"There"s a book-shelf in the cabin, sir."
Judge Swan disappeared into the cabin. The next time Halstead looked aft he saw the judge snug in one of the armchairs, reading.
The place was ideal for such a breakdown. The "Meteor" lay almost motionless upon the smooth sea, miles from land, with no troublesome reefs near. Under the awnings it was delightfully cool.
For an hour Joe remained in the motor room, neither Tom nor Jed bothering him with their presence. Then Tom went aft to see if their guest was comfortable. Judge Swan looked up with a pleasant smile.
"If I didn"t have that session of court on hand, captain, I wouldn"t mind if this break lasted all day."
"It wouldn"t be bad," the young skipper a.s.sented. "We have a good larder and a fine young cook aboard."
"How serious is the break?" inquired his honor.
"Why, Dawson reports that he hopes very soon to be under way again."
"I hope he won"t hurry enough to interfere with thorough repair,"
pursued Judge Swan.
When Tom went forward again it occurred to him to take a look down into the engine room. The sight that met his gaze was a surprising one. Joe was lying on his back on one of the lockers, the first time he had ever been asleep at his post!
The time dragged on slowly. His honor, being wholly comfortable and well occupied where he was, didn"t come forward to ask any questions.
"There"s the forenoon boat coming," whispered Jed, at last.
"Confound it," muttered Tom. "I wish I had thought to keep better out of her track."
The pa.s.senger steamer soon signaled. Tom answered on the auto whistle.
Then the pa.s.senger steamer ran in closer to the motor boat. The captain of the steamer, standing before the pilot house, megaphone in hand, called over the waters:
"Are you in distress?"
"Only a temporary break in the engine," Tom answered, through his megaphone.
"Do you need any a.s.sistance?"
"No, thank you," Halstead responded.
"Do you wish to transfer any pa.s.sengers?"
Judge Swan came forward to the young skipper. At the same time Tom saw Mr. Dunstan and Mr. Crane at the rail, among the boat"s pa.s.sengers.
"How soon before you"ll be under way, Captain Halstead?" asked his honor.
Now, Joe being fast asleep, Halstead had to answer for his friend.
"Judge, we ought to be under way soon."
"Then tell the captain of the steamer you"ve no pa.s.sengers to transfer,"
directed his honor, next starting aft once more.
"No pa.s.sengers to transfer, captain, thank you," Tom answered.
"All right, "Meteor." Wish you good luck!" A moment later, after both craft had whistled, the pa.s.senger steamer continued on her way.
Now, it was too bad, of course, but noon came and found the "Meteor"
still unable to proceed. Soon after that Jed appeared, setting up a table in the c.o.c.kpit. A cloth was laid, and a pleasing luncheon spread before the delayed judge. Joe came to at the first mention of food, and the three members of the crew ate forward.
"It"s a mean thing to have such a break out on the open," Joe complained, as he finished eating. "However, I"ll do the best I can for you."
The afternoon began to slip by. It was considerably after three o"clock when Joe thrust his head up through the hatchway to say:
"Captain, if you"ll be satisfied to go at slow speed, I think we can make a start now."
"Then start her, and keep to whatever speed your judgment decides upon,"
Tom replied. Making his way aft he informed Judge Swan.
"I am delighted to hear it, of course," replied that gentleman. "I must, however, give you credit for commanding a boat aboard which a very pleasant day of idleness can be enjoyed."
The "Meteor" was soon going at a speed that seemed lame and halting for her. She made the harbor at Nantucket, however, at 4.20, and landed her distinguished pa.s.senger. Judge Swan shook hands with all three boys, thanking them for his pleasant day.
Knowing that Mr. Dunstan was not at Wood"s Hole, Tom decided to make the run straight to the home pier. Leaving Jed at the wheel, after they were out of the harbor, the young skipper went below.
"Joe," he asked soon, "what was wrong with the engine?"
"The vaporizer," Joe replied briefly.
"What ailed it?"
"Why, you see," Dawson replied calmly, "after the speed stopped I disconnected the vaporizer and put it in one of the lockers. Then, somehow, I forgot all about that vaporizer for some hours. When I thought of it I got it out of the locker, wiped it off on some waste, connected it again-and then the engine began to behave fairly well."
Tom"s lips puckered. Whistling, he turned his face away from his chum, looking out through one of the portholes.
"What"s the matter?" inquired Dawson, looking up in some surprise.
"Joe," retorted the young skipper, "don"t you think that was rather a scurvy trick to play on justice?"
"Trick?" repeated Joe in an injured voice. "Well, if you call that a "trick," my captain, then all I have to say is that Judge Swan didn"t seem to be very much upset about it."
"There having been no legal session of probate court to-day," Tom went on, "that gives our friends one day of grace in which to find Ted Dunstan."
"I wish it were a year more, instead of a day," sighed Dawson.
"I wonder," muttered Tom, as though talking to himself. "I wonder whether Judge Swan hinted himself aboard the "Meteor" just so Joe could play that scurvy, unmannerly trick against the blind G.o.ddess of justice?
I wonder!"