Ross Kay

“ John offered no objection and Fred accordingly seated himself and began to row.
The day was warm and the beams of the sun, which now was high in the eastern sky, were strongly reflected from the smooth waters of Lake Huron. Indeed, it was not long before the wind died away and the boys were nearly becalmed.
“We’re almost as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean, aren’t we, Jack?” demanded Fred.
“No, we are not,” said John. “Not at all, thank you. We’re not idle and we’re not going to be. I’m going to have my crew keep on rowing.” ”

“ I have my own ideas and I’m not going to cast any pearls before swine. What I’m going to do now is to go ashore. The sun will be up in a half an hour. It’s beginning to be light in the east now.”
“You’re right, John,” acknowledged Fred. “It surely is getting light over yonder. I don’t know what you’re going to gain by landing, but I’m willing to try it, if you want to. Be careful that you don’t strike a rock.”
Hardly had Fred spoken before there was a dull thud and a moment later it was evident that the frail little skiff had struck the jagged point of a hidden rock. ”

“ Button. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s what we should like to know ourselves,” replied Fred ruefully. “We can’t get into the house and we haven’t any boat so it looks very much as if we would have to stay here on the shore all night.”
“Can’t you get into the house?” inquired Mr. Button.
“No, sir. We have been up there two or three times. The doors are locked and no one pays any attention to us when we rap. Besides they have got a dog there and he’s a savage brute. He got John by the trousers and wouldn’t let go until I hit him on the back with a stick of wood.” ”

“ In spite of the dimness of the light the alarm which every one felt was manifest and for a moment there was silence deep and intense.
[104]
“What’s that?” demanded Fred, who was the first to speak.
“I give it up,” replied John. “There’s something happened.”
“You talk like a philosopher,” said George impatiently. “As if we didn’t know that! What’s wrong, Mr. Button?” he added in louder tones.
“I’m not sure,” replied Mr. Button, who now turned and joined the boys. “I cannot quite make out whether our gasoline has given out or whether a blade in our propeller is broken.” ”

“ Scarcely a ripple was to be seen as the boat sped forward. The day promised to be unusually warm, but as yet the air was cool, and the spirits of the boys, after their early breakfast, were all high.
“We’ve got to get some of these fish to-day,” broke in George Sanders. “We didn’t get many the other day.”
“We weren’t far enough away from Mackinac,” said Fred.
“I’ve usually noticed,” suggested Grant, “that the best fishing grounds are always a good ways away from where you’re staying. The further away they are, the better they are.” ”

“ The appearance of the boys, however, was so markedly against them that they were unsuccessful in arranging for their passage.
“It looks as if the Go Ahead Boys had gotten to the end of their journey,” said John when the boys once more were on the street.
“Don’t you believe that for a minute,” said Fred. “The only time it is necessary for a man to show that he has any grit is when he is in trouble. If there weren’t any hard things to be done there wouldn’t be any need of a fellow bracing up to do them. If everything was smooth and easy all the time everybody would get along. ”

“ That bluff individual had heartily declared that he understood just where the accident had occurred, but somehow his confidence was not fully shared by either of his passengers.
“He tries to make up for what he doesn’t know by stating with all his might the things he does know,” said George in a low voice to Grant when the boys had taken their seats near the stern of the boat.
“That’s what some people say,” answered Grant. “‘A lie well stuck to is as good as the truth.’”
“I don’t believe that,” said George. ”

“ THE COMING OF THE GADABOUT
It was quickly manifest to the two interested boys that the mate and their host were well acquainted with each other. Puzzled as they were to account for the familiar greeting it was not long before John whispered to his companion, “I suppose that man has been coming here so many years that he knows all the men on the lake. That must be the reason why they know each other so well.”
“I guess that’s right,” said Fred, who was watching the men with an interest which he was not entirely able to explain even to himself. ”

“ It was on the same boat also that Mr. Button sailed.
For a time, until the shores of Cockburn Island could no longer be seen, silence rested upon the party. No one appeared about the house as they looked back at the island from which they had come. Not even the dogs now could be seen.
It was then that Mr. Button turning to the boys said, “I fancy you boys are anxious to know what all this means.”
“Yes, we are,” said Fred quickly. “We know a little, but not very much about it.”
“This man,” explained Mr. Button, “is one of the most expert smugglers of diamonds in America. ”

“ In high spirits the boys soon were ready for the sport of the day, and it was not long before neither boat was within sight of the other.
When the noon hour arrived, still excited and hungry, the two boats were landed at the place agreed upon and the captain at once displayed his skill as a cook.
“Isn’t it wonderful!” said George, not long after they were seated about the folding table which the captain had brought in the Gadabout. “Isn’t it wonderful the amount of food a fellow can put himself outside of?”
“It is that,” mumbled John, who was as busy as any of his comrades. ”

“ Together the boys leaped into the water. The boat partly righted itself when it was relieved of its burden, but it was so full of water that only a few inches below the gunwale appeared above the surface.
“Come on, Jack,” called Fred as the boys arose to the surface, “let’s turn this tub over so that it will be bottom upward. Maybe it will stay afloat then.”
Fred was peering anxiously at his friend, fearful that his courage had gone and that he would be compelled to exert himself to his utmost in order to force John to any action. ”

“ If the other fellows were along with us I would like to go out yonder and shoot those rapids,” he said pointing toward the swift rapids that were not far away. Even while he was speaking a skiff, guided by an Indian, came swiftly through the tossing waters and approached the shore not far from the place where the boys were seated.
“That’s right,” joined in Fred heartily. “I have a good mind to try it as it is.”
“I guess you’ll have to wait until you get your fortune changed so that you can pay a man a half-dollar for letting you shoot the rapids in his skiff.” ”

“ We’ve about decided that the man who stays on Cockburn Island is a regular smuggler. You know those letters we found, or rather the letter that came to me and the one we picked up on the shore of Western Duck Island, don’t you?”
“Yes,” replied George and Grant together.
“Well, I suspect,” resumed Fred, “that this man Rufus wrote them both.”
“He’s almost as good a letter writer as he is a dresser, isn’t he?” laughed Grant.
“You just wait until I’m done,” retorted Fred. “That’s always the trouble in this party. ”

“ Without explaining his purpose he did his utmost to change the direction so that they would move in a course parallel to the shore, but, labor as he might, he was unable to accomplish his purpose. Directly upon the rocky border of Cockburn Island the gale was driving the little boat.
Once more the mate exerted his strength to his utmost as he strove to guide the little skiff toward a cove not far away. For a time it seemed as if his efforts were to succeed. But at that moment the wind became even stronger than before and the howling of the tempest increased. ”

“ As the conversation continued John became more and more thoughtful and silent. Several times he had been startled by sounds which he had heard in the room directly above that in which they were assembled. Twice he suspected that some one had come to the head of the rude little stairway and was listening to the sounds of conversation below.
On each occasion it had seemed to him that he had heard the sound of a rustle of a woman’s dress. But of all this he could not be certain and even if his surmise had been correct he had no reason to be more suspicious of their host. ”

“ Next the boys inspected the floor. Several of the boards were loose, but the search was still unrewarded.
“I’m going up the ladder,” suggested John.
“I’ve been up there,” said Fred. “There isn’t anything up there. I know there isn’t. There isn’t much hay and what there is is old and musty. I turned it all over with the pitch-fork. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” he added somewhat disconsolately.
“It doesn’t make any difference,” said John. “We’re going ahead with our search. I think Mr. Button knew what he was talking about.” ”

“ The water certainly was coming into the boat.
“What do you think, Jack?” demanded Fred quickly. “Shall we try to go back?”
“Is that the direction in which we usually go?” retorted John.
“I would rather go back than go down.”
“But I would rather go ahead than either.”
“But the boat is certainly leaking. We have seen one storm on the lake and we don’t want to be caught in another, especially with a leaking old tub like this.”
“There isn’t any storm and we aren’t caught yet. ”

“ Fred’s suggestion was agreed to by his friend and the boys at once started along the banks which were only a few yards back from the shore.
More than the allotted time had passed when the two boys returned. Neither had been able to discover any tokens of the presence of people dwelling or camping on the island.
“It looks pretty dark,” said Fred more disconsolately.
“It’s easy to go back,” said John solemnly, “but it takes some nerve and grit to go ahead. I never yet knew a boat that drifted up the stream. If you leave it alone and don’t do anything it will go down stream every time.” ”

“ Speedily tying his own handkerchief to Fred’s he then fastened both to the top of the mast. “Somebody may see our signal of distress,” he explained.
“Pull, Fred! Pull for all you’re worth!” he hastily added. “We’ve got to get nearer the boats if we ever make shore.”
While Fred rowed, John was doing his utmost to bail the boat. He was using his hands and his cap, but even with his utmost endeavors the depth of the water in the slowly moving skiff did not decrease. Both boys were toiling desperately now. Their faces were red and streaked with perspiration. ”

“ Marie to Cockburn Island. Even when we stopped on the shore of Mud Lake and he cooked our dinner for us he kept on talking just the same whether we were there or not.”
“That’s just the trouble with you, Fred,” retorted George. “You say he kept on talking whether you were there or not. Now how do you know he kept on talking when you weren’t there? You see that’s the reason we have to put in intelligent questions sometimes. You are just as likely to talk about things you don’t know as you are about things that you do.” ”

“ Relieved by the confidence of the mate in the safety of their friends and of the Gadabout, both John and Fred became more intent listeners to the conversation which was occurring between the men.
“That Mackinac Island,” suggested their host after a time, turning to the boys, “is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Ever been there before?”
“No, sir,” replied Fred. “This is our first visit.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Very much. There are no two days alike. We have been up the river, down the shore of Lake Michigan and to-day we came over here to Drummond Island to try the fishing.” ”

“ As soon as the boys were convinced that the men had withdrawn, they quickly descended the ladder and ran out into the yard.
“Look yonder,” said John grasping his friend by the arm and pointing toward the shore. “There are George and Grant and they are both coming here.”
“The more the merrier,” laughed Fred, relieved by the sight of his friends. “There will be less danger now than there was before. That man Halsey is desperate. What have you done with the box?” ”

“ Both George and Grant were depressed now for they had been working busily throughout most of the day and all their efforts had been unavailing. The missing boys had not been found nor had anything been discovered to indicate that their friends had even landed on Western Duck Island.
“They will be all right,” said the captain, striving to cheer up his downhearted young companions. “They’ll take care of themselves. There hasn’t been any storm and two boys in such weather can’t get into trouble on Lake Huron unless they try to and you say they aren’t that kind.” ”

“ The boys waited until the man drew near and when he discovered their presence his remarks were not complimentary to either of his would-be passengers.
“No, sir, I cannot take either one of you,” he said positively. “I have something else to do. In fact I have got to do it. I cannot go to Mackinac to-day under any circumstances. But what are you two boys doing here? You haven’t explained that yet.”
“We don’t know,” said John, “just why we’re here. About all that we know is that we are here and we want to get away.”
“How do you propose to leave?”
“We want you to take us on your motor-boat.” ”

“ Both excitedly were watching the coming boat.
In a brief time the power was shut off and the anchor was cast overboard. Then in a small skiff, which the motor-boat had in tow, the man who had been at the wheel quickly rowed toward the shore.
“Do you see who that is?” whispered Fred in great excitement.
“I do,” replied John quickly. “It is that man that we saw on Cockburn Island. It is the same one that came over to Mackinac. What do you suppose he’s coming here for?”
“You know just as much about it as I do. If we keep still we may be able to learn more in a little while.” ”

“ They were simply confiscated on one side of the line instead of on the other and really this man Halsey has no just claim to them.”
“This has been a great summer,” said Fred enthusiastically. “There’s been something stirring every day. We have been going from one excitement to another about as fast as we could go. But now we have come to the end.”
“Oh, no,” laughed Mr. Button. “You haven’t gotten to the end by any manner of means. Go ahead boys never turn backward. I think you will find that you have still more exciting experiences before you.”
“Then we’ll go ahead and try them,” laughed John. ”

“ If either of those huge dogs should attack you there would surely be trouble. Besides, the little Japanese cannot be ignored. And then too, the smuggler himself, if he is caught on the ground, or finds we are making our own investigations, may make more trouble than all the rest put together.”
“What’s the reason,” spoke up George excitedly, “that Grant and I can’t take another motor-boat and go over there near the channel and spend the day fishing? You see we would be within easy calling if you need us and the fact that we were there might help to explain why Fred and John were on the island.” ”