CHAPTER XVI

THE SEARCH

For a while no one felt like speaking. The shock was too much for them. They could hardly realize that their craft was gone. Finally Jerry spoke.

“We’ve got to find her!” he exclaimed. “She’s somewhere on the river, up or down, and we’ve got to go after her. She can’t have been taken very far, for we’ve not been gone more than three hours.”

“If she was run at full speed she could get a good way off in that time,” observed Bob.

“Well, what’s to be done?” asked Ned.

“I think the best plan will be to start up or down the river,” said Jerry. “Chances are who ever took the boat went up, as they wouldn’t risk cruising past Cresville with it. So we’ll start up I think.”

“You mean walk?” asked Bob who was not inclined to any exertion when he could help it.

“Well I don’t see any one coming along with a launch or a water automobile, Chunky,” said Jerry. “I guess we’ll have to walk, a way at any rate. We’ll inquire of every one who lives along the river if they have seen the boat. We may get a line on her that way. So let’s start.”

“I wish we’d taken some of the grub out of her before we went away,” said Bob with a sigh.

“If they’ll give us back the boat they can have all the victuals and welcome,” spoke Ned.

“I guess you’re not as hungry as I am,” said Bob.

“Well, there’s no use worrying over that part of it,” Jerry said. “We’ll start out. Maybe we can find a hotel or a farm house where we can buy some lunch.”

Tired and discouraged, hungry and thirsty, the boys started off to tramp up along the river bank. It was in strange contrast to the manner in which they had arrived the evening before.

Their course lay partly through meadow land and partly through the woods, for the river was winding in its course. The sun beamed down hot and the journey was anything but a pleasant one. But the boys with grim determination did not mind the discomforts. They wanted to find their boat and they were willing to make any sacrifices to get her.

They had walked for an hour without seeing a sign of habitation or meeting a person. But, about noon, as they came around a sharp turn, where the river flowed between two rather high hills, they spied a farm house, which, from the extent of land surrounding it, and the number of out buildings seemed to belong to a man of means.

“Well, that looks as if there was something to eat there, at any rate,” spoke Bob. “Hurry up, fellows, I’m nearly starved. Have any of you got any money? I’m broke.”

Ned had only a little change, but, fortunately Jerry had several bills in his pocket.

“We don’t look very presentable to go up to a man’s house on Sunday,” said Ned. “But beggars can’t be choosers.”

The boys had on old suits which they donned as they expected to tramp through the woods. Their good clothes were on the boat. Then too, the jaunt along the river had not improved their appearance as they were rather begrimed.

“Let’s scrub up a bit before we make an appeal for help,” suggested Ned.

“Good idea,” agreed Bob, and all three went down to the edge of the river. They washed the mud off their shoes, scrubbed their faces and hands, drying them on their pocket handkerchiefs, to the detriment of the linen, and then they brushed the dirt and cobwebs from their clothes with bunches of grass.

“There!” exclaimed Jerry when the toilets were completed. “We’re not exactly dressed for a party, but I guess it’s some better than we were.”

They approached the farm house from the front. Bob had suggested going in the back way, but Ned insisted they were not tramps, but travelers willing and able to pay for a meal, so it was decided to approach in style.

Jerry rang the bell. In a little while an aged colored man answered. He was all smiles as he came along, but, as he opened the glass paneled portal the boys could see a frown appear on his face.

“Marse Johnson done give p’ticklar orders that all tramps an’ beggars done got t’ go t’ th’ back part this establishment!” said the negro.

“Well, what’s that got to do with us?” asked Jerry. “Tell Mr. Johnson we wish to see him at once.”

“Well I mus’ say you’s th’ most imperterlitest--”

“Never mind!” exclaimed Jerry. “Just tell Mr. Johnson that we are from Cresville. He’ll understand.”

The colored man hesitated a moment. Clearly he was puzzled by Jerry’s confident manner.

“Sit down,” said Jerry to Bob and Ned, waving his hand toward some porch chairs.

That seemed to settle it in the negro’s mind. Any one who assumed so much must be an expected guest he reasoned even though the clothing of the boys betokened them to be unlike the usual run of visitors.

Somewhat apprehensive of what their reception might be the boys waited. They heard the footsteps of the colored man go echoing down the hall. The big dog, seemingly satisfied that all was right, had resumed his sleep.

The boys heard someone coming along the gravel on the walk at the side of the porch. They looked up, expecting to see the master of the house approaching. They beheld a little man with a round shining bald head, and a fuzz of white whiskers around his chin. Though long past middle age, he came along with sprightly steps. No sooner had he caught sight of the boys than his walk became a run, and he fairly bounded up on the porch.

“Well of all things!” he exclaimed. “Who would have thought to see you here. My but I’m glad to see you. Welcome, fellow fire-fighters!”

The boys rose from their chairs, rather puzzled over the little man’s words and actions. He began shaking hands with them, though, as Bob afterward confessed he was doubtful about engaging in the operation, as he thought the man was a mild lunatic.

“Well, well, but I am glad to see you!” the little man went on. “I’m awfully glad you came. You’re just in time for dinner. Come right in.”

“Oh, friends of yours, Henry?” asked a voice from the doorway, and the boys turned to see a tall stately gentleman coming out on the porch. “You young gentlemen must excuse me,” the tall man went on. “I did not understand Sambo’s message. He said, but you must pardon me for repeating it, but he said there were some tramps out here. But I did not dream there were some old friends of Cousin Henry’s. I am very pleased to meet you.”

All of which was more and more puzzling to the boys.

“Friends of mine! I should rather say they were!” exclaimed the little man. “These young gentlemen,” he went on, “are honorary members of the Towanda Fire Department, of which I am the only living charter member!” and he threw back his shoulders proudly.

“That’s what they are,” he went on. “You should have seen them and their steam boat at the Dudley fire. They saved the day, that’s what they did. We elected ’em on the spot. I was there! I ought to know! My, but that was a blaze!” he exclaimed. “Me and the chief never forgot your services. I’m general adviser of the department,” he continued. “You saw me there?”

“Of course,” said Jerry, who, with the other boys now remembered the little man who had been so fussy to see that the ancient hand engine worked well.

“Well, any friends of yours are friends of mine,” said the tall gentleman. “Introduce me, Henry,” which the only living charter member of the Towanda Fire Department proceeded to do with old fashioned courtesy.

“You’re just in time for dinner,” spoke Mr. Johnson. “I shall only be too proud to have you join us. My cousin has told me, several times of your assistance at the big fire. I have often desired to meet you. My cousin came over on a visit this week. Fortunate that you should have known of it and followed him.”

“We didn’t. It was all an accident,” said Jerry.

Then, in a few words he explained what had happened, relating the theft of the motor boat, and how it happened they were only chance visitors.

“Remarkable, remarkable!” exclaimed Mr. Johnson. “I never heard anything like it. Now come right in. My wife and daughters will be delighted to meet you and hear that story.”

Almost unconsciously, at the suggestion of meeting ladies, the boys glanced at their clothes.

“Now, now, no apologies!” exclaimed Mr. Johnson. “I’ll explain everything. You must take dinner with me. It is almost ready. Sambo, show the young gentlemen to the bath room, and tell Mary to put on three extra plates. Delighted to have the opportunity of dining with you,” Mr. Johnson added, bowing to the boys.

“Talk about luck!” said Bob, when they were left alone. “Say, we’re right in it. Who’d ever thought our helping at that fire would have brought us a meal just when we needed it most.”

The other boys were equally impressed by the strange coincidence, and voted it a most fortunate thing that they should have come to the house where cousin Henry was stopping. They were all the more inclined to thank their lucky stars when they saw the bountiful meal that was set upon the table half an hour later.

The boys had to tell their story over again, with all the details, for Mrs. Johnson, and her two daughters, both young ladies were much interested, and asked scores of questions.

“I don’t suppose you heard or saw a motor boat going up the river, did you?” asked Jerry of his host.

“Not personally,” replied Mr. Johnson. “But I did hear Sambo say something about hearing a queer whistle out on the water sometime ago. Maybe that was it. I’ll let you ask him.”

The colored man was summoned, and proved to have even better news. He said he had been down on the river bank several hours previous and had seen a boat, that answered every description of the _Dartaway_, going up at full speed.

“Could you see who was on board?” asked Jerry.

“’Peared laik there was two men on her,” said Sambo, “a little one an’ a bigger one.”

“We’d better start right off after them,” said Ned.

“I can’t let you go so soon,” protested Mr. Johnson. “Perhaps I can be of some assistance to you. I have a number of rowboats, and you’re welcome to one or more of them. You can row up stream, which is better than walking, though it’s not so fast as your craft goes. Then, if I were you I’d send dispatches to the principal cities and towns along the river, asking the police to keep a look-out for your boat.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Jerry. “I never thought of that. Thank you very much.”

“Then you had better send a telegram home to your folks telling them you will be delayed,” went on Mr. Johnson.

“Is there a station near here?” asked Ned.

“I will send Sambo over to town with the messages this afternoon,” Mr. Johnson said. “In the meanwhile make yourselves to home here, and rest up. You’ll have hard work ahead of you I’m afraid before you get your boat back. We have heard rumors lately of a gang of thieves that have infested this neighborhood, especially along the river. Maybe some of them have your craft.”