The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 20

"We had bad luck last evening," explained John. "We started from c.o.c.kburn Island in the _Gadabout_ but we got out of our course. Then the first thing we knew our gasoline was gone and we had an accident in the shaft or the blades of the propeller. We thought that we might be able to get some help, so two of us left the boat and started ash.o.r.e in our skiff.

But we lost our way and that's why we're here and not where we want to be."

"Where other man?" inquired the j.a.panese.

"What other man? Do you mean Mr. Ferdinand b.u.t.ton?"

"Yah. Where Mr. b.u.t.ton now?"

"That's the very question that we would like to have you answer for us,"

said Fred. "We don't know whether the _Gadabout_ is lost somewhere or the other fellows think we are lost and have gone back to Mackinac. That's why we want to go back there ourselves and we'll pay well if you'll take us there on board your boat."

This time the j.a.panese did not laugh, but there was a peculiar expression that appeared for an instant in his eyes and that alarmed John, although Fred had not seen that which so greatly troubled his companion.

"When are you going back?" demanded John.

"Two hour."

"Have you got anything more to eat on board your boat?"

Once more the strange laughter was heard but the j.a.panese did not reply to the question.

"It will be two hours before they start, the j.a.p says," said Fred, turning to John as he spoke.

"Well, there isn't anything to do except to wait for the time to come, is there?"

"I don't know what to do."

"I do," observed John. "We'll wait until that man comes back here and then we'll tell him of our troubles and I'm sure he will take us on board. If he won't take us to Mackinac at least he will take us back to his house."

"Maybe he will," responded Fred somewhat dubiously.

"Here he comes, anyway," said John quickly, as glancing toward the woods he discovered the man approaching, who was the subject of their conversation.

The boys waited until the man drew near and when he discovered their presence his remarks were not complimentary to either of his would-be pa.s.sengers.

"No, sir, I cannot take either one of you," he said positively. "I have something else to do. In fact I have got to do it. I cannot go to Mackinac to-day under any circ.u.mstances. But what are you two boys doing here? You haven't explained that yet."

"We don't know," said John, "just why we're here. About all that we know is that we are here and we want to get away."

"How do you propose to leave?"

"We want you to take us on your motor-boat."

"And I have already explained to you," said the stranger, "why I cannot do that."

"We'll pay you well for it," suggested Fred.

"It isn't a question of pay," said the man. "It's simply a question of my not being able to do what you want."

"But how are we going to get away from this place? Is this the mainland?"

"No, it's an island. It is commonly called Western Duck Island."

"Which means that there are other duck islands farther to the east and that we're not on the mainland sh.o.r.e at all?" said Fred.

"Oh, no. You are several miles from sh.o.r.e. About all the island is good for is for hunting. A little later you might find a good many ducks here."

"But we don't want to be here until 'a little later,'" protested Fred.

"We want to leave right away."

"Then I don't see anything for you to do except to try to cross in your skiff."

"Your j.a.p says it's about forty miles from here to Mackinac."

"If he says so then he probably is correct. I haven't known Mike to be wrong many times."

"We cannot sail back in our skiff," explained John.

"Then I don't see anything for you to do except to stay here and wait until you hail some boat that is pa.s.sing."

"How long will that be?" inquired Fred.

"Not knowing, I cannot say. But on a day like this, which promises to be very clear and pleasant, there ought to be a good many boats pa.s.sing."

"I hope we'll have better luck with them than we had with you," said John.

"So do I," responded the man, "and with all my heart. All I can say is this, that if you don't get any one to take you away before six o'clock this afternoon I will stop here on my way back and take you aboard."

"How are we going to get anything to eat?" asked John.

"I'm sure I don't know," said the man. "I will tell Mike to give you some sandwiches."

"He has done that already," said John. "Isn't there some place where we can get something to eat?"

"I don't know of any."

"We thought perhaps that man you met out here might be living here and he or his wife would be willing to sell us some food."

"What man are you talking about?" demanded the stranger, quickly turning to the boys as he spoke.

"Why, the one that met you out here between the sh.o.r.e and the woods yonder," explained John.

"Did you see any one?"

"We certainly did," said John. "We saw you meet a man out here and hand him something."

Fred was convinced that there was a momentary gleam of anger or alarm in the expression of the stranger's face, but if so the feeling quickly departed. In a low voice the man said, "There are some great stories told about this island. My advice to you is not to stay any longer than you are compelled to."