“Humph,” muttered Harry to himself, as some steps were lowered and they prepared to board the River Swallow, “I’ve got more than half a notion, my friend, that you weren’t half as worried as you would like us to think.”
Malvin and Hansen helped to get the injured lad on deck, where he was laid out in the cockpit. Had Ralph not been preoccupied he would have noticed Malvin give a perceptible start as his eyes fell upon the lad’s pallid face.
“It’s Henderson Hawke’s boy, Jim Whey,” he muttered to himself. “So it was these brats of Border Boys who landed on Windmill Island last night. I thought so from the description Hawke gave me of his visitors.”
After seeing the wounded lad comfortably disposed, Ralph ordered full speed ahead. Cardinal was reached after a swift run and the lad hurried to the hospital in an ambulance summoned from the dock.
“I think we may hope for the best,” said the house surgeon in answer to the boys’ inquiries. “What is the lad’s name?”
“We—we don’t know; but I’ll be responsible for him,” rejoined Ralph.
“Humph! Queer sort of lads,” muttered the surgeon, as he turned to give some orders and the boys returned to their fast motor craft.
CHAPTER XIV.
HARRY HEARS A NOISE IN THE BUSHES.
“And now for some sleep.”
Ralph spoke, as, after enjoying a hearty breakfast of fruit, steaks and coffee, the two latter cooked on the River Swallow’s electric broiler by Percy Simmons, the three boys, who had passed such a sleepless, trying night, yawned openly in each other’s faces.