"You know I"ll take care of him all right!" replied Arnold. "I"m sorry we broke his boat up like that but I guess we can all take a knot out of our neckties today. Wasn"t it lucky he caught the cable, though? I"m delighted that we were able to save him!"
"Of course, we couldn"t be blamed for running into him," said Tom. "I"m glad we rescued him from his awful predicament and now we"ll have to be extra good to him to make up for it!"
So saying he pa.s.sed up the companion-way and into the pilot house joining Harry and Jack at their ceaseless vigil.
Busily engaged with his work in the kitchenette, Arnold was quite surprised to observe the door leading into the after cabin open softly.
It admitted the newly found stranger. He had been given spare clothes belonging to the boys and looked little the worse for his rough experience of only a short time before. His eyes were black and piercing and might have been pleasant were it not for his disagreeable habit of not looking directly at the one with whom he was talking. His glance roved about the place taking in every detail yet never resting long in any one place.
"How do you do?" pleasantly queried Arnold resolving to be congenial in spite of his instant distrust of the other. "I"m sorry we ran you down and ruined your boat, but I"m glad we got you aboard in time to save your life. It was a lucky accident."
Advancing in his frank and friendly manner he held out his hand in greeting. The stranger at first drew back, then as if thinking better of his resolve, he thrust forth his hand for a quick handshake, almost instantly releasing Arnold"s grasp.
"What is your name, may I ask?" questioned Arnold.
"Carlos Madero is my right name, but they call me Charley," was the lad"s almost surly response. "I live at Pa.s.s Christian and work on a shrimping schooner. My boat is gone now."
Arnold busied himself with the operation of the stove for a moment to regain his composure, for the fellow"s manner had angered him immediately. Presently he turned and said:
"My name is Arnold Poysor. I am from Chicago and so are my chums. We are down here for a vacation and pleasure trip. We"re sorry we smashed your boat, but if you"ll accept it, we"ll give you the one we"re towing behind us. We bought it in Mobile."
"All right!" replied Carlos. "You ought to do that much."
Arnold now prepared the table for dinner and calling his companions to eat he introduced them to Carlos as they entered the cabin. Jack remained at the wheel while the others ate.
All the boys tried to make pleasant conversation for the newcomer but he greedily devoured the food set before him in a ravenous manner. His conversation was little better than monosyllables. At last the boys in despair gave up the effort of entertainment and fell to discussing their situation amongst themselves. They recounted the incidents of their trip down the Great Lakes, through the Erie Ca.n.a.l and down the Hudson River, their pleasant run down the east coast of the United States to the Florida Keys, past the Dry Tortugas and up to Mobile.
To all of their conversation Carlos listened intently, eating in silence, but keenly alert to every word that was said. Finally as the talk lulled to an occasional remark he looked up and said:
"What are you here for, anyway?"
"I told you," replied Arnold, "we"re here for a pleasant vacation trip.
We"ll be joined later by the father of the boy at the wheel and then we expect to go on up the Mississippi to our home at Chicago. Didn"t you believe me at first?"
"No," bluntly replied Carlos, "I didn"t."
"All right," laughed Arnold, "we"ll forgive you this time."
To relieve the tense situation Tom sprang to his feet saying that he would go and relieve Jack at the wheel while his friend ate.
Once in the pilot house he was met with a questioning look from Jack who was holding the wheel with one hand and Rowdy with the other. The dog was struggling wildly to free himself.
"What"s the matter with Rowdy?" questioned Tom wonderingly.
"I"ll never tell you," Jack panted, "he"s been trying to get down into the cabin like all possessed ever since dinner was called. I"ve had my own sweet time to keep him here."
"Maybe the poor tyke is getting hungry like the rest of us human beings," ventured Tom. "Rowdy, are you hungry?" he asked.
Rowdy"s reply was a glance from bloodshot eyes toward his friend, then he launched himself against the door leading to the cabin emitting growls that were unmistakably vicious.
"That"s pretty near talking, Jack!" Tom stated.
With a knowing look Jack a.s.sented and pointing with his thumb toward the newcomer"s direction nodded his head once or twice. Securing a length of small line Jack made Rowdy fast to a ring bolt in the pilot house floor and then went into the cabin for his dinner.
He had no better success in his effort at conversation with the stranger than his chums had met and shortly gave over trying to be pleasant.
Making a hurried meal he again hastened to the pilot house where he a.s.sumed charge of the craft, for the fog was still thick.
Arnold in an effort to be friendly asked Carlos to inspect the Fortuna from the interior, which offer was quickly accepted.
"Here," explained Arnold, standing near the bulkhead separating the pilot house from the cabin, "is the forward part of the vessel. I suppose you"d call it the forecastle, but we have the fuel tanks, chain locker and lazarette here. On occasion we can use this s.p.a.ce for extra bunks, but with the Pullman berths in the cabins we don"t often need the room for anything but storage."
"Where is your gasoline?" asked Carlos displaying some interest.
"In tanks right up in the eyes of her," replied Arnold glad that he was interesting his visitor. "Then you see the engines amidships here with a berth on each side. The switchboard is in the center of the pilot house so the stairways are on each side of the engines. In the next compartment aft are more berths. Then still further aft, you see are the kitchenette on one side and the wash room on the other. Abaft of that is the after cabin that we use as a dining room. With the folding berths we can accommodate twelve people easily. It makes a fine home, all right."
"Can I go to sleep?" inquired Carlos. "I"m right tired."
"Sure you may," declared Arnold. "Take the after cabin and make yourself comfortable. I"ll go up forward and let you sleep."
So saying he joined his companions in the pilot house and reported to them the result of his effort to placate their visitor.
For half an hour the Fortuna breasted the waves plunging through the thick fog. Anxiously the boys peered ahead ever alert.
Directly the vibrations of the motors grew fainter. The boys glanced at each other wonderingly. Rowdy tugged at the rope that confined him and growled savagely. Jack"s face went white as he reached for the switch.
He looked at the other boys in wonder.
The Fortuna"s engines came to a dead stop!
CHAPTER III
A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
"Pull off the hood over the engines," cried Jack to Harry who was quickly down the companion-way, "and see if the wires from the magneto are disconnected. I made a new clip while we were at Mobile and maybe it has broken and cut off the current."
"Phew!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Tom who was preparing to follow Harry below. "I"ll bet something"s broke loose all right. Smell it?"
"Sure enough I smell gasoline strong!" declared Jack.
"Some odoriferous, whatever that means!" cried Arnold. "Smells like the gas house up near Goose Island in the North Branch of the Chicago River," he added holding his nose.
"Switch on the electric lights and see where the gasoline pipe has broken loose," suggested Jack. "It seems to me the feed pipe must have become broken. That"s an awful smell!"
"I"ll venture there are gallons of gasoline in the bilge right now!"
averred Harry. "Better open the windows a bit and let it air out in here. Suppose you get the bilge pump to work, Tom, and I"ll try to find the leak."