Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes; or, Exploring the Mystic Isle of Mackinac

CHAPTER V
A STRANGE SOUND

George recognized the wisdom of such a move as his chum suggested. If the wind kept on increasing as it seemed bound to do, and the storm broke upon them in all its mid-summer violence, the cranky speed boat would be apt to feel the effect more than either of the other craft.

It was therefore of great importance that he and Josh seek the promised shelter with all haste. Much as he disliked leaving the balance of the fleet, necessity seemed to compel such a move.

Accordingly, he threw on all the motive power his engine was capable of developing, and began to leave the others quickly in the lurch.

Jack could easily have gone ahead of the heavy Comfort, but he did not mean to do so. Better that they stick together, so as to be able to render assistance if it were badly needed.

Talking across the narrow abyss of water separating the two boats was altogether out of the question, unless one shouted. There was no time for an exchange of opinions, since all of them needed to keep their wits on the alert, in order to meet the dangers that impended.

Already had the waves grown in size. They were getting heavier with every passing minute; and the little motor boats began to actually wallow, unless headed directly into the washing seas.

It was a critical time for all concerned, and Nick could be seen with his cork life-preserver carefully fastened about his stout body under the arms, as if prepared for the very worst that could happen.

It was about this time that Jimmie gave a shrill whoop.

“They done it!” he yelled, regardless of the rules of grammar, such was his delight. “The ould Wireless is safe beyant the p’int!”

Jack saw that what he said seemed to be so. The speed boat had evidently managed to reach a spot where the jutting tongue of land helped to shield her from the oncoming waves. She no longer plunged up and down like a cork on the water, though continuing her onward progress.

The sight spurred the others on to renewed zeal. If George could do it, then the same measure of success should come their way.

Five minutes later Jack noticed that there was an apparent abatement of the wild fury with which the heaving billows were beating against the bow of his little craft. A look ahead told him the comforting news that already was the extreme point standing between the two boats and the sweep of the seas.

“We do be safe!” shouted Jimmie; who, in his excitable way seemed ready to try and dance a jig then and there, an operation that would have been attended with considerable danger to the safety of the Tramp’s human cargo.

“And not a minute too soon!” said Jack, as a sudden gust of wind tore past, that might have been fatal to his boat had it been wallowing in one of those seas just then.

As it was, they had about all they could do to push on against the fierce gale, protected as they were by the cape of land. The spray was flying furiously over that point, as the waves dashed against its further side. But the boys knew they were safe from harm, and could stand a wetting with some degree of patience.

George was waiting for them, his anchor down, at a point he considered the best they could make for the present. He had managed to pull on his oilskins, and was looking just like a seasoned old tar as the other boats drew in.

Jimmie and Nick were ready with the mudhooks, under the directions of their respective skippers. Hardly had these found a temporary resting-place at the bottom, than all four lads seized upon their rainproof suits, and presently they were as well provided against the downpour as George.

And the rain certainly did descend in a deluge for a short time. They had all they could do to prevent the boats from being half swamped, such was the tremendous violence with which the torrent was hurled against them by the howling wind.

But after all, it was only a summer squall. In less than half an hour the sun peeped out, as if smiling over the deluge of tears. The wind had gone down before, but of course the waves were still rolling very heavily outside.

“That settles our going on today!” declared George, as he pointed at the outer terminus of the cape, past which they could see the rollers chasing one another, as if in a great game of tag.

“It’s pretty late in the afternoon anyhow,” declared Josh, who was secretly worried for fear lest his rather reckless skipper might want to put forth again.

“Yes, and we might look a long way ahead without finding a chance to drop into a harbor as good as this,” remarked Herb.

“You’re all right,” laughed Jack; “and we’d be sillies to even dream of leaving this bully nook now. Besides, if tomorrow is decent, we can make an extra early start in the morning, and get to Mackinac before dark.”

“That suits me all right,” Nick observed, as he complacently started to remove his oilskins, so that he could pay attention to the bulky cork life preserver, which he did not mean to wear all night.

They found that it was possible to make a point much closer to the shore, and it was decided to do so, especially after sharp-eyed Jimmie had discovered signs of a farm near by, possibly belonging to a grower of apples, since a vast orchard seemed to cover many acres.

“I hope that big power boat wasn’t caught in that stiff blow,” Jack remarked, as they were getting ready to go ashore in order to stretch their legs a bit and look around.

“Oh! I guess they must have made Mackinac,” said George. “She was a hurry-boat, all right, and the wind would not bother her like it did our small fry.”

“Thank you, George, for that comforting remark. I was really getting worried myself about the Mermaid,” observed Nick.

“Listen to Buster, would you, fellows?” cried Josh. “I never thought he’d go back on the girls we left behind us, and particularly Rosie!”

But Nick only grinned as they joined in the laugh.

“I’m a privileged character now,” he asserted, stoutly. “A sailor is said to have a best girl in every port, you know, fellows. And every one of you will agree with me that Sallie Bliss is as pretty as a peach.”

“And just your size too, Buster,” declared Herb.

“Look out for an engagement with some dime museum company as the fat” – started Josh; when he had to dodge something thrown at him by the object of this persecution, and the sentence was never completed.

The ground being sandy close to the water, they concluded to start a fire, so as to cook supper ashore, since it was so much more “homey” as Nick said, for them to be together at mealtimes. But all were of the opinion that it would be advisable to sleep on board.

“Another hot squall might spring up during the night,” observed George, “and just fancy our tents going sailing off to sea. Of course I don’t hanker about putting in a night in such cramped quarters as my narrow boat affords; but it can’t come anywhere near what I went through with when Buster was my shipmate, down on the Mississippi.”

“And then somebody ought to go after milk and eggs,” suggested Herb.

“Here, don’t everybody look at me,” Nick bridled up. “I guess it’s the turn of another bunch this time. Josh and myself have served our country as haulers of the necessities.”

“But every farmer doesn’t own a bull, Buster,” remarked George.

“Well, I object to bulldogs just as much. Little fellows are all right, likewise pussy cats; but deliver me from the kind that hold on to all they grab. Nixey. You and Jack try it this time, George.”

“That’s only fair,” spoke up the latter, immediately.

“Well,” said George, “if we’re going, the sooner we start the better; because you see the old sun is hanging right over the horizon.”

“And I’m nearly caved in for want of proper nourishment,” grumbled Nick.

No one paid any particular attention to his remark; because that condition was a regular part of his lamentations several times a day. The only time Nick seemed to be in a state of absolute contentment was the half hour following a gorging bee; and then he beamed satisfaction.

Accordingly the pair started forth, armed with a tin bucket for the milk. George had no great love for biting dogs himself, and as they approached the vicinity of the farm buildings he suggested to his companion that they arm themselves with stout canes, with which they might defend themselves in case of an emergency.

“Looks like a prosperous place, all right,” Jack observed as they saw the buildings and the neat appearance of things in general.

“But seems to me it’s awful lonely here,” remarked George. “Where can the people all be? Don’t see any children about, or women folks. Plenty of cows and chickens, but sure they can’t take care of themselves.”

“Well, hardly,” laughed Jack. “We’ll run across somebody soon. Let’s head for the barn first. Generally at this time you’ll find the men busy there, taking care of the horses, and the pigs.”

“I hear hogs grunting,” remarked George.

“Well, I got the same sound myself; but do you know it struck me more like a groan!” Jack said, in a voice somewhat awed.

“A groan! Gee; what do you mean, Jack?” exclaimed the other, turning toward his chum with a white face.

“Just what I said,” Jack replied. “And listen, there it is again. Now I know it was no swine you heard, George. That sound was from the barn. Come on. I’m afraid somebody’s in trouble here!”

CHAPTER VI
“CARRY THE NEWS TO ANDY!”

“Nobody here, Jack!” announced George, in a relieved tone, as the two entered the stable, and looked around.

A number of horses stood in stalls, munching their oats, which in itself told the observing Jack that some one must have been there a short time before, since the animals had been recently fed.

Before he could make any reply to his companion’s remark, once more that thrilling sound came to their ears. And this time even George realized that it was unmistakably a human groan.

“It came from over here!” exclaimed Jack, as without the slightest hesitation he sprang across the floor of the place.

George following close upon his heels, saw him bending over the figure of a man, who was lying upon the floor in a doubled-up position.

“What has happened? Did one of the horses kick him?” gasped George, always a bundle of nerves.

“No, I don’t think so,” replied Jack. “I can find no sign of an injury about him. It’s more likely a fit of some kind he’s just recovering from. Lots of people are subject to such things, you know.”

“Say, that’s just what;” declared George. “I had an uncle who used to drop like a rock right in the street or anywhere.”

“What did they do with him at such times?” demanded Jack, anxiously.

“Well, nobody seemed able to do much,” replied the other. “I saw my father loosen the collar of his shirt, and lay him out on his back. A little water on his face might help; but in most fits it takes some time to recover. But I thought I saw his eyelids twitch right then, Jack.”

“Yes, he’s going to come out of it,” replied Jack, as he managed to get the old man into what seemed like a more comfortable position.

And presently, as the two boys still bent anxiously over him, the man opened his eyes. He stared at them for a bit, as if trying to collect his thoughts. Then a horse neighed, and he seemed to realize his position.

Jack, seeing him trying to sit up, assisted him. The old man sighed heavily, and spoke in a weak tone.

“Reckon I dropped in my own stable that time. Might have been under the feet of the hosses too. And both men away. Who are ye, boys? I’m beholdin’ to you more’n I can say,” he went on.

Whereupon Jack soon explained how they belonged to a little company of cruisers who had been driven by the storm to take shelter behind the point of land; and that their present errand was to secure a supply of fresh milk and eggs, if so be they could be had.

“Help me to the house, please, boys,” said the farmer, trying to rise. “I’m always some weak after one of these spells. They’re acomin’ oftener now, and I’ll have to quit bein’ alone. Now more’n ever I need Andy. Oh! if they can only find him for me, I’ll be so happy.”

Of course this was so much Greek to the two boys. But they gladly helped him to regain his feet, and walk to the house.

“The men will be back soon, and you can have all the milk and eggs you want!” he declared; and even as he spoke George discovered a team coming toward the farmhouse, evidently from some nearby town, with a couple of husky men on the wagon, which was piled high with new and empty apple barrels.

“That let’s me out,” laughed George, “for you see, I was just going to volunteer to milk Bossie; and as I’ve had mighty little experience in that line, perhaps she’d have kicked me into the next county for a bungler.”

The men came on to the house, seeing strangers present, and Jack soon explained the situation to them. He learned that the old farmer’s name was Jonathan Fosdick, and that the Andy he had spoken about was his only son, with whom he had quarreled several years back, and for whom his heart was forever yearning, now that old age and disease began to grip hold of him.

Supplied with the milk and the eggs the two lads started back to the camp.

“Promise to come up and see me again tonight, boys,” the old farmer had pleaded, as he came to the door with them, after positively refusing to accept any pay for what they had received. “I want to speak with you about something that’s on my mind a heap lately. You helped me once; p’raps ye can again.”

“Now, what under the sun do you think he meant?” remarked George, as they plodded along with their heavy burdens toward the lake shore, where the boats lay.

“Just wait, and we’ll know all about it soon,” replied Jack; for while he could himself give a pretty good guess what was on the mind of Mr. Fosdick, he did not care to commit himself.

The others greeted the foragers with loud cries of delight.

“Then there wasn’t any bull handy?” said Nick, with an evident shade of disappointment in his voice; for Nick was nothing if not generous; and having tasted the delights of being chased up a tree by an angry bovine, he felt that the other fellows ought to share the experience with him.

The fire was already burning briskly, and Josh employed in his customary tasks of getting things ready for cooking. At such times Josh was looked upon as a czar, and his simplest word was law. It was very pleasant for the tall, lanky lad to feel that he did have an hour or so each day, when every one bent the knee to his superior knowledge; and he certainly made the most of it.

And the supper was of course a bountiful one. It could not be otherwise so long as Nick and Jimmie had a hand in its preparation. The former hovered around from time to time, suggesting that Josh add just another handful to the rice that was being cooked, or possibly wondering if they could make one big can of mullagatawny soup do for six fellows; until frequently the boss would turn and wither him with a look, backed up as it was with that big spoon.

Later on, after everybody had declared themselves satisfied, Jack beckoned to the skipper of the Wireless.

“We promised that we’d run up and see how Mr. Fosdick was getting on, fellows,” remarked the latter. “Be back inside of an hour or so; long before you are thinking of going aboard.”

Nick started to rise, but sank back again as Jack shook his head.

“This farmer keeps a black bull, Buster. I saw him in an enclosure, and seemed to me the bars looked mighty slender!” observed George, maliciously.

“Excuse me, I think this fire feels mighty comfy,” grinned Nick.

The two boys found Mr. Fosdick waiting for them. The woman who did his household work, a black mammy, had been over at a neighbor’s when they were there before; but had later on returned, and cooked supper.

Things even looked a little cheerful, with the lamp-light flooding the comfortable livingroom of the big farmhouse.

“Sit down, boys,” said the farmer, pointing to two chairs, he himself reclining on a lounge. “You’re wondering now why I wanted to see ye again. I’m beholdin’ to you for the prompt assistance you gave me. But there’s somethin’ more’n that. Did ye say as how ye was bound for Lake Superior way soon?”

“Why, we are going as far as the Soo,” Jack replied, readily; “and we may take a notion to prowl along the northern shore for a short distance. I’ve always heard a heap about the big speckled trout to be taken around the mouth of the Agawa river and other places there, and since we have the chance I thought I’d like to try to land a whopper, if so be the rest of the boys are willing to go.”

“The Agawa!” repeated Mr. Fosdick, eagerly. “I wonder if that might be the place now. ’Twas somewhere along that northern shore he said he saw my Andy.”

“That was your son, I take it?” ventured Jack.

“Yes, my only boy or child. His mother died after he ran away, and I’m gettin’ old now. I want Andy to come home; but try as I would, I never could get a line to him.”

Then he went on to tell about his boy, and for a long time Jack and George had to listen to an account of Andy’s childhood life. Gradually he came to the point where the highstrung boy had refused to be treated as a child any longer. A violent quarrel had followed, and Andy left home.

“I know now I was most to blame,” said the old man, contritely; “and if only I could get word to my boy I’d beg him to come back to me. I want to see him again before I foller his mother across the great divide. Just a week ago I had a letter from a party who told me he was sure he saw Andy in a fish camp up on Superior. He’d growed up, and the gentleman didn’t have a chanct to speak with him; but afterward it struck him who the man was. If so be ye run across Andy, tell him I’m waitin’ with my arms stretched out for him, won’t ye, boys?”

“To be sure we will!” declared George, heartily, for he was considerably affected by the appearance of grief on the old man’s face.

They soon afterward started to say goodnight, wishing to get back to where the rest of the party sat around the camp fire.

“I forgot to tell ye,” went on Mr. Fosdick, as he followed them to the door, “as they was a young chap here t’other day as said he’d keep an eye out for Andy. And now that I think of it, he had a little motor boat too, like them you tell me about. And he said he ’spected to cruise around Superior a bit.”

George and Jack exchanged glances.

“And was his name Clarence Macklin?” asked the latter, quickly.

“Just what it was,” replied the farmer, waving them a farewell.

“Now, what do you think of that?” asked George, as they strode on. “Why, that fellow is bound to crop up all the time like a jack-in-the-box. We can’t even start to do a poor heartbroken old father a good turn, but he gets his finger in the pie. But there’s a bully chance for me to get another race with his piratical Flash, and that’s some satisfaction;” and Jack found himself compelled to laugh, realizing that George had his weakness just as well as Buster.

CHAPTER VII
TIED UP AT MACKINAC ISLAND

“All aboard!”

It was Nick who shouted this aloud on the following morning. They had arisen at dawn, and prepared a hasty breakfast. Josh had looked out for this on the preceding evening, for he had cooked a pot of grits, which being sliced while cold was fried in butter after being dipped in egg. Only several fryingpans were needed for the job, on account of the extreme fondness Nick had for that particular dish. But long ago his comrades had learned to view such an assertion on the part of the fat boy with suspicion; because it was discovered that the present treat was always the one Buster adored most.

The waves still seemed larger than might prove comfortable, but there was a fair chance of their going down later on in the day. Besides, George was gaining more confidence in his narrow boat, as he came to know it better; and he possessed something of a reckless spirit in addition.

“Ain’t this just glorious!” exclaimed Nick, when they had gotten fully started, and passing beyond the protecting point, felt the full force of the waves.

Not a voice was raised in dissent; even Josh, while looking a little anxious, refused to put up a complaint as the Wireless ducked and bowed and slid along through the troubled waters like a “drunken duck,” as Nick termed it aside to Herb.

But just as they had anticipated, things improved as the day advanced. The breeze grew lighter; and while it came over many miles of water, the sea was not threatening. Besides, there is such a thing as growing accustomed to such things. What in the beginning might excite apprehension, after a while would be accepted as the natural thing, and even looked upon with indifference.

They kept this up until after the noon hour, and splendid progress was made, so Jack declared. As he had been elected the commodore of the fleet, and kept tab of the charts, they always depended on what he said as being positive.

Finding a good opportunity to get ashore about this time the boys accepted it by a unanimous vote. So many hours aboard small boats gives one a cramp, and under such conditions a chance to stretch is always acceptable.

Their stay was not long, for all of them were anxious to reach the beautiful island known as Mackinac by evening. So once more the fleet put out, and in a clump bucked into the northwest breeze and the sea.

They were now heading due northwest, and about three in the afternoon George declared he could see land dead ahead which he believed must be Bois Blanc Island.

“I reckon now you’re just about right,” said Jack, after he had consulted his map, and then in turn peeped through his marine glasses. “For the way we head, there couldn’t be any other land straight on. If that’s so, fellows, we’ll raise the hilly island just beyond pretty soon.”

Before four they could get a sight of what seemed a little green gem set in the glittering sea of water.

“That’s Mackinac, all right,” observed George. “I can see white dots among the green, that stand for the houses. We’re going to get there today, fellows. Told you so, Buster. Me for a juicy steak tonight then.”

“Oh! don’t mention it, please,” gasped Nick. “You make my mouth fairly water. And if our boss cook would only suggest fried onions along with it, my cup of joy would be running over.”

“Sure,” called out Josh, “if you promise to peel the tear-getters. We need such a heap to satisfy that enormous appetite of yours, not to mention some others I know, that I refuse to undertake the job.”

“Oh! all right; count on me!” cried Nick, looking around as though anxious to begin work at once, a proceeding that George vetoed on the spot.

“I need my eyes to see how to steer, thank you, Buster,” he declared. “You just hold in your horses. Plenty of time. Besides, most of the onions are aboard the Comfort along with Josh.”

An hour later they were approaching the magic isle that has won a fame all its own as a picture of beauty seldom equalled, and never excelled – green with its grass and foliage, and with many snow white cottages and hotels showing through this dark background.

“Did you ever see anything like it?” asked Jack, as the three boats sped onward.

“Never,” replied several of the others.

“I’m glad we’ll soon be there!” declared Nick; but everybody knew without asking, that he was thinking about that beefsteak and onions, rather than the joy of reaching such a pretty shore.

“Look at the old blockhouse up on the hill!” remarked Herb.

“Yes, I’ve been reading up on this place, and history tells about some lively times around here during the War of 1812. Seems the British thought Mackinac a good place to have possession of. They sent out an expedition, and came ashore in the night, surprising the little American garrison.”

“That was tough,” grunted Josh. “Like to hear things the other way. Thought Americans never got taken by surprise.”

“Oh! well,” laughed Jack; “you want to read history again, my boy. But I notice a good many steamers around. I reckon most of those bound through to Chicago stop here, as well as the Lake Superior ones. There’s a boat coming in full of people. The Islander she’s called. That must be the boat going over to the Snow Islands every day. There’s another back of her, perhaps coming down from the Soo. Seems quite a lively place, fellows.”

“You bet it is. We must take a run around the island tomorrow, before going on. Never do to pass this by, as we may not be here again in a hurry,” Herb remarked.

Approaching the shore they began to look out a suitable place where the small boats might be tied up for the time they expected to remain. This was not easy to find, since they had to take care and not get in the way of any large craft that might be going out.

After all it was Nick who discovered the opening. Josh declared that the fat boy’s vision was sharpened by the clamorous demands of his appetite; but Nick, as usual, paid little attention to such slurs.

“Who’s going ashore to find a butcher shop?” he demanded, as they began to draw close in to the shore, and get ready to tie up.

“I appoint you a committee of one to secure the steak,” said Jack, solemnly; “and remember, don’t let it be a bit over one inch thick, and weigh more than five pounds.”

“Good gracious! that wouldn’t be even a pound apiece!” expostulated Nick.

“All right! we expect to have some other things along with it, remember,” Jack continued. “You know the penalty of disobedience to orders, Buster?”

“Deprived of food allowance for twenty-four hours!” broke in Josh.

Nick only groaned; and presently finding a chance to creep ashore he hurried off on his delightful errand. For when there was anything connected with meals to be done, Nick was as spry as anybody in camp.

It was some little time before he showed up again.

“Wow! look at what’s coming, would you?” shouted Josh, suddenly.

Of course it was Nick, laden with various packages, and grinning amiably.

“It’s all right, Jack,” he announced as he came ambling along. “It doesn’t weigh a fraction over five pounds. Oh! I was mighty particular about that, I tell you. Had him cut off pieces of the tail till it got down to an even thing.”

“Here, somebody help him, or he’ll take a header into the brink, and lose half of what he’s hugging so tight!” called Herb, and Jimmie started to obey.

“But what’s in all these other packages?” asked Jack, pretending to frown.

“Why, onions, just onions and then more onions!” came the bland reply; at which the others burst out into a roar, causing Nick to look at them in pity. “You fellows can laugh all you please,” he said in lofty scorn; “it don’t feaze me one little bit. I was afraid we might fall short, and so I bought a half peck at the butcher’s. Then, while I was coming along, I saw some white ones, and couldn’t resist the temptation to get a couple of quarts. They go fine raw when you feel just nippy, you see, along with a piece of pilot bread.”

“But there’s still another package; how about that, Buster?” asked George.

“Why,” answered the other, slowly; “after I started off with the white ones would you believe it I discovered a lot of those fine big Spanish onions in a confectioner’s store. I just couldn’t resist the temptation to get half a dollar’s worth. Mightn’t have the chance again, you know, fellows. It’s my treat this time.”

“Thank goodness! we’ve really got enough of something to satisfy Pudding for once!” cried Josh, as he received the various packages.

“Look at the steak, Josh,” said the provider, proudly. “Guess I ought to know a good thing in that line. It’s streaked with fat, and is bound to just melt away in your mouth.”

Josh admitted that it did look tempting; and later on the entire party agreed that Nick had profited by his hobby.

When starting upon this extended trip the motor boat boys had agreed that on no account would they sleep under the roof of a house, unless in case of sickness. So even at Mackinac they must keep to their boats.

Several of them went ashore to see what the place looked like under the electric lights, returning an hour or so later, ready for bed. Those left behind had attended to all necessary arrangements, so that little time was lost.

As customary, the watches were made up of two, on different boats, and so selected that Nick would be paired with Jack himself; because the commodore was suspicious of Buster’s ability to remain awake with any one else as his sentry mate.

It happened that while these two were taking the first turn, and Jack every once in a while would poke Buster with a setting pole he kept handy, something not down on the bills came to pass. The first thing that Jack knew about it was when Nick gave vent to a shrill screech, and scrambled to his knees, holding on to some struggling object that seemed to scratch and snarl and act in a way that was altogether mysterious. And of course the whole six boys were immediately awake, sitting up to ask all sorts of questions.