The three boys were just making their way through the crowd when the oncoming motor boat came to a stop as near the shore as was possible to run in. Two men, in long rubber boots, leaped overboard and waded through the shallow water.
"Here it is, Bill!" called the foremost.
"So you were right about it, Jack. Those lads in the small boat did have it."
The two burly fishermen elbowed their way through the throng, shoving people to right and left as they approached the whale.
"Come now!" exclaimed the one called Jack. "Get away from our whale!We're going to tow it out again."
"Your whale!" cried Frank, who, hearing the words, quickly turned back with his brother and Bob.
"Yes, our whale!" cried Bill. "We harpooned it the other day, and we've been hunting for it ever since. We thought we saw a motor boat towing it away to-day, and chased after it just about the time Jack spied you lads in the rowboat hauling something. Jack wanted to take after you, but the rest of us thought the motor boat had our prize, so we lost time until we found it was only a wrecked boat that they were towing. Then we came after you. I wish we'd caught you before you hauled this up on shore, as we're going to have trouble getting our whale off again."
"What makes you say that'syourwhale?" demanded Andy hotly.
"Because it is," answered Jack. "We struck it, though it didn't die right away. Now you folks keep back, and we'll haul it off. Come on, fellows!" he called to the others in the motor boat. "Lend a hand here, it's bigger than I thought."
"That's not your whale, and you can't have it!" cried Frank determinedly. "We picked it up at sea, and towed it in. My brother and I saw it several days ago, and it struck one of our boats. It's our whale, and we intend to keep it."
"Get out of the way!" roughly cried the man called Bill. "We haven't time to bother with you," and he elbowed Frank to one side.
Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment. The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them. Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
"What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother. "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
"Not much!" exclaimed Frank, with a determined tightening of his lips."I'm going to fight every inch. They shan't take it away."
"Let's appeal to the crowd," suggested Andy. "Tell 'em just how we found the whale, and they won't let these men take it away from us."
Frank looked doubtful as to the wisdom of that course. Meanwhile the men were busily preparing to tow the whale away out to sea in the powerful motor boat.
"If my father was only here," began Bob, "he would know what to do, and what our rights were. There are certain laws about whales and things found at sea, and he'd make these fellows skip out if they were in the wrong."
"Of course they're in the wrong!" cried Andy. "Didn't we see the whale first, and didn't we to it home?"
"But they say they harpooned it," said Bob,
"Yes, and there was only one iron in it, Andy, when it broke your boat," added Frank. "Now there are two harpoons in the back. One might be theirs. I'm going to notify Justice Fanchard and see what he says."
"Lively now, men!" called Bill, as Frank started off.
There was another movement on the outskirts of the throng, and someone pushed his way in.
"It's dad!" cried Bob. "Hey, dad!" he shouted. "These men are going to take our whale! We just towed it in, Frank and Andy Racer and me! Can these men take it?"
"Of course we can, kid!" cried one of the fishermen. "Get out of the way, if you don't want to be knocked down."
"Oh, it's you, is it, Jack Kett!" exclaimed Captain Trent. "And Bill Lowden and his crowd. Well, you fellows would take anything, whether it was yours or not. Now jest hold on a bit. Luff up and let's see where we're at. Maybe you're on the wrong course and need new clearance papers. Avast there, and let me know the particulars."
"There ain't any particulars except that we harpooned this whale, and it's ours," growled Bill Lowden. "You needn't be putting your oar in, Cap'n Trent. We know our rights. There's our iron, and it's got the name of our boat branded in it—theScud—you can see if you light a match," for it was now dark.
"Hum! When did you strike it?" asked the captain, amid a silence, for, as an old whaling master and one of the most influential residents of Harbor View, the captain was universally respected.
"We were going along just outside the Shark's Teeth reef day 'fore yesterday," spoke Jack Kett, "when our lookout spied the whale. We keep a couple of irons aboard for sharks, dogfish and the like, and it didn't take long to sink one in this critter. Then he sounded and we couldn't pick him up again. We've been looking for him ever since, and to-day we thought we saw someone in a motor boat towing our whale away. I explained how we got on the wrong course," and he detailed what is already known to my readers.
"Then we found the whale here," went on Jack Kett, "and we're going to have it."
"Hum," mused the captain. "It looks as they had the right of it, boys," he said in a low voice, to his son and the latter's chums.
"Ask them if the whale wasn't about dead when they harpooned it, and if it didn't already have an iron in it?" suggested Frank.
"Another iron; eh? That's a different story. Somebody bring a lantern," called the captain quickly.
One was procured, and the crowd made way while the aged whaleman approached the dead beast.
"Here, you can see our iron," said Bill Lowden eagerly. "There it is, as plain as day, with our boat's name burned in the handle."
"Hum, that's right," admitted Captain Trent as he noted the harpoon. "But what about this?" he asked quickly, pointing to a second one, lower down, and in such a position that it could not be readily seen. "Is that yours too?" and Captain Trent held the lantern so that the gleam shone on the other implement.
"What's that? Another harpoon?" cried Kett. "Did we use two, boys?" and he turned to the group of his men.
"No, only one," somebody answered.
"This has a brand on it too," went on Bob's father. He held the lantern nearer. "TheFlying Fish," he read as he saw the burned letters. "Guess that was in some time before your iron, Lowden, for it's pretty well worn by sea water. There's a prior claim to this whale, and as long as no one is here from theFlying Fishthis prize belongs to the boys that towed it in. If you don't agree with that jest say so, an' we'll go to law about it. But I know my rights, and these boys will get theirs."
"That's right!" cried several in the crowd. "The whale belongs to the boys."
Jack Kett and Bill Lowden looked at each other. This was something for which they had not bargained. There was a murmur among their men.
"We—we didn't know the whale had been struck before," admitted Bill.
"That's right," chimed in his partner. "We only want what's fair," he went on, in more conciliatory tone than at first.
"That's the way to talk," commented Captain Trent. "I admit you have some claim on the whale, for your iron helped to kill it. The law gives you a tenth part, after other parties have landed the prize, and I'll see that you get it. Now if it's settled you fellows can go, and I'll notify you when the money's ready."
"All right," assented Bill, after a conference with his partner and men. "I guess it's the best we can get out of it. But it's hard to lose a prize when you think you're got it. I'm not blaming you boys," he added quickly, "for I guess you had a hard pull with it. Come on, men, we'll leave our case with Captain Trent."
It was an unexpected turn of affairs, and the boys were glad the contest had ended in their favor. They were congratulated on all sides, and jokingly asked what they were going to do with the money, which was likely to be quite a large sum.
"We're going to buy a whaling vessel, make Mr. Trent captain, and go into the business," said Andy with a laugh. He looked around for his brother, and saw Frank talking to Kett.
"I heard you say something about seeing a boat towing something you thought was the whale, but which turned out to be a wrecked motor boat," began the elder Racer lad. "What sort of a boat was the wrecked one?"
"Well, it was pretty big, with a hood up forward, and it looked as if it had been in a fire. It was all blacked."
"A fire!" cried Frank eagerly, as the memory of the boat from whichPaul Gale had been rescued came to him. "Are you sure of this?"
"Certain. We were right close to 'em. That's what made us lose so much time. If we'd taken after you boys in the first place we might have found the whale ourselves."
"Bob Trent sighted the whale before he came for us," explained Frank, "so he'd have first claim on it anyhow. But which way was the motor boat going?"
"Along toward Seabright. Then it got hazy and we lost sight of it."
"Did you notice whether there was a tall, dark man aboard?" asked Frank eagerly.
"Yes, there was such a chap," broke in Bill Lowden. "And he seemed mighty anxious about the wrecked boat in tow. Why, do you know him?"
"I don't know—I've met him," said Frank, as he quickly turned to join his brother. Then he whispered to Andy: "Come away, I've got on the track of the mysterious man and the wrecked motor boat. I want to talk to you."
Wonderingly, Andy followed. There was no need to stay and guard the whale, as Kett and his crowd were preparing to leave. Soon Andy had been told all that Frank had learned.
"What are you going to do?" asked the younger brother.
"We'll go to Seabright the first thing in the morning. Maybe we can find the man there. I believe we're on the right track. Let's go and tell Paul."
There was no little excitement in the Racer home when Andy and Frank arrived with their tale of the sea, the whale, and the quarrel about it. So interested were Mr. and Mrs. Racer that they did not chide their sons for their partial disobedience of orders. As for Paul, he leaned forward eagerly in the easy chair, listening to the tale of the brothers.
"Oh! If I would only get strong enough go with you!" he exclaimed regretfully.
"Don't worry, you will be strong soon," said Mrs. Racer kindly.
"It was rather mean of us to go away and leave you all alone, momsey," spoke Frank. "And Paul, too. But when Bob called us we just couldn't resist."
"I'll forgive you," said the mother. "I won my golf match after all, and perhaps if you had followed me over the links I might not have done so."
"And I didn't mind being left alone," added Paul. "I'm so glad you got the whale."
"And we may get your motor boat, and find out who that strange man is," said Frank.
"Now go slowly," advised Mr. Racer. "I don't want you boys getting into trouble and danger. I think I had better attend to this matter myself, only I can't very well stay away from the office to-morrow."
"Oh, we can do the work all right," declared Frank. "We'll go in our sailboat, it won't take us long. Perhaps Paul will be strong enough to come along."
"I wish I was," and the invalid shook his head. "But somehow I don't feel so well to-night."
"Then we must have Dr. Martin look at you," decided Mr. Racer, and, in spite of Paul's protests the physician was summoned by telephone.
"It is nothing," he said after examining Paul. "He exerted himself a little too much to-day. He must be quiet for a couple of weeks yet and he'll be all right."
"Then that means no trip for you to-morrow," said Mrs. Racer kindly. "Never mind, I'll amuse you while the boys are away pretending they are detectives," and she smiled at Paul.
It was about nine o'clock when Frank happened to remember that he had left aboard their sloopGulla book of adventures in which he was much interested.
"I'm going down and get it," he announced. "I won't be long."
"I'll go with you," offered Andy, and the two started off toward the mooring place, which was near the big public pier. The boys kept a light skiff tied to the float and in this way they used to row out to the sailboat.
As they approached the pier they heard confused shouts and cries coming from the direction of the bay.
"Something's going on!" cried Frank, breaking into a run.
"Yes. Sounds like someone in trouble," added Andy as he hollowed.
Once more came the cry, and this time the brothers could make it out:
"Fire! Fire! Fire!"
They turned a corner of the street that led straight out on the long pier, and there caught sight of a cloud of smoke in the moonlight, and saw dancing flames near the surface of the water. Then Frank uttered a cry of alarm:
"It's our boat—theGull—she's on fire!" he yelled.
Frank and Andy ran as they had never run before. Out on the long pier they speeded, their eyes turned toward their boat which they could now hardly see on account of the haze of smoke.
"How do you think it happened?" panted Andy.
"Don't know. We've got to get the fire out first, and think afterward.Come on, leg it faster!"
Once more they heard the cries of fire.
"That's Bob Trent!" called Frank. "There he goes out in his boat!We'll have to get some sort of a pump."
"That's—right!" gasped Andy.
The brothers were now at the gangway leading down to the float. Several men and boys who had been fishing off the end of the pier were gathered there, and it was they who had been shouting.
"Guess your boat's a goner," observed Captain Trent. "Bob has gone out to her."
There was now more smoke than fire aboard theGull, but it seemed to the boys only a matter of a few seconds when the flames would again break out.
"Is there a pump? Has anyone a pump?" begged Frank.
"Here's a small one they use to get the bilge water out of their motor boats," said the dock master, for the pier was a station for a yacht club, and the dock-keeper lived in a small house on the pier. "It doesn't throw much of a stream, though."
"Better use pails," cried Captain Trent. "Here are a couple I use for clams. Take 'em along. The fire started sudden-like, when we were all standing here talking about the whale."
Andy and Frank did not stay to hear more. Quickly they shoved off in their skiff and were soon approaching theGull, at the side of which Bob Trent now was.
"It's a lot of hay smoldering!" he shouted. "Maybe I can get it overboard with my boathook. Come on, fellows."
"Row! Row!" cried Frank, for Andy had the only available pair of oars.
"I am rowing as hard as I can. Hay on fire! We had no hay on our boat. Someone must have put it there and tried to burn it!"
"I guess so. But don't talk—save your breath for rowing."
A minute later Frank and Andy were beside Bob in his boat. Dense smoke was pouring from theGull, and Frank, dipping up a pailful of water, dashed it into the cockpit. There was a hiss, showing that fire was present.
"Wait!" cried Bob. "I think I can pull the hay overboard now. It's a small bale."
He stood up and jabbed his boat-hook into something. The next moment a dark mass, in which red glowing embers could be seen, and which gave out a dense smoke, splashed into the water with a loud hissing noise.
"There's still some fire in the boat!" cried Andy, as he saw tiny tongues of flame.
"Yes, the woodwork is on fire, but a little water will douse that," cried Frank, as he caught up another pailful. With Bob using the second pail, and Andy the pump, the fire was soon put out.
"Not so much damaged," observed Frank, as the three boys went aboard, and examined the craft with a lantern. "But how in the world did it start—or, rather, who put the hay here and set fire to it?"
"That's the question," admitted Bob. "All I know is that I was standing talking to dad, when I smelled smoke, and saw it coming from your boat."
"Did you see anyone around it to-night?" Andy wanted to know.
"Not a soul. We'll ask the pier master."
But when the boys, after making sure that no sparks of fire remained, had gone back to the float, the dock master could give them no information. He had not noticed any suspicious characters about, but it was admitted that under cover of darkness, before the moon had risen, someone might have rowed silently to the side of theGulland started the fire smoldering in the bale of hay.
"But why would they want to do it?" asked Captain Trent.
"Give it up," said Frank. "Well, we might as well get back home, Andy. Will you keep your eyes open for any more fires, Mr. Robinson?" he asked of the caretaker of the yacht station.
"Sure I will, and they'll find they're in the wrong harbor if they try any more tricks like that."
"Have you any suspicions?" asked Andy of his brother, as they were on their way home.
"I sure have," was the answer.
"What are they?"
"Well, either the men who were disappointed in not getting the whale did this, or it's up to that mysterious man who knows Paul Gale."
"I believe it's the latter. He wants to discourage us from trying to get on his track."
"Probably. Well, we won't say anything about that part of it at home, though we'll have to mention the fire. I hope we can make our trip to-morrow to Seabright."
"So do I."
It was found the next morning that theGullwas not much damaged, and, though it smelled strongly of smoke, the two brothers did not mind that as they prepared for the cruise to Seabright.
"Think we'll get any clue?" asked Andy, as he cast off, while Frank ran up the sail.
"Well, it won't be from want of trying. We'll keep a good lookout on the way up, and then we'll go ashore there and make some inquiries. I'm going to get at the bottom of this mystery if it's at all possible," and Frank looked very determined as he fastened the throat and peak halyards on the cleats and looked to see if the sheet was running free in the blocks.
On the trip up the coast the boys kept a sharp watch for anything resembling a wrecked motor boat, or for one in good condition resembling the towing craft of which Jack Kett had spoken. They saw nothing, however, even though they sailed out to sea several miles.
"Let's head for Seabright now," proposed Andy, as they swung about on a long tack. "Maybe he's there waiting for us."
"He'll run if he sees us," jokingly replied Frank.
In about an hour the boys had made their craft fast to the Seabright pier, and going to the office of the dock master they inquired for a motor boat that answered the description of the one for which they were looking.
"We have so many craft here in the summertime," said the dock official, "that it's a pretty hard matter to remember 'em all. I don't recall the boat you speak of, and I'm sure no motor craft that was partly burned has put in here. But speaking of a tall dark man, I recollect now that Jim Hedson, who runs the sailboatMary Ann, was telling me he had a fellow come to him and want to hire her. Maybe that's the fellow you're looking for."
"Perhaps!" agreed Andy eagerly. "Where is Jim Hedson?"
"Over there," and the dock master pointed to where a group of sailors and fishermen were seated on an overturned boat on the beach.
"We'll talk to him," proposed the elder Racer lad, and, followed by his brother, he approached the little gathering. Before they reached the men Andy uttered a sudden exclamation.
"Look!" he cried to his brother, pointing up the street which led down to the water front. "That man—the mysterious stranger—here he comes!"
"Sure enough!" agreed Frank, as he saw a tall dark man hurrying toward the pier. "That's him all right."
The boys stood waiting, hoping against hope that they could now solve the mystery. The man hastened forward. All at once he caught sight of the lads.
Like a flash he wheeled about and fairly ran back up the street, whileFrank took after him calling:
"Hey! Hey! Wait a minute! Stop!"
There was a trolley line, newly built, which ran through Seabright, touching some of the other seacoast towns, but not Harbor View. As luck would have it, just when Frank Racer took after the strange man, hoping to make him stop by calling to him, one of the trolley cars came past.
In a flash the man had jumped aboard the electric vehicle, and, as fate would have it, the motorman happened to be behind time. No sooner was the queer stranger in the car, which had not even stopped for him, than the knight of the controller handle swung it clear around in an endeavor to keep up to his schedule, and with a whizz the car darted off.
"Wait! Wait!" yelled Frank, waving at the conductor. The latter shouted something, what it was the lad could not make out. Andy rushed up and joined his brother.
"Missed him; didn't we?" exclaimed the younger lad ruefully.
"Yes, worse luck," replied Frank. "He always seems to get away from us."
"There'll be another car along in fifteen minutes, boys," said a kindly fisherman passing along.
"It wasn't the car we wanted, it was someone on it," answered Frank."Fifteen minutes will give him such a start that we can't follow him."
"Was he a pickpocket?" asked the fisherman.
"We don't know what he was," said Andy. "Come on, Frank, we'll go back and talk to Jim Hedson."
"I was thinking of taking the next car, and keeping after this fellow," spoke Frank, with his usual determined manner.
"What would be the use?" asked Andy, who generally took the easiest way. "He might get off anywhere along the line, and we could hunt all day and not find him. It would be time wasted."
"I guess you're right," assented Frank, with a sigh. "But I hate to give up. I'm sure there's some great mystery back of all this, and Paul and that man are in some manner connected with it. I shouldn't be surprised if that man had wronged Paul in some way."
"How, by taking his motor boat?"
"No, in some other way. It was a queer thing why Paul should be out in his boat alone in the blow. Then to have the boat disappear, and to be seen again towed by this man."
"You're not sure of the last part."
"I am pretty sure. But let's ask Mr. Hedson what he knows about it."
The boys did not find the boatman in a very kindly frame of mind. He greeted them rather sulkily as they approached:
"What do you lads mean by scaring off customers?" he asked.
"We didn't scare him off," answered Frank sturdily.
"What do you call it then? Wasn't he coming here to hire a sailboat off me, and didn't you chase after him, and make him leave on the car? Now he'll likely go to Hank Weston at Edgemere, and hire a boat off him. I lose the trade."
"We're sorry," explained Frank, "but if you noticed that man you saw that he ran as soon he saw us. We didn't say a word to him. He just turned tail and sprinted."
"So I see," grumbled Mr. Hedson, "but I thought maybe you flew some kind of a distress signal."
"We were only too anxious to talk to him," put in Andy. "But he's afraid of us."
"Afraid; why?"
"Well, there's some mystery about him," went on Frank, "and we'd like to discover it. It's connected with a boy whom we saved from a gale." And he told about Paul, and how the man had hastened away that day on the beach. "Do you know anything about him?" finished the elder Racer lad.
"Only this," spoke the boatman, not quite so angry now. "He come to see me yist'day, and asked if I had a sailboat I could hire out for a few days. He said he wanted to go cruising out to sea to bring in a boat of his that was disabled."
"A boat!" interrupted Frank eagerly. "Did he say what kind? Was it a damaged motor boat?"
"He didn't say, and I didn't ask him. I arranged with him to take mySprayand he was to come to-day and get her. Now you see what happened."
"We're sorry to have spoiled your business," spoke Frank regretfully, "but perhaps it's just as well you didn't hire that man your boat. I don't believe he's to be trusted," and he told about the suspicion they had that the stranger had already been seen towing a disabled motor boat with a gasolene craft.
"The question is, where has he left the damaged boat—Paul's boat?" went on Andy. "This thing is getting more and more complicated. Why should he want a sailboat to go out and tow in the motor craft, when he was seen in power vessel yesterday?"
"Maybe whoever owned the power vessel took it away from him," suggestedFrank.
"I wouldn't wonder but what you're right!" exclaimed Jim Hedson, slapping his big pain down on his broad leg. "Now I think of it, I didn't like the looks of that man. He wouldn't look you square in the eye, but kept shifting around. I'm just as glad I didn't hire him mySpray, and I'm sorry I took you fellows up so short. I'll keep a lookout for that man, and if I see or hear anything of him I'll let you know. You're cottaging over Harbor View way; aren't you? I think I've seen you there."
"Yes, we're the Racer boys," replied Frank, "and we'll be obliged to you if you can put us on the track of this man. It isn't so much for our sake, as that we want to find out who Paul Gale is."
"Paul Gale!" exclaimed Mr. Hedson "That's a good name for the lad found as he was. Well, I'll do my best."
"Where to now?" asked Andy, as he followed his brother up the street.
"To the fertilizer factory. I think we can make a deal with them about our whale better by talking than over the telephone."
"We ought to have some of Chet Sedley's fifteen cent perfume if we're going up there," said Andy. "It smells worse than ten skunks on a wet night."
"Oh, well, I guess we can stand it a little while."
The fertilizer factory, where fish, chiefly menhadden, were ground up and treated, before being spread on farms and gardens to enrich them, was not a very delightful place. The boys soon located the manager, who had heard about their whale, and he made them a good offer for it, agreeing to take the carcass away promptly.
Paul improved but slowly, and, as far as his mind was concerned, there was no change. The past was an entire blank to him, and Dr. Martin, as the days passed, shook his head in doubt.
"I'm afraid it's going to take a long time," he said.
"Have you given up hope, Doctor?" asked Mrs. Racer, as she followed him from Paul's room.
"No, not entirely, but I'm disappointed that there is not a glimmer of the past. Perhaps if he could see something or someone connected with his former life it might produce a shock that would start the sluggish brain cells to working. Otherwise I don't know what can be done."
Andy and Frank, in their goings to and fro about the bay in their sailboat, kept a close watch for the mysterious man. But they did not see him. Neither had Jim Hedson heard anything.
"I guess you'll have to give it up," said Paul one night, when, with his chums and Mr. and Mrs. Racer, he was discussing the case. "You better ship me off somewhere. I—I'm afraid I'm becoming a burden to you."
"Not a bit of it!" cried Frank heartily. "Andy and I always wanted another chum, an' now we've got him."
"Don't you feel strong enough to come for sail with us to-morrow?" asked Andy.
"I think so," answered Paul. "Dr. Martin said I could go for a walk to-morrow."
"Then we'll arrange for a sail," decided Frank. "It will do you lots of good."
"But mind, no chasing after whales, dead or alive!" stipulated Mr.Racer, with a laugh.
"All right," agreed his sons.
Paul soon afterward went to his room. A chamber on the ground floor, with a window opening into the garden had been fitted up for him, to save him the necessity of climbing up and down stairs. It was in this little chamber that, soon afterward, he went to bed, hoping against hope that he might awaken on the morrow with his memory restored.
It was about midnight when Frank, who was a light sleeper, was awakened suddenly by hearing a noise under his window. He occupied the room over Paul.
"I wonder if he's sick?" he thought, as he arose softly. "Perhaps he is, and doesn't want to call anyone. I'll take a look I guess."
Before going down, however, Frank stepped to his window, softly raised the screen, and looked out. As he did so he was startled by a shrill cry from the room below him. It was Paul's voice, and the mysterious lad was crying:
"Get away! Leave me alone! What do you want of me again? Oh, why can't you let me alone!"
"What's the matter?" shouted Frank in alarm.
"That man! He's after me again!" screamed Paul.
Before Frank could leave his window to rush to the aid of the lad below him, he saw a bright light flash out from the casement of the boy who had no memory. In an instant Frank recalled that it must be the portable electric light with which they had furnished the invalid in case he wanted to get up in the night.
Then a movement below him attracted Frank's attention, and he saw a dark figure spring from Paul's window. As this happened the light flashed out once more, and in the glare of it the elder Racer lad saw the countenance of the mysterious man, while Paul called out in fear:
"Oh, don't come near me! Let me alone! I'm afraid of you!"
Then it became dark, and Frank could hear someone crashing away through the bushes of the garden.
"Paul, are you hurt? I'm coming! Father, turn on the light! Someone tried to get in Paul's room!"
Thus Frank cried as he made his way through the darkness to the hall, and fairly ran down the stairs. He knew every foot of the way.
"What's the matter?" yelled Andy.
"Oh, dear! Is it burglars?" screamed Mrs. Racer.
"Careful, boys!" shouted Mr. Racer, as he stepped out into the hall from his room, nearest to which the electric switch was, and flashed on the incandescents. "Don't run into danger."
Andy was now following his brother, having caught up a heavy fishing rod, bound together, as a substitute for a club.
"Paul, are you hurt?" cried Frank again, and by this time he was at the room door of the lad who had been so alarmed by the midnight visitor.
"No, I—I'm all right," was the panting answer, and Paul met Frank at the portal, throwing the gleam of the hand electric all about. Frank turned on the regular light in Paul's room, and looked around. The wire mosquito screen was raised, showing how the intruder had gained entrance. By this time Andy and Mr. Racer had joined Frank and Paul, and Mrs. Racer had been assured that whoever had entered was now outside the house.
"But what was it? Who was it?" demanded Mr. Racer.
"I—I—" began Paul, who was trembling from fright.
"I know who it was, I saw him!" interrupted Frank. "It was the same man we met on the beach—the mysterious man who knows something about Paul but who won't tell! What did he do to you, Paul?"
"Nothing. That is, as far as I know. I was sleeping soundly when I heard a noise in my room, and I could just see someone moving about around the bureau, opening drawers. At first I thought it was one of you boys, or Mr. Racer, and then I knew you wouldn't come in without making a light.
"I reached under my pillow where I kept this electric lamp, and flashed it. As I did so the man came toward my bed. Then I saw who he was and I yelled. I thought he was going to take me away."
"Take you away?" questioned Frank. "Do you know him—have you seen him before?"
"Yes!" suddenly exclaimed Paul. "I—I know him! His name is—"
"That's what we want to know—who is he?" interrupted Andy eagerly.
"He is—his name is—Oh, why can't I remember?" cried poor Paul, passing his hand over his forehead in despair. "I thought it was coming to me, but it's faded away again! Oh, why can't I recall who he is? Then I know the mystery would be solved. But I can't—it's all—so—so hazy. Only I know that this man had something to do with me—and, yes, I'm beginning to recall it now—my father also. He wanted to harm me—or was it my father? I can't—"
"Now look here," broke in Mr. Racer kindly, "this won't do, you know. You must calm yourself, Paul. I can't let you excite him, boys. Here is some quieting medicine Dr. Martin left, Paul. Take that and in half an hour you will be calmer. Then you can tell us all you recollect. Perhaps by that time your memory will be stronger. Meanwhile, if you boys want to do something why don't you get some clothes on, and go with Jake the gardener to see if you can get any trace of that scoundrel? I'll call up the police."
"Good!" cried Frank. "That's what we'll do. Come on, Andy."
The two boys were soon scouring the garden with lantern, accompanied by Jake, the man of all work. But they had little hope of coming upon the intruder. They found the place where he had burst through the currant bushes after leaping from Paul's window, and there were his footprints in the soft earth; but that was all.
"He's far enough off by this time," declared Andy. "Let's go in and see if Paul can tell us anything."
They found their friend much quieter. Mr. and Mrs. Racer had dressed, and Paul had on his clothes. They were sitting in the dining room, Mr. Racer drinking some hot coffee Mary had made.
"We'll have a little midnight supper," said the boys' mother with a faint laugh. "I'm sure I won't get to sleep again to-night."
"Did you see anything of him?" asked their father.
Frank shook his head. "What about Paul?" he asked. "Can he remember anything?"
"I wish I could," said the unfortunate youth, with a sigh. "But it's all so hazy. As soon as I saw that man's face in the light I knew I had met him before, and that he was an enemy of mine. But I can't grasp any details. I flashed the light on him as he was getting out of the window."
"That's how I happened to see him," said Frank, in explanation, "and how I knew him to be the mysterious man."
"Did he touch you?" asked Andy.
"No," answered Paul, "though I don't know what he might have done if I hadn't awakened as I did."
"Did he take anything of yours from the room?" asked Mr. Racer.
"I haven't anything of my own, except the clothes I wore when the boys rescued me, so he couldn't get anything."
"But you said he was at the bureau," went on Frank.
"Nothing is missing from there," said Mrs. Racer quickly.
"Perhaps he thought Paul had some important papers," suggested Andy.
"I'm sure I haven't," and once more the unfortunate youth passed his hand across his forehead. "I wish I could recall when it was, and under what circumstances, I met that man before. But I can't. Only I'm sure of one thing—he is an enemy of mine—and of my father."
"Can you recall anything of your father—or mother?" asked Mrs. Racer softly.
"No," answered Paul with a shake of his head; and tears filled his eyes.
"Well, I know one thing!" exclaimed Frank decidedly. "I'm going to have another try at finding that man. I'm sure he's in this vicinity now. He's hanging around here for some reason, and we have a double motive in locating him. I believe he set our boat on fire," and for the first time he told his parents of his suspicions.
"Be careful if you do meet him," cautioned Mr. Racer. "He is evidently a dangerous character. Now to see what the police can do, and then we'll go back to bed."
The police could do very little, as might be expected, though they promised to keep a lookout for the fellow. They made an utterly useless inspection of the house and grounds, and left. Then the family and Paul went to bed to get what little sleep they could.
Frank and Andy discussed the matter long and earnestly the next day. Paul was not so well, on account of the fright, and so it was not thought wise to have him accompany them on a sailing trip.
"I'm not so sure it will do any good to go off in our boat," declaredAndy. "That fellow is just as likely to be on land as at sea."
"I think he's more likely to be at sea," declared Frank. "He wants to get that damaged motor boat."
"Well, let's try looking for him ashore a while and if that doesn't amount to anything, I'll go sailing with you," suggested the younger brother.
To this Frank agreed; and for several days he and his brother went from one seacoast settlement to another, making inquiries. Nothing, however, came from them. They spent much time riding back and forth on the electric car line, hoping they might unexpectedly meet the mysterious man there, but he kept out of their way as if he knew they were on his trail.
"Well, now for a sailing cruise!" exclaimed Frank, one morning, and Andy announced that his theory had been tried and found wanting. The brothers wanted to take Paul, but he was not well enough, so, having taken along a supply of provisions, if they should be becalmed and kept out all night, as was sometimes the case, they set sail, beating up along the coast.
There was a fair wind, that freshened at noon, but which died out toward evening, and finally there settled over the ocean a dead calm.
"It's us out for all night, unless you can whistle up a wind," saidFrank grimly.
"We'll both try," proposed Andy, and they whistled all the tunes they knew, but without avail.
Then, having lighted their lamps, and cooked a supper on the oil stove in the small galley, they prepared to spend the night at sea. They had often done it before, for their craft was a staunch one, and as they had said at home that they might be detained, they knew their folks would not worry.
They stood watch and watch, of several hours at a stretch, and Frank was on duty when the gray and misty night began to be dispelled by the rosy sun rising from the water. As he glanced across the slowly heaving billows, something in the very path of Old Sol's smiling beams caught his eye.
It was a sailboat, somewhat larger than theGull, but it was not the sight of the craft itself that attracted Frank's attention. It was something trailing behind.
"Andy! Andy, come up here!" called elder Racer lad.
"What's the matter?" demanded his brother, coming from his berth in the tiny cabin, and rubbing his sleepy eyes. "See another whale?"
"No, but look at that sailboat? Isn't it dragging something?"
"It sure is!"
"What do you make it out to be?"
"It looks like—why it's a motor boat, and it looks as if it had seen hard usage."
"That's what I thought, and I'll miss my guess if that isn't the very boat that blew up when Paul Gale was in it."
"I believe you're right. Wait a minute." Andy disappeared, to return a moment later with a pair of powerful glasses. He focused the binoculars on the object trailing behind the sailing craft. Then he uttered a cry:
"It's the damaged motor boat! We're on the track of it again! Let's chase after it and see who has it!"
The wind had freshened and was now blowing at a lively rate. Andy and Frank sprang to the sails, even hoisting a small jib which they seldom used. But now they wanted all the speed they could get, for the craft which was towing the damaged motor boat was some distance away, and was rapidly drawing ahead.
"Can we catch her, do you think?" asked Andy, as he gave the tiller over to his brother.
"We've got to," was the answer with quiet determination. "Suppose you get something to eat while I handle the boat? We may not have time to cook anything after we come up to them."
"Are you going to come to close quarters?"
"I'm going to try to get near enough to see if the mysterious man is aboard, and if he is, I'm going to fire some questions at him, and let him know that he's liable to arrest for entering our house the other night."
"I'd like to fire something else besides questions at him. I've got my small rifle aboard."
"None of that!" objected Frank quickly. "We'll proceed on lawful lines, no matter what he does. Now, MissGull," and he patted the rail of the craft, "do your prettiest. See if you can't catch up to those fellows."
The wind continued good and the boys' craft slipped through the water at a lively rate of speed. Andy busied himself in the galley, whence soon came the appetizing odor of coffee, bacon and eggs.
"Hurry up with that!" called Frank. "I'm as hungry as a crab."
"It's almost ready," replied his brother. "Shall I bring it up, or will you come down?"
"You get yours first, and then relieve me. I don't want to eat with one hand and steer with the other. Only don't be all morning, and leave some for me."
There was enough, as Frank soon discovered, and when he came up on deck again he found Andy leaning against the tiller and peering at the distant vessel through the binoculars.
"Can you make out anything?" he asked.
"No, I can see several men aboard, but I don't notice our mysterious friend."
"Do they seem to be paying any attention to us?"
"Not a bit. Guess they don't even know we are here. I don't believe we are going to catch up to them, though."
"Oh, yes we are. TheGullis plenty fast, and they are handicapped by dragging that motor boat in the water. It must be partly filled, as it sets so far down, and that makes it all the harder to tow. We're gaining on them."
"Not so's you could notice it."
"Oh, well, we've got all day, and grub enough for another night. I'm not going to give up this chase until I have to, or until I've solved the mystery."
"And I'm with you."
There is not much excitement in a sailing race, as the boys very soon found out. There was nothing they could do, which would have been the case in a motor craft, to add to their speed. All they could do was to sit and let the wind carry them. And they were glad to see that the breeze was continually freshening.
"There'll be another gale before night, if this keeps up," predictedFrank.
"Let it," assented Andy. "TheGulllikes heavy weather, and we can stand it."
"Yes, but father and mother will be worried about us. If it comes on to blow too hard we'll have to turn back."
"And let that man get away?"
"There'd be no help for it. But we haven't turned back yet, and now his craft ought to be easy to trace."
Once more they looked through the glass at the vessel ahead of them. They could see sailors moving about on deck, but that was all. No sign of the tall dark man was visible.
"Perhaps he isn't aboard," suggested Andy.
"It can't be helped," answered his brother. "We want the motor boat almost as much as we want the man, and we can't take our choice I'm afraid. But we are certainly creeping up on them."
This was true, for while two miles had at first separated the vessels, the distance was now narrowed to a little less than a half mile, and theGullwas sailing better than was her rival.
"What are you going to do when you get within hailing distance?" askedAndy, after a pause.
"I don't know—haven't exactly made up my mind," was the answer of the elder Racer lad. "But I'll have to soon."
Frank was giving all his attention to managing theGull, so as to gain every foot. Andy went up forward now and then to report progress.
"Hey, Frank!" he suddenly called, "there's something doing on board."
"What makes you think so?"
"Why the whole crowd of them have come aft and are looking at us for all they're worth."
"Are they using glasses?"
"No—yes, they are too! A new man has come up on deck, and he's got a pair. He's training them on us."
"Good! That shows they're worried. Take our glasses and see what you can make out."
Andy looked long and earnestly. Then he let out a yell.
"It's him! It's that mysterious man!" he shouted. "He's excited, too, for he's making motions to the crew!"
"Good! Watch him carefully. We'll be up to them in about five minutes."
Andy watched. In a minute he gave another cry.
"What is it?" asked Frank.
"They're laying-to—waiting for us, I guess."
"They won't have long to wait," declared Frank grimly.
TheGullwas swiftly slipping through the water. In a little while it was almost abeam of the craft towing the mysterious motor boat. Frank threw her head up into the wind, and, as he did so a voice from the other sailboat hailed him.
"Gullahoy! Are you trailing us?"
It was the mysterious man calling, and he was standing on the rail.
"Yes, we are," answered Frank boldly.
"Well, what do you want?"
"We want to find out who you are, what you have to do with a boy named Paul, why you have his motor boat in tow, and why you entered our house like a thief in the night."
"Hu! That's a lot of questions. And I suppose you think they'll be answered," commented the man, in sneering tones.
"I do," said Frank calmly. "Where are you going with that boat?"
"None of your business!" snapped the man. "And I want to tell you one thing more. You've got to quit trailing after us, too!"
"Suppose we refuse?" asked Andy.
"Then it will be the worse for you. Meldrick, just run that brass cannon over on this side."
A moment later the muzzle of a small brass gun was pointed menacingly at our heroes.
"There's my answer," went on the mysterious man. "If you persist in following us you'll be plugged below the water line. Now you go back where you came from, and keep away. Don't try to meddle with what doesn't concern you."
"This does concern us—or, rather a friend of ours," said Frank determinedly. "And what's more, we're going to swear out a warrant for your arrest for setting fire to our boat with a bale of hay."
The man on the rail started.
"Are you going to turn back?" he shouted.
"No!" declared Frank.
"Get ready to fire," said the scoundrel calmly.
"I guess they've got us," spoke Andy, in a low voice to his brother."We can't risk being fired at."
"No, I suppose not," answered Frank bitterly. "We'll have to run back."
He let the head of his craft fall off in the wind.
"That's more sensible," commented the man on the rail. "Good-bye!" he called sarcastically as the vessels separated, the one towing the damaged motor craft forging ahead, while theGullsailed off on the backward tack.
There were bitter feelings in the hearts of Frank and Andy Racer. They had almost solved the mystery, only to lose at the last moment. But they resolved not to give up.
For some time after they had been ordered back from their pursuit of the strange vessel neither Frank nor Andy said anything. They were thinking too hard for mere words. Finally the younger lad expressed himself.
"Well, wouldn't that spoil your clam chowder?"
"It sure would," agreed Frank, who was used to queer remarks from his brother.
"He must be up to something crooked or he wouldn't be so anxious to have us stop following him," went on the younger Racer lad.
"That's right. And I was so sure I'd find out what the mystery was!But I didn't count on the cannon."
"No, it wouldn't have been safe to risk a shot. We might have sunk."
"But I'll not give up!" exclaimed Frank determinedly. "We've got some clues now, and we can follow them. Just notice which way they're sailing, Andy."
"What good will that do?"
"I intend to circle back in a short time, and see if I can pick them up. It's one thing for him to order us back, but we have just as much right on the ocean as he has, and he can't keep us off. If we stay far enough back they can't see us, and we can find out where they're going."
"Where do you think they're heading for?"
"Give it up, but I know one thing. It's evident that this man, whoever he is, wants to keep out of observation. That is proved by the fact that he once had this damaged motor boat in tow of another gasolene craft, and for some reason he gave it up. He may have anchored it in some out-of-the-way place, and has only just now gone for it. That's what he wanted of Jim Hedson's boat, but we spoiled his plans. Now he has another sailing craft to tow the prize in."
"I believe you're right, Frank, but where do you suppose he's taking it?"
"Give it up, but I'm going to keep on the search for him. If there's a chance of bringing back Paul's memory I'm going to do it."
"And I'm with you!" exclaimed Andy heartily.
The two brothers cast backward glances at the vessel with which they had had a clash. It was rapidly disappearing in a slight haze that was arising, and soon Frank thought it would be safe to turn about, sail with the wind, and take after the mysterious man.
But he did not count on the weather. Soon the wind increased in violence, and there was a choppy sea.
"I don't like this," remarked Andy, as their small craft pitched and tossed on the waves. "I don't mean I'm seasick, or anything like that, but we're getting pretty far out, and with a storm coming on toward night—"
"That's right," agreed Frank. "We'll have to turn back. It's tough luck, just as we're on the right track, but it can't be helped. It wouldn't be right to make mom and dad worry. We'll beat it back for home."
But the wind came up with such sudden violence, and the sea ran so high, that the best the boys could do was to run for shelter. In fact it was only with considerable risk that they made a safe harbor, for with a rising tide and a cross current their small craft was in a bad way.
"We'll never make Harbor View!" cried Frank above the noise of the wind and the spatter of the salt spume on deck.
"What'll we do then?" shouted Andy. The two brothers had donned their oilskins which were glistening with moisture in the fading light of the day.
"Run for Mardene and anchor there. Then we can go home on the railroad."
"All right. Got any cash?"
"Enough for fares I guess."
It was some hours later when two tired boys entered the Racer cottage, where they found their father and mother not a little alarmed at their absence in the storm which had rapidly developed.
"But we're on the right track!" cried Frank with enthusiasm.
"How's that?" asked his father.
"We saw the mysterious man, and he had your motor boat, Paul."
"I'm not sure it was my boat," answered Paul. "I can't seem to remember that I ever owned one."
"Well, that man had possession of it, whoever it was," went on Andy. "And he was quite threatening, too," he added, as he related about the brass cannon.
"I'm glad you boys had sense enough to turn back," spoke Mr. Racer."Don't take any chances with such scoundrels. The probability is thathe wouldn't have shot at you, but it isn't safe to run the risk. But,Paul, is your memory any better for what Frank and Andy have told you?"
"No, I'm afraid not. I think—yes, I can remember something more!" he suddenly cried. "I think I was once in a chase after that same man. Now that you boys speak of it my mind is a little clearer, but there is still that haze. I'm sure I was after that man for something that belonged to me or my father. And I remember something else?"
"What is it?" cried Andy eagerly.
"It has something to do with a doctor. My father is ill, or was ill, I can dimly recollect that. And I seem to see a nurse in a uniform, and—and—but it is all so hazy and blank!" and again the poor lad passed his hand over his aching head, in a vain endeavor to remember.
"There, never mind," soothed Mrs. Racer. "That's enough for to-night.My! how it rains! I'm glad you boys are not out in the storm."
"Just the same, I wish we were after that man," said Frank in a low voice.
For three days the storm continued, and with such violence that theRacer boys could not even go after their boat which they had left atMardene.
Then, on the fourth day, the clouds broke and the sun shone. There was a brisk wind, and Frank proposed that they take a train and get theGull, sailing her back to Harbor View.
"Before you go I wish you'd call at Captain Trent's fish store, and get me some lobsters," requested Mrs. Racer. "I want some for dinner to-night."
"And Andy wants one for a leg bracelet," added Frank with a laugh.
"Aw, cut it out!" begged his brother.
They stopped in the fish store on their way to the depot. There they found Bob, busily engaged in putting up clams, and other products of the sea, for customers. Andy remarked to the captain that he thought he had a new clue to the mysterious man.
"And that reminds me, that I meant to ask you where he would likely be heading for when he drove us back," put in frank.
"Where was he?" inquired the old seaman, and the brothers described the location.
"By Neptune!" suddenly exclaimed the captain. "I shouldn't wonder but what he was going to Cliff Island!"
"Cliff Island!" cried Frank.
"Yes, you know that group of rocks—it's not much more than ten miles from the Shark Teeth."
"Sure we know where it is," agreed Andy "But no one lives on it. It's as desolate as a volcano."
"All the better for what that man wanted," declared die captain. "Take my word for it he's gone there with the damaged motor boat, though why I can't say. But he wants to be let alone, and that's the best place he could pick out for the purpose. Why don't you go there?"
"I believe we will!" cried Frank. "We didn't know just how to begin the search, but that's the best clue yet."
"On to Cliff Island!" cried Andy.
"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned his brother. "You can't tell who might hear you."
Then, having ordered the lobsters, they hurried away to take the train for Mardene to get the sailboat. Once more they were on the search for the mysterious man.