CHAPTER XVI
THE BURGLARS
Wink Wheeler reached the little channel first and gingerly climbed outon a brown ledge that flanked it on one side. Others joined him there tolie panting in the sunlight. Only Joe and Phil kept on and werepresently swimming within a short distance of each other well outside.They were both strong rather than fast swimmers, and, although Hanfrowned slightly as he watched them bob in and out of sight in the long,smooth swells, the others soon turned their attention to Wink'ssuggestion that they dive from the rock and race around the anchoredboats and back again. Wink offered the others a ten-yard start. All save"Brownie" accepted the challenge--"Brownie" was built for comfort ratherthan speed--and in a moment they were lined up rather unsteadily on theedge of the boulder awaiting the word. Then three bodies launchedthemselves through the air and the race was on. When the others hadtaken the first half-dozen strokes after reappearing Wink plunged afterthem. "Brownie" watched until the foremost swimmer disappeared beyondthe boats and then turned his gaze seaward. For a moment he could notfind the two venturesome ones, but presently he spied them. They hadturned and were coming back straight for the mouth of the littleharbour, Phil leading and Joe a dozen yards behind. It looked like arace from the way in which both boys were keeping under and "Brownie"found it more exciting than the other contest. And then, while hewatched, something happened, and he sprang to his feet and gazed seawardwith wildly beating heart.
Joe had stopped swimming and was on his back with one brown arm heldaloft. If he made any outcry "Brownie" failed to hear it, but apparentlyhe had, for Phil was turning now and hurrying back with short, quickstrokes. But before he had covered half the distance separating him fromthe other, the watcher on shore uttered an involuntary cry of alarm. Joewas no longer in sight!
"Brownie" looked despairingly toward the boys in the pool, but thenearest was still a long way from the channel. Confused thoughts of theboats were cast aside and "Brownie" threw himself from the rock, hittingthe water like a barrel, and turned into the channel. As he felt thetug of the tide he experienced a revulsion of fright, for he had nostomach for the task ahead of him. "Brownie's" swimming was usually donein safer water than that he was making for. But he tried his best toforget the depths below him and the long swim ahead, to remember onlythat Joe was in trouble out there and that Phil, probably by nowsomewhat exhausted, would never be able to bring him to shoreunassisted.
The long swells hid the others from him. Once, though, poised for amoment on the round summit of a bank of water, he glimpsed ere hedescended into the green valley beyond, a darker spot ahead and so foundhis direction. He knew better than to tire himself out by desperatestrokes. His only hope of getting there and getting back was to conservehis strength. All sorts of thoughts came and went in a strange jumble.Sometimes it seemed that he was making no progress, that the slow waveswere bearing him remorselessly back to the cove, or, at least justdefeating the strokes of his arms and legs. Breathing became labouredand once a veritable panic seized him and it was all he could do to keepfrom turning and swimming wildly back toward shore. Instead, though,fighting his fears, he turned on his back for a moment with his roundface to the blue breeze-swept sky, and took long, grateful breaths ofthe sun-sweet air. Above him a grey gull swept in a wide circle,uttering harsh, discordant cries. Then, his panic gone, "Brownie" turnedover again and struggled on with renewed strength and courage. Andsuddenly, the long swells were behind him and there, but a few yardsaway, was Phil, Phil very white of face but as calm as ever.
He was swimming slowly on his side, one arm cleaving the water and theother supporting the nearly inert body of Joe. "Here comes 'Brownie,'"the rescuer heard him say cheerfully. "All right now, Joe. We'll get youin in a jiffy! Roll over, 'Brownie,' and get your breath," he added."We're all right for a minute. That's the trick."
"I'm--a bit--tuckered," gasped "Brownie," as he lay and puffed withoutstretched arms.
"Don't blame you," said Phil. "How are you now, Joe?"
"Punk," muttered the other. "Don't you fellows bother too much. Ifyou'll just stay by for a minute or two--I'll be--um--all right, Iguess."
"No need to do that," replied Phil quietly. "'Brownie' and I will takeyou between us. Put a hand on my shoulder. Easy, son! That's it. Now theother on 'Brownie's.' Right you are. Just let yourself float. Ready,'Brownie?' Don't hurry. Easy does it. We've got an eighth of a mile orso and there's no use getting tired at the start. I guess the tide willhelp us, though."
There were no more words until the shore was nearly reached. By thattime "Brownie" was frankly all-in and Phil was in scarcely bettercondition. Joe had so far recovered then, however, as to be able to aidweakly with his legs, and before they reached the channel half a dozeneager helpers splashed to their assistance. Anxious questions wereshowered on them, but only Joe had the breath to answer them.
"I had a cramp," he explained apologetically. "It hit me all of a suddenout there. It was fierce!"
"Legs?" asked Steve.
"No--yes--about everywhere below my shoulders. It seemed to start in mytummy. I got sort of sick all over. Thought--um--thought I was a goneruntil--"
"All right! Shut up now. Someone give Phil a hand. He's about ready toquit. 'Brownie,' too." Steve and Wink had taken the places of therescuers and Joe was finishing his journey at top speed. It was no easytask getting him aboard, but they finally accomplished it and hurriedhim below. "Brownie," too, had to be pushed and pulled over the side,and while Phil got aboard almost unaided he slumped onto a seat and, touse Perry's expression, "passed out." Hot coffee and many blankets andat least three different remedies from the medicine chest presently leftJoe out of pain, while in the case of Phil and "Brownie" the hot coffeeand rest were alone sufficient.
Breakfast was rather late that morning, and Joe's place was vacant, forthat youth was enjoying a sleep in the after cabin. "Brownie" and Phil,however, recovered wonderfully at the sight of bacon and eggs and didfull justice to the repast. Steve laid down the law during breakfast asfollows:
"After this there'll be no more swimming away from the boats, fellows.We came on this trip for fun and not funerals. You took a big chance,Phil, when you went that far out. This water's about ten degrees colderthan what you and Joe are used to. It's a wonder you didn't both havecramps and drown."
"I guess it was rather foolish," agreed Phil. "The water was a lotcolder out there than inside, too. Still it didn't bother me any." Helowered his voice, with a glance toward the companion way and the othercabin. "I thought old Joe was a goner, though, fellows. I was aboutforty feet away, I suppose, when I heard him yell, and before I couldget back he'd gone down. I was afraid he meant to keep on going, but hethrashed his way up again and I managed to grab him. The trouble wasthen that he wanted to drown both of us and I had a hard time making himsee reason."
"Someone ought to recommend you for the Carnegie Medal, Phil," said Han,with a laugh that didn't disguise his earnestness.
Phil shook his head. "I wasn't the hero of the adventure," he repliedquietly. "I'm fairly at home in the water and I've done four mileswithout tiring much. It's 'Brownie' who deserves the medal, fellows. Hesaw Joe go down and jumped right in and beat it out there; and you allknow that 'Brownie' isn't any swimmer. I think he was just about scaredto death!"
"I'll bet he was," agreed Steve. "He's never been known to go ten yardsfrom shore or boat. Yes, I guess 'Brownie' is the real hero, as you say,Phil."
"He certainly is, because I'll tell you frankly that I never could havegot Joe in alone. I was just about used up by the time we'd tried todrown each other out there."
"We didn't know anything about it," explained Ossie, filling Phil's cupagain unasked, "until someone happened to look from the _Follow Me_ andsaw you three out there. It was Tom Corwin, I think. I heard himyelling--I was getting my clothes on down here--and I ran up on deck andthen grabbed the megaphone and shouted to Steve and Wink and the otherswho were over on the rock near the inlet. By the time they got itthrough thei
r thick heads--"
"Thick heads be blowed!" exclaimed Steve disgustedly. "You were justyelling a lot of words that didn't mean anything. If you hadn't kept onpointing we'd never have known what was up. We all thought you had afit."
All's well that ends well, however, and an hour after breakfast theincident was, if not forgotten, dismissed. Joe reappeared, lookingrather pale still, but announcing himself quite all right. "I was niceand sick at my tummy," he explained, "and now I feel fine."
"Being sick at your tummy," remarked Perry unkindly, "is quite the bestthing you do, Joe. If you can't be sea-sick you go and try to drownyourself!"
Of course "Brownie" was allowed to surmise that he had done somethingrather big, and Joe thanked him very nicely, but Mr. Carnegie is stillin ignorance of his exploit!
The two boats floated out of the pool about ten and set off for BarHarbor. The barely averted tragedy somewhat modified their regret atleaving Titania's Mirror and Mystery Island. Later, Steve and Joe triedto locate that island on the charts but without certain success. Therewere so many islands thereabouts that neither dared to more than guessat the identity of the one they had visited. Looking back at it from adistance of a half-mile they saw that it was in reality much smallerthan they had supposed, being scarcely more than a huge rock pushed upfrom the ocean bed. Ossie, who had a leaning toward geology, furnishedthe theory that Mystery Island was no more nor less than the top of anextinct volcano and that Titania's Mirror was the crater.
"It probably sank, like lots of them did," he elaborated, "and the seawore away part of it and flowed into the crater. I'm pretty sure thatthat rock we climbed out on this morning when we were swimming wasvolcanic."
"Sure," agreed Perry. "It was pumice stone. I meant to bring a bit of italong for you to clean your hands with."
"I didn't say pumice," replied Ossie haughtily. "It was more probablyobsidian."
"My idea exactly! In fact, it had a very obstinate feeling. It--it leftquite an impression on me!"
The _Follow Me_ developed engine trouble that morning and they lay byfor a half-hour or more while Tom Corwin toiled and perspired, arguedand threatened. It was well after two o'clock when they ran up theeastern shore of Mount Desert Island and finally dropped anchor inFrenchman's Bay. They ate only a luncheon on board and then clothedthemselves in their gladdest raiment and went ashore. They "did" thetown that afternoon, mingling, as Wink said, with the "haut noblesse,"and had dinner ashore at an expense that left a gaping hole in eachpurse. But they were both hungry and glad to taste shore food again, andno one begrudged the cost.
It was when they were on their way back to the landing that the glow ofcoloured lanterns behind a trim hedge drew their attention to the factthat someone was conducting a lawn party. The imposing entrance, throughwhich carriages were coming and going, met their sight a moment laterand inspired Perry with a brilliant idea.
"Say, fellows, let's go," he said, as they paused in a body to allow ahandsome landau to enter. "I've never been to one of these lawn f?tes,or whatever they call them in the society papers, and here's thechance."
"Anybody invited you?" drawled Joe.
"No, but maybe they meant to. You can't tell. Maybe if they knew we werehere--"
"Might send word in to them," suggested Wink Wheeler. "Say that thecrews of the _Adventurer_ and the _Follow Me_ are without and--"
"Yes, without invitations," agreed Perry. "I get you, but that mightcause our hostess embarrassment, eh? Why not just save her all that bydropping in sociably?"
"Are you crazy?" demanded Steve.
"Crazy to go and see all the pretty lanterns and things, yes. And maybethey'll have a feed, fellows! Come on! Take a chance! They can't anymore than put us out! Besides, they probably won't know whether theyinvited us or not. It's just a lark. Be sports, fellows!"
The notion appealed to most of them, but Steve and Phil and Bert Alleydeclined to countenance it. "What will happen to you," said Stevegrimly, "is that you'll all spend the rest of the night in the town jailfor impersonating gentlemen!"
"Oh, if that's all you're afraid of," responded Perry sweetly, "youmight as well come, too, Steve. They'd never charge _you_ with that."
"Sub-tile, sub-tile," murmured Cas Temple.
"Anyhow, our clothes are perfectly O.K.," continued Perry. "Whitetrousers and dark coats are quite _de rigor_. Come on, fellows."
They went on, all save the disapproving trio, Perry and Wink Wheelerleading the way up the winding avenue toward the glow of fairy lightsahead. No one challenged them, although they were observed withcuriosity by several servants before they came out on a wide lawn infront of a spacious residence. Fully a hundred guests were alreadyassembled. A platform overhung by twinkling and vari-coloured electriclamps had been laid for dancing and, as the uninvited guests paused tosurvey the scene, an orchestra, hidden by shrubbery and palms in tubs,started to play. Chairs dotted the lawn and a big marquee was nearby. Ona low terrace in front of the hospitable doorway of the residence thehostess was receiving as the carriages rolled around the immaculatedrive and stopped to discharge the guests. The boys viewed each otherquestioningly. Perry pulled down his waistcoat and walked boldly acrossthe lawn and the drive and stepped to the terrace. Wink followedunhesitatingly, but the others hung back for a moment. Then they, too,approached, their assurance oozing fast. They reached the terrace intime to witness Perry's welcome.
"Good evening," said that youth in bored and careless tones, shakinghands with the middle-aged lady. "Awfully jolly night, isn't it!"
"How do you do, Mister--ah--so glad you could come. Yes, isn't itsplendid to have such perfect weather? Marcia, you rememberMister--ah--"
Perry was passed on to a younger lady, evidently the daughter of thehouse.
"Howdy do?" murmured the latter, shaking hands listlessly.
"How do!" returned Perry brightly. "Bully night, eh!"
"Yes, isn't it?" drawled the young lady. Then Perry gave place to Wink.
"Good evening," said Wink, grinning blandly.
"Howdy do? So nice of you to come," murmured the lady. Wink joinedPerry and they crossed to the other side of the terrace and maliciouslywatched the embarrassment of the other boys. Joe and Harry Corwincarried things off rather well, but the others were fairly speechless.Perry chuckled as he saw the growing bewilderment on the face of thehostess. But finally the ordeal was over and Perry led the way back tothe festivities. Ossie groaned when they were safely out of ear-shot.
"She's on to us," he muttered. "I could see it in her eye! I'm offbefore they throw me out!"
"Don't be a jay," begged Perry. "The evening's young and the fun's juststarting. Mrs. Thingamabob doesn't know whether she asked us or not. I'mgoing to see what's in the big tent over there. Come on, fellows."
They went, dodging their way between chattering groups and impedingchairs, but when Perry peered through the doorway of the marquee he wasmet with a chilly look from a waiter on guard there. "Supper is at teno'clock, sir," said the servant haughtily.
"That's all right," replied Perry kindly. "Don't hurry on my account,old top!"
What to do for the succeeding hour was the question, for, while allsave Perry and Ossie danced more or less skilfully, they knew no one todance with. "If you ask me," remarked Cas Temple, yawning, "I call thisdull. I'd rather be in my bunk, fellows."
"Well, let's find something to do," said Joe. "Maybe they've got aroller-coaster or a merry-go-round somewhere. Let's--um--explore."
By this time the dancing had begun in earnest and the platform was wellfilled with whirling couples. The boys paused to look on and, since thethrong was growing larger every minute, were forced to change theirposition more than once with the result that presently Perry, Wink andOssie found themselves separated from their companions. They lookedabout them unavailingly and waited for several minutes, and then, as theothers did not appear, went on.
"We'll run across them," said Perry cheerfully. "Let's stroll around andsee who's here."
; "Awfully mixed crowd," said Wink. "Really, you know, Mrs. Jones-Smytheshould be more particular. Why, some of the folks don't look as thoughthey had ever been invited!"
"I know," agreed Perry, with a sigh. "Society's going to the dogs thesedays. One meets all sorts of people. It's perfectly deplorable."
"Beastly," agreed Ossie, stumbling over a chair. "Bar Harbor's gettingvery common, I fear."
"Hello, that's pretty!" exclaimed Perry. They had emerged onto a walledspace that looked straight out over the water. Hundreds of lights dottedthe purple darkness and the air held the mingled fragrance of sea androses. "This isn't so punk, you know," continued Perry, leaning over thewall. "Maybe this would suit me as well as an island."
"You're on an island," Ossie reminded him.
"I meant a real island," murmured Perry. Ossie was about to argue thematter when footsteps approached and they moved off again. A flight ofsteps led to a stone-floored verandah and they went up it and perchedthemselves on the parapet, to the probable detriment of the ivy growingacross it, and watched the colourful scene. They were quite alone there,for the porch was detached from the terrace that crossed the front ofthe house. Two French windows were opened and beyond them lay adimly-lighted library. Perry, hugging one foot in his hands, looked inapprovingly.
"Whoever owns this shanty knows what's what," he said. "Just have asquint at all those books, will you? Millions of them! Wonder if anyonehas ever read them."
"Well, I'm glad I don't have to," said Wink feelingly. "But that's acorking room, though. These folks must have slathers of money, fellows."
"Oh, fairly well fixed, I dare say," responded Perry carelessly. "Say,what time is it! Feed begins at ten, and with all that mob down thereit's the early bird that's going to catch the macaroons. Wonder ifthey'll have lobster salad."
"Nothing but sandwiches and ices, I guess," said Ossie. "I wouldn'tobject to a steak and onions, myself. Funny how hungry you get up inthis part of the world."
"You sure do," agreed Wink. "Let's move along. If the Corwin family getsin there ahead of us we might just as well pull in our belts and beatit."
"Let's go in through here," said Perry. "It's nearer, I guess." Hestarted toward the first window.
"Oh, we'd better not," Ossie objected. "They might not like it."
"Piffle! They'll be tickled to death. They like folks to see theirpretties." He stepped through the window and, dubiously, his companionsfollowed. The library was a huge apartment, occupying, as it seemed tothem, more than half the length of the house, with several long windowsopening onto the terrace at the front. The furnishings were sombrelyelegant and the dim lights caught the dull polished surface of mahoganyand glinted on the gold-lettered backs of the shelf on shelf of booksthat hid the walls. Deep-toned rugs rendered footsteps soundless as theymade their way toward the wide doorway at the far end of the room. Theyhad traversed barely a third of the distance when a sudden sound broughtthem up short.
One of the windows that opened onto the terrace further along swunginward and a middle-aged man in evening attire stepped into the room.Perry, in spite of his former assurance, drew back into the shadow of ahigh-backed chair, stepping on Wink's foot and bringing a groan fromthat youth. The newcomer, however, evidently failed to hear Wink'sprotest, for, closing the window behind him in a stealthy manner, hecrossed the further end of the library and paused beside a huge stonefireplace. Wink and Ossie had dropped to the protecting darkness of abig table, but Perry still peered, crouching, from behind the chair. Inthe dim light of an electric lamp the intruder's face had shown for aninstant, and in that instant Perry had sensed it all! The stealthymanner of the man's entrance from the terrace instead of by the door,the plainly furtive way in which he crossed the room and the anxiousexpression of his face, a face which Perry saw at once to be criminal,was enough! The watcher was not in the least surprised when the man,hurriedly and still stealthily, drew out a square of mahogany panelingat the left of the fireplace and revealed the front of a small safe.Perry's heart began to thump agitatedly at the thought of witnessing arobbery. The man's fingers worked deftly at the knob. Perry could hearin the silence the click of the tumblers as they slid into place. Thenthe door was pulled open.
Between Perry and the robber lay a full thirty feet of floor, and a bigtable impeded his progress, but it took the boy less than a second tocover the distance, to seize the robber from behind, pinioning his arms,and to bear him heavily back to the floor.