Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes Part 23

Later on they did head more toward the west, and start moving through the swinging seas. Constant watchfulness became necessary, for there was always danger that in some unguarded moment one of the billows might roll a boat over like a chip.

So they kept going on, constantly varying their course to meet emergencies, and making progress along the coast. It was splendid manoeuvring for the young pilots of the motor boats; though they rather thought they had had quite enough of it, and would be only too glad to call a halt.

Jack was watching the sh.o.r.e line ahead, whenever he could, in order to learn if a haven came in sight. He had Jimmie frequently use the gla.s.ses when they were on a wave crest; and kept hoping to hear him cry out that he believed he had sighted the harbor they hoped to make before night came on.

As the waves still further diminished in size, they were enabled to make better time, since they no longer feared an upset. Indeed, about the middle of the afternoon they ceased entirely to head the boats into any billow; and all of them declared that they felt proud of what had been accomplished.

"I say, Jack!" called out George, as the two boats happened to draw near each other.

"Well, what is it?" answered the one addressed, popping his head up.

"How does it come, d'ye suppose, that we haven't seen a blessed steamer all this morning, going in either direction?" George went on.

"Why," replied Jack. "Because they had warning from the weather bureau that a storm was coming, and delayed starting out. These captains know what it is to meet up with a Lake Superior storm."

"Yes," spoke up Jimmie, "it's only the nervy little boats like ours that laugh at all the blows as comes along. Look at us, would ye, smas.h.i.+n'

through the big waves like the sa.s.sy things. Slap! bang! and come again, would ye? Sure, it's weather on'y fit for motor boats, it do be."

"Yes," laughed George, "we're all mighty brave about now; but I tell you boys, I felt squeamish for hours when the storm was on. I knew what would happen to us if the wind whipped around before morning. Excuse me from another experience like that. Wonder where Clarence and Joe were then?"

"That's so, they did go on," Jack remarked. "I hope they had shelter. I wouldn't want my worst enemy to be wrecked on such a terrible night."

A short time later Jimmie cried out again: "There do be a steamer comin'

along there, Jack!"

"Steamer nothing!" echoed Josh, who happened to be using George's gla.s.ses at the same time. "I've been watching that thing for five minutes now. And do you know what I think it is, fellows?"

"What?" demanded Jack, who could not leave his duties even for the minute that it would take to glance through the gla.s.ses.

"A wreck!" exclaimed Josh, with thrilling emphasis.

Then everybody sat up, and began to look eagerly in the direction mentioned. It was far out over the troubled waters; and the object could only be seen when it happened to be lifted on the crest of a wave.

"It is that same, upon me worrd!" cried Jimmie, presently. "I cud say the thing thin as plain as the nose on me face."

"And boys, there's some kind of a flag floating on it," Josh went on.

"Upside down?" questioned Nick, eagerly.

"Looks like it to me," came the answer.

"Then it's a wreck, all right; because that's the signal of distress,"

Nick continued, now raising Herb's gla.s.ses for a look.

"Oh! my! I believe it's them!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed a minute later.

At that Jack could stand it no longer.

"Here, Jimmie, you grab hold, and run this boat," he said. "Keep her nose pointed just as she runs now, and whatever you do, don't swing around, broadside on."

Then, as Jimmie took hold of the wheel, the skipper raised the gla.s.ses for a look, while George awaited his report with ill-concealed eagerness.

"There, look now, Jack!" cried Josh.

Presently Jack took down the gla.s.ses, and there was a grave expression on his face.

"What did you see, Jack?" demanded George. "Something that's bothered you some, I can tell by the way you frown."

"That's a sinking craft, all right, George," replied the other, as he turned on all the power his engine was capable of producing, and sent the _Tramp_ speeding directly into the waves. "More than that, I'm afraid I did recognize it, and, just as Nick said, it's the power boat, _Mermaid_, carrying the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews, and his party. Boys, we must hurry to their rescue before they go down!"

CHAPTER XX

PAYING THE PENALTY

Immediately the little fleet of motor boats had taken up a course leading directly for the floating wreck. It looked like the height of folly for such miniature craft to thus put boldly out upon the bosom of that great inland sea; and nothing save a call to duty would ever have influenced Jack to make the venture.

They were strangely quiet as they continued to buffet the oncoming waves. Once in a while some one would ask the wielder of the marine gla.s.ses what he could see, and in this way all were kept informed.

Nick was trembling, so that there were times when he could hardly hold the gla.s.ses to his eyes.

"I see her!" he suddenly shouted in rapture. "Sallie's still there, fellows! I can tell her among the lot. There, she sees me, I think, for the darling is waving her handkerchief! She wants me to hurry along, fellows; perhaps the blessed waterlogged power boat is getting ready to dip under! Can't you throw on just a little more speed, Herb? Please do, to oblige me."

No one thought to laugh, nor did Josh come up true to his name just then; for somehow they seemed to understand that it was a grave matter, and no time for joking.

Jack could see the figures on the partly submerged boat with the naked eye now, they were getting so close.

"Do you see the other girl, Rita Andrews?" he asked Jimmie; and was more pleased than he cared to show when the Irish boy answered in the affirmative.

"Oh! I only hope we get there in time!" groaned Nick, as he fumbled at the cork life preserver, as though intending to put it on again.

"What are you going to do with that thing, Buster?" demanded Herb, sharply.

"Get it around me," the other replied, unblus.h.i.+ngly.

"But you won't need it; there's not the least chance of our upsetting now."

"All the same," Nick responded, calmly; "how do I know but I may have to jump overboard after Sallie? She might slip in her great joy at seeing her preserver so near. And a pretty fellow I'd be not to keep myself ready to do the hero act. Besides, Herb, how do we know that the bally old boat mayn't take a notion to duck under, just when we get close by?

I believe in being prepared."

"You're right, Buster," nodded the skipper. "Take my cork jacket too if so be you think you'll need it. But please don't go to jumping over just to show off. You might drown before her very eyes."

"Oh! I'll be careful, Herb. But since you say so, I believe I will keep your cork affair handy. She might need it; because you see, Sallie is no light weight, any more than me."

He crouched there waiting, doubtless counting the seconds as they pa.s.sed, and anxiously taking note of all that went on in the quarter whence they were headed.