CHAPTER XXVIII

JERRY’S RETURN

Jerry’s voyage to the head of the lake and then up the river was without incident. It was rather a lonely trip, but he had no time to feel any alarm.

He arrived at Cresville early the next morning and left the boat at the private dock, while he hurried to acquaint the chief of police and Mr. Slade with the news about the schooner.

Jerry found the chief had not yet come down to headquarters, and, not caring to tell the sergeant in charge his errand, he went to Mr. Slade’s house.

“What’s this? Oh it’s you, Jerry, eh? No bad news I hope? None of you boys drowned at the lake? What’s the trouble? You look as if you’d had a tussle with a bull and came out second best,” said Ned’s father.

Jerry told his story and also related their plans.

“Good idea!” exclaimed Mr. Slade. “We’ll go and see the chief at once.”

Mr. Dalton had arrived by the time they got to headquarters and called Mr. Slade and Jerry into his private room. There Jerry told the story over again, to the no small astonishment of the police official.

He gave several orders over the telephone, including one to have the motor boat _Terror_ made ready at once for a long trip.

Jerry found he would have about an hour to wait before the start back could be made, so he went to his home and also Bob’s and told the folks the camping party was all well. He said nothing of the discoveries, for fear of alarming his mother and Bob’s parents.

The chief and two detectives made up the police posse. They went to the dock where the _Terror_ was tied up and got aboard. Mr. Slade had counted on going, but, at the last moment, found some business affairs needed his attention.

As soon as Jerry found the chief and his men were about to start he hurried back to the _Dartaway’s_ boat house and made ready for his return trip. He found the engine needed some slight adjustments, and quickly made them.

While he was bending over the cylinders, putting in some new spark plugs, he heard a step behind, and Andy Rush joined him.

“Are you going on another trip?”

“Yes, want to come along?” asked Jerry, for he liked Andy, in spite of the galvanic battery action of the younger lad.

“Say! Do I!”

“Jump in,” spoke Jerry.

Jerry looked over the engine to see that it was in good order. He filled the auxiliary gasolene tank, took aboard some extra batteries and other supplies and announced he was ready to start.

“We’ll see if we can’t catch the _Terror_,” he remarked, having told Andy something of the plans afoot.

Jerry cranked up the motor. It throbbed and roared and he was about to throw in the clutch and send the boat off when some one hailed him.

“I say, fair sir. Wilt take a poor wayfarer aboard? I fain must be on my way, and my coach seems to have passed me by.”

Jerry looked up. Down the dock was approaching a ragged figure; a man clothed in old garments that flapped about him. The mere remnant of a hat completed his attire.

“It’s the tramp!” Jerry exclaimed under his breath. “If he doesn’t turn up at the oddest times. I wonder what his secret is.”

“May I come aboard?” asked the ragged man.

“Don’t let him. Maybe he’s one of the thieves,” objected Andy in a low tone.

But Jerry had different ideas. He wanted, if possible, to learn more about the tramp. He felt that the man had a secret, and that it concerned the robbery, and some other queer happenings of late, Jerry was most certain.

“Wilt take an humble passenger?” the tramp asked again, seeing that Jerry seemed to hesitate.

“Why, yes, your Majesty, if you wilt be pleased to accept such mean transportation as your slave is able to offer you,” replied Jerry with a smile, determining to enter into the tramp’s humor.

Past Cresville they went, and by noon they had caught up to the _Terror_, for the chief had ordered her run slowly, as he wanted to see Jerry. The presence of the tramp excited no comment from Mr. Dalton. On the contrary Jerry was almost sure he saw some secret sign pass between the chief of police and the ragged man. This, more than ever, made him curious to get at the bottom of the strange fellow’s secret.

It was decided to go ashore for dinner at a small town which the boats reached about one o’clock. The craft were tied up at the dock, and when Jerry and Andy left the _Dartaway_, the tramp remained behind.

Jerry asked if the chief knew the man at all.

“Oh, I’ve seen him around,” Mr. Dalton replied. “He’s an odd character. But never mind him. Where do you expect we’ll pick up the boys?”

“Right aboard the schooner at the island,” answered Jerry, wondering why the chief changed the subject so suddenly.

The journey was resumed after the meal and about four o’clock the boats emerged from the river upon the lake.

“Now for the schooner!” exclaimed Jerry as his boat swung ahead, it having been agreed that he should lead the way. The _Terror_ was close behind.

Several miles had been covered, when the tramp, who had not spoken for some time, exclaimed, stretching out his hand:

“I think there’s your schooner!”

“We’re nowhere near the place,” Jerry answered.

“I think you’ll find I’m right,” the ragged man went on. “I guess something has happened and the schooner has moved. I see her masts sticking up from behind those trees.”

In a few minutes Jerry rounded the point. There, in full view of the setting sun, was the schooner. There could be no mistaking her.

He steered his boat up to the sailing craft. There seemed to be no sign of life aboard.

“Ahoy _Bluebird_!” called Jerry.

He had stopped his engine, and the chief had done the same for the _Terror_. Amid a deep silence they waited for an answer to the hail. None came.

Then, as the motor boats drifted alongside the schooner, it could be seen that she was tied to the shore and deserted.

“Where are Ned and Bob?” asked Jerry, a nameless terror tugging at his heart.