"Well, we can ask them," spoke up Diamond, quickly.
"I am to see Inza this evening, and I"ll find out about it," said Frank.
"If they can go, we want to get away bright and early to-morrow, providing there is a breeze."
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MAN WHO SAW THE MONSTER.
The girls gladly welcomed the plan, for they felt there would be much pleasure in a cruise among the islands of the bay. At first, however, Miss Gale was opposed to it, but Frank won her over, as Inza felt certain he could.
So the next morning the girls appeared on the pier at an early hour, accompanied by the stern-faced but kind-hearted old maid, having been brought down from the hotel by a carriage.
The boys were on the watch for them, and a boat, containing Frank and Jack, pushed off from the _White Wings_ immediately.
The girls, the chaperon, the baggage--all were taken into the boat and soon set aboard the yacht.
Half an hour later, with all sails set, the _White Wings_ was running out to round the end of the breakwater.
With favorable wind and conditions, it is just a delightful half-day"s cruise from Bar Harbor to Green"s Landing. Off Southwest Harbor the wind proved something of a gale, as nothing in the shape of land lay between them and the open ocean, from which the wind swept in powerfully.
Although the yacht buried her starboard rail at times and fairly hissed through the water, Frank did not take a reef in a single sail, for there were no squalls, and, "corinthian" though he was, he was gaining confidence in his ability to handle the _White Wings_.
Paula was rather timid, but Inza enjoyed every moment of the sail. With a position near Frank, who was at the wheel, she chatted and laughed, not in the least affected by the motion or the heeling of the sloop.
Remarkable to state, Browning did not remain below and sleep in his bunk, as was his custom. He came on deck, looking remarkably wide awake, and he made himself agreeable to the girls and Miss Gale.
There was not swell enough to make anyone seasick, which added to the pleasures of the cruise.
Diamond was doing his best to make himself agreeable to Paula, and she seemed to find his company acceptable, but after a time she called Bruce to her, so that she was between them.
"Don"t you think Mr. Merriwell very reckless, Mr. Browning?" she asked.
"Mr. Diamond insists there is no danger, but just see how frightfully the yacht tips at times?"
"Of course, I wouldn"t want to frighten you, Miss Benjamin," said Bruce, giving her a significant look and winking toward Jack; "but we all know Frank Merriwell"s a veritable landlubber, and he hasn"t any more judgment about running a boat like this than a four-year-old youngster."
Paula looked alarmed at this, and Diamond muttered something under his breath.
When Jack was not looking, Bruce gave the Boston girl a rea.s.suring smile, whispering:
"Not the least danger in the world, Miss Benjamin."
She looked relieved, and then a mischievous expression flitted over her face, for she understood Browning"s little game. Immediately she pretended to be both frightened and indignant with Diamond.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed. "Mr. Diamond could not deceive me. I was sure there was great danger."
"Of course," said the big fellow, in his peculiar way, "we may reach Green"s Landing in safety, but the chances are against it. However, if we are capsized, I shall not fail to a.s.sist you in getting to the mainland, Miss Benjamin."
"How thoughtful of you!" she murmured, nestling a bit nearer the big fellow, while Jack ground his teeth and looked as if he longed to murder somebody. "How far away is the mainland?"
"Only about five miles--a short walk. Hem! I mean a short swim."
Diamond sourly observed:
"Without doubt, you could walk it much easier than you could swim it, Mr. Browning."
"Oh, that is an easy swim," said Bruce, offhand. "I have often swam ten or fifteen miles. Without doubt, I could get Miss Benjamin safely ash.o.r.e."
"It is nice to have such a wonderful swimmer near one--I feel so safe now," said Paula.
Under his breath the Virginian growled something that sounded like "confounded liar."
"Eh?" said Bruce. "What were you saying, sir?"
But Jack looked away, pretending to be interested in a distant island.
He showed his anger so plainly that Paula was aroused to tease him still more, and she turned to chat confidentially with Bruce.
Jack could not stand that a great while. With a sudden a.s.sumption of having forgotten something, he politely excused himself and went below.
He did not come on deck again till Green"s Landing was in sight, although he missed the most captivating portion of the sail across the Eastern Bay.
As for Browning, he had started into the affair in jest, but he grew more and more interested in Paula as they talked during the sail. He found her remarkably bright and sensible and not at all "flighty." She talked to him of things in which he was interested, and he was astonished by the knowledge she displayed concerning some things of which he had not fancied she was posted in the least.
On the other hand, the Boston girl was astonished to find in Bruce, who had on first acquaintance seemed somewhat slow and dull, a fellow who was interesting in various ways, who did not talk nonsense to her the moment the opportunity offered to say something that she alone could hear, who had an air of dignity and was not at all self-conscious.
Never before in all his life had Bruce made a better appearance, and, long before Green"s Landing was sighted, Paula had quite forgotten that Diamond had left them and had not returned.
There were other vessels and yachts in the harbor at Green"s Landing, more of them than any of the party had expected to see there. In fact, there was an air of prosperity about the town built on the slope facing the harbor, although there were no large and attractive buildings, and the houses seemed scattered about in a helter-skelter manner.
The _White Wings_ ran in amid the vessels and swung up her head to the wind, her anchor going over with a splash and her sails coming down as if the halyards were handled by veteran yachtsmen, instead of a lot of amateurs.
In fact, Merriwell had sailed the boat like one familiar with the Eastern Bay, seeming to fear no dangers from sunken ledges and shoals, and his air was that of a veteran yachtsman.
But he had spent hours over his chart, so that he was perfectly familiar with its appearance, and he could have drawn from memory a practically perfect chart, marking every ledge, every shoal and every island, and giving them their correct names. Having become thus familiar with the chart, it was not so strange that he had been able to sail across the Eastern Bay as if it were the open sea.
Having come to anchor, Paula was for going ash.o.r.e at once, but Frank urged them to remain and take lunch on board the yacht, and Inza was pleased with the idea, so they stopped.
That was a jolly luncheon. There was plenty to eat, and plenty of light drinks, kept cool by the fresh supply of ice taken in at Bar Harbor. The sailors on board the vessels in the vicinity looked on with interest, envying the merry party.
Not all on the _White Wings_ were merry. Jack Diamond was silent, and not once did a smile cross his face. Paula tried to cheer him up, but she did not succeed at all, and so she finally gave up in despair, again turning to Browning.
An hour after luncheon was over, Bruce and Frank set the girls and Miss Gale ash.o.r.e, carrying their luggage up to the hotel, where accommodations were obtained.
"We will leave here to-morrow, if you get enough of the place in that time," said Frank, having seen them to their rooms.
He went down into the office of the hotel, where several rough-looking men were listening to the yarn of a red-headed, red-bearded man in rubber boots. Bruce seemed to be listening to the story, and, when Frank said something about going out, he grunted: