CHAPTER III
AT THE INLET
"SLOW down," said Detective Calvert as the launch drew near the southernend of Barter Island. Captain Alvin did as requested and all eyes werefixed upon the inlet.
"If that boat should happen to come out while we are in sight," addedCalvert, "pass up the river, as if you had no interest in it."
"But if it should happen to be there?" said Alvin, repeating the questionhe had asked before.
"We can't know until we have turned in, and then it would not do towithdraw, for that would be the most suspicious course of all. You haveas much right to go thither as anyone. Act as if you were merely lookingin out of curiosity; make a circuit of the islet and then come back andgo on up the Sheepscot toward Wiscasset."
It was at this moment that Mike Murphy asked a question whose point theothers were quick to perceive.
"If the spalpeens are there, will ye let 'em have a sight of yersilf?"
"No; I shall drop down and hide, for if they noted that you had me for apassenger they might smell a rat, but would think nothing of seeing youthree, for they know you travel together."
As the launch drew near the opening, Alvin slackened her speed still moreuntil she was not going faster than five or six miles an hour. There wasan abundance of sea room and he curved into the passage with his usualskill. The four peered intently forward and had to wait only a minute ortwo when the boat had progressed far enough to give them a full view ofthe crescent-like cove, which extended backward for several hundred yardsand had an expansion of perhaps four hundred feet. In the very middle wasthe islet, in the form of an irregular oval, containing altogether barelyan acre. As has been said, it was made up of clay and sand with not atree or shrub growing, and only a few scattered leaves of grass, butthere was no sign of life on or about it.
Alvin sheered the boat close to the shore, and continued slowly moving. Aglance downward into the crystal current showed that the depth was fullytwenty feet, so that it was safe for the largest craft to moor againstthe bank.
"Here's where the _Water Witch_ lay," said Alvin. "Do you wish to land,Mr. Calvert?"
He was standing up and scrutinizing the little plot as they glided alongthe shore, but discovered nothing of interest.
"No; there's no call to stop; we may as well go back."
"Do ye obsarve that six-masted schooner wid its nose poked under thebushes in the hope of escaping notice?"
As Mike Murphy asked the question he pointed to the southern shore of theinlet, where all saw the little rowboat in which Detective Calvert hadvisited the spot and which had been used later for a similar purpose byAlvin and Chester. It was drawn up so far under the overhanging limbsthat only the stern was in sight. It seemed to be exactly where it hadbeen placed by the boys after they were through with it.
It was on the tip of Alvin's tongue to refer to the incident and to asksomething in the way of explanation from their companion. Instead ofdoing so, the latter surprised both by saying:
"That must belong to somebody who lives in the neighborhood."
The remark sounded strange to our young friends and both remained silentwaiting for him to say more, but he did not. He sat down again, facingthe Sheepscot, and lighted one of his big black cigars. He crossed hislegs like a man of leisure who was not concerned by what had occurred orwas likely to occur.
The incident impressed Alvin and Chester unfavorably. Mike, not havingbeen with them at the time, knew nothing of it. To each of the formeryouths came the disquieting questions:
"Does he believe we did not know him that night? Does he think neither ofus suspected what he did? _Is he what he pretends to be?_"
These queries opened a field of speculation that was endless, and thefarther they plunged into it the more mystified they became. Alvin wouldnever stoop to ask favors of this man. He was trying to aid him incarrying out a good purpose, and he must "be on the level," or theCaptain would have nothing to do with him or his plans.
"The first proof I get that he is playing double," muttered Alvin, "I'llorder him off the boat and never let him set foot on it again, and, if hebelongs to that gang of post office robbers, I'll do everything I can tohave him punished."
One of the most discomforting frames of mind into which any person canfall is to see things which make him distrust the loyalty of one uponwhom he has depended. It might be Alvin Landon was mistaken and StockhamCalvert was in reality a Pinkerton detective whose sole aim was to bringthese criminals to justice; but, as I have shown, the full truth wasstill to be learned.
And Chester Haynes' feelings were the same as those of his chum. Heglanced at the man who was puffing his perfecto, and wondered who hereally was and what was to be the end of this curious adventure uponwhich he and Alvin had entered.
It was a brief run out to the Sheepscot, and the _Deerfoot_ headed up theriver again toward Wiscasset. A steam launch was seen off to the left anda catboat skimmed in the same direction with our friends. Both were wellover toward Westport, the left-hand bank, and slight attention was giventhem.
The _Deerfoot_ had not reached the upper end of Barter Island when Alvinfrom his place as steerer called out:
"That looks like the boat we are hunting for."
Running closer in to the right shore than the _Deerfoot_, a second boatwas visible whose similarity of appearance caused astonishment. The bowsof the two being pointed toward each other, the view was incomplete atfirst, but since the speed of each was all of ten miles an hour, theyrapidly came opposite. Alvin sheered to the left, so as to make aninterval of a hundred yards between them. Chester had caught up thebinoculars and kept watch upon the launch, his companions doing what theycould without the aid of any instrument.
"It's the _Water Witch_!" said Chester excitedly.
A minute before he did so, Detective Calvert quietly slipped from hisseat to the floor, removed his hat and cautiously peered over thetaffrail. But he did not cease smoking his huge cigar, and it struckAlvin when he looked around that his head was high enough to be in plainsight of anyone watching from the other craft.
Mike Murphy caught the stir of the moment.
"How many passengers do ye obsarve on the same frigate? It seems to methere be only two."
"That is all that are visible," replied Chester, holding the glass stillleveled.
"Thin they must be them two that we had the shindy wid the ither night!"
"Undoubtedly; in fact I recognize the one you pointed out at Boothbay."
"And the ither must be the ither one."
"There is every reason to believe so."
"Thin----I say, Captain," said the agitated Mike, turning to Alvin,"would ye be kind enough to run up alongside that ship?"
"Why do you wish me to do that?"
"I wish--that is--I wud like to shake hands wid that gintleman and askhim how his folks was whin he last heerd from them. Just a wee bit offriendly converse betwaan two gintlemen--that's all. Come now, Cap, beobliging," continued Mike, in a wheedling tone which did not deceive hissuperior officer.
"I faal a sort of liking for the young gintleman and should be muchpleased if ye would give me a chance to have a few frindly words widhim--I say, Cap, ye're losing vallyble time, fur we're passing each itherfast."
"No, Mike--not to-day; I have no objection to your having a little'conversation' with Mr. Noxon or his companion, but this isn't the rightway to go about it."
"I hope ye didn't suspict that I had any intintion of saying harshwurruds to them, Cap!" protested the Irish youth, in grieved tones.
"Not words particularly, but there would be enough rough acts to makethings lively. Chester, let me have the glasses, while you take the wheelfor a few minutes."
They hastily exchanged places, and steadying his position, Alvin pointedthe instrument at the receding launch. Detective Calvert still knelt onthe floor and peeped over the side of the boat. He did not ask for thebinoculars nor did the owner offer them to him.
Suddenly Alvin slipped down beside his
friend in front and passed him theinstrument, as he resumed the wheel. While doing so, he whispered in avoice so low that no one else could hear what he said:
"Look just behind the fellow who is steering. He's Noxon, I'm sure! Studyclosely and let me know whether you see anything suspicious."
Wondering to what he referred, Chester complied. While doing his best tolearn what his friend meant the latter whispered again:
"If you see anything, be careful to let no one besides me know what itis."
Chester nodded, with the glasses to his eyes. The opportunity forscrutiny was rapidly diminishing. Chester held the binoculars level but aminute when he lowered them again. The commonest courtesy compelled himto offer them to the detective.
"Maybe you can discover something," remarked the youth as he passed themover. The posture of the man gave him the best chance he could ask, andhe carefully studied the receding boat until it was so far off that itwas useless to continue.
"Did you notice anything special?" asked Chester.
"I saw nothing but those two young men, with whom as I learn from theCaptain he had an affray some nights ago."
Chester leaned over and whispered to Alvin:
"I saw it plainly."
"What?"
"A man crouching down among the seats as Calvert did and peering overlike him."