Part 11 (1/2)
”We must, very soon,” replied Mr Seaton ”Yet, Halstead, I've been thinking that I cannot afford to take any further chances, with Anson Dalton still at large These fisherh but honest lot of splendid fellows in their way I'ht e the deputy sheriff to vouch for the o down to the boat and be ready for , when the young skipper returned Several of the e were still about the dock
”We're to be ready to cast off as soon as Mr Seaton gets here, Joe,”
Captain Tom Halstead announced ”Better look to your motors If you want any help, call onto recruit the guard of eight uns, borrowed in so after their new e below, the others preferring to remain on deck
”Cast off, Captain, as soon as you can,” directed Powell Seaton
Two or three of the new guards sprang forward to help in this work
Halstead rang for half speed, then threw the wheel over,a quick start Once under way, he called for full speed, and the ”Restless” went bounding over the waves, which were runningthe first half of the run Captain Halstead re him Tom strolled back to take a seat on the deck-house beside Mr Seaton
”I'et back,” confessed the charter-man
”Anxious about your friend, Clodis, of course,” nodded Toly
”Partly that, yes But there's anotherme fearfully, too You remember the packet of papers I took fro his voice
”Yes,” murmured Tom ”But you have those in an inner pocket”
”I wish I had!” uttered Powell Seaton ”Halstead, the truth is, after you young , to patrol about the island, I became a little uneasy about that packet, and took it out and hid it--under soun Then I locked the closet door When Dawson called me from the porch, in such haste, and I was needed on board with ot the packet for the instant”
”Oh, it will be safe, anyway,” Toet a boat at once, in this neighborhood, there's no other craft in these waters capable of reaching Lonely Island earlier than we shall do it”
”I _do_ hope that packet is safe,” muttered Mr Seaton, in a voice tense with anxiety ”Halstead, you've no notion of the fearful bloould be to friends and to ht noise on the opposite side of the deck-house top, Seaton and Toether They were just in ti toward theh footing on deck to-night,” said the guard, with a pleasant laugh, then passed on aft
To up the landing place with the searchlight, moved into the harbor and went to her berth
Powell Seaton led all of his guards but one up to the bungalow The eighth man, armed with a rifle, was left aboard the ”Restless,” with the searchlight turned on, ready for use at any aloith their employer
”Wait out on the porch for just a little while,” called Mr Seaton, in a low voice ”And be careful to make no noise that will disturb the sick man”
Five minutes later Mr Seaton returned to the porch
”I've been looking for that packet,” he whispered to the young skipper ”It's safe, so I've left it in the saalow added:
”Captain, you can have your friend, butts, now, as we can do without him in the house I think you three had better turn in on the boat and get souard at the wharf rouse you, for I want you to go over to Beaufort and get supplies for repairing the wireless outfit at the earliest hour
Things are likely to happen soon that will erous for me to be without wireless communication with land and sea”