The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 19

"Do you see who that is?" whispered Fred in great excitement.

"I do," replied John quickly. "It is that man that we saw on c.o.c.kburn Island. It is the same one that came over to Mackinac. What do you suppose he's coming here for?"

"You know just as much about it as I do. If we keep still we may be able to learn more in a little while."

The excitement of the watching boys did not decrease when they saw the man, who now they were convinced was indeed their recent reluctant host on c.o.c.kburn Island, step quickly ash.o.r.e and then draw his boat up on the beach.

Apparently the presence of the other skiff had not yet been noted.

Indeed, the boys were quite confident it had not been discovered, as the place where they had landed was around a little bend in a small cove.

The actions of the man, however, soon became more mysterious and puzzling. Out of his pocket he took a small package and seating himself upon a rock he proceeded to open it.

There were occasional flashes of light that were reflected in the eyes of the boys, although neither were able to discover the contents.

After carefully refolding the package the man restored it to his pocket and then advancing toward the higher bank stopped for a moment there and peered intently all about him.

Apparently satisfied that he was un.o.bserved the mysterious stranger then advanced rapidly toward some woods in the distance. He had, however, gone only a part of the intervening distance when another man was seen approaching from the midst of the trees and in a brief time the two men met.

There was a hasty consultation which greatly interested the boys, although they were unable to discover its purpose. They were convinced, however, or at least Fred was positive, that there had been an exchange of packages made by the two men and then instead of returning to the sh.o.r.e the man whom they had been watching advanced beside the stranger and soon both were lost to sight within the borders of the woods.

Meanwhile the motor-boat had been left in charge of the man who had come to the island with the mysterious visitor.

Neither of the boys had obtained a clear look at him until Fred suggested, "What's the use? We're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Come on, let's go and speak to the man on board the motor-boat."

John hesitated a moment and then quickly followed his friend, as they advanced openly along the sh.o.r.e.

"Do you see who that is?" whispered Fred, clutching John by the arm.

"Yes, I do," answered John. "It's that little j.a.p that we saw on c.o.c.kburn Island."

"That's exactly who it is. What do you suppose he's doing here?"

"He's not doing much of anything just now. I should guess that he is in charge of the boat until his boss comes back. I'm going to hail him."

In response to John's hail the little j.a.panese quickly turned and glanced in the direction from which the unexpected call had come.

"He doesn't understand English, don't you remember?" said Fred.

"I know he pretended that he didn't, but we'll see how much he knows now.

Got anything to eat on board?" called John, turning once more toward the motor-boat.

The first feeling of alarm or surprise had pa.s.sed and the little manservant now broke into another of his loud and unmusical laughs.

"Got any breakfast? Got anything on board to eat?" again called John.

It was plain now that the j.a.panese understood what was said, for in broken English he explained that he had some articles of food on the motor-boat.

"I wonder if you'll sell us some?" inquired Fred eagerly. "We'll come aboard and see what you have got."

Quickly taking the stranger's skiff the boys rowed out to the motor-boat and after they had made it fast, stepped on board.

The j.a.panese seldom spoke, but in a brief time he handed each of the boys two sandwiches, which they eagerly took and quickly ate.

"How much do we owe you?" asked John.

Again laughing loudly the j.a.panese shook his head and it was manifest that they would be unable to pay for the slight repast they had received.

"When did you come from c.o.c.kburn Island?" inquired Fred.

The question was not answered and John quickly broke in, "When are you going back? That's a good deal more to the purpose. Do you suppose your boss would be willing to take us over to Mackinac?"

The j.a.panese laughed, but still did not answer.

"We'll pay him well for it," said John. "How far is this place from Mackinac anyway?"

"'Bout forty mile," answered the j.a.panese.

"Whew!" said Fred. "We're a good ways out of our course, aren't we?"

CHAPTER XIV ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS LETTER

"I don't care much how far we are away if we can only get back," said John thoughtfully.

It was apparent, however, that extended conversation with the little j.a.panese would be impossible. He had made no inquiries as to why the boys were on the island and except for his first expression of surprise when he had heard their hail, he did not give any sign of special interest either in them or in their doings.

"We stove a hole in the bottom of our skiff," explained John. "Have you got a piece of tin and some tacks or something we can mend it with?"

"You no feex it?" inquired the j.a.panese.

"We haven't anything to fix it with," explained John.

"I go see," volunteered the little man.

In accordance with his suggestion the boys speedily rowed ash.o.r.e, the little j.a.panese accompanying them, and led the way to the cove where their skiff was resting on the beach.

The j.a.panese made a careful investigation of the injury to the skiff and then said, after he had once more laughed loudly, "I feex her." Quickly turning he ran back to the skiff and returned to the motor-boat. Only a few minutes elapsed before once more he came back and the very implements John had sought with which to repair the boat were now in his hands.

Deftly he drove caulking into the seams and the cracks and then taking a piece of tin tacked it on the bottom of the skiff over the spot where the break had occurred. Then once more he used the caulking, driving it in all about the place where the skiff had been struck.

"He no sink now," said the j.a.panese, at last standing back and with pride viewing his workmanship. "He no sink now. She just as good as new."

Declining the offer of the boys to pay him for his labor the j.a.panese seated himself upon a rock and looked steadily at them.

"What for have you come here?" he inquired.