to relieve his chum at the wheel, and Alvin was quitewilling to exchange places with him. The occurrences of the last hour ormore, together with what was said by Detective Calvert, had increased theconfidence of the youths in him. True, they could not understand the fullobject of this cruise up the river, after gaining sight of the launch andthe occupants for whom he had been searching. They were content to awaitexplanation on that point, but Alvin determined that one or two thingswhich puzzled him and Chester should be cleared up.
"Accepting what you said last night at my home, Mr. Calvert, I must sayfor myself and friend that we do not understand some of your actions.Perhaps you won't mind explaining them."
"I shall be glad to do so, if it is prudent at this time."
"You will pardon me for saying that in our opinion you acted foolishlywhen you foll
owed us off the steamer the other day at Sawyer Island,pretended you had made a mistake in landing there, and then dogged us tothat little inlet. We saw you several times, but you either wished orpretended you wished to keep out of our sight, as, for instance, aftercrossing that long bridge from Hodgdon to Barter Island. You followed us,but when we stopped at the side of the road to wait for you, you slippedamong the trees and made a circuit round the spot. Why did you do that?"
The detective smiled, and smoked a minute or two before replying.
"Perhaps it was undignified, though a man in my profession has to do agood many things in which he casts dignity to the winds. The truth is, Iformed the intention of getting off at Sawyer as soon as I heard yourfriend Mr. Richards say he thought he had caught sight of your launch inthat cove. I was trying to get track of the same parties, but prudencewhispered to me that the time had not yet come in which you and I shouldhitch up together. I suspected it might soon be advisable, but not justthen. My pretence of having left at the wrong landing was a piece offoolishness meant only to afford you and the agent a little amusement,but I feared you would run into trouble with those criminals and Idecided to keep you under my eye. Until I concluded to trust you, it wasjust as well that you should distrust me. For several reasons, which Iwon't explain at this point, I came to the belief last night that it wastime we made common cause."