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Read Ebook: Frank Merriwell's Chase; Or Exciting Times Afloat by Standish Burt L
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Ebook has 2114 lines and 54434 words, and 43 pages
"Gentlemen," he laughed, in his charming way, "I assure you this is an unexpected pleasure. It will be a long time before I shall forget my reception in Belfast. I am glad to know you all."
"And we are glad you did not slight us by skipping Belfast," said Mart Woodock. "We heard you were in Camden and Rockland, but, as you left there more than a week ago, we thought you were not coming to Belfast. You will find just as good people here as there are in the State of Maine."
"I haven't a doubt of it," bowed Merry; "and I am charmed with the people of Maine. It is my first visit this way, but I am sure it will not be my last."
Then he uttered a sudden exclamation of surprise and sprang toward the door of the freighthouse.
MERRIWELL MEETS HIS FOE.
All were surprised by Merriwell's sudden move.
Frank had seen a person appear in the open door of the freight house, look at him, and then dodge back. Although he obtained but a glimpse of this person, Merry fancied he knew him.
Into the doorway he sprang, and looked around. On every hand were boxes and barrels and piles of freight, but no one was to be seen. The opposite door was standing open.
"Must have dodged out that way," muttered Frank, and he darted toward the door.
But when he reached the door, he looked in vain for the person he fancied he had seen.
"My eyes may have fooled me," he said.
He had been followed by several of the cyclists, and they were staring at him in amazement. He saw that he must make some explanation, or they would think him deranged.
"It's all right," he laughed. "I fancied I saw a person that I know. He appeared there in the doorway, and then retreated into the building. I may have been mistaken."
"You must have been," said Mart Woodock.
"Come out and meet the girls," said Howard Dustan. "They are waiting to be introduced."
So Merry was escorted into the presence of the girls and introduced to each one in turn.
"We had begun to believe you were not coming to Belfast at all, Mr. Merriwell," said a vivacious little blond named Mabel Mitshef, but called "Mabel Mischief" by her friends.
"I came near missing Belfast," acknowledged Frank; "but, after going to Bar Harbor, I learned something about this place that made it seem very attractive to me, and so I decided to come here. Already I am satisfied that the stories I heard about Belfast are true."
"My!" cried Mabel. "You make me curious. I wonder what stories you could have heard?"
"Well," smiled Frank, "I heard that Belfast had the prettiest girls of any place on the Maine coast."
This threw the girls into confusion, but Mabel had sufficient presence of mind to say:
"If you came here because of those stories, I hope you will not be disappointed, Mr. Merriwell."
"If the girls I have already seen fairly represent the fair sex of Belfast, I am sure I shall not," bowed Frank.
Frank's back was turned toward the freight house door, so he did not see the hateful eyes which peered out at him. The owner of those eyes drew back in a moment, muttering:
"Yes, it is Merriwell--curse him! I dodged him just in time. He would have seen me if I hadn't hidden amid those boxes. He must not see me now."
Flynn wore a bicycle suit, and he quickly stole out of the freight house by another door, found a wheel outside, mounted it and rode away swiftly.
In the meantime Frank was chatting with his new friends, fascinating them by his wit and easy manners. They had heard much of him, and not one of them was disappointed in his appearance.
"Mr. Merriwell," said Dustan, "I took care to bring along a wheel for you when I heard you were coming into the harbor. Of course, I took a chance about fitting you, but I have the best wheel to be found in the city, and I think it can be adjusted to suit you, if it is not right."
"But I have my yachting suit on."
"Never mind. I have trouser guards."
"That's all right!" cried several.
"Go ahead and get your suit," nodded Dustan.
Diamond and Hodge had remained in the boat awaiting orders from Merry, and now he hastily descended the stairs and stepped into the boat.
"To the yacht," he said.
Away they went, the two oarsmen pulling with such grace and skill that they won the admiration of those watching from the wharf.
"What's up, Merry?" asked Jack, eagerly.
"The Belfast Wheelmen are here to meet me, and they are going to escort me into the city."
"Well, how in the name of all things wonderful did they know you were coming--for they must have known it?"
"Yes."
"Well, there was a Camden man on her, and he saw us."
"Is that the way of it?"
"Why are you going back to the yacht?"
"To get into a riding suit. They have a wheel for me, and I am to ride up into the city with them."
"Say!" burst impulsively from Diamond, "these people down this way are too much for me! I don't understand it! I thought we'd find a lot of farmers and woodsmen, and I didn't dream we'd ever run into anyone who had heard of you, Merriwell. Instead of that, they seem to know all about you, and they are ready to give you a royal welcome wherever you go. Bar Harbor was the only exception, and I will bet there are persons there who know all about you. They didn't know you were in town, that's all."
"How about Green's Landing?"
The boat softly touched against the side of the yacht, and Frank did not wait to say anything more. Over the rail he went at a bound, and hurried down into the cabin.
"Eh?" grunted Browning, rising up from a bunk. "Back so soon? What for?"
"To see if you are helping Hans get things trimmed up," said Frank.
"I am," declared the lazy fellow, settling back comfortably. "I am looking after things down below here, while he attends to things on deck."
Frank laughed. It was like the big fellow, who really seemed too lazy to draw a breath without an effort.
With skill that would have done credit to a "lightning change artist" in a variety show, Frank got out of his yachting suit and leaped into his bicycle suit. Then he pulled on a Yale sweater, brushed his hair, caught up his cap, and hurried on deck.
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