CHAPTER X--OVERHAULING THE MYSTERY
"And now," demanded Lawyer Crane, in his calm, heavy voice, "may I askwhat all this chaos and confusion is about?"
"In just a minute or two, sir, I'll be hugely delighted to have youlisten," Halstead answered. "But I want to get out of this cove andclear of coast shoals and ledges first."
Joe had already begun to make the engine "kick" somewhat, and the boatwas moving fast, leaving behind her a graceful swirl of water. Jed,after coiling the stern-line, had come forward, and, though he asked noquestions, that youth was whistling a ditty of fast movement, the surestsign of all that he shared in the unknown excitement.
"There she is!" cried Halstead, suddenly, taking his right hand from thewheel to point out over the water.
"She?" repeated Mr. Crane. "Who?"
"That boat! Don't you see the steam launch with the yellow hull?"
The launch was some two or more miles away, heading over the waters in adirection that would carry her past the northern end of Martha'sVineyard. Mr. Crane adjusted his glasses, staring hard. At last he madeout the low-lying hull.
"I see some sort of a craft out there," he replied slowly. "But I mustcongratulate you on having very good eyes, Captain Halstead, if you canmake out the fact that she is painted yellow. However, what have we todo with that boat?"
"We're going after her," responded Tom, briefly. He was wondering justhow to begin the wonderful story of his late adventure.
"Going after her?" repeated Mr. Crane, in slow astonishment. "Why, I wasunder the impression that your present task related to carrying me overto Mr. Dunstan's home."
"That comes next," replied Tom. "Mr. Crane, hardly twenty minutes ago Iwas aboard yonder boat, and was talking with Master Ted Dunstan."
The lawyer gasped, then rejoined, slowly:
"That's a most remarkable statement, to say the least."
But Joe Dawson and Jed Prentiss, who knew Halstead better, were staringat him with eyes wide open and mouths almost agape.
"I saw Ted Dunstan," repeated Tom, firmly. "Moreover, he gave me thejolt of my life."
"Did he incidentally throw you overboard?" asked the lawyer, eyeingTom's wet garments. The sun and wind had dried the first great surplusof water out of them, but they were still undeniably more than damp.
"That was all part of the experience," Halstead answered, annoyed by theimpression that the lawyer thought him trying to spin a mere sailor'syarn. "Do you care to hear what happened, sir?"
"Why, yes, assuredly, captain."
Tom reeled the story off rapidly. The lawyer gasped once or twice, butcertainly the young skipper's wet clothing gave much of an appearance oftruth to the "yarn."
"And now, sir, what do you think of Master Ted's claim that he washaving the time of his life, and was hiding by his father's orders?" Tomwound up, inquiringly.
"Really, I shall have to think it all over," replied the lawyercautiously. "And I shall be much interested in hearing what Mr. Dunstanhas to say about it all."
"Say, that's queer," broke in Joe, suddenly, staring hard at the launch,now not much more than half a mile distant.
"What is?" asked Halstead, who had kept his mind on what he was tellingthe lawyer.
"That launch is following an almost straight course. Yet I don't see asoul at the wheel, nor a sign of a human being aboard," Joe replied.
"Say, there isn't anyone in sight, is there?" demanded Jed, stopping hiswhistling and staring the harder.
"It will certainly complicate the adventure," commented Lawyer Crane,"if we overhaul a craft navigated by unseen hands."
Halstead didn't say any more. He didn't like the half-skepticism of thelegal gentleman. The young skipper held straight on until they wereastern of the yellow-hulled launch and coming up on the windwardquarter.
"Get out on the deck forward, Jed," directed, Halstead. "Stand up asstraight as you can, and get the best look possible as I run up close.See if you can spot anyone hiding in the boat."
"Look out," cautioned Joe Dawson, dryly, as Jed Prentiss started toobey. "Someone on the other craft may open fire."
Jed halted, rather uneasily, at that sinister suggestion. Then, meetingTom's firm glance, the boy got well forward and stood up, while Joedropped down into the engine room to meet any order that might comeabout stopping speed.
"I hardly fancy anyone aboard that boat would dare threaten us withfirearms," said the lawyer, slowly. "There are too many witnesses hereto risk such a serious breach of the law."
"Mm!" chuckled Captain Tom grimly, to himself. "I wonder if this learnedgentleman imagines that everyone has the wholesome respect for the lawthat possesses him?"
He leaned forward, to reach the bell-grip, steering, after the"Meteor's" headway had been all but stopped, so that they would passwithin a dozen feet of this mysterious craft.
"Say," hailed back Jed, "I don't believe there's a soul on board thatcraft. I can see the bottom of the inside of the boat."
"Get the boat-hook, then," ordered Halstead. "We'll lay alongside andmake sure that she's deserted."
Jed jumped down nimbly. Apparently he was glad to provide himself withso handy a weapon as the boat-hook. With this he stepped out forwardagain. Tom ran the Meteor in until the two craft almost bumped.
"Ugh!" grunted Jed. "It looks almost uncanny to see that engine pumpingright along with no sign of human care."
Gradually he drew the bow of the moving launch closer.
"Go aboard," directed Tom.
Jed stood up high on his toes, to take a last careful look. Then heleaped to the other craft, bounding down into her cockpit. There hestood still for a few moments, tightly gripping the boat-hook in anexaggerated attitude of defence.
"Are you afraid?" hailed Halstead.
"Well," admitted Jed, candidly, "I've no notion for being pounced on orshot from ambush."
"That would have happened already, if it was going to," Tom rejoinedwith a smile. "Stop the engine, and then we'll make fast and all come onboard."
That Jed accomplished with one hand, while Joe did the same with the"Meteor's" engine. Then Prentiss reached over with the boat-hook,gradually hauling the smaller craft up to the "Meteor."
Leaving Joe behind on deck, the young skipper followed into the launch.A quick search made it plain that there was no human being in either theforward or after cubby.
"The wheel was spiked," discovered Tom. "You see, the boat was startedon her course and then her spiked wheel held her rather close to it.Whoever was aboard, after having fixed wheel and engine, got off. Thiswas done to fool us, and we've had a fine old chase."
Lawyer Crane, on the deck of the "Meteor," opened his mouth. He wasabout to offer an opinion, but thought better of it and closed his lips.
"Mr. Crane," asked Tom, after a few moments, "what are our rights? Wecan take this abandoned boat in tow, can't we, and take her over to Mr.Dunstan's pier?"
"Clearly," assented the lawyer, slowly. "And there's a right to salvageif the owner of this derelict appears and claims the boat."
Tom clambered back aboard the "Meteor," and, going aft, threw a line toJed, who made fast around a butt at the bow of the launch. Then Jed cameback.
"Now, Mr. Crane," smiled Captain Tom, "we are again at your orders.Unless you think of something better, we can keep on to Nantucket."
"Decidedly," replied the lawyer. "We must acquaint Mr. Dunstan with thiswhole prepos--unaccountable story."
As soon as the "Meteor" was well under way, on her homeward course,Halstead called down:
"Joe, I've stood this drenched clothing as long as I think is good forme in this sea wind. Take the wheel, please, and I'll go below and get arub and some dry clothing."
"I'm going down with you," broke in Jed. "There's hot water, and youought to have some coffee."
Jed even helped vigorously in the rub-down. Tom's teeth were chatteringat the outset, but the friction warmed his blood. He put on dryclothing, of which he had enough aboard. And now Jed came o
ut of thegalley with a cup of steaming coffee.
"Say, Jed, what made you look so skittish when you boarded that otherboat?" asked the young skipper, smiling. "Were you really afraid?"
"Afraid?" repeated Jed, looking sheepish. "Well, Tom, I'll tell you howit is. When there's no danger near, and I'm thinking over brave deeds,I'm a regular hero, and no mistake. But when I get right down where Ithink some one may be a going to open on me with both barrels of ashotgun, then I get--well, I won't say afraid, but tormentinglynervous!"
Halstead laughed heartily.
"I guess that's the way with the whole human race, Jed. The man who lugsoff the reputation for being brave is the man who won't run, because heis ashamed to let anyone see how mortally afraid he is."
"But what do you make of Ted Dunstan's queer talk?" asked Jed Prentiss."Do you believe his father really did give him orders to go off withthat crowd?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Halstead answered. "Mr. Dunstan is ouremployer."
"But young Ted always has been a mighty truthful boy," pursued Jed,wonderingly. "Oh, it's all mighty queer, whatever's the truth."
"I guess we'd better let it go at that last statement," proposed Tom;"at least, until we've heard what Mr. Dunstan has to say."
With three or four caps of coffee down, Halstead felt so much warmerthat he returned to deck to take the wheel. The "Meteor" was necessarilygoing much more slowly than usual, with her tow astern. The trip wasbound to be such a long one that Jed started things in the galley, thenwent back through the passageway to the cabin, where he set the foldingtable with a white cloth. When Lawyer Crane seated himself at supper hewas astonished to find how excellent a meal could be prepared in shorttime aboard this craft.
It was nearing dark when Captain Halstead guided the "Meteor" in towardthe Dunstan pier.
While the boat was being made fast by Joe and Jed, Mr. Crane steppedhurriedly ashore.
"Come along, Captain Halstead," said the man of law. "Mr. Dunstan musthear your remarkable story without a moment's delay."