back in the racer cottage there was an anxious consultation going on. it was the afternoon of the second day since andy and frank had gone to cliff island, and they had not returned.
“i don’t like it!” exclaimed mr. racer, tossing aside the paper he had been trying to read, and restlessly pacing the floor. “i wish they hadn’t gone. i wish they were back.”
“don’t you think they can look after themselves?” asked the mother. usually she was the more nervous, but this time it was her husband.
“oh, i suppose they could, ordinarily,” he answered. “but this is different.”
“how, dick?” and there was an anxious note in mrs. racer’s voice. she had just come in from a tennis tournament to find that her husband had returned from new york earlier than usual. now she began to realize the cause. it was on account of the boys.
“well, there’s a storm coming up, for one thing, and then there’s that man. i wish andy and frank hadn’t started after him.”
“it was to help paul, dear.”
“i know. they meant all right, but they’re too daring. however, it can’t be helped. where’s paul?”
“he felt so well that he went for a little walk. he said he’d go down toward the pier and see if he could see or hear anything of the boys.
“well, i’m glad he’s getting better.” mr. racer once more tried to read the paper, but gave it up.
“you’re nervous,” said his wife, as he tossed it aside.
“yes, i am. nothing is worse than sitting still, and waiting—waiting for something to happen.
“oh, dick! i’m sure you don’t want anything to happen!”
“of course not. but i don’t like this weather.”
paul came in at that moment. the glow of health was beginning to reappear in his pale cheeks.
“well?” asked mr. racer quickly.
“they’re not in sight,” answered the lad who did not know who he was. “and captain trent says a bad storm is brewing.”
“that settles it!” exclaimed mr. racer. he started up and took down an old overcoat and hat.
“where are you going?” asked his wife in alarm.
“i’m going for those boys. i can’t stand it any longer.”
“but how can you get to cliff island if a storm is coming up? you have no boat, and to row—”
“i don’t intend to row. mr. lacey, a friend of mine, put in here with his big motor boat a little while ago. i saw him as i got off the new york steamer, and he said he might stay here a couple of days. his craft is at the pier float. i know he’ll take me to cliff island, blow or no blow, and his norma is big enough to weather quite a sea.”
“oh, dick, i’m afraid to have you go!”
“oh, there’s no danger, but there might be to our boys, and i’m going to the rescue. don’t worry. i may be able to get out to the island and back before dark. they’re probably scouting around, looking for that man, and he isn’t there at all. they think they’re having a good time, but they don’t realize what the weather is going to be.”
mr. racer went on with his preparations for being out in the storm. mrs. racer, after the first alarm, agreed with him that it was best to go after the boys.
“do you think that i—that is—oh, mayn’t i go?” burst out paul gale. “i’d like to help. andy and frank have done so much for me. can’t i go?”
“i’m afraid you’re not strong enough,” objected mr. racer.
“oh, but i am!” insisted the lad. “i believe it will do me good. but can’t you ask dr. martin?”
they were saved the necessity of calling the physician up on the telephone for he drove past at that moment and mr. racer hailed him. the case was soon stated.
“i agree with you that it is a good thing to go after andy and frank,” said the medical man. “as for taking paul along—hum—well, i don’t know.”
“oh, i’m all right, doctor,” insisted the lad again.
“you certainly have gained much strength in the last few days,” went on the physician. “if you take care of yourself perhaps it won’t do you any harm. but don’t exert yourself too much.”
“no,” promised paul eagerly. then, as he hurried to his room to get ready, dr. martin said to mr. racer in a low voice:
“i’m not so sure but what it won’t be a good thing for him. he lost his memory in a storm, you know, and if there is a little blow out in the bay his mind may be restored again. we doctors don’t know as much about the brain as we’d like to. it can’t do any harm to try it, especially as you are going in a big, safe boat. good luck to you.”
mrs. racer parted with her husband and paul rather tearfully. the signs of the storm increased as the two went down to the pier. mr. racer found his friend there, and mr. lacey readily agreed to the use of his boat.
“i’ll pilot you to the island myself,” he said generously, “and i’ll tell the engineer and crew to make all the speed they can. we’ve got lots of gasolene, and i guess we can weather almost any blow that’s due this time of year.”
they were soon speeding away from the pier, and the sharp prow of the norma was turned in the direction of cliff island. clouds were rapidly gathering and there was an occasional muttering of thunder.
paul gale kept to the cabin, as the wind had freshened since they started and there was quite a sea on, that sent the spume and spray of the salty waves across the deck.
they were longer reaching the island than they counted on, and just before they sighted it the storm broke in all its fury. but they were prepared for it, and the norma plunged gallantly ahead through the smashing big seas of green water that at times buried her nose out of sight.
suddenly there was a slight crash forward and a shiver seemed to go through the gasolene craft.
“what’s that?” cried mr. racer in alarm.
“we hit something,” said mr. lacey. “danforth, just see what it is, will you?” he asked of the mate, who was in the snug cabin with the owner and his guests.
but mr. racer did not wait. he rushed up on deck. the norma had been brought to quarter speed and the silk merchant could see, floating off to one side, a small wrecked skiff. it seemed familiar to him.
“that’s what we hit, sir,” explained one of the crew. “cut it right in two.”
“it’s my boys’ boat!” cried mr. racer. “the one they carry on the gull. i know the shape of it, and i can see the red circle on the stern. were they in it when we cut it down?”
“no, sir. i don’t think so, sir,” answered the sailor as he noted the anguish of mr. racer. “i saw it immediately after we struck, and i’m almost sure no one was in it. i’d have seen them, sir, if there was, sir.”
“oh, but perhaps they were in it!” cried mr. racer. “their sailboat may have foundered, and they might have had to take to the small boat. oh, mr. lacey. we must pick up my boys!” he added, as the owner came on deck.
“of course. captain nelson, put back and circle around that boat. light the searchlight and play it on the wreck.”
“aye, aye, sir!”
the norma began the search amid the storm and gathering darkness, while the father peered over the side in anguished fear.
