Owen Clancy's Happy Trail Part 15

While the captain was struggling with the motor wizard, Katz ran forward and wrenched away the six-shooter.

"Let go o' him, Clancy!" panted Katz. "I've got him now. The old sea shark will do as I say or take the same medicine he's been threatenin'

to hand me."

Clancy flung himself from Hogan, and the latter stood at bay under the muzzle of the revolver.

"You're a measly pirate," flamed Hogan, "to come aboard of me and carry on like you're doing!"

"I'm no worse'n you, if I am a pirate!" snarled Katz. "Put your hands to your back. Clancy, get another piece o' that rope and make Hogan's arms fast."

Clancy put down the satchel and followed his companion's orders.

"Now sit down, Hogan!" snapped Katz,

"What's your scheme?" demanded the captain.

"To put you out o' the runnin'. Drop on the deck. I tell you!"

Katz flourished the revolver, as he spoke. Hogan lowered himself to the planks on which he was standing, easing his pent-up feelings wrathfully as he did so.

"Now a half hitch around his legs, Clancy," said Katz, and Clancy came around with the end of the rope and got the captain's legs in limbo.

"You're a fine pair of grafters!" sneered the irate Hogan. "I hope I live to manhandle you for this night's work."

Far off across the water could be heard a screech of oars in the locks, and a faint sound of voices. Hogan, aware that some of his men were coming from the pier, lifted his voice in a loud roar for help.

Katz, cursing furiously, sprang toward him and drew back his fist to strike. Clancy caught the arm before it could deal the blow, and saved the captain from such savage brutality. Katz turned on the motor wizard.

"Oh, you!" he yelped. "I reckon I'm about done with this foolin'. Gi' me that satchel!"

"I'll keep this," returned Clancy. "The money in it belongs to me."

"Blamed if I care who it belongs to, I'm goin' to have it. Fork over!"

Katz pushed the point of the revolver in Clancy's face. "Fork, I tell you, or take the consequences."

Clancy dropped the satchel.

CHAPTER XII.

MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.

Yes, Clancy dropped the satchel. It was the only thing for him to do, under the circ.u.mstances. He had discretion as well as bravery.

Besides, Clancy was facing the companionway and Katz had his back to it.

The motor wizard could see something which escaped Katz entirely, and that was the stealthy advance of Gerald Wynn through the companion doors.

Wynn would soon be a factor in the situation. There was nothing he could do which would make the run of events worse than they already were for Clancy.

What had happened showed the folly of putting any trust in a desperado.

It was through Clancy's efforts that Katz had been freed from his dangerous predicament in Captain Hogan's bungalow. But Katz did not give any consideration to that when the time came for him to turn the tables and secure the satchel for himself.

Perhaps, all Katz had helped Clancy for was the hope that just such an opportunity would come his way. Now that the opportunity had come, he was making the most of it.

"Katz is doing you dirt, eh?" rumbled the captain, turning his eyes upon Clancy.

"He forgets how I saved him at your bungalow," said the motor wizard.

"If you pulled him out of that sc.r.a.pe, then, keelhaul me, you deserve all he gives you!"

Katz laughed in ugly fashion.

"I'll get back what you and Wynn stole from me!" he remarked, stooping over to pick up the satchel.

As he bent down, two things happened. They happened very suddenly, too:

Clancy and Wynn sprang toward Katz at the same time--Clancy for the satchel and Wynn for the revolver. The work of both was excellent, for each got what he went after.

The approaching boat, by that time, was close alongside. In another moment, Hogan and Wynn would be supplied with reenforcements.

"Give me that!" yelled Katz, jumping toward Clancy.

Here the captain took a part in the combat. Bound though he was, he swung his feet upward suddenly and powerfully. Katz was struck in the side and toppled to the deck.

Four men came bounding over the bulwarks. "Captain!" they called; "where are you, captain?"

"Here!" yelled the captain. "Make prisoners of these two fellows, Katz and Clancy. Katz is on the deck, there, and Clancy---"

Clancy was just going over the side and into the water, so it was impossible to make a prisoner of him. He took the valuable satchel along.

"Get back into that boat, two of you," bellowed Hogan, "and snake that red-headed streak of lightning out of the water and back aboard the _Sylvia!_ Look alive, now! A hundred-dollar bonus to the man who captures Clancy and recovers the satchel he's got with him!"

Two of the men flung themselves into the boat and put off. The other two gave their first attention to Bob Katz, and bound him with the rope which was taken from the captain. So Katz, as it will be seen, was left in the hands of his enemies, thereby getting vastly more than he had bargained for.

Meanwhile, the motor wizard was swimming. He was perfectly at home in the water, and, even though he was handicapped with a game shoulder, he found no difficulty in keeping afloat with the satchel, and in spite of the weight of his wet clothes.

"Clancy!" called a voice across the water. "Where are you, Clancy?"

Two boats, at that moment, were searching for the motor wizard. One, of course, held enemies and was coming from the _Sylvia,_ the other, carrying Hill and Burton, was approaching from the pier.

It was Hiram Hill who had hailed. Clancy knew, for he had recognized the voice.

"This way, Hiram!" the motor wizard cried.

Two boats were aimed in Clancy's direction, and two pairs of oars struck the water.

"Crack your back, Burton!" yelled Hill, "If you want to get even with Wynn, now's your chance! Do your prettiest! The two men from the _Sylvia_ are trying to beat us to Clancy--and it's a close race."