CHAPTER XXIX
THE CHASE
"Humph! This is strange!" the chief exclaimed as his boat swung upalongside of the _Dartaway_. "Let's go aboard."
Making the motor craft fast, they all scrambled up and were soon on theschooner's deck.
A hasty search served to show that the schooner had no occupants.
"I can't understand it," said Jerry, who was much alarmed.
From the shore, where the tramp had gone, leaping from the schooner'sdeck, there came an excited shout.
"Here's a clue!" he cried.
"What is it?" asked the chief as he prepared to join the ragged man.
For answer the tramp pointed to several footprints in the soft sandnear the edge of the lake.
"The man with the arrow on his shoe!" he said. "I thought we'd find himwith the gang. Now, Chief, I guess we can close in on 'em."
Jerry and the two detectives had gone ashore by this time. Theyobserved several footprints, indicating that a number of men hadbeen tramping around near where the schooner was moored to the bank.Probably they had been engaged in making the craft fast.
"I wonder if the boys were here also," said Jerry.
"Looks very possible," said the tramp. "Here are the mark of feetsmaller than those of men. Did Bob or Ned have any peculiar nail marksin their shoes?"
"Not that I know of," replied Jerry.
"Well, the chances are if they were not here on shore they were in someboat the rascals had," the tramp went on.
"You think they must have had some other boat than the schooner?" askedthe chief.
"I'm certain of it," the ragged man replied. "How else could theschooner have gotten here? There wasn't enough wind all night to movea canoe, let alone a heavy schooner. Yet we find this vessel severalmiles from where Jerry left her. The thieves must have had a powerboat, gone back after their craft and towed her. Now I don't see anyuse lingering here. They've got a good start of us, but maybe we cancatch them."
"Where shall we look?" the chief asked. "Up or down the lake; or followthe river?"
"Follow the river," the tramp said. "I'll round these fellows up now.We'll land 'em at the cave if not before."
Jerry wondered at the tramp's manner. He seemed to have assumed controlof matters, and to be directing the hunt after the thieves.
"Who is he?" Jerry asked of the chief.
The tramp overheard the lad's question.
"Shall I tell him?" the odd character asked. "I guess we've kept up themystery long enough, Chief, and we're pretty near the end of the affairnow."
"Go ahead," spoke Mr. Dalton.
"So you think there's something queer about me, do you?" the trampasked Jerry, who nodded in assent. "Well, I admit I am not what I seem.Allow me to make you acquainted with the Duke of Wellington, otherwiseknown as Detective Sergeant Layton, of New York," he went on with anelaborate bow and an assumption of his former grand manners.
"A detective!" exclaimed Jerry. "Well I had my suspicions all alongthat you were something like that, but I couldn't see what you wereafter."
"I'm after these thieves," replied Detective Layton. "From the time yourescued me from the hay barge I've been on their trail, first here,then there, often in this disguise, and now I think I am about to closein. The chase started in New York, where they committed a series ofdaring robberies in department stores. For a while I lost track ofthem. Then I heard they were in this section and I came here. They keptquiet for some time and I thought I had lost them. Then I got on thetrack of Bill Berry and--"
"Is Noddy Nixon mixed up in this robbery?" asked Jerry.
"I'm not sure, but I don't believe he is," replied Mr. Layton. "Ithink he is with the gang instead of being kidnapped, but I believe heis more a tool in the hands of designing men than an actual criminalhimself. However, we'll soon see.
"The time the thieves took your motor boat I was after them, but theygave us the slip as you saw. However, I managed to locate a cave whereI am sure they have their headquarters."
"All ready, then!" exclaimed the chief. "We'll speed the boats up afterthe scoundrels!"
"Going to make it a night affair?" asked one of the Cresvilledetectives. "It'll soon be so dark we can't see."
"That's all right," said Mr. Layton. "We'll make a start, and tie uplong enough for supper. Then we can go on all night. It will not do tolose any time. Have we any provisions?"
"We can stop at our camp and get some," said Jerry.
This plan was carried out, and, in a short time, both boats having beenwell stocked, the craft puffed away toward where the river flowed intothe lake.
While the preparations of the police for capturing the thieves weregoing on, the fellows themselves had not been idle. Once Ned and Bobwere aboard the motor boat, and the towing of the schooner was resumed,the robbers followed a well-laid-out plan.
The schooner was taken to the little cove where she was hidden behindthe trees. Then, those who had been aboard her, getting into the motorboat, the flight began.
Bob and Ned were gagged to prevent them giving any alarm when otherboats were passed, and they were bidden to lie at full length on thecushions in the small open cabin of the craft, so they could not beseen. Paxton put one of the gang to keep watch over the boys while heattended to the steering of the boat. Another was kept at the engineto see that it ran properly, and Noddy Nixon and Bill Berry were leftto their own devices.
All that morning the motor boat was speeded up the river. About noonthe boys could see, from the surrounding country that they were nearingCresville. This fact seemed to be apparent to Paxton and his gang.He steered the boat close to shore and tied up in the shadow of somebushes. There a rude meal was prepared, and the two captives wereallowed to eat a little. They expected to see the boat start up againafter dinner, but this was not Paxton's plan.
He realized to go past Cresville in daylight might result in thediscovery of the two boys, and, though he knew his craft was a swiftone, he did not want any pursuit.
Accordingly he held the boat in its hiding place until dusk. Thus ithappened that Jerry and Chief Dalton, in their craft, on their journeydown the river had passed the boat in which the thieves and theircaptives were.
It was after dark when Paxton gave the order to start, and the motorcraft slipped past Cresville about ten o'clock. A little while beforethis the _Dartaway_ and _Terror_ had taken up the pursuit on CantogaLake, starting in the race more than a score of miles behind.
Bob and Ned, though they had kept their spirits up bravely were almostin despair. Their jaws ached from the strain of the gags, and theirbodies were tired from lying in one position so long.
Through the long night the flight continued. Past village after villagethe thieves and their captives sped.
Behind them, though they did not know it, came the pursuers in the_Terror_ and _Dartaway_. The two boats were making good time, butwere far in the rear. It was early dawn when the forces of the chief,and Jerry in his craft, which also contained Andy Rush and DetectiveLayton, passed Cresville.
"I wonder how far they are ahead," asked Jerry.
"We'll make some inquiries of persons ashore, as soon as it gets lightenough," the tramp-detective said.
CHAPTER XXX
CAUGHT--CONCLUSION
About seven o'clock the two pursuing boats were about ten miles aboveCresville. They made a short stop at a little village and coffee wasprepared. While the simple breakfast was being gotten ready the chiefand Detective Layton went ashore. They learned from a man who kept aboathouse that a large motor craft had gone up the river about fouro'clock that morning. He said he had seen it when he came down to goout on a short fishing trip.
"Three hours ahead of us," said Mr. Layton. "Well, if they only havesome sort of an accident we might catch them. If not, we'll have totrail them to the cave."
Jerry, who had not been asleep during the past two nights, save for abrief nap or two, was almost exhausted. Seeing his condition Mr. Laytonoffered to steer the _Dartaway_
.
"All right," said Jerry. "But wake me up the moment you sight the otherboat."
About two o'clock the pursuing boats swung out into a long straightstretch of the river.
"We're getting pretty close now," the tramp-detective called to thechief. "About five miles up is where they left the boat the other timeand took to the cave. I wish we could sight 'em now."
"Same here," the chief replied. "Say," he went on, standing up andpointing ahead, "doesn't that look like some sort of a boat?"
"It sure does," Mr. Layton replied. "Wait a minute."
Holding the wheel steady with his knees he drew from his pocket a smalltelescope. Adjusting it, he peered forward and looked steadily throughit for several seconds.
"I believe it's them!" he exclaimed. "I can't make out the figures verywell, but it's a big motor boat, and one I've not seen around herebefore. They seem to be having some trouble aboard. Maybe the enginehas broken down."
"Let's hope so," the chief said. "If it only stays broken until wecatch up!"
The _Terror_ and _Dartaway_ were making good time against the current.Nearer and nearer they came to the other boat. When within a mile ofher Mr. Layton could make out the occupants quite clearly through hisglass.
"There they are!" he cried. "And whatever was the matter with theengine they've got it fixed now for they've started up again."
"Try and get a few more revolutions out of your craft!" cried thechief. "Every inch tells. I guess we can hit our engine up a bit more!"
"I'll have to wake up Jerry," Detective Layton said. "I don't knowenough about engines to monkey with 'em."
Jerry awoke as soon as he felt the detective's hand on his shoulder.
"Have we caught them?" he asked.
The detective pointed ahead.
"Can you get a little more speed up?" asked the officer.
"We'll have 'em pretty soon!" cried Jerry, as he put the engine to theutmost limit.
The gang of thieves was now making frantic efforts to escape. Severalof the men were in the stern, and they seemed to hold guns in theirhands.
"Better lay low," advised Mr. Layton.
At that instant a shot rang out from the boat ahead.
"I guess they mean real business!" exclaimed Andy Rush. "That soundedlike a bullet."
"It was," Mr. Layton said, "but they fired in the air to scare us. Goon, Jerry!"
The _Dartaway_ was in the lead. Close behind it, however, was thepolice craft. A short quarter mile separated the pursuers from thepursued.
"They're giving up!" cried Detective Layton.
A minute later the craft ahead had run ashore. Out of her piled severalmen and Noddy Nixon. They set off on a run across the meadows which atthat point bordered the river.
"Where are Bob and Ned?" exclaimed Jerry.
"They're probably tied in the boat!" yelled Mr. Layton. "You look afterthem. The chief and I will see to the thieves!"
Jerry steered the _Dartaway_ close to where the disabled boat waspoking her nose into a mud bank. As soon as it was near enough to shoreMr. Layton leaped for the bank. He was followed by Chief Dalton and hismen, who went off on the run after the thieves.
Jerry shut off the power and then leaped into the other boat. He sawBob and Ned lying bound on the seats.
"Are you hurt?" he cried, but the boys could not answer because of thegags. Jerry saw what the trouble was and cut them. Then he released hisfriends, and with Andy Rush, chaffed their hands, which were numb fromlack of circulation, caused by the tight ropes.
"Are you all right?" asked Jerry, when he saw Bob and Ned could standup.
"Well I guess so!" exclaimed Bob, speaking for the first time inseveral hours. "Have you got anything to eat, Jerry?"
"Say, if you were to be blown up in a powder mill, I believe the firstthing you'd ask for when you came down would be a sandwich," exclaimedNed. "But go ahead, Jerry, get him something to eat, and then tell ushow it all happened."
"Come over on our boat," advised Jerry. "We've got lots to eat there."
While Ned and Bob were partaking of food Jerry quickly told of whathad happened. In turn the boys related their experience, and how, atthe last moment the engine of the thieves' boat gave out, which luckychance led to their being overtaken by the pursuers.
"I hope they catch the thieves," said Ned. "They're a bad gang."
"Well, I don't care what happens as long as you and Bob are all right,"Jerry replied.
The boys exchanged all the details since the parting at the place wherethe schooner was moored, and were going over some events for the secondtime when they heard a sound as of some persons approaching. A fewseconds later there appeared at the edge of the river Chief Dalton,Detective Layton, and the two Cresville officers. Each one held acaptive by the arm, and the wrists of the captured ones were enclosedin irons.
"Did you land 'em?" asked Jerry.
"We sure did!" cried the tramp-detective.
"Got 'em just as they were going to barricade the cave. Nabbed 'emwithout a shot being fired, and got possession of a lot of plunder too."
"Is the stuff from my father's store there?" asked Ned.
"Yes, and from half a dozen other stores," replied the detective. "It'sthe biggest round-up of thieves in a good while, and you boys deservecredit for your part."
"Where's Noddy?" asked Bob.
"Well, he and Bill Berry got away," said Chief Dalton. "But we don'tmind. We got the principal ones. Noddy was not mixed up in the thefts.He only helped the men, and I guess they bled him for money. Bill Berrywe'd like to have, but we'll get him later. Now for home."
The captives were taken aboard the police boat. Some of the morevaluable of the plunder was placed on the _Dartaway_, and the rest wasleft in charge of one of the detectives.
There was a sensation that lasted for several days when the motor boysgot back to Cresville and the affair became known. There were storiesin the newspapers, not only in the town where they lived, but in theNew York journals. The boys were complimented on all sides for theparts they had played.
Mr. Slade recovered nearly all of his stuff and the money taken wasfound buried in the cave. He divided the reward among the boys and thepolice. Several other store proprietors in nearby towns, and in NewYork, received goods that had been stolen from them. The schooner, itdeveloped, had often made the voyage between New York and Cresville.
The thieves were tried and convicted, being sentenced to long terms inprison.
As for Noddy, he was not found for nearly a month after the sensationalcapture. Then one of the Cresville detectives, who was working on achicken stealing case, found him in the old hut, near which the boyshad once picked up Noddy's knife. It developed that he had run awayafter the arrest of the thieves, and had been living as best he could,traveling about the country doing odd jobs. He was brought back home,but was not arrested, as there was no charge against him.
"I wish he'd stayed away," remarked Jerry, when he heard of Noddy'sreturn. "He's a bad sort of chap to have around."
"Well I guess we've taught him not to interfere with us," said Bob.
"That kind never learns a lesson," Jerry added. "We'll be bothered withNoddy as long as he's anywhere near us."
And though he did not know it, Jerry spoke with truth. For Noddy wassmarting over what had happened, and much ashamed of the disclosuresregarding his connection with the thieving gang.
The further trouble he and Bill Berry caused the motor boys willbe told of in another volume to be called, "The Motor Boys on theAtlantic; Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse."
But with the clearing up of the mystery of the robbery, and the arrestof the gang the motor boys were destined to have a period of quietness.They went back to Lake Cantoga after matters in regard to the trial ofthe thieves had been settled, and enjoyed several days of life in theopen.
There we will leave them for the present, having a good time in theirmotor boat, which proved to be all that they had hoped.
THE END
/> Transcriber's Notes:
--Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in bold by "equal" signs (=bold=).
--Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
--Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
--Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
The Motor Boys Afloat; or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway Page 29
