CHAPTER IV.

PLANS AND PROJECTS.

The next morning was dull and foggy with a suspicion of a wet drizzle in the air. Nevertheless, the boys were up early, filled with eager anticipation of the good times in store. Had not Mr. Sands promised to announce that very day the plans he had made for their recreation?

Up at Pioneer Camp in the northern woods they were accustomed to enjoy a plunge in the lake before breakfast. So now, instead of dressing, they donned bathing suits, crept noiselessly downstairs and out on the lawn, and raced to the beach, which was only a short distance from the border of Mr. Sands’ estate. Arriving there, they found it deserted, although footprints in the sand showed them that a surfman from the Life Saving Station, two miles further up the shore, had patroled the beach during the night.

Overhead, huge, white, jagged clouds moved slowly across the sky. Their close ranks were broken now and then by shafts of sunlight that pierced through the fog and struck steely-blue gleams from the undulating waves. A few white-caps dotted the ocean, and the heavy swells rolled ponderously toward the shore, breaking into cavernous surf that sounded like far-distant thunder. To Billy Worth, inland born and bred, the ocean seemed a source of endless wonder; to Alec and Chester, it had become a friendly element, and they proved their familiarity with it by wading boldly in and diving straight through the green breakers.

“Come on, Billy!” yelled Chester, bobbing up on the crest of a wave. “The water’s fi——”

No sooner were the words sputtered forth than Chester was lifted bodily, rolled over and over, and flung with a thump upon the beach, almost at Billy’s feet. A wave had broken unexpectedly and had tossed him around as though he were a bit of driftwood. He staggered up, his eyes and mouth full of briny sand, and rubbed one shoulder gingerly.

“Where am I?” he inquired. “I must have turned a dozen complete somersaults! Gee! My shoulder’s out of joint—at least, it feels so! Why don’t you go in, Billy?”

“I’m going,” replied Billy, doubling up with laughter. “Look at Alec out there! He’s got tangled up with a bunch of seaweed, his arms and legs are covered with the slimy stuff! Seems to me, it’s more fun watching you fellows; but here goes, anyway!”

He bounded forward and dived through the green arch of a comber with a skill and daring that rivaled the best feats of his companions. Chester followed him as soon as he could get the sand out of his eyes. For only a short while the three swimmers disported themselves in the waves, for they were sensible enough to go ashore before the exhilaration of the exercise had even begun to wear off.

As they returned to the house, they noticed one of the Revenue Marine Bureau cutters cruising along the shore not far out; and Alec explained that the cutters made regular trips up and down the coast during winter and early spring, to warn or assist imperiled vessels.

“I didn’t know they came as far south as this,” said Chester.

“Oh, yes; but not so often as they do along our northern coasts,” Alec rejoined.

After breakfast, Mr. Sands called the three boys out on the broad veranda, and they all ensconced themselves in comfortable wicker chairs.

“Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Dad?” inquired Alec. “What’s the good word?”

His father looked at him and laughed.

“I suppose you mean you’re waiting to know what I intend to do with three lively lads who are making themselves too numerous to mention? Am I right?”

“Yes, since you put it that way. If you want to get rid of us, how are you going to do it?”

“Oh, there are plenty of ways. For instance, I might hustle you back to school before this quite unnecessary vacation is over,” said Mr. Sands, who was fond of teazing and joking.

“Not much! Not if we know it!” protested Alec, glancing at Billy and Chester, whose faces were twisted into broad grins. “Besides, Hugh is coming to-day, and it wouldn’t be decent of you, Dad, to punish us all like that. What have we done, anyway? We’ve been good and——”

Here Chester gave way to laughter.

“You see!” cried Alec’s father. “That was too much for Chester! He knows some secret which I’ll have to worm out of him before I’ll commit myself to any program.”

“No, sir, not guilty!” declared Chester.

“On the level?”

“On the level,” solemnly echoed Chester.

“All right, then. What would you all say to a trip down the coast?”

“A hunting and fishing trip?” Alec asked eagerly.

“Yes, if you want to try any fishing. You can’t hunt; it’s not the season, you know.”

“We wouldn’t want to, even if we could,” his son replied on second thoughts. “But the fishing would be great sport! That’s a bully idea of yours, Dad! I’m keen for the trip!”

“How about you two?” Mr. Sands turned to the others. “Does the plan strike your fancy?”

“It surely does!” was Billy’s prompt reply.

“Simply great!” added Chester.

“Good. Do you think Hugh will like it?”

“I’m sure he will,” Billy said. “Hugh’s the boy for any sort of outing and adventure, sir, and this one will be just the thing.”

“The ayes have it, then,” said Mr. Sands. “Well, my plan is this: I’ve found out that I can charter the small sloop _Arrow_, Lemuel Vinton, owner and master,—you remember him, Alec?—and engage his services as captain. For crew, he’ll have you four boys and a certain young man from my New York office whom I’m sending over to Havana on business. His name is Roy Norton; he’s a good sailor, and one of the most sensible and likable young men I’ve ever had the good fortune to know. I’ll expect you boys to stand by him as your leader on this trip, just as you would if he were George Rawson or your scout master, Denmead.”

“Is he a scout?” asked Alec.

“I believe so; anyway, he knows a lot about scoutcraft, and he’s deeply interested in it. He was delighted when I suggested his going on this trip.”

“Aren’t you going too, Dad?”

“Sorry, I can’t. I’m obliged to go out to Chicago next week. Business. But Norton’ll manage you chaps better than I could; he knows the ropes. He’ll go as far as Key West with you. You’ll leave him there and come back in the sloop, under strict sailing orders from Captain Vinton. Mind you, I want each one of you to give me his word to render prompt and willing obedience to any instructions you may receive, either from Norton or from the captain.”

“We promise,” replied the three Scouts. To himself Alec added: “Hope this man Norton isn’t going to boss us around like four kids! George Rawson and Chief Denmead never do that. They never have to; a few words are enough! Wonder what Norton’ll be like?”

Mr. Sands rose from his chair.

“What train is Hugh coming on?” he asked, consulting his watch.

“Why, Dad! You know there’s only one a day now arriving at Claynor. It’s due at eleven-eighteen.”

“Well, you’d better be on the jump toward the garage, if you’re going to drive the car over to meet that train. You’ve only a little more than an hour.”

“We’ll get there in time, all right,” said Alec. “I wouldn’t miss meeting Hugh—not for a lot! Come on, fellows.”

About an hour later the touring car drew up at the platform of the station at Claynor, and its three occupants alighted to seek shelter from the clouds of dust that a stiff breeze was blowing from the roads. With the exception of the station agent and a few negro porters asleep on a long bench, not a soul was in sight near the little terminal. Across a small plaza, where a few dusty palm trees swayed dejectedly in the wind, could be seen a row of quaint shops, an old Spanish church, and a moving-picture theater; beyond this was a vista of the main street of the town, with people coming and going, to and fro, in a leisurely manner.

Presently, long after schedule time, the train rolled up and came to a standstill. Almost the first passenger to alight was a tall, slender, yet well-developed young fellow, who rushed forward at sight of his three comrades and seized their hands.

“Hugh, old scout, we thought you’d never get here!” exclaimed Alec.

“Your beastly old train’s late,” added Billy.

“I know it is—worse luck! Don’t blame me! It wasn’t my fault. I couldn’t get here sooner or I would, you may be sure.”

“Well, we’re mighty glad to see you,” said Chester.

“Come on, Hugh! We’ve got a lot of news to tell you on the way home!” exclaimed Alec.

“I’m all ears,” replied Hugh, laughing.