"This way, Josh!" Jack flung over his shoulder, for he was still doing the leading, though the long-legged one might easily have gone ahead had he wished, weighted down as Jack was by the heavy bag.
With every jump they made they were pushing further and further into the centre of the little river town.
Women came to the doors to see them running, attracted by the angry shouts of the men; who, having succeeded in coming up closer to those they chased were hoping to frighten them with threats, so that they would drop the bag.
Children, too, scattered like chickens at the swoop of a plunging motorcycle; and huddled at the sides of the street, gazing wide-eyed at the running boys and pursuing men.
"Bang!"
Apparently one of the desperate yeggs had managed to keep his revolver in serviceable condition, in spite of his submersion in the chilly waters of the Mississippi.
"Not hurt, I hope, Josh?" cried Jack, over his shoulder, as he still kept running wildly.
"Nixey, not!" gasped the other; "but I"m adoin" all I can to shield you, Jack!"
Which he really was; and in that moment Jack saw further into the generous soul of the tall comrade than fortune had ever allowed him to do before.
"It"s going to be all right, because there"s a policeman running out of that house ahead. It must be police headquarters, because I see another coming. Keep going just a minute more, Josh!"
"Whoo! good for a whole hour yet!" exploded the other, defiantly.
Before half the minute was up Jack gave an exclamation of satisfaction; at the same time he slackened his pace.
Encouraged by this to take a backward peep, Josh discovered that the two yeggs had not only stopped their hot pursuit, but were actually running the other way. Men of their stripe never do like the sight of blue uniforms and bra.s.s b.u.t.tons.
Of course Jack had a surprising story to tell the two policemen. He did not take the time to explain everything, save that he and his friend had been fortunate enough to recover some valuables taken from the bank of an up-river town, and that there would surely be a nice fat reward offered for the apprehension of the precious pair who were even then in plain sight, making off.
This was enough to excite everybody; and presently the policemen, as well as a posse of eager private citizens had started on the run after the fleeing pair.
Josh gripped the hand of his chum.
"Another close call, Jack, let me tell you; but the same old Stormways luck held good, and we came out of the big end of the horn. And now I reckon it"s us to the station to get this stuff off our hands, and a receipt for the same; as well as to send that cheering message to Lawrence."
They soon made all arrangements. The agent at the station proved to be a middle-aged and sensible man, who was deeply interested in as much of their story as the boys chose to tell him. He did the bag up good and strong, and sealed the same, so that it could not be tampered with except at the company"s risk.
Then, after sending a message, "collect," which bore the good news to the mayor of Lawrence, and to which he signed all six names, his own last of all, Jack was ready to do his little marketing, and start back to the island; which, in due time, they reached in good shape.
Of course the boys had a glorious time of it during the balance of the week. Buster, happy in the recovery of his sweater, was the life of the crowd, and caught many a fine fish, for he was at it early and late.
They figured that it must have been that the two thieves, remembering they had secured no paint with which to change their white boat to one of darker hue, had stopped off at the next town, and entered the boat builder"s place in order to pick up the necessary material; and seeing the sweater, as the night air was chilly, the big man had put it on. The other white boat was claimed by a party thirty miles above Lawrence, who proved that it had been stolen three days before the robbery of the bank.
Jack, on running across the little mound where the box planted by Algernon still lay, for the boys had insisted on burying it again, asked Herb about it, and from him learned that the small dog had been a pet of the Saunterer"s skipper, that had taken a fit, and died on the trip, which accounted for the strange burial.
And when finally their outing came to an end, and the motor boat boys reached home, they found that once again they were being spoken of as heroes. Why, all Lawrence united to do them honor; and besides a fine reward that it was insisted they should accept for their gallant deed, there was a doc.u.ment worthy of being framed, and hung in the club room, signed by the president and directors of the bank, thanking them most heartily in the names of all the depositors and officers of the inst.i.tution, many of whom would have lost their all had the valuables not been recovered.
And after that all banks around that section of the Mississippi Valley began to take notice, and make preparations against raids by gangs of daring yeggmen; so that the lesson was going to prove of great value to the community.
Of course we shall hope and expect to meet Jack, George, Josh, Andy, Herb, and last but far from least, genial Buster, again before a great while; when possibly they will be starting out once more on some adventurous trip that would deserve being written up. Until that time let it be only goodnight, and not good-bye.
The End.