CHAPTER 24 _A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE_
Failing easily to retrieve the message in the bottle, Jard Wesslersmashed it against a wall of the ark. Picking up the folded paper, heflashed his light across the writing.
"'The hour of the Great Deluge approaches,'" he read aloud. "'Come to myark and I will provide shelter and comfort.'"
Penny and Louise relaxed. The message was one that Old Noah had written.Unless Wessler opened another bottle he would not suspect that they werethe authors of other messages pleading for help.
"Stand back and allow me to throw my bottles into the stream!" Old Noahcried angrily. "Even though you are a guest aboard my ark, your actionsare not pleasing."
"Go ahead, Grandpa," Wessler said with a shrug. "Heave out your bottlesif it will keep you happy."
As Old Noah began to toss the bottles out of the porthole, Wessler againordered Penny and Louise from the cabin.
"Upstairs!" he said, giving them a shove toward the stairway.
Penny glanced quickly toward shore. The gangplank had been raised, butthe distance was not great.
As if reading her mind, Wessler said: "I wouldn't try to make a leap forit if I were you, little lady. Behave yourself, and you'll be set freebefore morning."
Penny and Louise were forced to go upstairs to the third floor of theark. Although Old Noah's living quarters were more comfortable than thebird room, they provided less privacy. Wessler and his companion remainedon the floor, and not a word could the girls speak without beingoverheard.
Old Noah soon appeared. In a much better mood, he chatted with the twomen. Finding them uncommunicative, he picked up his banjo and began tosing spirituals to its accompaniment. His voice, as cracked as thefingers which strummed the strings, drove Breneham into a near frenzy.
"There's a limit to what a guy can stand," he said meaningly to Wessler.
"It won't be much longer now," the other encouraged, glancing at hiswatch.
"Why can't we pull the job now and get out?"
"Because the car won't be waiting for us. Everything's got to move onschedule."
As the night wore on, a light rain began to fall. Wessler and hiscompanion went frequently to the windows, seemingly well pleased by thechange of weather.
The ordeal of waiting was a cruel one for Louise and Penny. Although theyknew that Old Noah had tossed their messages into the water, they heldscant hope that any of the bottles would be found that night. Whilesearching parties might continue to seek them, it was unlikely that theywould be released in time to prevent the destruction of the SeventhStreet Bridge.
Another hour elapsed. Wessler looked at his watch and spoke to hiscompanion.
"Well, I'm shoving off! When you hear the explosion, lock 'em up in thebird room, and make for the shack. The car will pick you up."
"Good luck, Jard," Breneham responded.
Wessler went out the door, closing it behind him. The girls heard himlower the gangplank into place, and then his footsteps died away.
Penny gazed at Louise in despair. They both knew that Jard Wessler hadgone to dynamite the Seventh Street Bridge. Although they were notcertain of the plan, they believed that he intended to use Sara Ottman'sboat which doubtlessly would be loaded with explosives.
Breneham began to pace the floor nervously. Suddenly he halted by aporthole, listening. The girls too strained to hear.
"Someone's out there in the trees!" Breneham muttered. "This ark is beingwatched! Noah, stick your head out the window and ask who it is! And notricks!"
Old Noah did as ordered.
"Hello, the ark!" shouted a voice which Penny thought belonged to JerryLivingston. "Are you alone there, Noah?"
"Tell him yes," prodded the saboteur. "Say that you are just going tobed."
"But my son, that would be a base falsehood," Noah argued. "I have nointention of retiring--"
Penny, quick to divine that Breneham's attention was diverted, rushed toanother window. In a shrill voice she screamed for help.
Breneham sprang toward Penny, intending to fell her with a blow. Louisebegan to shout. Realizing that he had been betrayed, Breneham jerked openthe door and leaped from the high deck into the stream.
"Get him! Get him!" shouted Penny to the group of men on shore.
Breneham swam a few feet and then waded toward the far side of thestream.
"Oh, he's going to get away!" Louise murmured, watching anxiously from aporthole.
As the saboteur scrambled up the bank, two men rose from their hidingplaces in the tall bushes and grasped him by the arms.
"It's Dad!" cried Penny gleefully. "And your father too, Louise!"
Thrilled by the manner in which their release had been accomplished, thegirls ran out of the cabin. Crossing the gangplank, they saw that therescue party was comprised of Mr. Parker, Mr. Sidell, Jerry Livingston,several men who were strangers, and Sara Ottman.
"I found your message in the bottle!" she greeted the girls excitedly.
"Not really?" demanded Penny.
"I was in the little cove just below here, guarding my boat," explainedSara. "I intended to get back earlier to relieve you girls, but I wasdetained at the police station. Anyway, while I waited at the bend,wondering what to do, a swarm of corked bottles came floatingdownstream."
"Old Noah threw out a box full of them," chuckled Louise. "So you readour message, asking for help, Sara?"
The older girl nodded. "Yes, one of the bottles drifted ashore. Usually Idon't bother to read the message, but this time I did."
"How were you able to bring help here so quickly?" asked Penny.
"Actually I didn't. Although I didn't realize it until a few minutes ago,your parents have been dreadfully worried about you girls. When BillEvans telephoned them, they came here to search."
"I know," nodded Penny. "Dad was here earlier in the evening. Thesaboteurs tricked him into leaving."
"I didn't see him at the time," Sara resumed her explanation. "Penny,your father returned home, but when he learned you were not there, heorganized a searching party. Just as the men reached Bug Run once more, Ifound your message. I gave it to Mr. Parker and--well, you know therest."
"Did you capture Jard Wessler?" Penny demanded tensely. "That's theimportant thing!"
"Wessler? You mean the man who stole my motorboat?"
"Yes, he went away from the ark about five minutes ago. I'm sure heintended to use the hidden boat, Sara! You left it well guarded, I hope."
"There's no one watching it now."
"Then we've got to move fast!" Penny cried, looking anxiously about forher father. "Jard Wessler plans to destroy the Seventh Street Bridge!He's probably close by now, waiting for a chance to make his get-away!"
The three girls ran to meet Mr. Parker who at that moment had crossed thestream with the prisoner. Just then the engine of a motorboat was heardto sputter. Sara stopped short, listening. Unmistakably, the sound camefrom around the bend.
"That's my boat!" Sara cried.
"Jard Wessler is getting away!" Penny added. "We must stop him!"
Leaving others to guard the prisoner, Mr. Parker and Jerry ran toward themouth of Bug Run. Not to be left behind, Penny, Sara, and Louise,followed as fast as they could. By the time they reached the river,Wessler's boat had disappeared. However, the popping of its engine couldbe heard far out on the water.
"We'll never overtake him now," Sara said despairingly. "That boat is afast one."
A slower craft, one the girl had used earlier in the evening to cross theriver, was beached nearby. Even though pursuit seemed useless, the menlaunched it. Overloaded with five passengers, the boat made slow progressagainst the current.
"We haven't a chance to overtake that fellow," Sara repeated again.
"If only we could notify Coast Guards!" Penny murmured hopelessly. "Theirstation is up river. They still might be able to intercept Wessler beforehe reaches the bridge."
"No way to contact them," Mr. Parker responded, his voice grim. "If therewere any houses along shore, we could telephone. As it is, the situationis pretty hopeless."
"Shall we give up the chase?" asked Sara who handled the tiller.
As Mr. Parker hesitated, Penny suddenly grasped his arm. To the starboardshe had glimpsed an approaching yacht. Its contour was so well knownalong the waterfront that she had no doubt as to its identity--the_Eloise III_.
"Dad, we still have a chance!" she cried. "By radio telephone!"
"How d'you mean?" he demanded.
"The _Eloise_ has a radio telephone!" Penny explained. Excitedly, shebegan to signal with Sara's flashlight. "Dad, if only they see us intime, we still may save the bridge!"