“You needn’t bear down so heavy on the police,” said Enoch, as soon as he saw a chance to crowd a word in edgewise, “for they would not have known that the big gun was there, if it had not been for that meddlesome fellow who took it upon himself to play the spy upon your actions last season.”
“You mean Gus Egan?” said Barr, inquiringly.
“He is the very chap,” replied Enoch. “We found him and his party, which is made up of boys as mean as he is, in the cove, trying to toll in a flock of ducks with old Eph’s dog; but that was only a blind. When we came up and frightened the ducks away, they went down the beach and found the gun as easy as falling off a log. Just then the police-boat came up and they signaled to her, and she went in and brought away the gun.”
Upon hearing this, Barr went off into another paroxysm of rage, flourishing his fists in the air and dancing about in the sink-boat, while the “partner” clung to the sides to keep from being thrown out by his companion’s wild antics, and swore softly to himself.
“We ran alongside the police-boat, thinking that we might hear something that would be of use to us, but Egan put the officers on their guard, talking to them in a tone so low that we could not hear what he said,” chimed in Jones. “We owe him one for that.”
“I am afraid you will never get any more ducks with that gun,” said Enoch, consolingly.
“I know I never shall,” growled Barr, who, having worked off a little of his rage, was now seated quietly on the bottom of the sink-boat. “Let’s pick up the decoys, Pete. I don’t feel like doing any more shooting to-day.”
“I shouldn’t think he would,” said Enoch, in a low tone. “If I were in his place I should feel much more like hunting up that Gus Egan and giving him a good thrashing.” Then raising his voice, he continued: “You won’t forget your promise, will you, Mr. Barr? You will let us know when you are ready to make another night excursion, won’t you?”
But Barr was too angry, or too busy with his decoys to reply. Enoch did not dare press the matter just then, for fear of defeating the object he had in view; and as he could not think of anything that he cared to add to his report, he bade the big-gunners good-by, and filed away for home. On the way the Firefly passed Mr. Egan’s house, and Jones pointed out to Lester the berth the Sallie always occupied when she was not in use. Lester saw at a glance that it was a lonely and retired spot, and so far from the dwelling that a tramp or anybody else who wanted to go down the bay, and who thought it easier to ride than to walk, could steal Egan’s yacht, or his father’s oyster-boat, with little fear of detection.
“Well, then, suppose we try it to-night,” said Enoch, when Lester had given utterance to the thoughts that were passing through his mind. “Suppose we steal the cutter?”