CHAPTER XV.
THE MISER OF THE ISLAND
Meg's conjecture was correct. It was Mr. Max Pooler who was the soleoccupant of the rowboat that was fast approaching the island.
He pulled a quick stroke, and two minutes brought him to the shore,where, beaching his craft, he jumped out, and walked rapidly toward thecottage.
He was a thin, sallow-complexioned man, with a low forehead and sunkengray eyes. The expression upon his face, especially around his mouth,was a pinched and hard one.
He viewed Jack and Mont in surprise, not unmixed with disapproval, andturned to the girl for an explanation.
"How is this, Meg?" he asked, in a shrill, disagreeable tone of voice."Whom have you here?"
"Two young men that drifted over the falls," replied the girl, who wassomewhat startled by his sudden coming. "I found 'em down by thespring, all tuckered out."
"Over the falls!" Max Pooler's face showed his incredulity. "Neverheard of it afore! When did it happen?"
"We can't tell exactly," replied Jack. "We became unconscious, and cameto about an hour or so ago."
"Humph!" The master of the island glanced at the table, where a goodportion of the food still remained. "Pretty good dinner you're givin''em, Meg," he continued.
The girl was silent. She evidently did not like Max Pooler's remark,and stood biting her finger nails in vexation.
"We are willing to pay for what we've had," broke in Mont. "We were sohungry that we couldn't wait till we got back to town, and so persuadedthis--this young lady to provide something for us."
Max Pooler looked relieved.
"Ah, that's all right then," he said, rubbing his hands together insatisfaction. "Pay for what you get and owe no man, has always been mymotto, and I find it a very excellent one, too. Tell me something ofyour adventures. And, by the way, is there anything else you wish?"
"No, I'm done," replied the young machinist.
He was thoroughly disgusted with the man's mean manner, though he didnot object to paying for what they had had.
But Mont entered readily into conversation. He had eyed Max Poolerkeenly from his arrival, and noticed every action of the man. Hebriefly related the particulars of what had happened on the river. Forobvious reasons he did not mention how either Jack or he had fallen intosuch a position, nor did he mention any names.
"Awful! terrible! truly remarkable!" were Max Pooler's comments. "Butdid you see 'em?" he continued, in a tragic whisper.
"See whom?" asked Jack, who was somewhat taken back by this suddenchange in the man's manner.
"Why, the ghost in the falls," replied Max Pooler, earnestly, "It is thespirit of a man who went over one night."
Jack laughed.
"We did not see it," he replied. "Besides, I don't believe in them."
"Oh, but this is a ghost sure, I've seen him myself many a time in themoonlight."
"Maybe you saw the man go over, and imagined the rest," suggested Mont."Did you know him?"
"Oh, no!" replied Max Pooler, starting. "No, indeed, I only heard itwas so. But the ghost is there. Sometimes it comes on the island!"
"The man must be a little off on this subject," thought Jack, as hewatched Max Pooler's manner.
"I guess there is too much water here to allow of any spirits," saidMont, by way of a joke.
"Never mind, I know what I know," replied Max Pooler, with a shake ofhis head. "You were mighty lucky to get through safely."
"I'll admit that," returned Jack, rising from the table.
Mont also arose, and looked first at the man and then at the girl.
"If you tell me what we owe you, I'll pay it," he said.
Meg was silent. Had she had her own way she would have charged nothing.
"Everything considered, I guess it's worth a quarter apiece," said MaxPooler. "Provisions are frightfully high."
"I'm well satisfied," replied Mont; and taking out his purse, hewithdrew a half dollar, and handed it over. "I am very much obliged toyou," he added to Meg.
Max Pooler's eyes sparkled as they rested upon the shining silver. Hegrasped the coin eagerly, and after examining it, stowed it carefullyaway in his bosom.
There was a pause. Now that he had their money, the owner of the islandwas evidently anxious to have them take their departure. Both Jack andMont wished to see more of this old man, but neither could frame aplausible excuse for remaining.
"I suppose your friends will be anxious 'bout you," remarked Max Pooler,by way of helping them off.
Jack's thoughts instantly reverted to Deb, and he said no doubt theywould.
"But we have no boat," he added, suddenly. "Can you lend us one?"
"Only got the one I use," replied the old man, shortly.
"I can take 'em over," put in Meg, eagerly. "'T won't take long."
"We will pay you for the use of the boat," added Jack.
The mention of pay immediately altered the matter in Max Pooler's eyes.
"I'll do it for another quarter," he said. "Times are hard and one mustmake his living."
Jack made no reply. The closeness of the man disgusted him, and he paidthe amount without a word.
Meg led the way toward the beach. Their backs were scarcely turnedbefore Max Pooler disappeared in the cottage.
"The mean miser," burst out the girl, when they were beyond hearing,"He's itchin' to put that seventy-five cents along with the rest of hismoney! Hope you don't blame me for what he's done. Wouldn't have costyou a cent if I'd have had my way!"
"We were very thankful to get something," said Mont, "and were perfectlywilling to pay for it, too."
Jack was silent. He half wished that Meg, interesting as she was, wasnot present. He wished to talk with his friend over the odd news thatthe last half hour had brought them. He was half inclined to questionthe young girl further, but did not wish to excite her suspicion, andwas diplomatic enough not to get at it excepting in the direct way.
Of one thing he was certain; there was a good deal below the surfacethat did not yet show, and he determined that he would not drop thematter until he had learned what it was.
"Did you ever hear of a wrecked yacht around here?" suddenly asked Montof Meg.
"Nope--that is," she hesitated. "What makes you ask that?"
"Oh, I only wanted to know," replied the young man, apparentlyunconcerned.
"Pooler said I was never to speak of it," returned Meg. "He thinks Idon't know where it is, but I do."
"Show it to us, will you?" asked Mont, eagerly.
Meg shrank back.
"It's haunted!" she exclaimed. "Besides, Pooler would kill me if hefound it out."
"We'll never tell him, will we, Jack?"
"Certainly not," replied the young machinist, to whom this new move wasonly another mystery.
"Besides, we intend to be your friends, you know," continued Mont.
"Well, then, come on," replied Meg, finally. "I don't care if he likesit or not. 'Taint a very nice place though."
"Never mind. We can't find any worse or more dangerous places than wehave already gone through."
Meg picked her way along one bank of the island for nearly a quarter ofa mile. Jack and Mont followed closely.
The ground was covered with a rank growth of reeds and rushes, and inmany places was damp and slippery.
At last they reached a deep cave that ran directly between a cluster oftwisted and bending willows. The spot was at the upper end of theisland, and in full view of the falls.
Here, half hidden by the tall, undergrowth, rested the hull of adismantled yacht, bearing upon her weather-beaten stern thehalf-obliterated name:
"KITTY."