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

CHAPTER XVII
CAUGHT NAPPING

Jack was shocked at the words and manner of the young fisherman. His chums even half turned away in disgust, believing that their mission was doomed to failure. But Jack did not give up a thing so easily.

“Wait,” he said, quietly; “I don’t believe you know, Andy. When did you hear from home last?”

“Never once,” gritted the other, morosely, showing that his wrongs had eaten into his very soul. “Didn’t want to, neither. Made up my mind I cud take care of myself. Done it too, all these years. Got money laid up; and goin’ to be married in the fall.”

“Then you didn’t know your mother was dead?” Jack went on.

“Oh!” exclaimed Andy, starting, and showing signs of emotion. “I never heard that Ma was gone! Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t see her again. She was never so bitter as dad; but only weak like.”

Jack heard him sigh, and knew a start had been made.

“Listen, Andy,” he went on; “your father is subject to strokes. One of them will carry him off. It may be today, or tomorrow, but not a great while can he stay here. He is bitterly sorry for what he did. He wants to tell you so, to ask you to forgive him before he too dies.”

Andy’s head fell on his broad chest, and Jack believed he saw his frame quiver with some sort of gathering emotion.

“He has made his will, and left you everything, Andy,” he continued. “If you are to be married, that will be your home. He begged us to find you, to tell you all this; and that if you would only come back to forgive him, he would die happy. Won’t you do that, Andy? Once he goes, the chance can never come to you again; and you’re bound to feel mighty sorry as the years go by.”

Nick nudged George, and whispered.

“Did you ever hear the beat of that, George? Ain’t our Jack the born lawyer though? He ought to be in your dad’s office, studying for the bar, that’s what.”

“Hold your horses, Buster!” answered the one addressed, eagerly waiting to see what effect Jack’s logic might have upon Andy.

The struggle however was short. Presently the young fisherman glanced up; and as soon as he could see the look on his bronzed face Jack knew his case was won.

“I’ll go back to the old man,” he said, firmly. “I guess ’taint right he shud die and not have a chance to say what’s on his mind. And thank ye for tellin’ me.”

“But when will you go?” Jack continued. “There is need of haste, because nobody can say just how long he may live.”

“A boat’ll be along this arternoon, and we ship some barrels on her. Guess the boss’ll let me off when he larns the reason,” Andy replied.

“If you like, I’ll tell him the whole story?” Jack suggested.

And this he did a little later. He found the boss full of sympathy, rough man as he seemed to be. And Andy readily received permission to break the contract he had made for the season.

“Well, what’s doing now?” queried Herb, as the bunch wandered around, observing the various interesting phases of the fishermen’s business; for a boat was loading with barrels full of the catch, which were going direct to the Soo, from where they would be carried by express to Chicago, or other distributing points.

“Too late to go on today,” said Jack. “Besides, I want to have a try with some of the big speckled trout that they tell me lie around here. They take plenty, but have to throw them back, or eat them, as the law does not allow any sale of trout. Think of a seven pounder on my rod.”

“Well, get at it then, Jack,” laughed George. “You’ll never be happy till you do hook a monster. We’ll promise to help you eat him, all right; eh, fellows?”

“All he can bring in, and then some,” declared Nick; making his mouth move in a suggestive way that caused his mates to laugh.

“Be careful, Buster,” warned Herb. “You know you said you meant to cut down on your grub. Instead of losing, you’re gaining weight every day. If you keep on like that, Rosie won’t know you when we get back home.”

But Nick only grinned as he replied calmly: “Well, Rosie ain’t the whole thing. There are others, perhaps.”

“Listen to the traitor, would you?” exclaimed Josh. “Won’t I tell on him, though, when we get back? I bet he’s thinking right now of that cute little elephant, Sallie Bliss!”

“All right,” admitted Nick, brazenly. “Who’s got a better right, tell me? And even you admit that she is cute. Just mind your own business, Josh Purdue. The fact is, you’re just green with envy because of my noble figure. Pity you couldn’t have a little of my fat on your bones!”

“Noble figure!” exclaimed Josh, pretending to be near a fainting spell. “Shades of my ancestors, excuse me! I may be envious, but I ain’t conceited, like some people, and that’s the truth.”

Jack left them in this sort of warm argument; but he knew that no matter what was said, Nick and Josh would not openly quarrel.

He asked numerous questions as to the most likely spots for the big trout; and having secured some bait, started into business. While thus employed he saw the steamer come along, and the boat loaded with barrels go out to meet her, as she stopped her engines.

“There’s Andy stepping aboard, carrying his grip,” Jack said to himself. “And I’m glad he proved so sensible. The old man will be wild to have him again. Yes, it was a lucky day for him in more ways than one when we started for his house to get a supply of butter, eggs and milk. Nick thought the luck was all on our side; but he can never see far beyond meal time.”

As the afternoon grew on, and the steamer became hazy in the distance, Jack began to have some bites. And then came the thrilling moment when he found himself engaged with one of those famous monster speckled beauties for which this region is noted, and specimens of which he had seen in the breeding ponds of the Soo government fish hatchery.

It was a glorious fight, never to be forgotten; and at last Jack had his prize in his hands. Nor did the luck stop there. The fish were hungry, apparently; for in less than five minutes Number Two gave him even a harder struggle than the other victim; and in this case also Jack won out.

So they did have trout galore for supper; and even Nick was surfeited for once. All of the boys declared that they had never tasted anything finer than these big Lake Superior trout, freshly taken from the icy waters of the big reservoir, and cooked as only Josh Purdue could do it.

“Yum! yum!” Nick went on, after being actually pressed in vain to have another helping; “I’d like to stay right here for a month. Seems to me I’d never get tired of that pink flesh trout. Don’t ever want to hear mention of a Mississippi catfish again after this.”

“How about Canada kitties?” asked Herb, maliciously.

Nick declined to answer. That was a subject on which his comrades knew his mind full well; and he did not mean to argue it again.

Mutely he pointed to the skin of the lynx which had fallen to his gun, mutilated a little, to be sure, by the charge of shot that had been the means of its death; but worth its weight in silver to the fat Nimrod; and Herb closed up like a clam.

In the morning they prepared to go on again; though Herb and Jack had, when by themselves, seriously talked over the subject; and were beginning to arrive at the conclusion that this tremendous fresh water sea was hardly the best cruising ground for such small craft as the motor boats; and that they would be wise to cut short their former intention of reaching Duluth.

“Better keep an eye out for dirty weather, boys!” the boss of the camp had observed, when shaking hands as they said good-bye.

Nick could see no signs of anything ahead that looked like a storm; and he was inclined to believe the other must be wrong in his guess.

“Must be one of them old croakers we hear so much about,” he remarked to Herb, as they went on along the coast of the Big Lake. “Always expecting things to happen that don’t come to pass. I don’t see any storm, do you?”

“Not a sign,” replied the skipper of the Comfort; who was anxiously keeping tabs on his engine, as though he had reason to fear a repetition of the former trouble.

But in the end it proved to be George who brought the little expedition to a halt. After acting so splendidly in that fierce race with the Flash, lo and behold, the motor of the Wireless broke down during the early afternoon.

They tinkered at it for an hour and more, Jack coming over to take a hand; but apparently little progress was made. Jack was worried. They were too far away from the fish camp to think of towing the disabled boat back; and a harbor did not offer within reaching distance beyond.

The afternoon began to wane, and there seemed nothing for it but that the three motor boats should anchor just where they were, and pass the night on the open water. All would be well if the weather remained fair, and no strong southerly wind arose during the night. Jack did not like to think what might happen in case such a thing did come about.

So as night came on they made things as snug as possible, ate supper aboard, and determined to keep up their courage, in the belief that nothing would happen to alarm them.

But about an hour after midnight Jack, being on the watch, was thrilled to hear a sudden and entirely unexpected boom of thunder.

Instantly everybody was awake, and stirring; loud voices began to be heard, as the others thrust their heads out of the tarpaulin covers that served as boat tents when the crews slept aboard; and excitement reigned.

The very thing that Jack had dreaded most of all seemed on the verge of coming about; since they were caught on the open lake at night, with a storm threatening.

CHAPTER XVIII
A NIGHT OF ANXIETY

“Hey! here’s Nick getting into his cork jacket already!” called Herb.

“All right,” said the one in question, firmly. “Think I want to get washed out on that pond without something to hold me up? Remember, I’m a new beginner when it comes to swimming. And then I’ve got more to hold up than the rest of you.”

“Well, help me get this tent down first,” remonstrated Herb. “We don’t want to be caught by a storm with these things up, you know.”

“But it might rain?” Nick protested.

“Let it. We’ve got oilskins; and perhaps there’ll be plenty of time left to get into the same. Take hold there.”

Herb was right; and the crews of all the little motor boats had already started to stow away the big covers. Jack kept things as snug as possible aboard the Tramp, in case of a downpour; and that was not at all the thing he feared most.

They were within fifty feet of cruel looking rocks. If the wind broke out from any quarter that would send the big billows churning against that barrier, the fate of the motor boat fleet could be easily guessed.

In a little while everything had been done that seemed possible; after which they could only sit there, and await whatever was to be handed out to them.

Nick and Josh were plainly nervous; and even Jimmie showed some signs of apprehension, nor could they be blamed for this timidity.

“What if one of the boats is swept away?” suggested Josh; who, being in the narrow-beam Wireless understood that he had much less chance for safety than those who manned the other craft.

“No danger of that happening,” Jack replied, quickly. “The only thing we have to fear is being smashed up against these rocks. Our boats would cave in like puff balls.”

“That’s what,” Josh went on. “Perhaps fellows, we ought to go ashore in the dinkies while we have the chance. Even if we lost the boats we’d save our lives. And I promised my folk at home I wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks, you know.”

But George only sniffed at the idea.

“Rats!” he exclaimed. “There you go just as usual, magnifying the danger, Josh. As for me, I’m going to stick like glue to this old Wireless. Just see me deserting her because a little squall chances to blow up. Get ashore if you feel like it. And you too, Buster; only remember, if we should be blown miles away, you two fellows would be apt to starve to death in this lonely region.”

“That settles it,” said Nick, immediately.

If there was any chance of his starving, he stood ready to accept all sorts of perils rather than face that possibility. And doubtless George knew all this when he put the case so strenuously.

Josh too decided that he did not want to go ashore. If the others could stand the danger, he would too.

“It may not be so bad for us, fellows,” observed Jack. “Because, if you look up, you’ll see that the clouds are coming from the land side. And every bang of thunder up to now has been from that direction too. The storm this time doesn’t mean to cross the lake, and hit this shore. And unless it changes around, we’ll be protected from it by these very rocks we feared so much!”

“Bully! bully! Good for you, Jack!” cried Nick, as if greatly relieved. “I’m feeling so much better I almost believe my lost appetite is returning.”

“Well, it’s so, ain’t it?” demanded the other.

“Sure it is,” echoed Jimmie, with delight in his voice.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard this long while,” remarked George, who despite his seeming valor, was secretly much distressed over the outlook.

The thunder increased in violence. Then they heard the sweep of the wind through the pines and hemlocks on the shore. And in less than ten minutes the rain was pouring down like a deluge.

They had secured things so that little harm would be done. Still, the outlook was far from attractive, with several hours of darkness ahead; during which they must keep on constant guard, not knowing at what minute the wind might take a notion to veer around to some quarter, that would send the waves dashing against the rockbound shore so near by.

It seemed as severe a gale as the one they had experienced only a short time before. Indeed, Jack was of the opinion that the wind was even greater, though they did not feel it the same way, because of the shelter obtained from the land.

They would never be apt to forget that night, no matter how time passed. Watching was serious business for Nick; and three times he was known to creep over to where Herb kept his cracker bag, doubtless to interest himself in a little “snack,” so as to briefly forget his other troubles.

Nor did Herb have the heart to take him to task about it. Their situation was so very distressing that he could think of nothing else. Every time the lightning flamed athwart the black sky the boys would look out at the troubled waters stretching as far as the eye could see; or else send an anxious glance toward the grim rocks that loomed up so very close over their bows.

Hours seemed like days. Nick groaned, and declared he ached in every bone.

“What d’ye think of me, then?” demanded Josh. “You’re well padded; while I reckon my poor old bones are going to stick through, pretty soon. I dassent stand up, because George won’t let me; and you can. I wish you had my berth, Buster.”

But at last Herb declared that there were certainly signs of dawn coming in the east. Every eye was turned that way; and upon learning that the news was true the boys began to take on fresh hope.

“Well,” George said for the tenth time, “I’m glad of one thing, and that is we managed to get my engine in working order last night before supper. Goodness knows what a fix I’d have been in otherwise, if we had to put out to sea when the wind changed.”

“Oh! murdher! I hope it won’t do the same!” exclaimed Jimmie, who overheard the remark, and was filled with dismay as he surveyed the wild scene that stretched away off toward the southern horizon.

“Can’t we manage somehow to cook something warm?” asked George.

“Yes, that’s it,” immediately echoed Nick, beginning to bustle around in the steady old Comfort. “We’ll all feel so much better if we have breakfast. Nothing like a full stomach to put bravery in a fellow, I tell you.”

“Oh! how brave you must feel all the time, then!” observed Josh, sarcastically.

But Jack knew that this time the fat boy spoke the truth. When people are wet and shivering things are apt to look gloomy enough; but once warm them up, and let them eat a hot meal, and somehow a rosy tinge begins to paint the picture.

They knew just how to go about the matter; and those wonderful German Juwel kerosene gas stoves filled the bill to a dot; as Nick declared, after the delightful aroma of boiling coffee had begun to reach his eager nostrils.

And while the wind still howled through the pines up on the high rocks, and the billows rolled away toward the south, growing in size as they drew farther off shore, the motor boat boys sat down to a tasty breakfast.

“Now, this isn’t so bad,” observed Nick, as he started in on what had been dished out to him by Herb, who this time had done the cooking.

“It will be for the boss if he don’t get to work in a hurry,” Josh flung across the watery space that separated the boats.

“Don’t worry on my account,” laughed Herb. “I’ve got a mortgage on the balance in the fryingpan, and he’d better not touch it on his life.”

“Think the bally old storm is over, Jack?” asked Nick, presently.

“The worst of it is, and I believe the wind seems to be dying down a little,” came the ready reply, as Jack swept the heavens with anxious eyes.

“I thought that last gust came out a little more toward the west,” remarked one of the others.

“I’d hate to know that,” Jack said. “For old sailors say that when the wind backs up into the west, after being in the north, without going all the way around, it means a return of the storm, from another quarter.”

“Time enough to get ashore yet!” muttered Josh.

“Go ahead, if you want to,” George said grimly. “Take some grub along, if you make up your mind that way. But I don’t stir out of this boat unless I’m thrown out. Understand that?”

An hour later, and Jack saw that his worst fears were realized.

“Wind’s getting around fast now, fellows,” he announced.

“It sure is,” Herb admitted; for he had been noticing the increased roughness of the water for a little while back.

“What must we do, Jack?” asked George, with set teeth, and that look of determination in his eyes that stood for so much.

“Hold out as long as we can,” came the reply in a steady voice. “Then, when the danger of our being dashed against the rocks grows too great, we’ll just have to up-anchor, and start our engines to moving. It will be safer for us out yonder than so near the shore.”

Another half hour went by. Then the little boats were pitching and tossing violently, as the full force of the onrushing waves caught them.

“Can’t stand it much longer, Jack!” called out George, who was having the most serious time of all.

“Then we might as well make the move now as later!” called Jack. “So get going, both of you. And remember to stand by as close as you can, so that we may help in case an upset happens to any boat.”

Of course George knew his chum had the cranky Wireless in mind when he said this; but the peril was not alone confined to the one boat.

Accordingly the engines were started, the anchors gotten aboard after a tremendous amount of hard work; and the little motor boat fleet put to sea, with the intention of trying to ride the storm out as best they might.

If the engines only continued faithful all might yet be well.

CHAPTER XIX
PERIL RIDES THE STORM WAVES

There were anxious hearts among the young cruisers as they started to leave the vicinity of the shore, and head out upon the big heaving seas.

So long as they could keep the boats’ bows on the danger would not be so great as if they tried to turn; when those foam-crested waves would strike them sideways, and threaten to turn them on their beam-ends; which would mean destruction.

The motors sang like angry bees whenever the little propellers chanced to be exposed after a retreating wave had passed. This was where the greatest peril lay; for the strain on the engine and shaft was terrific at such times, owing to the rapid change of pace.

So Jack, Herb and George found themselves compelled to stick constantly at the job, manipulating the lever, so as to shut off power with each passing wave.

They did not make fast time away from the shore; but at the end of half an hour had reached a point where it seemed the height of folly to go farther.

“How is it, George?” Jack sang out.

“Everything moving smoothly over here so far,” came the reply.

“And you, Herb?” continued the commodore of the fleet.

“No fault to find, only it’s hard work; and I hope we don’t have to keep it up all day,” replied the skipper of the Comfort.

“I don’t think that is going to happen,” Jack observed. “Seems to me the wind is dying down. When that happens, the waves must gradually grow smaller. Perhaps by afternoon we may be able to proceed, and hunt for a harbor farther along.”

“Well, now,” George remarked. “I wouldn’t be sorry any, let me tell you, fellows. I’ve been balancing here like a circus acrobat this blessed hour and more, till my legs are stiff.”

“Think of me, would you!” bleated Nick.

“Shucks! you’re like a ball, and nothing ought to hurt you!” declared Josh.

“I’ve got feelings, all right, though,” the fat boy protested. “But I certain do hope we get our feet on solid ground right soon. I’d just love to see a fire going, and smell the hickory wood burning.”

“Yes, it’s something more than hickory wood you’re longing to smell, and we all know it for a fact,” Josh fired back at him.

Nevertheless, they one and all did find encouragement in what Jack had stated. The wind was certainly beginning to die out; and while as yet there could not be any appreciable difference noted in the size of the rollers upon which they mounted, to plunge into the abyss beyond, that would come in time.

During the morning that followed the boys who handled the engines of those three little power boats found occasion to bless the makers of the staunch motors that stood up so valiantly under this severe test.

They had taken on an additional supply of gasoline while at the Soo, and there was little danger of this giving out. Still, as Nick said, this energy was all wasted, and reminded him of soldiers “beating time.”

Now and then the boys were able to exchange remarks, especially the three who were not kept busy during this time.

Jack listened to what was said, and while he made no attempt to break into the conversation, he gathered from it that at least Nick, Jimmie and Josh were about ready to call the westward cruise off, and turn around.

So he made up his mind that the matter must be threshed out the very next time they could gather around a fire on shore. As for himself, Jack was thinking along the same lines, and ready to go back to Mackinac Island’s quiet waters, in the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan.

Noon came along, to find them still buffeting the waves; but there had been a considerable change by then.

“After we’ve had a bite,” called out Jack, at which Nick instantly showed attention; “I think we’d better make a start out of this. The waves you notice no longer break, and while your boat would roll more or less, George, I don’t think you’d be in any great danger of turning turtle, do you?”

“Oh! I’m only too willing to put out,” came the answer. “Anything but this horrible marking time. I like to see the chips fly when I use an axe. I want to see results. And here, this blessed little motor has been churning away for hours, without getting away from our old stand. Yes, let’s eat and run.”

“That would be bad for digestion,” spoke up Nick. “I don’t believe in hurrying over meals. I was warned against doing it, unless I wanted to waste away to skin and bones like Josh here.”

“Oh! you can take as long as you like,” said Herb; “only get busy now, and dish up anything you can find. There’s some cold baked beans handy; and open some of that potted beef; it ought to be tasty with the crackers and cheese.”

“I’m on the job right off,” declared Nick. “You know you never have to hurry me about getting things to eat.”

“Mebbe that’s why your digestion is so good,” said Herb, sarcastically; but the fat boy only grinned as he crawled back to where the eatables were kept.

Later on they did head more toward the west, and start moving through the swinging seas. Constant watchfulness became necessary, for there was always danger that in some unguarded moment one of the billows might roll a boat over like a chip.

So they kept going on, constantly varying their course to meet emergencies, and making progress along the coast. It was splendid manœuvring for the young pilots of the motor boats; though they rather thought they had had quite enough of it, and would be only too glad to call a halt.

Jack was watching the shore line ahead, whenever he could, in order to learn if a haven came in sight. He had Jimmie frequently use the glasses when they were on a wave crest; and kept hoping to hear him cry out that he believed he had sighted the harbor they hoped to make before night came on.

As the waves still further diminished in size, they were enabled to make better time, since they no longer feared an upset. Indeed, about the middle of the afternoon they ceased entirely to head the boats into any billow; and all of them declared that they felt proud of what had been accomplished.

“I say, Jack!” called out George, as the two boats happened to draw near each other.

“Well, what is it?” answered the one addressed, popping his head up.

“How does it come, d’ye suppose, that we haven’t seen a blessed steamer all this morning, going in either direction?” George went on.

“Why,” replied Jack. “Because they had warning from the weather bureau that a storm was coming, and delayed starting out. These captains know what it is to meet up with a Lake Superior storm.”

“Yes,” spoke up Jimmie, “it’s only the nervy little boats like ours that laugh at all the blows as comes along. Look at us, would ye, smashin’ through the big waves like the sassy things. Slap! bang! and come again, would ye? Sure, it’s weather on’y fit for motor boats, it do be.”

“Yes,” laughed George, “we’re all mighty brave about now; but I tell you boys, I felt squeamish for hours when the storm was on. I knew what would happen to us if the wind whipped around before morning. Excuse me from another experience like that. Wonder where Clarence and Joe were then?”

“That’s so, they did go on,” Jack remarked. “I hope they had shelter. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to be wrecked on such a terrible night.”

A short time later Jimmie cried out again: “There do be a steamer comin’ along there, Jack!”

“Steamer nothing!” echoed Josh, who happened to be using George’s glasses at the same time. “I’ve been watching that thing for five minutes now. And do you know what I think it is, fellows?”

“What?” demanded Jack, who could not leave his duties even for the minute that it would take to glance through the glasses.

“A wreck!” exclaimed Josh, with thrilling emphasis.

Then everybody sat up, and began to look eagerly in the direction mentioned. It was far out over the troubled waters; and the object could only be seen when it happened to be lifted on the crest of a wave.

“It is that same, upon me worrd!” cried Jimmie, presently. “I cud say the thing thin as plain as the nose on me face.”

“And boys, there’s some kind of a flag floating on it,” Josh went on.

“Upside down?” questioned Nick, eagerly.

“Looks like it to me,” came the answer.

“Then it’s a wreck, all right; because that’s the signal of distress,” Nick continued, now raising Herb’s glasses for a look.

“Oh! my! I believe it’s them!” he ejaculated a minute later.

At that Jack could stand it no longer.

“Here, Jimmie, you grab hold, and run this boat,” he said. “Keep her nose pointed just as she runs now, and whatever you do, don’t swing around, broadside on.”

Then, as Jimmie took hold of the wheel, the skipper raised the glasses for a look, while George awaited his report with ill-concealed eagerness.

“There, look now, Jack!” cried Josh.

Presently Jack took down the glasses, and there was a grave expression on his face.

“What did you see, Jack?” demanded George. “Something that’s bothered you some, I can tell by the way you frown.”

“That’s a sinking craft, all right, George,” replied the other, as he turned on all the power his engine was capable of producing, and sent the Tramp speeding directly into the waves. “More than that, I’m afraid I did recognize it, and, just as Nick said, it’s the power boat, Mermaid, carrying the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews, and his party. Boys, we must hurry to their rescue before they go down!”