Frank Merriwell's Cruise Part 12

The two cracks Frank had given Flynn knocked some of the conceit and bravado out of him, and for some time after the yacht and the launch swung apart he sat still and swore.

McSwatt was not in a pleasant mood as he wrung the water out of his clothes. He glared at Flynn and snarled:

"Thought you said they were a lot of boys who could be scared out of their skins! Boys! Why, they are young devils! The fellow I went against is a regular Samson!"

"They're in a bad sc.r.a.pe now," said Flynn, with an attempt at fierceness. "They have resisted the rightful owner of that yacht, and they shall smart for it."

"That's all right, but they might have been fooled in a different way.

Here they are running right into the harbor, and they will stop there.

We might have watched till the most of them went ash.o.r.e, and then we could have taken her easily."

"How did I know they would run in here? They might have kept on up the bay. And I didn't suppose a lot of beardless chaps could put up such a sc.r.a.p."

"Well, we have done all you asked of us, and we want our pay."

"Done! You haven't done anything! I hired you to help me take the yacht."

"And misrepresented the case to us. You will pay me, or I'll chuck you overboard!"

There was a glare in McSwatt's eyes that cowed Flynn.

"Oh, we mustn't quarrel," he quickly said. "Of course, I will pay you, as I agreed."

"I thought so."

"And I will double the sum if you stand by me a while longer. I tell you I can't fool with those chaps--I can't waste time. I must get possession of my boat at once."

"Well, if you are thinking of attempting to board her again, you'll have to get somebody in my place. I have had enough of that kind of work."

Flynn saw that McSwatt meant it.

"All right," he growled. "We'll stay out and keep watch of her till she drops anchor. I want to be sure they mean to stop here."

So the launch cruised about, keeping in sight of the _White Wings_ till the yacht ran slowly into the harbor and let fall her anchor in the vicinity of half a dozen other pleasure yachts laying near together.

CHAPTER VII.

ARRESTED IN ROCKLAND.

There were some indignant lads on board the _White Wings_.

"A regular case of piracy!" declared Diamond. "If we had not been too much for that gang, they would have seized the boat."

"Sure," nodded Hodge, whose eyes were gleaming, while his breast, across which his arms were folded, rose and fell with excitement.

"We handled them too easy," grunted Browning. "It would have served them right if we had split the skull of every man who tried to come over our rail."

"Der pig poom come britty near sblitting der skull uf one," grinned Hans. "You pet dot chap half a swelt head on me."

Frank had returned to the wheel. He did not say much, but his cheeks were flushed with excitement and his lips were pressed together.

"Remember what the truckman told you, Merry?" questioned Diamond.

"What was that?"

"Why, about this boat being hoodooed."

"Yes."

"It begins to look as if he was right."

"Oh, I don't know."

"Well, if this hasn't been a hoodoo cruise from Boston, I don't know a thing!"

"It has been rather eventful," admitted Frank, his face relaxing somewhat.

"Uf you vos lookin' oxcitement for, we haf found him," put in Hans.

"Those chaps are keeping watch of us now," said Frank. "I suppose they think of trying the trick again."

"Don't believe they will," said Hodge. "We'll be in the harbor pretty soon, and they won't dare make another attempt like that."

As they ran in the mist lifted and vanished, and they saw the city stretched before them. To the north was the breakwater that protects the harbor, and away in the distance loomed some mountains.

"What are those hills there?" asked Diamond.

"Those are the famous Camden mountains," answered Frank. "The town lies at the foot of those mountains, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson says the scenery in the vicinity of Camden is the most varied and beautiful to be found anywhere in the world."

"Are we going to stop at Camden?"

"Well, that is on the program. We'll run up there to-morrow."

They anch.o.r.ed near the other yachts and vessels, purposely running into the very midst of them.

"As long as one of us stays on board, those chaps will not attempt to seize the yacht by force while we remain here," said Merriwell.

"Don't be too sure of that," warned Hodge. "They are desperate characters, and there is no telling what they will try."

They watched the launch run into a wharf and saw the party leave her.

Not one of the baffled boarders remained in the vicinity, but all quickly disappeared.

"I believe they are afraid of the consequences now," said Merry. "They are getting out of the way in a hurry."

It was not long before the others were of the same opinion. However, Frank was not certain but this movement on the part of the enemy was a ruse to lull their suspicions.