Four Afloat Part 30

"Can't imagine," laughed Bob, "unless you hypnotized 'em."

"I'm jealous," said Dan. "You've got one more condition than I have. I shall appeal to the Faculty."

"Oh, th-th-th-that's all right," said Tom eagerly, "you can have one of mine!"

They returned to the launch very joyfully.

There were many letters to be read and each fellow found a corner for himself and soon became immersed in his mail. Now and then one or another would break out with an ejaculatory announcement of news, as when Nelson exclaimed: "Of course! I never thought of it! Say, fellows, dad says if we'd strained that gasoline through chamois skin there wouldn't have been any water in it!" Or when Dan remarked: "The governor got a letter from Jerry Hinckley the other day, and Mr. Cozzens is going to coach him this summer himself and let him try for Hillton in the Fall!" Or when Tom announced impressively: "Ben Hur's got four kittens and they're all white."

Not very important news to us, of course, but of vital interest to them.

They went ash.o.r.e at half-past six and had what Tom called "swell grub."

Afterwards they explored the town and stayed up very late on deck, watching the lights and listening to the music of a far-off orchestra.

There was a good moon and Dan wanted to weigh anchor and go on along the sh.o.r.e to the next harbor. But Nelson and Bob, mindful of Mr. Tilford's instructions, vetoed the plan. Just as they were preparing to turn in, the Fall River Line steamer came into sight down the harbor, a huge black hulk p.r.i.c.ked out with thousands of lights, and they had to return to the deck to watch her float past on her way to the pier.

The next day dawned almost cloudless and very warm. The Four were out of their bunks early and into their bathing suits. Then followed a glorious plunge from the deck into the gleaming blue water of the harbor, a brisk rub-down in the engine room and some of Tom's good coffee and eggs and crisp bacon. By the time breakfast was over the heat had become intense and the awning, put away overnight, was rigged up again. Tom, who exhibited symptoms of an inclination to go to sleep in one of the chairs in the c.o.c.kpit, was routed out and compelled to give a.s.sistance.

They had the water tank filled and then pulled up anchor and turned the _Vagabond_ toward the Sound, where white sails moved slowly along and gave promise of a cooling breeze. Tom was allowed to take the wheel, but Bob kept beside him in case, as the latter explained, Tom should fall asleep. But in justice to Tom it should be said that he really didn't show any tendency toward sleepiness. On the contrary he stuck out his chest pompously, twirled the wheel in an important way and did his best to look like a master mariner. Halfway down the harbor they overtook a strange looking craft containing a single occupant, a young chap who was squatted uncomfortably in a diminutive c.o.c.kpit surrounded by a veritable tangle of pipes and wires. The boat, a gasoline launch, was about eighteen feet long, very slender and was painted a vivid crimson. On the bow they read, as they drew abreast, the inscription _So Long_. The forward two thirds of the launch was covered by a crown cabin. Between that and the after deck was a four-foot s.p.a.ce in which were crowded the engine and the crew. The crew was in his s.h.i.+rt sleeves and was smoking a pipe. The launch was ambling along at about six miles an hour and making a frightful noise about it; the reports from her exhaust pipe were deafening.

"Some one ought to make him a present of a m.u.f.fler," said Nelson as they drew alongside.

The occupant of the _So Long_ glanced up as they approached and studied the _Vagabond_ idly and, as it seemed to Tom, somewhat superciliously.

Tom leaned over the corner of the cabin roof.

"h.e.l.lo!" he shouted. "Want to race?"

The crew of the little launch puffed at his pipe and looked calmly away, but made no answer. Bob laughed.

"He doesn't know you, Tommy," he said. "Never's been introduced."

"Conceited a.s.s!" growled Tom. Then, "Hey there, you in the red tub!" he called. "Do you want a race?"

The crew of the _So Long_ turned and viewed Tom silently. And quite as silently, and without a change of expression, he nodded his head indifferently.

"Come on then!" cried Tom.

The man in the "red tub" removed the pipe from his mouth, knocked the ashes out on the edge of the washboard, dropped it into his pocket, and began leisurely to busy himself with valves and switches.

"Turn her on, Nel," said Tom. "Give her full speed."

"All right," laughed Nelson, "but I don't believe we'll need quite full speed to walk away from that boat." He disappeared into the cabin.

"He's a sport, anyhow," declared Dan. "I like a chap that's not afraid of being beaten."

The _Vagabond_ began to move through the water at a faster pace and Tom allowed himself a final gibe at the rival boat.

"So long!" he shouted.

The smaller boat was already several lengths behind and her crew was still bending over the engine.

"It takes him long enough to get her started," said Bob. "I wonder--"

But what Bob wondered was never disclosed. For at that moment there came a series of pistol-like reports from the _So Long's_ exhaust and the "red tub" suddenly dug her straight, sharp nose into the water, threw it away from her on each side in two long green waves and came alongside.

"Gos.h.!.+" exclaimed Bob.

They had a fleeting view of the placid countenance of the youth in s.h.i.+rt sleeves, a momentary impression of a brilliant crimson streak along the water and then they were gazing bewilderedly at each other. The _So Long_ was lengths and lengths away and getting smaller every instant.

Nelson put his head out of the door, glanced toward where the other boat had been a minute before, looked puzzled, came out on deck and searched the neighborhood.

"Where is she?" he asked. "Sunk?"

For answer three hands pointed ahead. Nelson gazed a moment. Then he went silently below and slowed down the engine.

"How fu-fu-fast do you su-su-su-suppose she wu-wu-went?" asked Tom.

"About a mile a minute," answered Bob gravely.

"I don't believe she's a launch at all," said Dan. "I'll bet she's a blamed old automobile."

"What was that remark you addressed to him just before she walked away, Tommy?" asked Bob.

"Shut up," answered Tom sheepishly. "How did I know he had a streak of red lu-lu-lu-lightning? Where is she now?"

"Oh, about a mile ahead," answered Nelson sadly. "Next time let's pick out a chap our own size."

"Well, she's certainly a dandy!" said Bob. "She must do about thirty miles."

"Maybe twenty-five," said Nelson. "But that'll hold us for awhile. Isn't that her coming back?"

It was. They looked at each other inquiringly. Dan began to whistle. Tom glanced at Bob.

"You take the wheel," he said finally. "I-I want to get something out of my locker."

A shout of laughter went up.

"No, you'll stay right where you are, Tommy," said Bob, "and take your medicine. You're to blame for it, anyhow."

The _So Long_ approached at full speed, cutting the water like a knife.

The Four watched silently. When a little distance away the chap in s.h.i.+rt sleeves bent forward out of sight behind the arch of the cabin and the _So Long's_ speed decreased. But even so when the two boats met it was like an express train pa.s.sing a freight on a siding. The chap in s.h.i.+rt sleeves looked across the twenty feet of water that separated the two boats and viewed the Four as calmly as ever, but there was a twinkle in his eye. As the "red tub" dashed by he waved his hand.

"So long!" he called politely.

"Hope you ch-ch-ch-choke!" sputtered Tom.

The others laughed at Tom's discomfiture.

"Stung!" murmured Dan.