CHAPTER XXVIII
JERRY'S RETURN
Jerry's voyage to the head of the lake and then up the river waswithout incident. It was rather a lonely trip, but he had no time tofeel any alarm.
He arrived at Cresville early the next morning and left the boat at theprivate dock, while he hurried to acquaint the chief of police and Mr.Slade with the news about the schooner.
Jerry found the chief had not yet come down to headquarters, and,not caring to tell the sergeant in charge his errand, he went to Mr.Slade's house.
"What's this? Oh it's you, Jerry, eh? No bad news I hope? None of youboys drowned at the lake? What's the trouble? You look as if you'd hada tussle with a bull and came out second best," said Ned's father.
Jerry told his story and also related their plans.
"Good idea!" exclaimed Mr. Slade. "We'll go and see the chief at once."
Mr. Dalton had arrived by the time they got to headquarters and calledMr. Slade and Jerry into his private room. There Jerry told the storyover again, to the no small astonishment of the police official.
He gave several orders over the telephone, including one to have themotor boat _Terror_ made ready at once for a long trip.
Jerry found he would have about an hour to wait before the start backcould be made, so he went to his home and also Bob's and told the folksthe camping party was all well. He said nothing of the discoveries, forfear of alarming his mother and Bob's parents.
The chief and two detectives made up the police posse. They went tothe dock where the _Terror_ was tied up and got aboard. Mr. Slade hadcounted on going, but, at the last moment, found some business affairsneeded his attention.
As soon as Jerry found the chief and his men were about to start hehurried back to the _Dartaway's_ boat house and made ready for hisreturn trip. He found the engine needed some slight adjustments, andquickly made them.
While he was bending over the cylinders, putting in some new sparkplugs, he heard a step behind, and Andy Rush joined him.
"Are you going on another trip?"
"Yes, want to come along?" asked Jerry, for he liked Andy, in spite ofthe galvanic battery action of the younger lad.
"Say! Do I!"
"Jump in," spoke Jerry.
Jerry looked over the engine to see that it was in good order. Hefilled the auxiliary gasolene tank, took aboard some extra batteriesand other supplies and announced he was ready to start.
"We'll see if we can't catch the _Terror_," he remarked, having toldAndy something of the plans afoot.
Jerry cranked up the motor. It throbbed and roared and he was about tothrow in the clutch and send the boat off when some one hailed him.
"I say, fair sir. Wilt take a poor wayfarer aboard? I fain must be onmy way, and my coach seems to have passed me by."
Jerry looked up. Down the dock was approaching a ragged figure; a manclothed in old garments that flapped about him. The mere remnant of ahat completed his attire.
"It's the tramp!" Jerry exclaimed under his breath. "If he doesn't turnup at the oddest times. I wonder what his secret is."
"May I come aboard?" asked the ragged man.
"Don't let him. Maybe he's one of the thieves," objected Andy in a lowtone.
But Jerry had different ideas. He wanted, if possible, to learn moreabout the tramp. He felt that the man had a secret, and that itconcerned the robbery, and some other queer happenings of late, Jerrywas most certain.
"Wilt take an humble passenger?" the tramp asked again, seeing thatJerry seemed to hesitate.
"Why, yes, your Majesty, if you wilt be pleased to accept such meantransportation as your slave is able to offer you," replied Jerry witha smile, determining to enter into the tramp's humor.
Past Cresville they went, and by noon they had caught up to the_Terror_, for the chief had ordered her run slowly, as he wanted to seeJerry. The presence of the tramp excited no comment from Mr. Dalton. Onthe contrary Jerry was almost sure he saw some secret sign pass betweenthe chief of police and the ragged man. This, more than ever, made himcurious to get at the bottom of the strange fellow's secret.
It was decided to go ashore for dinner at a small town which the boatsreached about one o'clock. The craft were tied up at the dock, and whenJerry and Andy left the _Dartaway_, the tramp remained behind.
Jerry asked if the chief knew the man at all.
"Oh, I've seen him around," Mr. Dalton replied. "He's an odd character.But never mind him. Where do you expect we'll pick up the boys?"
"Right aboard the schooner at the island," answered Jerry, wonderingwhy the chief changed the subject so suddenly.
The journey was resumed after the meal and about four o'clock the boatsemerged from the river upon the lake.
"Now for the schooner!" exclaimed Jerry as his boat swung ahead, ithaving been agreed that he should lead the way. The _Terror_ was closebehind.
Several miles had been covered, when the tramp, who had not spoken forsome time, exclaimed, stretching out his hand:
"I think there's your schooner!"
"We're nowhere near the place," Jerry answered.
"I think you'll find I'm right," the ragged man went on. "I guesssomething has happened and the schooner has moved. I see her mastssticking up from behind those trees."
In a few minutes Jerry rounded the point. There, in full view of thesetting sun, was the schooner. There could be no mistaking her.
He steered his boat up to the sailing craft. There seemed to be no signof life aboard.
"Ahoy _Bluebird_!" called Jerry.
He had stopped his engine, and the chief had done the same for the_Terror_. Amid a deep silence they waited for an answer to the hail.None came.
Then, as the motor boats drifted alongside the schooner, it could beseen that she was tied to the shore and deserted.
"Where are Ned and Bob?" asked Jerry, a nameless terror tugging at hisheart.