CHAPTER XXVI

HELD PRISONERS

The boys glanced at each other. This was something they had not counted on. Evidently Bill’s companions had told him what had happened, the night the motor boat was stolen, and he had fled, for some reason. It looked as if the scheme of the plotters had fallen through.

“Did Bill--er--did your other helper say where he was going?” asked Ned.

“Not a word. He was filling the lamps--let’s see--it was yesterday morning--come to think of it. A boat pulled up at my dock, and a man got out and spoke to Bill. I had to go up in the tower, then. When I came down Bill was gone and so was the man in the boat.”

“Rather strange,” commented Jerry.

“So it struck me,” Mr. Hardack went on. “But then you know these chaps are sort of tramps. They’re here to-day and gone to-morrow. Always roving around. Of course in the winter I have a regular assistant the government provides, but in the summer time, just as at the life saving stations, they take things a bit easier. However, this other man came along, and he seems a lot nicer than Bill Cherry or whatever his name was.”

The keeper led the way up the steps to the house, the boys following.

“Guess it’s just as well not to say anything,” spoke Ned in a low voice. “They’ve given up the plot. We’d only be laughed at if we mentioned it.”

His companions agreed with him, glad enough to feel there was going to be no attempt to wreck a ship by means of false lights. The keeper set out a big pitcher of cool milk and a plate of cookies, which, as Bob said, were the best he ever ate, but then Bob was apt to say that about anything in the culinary line.

“Yes,” Mr. Hardack was saying, “Jessica would have been glad to see you. Poor girl, she has quite a trouble on her mind. I’ve been hoping things would straighten out, but they don’t seem to. Her father, he--”

“Ting-a-ling-ling-ling!” rang the telephone bell. The keeper sprang to answer it. The boys listened idly to the one-sided conversation.

“Yes, this is Mr. Hardack.”

“What’s that? Kate sick?”

“Come over? Yes--er--that is--Yes, I can come. I forgot I had a new helper. I’ll be right over. Anything serious?”

“Can’t tell, eh? Well I’ll come as fast as I can,” and he hung up the receiver.

“Any trouble?” inquired Jerry.

“Looks like it,” the keeper said. “My sister is quite sick. Taken suddenly. They want me.”

“Where does she live?”

“It’s about six miles back in the country. I guess I can make it and get back here by nine or ten o’clock. I wish I knew whether it would be safe to leave the new man in charge.”

“Don’t the regulations provide for it?” asked Ned.

“Oh, yes, it’s my day and night off, and I have a right to go. But I sort of hate to leave the light with him. He knows all about it, however, and he’s got a government civil service certificate. He knows just what to do, for he’s been in lighthouses before. I wish I knew what to do.”

“Let us stay and help him,” suggested Ned.

“Will you?” asked Mr. Hardack eagerly.

“Sure,” chorused Jerry and Bob.

“Then I’ll do it. I want to see my sister. Her health is not very good, and the doctor said she might die in one of her spells. I’d feel safe to go if I knew you boys would stay here and help the new man if necessary.”

“We’ll see to things,” exclaimed Jerry. “It will be jolly fun to be partly in charge of the lighthouse.”

“Whatever happens, don’t forget two things,” cautioned Mr. Hardack.

“What are they?”

“The light must be lit at sunset, and it must be kept burning all night. It must revolve regularly, even if it has to be done by hand, and there must be a white flash and two red ones, at proper intervals. But, you needn’t worry about that. The machinery is in perfect order. The man will light the lamp, and start it going. It only has to be trimmed once in a while. I’ll be back before ten o’clock. When Jessica comes, she’ll get supper for you.”

Ned said nothing, but he looked as if that would be the best part of it all, while Chunky’s eyes lighted up at the mention of another meal.

Mr. Hardack was soon ready to go. He had to walk the entire distance, as there was no conveyance handy, but he said he did not mind that.

“I’ll introduce you to the new man,” he said, calling his helper from where he was still busy filling the lamps. “His name is John Elkwood.”

The assistant did not seem a very good natured chap. He only nodded to the boys, when Mr. Hardack introduced them, and, as he went back to his work, Jerry heard him muttering to himself.

“Well, I guess I’ll get under way,” said the keeper as he started off.

“I say,” called Elkwood after him.

“What is it?”

“I don’t need those boys here. I can get along without ’em. They’ll be in the way.”

“I want ’em to stay,” was Mr. Hardack’s answer, at which the boys heard the new man muttering again.

“Not very friendly,” commented Jerry. “Still we can get along I guess.”

The boys spent an hour going over the lighthouse, with which they were now rather familiar. In the meanwhile Elkwood was busy filling lamps, there being a number used in the big tower. He attended to the light in the big glass lantern and spent some time oiling the machinery.

“I wonder what time Jessica is coming back?” said Bob, as they sat down in the sitting room.

“Was that one thought for her and two for the supper?” inquired Jerry.

“It’s about time she should be back, I think,” came from Ned.

“He’s only thinking of her, you see, Chunky,” Jerry went on.

“No, but it seems to be getting foggy,” added Ned, “and Noddy isn’t any too good a hand at managing a boat. I wish she hadn’t gone out with him.”

“Oh, she’ll be all right,” commented Bob. “Tell you what’s let’s do. We’ll get supper and have it all ready when she comes. I guess we can find the things to eat.”

“Trust Chunky for that even if he doesn’t have any dishes on the table,” Jerry remarked. “Well, we’ll get the meal and invite Noddy to it.”

“Not a bit of it!” exclaimed Ned. “When he sees us here he’ll go back where he came from, fast enough.”

The boys found a well-stocked pantry, and, because of their camping experiences had little difficulty in getting a meal ready. By this time it was nearly seven o’clock. Ned kept rather anxious watch of the hours.

“Let’s go down to the dock and see if we can get sight of her,” he suggested.

“Who?” asked Bob.

“Why Jessica. It’s time she was back.”

Though he did not say so, Jerry was also a little anxious. The weather looked anything but promising, and he had small respect for Noddy’s ability to manage a motor boat in a calm, let alone a storm. Still there seemed to be no cause for alarm.

The craft might have been stalled, but he did not believe Noddy would venture far from shore, and, in the event of a breakdown, he could signal to other boats, as there were several about the harbor.

It was still quite light, and would not be dark for another hour. It was no use worrying, Jerry thought, until there was something to get excited over.

They all went down to the dock, however, and scanned the sea for a sight of the boat containing the girl and Noddy. Though there were several craft in sight the boys did not notice Noddy’s, which they had come to know from seeing it several times. It was one with a blue hull, distinguishable for some distance.

“I vote we eat,” said Bob, as he turned to go back to the house.

“It wouldn’t be polite,” suggested Ned. “We’re only visitors.”

As they walked up the stone steps leading to the house, the boys were met by Elkwood. The man had a scowl on his face.

“It’s time you chaps were moving,” he said in surly tones. “I don’t want you hanging around here.”

“Why, Mr. Hardack asked us to stay,” put in Jerry.

“I don’t care whether he did or not. I’m in charge here. This is government property and I’m the boss. I tell you to go, and don’t lose any time over it, either.”

“I guess we’ll stay,” said Jerry coolly. “We told Mr. Hardack we would, and we’re going to.”

“And I say you’re not. I order you off. It’s against the regulations for you to be here after dark.”

“It isn’t dark yet,” spoke Ned.

“None of your lip!” exclaimed Elkwood. “Are you going to leave?”

“Not until Mr. Hardack comes back!”

“Then you can take the consequences!”

Elkwood put his fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle. At the signal three men sprang out from behind some rocks that bordered the stairway. They rushed at the boys, who were too surprised to stir. One of the men was Bill Berry.

“We’ve got you this time!” their old enemy cried.

The next instant the boys were struggling with the men, who endeavored to throw bags over their heads.