Clarence Young

“ Jerry jumped back in alarm and Ned, who had jammed a boat hook in the side of the brig, to hold the Ripper steady, looked up.
“It’s dogs!” he cried. “Two of ’em!”
As he spoke two savage looking creatures thrust their heads up over the low rail. They were large dogs, of the wolf-hound variety; great shaggy creatures, and they growled in a menacing manner.
“They must have left the dogs aboard when they so strangely deserted the ship,” said Mr. De Vere. “I suppose they’re glad to see us. They must be lonesome. Try again, Jerry. ”

“ His head, too, felt very heavy, and once there was such a mist before his eyes that he could not see the figures on the shining disk of the safe.
“This is queer,” he murmured. “It is very close in this cabin. I wish the boys had opened the door. I wish—I—”
Mr. De Vere fell over backward, unconscious, while, around the silent forms in the cabin wreathed a thin bluish vapor that came from the locker where the safe had been, and where there were some small boxes—the same mysterious boxes that Blowitz had shipped from Cresville. ”

“ Seabury will not be angry at us for taking you out and getting fog-bound, as well as involving you in a shipwreck.”
“Oh, no!” answered Rose with a laugh. “He knows we are all right, for we have been on the water, more or less, all our lives. He sometimes worries a little, but, when we get home safe, he’s so glad to see us that he never scolds.” Nor did he this time. He inquired about the trip, and expressed his regrets at the mishap to the Ripper.
“It will be all right if we don’t get a storm before high tide,” he said. “I’ll inquire of Ponto what the weather signs are. Ponto! I say Ponto! ”

“ I wanted to get where it’s cool, and, anyhow, there’s just as liable to be horned toads there as anywhere. If he doesn’t find a toad he’ll find something else that will make him nearly as happy, so it’s all the same.”
“Isn’t he a queer man,” said Olivia, as they followed along behind Mr. Snodgrass, who was walking ahead, closely scanning the ground.
“He is, but he’s a good friend of ours,” replied Ned. “He is very much in earnest over his collection of insects and reptiles, and, though he acts queerly at times, he is one of the best men in the world.” ”

“ Jerry found he could manage the engine about as well as the one that had been in the Dartaway. He soon had the motor going almost at full speed, and the way the boat cut through the water was a revelation to the boys. They had never ridden so fast in a motor boat before. Straight out to sea Jerry headed the craft, and the weather was so pleasant, the water so calm, and the sense of swift motion so enthralling, that, before they knew it, they had gone several miles. ”

“ WHAT MR. BLOWITZ WANTED
The boys found Mr. Carson Blowitz in the little courtyard of the pavilion, calmly sipping some cold chocolate.
“Ah, you are right on time, I see,” he remarked, as pleasantly as he could. “That’s what I like, boys. It shows your American spirit. Bright, hustling lads, all of you. Just the kind I have been looking for.”
“Did you want to see us on business?” asked Jerry, for he did not care for the man’s too obvious flattery.
“Yes, I did, but first let me order some chocolate for you. It is a hot day and you’ll feel better after it. ”

“ By this time one circuit of the track had been completed, and a start made on the second lap.
“Think we’re catching up?” asked Bob, as Jerry cautiously fed the engine a little more gasolene.
“Well, we’re holding our own,” was the answer of the steersman, “and I think we’re catching up to the yellow car again. If we pass that I’m not so sure but what we can come in a close second to Noddy.”
“I don’t want to come in second,” spoke up Ned. “I want to beat him.”
“So do I,” replied Jerry, “but it’s not going to be so easy. Our car’s doing well, but we can’t expect wonders of it.” ”

“ The circle had been broken, by many animals, which had been approaching from the rear of the travelers, joining the beasts on either side, so that now a compact, dark mass of cattle, nearly a quarter of a mile wide, was surging ahead with great speed.
“Run!” called Ned. “There’s an opening at our backs now!”
“You couldn’t go a hundred feet before they’d overtake you!” shouted Jerry. “Let’s see if we can’t frighten ’em. Take off your hats, jump up and down, and yell like mad. If we can force ’em to separate and go on either side of us, we’ll be all right!” ”

“ There was a confused shouting from the spectators, and Bob could distinguish cheers for the red auto.
“We’ve just got to win!” he cried. “Win, Jerry! Win!”
Try as he did, by “nursing” the engine, Jerry could not gain an inch on Noddy’s car. The red machine was fifty feet behind the green one, both going at top speed. Only an accident, it seemed, could make the motor boys win.
As they swung into the last lap Ned cried:
“Noddy isn’t going to slow down for the turn!”
“Neither are we!” cried Jerry fiercely. “Quick boys! All of you get out on the inside step! Crouch down! ”

“ The maddened animals were ready to fly at the throats of any one who should attempt to board the derelict.
“What’s to be done?” asked Ned. “We didn’t count on this. Those are fierce dogs.”
“Indeed they are,” replied Mr. De Vere. “It would not be safe to risk getting too close to them.”
“But what can we do?” asked Jerry. “If we wait here too long, Blowitz may appear.”
“We’ve got to do something,” said the boy’s employer. “The only thing I can see to do is to shoot the dogs. ”

“ But there was something about Blowitz that made them hesitate. His very eagerness to have them start, almost at once, made them feel there was something queer back of it all. Still they had undertaken, before this, more difficult and risky tasks. Why not this one?
“Well, I must have your answer soon,” said Blowitz, approaching nearer to the boat.
“Will you wait just a moment?” asked Jerry. “My chums and I will go in the cabin and talk it over. We’ll let you know right away.”
“I’ll wait five minutes,” said the man. “Time is precious to me. I have lots to do. But I know you’ll go. ”

“ De Vere hastily thrust the papers into an inner pocket of his coat.
“Distribute the gold among you,” he told the boys. “When we get it aboard the Ripper we can hide it. There is no telling what might happen. If that steamer—”
“It’s the tug Monarch!” cried Jerry, who had hurried up on deck. “It’s coming this way full speed!”
“Then we must leave at once!” decided Mr. De Vere. “I think our boat can beat theirs. I did hope to be able to tow the brig into harbor, and save the cargo, but that is out of the question now. I do not want a fight with Blowitz. Come, boys, we must escape!” ”

“ Blowitz, who was helping Nellie into his boat. “I don’t like him,” he went on in a low voice. “There’s something queer about him.”
“We oughtn’t to feel that way,” said Jerry. “He’s doing us a favor.”
“Of course,” admitted Bob. “I know it, and I suppose I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do, and I can’t help it. I don’t want any favors from him. He’s the kind, who, if he does something for you, will want you to do twice as much for him in return.”
“Well, I’ll be more careful next time I run this motor boat,” said Jerry. “It’s too bad.”
“Might be worse,” said Ned as cheerfully as he could. ”

“ NEWS OF THE BRIG
“Oh!” exclaimed Rose, rather excitedly, “take us off please! Our boat is sinking!”
“No, it isn’t,” declared Jerry. “We’re all right only we’re aground. Can’t get off until high tide I suppose.”
“Then perhaps I had better take the young ladies ashore,” proposed Mr. Blowitz. “I have a large boat here, and they will be more comfortable than sitting there waiting for the tide to rise. Besides, you’ll heel over quite a bit, I should judge by the way you’re listing now.”
There was no doubt of this, as the Ripper was, even now, far from being on an even keel. ”

“ This was very evident, for, as the Ripper was laboring through the waves, the other vessel kept in her wake, and seemed to be overhauling the motor boat.
“Well, it’s a free country; I suppose they have a right to be here,” spoke Jerry.
“Yes,” said Mr. De Vere, watching the tug through the glasses, “but I don’t like their actions.”
“Why not? Do you think—” began Jerry.
“I don’t like to say what I think,” was the answer. “We will have to wait and see what develops. But I propose that we have some breakfast, or, at least, some hot coffee, if Bob can manage to stand in the galley. ”

“ I thought I’d tell you first and see what you thought.”
“Wait until I take a look outside,” said Jerry, dressing as best he could while swaying to and fro with the motion of the Ripper.
“Here! Quit your fooling!” suddenly exclaimed Bob, as he rolled from his bunk, and barely saved himself from a bad shock by landing on his hands and feet in a crouching attitude, as does a cat. “What did you do that for?”
“You’ll have to ask Father Neptune,” answered Jerry. “We’re not guilty, Chunky.” ”

“ When they were half way around it they heard a car coming behind them. In a moment it had passed them, and they recognized it as the same machine that had nearly collided with them in Cresville.
“Look who’s in it!” cried Bob.
“Who?” asked Ned.
“Noddy Nixon. If that’s his car, we haven’t any show.”
“Humph! I’m afraid not,” answered Jerry rather ruefully. “Still, I’m not going to give up now. He’s got a new car, but maybe we can beat him. He’s a poor driver.” ”

“ In response he got the telegram which brought consternation to the hearts of the motor boys.
“It doesn’t seem possible,” remarked Bob, as the three lads hurried on toward the freight office.
“I guess it’s good-bye to the Dartaway this trip,” said Jerry. “Too bad! she was a fine boat.”
“Well, we’ll make the railroad pay for it, and we’ll get a better boat,” spoke up Bob.
“We couldn’t get any better boat than the Dartaway, Chunky,” said Ned. “We might get a larger one, and a more powerful one, but never a better one, She served us well. ”

“ The steersman, who could manage the boat from the engine cockpit, as well as from the bow, further slowed down the motor, until the Ripper was barely moving through the water.
Suddenly there was a grinding sound, the boat heeled over to one side, and came to a stop.
“The rocks!” cried Rose. “We’re on the rocks!”
“Reverse!” yelled Ned, and Jerry did so, as quick as a flash, but it was too late.
“We’re aground,” he announced grimly.
“Will we sink?” asked Olivia in alarm. ”

“ The bungalow, which they rented, was on the outskirts of the village of San Felicity, which was part of what had once been an old Mexican town. It was located on the shores of a secluded bay, and the bungalow was about ten minutes’ walk from the water.
“Do you think there are any horned toads around here?” asked the professor, when the meal was finished, and they had gone out on the veranda.
“I don’t know, I’m sure,” replied Mr. Seabury. “I’ll ask Ponto, he knows everything there is to be known about this place. Ponto! I say, Ponto!”
“Yais, sah, I’se comin’ sah!” ”

“ The professor grabbed Bob, who was nearest him, and swung the boy around, so as to get the nest of rattlesnakes between them and the steers. Ned and Jerry followed. The snakes, now all aroused, were rattling away like half a hundred electric batteries working at once.
Would the professor’s ruse succeed? Would the steers be afraid to come over the deadly reptiles, to trample down the little group, which the animals probably took for some new species of enemy? ”

“ The dock was deserted, save for the young people and Ponto, but in the chocolate refreshment place, and other booths on shore there was plenty of life.
“I think it would be a good plan,” agreed Jerry. “You know the whole story, about the brig and the offer Blowitz made. Tell Mr. Seabury that we would have consulted him before, only he was out when we got back this afternoon. Now, Ponto, lookout that no horned toads or web-footed lizards get the young ladies, and, above all, don’t lie down alongside the road and take a nap.” ”

“ The sheds about the hotel were filled with all sorts of cars, so that the boys had hardly room to store their machine.
“This is a little more exciting than we counted on,” remarked Jerry, as he and his chums entered the hotel to register. “I’m afraid we’ll not get such good attention as Bob thought.”
“Oh, it’s all the better,” was the answer of the stout youth. “They’ll have all the more to eat, with this crowd here.”
“Chunky can argue it any way he likes,” declared Ned. “No use trying to corner him, Jerry.” ”

“ Then, almost as though an order had been given by some one in command, the ranks of steers parted, right at the point where the snakes were reared ready to strike.
To right and left the cattle passed, increasing their speed as they became aware of the danger they were escaping. The boys and the professor stood on the little eminence of land, as if they were on an island in a sea of cattle. The angry snakes hissed and rattled, but did not glide away, or what had proved a source of safety for the travelers, might have been instrumental in their death. ”

“ He tore open the letter, read it hurriedly, and gave a cry of mingled delight and surprise.
“It’s from Nellie Seabury!” he said. “She says they are in lower California, traveling about, looking for a good place to stay at for a few months for their father’s health. When they locate she wants—that is Mr. Seabury—wants us to come out and see them. Oh, I wish I could go—I wish we could all go!”
“Perhaps you can,” suggested his mother with a smile. “California is not so far away. But I suppose you’ll have to wait until next vacation.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” admitted Jerry. ”

“ A CRY FOR HELP
“Isn’t this perfectly delightful,” remarked Nellie, as she reclined on some cushions in the little cabin. “I just love to be on the water!”
“Well, it’s better than being out in the fog,” admitted Jerry, as he adjusted the oil feed on the engine, and glanced over the moonlit waves.
“There don’t seem to be many boats out tonight,” observed Olivia.
“Maybe the owners are afraid of a storm,” suggested Rose. “Sometimes a storm will follow a fog. I wonder if it’s safe for us to go out?”
“We’re not going far, and we’ll keep near shore,” replied Jerry. ”