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The Motor Boat Club at Nantucket: or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir
The Motor Boat Club at Nantucket; or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir
CHAPTER I – THE PAIR IN THE SEAT AHEAD
“Is the ‘Meteor’ a fast boat?”
“Very fast, indeed.”
“But can she beat anything along thiscoast? That’s what I want to know.”
“Judge for yourself. On her trial trip shemade within a small fraction of twenty-eightmiles an hour.”
“Whew! That’s tremendous speed, even fora fast and costly boat such as the rich build to-day.But how long has she been in the water?”
“Since last March.”
“She may have fouled a good deal since then,or her machinery may be a good deal below themark by this time.”
“Humph! For that matter, something couldbe made to happen to the boat, I suppose.”
Of the two men carrying on this conversationin a day-coach seat on a railway train, one wasfive-foot-seven, florid and somewhat stout, witha bull neck and keen, twinkling eyes. His wholeappearance hinted that he had spent most of hisforty years of life on the open sea. The otherman, who was short, slim and swarthy, with narrow, piercing black eyes, might have been a fewyears older. His every motion betokened greatactivity. One might have guessed him to be aSpaniard. His general attire, though it wassomewhat careless, would place him in the business-manclass.
At the first mention of the name “Meteor”two American boys, seated immediately behindthe men, started slightly and immediately wereall attention. Each boy was about sixteen yearsof age. Tom Halstead was fair, brown-hairedand blue-eyed with a naturally merry look. JoeDawson was darker, somewhat more reserved inmanner and was Tom’s fast chum and greatadmirer.