Part 18 (1/2)
”Yes; I know the stream Hardly more than a creek,” replied Mr
Seaton
”Any deep water there, sir?”
”For only a very little way in Then the strea brook”
”Then it looks, sir, as though Lemly--if he's aboard--plans to run in there and hustle ashore”
”Or else stay and fight,” hinted Powell Seaton ”The place is lonely enough for a fight, if the rascals dare try it”
”Hepton!” summoned Halstead, a few et up your rifle? You don't need to show it, but someone may send us a shot or two fro up both rifles Crouching behind the forward deck-house, he exa load enough for a squad o' infantry,” laughed Hepton, showing his strong, white teeth ”Let those fellers on the Drab try it, if they want to see e've got”
The seventy-footer was shutting off speed now, going slowly into the mouth of the little river Almost immediately afterwards her reverse was applied, after which she swung at anchor
Tom, too, without a word to Hank, who stood by the wheel, reached over, slowing the ”Restless” down to a gait of soht miles an hour
”What's the order, sir?” he asked, turning to Mr Seaton ”Are we to go in and anchor alongside?”
”I--I don't want to run you young an Powell Seaton, hesitatingly ”I--I----”
”Danger's one of the things we're paid for,” clicked Tom Halstead, softly ”It'll all in the charter Do you want to go in alongside?”
”I--I----”
Bang!
The shot came so unexpectedly that the motor boat boys jumped despite themselves Hepton cocked one of the rifles, and was about to rise with it, when the young skipper of the ”Restless” prodded the uns, Hepton,” murmured Tom ”Wait until we find out what that shot was meant for”
No one now appeared on board the drab seventy-footer There had been no smoke, no whistle of a bullet by the heads of those on the bridge deck of the ”Restless”
”That was intended only to rinned Captain Toested Seaton
”Well, sir, I'iveskipper
”Cover about half the rest of the distance, then reverse and lie to,”
decided Powell Seaton He now had the extra pair ofboth the boat and the shore nearby