The Merry Anne 27
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"Why?"
"It stands to reason that McGlory would expect to be chased, don't it?"
"Of course."
"Well, then, he is not going to put right over here after he has
taken off old Spencer, is he? It's almost like running back on his
course--amounts to the same thing."
"But he is likely to come here, isn't he?"
"I should think so."
"Well," impatiently, "how else could he do it?"
"Easily enough. He could go right on east from Spencer's place and make
for Owen Channel, up near the head of Georgian Bay. That's at the other
end of this island."
"Manitoulin Island? Is it as big as that?"
"Yes, it lies all across this end of Lake Huron. If he went through Owen
Channel, he could get around into the North Channel, and then down into
Bayfield Sound and Lake Wolsey. Bayfield Sound, you see, pretty nearly
cuts the island in halves. It is right opposite here, only a few miles
overland. That would be a long way around, but it is the safe way. You
see, I've been thinking--"
"Well--what?"
"Why, he would be likely to think just like I did, that when you had got
up here you wouldn't be able to resist coming on across the line."
"You seem to know these routes pretty well for a man who has been to
Spencer's only once."
"I saw it on the chart the other day. A man couldn't help figuring that
out."
"What would you suggest doing?"
"Putting for Spencer's, just as tight as your old stationary wash-tub
can make it."
"But hold on, now. If you think they have got away from there long
ago--"
"I _think_ that, but I'm not sure. Supposing they have--then you've lost
them anyhow. Don't you see? But suppose there was a delay in getting
away there,--it's more than likely McGlory and Spencer wouldn't agree.
McGlory isn't the agreeing kind, and I don't think Spencer is either. It
will be daylight before so very long, and with this wind they can't get
here, if they're coming here at all, without our sighting them on the
way over. And there is just a fighting chance of catching them there
before they make for Georgian Bay, or some other place we don't know
of." Beveridge thought a moment. "There is something in that. We 'll do
it."
At mid-morning the _Foote_ stopped her engines abreast of False Middle
Island, and Captain Sullivan sent for Beveridge.
"You tell me there is a harbor in there?"
"That's what I understand. But it won't be necessary to take the steamer
in."
The Captain's __EXPRESSION__ showed that he had not the slightest notion of
taking her in.
"I think," Beveridge went on, "that you had better put me ashore with
a few men in there north of the island. I 'll go around behind the
sand-dunes and come on the place from the woods. Then if they should be
there, and if they should try to run out, you can stop them. I 'll have
Smiley guide me."
"You're going to take him ashore with you?
"That's what I'm going to do."
"I don't believe in this!"
Beveridge said nothing.
"Oh, very well. I 'll have a boat ready." Smiley was called, and
Beveridge drew him aside and outlined his plan. Shortly Wilson joined
them, and a half-dozen sailors were picked from the crew. Then, all but
Smiley armed with rifles and revolvers, they descended to the small boat
and were brought rapidly to the shore.
"Which way?" asked Beveridge, sticking close at Smiley's elbow.
"I 'll show you; come along." He led the way back among the pines
and made a circuit, bringing up squarely on the landward side of the
settlement.
"Where is it now, Smiley?"
"Right there."
Beveridge peered out through the trees, then beckoned his men together.
"Come in close, boys, and pick your trees. Keep out of sight--and quiet.
Take my rifle, one of you."
"Shall we go in?" asked Wilson.
"You stay here, Bert."
"Hadn't you better take your rifle?"
"No, I don't want it. Quiet now."
The men spread out, taking places where they could command the
outbuildings.
"Smiley?"
"Yes."
"Which is Spencer's house--where he lives himself?"
"The biggest one. You can see the roof over that shed there."
"All right. Much obliged."
Beveridge walked rapidly out into the clearing and disappeared around
the shed. They heard him mount Spencer's front steps and knock.
"He's plucky enough," muttered Dick.
"Oh, don't you worry about Bill Beveridge," said Wilson. "Why, I've seen
him--"
But Beveridge was calling for them to join him.
"Nobody here?" asked Wilson.
"Not a soul. I took a look around the house. They left in a hurry. See
there."
He nodded toward the harbor. There lay the Merry Anne at the wharf. The
smaller schooner was not to be seen.
"Too late, eh?" said Wilson.
"Too late."
"Suppose they've gone overland?"
"Not a bit of it. They left Smiley's schooner here and went off in
Spencer's."
"Oh, he had one too?"
"Certainly he did."
Dick had made headlong for the schooner. Now they saw him standing on
the after deckhouse, reading a paper which he had found nailed to the
mast.
"What have you there?" called Beveridge.
"Come and see."
The special agent joined him and took the paper. "It's hard enough to
read. Whoever wrote this was in a big hurry. What's this? 'Left again.
You'd better foot it home. Whiskey Jim.' Whiskey Jim, eh? He's stealing
your thunder, Smiley."
"Will you let me see it again?" said Dick. He sat down on the edge of
the deck-house and read it over, gazing at it with fascinated eyes. The
other men watched him curiously.
CHAPTER X--THURSDAY NIGHT--THE GINGHAM DRESS
[Illustration: 0260]
WELL," said Wilson, "what do you think?"
"We 'll do our thinking later. Take these men and search the place.
Smiley and I will wait here."
"You don't expect them to find anything, do you?" asked Dick, when the
others had gone.
"Can't say. We've lost the men, but we may get some evidence."
"Where do you think they are?"
"Where could they be but in Canada?"
Dick was silent.
"Say, Smiley, I like the way you're acting in this business. If anything
on earth will make it any brighter for you, it is what you are doing
now. You might even go a step farther if you should feel like it any
time. It's plain that McGlory and Spencer are pretty deep in, and if you
would come out and tell all you know, it might help you a lot."
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