CHAPTER 15 The Pay-Off

Dan was hurled violently into the foaming water. As he went under, he held his breath and instinctively turned his head upward.

After what seemed an eternity, his face emerged from the water.

But the boy was helpless, bound hand and foot. He rolled over on his back, trying to float. The gag in his mouth had become water soaked. He began to choke.

This, he thought, was it.

As black despair claimed him, a hand reached out of nowhere to support his back. The gag was jerked from his mouth so that he could breath again. Gratefully, he sucked in big mouthfuls of air.

Twisting his head, Dan saw that it was Jacques who had saved him. The boy was treading water beside him, supporting his body with his left hand.

“Lie still,” Jacques commanded. “I tow you. Police boat come. Pick us up.”

Even as he spoke, the powerful beam from the approaching launch spotlighted the water about them. A moment later, both boys were hauled aboard.

“Jacques, you saved me,” Dan murmured gratefully as the other boy bent to unfasten the ropes which bound him. “Thanks.”

Gravely they shook hands and wrung the water from their dripping garments.

“And you deliberately crashed the boat so the police would catch up with us,” Dan added. “Why, Jacques?”

The boy shrugged. “Only way,” he answered briefly.

After freeing Dan, Jacques watched anxiously while police picked up his uncle, Frisk Fagan and Joe Matt. The three had saved themselves by clinging to the sinking motorboat.

Before the men could release the boxes of stolen furs, police had them covered. They were forced aboard the launch, and the smashed motorboat taken in tow. Fagan’s forehead was cut and Jabowski nursed an injured arm. Otherwise the crash had left them unscathed.

“This was your fault!” Joe Matt accused Jacques savagely as a policeman snapped handcuffs on his wrists. “Yellow rat! I wish I’d let you go that time you sneaked away!”

During the ride back to the dock, police officers took detailed statements from both Dan and Jacques. The later spoke in broken English and had difficulty in telling his story.

However, he revealed that in recent weeks he had been held virtually a prisoner at Skeleton Island. Brought to America from France by his uncle, everything had gone well until Jabowski had fallen in with evil companions.

On the night that the Cubs had found him lying exhausted on the beach, the boy had been assigned to carry a message in code to Joe Matt.

“And what did that message say?” Dan asked. “I figured out only the first word before it was snatched from the Cave.”

“Coming through 24,” Jacques revealed. “Today the 24th.”

“That meant the fur shipment?”

Jacques nodded, explaining that the message, relayed by tip-off men to his uncle, had been intended for Joe Matt. But instead of delivering it, the boy had made up his mind to run away.

“I leap from my uncle’s boat and swim away in dark,” he added. “Reach shore. Hard swim.”

“You were plenty tired when we found you,” Dan recalled. “I understand now why you were unwilling to talk. You were deeply involved with your uncle and the gang.”

“Uncle good to me,” Jacques said simply. “Bring me to America.”

“I get the picture now,” Dan said. “Without meaning to, I let Joe Matt know you were staying at the Cave. He came there and made you return to your uncle, didn’t he?”

Jacques nodded, his eyes on the shore lights which now were close by.

“That explains those peculiar circular marks in the sand,” Dan went on piecing the story together. “They were made by Joe Matt’s cane! Oh, he was clever, pretending to be blind. All the while, he picked up information and relayed it to members of the ring. Hank considered him a friend!”

The launch reached the dock and the three prisoners were herded ashore. Hank Hawkins, having revived from the blow Joe Matt had struck, readily identified the boxes of furs as the ones stolen from his company.

“Another one of the gang got away!” he told police excitedly. “He pulled out in a taxi cab.”

“That would be Paper Bag Eddie,” Dan informed. “The driver of the cab was in on the deal too.”

“We’ll get ’em both,” the boy was assured. “If not tonight, within a day or two. Eddie is the key man of a ring of river pirates. The gang is composed of tip-off men, highjackers, a lawyer and a bail bondsman. Also a fence or two who sell the loot. But we’ll round ’em up in time.”

All three prisoners and Jacques as well, were taken to the police station to be booked on larceny charges. However, officers assured Jacques that he would not be held for trial, providing he would testify against Joe Matt and other members of the gang. This the boy agreed to do.

Dan’s narrow escape at the hands of the river pirates became the talk of Webster City during the next few days. Especially was his adventure the chief topic of conversation among the Cubs of both Dens 1 and 2.

“You’re a hero, Dan,” Brad told him proudly. “Why, you brought that gang to heel single-handed!”

“Don’t give me that line,” Dan laughed. “I was just an unwilling passenger. Jacques was the one who brought about the capture. To do it he had to turn his own uncle in and risk prison himself. That kid sure has what it takes.”

“He’s a Cub too,” Brad said proudly. “He joined in France. Mr. Hatfield’s trying to make arrangements to keep him here in Webster City.”

“Maybe he’ll join our Den!”

“Here’s hoping. He’ll be a live wire, that’s certain.”

As both boys knew, Jacques had been released on probation to Mr. Hatfield. Temporarily, the French lad was living in the Cub leader’s home where he would remain until called to testify in court.

Three days elapsed. At the end of that time the Cubs were elated to learn that Paper Bag Eddie had been captured in a neighboring city. Thereafter, one by one, other members of the ring were arrested and returned to Webster City to face charges.

“Now that the entire gang is in the jug, I feel a lot safer,” Dan remarked one night to Brad. The two boys had arrived early at the Cave prior to a Den meeting at which Jacques was to be taken in as a member. “For awhile, I couldn’t look a sack of popcorn in the face!”

One by one, the Cubs and their parents began to arrive for the meeting. Mr. Hatfield started it off with a little talk. First he told the boys how proud he was that Den 2 had won the swimming meet and the silver trophy which now graced a table in the Cave.

Next the Cub leader paid tribute to Dan for his coolness in the face of danger. Finally he spoke of the Cub ideals and the honor of the organization.

“A real Cub always is square,” he emphasized, smiling across the room at Jacques. “Crooked people are unfair, even to themselves. So the Cub follows the law of God and man. I commend Jacques for being true to the ideals he was taught as a Cub. The organization is proud to claim him as a member.”

“Three cheers for Jacques!” proposed Dan.

The Cubs gave them with a will. Mr. Hatfield was on the verge of proposing a song, when footsteps were heard on the steps leading up to the Cave.

Everyone turned to see Mr. Manheim standing in the doorway. The owner of Skeleton Island looked a little embarrassed.

“Hope I’m not intruding,” he said awkwardly.

“Certainly not, Mr. Manheim,” the Cub leader replied. “The Cubs always are pleased to have visitors.”

“Matter of fact, I came here on business,” the island owner said, entering the clubroom. “May I have permission to speak a few words?”

“The floor is yours,” the Cub leader told him.

Mr. Manheim faced the circle of Cubs. He cleared his throat and then began:

“Boys, I owe you an apology. I’ve meant to come here before, but the truth is, I’ve been ashamed. You all know what happened at Skeleton Island. My man Jabowski, in whom I placed great trust, deceived me.”

Suddenly made aware that Jacques was in the group, Mr. Manheim coughed in embarrassment and added quickly: “But that is not what I came here to say. I apologize to the Cubs for misjudging them. Events have proven conclusively that Dan Carter was right and that I was wrong.”

“Under the circumstance, your mistake was natural, Mr. Manheim,” the Cub leader said politely. “After all, the Cubs were a trifle hasty in their actions.”

The island owner waved aside the apology. “This is what I really came to say. I hope the Cubs will forget that I ever ordered them away from the island. I’m engaging a new caretaker, and the property is yours to use whenever you like.”

“That’s most generous of you, Mr. Manheim,” the Cub leader thanked him.

“Furthermore, I’m deeding the camp site to the Scouts without charge. It’s the least I can do to make amends.”

The island owner’s generosity delighted the Cubs. Dan proposed a cheer for Mr. Manheim which was given with a will.

“One thing more,” the island owner said. “I understand that Mr. Holloway’s sailboat was struck either by my motorboat or one which closely resembled it. In either case, Jabowski was mixed up in the affair. I’ll send my check to cover the damage.”

“It really isn’t necessary,” Mr. Holloway protested.

“I want to do it,” Mr. Manheim insisted. “Shall we say it eases my conscience? Well, good-bye boys. I’ll see you at the new camp.” With a friendly wave of his hand, he departed.

The Cub meeting now ended quietly with the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” After the last note had died away, the boys clustered about Jacques to grasp his hand and welcome him to the organization.

“Very glad to be a Cub,” the boy grinned. “Glad to be American too.”

“Don’t think we aren’t tickled to have you!” Brad said warmly.

“Oh, we’ll have wonderful times next summer at Skeleton Island,” Dan added with an air of deep satisfaction. He linked arms with Jacques and Brad as the boys trooped out of the Cave. “Best of all, we’ve proved to Mr. Manheim that Cubs really know their stuff!”