Pete, having stowed away an incredible amount of stuff, so that he could hardly draw a full breath, began to manifest more or less interest in their progress. He suggested little changes in the course they were taking, and presently broke out with:
"Thar, if so be yuh jest look yondah, suh, p"raps ye kin see a boat tied up tuh a stake. Thet"s whar old Van Arsdale lives now, a fishin"
shack on a patch o" ground he happens tuh own. But I done heard as how them slick gals o" his"n gone an" made even sech a tough place look kinder homelike. An" see, thar"s the ole man right now, alookin"
toward us, wonderin" who we be."
Jack could easily see all that the other described. It was a lonely place for a man to bring his three sweet daughters; but doubtless necessity compelled such a thing.
The man with the white mustache and goatee, who looked like a real Kentucky colonel, Jack thought, walked down to the rude little dock to meet them. Of course, he recognized the marshal, who must have been an old acquaintance of his; and had little difficulty in guessing the errand that was probably bringing him there.
Then three young girls came running down to gather about the old man, as if suspecting the coming of new trouble they wished to be near to help him bear his cross.
Jack found himself quivering with eagerness. And again did he hope that the message from the absent son and brother might soften the blow that seemed about to fall upon this devoted little family.
They reached the landing and hastened to get ash.o.r.e; all but Pete, who had developed a second-stage appet.i.te, and started in eating again, regardless of all other matters.
The old planter stood there like a lion at bay, with his three daughters clinging to him. It was a pretty picture, that would often come up in the memory of the boys when far away from the scene itself.
He seemed to be paying particular attention to the marshal, who stepped forward and gravely shook hands with him.
"I had your letter, Mr. Burrows, and looked to see you some time today," was the way Mr. Spence opened the conversation.
"And as I wrote you, Spence," the marshal replied, "I"m only here in my official capacity to carry out the execution of the law"s demands. As your friend, suh, I deeply sympathize with you in your troubles, but being sworn to do my duty, however painful it may be, there was no choice left to me."
"I understand all that, Burrows. This is only a mere matter of routine, anyway. The blow fell months ago, when I had to leave my old home. I thought I might save it in some way by keeping myself secreted, in the hope that several friends in another part of the country would come to my a.s.sistance. But that hope no longer exists, sir, and I am now ready to do whatever is required."
"There is no hurry, Spence," the marshal went on, curiosity concerning the mission of the motor boat boys getting the better of him, "and as these gentlemen happened to rescue us from a very serious position, since our boat was wrecked, and they were even then on the way to visit you, perhaps you would like to talk with them, suh."
It seemed as though Mr. Spence noticed the presence of the boys for the first time then. He looked at them with a puzzled brow, as though unable to guess what such a party of pleasure seekers could want with a broken-hearted Southern planter.
So Jack at once stepped forward, while his mates gathered in a clump, eagerly observing every little thing that transpired.
"While we were coming down the Delaware River, sir, starting on our long coast cruise, we happened to come in contact with a young aviator, who had alighted on the water close by us in a new hydro-aeroplane.
When he mentioned his name we recognized it as belonging to a daring aviator who had suddenly jumped into national fame as one of the most skillful of his cla.s.s. He heard of our plans, and that in all probability we would pa.s.s close to Beaufort. And he asked us to bear a packet to a Mr. Van Arsdale Spence, whose present place of residence he did not seem to know, but believed we would be able to learn it after we arrived here. So I am pleased, sir, to hand you the sealed message that was given to us by your son, now famous in the world of aviation, Mr. Malcolm Spence!"
The old planter started, and turned pale as his trembling hand was outstretched to take the packet. Indeed, he was utterly unable to open it, so that one of his daughters proceeded to do this for him.
Jack held his breath. Oh! how he did hope that it would be good news, for if ever any one had need of cheering intelligence this old, broken-down man did.
He saw him adjust his gla.s.ses and commence to read. Already had the three girls gleaned all that was contained in that missive, and from their happy faces Jack understood that it was all right.
If he had any doubt he had only to look at the face of the planter.
First it was eager, then yearning, and finally he turned to the marshal with possibly the first laugh that had burst from his lips these many moons.
"Aha! you"re having your journey for your pains, Burrows!" he cried.
"The old place isn"t going to leave the Spence family after all. Look!
this is from my boy, and directs me to go to the bank in Beaufort, to which he has transmitted funds to make the first payment that will save our home! More will follow as soon as he hears from us. Money is flowing in on him, money and honors as thick as they can come. And his heart has gone out to the father and sisters he left years ago. It"s all right, Burrows, thanks to these kind boys who have borne his message to me."
He went around, shaking the hand of every one with vehemence. And no one looked happier than the marshal, upon learning that stern duty after all would not compel him to take from his old friend the home of his ancestors.
"But it was a close shave, let me say," was his remark later on to Jack, as they all started to gather under the humble roof of the fisherman"s shack which the devotion of those three brave daughters had almost beautified, so that the old man might not be too much broken down; "another day would have been too late."
"Then I"m glad that storms and breakdowns did not keep us from getting here on time," said the commodore of the Motor Boat Club.
CHAPTER XX.
MEETING TROUBLE HALF WAY.
Jack had been studying his coast survey charts seriously of late.
He knew that there were a few hardships before them ere they could anchor in front of Florida"s metropolis on the St. John"s River, fair Jacksonville.
And as it was only right that every member of the club should share in the discussion as to their course, he gave them to understand that there would be held a caucus on the very next night.
At the lower end of Bogue Sound amid the sedge gra.s.s they hoped to make their next camp, when this question would be debated from every side, and the plan of campaign adopted as majority decided.
When they were getting ready to leave the Spence family, Jack felt some one pulling at his sleeve, and looking around discovered that it was old Pete.
"How "bout that ere dollar, boss?" asked the cracker.
"That"s a fact, I came near forgetting you, Pete," laughed Jack. "And to prove that it wasn"t intentional, here"s double pay for you. I guess we"ve had enough pleasure out of this to count for two dollars."
"That"s mighty nice of you-all," declared the fellow, actually showing something like grat.i.tude in his manner, as he held out a hand for Jack to shake. "An" mout I be so bold as tuh "mind yuh thet I don"t hanker "bout stayin" down heah any longer than I has tuh. Yuh promised tuh see I gut back tuh Beaufort, suh," he said.
"He"s got you there, Jack, for that"s just what you did," laughed Herb.
"I reckon that money"ll burn a hole in Pete"s pocket, unless he manages to get to town right smart," declared the marshal; "but Mr. Spence heah has got an old sail boat in which the hull lot of us is goin" to head foh Beaufort soon. Pete is welcome to go along, if he cares."
"That pleases us a whole lot," remarked George, "because, you see, we had a nasty little experience with some toughs along the water front, and they bombarded us with a shower of stones as we pulled out, though fortunately none of them struck either the boats or ourselves."
"Yes, and as we"ve got a long trip ahead of us before we reach the place we marked for the end of the motor boat cruise, the sooner we make a start the better. So we"ll say good-bye to you all; and Mr.
Spence, best wishes for your future happiness. Perhaps some day we may run across that famous son of yours again, because he took our home address and said he meant to get in touch with us. We"d all like to meet him again, eh, boys?" and Jack turned to his chums as he asked this.
"That"s what!" declared Nick, who had been especially interested in the wonderful hydro-aeroplane, and even hinted that some day he also hoped to fly through the upper currents in one, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of his comrades, who roared every time any one tried to picture the fat boy trying such stunts.
So they shook hands all around, not forgetting the three charming girls, who seemed very friendly disposed toward the Yankee boys, after discovering what fine news the voyagers had brought their father.
"All aboard!" cried the commodore.
As the three motor boats put out upon the sun-kissed water the girls waved dainty handkerchiefs as long as they could see the fleet. Then a change of course shut out the fishing shack, where love had made a home for the planter in his hour of adversity.
"After all, that was a most satisfying adventure, fellows," Jack remarked, for the other boats were close by at the time.
"I should say, yes," admitted Josh.
"Only thing I didn"t like," declared Nick, who was looking quite unhappy, they began to notice, as though a spell of sea sickness had gripped him, "was that we had to break away just when we were getting to know "em."