The Motor Boat Club and The Wireless; Or, the Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise

ONE TRICK

sh to send the log riding ahead. Tom and Hank swam on either sid

been, were strong, splendid swimmers. This night, however

ows he's really got to," was the young

the attempt. Hank Butts, the Long Island boy, though perhaps possessing less fine courage than either of his comrades, had

ing a little more than an eighth of the distance. He swam to the log, throwing his right arm over it and holding on while the two Maine boys pushed and towed it. Finally

s obliged to hold to the log, as it rolled and plunged, riding the waves. Wors

undertaking," declared Hank, with blu

ted Tom Halstead, his

erved Hank, speaking the words in jerks of one s

e've got to chance it. And say, we'd better shove off and try to swim again

. 63 When they were clear of the log, swimming, it pitched so on the tops of the waves that it

egan Hank, the next time the three swimmers were

retorted Tom, as stiffly as his c

elievingly. "It's a fool's

ck, now," broke in Joe, his teeth accompany

with us going back," objected Bu

"No, sir! We've got to go ahead. I'm swimming to the tu

se from the log once more and struck out, p

t was retreating from before 64 them. Hank was almost certain they were moving in a circle, but Halstead, with

the young skipper,

and?" bellowe

stless' the last time we rode a

to be the hull of their yacht. The belief gave them renewed courage. Even Hank no longer had any desire to turn back. His whole thoug

hey were inside, the water was very much smoother. Resting a few mome

d that they could discover no human presence on the decks. Had the 65 boat-stealers gone ashore on the nameless

, as he lay at the rail of the "Restless," the young skipper slashed the cord that still held him bound to the log. Reaching over, he passed the knife to

ing his own firewood weapon. They made no noise, for they knew not who, or how many others might be on boar

ch of ague, while Halstead went forward, with the soft tread of a cat

kind came up to him. At last, a short step at a time, Halstead descended into the motor room, groping cautiously about. Finally, he became confident enough

in a shaking whisper, when he rejo

orted Joe. "They've drawn the port-hole and transom curtains, b

aid Captain Tom, apprehe

e light he found his way to the passageway that connected the motor room and the ca

red. "Our pirates had no key to unlock that with. Now, can you wa

t the snare-drum solo my teeth are doin

d Captain Tom, practically. "Come along, fellows. Bu

ne hand, the motor boat boys approached the after hatchway. This,

bending so low as to be almost fla

s eyes to find out what might be d

in the cabin," he whisper

Dalton one

ep

we've bagged

?" muttered Joe

y. "My boy, we're going to cut out of 68 this

ed Joe, not very

the upper hand, instead, and make penny jumping-jacks of us until they saw f

Hank followed part of the way, holding their sticks in rea

ht crowd for to-night's work," a rough voice w

un in at Lonely Island's dock. We'll get quietly up to the house, suddenly force the door, and rush in. But, mind you all, there's to be no 69 riot. Your numbers, and your rough appearance, will be enough to scare the folks of the bungalow. The two of you that I've already picked out will rush in with a stateroom door and one of the stateroom mattresses. With this for a

Captain Tom Halstead, h

youth's ear. Hank fled quietly forward, but returned with a snap-padlock, the ring of which was

eck," roared an ex

shing of feet and a general rumpus below.

hatchway door shut, forced the stout hasp ove

PTE

NGEROUS LIV

kled Joe Dawso

ove the racket that sounded below. Anson Dalton an

oor down!" r

is a stout one, and we ain't jest 'zactly

ack again with a prize that he had caught up from a locker near the motors. This was nothing more nor less than the hitching w

grimly. "This for the feet, or the head, of

g trio had temporary command of the deck, there was no telling how

d by to help Hank in case the furious

delighted ears. Then Joe waved his arms as a signal from the raised deck forward. Halstead swi

k, hadn't you?" quivered Joe. "I c

time setting one of the bridge controls so that the "Restless" began to move forward under slow speed. This mo

g the boat's head around, poi

n Dalton's hoarse voice, imperiously. "If you don

e slower, harder thump-thump which told that one of the strongest of those caught belo

of Dalton. "Batter it down. It will be wor

pens!" roared back Tom Halstead, as soon as

d Dalton, angrily, as there came a pause i

his head, hurling it down to the deck with crashing for

the cabin. It was plain that Dalton and his fellows were wondering just how

permit of a man forcing his way through. Even though they broke the glass overhead, the prisoners in the ca

the waves like a thing of life. Though the water had been hard to swim

awson was sounding his auto whistle like

nd, appeared on the porch. He watched, not knowing whether friend or foe commanded the "Restless." Mr. Seaton, himself, was made t

the bow, he next raced up the board walk, shouting the news to Mr. Seaton. The latte

aton tramped hurriedly aft, while Tom and Joe fell in behind him with heavy tr

shoulder, discharging a single shell. Hastily slipping one into the m

ut it will be only to run into the muzzles o

ct mutterings. Not even Anson Dalton, it appeared,

ation with his employer, the

eep your eyes open-until you see us again! Don't be caught napping. Remember, you an

red to see the present adventure through. Yet, a second later, the Lo

ce at the wheel, turning on the speed gradually as the boat r

to the shore, but by an oblique, northwesterly course

rried forward to give the order, adding: "Make it at full speed, Joe.

rubbed down and got on dry clothing. Joe, in turn

the gun on deck. Yet Captain Tom, by peeping through the transom, discovered

tly forward. Dropping 76 down into the motor room he switched of

efore," grinned Dawson, as Halst

a bit," chuckled Captain T

wenty-five minutes after leaving the dock that Joe reached the entrance to the little harb

to send the distress signal with the searchlight. By the time he slowed down speed,

ng?" hailed

back Powell Seaton. "Be quick about it, one of you,

hands caught both ropes, making them fast around snubbing posts. As two men started 77

ong on board?" demande

es, or rascals about as bad,

oast?" asked a

n, whom the new-comers had recogni

w of the 'Black Betty,'" c

e water, narrow and carrying tall masts with a h

claims to be a fishing boat, but we're ready to bet she's a

k Betty' outfit below, then," declare

a smash. Powell Seaton had neglected to remain on gu

shouted Anson Dalton out of the press of struggling men that f

l. Dalton had gone overboard, f

PTE

N'S BAD CASE

et away!" called Powe

oe Dawson grabbed. Several of the fishermen sprang to help. For a minute or two there was a good deal of confusion. When m

be Captain Dave Lemly of the "Black Betty," had escaped, swimming under water in the darkness. They must have come to the surface a

ased by new arrivals. Powell Seaton, his shot-gun on his shoulder, now patrolled close to the human ring.

who brought several pairs of handcuffs. A justice of the peace was aroused at his home, and held the prisoners over

s given up, for it became plain that both

use. "However, we can be thankful for what success we have had. We have the boa

Lonely Island now, sir?

large. These fishermen are a rough but honest lot of splendid fellows in their way. I'm going to see if I can't hire a special guard of eight men for Lo

skipper returned. Several of the men o

ts here, Joe," Captain Tom Halstead announced. "Better

rifles or shot-guns, borrowed in some instances, the men tramped along after their new employe

s soon as you can," d

then threw the wheel over, making a quick start. Once under way, he called for full speed, and the

the wheel. Then Joe came up from below, relieving him. Tom str

to get back," confes

d, Clodis, of course," no

ng me fearfully, too. You remember the packet of papers I to

"But you have those

ittle uneasy about that packet, and took it out and hid it-under some boxes of ammunition in the cupboard where I keep my gun. Then I locked the clo

een able to get a boat at once, in this neighborhood, there's no other craft i

tense with anxiety. "Halstead, you've no notion of the fearful

and Tom Halstead turned together. They were just in time to see one of the

ight," said the guard, with a pl

picking up the landing place with the searchlig

d with a rifle, was left aboard the "Restless," with the searchlight turned on, read

called Mr. Seaton, in a low voice. "And be carefu

r Mr. Seaton retu

whispered to the young skipper. "It's

nt, the owner of t

. Then, soon after daylight, I can have the guard at the wharf rouse you, for I want you to go over to Beaufort and get supplies for repairing the wireles

rths in the motor room. It was considerably later, though, ere sleep came to them.

ter Hank had been sent up to the house to learn whether there were

followed Hank into the cabin. Dawson, however, did not seek further sleep. He wanted to make a more thorough test than he had done a few hours before

e for instant use," he reported, com

th the man we are working for now we're likely to nee

something hugely mysterious and uncanny back of all these doings of l