Four Afloat Part 44

"You think he suspected something was up this evening, do you?" asked Bob.

"Yes, 'cause he was watchin' me all the time till I turned in, just like he was a cat. There was only him and Joe aboard, 'cause he'd let the others go off. When I sneaked out I guess he heard me-the captain, I mean; Joe was asleep. But I guess he thought I would try to make for the street, 'cause he went over to the wharf after me. If he hadn't I wouldn't have made it, I guess."

"Lucky he did," said Bob. "I'll bet he saw us at supper. Well, all's well that ends well, Spencer. We'll have you at home in the morning, and if you'll take my advice you'll stay there!"

"I'm a-goin' to," was the answer. "Ma, she won't let him take me away again."

"Good," said Bob. "Let's turn in. Did you fix Spencer's bunk, Dan?"

"Yes, it's all ready," was the answer. "As for me, I'll bet I can sleep a few lines to-night. This thing of kidnaping folks is interesting, but wearing."

"Yes," yawned Tom. "It makes you sleepy to be shot at."

The next morning the _Vagabond_ took up her journey for Mullen's Cove.

It was a sixty-mile trip, but the launch made it in record time, something under five hours and a half, turning into Matt.i.tuck Inlet at a little before two in the afternoon. Spencer begged them to go home with him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "At the top of the sandy road he turned and waved them farewell."]

"Ma," he said earnestly, "she'd like to thank you fellers for bein' so good to me."

But the four were shy of grat.i.tude and so Spencer was set ash.o.r.e a mile from his home, his belongings knotted up in a blue cotton s.h.i.+rt under his arm. They watched him out of sight. At the top of the sandy road he turned and waved them farewell with the bundle. Then he pa.s.sed from sight.

"All aboard!" cried Dan. "Swing her around, Mr. Navigating Officer. Ho, for the deep blue sea!"

"We'll make Shelter Island," said Nelson, "and have a civilized dinner once more. Does that suit you chaps?"

"Sounds good to me," answered Tom.

"Me, too," said Bob.

"Any old place will suit me," cried Dan as he seized Barry and tried to waltz him about the c.o.c.kpit. "Any old place so long as it's on the water. A sailor's life for us, eh, Barry?"

And Barry barked wildly, possibly in a.s.sent.

THE END