Part 22 (1/2)
”In other words, there ,” Cub interpreted
”You bet you, and more than any amateur radio station in the country can do Noe've wasted too et started without any more delay”
”But let one,” Cub pleaded
”I bet I can have a police boat headed this way before you reach the ,” his father ruled unwaveringly ”You'd disappear just the way the other boys did We can't afford to run any h if you let ued,
”No, sir-ree; I'un battle with a band of bandits”
But the boy was still undismayed by his father's resoluteness He had one more proposal to offer, and he presented it thus:
”You don't need to leave me here alone, dad Mr Baker may stay; you can run the Catwhisker alone”
Boththe boy to follow, but they stopped suddenly and faced about on hearing this new proposition Mr Baker looked al that the latter's unyielding attitude had softened soreeable to me if it is to you”
”Well,” returned Mr Perry with slow deliberation, ”that sounds pretty good If it suits you both, it suits uns, even if any bad actors do happen around If you show theh Do you kno to handle an automatic, Bob?”
”Sure I do,” the latter replied ”All you have to do is keep the nose pointed away froet you want to hit To shoot, you just keep pulling the trigger, and when it's eain”
”That's a simple statement of facts,” Mr Perry smiled; ”but you left out the most ioing to let you have it”
”Oh, I knohat it is; you've told it to er alertness ”You know, dad, I always reet that advice of yours about fire-arun as if you know it's loaded' I prouess it's safe to let you have it,” said Mr Perry, handing over the weapon ”All right, now that everything's settled, I'll be gone and you two see what you can do through the air”
That ended the discussion, and a fewall the speed he could put into the power boat toward the Canadian shore, while Cub devoted all his energy and skill to the task of su asby and waiting eagerly for results
And results were not long coht beyond the outer rinized the call of Max Handy, the Canadian araphed the following:
”I aot back, we found the two boys we left here were gone”
”I knew soot their S O S Then one of theraphed that so after hie was broken off in the ain, I called up the police and they said they would see it got to the proper authorities for investigation”
Cub translated this e for the benefit of Mr Baker and was about to continue the telegraphic conversation when fourbut friendly demeanor, appeared on the scene Mr Baker saw them first and sounded the alarm
”Here they come,” he said in low tone, the accents of which caused Cub to start to his feet and reach for his father's pistol which he had laid on the radio table ”Be careful,” the et soun in your pocket and don't draw it unless they attack us or you seethe autoht pocket of his coat, did not escape the notice of the visitors, who appeared to have come from the wooded depths of the island But evidently their uncertain vision left their nificance of the act, for they continued to advance, however, with soo forward a few steps to meet them,” said Mr Baker, in a low voice to Cub ”You stay back here and be careful with your gun Don't use it unless you see me use mine; then keep your head I think we'll be able to handle this situation without any violence”
He advanced half a dozen paces, then stopped and addressed the unwelcome visitors, ere now distant froentlemen,” he said ”We are armed, and any further advance on your part will be entle, but with scowls that indicated the poor grace of their obedience A description of them wouldmade an unfriendly call on Hal and Bud at the island caain was spokesman for them
”What're you fellers doin' on our island?” he de of his scowl
”I didn't know the island belonged to you,” Mr Baker returned quietly