CHAPTER VIII
A PASSING GLIMPSE
Mike Murphy, even in the flurry of the moment, could not forget hisinnate courtesy. He handed back the old hat to the puzzled clerk andbowed.
"I thank ye very much for yer kindness, and now, lads, come wid me."
He hurried out of the door, the two following closely.
"What do you mean to do?" asked Alvin.
"Folly the chap and finish the shindy I started wid him," replied theIrish lad, staring in the direction taken by the couple. "Ye can luk onand kaap back the man, so that I'll git fair play wid the ither."
"You are not on the Southport road, Mike," warned Alvin, "and you willbe arrested before you can land a blow and probably locked up."
"It'll be worth it," replied the other, scenting the battle like a warhorse. "Bad luck to it! where is the spalpeen?"
The three were looking keenly up the street, but, brief as was theinterval, the couple had vanished.
There are a number of lesser streets which lead inland at right anglesto the main avenue of Boothbay Harbor, and almost as many that are merealleys on the other side, through which one may pass to the differentwharves. It will be seen, therefore, that there was nothing strange inthe disappearance of the strangers in whom our friends were so muchinterested.
"They can't have gone fur," exclaimed the impatient Mike, hesitating forthe moment as to what was best to do, and feeling the value of everypassing minute and fearing lest the opportunity be lost.
"They must have come in a boat," suggested Chester, "and have turneddown one of the by-streets to the water. But what is the purpose ofchasing them?"
"So we may catch 'em," was the reply of Mike, who feeling there was apossibility that they might have turned the other way, addressedChester:
"Cross to the ither side of the main street and hurry by the corners,looking up aich as ye do so; if they've turned that way, they're stillin sight."
There was sense in the plan. Chester ran across the avenue and walkedrapidly, glancing up each opening as he came to it. He meant merely tokeep the couple in sight until he could learn something more of them. Atthe same time he was wise enough to avoid drawing attention to himself.He passed well beyond the hotel without catching sight of the man andboy and finally stopped, convinced that it was useless to go farther.
Alvin Landon was of the same mind with him. As matters stood, nothingwas to be gained by accusing the youth of assault and attempted robbery,for no proof could be brought forward. Moreover, his companion at thattime was absent, the man now with him having been seen for the firsttime by Alvin and Mike a few minutes before.
"It will be well to learn something of the two," the Captain thought tohimself, "but it will be a mistake to make them suspect us, as they aresure to do if they find we are dogging them. As for Mike pitching in andstarting another fight, it will be the height of folly. I won't allowit."
The two were walking side by side and going so fast that several personslooked curiously at them.
"Take it easy," advised Alvin.
"The same is what I'll do whin I comes up wid the spalpeen, that stoleme hat where I'd flung it in the road."
"Keep cool and if you get sight of them, don't go nearer, but watch----"
"There they be now!" exclaimed Mike at the first glance down one of thealleys on their left, and, before Alvin could check him, he dashed offat his best speed. His progress might have been satisfactory, but whenhalf way down the hill some one pushed the front of a wheelbarrowthrough a door and across the way. Its appearance was so unexpected andclose that Mike could not check himself nor had he time in which togather for the leap that would clear it. He struck the obstacle fairlyand went over, landing on his hands and knees, while the barrow in turntoppled upon him. The urchin who had caused the mischief turned and fledin a panic, before the indignant Mike could chastise him.
Alvin rested his hand against the nearest building and laughed until hecould hardly save himself from falling. Resuming his uncertain walk hecalled:
"Are you hurt, Mike?"
"Oh, no," replied the lad, rubbing his shins and screwing up his facewith the smart of the bumps he had received; "as me second cousin saidwhin he fell from the steeple, I've only broke both legs, one arm andbent me head out of shape--nothin' worth the mintion. I come nighforgettin' my arrant."
And unmindful of the hurts, which were trifling, he dashed down theslope, arriving a minute later at the wharf, where a dozen men andseveral boys were loading or unloading craft, or boarding or comingashore from some boat. Although Mike would not admit it, he had fixedhis suspicion upon a man who when he turned his face proved to be fullyfifty years old, while his companion was a lusty colored youth. Heglanced here and there and at all the craft in sight. Possibly his eyesrested upon the right one, but he saw neither of the persons whom hesought, and faced about as Alvin joined him.
"They have give us the slip--bad cess to 'em, for I make nothing of thespalpeens among them in sight."
The two scanned all the craft that suggested ownership by the strangers,but it was in vain. Then they made their way along the wharves to wherethey had left the _Deerfoot_. Chester was awaiting them and shook hishead as they approached. Alvin paid the man who had looked after theboat in his absence, and after casting off and starting the motor, thethree headed for Christmas Cove, where the Captain said they would havedinner, though they would arrive before the regular hour for that meal.Progress was so easy that conversation kept up with the Captain whilehe held the steering wheel.
"I suspect from what we saw awhile ago that the fellows whom Mike and Imet last night belong to a gang. One of them is a man and there may beothers."
"It is lucky the younger did not recognize either of you," said Chester."Do you think he would do so if you met face to face?"
"There is no reason why he should not, for Mike identified him with onlya passing glance. You must remember that the sky was clear and the moonbright."
"It's mesilf that belaves we imprissed ourselves upon their memory,"said Mike so gravely that the others knew he meant the words as a jest.Alvin was silent for a moment and then turned his head, for the wheelrequired little attention.
"Mike, you acknowledge me as Captain and that my mate must obey orders?"
The remark was a question. The youth rose promptly to his feet andtouched his forefinger to the front of his cap.
"I await yer orders, Captain."
"If we meet that fellow whose name we believe to be 'Noxon' you must notshow that you have any suspicion of his identity, nor must you make anymove against him without first consulting me."
Mike looked at the second mate.
"Isn't that enough to timpt one to mootiny? I obsarve that Mr. Noxon'sright eye was of a bootiful black and blue color and the ither should bepainted to match the same. It was him that was the thaif who stole mehat."
"Didn't you take _his_ cap?"
"It was a fair prize of war--there's a moighty difference, as the lawyersaid whin he larned it was the ither man's ox that was gored. But as Iflung my tile away and he come back to git his own, I sha'n't lay it upagin him."
As the _Deerfoot_ sped northeast again, the sharp cutwater splitting thewavelets to the tune of the big motor's humming, and following the mainline of the Maine coast, the boys saw the small, low-lying Ram Islandand its light on their right, with Linekin Neck on the left, and InnerHeron Island showing in front. Gliding between this and the ledgesknown as the Thread of Life, they speedily rounded to at the wharf atChristmas Cove. As elsewhere, there were yachts, sailboats and variouskinds of craft at anchor or secured to the floats. To one of the latterthe three friends made the launch fast and passed over the pier and bythe hall where entertainments and religious services are held. The waterso far north as Maine is as a rule too cold for popular bathing. AtChristmas Cove this difficulty is overcome by a goodly sized pool intowhich the salt water is admitted at high tide, when the gates are closedand it is held until the time comes for changi
ng it.
The opportunity was too good to be lost, and the youngsters each renteda suit and a bath house, from which they emerged and plunged delightedlyinto the pool. It will be remembered that Mike Murphy could not swim astroke, but the pond is prepared for such persons, and all he had to dowas to keep away from the corner near the gates, which is the only placewhere the water is beyond one's depth. Alvin and Chester were fineswimmers and dived and frolicked until they were sated. They tried toteach the rudiments of swimming to their comrade, but he made noprogress and they had to give over the attempt for the time.
It was but a short climb to the Hollywood Inn, where the genial LandlordThorpe gave them welcome and they wrote their names in the ledger. Thenthey walked out on the rear porch to admire the romantic scenery, whileawaiting the dinner hour. On one side was the placid Cove, making upfrom the Damariscotta River and dotted with pleasure craft; on theother, John's Bay and the broad Atlantic. Pointing toward the historicalPemaquid Point, on the opposite side of the Bay, Alvin said to hiscompanions:
"All looks calm and peaceful now, but how different it was on thatSeptember day in 1813!"
They turned inquiringly toward him.
"Right off yonder the American brig _Enterprise_ of fourteen guns,commanded by Captain Burrows, fought the British _Boxer_, also offourteen guns. It was a desperate battle in which both captains werekilled and the British vessel captured. The prize was taken intoPortland harbor, and the two commanders lie buried side by side in thecity."