The at the Seashore Part 8 (2/2)
”I'm sorry we have to go home, but I suppose we really must be starting,” said Eleanor, after supper. ”It's such a heavenly night that it seems to me it would be perfect just to stay here.”
”Wouldn't it? But you're right--we must be starting back. We'll go on and come around the other side of this island. You should see it from all points of view. Scenically, it's our show place for this whole stretch of coast.”
And so as soon as Bates had finished clearing off the table he went back to his engine, and the Columbia slipped along smoothly in the shadow of the island. But a few minutes later, as they were gliding along on the seaward side, where the water was far rougher, there was a sudden jar, and the next moment the engine stopped.
”Why, what's the matter?” asked Eleanor, surprised.
”Nothing much, probably,” said Trenwith. ”Bates will have it fixed in a few minutes. The best engine in the world is apt to get balky at times--and I must say that mine has chosen a very good time to misbehave.”
Eleanor chose to ignore the meaning he so plainly implied, but she was perfectly content with the explanation, and sat there dreamily, expecting to hear the rea.s.suring whir of the motor at any moment. But the minutes dragged themselves out, and the only sound that came from the engine was the tapping of the tools Bates was using. Trenwith frowned.
”This is very strange,” he said. ”We've never been delayed as long as this since I've had Bates. He usually keeps the motor in perfect running order. I'll just step forward and see what's wrong.”
He returned in a few moments, his face grave.
”Bates has some highly technical explanation of what is wrong,” he said, seriously. ”It seems that he needs some tools he hasn't got, in order to grind the valves. I'm afraid we'll have to get ash.o.r.e somehow--he seems to be sure that he can find what he is looking for there.”
Eleanor looked rather dismayed.
”It's going to make us terribly late in getting ash.o.r.e, isn't it?” she asked. ”I'm afraid the others will be worried about us.”
”No. Bates says that as soon as he gets the tools he wants he will have things fixed up, and he's quite certain that he can get them on the island. He says anyone who has a motor boat will be able to help him out--and they certainly couldn't live here without one.”
”But how on earth are you going to get ash.o.r.e if the engine won't work?” asked Dolly. ”It seems to me that we're stuck out here.”
”Oh, you leave that to us!” said Trenwith, cheerfully. ”I'm sorry this has happened, but please believe me when I say that it isn't a bit serious.”
They soon saw the Columbia was to be rescued from her predicament. She was fairly near the sh.o.r.e, and now Bates dropped an anchor, and she remained still, swinging slowly on the chain.
”He'll row ash.o.r.e, you see, hunt up the people, and tell them what he wants,” said Trenwith. ”Hurry up, Bates! Remember, we've promised to get these young ladies home in good time.”
”Right, sir,” said Bates, as he lowered the dinghy and dropped into her. ”Won't take me long when I find the people on sh.o.r.e--and about five minutes will fix that engine when I get back here again.”
He rowed off into the darkness, making for a point of light that showed on sh.o.r.e, and they settled back to wait as patiently as they could for his return.
”Suppose Charlie turns up at the camp while we're gone, and wants you for something important?” asked Eleanor. ”Oh, I'm afraid we did wrong in coming!”
”Not a bit of it! Old Charlie will understand. And I know his plans pretty well, so there isn't any danger of this causing any trouble.”
It seemed to take longer for Bates to find help than he had expected. At any rate, the greater part of half an hour slipped away before they heard the sound of oars coming toward them.
”Why, there are two men rowing!” said Dolly, curiously. ”And that dinghy only has room for one man with oars.”
”Probably they decided to send someone out with him to lend him a hand,” said Trenwith. ”People around these parts are pretty nice to you if you have a breakdown, and I guess it's partly because they never know when they're going to have one themselves.”
”Well, that ought to make it easier to make the repairs that are needed,” said Eleanor, somewhat relieved. ”I really am getting worried about what they'll, think at the beach. I'm afraid they'll be sure that something has happened to us.”
”Good evening, Miss Mercer,” said a mocking voice behind her, and she turned, with a start to see Holmes!
”You're late,” said Holmes, reproachfully. ”I expected you an hour earlier. But then better late than never! Ah, I see both of them are with you! Silas Weeks will be very glad to see you two, I have no doubt!”
He spoke then to Bessie and Zara, who, terrified by his sudden appearance, were staring at him.
”Mr. Trenwith!” said Eleanor, sharply. ”You know who this man is, do you not? And what our feelings are concerning him? Are you going to let him stay here?”
”He has no choice, Miss Mercer. Better not ask him too many questions about how you happened to break down right off my island; he would have a hard time convincing you with any story he told. Eh, Trenwith?”
”Shut up!” growled Trenwith. ”What does all this nonsense mean? Get off my boat.”
”Oh, are you trying to make them believe you didn't know about this? I beg your pardon, Trenwith, I really do! Of course, Miss Mercer, he knows as well as I do that I am within my rights. You are now in a state where certain court orders, applying to Bessie King and her little friend Zara are valid--and, knowing that these two girls, who have run away from the courts of this state, are here, I have taken steps to see that they are taken into court. I am a law abiding citizen--I do not like to see the law insulted.”
Eleanor was dazed by the suddenness of the blow. To her it seemed an accident, she could not believe that Trenwith could be guilty of such treachery as Holmes was charging. But in a moment her faith in him was shattered.
”I'd like to help out your posse, Trenwith,” Holmes said to him. ”But I need you, so you'll have to come off your perch. You'll have to come ash.o.r.e with the others, in case you should change your mind. I only want two of these girls, but the others will have to come, too, of course, because if they got away they might make trouble. You shall be perfectly comfortable, Miss Mercer, however.”
The look in Trenwith's eyes, and the sheepish, hangdog expression of his whole face made Eleanor gasp. So he had betrayed them! After all, despite his fine talk, he had been tempted by the money that Holmes seemed prepared to spend so lavishly! And he had led Bessie and Zara right into a trap--a merciless trap, as she knew, from which escape would be most difficult, if not utterly impossible.
And in a moment the lingering remnants of her faith were shattered. For Holmes called out, in a loud tone, at Bates: ”Bates!” he cried. ”Come aboard and start that engine! Then you can take your tub right up to the landing pier in front of the house.”
”Yes, yes!” said Bates. He sprang aboard, and a moment later the engine, perfectly restored, was started, although nothing had been done to it since Bates went ash.o.r.e, and, the anchor lifted, the Columbia began her brief voyage to the pier.
There had been no accident at all! The breakdown had been a deception, pure and simple, intended to give Bates a chance to go ash.o.r.e and warn Holmes that his prey was within his reach.
”Oh, how I despise you!” said Eleanor to Trenwith. ”Go away, please, so that I won't have to look at you!”
”Eleanor, listen!” he said, in a low whisper, pleadingly. ”I can explain--”
”If you think I'm such a fool as to believe anything you tell me now,” she said, furiously, ”you are very much mistaken!”
He saw that to argue with her was hopeless, and went forward gloomily. In a few minutes they were ash.o.r.e. Resistance, as Eleanor saw, was hopeless; the only thing to do was to act sensibly, and hope for a chance to escape.
”I have had three rooms arranged for you,” said Holmes, when they reached a great rambling house. ”They're on the second floor. I think you girls will be comfortable and you would rather, I am sure, have the girls with you. You are in no danger.”
CHAPTER XIII.
A LUCKY MEETING.
Half a dozen men had come out to the Columbia with Holmes and Bates, and now, while Holmes himself disappeared for a minute, beckoning to Trenwith to go with him, the other men watched Eleanor and the three girls. They drew off to a little distance, but they kept their eyes on them.
”They don't look as if they could run very fast,” said Dolly, hopefully. ”Don't you think we might be able to make a break and get away?”
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