"Wow! I'd have liked to, first rate!" declared Josh, in ecstacy.

"But he managed to climb out again, of course, Mr. Spofford?" Jack asked.

"Oh! yes, after a lot of floundering around. I saw him climbing that spile yonder, dripping at every move. And I've had no trouble since."

"Then we owe you a vote of thanks for helping us out in this way,"

declared George, warmly. "Only for your guardianship something serious would have happened to our boats; and you can understand, sir, that they are precious to all of us, after serving us so well on that Mississippi cruise."

"I want to hear all about that at the first chance, boys. But now I'll move out, and give the rightful owners possession. This is a very well named boat, Herbert. I give you credit for knowing how to get full enjoyment out of a trip. Now, that speed boat doubtless pleases George, but you see it would hardly do for a fellow of my heft. I'm going to get the builder of this outfit to put me one up that will be a dream, a fat man's paradise."

"Hold on, Mr. Spofford," said Jack, who knew he was voicing the sentiments of the entire club when he spoke as he did; "we are going to stay around here until another morning, for we've got a lot to do, stowing our stores, you know. And tonight, if you can do so, we invite you to a little dinner, to be held on this boat. We hope you will please us by coming; and let me tell you we've got the boss cook among us, who can tickle your palate the best ever."

All eyes were turned toward Josh, who got up and gravely bowed, pushing back Buster, who had impudently been in the act of accepting the honor himself.

"I'll do it on one condition, boys," said the lawyer, as he started to deposit his bulk in the boat Herb was holding to the side of the _Comfort_.

"What is that, sir?" demanded Jack.

"That you promise to read to me the log of your last trip, when you went down the big river; also tell me the many adventures that I'm sure must have come your way during those glorious weeks."

"Done!" cried one and all, as they shook hands with the jolly retired lawyer, and Herb started to paddle him to the dock.

"What time is dinner hour, fellows?" sang out Mr. Spofford, just as heartily as though he might be one of the youngsters.

"Six sharp; but we'll wait for you any length of time you say, sir,"

replied Jack.

"Look for me before that time; and remember, boys, I'm a man of some size, so be warned," laughed the other, waving his hand.

"Oh! we know all about that, sir; because, you see, we've got a shining example of the same with us," called Josh, motioning toward Buster.

"That's so; but I'm afraid you mean a _horrible_ example; for we fat fellows are to be pitied," floated back to their ears.

Nick sank back on his seat, looking plainly troubled.

"Oh! my, if I thought there was any danger of my ever getting like that I'd-I'd, well, I don't know what I'd do; but something pretty desperate-skip a meal once a week, perhaps," he remarked to George.

The other was already trying to draw his own boat alongside, so that he might aboard; for naturally each skipper had thought of the craft that was dearest to his mind; and Herb returning, both Jack and Jimmie used the rowboat to reach the anch.o.r.ed _Tramp_.

CHAPTER VI-THE "FLASH"

For an hour or more the boys were busily engaged in rummaging.

Then they began to think about getting their luggage aboard, as well as the necessary supplies. Jack had his lists made out to the fraction.

Previous experience would prove of considerable benefit to them now, since they knew just what was most needed, and what things to leave behind.

"I say, Jack!" called George, across the scant s.p.a.ce that separated their boats.

"h.e.l.lo! what is it?" asked the skipper of the _Tramp_, looking up.

"We've all been so busy we haven't thought to look around," remarked George; "and consequently missed seeing that dandy craft lying off there a couple of hundred yards. n.o.body seems to be aboard, as far as I've noticed. My! but ain't she a beaut, though? Such graceful lines. I warrant she can just skim the water, and make you _dizzy_ watching her.

Do you know what struck me, Jack?"

"That this might be the swift boat Clarence has had built, and which he said was going to cut capers all around our fleet," replied the other, promptly.

"Guessed it the first shot. Am I right?" asked George.

"Looks to me like a regular black, piratical craft," observed Josh.

"Just notice how low she sits in the water, would you? And there's something sneaky in her whole make-up. Yes, that sort of a boat just seems to fit in with a fellow like Clarence Macklin, 'Sneaky Clarence,'

you remember."

"There's a name in gold letters on her bow, but I can't quite make it out. Here, Buster, just hand me my gla.s.ses, will you?"

A minute later George, having adjusted the marine gla.s.ses to his sight, gave utterance to a low whistle.

"I've got the name all right, fellows," he remarked, "and what d'ye think it is? Just the plain word _'Flash.'_ I guess that stands for speed all right."

"It also stands for what Clarence and Bully Joe represent," Herb observed.

Often, as they busied themselves during the balance of that day, George's eyes would wander toward that long, narrow boat that sat upon the heaving water with the grace of a black swan from Australia. George believed he could see the times when it would be nip and tuck between the _Flash_ and his own hitherto unbeaten _Wireless_; and he confessed that perhaps the boast of the rival of the motor boat boys might not have been without reasonable foundation.

Knowing how many times they must go ash.o.r.e before the stores and supplies were all aboard, the motor boat boys realized that it would be a saving of time if they raised anchor, and moored alongside the dock.

This was accordingly done. As noon had come, they went in detachments to the nearest hotel, and secured a meal; after which their baggage was taken aboard. Then, leaving the others to stow it away, as on the previous cruise, Jack, Herb and George went into town to purchase what their long list called for.

Nick called out after them three times, begging them on each occasion to be sure and not forget a certain thing of which he happened to be particularly fond. Josh poked a whole lot of fun at the fat boy, and warned him to beware lest he equal the enormous girth of Mr. Amos in a short time if he did not curb that tremendous appet.i.te.

"Oh! don't you fret about that," Nick answered. "In good time I expect to gradually cut down my rations until I become as skinny as you. Then, like enough, I'll want to jump overboard and end it all."

That was always Nick's way-_tomorrow_ he meant to start in regulating his diet; but as usual with those who put off the evil day, tomorrow never seemed to come.

That was a busy afternoon with them all.

Jack saw to it that the eatables were put up in three separate packages all around, so that they could be handed over to the several boats without division. This helped wonderfully, for there was no choosing, and no ill feeling because one happened to get a better looking a.s.sortment than the others.

"It's near stopping time, fellows!" called Nick, as he squatted on a seat, like a big toad, Josh said, and wiped the perspiration from his rosy face.

"Well, I guess everything's ready," added Jack.

"Ditto here," came from Herb. "And Josh is already rustling the kettles, as if he meant business. So I move we pull out again and anchor. When the gent comes we can get him aboard with the help of this rowboat he hired for us."

That sort of talk seemed to satisfy every one; and accordingly they set about working the motor boats to the positions they had occupied previously, at the time their mudhooks were down.

Then began great preparations for a feast. Both the other boats handed over their several batteries for cooking. Their previous experience had taught George and Herb a lesson, so that they had discarded their c.u.mbersome oil lamps, and now each rejoiced in a fine new, bra.s.s Jewel gas oil-stove, of the same reliable German brand as that which Jack carried when on the famous Mississippi trip, now but a fond memory.