The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 30

"No," said Fred. "We'll pay you just as soon as you land us at Mackinac."

"How do I know you will?"

"You have our word for it."

"You don't look neither one of you as if that was too much of a load for you to carry alone." The man's voice was nasal and high, and he did not smile while he was speaking. The boys were unable to decide whether he was serious or was speaking lightly.

"If it's clothes you want," said Fred, "we'll show you some better ones just as soon as we get up to the hotel."

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said the man. "I guess I'm a fool for my pains, but I got to go around by c.o.c.kburn Island. If you want to go aboard and go with me I'll fetch you around to Mackinac for ten dollars.

I know I'm taking a big chance, but maybe you be too. What do you say?"

"I say go ahead," answered Fred quickly.

CHAPTER XXI A VAGUE HINT

"Go ahead it is," responded the skipper. "I can be ready in five minutes.

Can you?"

"We're ready now," said John quickly.

"You know how it is," said the captain. "Most always the pa.s.sengers, if they want anything to eat on the way, put it on board before we start."

"Well, we cannot get anything to eat," said Fred. "We told you why."

"So you did. So you did," said the captain again speaking in his high nasal tones. "Still I guess we'll be hungry before night. Maybe I can find something. You boys wait here until I go up the street and I'll be back in a few minutes." When he had thus spoken the ungainly man took a basket on his arm and at once set forth on his errand.

Left to themselves the boys went on board the strange craft and the hasty inspection they made did not increase their confidence either in the boat or in its owner.

"It's about the only way there is," said John at last, "and we've got to take it. It's Hobson's choice. We can't stay here and we can't get pa.s.sage on the big boats so we'll have to put up with what we can get."

"Next week," said Fred lightly, "we'll all be laughing about it. I wouldn't mind this adventure at all if I was sure Grant and George are all right. Every time I think of them I'm worried when I remember what you and I went through. If that boat hadn't come along just as it did we might be at the bottom of Lake Huron."

"Well, we are not there," said John quickly. "The fact is we are here and we wish we weren't. If the other fellows were along with us I would like to go out yonder and shoot those rapids," he said pointing toward the swift rapids that were not far away. Even while he was speaking a skiff, guided by an Indian, came swiftly through the tossing waters and approached the sh.o.r.e not far from the place where the boys were seated.

"That's right," joined in Fred heartily. "I have a good mind to try it as it is."

"I guess you'll have to wait until you get your fortune changed so that you can pay a man a half-dollar for letting you shoot the rapids in his skiff."

"You're right, of course," said Fred. "I never realized before what a convenience it is to have some change in your pocket. Never again will I go out for a day's trip, no matter where it is, without having something in my purse."

"You mean as long as your father or some one else puts it in your purse."

"No, I don't mean anything of the kind," retorted Fred. "You don't suppose I am always going to be dependent, do you?"

"I hadn't thought very much about it," laughed John. "If you want my opinion, it is that--"

Whatever John's judgment might be it was not expressed at the time for at that moment the tall skipper was seen returning to the dock.

"Well, I got enough to stay our stomachs a little while," said the captain as he swung the basket from his arm and deposited it under one of the seats in the motor-boat. "It isn't the best kind and what such stylish young gentlemen as you be are used to."

It was plain to both boys that the skipper had not taken their explanations seriously and that he still was doubtful as to their real purpose. However, he did not refer to his suspicions and in a brief time he had the motor-boat ready to set forth on its long voyage.

For a brief time after the boys departed from Sault Ste. Marie their interest in the sights along the nearby sh.o.r.es was so keen that their own plight in a measure was forgotten. Several times the little boat was tossed by the waves that were upturned by the pa.s.sage of some large freight boat. Occasionally they were hailed by people on board, for in the summer-time many of these freight boats carried a few pa.s.sengers, making a delightful trip through the great lakes.

"I guess," said the skipper, at last turning to the boys, "that the best way for me to do will be to go down through St. Mary's River and then strike into the North Channel. I'll keep close to the sh.o.r.e of Drummond Island and then I'll come around to c.o.c.kburn Island that way."

"Your tub,--I mean your motor-boat," said Fred correcting himself quickly, "doesn't seem to be making very fast time."

"It's fast enough," said the skipper quietly. "Time ain't much use to me.

Some folks say time is money. If I had as much money as I had time I wouldn't be carrying two young sprints like you down through Mud Lake."

"How long do you think you'll be before we land at Mackinac Island?"

inquired Fred.

"Not knowing, I can't say," replied the captain. "My general feeling is that if we make it by day after to-morrow we'll be doing mighty well."

"What do you mean?" demanded John blankly.

"I mean just what I say. I'm not going to drive my boat very hard and by the time we have gone down St. Mary's River and into the North Channel and then around to c.o.c.kburn Island it will be some time before we can start for Mackinac."

"But where will we stay nights?" inquired Fred.

"We'll pick out a good place somewhere. I have got a canvas that stretches over the boat and will keep out the wind and we can crawl under that when it gets dark."

"But you haven't enough for us to eat."

"Haven't I?" said the skipper dryly. "That depends I guess a little on how much you want to eat. I have got some salt pork and potatoes and if you don't like that diet all I can say is that you might have brought your own stuff."

The boys were silent as the reference to their poverty caused them both to realize how impossible it was for them to obtain even the common necessities of life, if they had no money with which to make their purchases.

"Ever been over to c.o.c.kburn Island?" inquired the captain after a long silence.

"Yes," said John. "It's a funny island."

"It isn't so funny as the people on it."

"That's what I thought," laughed Fred.

"Well, you weren't thinking far wrong. I've been over to c.o.c.kburn Island every month ever since the ice went out of the lakes."

"What do you go for?" asked John.

"If I don't tell you then you won't know, will you?" said the captain glancing shrewdly at the boys as he spoke.