CHAPTER X
"TO-MORROW IS THE DAY!"
And then it was that Jerry saw that the temporary clearing of themystery only made things darker than ever. For, why should Tod berescued in this weird fashion? Why had the man refused to let Tod'sfriends come on the island? And why, why had Mr. Fulton laughed atJerry's story--and yet followed his clue in this stealthy way? Jerry,up to his nose in the water, and deeper than that in perplexity, sawthat the whole affair was really no longer the mystery of Tod Fulton'sdisappearance, but the mystery of Lost Island.
So, although he now felt safe from bodily harm, because of Mr. Fulton'spresence, he made no sign, but waited there a scant dozen feet beyondthe stern of the boat. He heard Tod answer a few low-toned questions ofhis father, but could not make out either question or answer. He sawMr. Fulton pick up the oars and poise them for a sweep, dropping theblades into the water to exchange a last sentence with the shadow whostood waiting on the bank.
"Everything all right, then, Billings!"
"Varnish on the left plane cracked pretty badly, Mr. Fulton. I had toscrape it off and refinish it. It really ought to have another day todry."
Jerry repeated, puzzled, to himself: "Left plane--what in thunder'sthat?"
Billings went on:
"You won't forget to bring the timer. Elizabeth will get it at theusual place if you can leave it by noon."
"It'll be there, Billings."
Not a word more was said as the boat was swung about and headed outinto the stream, save that Mr. Fulton chuckled:
"Old Billings rather had you worried, eh, son, until he gave you mymessage?"
Tod laughed, so heartily that Jerry, who had watched his chance to cutout into the wake of the boat and hold on behind with one hand, couldnot himself forbear a little happy ripple.
"What was that?" exclaimed Mr. Fulton, a full minute after.
"I don't know," answered Tod. "I was waiting for it to come again.Sounded like--only _he_ couldn't be here."
"Who couldn't?"
"It sounded like a laugh--and there's only one person, outside of abillygoat, who's got a gurgle like that."
"Your wetting didn't tame you down any, did it? Who's the goat you hadin mind?"
"Jerry King--_well_, what in the world!"
Over the back of the boat clambered a dripping, wrathful figure.
"I'll be switched if I'm going to be dragged along at the tail of thisscow and be insulted any longer. I laugh like a billygoat, do I? Fortwo cents I'd scuttle the ship!"
But Jerry's anger was more put on than real, and under Mr. Fulton'sbanter and Tod's grateful appreciation of the attempted rescue, he sooncalmed down.
"What was the matter with you back there on the island? We heard yougroaning as if you'd green-appled yourself double."
"Groaning? Me groaning? Huh! Say, next time you go bearding damsels indistress and rescuing castaway fishermen, you learn how to tell thedifference between a bulldog who's whining to get out and get at you,and a wounded hero. It's a good thing you didn't have a chance tofollow up that 'groan'--you'd have _groan_ wiser."
"One more like that, Tod," suggested Mr. Fulton wearily, "and I thinkI'll take a hand myself."
"But why," Jerry wanted to know, "didn't you come back home rightaway--if you weren't hurt?"
"Oh, but I was. You try going over that dam once and see if yourinsides-out don't get pretty well mixed up. I got a terrific thump onthe back of the head when the boat turned turtle, and if I hadn't had aleg under the seat, I'd be in Davy Jones' locker right now. When I cameto I didn't know whether I was me or the boat. I had gallons of waterin me and--and I think I swallowed a worm or two; the bait can gottipped over--and all the worms were gone--somewhere."
"But why did you stay----" Jerry began, feeling vaguely that Tod wastalking so much to keep him from asking questions. But he was notallowed even to ask this one, for Mr. Fulton interrupted with:
"I got busy right away after you had told me about your Lost Islandclue, and soon got a message through to--to Mr. Billings there. When hetold me Tod was safe and sound, I thought I'd wait until I had finishedsome important business I just couldn't leave. That's how it was solate before I got here."
"Mr. Billings came and got you, didn't he?" remarked Jerry, trying tokeep the suspicion out of his voice. If they had a secret that was noneof his business, _he_ wouldn't pry.
"Yes," said Mr. Fulton, and made no further explanation.
"But there were two of you on the island after me, weren't there? Whowas the other hero?" Tod wanted to know.
"Where were you, that you knew there were two of us?"
"I was all doubled up in that little anteroom where the dogwas--doubled up laughing." Then he added hastily, thinking he hadteased poor Jerry far enough: "But I was locked in."
"Why locked in, if Mr. Billings had gone to bring your father? Afraidyou'd up and rescue yourself?" Jerry's tone was downright sarcastic.
"No, Jerry--you see, the island--that is," looking toward Mr. Fulton asif for permission to go on, "that is, there's something going on onLost Island that Mr. Billings figures isn't anybody else's business,and he didn't want to take chances of my nosing around."
"I see," said Jerry dryly. "So of course rather than row you across todry land himself he brought your father here to get you. It's all asplain as the wart on a pumpkinhead's nose!"
"Now, Jerry, you're getting way up in the air without any cause. I'lltell you this much, because I think you've got a right to know: Mr.Billing's secret really is mine. Just as soon as I dare I'll tell youall about it. But what became of your friend--if there _were_ two ofyou?"
"I was so peeved that I forgot all about Phil. It's Phil Fulton----"
"What!" cried Tod. "Cousin Phil. Where is he?"
"Standing on the bank just opposite Lost Island and figuring out howsoon he ought to give me up for drowned or hand-axed by a savagefemale. He may have gone for the sheriff by this time--or the coroner.Better take me to shore here and I'll go back."
Mr. Fulton began pulling the boat toward shore. "How did he happen toget into this?" he asked.
Jerry told him the whole story of the encounter with the Boy Scouts."They've pitched camp there, so I guess I'll see if they can dry me outand put me up for the night," he finished.
As the boat neared shore Tod began to show signs of suppressedexcitement. Finally, as Jerry was about to jump out into the shallowwater, being already soaked through, Tod began coaxingly:
"Why couldn't I go on with Jerry, dad? You told me you'd let me gocamping with the bunch, don't you remember? And I promised Phil I'dshow him the best bass lake in the country----"
"I ought to take you back to town and let Doc Burgess look you over.Maybe the bones are pressing on your brain where you bumped your head.You act like it. But the fact is I _didn't_ want to go back toWatertown--I ought to chase right down to Chester for that timer. Itwas promised for to-morrow, and there isn't a minute to be lost. Therearen't any falls down this way, are there?" he asked with mockseriousness.
"Come on, dad, say I can go!" begged Tod.
"We-l-l," hesitated Mr. Fulton, "suppose we say I'll let you stay tillmorning--or night, rather. Then we'll see."
Jerry jumped out at this point and splashed his way to shore. He had afeeling that the two might want to talk without being overheard.Apparently he was right, as for a good five minutes the two conversedin low tones. Jerry tried his best not to hear what was said, but everynow and then a sentence reached his ears. But it was so much Greek asfar as he was concerned.
He had walked inland a bit, finally striking the narrow path thatfishermen had cut along the top of the high bank. It swung back towardthe edge, cut off from view by a rank growth of willows. He noticedthat the boat had drifted downstream until it now stood almost oppositehim, and only a few feet from shore. Thus it was that, as Mr. Fultonbacked water with his left-hand oar and rammed the nose of the boattoward the shelving beach, he heard one complete sentence, distinct andunderstandab
le.
"It's up to you, Tod, to get them away. We can't afford anycomplications at this stage of the game. To-morrow is the day!"
"Trust me, dad!" exclaimed Tod, going up and giving his father'sshoulder a squeeze. Jerry waited for no more. Bending low, he scurriedfar down the path, so that Tod could have no suspicion that his chumhad overheard.
"Are you coming?" he shouted when he felt that he had gone far enough.
"Hold up a second and I'll be with you. Good night, dad."
"Good night, Mr. Fulton," shouted Jerry in turn, then waited for Tod.
The journey to the Boy Scout camp was made in silence, for Jerry didnot feel that he dared ask any more questions, and Tod volunteered nofurther explanation. Just outside the ring of light cast by thedeserted camp fire, however, Jerry halted and asked:
"Thought what you'll tell _them?_"
"Why, no. Just what I told you, Jerry."
"You can't--unless you tell them more. They'd never be satisfied with_that_."
"I'm sorry, Jerry. I'd like to tell you the whole yarn, but--but yousee how it is."
"I don't but I guess I can wait. Only I do think you ought to havesomething cooked up that would stop their questions. Will you leave itto me?"
"Surest thing you know. What'll you say?"
"That's my secret. You play up to my leads, that's all you've got todo. _Hello_, bunch!" he shouted.
"Wow! Hooray! There he is!" came cries of delight from the darkness inthe direction of the river, and a moment later the boys, who had beenalmost frantic with worry over the non-appearance of Jerry, cametrooping up. When they found Tod with him, their joy was unbounded.Their excited questions and exclamations of surprise gave Jerry amuch-needed instant in which to collect his story-inventing wits. Atlast Phil quieted down his dancing mob and put the question Jerry hadbeen awaiting:
"How did you do it?"
"That's the funny part of it. I didn't. Tod's dad came along and did itfor me."
"I hope he beat up that old grouch----"
"Huh, you got another guess coming. They're old friends----yes," as acry of unbelief went up, "that's why Tod was in no hurry to be rescued.His name's Billings, and Mr. Fulton used to be in business with him. Isyet, isn't he, Tod?"
"Uhuh--I think so."
"Well, you may know there's fish around Lost Island. Billings is what Icall a fish hog. He don't want anybody to know about the place--wantsit all for himself. Tod drifts onto the island and the man can't verywell throw _him_ off, half drowned as he is. Then, when he gets thewater out of Tod, all but his brain, he finds it's the son of hispartner, and he can't very well throw him off _then_. There's a girl onthat mound out there, and she comes in with a string of the biggestfish you ever saw. You couldn't drive Tod off with a club after that.After the fish, I mean, not the girl. He gets a message to his father,and makes his plans to stay there all summer, but dad comes downto-night and spoils his plans by dragging him off. He kind of thinks hedoesn't want all the fish dragged out by the tails--he likes to hook afew big ones himself. I'd got out into the middle of the Plum when Iheard the sound of prodigious weeping--it was Tod, saying a lastfarewell to the big fishes--and the little girl.
"So I swam back. And here he is and here I am, and we're both pledgednot to go back on Lost Island."
"Righto!" cried Tod, in great relief, Jerry could plainly see. "And dadasked me to coax you chaps to keep away from old Billings--he's aregular bear, anyway. But to make up for that, to-morrow I'm going totake you to the swellest pickerel lake you ever laid eyes on."
"You mean _bass_ lake, don't you?" asked Jerry maliciously.
"Pickerel and bass," agreed Tod without an instant's hesitation. "Let'sturn in; we want to make an early start."
It was late, however, before the camp was finally quiet, for someonestarted a story, and that brought on another and another, till half ofthe Scouts fell asleep sitting bolt upright.
But as one lone boy, the last awake, rolled near the fire in hisborrowed blanket, he chuckled knowingly to himself and said:
"Foxy old Tod! Dad sure can 'trust' him. But I'm just going to becurious enough to block his little game so far as I'm concerned. _I'm_going to stick around!"