Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes Part 18

"All the same, we wished many times we had some chums handy, who would give us a pull," said Joe, whom the meal and hot coffee had put in a better humor.

All night long the storm raged on the lake. Any vessel that was so unlucky as to be caught out in it was to be pitied, or at least those aboard were. Morning saw its abatement; but the seas were beating wildly against the rock bound north sh.o.r.e and it was sheer folly for any one to dream of putting out while such a condition of affairs lasted.

So they concluded to make a day of it. Clarence for the first time in his life began to realize what fine fellows these motor boat chums really were; and how they stood ready to forget all the trouble that he and his crony had been only too willing to shower upon them in the past.

They talked of dozens of things, some of which were connected with their life in school at home, and others that bore upon the recent series of happenings on the St. Lawrence river.

"Looks like we wouldn't have any more bother with Clarence after this," said Josh to Herb, as they watched Jack and the other two doing something at the camp fire that afternoon, just as though the best of friends.

"I hope we won't," replied the other; "but you never can be sure of Clarence. He's tricky; and besides, impulsive. Just now he means to drop all enmity toward us; because we've fed him, and treated him white. But wait till something rubs him the other way. That's the time to see if the thing is more than skin deep."

During the midst of their conversation George purposely mentioned the name of Jonathan Fosd.i.c.k.

"What; do you know the old apple grower, too?" demanded Clarence, looking surprised.

Of course Jack told how they had found the old man sick in his stable; and helped him to his house.

"And he told us all about his runaway boy, Andy, too; and how word came he was working in a fis.h.i.+ng camp up along this sh.o.r.e," George went on.

"Yes, we promised that if we ran across the fellow we'd tell him he was wanted at home the worst kind," Clarence remarked.

"And he was that thankful he just loaded us down with stuff--eggs, b.u.t.ter, and such. Couldn't do enough for us," Joe added, grinning at the recollection.

"History repeated itself then, for we promised the same thing," laughed Jack.

"And he just wouldn't take a cent in payment for the things we got,"

remarked George. "But see here, Clarence, it looks like we're in for another race between the _Flash_ and the _Wireless_, to see which can get to the mouth of the Agawa first; for I hear there's a big fish camp there, run by a man at the Soo, where they take tons and tons of white fish, the trout not being for sale."

"I guess I get the notion that's struck you, George; and let me say right here, I still believe the _Flash_ to be the better boat," Clarence went on, stubbornly.

"Shall we try it out then, tomorrow, when we leave here; in a friendly way of course, I mean?" George asked, eagerly.

"Take him up, Clarry!" said Joe.

"All right then, we'll call it a go," declared the other. "Only I wish we had something worth making a run for, a prize of some sort."

"It will give me some pleasure to be the one to tell Andy Fosd.i.c.k that he's wanted bad at home," George observed.

"Then we'll call it a go; and this time you'd better look out for yourself, because the _Flash_ has had a knot an hour added to her speed since we raced last. And besides, I didn't have any heart in that trial of speed, you know. That smuggler was forcing me to run my boat, to get him out of a pickle; and for me to win only meant that my boat would be lost to me. I was really glad to play him a trick in the end, and throw the race."

Jack and George may have had their own opinions with regard to the truth of the matter; but they knew enough to keep their tongues still. While the dove of peace hovered over the camp, it would be folly to stir these fellows up again.

Overhead the sun shone in a clear sky. Only for those waves the motor boat club could have easily continued on their cruise. But with the waning of the afternoon the seas began to sensibly decline.

"I prophesy a good day tomorrow for our race, George," Clarence remarked, as, in company with the others he sat by the fire, enjoying a feast that Josh and his a.s.sistants, Nick and Jimmie, had prepared for the crowd.

Jack and George were both of the same opinion since all the well known signs seemed to point that way. They sat up until a reasonable hour, chatting and singing; and Clarence realized as never before what a fine thing he and Joe were missing in never having found a chance to join this merry group before.

The night was a peaceful one. At early dawn the camp was astir, for much had to be done ere they might put out on the calm lake.

"Looks like a big mirror; didn't I tell you that wind had blown itself out?" remarked Clarence, upon casting his first glance beyond the point.

At eight they were all ready to leave the snug harbor that had opened so opportunely for the storm threatened crew of the _Flash_.

Clarence had charts also, and doubtless studied them eagerly when he had an opportunity to go aboard his boat again. For although this was only a friendly race, he always threw himself into whatever he did with a vim, heart and soul, that made defeat all the more bitter, should it come.

Of course Jack, deep down in his heart, knew full well that this was only a temporary truce in the warfare that had always existed between himself and Clarence. Once away from their society the other would soon drift back to his old way of thinking and acting. But Jack decided that not because of any unfriendly act on the part of himself or chums should these two find cause for again digging up the buried hatchet.

Leaving the cove, the four boats were soon moving along the gla.s.sy surface of the calm lake, headed almost due west. Somewhere, many miles away, lay the first goal, the mouth of the Agawa, which was to mark the expiration of the race.

"Ready, both of you?" demanded Jack, as the two rival speed boats ranged alongside the _Tramp_, one on either quarter.

"Ready here!" answered Clarence, briskly.

"Same here, Jack!" called George, hovering over his engine, which was running at about its next to slowest notch.

"Then go!" shouted the starter; and instantly both craft shot forward like arrows, while the rattle of their exhausts sounded as if a battle were in progress.

CHAPTER XVI

"WIRELESS DAY"

"Hurrah!" shouted Josh, wildly excited, and glad for once to be on the narrow speed boat.

"May the best one win!" called Jack, as he watched the rivals drawing ahead of the two slower boats.

"That means us!" laughed Bully Joe.

"Just wait and see!" answered Josh; between whom and Joe there had always been more or less bad blood.

Herb had given his staunch engine all it could stand; and as the _Tramp_ stood by him, they were soon left far in the lurch.

"Talk to me about speed," observed Herb, as Jack turned his face that way, "strikes me the _Wireless_ has her work cut out for today, to beat Clarence."

"You heard what he said about the improvement made when at the machinist's. It was a knot an hour increase, I believe," Jack remarked, casting a look down at the throbbing motor of the _Tramp_.

"That's right," Herb spoke up. "But you know we did some tinkering to George's engine, and he has always said that it ran better afterwards.

Anyhow, it looks like a pretty race."

"I think so with you, Herb," Jack admitted. "Judging from here, they're running neck and neck now."

"Yes," continued the other, "but don't forget that tricky Clarence is always up to something. Two to one he's got a bit more speed held in reserve."

"Well, George knows him like a book," laughed Jack. "And make up your mind he'll keep something held back himself. Don't you remember he did before? Possibly Clarence may be the one to run up against a surprise after a while."