By this time the two yachts were almost side by side and running along at a high rate of speed. Harris got out his boathook to catch fast to the Flyaway, when a cry from Tom made him pause.
“Help me! Don’t leave me behind!”
“Great Caesar!” gasped Sam. “Tom’s overboard!”
“Down with the mainsail!” roared Harris.
“How did he fall over the side?”
“He tried to jump to the other boat,” said Dick, who had seen the action. “I was just thinking of doing it myself.”
With all possible speed the big sheet of the Searchlight was lowered, and then they turned as fast as the wind would permit, to the spot where unlucky Tom was bobbing up and down on the swells like a peanut shell.
“Catch the line!” cried Dick, and let fly with a life preserver attached to a fair-sized rope. His aim was a good one, and soon Tom was being hauled aboard again with all possible speed.
“Oh, what a mess I made of it!” he panted when he could catch his breath. “I’m not fit to hunt jack rabbits.”
“It’s lucky you weren’t run down by the yacht and killed,” said Dick. “I was going to jump, but when I saw you go down I thought better of it.”
Ten minutes of precious time had been lost, and now the Flyaway was once more far in the distance. She was heading for shore, and soon the oncoming darkness hid her from view.
“Now what’s to be done?” questioned Sam.
“She’ll slip us sure.”
“She can’t go very far,” answered Harris. “The water-line around here is rather dangerous in the dark.”
“Is that a storm coming up?” asked Dick.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
With care they continued on their way, taking the course they surmised their enemies had pursued.
“There is some kind of land!” cried Sam, who was on the watch. “What place is that, Harris?”
“Becker’s Cove, so they call it,” answered the old tar. “It’s not far from Staten Island.”
“Do you think they came in here?”
“If they did I reckon they calculate to stay over night.”
“Why?”
“Because they’ll want a pilot otherwise. It’s rather dangerous sailing about here—especially in the dark.”
Five minutes later found them close to shore, and the sails were lowered and the anchor cast out.
“I’m going to land,” said Dick, and, after a consultation, it was decided that he should take Sam with him, leaving Tom and Martin Harris to keep watch from the yacht. If either party discovered anything, a double whistle twice repeated was to notify the others.
Now that Dan Baxter had actually opened fire on them, Dick wished he had a firearm of some sort. But none was at hand, nor did he know where to obtain such a thing in that vicinity, and the best he and Sam could do was to cut themselves clubs out of some brush growing not far from the shore line.
The spot at which they had landed was by no means an inviting one. It looked like a bit of dumping and meadow ground, and not far away rested the remains of half a dozen partly decayed canal boats which the tide had washed up high in the bogs years before.
“If they landed around here I’d like to know where they went to,” grumbled Sam, after he and his big brother had trudged around for half an hour without gaining any clue worth following. “It begins to look as if we had missed it, doesn’t it?”
“Never give up, Sam. We have got to find them, you know.”
“Yes, if we don’t break our necks before that time comes, Dick,” and as Sam spoke he went down into a meadow hole up to his knees. Dick helped him out, and as he did so the sound of two voices broke upon their ears.
“You needn’t come if you don’t want to, Mumps,” came out of the darkness, in Dan Baxter’s voice. “I only thought you would be glad of the chance.”
“There they are,” whispered Dick. “Lie down, and we’ll see where they are bound, and if Dora is with them.”
He threw himself to earth, and Sam followed. In another moment Baxter and his toady came into plain view, although still some distance away.
“I’ll come,” came from Mumps. “But I didn’t expect to meet your father here.”
“I did. He’s been here for several days. That’s the reason why I had Goss bring the Flyaway over. I’m going to kill two birds with one stone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to carry Dora Stanhope off, just as old Crabtree wanted, and I’m going to give my father a lift.”
“You mean that you are going to help him to escape from the authorities?”
“I didn’t put it that way. He wants to keep out of sight.”
“It amounts to the same thing, Dan.”
“As you will. Will you come, or do you want to go back to the yacht?”
“I—er—I guess I’ll come,” faltered the toady. “But we must be careful.”
“To be sure. I reckon I have as much at stake as you.”
The two passed out of hearing, and Dick touched his brother on the arm.
“Did you hear that, Sam?” he asked excitedly.
“I did. What can it mean?”
“Mean? It means that Dan Baxter’s father is in the neighborhood and Dan is going to call on his parent.”
“I know that, but—”
“You are surprised that father and son are equally bad? I’m not; I thought it all along.”
“What will you do?”
“Follow them.”
“Will you whistle for Tom and Martin Harris?”
“No; that might arouse suspicion. Let us follow them alone. When they return to their yacht we can tell the others,” concluded Dick.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BAXTERS MAKE A NEW MOVE
As silently as possible Dick and Sam came after Baxter and his toady John Fenwick. The pair of evildoers left the stretch of meadow as fast as they could, and hurried up a narrow path leading to a half-tumbled-down brick factory.
At the corner of the dilapidated building they paused, and Dan Baxter emitted a long, low whistle. A silence of several seconds followed, and then a man appeared out of the darkness.
“Who’s dat?” came the question.
“It’s me, Girk—Dan Baxter,” replied the former bully of Putnam Hall with small regard for the grammar that had been taught to him.
“Who’s dat with you?”
“Mumps. He’s all right.”
“I don’t know about dat. Yer father t’ought yer would come alone,” growled the tramp thief.
“I’ve got a new movement on, Buddy. Take us to my father without delay.”
“Is dat fellow to be trusted?”
“Yes, you can trust me,” replied Mumps with considerable nervousness. His steps in the direction of wrong were beginning to frighten him.
At the start he had thought of nothing but to aid Josiah Crabtree in his suit with Mrs. Stanhope, and had calculated that after the marriage the running off with Dora would be overlooked. But here he was taking the girl miles from her home and associated with two men who had robbed a firm of bankers of many thousands of dollars. The outlook, consequently, worried him very much.
“All right, den,” muttered Buddy Girk. “Follow me.”
He disappeared within the ruined factory, and Baxter and Mumps went after him. Listening intently at a broken-out window, Dick and Sam heard them ascend to an upper floor.
“I guess we have tracked Arnold Baxter,” whispered Dick. “I wonder if he and Girk have that stolen money and the securities here?”
“More than likely, Dick. Thieves don’t generally leave their booty far out of their sight, so I’ve been told.”
“I would like to make sure. I wonder if we can’t go inside and hear some more of the
ir talk?”
“We would be running a big risk. If Arnold Baxter caught us he would—would—Well, he wouldn’t be very friendly, that’s all,” and Sam gave a shiver.
“I’m going in. You can remain outside, on watch. If you want me, whistle as we agreed.”
“But be careful, Dick!” pleaded the younger brother.
“I will be.”
“And don’t stay too long,” added Sam, who did not relish being left alone in such a forlorn looking spot, and in the intense darkness which had now settled down over them.
“I won’t be any longer than necessary, you can depend on that,” replied the big brother.
As silently as a cat after a mouse, Dick entered the gloomy building and felt his way over the half-rotted floor to where the stairs were located.
Ascending these, he found himself in something of a hallway, the upper floor of the building being divided into several apartments by wooden partitions nine or ten feet in height.
From one of the apartments shone a faint light. To this he made his way, and, looking through a good-sized knot-hole in the partition, he saw Arnold Baxter, Girk, and the two newcomers, seated on several boxes and boards. On one box stood a candle thrust in the neck of a bottle, some liquor and glasses, and a pasteboard box containing a cold lunch.
“So you’re glad I’ve come, eh?” Dan Baxter was saying to his father.
“Yes, I am glad,” was the slow reply, “that is—I want to get away from here as soon as possible.”
“Why don’t you go?”
“I’m afraid to go up into the town. I would prefer to go away by boat.”
“To where?”
“To Searock, on the Jersey coast.”
“Do you want us to take you there?”
“If you can do it, Dan. I’ll give Mumps and your sailor friend a nice little sum for your trouble.”
“And don’t I get anything?” cried the son sharply.
“To be sure, Dan.”
“How much?”
“I’ll give you a hundred dollars.”
“Pooh! What’s that? I want more.”
“We’ll arrange that later.”
“You and Girk are making a fortune out of this deal.”
“Not as much as you think.”
“I’ve read the newspapers and I know how much was in the haul. I want a thousand dollars.”
“We’ll arrange that afterward, Dan. Remember, in the future what is mine is yours.”
“Now you’re talking, dad,” was the bully’s quick reply. “I like the way you are doing things, and I’m going to stick to you as soon as this little matter Mumps and I have on hand is settled.”
“All right, you shall stay with me,” responded the elder Baxter. “Where is your boat?”
“Not over half a mile from here.”
“All ready to sail?”
“Yes.”
“Then let us make off at once.”
“Dat’s it,” put in Buddy Girk. “I’m afraid the police will let down on us any minit.”
“The trouble is, that other boat I mentioned is after us.”
“How many are on board?”
“The three Rover boys and an old sailor.”
“Four, and we’ll be five, not counting the woman you mentioned. I don’t think I am afraid of the Rovers,” returned Arnold Baxter. “Besides, can’t we get away from them in the dark without their knowing what is up?”
“Perhaps we can,” said the son slowly. “The trouble is—What’s that?”
Dan Baxter stopped short, as a cracking sound broke upon their ears.
Dick had stepped on a rotten board, and it went down. His foot was caught and held at the ankle, and before he could extricate himself Arnold Baxter and Buddy Girk had him in their grasp.
“Dick Rover again!” ejaculated Arnold Baxter. “Where did you come from?”
“Your son can tell you that,” answered Dick. “Let go of me!”
“To be sure I will!” returned the elder Baxter sarcastically. “Are you alone?”
“You can look for yourself.”
“I don’t see no buddy here,” announced Girk, as he held up the candle. “Maybe somebody is downstairs.”
“I’ll go down and see,” put in Dan Baxter.
Fearful that Sam might be caught, Dick did his best to break away. “Sam! Sam! look out for yourself!” he yelled. “Don’t let them catch you! Call Tom and Harris, and the police, quick!”
“Hang the luck!” muttered Arnold Baxter. “We must cut for it, and be lively about it, too.”
“Take de swag,” said Girk, referring to a tin box hidden under the flooring of the factory. In this was hidden the money and securities stolen from Rush and Wilder.
He ran off to get the box. In the meantime Arnold Baxter stood undecided as to what to do. Then he raised his fist and struck Dick with an unexpected blow to the temple.
“Take that, you imp!” he cried, and the youth went down at full length more than half stunned.
In the meantime Sam heard the rapid footsteps and the cry of alarm, and his heart leapt to throat. Then, as Dan Baxter and Mumps came towards him, he retreated in the direction of the Searchlight, giving the danger signal as he ran.
“I’ve got de box!” shouted Buddy Girk to Arnold Baxter. “Wot’s de next move?”
“Follow me,” said Dan Baxter. “And lose no time. That other boy will soon have the whole neighborhood aroused.”
Away went the crowd out of the factory, the bully leading. Once down in the meadow, Dan Baxter hurried them off in the direction of a tiny cove where the Flyaway lay at anchor, with Bill Goss on watch at the stern and Mrs. Goss in the cabin with Dora.
As quickly as they could do so, one after another tumbled on board of the yacht. They heard cries in the distance, as Tom and Martin Harris leaped ashore to join Sam.
“Up the mainsail!” roared Dan Baxter, and Goss obeyed the order with alacrity. At the same time Dan Baxter and Mumps pulled up the anchor; and in less than two minutes the Flyaway was standing out into the bay.
CHAPTER XXIII
DOWN THE STATEN ISLAND SHORE TO SANDY HOOK
“Dick! Dick! What ails you?”
“My head, Sam! Arnold Baxter struck me down,” came with a groan.
“Can you get up? We want to follow them,” cried Tom, as he caught his brother by the arm. He had just reached the factory on a dead run, lantern in hand, to find Dick.
“I guess I can stand, Tom. But I can’t run yet.”
“Here, take the lantern and I’ll carry you,” came quickly, and in a moment more Tom Rover had Dick on his back and was running for the Searchlight as rapidly as the nature of the meadow land permitted, Dick holding the light over his head so that both might see.
The alarm had now become general, and by the time the yacht was gained two police officers, who had been on the hunt for harbor thieves, appeared.
“What’s the row about?” demanded one of the officers of the law, as he came into view.
“Is that an officer?” questioned Dick feebly,
“I am an officer—yes.”
“We are after some thieves and some parties who have abducted a girl. Will you help us?”
“Certainly, if what you say is true. Where is the crowd?”
“They ran off in that direction,” came from Sam, as he loomed up out of the darkness. “They have a yacht out there somewhere.”
“Then we can’t catch them—unless we get a boat,” answered Sergeant Brown.
“We have a boat, out this way,” and Sam pointed with his hand. “But I guess we had better make certain that they go out first.”
“True for you, young man. Lead the way and we’ll be with you.”
All ran on again, Tom bringing up in the rear with Di
ck. Soon the cove previously mentioned was gained. They were just in time to see the Flyaway disappearing in the darkness.
“Come back here!” cried Tom. “If you don’t it will be the worse for you!”
“Don’t you attempt to follow us!” came savagely from Arnold Baxter. “If you do, somebody will get shot!”
“By crickety, he’s a bad one!” cried the second police officer.
“Stop! I order you to stop, in the name of the law!” shouted Sergeant Brown.
“It’s the police!” howled Mumps in sudden terror. “Oh, dear! I knew we should catch it.”
“Shut up,” muttered Dan Baxter. “Run up the jib, Goss, and be quick about it!”
“You do it—I’ll have to steer here,” answered the sailor, and Dan Baxter leaped for the sheet mentioned.
“Are you going to stop?” cried Sergeant Brown, after a few seconds’ pause.
To this there was no answer. The sergeant drew his pistol, but before he could use it, even if he so intended, the yacht was nothing but an uncertain shadow in the gloom of the night.
“We had better get to your boat,” said the police officer.
“All right; come on,” said Sam, and showed the way, which was decidedly uncertain. At one point there was a wide ditch to cross, and Tom had his hands full getting Dick over.
Martin Harris was watching for them, and had all ready to cast off should this be required.
“I’m mighty glad you found the police,” he said to Dick, who now felt able to do for himself once more. “Will they go with us?”
“You are certain those folks on the other boat are thieves?” demanded Sergeant Brown. “Carter and I don’t want to go off on any wild goose chase.”
“They are not only thieves, but abductors,” said Dick. “We can easily prove it. They must be caught if it is possible to do so.”
“All right then, we’ll go with you. Come, Carter,” and the two officers hopped on board. Soon the mainsail was set, followed by all the other available canvas, and the Searchlight was continuing the chase which had been so curiously broken off.
Martin Harris was in the dark so far as knowing what course the Flyaway had taken, and had to trust to luck to fall in with the fleeing craft.
The Rover Boys Megapack Page 28