Chapter 11 The Whispering Statue by Carolyn Keene
AN ACCIDENT AT SEA
“You mean Mr. Wormrath may attempt to kidnap Mr. Owen!” Nancy gasped, startled at the thought.
“When an unscrupulous person finds himself cornered he’s apt to attempt almost anything in order to save his own skin,” the lawyer responded dryly. “Mr. Owen is getting on in years and should have someone to look after him.”
“Why not advise him to employ a bodyguard until the trouble blows over?”
“Oh, I have, but his only reply is ‘stuff and nonsense.’ He can’t seem to realize that we’re dealing with a dangerous man.”
“It’s too bad he doesn’t live here in Sea Cliff,” Nancy remarked. “If he would only come, you could keep an eye on him yourself, Dad, and I might help you!”
“You’d like the job, wouldn’t you?” her father teased. “But I’m afraid Mr. Owen wouldn’t feel flattered if he thought we believed him incapable of looking after himself.”
“He needn’t know everything,” Nancy chuckled. “Really I wish he would come here, Dad. Then I could find out if he’s related to Mrs. Owen of River Heights.”
“I suspected that was in your mind all the time,” laughed her father. “I meant to ask Mr. Owen for you, but we were so pressed with business matters that I forgot about it completely.”
“I don’t suppose you could bring Mr. Owen here?” Nancy asked eagerly. “Would it be possible to let him think you wished to consult him about the case?”
“I’ll consider the matter,” her father promised with a smile.
At luncheon he told Nancy that he had sent a telegram to the man, requesting him to come immediately to the Seaside Hotel. Before the meal was over a reply had been received. Mr. Owen agreed to make the trip without delay.
“Remember, it was your idea,” Mr. Drew reminded his daughter, “so when I’m not around you’ll be responsible for Mr. Owen’s safety.”
“I’ll guard him like a G-man,” Nancy promised, laughing. “Bess, George and I will never allow him out of our sight.”
Since it was not anticipated that Mr. Owen could arrive before the following morning, the girls accepted an invitation from Jack Kingdon to try ocean fishing in his motor boat. They were thrilled at the opportunity for it would be the first time for that sport.
The day was warm and the water smooth as glass. Jack complained that he was afraid the fish might refuse to strike, but the girls preferred the quiet sea to one which might have made them sick.
Jack was an expert fisherman. He gave each of the girls a huge pole equipped with a large reel and a great length of line, then baited the hooks with raw meat.
“I ought to catch a whale with an outfit like this,” George laughed. “What shall I do if I get a strike?”
As the young man had predicted, the fish were not biting. Although the boat moved from one locality to another the party had no luck. The girls did not mind it, however, for they were enjoying the beautiful day. Presently a breeze arose and Nancy noticed that the waves were lapping heavily against the boat.
“Looks as if a storm may be kicking up,” Jack observed, scanning the clouds.
As he steered toward shore Nancy, hearing a droning noise above, turned her head to watch a passing seaplane. She followed it with her eyes until it was some distance away. Suddenly she gave an excited cry:
“Why, it’s landing!”
“And in such rough water!” Bess exclaimed in astonishment. “I should think the pilot would be afraid his machine might upset.”
Anxiously the young people looked on as the plane came down on the surface of the water. It struck heavily, then glided swiftly forward, veering crazily.
“That was a nice landing in such a rough sea,” Jack murmured admiringly. “But what’s the matter with the pilot? He acts as if he were ill.”
“Or else overcome by fumes,” Nancy added tensely.
They had seen the aviator slump, one arm dangling over the side. The passenger in the front cockpit signaled frantically to the occupants of the oncoming motor boat, his lips framing words they were unable to hear. They were sure he was calling for help, however.
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Jack yelled grimly, increasing the speed of the craft.
The boat shot through the water, sending a cold spray flying into the faces of the girls. Nancy stood beside Jack at the wheel, her eyes glued upon the drifting seaplane. Should it turn broadside to a wave, she feared that the craft might fill up and become submerged.
At that moment she became aware that the pilot and his passenger were in even greater danger. A tongue of flame had shot up suddenly from the fuselage, revealing that fire had caused the forced landing of the ship.
“If the flames reach the gasoline supply it will all be over in a flash!” Jack murmured, his face tense.
Plowing steadily through the rough water, the motor boat was still some distance from the drifting seaplane. The lone passenger, an elderly man, turned an appealing face toward his would-be rescuers.
“Help! Help!” they heard him call.
“We’ll never reach him in time,” George murmured anxiously. “The flames are spreading too fast!”
Apparently the passenger was of the same opinion, believing that his only hope of saving himself and the pilot depended upon his own efforts. The young people saw him climb out of the cockpit he was in and struggle frantically to free the unconscious aviator behind him. Finally he succeeded in pushing the man into the sea, then plunged after him.
“They’ll both drown!” Bess gasped in horror.
However, the elderly man grasped the pilot by the hair in an effort to tow him away from the burning plane. He was a poor swimmer. Encumbered by water-soaked clothing and a heavy human weight, he made slight progress in the turbulent sea.
The waves brought the flaming seaplane dangerously close to the men, while each deluge of water which broke over their heads temporarily buried them beneath the surface. The swimmer began to thrash the water and gasp for breath, an indication that he was weakening rapidly.
“That old fellow has courage,” Jack muttered. “He won’t desert his helpless companion.”
“Can’t you go faster?” Nancy pleaded.
Jack did not answer, for just at that moment Bess gave a low moan.
“Oh, we’re too late. They’ve gone under!” she cried.