As they came abreast Negro Island, two girls came down on the rocks and waved handkerchiefs to them. The boys returned the salute, and Hans Dunnerwust cried:
"Vale, uf I ain"d got a mash you vos a liar! Uf id vasn"t for gettin" my feets vet, I vould valk ash.o.r.e righd avay kveek alretty. Yaw!"
Then he waved his cap to the girls, kissed his hands, bowed low with his hand on his heart, and nearly fell overboard as Merry suddenly brought the yacht up closer into the wind.
"Oxcuse me uf I stayed righd in Camden der rest uf your life," said Hans, as he gathered himself up. "Dalk apout peaches! Vale, vot peen der madder mit dose!"
The others smiled at his enthusiasm.
Pa.s.sing the island, they came in full view of the harbor and town.
Several vessels and yachts lay in the harbor. Amid the trees the tastily painted, red-roofed cottages were to be seen. Far up at the head of the harbor rose handsome brick buildings. Church spires could be seen here and there. From the flagstaff of a hotel on the heights floated the American flag. On the black rocks under the shadow of the trees that stood far above the sh.o.r.e was a picnic party, the blue smoke of their fire rising from their midst. To the south of the town lay a beautiful cove with a sandy beach. Summer cottages could be seen on the point beyond the cove. To the north of the town was another cove and a heavily wooded point. In an opening of the trees on this point stood white tents.
And over all hung the mountains, the village seeming to have clambered up the side of the nearest one as far as it could go.
It was a most beautiful and captivating scene that glorious summer morning, and it is not strange that stoical Bart Hodge uttered an exclamation of admiration, while Frank Merriwell cried:
"Hurrah, fellows! Here we are, and from the looks of things we"ll stay a while. There looms old Mount Megunticook, and here in the harbor, under its shadow, we will anchor. Boys, aren"t you glad you came?"
"You bet?" cried every one of them.
CHAPTER X.
TOO WELL KNOWN.
Taking care not to strike one of the line of ledges that almost closes the mouth of Camden harbor, they ran in and dropped anchor. From the rocks the picnickers waved white handkerchiefs and called to them. They responded in a similar manner, with a strange lightness and exultant feeling in their hearts. Even Bruce Browning showed enthusiasm, for he could not help imbibing some of the spirit of the occasion.
The sails came down with a rattle and were properly and carefully taken care of, a task that consumed time. Then every line was coiled and put in its proper place, and nothing was neglected, so that when Frank"s orders had been obeyed, everything about the yacht was ship-shape and in order.
Not till he had seen things in order did Frank think of leaving the sloop. Then he asked who would stay on board and who wished to go ash.o.r.e. Diamond and Hodge were eager to go ash.o.r.e. Browning and Dunnerwust expressed a willingness to go later, so three of the crew entered the small boat and pulled away up toward the distant wharves at the head of the harbor.
They rowed up to a float beside a wharf. Twenty other boats floated about the platform, and a boy was watching them.
"May we land here?" asked Frank.
"Well, I dunno," said the boy, doubtfully. "Ye see, these bo"ts are to let. Might let yourn if some folks come along an" wanted it."
The boy grinned as he finished speaking.
"We might come back and want our boat only to find it gone," said Hodge.
"Let"s not leave it here, Merriwell."
The boy gave a jump.
"What"s your name?" he almost shouted, looking straight at Frank.
"It"s Frank Merriwell," was the reply.
"Frank Merriwell!" yelled the boy, dancing up and down. "Whoop! I heard you was in Rockland! My goodness! won"t the fellers be tickled to see you in this town! There ain"t a chap here that don"t know all about ye!
Jest you let me have yer painter! I"ll take care of that bo"t, an" there don"t n.o.body touch it, you bet!"
"Thank you," laughed Frank. "I will pay you for your trouble."
"Not by a jugful! Think I"d take any pay of you? No, sir-ee! I"d set right here on this float an" watch your bo"t for a week "thout eatin" or sleepin", an" never charge you a cent! I never "spected to live to see Frank Merriwell! Oh, Jingoes! won"t the fellers be glad to see ye!"
The boy took charge of the boat. Just then another boy came onto the wharf, and the boat boy saw him.
"Hey, there, Bennie!" he yelled. "What d"yer know? You can"t guess it in a year! He"s come!"
"Who"s come?"
"Frank Merriwell! Here he is!"
The jaw of the boy on the wharf dropped, and he stood staring, open-mouthed at Frank. For some moments he seemed awe stricken, and then, of a sudden, he turned and ran as if for his life, quickly scudding out of sight.
"He acted as if he were scared of you, Merry," said Diamond.
"He"s gone to tell t"other fellers in town," explained the boat boy.
"Say," laughed Frank, "this is getting altogether too interesting! I"d rather not be so well known."
"Well, you can"t help it," said Hodge. "They"ve all heard of you down this way."
"And I had an idea they never heard of anything away down here!"
exclaimed Jack. "My ideas of this part of the country are completely upset."
"Let"s hurry into town," urged Frank. "If we wait, it"s ten to one we"ll be escorted by a gang of my admirers. I haven"t forgotten Rockland."
So they left the wharf and hastily walked up Bay View Street. Just as they reached the bank building at the public square they saw a dozen small boys coming down Elm Street on the run, headed by the one who had disappeared so suddenly from the wharf.
The moment the running boys saw Merriwell and his companions, they halted and huddled around the leader, who pointed at the three strangers in the place, yelling:
"There he is, fellers!"
Frank laughed outright, and Hodge and Diamond smiled. The excitement of the boys had attracted more or less notice, and the people on the streets looked at the three young yachtsmen with interest.
It was the height of the season at Camden, and the town was literally gorged with summer visitors from every part of the country, so the streets presented a lively appearance. The handsome turnouts of Philadelphia and New York millionaires could be seen, street cars were running, bicycles darting hither and thither, and the pedestrians on the streets nearly all wore clothes suitable for summer outing.
After coming up Bay View Street, which, in the neighborhood of the wharves, did not present a very attractive appearance, the young yachtsmen were surprised and pleased to come out to the square, where they could look around and see handsome brick blocks and buildings of which a city might be proud.
But the crowd of excited small boys attracted attention for the time.
They came a little nearer, and the leader cried:
"Let"s give three cheers for Frank Merriwell! Ready, now! Yell, fellers, yell!"