CHAPTER XVII
PLANNING A CAPTURE
"Glad to meet you again," said Nat cordially, as he shook hands withyoung Mr. Scanlon. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, we're on a little trip, my father and I. By the way, I don'tbelieve you have met my father. Dad, this is Nat Morton, whom I wastelling you about. He saved our rowboat."
"Humph, I haven't quite forgiven you for that careless piece of work,John. But I'm glad to meet Nat," and Mr. Peter Scanlon shook handswith the lad.
"What are you doing here, Nat?" asked John.
"I'm learning to be a pilot."
"This is a queer place to learn that calling--ashore."
Then Nat explained that he was about to make a change of craft, and heintroduced his companions to John and the latter's parent. He alsotold of the money due him and their fruitless efforts to capture themate.
"Why, that's quite a romantic story," commented John Scanlon. "Tothink of your having money all this time, and not knowing it!"
"And I'm still without it," said Nat, "and likely to be for some time,unless something happens."
"What a story that would make for the newspapers," went on John. "Ionce thought of becoming a newspaper reporter. This would be a dandyyarn."
"Hold on there, young fellow!" exclaimed the detective.
"What's the matter?" asked John.
"Don't go to tipping off the papers about this. We're going to have ahard enough time as it is to capture this chap, and we don't want himto know we're after him. If he sees something about it in the papers,he'll take the alarm and leave Buffalo before we can land him."
"Buffalo? Is he headed for Buffalo?" asked John Scanlon excitedly.
"Yes. Why?" asked Nat.
"Why, that's where we're going! My father's steam yacht leaves forBuffalo to-morrow. We're going to make the trip all the way to NewYork, by way of the St. Lawrence River, and we're going to stop off atBuffalo. Maybe we'll see this Bumstead."
"Say, if you only could catch him!" cried Nat eagerly.
"There are several legal difficulties to that plan," objected thedetective.
"Perhaps I can suggest a way out," put in Mr. Scanlon, who had beenlistening with interest to the story of Nat's newly discoveredpossessions. "I am a lawyer, and if I can help the lad who saved myson's boat from destruction, I'd be only too glad to do so."
"That might be the very thing," went on the officer. He explained themix-up that would ensue if some unauthorized person attempted to causethe arrest of the mate in Buffalo.
"I think we can get around that difficulty," said the lawyer."According to your story the mate is guilty of embezzling moneybelonging to another, with which he was entrusted. Then there is thepromissory note, which would come under a different head. Nat can makea complaint in this city, charging the mate with embezzlement. Awarrant can be sworn out, and I can be duly authorized to prosecutethe case for Nat."
"That would answer first-rate," commented the detective.
"Only I'm afraid it will put you to a good deal of trouble, Mr.Scanlon," said Mr. Weatherby.
"I don't mind that in the least. I am in no hurry. In fact I am on apleasure trip, and it does not matter when I get to New York. I hadplanned to stop at Buffalo, and spending a few days longer there thanI calculated on will make no difference."
"But will your boat get to Buffalo ahead of the freight steamer?"asked Mr. Clayton.
"I think so," replied John Scanlon, with a smile. "It is one of thefastest small yachts afloat. I fancy we will be at the dock waitingfor this Bumstead when his ship gets in."
"Yes," agreed his father. "I will be waiting for him there with awarrant. But we must lose no time. Supposing we go to the policestation and draw up the complaint?"
This was soon done, and with the proper papers in his pocket, Mr.Scanlon and his son prepared to set out on their voyage to capture therascally mate. The lawyer promised to telegraph Nat the result of hisefforts, as soon as possible, and the pilot gave Mr. Scanlon a list ofthe ports at which the _Mermaid_, his new vessel, would call.
"In case anything happens, you can notify us," said the pilot.
The lawyer and his son bade the others good-by, as, now that they hadan object in view, the Scanlons wanted to begin their trip at once.
"Good luck!" called Nat to his new friends. "I hope you get him."
"Oh, we'll get him," replied John confidently.
"Well, Nat, there's been quite a change in your prospects since youjumped overboard, a few hours ago, and rescued Sam Shaw," remarked Mr.Weatherby as, with our hero and Mr. Clayton, they went back to theirhotel.
"Yes, I seem to have more friends than I thought I did."
"And one or two enemies. Don't forget that. You've been through someperils already, and I hope they're at an end."
But there were yet more dangers ahead of Nat Morton--dangers of whichhe did not dream, for indeed, as the pilot had said, he had at leastone relentless enemy who would have been well satisfied to see Nat outof his way.
Two days later the _Mermaid_ arrived at Detroit, and the pilot and Natwent aboard. Mr. Clayton had previously sailed on his trip to LakeSuperior, to be gone some time, but he promised to come, wheneverwanted, to testify against Bumstead, in case the mate was brought totrial.
The _Mermaid_ was a fine passenger steamer, which called at all theprincipal ports on Lakes Huron, Michigan and Erie. She carriedpassengers chiefly, but also took some freight. Nat, however, found hehad nothing to do with that department. He was assigned to thecaptain's cabin, where he would have certain light duties to perform,but it had been arranged, by Mr. Weatherby, that his young _protege_was to receive more instruction in piloting than had been possibleaboard the freighter.
So the most of the day, and part of the night, found Nat with hisfriend in the pilot-house. The _Mermaid_ steered by steam, and insteadof an immense wheel, there was only a small one. A simple turn of it,with one hand, would send the great steamer on any desired course.
"This is another reason I wanted to change," remarked Mr. Weatherby,as he explained to Nat how the steam steering gear was operated. "Thatbig wheel was getting too much for me to handle, especially in astorm. We'll have it easier now, and it will be more pleasant."
There was no doubt about this. The _Mermaid_ was a new steamer, andwas handsomely furnished. And it was much nicer to be amongpassengers, than delving away in a dark, dirty hold, checking up longcargo lists. Nat began to feel that his life had changed very much forthe better. He had a new suit of clothes, and made a good appearance.
For about a week the _Mermaid_ cruised on Lake Huron and LakeMichigan, taking on passengers, and some freight at one port, andleaving them at another. Nat was rapidly progressing in his chosencalling, and several times he had steered the vessel all alone, withno one in the pilot-house but himself, for Mr. Weatherby wanted thelad to acquire confidence.
Captain Turton was an agreeable man, and readily consented that Natshould have all the privileges possible, in order to learn morerapidly.
"I was young once myself," he said with a smile. "I had to pick up myknowledge of ships as best I could, and if I had had half a chance Iwould be a better navigator than I am now. In fact, I could havelearned piloting among these many islands in Lake Huron, and thatwould have saved me hiring you, Weatherby."
"Well, if Nat keeps on, he'll soon be able to take my place," said thepilot with a smile. "He did nearly all the work to-day. I'm gettinglazy, I guess. For the last few days I haven't felt like myself."
"Maybe you're getting malaria," suggested the captain.
"I'm getting something. Guess I'll take a big dose of quinineto-night."
"Better not to-night," spoke the captain.
"Why not?"
"Well, I don't like the looks of the weather. There seems to be astorm coming up, and you'll want all your wits about you if it comeson to blow much."
"Oh, I guess I can steer, even if my ears do ring with the quinine,and my head buzzes," answered Mr. Weath
erby. "I must break up thislanguid feeling."
The _Mermaid_ stopped at a good-sized city that evening, preparatoryto making an all-night trip. As the boat touched the dock Nat saw onthe end of the pier a telegraph messenger.
"Anybody named Nat Morton aboard?" the boy called, as soon as the shipwas made fast.
"That's me," replied Nat.
"Well, I've got a telegram for you. I've been waiting three hours, andyou've got to pay for my time."
"That'll be all right," said Mr. Weatherby, who was standing at therail, beside Nat. "It's probably from Mr. Scanlon," he went on. "I waswondering why we didn't hear from him."
He paid the messenger boy, and Nat tore open the yellow envelope. Themessage was from Mr. Scanlon, and it was short. It said:
"Freighter arrived. Bumstead and nephew not aboard. They shipped on another vessel before arriving at Buffalo. Wire me what to do."