CHAPTER XXVI

THE PIECE OF SILK

“Are you going right up close?” asked Bob. “Maybe we had better wait a while.”

“Keep quiet,” said Jerry. “Just watch.”

The _Dartaway_ continued to approach the schooner. In the stern Bob and Ned pretended to be trolling. Jerry held the motor craft on her course, going at first speed, and kept her headed right for the sailing vessel.

“You’re going to bump!” exclaimed Bob in a low tone, looking over his shoulder at Jerry.

The next instant the _Dartaway_ hit the side of the schooner with a resounding thump, but not hard enough to do any damage, as Jerry, on the alert, reversed the screw just in time.

“I told you we were going to hit,” said Bob in reproachful accents, for he had nearly been tossed overboard by the recoil when the motor boat backed away from the _Bluebird_ from the force of the blow.

“That’s all right I meant to hit ’em,” said Jerry coolly, as he caught hold of a rope that hung over the schooner’s side. “I did it on purpose,” he went on in a lower voice. “It will seem as if it was an accident and we can get a chance to see who’s aboard. That knock ought to bring ’em out.”

The boys, making the motor boat fast to the sailing vessel with the rope, waited for a hail from those they supposed to be aboard. But a silence ensued after the noise of the collision and the throbbing of the motor died away. All that could be heard was the sound of the wind in the trees, birds singing in the woods, and the lap of little waves against the sides of the boats.

“Queer,” muttered Jerry, “I thought that would arouse them. Must be sound asleep. Here goes for another.”

He pushed the _Dartaway_ back from the side of the schooner and then, holding to the rope pulled her forward again so that the nose of the motor craft hit the sailing vessel a resounding blow. Still there was silence on the _Bluebird_.

The boys waited for several minutes, listening intently, but there was no sign of life other than on their craft.

“I’m going aboard the schooner,” said Jerry at last.

“Do you think it’s safe?” asked Ned.

“I don’t see why not,” replied Jerry. “There doesn’t seem to be any one in her. Maybe they’ve only gone away for a little while, but it’s our best chance. So here goes.”

With that he scrambled up the rope hand over hand, and soon stood on the schooner’s deck.

“Come on up,” he called to Ned and Bob. “The schooner is deserted!”

Up came the other two boys. They found the hatches tightly closed, and, as the day was hot, they reasoned that no one would be below with all the openings shut. The schooner was in good order, everything on deck being neatly arranged, and showing that those who had deserted her had not gone off in any haste. The vessel was moored to shore with bow and stern lines.

“Well, now that we have things to ourselves,” said Jerry, “let’s see what we can find. It ought to be an easy matter to get below.”

“I wonder if we have any right to,” said Bob.

“I don’t see why not,” came from Ned. “We suspect that some things from my father’s store are here. If we take a look and don’t do any damage where’s the harm. The thieves ought to be caught, and we may get a clue to them in this way.”

“I say, let’s go below,” put in Jerry. “Try all the hatches. Maybe some of them are not locked.”

Whoever had deserted the schooner had evidently not felt any alarm about leaving their property without the protection of lock and key, for the first hatch cover the boys tried slid back easily, disclosing a rather dark and steep companionway.

“Who’s going ahead?” asked Jerry. “Don’t all speak at once.”

There was a moment’s hesitancy on the part of all three. There was no telling what they might meet with, or who might be below.

“Pshaw!” exclaimed Ned. “I don’t believe any one’s there. I’ll make a break.”

He started down the companion steps, and, after a second, Bob and Jerry followed.

“It’s as dark as a pocket!” said Bob. “I wish we had a lantern.”

“Hold on!” called Bob who was in the rear. “I have a candle-end in my pocket.”

He brought it forth and lighted it, sending a rather faint illumination through the cabin in which the boys found themselves. No one was to be seen, but, as was the case on deck, everything was neatly in place, and no disorder evident.

“Now for the search!” exclaimed Ned. “We’ll see if that tramp knew what he was writing about with his funny message.”

Around the cabin were several lockers. These the boys opened in succession, only to find them empty. Clearly the booty, if it was aboard, was not in this part of the vessel.

But there were many other places to search. The craft was not a large one, but there was a forecastle, and a small hold amidships. The boys decided to try the hold first. To get into it they found they would have to slide back the deck hatch, and then lower themselves into the black hole by means of a rope which hung from the gaff, and which was evidently used to hoist cargo in or out of the schooner.

With the hatches open the dark hole was made lighter but at best it was not a pleasant place. Still the boys were determined to explore it. Seeing that the rope was securely fastened to the gaff, Jerry swung himself over the hatchway, and went down hand over hand. It was about ten feet from the deck to the bottom. Bob and Ned followed.

In his descent Bob dropped the candle, which, after burning a little while on the bottom of the hold, went out.

“That’s nice,” said Jerry. “Don’t move now until we get a light. No telling what sort of a hole you may fall into. Stay under the patch of sunshine.”

The boys remained immediately under the hatchway until Jerry, groping around, had found the candle end and lighted it. Then the boys peered around them, Jerry holding the tallow illuminator above his head.

“Forward!” cried Ned.

The next instant there sounded a scurrying as if some one was running about the hold.

“Some one’s coming!” cried Bob. “Come on! They’re after us!”

The noise increased, and Jerry and Ned peered forward expecting to see some one approaching out of the darkness. Then came a series of shrill cries.

“Rats!” exclaimed Jerry with a laugh. “I forgot that all vessels are full of them.”

“Are you sure?” asked Bob, who had grabbed hold of the rope.

“Sure; can’t you see them?” asked Jerry, and, moving his candle back and forth close to the floor, he pointed out where several big gray rodents were huddled in one corner.

“Only rats, eh,” muttered Bob. “Well I wouldn’t want a lot of them to get after me. They’re as big as cats.”

But the animals were probably more frightened than Bob had been, for the next instant they all disappeared down some hole. The boys began a systematic search of the hold of the vessel. It did not take long to show that no booty was contained in it, unless, as Ned suggested, there was a secret hiding place.

“Well, we’ll try the fo’castle now,” said Jerry as he blew out the candle to save it, and ascended the rope. Bob and Ned followed.

By opening bull’s-eyes in the forecastle the place was made light enough to see fairly well in. There were several bunks, and a small table which could be folded against the side out of the way. The bunks were provided with bed clothes, and a hasty examination of them showed nothing to be hidden among them. The whole place was well looked through, but there was no sign of the goods stolen from Mr. Slade’s store.

“I guess that tramp must have had a dream,” said Ned, “or else he wanted to write some poetry.”

“Looks that way,” admitted Jerry, who was idly looking at a figure of Neptune carved in the middle of a panel on the forward bulkhead. “Still I don’t believe--”

But what Jerry believed he did not state, for, the next instant he nearly fell as the panel containing the representation of the sea god slid back and disclosed a dark opening.

“Why--why--” exclaimed Jerry recovering his balance with difficulty. “This is queer. I was just pressing on the trident when all of a sudden--it happened.”

“Well I guess it did!” cried Ned. “I’ll bet it’s the secret hiding place. Come on, let’s have a look!”

“Light the candle!” said Jerry. “It’s as dark as two pockets.”

In the gleam of the light there was disclosed a place about five feet square, which had been built forward of the forecastle bulkhead.

“Now for the stolen stuff!” cried Ned, as he stepped inside. He flashed the candle around, but it took only an instant to show that there was nothing in the secret hiding place so opportunely discovered by Jerry.

“Well of all the--” began Ned, when he suddenly made a grab into one of the corners. “This looks like something!” he went on. “Let me get to the light.”

He stepped into the forecastle and held up to the view of his comrades a piece of cloth.

“What is it?” asked Jerry.

“A piece of red silk!” exclaimed Ned. “It’s just like some that was stolen from my father’s store! The things have been here, but they are gone!”

“Perhaps they are here yet,” suggested Jerry, “only we can’t find them. Maybe there are other secret hiding places. What had we better do?”

The boys were much excited over their find. That they were on the trail of the thieves they were certain, but what to do next puzzled them.

“How would it do for one of us to stay here, and the others go and get police assistance,” suggested Ned. “We ought to have the detectives on this case at once.”

“I have a better plan,” said Jerry. “Let two of us stay here, and the other take the motor boat and go after Chief Dalton in Cresville.”

“How will we decide who are to stay and who is to go?” asked Ned.

“We’ll draw lots,” replied Jerry. “Those who get the longest will stay on the schooner, and the one who gets the shortest will start in the motor boat.”

The lots were made from three straws. Jerry got the shortest.

“Well, the sooner I get off the quicker the chief will be back here,” he observed.

“Hold on a minute,” put in Bob. “Have you figured how long we’ll have to stay here, and not a thing to eat? You can’t get back here before this time to-morrow.”

“That’s so,” admitted Jerry, for once forgetting to laugh at Bob’s concern over the food question. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do. We’ll run back to camp and bring enough stuff here to last until I come back.”

“Good idea,” said Ned. “Only there’s no use in us all going. I’ll stay here, while you and Bob go back to camp. Bring some lanterns, and some cold victuals. Maybe we can find some food on board. We certainly can make coffee for there’s a stove in the galley, and I saw a coffee pot. All we need is some coffee.”

So it was arranged. Jerry and Bob made a fast run to Deer Island, and were soon back to the schooner with enough provisions to last the two boys a day or more. In the meanwhile Ned had been all over the schooner, but had made no new discoveries.

He had found a good supply of canned goods, and even some coffee, so there was no danger of starving even if the victuals Jerry and Bob brought gave out. The bunks were clean and there was plenty of clothing, though it would hardly be needed for the nights were warm.

It was now getting dusk and, after seeing that his boat was in good shape Jerry prepared for the long run back to Cresville.

“Take care of yourselves,” said he. “Keep a good watch and if Noddy and the gang come back, don’t run any chances. They’re desperate men, and it would be better to retreat than run the chance of a fight. If I were you I’d sleep in the cabin or on deck in hammocks. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

“Better tell the chief to bring a couple of men along,” said Ned. “No telling what may turn up.”

“All right,” called back Jerry, as he headed the _Dartaway_ through the narrow channel and started on the course to Cresville.