Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence Part 7

And they were surely a busy lot, every one working under the directions of the head _chef_. Josh might play second, and even third fiddle, many times; but when it came to cooking he was right there, as he himself said, "with the goods." Some boys may seem gifted in one way, and a comrade s.h.i.+ne in another; it was the privilege of Josh Purdue to be a natural born cook. He could throw together the most appetizing dishes with apparently little effort. Everything he touched had a decidedly delightful taste. And even Buster admitted that he stood without a peer, monarch of all he surveyed.

So it came about that when Mr. Spofford arrived on the dock, and was ferried across by Herb, he found some mighty fine odors wafting hither and thither.

"My goodness!" he said, as he sniffed vigorously, "I hope dinner won't be long delayed, boys, because you've just got me keyed up to a desperate pitch, with all these joyful smells afloat."

"Ready right now, sir!" sang out Josh, who had donned a snow-white baker's muslin cap, which he had fetched along with the intention of coaxing Buster to wear, when engaged in his culinary tasks.

They were a jolly crowd gathered in the roomy _Comfort_, and discussing the glorious dinner prepared under the direction of the head _chef_.

"Josh, you haven't forgotten how," observed Jack, as he started in on the savory mess piled up on his pannikin.

"Which pleases me a whole lot," said George; "because you see, Mr.

Spofford, on this trip Josh sails with me in my _Wireless_."

"Alas! poor Jos.h.!.+ I see his finish. These are funeral meats, fellows,"

giggled Buster, already warmly engaged.

And so they laughed and joked as the meal progressed. Mr. Amos was as merry as any one of the six boys. Again he seemed carried back to the days when he loved this sort of life; and many times did they hear him declare positively:

"You've opened up the fount that has been closed for many years, boys.

And after this it's me for the free life and the fresh air. Perhaps that may reduce my overabundant flesh somewhat. Anyway, it will delight my heart. Away with dull care; and from this time on I'm going to study Nature again! And I have you to thank for opening my eyes. It was a lucky day my old friend Rube thought of me, and put his boy in touch with Amos Spofford."

"Perhaps you'd like to go out a few days, sir, with us," remarked Herb, quite overwhelmed by the cordial ways of the retired lawyer. "This boat is roomy, you see, and we might get along. The only difficulty would be about sleeping quarters."

Poor Nick held his breath in suspense. If so be Mr. Spofford accepted, he believed he saw his finish. But the other only laughed heartily.

"That's awfully kind of you, Herb, but I couldn't think of accepting,"

he said; and Nick breathed easy again. "When I go out, I shall have a boat that is suited to my heft. Every time I move here, something seems to groan, and threaten to give way. I guess you will have all you can manage with my friend, Buster."

And after the hearty meal was finished they made themselves as comfortable as possible, while Jack read the official log of the other cruise, for the particular benefit of Mr. Amos.

The latter asked a thousand questions, and in this way managed to get a comprehensive history of all the stirring adventures that had fallen to their lot between their home town on the great river and the Crescent City.

It was quite late when he left them, giving to each a squeeze of the hand that would not soon be forgotten.

"If I can only find a boat suited to my size, boys," he said, as he left them; "I'm going to get afloat this very season. But at any rate another year will find me fully prepared for the season, with the greatest motor boat you ever struck. Goodbye, you fine and dandy fellows! My heart will be with you all along. Think of me sometimes, won't you, Buster?"

He chuckled as he fancied he heard a hollow groan from Nick; as if the memory of Mr. Spofford's tremendous girth could ever long leave the troubled mind of the fat boy.

A quiet night followed. Jack advised that they keep on the alert, lest some peril drop in upon them; but fortunately his fears were not realized, and morning coming found the little fleet all serene.

"Look, there he is!" said Nick, as they were gathered on the _Comfort_ enjoying one of Josh's little spreads, that included some of the lightest flapjacks ever put before hungry campers.

"Clarence, as sure as anything!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Herb.

"And wasn't I right about that boat?" asked Jack. "You can see he's meaning to go out to it right now. But one good thing, we'll be likely to have twenty-four hours' start of them. And on these broad waters they may have some trouble looking us up."

"There's Bully Joe, too," remarked George. "See him look over this way and scowl! Somehow the sight of our gallant little fleet doesn't seem to please Mr. Brinker a whole lot. He'd be better satisfied if he could only set eyes on them awash, with their decks level with the water."

Clarence did not seem to glance once toward the three motor boats. A third party joined them, and it was not hard for Jack and his friends to guess that this must be the unlucky Jared Fullerton, whom the stalwart Mr. Spofford had dumped into the waters of the St. Lawrence when he attempted to board the _Comfort_ one night not so very long since.

Just as soon as they were well through with breakfast, the motor boat boys got ready to put out on the broad waters which were, from now on, to serve them as a field of recreation.

Jack gave the signal, when he had learned that both the others were ready. Immediately there was a tremendous amount of energetic popping, as the motors once more got into service after their spell of idleness.

Clarence and the others aboard the long dark boat looked after the three departing craft; and while none of our friends bothered waving a hand in parting, Jack could see that the owner of the _Flash_ and his crony, Bully Joe, were talking earnestly, as though laying some sort of plan for the near future.

He even saw Clarence pointing after them, and then sweep his hand half way around, as if declaring that no matter where the departing boats might vanish, he would have little trouble in locating them if he wanted to do so.

And to himself Jack was saying that there could be no doubt but that Clarence, with that vindictive, cruel disposition of his, would put himself to almost any trouble in order to get the laugh on those he hated so bitterly.

The sun shone brightly as they pulled out of Clayton, and all of them believed it was a good sign. The last they saw of the suspicious dark boat with the contour of a river greyhound, Clarence was still talking to his mates, and doing a great deal of pointing.

But before them was spread as lovely a stretch of water, with its green and rocky islands, as ever a motor boat cruiser could wish to see. And none of the boys believed on that glorious July morning that they could wish for anything finer than fortune seemed to be placing at their feet.

CHAPTER VII-JOSH SCENTS TROUBLE

"What luck, Jack?"

It was just a week later. The three motor boats were anch.o.r.ed in a little cove near one of the numerous rocky islands that give this part of the wide St. Lawrence river its great reputation for summer outings.

Herb was leaning over the side of his boat, engaged in rubbing some dingy part of the bra.s.s railing; and Jack at the time happened to be approaching, seated in a little d.i.n.ky or tender, which each larger boat now trailed behind every time they made a move from one anchorage to another; and which proved so useful in going ash.o.r.e, fis.h.i.+ng or visiting.

"Oh! pretty fair," replied the one who handled the short oars, as he turned in his seat to reach for something that lay in the bow of the skiff. "We can have a fish dinner tonight, anyway."

Then he held up a monster muskalonge, that must have weighed all of twenty pounds.

"Great Jupiter, what a sock-dollager!" cried George, who was taking it easy in his boat; while Nick thrust up his head to shout:

"Bully for you, Jack! Now we won't starve to death! The country is saved!"

"Well, I like that," said Herb. "To hear him talk you'd think I'd cut him down to one meal a day, when to tell the truth he--"

"Stop right there, Mister Skipper!" cried the fat boy, threateningly.

"It's rank treachery to betray your boatmate to the common enemy. But that is a dandy fish, Jack. Where did you catch him?"

"I think in the upper jaw," replied Jack, solemnly, at which there was a shout.

"I see you did," replied Nick, bending over, "for there's a broken hook sticking out of his mouth right now. Ugh! look at the cruel teeth, would you? I'd hate to let him close his jaws on my finger. But if the gimp snell gave way, how under the sun did you ever get him aboard, Jack?"

"I'll tell you," came the calm reply. "It happened that I had to play this old pirate for nearly twenty minutes before I could tire him out.

You'd have laughed to see how he towed my little punkin-seed of a boat around. But finally he seemed all but exhausted, and I kept reeling in until I had him right up close, where I could bend over and touch him with my hand."

"Wow! you couldn't hire me to do that now," exclaimed Nick, shuddering as he gazed at that array of sharp, vicious looking teeth.