The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 24

CHAPTER XVII THE RESCUE OF THE GADABOUT

Meanwhile on the _Gadabout_ George and Grant were having experiences that by no means added to their peace of mind.

For a time they had waited with such patience as they could command for the return of their friends. But when the minutes became hours and there still was no sign of the coming of Fred and John both boys began to be anxious.

The little _Gadabout_ had been steadily drifting with the slowly moving current and in the dim light it was no longer possible to discern the outline of the sh.o.r.e which Fred and John had been seeking.

The feeling of uneasiness steadily increased.

"What do you suppose has happened to those boys?" inquired Grant of his friend.

"I don't believe anything has happened to them," replied George. "I think that's just the trouble. They haven't found the sh.o.r.e, or any one to help."

"Well, then why don't they come back?"

"I can't tell you. You know as much about that as I do."

"Well, I'm afraid they're lost," said Grant disconsolately.

"I don't believe anything very serious can happen to them even if they have lost their way," said George, striving to speak with an a.s.surance he did not fully share. "Even if they stay out there until morning," he continued, "they wouldn't have anything to be afraid of. And then they would be able to find somebody that would pick them up and take them back to Mackinac. Very likely we'll find them there when we get back ourselves."

"But suppose a storm comes up," suggested Grant.

"Well, don't begin to worry until the wind begins to blow," said George testily. The fear of the same event was in his own mind, but he resented the suggestion of his companion.

"I think it is about time for us to be getting worried about ourselves,"

said George at last, when the first faint streaks of the dawn were seen in the eastern sky. "Fred and John at least can be moving while we are here as helpless as a rat in a trap."

"What do you make of him?" inquired Grant in a whisper, nodding toward Mr. b.u.t.ton as he spoke.

He was still seated near the wheel and had given but slight attention to his companions. Evidently he was anxious concerning something, though what it was that disturbed him was still not clear to his two young companions.

"What do you think, Mr. b.u.t.ton?" called George. "What's become of the boys?"

"Huh! What's that you say?" inquired Mr. b.u.t.ton, sitting quickly erect.

"What do you think has become of Jack and Fred?"

"I don't know," replied Mr. b.u.t.ton vaguely. "Where did they go?"

"Why, they left in the skiff," explained Grant. "They have been gone three or four hours anyway."

"Why don't they come back?" inquired Mr. b.u.t.ton.

"That's what we want to know. We're afraid they are lost."

"Well, they won't be lost very long," said Mr. b.u.t.ton. "Somebody will pick them up and take them back to Mackinac Island. That isn't more than forty miles away anyhow."

"Well, we're afraid somebody may not find them," said Grant. "We don't see any boats anywhere around here."

As he spoke the boy stood erect and looked in all directions over the smooth waters of Lake Huron. As was the case with Fred and John the only indications of boats anywhere in the vicinity were the long low trails of smoke that could be seen far in the west.

"How are we going to get back, Mr. b.u.t.ton?" inquired George.

"I don't know," replied Mr. b.u.t.ton. "I think we'll have to wait for somebody to pick us up."

"But there isn't any boat anywhere around here," protested Grant.

"There may be before night," said Mr. b.u.t.ton quietly. "And besides we cannot do anything to call any one."

"We might try yelling together," suggested George.

Mr. b.u.t.ton smiled, but made no response.

"If we had some oars or a little sail we might do something," suggested Grant. "I'm going to look around and see if there isn't a sail on board anywhere."

His search was unrewarded, however, and at last when Grant returned it was agreed that their only hope was in being recognized by some pa.s.sing vessel.

The anxiety of the two boys for the safety of their missing comrades was not relieved when later in the afternoon a lake boat changing its course approached the place where they were lying.

Evidently they had been discovered by the captain, who was still holding his gla.s.ses in his hand as the boat drew near.

"I found a megaphone under the seat," suggested Grant.

"Where is it? Go get it," suggested George.

In a moment Grant was again on deck and handed the megaphone to Mr.

b.u.t.ton.

"Ahoy, there!" he called. "Will you give us a tow?"

"Who are you?" came back the answer from the deck of the huge boat.

"There are three of us and our motor-boat broke down last night."

"How long have you been here?"

"Why, since midnight anyway. You are the first boat that has come anywhere near us."

"And it's just by luck that we saw you. What will you do, come aboard?"

"No," answered Mr. b.u.t.ton, "if you'll give us a line we would rather have you tow us. Are you going anywhere near Mackinac Island?"

"Yes," answered the captain. "We're bound straight for there. I don't know that we shall stop, but we'll fix it so that you can get ash.o.r.e if you want to."

"That will do splendidly," called Mr. b.u.t.ton.

In a brief time the two boats were near enough to enable a sailor to cast a rope to the _Gadabout_. After one or two attempts this was successfully seized and then made fast. As the lake boat swung around to resume its course, the _Gadabout_, one hundred feet or more astern, followed.