CHAPTER XII.
THE GHOST.
"I WANT you two to lie down in the cabin and catch an hour's nap on theway home," Charley said as soon as he got the engine started. "I'll runthe launch in."
Walter and the captain protested feebly, but the lad would hear norefusal. "You both look utterly played out," he declared. "There is nouse of all of us staying awake, and I am fresher than either of you.Fishing is not so hard for me because I know all the little tricks ofhandling a net and taking out fish that helps to make it easier. Youwill soon learn them and get hardened to the work, and then we willtake turns running the launch. Now stretch out, that hour's rest willdo you a world of good."
His two chums lost no time in arguing the point, but stretched on thecabin floor and pillowing their heads on their arms were instantlyasleep. So worn out were they that Charley could hardly wake them whenthe dock was reached.
Chris had a hot breakfast and steaming coffee waiting for them; assoon as it was dispatched Charley ordered the two off to bed. "Getrested up good for to-night's work," he announced. "There is nothingthat you need do now. Chris will pull the nets out to dry and I'll rowacross to Clearwater with the fish. There is no need of more than onegoing and I want to see the sheriff and have a talk with him."
It was only a few minutes' run across the bay to the little town, andCharley was soon tying up to the fish dock. He hurried up to the fishhouse and notified Mr. Daniels of his catch and waited while a wagonbrought the fish up and they were weighed. The catch totaled thirtydollars in cash.
"Not bad for the first night," said Mr. Daniels, encouragingly."Several of my old experienced fishermen caught less than that lastnight."
Leaving the fish house the lad hurried over to the store and orderedsome supplies he needed sent down to the launch. By the time hispurchases were made he judged it was late enough to find the sheriff inhis office and there he accordingly made his way.
But here he met with much disappointment, for he was informed thatSheriff Brown was out of town and would not return for several days.
He headed back to his launch greatly troubled in his mind. He hadcounted strongly on the sheriff taking charge of the cached liquor.As long as it remained on the island, just so long could they expecttrouble from its owners. Now he could not decide what was best to do.He was hurrying on debating the question with himself when turning acorner, engrossed in his own thoughts, he almost collided with BillRoberts hurrying in the opposite direction.
"Starboard your helm a bit and take in some of that press of sailyou're carrying," hailed that worthy, "you came mighty near running medown. How's everything? How's fishing coming on?"
Charley warmed to the sight of Bill's friendly, frank, good-humoredface.
"The fishing's all right," he answered, brightly, "but some otherthings are worrying me. I was thinking of them and not noticing where Iwas going."
"You look tired and worried," said Bill with a critical scrutiny. "Canwe Roberts help you out any with what's worrying you?"
"You might help me out with some advice," said the lad with a suddenimpulse. "If you can spare me a few minutes' time I'll tell you what'sthe matter.
"Got all the time in the world," said Bill cheerfully. "We are notfishing for a few days. Our nets are about all worn out and we arewaiting for new ones from the factory. There is a seat over there underthe tree, come on and sit down a while and tell me all about it. Ithelps a man sometimes just to tell his troubles."
He listened with eager interest while Charlie told the story of thestrange schooner, the motor boat and the buried liquor and of theirquarrel with Hunter's gang.
He pondered a while after the lad had concluded. "Kind of a bad mess,"he said at last. "Of course it's the Hunter gang that's doing thesmuggling, but you haven't got anything to prove it. They ain't goingto lose all that liquor they've got buried either, but they ain't goingto dig it up as long as there is a chance of their being seen doing it,consequently their only hope is to get you fellows off the island byfair means or foul."
"Just the conclusion I arrived at," agreed Charley, grimly.
"Your plan to have the sheriff take charge of it was the thing, butof course that cannot be done until he comes back. It isn't likelythey will seek an open fight with you, they are too foxy for that. Butthey will try to get at you by every underhanded means they can thinkof. You'll have to be on your guard every minute until the sheriffreturns and takes charge of that liquor. Those fellows are cunning andtreacherous. I am not going to tell you of the things they have doneto other fellows who have crossed them. It would do no good and onlyworry you more. I just want to impress upon you that you cannot watchout too sharp. Now I am going to lend you another rifle to keep in thelaunch; we have plenty of guns, for we hunt and trap when the fishingis poor. As I have said we are not fishing for a few days, and if youshould need help any time just fire three shots close together and wewill be over in a hurry. We would be tickled to death to catch thosefellows in some devilment so that they could be sent up for a goodstring of years."
"You are very good," said Charley, gratefully. "It's not right tobother you with our troubles, but it has been a great relief just tounburden myself to you."
"Sorry I cannot be of more help to you," Bill replied, heartily. "Ihope we are going to be good friends, for I like the looks of yourcrowd. Our trouble with Hunter's gang has kept us from making friendsamongst the other fishermen. They will not meet us half way for fear ofthe injuries the Hunter gang might do them, if they got friendly withus. You will find it the same way in your case, and it will be pleasantfor us to visit back and forth on stormy days when we have nothing elseto do. There is another thing I can do that will help you a bit. Comeon down to the dock with me and I'll do it now."
Near the end of the pier they came upon Hunter himself, holding forthto a gang of his cronies. The fellows made to move away at theirapproach but Roberts hailed him.
"Look here, Hunter," he said in his straightforward way, "I want toimpress one thing on you so you will not forget it. This lad and hiscompanions are friends of ours and anyone that does any of them harm,has not only them to reckon with but with the Roberts boys also,remember that!" Then turning his back to the scowling fisherman, hesaid good-by to Charley and walked away, indifferent to the loweringglances of Hunter's cronies.
"Fine protector you've got," sneered Hunter, when Roberts was out ofhearing. "Just mark one thing, young fellow, your gang are going towish they had never seen Clearwater before we are through with them,and that goes for that upstart Roberts, too."
"We are not afraid of you or your threats," Charley replied, coolly, ashe cast off the launch and started up the engine.
As the throbbing little engine drove the launch through the dancing,sparkling water, Charley lay back in the thwart with his hand on thewheel and rested his aching body. He was tired in muscle and brain. Itwas nearly noon and his eyes were heavy with sleep. He dozed off for amoment only to wake up with a jerk as something cold touched his foot.He glanced down and was startled to see that several inches of waterwas sloshing around his feet. Thoroughly awake, he straightened upand looked around. He was in the middle of the bay about a mile fromeither shore. He had evidently dozed but a few minutes, yet the launchhad been dry when he dozed off and now there was several inches ofwater in her and it was rapidly increasing. She must have sprung a leakand a big one at that. Seizing the bailer with his free hand he beganthrowing the water out in a steady stream. Swiftly he calculated hischances of making the shore. The engine rested only a few inches abovethe bottom of the boat. If the water reached it the motor would stop.He had no fear for his own safety for he could easily swim across thebay if necessary. But if the launch filled she would sink, their careeras fishermen would be at an end, and Mr. Daniels would be poorer theseveral hundred dollars the launch had cost.
A few minutes' bailing convinced him that the water was rapidlygaining. It had risen to within a couple of inches of the engine. Fiveminutes more and it would
reach the motor. It was a desperate situationand the keen-witted lad took a desperate chance. Letting go the wheelhe frantically tore at the thin sheathing that lined the bottom. Luckwas with him for the first piece came up easily revealing a large,smooth, round hole, just below the water line, through which the waterwas gushing in a steady stream. Tearing up his shirt, he rolled it upinto a tapering plug and thrust it into the hole. Holding it in placewith one hand, he steered for the dock with the other. The water stillcame in around the plug, but slowly; and with a sigh of relief, the ladat last ran the launch upon the beach beside the dock just as the waterrippled up around the engine's base. As she grounded, the launch heeledover on the other side lifting the hole above the water, and Charleyhad a chance to examine it more closely. Its smooth, regular appearanceand some chips adhering to the edge showed that it had been made by anaugur, and a ball of waste floating around on the water showed thatit had been plugged to stay closed until the pressure of swift movingthrough the water should force it out. There was no doubt in the lad'smind as to who had made it and he began to feel a certain respect forthe resourcefulness of his enemies. It was a cunning scheme. If it hadsucceeded it would have accomplished its purpose. With no launch, heand his chums would have been forced to leave the island; for withoutone they could no longer have carried on their fishing.
Charley whittled out a smooth plug of soft white pine and drove itfirmly into the hole. He cut off the plug flush with the planking, andflattening out a piece of tin from a can, nailed it over the spot tohold the plug firmly in place.
Chris brought dinner down to him and he snatched a few mouthfuls anddrank two cups of coffee while he worked.
By the time the job was finished and the launch bailed out, it was wellalong in the afternoon and the lad groaned as he realized that he mustface another hard night's work without sleep.
"Massa Chas," said Chris, as they trudged up to the shack together, "Iain't bothered you-alls 'bout it before 'cause I seed you was all tiredan' wore out, but I'ze dun got something to tell you."
Charley glanced sharply at the little negro's serious face.
"What is it?" he said, quietly.
"Massa Chas," said the little fellow, solemnly, "sho' as I is a livingnigger, I seed dat ghost last night."
The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters Page 12