Edward Sylvester Ellis

“ Afraid of being checked, the youth broke into a trot, and an instant later was at the landing, the yelping mongrel still firmly gripped. Back and forth Mike swung him as if he were the huge bob of a pendulum, and then let go. He curved over the launch, like an elongated doughnut, and dropped into the current with a splash. But all quadrupeds swim the first time they enter the water. In an instant, the brute came to the surface, and working all his legs vigorously, came smoothly around the stern 69 of the launch, and headed for Mike with the purpose of renewing the attack. ”

“ Calvert and Hagan sat side by side, both puffing heavy black cigars, the smoke of which as it streamed astern might have suggested that the launch was impelled by steam instead of gasoline. She ran smoothly, and Noxon, with a pale face, his hands grasping the wheel, steered as skilfully as Alvin Landon had directed the swifter Deerfoot. He had done it many times and had no fear. The young man had come to the parting of the ways, and nothing could turn him back. ”

“ Just ahead was discerned a swiftly approaching mass of tumbling water, above which the deck, pilot house and puffing smokestack of a little steamer showed. This was the “pony of the Kennebec”—the Gardiner, plowing ahead in such desperate haste that one might well believe the 45 fate of a score of persons depended upon its not losing a half minute. Alvin took good care to give her plenty of room and saluted with several whistle toots. There was no reply. The captain merely glanced at the two craft and sped onward like an arrow from the bow of the hunter. ”

“ Even in the crisis of a tragedy a vein of comedy will sometimes intrude itself.
“Have no fear of that,” replied Alvin. “I will hold Chester from tumbling out and he will do the same for me. Pray, compose yourselves.”
During this brief absence Chester had threaded his way past the furniture in the darkness to the window, out of which he was gazing on a most interesting moving picture which had vanished when Alvin appeared at his elbow.
“It made my blood tingle,” said Chester. “I was just in time to see a man, who must have leaped out, running for life with Mike in pursuit. ”

“ With never a thought of the grotesque mistake, both youths had boarded the launch believing it to be the Deerfoot; they had pursued the imaginary fugitive only to awaken to the fact that she was not a fugitive, and that they had unconsciously stolen the property of the burglars, which must have been lying so near their own craft that the slight difference of location was not noticed. ”

“ Noxon leaned forward and placed the tip of his finger on the different points.
“Right there is one of a hundred similar coves among the waters of southern Maine. It is smaller than the others, and a little way back is an island, which resembles except in size those that you see in every part of these waters. You know they rise above the surface like vast bouquets, with trees growing down to the edge of the river or sea. It is not so with that bit of earth you first asked about, but it is so with the islet in that cove which I show on that piece of paper.” ”

“ Let us be just to all. I therefore make haste to say that when Kit Woodford thus threw Mike Murphy into the Back River he did not doubt for an instant that he was a swimmer, for whoever heard of a lusty youth seventeen years old who could not take care of himself in water? Of course there are such, but they are so few that they are a negligible number.
Graff Miller was startled when he heard the splash, and turning his head saw the lad disappear, but his belief was the same as his companion’s, and turning on more power, he shot beyond sight before the lad could come to the surface. ”

“ The Captain ate with one hand on the steering wheel, and frequent glances ahead. Now and then they would find themselves approaching a sharp projection of land, around which the launch was steered, and then perhaps would glide past a cunning looking cove, too narrow to admit a boat of large size. Once, while doubling a cape, they came within a hair of running down a small rowboat propelled by a single occupant. He shouted angrily for the steersman to keep a better lookout.
“I’m sorry!” called back Alvin; “but the fog bothers us. Will you please tell me how far it is to Beartown landing?” ”

“ But Nora, who had heard the unguarded words, called in wild distress:
“Don’t leave us! Don’t leave us!”
They stopped irresolute. They could not abandon the two, and yet Mike’s life might be in peril.
“Go back to them,” whispered Chester. “There’s no call for both of us to stay.”
“Better not go down yourself; you know you have no weapon. Let’s take a look.”
First of all it was necessary to quiet the daughter and mother, for one was as much terrified as the other. Alvin hastened into the room. ”

“ Noxon did not speak, but slowly swayed his head from side to side, like one from whom all hope had departed. Mike drew a chair beside him, and as tenderly as a mother lifted the white hand from where 282 it lay on the handkerchief, and held it in his own warm grasp.
“Noxy, me bye, Mike Murphy is yer frind through thick and thin—don’t ye forget that—and I’m going to see ye through this if I have to break a thrace in trying.”
“You!” repeated the despairing one, looking up in Mike’s honest blue eyes. “No one can save a wretch like me. I’m not worth saving!” ”

“ At this hour all Beartown seemed to be sunk in slumber, as was quite proper should be the case. From not a single window twinkled a light nor was man, woman or boy seen on the street. A solitary dog, with nose down and travelling diagonally as canines sometimes do, trotted to the front gate of the house opposite the post office, 172 jumped over and passed from view to the rear.
“I wonder what that man is waiting there for.”
It was Nora who whispered this question, which instantly put the others on the qui vive.
“I don’t see any man; where is he?” asked Chester. ”

“ Without a word as to his purpose to his companion, Kit Woodford stooped over, and with the great strength he possessed, easily lifted the sleeping boy clear of the deck. Then he cautiously moved to the taffrail, and with a single toss flung Mike Murphy clear of the launch. And the water was fifty feet deep, and Mike had never swum a stroke, and there was no one to go to his help. ”

“ Truth to tell, Alvin, I’m as hungry as I was at dinner to-day in Wiscasset.”
“The plan is a good one, though I don’t like to leave the boat by itself till morning. You know what happened the other night.”
“That won’t occur again in a thousand years. Put the flags and other stuff in the cockpit, lock the engine cover, take the switch plug with you, and the boat will be as safe as if she had a regiment of men on guard.”
“Mike ought to have been back before this,” said the Captain, with a touch of impatience. “Unless he has a good excuse I shall demote him, by making you first mate.” ”

“ Mike read his purpose, poised himself and put up his fists.
“Now for the next dog and it’s mesilf that is ready fur him.”
It would give me pleasure to tell how Mike Murphy vanquished the giant who attacked him, but such a statement would be as untrue as absurd. You have read of the dude who daintily slipped off his kid gloves, adjusted his eyeglasses, and proceeded to chastise an obstreperous cowboy; but take it from me that no such thing ever occurred, except in stories. Nature governs through rigid laws, and two and two will always make four. ”

“ It was Alvin who replied:
“Assist you! What help can we give?”
“You have the fleetest motor boat on the Maine coast. It must be capable of twenty miles an hour.”
“It is guaranteed to make twenty-four.”
“Better yet. These men have a boat which closely resembles yours.”
“And its name is the Water Witch,” said Chester. “I wish Captain Landon could run a race with it.”
“He can have the chance if he will agree.”
“I fail to see how. Those men after committing their crimes are not going to spend their time in running up and down the Sheepscot or Kennebec.” ”

“ Never at loss for an excuse in such circumstances, he waited at the front of the store, sighing as if greatly depressed, until the woman customer paid her bill, accepted the roll and walked out. Then Mike, blushing so far as it was possible to do so, moved respectfully toward the smiling attraction.
“I lost me wheelbarrer in coming up from me launch; have ye anything of the kind ye would be willing to sell to a poor orphan?”
“Will one be all you want?” asked the miss. “We can furnish you with a dozen as well as a single barrow. How much would you like to pay?” ”

“ In the little town or village of Beartown live the sweetest mother and daughter in the State of Maine. Anyhow, there is none kinder and more loving. The name of the daughter, who isn’t out of short dresses yet, is Nora Friestone. Send her a fine first class piano—no second-hand one—with about a bushel of music. Select any stuff you choose, not forgetting a copy of ‘The Sweet Long Ago,’ published by C. W. Thompson, Boston. I wish you could have heard Mike Murphy sing that for them. He has one of the finest voices in the world. ”

“ But the launch in front was no laggard. Whether she increased her speed at sight of the light which was seemingly hustling down the river after her, or whether she simply held her former rate, she was going at a tremendous pace. Soon leaving Long Ledge on their right, the pursuer shot into the broader waters of Montsweag Bay, only to find the white light seemingly as far off as ever. Possibly the pursuers had gained something, but not enough to be perceptible.
“They have seen us,” said Chester, from his station at the front, “and are putting in their best licks. We must be going the limit.” ”

“ Suddenly the Water Witch’s whistle sent out a series of piping toots.
“What’s the meaning of that?” asked Chester of Detective Calvert, who had quietly resumed his seat in one of the wicker chairs in front of the youth.
“It’s a challenge to a race.”
“I accept it,” said Alvin, with a flash of his eyes. ”

“ He was trying to aid him in carrying out a good purpose, and he must “be on the level,” or the Captain would have nothing to do with him or his plans.
“The first proof I get that he is playing double,” muttered Alvin, “I’ll order him off the boat and never let him set foot on it again, and, if he belongs to that gang of post office robbers, I’ll do everything I can to have him punished.”
One of the most discomforting frames of mind into which any person can fall is to see things which make him distrust the loyalty of one upon whom he has depended. ”

“ Had the large man undergone the scientific training of the smaller one, he might have overcome him, for, as has been said, he was immensely powerful and must have been a third heavier than Stockham Calvert. But he was out of condition, and, worse than all for him, had not the slightest knowledge of the “manly art.” When he doubled his huge hairy fists, he charged upon the detective like a roaring bull, expecting to beat down his smaller antagonist as if he were pulp. ”

“ While this snatch of conversation was going on, Noxon, who had cut off the power, was edging nearer. Calvert and Hagan squeezed each other so hard that it looked as if they would push themselves through the hull of the launch.
Graff Miller now put in his oar:
“If we didn’t get a haul out of the measly post office we’ve scooped a mighty fine motor boat. We can sell it and gather in enough to last us till we crack another place.”
“That won’t be as easy as it looks to 322 you. The whole neighborhood is up in arms and we shall have to lie low for awhile.” ”

“ Isn’t he bright?”
“An unnicessary question,” said Mike loftily; “as Auntie McCaffry would answer if ye asked her which was the handsomest and cutest and smartest one among her three guests.”
“Noxon,” said Calvert, with a smile 305 over the repartee of the Irish lad, “do either Kit Woodford or Graff Miller know your right name?”
“They never asked me and it was never given in their presence.”
“You said as much before. Do they know where you came from?”
“They haven’t the slightest knowledge. I am as unknown to them as regards my real identity as if I never existed.” ”

“ Alvin had a dim idea that having drawn near enough to discover the Water Witch, he would keep in sight until others could intervene. His boat would follow whereever the fugitive dare lead, and would never give up. If our young friends could not attack, they could point out the way for others. Should the criminals run into shore, where there was a chance of landing 236 without being observed, the pursuers could be at their heels, and through the nearest telegraph station raise the hue and cry that would quickly end in their overthrow. ”

“ Alvin Landon and Chester Haynes were having a merry time in the home of Mike Murphy, when a servant knocked and made known that a caller was awaiting Alvin in the handsome bungalow belonging to his father. I have told you how the boys hurried thither, wondering who he could be, and how they were astonished to find him the “man in gray,” who had become strangely mixed up in their affairs during the preceding few days. ”

“ Calvert,” said Alvin. 14
“It is possible you cannot, but more probably you can. While cruising in these waters, we may catch sight of their boat, and you can see the advantage of being able to outspeed it. But do not think I am looking for a battle between you and me on the one hand, and the criminals on the other. I wish to employ the Deerfoot as a scout. I can’t express myself better than by that word.”
Whatever the right name of the caller might be, he was a good judge of human nature. ”