"Ghost nothing," exclaimed Josh; "and yet truth to tell it did glide out of sight behind the point yonder like a phantom boat. Then the moon went under, and I lost it again!"
CHAPTER VIII-IN THE MIDNIGHT WATCH
Everybody sat up and took notice when Josh delivered himself after this strange fashion. If it had been a mere glimpse of some white object which he claimed to have seen ash.o.r.e they might have smiled, and let it go at that. But a boat was a different proposition. They were interested in boats; and indeed, expecting sooner or later to be visited by a certain dark craft, fashioned along a piratical type.
"Where did you see it, Josh?" asked George, hastily jumping to his feet; and almost taking a header into the water; for his delicately balanced speed craft did not allow such energetic movements with impunity.
"Well, give a feller a chance, won"t you?" grumbled the other, as he clutched the bra.s.s railing just in time to save himself. "I"m not in such a hurry to go after the phantom boat as to want to _swim!_ Besides," he added, as an afterthought, "I haven"t forgotten that savage musky Jack brought in today. If they hang out around this region you don"t catch Josh Purdue doing any bathing, not much."
"But tell us, where did you see this queer boat that moves along as silent as a specter?" asked Nick.
"Didn"t you get on to what I said?" continued the other, impatiently.
"Around that point yonder it seemed to glide. I lost it in the shadows."
"Listen to him hedge, fellows!" cried Nick. "Now he says it "seemed to glide." That is as much as saying he ain"t sure whether he was awake or dreaming."
"I tell you the boat was there," Josh persisted; "and if the mean old moon hadn"t just bobbed behind that cloud up yonder, all of you might have had a chance to glimpse her."
"But you had one look at her, didn"t you?" asked Jack.
"Sure I did. And because I didn"t hear any noise of a motor I just had to stare," came the ready reply.
"Was it a white pleasure boat?" continued Jack.
"Not much. I could have seen that sort right along, moon or no moon. I know what you"re thinking, Jack."
"All right. Was it a dark-colored launch, then?" the other demanded.
"This time it"s yes-a long, low, narrow craft, that seemed to just spin along like a shadow itself. But I know it was a boat, because I could see the water curling over, where the bow cut through," Josh went on.
"You hear that, fellows?" Jack remarked. "And of course, you understand what it means to us?"
"That boat was the _Flash_, and Clarence has found us out at last?" said George; not without a trace of eagerness in his voice; for so well had his speed launch been behaving of late that he was anxious to test her against the newer craft of Clarence Macklin.
"Just like him to come sneaking around at night to see how he can do us some rotten injury," grunted Nick.
"Lit him thry it, that"s all," remarked Jimmie, popping his head up.
"I"m thinkin" the gossoon will be sorry for it, wan way or t"other."
"But that means we shall have to keep watch, doesn"t it, Jack?"
Of course it was Herb who said this, for he might be set down as the most timid of the six boys; though there had been times in the past when even Herb had risen to the occasion, to prove that he could show valor.
"No doubt about that," returned the other, seriously. "You know the benefit we found in being prepared when on that trip to Dixie land. It pays to be ready for trouble. Meeting it half way often ends in victory.
Oh! yes, the squad will have to turn out, and take turns tonight."
All this had been carefully arranged beforehand. Jack knew his crowd, and also what little failings they might be apt to develop. For instance, he understood that it was hardly the part of wisdom to allow Nick to stand his spell of sentry duty alone. However willing the fat boy might declare himself he was apt to be overcome by drowsiness and fall asleep at his post.
"Think we"d better move out a bit from the sh.o.r.e?" asked Josh, after they had talked matters over for a further spell, and looked in vain for the mysterious dark motor boat to appear again around the point of the wooded island.
"What for?" asked George.
"Sure, the howlding"s foine roight here," a.s.serted Jimmie, who had personally seen to it that the _Tramp"s_ anchor was well placed; though it could be readily tripped in case of a sudden need for a move during a storm.
"But to tell the honest truth, fellows, I don"t just like the looks of this old island here," admitted the cook of the _Wireless_, boldly.
"I don"t see anything the matter with it?" remarked George. "In fact, simply because it seems deserted is no reason we ought to cut loose, and change moorings. If it belonged to some millionaire, and had a cottage perched on the rocks, the chances are ten to one we"d have been asked to move long before now."
"I agree with George," Jack remarked. "And that was the main reason why I determined to come here, where it looked so attractive. When fellows are off on a little trip like this, the very places they should avoid are those where too much civilization is found. Give me the wild spots every time."
"Oh! well, I withdraw my motion then," grumbled Josh. "But don"t blame me if anything happens, that"s all."
"Would ye be afther listenin" till him?" exclaimed Jimmie, hilariously.
"Sure he do be thinkin" still about that banshee. And Jack, since ye are to sthand watch wid Josh, be warrned in toime, to look out for throuble.
If wishin" would bring ghosts it"s me honest belafe Josh would raise a whole raft of thim."
But in talking of many other things the boys soon seemed to forget about these fears on the part of the one who confessed to a belief in hobgoblins.
When several of the inmates of the gathered boats started to yawn at a tremendous rate, word was given that they turn in.
"It"s eleven o"clock, boys, just think of it?" said Herb, as he lighted a lantern in order to make up his bed more comfortably; for Herb believed in getting all the benefit possible out of things, even when on a cruise.
"And we can count on broad daylight by four o"clock, though we needn"t get up till five," Jack observed. "So I"ve divided the six hours into three watches. Josh and myself will stay on duty until one. Then Herb and Jimmie will take our places, and at three they are to wake up George and Buster. Understand that, fellows?"
"Yes," came the response, in some cases very sleepily.
"How about you, Josh; think you can stay awake two hours now?" Jack asked.
"I drank more coffee for supper than usual," the other answered, "and the way I feel now, I don"t seem to care one bit whether I get a wink of sleep tonight or not."
As things were reduced to a pretty good system by this time, with regard to the making up of beds, it did not require much time to get these in readiness. Herb was the only fussy one; and they were threatening to call him an old maid, and get a cap and gown for him, if he kept on that way. But Herb paid no attention to all this talk. When he had his mind made up it required an earthquake to change it.
Finally his lantern went out, although Josh kept it within reach of his hand, in case he needed light in a hurry while doing his trick as sentinel.
He and Jack could converse in low tones without disturbing the sleepers, should they care to do so. Jack meant to exchange a few words occasionally, if only to convince himself that the other had not been overtaken by drowsiness.
No longer did the moon peep out from the dark curtains above. The cloud banks had effectually covered the face of the heavens as with a pall.
Still it did not rain, and thus far there were no other indications of a brooding storm.
It was impossible to see for any distance around. Even out upon the water objects were indistinct at fifty feet; and as for the nearby island it rested there like a black hillock, above which the tips of the inky pines could be seen outlined against the less opaque sky.
Now and then the night breeze moaned dismally through these treetops, making a queer sound. Jack noticed that every time this happened there would be a slight movement in the _Comfort_; and he understood that Josh must be turning his head to stare toward the island. Josh, then, had not entirely given up the idea of seeing a ghost; and this uncanny sound made him remember his prediction.
It was impossible to note the pa.s.sage of time by the stars, for they were quite out of sight, and no clock striking could give warning; for there was not a church within many miles of their anchorage.