Part 15 (1/2)

”Say,” hailed back Jed, ”I don't believe there's a soul on board that craft. I can see the bottom of the inside of the boat.”

”Get the boat-hook, then,” ordered Halstead. ”We'll lay alongside and make sure that she's deserted.”

Jed jumped down nimbly. Apparently he was glad to provide himself with so handy a weapon as the boat-hook. With this he stepped out forward again. Tom ran the Meteor in until the two craft almost b.u.mped.

”Ugh!” grunted Jed. ”It looks almost uncanny to see that engine pumping right along with no sign of human care.”

Gradually he drew the bow of the moving launch closer.

”Go aboard,” directed Tom.

Jed stood up high on his toes, to take a last careful look. Then he leaped to the other craft, bounding down into her c.o.c.kpit. There he stood still for a few moments, tightly gripping the boat-hook in an exaggerated att.i.tude of defence.

”Are you afraid?” hailed Halstead.

”Well,” admitted Jed, candidly, ”I've no notion for being pounced on or shot from ambush.”

”That would have happened already, if it was going to,” Tom rejoined with a smile. ”Stop the engine, and then we'll make fast and all come on board.”

That Jed accomplished with one hand, while Joe did the same with the ”Meteor's” engine. Then Prentiss reached over with the boat-hook, gradually hauling the smaller craft up to the ”Meteor.”

Leaving Joe behind on deck, the young skipper followed into the launch.

A quick search made it plain that there was no human being in either the forward or after cubby.

”The wheel was spiked,” discovered Tom. ”You see, the boat was started on her course and then her spiked wheel held her rather close to it.

Whoever was aboard, after having fixed wheel and engine, got off. This was done to fool us, and we've had a fine old chase.”

Lawyer Crane, on the deck of the ”Meteor,” opened his mouth. He was about to offer an opinion, but thought better of it and closed his lips.

”Mr. Crane,” asked Tom, after a few moments, ”what are our rights? We can take this abandoned boat in tow, can't we, and take her over to Mr.

Dunstan's pier?”

”Clearly,” a.s.sented the lawyer, slowly. ”And there's a right to salvage if the owner of this derelict appears and claims the boat.”

Tom clambered back aboard the ”Meteor,” and, going aft, threw a line to Jed, who made fast around a b.u.t.t at the bow of the launch. Then Jed came back.

”Now, Mr. Crane,” smiled Captain Tom, ”we are again at your orders.

Unless you think of something better, we can keep on to Nantucket.”

”Decidedly,” replied the lawyer. ”We must acquaint Mr. Dunstan with this whole prepos-unaccountable story.”

As soon as the ”Meteor” was well under way, on her homeward course, Halstead called down:

”Joe, I've stood this drenched clothing as long as I think is good for me in this sea wind. Take the wheel, please, and I'll go below and get a rub and some dry clothing.”

”I'm going down with you,” broke in Jed. ”There's hot water, and you ought to have some coffee.”