CHAPTER XXVI
THE PIECE OF SILK
"Are you going right up close?" asked Bob. "Maybe we had better wait awhile."
"Keep quiet," said Jerry. "Just watch."
The _Dartaway_ continued to approach the schooner. In the stern Bob andNed pretended to be trolling. Jerry held the motor craft on her course,going at first speed, and kept her headed right for the sailing vessel.
"You're going to bump!" exclaimed Bob in a low tone, looking over hisshoulder at Jerry.
The next instant the _Dartaway_ hit the side of the schooner with aresounding thump, but not hard enough to do any damage, as Jerry, onthe alert, reversed the screw just in time.
"I told you we were going to hit," said Bob in reproachful accents, forhe had nearly been tossed overboard by the recoil when the motor boatbacked away from the _Bluebird_ from the force of the blow.
"That's all right I meant to hit 'em," said Jerry coolly, as hecaught hold of a rope that hung over the schooner's side. "I did it onpurpose," he went on in a lower voice. "It will seem as if it was anaccident and we can get a chance to see who's aboard. That knock oughtto bring 'em out."
The boys, making the motor boat fast to the sailing vessel with therope, waited for a hail from those they supposed to be aboard. But asilence ensued after the noise of the collision and the throbbing ofthe motor died away. All that could be heard was the sound of the windin the trees, birds singing in the woods, and the lap of little wavesagainst the sides of the boats.
"Queer," muttered Jerry, "I thought that would arouse them. Must besound asleep. Here goes for another."
He pushed the _Dartaway_ back from the side of the schooner and then,holding to the rope pulled her forward again so that the nose of themotor craft hit the sailing vessel a resounding blow. Still there wassilence on the _Bluebird_.
The boys waited for several minutes, listening intently, but there wasno sign of life other than on their craft.
"I'm going aboard the schooner," said Jerry at last.
"Do you think it's safe?" asked Ned.
"I don't see why not," replied Jerry. "There doesn't seem to be any onein her. Maybe they've only gone away for a little while, but it's ourbest chance. So here goes."
With that he scrambled up the rope hand over hand, and soon stood onthe schooner's deck.
"Come on up," he called to Ned and Bob. "The schooner is deserted!"
Up came the other two boys. They found the hatches tightly closed, and,as the day was hot, they reasoned that no one would be below with allthe openings shut. The schooner was in good order, everything on deckbeing neatly arranged, and showing that those who had deserted her hadnot gone off in any haste. The vessel was moored to shore with bow andstern lines.
"Well, now that we have things to ourselves," said Jerry, "let's seewhat we can find. It ought to be an easy matter to get below."
"I wonder if we have any right to," said Bob.
"I don't see why not," came from Ned. "We suspect that some things frommy father's store are here. If we take a look and don't do any damagewhere's the harm. The thieves ought to be caught, and we may get a clueto them in this way."
"I say, let's go below," put in Jerry. "Try all the hatches. Maybesome of them are not locked."
Whoever had deserted the schooner had evidently not felt any alarmabout leaving their property without the protection of lock and key,for the first hatch cover the boys tried slid back easily, disclosing arather dark and steep companionway.
"Who's going ahead?" asked Jerry. "Don't all speak at once."
There was a moment's hesitancy on the part of all three. There was notelling what they might meet with, or who might be below.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed Ned. "I don't believe any one's there. I'll make abreak."
He started down the companion steps, and, after a second, Bob and Jerryfollowed.
"It's as dark as a pocket!" said Bob. "I wish we had a lantern."
"Hold on!" called Bob who was in the rear. "I have a candle-end in mypocket."
He brought it forth and lighted it, sending a rather faint illuminationthrough the cabin in which the boys found themselves. No one was to beseen, but, as was the case on deck, everything was neatly in place, andno disorder evident.
"Now for the search!" exclaimed Ned. "We'll see if that tramp knewwhat he was writing about with his funny message."
Around the cabin were several lockers. These the boys opened insuccession, only to find them empty. Clearly the booty, if it wasaboard, was not in this part of the vessel.
But there were many other places to search. The craft was not a largeone, but there was a forecastle, and a small hold amidships. The boysdecided to try the hold first. To get into it they found they wouldhave to slide back the deck hatch, and then lower themselves into theblack hole by means of a rope which hung from the gaff, and which wasevidently used to hoist cargo in or out of the schooner.
With the hatches open the dark hole was made lighter but at best it wasnot a pleasant place. Still the boys were determined to explore it.Seeing that the rope was securely fastened to the gaff, Jerry swunghimself over the hatchway, and went down hand over hand. It was aboutten feet from the deck to the bottom. Bob and Ned followed.
In his descent Bob dropped the candle, which, after burning a littlewhile on the bottom of the hold, went out.
"That's nice," said Jerry. "Don't move now until we get a light. Notelling what sort of a hole you may fall into. Stay under the patch ofsunshine."
The boys remained immediately under the hatchway until Jerry, gropingaround, had found the candle end and lighted it. Then the boys peeredaround them, Jerry holding the tallow illuminator above his head.
"Forward!" cried Ned.
The next instant there sounded a scurrying as if some one was runningabout the hold.
"Some one's coming!" cried Bob. "Come on! They're after us!"
The noise increased, and Jerry and Ned peered forward expecting to seesome one approaching out of the darkness. Then came a series of shrillcries.
"Rats!" exclaimed Jerry with a laugh. "I forgot that all vessels arefull of them."
"Are you sure?" asked Bob, who had grabbed hold of the rope.
"Sure; can't you see them?" asked Jerry, and, moving his candle backand forth close to the floor, he pointed out where several big grayrodents were huddled in one corner.
"Only rats, eh," muttered Bob. "Well I wouldn't want a lot of them toget after me. They're as big as cats."
But the animals were probably more frightened than Bob had been, forthe next instant they all disappeared down some hole. The boys began asystematic search of the hold of the vessel. It did not take long toshow that no booty was contained in it, unless, as Ned suggested, therewas a secret hiding place.
"Well, we'll try the fo'castle now," said Jerry as he blew out thecandle to save it, and ascended the rope. Bob and Ned followed.
By opening bull's-eyes in the forecastle the place was made lightenough to see fairly well in. There were several bunks, and a smalltable which could be folded against the side out of the way. The bunkswere provided with bed clothes, and a hasty examination of them showednothing to be hidden among them. The whole place was well lookedthrough, but there was no sign of the goods stolen from Mr. Slade'sstore.
"I guess that tramp must have had a dream," said Ned, "or else hewanted to write some poetry."
"Looks that way," admitted Jerry, who was idly looking at a figureof Neptune carved in the middle of a panel on the forward bulkhead."Still I don't believe--"
But what Jerry believed he did not state, for, the next instant henearly fell as the panel containing the representation of the sea godslid back and disclosed a dark opening.
"Why--why--" exclaimed Jerry recovering his balance with difficulty."This is queer. I was just pressing on the trident when all of asudden--it happened."
"Well I guess it did!" cried Ned. "I'll bet it's the secret hidingplace. Come on, let's have a look!"
"Light the
candle!" said Jerry. "It's as dark as two pockets."
In the gleam of the light there was disclosed a place about five feetsquare, which had been built forward of the forecastle bulkhead.
"Now for the stolen stuff!" cried Ned, as he stepped inside. He flashedthe candle around, but it took only an instant to show that there wasnothing in the secret hiding place so opportunely discovered by Jerry.
"Well of all the--" began Ned, when he suddenly made a grab into one ofthe corners. "This looks like something!" he went on. "Let me get tothe light."
He stepped into the forecastle and held up to the view of his comradesa piece of cloth.
"What is it?" asked Jerry.
"A piece of red silk!" exclaimed Ned. "It's just like some that wasstolen from my father's store! The things have been here, but they aregone!"
"Perhaps they are here yet," suggested Jerry, "only we can't find them.Maybe there are other secret hiding places. What had we better do?"
The boys were much excited over their find. That they were on the trailof the thieves they were certain, but what to do next puzzled them.
"How would it do for one of us to stay here, and the others go and getpolice assistance," suggested Ned. "We ought to have the detectives onthis case at once."
"I have a better plan," said Jerry. "Let two of us stay here, and theother take the motor boat and go after Chief Dalton in Cresville."
"How will we decide who are to stay and who is to go?" asked Ned.
"We'll draw lots," replied Jerry. "Those who get the longest will stayon the schooner, and the one who gets the shortest will start in themotor boat."
The lots were made from three straws. Jerry got the shortest.
"Well, the sooner I get off the quicker the chief will be back here,"he observed.
"Hold on a minute," put in Bob. "Have you figured how long we'll haveto stay here, and not a thing to eat? You can't get back here beforethis time to-morrow."
"That's so," admitted Jerry, for once forgetting to laugh at Bob'sconcern over the food question. "I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll runback to camp and bring enough stuff here to last until I come back."
"Good idea," said Ned. "Only there's no use in us all going. I'll stayhere, while you and Bob go back to camp. Bring some lanterns, and somecold victuals. Maybe we can find some food on board. We certainly canmake coffee for there's a stove in the galley, and I saw a coffee pot.All we need is some coffee."
So it was arranged. Jerry and Bob made a fast run to Deer Island, andwere soon back to the schooner with enough provisions to last thetwo boys a day or more. In the meanwhile Ned had been all over theschooner, but had made no new discoveries.
He had found a good supply of canned goods, and even some coffee,so there was no danger of starving even if the victuals Jerry andBob brought gave out. The bunks were clean and there was plenty ofclothing, though it would hardly be needed for the nights were warm.
It was now getting dusk and, after seeing that his boat was in goodshape Jerry prepared for the long run back to Cresville.
"Take care of yourselves," said he. "Keep a good watch and if Noddy andthe gang come back, don't run any chances. They're desperate men, andit would be better to retreat than run the chance of a fight. If I wereyou I'd sleep in the cabin or on deck in hammocks. I'll come back assoon as I can."
"Better tell the chief to bring a couple of men along," said Ned. "Notelling what may turn up."
"All right," called back Jerry, as he headed the _Dartaway_ through thenarrow channel and started on the course to Cresville.