Four Afloat: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Water

by Ralph Henry Barbour

  CHAPTER XI--RECORDS A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

  An hour later the _Vagabond_ was swinging quietly from her anchor cablein the harbor of Provincetown. About her in the darkness the lights ofother craft twinkled and the curving waterfront of the old town wasdimly illumined. On the _Vagabond's_ deserted deck only the riding lightgleamed, but in the cabin all lamps were doing their best, there was afine odor of steaming coffee and things fried and the crew and theirguest were sitting around the table in the stateroom doing full justiceto a dinner all the more enjoyable since so long delayed. Good humor hadreturned and everybody was in the best of spirits; unless, possibly, weexcept Spencer Floyd. It was difficult at all times to tell whether hewas happy or unhappy. He seldom spoke unless spoken to, and his habitualexpression was one of intense gravity. But he certainly had not lost hisappetite; once Dan forgot his own hunger for nearly half a minute inmarveling at Spencer's capacity. Of course they talked and, equally ofcourse, the subject of discourse was the day's happenings.

  "I think we got out of the mess mighty luckily," said Nelson. And thesentiment was indorsed by the others. It had taken fully ten minutes,Bob, Dan and Tom all talking together and at top speed, to acquaintNelson with what had happened on deck, very little of which he had beenable to glimpse from the engine room. "Only," continued Nelsonaffectionately, "I think you were a great big galoot, Dan, to stand upthere and bluff Captain Chowder with an empty revolver."

  "The bluff worked, though," laughed Dan. "I couldn't find Bob's box ofcartridges anywhere, you see, and there wasn't any time to lose. Maybeif the captain had looked a bit closer he would have seen that thecylinder was empty, but I had to chance that."

  "Huh!" said Tom. "Bet you if I was in the captain's place I wouldn'twaste any time examining the cylinder!"

  "That was a great tackle you made, Tom," said Dan with a grin. "I hitthe deck like a load of bricks. Gosh! I didn't know what had struck me!Only you forgot, Tommy, that the new rules forbid tackling below theknees."

  "I didn't tackle you below the knees," answered Tom promptly.

  "Felt like it!"

  "I don't see but what Tommy's the hero of the day, after all," observedBob. "I'm plumb sure I wasn't! The way I got into the engine room whenthat old pirate came on deck with his gun must have been one of thesights of the trip!"

  "I guess the real hero," said Dan, "was Nelson. Anyhow, he did the mostpractical thing and worked hardest."

  "Hero be hanged!" replied Nelson, spreading his fifth slice of bread."But you can bet I worked hard, all right! I thought I'd never get thatold vaporizer together again. One of the parts got away and I couldn'tfind it for weeks! And I didn't know whether the thing would work anybetter after I got through with it. The first thing we do to-morrow isto empty that tank and fill up with some decent gasoline."

  "I suppose we need it," said Bob, "but how about staying around herethat long? Don't you think Captain Chowder will telegraph here and getthe local Scotland Yard after us?"

  "I rather think," answered Nelson, "that he's decided by this time tolet the thing drop. But, of course, there's no telling for sure. There'sone thing, though; he doesn't know for certain where we are. We startedout toward Provincetown, but maybe he'll argue that we were only tryingto throw him off the track and that after a bit we turned and headedacross to Plymouth or somewhere on the south shore."

  "That's so," Bob agreed after a moment's consideration.

  "Even if he did telegraph," said Dan, "what could the police here do? Ifwe told our story they wouldn't dare to arrest us."

  "Well, they might take Spencer and hold him until the thing was clearedup," said Nelson. "And it might end with Spencer going back with thecaptain. And I'll be blowed if I'm going to have that!"

  "Nor I," said Bob.

  "Same here," agreed Dan.

  Tom had his month too full for utterance, but he shook his headviolently and scowled disapprovingly.

  "Then what's to be did?" asked Nelson.

  There was a moment's silence, during which everyone ate busily, brokenat last by Spencer.

  "Seems to me I've been trouble enough to you," he said diffidently. "Ifyou'll put me ashore I guess I can make out all right now. And I'm muchobliged for what you've done for me. And----"

  "Pshaw!" interrupted Dan. "You'd be caught and lugged back to that oldschooner the very first thing. No, sir, the best place for you is righthere aboard the _Vagabond_. And if Provincetown isn't a safe place tostay, I vote we move on."

  "To-night?" asked Bob.

  "I don't care. In the morning, if you fellows think it'll be safe tostay until then. Only we want to get out before Captain Chowder beginsto use the wires."

  "I tell you!" exclaimed Nelson. "Just as soon as it's light we'll runoutside a ways and put Spencer in the tender. Then he can row around andkeep out of the way until we get our tank filled again. And then we canpick him up."

  "Dandy!" cried Tom. "And if they come and search us they won't find him!And we can tell them that he fell overboard and----"

  "And was swallowed by a whale," laughed Bob. "That's a good scheme,though, Nel. Would you mind if we did that, Spencer?"

  "No, sir. I'd be all right if you left me some oars."

  "Of course we'll leave you oars," said Nelson. "That's settled then. Butwe want to get out pretty early and be back here before the folks alongthe wharves are taking notice."

  "Well," said Dan, "we'll get Tommy to wake us."

  "Hope you choke," responded Tom dispassionately.

  "Haven't anything to choke on," answered Dan. "Pass me the bread."

  "I don't believe the telegraph office will be open until about eighto'clock," said Bob. "And it isn't likely that the _Scout_ would get backto Sanstable to-night in time for the captain to telegraph. So I guesswe're safe until, say, nine to-morrow morning. That being the case, andDan having eaten the last thing on the table, I will adjourn to thedeck."

  "There's some more coffee in the pot," said Tom.

  "Couldn't drink another drop, Tommy. I've had three cups already. Comeon, Barry; you and I'll go up and look at the moon."

  "Isn't any," grunted Tom.

  "What!" exclaimed Bob. "No moon? How careless of the weather man! Thenwe'll look at the nice little lantern at the bow, Barry."

  "Oh, we'll all go up," said Dan. "I want a breath of air. How about thedishes, though?"

  "Let 'em go," muttered Tom lazily.

  "Couldn't I do them?" asked Spencer.

  "Why--do you mind?" asked Nelson.

  "I'd like to," was the answer.

  "All right, then; go ahead. I guess Tommy will let you."

  If there was any objection from Tom it was so slight that no one noticedit.

  Up in the cockpit the Four made themselves comfortable in the chairs andon the seat, while Barry curled up into a perfectly round bunch in Dan'slap. The breeze still held from the southward and the night was quitewarm, and, although Bob continued to complain at intervals over theabsence of moonlight, the stars glittered in an almost cloudless sky andshed a wan radiance of their own. Somewhere in the darkness along thewharves a concertina was stumbling uncertainly through the latestsuccess in rag-time melody.

  "Say, Bob," said Dan, "you can do worse than that. Get your mandolin."

  So Bob got it and the concertina was soon drowned out. Spencer crept upand silently snuggled himself in a corner of the cockpit. The lights inthe town went out one by one and four bells struck in the cabin.

  "Hello!" exclaimed Nelson. "This won't do, fellows, if we're going tomake an early rise. Come on, Dan, and help me fix up the berth forSpencer."

  So the pipe berth in the engine room was pulled out and the other bedswere levied on for a pillow and blankets, and half an hour later onlyTom's snores disturbed the silence.

  At half-past six the next morning the _Vagabond_ turned her bow towardthe harbor entrance, passed the light at the end of Long Point and wentwestward for a half-mile along the shore. Then the tender was put overand Spencer, his o
wn attire supplemented with an extra sweater of Bob's,jumped into it.

  "If I had some line and a hook," said Spencer gravely, "I could catchyou some fish."

  "That's so!" said Nelson. "And I think there's fishing tackle aboardsomewhere. Wait a moment and I'll see if I can't find it."

  "Yes," remarked Dan casually, "and you might dig a few worms whileyou're down there."

  Nelson's enthusiasm wilted and he joined in the laugh.

  "I forgot about bait," he said. "I guess you couldn't catch much withoutbait, eh, Spencer?"

  "You leave me the line," answered the boy, "and I guess I can find somebait somewheres."

  So Nelson rummaged around and found what was wanted, and when the_Vagabond_ went chugging slowly and softly back toward the lighthouseand the harbor entrance Spencer, oars in hands, was pulling toward theouter beach. Back in the harbor Bob steered the launch up to a landingin the lee of a shed bearing the sign "GASOLINE" and made her fast. Thenthey set about completing their toilets, while Tom prepared breakfast.By the time that repast was ready the waterfront was wide awake and thesun was shining warmly. After breakfast the tank was emptied andrefilled with what was represented to be "the best gasoline on theCape." As the boat's funds were depleted to the extent of almost twentydollars when payment had been made, there was a unanimous hope among thecrew that the claim would not prove too great.

  "It's mighty expensive stuff, isn't it?" asked Tom. "Think what we coulddo with twenty dollars!"

  "That's so, Tommy," said Nelson. "Gasoline doesn't taste as nice ascaramels, but it's a lot better for fuel."

  "Gee!" muttered Tom wistfully. "Think of twenty dollars' worth ofcaramels!"

  Later, when they went shopping for provisions, Tom got into a candystore and wouldn't come out until he had bought a little of everythingin sight. They returned to the wharf laden with bundles just as theclock struck ten.

  "Now to pick up the tender and run around to Chatham," said Nelson asthey went down the wharf.

  But when the float lay below them Bob nudged his arm. On the edge of thefloat, seated on an empty nail keg and talking to the gasoline man, wasa tall individual in a faded blue coat on the left breast of whichglittered a badge.

  "Cop!" whispered Bob.

  As they went down, the tall man, who looked more like a sailor than apolice officer, arose and awaited them. Then,

  "You gentlemen own this launch?" he asked with a slow drawl.

  "Well, we're sailing her," answered Nelson. "She belongs to my father."

  "Pretty nice boat," said the other, his eyes traveling swiftly from oneto another of the quartet. "Which of you is Spencer Floyd, now?"

  "None of us," answered Nelson.

  "Well, I got a message for him," said the officer. "You tell him I wantto see him, will you?"

  "He isn't here," said Nelson.

  "I want to know!" drawled the officer. "Ain't drowned him, have you?"

  "No, he isn't drowned. He just isn't here."

  "Well, well! Don't mind my lookin' about a little, I guess?"

  "No, you're perfectly welcome to, sir. Come aboard, please."

  The officer followed and looked admiringly over the launch while Nelsonunlocked the cabin door. Then they all trooped down into the cabin andthe officer satisfied himself that the runaway was indeed not there.

  "Much obliged, gentlemen," he said at last. "I see he ain't here. Iguess you don't care to tell me where he is, do you?"

  "No," Nelson replied smilingly, "I don't believe we do. And anyhow, wedon't know just _where_ he is--by this time."

  Which was a good deal nearer the truth than Nelson suspected.

  "Well," said the officer, with a twinkle in his eye, "if you chance tosee him again you tell him that his friend Captain Sauder, over toSanstable, is particularly anxious to see him, will you?"

  Nelson promised gravely to do so and the officer stepped ashore.

  "Good mornin'," he said. "I hope you'll have a fair voyage."

  "Good morning," Nelson replied. "Thank you."

  Halfway across the float the officer paused, turned and retraced hissteps, and Nelson went to meet him.

  "Now, I don't know much about this," said the officer confidentially,"but you fellers don't look like a very desperate set to me. So you tellthis feller Floyd--if you should happen to meet him, you understand--youtell him that the Cape's a bit unhealthy just at present; kind ofmalarial, you know; and maybe he'd be better off across the bay. Seewhat I mean?"

  "Yes, I do," answered Nelson. "And I'm much obliged. And if I shouldhappen to see him I'll tell him that."

  "You needn't mention me, of course," said the other. "It ain't any of mybusiness. So long."

  "That means," said Bob, when Nelson had told the others, "that meansthat they're on the lookout for Spencer all down the Cape. So what thedickens are we to do? We've got to put in somewhere; we can't makeNewport to-day."

  "That's so," said Nelson. "Let's see the chart."

  After they had all studied it awhile Dan asked:

  "What's the matter with trying to make Nantucket? It isn't likely thathe's warned them down there."

  "No, but it's a jolly long ways," said Bob. "Let's see how far. Why,it's nearly eighty miles! Could we do that before dark, Nel?"

  "We could do it by seven o'clock," was the answer. "But wouldn't it bebetter to take Spencer over to Plymouth and send him home by train?"

  They discussed the question at length and in the end decided that thelatter plan was the more feasible. Then they cast off and ran across theharbor to the Point and so westward in search of the tender. But afterthey had rounded the lighthouse there was nothing in sight resemblingtheir boat in the least.

  "That's mighty funny!" said Bob. And all the others agreed heartily.They went southward for two miles in chase of a craft that might, soNelson thought, turn out to be the tender. But when they got within fairsight of it they found it to be a pea-green dory containing twofishermen.

  "Let's go back to where we left him," suggested Dan. "Perhaps he wentashore and pulled the boat up on the beach."

  So they turned back and ran along the shore, but without success. ThenBob headed the launch westward. All four kept a sharp lookout, but itwas Tom who asked presently:

  "What's that over there?"

  All turned to look.

  "Seems like a water-logged boat," said Nelson. "Run her over there,Bob."

  Bob obeyed and two minutes later the _Vagabond_ floated alongside thepuzzling object, puzzling no longer. It was the tender, filled withwater almost to the gunwales and empty of everything except the oars anda few dead fish. The four stared at each other in consternation.