Part 18 (1/2)
At Bay St. Louis came a surprise. The launch had entered the harbor on fire and those on board had had to swim for their lives. The craft had been running at full speed, had struck a mud scow and gone under, and was now resting in eight feet of water and mud.
”Was she burnt very much?” asked Harold Bird, of the person who gave this information.
”I don't think she was,” was the answer. ”She went down before the flames got very far.”
”And what of the rascals who ran, or rather swam, away?” asked d.i.c.k.
”They came ash.o.r.e, went to a hotel, where they dried their clothing and got something to eat, and then went off to get the launch raised.”
”I don't believe they intended to raise the launch,” said Sam, promptly. ”That was only a bluff.”
”Exactly what I think,” put in Tom. ”Those fellows know they'll be followed sooner or later, and they'll try to make themselves scarce.”
What to do next our friends scarcely knew. They went to several points along the sound front, but could gain no information of value.
”We've lost them,” said Songbird, dismally. ”All our long chase for nothing.”
They were moving from one dock to another when they saw a man sitting on some bales of cotton, sleeping soundly and snoring l.u.s.tily.
”Why, isn't that the carpenter who was going to repair the _Dora_?”
cried Sam.
”Sure it is!” answered Tom. ”Here is luck!”
”I wonder if those other rascals are near?” questioned Fred.
They looked all around, but soon reached the conclusion that Solly Jackson was alone. Then they shook the fellow and roused him. He had evidently been drinking, but he was now almost sober.
”What's the matter?” he demanded, sleepily. ”Lemme alone, Pold.”
”Wake up, you rascal!” cried d.i.c.k. ”You're not on the launch.”
”What's the reason I ain't?” stammered Solly Jackson. ”Oh, she got on fire, didn't she? Well, let her burn!” And he attempted to go to sleep again.
”You'll wake up!” cried Harold Bird, and between them he and d.i.c.k shook the fellow until he was thoroughly aroused. When he realized his position he was greatly alarmed.
”Oh, gentlemen, it's all a mistake,” he whined. ”I--er--I didn't run off with the launch, or the houseboat either. All a mistake, I tell you!”
”It was a mistake,” answered d.i.c.k, grimly. ”And you'll find it so when you are behind the prison bars.”
”Whe--where are the others?”
”That is what we want to know,” said Tom. ”Where did you leave them?”
”Ain't they here?”
”No. Where were you with them last?”
Solly Jackson scratched his head thoughtfully.