Part 31 (1/2)

”Which shows that those men haven't been here,” said Jack. ”That makes me fear that they may have gotten to him before us.”

”Why so?” asked Ed.

”Well, it's evident that the men haven't been here since the girls gave us the alarm. If they had they'd have torn up that note. Then, too, you'd think, if they were going to try to make Denny do what they wanted in the way of giving testimony, they'd be getting at it. He goes to bed early, as everybody around here knows, and locks up. If those fellows wanted to get at him without breaking in they'd come early. All of which makes me think that they may already have had a serious interview with him.”

”I hope not,” observed Walter. ”I'm more inclined to believe that he's out on the bay somewhere. If he is he's all right.”

”Say, fellows, I've got an idea!” cried Jack.

”Hold fast to it--they're scarce,” remarked Ed.

”No, but seriously. Suppose we cruise about a bit. We needn't go far from the sh.o.r.e, and we can have an eye on the cabin. In case Denny is out on the water we may pick him up. Then we could tell him what was on, and warn him. We could do it even better than on sh.o.r.e here, for there's no telling but what some of those fellows may be in hiding around here,” and Jack cast a look about. It was dark, but a full moon was coming up to make a light that revealed most objects.

”Then if there is a possibility that someone may be in ambush here,”

said Walter, ”we'd better keep a bit more mum. But I think Jack's plan is a good one. Let's cruise about a bit, but keep within sight of the cabin.”

No one had any objections so, after making a casual search about the cabin, and not finding anyone in hiding, the boys again got aboard the _Dixie_ and started to cruise on the bay, that was now sparkling in the moonlight.

Jack and his chums kept a careful watch for Denny Shane's boat. There were several motor craft out, for the night was one that invited trips on the water--calm and still, with a gentle breeze that had in it the tang of salt mingled with the sweet odors of Summer.

”I feel just like singing,” remarked Ed, after a pause during which the _Dixie_ cruised about, not too far from the cabin.

”Have some regard for our feelings,” begged Jack. ”Remember that we are under a great strain.”

”And Ed would be, too, if he sang,” said Walter. ”At least I would feel constrained to remonstrate with him.”

”Huh! Think no one can sing but yourself!” retorted Ed.

”Moonlight always did have a queer effect on him,” remarked Jack.

Round about they cruised, and they were thinking of returning to make sure that Denny had not reached his cabin by some other route, unseen by them, when the motor of the _Dixie_ gave a combined cough, groan and sneeze, and stopped short.

”There she goes!” exclaimed Ed.

”You mean there she _doesn't_ go!” corrected Walter.

”Get the talc.u.m powder,” suggested Jack.

”I'm sure Dray didn't use the tooth brush on her before we came out,”

spoke Jack, accusingly.

The boys had a way of doing the most absurd things, from a mechanical standpoint, whenever their motors refused to mote. They would dust talc.u.m powder on the cylinder tops, or tie a piece of baby-blue ribbon on the pet-c.o.c.k when they had exhausted every other means of making a rebellious motor operate.

And the odd part of it was that, often, when they had done these seemingly silly things, the boat would start. So they were rather superst.i.tious about it, and they did carry a tin of talc.u.m powder with them, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the girls.

In turn the usual sources of trouble were looked for and eliminated one after the other.