CHAPTER XVI
"WIRELESS DAY"
"Hurrah!" shouted Josh, wildly excited, and glad for once to be on thenarrow speed boat.
"May the best one win!" called Jack, as he watched the rivals drawingahead of the two slower boats.
"That means us!" laughed Bully Joe.
"Just wait and see!" answered Josh; between whom and Joe there hadalways been more or less bad blood.
Herb had given his staunch engine all it could stand; and as the _Tramp_stood by him, they were soon left far in the lurch.
"Talk to me about speed," observed Herb, as Jack turned his face thatway, "strikes me the _Wireless_ has her work cut out for today, to beatClarence."
"You heard what he said about the improvement made when at themachinist's. It was a knot an hour increase, I believe," Jack remarked,casting a look down at the throbbing motor of the _Tramp_.
"That's right," Herb spoke up. "But you know we did some tinkering toGeorge's engine, and he has always said that it ran better afterwards.Anyhow, it looks like a pretty race."
"I think so with you, Herb," Jack admitted. "Judging from here, they'rerunning neck and neck now."
"Yes," continued the other, "but don't forget that tricky Clarence isalways up to something. Two to one he's got a bit more speed held inreserve."
"Well, George knows him like a book," laughed Jack. "And make up yourmind he'll keep something held back himself. Don't you remember he didbefore? Possibly Clarence may be the one to run up against a surpriseafter a while."
As the racers drew farther and farther away, those in the other boatsbegan to think of other things. None of them had half the interest inthe outcome of the rivalry as did George. With him there were many oldaccounts to square; and he meant to make a good job of it, if he had hisway about the matter.
For some miles the two speedy motor boats kept along, neither appearingto gain half a length on the other. If one seemed to be going ahead, theskipper immediately busied himself stopping the advantage. It was as ifboth were holding themselves in for the home stretch.
Josh was on needles and pins all this while. He paid little attention towhat lay in the rear. Part of his time was taken up in scanning thewatery waste ahead, through the powerful marine glasses. And when notthus employed he sat there, quivering with suspense, wondering whetherthere would come a sudden stoppage of the engine, which might springfrom one of its eccentric tantrums.
But, strange to say, the motor seemed to be doing its best today, as ifbent on meriting all the good things its builders had said in theircatalogue.
"I see it!" suddenly hoarsely whispered Josh, in a mysterious way, asthough he did not wish those in the other craft to overhear him.
"You mean the little bay at the mouth of the river?" queried George,setting his teeth hard together; for he knew that the crisis so longawaited was at hand.
"Sure, look for yourself, George," handing him the glasses.
"Yes, I believe you're right," returned the skipper of the _Wireless_,as he once more turned his attention to his engine. "Now, get in themiddle of the boat, Josh, and don't move any more than you can help."
"You're going to open up, then?" asked the tall, ungainly lad,feverishly.
"I am. Are you ready?" George went on.
"My hair is parted exactly in the middle, I believe," chuckled Josh."You know Buster used to say that was one thing you made him do when hewas on board here. Let her go, George! Get the jump on him; it may countin the end!"
A shout from Bully Joe was the first knowledge Clarence had that hisrival had taken the bit in his teeth, and shot ahead. Instantly thespeed of the _Flash_ was increased; and the two powerful engines beganto throb like little giants; while the sound of the exhausts, from whichthe mufflers had been entirely removed, was like the tattoo of a coupleof snare drums calling the long roll.
Josh steadied himself as best he could; though when the boat was rushingthrough the water at this frightful speed it did not seem so cranky aswhen at rest.
"George, we're gaining on him!" he said, in a husky voice that trembledwith the excitement under which Josh labored.
"I see we are; and still I could get a bit more out of old _Wireless_ ifhard pushed. Don't worry, Josh; we're bound to show Clarence up for abluffer this time, sure."
"If only something don't happen!" gasped the anxious Josh, with anintake of breath that was like a big sigh.
"Make your mind easy on that score," said George, positively. "Nothingis going to break down. She's running as smooth as silk, and nevermissing a stroke. Oh! ain't this great, though? I've looked forward tothis ever so long. Wouldn't I like to be close enough right now to seethe look on Clarence's face."
"It's as long as a foot rule, I warrant you!" chuckled Josh. "Don't Iknow them two fellows though? They take a beat hard. Ten to one that ifyou are ahead when we come to the bay, they'll go on past, and neverenter at all."
"Well, now, that wouldn't surprise me one little bit," remarked George.
Slowly but surely was the _Flash_ falling behind, or rather the otherboat forging ahead. Doubtless Clarence must be trying every device knownto ambitious racing skippers in order to just coax a little more speedfrom his engine; but it was now keyed up to top-notch, and utterlyincapable of doing a particle better.
Already Clarence must know that he was badly beaten, unless fortunestepped in to bring about an accident to the _Wireless_.
"That's what he's playing for now," said George, when his companionsuggested this very thing. "But I reckon Clarence will find himselfbarking up the wrong tree. This race has just got to be mine. You hearme warble, Josh?"
It was not often George spouted slang; but the excitement had seizedupon him to such an extent now, that he hardly did know what he wassaying.
Minutes crept along.
Now the _Flash_ was a stone's throw in the rear, and losing all thewhile.
"Careful about the turn, George," cautioned Josh, as they came nearwhere the bay opened up. "We don't want to lose this thing at the laststretch. Now you're safe to turn in. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! siss! boom!crash! we win!"
The _Wireless_ safely made the turn, and thus Josh announced hervictory.
"What did I tell you," Josh went on. "Look at 'em, George! They'respinning on right past, and don't mean to come in at all. Clarence won'teven look this way, but keeps staring ahead. Talk to me about taking abeat to heart, there never was a fellow as bad as Macklin, in baseball,hockey or any sport. Well, good-bye to you, fellows! Come again when youcan't stay so long. It's _Wireless_ day, you know!"
There was no answer to the shout with which Josh wound up his remarks.He saw Bully Joe wave his hand in a derisive way, and then the _Flash_passed by at full speed, as though the race were still on.
There was a big camp on the shore, and several boats drawn up on thebeach. Many signs told that this was one of the favorite places alongthe north shore for the white fish men to gather. Doubtless innumerablebarrels of this delicate inhabitant of the Great Lakes were shipped fromthis coast during each season; with the supply still undiminished.
It had been agreed upon that George was not to go ashore until the restof the little motor boat fleet arrived. This was not for half an hour orso, since the _Comfort_ was not capable of doing better than ten milesan hour, and the more speedy _Tramp_ had to accommodate her pace to thatof the steady boat.
Nick and the rest gave the victor a good cheer as they turned the point,and entered the bay at the mouth of the famous trout river.
Then the three craft made for the beach, off which they anchored, to goashore in the smaller boats.
There were some shanties and tents in sight, with a number of roughlooking men; who however seemed glad to welcome the boys. The smell offish was everywhere, as was natural.
"Do you happen to have a young fellow here in this camp by the name ofAndy Fosdick?" Jack asked a man who seemed to be the boss.
"Yes, but just now he's out at work. There's a boat coming in and p'rapsAndy may
be one of the crew," the other replied.
They waited until the boat landed, and those who were in it jumped out.Jack could use his judgment, and he immediately selected a sturdylooking young chap, with a skin the color of an Indian's, as the onethey sought.
"Come along, fellows," he said to his chums; "and we'll find out."
He made straight for the young man; who, seeing the processionapproaching, and all eyes glued eagerly on him, stood there lookingcurious, and a bit apprehensive, Jack thought.
"Are you Andrew Fosdick?" Jack asked, as they reached the spot where theother stood, one hand resting on the edge of the boat, from which hiscomrades were already shoveling their catch of fish.
"That's my name, though I generally answer to plain Andy," replied thefisherman wondering doubtless what all this meant, and why these boysshould want to see him.
"Bully!" exclaimed Nick. "Found him the first shot! We're sure in greatluck on this cruise, fellows!"
"Tell him what you want with him, Jack," urged Herb, who saw the otherwas being consumed with anxiety.
"We have come straight from your father, Andy," said Jack, softly. "Hewants you to come home to him."
Then they saw a hard look pass over the dark face of Andy Fosdick.
"It ain't no use, boys," he said, bitterly. "He run me off long ago, andI don't go back there again. I'm gettin' to forget my name even isFosdick, and that settles it."