CHAPTER V
A STRANGE SOUND
George recognized the wisdom of such a move as his chum suggested. Ifthe wind kept on increasing as it seemed bound to do, and the stormbroke upon them in all its mid-summer violence, the cranky speed boatwould be apt to feel the effect more than either of the other craft.
It was therefore of great importance that he and Josh seek the promisedshelter with all haste. Much as he disliked leaving the balance of thefleet, necessity seemed to compel such a move.
Accordingly, he threw on all the motive power his engine was capable ofdeveloping, and began to leave the others quickly in the lurch.
Jack could easily have gone ahead of the heavy _Comfort_, but he did notmean to do so. Better that they stick together, so as to be able torender assistance if it were badly needed.
Talking across the narrow abyss of water separating the two boats wasaltogether out of the question, unless one shouted. There was no timefor an exchange of opinions, since all of them needed to keep their witson the alert, in order to meet the dangers that impended.
Already had the waves grown in size. They were getting heavier withevery passing minute; and the little motor boats began to actuallywallow, unless headed directly into the washing seas.
It was a critical time for all concerned, and Nick could be seen withhis cork life-preserver carefully fastened about his stout body underthe arms, as if prepared for the very worst that could happen.
It was about this time that Jimmie gave a shrill whoop.
"They done it!" he yelled, regardless of the rules of grammar, such washis delight. "The ould _Wireless_ is safe beyant the p'int!"
Jack saw that what he said seemed to be so. The speed boat had evidentlymanaged to reach a spot where the jutting tongue of land helped toshield her from the oncoming waves. She no longer plunged up and downlike a cork on the water, though continuing her onward progress.
The sight spurred the others on to renewed zeal. If George could do it,then the same measure of success should come their way.
Five minutes later Jack noticed that there was an apparent abatement ofthe wild fury with which the heaving billows were beating against thebow of his little craft. A look ahead told him the comforting news thatalready was the extreme point standing between the two boats and thesweep of the seas.
"We do be safe!" shouted Jimmie; who, in his excitable way seemed readyto try and dance a jig then and there, an operation that would have beenattended with considerable danger to the safety of the _Tramp's_ humancargo.
"And not a minute too soon!" said Jack, as a sudden gust of wind torepast, that might have been fatal to his boat had it been wallowing inone of those seas just then.
As it was, they had about all they could do to push on against thefierce gale, protected as they were by the cape of land. The spray wasflying furiously over that point, as the waves dashed against itsfurther side. But the boys knew they were safe from harm, and couldstand a wetting with some degree of patience.
George was waiting for them, his anchor down, at a point he consideredthe best they could make for the present. He had managed to pull on hisoilskins, and was looking just like a seasoned old tar as the otherboats drew in.
Jimmie and Nick were ready with the mudhooks, under the directionsof their respective skippers. Hardly had these found a temporaryresting-place at the bottom, than all four lads seized upon theirrainproof suits, and presently they were as well provided against thedownpour as George.
And the rain certainly did descend in a deluge for a short time. Theyhad all they could do to prevent the boats from being half swamped, suchwas the tremendous violence with which the torrent was hurled againstthem by the howling wind.
But after all, it was only a summer squall. In less than half an hourthe sun peeped out, as if smiling over the deluge of tears. The wind hadgone down before, but of course the waves were still rolling veryheavily outside.
"That settles our going on today!" declared George, as he pointed atthe outer terminus of the cape, past which they could see the rollerschasing one another, as if in a great game of tag.
"It's pretty late in the afternoon anyhow," declared Josh, who wassecretly worried for fear lest his rather reckless skipper might wantto put forth again.
"Yes, and we might look a long way ahead without finding a chance todrop into a harbor as good as this," remarked Herb.
"You're all right," laughed Jack; "and we'd be sillies to even dream ofleaving this bully nook now. Besides, if tomorrow is decent, we can makean extra early start in the morning, and get to Mackinac before dark."
"That suits me all right," Nick observed, as he complacently started toremove his oilskins, so that he could pay attention to the bulky corklife preserver, which he did not mean to wear all night.
They found that it was possible to make a point much closer to theshore, and it was decided to do so, especially after sharp-eyed Jimmiehad discovered signs of a farm near by, possibly belonging to a growerof apples, since a vast orchard seemed to cover many acres.
"I hope that big power boat wasn't caught in that stiff blow," Jackremarked, as they were getting ready to go ashore in order to stretchtheir legs a bit and look around.
"Oh! I guess they must have made Mackinac," said George. "She was ahurry-boat, all right, and the wind would not bother her like it did oursmall fry."
"Thank you, George, for that comforting remark. I was really gettingworried myself about the _Mermaid_," observed Nick.
"Listen to Buster, would you, fellows?" cried Josh. "I never thoughthe'd go back on the girls we left behind us, and particularly Rosie!"
But Nick only grinned as they joined in the laugh.
"I'm a privileged character now," he asserted, stoutly. "A sailor issaid to have a best girl in every port, you know, fellows. And every oneof you will agree with me that Sallie Bliss is as pretty as a peach."
"And just your size too, Buster," declared Herb.
"Look out for an engagement with some dime museum company as thefat"--started Josh; when he had to dodge something thrown at him by theobject of this persecution, and the sentence was never completed.
The ground being sandy close to the water, they concluded to start afire, so as to cook supper ashore, since it was so much more "homey" asNick said, for them to be together at mealtimes. But all were of theopinion that it would be advisable to sleep on board.
"Another hot squall might spring up during the night," observed George,"and just fancy our tents going sailing off to sea. Of course I don'thanker about putting in a night in such cramped quarters as my narrowboat affords; but it can't come anywhere near what I went through withwhen Buster was my shipmate, down on the Mississippi."
"And then somebody ought to go after milk and eggs," suggested Herb.
"Here, don't everybody look at me," Nick bridled up. "I guess it's theturn of another bunch this time. Josh and myself have served our countryas haulers of the necessities."
"But every farmer doesn't own a bull, Buster," remarked George.
"Well, I object to bulldogs just as much. Little fellows are all right,likewise pussy cats; but deliver me from the kind that hold on to allthey grab. Nixey. You and Jack try it this time, George."
"That's only fair," spoke up the latter, immediately.
"Well," said George, "if we're going, the sooner we start the better;because you see the old sun is hanging right over the horizon."
"And I'm nearly caved in for want of proper nourishment," grumbled Nick.
No one paid any particular attention to his remark; because thatcondition was a regular part of his lamentations several times a day.The only time Nick seemed to be in a state of absolute contentment wasthe half hour following a gorging bee; and then he beamed satisfaction.
Accordingly the pair started forth, armed with a tin bucket for themilk. George had no great love for biting dogs himself, and as theyapproached the vicinity of the farm buildings he suggested to hiscompanion that they arm themselves with stout ca
nes, with which theymight defend themselves in case of an emergency.
"Looks like a prosperous place, all right," Jack observed as they sawthe buildings and the neat appearance of things in general.
"But seems to me it's awful lonely here," remarked George. "Where canthe people all be? Don't see any children about, or women folks. Plentyof cows and chickens, but sure they can't take care of themselves."
"Well, hardly," laughed Jack. "We'll run across somebody soon. Let'shead for the barn first. Generally at this time you'll find the men busythere, taking care of the horses, and the pigs."
"I hear hogs grunting," remarked George.
"Well, I got the same sound myself; but do you know it struck me morelike a groan!" Jack said, in a voice somewhat awed.
"A groan! Gee; what do you mean, Jack?" exclaimed the other, turningtoward his chum with a white face.
"Just what I said," Jack replied. "And listen, there it is again. Now Iknow it was no swine you heard, George. That sound was from the barn.Come on. I'm afraid somebody's in trouble here!"