Then the girl took them up in the light chamber itself
Then the girl took them up in the light chamber itself.
The lantern was an oil one, and it burned brightly, for it was kept clean, and the wicks were often trimmed. The boyswere rather surprised to find that it was the glass windows, or prisms, that revolved by means of the clockwork, and not the lantern itself. If the lantern went around it could not be trimmed without being stopped, and this would make a difference in the flashes, Lucy explained, and so confuse the sailors.
At certain places in the glass sides of the lantern room, there were blank spaces where no light could flash out, and this gave the proper signal for that part of the coast.
If you will take a pasteboard tube, such as calenders are mailed in, cut two or three holes near the top, making the holes the same distance apart, with blank spaces in between, and set this tube over a candle, you will have a good idea of a lighthouse. Then if you will turn the tube around, with the lighted candle still inside, you will get the effect of a flashing light, such as Bob and his chums were shown.
They were much interested, and stayed in the tower some time, watching Mr. Floyd trim and fill the lamp, to keep it bright.
"This is certainly great!" exclaimed Frank, when they were ready to leave.
"It sure is," agreed Sammy. Then he was unable to restrain his curiosity in spite of what he had agreed with his chums. "Say," he asked earnestly, when they were down in the living-room again, "did you ever hear anything of the pirate gold buried around here, Mr. Floyd?"
The light-keeper laughed.
"Oh, yes, I've heard," he said, "but I don't take any stock in it."
Sammy was not discouraged by this answer.
"Did you ever dig for it?" he persisted.
"Oh, yes, when I first came here, and heard the story, I was young and foolish, and I had my try at it," answered thelight-keeper, with a chuckle. "But I soon gave it up. I could make more money, and be sure of it, by tending the light."
"Does anybody ever dig for it now?" asked Frank, giving Sammy a meaning look.
"Oh, yes, now and then someone has a try at it," went on Mr. Floyd. "They think they can discover some new clues, I suppose. But I don't take any stock in 'em. Well, boys, come again—always glad to see you," he added, as they went out.
"Well, what do you think now, Sammy?" asked Bob, as they walked toward Barnacle Cottage in the evening darkness.
"What about?" asked Sammy, sharply.
"About your treasure."
"I think just the same as I did before," answered Sammy, promptly, "and that is that it's around here. Didn't we see that man digging for it?"
"Say, you'd believe the moon was made of green cheese if someone told you," said Frank.
"Oh, I would; eh?" returned Sammy. "Well, you just wait and see."
The days that followed were happy ones for the Fairview boys. They went in swimming so often that Mrs. Bouncer said they might as well live in their bathing suits, and save their other clothes. They often went clamming, bringing home big baskets filled with the soft kind.
These clams were steamed, or made into toothsome chowder, which the boys enjoyed very much.
At other times the lads would take their own safe boat, and go to the distant sand flats, where they learned to tread for hard clams.
Crabbing was one of their chief delights, and many a basketfull of the clashing, clawing creatures they pulled outof the waters of Lighthouse Cove. Sometimes they would get soft crabs, by hauling the seine, or straight net, along shore.
But, though they made many inquiries, or, rather, though Sammy did, he could not find out who the old man was whom they had seen digging by lantern-light. They had had a fairly good view of him, but in the Cove settlement were many old fishermen and sailors, who looked much the same as that elderly man did, so they were not sure which of the many villagers he might have been; and they did not like to ask.
One day, after the three chums had been rowing for some distance around the Cove, Sammy Brown suddenly exclaimed:
"I say, fellows, I've got an idea!"
"What, another one?" laughed Bob. "You're full of them lately."
"Let's hear it, anyhow," suggested Frank. "Can we have any fun by it, Sammy?"
"Sure. What do you say to rowing ashore, and digging a pirate cave."
"You mean dig a cave and look for the pirate gold?" asked Bob.
"No, I mean let's play we're pirates ourselves. We can go over to one of those sand dunes, and hollow out a hole in the side of it. We can make believe that's where we live, and we can make a fire of driftwood."
"Say, that'll be great!" cried Bob. "And we can bring some grub there and cook it! Sammy, you're all right!"
"Even if he can't find the pirate gold!" added Frank, gaily.
Filled with the new idea, the boys hastily rowed up on shore, and soon were digging into the side of the hill of sand, making a place where they could go in and imagine all sorts of delightful things.
The sand dune was one of many along the shore, and on top grew some rank grass that held the sand together. Working with broad pieces of driftwood for shovels, the boys soon had quite a hole in the sand pile. It was large enough to hold all three of them, and they were eagerly talking of the fun they would have.
"We can come over here and stay all night!" said Bob.
"Sure, it will be plenty warm enough, with a blanket or two," added Sammy.
"And we can cook our meals right on the beach, in front of the cave," added Frank. "That's the way the pirates used to do."
"Then we'd better get some driftwood for the fire," suggested Sammy. "We've got the hole almost large enough."
They collected quite a pile of the wood that was strewn along the beach, and then, after sitting in the "pirate cave" for a while, they rowed back to Barnacle Cottage, to get some food which they intended to cook over their campfire that evening.
After some objection, Mrs. Bouncer said the boys might cook a meal there, but she would not let them sleep all night in the sand cave.
"It's sure to be damp," she said, "and, though you boys might not think so, I can't have you catching colds. Play there in the daytime as much as you like, but you can't sleep there."
With this they had to be content. They had lots of fun building the fire, and toasting frankforters over the coals. Sometimes the sausages would drop off the pointed sticks, and fall into the ashes, but Bob and his chums brushed the dirt off and went on eating as if nothing had happened.
They played in the cave for several days, and some of theother boys from nearby cottages joined with them, so the three chums became the leaders of a regular "pirate band."
One afternoon, however, something happened that put a stop to this fun. Sammy and his two chums had gone alone to the cave, and they had taken with them shovels to enlarge it, as it was getting too crowded on account of so many boys wanting to enter it.
"We'll make a dandy big cave, while we're at it!" boasted Sammy.
The three chums dug away for some time, and finally Bob said:
"That's enough, fellows. If we go too far back, and the sand should cave in, we'd never get out."
"That's right," chimed in Frank.
"Pooh! You fellows are scared!" exclaimed Sammy. "I'm going to dig it farther back. You two get some driftwood, and pile it out in front. We'll have a roaring big fire to-night."
Frank and Bob went up and down the beach, gathering sticks, and bits of broken boards, while Sammy continued to dig away inside the cave. Frank and Bob made several trips to and fro, and the pile of wood was growing.
Finally, as they neared the cave, on what they said would be their last trip, as they were tired, Frank cried:
"Look! The sand has caved in!"
"So it has!" exclaimed Bob.
They looked toward where the mouth of the cave had been. It was closed, and the sand was still sliding somewhat, showing that the accident must have happened only a little while before.
"And Sam—Sammy!" gasped Bob.
"He's in there!" faltered Frank.
"And we've got to get him out—quick!" cried Bob.
They both glanced up and down the beach. No one was in sight. Fortunately they had brought their shovels out of the cave.
With these they began digging at what had been the entrance to the "pirate" cavern. Shovelful after shovelful of sand they tossed aside, until their arms ached, but they would not stop.
"We must get him out!" gasped Bob.
"Before he smothers!" added Frank.
They worked with a will. Luckily for Sammy, he had been coming out of the cave when the accident happened. Otherwise he would have been so far back that he might never have been gotten out alive.
As it was Frank and Bob had dug for only a few seconds before they saw a hand moving about in the sand. Then another hand appeared beside it, and they stopped digging.
"There he is!" cried Bob, joyfully.
"And he's alive!" said Frank. "Use your fingers—not your shovel—we might hurt him."
With their hands they now scooped away the sand, and in a few seconds Sammy's face appeared. He was gasping for breath, and looked quite pale and frightened, but with the help of his chums he was soon completely uncovered.
"Are you all right?" asked Bob.
"I—I guess so," answered Sammy, shaking the sand from his clothes, and feeling all over himself to make sure. "Yes," he went on. "Nothing's busted."
"How did it happen?" asked Frank.
"I don't know. All of a sudden the sand began to slide. I got scared and ran for the front of the cave. Then the front door went shut, you might say, and I was caught. I held my breath, made a little place for my mouth and nose, andwaited. I knew you fellows would get me out, and you did."
"We were scared, though," confessed Bob.
"I guess we won't go in any more sand caves," said Frank. And they did not. It was a lucky escape for Sammy, and Mrs. Bouncer, when she heard about it, made strong objections to the boys playing pirates in that fashion.
But there were plenty of other chances for the chums of Barnacle Cottage to have good times, and they enjoyed their stay at Lighthouse Cove to the utmost.
Sammy still persisted in believing that pirate gold was buried somewhere about, and he dug in many places, when he could slip away from his chums, but without success. He kept a lookout for the man with the lantern, but could not meet him, as far as he could tell, though he saw many whom he thought was the person he sought. Nor did he make any inquiries for fear of being laughed at.
One evening, about a week after Sammy had been caught in the "pirate cave," he proposed, after supper, that he and his chums pay another visit to the lighthouse. He had taken some pictures of it with his camera, and wanted to show them to Lucy and her parents.
"All right, I'm with you," said Frank, and Bob nodded to show that he would go, too.
They saw the light flashing, as they started from the cottage, and struck across the now lonely beach. The rays of light came every so often, flashing over their heads, and out toward the inlet, where the sea and cove met.
Suddenly, as they walked along, Bob glanced up and exclaimed:
"See! The light has gone out!"
They all looked up.
"So it has!" faltered Frank.
"The lighthouse is dark!" said Sammy slowly. "Fellows,it must be wreckers at work! They've overpowered the light-keeper, and put out the light to draw some ship in toward shore so she'll be wrecked! That's what it is—wreckers! Come on!"
For a moment Bob and Frank were so startled at not seeing the light flashing out, as it always did after sunset, that they did not stop to think what Sammy's excited words meant. They raced on after him, toward the entrance to the lighthouse, intent only on finding out what was the matter.
"It sure is wreckers," Sammy kept saying over and over again. "Some bad men are trying to get the ship on the rocks, and when she breaks up they'll get all the valuable cargo that comes ashore!"
Then Frank paid some attention to what his chum was saying.
"Hold on there!" he cried. "That's some more of your wild imagination, Sammy."
"Wreckers! Who ever heard of wreckers?" Bob wanted to know.
"I did!" exclaimed Sammy. "I'm sure they've put out the light!"
"How could they?" asked Bob. "Mr. Floyd has been there all the while."
"They—they overpowered him," said Sammy, hesitating a bit over the long word.
"Well, what about his wife and daughter?" Frank wanted to know. "I guess they wouldn't let any wreckers put out the light."
"Mrs. Floyd and Lucy are away this evening," saidSammy. "I saw them go past our cottage. They said they were going to the moving picture show over in town, and would stay all night with some relations. It's all a plot—that's what it is! The wreckers knew Mr. Floyd would be alone."
Bob and Frank looked at Sammy a little differently now. It was true that the wife and daughter of the light-keeper had gone away. The two chums remembered this, now that Sammy had recalled it to their mind. The keeper was alone in the tower.
And certainly something must have happened, for the light was out, and as the boys raced toward it they glanced up, every now and then, hoping to see the bright beams flashing. But the tower remained in darkness.
As they ran on they saw a light flashing along the path ahead of them. It swayed from side to side, and flickered so the boys easily guessed that it was a lantern being carried by someone.
"There they are now!" cried Sammy, in much excitement.
"Who?" Bob wanted to know.
"Some of the wreckers! They're making signals! Don't let them see us!"
Frank and Bob hesitated. They did not know what to do, and, though they knew that Sammy was much given to imagination, and to excitement, this time he might be partly right, they thought.
"What shall we do?" asked Frank.
"Let's get away from here," proposed Bob.
"Come on—run!" advised Frank.
"It's too late—they've seen us and they're coming right this way!" exclaimed Bob. The person with the lantern, whoever he might be, was headed directly for the boys, and coming on swiftly.
"Fellows, we can't run," called Sammy. "Whatever happens we've either got to give the alarm about the light being out, or we've got to go to the tower, see what's the matter, and start it ourselves. We've got to stand our ground."
"Maybe someone from the town will notice that the light's out, and come over," suggested Frank, hopefully.
"They can't see the light from the back, over in town," put in Sammy. "You can only see it from in front, or at either side, the way we are now. The back part of the light is always dark."
"That's so," admitted Bob. "But what can we do? Who is this coming with the lantern?"
They did not have long to wait to find out, for the figure, with the swinging light, was running now. The path was narrow and the boys stepped to one side, slacking in their pace a little.
Then, as the stranger with the lantern came opposite them, Sammy and his chums gasped in astonishment.
The person who ran past them, paying no more attention to the boys than if he had not seen them, was an old man, and as he flashed by, Sammy cried:
"It's the same one—the man who was digging for the gold!"
"So it was!" exclaimed Frank.
"Let's take after him," suggested Bob. "Maybe he's seen the trouble at the lighthouse and is going for help. Then we won't have to go. Let's follow him!"
"No, don't!" cried Sammy Brown, catching hold of Bob's coat.
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous!"
"Dangerous? How?"
"That man's one of the wreckers!" whispered Sammy, hoarsely. "He's just been to the lighthouse to put out the lamp, and now he's going to join his gang. We'd better not interfere with him."
"Why, I thought you said he was looking for pirate gold!" exclaimed Bob.
"Well, I guess I was mistaken," admitted Sammy. The boys had come to a stop, and were looking after the man who was running away from them, his lantern bobbing from side to side. "I'm sure he's a wrecker anyhow," went on Sammy. "He looked like a desperate character!"
"Say, I don't believe you know what you're talking about!" burst out Frank. "Maybe that man has seen the trouble at the lighthouse, and has gone for help. But, for all that, I think we'd better go there ourselves, and see if we can do anything."
"Maybe you're right," admitted Sammy, as he looked in the direction of the bobbing lantern. "Anyhow I don't believe it would be a good thing to follow that man. Say, we're getting as badly mixed up in a mystery here, as we were on Pine Island."
"Yes, and maybe it will turn out just as easy," spoke Frank.
"No, I'm sure something is going to happen here," insisted Sammy. "The light being out, for one thing, shows that, and the old man digging for pirate gold is another. But come on, fellows. Some ship may go on the rocks while we're talking here."
"There's no storm, that's one good thing," murmured Bob. "I thought wreckers only worked during a storm."
"Maybe they do things different here," said Sammy. "Come on!"
They started again toward the lighthouse, now and then looking up toward the tall tower in the hope of seeing theflashing beacon. But all was still darkness, save for the twinkling stars in the sky.
They started again toward the lighthouse
They started again toward the lighthouse.
They reached the cottage connected with the lighthouse. The door was open, but all was dark inside. For a moment the boys hesitated. Afterwards Bob and Frank admitted that they were thinking of the same thing Sammy was—that perhaps there was a trap, and that the wreckers were waiting for them.
Finally Frank called:
"Hello, Mr. Floyd! Are you there? What's the matter? Why isn't the light going?"
At first only a groaning voice answered them, and then they heard the stronger tones of the light-keeper crying out:
"Oh, thank Providence someone has come! Quick, boys, you're just in time! Light the lamp! Never mind me! Light the lantern!"
"Are you hurt?" asked Bob.
"Did the wreckers attack you?" cried Sammy.
"Wreckers! Good land, no!" shouted the light-keeper. "I fell down stairs, and I guess my leg is broken. And when I fell I hit against the lever that puts out the lantern, and that made it all dark. And I've been lying here ever since, calling for help, but no one heard me. I didn't know what to do, for I can't seem to move.
"But you're just in time, boys. Come in, and I'll tell you how to light the lantern. Hurry, or some ship may go on the rocks! Wreckers? Good land, what made you think of them?"
"Fooled again!" murmured Sammy Brown, as he and his companions entered the cottage.
"Where are you?" called Bob to the light-keeper, as the boys went into the living room. All was so dark they could see nothing.
"Right here, at the foot of the stairs," answered Mr. Floyd. "I haven't been able to move since my fall."
"Are you badly hurt?" asked Frank.
"I don't know, but I hope not. Never mind about me, though. You must set the lantern going, for I can't do it. That is most important. I have never yet let it go out—this is the first time; but I could not help that."
"Wait, I'll strike a match," said Sammy. "Then we can see what we are doing."
The tiny glow illuminated the room, and the boys could see the light-keeper huddled in a heap at the foot of the stairs that led to the tower, at the top of which was the big lantern.
"There's a lamp on the table," said the aged man, pointing to it. "Light that, and then go up to the lantern. Do you think you can light it?"
"I guess so," answered Bob. "Your daughter showed us how it was done."
"That's good. She little knew how soon you might have to do it. But if you think you can't do it, you must go for help. My wife and daughter have gone to visit relations, and will be away all night, but you can get some of the fishermen; they will know how to light the lantern."
"Oh, I'm sure we can do it!" exclaimed Frank. "Lucy showed us just how it was done."
"I'm thankful for that," went on the light-keeper. "Now, boys, don't bother with me!" he went on, as they advanced toward him. "Just get up aloft and set the lantern going. You see I have an arrangement so I can put it out from down here, without going all the way up. That's to save me climbing the stairs in the morning.
"Well, I was coming down, from having trimmed it, a little while ago, when I slipped. I put out my hand to save myself, and, by mistake I grabbed hold of the wire I had rigged up to put out the light. It put it out, all right, and here I've lain ever since, not knowing what to do. Oh, it was terrible!
"I couldn't tell when anyone would come, being all alone as I was. I called and called, but no one heard me."
The boys thought of the strange figure of the old man, with the lantern, running away, and they wondered if he had heard and had not heeded.
"I couldn't tell what moment some ship might go on the rocks," continued the light-keeper. "For the sailors, not seeing the light, might get off their course. I was glad there was no storm, for that would have made it much worse.
"But never mind about that now. You're here, thank Providence, and you can start the light going before it's too late."
"Come on!" cried Bob, and with a lantern which they had found and set aglow, to light them up the dark stairs of the tower, the three boys ascended. First, however, they had in spite of his protests, made Mr. Floyd more comfortable, by putting a pillow under his head, and straightening him out. They did not want to move him too much for fear one of his legs might be broken.
Up into the lantern tower the lads went. Then with handsthat trembled a little, they ignited the big wicks, first having raised the extinguishers that Mr. Floyd had accidentally pulled down over them in his fall.
The machinery, that made the glass prisms turn, was still in motion, not having been stopped since it was set going early in the evening, so with this the boys had nothing to do. As soon as they had lighted the lantern, the welcome flash went sparkling out over the waters of the cove, to warn captains off the dangerous rocks.
"And now we'd better get down and help Mr. Floyd," said Bob, when they had made sure that the lantern was going all right, and would not smoke. "I guess we'd better get a doctor."
"I think so, too," added Frank. "Too bad about your wreckers, Sammy," he went on, with a laugh.
"Aw, quit your fooling!" exclaimed the lad who sometimes let his imagination run away with him. "Something like that might have happened, anyhow."
"Yes, itmight," admitted Bob. "But itdidn't."
"I'm sure there's something queer about that man with the lantern we saw," continued Sammy. "He's after that pirate gold, I'm positive."
"Well, he does act queer," admitted Frank. "We can have a try for his secret, as soon as we get this lighthouse business fixed up."
"We do seem to run into the queerest things," remarked Bob. "If it isn't one thing it's another."
"I like it!" exclaimed Sammy, who was always on the lookout for something to happen. That it seldom did take place never discouraged him.
"Well, is everything all right?" asked Mr. Floyd, as the boys came down stairs.
"Yes," answered Frank. "The lantern is going all right."
"And now we'll look after you," went on Bob. "Are you badly hurt?"
"I can't tell. Best have the doctor look me over, I guess. I'm more comfortable since you boys came. It isn't so much for myself that I care, but the light depends on me. Uncle Sam trusts me to keep it going, no matter what happens, and I've got to do it. If I get knocked out someone else will have to look after it."
"We'll go for a doctor," said Sammy.
"Yes, and maybe we'd better go tell your wife and daughter what has happened," suggested Frank. "They'll want to be with you."
"I guess that would be a good plan," agreed the light-keeper. "They ought to be here, for I'm afraid I won't be able to get up and down stairs much for a while."
While the boys were planning who should stay at the lighthouse, and who should go for the physician, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and a number of fishermen and sailors came crowding in. They were much surprised at what they saw.
"Look here!" exclaimed one big lobsterman, "what's all this here about, John Floyd?"
"We saw the light out," added another, "and we made up a committee to come and investigate."
"Thinking there was trouble," put in a third.
"Yes, thinking there was trouble," agreed the second speaker. "Has these boys been up to any tricks?" and he looked at the three chums suspiciously.
"Indeed they have not!" exclaimed Mr. Floyd, earnestly. "If it hadn't been for these boys the light would be out yet. And if you fellows had come a little quicker, instead of waiting to form a committee, it might have been better."
"Well, we didn't notice, until a few minutes ago, that thelight wasn't flashin'," said a clam dealer. "You know you can't see it very well from shore. But Ted Knowlton was out in his boat after eels, and he noticed right away that there wasn't any flash. So he rowed in as fast as he could and told us."
"But the boys got here first, and I'm mighty thankful to 'em!" exclaimed Mr. Floyd. "Howsomever, now that you men are here, you might lift me up on that lounge, and then get the doctor."
"And we'll go for your wife!" said Bob. "We can do that, if you'll tell us where she is."
The light-keeper gave them the directions for finding Mrs. Floyd and Lucy, who had gone to a relative about two miles away. The boys left, after waiting to learn that, in the opinion of the fishermen, Mr. Floyd's leg was only sprained, and not broken.
Stopping at Barnacle Cottage to tell Mrs. Bouncer what had happened, and where they were going, Bob and his chums hurried to where Mrs. Floyd was staying. She and Lucy were at first much alarmed at the news, but were soon told that nothing serious had happened. They at once returned to the lighthouse with the boys.
The keeper was feeling much better now, and the doctor had bandaged his leg. He would be unable to walk around for several days, it was said, and some of the fishermen agreed to come and help with the heavier work about the lighthouse until Mr. Floyd was able to be about.
"Well, that's over," remarked Bob, as he and his chums went back to Barnacle Cottage again. "Quite some little excitement for a while; eh?"
"That's right," agreed Frank.
"But it isn't over yet," said Sammy Brown.
"Why not?" asked Bob. "That is unless you're going tohave a look for the wreckers, Sammy," and he nudged Frank, to show that he was only joking.
"Humph! Wreckers, yes!" exclaimed Sammy. "If therehadhappened to be any you fellows would have been glad enough to want part of the credit. But as long as there wasn't, you can only poke fun at me."
"Oh, we didn't mean anything!" said Bob, quickly. "I was only joking, Sammy. Go ahead; tell us what you mean by it not being over yet."
"I mean we haven't found out who that queer old man is with the lantern," said Sammy. "I'm sure there's some mystery about him."
"Pirate gold; do you mean?" asked Frank.
"Well, I'm not going to say that again, and have you fellows laugh at me!" exclaimed the lad who did so much sensational thinking. "But that man is after something around here."
"I agree on that," said Frank.
"But what is it?" asked Bob.
"That's what we've got to find out!" declared Sammy, promptly. "Fellows, what's the matter with us trailing that queer man, until we find out all about him."
"Trail him?" questioned Bob.
"Yes," went on Sammy. "We'll try to find where he lives, and what he is after."
"And why he goes about nights with a lantern," added Frank. He and Bob were now as much interested as was Sammy, and they were eager to help their chum clear up the mystery.
Getting to the cottage, they found company had come to call on Mr. and Mrs. Bouncer, and before the boys went to bed they had to tell all about their adventure at the lighthouse.
"My, you boys certainly do things!" exclaimed one of the callers.
"Yes, too much, sometimes," said Mrs. Bouncer, with a sigh, as she looked at her son and his chums. "I never know what they'll be up to next. That's one reason I rather dreaded coming here. I didn't so much mind it at home, for though they were out on Rainbow Lake much of the time, there was a limit to that water. But here, so near the big ocean,—I don't know. I'm always afraid they'll be carried out to sea!" and she shivered slightly, as if from some unknown fear.
"Carried out to sea!" exclaimed Bob. "How could we be? We never go as far as the inlet."
"And I hope you never will!" exclaimed his mother.
The boys told more in detail of their doings at the lighthouse and then were sent off to bed, for the hour was growing late. They only made a mention of the strange man with the lantern, whom they had passed in the darkness, and they did not tell of their intention to get on his trail, and try to find out who he was and what he was after. They thought that, had they spoken of him, permission to seek after his secret might not be given.
"Well, what's on the program this morning?" asked Bob, after breakfast one day.
"Me for a swim, as soon as it gets a little warmer," decided Frank, for the morning was a bit chilly.
"I'm with you!" agreed Bob.
"Can't you boys get a few crabs first?" asked Mrs. Bouncer. "I'd like some to make a salad. The tide is right now; isn't it?"
"Yes, it's coming in, and they always bite best on the incoming tide," replied Bob, who had learned that from an old fisherman. "What do you say, fellows; shall we go crabbing?"
"Sure," agreed his chums. "We can swim later."
Accordingly with crab nets, pieces of meat tied on strings forbait, and a deep basket in which to keep the catch, the boys set off in their boat, for the other side of the cove, since there the larger crabs could be gotten.
They had good luck, and were busy pulling in some large ones, with big blue claws, when Bob suddenly called to his companions:
"Look, there he is now!"
They glanced up, to see, some distance back from the beach, in a clump of scrub evergreen trees, a man digging.
"There's our man of mystery!" exclaimed Sammy. "Let's trail him, fellows!"
Sammy's two chums did not answer for a minute. They looked at each other, and then Frank exclaimed:
"I've got a bite, and a big one, too. Pass that net down here!"
For a moment the prospect of catching another crab was greater even than the chance of finding out something about the strange man. Bob handed his companion the net, and Frank cautiously began pulling up on the cord to which was fastened the chunk of meat-bait. With his other hand he held the net ready to plunge into the water, and scoop up his prize.
"There he is!" cried Bob, whose bait was not then being taken. "Get him, Frank!"
"I will. Don't get excited and rock the boat. I'll have him in a minute!"
"There!" exclaimed Sammy, whose attention was also taken away from the man for the moment. "Net him!"
Frank plunged the net into the water, trying to get it under the crab, which was clinging to the meat with its claws. But the boy was not quite quick enough, or else he hit the crab with the iron ring of the net, for the creature suddenly let go, and with a quick motion of his broad, swimming flippers went scurrying off into the depths again.
"Oh, he got away!" cried Bob, in disappointed tones.
"You weren't quite quick enough," spoke Sammy.
"I was so! You jiggled my arm, and made the net hit him!" exclaimed Frank. "It was the biggest one I had, too; a yellow fellow, full of meat!" and he gazed reproachfully at Sammy.
"I did not jiggle your arm!" returned Sammy.
"You did so!"
"I did not!"
"Fellows, if we're going to trail that mysterious man, let's do it, and not scrap," suggested Bob. This was as near to a quarrel as any of the chums ever got. Frank's little burst of temper was soon over.
"Well, we've got enough crabs, anyhow," he said, looking into the basket where they were kept, covered with seaweed, so the sun would not make them die. For crabs are only good when cooked alive, or soon after they have died. Otherwise they are very likely to be poisonous.
"Yes, we have a good mess," agreed Sammy. "I didn't mean to jiggle your arm, if I did, Frank," he went on. "I'll give you one of my crabs to pay for it, if you say so."
"You will not! They all go in the same kettle, anyhow. Say, Bob," he went on, "what's the matter with having a clam roast out on the beach some night?"
"Sure we can," said Bob. "We'll build a fire, roast clams and boil crabs, and have some of the other fellows over. That'll be fun!"
"It sure will," agreed Sammy. "But say, fellows, what about him?" and he nodded in the direction of the old man in the clump of evergreen trees. He was still digging away, seemingly paying no attention to anything, or anyone, around him. "Are we going to follow him, or not?"
"We can't follow him, when he isn't going anywhere," observed Bob.
"No, but he may start off at any time," said Sammy. "Wecould tell where he lives, and then we could find out something about him. As it is now we can't even tell who he is, and there are a lot of men who look like him around Lighthouse Cove."
"Well, what's your plan?" asked Frank, carefully pulling up his crab line, in the hope that the big fellow had again taken the meat. One was there, but it was so small that he shook it off, not wanting to net it.
"I say let's row close over to where he is," suggested Sammy. "Then, when he starts off, we can go ashore and follow him."
"Maybe he's got a boat hidden somewhere on shore," said Bob. "Let's take a look."
The boys scanned the beach, but could see nothing of another craft. Meanwhile, the old man in the clump of evergreens continued to dig away. He paid no attention to the boys.
"Tell you what it is," said Sammy, at length, "we've got to play foxy now. We don't want any more of that hermit business."
"What do you mean?" asked Frank.
"Well, you know what happened when we followed that old man on Pine Island. He pushed us over a cliff into a snow bank."
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Bob.
"What's the matter?" demanded Sammy. "I don't see anything to laugh at."
"You don't? Well, there's no snow bank, for one thing."
"Well, you now what I mean," said Sammy. "He might make trouble for us. I say we'd better be careful."
"That's what I say, too," agreed Frank. "Now the best way, I think, will be to let our boat drift. We can pretendwe are crabbing, but we can pull up the anchor, and the tide will take us nearly to where he is digging. He can't say anything, if we do that, for we have a right to drift."
"Yes, and then we can see if he has a boat," added Sammy. "I guess that's the best plan. But what about these crabs, Bob? Won't your mother want them for dinner?"
"No, she's going to make them into a salad for supper. We fellows will have to cook 'em, and pick 'em out of the shells, I expect. There will be time enough when we get in. Let's trail this old man now."
Accordingly the small pronged anchor, that held the boat from drifting while the crabbing was going on, was hauled up, and put in the bow. Then, while pretending to be busy with their crab lines, the boys let their craft drift with the tide over toward the shore.
The old man was still digging away, but he had moved his position and was now deeper in the clump of trees.
"I'm sure he's after pirate gold!" exclaimed Sammy, in a whisper, for he knew sounds carry very distinctly over water, and he did not want the digging man to hear him.
"He's after something, right enough," agreed Frank. "What it is we can find out later."
"There's a boat, anyhow," put in Bob, pointing to one partly hidden under some brush and seaweed not far from the shore.
"That's right!" cried Sammy. "That shows he came from some other part of the Cove. We'll follow him!"
But, for the present, the man did not show any sign of being about to leave the clump of trees. He was digging away, paying no attention to anything around him, save to glance up now and then. If he saw the boys, as he must have done, he gave no sign.
Bob and his two chums, now that they were where theywanted to get, again threw the anchor overboard, and resumed their crabbing. But luck was not so good here, the boat being too near shore. However, they wanted an excuse for remaining near the man, and this gave them one.
"Here he comes!" suddenly exclaimed Sammy, as he wound up his crab line for future use. "Get ready now, boys."
The others looked up. Coming down toward the beach was the strange old man. Over his shoulder were a pick and a shovel, and in one hand he carried a square wooden box, with a strap for a handle.
"What do you s'pose he has that for?" asked Frank.
"To put the gold in," said Sammy, promptly, "or else that holds the map, and directions for finding the treasure."
"The directions can't be very good," spoke Bob, "for he's been digging in lots of places, far apart, too. I think that gold business is all bosh!"
"Hush! He'll hear you!" cautioned Frank, for the old man had looked sharply in the direction of the boys.
"I don't care," spoke Bob. "This is a free country."
The boys had again pulled up anchor, and taken to the oars. They were pulling out from shore now. The old man went to where the other boat was partly hidden, and slid it down over the sand to the water. Then, putting in his tools and the box, he entered the craft himself, and began to row up toward the head of the Cove.
"Come on!" said Sammy, to his chums. "We've got to follow."
"Do you think we'd better?" asked Frank.
"Sure; why not?" was the answer. "We've got to find out about him; haven't we?"
To this the others had no objection. They were as interested, now, as Sammy was in solving the mystery. So, when the oldman rowed off, more quickly than the boys supposed one of his age could do, they followed, but at a distance.
The day was a fine one, there was only a little wind, and the tide was with them.
"But it won't be so easy rowing back against the current," said Bob.
"Oh, don't worry," advised Sammy, eager to find where the strange man lived.
They did not have long to wait. A little later, after turning a point of land, the man rowed up to a small dock, in front of a small house, and, tieing his boat there, got out and went up the slope.
"Come on!" called Sammy, a moment later. "Let's go ashore."
"Maybe he won't like it," suggested Frank.
"Oh, he won't care," was the answer. "He's seen us following him, and he didn't say anything. Come on."
Rather against their will, Frank and Bob followed Sammy. He sent the boat up on the beach, and threw out the anchor in the sand to hold the craft against the tide. Then, followed by his chums, he approached the small cottage.
But if the boys imagined the aged man was going to witness their approach in silence they were disappointed. He reached his porch, and putting his pick, shovel and box down there, turned and hurried to meet Sammy and his chums.
"Did you boys want to see me?" he asked, and his voice was rather stern. He did not speak like the fishermen of the cove, but more, as Sammy said afterward, like Mr. Tetlow, the school principal, when he was angry.
"We—we just wanted to see," began Sammy, uncertain whether or not to tell his suspicions about the pirate gold, and to be allowed a share in the secret.
"Now look here, boys!" interrupted the aged man,sternly. "I don't want to be harsh toward you, but you must get away from here. I said nothing when you followed me, not thinking you would land on my property. This is private land, and there has been a 'no trespass' sign up, but it has fallen down. I will put it up again. I want no strangers around here.
"My neighbors around me know this, and do not bother me. It is probably because you are strangers that you have come here. Now I will not have it. Later on I may be glad to see you, but now I must ask you to leave!"
He stood looking at the boys sternly. They had been ordered away, and there was nothing for them to do but to obey.
"Well, we didn't find out anything."
"No, we had all our trouble for our pains."
"But we know where he lives—that's something we didn't know before."
This last was said by Sammy Brown. His two chums, Bob and Frank, had made the other remarks. The boys were rowing toward Barnacle Cottage, having been practically driven away from the place to which they had trailed the strange old man. His manner had been severe and stern, yet the boys knew he had right and justice on his side.
"We couldn't do anything but go," said Bob. "He could have had us arrested for trespass if we didn't."
"That's right," admitted Frank.
"Well, I didn't think he'd be quite so sharp," said Sammy, after a moment. "I thought he was a sort of simple old man, like some of the fishermen around here."
"But he's a lot different," spoke Frank. "Did you see how his eyes snapped, when he told us to get away?"
"I should say I did!" answered Bob. "He was real angry."
"But he spoke good enough to us," said Sammy. "I s'pose it was a crazy idea to go there in broad daylight, when he was at home. Next time I'll go at night, or when he's away."
"What! Are you going again?" cried Bob.
"I should say I am! I'm going to get at the bottom of this yet!" declared Sammy.
"And when you do get to the bottom, it will fall out, just as it always does, and you'll have all your trouble for nothing," said Frank, with a laugh.
"Will I? Well, I'll see," answered Sammy, confidently. "I'm sure that man is trying to hide something."
"I thought he was trying tofindsomething, from what you said at first—the pirates' gold!" laughed Bob.
"Oh, you know what I mean," returned Sammy. "Quit your fooling!"
They rowed on in silence for a few minutes, and suddenly Frank, who was in the stern, gave a loud yell.
"What's the matter?" asked Bob. "See a shark?"
"No, but a crab's got my toe! Look out! They're getting out of the basket!"
He jumped up on the stern seat, holding out one bare foot—to the big toe of which a large crab was clinging with his strong claw.
"Take him off!" cried Frank, dancing about.