Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the Hawk — Reading Companion

CHAPTER I. ON THE LEVEE. CHAPTER II. MIXED IDENTITIES. CHAPTER III. DOUBLE-TROUBLE. CHAPTER IV. TRICKED! CHAPTER V. MOTOR MATT'S PROMISE. CHAPTER VI. DASHINGTON DASHED. CHAPTER VII. A HARD STARTER. CHAPTER VIII. A BULLET FROM BELOW. CHAPTER IX. THE WRECK. CHAPTER X. THE UNEXPECTED. CHAPTER XI. A FRIEND FROM THE ENEMY'S CAMP. CHAPTER XII. THE BAG OF DIAMONDS. CHAPTER XIII. A DARING PLOT. CHAPTER XIV. ON THE ROAD. CHAPTER XV. A NEW MAN TAKES A HAND. CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. THE MASKED LIGHT (CONCLUSION). SPANISH CEDAR LOGS. COOKING THE VENISON STEAK. BABY OSTRICHES. MINK FARM IN OREGON.

CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY.

=Motor Matt=, a lad who is at home with every variety of motor, and whose never-failing nerve serves to carry him through difficulties that would daunt any ordinary young fellow. Because of his daring as a racer with bicycle, motor-cycle and automobile he is known as "Mile-a-minute Matt." Motor-boats, air ships and submarines come naturally in his line, and consequently he lives in an atmosphere of adventure in following up his "hobby."

=Carl Pretzel=, a cheerful and rollicking German boy, stout of frame as well as of heart, who is led by a fortunate accident to link his fortunes with those of Motor Matt.

=Dick Ferral=, a young sea dog from Canada, with all a sailor's superstitions, but in spite of all that a royal chum, ready to stand by the friend of his choice through thick and thin.

=Archibald Townsend=, a wealthy though eccentric gentleman, who owns a remarkable submarine boat on which our friends have seen various adventures in the past.

=Cassidy=, mate of the submarine _Grampus_.

=Whistler=, } =Jurgens=, } a trio of rogues bent upon gaining possession of a prize. =Bangs=, }

=Joe Dashington=, Motor Matt's double, who proves how small a matter will sometimes turn a fellow from the wrong road into the right one.

=Shirley, of Scotland Yard=, who springs a surprise at the end of the story.

=Fetterman, assistant chief of police=, who helps the Scotland Yard man.

"Py shiminy grickets!"

"Well, strike me lucky!"

"Can I pelieve vat I see mit my eyes, Tick, or haf I got der plind shtaggers?"

"I'm guessing good and hard, Carl. It's main queer, and no mistake."

"Py all der rules oof der game dot feller iss Matt King, oddervise Modor Matt, oddervise Mile-a-minute Matt, King oof der Modor Poys und Gaptain oof der air ship _Hawk_, aber I bed you I nefer see him like dot pefore."

"It's Matt, all right, but sink me if I'm not taken all aback by the way he acts. What's come over the old ship to do like that?"

It was about half-past four in the afternoon, and Carl Pretzel and Dick Ferral were on their way along the water front of New Orleans. They had gone into town on an important errand and were now returning to Stuyvesant Dock, where their air ship was moored and where they had expected to find Motor Matt.

Just off the foot of Canal Street a steamer was loading for False River. Four-mule teams attached to heavy drays were backed up to the wharf and long lines of darkies were crossing the gang plank with bags on their shoulders and recrossing empty-handed for other burdens.

It was an attractive scene for the two boys and they halted for a few moments to watch; then, suddenly, a big surprise was sprung on them. They saw Motor Matt, hands in his pockets, loafing along the levee--at least they thought it was Motor Matt, for the lad was of the same build, the same height and with a face exactly like the young motorist's. Carl and Dick knew Matt so well that they were positive they were not mistaken, but there was something about Matt they could not understand.

In the first place, Matt was slouching along. That wasn't like him, for as a rule he was as spry as a cricket in all his movements. Then, again, Matt was wearing a slouch hat, a dingy red sweater and frayed corduroy trousers--all as different as possible from the trim young motorist in his leather cap and jacket. But--and this was the most incomprehensible thing to Carl and Dick--Matt was smoking a cigarette. Now, Motor Matt was down on cigarettes good and hard, for he knew the havoc they made with a fellow's constitution, and that no one could keep in the pink of condition if he used them; and yet, there he was with one of the rice-paper things hanging between his lips.

Small wonder Carl and Dick were astounded. If a small-sized earthquake had happened along and shaken things up generally the two boys could not have been more astounded.