CHAPTER VIII
GEORGE WAITS FOR HIS CHUMS
"What is it?" Josh exclaimed, as he scrambled to his knees.
"Buster is on the rampage again! That's what comes of eating too muchsupper. He's got a bad case of indigestion, I bet!" declared George,grumblingly; for he had come very near falling over the side of his boatwhen Josh made that sudden move, and it startled him not a little.
"But he's got hold of something, I tell you! Look at him grabbingaround. Must be a wildcat or something like that," Josh went on.
"Faith ye're all wrong," spoke up Jimmie. "Sure it's a monkey he'shuggin' till his breast, so he be."
"A monkey!" cried Herb, as he appeared behind the fat boy, holding afryingpan threateningly in his hand.
"Yes, that's what!" gasped Nick. "Don't you see, a tame monkey, and witha little red cap, and a coat on. He was going through my pockets, I tellyou, when I woke up--that is when I first felt him. Give us a hand hereand help me hold the little scratcher. My! but he's strong, and he triesto bite my nose every time."
"Because you're hurting him," said Herb. "Wait till I get hold of thatbit of rope he's trailing behind. Now let him loose, Buster, but keephim away from your face. He'd scratch your eyes out."
The queer little visitor seemed to be willing to submit, once Nickstopped squeezing him; for he immediately took off his red cap, and madequite a bow. Then he snatched up a small tin cup that was attached to abelt he wore, with a tiny chain, and held it out to Herb.
"Give him a penny, Herb," laughed Jack.
"Yes, he recognizes an old acquaintance; help a poor fellow in distress,Herb!" Josh hastened to add.
"Where under the sun d'ye suppose he came from?" asked George,suspiciously.
"Must belong to some Italian organgrinder, I should say, judging fromthe uniform, and the piece of broken rope. Perhaps he's run away, andwanted to become a stowaway on board Herb's boat," Jack went on.
"All right," the other remarked, promptly, "anyhow, he knew a good boatwhen he saw one. Give him credit for that. But did you hear what Bustersaid about him feeling in his pockets? Now, I've heard it said thatoften these monkeys are taught to steal, going up into second-storywindows, and grabbing things. Perhaps he was sent aboard right now topick up anything he could find."
"I tell you he knew all about vest pockets, as sure as you live,"announced Nick.
"Looks to me as if he had got something in his pocketbook right now!"declared Herb.
"What's that? A monkey have a pocketbook? You're poking fun at us!"cried Josh.
"I am, eh? You observe me," said Herb, as with a dextrous movement heseized upon the monkey, and by main strength forced him to ejectsomething from his mouth.
"Say, it's a real watch, fellows!" cried Nick, astonished; "he had itright in his cheek, sure he did."
"And it's my little dollar nickel watch," said Herb. "Shows he searchedme before trying Buster. All the same if it'd been a hundred dollar goldrepeater. He's a thief, sure enough. What'll we do with him, fellows?"
"Tie him up, and if nobody comes after him, we'll keep Jocko," suggestedJosh.
"Think he'd be lots of fun, I suppose," grumbled Nick. "But if he staysit's got to be on another boat than this. The little fiend would have itin for me. He'd worry the life out of me; and I just can't afford tolose any flesh."
"Changed your tune, eh?" taunted Josh. "Seems to me I've heard youtrying all sorts of ways to get thin."
"That was before I took notice of the horrible example we had along, ofthe living skeleton," retorted Nick. "After that I just made up my mindto remain nice and plump. Some people look best when they're fat, youknow."
"There, he's thinking of Sallie again," remarked Josh.
"But we haven't seen a sign of the _Mermaid_," remarked George; "and Ireckon she's left here for the Soo region ahead of us. But Herb, findsome way to fasten the little rascal up for tonight, so he can't do anymischief. If his owner comes for him in the morning we'll give him ascare."
Herb managed to do this, although Nick declared he would be afraid totake a wink of sleep for fear of being choked, or something else asdreadful. All the same when his time came to give up sentry duty, no oneheard so much as a "peep" from Nick again until daylight arrived.
It was arranged on the following morning that they should explore theisland, in order to see its wonders and beauties, in two detachments,each consisting of three. Jack learned that bicycles could be hiredclose by, and mounted on these he and Herb and Josh made the grandrounds, allowing nothing to escape them.
Then after lunch the others took wheel and carried out the sameprogramme, even to visiting the old blockhouse on the hill, and viewingthe charming marine spectacle from the top of the little bluff.
As they gathered around late in the afternoon to compare notes, anddiscuss the various matters that interested them, Jack noted first ofall that the shrewd little monkey, which had been dubbed Jocko, wasstill aboard the _Comfort_.
Nobody had shown up to inquire about him. Nick was for going ashore andspreading the news of the find far and wide; but the others refused toallow him. They really believed that Jocko had been sent aboard by hismaster to steal; and that this party was afraid to claim him now.
"If we have to take him along he'll give us lots of fun," remarked Jack.
"Yes, Buster is only thinking that there'd be one more mouth to feed,and that might cut his share of the rations down a peg," asserted Josh.
"Now that's where you wrong me," declared the fat boy, solemnly. "If youinsist on hearing what I was thinking about, I'll tell you. Suppose weshould get stormbound somewhere up on the twisting St. Mary's river, oron the biggest fresh water lake in the world--why, you see we couldalways turn to Jocko, and make a good meal. I remember reading thatmonkeys were just prime."
"Oh! you cannibal!" cried the horrified Josh. "Why, that poor littleinnocent looks just like a baby."
"Yes," retorted Nick, "your mother showed me your picture when you weresix months old, and there _is_ a close resemblance."
Night came on, and there was no claimant, so Jocko ate supper with theboys. He was already making good friends, and seemed very well satisfiedwith his new lot. Perhaps he missed the cuffing and beating he wasaccustomed to; but he could do without that very well; and the eatingmust have appealed to him strongly.
In the morning they left soon after breakfast. The day opened fair, andthey knew there was a long trip before them if they hoped to cross thehead of Lake Huron, and follow the winding channel of the St. Mary'sriver so as to reach Sault Ste. Marie by night.
Fortunately the breeze, what little there was, chanced to be in thenorth for a change. This allowed them to keep close to the southernshore of the peninsula for some hours, following its contour andavoiding the pounding that heavy seas always brought in their train.
Finally they entered the narrow strait between the mainland and bigDrummond Island. Here the bustling port of Detour was passed. Nickhinted about going ashore and doing a little marketing; but Jack vetoedthat proposition.
"Plenty of time to do all that after we get to the Soo tonight," heobserved; and Nick knew there was no appeal from his decision.
"Is that Canada over yonder?" asked Josh, pointing to the island offtheir lee.
"No, Drummond belongs to Michigan," Jack replied. "Further on though,we'll strike St. Joseph's Island, and that is a part of Canada. So we'llall step ashore just to say we've been outside the U. S. for once."
"And that Mud Lake you were telling us about is somewhere along there,ain't it?" Herb asked.
"We'll find it, I reckon," replied the commodore, drily.
They did, and had reason to remember it too. Sometimes the waterwaybearing the outlet of Lake Superior to the lower lakes was very wide andimposing. Then again it would narrow until Nick expressed his firmconviction that they had taken the wrong channel, and would be stopped,and have to return over their course.
But Jack kept his charts before him as he led, and was positive
he hadmade no mistake of that sort. Occasionally George would be unable torestrain his impetuous nature. At such times he would shoot ahead of theothers, to make a little rush of perhaps a mile, and then slow up toawait their coming, being always careful not to lose sight of his chums.
But alas, George did this prank just once too often. He heard Jack saysome time before that they were passing through Mud Lake, and must becareful; but thought this referred to getting lost in some side passagethat looked promising.
"Wait up at the head yonder; you're too slow for me!" he called out, asthe _Wireless_ left the bunch, and cut through the water like an arrowshot from an archer's bow.
"Lookout!" warned Jack; but George who was quite confident concerninghis own ability to manage his affairs, just waved a hand back, andcontinued to speed for all his racing boat was worth.
Jack was sitting there where he could manage the wheel and continue tostudy the chart spread in front of him, when he heard a wild whoop fromJimmie.
"Look! look yander!"
Jack was just in time to see poor Josh take a flying header into thewater, when the speed boat came to an abrupt stop on a concealedmudbank.
The sound of the tremendous splash floated back to the ears of theothers, causing Nick to roll over, and make the boat quiver with hisriotous laughter; for that Josh should be the victim of this ridiculousaccident gave the fat boy exceeding great joy.
Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes; or, Exploring the Mystic Isle of Mackinac Page 8