“If you can get her started right off—come on down and try it!”
Obligingly, Mr. Sandborn stepped down into the boat, and, because he knew something about marine engines, he went about his work with an air of knowledge that was convincing. None of the men and few of the other spectators noticed when he again attached the wire. He made a fuss over an adjustment on another part of the motor and then pronounced her ready to go!
The helmsman stepped on the starter and the motor purred into action, sweetly and powerfully.
“Thanks; what do we owe you?” asked the leader.
“Nothing, unless you know where I kin get a job, Mister,” said the G-man, casually.
The men exchanged looks. The crowd seemed interested and formed a rooting section. Half urged by the mob and mostly by some knowledge of their own, the men told him to seat himself in the bow seat, and the leader promised to see his “boss about a job.”
The gray boat moved swiftly away from the wharf now, bearing a G-man bent on investigating what was to prove one of the most cleverly planned schemes the country has ever known! So stupendous a crime was planned that, had Mr. Sandborn known the facts that morning, he would have stayed ashore and sent in a hurry call for the entire G-man army. Instead he went blithely to his duty, playing the lone hand among that band of super-criminals!
They bore down on Porpoise Island, whizzed through the channel into Black Cove, and purred up to the boat-house and float-stage. And Mr. Nevens himself was coming down the wharf at that moment, smiling a greeting.
CHAPTER VII
Thirty Per Cent or Fight
“WE HAVE a guest, I see,” remarked the smiling owner of Porpoise Island.