Part 2 (2/2)
”Well, abusing them will do no good,” said Jack. ”We'll have to see what other steps can be taken. I'm afraid, though, that they were right; we'll have a hard time proving that it was not an accident, especially as Noddy had dropped our tiller.”
”Well, I just couldn't----” began Noddy, rather shamefacedly, when there came a mighty b.u.mp and the _Curlew_ came to a standstill.
”Now what?” cried Raynor.
”We've run on a shoal, fellows,” declared Jack. ”This cruise is over for a time.”
”Well, anyhow, we can't sink now,” said Noddy philosophically, ”but although the _Curlew's_ stuck on the shoal I'm not stuck on the situation.”
”Better quit that stuff,” ordered Jack, ”and help Billy lower the mainsail and jib. They are no good to us now. In fact a puff of wind might send us bowling over.”
His advice was soon carried out and the _Curlew_ lay under a bare pole on the muddy shoal. The boys began to express their disgust at their predicament. They had no tender, and would have to stay there till help came because of their lack of a small boat.
”Better set up some sort of a signal to attract the attention of those folks on sh.o.r.e,” suggested Billy.
”That's a good idea,” agreed Jack, ”but hullo! Look yonder, there's a motor boat coming out from the sh.o.r.e. Let's hail that.”
”Hullo, there! Motor boat ahoy!” they all began to yell at the top of their lungs.
But they might have saved their voices, for the motor boat swung about in a channel that existed among the shoals and began making straight for them. Its single occupant waved an encouraging hand as he drew closer.
”In trouble, eh?” he hailed; ”well, maybe I can get you off. I saw that other boat run you down. It was a rascally bit of business.”
”Gracious!” cried Jack suddenly, as the motor boat drew closer and they saw its occupant was a bronzed, middle-aged man with a pleasant face; ”it's Captain Simms of the revenue cutter _Thespis_! What in the world is he doing up here?”
”If it isn't Jack Ready!” came in hearty tones from the other, almost simultaneously.
CHAPTER IV.
ON SECRET SERVICE.
There was no question about it. Astonis.h.i.+ng as it appeared, the bluff, sunburned man in the motor boat which was winding its way toward the _Curlew_, in serpentine fas.h.i.+on, among the tortuous channels, was Captain Simms, the commander of the revenue cutter on which Jack Ready had served as ”ice-patrol” operator. The greetings between his late commander and himself were, as might be imagined, cordial, but, owing to the circ.u.mstances under which they were exchanged, somewhat hurried.
”So you've been in a smash-up,” cried the captain, as he reduced speed on nearing the stern of the _Curlew_, which was still afloat. ”n.o.body hurt, I hope?”
”Except the boat,” smiled Jack with grim humor.
”So I see. A nasty hole,” was the captain's comment. ”Lucky that I happen to be camping ash.o.r.e or you might have stayed out here for some time. Rivermen hereabouts aren't over-obliging, unless they see big money in it for their services.”
”We'd have been content to pay a good salvage to get off here,” Jack a.s.sured him.
”Well, that other craft certainly sheered off in short order after she hit you,” was Captain Simms' comment, as he shut off power and came in under the _Curlew's_ stern, which projected, as has been said, over fairly deep water, only the bow being in the mud.
”Then you can tell who was to blame?” asked Billy eagerly.
<script>