Four Afloat Part 40

"He's right," exclaimed Bob. "That's Barry on the cabin roof!"

"Then they did get into the engine room," said Nelson, his eyes fixed intently on the distant craft, "and they didn't tow her. I wish," he added, "that we had that revolver of yours, Bob."

"So do I," answered Bob gravely.

The little _Sylph_, as though comprehending the impatience of those she carried, dashed across the river.

CHAPTER XXII-WHEREIN THE _VAGABOND_ IS RECOVERED AND THE THIEF IS CAPTURED

The _Vagabond_ lay anch.o.r.ed close to sh.o.r.e, her nose pointing upstream and shaded by the drooping branch of a willow tree. Beside her, tugging gently at the painter, was the tender. On the cabin roof, stretched out at full length in a patch of hot sunshine, lay Barry. No other life was visible, and had it not been that the tender was tied to an awning stanchion and that the cabin door and hatch were wide open those on the _Sylph_ would have concluded that the person who had run away with the _Vagabond_ had rifled her of money and other valuables and abandoned her here. But at least a dozen yards separated her from the land and it was not likely that the thief would have swam ash.o.r.e while there was a tender handy. "No, it was evident to the party on the _Sylph_ that whoever had taken the _Vagabond_ from the wharf at New London was still on board, and when they had approached to within a hundred yards Nelson slowed down the engine, resolved to get as near as possible to the _Vagabond_ without detection. Bob and Tom silently peeled off their coats, and Nelson followed suit, cinching in his leather belt in a businesslike way.

"It's funny about Barry," said Nelson softly. "You'd think they'd have got rid of him."

"Oh, he probably made friends," answered Bob. "I'm glad he did. They might have thrown him overboard."

"How many do you suppose there are?" asked Nelson as he opened the switch, shut off the gasoline and allowed the _Sylph_ to glide silently toward the enemy. Bob shook his head. Tom wanted to talk but realized that in his present excited state it would be idle to make the attempt.

"I don't believe there are more than two," continued Nelson. "If there were, one of them would be sure to be up on deck."

"Suppose they'll show fight?" asked Bob.

"I hope they do," answered Nelson earnestly, "I just hope they do!"

"Well, but I don't want any pistols flashed on me," muttered Bob. "Get ready, Tommy. I'll go forward and make fast. If we can sneak on board quietly and shut the doors and lock them maybe we can make terms."

"Good scheme," whispered Nelson. "You and Tom keep her from b.u.mping and I'll make a stab at it."

The _Sylph_ was scarcely more than moving now and for a moment or two it looked as though she would not reach the other boat without having her engine started again. All three kept very still, their eyes fixed intently on the nine oval port lights. They were all open and every moment Tom expected to see a revolver spring into glittering view through one of them. But they all remained empty and the two boats were less than three yards apart when their plan to maintain silence was frustrated by Barry.

Once as they approached he had raised his head lazily and viewed them with calm indifference, promptly returning to his slumber or day-dreaming. But now he suddenly sprang to his feet and gave the alarm in the form of a challenging bark that was half a growl. Bob raised a warning hand.

"Barry!" he whispered hoa.r.s.ely. "Shut up, sir!"

The terrier recognized them then, but he didn't shut up. Instead he went quite crazy with delight and ran barking joyously along the edge of the cabin roof, Nelson, Bob, and Tom entreating and threatening him with bated breath. Then Bob and Tom brought the two boats softly together and Nelson made a flying jump on to the _Vagabond_ and scrambled noiselessly down to the c.o.c.kpit, Barry leaping ecstatically at him.

It was the work of an instant to close the doors, and then, in the act of drawing the hatch shut, Nelson peered quickly into the engine room.

It was empty and the door into the stateroom beyond was closed. Nelson hesitated a moment. There was a bolt on each side of this door and if he could reach the door without alarming the occupants of the stateroom and slip the bolt on his side he would not only make them prisoners but be able to run the engine and so get back quickly to New London. Opening the doors again, he stepped softly down into the engine room and across the floor. There was no sound from beyond the door. Noiselessly he slipped the bolt into place and hurried back to the deck.

Bob and Tom had pulled the _Sylph_ toward the stern of the larger boat out of range of the port lights and were making her fast. Nelson explained what he had done.

"That's good," said Bob. "Although, of course, we could have towed her back with the _Sylph_."

"And been plugged full of holes, maybe, from one of the forward ports,"

added Nelson. "No, thank you! I don't see, though, why they haven't heard us if there's really anyone down there!"

"Let's find out if there is anyone on board," said Bob. "I'll creep up and look."

So very softly he made his way along the side until he reached the first port in the stateroom. Then he stooped and peered down into the dim cabin. The opposite bunks were both empty. It was impossible to see the ones below him from where he was, so he silently crept back and around to the corresponding port on the other side of the boat, Nelson and Tom watching anxiously from the stern.

In a moment he was crawling back, one finger up-raised.

"There's only one there," he said softly, "and he's fast asleep in Dan's berth. It's too dark to make out anything about him, and he's got his face toward the wall, but he looks like a pretty husky chap. Now what shall we do?"

"Get the anchor up, take the tender back of the _Sylph_ and make her fast there and go home."

"Can we tow the _Sylph_ and the tender too?" questioned Bob.

"Sure. We'll keep as quiet as we can about it, but I don't think it matters whether the chap down there wakes up or not. He won't be a match for the three of us, I guess. I'll stay below and if he tries to break through the door I'll lay him out with a wrench. You and Tom get the anchor up and the other boats fixed. Don't give the _Sylph_ much rope; about four feet will do; we don't want to get it wound around the propeller. For the love of Mike, Barry, get out from under my feet! Yes, I'm awfully glad to see you, of course, but I'll tell you about it later." And Nelson crept back to the engine room.

Presently Bob put his head down and whispered that all was ready.

Nelson, listening for sounds from beyond the door and hearing none, prepared to start the engine. Bob took the wheel and Tom was stationed at the stern to keep the _Sylph_ from b.u.mping as they turned. Bob waited. So did Tom. Then Nelson's head appeared at the door.

"No wonder he stayed here," he said angrily. "The blamed idiot went and balled the vaporizer all up! Had it screwed around so she wasn't getting any gasoline! I'd like to break his head!"

"Can't you fix it?" asked Bob anxiously.

"I have fixed it," was the reply, "but I'm going to tell him what I think of him before he gets away. It's bad enough to swipe the boat, I should think, without trying to queer the engine!" And Nelson went back still muttering vengefully. Bob and Tom exchanged grins. Then the _Vagabond_, which had been slipping downstream for several minutes, turned her nose toward the middle of the Thames and swung about to the tune of her chugging engine, the _Sylph_ and the tender following behind in single file. Presently Nelson wiped his hands on a bunch of waste and seated himself on the middle step where he could at once keep his eye on the engine, watch the stateroom door, and converse with Bob and Tom.

"Don't see why he don't wake up now," said Bob, when they were making for New London. "Maybe he's dead."

"Ku-ku-killed by ru-ru-remorse," suggested Tom.

"Steal around and have a peep at him, Tommy," said Nelson. Tommy looked doubtful.

"Du-du-do you think he's got a gu-gu-gu-gun?" he asked.

"No, and, anyway, he's asleep, isn't he?" answered Nelson.

"That's what I du-du-don't know," replied Tom.

"Well, go and see," laughed Bob. "You don't have to climb through the port; just take a peek."

So Tom obeyed, not overanxiously, and displayed splendid caution in the matter of approach. For fully half a minute he leaned over the port.

Then he came back, looking excited.

"He's still asleep! And wh-wh-wh-what do you th-th-think?"

"I don't think," answered Bob. "Out with it, and don't drop too many st.i.tches or he will wake up and murder us all before you've unburdened yourself of your fearful secret."

"He was all ready to su-su-skip out," said Tom. "There's a suit case on the floor by the du-du-door and I'll bet it's all packed with our things. And he's got on a pu-pu-pu-pair of Dan's trousers!"

"How do you know?" asked Nelson.

"Saw them; those woolly, grayish, checked ones."