CHAPTER IX.
FOR THE SAKE OF CHUM JOSH.
It seemed to Jack Stormways that all his senses must be on the alertas never before. Even the slightest sound caught his attention--therustling of a prowling 'coon through the saw palmetto scrub; the splashof some fish jumping out of the water of the lagoon; and from a distancecame strange, querulous noises which he guessed must proceed from somebird roost, situated in the depths of a swamp, although Jack knew verylittle about such places from actual experience.
Having passed partly over the point of land, they could just begin tomake out the boat that lay in the next bayou. And George's imaginationworked overtime, so that he was positive he could recognize the familiaroutlines of the craft that looked like the _Tramp_.
Once Jack came to a stop. Possibly he only meant to take an observation,in order to make sure that the coast was clear; but the other boys atonce jumped to the conclusion that he had seen some sign of troubleahead.
"What is it?" whispered George, making a nervous forward thrust with hisgun, as though eager to mix up, if so be one came along; while Jimmyedged up on the other side, quivering with anxiety, too.
Jack bent his head lower before making a reply; for he knew the dangerof allowing his voice to rise above the faintest murmur. The lapping ofthe waves on the sandy beach close by, together with those strangesounds from the interior, might go far toward muffling speech, but ifsuspicious ears were on the alert it were folly to take unnecessarychances.
"Nothing. I was only looking. All seems quiet, boys, so come on," hesaid; and no doubt the throbbing hearts of the other lads eased down inthe strain.
So once more they started to advance, with the border of the lagoon nowclose at hand. All of them could by this time make out the fact that theboat must be anchored in shallow water near the shore. Perhaps thoseaboard had neglected to provide themselves with a dinky; and inconsequence had to rely upon finding some place where they could pushthe power boat in, by loosening the anchor cable.
The light breeze that caused the waves to gently roll up on the sand wascoming from the southwest. Hence it was that the boat lay almost sternon, showing part of her starboard quarter.
When they had reached a point close to the water's edge, the three boysagain instinctively came to a halt, to once more scrutinize the craft.
No lantern hung there to serve as a riding light; it was not needed, aswould have been the case in a crowded harbor. Faint, indeed, the chanceof any other boat running them down here in this secluded spot.
George had unconsciously laid a hand on the arm of Jack as they thuscrouched and gazed. His fingers suddenly tightened their hold.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "did you see that?"
"'Sh!" breathed Jack, hastily. "Yes, I was watching. Some one brushedaside the curtain that covers the cabin bullseye, and light shonethrough. That settles one thing, George."
"That they're aboard!" echoed the other.
"Yes."
"But, we go on, don't we, Jack?" begged the impetuous George.
"I should say, yes; for we believe our chum is being held a prisoner onthat same boat. Make your mind easy, both of you; it isn't going to getaway from us now. We've gone too far to hold back."
"That's the stuff!" whispered the delighted George; while Jimmymuttered his assent, which was none the less fervent because the wordswere inaudible.
Once before, on a cruise the motor boys were making on the waters of thefaraway North, they had had a stirring encounter with some lawless menwho were fleeing from officers sent to apprehend them. On that occasionJack and his chums had managed to give considerable assistance to thelegal authorities; and it was largely through their work that thefugitives were finally apprehended.
No doubt this circumstance must have loomed up large in the memory ofGeorge right then and there. He had long ago made up his mind that themysterious persons on board the boat that looked like the _Tramp_ were acouple of rascals, who felt afraid of the cruisers for some reason orother. And now, that it seemed they had set upon poor Josh, making himprisoner, and carrying him aboard, the conditions became darker thanever.
It was the greatest mystery the boys had ever struck. Even Jack, withhis usual keen intellect, was utterly unable to determine what these mencould want with the missing crew of the _Comfort_; Josh, a fellow whoseldom made enemies among his companions, and simply devoid of evilintent.
Perhaps they had discovered him creeping through the scrub, either toget a shot at some shore birds or to examine the anchored power boat, inwhich he knew George at least was deeply interested. If they were menfleeing from the sheriff, his actions might have looked so suspicious tothem that they were impelled to pounce on him without giving warning.
Many were the explanations that surged through the excited brains of thethree lads in the brief space of time occupied in reaching the shore ofthe second lagoon.
As they stood there, George and Jimmy content to follow the lead ofJack, no matter what that might mean, a low murmur came to them. It wasas if those inside the cabin of the boat might be conversing amongthemselves.
Jack listened intently. Perhaps he even entertained a faint hope that hemight hear the high-pitched voice of Josh above the rest; for the tallboy had a way of using the rising inflection when in the least excited.But the fact of the cabin being closed prevented his discovering anymarked difference between the tones of those who were speaking.
George and Jimmy were waiting to see what means their leader wouldadopt, in order to gain the deck of the little craft. The boat lay at adistance of perhaps twenty feet from the edge of the water. Judging fromthe fact that the beach was sandy there could be no question but what,if they picked their way, they might be able to wade out, withoutgetting in any deeper than hip-high at most.
When Jack hesitated for that half minute, with the little waves crawlingup to his feet, it was because he wished to make sure that there wasno one upon the stern of the swinging power boat, to discover theiradvance.
Having made sure of this fact, he would boldly push forward, enteringthe water, regardless of the fact that their shoes must suffer inconsequence.
When he took the first step, the others were alongside. They fanciedthat the time had gone by for them to follow _after_ Jack; if a battlewere imminent, their place must be on the firing line, where numberswould count for something. For did they not grip weapons as well asJack; and were they not just as anxious to effect the rescue of theirmissing chum?
Once Jimmy stumbled, and made quite a little splash ere he recovered hisfooting. It may have been a jellyfish upon which he placed his foot, andwhich caused him to slide; or some obstacle in the shape of a clump of'coon oysters. The cause was immaterial; but what splash he made gavethem all a thrill, since they fully expected that it would bring aboutdiscovery.
At the time it chanced that they had passed over more than half thedistance separating them from the boat, and were standing up to theirknees in the water.
Jack noted that the murmurous sound which they had decided must be themingling of voices, had suddenly stopped. From this he imagined thatthose within the closed cabin of the power boat had heard the splashand were waiting for a repetition of the same, in order to gauge itsmeaning.
Would they come out to investigate? If so, what should be the programmeof the three who stood there in the water? None of them had ever fired ashot at a human being in all their lives; and the mere thought of such athing was distasteful to them. At the same time, if their comrade werein the hands of unscrupulous men, and heroic measures had to be adoptedin order to effect his release, not one of them would hesitate.
Jack often looked back to that strained moment, when he and his comradesstood there, knee deep in the lagoon, within a dozen feet of themysterious little power boat, keyed up to a condition when their nerveswere all on edge, and waiting for whatever might happen. He could feela sense of amusement over it, too, at some future time; but it wascertainly no laughing matter then.
Then there
suddenly flashed out a broad beam of light. The door of thecabin had been opened; and, as those standing there in the water weredirectly behind the stern, the light fell full upon them.
Jack saw a figure push into view. Outlined against the lighted interiorof the boat it stood up in plain sight, and they could even make out thefact that the unknown party wore knickerbockers, as though dressed foran outing.
Of course he must have discovered the threatening trio there just assoon as he thus partly emerged from the cabin. They could tell this fromthe way in which he stood as if riveted to the spot, making no motioneither to advance further, or retreat back into the recesses of theboat's interior.
Jack did not mean to give him a chance to take the initiative. He raisedhis gun, and immediately covered the unknown party; which action wasaccepted as proof by his two chums that they were to follow suit, andthey proceeded to do so.
If astonishment had held the man motionless up to this moment, a duesense of caution kept him so after he discovered those three menacingguns turned full in his direction. Apparently he must be either stunnedby the situation that had burst upon him without warning; or else hekept his head, and knew there was only one thing to do in order to avoidtrouble, which was to submit to the inevitable.
"Don't think of trying to drop back into that cabin," said Jack, in avoice that was quite stern, even if it did quiver a little; "we've gotyou covered all right, and you might as well surrender!"
"That's the ticket!" rasped George, trying to seem very formidable, inorder to hide the fact that his knees were knocking together just atrifle, with excitement of course, not fear!