"Fine," declared Jack. "Just the thing, if he"ll do it."
But the boys were doomed to another disappointment. Rowdy, after being put on the scent by Tom, circled about a while and then started off in the direction of the leaning oak. Although the boys tried to drive him off that trail a number of times, the bulldog persisted in following that route or none. At last they yielded.
Straight back to the oak went Rowdy. There he stopped and gazed over the water for a moment, then let out a howl that echoed and reechoed across the water.
"Well, here goes back to town," cried Jack. "That dog is all right to do some things, but he isn"t much use, of course, as a bloodhound. I can"t blame him but he"s really no use in that line."
Rowdy felt keenly the disgrace that was heaped upon him. He slunk into the stern sheets and hid behind Frank"s legs.
Once more at the shipyard the boys began to think of dinner. Before their preparations could be started, however, the foreman of the work on the Fortuna announced to them that the little vessel was all ready for the water. The plank was repaired, the boat all painted and ready for launching. Nothing was needed except a full crew.
"Let"s get her into the briny, then," Jack ordered. "We"ve had long enough visit ash.o.r.e. Let"s get out to sea again."
"I"m with you there," declared Frank. "It was too bad we were forced to come here at all. I want to be on my way and find the boys. They must be somewhere near here. May be they are purposely hiding."
"h.e.l.lo, there"s your boat back," cried Tom to the day watchman. "And as I live, there"s our Pet.i.t Bois skiff," he shouted.
"That"s the boat the boys had last night," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Frank.
"Say," the watchman called, "Wyckoff was lookin" for you."
"What did he say he wanted?" asked Jack.
CHAPTER XVIII
SHANGHAIED!
"We ought to answer that signal," declared Harry. "Maybe there"s a Boy Scout needs help in the next room."
"Remember your motto," cautioned Arnold. "Be Prepared for trouble and for enemies as well as to help someone."
"We haven"t had much chance to help anyone so far today," a.s.serted Harry. "This may be just the chance to take the knot out of our neckties, so I"m going to take a chance. We can"t afford to be too careful. If we were in trouble, we"d want help."
"That"s so," admitted Arnold. "Go to it, then. I"m with you."
"Let me roll over and get on my feet and I"ll slap, slap, slap on the floor with my foot," declared Harry. "That"ll be easy."
"Why don"t you whistle "Bob White," at him?" queried the other.
"Because we"re not allowed to use the call of another Patrol. If he"s a Bob White, he can"t in reason howl like a wolf or bark like a dog or slap, slap like a beaver. You understand that."
"Sure I do," admitted Arnold, "but I overlook things sometimes."
Harry now succeeded in rolling over onto his face and from that uncomfortable position rose to his feet. He balanced himself against the wall while he raised one foot and gave three distinct slaps on the floor with the sole of his shoe. Both listened sharply.
"Bob, Bob White," came the answering call through the part.i.tion.
"Who"s there?" called Harry in a voice trembling with excitement.
"Bob White, St. Louis," came the m.u.f.fled reply.
"Good gracious," was Harry"s startled comment. "Bob White, St. Louis.
Then they"ve got Jack and Tom and Frank cooped up here."
"That"s awful," groaned Arnold. "What shall we do?"
"If it is really a Boy Scout, we"d better try to help him."
"If we only were not tied. How can we get loose?"
"There"s only one way that I can see," stated Harry. "If you will rise to your feet so that I can get at your hands with my teeth, I"ll try to untie that rope that holds you. Then you can untie me."
"But that isn"t a rope," protested Arnold. "That"s a snake skin and it"s off the snake that nearly struck you. You wouldn"t think of biting on that. You just couldn"t do it. I couldn"t."
"That"s what I thought, so I suggested that I do it."
"What do you mean?" flashed Arnold. "I guess I can do anything you can.
I"ve never been stumped yet and I shall not begin now."
"Never mind the argument, let me get at your bonds."
"Not yet. I"ll untie yours, but you"re not going to untie mine with your teeth. Tom got kicked in the jaw, Jack got shot and you got your wrists cruelly burned on this trip. It"s no more than fair that I should have some of the discomforts of this experience."
"Well, then, hurry up. That fellow may be in trouble."
But a few minutes were required for the boy with his strong, white teeth to so loosen the knot hastily tied by Lopez as to render possible the free movement of Harry"s arms. After swinging his hands vigorously a few moments to restore circulation, Harry then performed a similar office for his chum, but not, however, with his teeth. The experience was almost too much for Arnold, who for a time threatened to be ill from the suggestion of biting the thongs.
When both were freed they next gave their attention to the lad on the opposite side of the part.i.tion. Their signals had been constantly answered with the plaintive, "Bob, Bob White." "This door"s locked on the other side," declared Harry, after trying the latch. "I"ll bet it"s got a bar across."
"Then the only thing to do is to batter down the part.i.tions," declared Arnold. "Is it lath and plaster, or just boards?"
"They don"t need to use plaster in this warm country."
"Well, then," Arnold continued, "We"ll have to knock a hole in the boards. What can we get for a battering ram?"
"Here"s this bench. It"s heavy and solid. Let"s try it."
Not many blows of the bench swung in the strong arms were required to batter loose enough of the part.i.tion to permit the boys to crawl through into the next compartment. There they found a boy of about their own age. He was dressed in a khaki uniform and medals and badges on his jacket proclaimed him a Boy Scout. Prominently displayed were merit badges proclaiming that he had attained proficiency and qualified for the honors of Signaling, Seamanship, Camping and Stalking.
"h.e.l.lo, here. What"s this?" cried Harry, who was first through the opening. "Why, this poor Bob White is tied hard and fast."
"Sure enough," was Arnold"s comment. He followed fast on Harry"s heels and was at the prostrate boy in a moment. It was a short task to free the lad of his uncomfortable fetters and help him to his feet. "Sure enough," repeated Arnold. "Poor Bob White."