The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 16

"If you really don't want to wait," said Mr. b.u.t.ton, "then the only thing you can do is for two of you to take the skiff and row ash.o.r.e."

"We might get lost," suggested Fred.

"Yes, so you might," acknowledged Mr. b.u.t.ton. "I was following a suggestion, that's all. It's the only thing which can be done that occurs to me."

"I don't think the suggestion is so bad," said Fred. "We can keep within hailing distance of the _Gadabout_ and it may be that we shall find some other boat nearby, or it may be that we are not very far from the sh.o.r.e."

"I know we are not very far from the sh.o.r.e," declared Mr. b.u.t.ton, "but it isn't the sh.o.r.e of the mainland."

"What is it?" demanded George.

"Western Duck Island. I'm sure we cannot be far away from it. Now, if two of you boys want to take the skiff and make some investigations I don't think there will be any special danger. Don't go too far away, though your whistle or your voices will carry a long distance over the water."

"I'm one of the Go Ahead Boys, and I'm for trying it," said Fred st.u.r.dily.

"And I'm with you," said John.

A moment afterward both boys stepped on board the skiff and with John at the oars and Fred seated in the stern, they speedily left the _Gadabout_ behind them.

"Don't go very far away," called George warningly.

"You're right, we won't," called back John, and then silence rested over the waters of Lake Huron.

"We had better row in a circle," suggested Fred. "I'm the captain of this expedition and I want you to follow my directions."

"All right, sir," responded John glibly, "but the main thing is to keep a sharp outlook for a boat coming or going, or for any light that we may see on the sh.o.r.e."

For a time John rowed forward in silence. Both boys were keenly observant, but they were unable to discover any trace of the sh.o.r.e, nor were any lights of pa.s.sing vessels seen on the water.

"I think we have gone about far enough," suggested Fred, when a half-hour or more had elapsed.

"So do I," answered John.

"Better let me row back," said Fred.

"That's all right, too," responded John.

The boys exchanged places and Fred rowed more rapidly on their return than his companion had done on their advance.

Several minutes elapsed and then John said in a low voice, "It's strange we don't see anything of the _Gadabout_. I thought that we were headed right for it."

"So did I," answered Fred. "We had better call."

John placed his hands about his mouth and shouted: "Ahoy, there! Is this the _Gadabout_?"

He repeated his hail several times, but as no answering shout was heard, he again hailed the invisible motor-boat.

Still no response was given to his call.

"Maybe we had better shout together. Two can make more noise than one,"

suggested Fred, rising from his seat as he spoke. "Now, then," he added, "when I say three, let's yell together."

But though the boys united a half-dozen times in their shouts, the silence of the night was still unbroken and no signs of the presence of the _Gadabout_ were seen.

CHAPTER XII THE SEARCH IN THE NIGHT

"This is becoming pretty serious," said Fred in a low voice when both he and John were convinced that they were not near the missing _Gadabout_.

"You went too far to the right," retorted John. "I thought you were going in the wrong direction."

"Well, why didn't you say so, then?"

"If I had, I would have been told my advice was good when it was asked for."

"Never mind, Jack," said Fred, his friendliness returning and manifesting itself in the tones of his voice. "Things aren't so bad, and they might be a good deal worse. I guess the _Gadabout_ is off yonder," he added, pointing to the East as he spoke. "I'll row a while in that direction and we'll try it again."

Seating himself at the oars Fred pulled in the direction he had suggested. When several minutes had elapsed, once more he ceased rowing and both boys united in a hail. Still there was no response made to their calls and the spirits of the boys drooped accordingly.

"I tell you this is getting serious," said Fred.

"Are you afraid?" demanded John.

"Some, and I don't mind saying so. We never ought to have left the _Gadabout_."

"That may all be true," responded John, "but we did leave the _Gadabout_ and we are here on the lake. The only thing for us to do is to go ahead."

"That's all right," said Fred more cheerfully. "I haven't forgotten our name, but I'm wondering whether we really are going ahead or not."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, we may be rowing around in a circle, the way a man travels when he is lost in a woods."

"I guess it is not quite as bad as that," responded John. "Want me to take the oars?"

"Not yet," said Fred st.u.r.dily, once more seating himself and resuming his task.

A half-dozen times the boys rowed ahead and then stopping, united in a call to their friends.

Their call, however, was unanswered and at last both boys were convinced that they had lost the location of the motor-boat.

"There isn't anything for us to do except to wait until morning," said Fred at last.

"Yes, there is, too," said John. "You let me take those oars. I'm not going to stay here. I'm sure we'll find the _Gadabout_ or something just as good."

"That doesn't trouble me as much as somebody finding us."