“Can’t help it if he does,” answered Enoch, who was brave in every cause he espoused, whether good or bad. “I have played a mean part toward Don and Bert, just because I disliked Egan without a cause, and wanted to show that I was a friend to Lester, and if I can make amends for it in any way, I am going to do it, I don’t care a snap what happens to me.”
“And I will stand by you,” said Jones, “but I am afraid we can’t be of any service. See there!”
Enoch looked in the direction indicated by his friend’s finger, and saw that the coaster had taken advantage of a favorable tide to get under way. She was some distance from the pier already, and was beginning to feel the influence of the breeze.
“Cast off that bow-line and shove her head out while I run up the jib,” exclaimed Enoch. “Work lively, now, and we can overhaul her before she begins to gather headway. We will show ourselves to Don if he is there, and all he’s got to do is to make his presence known. Hurry up, for when she gets that big mainsail up and her top-sails set, she’ll walk away from us hand over fist.”
The attention of the two boys was so fully occupied with the work before them, that they did not see the commotion that arose on board the coaster all on a sudden, nor hear the words of command that were shouted at the sailors who ran aft to man the yawl which had not yet been hoisted at the stern davits. But when Enoch took the helm, he saw at once that there was something unusual going on, for the coaster had “spilled” her sails, the two men in her yawl were rowing about first in one direction and then in another, their movements being directed by a third who was leaning over the bow with a lighted lantern in his hand.
“Go for’ard, quick, and listen with all your ears,” commanded Enoch, who for once was so excited that he could scarcely speak plainly. “This is as good evidence as I want that we are on the right track. Don was on that coaster, but he is in the water now.”
“There comes Barr,” exclaimed Jones, who just at that moment caught sight of a canoe which shot out from the shadow of the pier the coaster had left a short time before. She was propelled by two men, who handled their paddles as if they were in a great hurry.
“There’s more evidence,” said Enoch. “Barr and his partner saw Don when he went overboard, and they are going out to help hunt him up. That proves that he could not have swum under the pier; if he had, they would have seen him. Don is probably holding a straight course for the middle of the bay, and taking his chances on being picked up. Give a pull at the sheets, fore and aft, and we’ll stand farther out.”
“I hope he’ll not sink before we get to him,” said Jones, as he hastened to obey the order.
“If all the boys say about him is true, we need have no fear on that score,” was the encouraging reply. “He has swum the whole length of Diamond Lake more than once, and that must be four or five miles long. Listen!” added Enoch, in a suppressed whisper. “Didn’t you hear some one hailing?”