Part 12 (1/2)

”All right,” agreed Tom, ”I'll turn about, but there isn't the slightest danger of a squall to-day.” He brought his little craft about and headed toward the beach.

In spite of his a.s.surance that there would he no squall, a black, threatening cloud had appeared in the sky, and now the wind s.h.i.+fted, blowing strongly toward land. Tom, who was nothing if not a sailor, managed the boat so skilfully that Madge's apprehensions were soon quieted and she gave herself up to the complete enjoyment of rus.h.i.+ng along in the freshened breeze.

They were within a mile of their landing place when, off to their right and a little ahead of them, Madge spied the rowboat they had seen at the beginning of their sail.

The boat was now tossing idly on the waves, and its sole occupant, a young man, was trying vainly to guide it with a single oar.

”There is that boat again,” called Madge to Tom, who was busy with his sails. ”I believe the young man in it is in trouble and is signaling to us for help.”

As Tom drew nearer to the rowboat the other man in it called out: ”Say, can't you take me aboard? I've lost an oar, and it's a pretty tough job trying to get ash.o.r.e with one oar in a sea like this.”

Tom glanced quickly at Madge. He was quite ready to help the young man, but wished to be sure that his young woman guest had no objection to the stranger coming aboard their boat.

It took five minutes to bring the sailboat close enough to pick up the man. Tom threw him a rope and the stranger climbed aboard, making fast his rowboat to the stern of the sailing vessel. He was a peculiar, wild-looking fellow, with dark, s.h.i.+fting eyes and thick, curly hair that partly covered his ears. As be stepped into the sailboat his lips parted in a smile that showed his teeth, which Madge noted were long, very white and pointed at the ends. He was deeply tanned, yet, in spite of his rough appearance, seemed to be a gentleman.

”You are very kind,” he said in a low, purring voice which caused Madge to eye him sharply. ”I would not have troubled you, but there is a heavy squall coming up. I shall be greatly obliged to you if you will put me ash.o.r.e.”

”All right,” a.s.sented Tom. ”We are in a hurry to get to sh.o.r.e ourselves, as my mother will be anxious if the storm catches us.”

Madge had continued to gaze at the new-comer. ”Where have I seen him before? He is like a wolf. His teeth look almost like fangs, and I don't like his strange, s.h.i.+fting eyes,” she mentally criticised.

Aloud she said to Tom: ”Miss Jenny Ann will be worried. She has been very nervous about us since we were locked in that old cabin in the woods overnight.”

The stranger regarded Madge quizzically. She could have sworn that a mocking light lay in his dark eyes. ”Did you say you were locked in an old cabin in the woods overnight? How unfortunate.”

”It will be more unfortunate for the fellow who locked the girls in, provided we find him,” threatened Tom shortly. The stranger's suave tones aroused in him a peculiar feeling of antagonism.

The young man regarded Tom through half-shut eyes. ”I must ask you to land me on the beach above here,” he drawled.

”Sorry,” answered Tom firmly. ”I don't know any other pier along here except ours. I told you I was in a hurry to go ash.o.r.e. I don't like to be disobliging, but you will have to go to our landing with us.”

The black clouds were now chasing one another across the sky, and the wind made a curious whistling noise. Nevertheless the boat was sailing gloriously, and in spite of the oncoming squall Tom and Madge were enjoying themselves immensely, though neither of them was much pleased with their fellow traveler.

The stranger turned to Madge. ”You must tell your friend that he'll have to land me somewhere else than in that picnic party,” he muttered hoa.r.s.ely. ”I tell you I have a reason. I do not want to meet any society folks.”

”I am sorry,” answered Madge distantly, her eyes growing stormy at the young man's peremptory tone. ”Mr. Curtis explained to you why we are in a hurry to land. As long as he took you aboard our boat with us as a favor, you have no right to ask us to change our course.”

The stranger clenched his fists and glanced angrily at Tom.

”Ain't you going to land me somewhere else first?” he demanded in a snarling voice.

Tom quietly shook his head. The sailboat was now only a little more than half a mile from the pier. The wind was fair, blowing them almost straight to the pier.

Tom Curtis was not looking. Suddenly the fellow sprang up and threw the tiller over. The boat jibed sharply. Madge cried out in quick alarm. Her cry saved Tom Curtis from being knocked overboard by the boom as it swung over to the other side of the boat.

”Keep away from this tiller,” Tom called out angrily, seeing that their boat had now entirely changed its course. ”I am sailing this boat.”

”You are not sailing her, if you don't take her in where I say,” the intruder declared fiercely. His eyes were bloodshot and his teeth closed together with a snap. He stood by as if he were going to spring at Tom Curtis.

Madge's cheeks were burning. She was so angry that her throat felt dry and parched. ”Don't pay any attention to him,” she called indignantly.