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

LIGHT FIND

s had received a severe jolt, Captai

t every possible second of conversation before that d

, and almost head-on. The drab boat, about two miles away, had altere

ng skipper, "and notify the 'Fulton' that w

ile away, the big freighter, hailed by wireless, began to slow down speed. It was plain

ook at that!" suddenly

denly gone 128 about, making fa

in the intensity of his excitement over this new move. "Dalton doesn'

to show him the politeness of telling the freig

ied Tom, tersely. "Wh

nt Joe Dawson app

Tell him we're after the drab boat. Tell him that our game i

the freighter began to ma

mpliments from the 'Fulton,' Tom

ad, grimly. "By George! Look at the way that drab boat is beginn

ly vanished on the southern horizon, the chase after

Tom stood forward, leaning against the edge of the forward deck-h

aboard, he's keeping ou

boat was more head-on, whe

though I believe that fellow is on board

y from us?" questioned Hank, wonderi

responded. "But we don't mean to let her

rheating everything," Dawson replied, seriously. "Honestly, Tom, if t

nk," Halstead directed, looking around 130 at his

able to increase it. That craft was still heading shoreward, and now the low

re, unless they've some slicker trick hidde

running so hard from us

y believe we have officers aboard. Of course they know-or suspect-that wa

e not aboard that boat?" cha

wer jaw sagged fo

, sir. Yet, if Dalton were out on the water, with his stolen papers, he'd want to get nowhere else but to Brazil. If he isn't on

the coast Halstead again kept

e river over yon

. Hardly more than a cr

water th

Then the stream moves over a peb

Lemly-if he's aboard-plans to r

Seaton. "The place is lonely enough fo

think you'd better get up your rifle? You don't need to show

s. Crouching behind the forward deck-house,

d Hepton, showing his strong, 132 white teeth. "Let those fe

nto the mouth of the little river. Almost immediately afterwa

e wheel, reached over, slowing the "Restless" dow

d, turning to Mr. Seaton. "Are w

into any too dangerous places," began

clicked Tom Halstead, softly. "It'll all in

-I

a

selves. Hepton cocked one of the rifles, and was about to rise with it, wh

rmured 133 Tom. "Wait until we fin

There had been no smoke, no whistle of a bullet by t

ly to make us nervous

hat they have fire-ar

ongside, unless you give me other

," decided Powell Seaton. He now had the extra pair of marine glass

n directed. So neatly was headway corrected that the

ining less than an

rd," whispered Mr. Seaton to his young captain. "Dalt

, 134 if you want to take all the risk,"

ow

rkness, then I could put our tender overboard and row Hepton to one bank of the river wit

ooking thoughtful. "But look at that shore, Halstead. See the thick trees on eith

from the boat y

in,

keep our searchlight turned on the drab boat so that you and Hepton could see every movement on her decks. From a quarter o

d Powell Seaton. "I don't feel that I have any

gain in a way to sh

l big 'nough to take care of myself, and

anyone slipped ashore from the Drab, you couldn't get on shore fast enoug

county would take him, for going aboard this boat and breaking it loose from the dock the other night. A United States marshal might ar

o run Dalton into one of the la

e what happens," announced Mr. Seaton, aft

other bank," begged Hepton. "Then y

en," agreed th

ll tender alongside in a jiffy. Hepton stepped down into the smaller craft,

bank to the left," whispered

rn of the drab boat, yet not a single hum

passenger, Tom, this time, rowed a little closer to the seventy-footer lying at anch

so many guns?" this man as

ot feeling guilty of a lie since he was

ver bank, the young captain of the

t was ne

e searchlight is working,"

nd sweep it around,

ctorily. Dark came on quickly, still without any more sig

ly," announced Han

. "Slip down into the galley and make sandwiches enough for al

ub boys began to find the swinging of the light on the drab boat, on

ng would happen

," yawned Joe. "Something is likely

ad, swinging the searchlight, just the

138 each side of the deck-house. Then, as quickly, by their sides stood two other men who sprang to lower the two small boats that hu

ne," muttered Captain Tom, swinging

grimaced Joe Dawson. "Each will wonder whether h

rs rowed back to the Drab, and the

ied Hank Butts, in a breathless undert

that went ashore was Anson Dalton. They must be trying to throw our crowd off the

ing around. So far none of her sailing lights were in evidence. She looked more

began to move ahead. By this time her prow was head-on for the "

eed increased, Tom Hal

o cut us in two while w

TER

LSTEAD

ssible, it would have been out of the question to get the mo

wholly by surprise, yet he was

, bounding for the motor room hatchway. "If we get

eir long swim were in the motor room. Tom caught up his, wheelin

he hitching weight that had already made him

to witness the final man?uvre of the seventy-footer. That

up alongside, rail to rail. And now the whole intention was manifest at a glance, for the figu

Captain Tom Halstead, his voice ringin

st of the Drab's crew to try to leap aboard. The intended victim threw up his hands to ward off the

ellow strove to protect his face, and would have guarded easily enough, but, instead, the ot

ank, at the first

e looking, hitching weight. One man set his foot on deck. Hank, al

ight instantly, Hank let it fly forward and f

an injured face, from Joe's heavy blow. Captain Tom's victi

ey hadn't, for Hank pursued one of them with his terrifying hitching w

back aboard the Drab. Those who needed assistance were helped back. The Drab drifted away, her vagrant course

drift apart, dropped into the small boat of the "Restless" and rowed swiftly for shore. H

up out of the bushes, almost into the face of the fellow who landed on my side of the river. It was neither

the further bank. During this time Mr. Seaton had kept his eyes on the drab boat, holding

ng. There was a sound in the woods

your 143 side?" whispered Powell

" grunted Hepton, disgustedly. "I had no order

in and we'll get abo

two passengers, and was standing by. Captain Tom was at the

hour. Halstead, without waiting for orders, went in chase, keeping his place two hundred yards behind the

served Powell Seaton, with a chuckl

sir, they're only about a quarter of a mile off the coast here. Their small boat could make a quick dash for the shore. Even a

the Drab, aft. It was followed, almost immediately, by the sound

laughed Tom Halstead, coolly. "Those f

ned over the edge of the fo

d: "I beg your pardon, Mr. Seaton, but I don't believe you

ing to take desperate chances, acting like pirates, in fact. But we don't want to

ton, rather stubbornly. "We hav

n accidental discharge. Unless they make it very 145 plain that they're playing the part

y chances that go with my job, it doesn't seem just fair to ask me to be exp

ouse, Hepton," nodded Halstead, pleasantly.

e hit, fine,"

skipper, "I'd rather take the chance t

imself where the forward deck-house would protect him. Jo

presently said, watching the deck of the drab boat in

the forward deck-house, rifles ready, and fire at the flash of the third shot. We'll keep with

ly. Then the young skipper signed to his em

you a few questions, with a view to maki

ad, Hal

you gotten wholly over your sus

at I may have said or thought. You've shown me, since, how perfectly brave you are. I don't believe a

ets of papers describing and locating your diamond field are out of your hands, don't you

" nodded Mr.

ite out a set of papers that would tell a 147 man d

hours of writing, that's all. But why are you

Dalton found you getting close to him, and knew you could seize the papers, he'd destroy them. It seems to me that our sole ga

lly, "we can know whether the fellow succeeds in getting away on

Halstead answered. "So would the 'Restless,' for that matter. The only trouble woul

board some regular liner or freighter? Well, as long as we

likely determine to send the copies to your old enemy, Terrero, by mail. Now, Mr. Seaton, it seems to me that your best hope is to duplicate the missing pap

at the young skippe

amond field, of which no one, save myself, at present knows the exact location? Why, even if the postal authorities do their very best to put the papers in the proper hand

a desperate 149 case, now, and some desperate chances must be taken if you'

nother set of papers and mail them to my friends of

r Dalton, of course, knows that you can send a set of the papers by mail. He'll feel like t

oaned Mr. Seaton. "It seems an awf

'll board the first Rio-bound steamer that we meet, and go through for you. I'll give you e

on, peering eagerly into

me to go as your

spies must be plentiful in Rio Janeiro. Why, even every steamer that leaves New York for Brazil may carry his men

ly, "is something that most men learn readily

constant elbow-touch, the presence and support of comrades. But you would be alone-o

now, sir, you're losing time. Why don't you go below, get writing

change my mind, it will be easy enough to

o go down into the cabin

s up ahead! Come